After four days of a rather one-sided affair at the Gabba, the Ashes 2021-22 caravan moves to the Adelaide Oval for a day-night pink ball Test. England will take on Australia in a bid to bounce back and level the series in the second Test, starting from December 16.
England’s tour down under got off to the worst possible start, getting dismantled for 147 in the first innings. The visitors had their moments, reducing Australia to 195/5 after a 156-run partnership from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. But Travis Head’s spectacular knock of 152 off 148 balls completely took the game away from the English side.
Trailing by 278 runs in the second innings, England got themselves a good chance with a 162-run stand between Joe Root and Dawid Malan, who both scored 80+. However, a typical English collapse that saw them lose 8 for 74 in a session ruined all their hopes. Australia chased down 20 runs with ease to go 1-0 up in the series.
The Aussies were clinical for the most part of the Gabba Test, and they will be looking to continue their dominance over England at home.
Key players
Speed, consistent line and length, and the ability to move the ball both ways make Pat Cummins the number one ranked Test bowler in the world. The right-arm quick has a phenomenal record in the red-ball format, having picked 171 wickets in just 35 matches at an exceptional 21.23 apiece.
He has six five-fors and a 10-wicket haul to his name. Cummins was outstanding in the Gabba Test, returning 5/38 & 2/51 and will remain Australia’s best bowler, especially with Hazlewood out.
One of the greatest fast bowlers in the longest format the game has ever seen, James Anderson has only got better with age and remains one of the key players for England. He has snared 632 wickets in 166 Tests at an average of 26.62.
The 39-year-old maestro has recorded 31 five-wicket hauls and three 10-fors, with best match figures of 11/71. Anderson was rested from the first game keeping in mind that he can be more potent in day-night conditions with the pink ball.
Joe Root has amassed 9367 runs in 110 Tests at an average of 50.09, including 23 centuries and 51 half centuries. He has been truly incredible this year, being the best batter in the world by miles with 1544 runs from 13 Tests at an average of 64.33, including six hundreds and two fifties. Root looked sublime in his second innings knock of 89 in the Gabba Test.
Marnus Labuschagne has risen to the top of the pack in Test cricket since the last Ashes, which proved to be a coming of age. He has scored 1959 runs in 19 Tests at a fantastic average of 61.21. The right hander has registered five hundreds and 11 fifties in this format.
Labuschagne played a near flawless knock in the first innings of the Gabba Test, scoring 74 at a fairly quick rate. In-form Labuschagne will be a key factor for the hosts in the day-night Test.
Prediction
Australia have historically dominated England in this rivalry. That rivalry gets lopsided in Australia, where England haven’t managed to win a Test in the last 11 matches. They have only drawn one Test in this period, with the margins of 10 losses being pretty big.
Australia will have mixed feelings as the superstar opener David Warner has passed the fitness test for the second match, but Josh Hazlewood is ruled out. Their batting unit comprising Warner, Labuschagne, Smith, Green and Head remains strong at home. Despite the loss of Hazlewood, the bowling attack is potent with skillful Jhye Richardson joining Cummins, Starc and Lyon.
England, on the other hand, have plenty of issues in their batting unit. Malan looked good in the second innings at the Gabba, but a lot will depend on Root and Stokes if England are to post competitive scores.
England are set to bring back both James Anderson and Stuart Broad, with the pink ball maximising their skill set. Ollie Robinson has been exceptional ever since his debut, while Chris Woakes should fare better in these conditions.
The day-night Test at Adelaide Oval is England’s best chance of winning on this tour, but the difference in overall quality and the fact that Australia have won all six of their matches means they will still start as favourites at Adelaide Oval.
