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Old 07-31-2009, 01:57 AM
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Default England v Australia, 3rd Test, Edgbaston

Australia bat after calling up Watson

July 30, 2009

Ricky Ponting resisted the temptation to bowl in friendly conditions caused by a six-hour rain delay as Australia attempt to fight back from a 1-0 Ashes deficit in the third Test. Ponting won his first toss of the series and batted - a reverse of his costly decision here four years ago - and it gave Shane Watson, the stand-in opener, an early chance to prove he was a suitable replacement for Phillip Hughes.

Play was due to start at 5pm local time (1600GMT) after heavy rain fell in Birmingham over the past day and a half. Australia dropped Hughes following his problems with the short ball in the opening two Tests and brought in Watson in an unfamiliar position.

Watson batted at three or four for Queensland, his former state, last season and failed during a short stint at the top two years ago. Mitchell Johnson, the out-of-sorts fast bowler, was given another opportunity following his failures in Cardiff and London while Stuart Clark was again kept out of the side. England's only change from the outfit that won at Lord's last week was Ian Bell coming in at No. 4 for the injured Kevin Pietersen.

The threatening clouds cleared in the afternoon but the umpires were particularly concerned by the soggy run-ups and the damp outfield. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Strauss joined an inspection in full sunshine at 3.30pm and became involved in a lengthy discussion with Rudi Koertzen and Aleem Dar.

They returned 45 minutes later for another animated chat and eventually agreed the conditions were suitable, which was a relief to the sell-out crowd of 21,000. The pitch remained in good shape and was showing a light green tinge that should offer the fast men plenty of support until it dries out. Both sides will need to make an immediate impact as further weather disruptions are expected throughout the match.

England 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ravi Bopara, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Paul Collingwood, 6 Matt Prior (wk), 7 Andrew Flintoff, 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions.

Australia 1 Simon Katich, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 Michael Clarke, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Nathan Hauritz, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.
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