Ashes cricket first test highlights:ends in a draw

Alistair Cook made 235 not out.

Trott made 135 not and made a partnership
of unbeaten 328 runs with Cook

Cook and Trott ensured that England is in a safe side.

With England facing a massive target of 200 more runs, just to make Australia bat again on a Gabba pitch, which although still very batting friendly is beginning to break up. England would need to bat out of their skins. The cracks on the pitch were widening and the footmarks becoming more dominant making life tougher for the batsman.

England got away to a solid start early on and with the ball already 10 overs old from yesterdays burst the ball became soft quickly and therefore less threatening. Cook and Strauss both helped themselves to comfortable half centuries with the only real scare coming when Strauss tried to hit spinner Xavier Doherty over the top of mid on only to see Mitchell Johnson, who was having a shocker with the ball, drop a dolly to give Strauss a life.

England went on to make 116 runs from the session as the runs flowed leaving England only 86 runs behind with 10 wickets still intact. Australia’s bowling attack lacked fire power as they swapped their bowlers around in an attempt to make a breakthrough.

After lunch England continued to press on as Andrew Strauss reached a maiden Test century in Australia and one that clearly meant an awful lot to him as an unusually emotional celebration followed.

However it was not long after that in which Strauss walked passed a delivery from Marcus North which spun away from him and Brad Haddin removed the bails to send Strauss packing for a magnificent 110. Strauss’ partnership with Cook, having got a duck in the first innings, went a long way towards helping England save the first Ashes test.

With Trott joining Cook at the crease it was important the momentum continued as England looked to get passed Australia’s first innings score. Trott came out very positive and together with Cook put on a partnership of 50 in just 11 overs.

England therefore went to tea 17 runs ahead of Australia effectively leaving them 17 for 1. Although now ahead the hard work was not over and England would need to continue to bat well in the evening session to ensure they save the test from jaws of defeat.

In the evening session England again kept all their remaining wickets in tact as Australia’s woes continued. The pitch was flat and Australia’s lack of fire power since the days of Warne and McGrath meant they failed to get a breakthrough.

Cook passed 100 to bring up his 14th test century as he continues his excellent start to the winter tour having been under alot of pressure coming into the tour. Trott made his 50 as England went from 200 to 300 in just 156 balls.

 The draw is the likely option however stranger things have happened and all results are still possible. England will need to start well again to end any chance of Australia winning in what is sure to be a fascinating final day of a well fought Ashes test.

When stumps were drawn on the last day of the match, Australia was 107 for 1 in their second innings, with captain Ricky Ponting (51*) and Shane Watson, 41 not out, in the middle. Simon Katich (4) was the only batsman dismissed caught by England captain Andrew Strauss at first slip off Stuart Broad. 

Ponting and Watson showed positive intent though, and the Australian captain, in particular was harsh on anything short as he played his favourite pull shot with aplomb. Ponting also slog swept a Graeme Swann delivery for a massive six over wide long-on. Watson though was lucky not to be out for 17, when Paul Collingwood at first dropped a relatively simple catch off Graeme Swann, who will be looking to put in a much improved performance at Adelaide.

The main speciality of this first Ashes test is that there is two triple century partnership.Between Hussey and Haddin in first innings and Cook and Trott in second innings.

Still 4 test to go in the Ashes series. The second Test in the five-match Ashes series will be played in Adelaide from December 3.