What a disaster: There goes the Ashes!

By Glenn Mitchell / Expert

It took less than 100 minutes to disassemble Australia’s batting line-up on Day 1 at Trent Bridge.

Like a modern day Midas, Stuart Broad claimed an incredible 8-15 off 9.3 overs.

It was a good thing that Nottingham specialist James Anderson was injured.

Australia’s humiliation lasted just 111 deliveries – the quickest dismissal ever of any XI in the first innings of a Test.

Following the back slapping and high-fives at Lord’s where the tourists levelled at 1-all, Australia batted like novices. After being blasted out on the first day at Edgbaston for 136 the depths reached at Trent Bridge would make a veteran speleologist proud.

Unlike Michael Clarke at Birmingham, Alastair Cook inserted Australia. Insertion soon became extraction as Australia’s specialist batsmen imitated lemmings.

It appeared little had been learnt from the third Test debacle.

Yes, the conditions – both pitch and atmospheric – were favourable, but Australia aided their own demise.

Footwork was both errant and hesitant, and deliveries that should have been eschewed were sparred at.

In the space of his first 19 balls Broad had claimed five wickets – he started with Chris Rogers and Steve Smith in the opening over of the match.

Pre-series Smith’s idiosyncratic technique was questioned by the likes of Graeme Swann. After his imperious 215 at Lord’s it appeared the naysayers had been silenced, but since then he has displayed a technical flaw.

As was the case at Edgbaston, Smith played a ball well wide off-stump only to nick it to Joe Root at third slip. It was a delivery that a number three should have allowed to pass and again raises the question as to whether his exorbitant shuffle to the offside befuddles him as to where his off-stump actually is.

David Warner copped a good one – although his footwork lacked conviction – with Mark Wood nipping one back off the pitch to take the inside edge to the keeper.

Enter Shaun Marsh, recalled at the expense of his brother Mitch as the selectors tried to bolster the batting line-up.

Marsh has had a habit of scoring big first-up – 141 against Sri Lanka on debut and 148 against South Africa when recalled to the side at Centurion in February last year.

This time around he did not trouble the scorers.

Always a nervous starter he edged Broad into the cordon to complete the seventh duck of his 15-Test career.

The move of Marsh to four and Clarke to five was to remove the prospect of the out-of-form skipper being exposed too early to the new ball. Arriving at the crease a mere eight balls into the innings put paid to that tactic.

While he was there he witnessed firsthand the demise of Marsh and Adam Voges, who held his place as a result of the Marsh swap. His poor run in this series continued with a brilliant catch by Ben Stokes in the slips off Broad to be out for just 1.

The path of his bat to the ball was not pretty to watch while the catch was spectacular. As is often the way when wickets tumble the fielding side snaps up everything.

As for Clarke, his shot to be dismissed was consistent with a man who is desperately searching for form. After getting off the mark with an inside edge for four, a waft wide of off-stump and a catch to Cook at slip off Broad had him on his way for 10.

It was a ball he should never have flashed at.

He left the field with shoulders slumped and a scoreboard that read 6-29. Shortly thereafter it was all out 60 off 18.3 overs.

No one could have contemplated such a horrid outcome.

Broad was outstanding and his support acts did their job too. He will doubtless never have a day like it again.

He need not, because in a mere 39 deliveries he effectively determined the Ashes, and no player could ever ask for more than that.

The Crowd Says:

2015-08-08T18:11:37+00:00

Broken-hearted Toy

Guest


Problem is the hardest time to bat is first innings new ball. That's his job. If he's not doing it, then he's not really an opener, maybe he'd be a good number 6?

2015-08-08T17:41:34+00:00

ColinP

Guest


Without Johnson in 2013 form the whole dynamic changes for the next ashes down under. The batting from the Aussies was generally poor, saved by Haddin and then warner only batting in the 3rd innings, let's not forget that....England's batting was just worse. They have changed much of the side and bat much deeper now let's not forget

2015-08-08T03:49:58+00:00

ChrisB

Guest


To be fair Johnson has won two away series against South Africa, and that's no mean feat. It's not all about the Ashes

2015-08-08T03:12:40+00:00

Deep Thinker

Guest


Couldn't agree more jamesb. Performance tend to get forgotten at the selection table. Jackson Bird is another although he has not been the same since returning from injury. Cummins should not be in the squad until he has at least had some FC cricket in him. Not sure why they picked him instead of Pattinson as the backup - makes no sense.

2015-08-07T13:08:18+00:00

Bearfax

Guest


Just as a further aside' while Australia fumble their way to a likely Ashes loss and Australia A beats all comers with Burns and Khawaja in great form, Young Jake Doran continues to plunder runs with another tidy 76 after his century in the one only U19 test in England. At least we can see some success likely in the next few years if the selectors get it right.

2015-08-07T10:50:45+00:00

Compo

Roar Rookie


Starc 6//85 currently in the 4th Test...so maybe not get rid of him...

2015-08-07T10:45:50+00:00

Red Kev

Roar Guru


Okay, Starc can stay, Johnson can go.

2015-08-07T10:10:34+00:00

Red Kev

Roar Guru


Got a fifty and a century in two List-A matches so far on the A tour but didn't crack 50 during the First Class matches a couple of weeks ago if I recall correctly.

2015-08-07T08:58:11+00:00

Disco

Guest


With the exception of England winning three tests by an innings in Australia in 2010/11.

2015-08-07T08:54:56+00:00

Disco

Guest


Yep, dropping Katich for his age, but retaining a past-it Ponting was baffling.

2015-08-07T08:52:54+00:00

Bearfax

Guest


Maybe we have the wrong batsmen over there. In the last two one day games in India against India A and South Africa A, Khawaja has scored 73 and 100, while Burns has scored 63 not out and 154. My thoughts are to sack the batting coach.

2015-08-07T08:51:57+00:00

Disco

Guest


Stuart Clark was great for a short time.

2015-08-07T08:50:26+00:00

Disco

Guest


Fair call. Brett Lee played far, far too many tests in my opinion.

2015-08-07T08:39:51+00:00

Disco

Guest


I agree with Kev. Khawaja's four-day form fell away after the national selectors made him the scapegoat a couple of times, and good start to Qld's Shield season is what he requires. Had his face fit back in 2011 he could well by now have been a long-standing Test No.3.

2015-08-07T08:31:32+00:00

13th Man

Guest


I would go Warner Bancroft Klinger Burns/Khawaja Smith Nevill M Marsh Johnson Hazlewood Behrendorff (if fit otherwise Cummins) Lyon. For Bangladesh series swap Dorff for Agar as extra spinner.

2015-08-07T08:28:47+00:00

13th Man

Guest


No Langer is better. Wait and see!

2015-08-07T08:26:46+00:00

13th Man

Guest


Get them in now. especially Ellyse! she is the best cricketer in Australia, male or female and I am not joking.

2015-08-07T08:23:40+00:00

Andy

Guest


Yeah he rarely bowls badly.

2015-08-07T08:22:31+00:00

13th Man

Guest


I would trade the WC for the Ashes anyday.

2015-08-07T08:22:00+00:00

13th Man

Guest


Umm How is Clarke one of the worlds best batsmen?

More Comments on The Roar

Read more at The Roar