England were bowled out for 147 before thunderstorms and persistent rain wiped out the entire third session of Day 1 of the first 2021/22 Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane.
Pat Cummins, on his first day as full-time Australia captain, returned 5-38, his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Mitchell Starc took 2-35, including the first-ball dismissal of Rory Burns, and Josh Hazlewood 2-42, while Cam Green claimed his maiden Test wicket, of Ollie Pope. Jos Buttler top-scored for England with a 58-ball 39.
England have lost nine of their last 10 Test matches in Australia. They have not won a single Test match at the Gabba in 35 years. Now, they have decided to omit Stuart Broad and James Anderson in an Ashes Test match after 15 years. However, they did escape a defeat in Brisbane in their last two Ashes triumphs in Australia, in 1986/87 and 2010/11.
England have an uphill task ahead of Day 2 to escape defeat. The predicted rain will aid England. Broad, who got David Warner seven times in the last 10 Ashes innings, is not here either.
If Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson and Chris Woakes replicate what Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood did in the first morning, England may make a fight out of it. However, it is unlikely to happen against a formidable Australian batting unit, led by David Warner, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, that too at home.
Betway Fantasy Tips
- Expect Smith to score big. Labuschagne should reach a fifty as well.
- In Anderson and Broad's absence, Robinson is England's most threatening wicket-taking bowler.