England takes root, Australia put to the test

The honeymoon is over for Australia. It wasn’t entirely back to earth with a thud at the Gabba on Friday. But the grind has begun.

The pitch has ironed itself out, as it so often does. In the headiness of the first two days, this was too easily forgotten. Many of the biggest scores at the Gabba in the last 10 years have been made in third and fourth innings. Pakistan has twice made 330-plus on day fives, India 329 to win here earlier this year.

England captain Joe Root is set like cement. He is the No.1 ranked batsman in the world, and has already made more runs this calendar year than any Englishmen before him, and this day that is exactly how it looked.

His technique is impeccable. He sees early and plays late, all around the wicket. He is a batter-plus, a classicist who has incorporated the T20 register. He’s dealt with spinners in Sri Lanka and India, seamers in England. Australia was a kind of last frontier, making him a man on a mission.

Dawid Malan has settled in, too. He is no Root, but he was England’s leading run-maker on their last tour here. He has natural timing, soft hands, a smooth repertoire and a sound temperament. His left-handedness worked as a perfect foil for Root. There is much batting in reserve.

Travis Head had Australia’s last fling in the morning. He was again dismissive in his strokeplay, turning an already pugnacious century into a career-defining 150. Everything looked so certain and pre-ordained then.

England opener Rory Burns got a brute from Pat Cummins that both lifted and seemed to gather pace off the pitch. But Australia’s only other wicket was Haseeb Hameed, strangled down legside by Mitchell Starc. It looked more like good luck than crafty management.

Luck began to even out. Between them, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson had the Australians playing and missing 40 times in their first innings. Now Australia found it increasingly difficult to get the ball past the English bats at all. Their few false strokes felt short and wide of fielders.

There was no orthodox swing. There has been no reverse swing anywhere for three years: go figure.

There was no spin for Lyon, nor the extra bounce he has sometimes relished here. In truth, Lyon has been unthreatening in this match. Root has made all his calendar year runs in the span since Lyon last took a wicket. It is a deception of the times, of course, but it is also tells a story.

Shane Warne the critic is tactless, but that does not necessarily mean he is wrong. Some day soon, we might all have to have the Lyon talk.

Starc is not an old-ball bowler, simple as that, and Cameron Green is not yet a Ben Stoke-style all-rounder. Captain Cummins had to juggle his attack as he did not have to in the first innings. He called on Marnus Labuschagne and his guerilla leg-spin, though oddly enough, not Head’s capable off-spin. Josh Hazlewood bowled sparingly, evidently nursing an injury. Australia’s stocks suddenly were thin. On these days, a captain earns his keep.

Mostly, Cummins turned to his best bowler, himself. At least he can be sure that bowler is ever willing. But already he is getting a little insight into the delicacy of the balance he must strike.

This is the first Test, but also the start of a marathon. This match will finish on Sunday. The second Test in all probability will be over by next Sunday. All five Tests will be played within 42 days. It’s survival of the fittest now.

David Warner sat out this day with badly bruised ribs. They don’t heal overnight. Everyone will have bumps and bruises, such is the sometimes pugilistic nature of cricket at the Gabba. The bowlers will be starting to feel old stiffness in forgotten muscles. Hazlewood is.

Australia’s challenge now is to pace themselves while pressing hard for victory. Reinforcements are at a premium, now that the first-class season is on BBL hold. Jhye Richardson is chafing at the bit and Michael Neser took 5/29 as Australia A bowled out England’s shadow team for 103 on Friday.

It is going to take a village to defend the Ashes.

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