Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Live Cricket Score - The Ashes 2021-22, 1st Test, Day 1. ICYMI, The two Ashes captain are also the No.1 bowler and batter respectively!
ICYMI, The two Ashes captain are also the No.1 bowler and batter respectively!
The inevitable has happened… Final session washed out
The rain stopped a while ago but the groundsmen needed more time to ensure play was possible and that means it is Stumps on the opening day at the Gabba. Not to worry as Day 1 off this Ashes series unfolded at a rapid pace. Captain Cummins had decision taken away from him at the toss and then proceeded to take a five-fer as England were bundled out for 147. Only Jos Buttler and Ollie Pope through their 52-run association for the sixth wicket offered any resistance. Can the visitors hit back tomorrow? We'll find out. Do join us. Until then, it's ta-ta!
Update at 11:50 IST; 16:20 AEST
Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07 The covers have finally come off at the Gabba. David Warner doesn't look anywhere ready to getting padded up and it's still very dark here #Ashes 06:18 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Rain delays start of 3rd session
Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07 It's got very dark here at the Gabba and the covers are coming on too as the English bowlers continue to warm up. No rain yet but like they say in this part of the world, “it's coming†#Ashes 04:52 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Five for the skipper; England rolled over for 147
What a start to captaincy for Pat Cummins. Easy peasy, innit? Short ball to Woakes, who pulls and Hazlewood completes a second stunning grab low down at fine-leg. As dark clouds roll over the Gabba, England have been bowled out for 147. Quite the horror start for them after winning the toss.
Cummins is the first captain to take a five-for in an Ashes Test since Bob Willis in 1982-83
Ashwin 🇮🇳 @ashwinravi99 A bowling captain has picked up a 5 for on captaincy debut! Well done @patcummins30 👏👏👏✅ #Ashes 04:41 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Anany Shrivastava @ananyas319 Inspired by what happened today at Gabba… Can India look upto @Jaspritbumrah93 as Kohli's successor🤔🤔 #Ashes @kaushik_cb 04:56 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Cummins has four
Wood can't do much against the short ball angled into his body. Gloves it for a simple catch to FSL. Serious stuff from the skipper!
More shots fired…
Queensland Police @QldPolice Queensland Police are launching an investigation into a group impersonating a Test batting order at the Gabba. 04:23 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Three fours in a row for Chris Woakes
That off Hazlewood no less, whose first 7 overs cost 3 runs! As predicted there are some dark clouds gathering over the Gabba. It's forecast to rain into the third session. Can Woakes take England somewhere close to 200. It's too far away right now.
Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07 David Warner & the Aussies are certainly getting stuck into Chris Woakes here, especially at the end of each over, even if for now it also involves a lot of laughter #Ashes 04:25 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Eight down; Three for Cummins
Just too good for Ollie Robinson. Forces him to play by pushing his length further. Edged and gone. England can't seem to catch a break. England 122/8
Simon Mann @Cricket_Mann Australia were 122-8 on the first day of the 2019 series. 04:13 AM • Dec 12, 2021
That feeling of a maiden Test wicket
Cam Green throws himself into the arms of Mitch Starc. He toiled through last summer for that first strike and the all-rounder finally has it. It's a short ball that Ollie Pope can't control with his pull. Josh Hazlewood runs in from fine-leg and completes a superb low-catch. 118/7for England. It's a sorry state of affairs.
Ben Jones @benjonescricket Having built up a lovely bit of momentum in the hour after tea, Pope and Buttler have both given that away. Felt like 200+ was on for a stage; will do well to scramble 150 now. Pretty abysmal day for England, from toss onwards 04:06 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Buttler's punchy resistance ends
It's also the end of a 52-run stand for the sixth wicket and each of Australia's three pacers have two wickets apiece. Angled across Buttler from a good length, forces the batsman to play at it. The edge is snaffled. 39 off 58 for Buttler that temporarily seemed to ease England's worries. It's 112/6 now and a reminder that they are still in strife.
Chinna @Chinna1497 @kaushik_cb It looks like buttler is playing similar role of pant. He kept the score board going from one end. #Ashes2021 #AUSvENG #CricbuzzChatter 03:38 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Starc comes for another burst
There's an appeal and a DRS referral against Buttler. Australia think they have their man strangled down leg. HotSpot confirms that it's just off the thigh pad. England heave a sigh of relief.
Spin follows from the other end. Lyon starts with a deep mid-on to Buttler. Buttler averages 17.75 against Lyon and has been dismissed four times.
Ashwin 🇮🇳 @ashwinravi99 Exciting hour of test cricket coming up! Jos B showing some solid intent! Test cricket 🤩🤩 #Ashes 03:10 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Intent from Jos Buttler
He's hit two fours and a three in his run-a-ball 14 so far. One of the fours is an on-the-up drive over cover off Hazlewood, almost as nonchalant as that Rohit Sharma six three years ago off Cummins at Adelaide! Some sunshine now.
Good morning to those tuning in from India. How's your coffee?
Majid Shakeel @MajidShakeelDar Opened my eyes and directly saw on cricbuzz the long old story. Funny how much conditions run this beautiful game. #Ashes @kaushik_cb 03:28 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Second session: Cummins to start
And it's a wicket in the first over for the captain… Hameed nicks off that full length. More trouble for the visitors. 60/5 now England and they are into the second half of their line-up. Here's Jos Buttler. Can he counter-attack from here?
The CricViz Analyst @cricvizanalyst Haseeb Hameed had done well in his knock, particularly in terms of leaving the ball – mostly on length, but also on line. The ball from Cummins which dismissed him was just a tad fuller than the zone where he'd been leaving. Tempted, he drove, and nicked. #Ashes @IGcom 02:50 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Lunch, Day 1: England 59/4
To their credit, Hameed and Pope have stemmed the rot for a bit. But expect more fire on the other side of the break with Lyon just settling into his spell. There is some turn on offer.
Daniel Cherny 📰 @DanielCherny Hazlewood goes to lunch with 7-4-3-2. @codesportsau #ashes 02:03 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Lyon into the attack
He's on 399 Test wickets in case you'd forgotten. There is some moisture on this track and that should assist spin too. Meanwhile, interesting to see how Cummins has used Starc in this first session. Two over bursts.Will he be used more as an impact strike bowler like MJo in 2013-14. We'll have to wait and see…
A wicket for the skipper
And it's the big one of Ben Stokes. The all-rounder was looking eager to drive as soon as Cummins got it up full to him. The experienced fast bowler that he is, Cummins dragged his length back and the seam movement squared Stokes up and forced him to edge a ball towards Marnus Labuschagne at third slip. 29/4.In walks Ollie Pope, who had a fairly decent outing in England's last Test at The Oval.
First hour done; England 24/3
All to do for Hameed and Stokes, who've hung in there for nearly half an hour. Run making is not easy. The ball's doing quite a bit – 1.6 degrees of lateral movement (swing + seam) as per Cricviz.
Duck for Root; Hazlewood=Hazlegood
World class fast bowling there to dismiss the opposition captain, who also happens to be the No.1 batter in Test cricket. In, out, in and out stuff. After nipping a couple back into Root, Hazlewood draws him forward and bowls one that leaves the England captain. The edge is snaffled at first slip by Warner. Uff 11/3
Hazlewood has dismissed Root eight times, more than any other bowler
Bharat Sundaresan @beastieboy07 Sort of not surprised by that Joe Root dismissal. He's really struggled in the nets over the last two days & has admonished himself on numerous occasions for playing & missing at exactly the kind of delivery that's got him out here #Ashes 12:34 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Pat Cummins in to the attack
Just two overs in his first spell for M. Starc. Cummins sees Root walk in, brings himself on. We'll see No.1 vs No.1 battle early.
One for Hazlewood too; Malan falls
England's batting insecurities exposed early here as Josh Hazlewood angles one across the Dawid Malan. There's bounce on offer and the left-hander pokes at it, the edge flies to the debutant ‘keeper Alex Carey, who makes no mistake. 11/2. Joe Root, who made the call to bat, is out in the middle in the 4th over!
Burnt off the first ball
Mitchell Starc strikes with the first ball of Ashes 2021-22. Talk about an emphatic start. He roars, the Gabba roars with him. It's a full ball, a half-volley really but there is a bit of swing in that. Rory Burns has shuffled too far across and misses, the ball crashes into leg stump. Have you grabbed your coffee yet?
Also, talk nah, Shane?
Just the fourth time that a wicket has fallen off the first ball of an Ashes Test.
Tristan Lavalette @trislavalette That's like the anti-Harmison. Incredible #Ashes 12:04 AM • Dec 12, 2021
cricket.com.au @cricketcomau The art The artist 12:22 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Pre-match reading
Here's what you can gorge on while we wait for the first ball of the Ashes. Here's a fascinating story by Rob Johnston on Root & Stokes, who are friends first and captain & vice-captain later, two blokes who are quite different but share a similar set of values.
Rob's also interviewed and written on Haseeb Hameed, the prodigal opener, who shunned his obscurity and began a second life on the Test circuit, five years after sparkling in his first assignment.
There's of course, the irrepressible Bharat Sundaresan, who kept a close eye on all that's happening in the nets, and had this to churn out about Steve Smith's preparation.
MS Faisal @MSFaisa27374097 @kaushik_cb And the annual ritual of waking up before that 5:30 alarm begins. Let's hope Starc can find his mojo and bowl fast and swing it. Hold the Seats!!! 12:02 AM • Dec 12, 2021
Toss: Joe Root opts to bat
Not concerned about the weather forecast, Joe Root decides he'll have a bat first. The second brave call of the day after deciding to leave 1156 Test wickets on the bench. All right, let the debates begin.
Playing XIs:
England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler(w), Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Playing XIs – England pick Leach over Broad
Australia announced their XI three days ago and Travis Head made the cut for the No.5 spot (pipping Khawaja). England announced a 12 yesterday, with a Leach or Broad call marinating over the night.
Looks like they are playing the spinner over one of their most experienced quick, which means no Anderson or Broad for the Ashes opener. By leaving out 1156 Test wickets on the bench, brave England are happy to play the long game here.
Tinus van Staden @TinusvS4 Who else up? #ashes 11:51 PM • Dec 12, 2021
Prelude – Merry Ashes to you
And here we are once again. After all the bluster and the chunter, the build-up and the breakdown, even if all a little lowkey, we're here. It's Day 1 of the Ashes at the Gabba in Brisbane!
For those rubbing sleep from their eyes in England, there, there! For those up and about on the east coast of Australia, hello! For those in other pockets of the world. Nice to have you here. Hope you are keeping safe.
As Bharat Sundaresan writes in his preview, it's been a strange build-up to an Ashes series but in-line with the strange year we've all had. The strangeness spills over to the Gabba, which for a while, hasn't been referred to as the Gabbatoir. On January 19 this year (yes, this year) that fortress was breached by a brave Indian side and if not anything, it has given visiting teams all around hope.
That said, it remains a hostile venue to kick off this Ashes series, especially for an England side, who will walk through the dark tunnel up from the dressing rooms and into the middle to be met by home supporters all willing them on to fail hilariously. The Gabba surface has seen many a visiting captain drawn in by the hypnotic tinge of green only to see their decision blow up in their face. (Sorry Nasser).
All the rain around in Brisbane might just nudge the captains into bowling first once more and the stat below is likely to tug them the other way. What will Pat Cummins (the No.1 Test match bowler) and Joe Root (the No.1 Test match batsman) do?
Gav Joshi @Gampa_cricket Gabba Tests – Day 1 – 1st session scores in last 9 Tests. 2/89, 1/59, 3/58, 0/57, 2/65 1/90, 2/71, 1/81, 0/100 History shows bowlers rarely run through batting line-ups on the 1st morning here. #Ashes2021 #AshesOnSonySports 11:12 PM • Dec 12, 2021
