Five alive for Panesar

Monty Panesar takes to the air after capturing the wicket of Justin Langer © Getty Images

Buy this photo

View photo story

Monty Panesar made a stunning impact on his maiden Ashes appearance with a five-wicket haul as England’s new-look attack plunged Australia into trouble in the crucial third Test in Perth.

He was part of an impressive response from an England side demoralised by their final day defeat in the previous Test at the Adelaide Oval.

But by the close of the opening day Australia had hit back by reducing the tourists to a worrying 51 for two with opener Alastair Cook and Ian Bell both out.

Panesar’s absence from the opening two Tests sparked much heated debate in both countries.

Given a belated chance to impress, the left-arm spinner claimed 5-92 as Australia were bowled out for 244 despite winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

Panesar's figures represented the best figures by an England spinner at the WACA, while Steve Harmison marked his return to form with 4-48, welcome reward for the pace bowler after the many hours he has spent in the nets rediscovering his rhythm and confidence.

Panesar was chosen ahead of fellow left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and never looked back after claiming a wicket with his seventh ball in Ashes cricket to dismiss opener Justin Langer.

He built on that encouraging start to rip through the lower order and cap an impressive response by the tourists, who suffered a heart-breaking final-day defeat in the previous Test.

Losses in Adelaide and Brisbane prompted England to take action and, in addition to dropping Giles, they replaced James Anderson with Lancashire team-mate Sajid Mahmood for his first outing of the series.

Australia began like a side brimming with confidence, Langer and Matthew Hayden putting on 47 for the first wicket in only 11 overs as both players hit a flurry of boundaries.

Australia's adventurous approach, however, proved their downfall, although it took a ball of the highest quality from Matthew Hoggard to account for Hayden, a full delivery which swung into the left-hander before darting away off the seam and catching the outside edge.

Matthew Hoggard strikes early by removing Matthew Hayden for a brisk 24 © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Hayden's demise for 24 off 33 balls brought about the arrival of the in-form Ponting, who hit centuries in both the previous Tests but this time failed to fire.

Captain Andrew Flintoff had introduced spearhead Harmison into the attack in the 10th over of the innings and his hard work with bowling coach Kevin Shine appeared to be paying off as he ran in with a greater purpose and fluency.

Harmison's reward for his greater control was the key wicket of Ponting in his third over, trapping him lbw for two.

England could have made further inroads six overs later when Harmison induced Langer into a push outside off stump, but Flintoff failed to hold on to an immensely difficult one-handed chance low to his right at second slip.

Langer was on 28 at the time but added only nine more before falling in the final over prior to lunch, Panesar striking with the first ball of his second over, what turned out to be the last before lunch.

Pushing forward defensively, Langer played for spin that never came to be bowled off stump.

Australia fought back after the interval, with Mike Hussey and Clarke forging a determined 52-run stand spanning 16 overs.

They were both happy to keep the scoreboard ticking over with singles until Clarke became more ambitious and mistimed an attempted pull which was well held by Harmison in his follow-through.

Steve Harmison savours having Michael Clarke caught and bowled © Getty Images

Buy this photo

All-rounder Symonds - playing his first Test in a year following the shock retirement of Damien Martyn - attempted an aggressive counter-attack.

Symonds hammered two sixes and a four off one over from Panesar and, with Hussey impressively rotating the strike, the pair added 50 off just 51 balls.

But Symonds became Panesar’s second victim when he edged a cut to wicket-keeper Geraint Jones, who took a lunging catch at the second attempt.

Gilchrist was also dismissed before tea, pushing forward to offer a bat-pad chance.

It looped over Bell at short leg but the fielder made good ground before holding on to a diving effort that handed England a further boost heading into the final session.

Shane Warne played in a similar manner to Symonds, hitting 25 off only 23 balls before falling in an identical fashion, and Brett Lee was given leg before to a ball that pitched in line and straightened.

Hussey remained the mainstay of the innings, and was left stranded on 74 as Harmison knocked back Stuart Clark’s off stump before having Glenn McGrath taken at silly mid off by Alastair Cook.

England began their reply positively with a 36-run stand in only six overs but that partnership was ended with the loss of two wickets in six balls, Cook edging Glenn McGrath low to gully and Ian Bell nicking Brett Lee behind for a duck.

Opener Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood saw England through to the close, although the Durham batsman was lucky to survive when Shane Warne dropped him at first slip in Stuart Clark’s opening over.