After Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood dominated the Three Lions on day one, England staged a furious fightback to help the hosts claim their first innings at 393/8
Posted Date – Friday, 6/16/23 at 11:59pm
AP Photo
birmingham: England may have lost their wickets earlier in the day, but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were on hand after Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazwood dominated the Three Lions on Day 1 A fierce fight back helped the hosts claim their first innings at 393/8 in Friday’s first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
At the stumps Australia were 14/0 – 379 behind with David Warner (8) and Usman Khawaja (4) unbeaten at the crease.
Bairstow and Root resumed their innings at 240/5, forming a solid 100-run partnership and keeping England’s scoreboard ticking.
Right-hander Bairstow hit a counter-knock, however, his 78-run knock came to an end when he was sent off by Nathan Lyon in the 61st over.
England lost Moeen Ali’s quick wicket to score and returned to pavellion 18 for the Ashes after retiring from a reverse Test.
The Three Lions’ game slumped further after Stuart Broad (16) was sent back to the ground by Green.
Despite the pressure, Root kept the Australian bowlers on their toes while batting the loose balls provided. In the 76th round of the tournament, Root put up his 30th Test century.
Surprisingly, England declared their innings at 393/8, with Root (118) and Ollie Robinson (17) unbeaten.
Australian openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja then came out to bat for the visitors. At the stumps, Australian openers Warner and Khawaja faced just four innings in their innings and were unbeaten at the crease.
England were 240/5 earlier in the tea break, with the duo of Root (66*) and Bairstow (33*) fighting back after Australia had been hit early in the game . England scored 116 runs after conceding two wickets in the second period.
Resuming the second quarter with a score of 124/3, Joe Root and Harry Brook managed to score runs to take their team over 150. The two continued to move the scoreboard at a brisk pace.
Brook is the aggressor of the batting pair and often breaks the boundaries. The batting combination of Root and Brook was decisive in their approach, allowing the Australian bowlers to work hard and enjoy the good batting conditions on offer.
The hosts spun the strike brilliantly, not allowing the Australian bowlers to settle when they struck the loose balls provided.
Brook, who partnered Rutter for 50 points in Game 36, showed great toughness and determination.
Brook was sent off with 32 points by Lyon in the 38th round of the game, and his attack in the penalty area was interrupted. England skipper Ben Stokes batted later but failed to make a mark in their innings as he was knocked out by single digits by Hazlewood in the 39th over. Brook suffered an uncharacteristic dismissal at Lyon, while Stokes was sent off early at Hazelwood.
The Australian bowlers dominated the second over with five wickets for the hosts as they dismissed England’s top order.
Right-handed batsman Jonny Bairstow then came out to bat. Cummins then brought all-rounder Cameron Green into attack and first he sent a bouncer to Bairstow, which the England batsman ducked.
England running machine and ex-captain Rutte showed his half-century of determination in 74 balls.
The duo of Root and Bairstow fought back after Australia struck early in the game to put their team total at 240/5.
Earlier, England had won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts started their game with a quarter off Pat Cummins. Zach Crowley hit four in the first ball of Edgbaston’s Ashes series against Australia on Friday, giving an early indication of whether they will continue their aggressive new style of test cricket.
Crawley immediately put on his best form, receiving the ball from Australia captain Pat Cummins and crossing it over the line, to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
However, another first batsman, Ben Duckert, lost his wicket to Josh Hazlewood in the fourth innings of the match. Right-handed hitter Ollie Pope then came out to bat. The duo of Pope and Crowley have maintained a good working relationship. Nathan Lyon Breaking a solid partnership, Nathan Lyon beat Ollie Pope in the 18th of the match.
Duckett and Pope may have lost their wickets but Crawley scored briskly and stood tall in the face of Australia’s attack as he kept stealing boundaries. After a brisk 61-73, Crowley was sent off by Scott Bolland at lunchtime. At lunch, England were at 124/3.
Brief score: England 393/8 d (Joe Root 118*, Jonny Bairstow 78*; Nathan Lyon 4-149) vs Australia 14/0 (David Warner 8*, Usman Khawaja 4*; Ollie Robinson 0-5).
