Pom v Aussie part 3

Day 3 of our webchat between Patrick Kidd, The Times's cricket blogger, and Scott Heinrich, of Fox Sports Australia takes in the rejuvenation of Simon Katich, Australian aerobics and one woman's love for Matthew Hoggard.

From Patrick Kidd
To Scott Heinrich

Well, I told you that Graeme Swann could bat. His innings was one of the few bright spots on Day 2 for England and the way that your batsmen set about the reply, it is probably just as well that England pushed on well past 400. Before play started, people were saying that another 50 or so runs would be decent. 380 was the aim. So to get 50 more than that is a real plus. If only Swann had been able to do the job with the ball. He and Monty were getting a fair amount of turn, but this pitch is so slow and sluggish it reminds me of myself in the morning. Perhaps the groundsman should sprinkle it with Red Bull overnight to put some pep into it.

Good to see Flintoff bowl with aggression at young Hughes who, like Ravi, will be disappointed not to have made more of a mark on his Ashes debut. I'm disappointed with the other quicks, though. A friend emailed me during the afternoon session saying 'Broad can't bowl, why is he in the team?' which seemed a little hysterical and hasty but the woman in question has a big crush on Matthew Hoggard and, methinks, ulterior motives for starting a 'sack Broad' campaign. Even so, he and Anderson looked a little toothless. What's the mood Down Under? And how are you finding the sleep deprivation? Hope you have a bottle of something sturdy to get you through.

From Scott Heinrich
To Patrick Kidd

I can fully understand why someone, man or woman, would have a crush on Matthew Hoggard. He can swing it both ways, you know. And that hair! Just divine. You did tell me Swann could bat. He wielded the willow, but I was most impressed with his forward defensive. If he keeps it up, he'll go in higher than Broad before too long. Plenty has been made of Ponting no longer having Warne/McGrath etc to call on when he needs a wicket - and rightly so - but Strauss looked bereft of options with only Freddie remaining from that good England pace attack. I know the pitch isn't helping, but the depth of England's attack looks poor. Freddie can't do it alone, but he did do a good job on Hughes. He pretty much bullied the kid out.

As for Ponting and Katich, they've put Australia in with a winning chance. Katich must be the most improved batsman in world cricket, and Punter, well, he's pure class. There's still a long way to go, though. England still have the runs on the board, but it's hard not to see Australia batting for ever in their first innings. Couldn't really tell you what the mood Down Under is like. It's the middle of the night. The office security guards seem in good spirit. I had a full-strength cup of tea half an hour ago, so I'm doing just fine as an owl.

From Patrick Kidd
To Scott Heinrich

Katich is indeed much improved. I've seen bits and pieces of him against India and South Africa and have obviously been following his scores but this is the first elongated look I have had since 2005, when he looked just as ropey for you as Ian Bell did for us. Just goes to prove that a man can always come good in the end. Is it just the added experience that has made him good or was it the extra responsibility of being asked to open, rather than coming in at No 6 with little to gain? The only "comeback-kid" I can compare him to in recent years in Neil MacKenzie for South Africa, who may now have been dropped but had a spell in 2008 when he looked like a world-beating opener.

Ponting is, as you say, class. That's four Ashes tours in a row when he has made a hundred. Don't know about you, but I found the final session of the day really quite dull. England never looked like taking a wicket and Australia found runs simple enough. I know Test cricket can be like this sometimes. I just hope that on Day 3 there is a bit of derring-do from the batters and some genuine aggression from the bowlers. Perhaps Strauss should sit them down to watch a good bloodthirsty gladiator movie before play starts, just to get the adrenalin and passion pumping a bit.

From Scott Heinrich
To Patrick Kidd

Katich lost his central contract a couple of years ago and really worked hard on his technique. He plays a lot straighter these days, and has been on fire for state and country for a while now. His preferred position is at the top of the order, but, until recently, never had the chance to play there for Australia. The first session on day three will tell us a lot about England, I reckon. Punter and Katich will almost have to start again and, if England don't get one or both of them early, only an error on their part will end their stay at the crease.

You'd hope some of the others would take a leaf out of Freddie's book and show some heart, because it could get record-breaking ugly if these two carry on unchallenged. Not sure where it will come from, though. Despite rumours he'd improved, Anderson looks the same as he ever has to me: limited and mostly unthreatening. And with a question mark over Broad's fitness, it'll be up to Monty and Swanny to vindicate the England selectors. Let's hope for a bit of energy from England's attack. Instead of Gladiator as a motivational video, I'd suggest a bit of Aerobics Oz Style.