It’s almost a must-win Test for England when they take on Australia in the first ever day-night Ashes match at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 2:30pm (AEDT).
After a ten-wicket win in the first Test which was more convincing on the scoreboard than it was in reality, Australia will be looking to play to their potential and extend the lead.
A majority of pundits have thought Australia held a significant advantage over the tourists in every location apart from Adelaide, where the pink ball and day-night cricket brings with it an air of uncertainty.
In truth, it was anything but a big difference between the sides in Brisbane. With the exception of a single session where England lost a couple of key wickets, including skipper Joe Root, they were on level-pegging with the Australians.
Defending 170 in the fourth innings was always going to be a struggle, but their attack was pedestrian as debutant Cameron Bancroft and vice-captain David Warner took Australia to victory.
Simply put, England need to improve across the park. The pressure goes on experienced players Joe Root and Alastair Cook in Adelaide. While youngsters Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan all scored runs in the first innings, the former duo must stand up against the might of the Australian attack.
That’ll be easier said than done though. Earlier in the Sheffield Shield season, New South Wales played a day-night match at Adelaide with Mitchell Starc running through the South Australian batting order.
While England were in the match throughout at the Gabba, Australia’s bowlers were below par. If the trio can pick things up, serious questions remain over England’s ability to score enough runs.
Then there will be the issue of stopping David Warner and Steve Smith. The pair looked to be in good form during the first Test, and while Usman Khawaja failed, he has been making plenty of runs at the top of the order for Queensland.
His problems against spin create issues, as does the still fragile Australian middle order, but in a series with the third Test at the WACA where the Aussies are expected to win comfortably, England must find a way to win in the city of churches.
Prediction
The day-night element adds a large amount of unpredictability to the way this plays out. As we know, it gets tougher to bat under lights, so the toss will be crucial.
Australia should improve on their performance in Brisbane though and the English attack was pedestrian – it’s hard to see that changing even with the assistance of the pink ball.
The hosts go in as favourites and rightly so.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first day’s play at the Adelaide Oval from 2:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Andrew
Guest
The main difference is this pitch isn't a complete road. Think 200 on this pitch is worth more.
Kangajets
Guest
Mon You are dumber then..... I’ve only watched and played cricket for 45 years I stick by my opinion. These are 2 of the worst Australia and England teams I’ve ever seen .
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Pretty good effort by the Aussie batsmen. It looks like the sort of pitch where you can make a start and get to 30 or 40 but you are never completely in. Still can't believe Root stuck Australia in. The pitch has good bounce and a little bit of nibble but you can score. Will be interesting to see if the Aussies can put on another 100 and see if they can bowl a bit better than England who bowled a bit short. Felt for Bancroft - he was burnt badly by Warner but too his credit didn't give him the big glare - which he was entitled to - on the way off.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Probably the two questions which decide the match.
jamesb
Guest
Will Australia make more than 302? And will Australia make good use of the night time session with the ball tomorrow?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me today on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017-18 Ashes Series. Thanks also to Josh Elliott for covering the early part of the day. I'll be back tomorrow for Day 2. Don't forget, we will have an earlier starting time of 2pm (AEDT) - 1:30pm (local) and 98 overs of cricket as we make up for lost time from today. So, with that being said, we will be live about 15 minutes before the first ball, so be sure to check back into The Roar then. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, you're right Rellum. Slow run rate keeps England in it.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Pretty decent day for Aus, although England had the same sort of first day at the Gabba.
Scott Pryde
Expert
ENGLAND BOWLING SCORECARD Stumps, Day 1
Scott Pryde
Expert
AUSTRALIA BATTING SCORECARD Stumps, Day 1.
TOTAL: 4/209 (81)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Scorecards in a moment.
Scott Pryde
Expert
STUMPS Over: 81.0 Score: 4/209
Dangerous ball that last one. In swinging to the pads of Handscomb who manages to jam it out, getting the ball away through square leg for a single to finish the day. He will face the first ball tomorrow, but Marsh and Handscomb have survived to stumps. Good partnership and Australia take Day 1 honours. No matter what you think of Handscomb and Marsh and how they look out in the middle, there is no doubting they have done the job they needed to do. Get to stumps. The scoring is down and an almost new ball awaits tomorrow, but Australia have honours from Day 1. England just didn't have the consistency after winning the toss and electing to bowl. Plenty of starts for Australia, but no one has been able to go on with it, which, in truth, is why the scoring rate is down and why they aren't in complete control of the match.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.5 Score: 4/208
More swing from Anderson. Unfortunately for England, it's moving away again, well outside the off stump and Handscomb is able to leave it alone. One ball to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.4 Score: 4/208
That's good from Marsh. Anderson gets this one to move back in and Marsh defends solidly to mid on for a quick single.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.3 Score: 4/207
Well, that was looking like a better ball, but then it went off the wicket big time. Moved away and Marsh left it alone after watching it all the way. Good work playing that late.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.2 Score: 4/207
Nope, that's poor from Anderson. Well wide of the off stump - still on a good length - but Marsh doesn't even need to bother playing that one. Left alone.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.1 Score: 4/207
Anderson starts with a full one, back over the wicket at Marsh. Pushing across him and just moving back in a little bit. Marsh defends though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
NEW BALL TAKEN. Final over of the day.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 80.0 Score: 4/207
Final ball of this Broad over - final ball of his day in fact - and it's into the pads again. Good length and defended to short mid on, but that's not a bad ball. Broad will have to wait for tomorrow. One over to go, and does Anderson have a new pink rock in his hand to bowl it? Surely so.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Over: 79.5 Score: 4/207
That one kept a bit low from Broad as he attacked the pads of Handscomb. Well defended in the end.