Centuries to Chris Rogers and Steve Smith have put Australia in a commanding position at 1/337 after the first day of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lords.
Pivotal moment – This may be a bit simplistic, but the biggest moment of the day took place before a ball had been bowled. Michael Clarke correctly called “heads” at the toss and couldn’t get out the words “we’ll bat” quickly enough.
In Ashes tests in England of late, batting first has proved a significant moment.
In the first over, Rogers flashed at a ball wide of off-stump. The ball flew off the edge high to the right of Joe Root at 3rd slip. Root let it go and the ball raced to the boundary. Had this catch been taken the English would have been on a high, particularly Jimmy Anderson, who thrives on early confidence.
Like Root at Cardiff, Rogers made them pay, batting out the day to be 158 not out.
Ian Bell dropping a low but catch-able ball at 2nd slip off Smith when he was on 50 didn’t help either. So far this has cost the English 79 runs, with Smith unbeaten on 129 at the close of play.
Moment to file in the memory banks – Anderson and his opening partner Stuart Broad thrive off early confidence from an early wicket. The Aussie batsman did a great job holding them out through that first period, which held throughout the day.
Anderson in particular looked unsettled, never quite getting control of his action and follow through. Was forced to come around the wicket early in the day to avoid getting an official warning for running on the wicket.
Why can’t David Warner control himself? – the only wicket today was totally unnecessary. On the last ball of Moeen Ali’s first over, which had already gone for 10 runs, Warner skied a ball to Jimmy Anderson at deep mid-off. He will be kicking himself and no doubt copped a spray from his skipper and coach.
Is it arrogance? Stupidity? Not sure. Whatever it is he needs to get it out of his game fast if he wants to go from being a good player to a great player. Hope he sat down and watched Smith’s approach to playing Ali. After trying to hit him out of the attack in Cardiff, Smith milked the easy runs and built another century, his second in just four tests batting in the pivotal No.3 spot.
What Australia needs on Day 2 – Rogers and Smith to keep going for the first hour, then go for it. Bring in Mitch Marsh next of this happens, followed possibly by Mitch Johnson. Look to get to 550 plus with an hour to go and have a go at the English top order.
Sounds easy doesn’t it?
What England needs on Day 2 – find away to take some wickets, or else they will be facing a massive chase and will be virtually playing for a draw to preserve their series lead. This is a dangerous game to play.
What the – Rogers is slated to retire at the end of this series. The selectors must try and talk him out of it. Looking at the Sheffield Shield statistics for the last season there is no obvious replacement. With home and away series coming up against the improving New Zealand, stability at the top of the order is needed.
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