Chris Tremlett enjoyed an impressive return to Test cricket as Australia were left in major trouble on the opening morning at the WACA. He claimed two wickets during his opening spell while James Anderson again dismissed Ricky Ponting, thanks to a stunning catch, and Steven Finn bagged Shane Watson as the hosts slumped to 4 for 36. They survived until lunch without further loss, but their Ashes hopes are hanging by a thread.
Andrew Strauss made a brave decision to bowl first, because Perth pitches have a history of lulling captains into believing they'll be livelier than it proves, but Ponting said he'd have done the same having picked four frontline quicks. On this occasion, though, Strauss was fully vindicated as his pace attack was once again outstanding with the new ball and exposed further frailties in the Australia top order. Phillip Hughes, Michael Clarke and Watson all fell in ways England have planned.
If it wasn't for the UDRS, England would have struck in the first over but Watson was reprieved when replays showed the ball had struck thigh pad and not glove on the way down the leg side. However, the visitors didn't have to wait long as Tremlett immediately made an impression and showed why he was the correct selection ahead of Tim Bresnan. After a couple of short balls to Hughes he pitched one fuller which the left-hander tried to play to leg and was bowled.
Tremlett almost added Ponting before he'd scored when extra bounce found the edge but it flew between third slip and gully, before Ponting responded with a pull through midwicket. The Australia captain clearly wanted to be positive, but after another boundary through the leg side fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Paul Collingwood at third slip. Forcing outside off, the ball flew high and fast to Collingwood, who dropped a few earlier in the tour, and Ponting had to drag himself off for another low score.
Despite that significant wicket, Anderson wasn't quite as deadly as Adelaide and for all his positive talk looked a little short of his best after the long trip back to England. Tremlett, though, was outstanding and continued to cause a host of problems to the batsmen. Pressure is growing on Clarke to prove he is part of Australia's future and faced with Tremlett's bounce could only offer a horribly weak poke which gave Matt Prior his 100th catch in Test cricket. It might not have been 3 for 2, but 3 for 28 wasn't very good either.
Like at Adelaide, Watson was left with Mike Hussey to try to rebuild the innings. Along with his UDRS reprieve, Watson was also given a life when Strauss couldn't hold a tough, high chance at first slip but he wasn't as confident as during his twin fifties last week. He was given some uncomfortable moments by Tremlett before England's other tall quick, Finn, fired in a pinpoint yorker which struck boot before bat and this time a review couldn't save him.
Hussey dug in, knowing he was probably the team's last chance of a decent total and wasn't given much to score off until collecting 10 in two balls against Finn. A top-edge flew comfortably over the wicketkeeper's head for six then a big full toss was driven through mid-off. Smith offered support in his own unique style, but Australia have a mountain to climb.
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