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Graeme Swann has revealed that England's top batsmen accept they have given the Australians the initiative in the opening Ashes Test by failing to score centuries.
Six of England's top seven batsmen got promising starts to their first innings before throwing their wickets away in disappointing fashion.
Kevin Pietersen, in particular, caused controversy when his wicket fell at 69 while he was attempting an outrageous sweep shot which went horribly wrong.
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Paul Collingwood reached 64 before he fell and Matt Prior's innings collapsed when he was on 56.
It was left to Aussie duo Simon Katich and his captain Ricky Ponting to show them how it was done by both scoring hundreds to put their team in the driving seat on 249 for one at the end of day two.
Although England's first innings total of 435 was competitive following an impressive performance by the tailend batsmen, Katich and Ponting made batting look easy on a benign Sophia Gardens pitch - leaving Andrew Strauss' men to wonder what might have been.
Swann, who batted well, notching up an unbeaten 47, but struggled to find any spin when bowling, said: "If you look down our scorecard, nearly everyone got themselves in, but failed to go on.
"The big occasion probably got to us a little bit. We knew we had to have a good morning, which we did.
"We are a very honest dressing room, and a couple of our guys realise they should have gone on and got hundreds.The only hundred that was truly denied was mine, as I ran out of partners!"
After Swann and Co had delighted the Cardiff crowd yesterday morning, Andrew Flintoff lifted spirits further by claiming the wicket of Australia's exciting young opening batsman Phillip Hughes following a brilliant spell of quick, hostile bowling.
But England's bowlers failed to make any further breakthrough with Katich and Ponting deflating the home team as Australia struck back in emphatic style during the afternoon.
There were also worries last night about the fitness of Stuart Broad who was unable to bowl after tea because of a calf strain.
The Nottinghamshire paceman will be reassesed this morning to make sure he has recovered sufficiently.
Reader views (1)
There is one word that describes England's batting. It's "irresponsible". This is best described by Pieterson's dismissal. He claims that his shot was fine and it was unlucky that it hit his helmet on the way to being caught. He still telegraphed the shot to the bowler who changed the delivery angle thus making the sweep all the more difficult. To many got starts and didn't go on. They played like a one day side.
- Bleeding Heart Liberal, London, 10/07/2009 10:39
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