England surprised many by electing to bat first in the opening Test of the 2023 Ashes at Edgbaston. However, it was a smart decision given the conditions. A flat, dry pitch offered little movement, allowing Brendon McCullum’s side to accumulate runs quickly. Zak Crawley set the tone, hitting a boundary in the first ball of the series, but England lost three wickets in the first session. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root took it from there, with Bairstow scoring 78 from 78 balls and Root completing his 30th Test ton to make 118 not out. After 78 overs, at 8-393, Ben Stokes declared. The question is, will Australia be able to take 10 quick wickets or will they be able to dig in?
Australia’s star of the show on day one was Nathan Lyon, who claimed 4-149 from 29 hard-bitten overs, holding Australia together, according to Malcolm Conn. On day two, Australia resumed with the bat, with David Warner and Usman Khawaja looking to make an impact. If day one was anything to go by, day two will offer even more excitement. Coffee may be needed to stay up for this long night, but a colleague advises against consuming it at a Bazball rate. With all the action happening at the Ashes, stay tuned for more updates.
