England must win the third Ashes Test to stay in the hunt. They trail a daunting 2-0 series between the dire stakes of their own defeat. The playoff match is taking place on a pitch notoriously labeled a batsman’s paradise. Australia’s famed top-order has crumbled spectacularly, leading to concerns over their approach and follow-through on the opening day.
Marnus Labuschagne was one of the chief architects of the top-order collapse. He was dismissed by Jofra Archer after a horrible pull shot fell kindly to mid-wicket. The Englishmen continue to get themselves out with reckless, aggressive shots. Yet this pattern has turned into a new regularity across the series. Australian performance drew a stinging rebuke from Phil Tufnell as he said, “Australia have been a little bit soft.” He was right to highlight concerns over their batting mindset.
Usman Khawaja was resplendent, crafting a sublime 82 runs. By giving his wicket away so cheaply, he left Australian supporters feeling hugely aggrieved. By the time drinks were taken mid-way through the evening session, Australia were cruising at 271-7. This was a stunning reversal after seeming to fare so well. This fourth occasion on record that four of Australia’s top five batsmen have perished to expansive shots on day in a Test. It’s a big and exciting deal to us healthy living cricket freaks!
England have reaped the rewards of Australia’s mistakes. As Glenn McGrath said on day one, give the English bowlers credit for not doing their job. They played to Australia’s weaknesses and were more successful than anyone had anticipated. He stressed that England’s bowlers have failed to build the pressure of line and length. Even though they were erratic, they proved just enough to pick up seven wickets to boot.
The implementation on the ground has frequently favored artificially high scores. What’s more, this century, the average first-innings total is a remarkable 396. Australia has surpassed 440 runs at this venue eight times in their last 14 matches, hinting at the potential for recovery if they can stabilize their batting.
Jake Weatherald now fell to the same fielder that had just taken Khawaja’s wicket. He had been dropped on 1 and he was out for just 10 runs. Cameron Green soon followed, chipping one back two balls later. This play encapsulated Australia’s top-order inability to keep a cool head when it found itself in hot water.
As the match progresses, it is important to note that Steve Smith’s late withdrawal due to illness may have added to Australia’s anxiety and contributed to their inability to perform at their best. All but one of Australia’s top seven batsmen reached double figures. As wickets fell like confetti, Alex Carey dug in and was the rock on which his team’s innings was built.
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