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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton and Paul Bellsham

Flukes, fingers and fumbles: moments that decided first Ashes Test

Ben Stokes reacts after Ollie Pope misses a catching  chance to dismiss Pat Cummins on day five.
Ben Stokes reacts after Ollie Pope misses a catching chance to dismiss Pat Cummins on day five. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Harry Brook of England is bowled by Nathan Lyon of Australia during day one
Harry Brook of England is bowled by Nathan Lyon of Australia during day one Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Brook’s bemusement

Harry Brook had scored 32 runs at almost a run a ball and looked in sublime touch when a Nathan Lyon delivery somehow hit a thigh pad, bounced high over his shoulder, landed on the back of his leg and deflected into the stumps. A complete fluke.

England’s Joe Root on day one of the first Ashes test match at Edgbaston
England’s Joe Root on day one of the first Ashes test match at Edgbaston Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Stokes declares after Root hits form

Ben Stokes declares with England 398-8 on day one of the Ashes at Edgbaston
Ben Stokes declares with England 398-8 on day one of the Ashes at Edgbaston Photograph: Sky Sports

England were 393 for 8 in their first innings, with Joe Root purring on 118 and Ollie Robinson batting with real poise and control at the other end, when Ben Stokes called them in. They could have batted for six more overs that day but instead they chose to bowl four at Australia - Stokes called this their “chance to pounce”. They achieved little in that time, and a few extra runs would have been handy in the end.

Jonny Bairstow of England misses the chance to stump Cameron Green on day two
Jonny Bairstow of England misses the chance to stump Cameron Green on day two Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The fumbles

Australia’s first innings in particular was punctuated by missed chances behind the stumps. Cameron Green could have been stumped by Jonny Bairstow for a second-ball duck and scored 38; Alex Carey was dropped twice and scored 66. In the second innings Usman Khawaja edged to Bairstow’s left in the first over. The keeper didn’t move and Khawaja went on to score 65.

Australia’s Usman Khawaja is bowled by a no ball from Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad of England bowls out Usman Khawaja of Australia but it’s ruled a no-ball Photograph: Matt Impey/Shutterstock

The mis-steps

There have been 17 years, and 214 Test matches, since England last bowled as many as 23 no-balls in a game. Almost 11 years have passed since Australia last benefited from so many. In the last decade England have, on average, bowled just over three per Test; at Edgbaston Stuart Broad alone bowled 11. Australia, meanwhile, bowled only four, and in total gave away 19 extras to England’s 44.

The covers come on during a rain delay on day three
The covers come on during a rain delay on day three Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The weather

Across five days of largely benign conditions for batting there was one, wild 20-minute period when the ground was blanketed in thick, dark cloud and the ball zipped and zinged. It was England’s misfortune that it happened towards the start of their second innings, which contributed to them losing both their openers.

The England physio tends to Moeen Ali’s injured index finger
The England physio tends to Moeen Ali’s injured index finger Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

The spinner’s finger

Moeen Ali examines his injured spinning finger
Moeen Ali examines his injured spinning finger Photograph: Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images

Moeen Ali replaced the injured Jack Leach in the side, but two years after his last first-class game he was not used to bowling for long periods with the pronounced seam of the Dukes ball. He wore a hole in his spinning finger, affecting his bowling, and in the end Joe Root did most of the spin bowling on the final day.

Pat Cummins of Australia hits the 2nd of his 2 6’s off the bowling of Joe Root.
Pat Cummins of Australia hits the 2nd of his 2 6’s off the bowling of Joe Root. Photograph: Matt Impey/Shutterstock

Cummins goes big

Pat Cummins was on eight, Nathan Lyon on two, and Australia still 51 runs away from victory. Joe Root had bowled 14 overs for just 29 runs, but the second new ball was due and England had to decide: give Root one more over, or let rip with the seamers? They went with option one, and Cummins creamed two sixes to kick-start the match-winning partnership.

Ben Stokes drops a catching chance off the batting of Nathan Lyon
Ben Stokes drops a catching chance off the batting of Nathan Lyon Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The drop

Just two balls into the following over Nathan Lyon pulled a Stuart Broad short ball towards Ben Stokes at square leg. Australia still needed 36. The England captain backpedalled, leapt, stretched, caught it - and then uncaught it again. It was the last clear wicket-taking chance, and Lyon and Pat Cummins went on to guide Australia to victory.

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