ON COLLISION COURSE: Brett Lee and Michael Hussey went for the catch offered by Andrew Strauss but it was the latter who managed to pouch it . — Photos: AP

BRISBANE: Two days into the first Test of a new series against Australia and already the scenario is so familiar that the editor for a soap opera would take one look and order his script writers to try again. Australia wins the toss, makes 602 for nine declared and takes the first three England wickets for 42.

Where is a novelty in that story? Are we to imagine that in the next episode the Aussies go on to win by an innings and plenty? Well, it's not good enough. Try an old-fashioned escape, a massive stand by two comparative newcomers, leading to a huge effort resulting in a draw. Too far-fetched?

I thought England is supposed to be the second-best side in the world. Its batsmen have to put up a fight, don't they? For the sake of the game, let us hope there is at least a stout-hearted effort by Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff, the remaining batsmen of substance after the ageing tormentor Glenn McGrath removed the openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, and the tyro Stuart Clark got Paul Collingwood to edge a catch to Adam Gilchrist.

Gilchrist's distinction

It was nothing special, just straight into the gloves at waist height, but it was the 356th dismissal of Gilchrist's career which puts him ahead of Rod Marsh although still a distance behind Ian Healy, the greatest 'keeper of them all.

Strauss's dismissal was the result of a fine running catch at square-leg by Michael Hussey — who managed to collide with Brett Lee and cut open Lee's knee but hold on to the ball — followed by a magnificent leg-cutter which forced Cook to edge a tricky catch to Shane Warne at first slip.

Collingwood saved the hat-trick but soon followed and now England depends on a partnership of opposites — the introvert Bell and the outgoing Pietersen — followed by Flintoff who looked seriously worried, as well he might, as he watched the closing overs.

Lively spells

Flintoff ought to take confidence from his bowling performance. He sent down 30 of the 155 overs in the Australian innings which was spread across five-and-a-half sessions on a pitch so good that McGrath batted comfortably.

Flintoff's four wickets proved that he still has the power to make the ball explode off any pitch and his strengthened ankle is clearly dependable.

There is also better news of the rest of the attack. Matthew Hoggard removed both Ricky Ponting, admittedly after he had made a breathtaking 196, and Adam Gilchrist, third ball, in the same over.

Hoggard is a professional bowler to the tips of his toes and he demonstrated, even when the batsmen went after him, that he can keep control on any pitch.

So too can Giles, who was in command against Ponting, now in such an eminent position that Steve Waugh is predicting that he may make 50 centuries.

He did not make a mistake until he was out; nor did Hussey who will surely have more than one hundred before the end of this series.

Once again Steve Harmison began with a wide from his first ball; how the packed Aussie crowd loved that; but by the middle of the afternoon he had slowed down, found a line and a length and the wicket of Warne.

He has bowled just 180 overs this year and he needs more work to find the form that made him a world-beater.

A long, exasperating day in 30 degrees, a few pats on the backside from his mates and suddenly he looked more like the Harmison of old. The pessimists insist defeat is in the air but it is time to find heroes and England has those too.

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