Is Ian Botham still at the top of the order? 
What, you mean honest, even-handed, devoid of jingoistic braying and loudmouthery that never quite seems to be taken back with as much emphasis as it was unreasonably delivered? Why, thank you. 
Pietersen was about as LBW as one could be to Hilfenhaus, then the ball touched the bat on the way back to Haddin. But apparently the umpire believed these two ways of being out cancelled each other out and gave KP not out. (Yes, I’m picking this up on stream now, for as long as BSkyB can’t find the address.)
Well, next time I play a dumbass sweep/slog/paddle, I can tell myself “at least I didn’t look as dumb as KP did in the first Ashes match.”
Pietersen has self-destructed, I’d say the game is going Australia’s way right now. Flintoff is more miss than hit with the bat these days.
Cricinfo commentary team disagree with you.
Meanwhile, this:
“Flintoff is infuriating Australia. He’s combining his natural power with an awareness to steal the singles. And his overall body language is of someone intent on enjoying himself.”
We’ll have five Tests worth of that, please. 
I saw it on the streamed video which fell off the back of a truck. It was BAD. Don’t know what the usually-spot-on folks at CricInfo were watching. (Will Luke, you still owe me a book.)
Prior is crushing the bowling, too. All of a sudden the Aussie new-ball bowlers are looking very ordinary.
As indeed they are. But they nicked a couple late on, Flintoff adding to the tally of batsmen who got themselves out today, and that makes it Australia’s day by a small margin. They’d have been hoping for greater things when England were three down for 90, though.
Footnote: Anderson extends his duck-free run in Tests. 
Glad the Welsh gave us a fairly sporting pitch, though tp be fair they owed us that much. After all they gave us David Morgan.
With no history of test cricket at Cardiff it’s hard to judge the relative positions of the two teams after day one. It appears to be a slow pitch with a little swing and maybe a little turn. But what will happen to the pitch on the last two days of the test? Unless we (Aus) can get into the runs on day two and three, we’ll be the team batting on day five on an unknown quantity for a wicket.
So, quick wickets on day two with our batsmen looking to play for a big lead is the obvious tactic. But can we turn a pretty good end to day one into a good advantage? We Aussies have always tried to dominate each session in order to win the tests. I don’t think we’ve done that after day one.
Pretty effective tail wagging from England today.
This has been one of the funniest mornings of Test cricket I’ve seen. Swann switch-hitting Hauritz, Hauritz turning one square down leg for four byes, Swann caught off a no-ball (although it didn’t really cost them), elegant cover drives from 8 9 and 10… what a morning with the tail. 99 runs added off just 16.5 overs, and that’s beyond England’s wildest expectations for the first session.
Now, can Jimmy and Broad winkle out Katich with early swing? He’s the key, I reckon. Given Hauritz was getting major turn off the pitch, I wouldn’t fancy batting last on this one. Australia need a lead, and a solid one.
Ponting and Katich looking in ominous form here. If Australia reach 200/1 by the close of play, they’ll be able to go guns blazing on day three to try to get a big lead.
Yep, Australia’s day by a distance. Was worried that it would only take a couple of Aussie batsmen to get in (and not then get out as ours did), and so it’s proved. Little to no swing on offer, and Monty and Swann* haven’t looked all that threatening. 500+ definitely on here.
*Sounds like a music hall writing partnership, no?
All the pressure on England now to bat well in the 2nd innings and force a draw. Hoping some rain will help us out…
Seems like a draw is likely. What a shame.
Depends on whether the wicket deteriorates or not. If we can put another two hundred on the board and the wicket crumbles and breaks up somewhat it could be interesting on day five.
North has looked good. I’ve not heard much about him but he is solid.
Forecast not great for tomorrow; it’ll take a Patented England Collapse[sup]TM[/sup] to see a result now, I reckon.
Our attack has looked completely toothless without swing, and compounding it has been Swann’s worst performance in an England shirt. Ashes nerves maybe; hope he pulls it together for the rest of the tour, we need him. He gives great interview mind you (and I highly recommend anyone sick of anodyne sports interviews watch that one). All that said, it looks like the main difference (as feared) is that when Aussie batsmen have got in, they haven’t chucked it all away with dickheaded shots. Or, rather, they’ve waited until they’ve got 150 before chucking it all away with dickheaded shots.
Great to see Monty high-fiving fresh air like the good old days, though. Good old Monty.
Trouble is Monty has hardly looked threatening- well none have really except perhaps Anderson at times. I sat up until midnight hoping for more cricket. I was forced to drink beer due to lack of action.
Uh-oh…here comes the collapse. After Australia declared on 674/6, England are two down with only 13 on the board.