BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Australia looked spooked by England’s aggression on day one of the Ashes
England declared 393-8 in a pulsating first day of the Ashes at Edgbaston as Australia ended the day 14-0 in response.
Joe Root scored an excellent hundred for the hosts, while Jonny Bairstow and Zak Crawley also made important fifties.
Pat Cummins was the only bowler to go wicketless for the visitors, with Nathan Lyon the cream of the crop after winning four important scalps.
Despite a poor record against Stuart Broad, David Warner finished the day unbeaten on eight, with his opening partner Usman Khawaja on four.
Here, Mail Sports David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd takes you through the day’s action from Edgbaston.
Joe Root scored a stunning hundred on the first day of the Ashes as England declared at 393-8
He hit two outrageous reverse scoops, both for six, on his way to an unbeaten 118
Keep it simple!
I noticed in the morning most of the batters were watching the field closely, jabbing at it, watching the wind direction and stuff. It was all part of the nerves.
I remember Bob Simpson, the great Australian opener and coach who would say that when you first start playing, you just hit – it’s a very simple game. As your career progresses, you start looking at the field, the wind direction, the length of the grass and make it into a complicated game. Keep it simple.
What sport are we here for?
Both teams opted for some leisurely rounds of golf before arriving in Edgbaston. Can you imagine if Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rickie Fowler had a net before hitting the first tee at the US Open?
In the warm-up here we had England play keepie-ups with the football, go to Australia fumble with a Sherrin, which they use in Aussie Rules. There were even tennis rackets on the outfield. And barely a cricket bat in sight!
Smith is still in charge
In the second over of the day, Australia got four slips against Zak Crawley. On ball three that changed to two slips, a gully and a man for offside. All this was caused by the man on the second misstep.
None other than Steve Smith – who I think seemed to lead all day with all his field changes.
Pat Cummins may be Australia’s captain, but Steve Smith still seems to have the lead when it comes to field placements
Zak Crawley set the tone for the series by clearing the first ball for four as Australia appeared shocked by England’s aggression
Bazball scares the Aussies
As early as the 12th over it was time for a bit of Adele because Australia was ‘Rolling in the Deep’. They had a deep lung on, a deep midwicket, a deep back point and a deep square leg.
They usually attack but were shocked by England’s fast start and a few overs later were unable to appeal when replays showed Crawley had stolen Scott Boland’s delivery. How un-Australian?!
A mixed bunch of sponsors
Billboards are big business in live sports, of course, so the sponsor Hobgoblin, an IPA brewed by the Wychwood Brewery, caught my eye. It’s a brutally small number, coming out at five percent.
However, right below the Hobgoblin ad was the Vitality ad telling us, “Sharing the benefits of healthy living.”
Lyon being hunted by the Hollies
You can’t hide after tea, especially when you’re standing in front of the Hollies Stand in Edgbaston. Nathan Lyon was down there and was subjected to a slew of verbal remarks including, “You’re just a sh*t Moeen Ali.” But believe me, Lyon will play a big part in this run and his four wickets showed exactly why.
Root shows his class
It was another sublime century from Joe Root. We’ve all seen it before and he was class all along, first in that guiding partnership with Harry Brook and then with England vulnerable on 176 for five, a sparkling partnership with Jonny Bairstow with two outrageous shots for six.
Some kind of shovel, ramp, shovel or whatever they call it these days. What a player.
Ben Stokes’ belated statement was unprecedented and not at all surprising as he continues to shake up Test cricket
Brave statement from Stokes
Going to declare on the first day of an Ashes Test match is unprecedented! The Sheer Brutality of It by Ben Stokes.
But are we surprised at all? It’s nothing new. The extraordinary thing is that he has Joe Root undefeated at 118, so it’s a huge call. This English side turns Test Cricket upside down!
I got to my hotel the night before the test match and was asked by the lady at reception if I was on ‘Five Guys’ so I said ‘No, I’m alone.’
So she then asked, “No – are you at the Five Guys convention?” To which I replied, ‘Are they a band? What kind of music do they make?’ Her response: “They make burgers.”