Brisbane: Australia have the upper hand in the first match of the Ashes Test series.
Australia, who started England’s first innings score of 147, were 343 for seven at stumps on the second day.
Travis Head (112 off 95 balls with two sixes and 12 fours) and Mitchell Starc (10 off 10 balls) are at the crease. They have taken a 196-run lead so far. In addition to Head, openers David Warner (94) and Marnus Labushage (74) also put in excellent performances. Other outfielders include Marcus Harris (three), Steve Smith (12), Cameron Green (0), Alex Carrie (12) and skipper Pat Cummins (12). Pacer Oli Robinson took three wickets for England. Australia’s start was not great. The team lost Harris by 10 runs. Harrison was caught by David Malan off Robinson. David Warner and Labushage combined for the second wicket before Australia returned to the crease. The duo combined for 156 runs. Warner scored 102 off 102 balls and Labushage 71 off half balls. The collapse of Australia began when Labushage was handed over to Jack Leach by Mark Wood. Steve Smith, who faced 19 balls, was handed over by Mark Wood to wicketkeeper Jose Buttler.
Warner was out soon after. Warner’s attempt to scoop through Robinson’s ball cover failed. The rising ball landed safely in the hands of Ben Stokes. Robinson also dismissed Cameron Green (0) in the next over. With Green’s return, Australia are 195 for five. Oli Pope was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carrie Vokes playing his maiden Test.
Australia captain Pat Cummins’ attempt to sweep England skipper Joe Root ended in a catch by Haseeb Hameed.
England took four wickets for 29 runs. The Head-Cummins pair put on 70 for the seventh wicket as Australia crossed the 300 mark. England were all out for 147 on the first day. No one in the English column has crossed the half-century mark. Jose Butler (39), Oli Pope (36), Haseeb Hameed (25) and Chris Vokes (21) were the top scorers. Cummins, who took five wickets, told the story of England.
No ball technology not used in GABA: A setback for Australia In 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) passed a law requiring the third umpire to check whether every ball thrown was a no-ball. Only the ball that gets the wicket is checked for no ball here. Indications are a technical glitch. English pacer Ben Stokes has bowled 14 no-balls in the first five overs. The field umpire called only two of them.
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