Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon have pulled off a miracle at Edgbaston, guiding Australia to an exhilarating two-wicket victory within the Ashes opener on Tuesday.
The skipper and veteran spinner mixed for an unbeaten 55-run partnership for the ninth wicket to steer Australia in the direction of the 281-run goal on Tuesday night, giving the guests a 1-0 lead within the five-match collection.
Usman Khawaja was named participant of the match for his majestic first-innings century and gritty fifty on the ultimate day, however Cummins and Lyon stole the present.
DAVID WARNER — 5
9 and 36
He could have misplaced yet one more battle in opposition to Stuart Broad within the first innings, however David Warner confirmed promising indicators on Monday night.
The left-hander defended with confidence and attacked with authority on day 4, combining with Usman Khawaja for Australia’s first fifty-run opening partnership in Tests in England since 2015.
It got here after the veteran opener’s reckless hack exterior off stump on Saturday morning, falling sufferer to Broad for a fifteenth time in Tests. Warner has now been dismissed by a right-armer seamer from across the wicket in 13 consecutive away Test innings in opposition to England.
USMAN KHAWAJA — 10
141 and 65
After being dropped in the course of the 2013 and 2019 Ashes collection, Usman Khawaja has emphatically vanquished his English demons.
The Queenslander was in full management all through his first-innings century, later turning into the primary Australian to bat in all 5 days of a Test since 1980.
Khawaja backed it up with a gritty half-century on the ultimate day, which set the platform for Australia’s miracle run chase. He confronted 518 deliveries throughout the match, probably the most for an Australian opener in an away Ashes Test since 1964.
The People’s Champ is on the peak of his powers, and the eighth iteration of his Test profession continues to astound.
MARNUS LABUSCHAGNE — 2
0 and 13
Stuart Broad had the wooden over Manus Labuschagne in Birmingham this week, with the Queenslander departing in virtually an identical vogue in each innings.
The Australian No. 3 fell for a golden duck on day two, fishing exterior off and edging behind to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. Broad knocked him over once more two days later, as soon as once more urgent at a large supply and feathering a catch by way of to England’s gloveman.
Labuschagne claimed an excellent catch at mid-wicket to take away Harry Brook in England’s second innings, however he’s nonetheless responsible of encouraging captain Pat Cummins to waste opinions on non-existent exterior edges.
STEVE SMITH — 3
16 and 6
The Australian captain couldn’t replicate his 2019 heroics at Edgbaston this week, comprehensively outclassed by English counterpart Joe Root on this week’s Ashes opener.
Smith’s first-innings dismissal was, to a sure extent, fairly unfortunate, with Ben Stokes’ size supply retaining low and capturing by way of into the pads for LBW.
But the right-hander’s lack of footwork was in charge for his departure on Monday night, urgent awkwardly at Stuart Broad’s full inswinger and edging behind to Jonny Bairstow with the gloves.
Smith solely discovered the boundary rope as soon as in Birmingham this week, his lowest tally in an Ashes Test in England since 2013.
TRAVIS HEAD — 7
50 and 16
It wouldn’t be an Australian Test match with out a counterattacking cameo from Travis Head.
The left-hander strolled to the crease with the guests in a spot of hassle at 3-67 within the first innings, instantly shifting momentum again in Australia’s favour with a blistering half-century.
However, Head fell to England tweaker Moeen Ali in each innings, along with his susceptibility to spin as soon as once more a speaking level.
But regardless of wanting scratchy all through his second-innings knock, the South Australian appears destined to stay a risk all through the Ashes marketing campaign.
CAMERON GREEN — 6
38 and 28, 1-32 and 0-12
Cameron Green was responsible of constructing begins with the bat however not changing them to substantial scores in the course of the Edgbaston Test this week.
The West Australian fell to an absolute ripper from England spinner Moeen Ali within the first innings that turned sharply by way of the gate and crashed into center stump.
But he solely had himself in charge for his day-five dismissal, prodding awkwardly at a size supply from Ollie Robinson and chopping again onto his pegs.
The 24-year-old was surprisingly underbowled in Birmingham this week, solely referred to as upon for eight overs throughout the match and taking one wicket.
And, in fact, Green claimed a screamer at gully — however that goes with out saying in the mean time.
ALEX CAREY — 8
66 and 20, six catches and three stumpings
The Australian wicketkeeper’s glovework was near-perfect at Edgbaston this week, registering six catches, three stumpings and nil byes within the Ashes opener.
Alex Carey made one mistake with gloves, placing down a one-handed likelihood to his proper within the first innings, however he was faultless from there on, turning into the primary Australian wicketkeeper to take 9 dismissals in an away Ashes Test since 1956.
The South Australian mixed with centurion Usman Khawaja for an important century partnership within the first innings, albeit after being gifted two additional lives from rival wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
In the second innings, Carey seemed strong on the crease earlier than a surprising one-handed catch from Joe Root ended his fourth-innings resistance.
PAT CUMMINS — 9
0-59 and 4-63, 38 and 44*
It will likely be remembered as one of many biggest captain’s performances in Ashes historical past.
Pat Cummins, regardless of battling the bat over the previous 4 years, rose to the event when his teammates wanted him, sealing an unforgettable victory and placing Australia one step nearer to retaining the urn.
The skipper was removed from his greatest with the ball this week, however he did produce an early contender for ball of the collection on day 4. His attractive inswinging yorker to take away Ollie Pope halted England’s stampede on Monday morning, whereas his dismissal of rival captain Ben Stokes proved a decisive second within the second innings.
However, the right-armer sometimes slid onto the pads, and he was worryingly ineffective with the brand new Dukes ball on day one — however he greater than redeemed himself.
SCOTT BOLAND — 5
1-86 and 1-61
Turns out Scott Boland is human in spite of everything.
The Victorian seamer solely dismissed one England batter in the course of the Edgbaston Test, conceding 5.65 runs per over throughout the match.
Boland was, to no one’s shock, relentlessly in step with the Dukes — however his bowling turned predictable, along with his lack of selection uncovered by England’s gifted top-order.
England feasted on his line and size, sometimes charging down the pitch on the 34-year-old and slapping him by way of the covers. Joe Root even nailed a few reverse scoops off Boland that flew over the slips cordon for six.
However, Boland’s 40-ball stint as nightwatchman within the fourth innings set the platform for an exhilarating run chase, registering his highest rating in Tests.
NATHAN LYON — 9
4-149 and 4-80
The GOAT simply loves taking part in Test cricket at Edgbaston.
Four years after taking a match-winning six-wicket haul in Birmingham, Nathan Lyon has as soon as once more starred for Australia within the Ashes opener — however on this event with bat and ball.
After leaking over 5 runs per over within the first innings, the veteran off-spinner bounced again on Monday, accounting for 4 essential wickets and muzzling England’s harmful center order.
Meanwhile, the 35-year-old’s nail-biting partnership with Pat Cummins on Tuesday afternoon will go down in Ashes folklore. Not unhealthy for a No. 11 …
JOSH HAZLEWOOD — 7
2-61 and 1-48
The Bendemeer Bullet was undeniably Australia’s greatest bowler within the first innings, habitually bashing away at a superb size and claiming two essential wickets on day one.
Josh Hazlewood has spent practically 5 months within the casualty ward with an Achilles harm and facet complaints, however the 32-year-old confirmed no indicators of rust at Edgbaston this week.
His bouncers proved an efficient weapon within the second innings, and he would have picked up extra wickets if his teammates held onto a pair of half probabilities on Monday afternoon.
Originally revealed as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne savaged after first Test horrorshow
Source: www.news.com.au
