Pat Cummins stated Australia was nicely positioned to get the higher of Bazball throughout the Ashes collection.
But on the opening day of play it appeared the one tactic the Aussie skipper had up his sleeve was to go defensive.
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While many anticipated the Aussies to combat fireplace with fireplace, Cummins went the alternative method and conceded in an effort to comprise the boundaries.
Cummins confirmed his hand early by deploying a fielder at deep level from the opening over of the Test earlier than Nathan Lyon went ultra-defensive with 4 fielders on the boundary throughout his first over.
Australian legend Ricky Ponting wasn’t pleased with what he was seeing throughout the collection opener in Edgbaston.
“They’ve gone defensive straightaway. I must admit, I’m not a huge fan of that deep backward point as a starting option. Cummins’ best ball is too easily scored off there as far as I’m concerned,” Ponting stated in commentary.
“If the scoreboard continually ticks over, batsmen never feel under pressure at all. With that deep point field, where are you expected to bowl? Are you expected to bowl without protection?”
Former England captain Alastair Cook took issues a step additional when he labelled the techniques as “un-Australian”.
“It feels a bit un-Australian. They normally fight fire with fire,” Cook stated on BBC Test Match Special.
“I’ve never seen Australia with four men on the boundary.”
World Cup champion Eoin Morgan stated he was “shocked” by Australia’s defensive mindset within the morning session.
“It’s been interesting, particularly the tactics from Australia,” Morgan stated on Sky Sports commentary.
“I have been shocked in many ways with how defensive their fields have been, as they haven’t done it before.
“They have been the first to blink.”
Former England batter Kevin Pietersen continued: “Australia have got it wrong, but from an England perspective it is fantastic to see Australia so defensive.
“I just think first morning of an Ashes series, I would have thought that Pat Cummins would have said, ‘OK England, give it a go. We don’t mind. Hit us for six fours … a couple of sixes, no problem. Then we will go to plan B’.
“I think that they went straight to plan-B.”
England went at an absurd 5 runs an over earlier than Ben Stokes made a historic declaration after solely 78 overs of play on day one.
Despite their brazen strategy to Test cricket, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root have been the one batsmen to money in.
Root registered his first Ashes century since 2015 and did it in type as he introduced up the century off solely 145 deliveries.
He battered the Australian bowling assault with two outrageous pictures late within the day getting followers up and out of their seats.
Root nailed a pair of reverse scoops in opposition to Scott Boland and Cummins because the ball sailed over third man and into the stands.
Source: www.news.com.au
