If pigs can fly

"I would rather watch paint dry" said my colleague when I asked if he had seen day 1 of the 2nd Ashes test between England and Australia. "Poor soul, could you not do anything better on your hols" he asked.

For me, it was a fantastic display of attacking cricket. Strokeplay at its best. The drama unfolded with McGrath slipping over a cricket ball during warm up which brought a visible smile in Michael Atherton's face when he was doing the pitch report. With dampness predicted and the seam movement to go with it, Ponting did'nt hesitate to take the field after winning the toss. That was the only good thing to happen to the Aussie skipper in the first 2 hours of the game. Trescothick and Strauss played a faultless first hour and the run-rate soared over 5. The demons in the pitch had disappeard straightaway. The pitch was dry and lacked bounce. Geoff Boycott was at his sarcastic best under the microphone, and whenever Michael Slater said that the Aussies could bounce back, "If pigs can fly.. yes" came the reply.

To rub more salt over the wound, the best part of the day was the blistering partnership between Flintoff and Pietersen, who I think will be the heros of cricket in the years to come. They assaulted the Aussies and often no bowler was looking up to Ponting, for fear of being asked to bowl. Watching 400 runs being amassed in one day! I certainly could'nt have done anything better. I'm going to tune in today right from ball 1.