Strauss and KP hold the key

There are not many conclusions you can draw from one day of a Test series, and the feeling of doom and gloom that has spread over England like one of our clouds is premature. The fans think the team slip back too easily into their old ways; the team could say the same of the fans.

Some things, however, we can state with confidence. The Australian batting has already broken free, as it never did in 2005. This match is conforming to the pattern for Brisbane, where Australia average 507 this century and rattle along at 3.8 an over, rather than the new template struck for Ashes matches in 2005, when Australia didn’t reach 400.

England have a minor crisis with their new-ball attack. Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles, rust and all, took a very decent three for 100 and kept it tight. Harmison, Hoggard and Anderson took none for 200 and kept it loose. That will change at some point, but it has to change fast and dramatically to affect the momentum of this match.

Four years ago, England got the nerves out of their system on day one and bounced back well on day two. But even if they do that again, Australia will have 450+. The bowlers can claw back some respect, but they can’t put England on top. The follow-on is already a distinct possibility; the key to this game is how England bat in their first innings.

Andrew Strauss has to be as busy as Justin Langer. England don’t have anyone who can be as elegantly imperious as Ricky Ponting at his best, but they have Kevin Pietersen, who can lord it in his own way. If these two don’t make serious runs, England will be staring 1-0 in the face. Pietersen found big turn; Warne will get far more.

England did three things better than expected today: captaincy (nice variation and invention), catching (no bloopers), and slow bowling (solid stuff from Gilo; not Monty, but not bad). And they did one thing worse: fast bowling. Unfortunately, that’s the one that decides the fate of touring teams in Australia.