What a cracker of a first match we are having in the 2023 Ashes series! After seeing this match, anyone can predict what is to come in this Ashes series and the upcoming World Test Championship cycle (2023–25) in general.
After lunch on Day 4, England’s score stands at 155/5 after 37 overs in their second innings and a lead of 162 runs. England currently have their captain, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow at the crease, with Moeen Ali yet to come.
Also Read: Moeen Ali fined by the ICC for using drying agent in 1st Test of Ashes 2023
This session has been all about England’s attacking batting (the so-called Bazball approach) and Australia chipping in with timely wickets. The day started with England at 28-2, having lost both their openers. The conditions were a little bit difficult to bat in this morning, but Joe Root and Ollie Pope came out all guns blazing and completed a 50-run partnership in around 8 overs. Root was sensational with his ramp shots—three shots in seven balls.
The game was going away from Australia, but then their captain, Pat Cummins, came in with an inswinging yorker, probably the ball of the Ashes, to dismiss Pope. Root played with an attacking mindset, continuing with Harry Brook, who also scored rapidly, but both of them fell short of their fifties as they fell to Nathan Lyon.
The ball of Ashes 2023.
Captain Cummins for Australia, He is a machine. pic.twitter.com/SzDHJ7glE6
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 19, 2023
Cummins and Lyon were the most impressive bowlers of the day, as both grinded for over an hour during the lunch session. Cummins was a machine in all his spells and bowled brilliantly. Lyon found some great help from the pitch, which is four days old now.
The pitch is still decent for batting, and England has two of their most dependable batters out on the crease. A lead of 250–260 runs will tilt this match England’s way. The most important session of this match is coming right up.
