As captain Flintoff is caught between using himself as the best option or waiting uncomfortably in the hope one of his team-mates eases the workload. Matthew Hoggard briefly lifted when he accounted for both Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, but the score had already ballooned to 467. Flintoff employed himself intermittently and reliably. He waited an hour before bowling in the morning and it took a cut Ponting boundary that brought up the 400 to stir a brilliant short spell.

A frightening lifter that might have brushed Ponting's glove was immediately produced, but half a dozen replays could not prove whether Steve Bucknor called correctly. Nine's new "Hot Shot" technology was absent and conspiracy theorists remembered Ponting's contract with the station. A play and a miss and a ball moving away that twisted the bat in Ponting's hands finished the over. It was a remarkable collection to a humming batsman on 167.

Michael Hussey had also been causing problems and Flintoff decided he would copy last year's approach to Adam Gilchrist and go around the wicket. A vicious off-cutter upended the off stump and sent it spinning in the direction of fine leg. Michael Clarke, who was playing for his short-term future, narrowly escaped the rest of the five-over spell and raised a half-century.

The England fielders were as slow as the over-rate and Flintoff was forced back to try and close the innings. He had returned 4 for 99 when Ponting saved him some energy with the declaration at 602. Fortunately for England Flintoff's dressing-room rest was not disturbed by McGrath's return to the game.

For 11 months there have been questions over whether McGrath would make an Ashes impact. It took only three overs for him to let everybody know he would continue to be an England menace. Wickets 137 and 138 against the most familiar enemy came in consecutive deliveries. While the first dismissal relied on Andrew Strauss' poor swipe, the removal of Alastair Cook could have been arranged at any time over the past decade.

Two excellent bowlers were on display but only one worked with assistance. Flintoff was let down throughout the first innings while McGrath was able to combine with both Brett Lee and Stuart Clark, who took care of Paul Collingwood. Australia have stuck together and despite Flintoff's effort England appear to be falling apart. They will be mashed if they cannot muster something substantial on day three.

In the hope that perhaps the caretakers of this cricket site would make it easier for readers to post comments, i find myself writing about Indian cricket on a Ashes story. So please pardon me and perhaps you would redirect this comment to an appropriate place.

I live in the U.S. and have followed Indian cricket all my life. I am a journalist (financial) by profession and enjoy watching and listening to cricket in the wee hours to a point that my family sometimes questions my allegiance..

however, after reading today's story on how the Indian government is spending time to dissect the performance of the players in South Africa, I quickly realized why I left India to be in America.

Despite the economic gains (mostly because of American companies looking for cheap labor and services), it is clear to me that some of our legislators are simply incapable of prioritizing their challenges.

India needs legislators to talk, debate and foster issues that will enrich the middle-class. The country does not need legislators pontificating on the cricket team's performance in South Africa.

The team has a G.M., a coach, a captain. Let them handle the situation. If the team does not perform, cricket authorities are expected to discuss the team make-up for the next series. That's it..

Unfortunately, the same people who shower these emotional gibberish on to the people of real problem, would be the first in line to scoop up the Junkets from corporations and its own government come World Cup time next year.

I love my country but when I see these perplexing behavior from our policy makers, I find myself wondering as what would it take for these so-called leaders to realize that despite the country's passion for cricket, the country needs you to solve the issue of poverty, literacy, economic gap and human rights violations.

I hope that's not asking for too much. Go Baby Blue and show them what you can do in the second ODI...

cheers

Has anyone considered that Ponting's ridiculous decision to keep batting may have something to do with TV ratings? Four days of cricket has to generate more bucks than three; after all, this is the same guy who smiles his way through a cheesy Channel 9 promo. Maybe KP is extending his influence from beyond the grave.