Australia capture two wickets but Watson hurt

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A miserly Australian attack captured two wickets to leave England 135 for three at tea on the opening day of the fourth test in Melbourne on Thursday but suffered a blow when all-rounder Shane Watson limped off the ground with a groin injury.

Watson bowled opener Michael Carberry for 38 but pulled up from his run-up in his seventh over and after a short exchange with captain Michael Clarke, trudged off the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of a bulging Boxing Day crowd of more than 90,000.

Kevin Pietersen, under fire for repeatedly throwing away his wicket this series, was caught for six at deep backward square by Nathan Coulter-Nile but the substitute fielder overbalanced and jogged over the boundary rope to grant the South Africa-born batsman a life shortly before tea.

Pietersen survived to reach the break on 20, with Ian Bell adding 11 after number three batsman Joe Root was caught behind for 24 off seamer Ryan Harris.

England resumed on 71-1, having grafted their way through a nervous first session after Clarke sprung a surprise by putting his unchanged team into the field after winning his fourth successive toss of the series.

With morning clouds giving away to brilliant sunshine, Carberry smacked a pair of boundaries to try to break the shackles of a disciplined pace attack but was left ashen-faced when he shouldered arms to a Watson delivery that swung in viciously to clatter into his stumps.

Having faced 103 balls and gritted out nearly two-and-half hours at the crease, the 33-year-old Carberry swung his bat in disgust as he trudged off after another promising start cut short in the series.

Buoyed, Australia's seamers tightened the screws further, with Pietersen needing 13 balls to get off the mark before pulling Siddle for four.

Having never appeared comfortable, a flat-footed Joe Root was caught behind by Haddin, the revitalised wicketkeeper notching his 50th catch in a year in which he has also amassed more than 500 runs with the bat.

Root's laborious innings lasted 82 deliveries and nearly two hours.

IRONIC CHEERS

Clarke's decision to attack appeared foolhardy early as the MCG's drop-in pitch offered little help for his seamers, but the pace battery compensated with impressive spells of line and length that saw England's run-rate dip to one run per over in a 10-over period before tea.

The paucity of scoring prompted jeers from the sections of the crowd and Pietersen raised ironic cheers on the few occasions he executed scoring shots.

Siddle had earlier continued Alastair Cook's forgettable series by dismissing the England captain for 27 in the morning, breaking a promising 48-run opening partnership with Carberry.

Australia were rewarded for a sustained period of pressure after the morning's drinks break, when Cook, apparently flustered by a near run-out four balls earlier, was out nicking to Clarke in the slips from a ball he could have left alone.

Harris was unlucky not to take the match's first wicket, when he had Carberry nick behind when on two runs, but a diving Steven Smith put down a difficult chance that he might better have left for second slip Clarke.

England, who have already lost the five-test series 3-0 to surrender the coveted urn, dropped wicketkeeper vice captain Matt Prior, who paid the price for a poor campaign with the bat and behind the stumps.

Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow replaces Prior, with spinner Monty Panesar, as expected, coming in for Graeme Swann, who retired from England and first-class cricket during the week.

England paceman Stuart Broad retains his place despite a doubt over his fitness after he was struck on the foot when dismissed lbw by a searing yorker from Johnson in Perth.

(Editing by John O'Brien)

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Australia capture two wickets but Watson hurt

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A miserly Australian attack captured two wickets to leave England 135 for three at tea on the opening day of the fourth test in Melbourne on Thursday but suffered a blow when all-rounder Shane Watson limped off the ground with a groin injury.

Watson bowled opener Michael Carberry for 38 but pulled up from his run-up in his seventh over and after a short exchange with captain Michael Clarke, trudged off the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of a bulging Boxing Day crowd of more than 90,000.

Kevin Pietersen, under fire for repeatedly throwing away his wicket this series, was caught for six at deep backward square by Nathan Coulter-Nile but the substitute fielder overbalanced and jogged over the boundary rope to grant the South Africa-born batsman a life shortly before tea.

Pietersen survived to reach the break on 20, with Ian Bell adding 11 after number three batsman Joe Root was caught behind for 24 off seamer Ryan Harris.

England resumed on 71-1, having grafted their way through a nervous first session after Clarke sprung a surprise by putting his unchanged team into the field after winning his fourth successive toss of the series.

With morning clouds giving away to brilliant sunshine, Carberry smacked a pair of boundaries to try to break the shackles of a disciplined pace attack but was left ashen-faced when he shouldered arms to a Watson delivery that swung in viciously to clatter into his stumps.

Having faced 103 balls and gritted out nearly two-and-half hours at the crease, the 33-year-old Carberry swung his bat in disgust as he trudged off after another promising start cut short in the series.

Buoyed, Australia's seamers tightened the screws further, with Pietersen needing 13 balls to get off the mark before pulling Siddle for four.

Having never appeared comfortable, a flat-footed Joe Root was caught behind by Haddin, the revitalised wicketkeeper notching his 50th catch in a year in which he has also amassed more than 500 runs with the bat.

Root's laborious innings lasted 82 deliveries and nearly two hours.

IRONIC CHEERS

Clarke's decision to attack appeared foolhardy early as the MCG's drop-in pitch offered little help for his seamers, but the pace battery compensated with impressive spells of line and length that saw England's run-rate dip to one run per over in a 10-over period before tea.

The paucity of scoring prompted jeers from the sections of the crowd and Pietersen raised ironic cheers on the few occasions he executed scoring shots.

Siddle had earlier continued Alastair Cook's forgettable series by dismissing the England captain for 27 in the morning, breaking a promising 48-run opening partnership with Carberry.

Australia were rewarded for a sustained period of pressure after the morning's drinks break, when Cook, apparently flustered by a near run-out four balls earlier, was out nicking to Clarke in the slips from a ball he could have left alone.

Harris was unlucky not to take the match's first wicket, when he had Carberry nick behind when on two runs, but a diving Steven Smith put down a difficult chance that he might better have left for second slip Clarke.

England, who have already lost the five-test series 3-0 to surrender the coveted urn, dropped wicketkeeper vice captain Matt Prior, who paid the price for a poor campaign with the bat and behind the stumps.

Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow replaces Prior, with spinner Monty Panesar, as expected, coming in for Graeme Swann, who retired from England and first-class cricket during the week.

England paceman Stuart Broad retains his place despite a doubt over his fitness after he was struck on the foot when dismissed lbw by a searing yorker from Johnson in Perth.

(Editing by John O'Brien)

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Australia bowl in fourth test, Prior dropped

By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bowl in the fourth Ashes test in Melbourne on Thursday as England captain Alastair Cook confirmed that wicketkeeper and vice captain Matt Prior had been dropped.

Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow replaces Prior, who had been in poor form with the bat and endured a wretched match behind the stumps in the third test in Perth, where Australia sealed the five-test series 3-0 to win back the coveted urn.

"Very difficult decision," Cook said of Prior in a pitchside interview. "We felt a bit of time out of the firing line would do him good."

England have also named spinner Monty Panesar in place of Graeme Swann, who retired from England and first-class cricket during the week.

Clarke, who has not lost a toss in the series, sprung something of a surprise by sending his men into the field on an overcast day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where rain showers are forecast.

The MCG's drop-in wicket generally provides something for the bowling team in the first session but quickly flattens out to become more batsman-friendly as the day and the match progresses.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but we'll bowl. The overhead conditions are good," Clarke said.

"I think there's enough moisture and grass on the wicket.

"I do think it's going to be quite slow so we're going to have to execute well this morning."

The hosts named the same side that won in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, with injury-prone paceman Ryan Harris deemed fit despite suffering knee soreness.

England paceman Stuart Broad retains his place despite a doubt over his fitness after he was struck on the foot when dismissed lbw by a searing yorker from Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson in Perth.

Teams:

Australia - Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon

England - Alastair Cook (captain), Michael Carberry, Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by John O'Brien)

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Australia elect to bowl in Melbourne

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bowl in the fourth Ashes test against England at an overcast Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Australia have already reclaimed the coveted urn after victory in Perth last week gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The hosts named the same side that won in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while England captain Alastair Cook lost his fourth straight toss and confirmed the team had dropped vice captain and wicketkeeper Matt Prior in favour of Jonny Bairstow.

Spinner Monty Panesar also comes in for Graeme Swann, who retired from England and first-class cricket during the week.

Teams:

Australia - Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (captain), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon

England - Alastair Cook (captain), Michael Carberry, Joe Root, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Monty Panesar, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by John O'Brien)

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Australia: Sharks Use Twitter To Warn Swimmers

Sharks in Western Australia swimming close to popular beaches are using Twitter to send warning messages to surfers and swimmers.

The unique project means beach goers can make an informed decision about whether to go in the water knowing a shark is nearby.

Scientists have attached transmitters to more than 320 sharks, including great whites, which monitor their movements up and down the coast.

When a tagged shark swims within about a kilometre of a beach, it triggers an alert which is picked up by computer. That computer then instantly turns the shark's signal into a short message on Surf Life Saving Western Australia's (SLSWA) Twitter feed.

The tweet gives the size and breed of the shark, and its approximate location.

Chris Peck, from SLSWA, told Sky News the system is far quicker than traditional warnings on local radio and in newspapers.

"You might not have got some of that information until the following day in which case the hazard has long gone and the information might not be relevant.

"Now it's instant information and really people don't have an excuse to say we're not getting the information, it's about whether you are searching for it and finding it," he said.

Department of Fisheries principal research scientist, Dr Rory McAuley, said acoustic tags provided knowledge on sharks, as well as alerts.

"These detections and WA’s extensive receiver network are contributing to important research to help the Government to better understand the movements of white sharks through WA waters, as well as playing a major public safety role,” Dr McAuley said.

"The battery life of internal acoustic tags is up to 10 years so the scientific data that may be collected from this shark is unprecedented."

Western Australia is now the world's deadliest place for shark attacks. Surfer Chris Boyd, 35, was killed in November and was the sixth person to die in the region in just two years.

Authorities in the state have patrolled beaches using helicopters and boats for years, but the recent spate of attacks has prompted the local government to look at new ways of trying to prevent incidents.

Ministers have just agreed to a controversial scheme allowing professional fishermen to kill sharks larger than three metres found in certain zones which are used by surfers and beach goers.

And bait will be put out one kilometre off shore to attract and catch sharks during the summer.

State Premier Colin Barnett recently told reporters: "The safety of human life, the safety of beach goers using our marine environment must come first."

It is a move that has angered environmentalists.

Ross Weir, from the group Western Australians for Shark Conservation (WASC), said: "This is a simple knee-jerk reaction, based on zero science.

"It's not going to have any positive benefit for beach goers and their safety and it’s certainly going to have a decimating effect on any great white sharks or other endangered shark species."

Conservationists have said they will consider direct action to disrupt any culling of sharks.

While the chances of being attacked by a shark are minuscule, every incident causes fear, and damages the local economy and tourism.

Whether it is using Twitter, or introducing a cull, Australians are now wrestling with how best to deal with a growing problem.

:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.

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Smith Century Puts Australia On Top

A fine century from Steve Smith and another dogged innings from Brad Haddin helped Australia claim control of the third Ashes Test against England in Perth.

Australia had been on the ropes as they were reduced to 143-5 after opting to bat first on a bouncy WACA pitch - but closed on 326-6.

Haddin and Smith turned the tide with a defiant stand of 124, with the Ashes seemingly slipping out of England's grasp.

Haddin had already registered scores of 94, 53, and 118 in his three innings so far in the series - and he followed these up with a gutsy, if sometimes fortuitous, knock of 55

It wasn't pretty but the wicketkeeper batsman's timely tally came off 100 balls and included five boundaries and a six - before he fell to Ben Stokes in the evening session.

Conversely Smith batted beautifully to reach only his second Test ton, with the 24-year-old remaining unbeaten on 103 at the close.

The sixth-wicket partnership undid a lot of England's good work, as they once again got themselves in a strong position only for the Australia middle order to hit back.

England had been gifted the opening wicket when having hit two boundaries already in Stuart Broad's first over, Chris Rogers decided he'd try and sneak a single to James Anderson at mid-on.

The left-hander put in a full-length dive but was still caught short by the fielder's direct hit at the non-striker's end, leaving Australia at 13-1.

Broad came back for a second spell and got rid of Shane Watson, a full, wide delivery seeing an ambitious front-foot drive being attempted. Yet instead of going through the covers, the ball instead took the edge and was well caught by Graeme Swann at second slip.

David Warner and Michael Clarke - the top two run-scorers in the series - looked much more comfortable, with the scoreboard ticking over thanks to 17 boundaries.

Yet their departures either side of the interval checked the home side's progress. Clarke, who after choosing to bat first in his 100th Test appearance looked to be building another big innings, easing his way to 24 before he paid the price for looking to be aggressive against Swann in the spinner's first over.

Clarke, fresh from being named as the ICC's cricketer of the year and Test cricketer of the year, came down the wicket but could only to cloth an attempted drive low to opposite number Alastair Cook at short mid-wicket.

Warner also perished to Swann, with the opener top edging to Michael Carberry at backward point for 60.

Australia were dealt a further blow when George Bailey's attempts to attack a bouncer from Broad only resulted in him skying a catch out to Kevin Pietersen at deep square leg.

England must have thought that things in the series were finally going their way, however Haddin and Smith had other ideas.

Haddin rode his luck to at times, however England just couldn't find a way to stop him, while Smith continued to keep the pressure on the tourists as he feasted on anything short and was also quick to use his feet to attack Swann, twice launching him for maximums.

Stokes finally got the breakthrough for England, with Haddin mistiming his pull to Anderson at midwicket.

Smith, though, brought up his century off 173 deliveries shortly after - and alongside Mitchell Johnson (39no) he was able to keep the score ticking over.

Johnson, who has been no slouch with the bat this series, brought up the 300 with a boundary straight down the ground off Joe Root.

The duo also saw off the threat of the new ball, with their 59-run stand guiding Australia safely to the close - and leaving England with a mountain to climb.

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Australia fights back, ends days play at 326-6

PERTH (Reuters) - Australia were 326 for six in their first innings at the close of play on the opening day of the third Ashes test against England at the WACA on Friday:

Scores: Australia 326-6 (S. Smith 103 not out, D. Warner 60, B. Haddin 55) v England.

(Editing by Patrick Johnston)

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Australia lower order confounds England again

By David Brett

PERTH (Reuters) - England had boxed Australia into a corner in the first innings of the third Ashes test in Perth on Friday, but not for the first time in the series the home side came out fighting and the tourists were unable to throw a knockout punch.

The rally from Australia's middle-to-lower order was reminiscent of their recovery in the first test in Brisbane and is becoming a common theme under the pugnacious leadership of coach Darren Lehmann.

"It's disappointing we can't finish teams off, which we've got a good record of doing," England's bowling coach David Saker told reporters.

In the first innings in each of the tests in this series so far, Australia's numbers five to eight batsmen average a combined 192, compared with England's 112.

Facing this kind of lower-order resistance, it is no wonder that England are staring down the barrel of a third successive defeat and the return of the Ashes to their fiercest cricketing rival.

"No doubt we let it slip," Saker added. "It's probably not the first time this series as well we've had them on the ropes to a degree and we haven't finished the job."

The partnerships blunted England's bowling attack, which wilted in the extreme heat, and put Australia into a potentially dominant position.

In Brisbane Australia were 132 for six before posting 295 all out. In Adelaide they were 174 for four and 257 five before declaring on 509 for nine.

In Perth they slumped to 143 for five until Steve Smith (103 not out), wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (55) and paceman Mitchell Johnson (39 not out) helped Australia to the close on 326 for six.

"It was a pretty tough part of the game. They'd taken a few wickets and were pretty high so to dig through there and get through a few of their big bowlers spells and cash in late in the game, that was the plan," Smith said.

The Aussie number five added that his first test century on home soil was up there with the best in his career and relieved a bit of pressure coming into this game.

Haddin's contribution should not be ignored. The keeper has not scored less than 50 in each of his four innings in the series and now averages 80 for the three matches.

Add the brute force of Johnson batting at number eight and it is not hard to see why England continue to have a mountain to climb.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)

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