Ashes cricket 2023: Australia 1-61, trail England by 222 runs after Day One
Australia have the upper hand at The Oval after day one, yet will rue some missed opportunities both in the field and with the bat. Recap day one here.
David Warner blew yet another start as obstinate Usman Khawaja dug in late on day one at The Oval.
Having bowled out England for 283 in the fifth and final Test, the Aussies reached 1-61 at stumps, with Khawaja (26) and Marnus Labuschagne (two) unbeaten as the tourists bid to secure their first away Ashes series win in 22 years.
On a tour in which he has repeatedly failed to build on early platforms, Warner once more saw off Stuart Broad only to edge Chris Woakes to Zak Crawley at second slip for 24.
It was the sixth time the veteran opener had gone for between 24 and 43 in 11 innings since the start of the World Test Championship final.
Consistently absorbing England’s punches, Khawaja ticked over 1000 balls faced for the series during this innings.
Starc with a sizzler to send Stokes packing! 🔥 #Ashespic.twitter.com/KRhbUiCFS9
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) July 27, 2023
STARC REALITY
Having spent time off the ground late on day two during the Manchester Test after hurting his shoulder, there were further concerns when the left-armer was absent for a period during the middle session on day one as Michael Neser patrolled the deep. But Starc returned to devastating effect, bolting one past Ben Stokes’ defences to send off-stump flying and remove the England captain for three. Starc started this series on the outer and with ongoing questions about his viability in English conditions but after taking 4-82 on Thursday he ended the day as the series’ leading wicket-taker.
MOEEN DOWN
Moeen Ali has been in the wars in his comeback series. There was the finger issue that caused him issues in Birmingham and led to him missing the second Test. And then on Thursday he hurt his groin while pursuing a single. While he batted on, he didn’t field and was due to be assessed.
HISTORY REPEATING
Australia finally won a toss after four straight wrong call from Pat Cummins to start the series. And with clouds overhead, the Aussies inserted England in what were almost identical circumstances to 2019. On that occasion Australia – also 2-1 up heading into the fifth and final Test – lived to regret the call to bowl first as Jofra Archer fired England to a series-levelling victory. Just as they did four years ago, the Aussies had a poor day in the field, putting down five catches, four of which were regulation, with the culprits being Alex Carey, Warner, Mitch Marsh and Todd Murphy. Steve Smith grassed a much more difficult chance diving at second slip.
PAT IS BACK
After probably the worst all-round showing of his Test career in Manchester, Cummins thundered back to his best on the first morning at The Oval. He sent Zak Crawley packing but really should have taken another couple of scalps, with Ben Duckett and Harry Brook put down by Warner and Carey respectively. The Duckett drop didn’t prove overly costly but granted a life by Carey on five, Brook made 85 to be the backbone of England’s innings.
OH MY, JOSH
In 2005, Australia’s two ultimately telling losses in the Ashes came when Glenn McGrath was absent. Josh Hazlewood has long been likened to McGrath, and while he hasn’t reached quite the same heights this series he is threatening to be the same good-luck charm. Australia’s sole loss thus far came when Hazlewood was rested at Leeds. He has had plenty of better series than this one, but Hazlewood has continued to make telling interventions, most notably ending Stokes’ resistance at Lord’s. He was back at it on Thursday at The Oval, drawing both Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow into chop-ons.
OVERRULED
Joel Wilson’s poor Ashes record continued, with the West Indian umpire forced to overturn his decision to give Chris Woakes lbw to Starc after DRS found Woakes had edged it onto his pad. WIlson’s fellow umpire Kumar Dharmasena had to change a decision earlier in the day too after turning down Marsh’s caught behind appeal which Duckett had gloved.
THE IMPERFECT 10
Neser has been on two Ashes tours but despite his outstanding county record with Glamorgan was unable to break through for a Test in either 2019 or 2023. The last squad member to go on two Ashes tours to the UK without playing was backup wicketkeeper Tim Zoehrer, kept out of the side by Ian Healy in 1989 and 1993.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ALL THE BIGGEST MOMENTS FROM THE DAYS PLAY
3:30AM: STUMPS: AUSSIES TAKE DAY ONE, BUT WILL THEY RUE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?
Australia will claim the advantage after the first day in London, yet they probably won’t be satisfied after a frustrating day in the field was compounded by David Warner again failing to go on with a big score after getting a start.
The Aussies blew a multitude of chances in the field, most notably Alex Carey who dropped Harry Brook on single digits, who then went on to score 85.
After winning the toss and sending the home side in, Australia were able to wrap up their innings just after tea, yet England’s scoring rate means England still have a total that is defendable.
Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja will start day two unbeaten at the crease, surviving a nervous half-hour towards the end of the day.
Earlier, Mitch Starc was the best of the bowlers, taking four wickets, including the two vital wickets of Brook and Stokes.
The Aussies will be hoping to build on their performance and take a commanding lead into the second innings when play resumes tomorrow.
3:00AM: WARNER’S START-STOP TOUR CONTINUES
It’s the same story for David Warner in England, with the opener getting a start then falling, this time it’s to Chris Woakes.
A lazy push at a ball that goes across him from the right-hander goes to Zak Crawley at second slip who took a sharp catch, jumping in front of Joe Root to secure the wicket.
Warner’s 24 is another innings where he made some runs but could not go on to make the big score.
Woakes’ wicket also means Stuart Broad won’t be able to equal Glenn McGrath’s record of 19 dismissals of one batsman.
It will be a nervy last period of the day now, as Marnus Labuschagne comes to the crease, hoping to see out the day and ensure Australia feel ahead in the game after one day’s play.
Labuschagne and Khawaja will need to see out 30 more minutes of play.
Woakes gets Warner again, who once again started well but couldn't go on.#TheAshes 5th Test | LIVE: https://t.co/m4bzLk1Js6#9WWOS#Cricket#Ashes#ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/xthYjzyteQ
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 27, 2023
2:30AM: WARNER AND KHAWAJA SEE OFF TRICKY START
There would have been some nerves coming out to bat at The Oval, but David Warner and Usman Khawaja both appear undeterred to start the first innings for Australia.
Warner played an uppish cover drive earlier, but since then has watched the ball very closely, playing the ball a bit later.
Khawaja has been stout in defence and picking his moments, like a typical Khawaja innings.
Their running between the wickets has been the feature of the innings so far, with the two picking up runs whenever possible.
The Aussie openers are closing in on a 50-run stand, seeing off Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad’s opening spells.
Usman Khawaja is the first Australian opener to face 1000 deliveries in a five-match Ashes series in England since 1938.#Ashes
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 27, 2023
2:00AM: IS THIS WHAT DAVEY NEEDS?
David Warner’s struggles are well-known, which is why England won’t want him to get on top now after containing him all series.
The embattled opener might have gotten the break he needs, as keeper Jonny Bairstow puts down albeit a tough chance down the leg side, denying Warner’s nemesis Stuart Broad another wicket.
Warner has played one confident push through the covers against Jimmy Anderson to get his innings going.
Even more pressing, when was the last time David Warner batted in a long sleeve shirt?
After six overs, Warner and Khawaja have put on 23, with Warner surviving a DRS review for caught behind, with replay showing it flicked the shirt on the way through.
1:45AM: ENGLAND’S SPIN STOCKS TAKE A HIT
Moeen Ali will take no further part in today’s play as he looks to recover from the groin injury he suffered in the first innings.
Ali pulled up lame after pushing for a single alongside Harry Brook, and was clearly hampered as the two elected not to take any quick singles before Ali was eventually bowled by Todd Murphy.
Joe Root you suspect will handle the slower bowling if required for the rest of today and possibly the rest of the Test.
Ali suffered a thumb injury in the first Test, with the veteran coming out of retirement for this series after Jack Leach’s injury.
1:30AM: WOAKES’ STAND, ENGLAND’S INNINGS END
After the usual frustration of the short ball barrage going over the fence, Australia have ended England’s innings at 283, losing 7-99.
Mitch Starc finishes with four after claiming Stuart Broad in his last over, with a pull shot from Chris Woakes ending up in Travis Head’s hands on the boundary.
Head also caught a skied shot from Broad at cover.
It’s not all bad news for England who went at five runs an over and will have favourable conditions to attack David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
All eyes will once again be on Warner to see if he can post a score in his last Test in England.
1:10AM: WOAKES SURVIVES, WOOD GOES AS MURPHY STRIKES
The break brings about fortune for Mitch Starc once again, who strikes in the first over after tea.
But Chris Woakes’ referral shows the ball cannoning into the bat just before hitting the pads, which begs the question why he took so long to refer it.
Woakes made Starc pay the ball after, whacking him through cover for four, and then his luck grew with Mitch Marsh dropping a simple chance at third slip.
Similarly to Warner’s drop the ball went straight through Marsh’s hands and raced down to third man.
A frustrating start to the third session on what has been an extremely poor fielding day by Australia.
How many runs will this drop cost them?
Woakes’ partner Mark Wood goes shortly after, bowled by Todd Murphy.
Wood backed away to give himself room and Murphy zeroed in on the stumps, ending Wood’s innings at 28 runs.
Murph breaks an important partnership for the second time today, bowling Mark Wood for 28. ðŸ#TheAshes 5th Test | LIVE: https://t.co/m4bzLk1bCy#9WWOS#Cricket#Ashes#ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/gOgjOq8b2d
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 27, 2023
12:40AM: AUSTRALIA’S LOWER ORDER NEMESIS HITS BACK
Mark Wood has been a thorn in the side of the Aussies since he came into the team, but not only with the ball, but the bat also.
And yet again Wood, along with Chris Woakes are proving difficult to dislodge, putting a swift stop to Australia’s momentum.
Ian Healy hit out at the Aussies’ plan for the tailenders.
“We started to bowl nothing in the last partnership. They put on 38 of those 118 in between Wood and Woakes in no time. Just think we can get a stronger plan for them.”
A quick partnership is keeping England in the hunt, as they track towards 250.
Both Woakes and Wood have been happy to play their shots, throwing everything at what they pick while also being stout in defence.
They remain at the crease as we head to tea on day one, with England putting up 119 runs and Australia claiming four wickets.
12:20AM: THE HOUR THAT CHANGED THE ASHES
While England may claim that they could be the victors of the Ashes without actually winning, the biggest key to this series according to Ricky Ponting was Australia’s hour of bouncer power at Lord’s.
“I don’t think we’ve spoken enough about the impact that hour of play had on the whole series.
At one stage they were 1 for 180. A quick flick of the switch. Went straight to the short ball plan.”
While Australia’s reliance on short-pitched bowling at times has left fans frustrated, it may have decided the series.
Australia obviously won the Lord’s Test which left England needing to win the last three Tests to retake the urn.
And we all know that’s not happening.
12:10AM: BAIRSTOW COMES AND GOES AND BROOK FOLLOWS
Well just as quickly as he walked out of his crease at Lord’s, Jonny Bairstow quickly departs, chopping onto his for only four runs.
Australia are now into the bowlers, however Chris Woakes is certainly no mug with the bat.
The Aussies have stifled England’s assault, with no boundaries for over 45 minutes, and are surely a Harry Brook-scalp away from wrapping up this innings, not that that appears to be coming anytime soon as Brook ends the boundary drought and moves into the 80s.
BANG!
Written too soon it seems and Brook goes, flashing at a wide one from Mitch Starc and Steve Smith makes no mistake at second slip.
“We really don’t talk about his slip catching ability. I think he’s one of the best. He put down a difficult one earlier on, when he gets a good look at them there’s not many he puts down, for sure,” said Ricky Ponting.
The Aussies have taken 4-28 since England’s flurry after lunch.
How bloody tough is Mitchell Starc. The number of times this year he’s already soldiered on with an injury & produced the goods for his country. Incredible threshold for pain when it matters most #Ashes
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 27, 2023
11:50PM: STARC CLAIMS THE BIGGEST SCALP OF ALL
That is an absolute seed from Mitch Starc and the England captain must go.
Pitching on middle, Stokes tried to push the ball to the leg side but the ball did just enough to cannon into the off stump and the curse of the drinks break strikes again.
Jonny Bairstow comes to the crease, the runs are still flowing for England but how many can they get with the wickets they are losing?
It just makes you wonder where England would be had Alex Carey taken that catch of Brook, who remains at the crease unbeaten and is racing towards 100.
A sore Starc sends Stokes walking with a PEACH. ðŸ‘#TheAshes 5th Test | LIVE: https://t.co/m4bzLk1Js6#9WWOS#Cricket#Ashes#ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/SdB3WLNDe6
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 27, 2023
11:40PM: BROOK PUSHES ON INTO THE 70S
Mitch Starc is back on the field and doesn’t appear to be hampered by that left shoulder concern, finding the edge of Harry Brook before it lands short of first slip.
That comes as part of a handful of edges Brook has fallen safe from, but you make your own luck in this game it seems.
Brook appears extremely keen to get on the back foot to Todd Murphy, repeatedly giving himself room to push the off-spinner through the off-side.
Is it too early to say that the Test may hinge on how quickly Australia can break this partnership?
Ian Healy (no relation) expressed a similar sentiment.
“How big is this partnership. If Australia can break this, then Bairstow and then we’re into the bowlers. Big hour this,” he said.
11:20PM: BEWARE OF THE INJURED BATSMAN
It’s like the classiccall an ambulance … but not for me meme.
Makeshift no. 3 Moeen Ali appears severely hampered by a groin injury, yet won’t go down without a fight.
While Harry Brook pushes on, Ali is taking an all or nothing approach, throwing the bat at anything short, and like it has all series almost it is paying off for England.
Australia are not without their own injury concerns, with Mitch Starc going off for treatment on a shoulder injury.
Brook and Ali have now put on 100 runs together, with the scoring rate continuing to hover around five an over.
Ali finishes the over with a ramp shot over Alex Carey for four, as the two take to Aussie skipper Pat Cummins.
Cummins turns to Todd Murphy and is immediately rewarded, with Ali swinging across the line and being bowled.
Ben Stokes will come to the crease, with the key Harry Brook still flying.
11:00PM: BROOK RIDES HIS LUCK TO 50
A short push to cover and that’s 50 for Harry Brook, off just 44 deliveries, every run he makes you can see Alex Carey shudder almost.
Brook looks in serious touch now, but is still struggling with the odd ball or two.
Cummins has challenged both Brook and Ali to start the second session, but cannot find the elusive edge.
It feels like the state of this Test now hinges on Brook’s wicket.
Cummins beats both the outside and inside edge of Brook in one over, yet the England no. 5 cannot be breached.
Brook was almost run out on the last ball of the over, pushing to short cover and taking off immediately.
Cummins fired to the nonstriker’s end with the bounce sending the ball flying over the stumps.
A chance goes begging once more.
10:15PM: LUNCH: WILL POOR FIELDING COSTS AUSSIES DEARLY?
Australia’s fielders let down their bowlers as the tourists failed to fully seize the advantage after sending England in under cloudy skies at The Oval.
England was 3-131 at lunch on day one after Australian captain Pat Cummins won his first toss of the series and elected to field, seeking to secure Australia’s first away Ashes series victory for 22 years.
Given a life on five by Alex Carey, Harry Brook had raced to 48 by the interval, while Moeen Ali was on 10.
Having borne the brunt of heavy criticism for his performance in the fourth Test at Manchester, Pat Cummins bowled exceptionally well early on Thursday and should have had another wicket when Carey couldn’t hang onto a low one-handed effort after an edge from Brook on five.
Brook continued to live dangerously and could easily have been gone the following over when a miscued drive off Hazlewood flew past Usman Khawaja at third slip.
Smith had earlier grassed a much harder diving attempt that would have removed Crawley on 11 in Marsh’s first over.
Khawaja let a Moeen Ali drive past him to gift England’s makeshift No. 3 a boundary in what was a poor fielding session overall for the Aussies.
As expected, Australia made just one change to the XI that was lucky to come away with a draw at Old Trafford. Spinner Todd Murphy was recalled, meaning all-rounder Cameron Green was dropped for the first time in his Test career.
Cummins’ call to bowl first was a repeat of Tim Paine’s decision to insert the hosts in the corresponding Test four years ago, a decision that has been a source of regret for some of the Australian touring party after England levelled the series at 2-2, the same situation the Aussies are seeking to avoid this time around.
9:50PM: BROOK ON THE CHARGE AFTER EARLY GIFT
Harry Brook can certainly score runs quickly, which we saw at Leeds, meaning any chance to get him out has to be taken.
Brook was dropped straight off the bat by keeper Alex Carey, and has been on the attack since, racing to 30 off 25 balls, although has edged a few down to third man.
Brook whacked Mitch Marsh for six over square leg with an incredible forehand-like pull shot, putting some pressure back on the Aussies after a rampant 15 minutes.
Will Brook make them pay the ultimate price?
9:30PM: CUMMINS’ COIN TOSS CALL REDEEMED AFTER ENGLISH COLLAPSE
This time it’s Joe Root who goes and England have lost 3-11!
A back of a length delivery nipped back into Root’s body and the English batsman chopped on, giving Josh Hazlewood his first wicket of the game.
It’s taken the Aussies an hour but it seems they have now worked out what the right length is to bowl.
“Australia took too long to work out how to hit the pitch here. They worked it out after an hour. The length has been brought back a bit,” according to former captain Mark Taylor.
Just as it seemed Pat Cummins’ decision at the coin toss had a Nassar Hussein GABBA feel to it, Australia are now right back on top in London.
Yet the cheers are short lived, with Alex Carey putting down Harry Brook behind the stumps.
ROOT'S GONE, HAZLEWOOD NOW JOINS THE PARTY! 🎉#TheAshes 5th Test | LIVE: https://t.co/m4bzLk1bCy#9WWOS#Cricket#Ashes#ENGvsAUSpic.twitter.com/TynPYzRQQ2
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 27, 2023
9:00PM: AUSSIES SAVE THE FIRST HOUR AT THE DEATH
Australia may still regret sending England in at The Oval, but have finally secured the wicket of one of the openers as Ben Duckett departs.
Duckett feathered one down the leg side to Alex Carey, with umpire Kumar Dharmasena declaring him not out.
Mitch Marsh however was adamant, and after sending it upstairs Duckett had to go for 41.
And just like that one becomes two!
This time it’s Pat Cummins securing the wicket of Zak Crawley, with the opener squared up and edging to Steve Smith at second slip.
Australia have gone bang bang and will have two fresh batsmen at the crease to attack.
8:40PM: WARNER’S HOWLER COMPUNDS AUSSIES’ POOR START
England have made the better of the start the The Oval, and the pain for the Aussies has only gotten worse with David Warner putting down a regulation chance.
Warner, fielding at first slip let a thick edge from Ben Duckett go straight through his hands.
The ball was Pat Cummins’ first of his spell, with Ricky Ponting lamenting the Aussies’ start.
“Nasser (Hussein) was on saying the Australians had been sloppy. Their line and length hadn’t been that great. There’s another example of it there.”
Duckett and Crawley have once again made a quick start, tracking towards a 50-run partnership before the 10th over.
Shortly after another chance goes begging for the Aussies, with Zak Crawley edging to a vacant third slip.
Steve Smith made a valiant effort to his right, but was unable to make the grab.
8:15PM: CRAWLEY SURVIVES … JUST
Opener Zak Crawley has had a nervy start to the fifth Test, surviving a close LBW appeal from the Aussies.
Crawley failed to offer a shot as a ball from Mitch Starc nipped back to clip him on his back pad.
Neither Starc or skipper Pat Cummins seemed very confident in the appeal, yet sent it upstairs to be referred.
Hawkeye showed the ball missing the wickets, meaning Australia are already one review down three overs into the game.
Cummins has elected not to take the new ball himself, with Starc and Josh Hazlewood opening up the game for the Aussies.
Hazlewood has looked particularly threatening to Ben Duckett, squaring Duckett up multiple times.
7:30PM: THE STREAK IS OVER! AUSSIES TO BOWL IN LONDON
In scenes reminiscent of when Brock Lesnar took down the Undertaker at WrestleMania, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins has ended England’s streak of toss victories.
Australia have elected to bowl with the skipper seeing the lighter side of finally making the right call.
“I had to double-check that. We’ll have a bowl. A bit of cloud overhead. Wicket looks like a good wicket,” Cummins said.
Should Cummins have lost, he would have become the first Australian captain since Joe Darling in 1905 to lose all five tosses in a five-Test series, according to Scott Bailey of the AAP.
England skipper Ben Stokes agreed with the overhead conditions that his side also would have bowled.
The last time a team bowled first and won an Ashes Test at The Oval was 1972.#Ashes
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 27, 2023
7:00PM: AUSSIES TURN BACK TO SPIN
Australia have turned back to off-spinner Todd Murphy as they look to secure a 3-1 series win and claim what prominent UK commentator Piers Morgan labelled as the “moral Ashes.”
In yet another rant on Twitter about this series, Morgan claimed England would have this series won “without rain and Aussie spirit-breaching.”
Murphy was dropped for the 4th Test in Manchester after being used sparingly at Leeds, and will replace Cameron Green, with the all-rounder spotted not warming up with the rest of the side.
Time to win the Moral Ashes. The one we would have won without rain and Aussie spirit-breaching. Good luck â¦@benstokes38â© @englandcricket⩠👊👊👊 pic.twitter.com/uGWVB3KVQW
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 27, 2023
Green struggled in his return to the team in Manchester, posting only scores of 16 and 3 as rain saved the Aussies from a precarious position.
Mitch Marsh will keep his spot as the team’s all-rounder, with Australia opting for a spinner after not playing one in Manchester, something an Australian side had not done for a decade.
‘CHEATING CONVICTS’: PIERS MORGAN ATTACKS AUSSIES IN FRESH RANT
Loudmouth English broadcaster Piers Morgan has had a fresh crack at Australia’s cricketers in the wake of their Ashes retention, labelling Pat Cummins’ team ‘cheating convicts’ in another unhinged rant.
Speaking on the UK Telegraph’s Vaughany and Tuffers podcast, with former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and Phil Tufnell, Morgan continued his vicious attacks on the Australian team.
Australia retained the Ashes following the fourth Test washout in Manchester, which ensured the urn would return to Australia with the tourists holding an unassailable 2-1 lead heading to the fifth Test at the Oval.
And Morgan is not happy, believing England would’ve not only won the fourth Test had rain not intervened – but that they’d have sealed the series in London this week.
“This was building to one of the all-time great series — forget Ashes — of any cricket series, internationally, in history,” Morgan said.
“To be 2-0 down and then roar back to 2-2 and then go to the Oval, which is exactly what would have happened had we been able to play more than two hours at the weekend … it would have been, really, the greatest comeback in cricket history internationally and the greatest series there’s ever been.
“We should have won at Lord’s, we should have won every Test, let’s be honest. We’re a better team, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.
“We were dudded by the rain, and I think at the Oval we’re going to flatten them. We need to.
“I don’t want to lose 3-1 – to lose 3-1 to this Australian team of cheating convicts would be extremely annoying.”
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