sydney five-fer: day one

Pietersen gives it away in Sydney.

By Dave Tickner

1. Starts
As well as he played, Ian Bell admitted after the first day's play that another score between 50 and 100 meant it was ultimately a frustrating day for the Warwickshire batsman. He now has six half-centuries against Australia and has failed to convert any of them into three-figure scores. It's been a problem for all England's players in this series with only three centuries scored by the tourists in the series so far. Here, all the batsmen have got in, but the top four have all got out before making a telling contribution. Whether Paul Collingwood and Andrew Flintoff can convert their starts on day two will go a long way towards deciding the outcome of this Test match.

2. Kevin Pietersen
Showed why England are right to finally shift him up the order to number four, but then showed why he remains a frustrating cricketer. After getting away with a top-edged hook earlier in the over, it was astonishing to see Pietersen repeat the shot and lob the ball up for Mike Hussey at midwicket. We have to accept that the nature of his play means Pietersen will occasionally fall when well set, but it was particualrly brainless to try and get out the same way twice in the same over.

3. Andrew Flintoff
He may only have 42 runs to his name, but the England captain belatedly looks to have regained some sembalnce of the batting form that delighted crowds in 2005. A huge six over midwicket had Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting exchanging worried glances in the slips. While it's come far too late to have any bearing on this series, it's a relief to see him come out of the batting slump that has dogged him throughout the series.

4. Glenn McGrath
He may not have scriptwriters quite as good as Warne's, but he's already made what could prove a telling contribution in the final analyses, removing Bell and Pietersen in successive overs to put England once again on the back foot. It may have been a largely frustrating day for Pigeon, but the ball to get Bell in particular was a cracker that shows how much Australia will miss his ability to change a game that appears to be meandering.

5. Shane Warne
Strangely disappointing, with an unusually high percentage of long-hops and full-tosses on a wicketless day. With people questioning Warne's retirement after five wickets on day one in Melbourne, perhaps the great leggie was just trying to show us all that he is as usual absolutely correct to make the decision he has.