Australia's batting struggles continued at The Oval before Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke steadied the innings and built a solid platform by the halfway mark. Shane Watson again fell after making a strong start and England's decision to send the visitors in looked well founded, but after 25 overs Australia had worked their way to 115 for 2 with Ponting on 33 and Clarke on 28.
England could have made it three wickets when Clarke was dropped on 5 by James Anderson, who watched the ball sail through his hands at cover from an uppish drive off Graeme Swann. It was a bad miss for one of the better fielders in the England side, and only time will tell how costly it could prove.
Ponting was in better touch than during his scratchy innings at Old Trafford on Sunday, and a perfectly timed and placed off-drive for four off Tim Bresnan was a positive sign. Ponting's desire for the batsmen to turn around their poor results was evident when he saw Watson's demise and gave his partner a stern and prolonged stare for his ill judgment.
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