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England fall in a heap at the Gabba

26th November, 2017
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Nathan Lyon of Australia celebrates David Warner of Australia after Lyon ran out James Vince of England during day one of the First Test Match of the 2017/18 Ashes Series between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 23, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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26th November, 2017
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England face a massive challenge to work their way back into this Ashes series after being mauled over the past two days as Australia bulldozed towards what could be a lopsided win in the first Test.

Australia will start the fifth day needing only 56 runs for victory, having cantered to 0-114 at stumps yesterday. All so often the tone for an Australian home summer is set in the first Test at the Gabba, where the home side have not been beaten for 29 years.

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Last time England toured they were left demoralised after being bullied by Australia’s fearsome pace attack, a thrashing which laid the foundation for a 5-0 whitewash.

They have not been vaporised in the same manner this week, but England will be anguished by the way in which Australia turned a vulnerable position early on Day 3 into a commanding one by stumps on Day 4.

With a giant upset in their sights, England fell in a heap. Their lack of bowling depth was exposed as was their frailty with the bat against high-quality pace. Both of these areas shaped as potential major weaknesses for England leading into this series.

In an ominous sign for the tourists, Australia’s star quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were well below their best in this Test yet still made a big impact.

While spinner Nathan Lyon and first-change paceman Pat Cummins were consistently impressive, Australia’s new ball pair looked rusty, both having only recently returned from injury.

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Hazlewood’s trademark precision was absent during several spells, while Starc clearly struggled for rhythm at times, stretching out in his delivery stride as if feeling for the crease, rather than cruising through it.

They still managed to produced pivotal spells, with Hazlewood removing Alastair Cook and James Vince with the new ball late on Day 3, and Starc later taking three wickets inside two overs to end England’s resistance.

The fact Starc and Hazlewood were off the boil yet still collected combined figures of 10-231 is a boon for Australia and a red flag for the tourists. Australia comprehensively outbowled England, despite having huge room for improvement.

Australia cricket Ashes

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

The tourists desperately need to make inroads into the Australia batting this morning. Not to keep alive their hopes of victory, as this Test is already gone, but rather to regain some momentum and confidence heading into the day-night Test at Adelaide, the match in which conditions should most suit England.

Australia have no such worries; suddenly their outlook is bright. Openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have found touch, Steve Smith appears impregnable, and their attack looks dramatically more potent and versatile than England’s.

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Australia needed such a rousing start to this series as they will be sternly tested by England quicks James Anderson and Stuart Broad on a likely juicy deck at Adelaide.

That experienced pair have the ability to scythe through the Australians with the pink ball. But they’ll need their teammates to rid themselves of the malaise which has been evident over the past day-and-a-half of the first Test.

England know they’ve frittered away a gilded opportunity in this match. If they can’t quickly regain their composure and combativeness, this series could swiftly turn into a bloodbath.

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