Well, the first test is done and dusted and England’s worst fears came true!! A convincing beating at the hands of Australia was always going to happen after the disastrous first day. Even before the toss, England’s selection baffled many, with Anderson and Broad left out and Jack Leach given the nod on a pitch that isn’t known for spinning. It felt going in to the series that England’s bowlers had to play out of their skin to cover the frailty of the batting line up. With all that considered, it seemed surprising on a green track with overcast skies that Joe Root chose to bat.
Brisbane has always been known as a ‘bat first’ pitch, so I can see why they chose to do so. However, it backfired badly!
Not one person expected it would start that badly, however! Rory burns being cleaned bowled off the first ball of the series. It is hard to see why Burns is still being played with one of the worst looking techniques around. Australia will be all over him now, and I would get Crawley in straight away and give him the whole series. He looks a much better player and at his young age should be the future. The nightmare continued with wickets tumbling to 60 for 5 and the ashes were already unravelling.
Credit to Australia’s fast bowling trio, who’s unrelenting line and length has destroyed many a batting line up.
Eventually all out for 147 England proceeded to bowl quite well without any luck and also some dropped catches.
Warner had many lives with a drop from Burns and being clean bowled by Ben Stokes off a no ball. It was clear by Stokes’ reaction that he knew as it was a massive no ball.
Australia themselves looked edgy with the bat until Travis Head’s brilliant innings of 152. He was a very 50-50 pick for the test and repaid the faith shown in him. Head has always been a fine young talent, and this could be the innings that cements his place in the team. With support from the tail, he took the Aussie’s to a huge first innings lead.
Day 3 was by far England’s best day.
A fine fighting performance from Malan and Root took England close to getting back into the game, but all the good work was undone straight away on day Root, Malan and Stokes were soon back in the dressing room and the rest was a formality. Australia had only 19 runs to chase in their second innings, and it was soon 1-0 in the series.
Both teams had almost no preparation due to Covid rules and rained out practice games. Australia will be happy that their new Captain, Wicket keeper and batting selections were all a great success. They do have an injury cloud over Warner and Hazelwood for the second test, but have excellent replacements if needed.
For England, they will feel they will need to bounce back straight away in Adelaide. Another defeat will be a slippery slope towards a whitewash. Changes will be made in the line-up with Anderson and Broad likely to return alongside Robinson and Woakes for an all seam and swing attack.
Day night tests in Adelaide can come down to getting lucky and having a crack at the top order under lights. If that doesn’t happen it can be a batting paradise.
On a positive note for England the Perth test has been cancelled and replaced by a day night test in Hobart. This is a much better option for England’s pace attack as is a clear indication the ball should swing.
England must change their mindset for the remainder of the series. Trying to survive against Australia’s attack simply won’t work. Nathan Lyon needs to be played aggressively, similar to how the Aussies bashed Jack Leach out of the game.
Australia’s plan is simple; the three ‘quicks’ attack hard and Lyon pins them down. Joe Root has a big job this week to get his team back up for the battle and go in hard. Ben Stokes needs to find his fire and mojo and hopefully full fitness.
Time will tell, but it’s now or never for England if they are to have any chance of taking anything from the upcoming second test.
WHEEL2WHEEL REPORTS 