Ashes 2017-18: 1st Test, Day 2- Review: Smith-Marsh stand keeps Australia afloat

On a lively pitch at the Gabba, Australian captain Steve Smith executed most of his fidgety nature in the best possible manner and 34-year-old Shaun Marsh too didn’t let his Ashes call-up end in a sorry affair. The duo countered the pumped up English bowlers after they lost three quick wickets even before they could sip in the tea. Smith batted with caution and didn’t play any false stroke, and scored six boundaries in his unbeaten knock of 64 while Marsh looked like a man on a mission, as he too played with confidence and went back to the pavilion unbeaten at stumps on 44. Chris Woakes found no success as the other three pacers shared a wicket each.

Earlier in the day, Moeen Ali and Dawid Malan started with the tourists on 196/4. Their fifth-wicket stand helped England play out the first hour of the morning session, as the pair forged a stand of 83 runs. Malan, the third of the ‘lesser-known’ Ashes debutant in the English pack made some cricket pundits eat their word, as he too reached the 50-mark without much trouble. Mitchell Starc and his men tried to question his stay at the crease with a barrage of bouncers but Malan looked unfazed. He fetched 11 boundaries for his 56 until one that got some extra bounce from Starc, found his blade.

Starc escapes serious injury

There was a moment of restlessness for the hosts just before the dismissal, as Starc and Shaun Marsh converged while fielding. Marsh’s spikes tore Starc’s pant as the pacer went back with minor bleeding, only to come back with a patched-up knee soon. The visitors lost track and gave away the strong position, in which they were in as they lost six wickets for 56 runs and were bowled out for 302.

Starc finished the innings with figures of 3/77, while Pat Cummins ended with 3/85. But Australia’s most impressive bowler was Nathan Lyon, who bowled beautifully throughout his 36 overs and scalped two wickets in the face of Moeen (38) and Chris Woakes (0).

Australia suffer three quick blows

The trend of an early breakthrough continued as Stuart Broad found an edge of the debutant Cameron Bancroft, with only 22 balls being bowled into the Australian innings. Seeing Usman Khawaja arrive at the crease, Joe Root brought on Moeen Ali into the attack. Khawaja, who is out to prove a point after being sidelined for most part of the year, could score just 11 before Moeen found the left-hander’s pad. The hosts did not panic much as the deputy David Warner and skipper Steve Smith looked to get hold of things.

Warner batted with an intent and never looked in trouble but Jake Ball provided the most important strike in the 20th over, as Warner departed for 26. The hosts still trail by 137 runs but with Smith and Marsh at the crease, Australia can hope for a solid lead tomorrow. While for England, their bowlers made up for a day that witnessed a mini-collapse, as they looked set for a 400-odd total at one stage. Getting Smith early will be the key, as the pitch will get livelier on day 3, and it won’t be an easy task to counter the queries from the Australian pace attack.

Brief Scores:

England: 302 (Vince 83, Malan 56; Cummins 3/85)

Australia: 165/4 (Smith 64*, Marsh 44*; Broad 1/18)