England in strong position to win first ashes Test by Andy Jalil

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Scorecard:	England v Australia
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2013

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DateLine: 13th July 2013

 

By Andy Jalil at Trent Bridge.
In association with INVESTEC.

 

Andy Jalil at Trent Bridge In Association with INVESTEC © Pakistan Cricket Website

 

Nottingham – What a magnificent opening Test match this is proving to be. The action has been gripping throughout the first four days with numerous twists and turns. But by the end of the fourth day’s play England were well placed for a win going into the final day.

 

Needing 311 to win in just over two sessions and a day, Australia had a fine opening stand of 84 in their second innings which indicated that England might be pushed all the way if they were to win. But Shane Watson was lbw for 46 to Stuart Broad and with Chris Rogers being dismissed, caught at mid-wicket off James Anderson after his maiden Test half century Australia had lost five wickets for 53.

 

Ed Cowan had earlier become Joe Root’s maiden Test wicket and Michael Clarke had edged Broad behind the stumps for 23. He asked for a review and that was unsuccessful. Swann then accounted for Steve Smith, on 17 and Phil Hughes without scoring, pinning both in front of the stumps. He finished the day with two for 64 while Broad had two for 34. With an hour and a half of play remaining for the day there was a possibility of England wrapping up the match on the day.

 

But Australia’s lower order batting is not weak and with Brad Haddin, on 11 and the hero of the first innings young Ashton Agar at the crease on 1, the tourists were able to go to stumps on 174 for six, needing a further 137 to win. But with just four wickets remaining they will do well to reach that target.

 

If this is the way the series is to progress it will continue to enthral the crowd with practically every Test match having been sold out well in advance. For this first Test all tickets were snapped up as far back as January even for the fifth day which rarely happens.

 

The balance of play had gone back and forth in favour of either side each day but by the end of the third day England had the edge. And after they resumed their second innings on the fourth morning on 326 for 6, an overall lead of 261, they rapidly extended it by 30 runs in the first half hour’s batting. During that period Broad, on 47 overnight and Ian Bell on 95, reached their half century and century respectively. It was Broad’s tenth in Tests and Bell’s eighteenth.

 

But including the fall of the seventh wicket England lost four in a space of nine overs. Broad was caught behind on 65 and it was almost comical to see him walk off immediately as the appeal was made for his dismissal when he had controversially remained at the crease on the previous day with the umpire mistakenly giving him ‘not out’.

 

Bell was also held by the wicket-keeper, on 109, and the last two fell on the total of 375 to Peter Siddle who had Graeme Swann caught at second slip for nine and two balls later James Anderson was held at short mid-wicket without scoring. Siddle finished with three for 85 and Mitchell Starc had three for 81.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2013 Andy Jalil)