(Info4now, December 11, 2021)- It was all set. Joe Root started to believe that his decision to bat first might offer enough justification. But England crumbled very early on Day 4 and lost the AUS vs ENG 1st Test contest with enough times to spare.
Joe Root wins the toss and decides to bat on Day 1. It was a courageous decision to bat in such an overcast situation. He expected a good batting track ignoring the grass. It also looked so. Michell Starc bowled Rory Burns out in the very first ball of the contest. Pat Cummins’s decision to include Starc gets dazzling effect in the context of the game. England’s discomfort at the opening slot looks more visible with that delivery of Starc. Pitching outside middle and leg, an over-pitched delivery hits Burns’ stump.
England reel in, projecting an unhealthy score of 147 and the play of Day 1 gets interrupted by bad weather. England with the ball do an excellent job owing to the pace attack they have. But the crisis in on-field conversions of the opportunities helps Australia march ahead. As we expected in the preview, Marnus Labuschagne dominates Day 2. And a fiery Travis Head completely takes his team to a driver’s seat.
Day 3 of AUS vs ENG 1st Test was very balanced for England. Trailing by a huge margin of 278, Dawid Malan and Joe Root looked very confident to take lead on the very next day. A champion Nathan Lyon waits for his 400th wicket. He waits for a long time. But time for a champion of right-arm orthodox spin comes finally. He strikes and Malan gets trapped at short leg. England lose their last 8 wickets in just 77 runs and manage only 19 for their bowlers.
It was absolutely frustrating for England as there was enough chance to extend a lead of 200 and they might force Australia to chase it on Day 5. The middle order responds very poorly. But it doesn’t take away any credit of the opposition. Pat Cummins with the captaincy looks very sharp. With the ball in hand he was more cruel against England. Before moving to Adelaide for a pink ball test, England need just a discussion and nothing more.