"Ashes Awakening: The Intensifying Challenge for Australian Cricket"sports,cricket,Australiancricket,AshesAwakening,challenge
"Ashes Awakening: The Intensifying Challenge for Australian Cricket"

“Ashes Awakening: The Intensifying Challenge for Australian Cricket”

12 minutes, 22 seconds Read
Australia Faces Realities of Bazball after Blistering Batting Display and Pre-stumps Declaration from England

In a wild opening day of the Ashes, it was England who did all the attacking. The hosts scored at more than five runs an over before a bold declaration from Ben Stokes.

Defensive fields may continue to be necessary as Australia accepts that keeping England to five runs per over could be a pass mark during the Ashes. On a remarkable opening day to the series at Edgbaston, England posted almost 400 at better than five runs per over then made a pre-stumps declaration before David Warner survived an early salvo from nemesis Stuart Broad.

Joe Root’s unbeaten 118 – his 30th Test ton and first Ashes century since 2015 – led England to 8-393 when Ben Stokes declared after just 78 overs, with the Aussies making it to stumps at 0-14 through four overs. England had been 5-176 before a 121-run stand between Root and Jonny Bairstow (78 from 78) shifted the balance of the game back in the hosts’ direction. Nathan Lyon took 4-149 from 29 overs as all of Australia’s bowlers went at more than four runs per over on a flat wicket.

Australian captain Pat Cummins spread the field from the start of the day, generally positioning at least three men on the boundary to deal with England’s high-octane Bazball approach. Returning paceman Josh Hazlewood (2-61 from 15) said the Aussies were getting their heads around how to handle such a dynamic opponent.

“I think from a bowling front, things went pretty well. Obviously there’s things we’d change, looking back, and we’ll probably dig into that more tomorrow at some stage but it’s a different way of going about it. We had different fields at different stages. Some worked, some probably didn’t,” Hazlewood said.

“I think probably the line we bowled (was a touch off). In England you’re probably thinking to keep on that fourth and fifth stump and keep looking for the outside edge, when the wicket probably dictated not that.

“We had to change our game plan I guess a fair bit and come straighter, and we were probably just in between bowling straight and really setting that field and staying there and really bowling that line and length channel. So it’s just about jumping into that and really going all in on that I think, which we probably should have a little bit earlier, and really stuck to it for longer.”

Despite England’s rapid scoring rate, Hazlewood said the day had ended with honours even.

“We’ve got to start to look at things a little bit differently I guess, and not so much look at strike rates and economies and things like that. It’s just about wickets and the score and if we can keep it as simple as that I think that’ll go a long way to wrapping our heads around the new Ashes,” Hazlewood said.

“There’s a lot more ones probably, but if we shut down the boundaries then the score doesn’t really go through the roof at sevens and eights. If we can keep them at five an over and keep taking wickets throughout the day, that somewhat keeps them in check.

“It’s just about getting our heads around it as a bowling group, that the fields are out from ball one almost.

“The wicket was, not a great deal in it, very very slow, not much sideways movement or swing or anything.”

FIVE KEY MOMENTS FROM DAY ONE

FREAK DISMISSAL
It was Lyon’s 489th Test wicket and few could have been more unusual. Harry Brook shouldered arms to the off-spinner, with the ball ricocheting off the England batter’s thigh pad, over his shoulder, deflecting off his leg and onto the stumps to end a quickfire 32.

HEAD CASE
Brook had raced to 24 when he looked to guide a wide one from Scott Boland towards the deep third man boundary. The shot was misplaced, but Brook got a life when Travis Head spilled the chance. Head missed a regulation ground ball to allow a boundary moment later, and eventually received ironic cheers when he fielded cleanly.

UMPIRE STRUGGLES
It wasn’t a great day for umpires Marais Erasmus or Ashan Raza. Between the two of them they had three decisions overturned on review. But the Aussies could kick themselves too, not even appealing after Zak Crawley edged one from Boland on 40.

STANDING HIS GROUND
A decade on from Broad’s infamous non-walk in the opening Test of the 2013 Ashes, Crawley got away with that first nick and almost survived another when Erasmus turned down a Boland appeal on the stroke of lunch. But this time the Aussies went upstairs, and it was soon clear that Crawley had gloved one to be gone for 61.

MITCH SWITCH
For about 20 minutes, the Edgbaston press box sprung to life before play when all-rounder Mitch Marsh marked his run-up alongside several of the other Australian bowlers. One of the more stunning Ashes selection calls briefly beckoned before it became clear that Marsh wasn’t playing, and that Hazlewood replacing Mitchell Starc would be Australia’s only change.

STUMPS: AUSSIES SURVIVE AFTER ROOT MASTERCLASS
That is stumps on day one – a big day on all fronts! Usman Khawaja and David Warner will be pleased to have passed their first test, a searching 20-minute examination from Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson. Australia are 0-14, with Khawaja unbeaten on four and Warner on eight, trailing England’s 8(dec)-393 by 379 runs. But the runs won’t worry them, there’s plenty of time left in this match. And the wicket looks perfect for batting. As it did for Joe Root, with the former England captain ending an eight-year Ashes century drought to set up the home side’s impressive first-innings total. And yet the declaration came as a surprise to some, with Root in complete control and the runs still flowing. Join us again tomorrow for more Ashes madness.

3.15AM: AUSSIE OPENERS’ NERVOUS START
Ooooh boy, the Aussie openers look a touch nervy. Twice in the opening over David Warner and Usman Khawaja got themselves in a tangle while trying to attempt a single to get Warner off the mark. And he gets it on the final ball of Stuart Broad’s opening over, a nicely struck cover drive for four. A nerve-settler for Warner, and perhaps the entire Australian dressing room.

3.01AM: ENGLAND DECLARE ON 8-393
The onslaught ends – Joe Root pumps Nathan Lyon over long on for six, and Ben Stokes promptly declares England’s innings on 8-393 with just under half an hour left in the day. Root finishes on a mighty, unbeaten 118 following a superb knock. Australia’s top order will face a tricky period in the shadows of stumps, with England’s quicks eager to get an early look at David Warner and Usman Khawaja – and potentially more. With rain predicted over the weekend in Birmingham (when isn’t there rain predicted over the course of a Test match in England?), the home side are keen to move the game along quickly. Bazball!

2.50AM: ‘ABSURD’ ROOT NOTCHES BRILLIANT TON
What a knock from Joe Root. His 30th Test century, one of his most memorable – and just his fourth against Australia – was sealed with a legside push off Nathan Lyon. It comes as England zeroes in on a first-innings total in excess of 400, and has the rowdy Edgbaston crowd on their feet. It’s also involved some of the more ridiculous cricket strokes you’ll ever see. Shortly after tea, Root pulled out a reverse ramp shot for six… off Scott Boland. Not satisfied, he attempted the same party trick off elite speedster Pat Cummins. And again, the result was a six. Champion South African quick Dale Steyn was one of many across the globe to be blown away by Root’s audacious strokeplay.

2.30AM: WICKET! BROAD GOES, ENGLAND PASS 350
This is high-octane cricket! England pass 350 with simply relentless cricket and, in that vein, Stuart Broad departs after trying to slog Cameron Green out of the ground. He doesn’t connect, and is clean bowled, but after adding 16 from 21, and steered Joe Root to within touching distance of another Test century, you’d say he’s done his job.

2.20AM: BOLAND’S BRUTAL BAZBALL INTRODUCTION
Scott Boland has had a nightmare introduction to Test cricket in England – and he’s learning the hard way that Bazball can be an unforgiving enemy. Boland burst onto the Test scene and into the hearts of Australian fans not just because of his propensity for picking up wickets – lots of them – but because of his unrelenting frugalness. He was Australia’s most economical bowler in last week’s World Test Championship final victory but he’s copped the most punishment from England’s batsmen on day one in Birmingham, going at 6.14 an over midway through the final session. His figures of 1-86 are comfortably the most he’s ever conceded in Test cricket – in fact, last week against India, with match figures of 5-105, was the first time Boland has conceded triple figures for a Test, let alone an innings. Since his Boxing Day debut in 2021 Boland has been such a reliable force for Pat Cummins to turn to, so Australia will be desperate to see the big Victorian turn find his explosive best. And soon.

2.05AM: WICKET! THE LYON AND CAREY SHOW RETURNS
Moeen Ali comes and goes for a swiftly compiled 18. Moeen was here for a good time, not a long time, thumping two boundaries and a six in his 17-ball innings before becoming Nathan Lyon’s fourth victim today. Like with Bairstow before him, Moeen charged down the wicket and was beaten in flight before presenting Alex Carey with another easy-as-you-like stumping.
1.45AM: WICKET! CAREY REDEEMED AS LYON ROARS
Out of nowhere, Australia have their breakthrough. Just as it felt the day had slipped away from Australia – and with England on the verge of 300 – Lyon beats Jonny Bairstow in flight, with the keeper charging down the wicket as he eyed a comeback century. Instead he was beaten all ends up, and Carey made up for his error off Hazlewood with a sharp piece of work behind the stumps to complete the stumping. That’s an impressive knock from Bairstow, however. His 78, as part of a 121-run fifth-wicket stand, has shifted the momentum back in favour of the home side. A crucial 90 minutes coming up. One could easily have become two, but for Pat Cummins dropping a sharp chance off his own bowling that would’ve sent Moeen Ali packing for just 1.

1.36AM: DROPPED! CAREY GRASSES CHANCE OFF BAIRSTOW
Hazlewood so nearly has the breakthrough again – bringing Bairstow into a booming drive, and getting the ball to move away just enough to take a thick edge. It flies quickly to Alex Carey behind the stumps and the keeper dives to his right, but it is badly grassed. It’s hit him on the thumb, and you want to be catching that if you’re Alex Carey. “Just an error from the keeper,” says Ricky Ponting. It’s a blow for Australia. This session is rapidly moving away from them – and you’ve got to take every chance on a wicket that appears as flat as this one.

1.30AM: DANGER SIGNS FOR AUSTRALIA, BAIRSTOW PASSES 50
There’s been a clear shift in tempo from this pair, who scored freely but patiently before the break. Since the tea break, both Bairstow and Root have put the foot down. Bairstow, back in the Test team after suffering a freak broken leg while playing golf, in particular has upped the scoring as he takes the attack to Nathan Lyon. The gritty keeper has raced past 50 as England hone in on 300. It’s a dangerous period for Australia and their captain Pat Cummins – in this elongated final session, he cannot let England dictate the pace of the game. Because Australia’s hard work from the opening two sessions could quickly evaporate if Bairstow and Root are still standing at stumps.

1.00AM: FINAL SESSION UNDERWAY
The day’s play is very evenly poised and the upcoming session will decide the winner of the day. England are racing towards a score of 350 and above for the day’s play, so Australia will definitely be hunting two or more wickets to keep pace with the host’s rampant runscoring.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root have led England’s fightback. Picture: Getty

12.40AM: ROOT, BAIRSTOW REACH TEA
That felt like Australia’s session – but England fought back very well after losing Stokes and Brook in quick time to recover. The hosts are 5-240. On an ordinary day of a northern hemisphere Ashes, that would be a comfortable spot to be in. But not in the Bazball era, and not on a wicket that two hours ago looked as flat as you’ll find in international cricket. A big session looms for both teams, but there’s no doubt this partnership is the key.

12.35AM: ROOT… SURVIVES AFTER REVIEW
Oh, how big this would’ve been for Nathan Lyon and Australia! Joe Root is given out LBW, for 61, while trying to sweep the Australian spinner, but Root is quick to review – very quick, actually. And it’s easy to understand why. One replay is enough to show that the ball caught the underside of his glove before thudding into the pads. Root survives, and immediately repeats his reverse sweep attempt – except this time it races to the boundary.

12.30AM: ROOT, BAIRSTOW SET IN
Australia had a flurry of excitement after – and before! – the lunch break, but through former captain Joe Root, England are wrestling back a bit of control in this match. The methodical Root seems like the antithesis of Bazball, but he’s playing a crucial innings to drag England back into this contest. The double dismissals of Brook and Stokes had the potential to knock England’s first innings for six, but with Bairstow, Root has England creeping back towards a position of comfort.

12.15AM: WATCH: BROOK’S FREAK DISMISSAL

12.00AM: ROOT THE ROCK IN ENGLAND’S INNINGS
Joe Root reaches 50 for the 20th time in Test cricket against Australia. He hasn’t converted any of his 12 most recent Ashes half-centuries into tons.

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"Ashes Awakening: The Intensifying Challenge for Australian Cricket"
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