Phenomenal batting over the last year has rocketed Steve Smith up the world’s Test rankings to No 1. But Chris Rogers, the oldest cricketer at Edgbaston overnight, has been the unsung hero.
Rogers will be 38 next month, but in his last 10 digs he has been the most consistent opening Test batsman in world cricket with 55, 55, 57, 69, 95, 56, 95, 173, 49*, and 52.
Nine times over 50, with the unbeaten 49 in the second innings at Lord’s his only miss when he retired with dizziness.
FULL SCOREBOARD FROM DAY 1 AT EDGBASTON
As a result, Rogers is ranked ninth in the latest Test rankings, with his opening patrner David Warner ranked 10.
So Australia has three in the world’s top 10, which makes it hard to comprehend how the baggy greens crashed for 136 after winning the toss.
Take out Rogers’ 52, and the rest of the batting order looked more like an international mobile number.
Warner (2) played down the wrong line to Jimmy Anderson and was trapped in front.
Smith (7) played at Steve Finn well away from his body to be caught low down at first slip by Alastair Cook, a rare failure.
Michael Clarke (10) played all over a Finn yorker and was bowled.
Adam Voges (16) held his bat out to dry facing Anderson and was caught behind.
Mitchell Marsh (0) chased Anderson wide of off stump and was caught behind for a third ball duck.
Peter Nevill (2), who was a shock selection over an available Brad Haddin, shouldered arms and was bowled by Anderson.
Mitchell Johnson (3) thick-edged Anderson to gully where Ben Stokes held a hot chance. Johnson passed the 2000 Test runs mark when he opened his account.
Mitchell Starc (11) held his bat out to dry off Broad and was caught behind.
And Nathan Lyon (11) was clean bolwed by Broad.
Josh Hazlewood remained not out on 14 with three boundaries.
Anderson, who hadn’t taken a wicket in his last three innings against the Australians in this series with 0-33, 0-99, and 0-38, came back with a vengeance with a superb 6-47 off 14.4.
Finn, back in the side for the first time in two years, claimed 2-44 off 12, and Broad’s 2-38 off 10 made Australia pay.
At stumps on Day 1, England was 3-133 in reply, with Adam Lyth (10), Cook (34), and Ian Bell (53) in a form reversal, back in the shed – Cook to a freak dismissal with a full-blooded hook straight into Voges’ stomach at short leg, the ball never hit his hands and he virtually held the chance with his elbows.
The Australian pace attack was all over the shop with far too much rubbish – Hazlewood 1-50 off 10, Johnson 0-30 off 5, Starc 0-39 off 9, and Marsh 0-17 off 3.
But offie Lyon was spot on with 2-3 off 2.
It was England’s day with the dangerous Joe Root not out 30, and newcomer Johnny Bairstow on 1.
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