Proper Test cricket

The Sydney pitch looks a bit bumpy from this angle

Sydney Day 2: Australia 280 all out, England 167 for 3

With improved weather in Sydney, we were treated to a full day of "proper" Test cricket - over 300 runs, 9 wickets and the balance of power fluctuating regularly between two committed sides. By the end of the second day, England hold a slim advantage but this could easily be eroded by a couple of quick wickets tomorrow morning.

After the adulation of Khawaja yesterday, which continued in this morning's newspapers, it is now the turn of Michael Beer, Austalia's new left arm spinner, to earn the plaudits for an impressive first spell of bowling in Test cricket. Which earned him and Australia precisely no wickets. Harsh again? In this case yes, as everyone in the ground thought he had earned his first Test wicket by dismissing prolific England opener Alastair Cook - until the technology showed that he had overstepped the no-ball line. Even English hearts must have felt for the debutant Beer at that moment. But rules are rules and are there to be enforced - as any member of the security personnel employed at Australia's cricket grounds will tell you. Regularly.

England started the day impressively and reduced Australia to 189 for 8 before Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus put together an unlikely but highly effective 9th wicket partnership which went on far too long for England's liking. Their final total of 280 is - unbelievably - the highest innings in the series by a team batting first. Whether it is enough to be competitive remains to be seen, but it was certainly a much better effort than in Melbourne and the wagging tail (incorporating a fine fifty by Johnson) invited many a comparison with Perth - the scene of Australia's only win to date.

Though the forecast sun had not yet materialised by the time England batted, captain Strauss got off to a flyer and soon registered his fifty at a run a ball. His partnership with Cook had reached 98 when he was surprisingly bowled by the innocuous Hilfenhaus. England then proceeded to donate two further wickets to Johnson, Trott dragging on a ball which would have comfortably missed off stump and KP hooking horribly down long leg's throat after an otherwise disciplined innings.

So it's still all to play for here. England, only 113 runs behind with 7 wickets in hand, will fancy their chances of forcing a first innings lead of around 80-100 which could prove critical on a pitch which will increasingly favour Graeme Swann's spin bowling. But today's fluctuating fortunes showed that it is never quite that simple, so expect another day of twists and turns tomorrow before a likely winner of this Test emerges.