The Ashes 2021/22 – Third Test, Melbourne Day 1: Not traditional, but all the better for Australia

 

It felt like an all too familiar scene out of a movie.

 

MCG, the bustling surrounds of Yarra Park. Cars parked everywhere, specks of green and gold and dark blue all over the city. A stray English flag. Crowds returned to the MCG concourse and filtered around aimlessly before ducking inside to a seat, a drink and a chat.

 

Boxing Day was finally back at the MCG, a marquee day that hadn’t been in full swing for a couple of years. MCC members totted along chuffed, suit and tea resplendent as they went on a recovery walk from hearty breakfasts.

 

But it wasn’t the same old when play commenced.

 

Expecting the time-honoured traditions of a batting captain who won the toss and batted first, Pat Cummins strolled to the middle after some light rain to win the toss and bowl. On a green top MCG wicket that hadn’t been seen at international level in Melbourne for a long time, many old members would’ve turned their noses up at the thought of Cummins being skipper and sending England in.

 

None of it phased Pat, who quickly went to work in removing Hameed for England’s 50^th duck for the calendar year. Instead of trusting his technique, Hameed changed his game, sitting deep back in the crease and trying to play the world’s best bowler as late as possible. It meant Cummins had more scope and time to swing and seam the ball, making Hameed’s wicket an inevitability.

 

With one half gone of England’s opening duo, the other was never far away. Zak Crawley may have been a new addition to this series, but even his few technically correct shots flew by the wayside when Cummins squared him up to gully for a second wicket. It would normally be alarm bells for England, but they were used to it, as Dawid Malan (who was now quite used to the quasi-opener role) and Joe Root forged another pressure-filled partnership.

 

The duo worked hard, Malan just surviving (as Australia actively worked to deny a loose delivery that could be driven by the first drop) and Root being as busy and untroubled at the crease as ever. Root never looked like going out despite the moment and the grassy pitch, while Malan could only fend off the Aussies until the final over of the morning session, where he nicked Cummins to Warner at first slip for the captain’s third early wicket.

 

Post-break, England didn’t come out as stunned as one would expect. With captain Root still at the crease and batting as enterprisingly as ever, they had hope. Root’s rhythm allowed Stokes to settle in for the first time in the series, as the pair both found good tempo and looked set to flourish in the afternoon. Yet what makes test cricket great is that it’s a game of ebbs and flows, and some tight pressure bowling from Victorian debutant Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc allowed only one run from 15 consecutive deliveries until Root tried to manufacture a back foot prod that only went into Carey’s gloves behind the stumps. Having looked untouchable ever since he strode to the crease, a peerless half-century would become his ninth score of 50 or over in Australia without ever registering a test century down under.

 

From there, England never recovered. Stokes held out but soon felt the screws turning, with the pressure ending with a horrific-looking back foot cut/ drive that picked out Lyon at backward point off the improving Green. Bairstow came and dug in, while Jos Buttler’s nightmare few weeks continued. With one over left before the tea break, Buttler decided to chance his arm against the deep MCG pockets, dancing down to Lyon and hauling out straight to deep mid-wicket. It was a brain fade of the highest order, and a summary of where England were at mentally.

 

When Bairstow’s 35 ended shortly after the tea break to another poor late-cut/ prod that flew to a diving Green at gully, England’s poor resistance was officially put to bed. Boland, the fourth Indigenous Australian to play test cricket for Australia, snared two catches and a maiden test wicket when he trapped Mark Wood in front – the crowd had their memorable Boxing Day moment. The tail enders landed some hefty blows to give the crowd a cheer, but it was inevitable. All out for 185 was no breathtaking scorecard, but it was the same procession of consistent mediocrity that England have produced down under for a few series.

 

To make matters worse, the under-fire Marcus Harris and Warner came to the middle amid late day sunshine – a luxury England rarely got as they struggled against their technical flaws, decision making and relentless bowling. But Anderson and Robinson gave Harris a lifeline for his test career, dishing up leg stump half volleys and half-trackers to encourage him to get away.

 

With Warner getting as busy as ever with cheeky singles and punchy drives, the remaining air left in England’s crumpling bag was deflated in under an hour. Going at, at the slowest, a run a ball to put on over 50 with Harris, Warner was at his electric best, delighting in putting England to the sword. But Anderson put a halt to the Warner show, albeit when the damage was done. With Harris and reliable nightwatchman Lyon seeing it out to stumps, a thick edge off the former’s blade for four off the final ball of the day summed up England’s dismal Boxing Day. From here, the tourists can only turn into a more horrific car crash by the day.

 

MCC members waltzed out inebriated, full and chuffed. The green and gold shone through Wellington Parade and Punt Road. Smiles were plastered across the faces of many Melbourne cricket fans who had been waiting for this. It may not have been the traditional way of dominating England that they had seen before, but the heroics of Cummins and co did just as much damage, if not more.

 

You can read more from Sean Mortell Here.

 

 

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