1st Test Of ICC World Test Championship (Ashes Series) Played at Birmingham From August 1-5

England Vs Australia

Brief Scorecard at Stumps on Day Two

Ist Innings Australia 284 All Out  (SPD Smith 144, PM Siddle 44,TM Head 35,SCJ Broad 5/86 ,CR Woakes 3/58 ) England Ist Innings 267/4 ( RJ Burns 125*,JE Root 57,BA Stokes 38*, JL Pattinson 2/54 )

Responding to 284 Australia scored on the day one of the first test of the Ashes Series (World Test Championship) England batted steadily on day two crawling to 267/4 at stumps. With 6 wickets at hand and opener Rory Burns going strong at 125 not out England looks set for a sizeable first innings lead. If that happens England would press hard for winning the first test and forging ahead in the series. The first session of day three is very important. Australia taking two three quick wickets can still wretch control. Batting in the fourth innings on Edgbaston wicket will not be easy.

The wicket had some pace and assisted Australian bowlers with horizontal movement. Pattinson, Cummins and Siddle bowling at the right channel made run scoring extremely difficult . Australians in the field were also very sharp and agile. Roy was removed very early trying to fend a sharp rising delivery of Pattinson and was caught smartly in the slip by Smith. Burns was looking solid in defence and extremely patient. Him and captain Root put up a very useful 132 runs second wicket partnership Root was caught and bowled by very steady Siddle scoring 57.This followed with two quick wickets of Denly and Buttler failing to Pattinson and Cummins in quick succession. At 4/194 England appeared to loose the way. But very steady Burns and responsible Stokes playing solidly ensured that no further damage was done. Burns at stumps remained unbeaten on polished 125 of 282 deliveries. Stokes scored 37. The unbroken 5th wicket partnership already added 73 very useful runs.

Today is a new day. The batsmen have to start all over again. If England continues in the same vein they have opportunities to gain a substantial first innings lead after wiping out the 17 runs first innings deficit. If Australia takes two three quick wickets and restrict England below 350 the match will become wide open. The two batsmen at the wicket, Bairstow, Ali and Woakes are all capable batsmen to carry England to a Zone of comfort and assurance. Advantage is with England at this stage of the test match but Australia is not completely out of it yet.

BDST: 1158 HRS, AUG 03, 2019
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