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The Oval, London, England (GenevaLunch) – The Ashes reaches its climax this weekend with the series balanced at 1-1 going into the final Test at the Oval. The Australian selection is unchanged from the team that crushed England at Headingley. England replaced out of form batsman Ravi Bopara with Trott. Fast bowler Steve Harmison is fortunate to have been chosen ahead of Graham Onions.

Andrew Strauss won the toss and chose to bat on what looked like a good pitch but England soon lost opener Alistair Cook.

Ian Bell was then roughed up by Mitchell Johnson, being unable to deal with the short balls. Captain Andrew Strauss protected him by taking most of the bowling until he was out for 55. Bell went for 72 when he played  a ball on to his stumps that he could have left. Paul Collingwood was kept under control as the bowlers concentrated outside the off stump and were rewarded when he proved that the drive is not his best shot and was caught behind. Jonathan Trott scored 41 on his debut, but his technique looks suspect as he tries to work most balls through the on-side. Matt Prior was fooled by a slower ball from Johnson. Andrew Flintoff also fell to the disciplined bowling plan of the Aussies as he grew frustrated and slashed at a wide ball and was caught. Graham Swann was out in the last over of the day leaving England on 307 for 8, hoping that Stuart Broad will manage to add enough runs to make the total more challenging.

Overall the England performance looked depressingly familiar as batsmen failed to convert good starts into serious runs: Andrew Strauss is the only one to have scored a century in the series. The pitch showed early signs of breaking up which should be good news for the England bowlers, providing they can make the Australians bat twice…

Details: The Guardian