Day One of the First Test of Ashes Series (ICC World Test Championship) Played at Birmingham
Australia Vs England
Brief Scorecard: Australia Ist Innings 284 All Out (SPD Smith 144, PM Siddle 44,TM Head 35,SCJ Broad 5/86 ,CR Woakes 3/58 ) England Ist Innings 10/0
Steven Peter Devereux Smith was among the top four batsmen alongside Virat Kohli, Joe Root and Kane Willamson when a sad incident of ball tampering during an Australia-South Africa test in South Africa had him and two of his mates David Warner and Bancroft suspended from all forms of cricket. It was a very sad episode for Australian Cricket and World Cricket that a great talent had to be involved in such a silly incident. He along with mates served the suspension term and on due course returned to all formats of cricket.
In ICC World Cup David Warner returned to his flamboyant self. Smith was found struggling to recover his brilliant best. Australia failed in its mission HEXA and defending its title losing by a huge margin to arch rival England in the semi final. After the euphoria of CWC 2019 died down with host England winning the title after lots of Drama attention redirected to Ashes Series. Incidentally this started the ICC World Test Cricket Championship. For a while teams would be locked in bilateral test series considered as part of World Test Championship.
The first of the Ashes series AKA (Also Known As) World Test Championship started yesterday at Birmingham England. Australia winning the toss elected to bat under cloud cover. One SPD Smith defying the booing of English Crowd played an innings of great character and quality carrying his team on his broad shoulder. The player who in previous 117 innings of 64 tests scored 6199 runs at average of 61.37 scoring 23 centuries and 24 fifties produced a superlative innings of 144 in 219 minutes. His innings had grits and determination. He salvaged his team from virtual ruins. Single handed he rescued his team from 8/122 at one stage. With two tail-enders Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon giving him company he not only pulled his team out of near disaster but finishing at 284 all out he possibly anchored his team to a test and series deciding milestone. Only time will say how he contributed to series deciding act.
England team is well balanced now with explosive batting depth and horses for the courses bowlers. Under cloud cover on English wicket Anderson and Broad are among the best of all times. Add to that Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes English bowling can be unplayable in a seaming and swinging condition. And they stuck to their task. Australia were in deep trouble losing Warner, Bancroft and Khawaja within 15 overs with only 35 on board. Even great Steve Smith was not finding it easy negotiating the moving deliveries off the seam and in the air. Travis Head gave him company for a while .The fourth wicket partnership produced 64 painstaking runs before Head fell to Woakes playing a dogged innings of 35. Smith was there playing solidly. However Broad and Woakes proved too hot to handle for Wade, Paine, Pattinson and Cummins.
Australian innings was at complete disarray at 122/8. Smith had no other options but to stand firm. He started farming the strikes .He found a great ally in Peter Siddle returning to the team after a while. It was a touch and go between him and Jos Hazzlewood for the match. Siddle played a wonderful supporting innings for Smith. Together they added 78 runs for the 9th wicket. Siddle contributed 44 of them. When Siddle got out it was 9/210. Smith had with him Nathan Lyon a terrific fighter. Before Broad had Smith clean bowled for 144 these two added another 74 invaluable runs. Australia finishing at 284 looked very competitive. Smith in his solo bravery spreading over 219 deliveries struck 16 fours and two sixes. His innings perhaps would eventually turn out as series defining innings. Australia could be all out below 150 or even below 200. That could have enabled England wrapping up the match and forging ahead in the series. But that did not happen as Smith stood in between. Who knows where this test and the series would be heading. If England can not take substantial lead, they may find it not too easy playing Nathan Lyon on the last Innings. Not an easy task at all. Broad (5/ 86 and Woakes 3/58 were the destroyers. Anderson was not required much.
England in 2 overs were 10/0 before stumps were drawn.
The day-one say the heroic return of a maestro in the arena. World Cricket was badly missing Steve Smith.
BDST: 1045 HRS, AUG 2, 2019
RS
