Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich survived a fiery spell from Andrew Flintoff as Australia reached 61 without loss at lunch at yesterday’s second day of the deciding fifth Ashes Test at the Oval.
Watson was 30 not out and left-hander Katich 26 not out, with Australia 271 runs adrift of England’s first innings 332 when rain forced an early lunch.
Australia only had to draw this match to retain the Ashes but England needed a victory to regain them, with the series all square at 1-1.
Flintoff, playing his final Test before an injury-induced retirement from the five-day format, was controversially left out of the England team that lost the fourth match of this series by an innings and 80 runs at Headingley because of fears his suspect right knee would not stand the strain of fast bowling.
But the 31-year-old star of England’s 2005 Ashes triumph, who only managed seven with the bat on Thursday, showed no discomfort as he charged in after being handed the new ball alongside his Lancashire colleague James Anderson by captain Andrew Strauss.
Flintoff had two appeals for leg before in his first three balls to Watson, then on four, and the second was especially close after the right-hander, aiming across the line, missed an inswinger that hit him on the knee-roll.
But, despite Flintoff’s prolonged plea, Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf was unmoved. To add insult to injury, Watson clipped Flintoff through mid-wicket for four on the next ball.
However, that was the only boundary Flintoff conceded in an impressive initial burst of six overs for seven runs with three maidens.
Anderson, after six overs for 20 runs, was replaced by Graeme Swann — the only specialist spinner on either side.
The pitch had taken turn on Thursday and the pressure was on the off-break bowler to produce a match-winning spell. Swann beat Katich’s forward prod with a ball that spun sharply past the outside edge but his 4.2 overs before the interval did not yield a wicket.
At the other end Stephen Harmison, England’s quickest bowler, began with a wayward legside delivery that Watson helped on its way for four.
England, after Strauss won the toss on Thursday, resumed on their overnight score of 307 for eight.
Their innings lasted less than five overs Friday with Ben Hilfenhaus taking two wickets for 11 runs.
Swing bowler Hilfenhaus had Anderson lbw for nought — the tailender’s first duck in his 55 Test innings — before dismissing Stuart Broad for 37 with the aid of Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s second slip catch.
But paceman Peter Siddle, who took three top-order wickets, led the attack with four for 75 in 21 overs.
In related news, Pakistan on Friday recalled paceman Mohammad Asif but omitted veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from their 15-man squad for next month’s Champions Trophy.
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