Frustrated Aussies miss golden chance to put England to sword
Partnerships spluttered as Australia’s batters squandered starts on day one of the Fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, with the tourists stuttering to 8-299 at stumps.
Could have, as stern faced schoolteachers often said, done better.
It was a frustrating first day at Old Trafford for an Australian team which missed an opportunity to post a big first innings score as batters squandered starts and partnerships spluttered to a halt mid-stride.
At times they were beaten, at times they seemed, well, just a little careless.
And yet, Australia finds itself 8-299 with Mitchell Starc unbeaten on 23 and Pat Cummins 1no.
You have worse days, but David Warner (31), Marnus Labuschagne (51), Steve Smith (41), Travis Head (48) and Mitch Marsh (51) all had the opportunity to make a statement and get ahead of the game.
Three pairs combined for partnerships in excess of 50, but none passed the joint 65 compiled by West Australian all rounders Marsh and Cameron Green.
Two wickets were lost in the first and second session and momentum so hard to gain was rarely maintained.
Labuschagne admitted they could have been better.
“Anything with a three in front of it is alright,” he said. I think where we were and how many guys got themselves in, I think we’d be slightly disappointed with no one getting a big score.”
Labuschagne expressed satisfaction with his mental application and technique during the innings but admitted he was “probably a little bit lazy” in his dismissal — trying to play Moeen Ali off his pads.
“We were so close to turning it there, Heady and I, to getting a really big partnership together,” he said.
Australia appears to have left the door open for their opponents who, it must be said, bowled well on a pitch that did enough but not too much.
Stuart Broad picked up his 600th Test wicket when he had Head hooking in the moments after tea and joins teammate Jimmy Anderson (688) in territory only ever traversed by Muralitharan (800), Shane Warner (708) and Anil Kumble 619.
What are the odds that two of the five to ever take more than 600 would play in the same team?
Chris Woakes was, however, the best on the day, with 4-52 and the chance to pick up a fivefa on the second day.
Broad was as happy with the dismissal as Head was dismayed. Having survived an early short ball onslaught he had prospered and put on 63 with Labuschagne in the second session, Head hooked one before his tea had settled and was caught by the waiting Joe Root.
ð—§ð—µð—² moment.#EnglandCricket | #Asheshttps://t.co/lz2j0t9LN5pic.twitter.com/9RxHutgLDC
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023
Unfortunately Labuschagne had fallen LBW to Moeen against the flow of play just before the break.
More on that later.
Happier chasing than setting the pace, and aware that it will be a race to get 20 wickets if the last two days rain as predicted, Ben Stokes handed Australia a gift on the first morning.
Having won the toss for the fourth time in the series the England captain asked Australia to bat.
There was cloud about but it was high and the air was clear, by the afternoon the day was as grand as it gets in these parts and the third session was played under bright skies.
Fresh from a century in the third Test, Marsh picked up where he left off, playing with confidence and panache, thumping the England attack in the air and along the ground.
He’s scored seven fours and just hit Broad back over his head in the period before Woakes produced a delightful delivery which Johnny Bairstow snatched low and to his right.
WHAT. A. CATCH. 😱😱😱
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 19, 2023
You cannot do that, Jonny Bairstow. Wow 🔥 #Ashes2023#Ashespic.twitter.com/PEthXgGB5i
That the wicket keeper himself reacted with something resembling delighted disbelief tells you all you need to know about how Jonny has been going with the gloves this series.
England should have had their man run our a little earlier, but Stokes failed to pick up the ball with Marsh back-pedalling in slow motion after a mix up with Green.
Among the last things Australia wanted to see on day one was Ali trapping Marnus Labuschagne in front.
Mo gets Marnus 🙌
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023
COME ON BOYS! 👊 #EnglandCricket | #Ashespic.twitter.com/zoCEP58n8e
The No.3 had moved to 51, his highest score of the innings and there would have been a desire for him to turn that into three figures but the other issue was that the spinner got the wicket.
Australia, you may have heard, did not pick a spinner for this match.
Moeen got Labuschagne caught on the boundary in the last match but that game shifting wicket was down more to the poor shot than the bowler’s skill.
Showing the benefits of a Manuka honey-based anti bacterial gel that has fixed his wounded spinning finger, the Englishman bowled well and got enough turn to make things interesting on the first day.
Of course spin would be expected to really come into play on days four and five but the weather bureau is predicting rain.
Warner was very good for the first hour. Patted Broad’s first ball on the bottom and sent it scurrying to the boundary. Survived the odd close call, ran like a hare between the wicket, seeing singles where others see danger, turning ones into two, and he was still there when the drinks trolley made its first appearance.
The batter appeared to have an issue with his eyes in the break, calling for and receiving drops, but it was an issue of the brain that saw him offer a careless drive at the first ball after the break.
Woakes gets Warner driving and he's gone! 🎉
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 19, 2023
Australia two down!#EnglandCricket | #Ashespic.twitter.com/gmQ1jqUaAU
It’s a rotten job being an opener, especially in England where the average opening partnership over the past 10 years is 26, there’s often a ball with your name on it. There’s always one with the Dukes brand clear and the seam prominent.
Mark Wood did for Smith when Smith is not usually for doing. Put it down to pace, because the Australian had made it to 41 when he shuffled across as he does and missed a ball speared in toward middle stump. The umpire was fooled by Smith’s sliding door, but England went upstairs and the heavens smiled down upon them.
The dismissal came as something of a surprise, the best batsman of his generation looked to be set and would have been set on stuffing a few runs in his pocket following low scores in his hundredth at Lord’s.
Back to back Tests had tired him but he arrived in Manchester on the weekend declaring himself well rested and ready to go.
Smith was, however, lucky to survive the first delivery of his innings the second after lunch.
The Australian threw a hasty hook at a short ball from Woakes which would have landed in the hands of fine leg had Mark Wood been on the ropes but the fielder had crept in and it passed over his head before bounding inside the rope.
Batter, bowler and fielder all looked somewhat shocked at what had just occurred.
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