Shell-shocked Poms collapse as Aussie quicks run riot
Written by Will Faulkner
Pat Cummins took five wickets in his first game as Australian captain, with the country's fast bowling cartel sending shockwaves through the England batting lineup, bowling the visitors out for just 147 on Day 1 of the First Ashes Test.
England’s first win for the day was also their last, electing to bat at the coin toss on a gloomy Brisbane morning.
The surprise omissions of James Anderson and Stuart Broad from the tourist’s playing eleven left a mountain of pressure on their top order to perform batting first.
From there, it was all downhill for the Poms as Mitchell Starc bowled opener Rory Burns around his legs on the first ball of the match.
Mitch Starc got the Aussies off to quite literally, the perfect start - Photo credit: Chris Hyde
Much of England’s top order followed suit, with four of their first five batsmen scoring no more than six - including skipper Joe Root who failed to get off the mark.
Resistance was hard to come by for the England camp in the first session, with opener Haseeb Hameed (25 off 75 balls) scraping his way to the lunch break unbeaten on 25.
Hameed’s stay at the crease however only lasted four balls into the second session, edging a Pat Cummins length ball to second slip into the safe hands of Steve Smith. Jos Buttler walked to the crease at 5/60, with youngster Ollie Pope at the other end making a conscious effort to rotate the strike with quick singles.
Buttler took the aerial route at times over mid on and mid off, looking relatively set on his way to 39 before edging Mitchell Starc, concluding his 52-run stand with Pope.
Young Aussie all-rounder Cam Green joined the party soon after, making Pope his first test match wicket with a hook to Josh Hazlewood at fine-leg in what was a tremendous catch.
Number six Ollie Pope looked promising for his knock of 35 - Photo credit: Cricket Australia
Skipper Pat Cummins then took the last three wickets of the innings to bring up his first five-wicket haul against England in test match cricket.
Debutant wicketkeeper Alex Carey looked sound behind the stumps, taking three catches in what were beautiful conditions to keep in.
Unfortunately for cricket fans, the first day’s play was cut short as rain and bad light prevented the English from having a bowl at Australia on Day 1.
Subsequently, Day 2 will begin half an hour earlier than normal, scheduled for 9:30am local time (10:30am AEDT) in an effort to make up for today’s lost play.
Stumps, Day 1 England: 147 all out Buttler 39, Pope 35, Hameed 25 Cummins 5/38, Starc 2/35, Hazlewood 2/42