Pat Cummins couldn't have had a better first day as captain if he tried (Image: Wisden Cricket/Twitter)
Despite an early end to day’s play due to bad weather and lighting, Australia couldn’t have hoped to start any better than what they did on the first day of the Ashes.
Overall it was a textbook bowling display from Australia, not allowing English batters any breathing room, even those that were able to make starts couldn’t capitalise further.
A day of milestones saw Alex Carey presented his baggy green cap, new skipper Pat Cummins collect his first Ashes ‘five-fa’ and the exciting Cameron Green get off the mark and take his first test wicket. However, Nathan Lyon will have to wait a little bit longer to add a 400th test wicket to his bag.
Embed from Getty ImagesPat Cummins found his first day as captain all too easy, expressing his delight after the game.
“It was a dream start, it wasn’t a bad toss to lose, obviously Starcy [Mitchell Starc] started it off but we all bowled really well, did our job, and to keep them to 150 (runs),” Cummins said.
“I’m really proud of how consistent everyone was, it was nice to get a couple of wickets at the end to make it a five-fa, a really good start.”
The day kicked off in a truly remarkable fashion, with Mitchell Starc silencing his doubters at the very first opportunity, obliterating Rory Burns’ leg stump with the first ball of the game, sending the Australian fans into a frenzy, nationwide.
“I’m so happy for Starcy, that’s why he opens the bowling, he’s just got a real knack of picking up a wicket in the first couple of overs.”
Australia’s domination with ball demanded questions whether it was the correct choice for England to bat first.
“I was probably going to bat,” Pat Cummins admitted.
“But I think it was 50/50, I thought it wasn’t going to have a huge bearing on the match, I felt like after lunch today, if we batted and got through that, it felt like it was a better wicket to bat on.”
More Ashes News:
Ashes: First Test Day 1: The moments that mattered
‘Not a huge factor’: Anderson absence not significant according to Pat Cummins
Buttler believes England has ‘got nothing to lose’ as the Ashes begin
Something plenty of Australian’s had been waiting for was 22-year-old, batting all-rounder, Cameron Green, to finally collect his first wicket, who himself was very excited, so much that he believed he may have overdone it with the celebration.
“Greeny’s a beauty, he’s just so polite, when we walked into the change-rooms afterwards I said ‘Greeny, how good’s that, first wicket, you’re off the mark’, he’s like ‘sorry I think probably celebrated too hard’, I said ‘it’s test cricket mate, you can do what you want,” Cummins relayed.
“Really happy for him, he’s a huge player for us, he’s not just a fifth bowling option, he’s a real fourth seamer, he’s talented he’s got all the skills he’s big, he bowls fast, hits the deck, you’ll see him bowl more, it’s a shame he couldn’t get a wicket last season but it’s nice he got off the mark today.”
Subscribe to our newsletter!
About Author
