Ashes 2013-14: It was even-stevens, says England’s Graeme Swann

Graeme Swann felt it was an even-stevens day one after England reduced Australia to 273-5 on a slow Adelaide pitch.

The tourists made a bright start when David Warner was dismissed inside 10 overs before Australia settled and looked in a commanding position at 155-1 until James Anderson caught and bowled Shane Watson.

We kept chipping away and taking wickets

Graeme Swann

England spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann ousted ousted Chris Rogers and Steve Smith respectively to leave the hosts on 174-4 before Chris Bailey and Michael Clarke steadied Australia in the evening session.

However, England bowler Stuart Broad did take the wicket of Bailey to give the tourists hope ahead of day two, and Swann was happy with their day one performance.

“An even-stevens day, we missed a couple of chances we’d expect to take but 273-5 we’ll take that, none of them got a hundred and we kept chipping away and taking wickets,” Swann told BBC Sport.

“All cricket should have two spinners, the natural ebb and flow of the game, men round the bat, it’s just better to watch.”

Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan felt Michael Carberry and tourists could rue the batman’s dropped catch after a wayward Brad Haddin’s shot before the close of play.

“It’s been another really interesting day’s play, that dropped catch at the end is a massive one for England, Carberry is a good fielder you’d expect
him to take it, I just hope it doesn’t affect him,” Vaughan added.

“Alastair Cook was exceptional, he has had a lot of criticism but he was England’s star by a mile, very pro-active.”