The Ashes – First Test, Day 5: Wheels officially off.

 

DAY 5 FROM BRISBANE

 

 

My good friend Antony Green was correct. He expected a swing to the incumbent mob and in particular the popularity of the Leader.

 

Personally I now believe it was a lot more than the noble Green predicted.

 

All the safe seats of Warner, Starc, Hazlewood and the leader of course were comfortably held but it was the new aspirants who also did well.  The seats of Bancroft and Paine after being behind in the early voting were taken by the now new members.  One old member in the seat of Marsh returned to the cabinet for about the sixth or seventh time. A remarkable feat.

 

Enough of this droll election talk.

 

Cameron Bancroft and David Warner safely got through the early morning to make the extra runs and so give the Australians a comfortable 10 wicket victory.  They were never in doubt and played comfortably to boost their averages.

 

In the wash up it is hard to believe that two days ago the match was evenly poised but the home side completely dominated the final day and a half.   This will now throw some doubt in to the English camp.

 

The visitors do not seem to have the weapons in their reserves to make significant changes for Adelaide which is now only 5 days away.  There is a doubt on Ali will play through injury, Ball is not up to it and Woakes is certainly not Stokes.

 

On Stokes I think we should stop bringing his name up as he is not here, not likely to be here and can no longer be an excuse for the English team.

 

Strange as though it may seem their big chance will be to get the Australians in during the last session of play and make good use of the changed weather conditions.  It will be very interesting to see how Anderson and Broad lead the charge.

 

Australia will be buoyant with their performance and in particular the work of Warner and Bancroft to end the game.

 

They will go to Adelaide full of confidence and will make no changes to the team even if it is a day-nighter.

 

A fine game of Test cricket for three and a half days but then the wheels fell off the English .Let us hope that they can be more prudent in their batting from here on in.

 

Unfortunately for the cricketing public I cannot see them going the whole 15 rounds.

About Bob Utber

At 84 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.

Comments

  1. Mark 'Swish' Schwerdt says

    I looked forward to my Inbox pinging each night about 30 minutes after stumps Bob. Thanks again.

  2. Many thanks Citrus.
    I wonder why the wheels fell off.

    Self-inflicted? (concentration?)
    The opposition?
    The conditions?

    It could have been very different. SPD Smith’s innings fairly important.

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