1. Up For Review
Nice gentle start for the review system yesterday. Bit trickier today, but it stood up to it well despite misplaced English grumblings. Simon Katich got one horribly wrong in the field yesterday but was dead right to go to review this morning after being given out leg-before when the ball was going well over the top. Only Billy Doctrove knows whether that setback convinced him to keep his hand in his pocket when Shane Watson was the subject of a far more convincing appeal a few overs later which England took to review only to learn it wasn't hitting quite enough of leg stump. No complaints with the decision, but I do feel it's harsh for a team to lose a review when denied by an amber 'umpire's call' light on the lbw traffic light system. It's basically an acknowledgement that the decision was too close to call, so no-one should be punished for taking such a decision to review: the limit is there to prevent frivolous use of the system, and England were not guilty of that here.

As for the Michael Clarke caught behind, there was some lively debate on Twitter, with most thinking England had been hard done to. But the decision was quite correct. No compelling evidence from Hot Spot, Snicko (which is not part of the UDRS in any case) or anything else to suggest a clear on-field error. Plus the umpire was Aleem Dar, who is more accurate than any mere machine. He's still got a perfect record in this match when taken to review.

2. Pull The Other One
Mike Hussey was a man under pressure coming into the series but, after almost nicking his first ball to slip, he was hugely impressive as he guided Australia out of trouble and back to calm waters. But did he play himself into form or did England do it for him? In a boundary-laden innings he scored 10 of them with the pull shot. Almost half his runs. Not good if you're an England bowler. Or Alastair Cook at short-leg.

3. Finncredible
Not a bad way to get your first Ashes wicket. Never easy to take a low catch in your followthrough, and it only gets harder when you're six-foot-eight. I imagine. His smart low grab after checking his momentum and diving forward was the highlight of a good day for England in the field. Catches were held smartly - Paul Collingwood making a difficult slip catch off Graeme Swann look routine - and the ground fielding was generally secure.

4. Boo Boys?
No great surprise as Ricky Ponting was booed to the crease at the fall of the first wicket this morning: we're all used to the tiresome antics of the Barmy Army. But what was a surprise was the fact that a great many of those jeering were wearing the green and gold. For a growing section of the Aussie support, it seems, the time has come for Ponting to call time on his glorious batting career and mediocre captaincy career. A legside strangle for just 10 won't help him much either.

5. Seize The Moment
Australia have the edge after two days of this fascinating first Test match, but their advantage is not yet decisive. These may not be vintage England or Australia sides but the early indications are that they will serve up five captivating, interesting, exciting and - above all - close Test matches over the coming weeks. As much as anything because neither side is quite good or confident enough to completely seize control when the opportunity presents itself. England couldn't capitalise on winning the toss. Australia couldn't capitalise on bowling England out cheaply and getting off to a good start. England couldn't capitalise on running through the middle order. There's every chance Australia won't capitalise on their current position.

Dave Tickner