The Australian cricket team came to this Ashes series with a lot of aggression. They know that their brand of cricket is the best in the world and Michael Clarke and his men are confident that they can’t do anything wrong. But at time, over-confidence can be damaging. It was somewhat at display on Day Two of the first Ashes Test in Cardiff when the Aussies dismissed England for 430 and, then, allowed the opposition to walk away with a bit of advantage.
Watch Ashes 2015 1st Test, Day 3 Online:
England vs Australia live streaming information: The 1st Test is slated for 11:00 local (10:00 GMT | 15:30 IST) start at the Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. England vs Australia live streaming will be available HERE, HERE and HERE.
Despite losing David Warner early, Australia got a decent start to their first innings, but soon lost their way. It was only Chris Rogers, who flourished with a superb 95. He joined a select group of players with a seventh successive Test fifty. Rogers, who had earlier announced the Ashes would be his final Test campaign before retirement, became the first Australian to achieve this feat.
Previously, Caribbean great Everton Weekes, Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sri Lanka hero Kumar Sangakkara had achieved this feat. And against a commendable England pace attack, he looked in supreme touch.
Unfortunately, none of the Australian batsmen could match Roger’s temperament. Smith, now ranked as the world’s number one Test batman, got out to Moeen Ali’s off-breaks. He gifted his wicket to Ali while attempting an ambitious shot, that too after getting set at the crease. The rest of the middle-order batsmen had similar approach, including Aussie captain Clarke. In front of the England bowling attack, they could have batted better.
Earlier Ali, batting at No 8 posted his second-highest Test score, a freewheeling 77, following his 108 not out against Sri Lanka at Headingley last year, as England passed 400. For Australia, it was heart-warming to see Mitchell Starc taking those five English wickets. After getting his five-wicket Test haul and first abroad, the lanky pace bowler once again proved why he is considered to be the best in the business.
But as mentioned before, Starc’s senior colleague, Mitchell Johnson, wasn’t as impressive as he was two years ago. He went wicket-less in England’s first innings and hardly looked like the same bowler whose 37 wickets were central to Australia’s 5-0 Ashes rout of England in 2013-14.
