Broad Australia’s nemesis again as England fight for Bazball victory
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England fast bowler Stuart Broad has set up a tense final day in the first Ashes at Edgbaston on Tuesday by dismissing the World’s two best batsmen, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, cheaply.
Set 281 to win, Australia will resume on 107, needing another 174 for their best last innings run chasing on the ground.
The task has been made harder by the loss of David (36), Labuschagne (13) and Smith (6), with Usman Khawaja (34) the foundation again after his vigilant 141 in the first innings.
It was Broad who caused Warner such misery on the 2019 tour, dismissing him seven times as the aggressive left hander averaged just 9.5. While Broad dismissed Warner for nine in the first innings, it was Ollie Robinson who had him caught behind on Monday.
It was Warne’s second best score in six away Ashes Test across 12 innings on two tours but not enough to set up the victory that would help propel Australia to their first series success in England since 2001.
Labuschagne is more worrying. Having appeared to lose bearings around off stump, he hung his bat limply for the second time in the match to be caught behind. In the first innings it was the first ball duck.
Dismissed cheaply: Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.Credit: Getty Images
The moment that swung this match back in England’s favour came when Smith aimed a drive at Broad then tucked his bat under his arm and walked off as England’s players and their vocal supporters combined to generate one of the greatest roars of the game.
Smith set up an amazing tour in 2019 with scorers of 144 and 142 at the ground. This time Monday’s failure was preceded by a 59-ball 16. It contrasted with his sublime century against India in the World Test Championship final at the Oval a week earlier, which Australia won by 209 runs.
In 15 Tests at Edgbaston Australia have batted last just four times and won chasing only once with 2/120 in 1993. Their highest score at the ground is 279, made in that famous 2005 Test when Australia lost by just two runs.
While there are questions about whether England have optimised their opportunities with their ultra-attacking style, it is exciting to watch and has set up a dramatic end to this Test of tense ebb and flow, with Australia just hanging on at times to stay in the match.
It has also been successful. England went from winning just one of 17 Tests before coach Brendon McCullum and captain Brendon McCullum took over to winning 11 of 13. The blazing approach has been a fillip for Test cricket, particularly in England.
Pat Cummins led by example. Fast, accurate, and at times intimidating, Cummins continued from his brilliant afternoon spell from the Sunday to shoulder the pace-bowling load. He bowled 18.2 overs for his 4-63 and conceded fewer than three and a half runs an over.
His vital ally was Nathan Lyon, who owned the City End for the second time in the match, finishing with 4-80 while conceding under three and a half an over. It gave him eight wickets for the match, leaving Lyon needing only five more for 500 wickets.
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