(Reuters) - Australia opener Chris Rogers struck an unbeaten 67 on the
first morning of the third Ashes test against England at Old Trafford
on Thursday following another controversial umpiring decision against
his team.
The Australians went to lunch at 92 for two after Usman Khawaja fell
for one when he was adjudged to have been caught behind off Graeme
Swann.
The batsman reviewed the decision but the third umpire sided with his
on-field colleague despite replays showing no obvious edge in the
latest decision review system dispute to afflict the series and
Australia.
Shane Watson earlier got away with several loose shots through the
slips, over gully and just short of point but was finally caught at
slip by Alastair Cook off paceman Tim Bresnan for 19.
Rogers, obeying the message from on high to knuckle down and build an
innings after repeated Australian carelessness this series, calmly
compiled his highest test score to silence doubters of his worth to
the side.
The 35-year-old, selected because of his knowledge of English
conditions having been a mainstay of the county scene, is playing in
his fourth test only for Australia. Captain Michael Clarke was five
not out.
England, who lead the five-match series 2-0 and can retain the Ashes
at the revamped Manchester venue with a win or a draw, extracted
decent swing under slightly overcast skies and to the accompaniment of
a lone trumpeter in the packed crowd.
Stuart Broad had one lbw shout against Watson, out so often that way,
but England decided not to review the umpire's not out call and later
made the breakthroughs just as Australia looked to be taking the
initiative.
Australia had lost the toss at Trent Bridge and Lord's, when England
batted first both times on their way to victory, and the relief on
Clarke's face was visible as the coin landed his way.
The tourists, who risk losing a seventh test in a row and a third
straight Ashes series, brought in David Warner at number six after the
aggressive left-hander returned from his banishment to the A squad for
punching England's Joe Root in a bar in June.
He replaced the ineffective Phil Hughes while off-spinner Nathan Lyon
came in for left-armer Ashton Agar and paceman Mitchell Starc replaced
the injured James Pattinson.
England were unchanged after Kevin Pietersen passed a fitness test on
a calf strain.
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Thursday, 1 August 2013
Rogers boosts Australia amid DRS drama in third test.
Posted on 06:41 by Ashish Chaturvedi
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