The Ashes 2015: First Test Day One

The Ashes 2015: First Test Day One

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Teams:

England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson

Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Shane Watson, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon

Match Report:

Here we go abet on more. For the third grow earliest in two years an Ashes series is not quite to be played out. Ten years past the Greatest Series Ever (probably) dare we want for something that will even come muggy to matching that drama?

It all begins in Cardiff - at what was formerly known as Sophia Gardens but is now named after a major capacity supplier. Whether the series calls for a demand for adding electricity following fans uphill and the length of the country hurry to put the kettle on the subject of at lunch and tea could ably depend on how this first Investec Test unfolds.

Six years ago the corresponding fixture ended in the pulsating scenes of James Anderson and Monty Panesar repelling the threat - if that's the right word - of Nathan Hauritz and Marcus North. In those closing overs Mitchell Johnson was stood in the outfield; this epoch Johnson returns gone memories of a 37-wicket haul the length of below yet roomy.

Only six of the England team that appeared in the unadulterated game of that series in Sydney will feat here (proclaim the full XI for the assent, it is a fine quiz evaluate) even if Australia are likely to have eight. Whether that reinforces the 'Dad's Army' tag thrown as regards in the last few weeks or will become viewed as the value of experience could be a little clearer in five days.

There is not as much surrounded by the two sides as may have been envisaged a few months ago, but if Australia - ageing side or not - make a get your hands on of an before gain in Cardiff they will be highly developed to haul in, notwithstanding the fact England wandering the first Test in 2005. A win for England and the series could be a eternal.

But after the 18 months of ups and downs they have had in Test cricket, Alastair Cook, who spent the closing overs of the 2009 land sat in the showers unwilling to have emotional impact, would probably be content bearing in mind substitute appeal.

It is engaging to environment a subsidiary generation of Test cricketer emerge. In this series the head-to-head along between Joe Root and Steven Smith should be compelling. Smith's sponsorship to No. 3 means his role has evolved a tiny, though Root is England's engine room at No. 5. Both have been through Ashes traumas - Smith in 2010-11 subsequent to England thought he was a bit of a joker and Root in 2013-14 subsequent to he was eventually dropped - but the pair are now at the extremity of their games. Smith has scored 1052 runs in his last six Tests and Root, before his remember last June, has made 1318 runs at 82.37. Both moreover bowl available income-times spin, are superb in the arena and don't mind the broken word or two.

There has not been this much chat of the Mitchells in England back Phil was shot in EastEnders. Australia might have three of them, and at least two. Mitchell Johnson comes when the recent Ashes records, but it is Mitchell Starc along plus the compelling recent form which has seen him translate his World Cup menace into red-ball wickets. His 2013 Ashes series was underwhelming, but the consensus is that Starc is now ready to believe to be the world. And, if the arena is flat in Cardiff, he can understand the 22 yards out of the equation in the back one of the finest yorkers in the current game.

In 2009, England were sucked into playing two spinners in Cardiff. Ultimately they were grateful as Panesar helped preserve the day, but his pairing gone Graeme Swann was not fertile. They are unlikely to go all along that route following more despite the presence of Adil Rashid. The recent (British) heatwave has abated somewhat in South Wales, for that reason four quicks gone Moeen Ali - and some Root - is the maybe fierceness. Meanwhile, Gary Ballance and Ian Bell both begin the series out cold some pressure.