Australia vs England – Third Test at Perth in Dec 2010 : First day’s play

England won the toss and elected to field providing the 24^th occasion of England doing so against Australia. The last occasion when England inserted Australia was at Brisbane in Nov 2002. England’s act provides the second such occasion at Perth, the first occasion was in Dec 1979.

England has won three tests, lost 14 tests and six tests ended in a draw when England has inserted Australia in the previous 23 tests.

RT Ponting’s aggregate at the first innings of this test stood at 6511. He became the third captain in the annals of test cricket to total 6500 runs. Others are – GC Smith {6708} and AR Border {6623}

RT Ponting has an aggregate of 945 runs at the end of his first innings at Perth. He has the record for most runs scored by a batsman at Perth.

MJ Prior completed his 100 catches while keeping wickets when he caught MJ Clarke of Tremlett for 4. At the end of the first day of this test, he had pouched 101 catches. He became the 32^nd wicket keeper in the annals of test cricket to pouch 100 plus catches. He is the eight England wicket keepers to achieve the milestone. Others are – APE Knott {250} : AJ Stewart {227} : TG Evans {173} : RW Taylor {167} : RC Russell {153} : GO Jones {128} and JM Parks {101}

MEK Hussey {61}, BJ Haddin {53} and MG Johnson {62} scored half centuries in the first innings of this test which swelled the number of half centuries scored by Australian batsman against England to 662. With these three half centuries the number of half centuries scored by Australian batsman against England in Australia stands at 369.

MEK Hussey’s 64 in this game represents his 24^th half century and 36^th fifty : BJ Haddin’s 53 in this game represents his seventh test half century and 10^th fifty : MG Johnson’s 63 in this game represents his fifth test half century and sixth fifty.

BJ Haddin’s 53 in this game provide the 51^st occasion of a wicket keeper batsman scoring a fifty against England.

BJ Haddin’s 53 in the first innings provides the fifth fifty against England – 121 at Cardiff in Jul 2009 : 80 at Lord’s in Jul 2009 : 136 at Brisbane in Nov 2010 : 56 at Adelaide in Dec 2010 and 53 at Perth in Dec 2010. He became the fourth Australian wicket keeper batsman to score five or more fifties against England. Others are – RW Marsh {10} : AC Gilchrist {09} and IA Healey {08}

With three wickets in the first innings, JM Anderson has an aggregate of 199 test wickets. He requires one more wicket for his 200 test wickets. JM Anderson’s 199 wickets have come in his 100 innings.