Ashes 2013-14 catch-up: Australia v England, second Test, day one

The day in 50 words

After their battering in Brisbane, England bounced back with the ball.

Australia won the toss and cruised, but three wickets for 19 runs turned the day.

Swann took flight to snaffle Bailey but dropped catches cost England, with Carberry's late clanger the worst of all as Australia closed on 273-5.

Full day one report from Adelaide

Match scorecard

Moment of the day

Midway through the afternoon session, it looked as if the Test, and possibly even the series, was already getting away from England.

On an unresponsive pitch, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers were well set and had taken their second-wicket partnership past 100.

But, with the score at 155-1, Watson, on 51, looked to drive a length ball from James Anderson, who pouched a razor-sharp return catch down by his boots.

With Graeme Swann removing Chris Rogers in the next over, Australia went on to lose three wickets for 19 runs, and England had turned the tide.

Catches win matches

The picture could have been even rosier for England had they held on to their catches.

Monty Panesar, recalled in place of Chris Tremlett, shelled a good chance to remove George Bailey for 10 when he failed to cling on to a knee-high caught-and-bowled chance.

Joe Root got two hands to a firm Michael Clarke drive at midwicket when the Australia captain had 18 - but could not hold on.

And in the dying embers of the day, Michael Carberry fluffed the easiest chance of all at point when he somehow failed to take to a straightforward chest-high chance to dismiss Brad Haddin for five.

Pint-sized Ashes: A two-minute round-up of the day

Stats of the day

• Ben Stokes becomes only the second New Zealand-born England Test cricketer after Andrew Caddick.

• Three of James Anderson's last five Test wickets have been caught and bowled.

• Shane Watson has now scored four half-centuries in five innings at the Adelaide Oval. His other innings was 48.

• England have only twice come from 1-0 down to win a series in Australia - in 1911-12 and 1954-55.

A Twitter of taste

Cricket Australia (CA) tweeted an apology after posting a picture on Twitter before the start of play which featured four supporters in fancy dress with the caption "Will the real Monty Panesar please stand up?!".

Less than a week ago, CA stood down the ground announcer for England's tour game at Alice Springs for mocking England spinner Panesar, though the announcer denied making a racial slur.

It is not the first time CA's Twitter feed has got the governing body into hot water. In the summer Ashes, it published and swiftly removed a tweet containing expletives after Ian Bell was given not out by television umpire Tony Hill at Lord's.

What they said

Australia batsman Chris Rogers: "At 1-155, we thought 400 or 500 was on the cards but there were a few tricks and they took a few wickets. We have a good tail and hopefully we can push up: 400 would be a good score. You can say poor shots but they are allowed to bowl well and those things happen. I don't think this game is going to be a draw - I think there is going to be a result."

England spinner Graeme Swann: "I'll allow a minimum of 15 questions about my catch...

"Ideally we would have taken six or seven. We are disappointed but that's cricket - you do drop catches. We have fielded incredibly well on this trip and taken some belters, but not today.

"There's no pace in the deck whatsoever but it is a bit dryer than usual at Adelaide and there is a little bit of turn, but it was slow and easy to bat on. We need to try to come back tomorrow, get the ball talking early on and try to keep them to 350."

The expert view

Former England batsman Michael Vaughan: "If England had been offered 270-5 at the start, they'd have taken it, but they're going to need a lead and they'll look back at those three dropped catches. You know Monty's not a great fielder, and you'd have expected Joe Root to hold seven out of 10 of those chances, but the last one was really a stinker by Michael Carberry. But Alastair Cook was excellent - he moved his fielders around very well."

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott: "England's day? It will depend on what happens tomorrow. The best moment of the day was Monty getting his wicket, pitching on middle and off and hitting off stump, while Broad set up Bailey really well. Both teams haven't got great batting units, though they've both got a couple of world-class players, and they can always get themselves out."

Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh: "If Australia get over 400 they will have the upper hand. England need early wickets and tomorrow morning is going to be very important. Catches are vital in any Test match but particularly when you don't get many chances on a flattish pitch.

"Michael Clarke is the backbone of the Australia batting and this pitch suits his style of play, you're not going to get the pace and bounce of Brisbane, if he bats through the innings the tail can bat around him."

Listen to Test Match Special highlights and commentary clips

New-look Adelaide

The Adelaide Oval has always been the most traditional of the Australian grounds but the venue is in the middle of a facelift, with vast new stands replacing the Sir Donald Bradman and Chappell Stands.

England one-day batsman Eoin Morgan was unimpressed by the changes. He tweeted: "For what was an iconic cricket ground full of character it looks like it's been converted into an AFL stadium. Shows how lucky we are in England to play on such fine cricket grounds and not have to share with other sports!"

The Rolling Stones will perform at the stadium's official opening in March.

The Twitterati

Former Australia spinner Shane Warne: "Shared honours today. Both teams will feel only partly happy & be thinking more about what could've been. First hour crucial tomorrow."

Durham and England bowler Graham Onions: "Delighted to see me mate @benstokes38 make his debut, amazing achievement! He's now officially my favourite ginger."

Keane singer Tom Chaplin in Australia on Twitter: "Great first day in Adelaide. Cold, rainy and boring for most of it...then England came roaring back!"

And finally...

Never a man to mince his words, Geoffrey Boycott was cock-a-hoop when Australia opener David Warner fell in hapless fashion.

"What a dipstick," yelled Boycs on TMS. "There's no oil in his lamp. To spoon the ball, head-high and gentle to point is a really poor shot. It couldn't happen to a nicer fella after what he said in Brisbane to one of our batsmen."

Boycott reached fever pitch later in the day when he revealed he had tickets to see his favourite pop star Katy Perry live in concert in Manchester next year.

Catch up with a two-minute summary of Test Match Special commentary with Pint-sized Ashes.

For a gallery of images from the day's play go to the BBC Sport Facebook page.