8:47am Friday 10th July 2009
ANDREW Flintoff gave a dressing room rallying cry following Australian domination of the second day of the opening npower Test in Cardiff.
After Australia captain Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich struck twin unbeaten hundreds to guide the tourists to 249 for one, a deficit of 186 runs, Flintoff reminded his colleagues of how England addressed a similar scenario four years ago.
Despite the Australians marching to an imposing 264 for one in the final Test at the Oval back then, England managed to secure a first-innings lead despite only posting 373 themselves.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann said: ‘‘They certainly have the momentum after the end of today, but happily for us we still have a nigh-on 200- run lead.
“And as Fred said when we got into the changing room, for those who didn’t play at the Oval a few years ago, it was a very similar situation.
‘‘It takes just one good spell to bring us right back into the game and that’s what we’re going to be thinking.’’ Flintoff’s magnificent, marathon spell either side on the fourth day of that match helped stave off the threat of Australian victory and hours later England had secured a draw and claimed the urn.
He proved England’s main menace with the ball and finished with five wickets, only his second such haul in Test cricket. And fastforwarding four years has not changed things.
Flintoff, 31, roughed up Australian new boy Phillip Hughes with a hostile introduction after lunch and dismissed him in the fourth over of his spell.
‘‘We know with Freddie, he’s going to keep coming at you all day,’’ said Katich.
‘‘Whether it’s his first, second or third spell you know he going to come hard.
‘‘England look to him for those break-throughs when nothing is really happening.’’ Australia finished with the upper hand but England threw some entertaining early blows with Swann’s unbeaten 47 from number 10 key to 99 runs being stacked up in 75 minutes this morning.
‘‘It was a great start,’’ said Swann. ‘‘We talked about getting momentum and going into lunch we were pretty happy – when we came off at the end we weren’t quite as happy.
‘‘Their score probably sums up the way we bowled because we didn’t put the ball in the right place often enough.
‘‘We can whinge and moan about the ball going soft or the wicket being flat or Katich not being given out lbw to me when it was plumb but that’s the way of the game.
‘‘It turned about as much as I expected it to. I’d heard it was going to turn square but I’ve played here before and I know the odd ball turns but the majority don’t and you have to work very hard for your wickets.
‘‘We got a bit of false hope this morning when Nathan Hauritz got a few off the straight to turn down the legside and a couple out of the rough to go and it probably got us a bit too excited.’’
Left-hander Katich, a former Durham batsman, had a frightful tour in 2005 but since being dumped as a result has returned to dramatic effect. His struggles at number six back then have been a stark contrast to his return of six hundreds in 16 Tests as an opener.
‘‘Batting at the top of the order has probably helped me,’’ he said. ‘‘When I did get my chance I jumped at it and I have gained confidence from each Test I have managed to string together.
‘‘I have got a point to prove in this series and I know it will be a tough series.
‘‘In the past 12 months I have felt I have a role to play in this team, given that we have lost so many players in the last couple of years, greats of Australian cricket.’’
Another legend of the baggy green brigade Bobby Simpson has been Katich’s mentor in repairing his career. ‘‘I am thankful to him for giving me the time of day,’’ Katich said. ‘‘His help and support has been enormous in getting me back to this stage. That technical help has turned me into a more confident player.
‘‘Last time I was playing a lot differently to how I am playing now. I probably look the same but I have more confidence in hitting the ball straight.’’
Ponting, who completed his 38th Test hundred from the penultimate delivery of the day, appears in ominous mood.
‘‘You can tell by the way he is going about his business,’’ said Katich. ‘‘He doesn’t have to say much.
‘‘Those of us who went through what we did four years ago know how much it hurt.’’
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