Summer is in full bloom in UK these days, so does Test cricket, as the historic Ashes series has begun in the elegant stadiums of England. And it began with a bang. It was an epic test of England’s bazzball with Australia’s ice-cold execution, where after 18 years, Australia avenged their heart-breaking defeat at Edgbaston, that too at the same very ground. Australia lost that test to England by 2 runs and now, they have defeated England by 2 wickets.
Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz must have breathed a sigh of relief as they have carried on with the ghost of Edgbaston for 18 long years. In fact, Australia found an usual batting pair in Pat Cummins and Nathon Lyon who made a heroic partnership of 55 not out to clinch this victory from the jaws of defeat. Ashes series have lived upto its expectation in this match.
1st Test – Ashes Series 2023
England’s 1st Innings
England took on the World’s Test Champions Australia in the first test of the Ashes series on 16th June by winning the toss and batting first at Edgbaston. Bazzball was on full display as England posted 393/8 in only 78 overs and surprisingly, declared the innings on the first day. They scored with a run rate of over 5. Joe Root scored another fantastic century and scored 118. Jonny Bairstow scored a run a ball 78 and Zak Crawly scored 61. Nathon Lyon was the pick of the bowlers who took 4-149.
Australia’s 1st Innings
In reply to England’s Bazzball, the current WTC champions replied with their ice-cold execution. After a not so good start, Australia was able to score 386 runs, thanks to Usman Khawaja’s outstanding 141. Usman Khawaja return to form just in time for Australia. He kept one end safe and played an outstanding innings in tough conditions. Travis Head and Alex Carry supported him with gritty fifties, scoring 50 and 66 respectively. England’s Bazzball approach was visible in their field setting as well where they forced Usman Khawaja to through his wicket away by setting an unusual field. Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson were the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets each. England took a lead of 7 runs.
England’s 2nd Innings
England looked to score big but Australia came back strongly with their bowling in the 2nd innings. England managed to score 273 in their 2nd innings. Joe Root and Harry Brook both scored 46 whereas Captain Ben Stokes scored 43. Pat Cummins and Nathon Lyon took 4 wickets each. England set a target of 281 to Australia to win the first test of the Ashes series 2023. At this point, Ben Stokes must have thought about his 1st innings declaration on Day-1.
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Australia 2nd Innings
Australia might have felt relaxed as they were able to restrict the target under 300. But they had chased a target of 280+ only once in Test cricket in England. Australia started the innings with hoped to improve their 4th innings record in England. Openers took the responsibility on their shoulders and made a half century stand. First wicket fell on 61 where David Warner was caught behind by the bowling of Ollie Robinson.
After that, wickets started falling at regular intervals creating panic in the Australian dressing room. Stokes kept on setting unusual field to provoke Australians. But Usman Khawaja, who announced his return to form with his 141 in the first innings, kept his end safe. He faced most of the balls and scored a half century in difficult circumstances. He finally fell after scoring a courageous 65 courtesy Stokes’s leg cutter. At this point, it was 209/7. Alex carry was now the only established batsman left to bat. But he fell to Joe Root who took a difficult catch of his own bowling.
Now, the scoreboard showed 227-8. It was now up to Captain Pat Cummins and Nathon Lyon to either block the last 16 overs or do the unbelievable by chasing down the remaining 54 runs. But Aussies who never back down from a challenge put before them, took on this challenge. Cummins smashed 2 sixes off Root’s bowling taking 14 in an over. This was the moment which made fans relive the historic 2005 Ashes Series’ Edgbaston Test.
With both sides heading towards another Ashes Series blockbuster, Fans remained in disbelief at what they were seeing. Cummins took on English bowlers deciding to go for a win and re-write the history this time at Edgbaston. Cummins along with Lyon displayed Australia’s ice cool execution to Stokes’s Bazball. They kept on scoring runs and reached near glory.
In 93rd over, Cummins steered Robinson’s delivery down to 3rd man and finally laid down the ghosts of 2005. Cummins scored 44 runs whereas Lyon supported him by scoring 17 runs. Stuart Broad picked 3 wickets and Ollie Robinson took 2 wickets. Usman Khawaja was awarded the man of the match for his 141 & 65 in the match. Australia now leads the Ashes series by 1-0.
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Conclusion
Its matches like these which shows the greatness of Test cricket. There have been some really close and outstanding matches in the recent past in Test cricket which have clear the doubts of those doubting the future of test cricket. Ashes series rivalry have produced some classic and phenomenal test matches over the years. This one being a reboot of Edgbaston 2005 Ashes series, where the script was re-written.
Australia who suffered a heart-breaking defeat in that 2nd Test at Edgbaston, which eventually proved to be a nail in the coffin for them as they lost that Ashes series by a margin of 2-1. Ben Stokes may regret his decision of his early declaration where a few runs may have come in handy. This Test has now set the tone for the remaining of the Ashes series where a historic clash is expected between England’s Bazball and Australia’s ice cool execution.
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FAQs
- When and where did the Ashes series of 2023 begin, and what was the outcome of the first Test match?
– Answer: The Ashes series of 2023 began in England in June. The first Test match took place at Edgbaston, and Australia won the match by 2 wickets.
- Who were the standout performers in England’s first innings of the first Test match, and what was England’s declaration strategy?
– In England’s first innings, Joe Root scored a century with 118 runs, Jonny Bairstow scored 78, and Zak Crawly contributed 61. England surprisingly declared the innings on the first day after scoring 393/8 in 78 overs, maintaining a run rate of over 5.
- How did Australia respond in their first innings, and who played a crucial role for them with the bat?
– In response to England’s total, Australia scored 386 runs in their first innings. Usman Khawaja was the standout performer, scoring an outstanding 141. Travis Head and Alex Carey also contributed with gritty fifties.
- What was the target set by England for Australia in the second innings, and how did Australia’s innings progress in the fourth innings of the match?
– England set a target of 281 runs for Australia to win the first Test of the Ashes series 2023. In Australia’s second innings, they faced a challenging situation as wickets fell at regular intervals, creating panic in the dressing room.
- Who were the key figures for Australia in their historic run chase in the second innings, and how did they secure victory in a challenging situation?
– In Australia’s second innings, Captain Pat Cummins and Nathon Lyon played crucial roles. They displayed Australia’s ice-cold execution and took on the challenge, successfully chasing down the remaining runs to secure a historic win. Cummins scored 44 runs, while Lyon contributed 17 runs.
