The Ashes: 3rd Test, Day 1 - As it happened...

Live updates of Perth Test, Day 1

Zee Media Bureau

SCORECARD» | COMMENTARY» | REPORT» ==================================================================================== If you are a Sachin Tendulkar fan, you can have a look at Detailed slideshow about Sachin’s 100 centuries » Also Read: Cricket’s oldest rivalry resumes » ==================================================================================== Over 87|| Score 326/6 A topsy-turvy first day of third Ashes Test at Perth finally ended on a good note for the home side. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, but the tourists stated off well as they got their first breakthrough in the form of Chris Rogers in second over. And then some irresponsible stroke-making by the Australian batsmen push them on the back-foot, as on one stage they were struggling at 143 for five. Then Haddin and Steve Smith stitched a partnership of 124 runs for the sixth wicket. The highlight of the day was certainly the second Test hundred scored by Smith. He is still unbeaten on 103 and on the other end Mitchell Johnson is on 39. Eventually one can say that the first day of Perth Test belongs to Australia. ==================================================================================== Over 80|| Score 304/6 Steve smith scored his second Test hundred. He completed his hundred in style by pulling Strokes for a four over mid-wicket. It’s his first hundred in Australia. The timing of this hundred couldn't be better than this. He scored a ton when his team needed it the most. But en route to his hundred he lost his partner in Haddin. Haddin tried to pull a short one from Strokes, but failed to connect the ball well and at short mid-wicket Andersen took a simple catch. Haddin got out after scoring 55 runs. Mitchell Johnson, who is playing on his home ground, came in to bat after the fall of sixth Australian wicket. Meanwhile, Australia crossed the mark of 300 runs in the 79th over. BJ Haddin c Anderson b Stokes 55 (100b) ==================================================================================== Over 67|| Score 264/5 After losing wickets at regular intervals, partnership between Haddin and Smith finally gave some solidity to the Australian side. Both the batsmen punished the loose balls to collect boundaries. Haddin who came in after the fall of Bailey’s wicket completed his fifty in 62nd over. He used mere 76 balls to reach the fifty run mark, laced with five boundaries and two sixes. These two have added 121 runs for the sixth wicket stand and are still going strong. Smith is just 16 runs shy of his second test hundred, whereas Haddin is playing on 53. ==================================================================================== Over 48|| Score 203/5 George Bailey walked into the middle to join Smith. But he missed a good opportunity to prove his mettle and played an over ambitious pull shot off Broad to gave a catch to Pietersen at deep backward square. Australian wicket-keeper Haddin came in after the fall of fifth Australian wicket. Smith on the other end is paying fearless cricket. Even after losing five wickets quickly, he is playing his shots and hasn't missing a single opportunity to score a boundary. In the 46th over he smashed two boundaries off Strokes and completed his half-century in style. Australia need a big partnership here to get back into this match. Meanwhile, Australia crossed the mark of 200 runs in the 48th over. GJ Bailey c Pietersen b Broad 7 (12b) ==================================================================================== Over 31|| Score 130/4 In the 21st over Australia gone past the 100-run mark. But in the next over, when Cook introduced his spinner Swann into the attack, for the very first time, he didn't disappoint his skipper. Swann in his second ball sent back the Australian skipper Clarke to pavilion. Clarke tried to smash Swann for a boundary but didn't manage to execute his shot well and gave a low catch to Cook at short midwicket. Clarke got out after scoring 24 runs. Meanwhile, in the 25th over Warner completed his fifty. Steve Smith came to bat after Clarke’s dismissal. Swann once again came to picture after a few overs, when he picked up his second wicket in the form of David Warner. And Australia who have been looking in a hurry to score runs since morning, lost their fourth wicket. Warner tried to cut Swann but failed to keep his shot down, Carberry took a simple catch at backward point. Australia is on the back-foot now. DA Warner c Carberry b Swann 60 (77b) MJ Clarke c Cook b Swann 24 (44b) ==================================================================================== Over 20|| Score 95/2 Watson who was trying to score quickly got out in the 11th over bowled by Broad. Tried to hang his bat on a perfect length ball, which also got some extra bounce, Watson only managed a thick outside edge and Swann took a sharp catch at slips. It’s 12th wicket for Broad in this series. Michael Clarke came in after the fall of Australia’s second wicket. And with Watson, who is scoring runs at a brisk pace, Clarke added 43 runs partnership. SR Watson c Swann b Broad 18 (43m 29b) ==================================================================================== Over 10|| Score 52/1 Chris Rogers and David Warner walked up to open the Australian innings, whereas, James Anderson and Stuart Broad started the bowling proceedings for the tourists. After smashing back-to-back fours in the second over, Rogers got Out. He placed the ball at mid-wicket and ran. But a direct hit from Anderson and the opener failed to make his ground on time. And with that Australia lost their first wicket in the form of Rogers. After the fall of first wicket, came in Shane Watson. Warner and Watson started playing their strokes from the fifth over of the innings and collected a few boundaries. And the result of that, Australia crossed the mark of 50 runs in just ten overs. CJL Rogers run out 11 (9m 9b) ==================================================================================== Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first. After winning the toss Australian skipper stated ‘It looks a fantastic wicket.’ and then confirmed about the unchanged line-up. Perth is a home ground for Mitchell Johnson, who has been on fire since his latest test comeback. ==================================================================================== Perth: Australia look poised to seal one of the great turnarounds in Ashes history when they take on reeling England in Perth today after bulldozing their way to a 2-0 lead. The Aussies went into the Test series just months after a 3-0 loss in England but the incredible revival of fast bowler Mitchell Johnson triggered big wins in Brisbane and Adelaide. The home side can take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series on the famously fast pitch at the WACA -- Johnson`s home ground -- while shell-shocked England, winners of the past three series, are desperately searching for answers. Rival captains Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook will both play their 100th Tests but it is unlikely both men will be celebrating at the end of it. England coach Andy Flower has warned that he is not afraid to ring the changes after batting failures in both of the first two Tests and some unconvincing bowling.