England make decent start in Sydney

12 April 2012

Glenn McGrath claimed two key wickets but England shaded the opening day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

The 36-year-old seamer is due to retire from Test cricket at the end of this match alongside Shane Warne and Justin Langer, and could have been forgiven for coasting through his farewell appearance with the hosts on course for only the second Ashes whitewash ever.

However, McGrath picked up two wickets in a five-ball burst to halt a 109-run stand between Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen shortly after tea. Captain Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood then battled hard for 19 overs to forge an unbroken 67-run stand, guiding England to 234 for four when bad light ended play for the day.

Coming together at 58 for two, Bell and Pietersen vindicated England's decision to move the latter to number four in the order and allow Collingwood to drop down to number five with a defiant stand just as Australia seemed set to establish their superiority.

Playing cautiously almost throughout his innings, Pietersen took 15 overs to score his first and only boundary. He was happy to support Bell and help him reach his fourth half-century of the series.

Just as England's new third-wicket pair appeared to be establishing their dominance, however, McGrath struck to claim the key wicket of Pietersen just seven overs after tea.

Having come down the wicket two balls previously to lash the ball through mid-wicket for two, Pietersen could not resist attempting the shot again when McGrath dug the ball in short. But this time he failed to control the shot and it looped high in the air for Mike Hussey to take the catch above his head at mid-wicket.

Pietersen's 41 had taken nearly three hours at the crease and he was followed in McGrath's next over when he cut the ball back and Bell got a fine inside edge onto his stumps for 71.

Earlier in the day, openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook enjoyed a 45-run stand - their most productive partnership of the series - which ended only three overs before lunch.

Strauss was tempted into cutting a delivery from fast bowler Brett Lee and edged behind, while Cook followed for just 20 only two overs after the break when Stuart Clark found the inside edge and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist snapped up the chance.

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