The Ashes are underway!

Tweet

England have lost the First Test against Australia after a record breaking test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Its the biggest series in cricket apart from India V Pakistan and its test match number two at Lords next week, England already under pressure. England had Australia on 128/8 on day one and still lost, the brilliant Steve Smith cracking a hundred in both innings. This must have been what it was like to watch Bradman before the war. England lost after having a 90 run first innings lead, the highest first innings lead a team has blown in The Ashes. The final day saw England try to chase 397 runs to win but were skittled by off spinner Nathan Lyons as he claimed his 350th test wicket with a sixfor. It was an unusual test as the needle swung from one side to the other Losing Jamie Anderson so early to injuury didn't help but Moeen Ali was poor with the bat and dreadful with the ball and failed to spin out Australia on a turning wicket in his own city of birth. The signs were there England would struggle in The Ashes after they were bowled out in the first session at Lords in the Ireland test, an unprecedented event. The went on to win that test by bowling Ireland out for half that in the final test bu the signs were clear. England may be world champions at the shorter game but struggling in the red ball.