England bowled out for 147 before rain brings an early end to Day 1 of 1st Ashes Test vs Australia

[MenInG]

Australia will be looking to keep a stranglehold on the urn, having held the Ashes for two series in a row since 2017, as they host England in the first Test at the Gabba.

Australia vs England, first Test
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane
December 8-12, 10:00 am local

A new era beckons for Australia under the leadership of Pat Cummins who will be keen to make a great first impression when they take on England in the opening game of the Ashes in Brisbane.

He will be the first fast-bowling captain to lead Australia since Ray Lindwall in 1956 and will be in the company of the same bowling line-up consisting of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon that wreaked havoc the last time England travelled Down Under, ending 4-0 in the favour of the Aussies.

Behind the stumps, Alex Carey is set to don the gloves in the absence of Tim Paine, who is currently on an indefinite break from cricket. David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne will form the spine of Australia's batting lineup. Smith, in particular, has a tremendous Ashes record, with 2800 runs and 11 centuries against the arch-rivals.

Australia have already named their playing XI for the first Test, with Marcus Harris, Travis Head and Chris Green completing the XI along with the aforementioned names.

England, on the other hand, have kept their cards close to their chests, though they have named a 12-member squad for the first Test that sees Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson miss out. England's decision to bench Anderson is down to workload management as they want to keep him fresh for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

England's batting will be heavily dependant on their captain, who has been in a league of his own in 2021. Having amassed 1455 runs in 12 matches, Joe Root is the only Test player across the world to have aggregated more than 1000 runs this calendar year.

The visitors' biggest worry is the fact that their next most prolific batter this year, Joe Burns, has scored more than 1000 runs lesser than their skipper. The return of Ben Stokes is going to be a massive boost, but only time will tell if the lack of game time for the talismanic all-rounder, who last played a competitive match in July, will prove to be costly.


Remember the last time

The 2019 Men's Ashes was the first series to be contested under the inaugural ICC World Test Championship cycle. The series also marked the Test returns of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft after they served the bans for the ball-tampering incident in South Africa in 2018.

Smith marked his return in style with a Player of the Match-winning twin centuries that helped Australia clinch the series opener by 251 runs.

The rain-truncated second Test ended in a stalemate. The action then moved to Headingley for one of the most memorable Tests in recent history.

After Australia posted 179 in the first innings, England were skittled out for just 67. Marnus Labuschagne's 80 helped Australia set a target of 359. In response, half-centuries from Joe Denly and Joe Root kept England in the hunt, but they lost their way after quick wickets, slipping from 245/4 to 286/9.

Ben Stokes, then batting on 61*, played a wonderful counter-attacking innings with Jack Leach at the other end. The two strung together a stunning partnership of 76, with Leach contributing just one run as England scripted a heist with one wicket to spare.

Steve Smith played a starring role in the fourth Test in Manchester with a double hundred and a fifty in the two innings. The 185-run win ensured Australia retained the Ashes, even though England won the final Test at The Oval.


What they said

Pat Cummins (Australia captain): "I look around our team and we've got a pretty special side. We've got some of the greats of all time of Australian cricket in our changing room and when you get most of them clicking we're going to be a pretty tough team to beat. We get along really well and have a lot of fun, so hopefully a tight-knit group. We are enjoying our cricket and we're relentless when we have our chance to play."

Joe Root (England captain): "I’m absolutely determined to put the record straight. Look at the last two tours and in many respects we can only expect better. Performances weren’t good enough. We have to make sure we rectify that this time around. If we go and approach things in the exact same manner, then we’re likely to get similar results. So it’s really important we are brave in that respect and look to take the game to Australia."

Squads:

Australia Squad: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Swepson

England Squad: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, Jonny Bairstow, Craig Overton, Daniel Lawrence, Dominic Bess, Zak Crawley

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[Hassaan HS]

ashes.jpg

[MenInG]

Jos Buttler says England must bring their "A-game" to beat Australia and regain The Ashes as he prepares to tick an item off his cricketing "bucket list".

New Australia captain Pat Cummins says he will contact former skipper Tim Paine ahead of the Ashes opener - and then lean heavily on Steve Smith during the series ����

[street cricketer]

Carnn 'Straya!

[Devadwal]

Rain will be spolier of this test match.

[Amjid Javed]

Unless englands batsmen suddenly start scoring big runs individually and as unit then they will struggle in this series, just like any other Ashes, the way to put pressure on current Aussies is runs on the board. Cant just rely on Root to get all the runs.

[James]

The smart money is on the Draw for this match. The meteorological forecast for Brisbane is not looking great this week. Hopefully the weather gods are feeling kinder than they are expected to be, however, and we get a full and competitive first Test.

[Ab Fan]

Been a while since Australia played their last test cricket, should be entertaining.

[sweep_shot]

Aussies should win.

I don't expect England to win a single Test.

[gazza619]

Rain will be spolier of this test match.

Bring on the rain!

[DeadlyVenom]

Neither Jimmy or Broad playing. Thats quite a big call.

[mazkhan]

Can't believe they never selected broad for leach

[DeadlyVenom]

What a horrible bit of cricket from Rory Burns.

The pressure really got to him.

[DeadlyVenom]

Haseeb will be a walking wicket too. England could be 3-4 down by lunch.

[Azzurri]

Malan could be a key here or else Aussies might run away with it

[moghul]

One ball bowled , wicket fell and reserve players already out with drinks, after one ball in the field.

[anakwalajinn]

The graphics looking like a Playstation game.

Nevertheless not a lot of things that beat Day 1 of test cricket in the middle of the night from Australia!

Wish we were more competitive during our tours down under

[DeadlyVenom]

Warne trying to convince us that Burns wicket was a plan.

It was a horrible bit of bowling followed up by the ugliest batting that I've seen.

The only positive is that I wont need to watch Burns bat again for a while.

[giri26]

England's batting is really poor. Their top order is horrible with lots of pressure on Root. They struggled at home against India which cost them the series almost (1 game to be played). They have no chance of success in Australia. They need to find better openers. Burns is horrible and watching him scoring any runs is painful. This puts lots of pressure on Root who himself does not have great record in Australia. Root is gone as well, so England to be rolled over under 200.

[globalcitizen]

Excited! Ashes is back.. can't wait to be at the ground this season

[globalcitizen]

Why will england choose to bat on this wicket? But if wicket stays same, then 250 would be good as well

[giri26]

Why will england choose to bat on this wicket? But if wicket stays same, then 250 would be good as well

Wicket will stay the same at the Gabba mostly. There isn't conventional swing in Australia, it is bounce and seam. It is completely different from playing conventional swing which England showed they are poor playing even that in the home series against India.

[globalcitizen]

Wicket will stay the same at the Gabba mostly. There isn't conventional swing in Australia, it is bounce and seam. It is completely different from playing conventional swing which England showed they are poor playing even that in the home series against India.

I see swing surely in first hour. But batsmen are leaving the balls even if it's on wicket because of bounce

[Devadwal]

Cummins gets stokes , England are 29-4

[giri26]

I see swing surely in first hour. But batsmen are leaving the balls even if it's on wicket because of bounce

Australian bowlers don't swing the ball too much. Swing is what you get in the air, except for Starc, the other two are seam bowlers who hit the seam hard on the pitch and get movement of it. The wicket at Gabba surely will aid seam and may be will ease out on day 2 and become good for batting but will still have enough bounce and seam for fast bowlers.

Australia in recent times have had very few bowlers who can swing the ball. Starc can from the present team, in the past there were Damien Fleming and Hilfenhaus. Hazlewood and Cummins hardly bowl the length to swing the ball. They are hit the wicket seam bowlers in the mould of the great Glenn McGrath. As I type another one bites the dust, England might struggle to get to 150.

[Devadwal]

We'll be lucky if the Ashes is even half as entertaining as last border Gavaskar series

[Nikhil_cric]

Not the best of starts. Hazlewood nipped out both Stokes and Root. Incredible accuracy.

[Ab Fan]

That's all shambles for England in the first session.

[Devadwal]

Green was wicketless when he played last 4 match series against India . Can England do this again? He is a nothing bowler but he is a handy with bat

[Robert]

Oh dear, bad start.

Good opportunity for Baby Boycott.

[Robert]

Why will england choose to bat on this wicket? But if wicket stays same, then 250 would be good as well

Always bat first. Always always always.

[Devadwal]

This is very important partnership for England . atleast score around 250

[Robert]

Ian Chappell:

“Root made the right decision batting first. With four wickets down, he will cop criticism. There will be something in this track for a few days. England will have to bowl and catch well.”

[Devadwal]

Why England Expert and fan's are making excuses of poor prepration on social media ? Didn't they land here a month ago ?

[Marathonrunner]

Eng in dire straits now. Cummins looks charged up . Great delivery to get rid of solid Hameed

[Devadwal]

Hameed gone as well

[Marathonrunner]

Joe Root should have bowled as pitch looked quite green and fresh . Also it was bit overcast in the morning. Great bowling by Australia

[Devadwal]

Now people's will understand how hard to win a series in Australia because some people's were undermine india back to back series win here BTW where is @junaid i have lot's of questions for him

[Romali_rotti]

England's downfall has been quite telling for a while now. I mean they lost a test series to NZ in ENG recently, out of all teams NZ, NZ like as far as I know never wins test series away from home, except for once in the UAE ? That itself should have been telling..

However still time for Eng to fight back, I wouldn't write them off yet but their play has been spiraling downwards for a while.

[Devadwal]

Butler is showing some intent .

[Ab Fan]

Poor start from England.

This shows that Australian conditions are not everyone's cup of tea. Only India and South Africa are capable of producing high quality cricket in Australia.

England, New Zealand and Pakistan are not good enough for Australian conditions and will most likely get mauled. They have been hopeless nations in these conditions.

[James]

Going around about as expected thus far. An Ashes tour to Australia typically starts for England with an absolute mullering at the Gabba in the first Test, which starts on the first day of the match and series & then continues forthwith. The only occasions I can remember when this did not happen is in 2010 where England got the better of a stalemate draw and went into Adelaide 0-0, and then the tour in 86/7 when England had been completely written off but sprung a surprise with a century from an older Botham and forced Australia to follow on. (Both times England won the series) — 73/5 at the moment for England and we will see what happens throughout the match, they’ve picked a very good bowling attack which gives them a chance but they are certainly right up against it early on.

[Devadwal]

I love test cricket in Australia because of timing.

[Firebat]

Fantastic counter attacking from Buttler. It's a thin line he's walking though - if he gets out, the innings will be viewed as a reckless one, not a counter-attacking one.

[realitygaf]

I live the scoring bar at the bottom of the screen. This should be standard for all cricket. Simply and dark . Easy on the eyes

[Technics 1210]

Going around about as expected thus far. An Ashes tour to Australia typically starts for England with an absolute mullering at the Gabba in the first Test, which starts on the first day of the match and series & then continues forthwith. The only occasions I can remember when this did not happen is in 2010 where England got the better of a stalemate draw and went into Adelaide 0-0, and then the tour in 86/7 when England had been completely written off but sprung a surprise with a century from an older Botham and forced Australia to follow on. (Both times England won the series) — 73/5 at the moment for England and we will see what happens throughout the match, they’ve picked a very good bowling attack which gives them a chance but they are certainly right up against it early on.

In 2010 England had Jimmy, Broad, Swan, and Tremlet. All in their prime/peak.

This time round England's bowling looks toothless.

[Devadwal]

Loving buttler inning 26*(26) . good partnership is building for England .

[Ab Fan]

Loving butler inning 26*(26) . good partnership is building for England .

Looks like a certain league helped him build the confidence required to succeed in Australia as noted by a visiting side who succeeded in Australia last year.

[Devadwal]

Fox commentary is not up the Mark's

[MenInG]

Reminder for some:


All posters please take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:

1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staffs etc.

2. No making fun of player's, official's, coaching staff's names.

3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.

4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

5. Report abuse. If you see any post which is inappropriate, report it. Do not respond to it

[realitygaf]

Fox commentary is not up the Mark's

There wont be a commentary team like the Australian commentary of bill lawry and co . Current crop is crap

[Devadwal]

Cummins take a review but don't think Buttler edges here

[Devadwal]

What ,No RTS for Ashes series??

[James]

Terrific little partnership here but feels a bit haphazard and like it could end at any time.

[Devadwal]

Buttler ,Pant and dekock are most pleasing WK batsman to watch.

[Ab Fan]

Good chance for Buttler to make a mark in test cricket. No stage bigger than Ashes in test cricket.

[Devadwal]

250 is what England want to score here to stay in match

[Smudger]

Buttler ,Pant and dekock are most pleasing WK batsman to watch.

Pant is ugly to watch

[cric_man]

Buttler gone...

[Devadwal]

Pant is ugly to watch

Good joke , next please .

[Devadwal]

Green finally gets his first wicket after wicketless entire india tour to Australia.

[Devadwal]

46 ducks for England now. Their record of 54 in a year could be boxed off by next weekend.

[SL_Fan]

This is absolutely dreadful batting from England. Might be an innings defeat at this rate and most likely their Ashes hopes turning to dust on the first day of the first Test. Not good. Very bad.

[Devadwal]

Three consecutive four by Woakes against Hazelwood

[Devadwal]

Ashes in Australia don't deserve more than 2 test match . period

[SL_Fan]

Good going by Straya tho the bowling, fielding and bowling plans have been on the money. Touch Wood.

[jnaveen1980]

My favorite non-Indian Player Cummins !! What a start as captain. on the verge of a fifer.

[Devadwal]

Cummins get yet another fifer and first a test caption.

[jnaveen1980]

Cummins showed his class. Full balls, short balls every type of ball from him was effective.

[jnaveen1980]

WOrld's best fast bowler by some distance. Cummins !!

[Varun]

England touring Australia.

Same old, same old.

[Buffet]

Poor start from Eng. Let's see if Eng's bowlers can keep Aus to a low score.

[jnaveen1980]

Poor start from Eng. Let's see if Eng's bowlers can keep Aus to a low score.

Until England gets rid of Burns they are going to see more collapses. This guy is such an useless player. 54 innings. 20 single digits. 8 of them are ducks.

[Robert]

England's downfall has been quite telling for a while now. I mean they lost a test series to NZ in ENG recently, out of all teams NZ, NZ like as far as I know never wins test series away from home, except for once in the UAE ? That itself should have been telling..

However still time for Eng to fight back, I wouldn't write them off yet but their play has been spiraling downwards for a while.

NZ are rated #1 test side for a reason. They have the best batting line in cricket and a very capable pace and swing attack. They are similar to what England were under Vaughan.

[Robert]

Until England gets rid of Burns they are going to see more collapses. This guy is such an useless player. 54 innings. 20 single digits. 8 of them are ducks.

You have to ask whom around the Counties is better.

[jnaveen1980]

NZ are rated #1 test side for a reason. They have the best batting line in cricket and a very capable pace and swing attack. They are similar to what England were under Vaughan.

Didn't you guys collapse against Ireland. That was the warning call. They have been collapsing left/right/center since then.

[Devadwal]

WOrld's best fast bowler by some distance. Cummins !!

Only Pant and Pujara can neutralized him .

[Buffet]

NZ are rated #1 test side for a reason. They have the best batting line in cricket and a very capable pace and swing attack. They are similar to what England were under Vaughan.

NZ is no longer rated #1.

[Devadwal]

NZ are rated #1 test side for a reason. They have the best batting line in cricket and a very capable pace and swing attack. They are similar to what England were under Vaughan.

India also beat England and Australia ( Twice) in away tour

[jnaveen1980]

You have to ask whom around the Counties is better.

No idea. But you need someone to score an ugly 20 in 4 out of 5 innings rather than someone who score a 100 in one innings and go very early in 4 innings.