Adelaide - Arab Today
Australian batsman Michael Clarke (C)
Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin whisked Australia off to a breezy start to the second day of the second Ashes Test against England on Friday. Runs came easily for the senior Australian pair with little threat posed from the England bowlers
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Both batsmen average over 100 in Tests at the ground and added 66 runs in the opening hour of play.
At first hour drinks, Australia had rushed from an overnight 273 for five to 339 for five with Clarke on 90 and Haddin adding support on 31.
Clarke was nearing his sixth century in nine Adelaide Tests and looked in consummate batting touch on the second morning.
Michael Carberry, who dropped Haddin late on the first day, again gave the Australia wicketkeeper another "life".
Clarke darted off for a quick single off Monty Panesar and Carberry's throw from behind the wicket was wide and wicketkeeper Matt Prior could not effect the run out of Haddin on 18.
Haddin hoicked Graeme Swann over deep mid-wicket and fielder Joe Root's head for six to move into the thirties.
Haddin had another big moment when he hooked Jimmy Anderson only for Panesar to be too slow to take the chance at long leg.
The Australia and England teams wore black armbands and paid their respects to Nelson Mandela before the start of the play.
Mandela, South Africa's first black president and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, died Thursday aged 95.
Source: AFP