Ashes 2015: Batsmen give England chance to take big lead on Day 2
One can say that England’s performance on Wednesday was one of the best in recent times. Bowlers running through the opposition, fielders hanging onto the catches and batsmen looking to score runs, quick runs. Positive cricket.
In the third Ashes Test against Australia, England did every thing correct and the hosts will be happy to end Day 1 on 133/3, trailing Australia by only three runs. After the Anderson show, England batsmen put up a decent show to keep Australia at bay on a rain-curtailed day.
READ: First and second session quick singles
Lyth, flop again
Adam Lyth has seven first class hundreds in the last one year. He has scored a hundred in this series (first Test) as well but since then his scores read — 24, 6, 37, 0, 7, 10. The 10 runs he scored on Wednesday were about his struggle in the middle.
In conditions that assisted the pacers, Lyth went for a drive outside off to be caught at slips. The outside-the-off zone has been troubling him since his hundred at Cardiff. Once again, Lyth played outside-off, edged it and was caught behind the wicket. A flop again.
Stars shine
Aslatair Cook was unlucky to get out. He pulled one from Nathan Lyon which went to Adam Voges at short-leg who clings onto the catch, somehow. Cook looked firm and confident for his 34 and was in utter disbelief when he was out. While he drove the loose ones and left the wide ones, he also negotiated the pace of the two Mitchs — Johnson and Marsh.
Ian Bell’s innings was same as the cover drive he hit to reach his fifty – beautiful. Forget his 53 he scored before he threw it away while trying to take on Lyon. His effortless batting was a treat to watch. With Joe Root (30*), he has given England the chance to get stable and look for a big lead on Day 2. The positive approach in his batting, a change from the last Test, allowed him to play his strokes on the front-foot and as a result, England seem to have taken the advantage.
