Brisbane Test, Day 2
Friday, November 8, 2002

England have done everything they had to do today. It was never going to be easy, but they stuck at their task and made the most of some early success. Matthew Hayden didn't really look switched on this morning, but it was a fired-up performance from England's bowlers, and the fact that they got it right this time was no coincidence. A high percentage of the time, when you're fired and focused, you get the balls in the right area.

The bowlers gave Steve Waugh a fair working-over, and that was a plan they formulated on the last Ashes tour. It's obvious to Stephen what he's going to be up against this series, and he'll have to counteract it. Otherwise, it's maybe time to say goodbye to the game.

Michael Vaughan looked very good for his innings. He's well-organised and well-prepared, and you can see the plans in action as he bats – he's out there to hit the ball. He watches every ball very clearly, gets into a good position and has all the shots ready to go. He's making batting look simple. Forget Warne or McGrath, it's the ball that gets you out, not the bowler. At the moment he's very clear on that fact.

Marcus Trescothick had a very rough start while Vaughan was smashing the ball everywhere at the other end, but he's known and admired for his temperament and he stuck at it. He's better organised now with his feet moving well, and he played Warne very effectively indeed. Whenever the ball is in the zone – even outside off stump – he's got that slog-sweep over midwicket and he's driving well against the spin. And then, when the ball drops short, out comes the cut shot. He's got all the weapons to do well tomorrow.

Jason Gillespie looks like he's had a bit of an injury scare. He remained on the field so that he can run in and bowl first thing tomorrow morning, but the Aussies are being very cautious with him. They have a pretty conservative medical team, though, so I doubt he's been rushed back from his calf injury too early. More likely is that he's feeling a bit of residual soreness from all the fitness work he's had to do.

In his absence Stephen chipped in with an over or two – I thought he added a bit of variety – but Australia may well need to mix it up a bit tomorrow. Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn … they might all have some work to do on a good batting track. Let's hope not if you're an Australian supporter!

England have been here before, though – they've had good days against Australia, then allowed it all to go wrong. But I believe this side, with the likes of Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart still to come, has the psychological strength to avoid a batting collapse tomorrow. There's no assistance for the bowlers, no sideways movement at all for McGrath. All Australia can do is play flat-track cricket and wait for the cracks to open up.

England's batsmen, and England in general, are up for a fight.

Ian Healy, who kept wicket for Australia in six winning Ashes series, will be providing his Expert View at the end of each day's play in the Tests. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

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