Watson shines as Australia make positive start
Australia made a confident start in the third Ashes test against England as Shane Watson’s unbeaten fifty lifted them to 126 for one on a rain-disrupted first day on Thursday.
The start of the match was delayed by six hours but Watson, recalled in place of Phillip Hughes, and Simon Katich played a series of crisp strokes to seize the initiative against a subdued England seam attack.
Katich fell for 46 to off-spinner Graeme Swann but Watson had moved on to 62 at the close, including 10 fours, with his captain Ricky Ponting on 17.
“It was a positive result for us,” Australia coach Tim Nielsen told a news conference. “It can be difficult to get through a session like that but to lose only one wicket was a good effort.”
Australia, looking to level the series following their 115-run defeat in the last test at Lord’s, suffered a blow when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, named in the side at the toss, was ruled out with a finger injury sustained in practice.
The Australians asked England for permission to replace Haddin and the hosts agreed, allowing Graham Manou to make his debut.
“Haddin has fractured the end of the ring finger on his left hand,” Nielsen said. “It was after the toss so we really had to rush to speak to England before the start and we were pleased that they agreed to let us play Manou.”
