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

AJ Strauss scored 52 in this test providing the 204^th occasion of an England opening batsman scoring a half century against Australia. His 52 in this test represents his fourth half century as England’s captain-cum-opening batsman – 69 at Birmingham in Jul 2009 : 55 at The Oval in Aug 2009 and 75 at The Oval in Aug 2009.

He became the sixth England captain-cum-opening batsman to score four or more half centuries against England. Others are – MA Atherton {09} : GA Gooch {05} : WG Grace {05} : L Hutton {04} and AC MacLaren {04}

MA Atherton {09} : GA Gooch {07} : AC MacLaren {06} and AJ Strauss {06} are the four England captain-cum-opening batsmen who have scored six or more fifties against Australia.

AJ Strauss’s 52 in this test provide the 16^th fifty as England’s captain-cum-opening batsman. MA Atherton {30} and GA Gooch {25} are the other England captain-cum-opening batsmen who have scored 16 or more fifties.

AJ Strauss’s 52 in this test represent his 22^nd test half century and 41^st fifty. IR Bell’s 53 in this test provide his 26^th test half century and 37^th fifty.

AJ Strauss with his 52 in this test registered his 16th fifty while leading England. Other England captains to score 15 or more fifties are – MA Atherton {30} : GA Gooch {27} : PBH May {25} : N Hussain {22} : MP Vaughan {22} : ER Dexter {21} and DI Gower {15}

MG Johnson captured 6 for 38 in this test providing the 119^th occasion of an Australian bowler capturing six or more wickets against England. His figures represents the eighth occasion of his capturing five or more wickets in a test innings. Other seven occasions are – 8 for 61 vs South Africa at Perth in Dec 2008 : 6 for 73 vs New Zealand at Hamilton in Mar 2010 : 5 for 39 vs New Zealand at Brisbane in Nov 2008 : 5 for 64 vs India at Mohali in Oct 2010 : 5 for 69 vs England at Leeds in Aug 2009 and 5 for 103 vs West Indies at Adelaide in Dec 2009

MG Johnson’s 6 for 38 in this test is his best innings bowling effort against England. It was an improvement over his pervious best of 5 for 69 at Leeds in Aug 2009

KP Pietersen and JM Anderson scored zeroes in this game providing the 638^th and 639^th occasion of England batsman scoring ducks against Australia. Their ducks represent the 40^th and 41^st occasion of England batsman scoring ducks in a test innings at Perth.

MG Johnson scored 62 and captured 6 for 38 in this test to provide the 20^th occasion of ean Australian cricketer scoring a fifty and capturing five or more wickets in an innings in the same test against England.

MJ Johnson became the third Australian crickets to score a fifty and capture five or more wickets in a test against England at Perth. The other two are – GF Lawson – 50 and 5 for 108 in Nov 1986 and SR Waugh – 71 and 5 for 69 in Nov 1986

SR Watson’s 61 not out at the end of the second day of the test provide the 357^th occasion of an Australian batsman scoring a fifty in Australia’s second innings against England.

RT Ponting was dismissed for one in the second innings of this test providing the second occasion of his dismissal for one against England. The other occasion was at Nottingham in Aug 2005

RT Ponting was dismissed for one in the second innings of this test providing the 16th occasion of an Australian captain dismissed for one against England. RT Ponting has been dimissed twice for one when he was leading Australia against England – at Nottingham on 25.08.05 and at Perth in Dec 2010. He became the fourth Australian captain to be dismissed for one on two or more occasions. Others are – HL Collins {03} : SE Gregory {02} and MA Taylor {02}

SR Watson’s 61 not out in the second innings of this test provide his 14^th test half century and 16^th fifty.