England win the toss and bat as the 4th Test gets underway
AUSTRALIA had worked their way on top despite some determined England batting on a hard fought first day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street.
When England captain Alastair Cook was trapped in front by Jackson Bird for a dour 51, the home team had lost three wickets for 46, to be 4-155 tea.
England seemed to have taken the upper hand when Cook and Jonathan Trott survived some tight Australian bowling in the first session to push past one hundred.
But the wickets of Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Cook in the afternoon session had the home team under pressure.
GET THE ULTIMATE MATCH COMPANION, FEATURING VIDEO OF EVERY WICKET AND BOUNDARY, BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY AND HAWKEYE, IN OUR ASHES MATCH CENTRE!
Despite batting unconvincingly, Cook threatened to provide the bed rock of a significant total as he absorbed 153 balls over 216 minutes in compiling his half century. But he was out just before tea, leaving a ball from Bird that would have hit off stump.
Nathan Lyon had provided two vital breakthroughs. The off-spinner had Jonathan Trott caught at short leg by Usman Khawaja for 49, just as he threatened to accelerate the scoring rate.
Shane Watson picks up Australia's first wicket after Umpire's decision is overturned by Hot Spot
Then, as importantly, Lyon had Kevin Pietersen caught behind for 26, prodding at a ball that left him. That after Pietersen had looked in menacing form, lofting Lyon for two straight fours in his previous spell.
Shane Watson had made the early inroads for Australia, when he had Root caught behind by Brad Haddin for 16.
Although not before yet another test of the now controversial Hot Spot technology.
Umpire Tony Hill turned down a confident appeal by the Australians, prompting an instant referral by captain Michael Clarke. The replay showed a small Hot Spot mark on Root's bat, and the decision was reversed.
This suggested that, if players really were using silicone tape to avoid detection as has been alleged, Root is at the end of the supply chain.
More importantly for Australia, it provided a vital wicket just as the England openers appeared set to survive a tough session in heavy, humid conditions that had provided encouragement for the Australian bowlers.
Having been moved down the Australian batting order to No.6, Watson has undergone yet another transformation, this time from specialist opener back to would-be all-rounder.
Jackson Bird celebrates his first Ashes wicket - that of England skipper Alastair Cook.
The latest reinvention might not particularly please a cricketer who had made it clear he prefers to bat first. But Watson responded in the best possible way by making an urgently needed breakthrough.
England's Ashes-clinching 2-0 lead in the series had been a matter of skill, rather than good fortune. But, having won for the toss for a third time in four Tests, Cook again provided his team with a potential advantage.
So it seemed vital Australia used the new ball well in heavy conditions that would probably provide the best bowling conditions of the first three days. Cook and Root, however, frustrated them in first hour despite some tight early bowling.
Bird, added to the Australian team for Mitchell Starc, came closest to claiming a wicket when Root edged his first ball just wide of gully.
Bird was named for his first Test of the series, and his third overall. He was man of the match in his most recent appearance for Australia against Sri Lanka at the SCG, and had been impressive in the tour games here.
Starc, who was also discarded after the first Test despite taking five wickets, might consider himself slightly unlucky having taken three wickets in the first innings at Old Trafford.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Slow and steady for England early on
Dengan url
https://donyblackedet.blogspot.com/2013/08/slow-and-steady-for-england-early-on.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Slow and steady for England early on
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Slow and steady for England early on
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar