Australia, led by captain Pat Cummins, began their Ashes 2023 campaign in magnificent style at Edgbaston, winning the first of the five Tests in an absolute thriller. The match ended on Day 5 with the visitors winning by two wickets while chasing down a target of 281, thanks to an incredible inning from Usman Khawaja and some calm batting by Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
The duo of Cummins and Lyon shared a 55-run stand for the ninth wicket, which will go down as one of the greatest in Ashes history. Despite the win, there are a few issues that the Aussies need to sort out ahead of the second Test, which is scheduled to start on June 28 at Lord’s. Despite the win in Birmingham, here are three concerns for the tourists.
David Warner
David Warner has been going through a prolonged rough patch, which has put his Test career in jeopardy. Australia, under the leadership of captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald, has given their full support to the southpaw to find form in England.
However, in the two Tests he has played so far, including the final of the World Test Championship which Australia won, he hasn’t been able to hit form. In four innings since arriving in the UK, Warner has only managed to score 89 runs, including two single-digit scores. He has gotten a couple of starts but has failed to capitalize on them. While a newcomer might not raise as much concern, Warner has played many games in England and needs to score big at Lord’s.
Overseas form of Marnus Labuschagne
Marnus Labuschagne has proven himself to be one of the best Test cricket batters in the world, with an impressive record of 3474 runs at an average of 55.14. However, his stats outside Australia tell a different story. In 22 Tests in Australia, he has an average of over 70, but his overseas numbers are not up to par.
In England, he averages below 40, and in the UAE and Sri Lanka, he fares similarly, with just above 40 in India. Additionally, he has only scored one Test century outside of Australia. His dismissals at Edgbaston were not encouraging, as he poked at deliveries that were well outside the off-stump, and he lost his No. 1 Test ranking after the game. Australia will be hoping for Labuschagne to improve his record and perform well against England at Lord’s.
The Lords Pitch
The pitch at Lords’ is one of the finest in England and suits England’s aggressive style of play. This presents a challenge that Australia must overcome if they hope to win the Test. The Australian bowlers must strike a balance between being patient and aggressive, which could be the deciding factor. Cummins, Hazlewood, and Boland must improve their bowling performance from Edgbaston as they were inconsistent.
