This first Ashes Test match is tantalisingly poised with two days remaining—no question.
As it stands, with a combined 18 wickets in hand and a difference of 35 runs, realistically, the game has come down to a one-bullet-each shootout—which team can hold their nerve the longest?
Unfortunately for the bleary-eyed Australian supporters, and the good folk of the West Midlands, Birmingham's rain brought a premature end to an expectant Sunday.
When England batted a second time after mopping up Australia’s tail effectively, there was no booming cover drive to start proceedings off this time, just challenging overhead conditions to assist Australia’s capable seam attack. For just a short time, thankfully, Bazball was noticeably absent.
Both openers—Zac Crawley and Ben Duckett— fell foul of those conditions, and it’s fair to suggest there would have been further damage if the umpires hadn’t called a halt when they did. It was indeed a fascinating passage of Test cricket, given what had gone before.
Both dismissals were taken behind the wicket: first, Cameron Green—fast becoming a world leader in the gully/wide slip position—held a low, sharp catch to his left, accounting for Duckett. A few balls later, Crawley feathered a Scott Boland leave-ball behind. Alex Carey made no mistake.
Joe Root and Ollie Pope faced a further ten balls between them, with neither getting off the mark. Boland troubled Root’s front pad, and Pat Cummins passed Root’s outside edge, which brought Steve Smith into the game—he asked for, and botched another review.
Without notice, Root looked like he’d been taking batting advice from David Warner.
England—although, they wouldn’t admit—couldn’t get off the ground quick enough.
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Returning to the first sentence: “This first Ashes Test match is tantalisingly poised with two days remaining—no question..”
Writing the word "Test match" does feel a little odd given England’s comments at the end of Day 2.
According to Paul Collingwood, England’s assistant coach, if England were to stop "bazballing" right now, this would almost certainly signal the end of Test cricket as we know it—or as he sees it.
Ponder that for a second, or two.
And Collingwood went one step further, suggesting England’s daring catch-me-if-you-can approach is more important than results. Remember, this was right after Australia had laboured through a ‘traditional’ Test batting day.
Quoting Coach Collingwood: "Our vision as a Test team is far greater than results."
And, reflecting on his team's manic first innings, he said, "If we don’t do that (play like that), then Test cricket might not survive."
"Oh, Colly, I presume you were taken out of context here."
So—a question if I were at the presser—why the declaration Friday evening with Joe Root—yes, Joe Root—unbeaten on 118? Ollie Robinson looking a decent partner, and potentially another 100 runs to be gathered Saturday morning—so putting Australia effectively out of the game, on a wicket that will continue to wear?"
I’m unsure of what his answer might be. Maybe as incoherent as he was on a foggy evening in Colchester after three days of rain—a while back!
On the notion that "Test cricket might not survive." I’ll say this to you:
OK, it's best we just do away with WG Grace then, the founding father of modern-day cricket and much-loved son of Ashes historians. Send him to the gallows; he should never have given himself not-out anyway! It just wasn't cricket.
Don Bradman, well, he might be statistically untouchable, but hey, his strike rate (SR) was crap, too low, and he didn’t bring people through the gates like we do (England)—Collingwood’s team.
Ian Botham and Shane Warne: and what did they do for Test cricket?
Well, Paul, in Botham’s case, amongst other stuff, he just single-handedly won an Ashes series with both bat and ball. And, Warne, well, let’s be honest, he just dined out on that ‘one ball’ he flicked out perfectly and caught Mike Gatting napping—which is easily done after lunch. (Yes, it was pre-lunch).
How about Andrew ‘Freddy’ Flintoff and Ricky Ponting? There's not much going on there either?
No, just a big lad from Preston who sent a few down and then bopped a few out of the park—picked up a team and carried them on his back. Ponting? Well, he never got over being run out by a substitute fielder; he just whinged his way through a career.
Oh, Jack Hobbs, you won’t like him either. Do you know what he did? Everything you don’t like: Hobbs amassed a staggering number of runs in Ashes Tests, all with impeccable technique and solid DEFENSE. Line through Hobbs, please.
Jim Laker, an off spinner, like Moeen Ali—nice job bringing him back to Test cricket—I mean, 1956 is before both of us were born, but forever in the annals of Ashes Tests—as long as they last— will be Laker’s incredible 19 wickets at Old Trafford. In fact, you might like Laker; he also bowled with shark-net fields.
Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson—what did they do? Ask our old mate, ‘Bumble Lloyd’—not so much of the ‘old’ you lads. "Of course, Bumble." Fast, mean, and nasty on the field—and off it most of the time.
"Hey Doc, take away the bloody pain, will ya, and leave the swelling; there’s a good lad!" Bumble offered.
I hope we’re getting to the point and I’m not being too dramatic!
Test match cricket is not ending anytime soon; on the contrary, it will continue to lay a platform that allows cricketers from all around the world to be immortalised forever more. No amount of franchise cricket will erode the history that goes before any cricketer who pulls on an English or Australian shirt—in this instance.
I’m sure my ex-teammate, Paul Collingwood, knows this, and I hope he was poking some Mackem mirth at the assembled press. I hope, for Shotley Bridge’s sake.
In my opinion, Joe Root, is the most rounded batter across the two teams—granted, Steve Smith has plenty to say in this conversation. And it’s just my opinion, whatever that’s worth. To even things up, if I had to bet the ‘last supper," it might swing in Smith’s favour.
Anyway, I only say this because Ollie Pope will be at the other end when play resumes later, and my hope for Pope is that he is shielded somewhat from the dependencies that Bazball might place on him. England needs Pope to become the next Root; he could, and my hope is that he is allowed room to do this.
Yes, big shoes to fill. Leave him be Bazball!
Well played N.Speak. Thanks for also spending some wonderful analytical time this morning.
Well constructed again Nick.
Indeed leave him be, likely to become a good un!