Hosts reach 273/5 with contributions from Rogers, Watson, Clarke and Bailey on Day 1
Australia's batsmen wasted good starts and England missed chances to make them pay more heavily by dropping three catches on a seesawing opening day of the second Ashes test. Stuart Broad took two wickets to give England slight honors on Thursday after restricting Australia to 273-5 on a docile pitch tailor-made for scoring runs.
Skipper Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 48 at stumps, having shared an important 83-run fifth-wicket stand with George Bailey (53) after Australia lost three quick wickets to slump from 155-1 to 174-4 just before tea.
Brad Haddin, who was dropped by Michael Carberry at point just before stumps and also survived a DRS referral for lbw, was not out on 7. England spinner Graeme Swann took one wicket and a brilliant catch and thought the opening day in Adelaide was even. Australia's top order all made starts but failed to convert and were out to poor shots, except Steve Smith (6) who was beaten and bowled by recalled spinner Monty Panesar.
Clarke had no hesitation in choosing to bat first for the second time in the series and, after losing David Warner (29) to a rash shot against Broad (2-63) early, Australia was dominating on a flat wicket. Chris Rogers (72) and Shane Watson (51) put on 121 for the second wicket before Jimmy Anderson and Swann struck five balls apart.
Anderson took a low, return catch to dismiss Watson and Swann had Rogers, who had stroked 11 boundaries, caught behind in the next over as Australia slipped to 155-3. Panesar, recalled for his first Ashes test since 2009, compounded Australia's slide with Smith's wicket on the last ball before tea. Bailey came in after the break and hit three sixes and four boundaries but was out late in the day when he attempted to hook Broad and was well caught behind square by Swann.
England should have been in a stronger position, missing two chances early in the evening session when Australia was battling desperately.
Brief Scores
Aus: 273/5 (Rogers 72, Bailey 53, Watson 51, Clarke 48 no; Broad 2-63) at stumps on Day 1 vs England.