The 1st Test v Australia

Tweet

So england beaten in two days in the opening match of the five test Ashes series. England batsmen have had very little red-ball crease time in the last few months so no surprise. It was the second shortest Ashes test in Ashes history. Mitch Starks seven wicket haul on day one was the second best test bowling ever for a seam bowler that age. Travis Heads insane hundred was the second fastest test hundred, beating , yup, Brendan McCullum, England's coach. It was even on day one and England looked likely winners at lunch on day two 56/1 and two batters set. But they fell away at the back end and only offered Australia 200 odd to win - in three days! They knocked them off on day two in rapid form. They had 'Bazballed' England. As a cricket writer I had my own plan to help England win The Ashes. A player that was in the same team as Aussie captain Steve Smith in The Hundred - the English based franchise event - told my mate, in confidence, that he [Smith] had come home and found another man in bed with his wife. I googled this but nothing on line. Maybe it was true. I texted an England player to tell the current England wicketkeeper, Jamie Smith, this tale and for the keeper to 'remind' Stevie Smith that his wife is home alone so to unsettle him at the crease. Lets see. I think England will recover and not lose this series as they have some decent players and a good mindset and this is not the strongest Australian team for a while. I hope we haven't missed our chance as their best players will return after injury for the next test but its certainly going to be eventful.