3rd test match of Ashes test series started with bad luck for Ponting as he lost the toss and put into bat by Andrew Strauss on fairly responsive pitch of WACA. Ponting went in with 4 seamers in this match and it was very important for him to win the toss but nothing is going right for Ponting at this moment. England utilized the new ball and conditions perfectly and dismantled the Aussie top-order and reduced them for 69 for 5. But some-how here on England lost the grip on the proceedings and Hussey, Haddin and lower order batsmen took full advantage of the situation and posted satisfactory total for Australia. Hussey, Haddin and Johnson scored half-centuries and Siddle remain not-out on 35 as Aussies recovered well from early shocks. Ponting failed again in this match and that is not good sign for him and his team because Ponting is strongest pillar of this side and if keeps failing with bat then I think this series will become his last series and he becomes the first Australian captain to lose 3 Ashes series which will fade his illustrious career. From England side all the bowlers did their job and were among the wicket as Anderson and Tremlett picked up 3 wickets with Finn and Swann picking up 2 wickets each. Once again Anderson was pick of the bowler and Tremlett who replaced Broad in this match was also impressive.
Now Australia have got the fairly competitive total on the board and now it is upto the Aussie bowlers to reduce England for as less as possible if they want to win this match. If England score big runs like they did in Adelaide then Aussies will be in big trouble. Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Johnson have to bowl very well to English batsmen and have to pick early wickets to put England on back-foot. Watson and Smith have to support their front-line bowlers and have to do containing job rather than going for wickets. Pitch is responsive at WACA and that will certainly help Aussie bowlers if they bowl in good areas.
Ponting now have to play important role and have to be impeccable with his bowling changes and field placings otherwise things will get worse for him.
Still four days to go in the match and it will be interesting to see how Englishmen replies with bat and what strategy Ponting adapts to win this match. There is lot of pride on stake for Aussies in this match and they have to win this match at any cost. For England, form of their batsmen in this series is great asset. Their openers in Cook and Strauss have given them good starts in this series so far and middle-order is also doing well. Pietersen will be key for England in this match and series because he is one batsman who have full impact on opposition because he scores his runs at brisk pace and put bowlers on back-foot. Englishmen will not going to waste this opportunity at any cost because you don't get too many chances to beat Aussies in their home. Englishmen ended the day on high note as both the opening batsmen remained not-out at the end of the day's play and tough task ahead for Aussie bowlers tomorrow.
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