England struggled to vindicate Joe Root’s gamble to bowl first on a cagey first day of the inaugural pink-ball Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.
Only Usman Khawaja (53) could post a half-century, and no stand exceeded 53 as England arguably fluffed their lines with the new ball but stuck to their task to restrict Australia to 209 for four at the close.
There was a prize wicket for England debutant seamer Craig Overton – home captain Steve Smith – and Chris Woakes edged back towards his best in support of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Excuse me!
Stuart Broad sledges Steve Smith
When Anderson was briefly positioned at short mid-on to Broad, it seemed a provocative move into the area Smith needed for a decent view and running path to the non-striker’s end. There were words, inevitably in this niggly series, but no further aggravation or incident.
Warner becalmed
Combative Australia opener David Warner served notice of his usual intent in the hosts’ second-innings romp in Brisbane last week. England had stifled him first time round there, though – and despite a handy contribution of 47 here, they did so again and perhaps reaped their reward when the left-hander tried to manufacture a scoring opportunity where there was none, and edged Woakes behind.
Slip of the day
Usman Khawaja made a half-century for Australia
It was not looking great for England at 80 for one, and James Vince’s village-green misfield then did not help as his faulty ‘long barrier’ allowed Khawaja four when he should have had none off Moeen Ali. Vince made up for it later with a smart catch to see off the left-hander, dropped in the meantime by Mark Stoneman at deep square-leg.
Back by midnight?
We may well never find out. But after England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss imposed the team curfew on the back of Jonny Bairstow’s Perth ‘head-butt’ greeting for Cameron Bancroft, rain breaks on day one here meant the players were cutting it fine to meet their bedtime deadline. Luckily, it is no more than a 10-minute stroll back to base over the river – so after a 10.10pm close, even with close-of-play interviews and running repairs, they were probably just about OK.
Stat of the day
One in 83 – a solitary delivery in the 13.5 overs England bowled before the first break would have hit the stumps. Root took a bit of a punt, and maybe was hoping for a little better from his seam attack.
Tweet of the day
What next?
England reconvene here on Sunday, in hope of better, while Ben Stokes returns to professional cricket for the first time in 10 weeks with Christchurch-based Canterbury Kings in New Zealand’s Ford Trophy.
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