Ashes Update – 1st Test @ The Gabba
Posted on 30. Nov, 2010 by Rob Thomas in Other Sports
Unless you’ve been really quite seriously out of touch, you’ll know that the Ashes have begun. That’s right, the greatest cricketing competition is back, and after much hype the first test began at the Gabba.
In the ususal excellent Autralian conditions, expectations were higher in the England camp than with the Aussies as England went out to bat. As usual, this didn’t last long when England were reduced to 260 all out, with Strauss falling to the third ball of the match. With England on good form and billed as favourites, this mediocre innings brought back back horrible memories. Surely it couldn’t happen again? From there things got worse still, with Hussey and Haddin adding a partnership of over 300 to give Australia a first innings total of 481. Surely an insurmountable task, 1-0 to the Aussies, right?
England came out with a new resolve for their second innings and began their work. After another scare for Strauss in the opening moments, he and Cook settled in and started to make it look easy. The pitch had been looking more flat and even as the test went on, and England capitalised. Strauss was finally out for 110 after a masterful innings, whilst Cook and Trott continued to a record overseas total of 517-1 with Cook declaring on a stunning 235. Australia were then put into bat with half a day left, but after an early wicket Ponting and Watson saw out the game for a draw.
As a first test, you couldn’t have really asked for more. After a placid start by England they fought back well, with another record broken for the top three batsmen all scoring centuries. Let’s hope this is a good omen for the rest of the series, with the next test in Brisbane starting on Thursday.
