Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins diminished the winning possibility of England and won the 1st Test of the Ashes by 2 wickets. It was a full dramatic day as both the teams played with full of their potential.
Khawaja again proves his worth by scoring 65 runs. He started his Day 4 score of 34 runs and added 31 more runs to it. He sticks with one side of the pitch and provides small partnership with the other batsmen. Rain interrupts the play a little bit and wastes some of the overs. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon’s 55 runs partnership not only saved the match but also won the match. Aussies at one time was 227/8 but these two provided match saving innings. Cummins scored 44 runs and Lyon made 16 useful runs.
Stuart Broad clinched 3 wickets and Robinson took 2. Moeen Ali, Stokes and Root get 1 wicket each. English bowlers charged Aussies with great power but eventually they didnt get over the 9th wicket.
Overall it was a brilliant performance from both sides. All the 22 players showed their intent to win the match. The 1st Test match was full of ups and downs for both the teams. Firstly England shocks everyone with their batting and declaration, then Australia who looked that they will get par the score easily didnt get at last then rain interrupts and on the last day match seems 50-50 chances for both the teams.
Usman Khawaja awarded Player of the Match he said, “So heart-wrenching. When you’re playing you are fine. Hard to watch. Definitely one of my favourite Test matches. I couldn’t watch it with the guys. Was too much nervous energy there. WAs watching in the change room on the delayed feed. Personally for me, even now I have never felt like this. This ebb and flow of the whole game. It was no one’s Test match until it was won. Last Test series was pretty tough work for the batters in general unless you were Steve Smith.”
Ben Stokes (England Captain): “Very proud of the team to take it till the end, go through all those emotions. That’s another great game I have been part of. I will be surprised if we haven’t kept people at the edge of their seats throughout this Test. Good reason for more people In England and Australia to follow the Ashes. A loss is a loss, we said we are going to keep playing this way. This is the way we will continue playing, going hard at Australia, taking certain decisions that feel right.
On declaration of regrets, “ Not at all, I saw it as a chance to pounce on Australia. Never easy for someone to go out and bat for 20 minutes. Who knows? Maybe Root and Jimmy could have got out and we would have been in the same place.”
On Root, “Magnificent, the way he played yesterday was massive. The bravery he showed in the first half an hour was unbelievable. Credit for Australia for sticking through the game throughout. The efforts that Broad and Robbo put in was incredible, running in with the three lions on your chest always gives you extra motivation.”
Pat Cummins (Australia Captain): (On Australian supporters) They have been outnumbered. We Aussies aren’t great at chants and songs, but they stuck through it.
Winning chances when came to bat, “Honestly pretty good. That wicket didn’t have too many demons and Carey was batting beautifully.“
Nathan Lyon on drive, “I looked at him and he walked past me, then I said Nice shot Gary.”
On contrasting styles, “Both teams spoke about playing their styles, we played to our strengths and we don’t know which is better, but makes for good entertainment.”
On Khawaja, “Incredible composure, played at his own pace and he has been a class player the last couple of years. Really happy for him. I think he had a good feel for the wicket, and then everyone chipped in around him.”
On Lyon, “ He’s huge. Both innings he is putting down one end. He is an absolute superstar, he is calm and goes about his work. He is a captain’s dream.”
Does this paper over the 2019 Headingley defeat?, “ No idea what you are talking about.” (laughs off)