Featured image courtesy of AFP
Catching up on the first day of coverage from this year’s tension and scandal fraught Ashes, the first link I found was the Australian coverage on the team’s official website. As England’s batting order predictably collapsed, and new skipper Pat Cummins took his fourth and the team’s eighth wicket of Ollie Robinson for England’s third duck, the commentator proclaimed ‘The captain’s having a day out’, and I don’t think anything sums up the first day more aptly.
The optimists among us may have waited with bated breath as Mitchell Starc came pounding down towards a twitchy Rory Burns in the early hours of this morning. Perhaps Burns and some of the other developing English batsmen will seize the initiative and put up a good score? Maybe the drama and scandal of Tim Paine and his eventual resignation potentially leaves a gap in leadership and direction for this Australian team that can be exploited? England have the best Test batsmen in the world in the form of his life, and the return of last year’s best All-Rounder returning, why shouldn’t we dare to dream? Well, dreams collided with reality as Starc’s opening ball; a late-swinging half volley that if Burns had been less under pressure, and more confident in his stroke play, could have dispatched, but which instead took out his off-stump.
The dream quickly started to become a nightmare, as Australia’s ruthless and brilliant attack of Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc; arguably at the peak of their powers, rattled through much of England’s top and middle order. Next to be taken was Dawid Malan, recently called back to the squad against India having been dropped in 2018, he was forced to play at and nick a great ball from Josh Hazlewood, giving new Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey his first test-match catch. And as England fans will tell you, it dragged on; Hazlewood got Root caught behind with a quick in-swinger, Cummins got in on the party by first similarly taking Stokes, and then remaining England opener Hameed at the beginning of the second session who fought hard for his 25, leaving England at 60-5.
Pope and Buttler then led a short fightback, taking England past embarrassment and into three figures, with Buttler in particularly playing some confident and aggressive shots, giving us some hope that he can revivify his performances with the bat. The lower order showed some resistance, with Woakes playing some nice drives on the off side, before Cummins completed his ‘day out’ in style, taking all three of the final wickets, and finishing with figures of 5/38.
While at times it seemed like a training session for Australia’s attack, it must be said that this was expected, with both teams suffering from a lack of first-class cricket practice before the series, as torrential downpour cancelled games across southeast Queensland. This showed in the style of England’s performance, playing with a certain timidity, poking the bat at balls without conviction, and giving away cheap wickets at a canter. The challenge for England is to replicate the ferocity and mercilessness of the Australian attack, they have the talent to pile the pressure on, it’s just a question of will and not letting any chances escape the team.
England will feel aggrieved to be without James Anderson, his age and poor record at the Gabba meaning his performance at this Ashes is limited at this stage. England are also without the talent and prowess of Jofra Archer, the only bowler to get under Steve Smith’s skin in a battle for the ages two years ago, as in a famous duel Archer bowled ripsnorter after ripsnorter, not allowing Smith to play his game, before eventually forcing his retirement as a 92-mph struck Smith dangerously on the neck.
However, this is sport, and everything is to play for; England must go into the second innings with a confident sense of urgency, taking the game to Australia, and putting the batsmen under pressure. In Robinson, Wood and Woakes England have a formidable pace attack, with Leach and Stokes providing spin and pace backup respectively, and even captain Root taking 5/8 against India this Summer, there could be wicket contributions across the team to be had. With the suspect weather forecast, the pressure on a post-Paine Australia, and a similarly unpracticed squad, England could make some headway in the second day; and if Robinson and Wood can lead the charge and start well, this could still be a very competitive test match.
