The Ashes – First Test, Day 1: “England, my England,” said Captain Stokes
“England, my England,” said Captain Stokes.
England on top after woeful batting by both teams.
A beautiful day in Perth with only a whisp of cloud for the opening stanza of the most hyped Ashes Series and to be frank the most boring leadup. Six months of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and then poor captain Pat’s back.
Noah would have been pleased the Albions were coming in two by two and it would not be long before the Ark was brimming at its sides. Well, it always is anyway.
Surprised when Stokes won the toss and decided to bat. A bit of bazball there? He has this attack of speed monsters and they have to sit back and bat first. A bit of a green top to my eyes. Send ‘em in!
No, we will have a dig.
As expected Crawley didn’t last past the first over as the ancient mariner Uzzie nearly let the catch go into the ocean. I wrote somewhere that Crawley (0) would struggle with the way he flays at the quicks and it came to pass.
Starc was on target while at the other end Boland was easy picking for the batters to full. Duckett and my boy Ollie Pope played some fine straight drives and if they didn’t make the boundary they ran threes. Outfield , in fact was a bit slow and made fours look even better.
To my mind Boland is a first change bowler and he went for 7 an over in his first spell.
Duckett (21) missed a good one from Starc and was on his way. He was shortly followed by Honest Joe (0) who got one that moved slightly from Starkers and England were 3/30 and the Barmy Army sat there sans hats in silence. Lucky they have The Gabba next and hats won’t matter in the day-nighter.
Starc had taken his Ashes total to 100 wickets and had 3/9 in a brilliant display of hostile bowling.
As usual with SPD he switched his bowlers around and brought Green on just before lunch mindful that he can only bowl short spells. My boy Ollie took to him early in the over to move to 46 and then played a lazy shot and was LBW. Green off after one over and 1/10.
Meanwhile Harry Brook showed Australians in the crowd (about 45%) just why people love to watch him bat. He plays extraordinary strokes just like he is playing beach cricket. Charging at the bowlers, fast or slow and he could be a problem after lunch.
Australia in charge with England 4/105
Brook hits Boland for six second ball after lunch and he will continue to attack. Stokes (6) plays outside a good ball from the irrepressible Starc and is clean bowled.
Have been looking forward to the two youngsters in England’s team Brook and Smith getting together and here they are. They need a big partnership.
They go for it driving, pulling and cutting anything loose. It in fact is the driving that brings the crowd to their feet. They play beautiful shots off all the bowlers and the score races to 160 when Brook (52) gloves Doggett to Carey and the partnership is broken. SPD was ecstatic as “the boys” were getting away from Oz.
From there on in it was a procession to the pavilion with Starc finishing with 7/58 and Doggett 2/27. In fact the last 5 wickets fell for just 12 runs and England are all out for 172.
Australia did not fair much better when new chum Jake Weatherald only lasted two ball against the fiery Joffra A. Khawaja did not open and Marnus had taken his place.
The two gold collar workers Smith and Labuschagne weathered one fiery English attack until tea time. The Englishmen and the Cornish man, my mate Ollie Pope had hit back. Apparently I called Ollie Pope an Englishman on the radio last Saturday only to be rebuked by a listener.
Don’t know what Stokesie cooked up for afternoon tea but his charges came out full of fire and brimstone and within half an hour the cauldron was full of Australians Uzzie (2) Marnus (9) and SPD (17). Australia 4/31 and the Barmy Army now glad they arrived in numbers with their lads on top. Who would have thought?
The carnage continued for the rest of the evening with Green (24), Head (21) and Carey (26) the only innings of significance. All three played terrible shots to lose their wickets as well.
But the last session of play belonged to the Vincent van Gogh of cricket. Benjamin Stokes must have known what he did wrong this morning when he decided to bat. He painted some beautiful pictures late in the day by claiming 5/23 in a display that only he is the master of.
The wicket of Carey said it all. He moved Bryden Carse two feet from where he was standing at deep third man, bowled short to Carey, he ramped, Carse caught. Wonderful tactics.
End of play:
England 172 Brook 52, Pope 46 , Smith 33 Starc 7/58 Doggett 2/27, Green 1/10
Australia 9/121 Carey 26, Green 24, Head 21 Australia 9/123 Carey 26, Green 24, Head 21 Stokes 5/23, Archer 2/11, Carse 2/45
Crowd: 51,531
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au home page click HERE
Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.
Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.
Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
Great summary, Bob,
Agree: Carey’s dismissal DID say it all, and in my view, so did the dismissal of Travis Head … spooning the ball to mid wicket … it all seemed to happen in slow motion. Trav certainly trudged off rather slowly.
I also thought the whole Usman ‘unavailability’ was a disaster! Would have Weatherall chosen to face the first ball? I just thought Marnus could have faced the music first as the more experienced player?
How much cricket will we see on Sunday?
RITV
Onya CB. I’d be making alternate plans for Day 4 if I were you.
Cheers, JB.
No pitch for old men. England’s bowlers are the Black and White Minstrel Show version of Roberts, Holding, Marshall and Garner. Not quite the real thing but a passable imitation.
Batsmen accustomed to flat tracks; flat bowlers and flat format cricket shown up as flat track bullies.
Fried batters. Toast cricket.
Fine work Citrus Bob. Good bowling and catching, sloppy batting. Now can you just get the powers that be to correct he posters leading into the ground on Matagarup Bridge, so they’re factually correct.
RITV – questions, questions – hard to answer some of them Russell other than to say “short game stuff” from the batters of both teams. Just watched head’s dismal (1pm Saturday) how weak a shot was that? Game will finish in the last session on Sunday.
JOHN BUTLER – I always leave every day of Test cricket open Butts. That is what makes it such a tour de force you never never know!
Peter_B – Welcome back Kotter ! The winter of our discontent has been good for you. Can always watch the AFLW today PB. Super analysis.
BARRY NICHOLLS – What do the signs say Bazza? ‘Sloppy batting” at its best. Doesn’t “old Joe” look really old now?
Citrus Bob there are more errors than you can poke a stick at. I gave up counting in the end. For example it has Australia playing an Ashes series at the WACA in 1976, Craig Serjeant debuting in an Ashes Test at the WACA in 1977, Merv Hughes taking a hat trick against England etc. It was depressing.