Strauss and co can take advantage of Aussie woe on second day

England head into the second day of the second Test in great shape after dismissing Australia for 245, leaving Andrew Strauss’ side 4/5 to win the second Test.

But England must beware Australia’s new recruits, Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris, who are sure to put up a stronger performance than Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus did in the first Test.

England’s wobble in the first innings of the first Test can be put down to nerves, but with the top three finding their form in the second innings, England have no excuses should they collapse again.

But with Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott in such great form, it’s hard to see England not entering the second innings without a substantial lead.

England are 5/6 to score over 410.5 runs in their first innings and both Cook and Trott are 4/1 to be England’s leading top first innings runscorer.

Considering Cook’s average against Australia entering this Test series (22), it’s difficult to make a case for the opener making consecutive centuries and Strauss may be the better option at 10/3 to score a century.

Harris was given the new ball for the one over the two England openers faced last night and Harris is 7/2 to take the most Australian wickets in the first innings.

But Graeme Swann continued to prove that the Adelaide pitch is positive for spin bowling and Xavier Doherty looks the best bet at 5/1 to take the most Australian wickets in the first innings.

But Adelaide has also proved to be a batters wicket in the past with over 6000 runs scored in the last five Tests and England should be batting come the end of the day, which offers one of the lower-order batsman the chance to find some runs.

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