If Carlsberg did first days of Ashes Test matches even they couldn’t have scripted the one England enjoyed at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
A masterclass of bowling from Stuart Broad and positive, enterprising batting from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow have left England near certainties to regain the Ashes urn at some point in the next few days at the Nottingham venue.
England’s amazing day began when Alastair Cook won the toss and he inserted Australia into bat. Even he at that point could only dream as what was to come.
Stuart Broad, given the role of leading the bowling attack in the absence of Jimmy Anderson took the outside edge of Chris Rogers in the first over and England never looked back. Before Broad had finished his opening over Steve Smith had gone and Australia were 10-2. That became 10-3 two balls later when Mark Wood got the inside edge of David Warner’s bat.
It took Broad just 19 more balls to complete his five wicket haul as Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges and Michael Clarke all perished in the slips and later in the innings Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon all went the same way as Broad returned figures of 8-15 from 9.3 overs and Australia were shot out for a humiliating 60 in just 111 balls.
The Ashes were realistically gone at that point but with 69 overs left in the day if Australia couldn’t fightback then the remainder of the match would be a formality and that is how it is looking as Root and Bairstow put on 165 for the fourth wicket with Root sailing to a majestic unbeaten century to leave England 274-4 at stumps and Australia staring down the barrel of a massive first innings deficit, the likes of which there is no coming back from.
That is reflected in the match odds where England are now no bigger than 1/20 to win the match from here. Even that looks a little bit of value given the game situation. Any hardened Aussie souls who still have faith they can turn this around can get 20/1 on their side doing that but it won’t happen. The draw is hideously short at 28/1.
Going into Day 2 and England’s ambition will be to pile on the runs and rub their enemies’ noses in it. This wicket isn’t as bad as Australia made it look and Joe Root showed that when you get in not only can you score here you can score quickly. With the amount of batting England have to come against a dejected Australian bowling attack you’ve got to think the tourists will be chasing plenty more leather around Trent Bridge.
England begin the day on 274/4 and Betfair’s run line has their innings runs at 442.5 meaning they need another 169 to get that. With Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali to come and Joe Root looking sensational there is more than enough batting left to grind Australia well and truly into the dirt. There’s no declaration issues so early in the match so we can attack this line with confidence.
Back England’s 1st Inns Runs – Over 442.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
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