It took me over an hour to get to where I was supposed to; when I got there I found out that the morning session of the 3rd Ashes test had also been greeted by rain.

I waited all afternoon for play to start; when it finally did, I was shocked.

I was shocked to see the news that Phil Hughes dropped from the side!

Hughes had a dream debut series against South Africa and after just two below par performances in this Ashes series, he finds himself dropped.

I never thought that the Australian team could act like the Pakistan one who have hardly shown patience with their openers in recent times.

Having said that, Australia got off to a great start courtesy Shane Watson and Simon Katich.

Maybe Hughes would not have provided a similar start but I still don't think he deserved to be dropped.

His replacement however, Watson, was impressive. He played a few lovely strokes. Katich's cameo was a surprise though; I have never seen him play so aggressively. In test cricket atleast.

Australia are off to a flying start in this 3rd test; while I am too with my first day in the UK giving me a taste of both the rain and the bright sunshine.

It is amazing how quickly the weather changes within minutes here. Almost as quickly as Pakistan's cricketers change shades!

After Day 1, I was of the opinion that England were ahead; today Ricky Ponting and Simon Katich have ensured that Australia are definitely ahead.

A result is still possible I believe. Don't rule out an Australian lead and an English collapse; its happened way too often in the past.

Particularly in the first tests of an Ashes series.

Speaking of first Ashes series tests, here are my two-bits from Day 2:

And some hearsay.