The Ashes
With the best batsman in the world
coming in at 3 that shouldn’t have been
an issue, however Steve Smith had faced
only 18 balls before Alastair Cook in the
slips took a great catch from the bowling
of Finn! Cue ecstasy for the lively crowd
at Edgbaston - was it going to be another
day of jumping out of our seats as it had
been in Cardiff?
Michael Clarke a man under a lot of
pressure as a batsman was next up - he
was also the next to fall. I’d judge that the
number of times we see stumps flying
as a player is clean bowled is becoming
a fairly rare sight; however on his 10th
ball Clarke was dispatched by Finn, bails
flying! Clarke had made 10 and Australia
were on 34 for 3!
This was all very reminiscent of
Lords but rather than despair it of course
brought ecstasy for the home fans. Adam
Voges who hasn’t fired yet in the Ashes
wasn’t to make his mark again - Anderson
added to his tally as Buttler caught Voges
for 16. 77 for 4!
The theme continued as England
demolished the Australian batting line
up, Jimmy Anderson took 6 for 47 a
superb response to the criticism he faced
after a dry spell at Lords.
Chris Rogers battled through as he
saw wicket after wicket fall, he scored 52
before he was deemed to be LBW from the
bowling of Stuart Broad. He was the only
batsman to pass 20. Australia were all out
for an amazing 136!
Adam Lyth - given another chance,
and Alastair Cook opened the batting
for England. Lyth hasn’t managed a
decent score in his test career so far
and could be considered lucky to
be in the team; unfortunately he
failed again, scoring only 10 runs
before being caught by Voges
from the bowling of Josh Hazlewood.
England were 19 for 1 - were we going to
see another England collapse?
Ian Bell joined Cook, playing on his
home ground Bell was also in need of
runs having had a torrid time in recent
seasons. He and Cook took the score to 76
before Cook fell to an amazing catch by
Voges from the bowling of Nathan Lyon;
it was a shot Cook didn’t need to make,
but he was unlucky with the catch.
The ever popular Joe Root was next
up, he and Bell looked solid at the crease.
However, there seems to be something
about the slower bowler that makes
batsmen want to go for the big shot - Ian
Bell threw his wicket away trying to hit
Lyon out of the ground, the ball didn’t
carry and he was caught by David Warner
to the delight of the Australians. A decent
53 to his name he’d helped take England
to 132 for 3.
One more run was added before rain
stopped play yet again, it was close to
the end of the day so proceedings were
halted with England a mere 3 runs behind
the Australians. An exhilarating day of
cricket - at least if you’re English!
of
Having had a
showers and
day
almost Autumnal weather for Day 1 of the
Edgbaston test a better day was promised
weather wise. Could the on field antics
match those of the previous day?
It seems that anything is possible in
this Ashes series and wow yes it was to be
another cracker!
England started the day in a strong
position being 3 wickets down and 3 runs
behind; things were looking good. Joe
Root and Jonny Bairstow, Yorkshire team
mates were at the crease.
There were high expectations of
Bairstow, brought in to replace Gary
Ballance - a Yorkshire swap. However he’d
only scored 5 runs when an incredible ball
from Mitchell Johnson threatened to take
his head off. He instinctively lifted his bat
and the ball flew through to Peter Nevill
to see Bairstow dispatched.
Ben Stokes was next in, his stay was to
say the least a short one, the 2nd ball he
faced was another cracker from Johnson,
same bat lift, same result! A second Nevill
catch, a second wicket for Johnson in the
same over. England were 143 for 5, A
mere 6 runs ahead!
Was a collapse looming? Jos Buttler
joined Root and the pair steadied the ship;
Joe Root scored 63 runs before he
threw his bat out at a wide
ball, Adam Voges
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