Six reasons why Australia won the first Ashes Test A look at the five main reasons why Australia defeated England in Edgbaston.
Why did Australia win the first Ashes Test?
Ben Stokes and England, on the other hand, will need to take some vital lessons from the Edgbaston Test since a 2-0 series deficit at Lord’s is very much lights out. Australia won the first match for six reasons.
1.England’s declaration let Australia off the hook.
Nobody can deny that the current England team generates a lot of buzz in Test cricket. Their strategy in Pakistan last year, where they won 3-0 on three motorways, exemplifies their philosophy. Furthermore, their ability to score so early will almost always give them the maximum time to win contests. However, their declaration at 393/8 on the first evening absolved Australia. They had one foot on the throat and slightly elevated it. Pat Cummins and his squad were relieved as a bigger score beckoned, and the visitors appeared to be at a loss for ideas after a long day on the field. The decision would have been deemed courageous and bold if England had won. But England’s best player, Joe Root, was on a rampage, and Australia didn’t have many answers. His masterclass ended on 118, while Ollie Robinson looked unconcerned in his 31-ball stay. Before Stokes brought them in, the pair had combined 43 runs in 7.2 overs, leaving everyone wondering what England would have ended up with. Sure, David Warner and Usman Khawaja had dismal records in England before the Test, so taking a shot at them makes it logical. However, because the surface was flat, only four overs were possible. Furthermore, rain was expected throughout the Test, so the declaration gave England additional time to fight for a victory. Given how wonderfully Root and Robinson played, 450 was not out of the question. Furthermore, the scoring rate meant England would not have had to bat any longer to get those additional critical runs.
2.Usman Khawaja.
Usman Khawaja was named man of the match, and he deserved it. With Khawaja’s battling century in the first innings, Australia had a game to win. The visitors were reduced to 67/3 after Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschkette were removed, and they ended up at 148/4 after Travis Head miscued one to midwicket. Khawaja was tall. In the first innings, his 321-ball 141 helped Australia equalize with England. It didn’t deserve the send-off Ollie Robinson gave it, but Khawaja came out on top. His second innings vigil of 65 at a strike rate of 32.99 was criticized. However, he held an end and let Australia accrue wickets towards the target. He was removed 72 runs short of the objective, but his efforts gave his team a serious chance to win.
3.Pat Cummins, standing up.
Pat Cummins’ captaincy techniques are debatable. His strategy of sitting back and waiting for England to make mistakes is laden with danger. However, there is no disagreement about Cummins as a player. He stayed tall in the second innings, taking crucial second innings wickets, including the dangerous Ben Stokes, before displaying ice in his veins for his unbroken 44* to seal victory.
4.England’s selections
England announced their starting lineup 48 hours before the game. Ben Foakes, perhaps the best wicketkeeper in the world, has been controversially left out of the squad. Jonny Bairstow was asked to put on the gloves despite his lack of cricket experience. Bairstow’s choice backfired, as he wasted critical chances throughout the Test, costing England dearly. Also, England’s bowling attack was thin, with Moeen Ali named as the leading spinner. Moeen had not bowled in a Test match since 2021, and it showed as he suffered a terrible blister on his finger after an extended session of bowling on day two. As a result, on the last day, England had to rely on Joe Root’s off-spin, with the three seam bowlers working hard to extract movement on the same ground.
5. Decision to keep Joe Root bowling on the fifth evening.
Cummins took advantage of England’s decision to delay taking the new ball during his 44-run innings. Yes, Joe Root had just dismissed Alex Carey, but Australia’s best chance of scoring runs was against the offspinner, not Broad and Anderson, with the new ball in low light. Australia eventually won against the new ball only after Cummins swung the momentum in the 83rd over. The Australian skipper scored 14 runs, including two sixes, to reduce the target to under 50.England let Cummins and Lyon score 25 from 25 balls before taking the new ball in a desperate dash to take the final two wickets. After a few close calls, Cummins eventually sealed the winning run down at third man.
6.Crucial contributions from Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon
Following Pat Cummins, Australia has three number 11s, according to Ollie Robinson, after the first innings. Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon have done it personally. They partnered for 36 key runs in Australia’s second innings, both appearing confident in tight situations. Boland took over as night watchman after the chief, Steve Smith, was fired on April 4. He held his own, scoring 32 runs alongside Khawaja. Lyon walked to the crease with 55 points still available, but he showed steel nerves with his shot over mid on the highlight. The Lord’s Test begins on June 28 and has suddenly taken center stage. It will be intriguing to see how each team responds after an all-time classic Ashes match, with England having to bounce back at the home of cricket.
vIsit our website melbet for more update.
