England know the second morning will be crucial if they are to retain an interest in the fourth Test.Australia resume on 48-2, trailing by 111 and looking to take another step towards an Ashes whitewash.
But Andrew Flintoff's dismissal of Justin Langer and Brett Lee with successive balls gave England hope.
"We got a couple of wickets at the end there and if we can get two or three in the morning then we're back in the game," said batsman Andrew Strauss.
"It is the sort of wicket you can go bang, bang, bang on and get two or three early in the morning.
"If we do that, we are right back in the game."
England's batsmen struggled on a rain-hit opening day as Shane Warne claimed his coveted 700th Test wicket and finished with his 37th five-wicket Test haul.
Overcast conditions are again forecast on Wednesday, although Melbourne should be warmer than on a decidedly bracing first day.
Matthew Hayden, who executed two powerful boundaries on his way to 17, and captain Ricky Ponting, who has yet to get off the mark, were the overnight batsmen.
No comments:
Post a Comment