CRICKET NEWS: AUSTRALIA RECOVERED from another disrupted start to an Edgbaston Ashes clash and enjoyed their best start of the series during a rain-hit opening day to the third Test.

Four years on from the turning point of the 2005 Ashes series, when Glenn McGrath turned his ankle stepping on a ball during the warm-up, the tourists suffered an even more unsettling start on their return to Birmingham.

It began with opener Phillip Hughes leaking the news he had been dropped when his manager posted the news on his Twitter account several hours before the scheduled start of play.

They also lost wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who suffered a suspected broken left-ring finger during the warm-up and had to ask the permission of England’s management and match referee Jeff Crowe to replace him with reserve Graham Manou after the toss had been made.

But Australia responded aggressively to their ills to reach 126 for one by the close of an opening day truncated to 30 overs by rain with makeshift opener Shane Watson hitting an unbeaten 62.

The success of Watson, who had never previously batted higher than number six for Australia in a Test match, solved an immediate problem at the top of the order as Hughes battles to overcome his weakness against the short ball.

Forced to wait for his unexpected chance by rain delaying the start until 5pm, Watson was given an immediate opportunity by captain Ricky Ponting winning the toss and deciding to bat first.

From the moment James Anderson provided him with a wide delivery to claim his first boundary with a cover drive in the fifth over, Watson remained intent on punishing any loose deliveries from England’s attack.

That was particularly true of Durham seamer Graham Onions, whose arrival in the attack was greeted by successive boundaries.

Simon Katich was equally positive and also hit Stuart Broad for two boundaries in his first over of the day. Those aggressive shots helped Australia celebrate their best opening stand of the series – overhauling the 60 added by Katich and Hughes during the opening Test in Cardiff.

With the final ball of his first over off-spinner Graeme Swann dismissed Katich four short of his half-century when he missed an attempted pull.

Edgbaston Scoreboard

Australia First Innings Close

S Watson not out 62

S Katich lbw b Swann 46

R Ponting not out 17

Extraslb1 pens 0 1

Total1 wkt (30 overs) 126

Fall of wickets: 1-85 .

To Bat: M Hussey, M Clarke, M North, G Manou, M Johnson, N Hauritz, B Hilfenhaus, P Siddle.

Bowling: Anderson 10-0-45-0; Flintoff 9-2-31-0; Onions 3-0-21-0; Broad 6-1-24-0; Swann 2-0-4-1.