The Ashes, 2009

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England won the toss and chose to bat first.
Australia took an early wicket (Cook, for 10) and followed up with two more in the morning session, to go to lunch slightly in front with England at 3 for 97.
After lunch, England's batting stalwarts, Pietersen and Collingwood, built a slow but steady partnership and took the score on to 228, before being dismissed close together after tea.
Prior and Flintoff built a new, faster-scoring partnership, and took the score from (five for) 241 to 327 before both were bowled by Siddle with the second new ball.
Anderson and Broad saw out the remaining play for a handful of runs.
Day one saw honours roughly even with England on 7 for 336. They should be able to press on to 350 or 370 or so tomorrow, which is a thoroughly respectable score - not enormous, but Australia will have to beat it by a solid margin because they will be batting fourth, and the pitch is expected to become more difficult as time goes on. Further, the pitch is already providing some grip and turn for the spin bowlers, and England is stronger in that department that Australia, and the pitch will only get better for them in this regard.

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The second day started with England in sparkling form, as their lower order batsmen took the fight to the Australian bowlers, and added 99 runs in just 17 overs for the last 3 wickets. Hauritz, Australia's inexperienced spinner, took three wickets, and the quick bowlers shared the rest. The English batsmen almost all made reasonable starts but none of them went on to build a really big total - 60s, 50s, 40s, nothing more.

Australia were required to bat for 30 minutes before lunch, with Katich playing cautiously and new country lad Hughes swinging lustily. Both survived until lunch, at least partly because of rather tame bowling by England.

After lunch Flintoff took the ball for England and immediately looked dangerous, having Hughes caught behind off an inside edge by a very sharp catch by keeper Prior with the score on 60.

That was England's last highlight for the day, as Katich and Australian captain Ponting knuckled down and built a professional, determined innings. They saw off the threatening Flintoff, defended against the spin of Swann and Panesar, and took runs as they were available.
By tea, Australia was 1 for 142, and by stumps the score was 1 for 249. Katich is 104 not out, and Ponting is 100 not out, both will resume in the morning.

Australia still trail by almost 200 runs, but, with 9 wickets in hand, are in a very strong position. The big difference between the teams is the determined application shown by the Australian batsmen. The English batsmen almost all made starts but then got out through ill discipline, whereas Ponting and Katich played steadily throughout the day.

Australia will be looking to post a big total in the second innings, because they will be chasing in the fourth innings and the pitch looks like it will become increasingly difficult to bat on.