Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Three days of old-school Test cricket in the age of T20. Three days of hard fought Test cricket, with either side not willing to give in. Three days of Test cricket that has kept us wanting more.
The third day of the first Test in Brisbane ended with Australia on top slightly, but we are set up for not only a great Test match, but a great Ashes series. Perhaps the best since 2005?
England and Australia have question marks about their batting in this series, but both teams have dug in and refused to let their opposition blow them away. This is coupled with both teams’ bowlers executing good plans set up by their captains, and keeping the scoring in check for the entire Test. It has made for a great battle, and is already doing wonders for Test cricket. Even in the T20 age, a great T20 game is nowhere near as exciting and riveting as a good Test match, and this series could be the best Ashes series in a while.
The last four Ashes series (2010/11, 2013, 2013/14 and 2015) have underwhelmed significantly, with plenty of one-sided results. In these four series, the closest series result was England’s 3-2 win in 2015, but not a single Test was close in the series, and England wrapped the series with a match to spare after rolling Australia for 60.
This series has all the makings of a great Ashes series. Why? Because despite how far from perfect the two teams are, they are really evenly matched and both want it really badly. With the potential to be even better than 2009, and close to 2005, this series has already displayed the drama, and ebbs-and-flows that keep everyone on the edge of their seats, which is the making of a great Test series. I have been glued to the TV screen, as many around the world have been, too.
We expected the series to be good, but maybe not this good already.
Thought England would roll over on the first morning after Cook was dismissed early? England fought back. Thought Australia would concede a big lead when they were 4 or 7 down? Steve Smith’s hundred and celebration is now etched in Ashes memory. Think Australia will roll England over on Day four? Think again. Australia look on top, but Joe Root is one of the world’s best batsmen and whether he can repeat Smith’s amazing innings will be interesting to see. Anything over 200 on a pitch displaying a little bit of variable bounce, and quite a bit of turn, you just can’t predict which way this match will go – and this has been painfully rare in Ashes series since 2005.
Who said Test cricket needs high-scoring rates to be exciting? The fourth day promises to be amazing.
I can’t wait.
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