Day one of the second Ashes test from the home of cricket once again was riveting viewing that represented the very best of what Test cricket is about. After being introduced to the Queen of England both sides could lay claim to having the best of this day whilst rueing missed opportunities.

Here are my 5 main talking points arising from day one:

The Shermanator rises

Ian Bell came to the wicket with England in significant trouble but batted with such ease that he could have been having a net. He was very good at Trent Bridge but this innings was more complete with shots to all parts of the ground. Now joins illustrious company having scored hundreds in three consecutive Ashes tests.

Ryan Harris: bionic man

There are two camps of Australian cricket followers: those who think he is the best bowler in the country and those who think he is just an injury liability. Last night we saw again what the former have been harping on about. It was a trademark performance from Harris: length bowling with some swing and aggression. All eyes now point to how he comes up tomorrow.

Trott: another bad shot

If Ian Bell’s innings looked like a net then, right up until he got out, Jonathan Trott’s 58 had look of an innings played again schoolboys such was his control of the conditions and his opposition. That is right up until he got out top edging a hook shot to deep square leg. After letting two hundreds go begging via inopportune stroke play, it is obvious that a big hundred is around the corner for the English number 3.

Captain Courageous strikes

Say what you like about Michael Clarke’s off field management of the team, on the field there are few better tacticians in the game. Always prepared to try things three bowling changes during the first day reaped immediate results for the man many say has a more important job than Kevin Rudd. The move to bring on Watson in the fifth over was equal parts bold and brilliant given the result and when he rode his luck and tossed the ball to Steve Smith, it was a move that evened the ledger for the day.

Will the real James Pattinson please stand up?

I am an unabashed fan of the way James Pattinson bowls and goes about his cricket. It would not be hyperbole to say that his 18 overs on day one where probably his worst in international cricket. Variously full and wide, short and wide and, consecutively, just wide it was a woeful day for the Victorian. To avoid being tarred with the “Mitchell Johnson brush” he must improve on Day 2.

Final synopsis:

The fortunes of the teams ebbed and flowed throughout the day with both well and truly on top at various points. At 7/289 both teams, I suspect, would have been satisfied without being overjoyed with their day’s work.

Day 2 beckons with a perfect pitch and conditions akin to a heat wave hitting London. If Australia can rest the three remaining English scalps in the first hour and remain with all of their wickets intact at lunch they will be in the box seat.