Another batting collapse costs Joe Root’s team.
England’s hopes of a remarkable turnaround in Brisbane were crushed as Australia tore through their batting lineup, cruising to a nine-wicket victory in the first Ashes Test.
After the heroics of captain Joe Root and Dawid Malan on day three had given their side hope of a miraculous turnaround, the tourists started day four just 58 runs behind Australia.
But when Dawid Malan fell less than four overs into the day – handing Nathan Lyon his 400th Test wicket – it triggered a familiar sequence of events for this England batting lineup.
Root then nicked off soon after to a Cameron Green outswinger, and with that England’s fate was all but sealed.
They were bowled out for 297, losing eight wickets for just 77 runs. Australia then promptly chased the 20 runs they needed to complete the victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and maintaining their 35-year unbeaten run against England at the Gabba.
Australia win the first Ashes Test by 9 wickets!
They take a 1-0 series lead into the second Test at Adelaide.🏏#Ashes pic.twitter.com/O7ScjdBuXs
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) December 11, 2021
Speaking after the match, Joe Root said: “It’s frustration. We worked hard to get back in the game. We hoped to post some sort of total today. The pitch was a little uneven and cracks were appearing. but we couldn’t get through that initial phase.
“We showed fight and character for some of the second innings and know where we have to improve.”
England now face a huge challenge to regain the urn, needing to win the series to do so.
The next Test begins on Thursday in Adelaide, and is a day-nighter. England will be hoping that under the lights, the conditions can play into the hands of the likes of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, who will surely be returning to the side for the second Test.
But if batting collapses like the two we have seen in Brisbane continue, it is difficult to see how they win a match in this series.
Related links:
- Queensland Police troll England after Ashes batting collapse
- Shane Warne was made to look a fool just one ball into Ashes series
- Michael Vaughan removed from BT Sport’s Ashes coverage following Azeem Rafiq’s racism claims
