The Ashes 1st Test - Player Ratings, Match Report and General Opinion
by Chris
Welcome to the first day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
So England won the toss at the Gabba on a very bright mid-morning in Brisbane, and expectation was immediately slammed when Cook departed for single figures early on. But the rebuilding by Ashes debutants Stoneman and Vince looked at points to be turning the game in England's favour. Further cameos from Malan and Ali launched England to a steady 302.
Aussie openers faltered and England were on top early through wickets from Broad, Ball and Ali, but they didn't count on the supremely unassailable performance from Australian captain Steve Smith. hitting an absolutely stunning 141 not out as a staggering 42% of the entire total of 328.
So only a lead of 26 and renewed optimism after a perhaps below par score was once again immediately crashed back down to the ground after another poor score from Cook. The former skipper didn't put the mark on the game he would have liked and as he did back in 2011. But with Vince unable to replicate his first innings heroics, with only Stoneman, Root, Ali, Bairstow passing 27, it was a top order collapse which turned into a calamity for England ending in 195, setting the hosts 168 for victory.
Then it was like taking candy from a baby. Despite the economical efforts pf the legendary duo of Broad and Anderson, the somewhat terrible efforts of Ball and Woakes may come into account and places could be nabbed by those in reserve.
Here's a more detailed look at the players' performance:
Mark STONEMAN 7/10
I said in my very first piece on this blog that Stoneman would not disappoint on the Ashes tour, and so at he has done exactly what is expected. One of only two to produce decent runs in both innings alongside Moeen Ali, the Surrey star looked composed and chilled under the strong pressure from Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, but of course, the improvement will be to turn those starts into match winning scores which separate the elite like Smith, and notably Virat Kohli who scored yet another double hundred this week.
Alastair COOK 1/10
I expected more from the ex-skipper. One of England's two batting talismen and they both failed really to deliver in this test match. He will have to improve if England are to regain the Ashes and for his place to be secure.
James VINCE 6/10
After an uninspiring start to his test career, Vince came in with huge shock at number 3 after an indifferent season with Hampshire. But a sublime 83 in the first innings headlined a decent first innings total of 302 for England, however his consistency is already in question after a low score in the second innings. I'm sure he will respond in the second test, but how well is the determiner on his longevity.
Joe ROOT (c) 4/10
Of course Root scored a 50 in the second innings as the only beacon for England, but we come to expect more from the world cricketing star. and he had no effect on the game as we expected. He will learn from his opposite number Smith but on unfamiliar conditions he isn't fully comfortable with, he performed on an average level.
Dawid MALAN 5/10
I'm impressed with Malan's attitude, willingness and technique during this test match. An oxymoronic dogged and stylish 56 in the first innings coupled with a failure in the second innings give him the midpoint score. The former Essex man for me has a place in the team long term.
Moeen ALI 6/10
Moeen hasn't failed in this test match. Of course these conditions offer him basically nothing and he should be judged mainly on his batting, in which he provided starts in both innings and therefore he gets a decent 6. Perhaps he will be given the opportunity to do his job with the ball in a future match, possibly in the Adelaide day-nighter.
Jonny BAIRSTOW 6/10
Of course once again we expect more from Bairstow with the bat, but that's just the delights we've been treated to in the past 12 months from this excellent middle order, usually including ginger partner Ben Stokes. But a decent 40 in the second innings and smart work behind the stumps all match earn him an average 6.
Chris WOAKES 3/10
Woakes's 2016 was better than anyone else's in the England set up. But an injury striking him in the opening overs of the Champions Trophy has seemed to affect him a little in this Test Match, as his economy rate was somewhat abhorrent at 4.18 in the second innings. His position has immediate pressure from those such as Jamie Overton but with Woakes's better batting average and prowess which he's yet to show in this match, he should remain in the team after the series.
Stuart BROAD 7/10
After a very decent 3-49 in the first innings followed by a decent fight in the second innings in comparison to the rest, Broad was England's best player during the first test. He displayed experience and flair when England needed him to and he will need to continue this in order for England to have any chance in this series.
Jake BALL 3/10
I'm firmly against his position in the team ahead of Overton, with the Somerset man taking more wickets and scoring more runs than the man going at over 4 an over in each innings, in a test match? Come on man that's poor! But I hope he becomes an Ali or Woakes, after a poor start to his England career, he can produce well and become a cult hero, but unfortunately I don't think he possesses the quality or potential that either of those two.
Jimmy ANDERSON 6/10
What do we come to expect from the great man? He's just so consistent, and the true mark of a great bowler is if when they're not taking wickets, they're not conceding runs. Jimmy is the master of this. Going at 1.72 and 2.45 in a time where Smith, Bancroft and Renshaw were all firing only show the quality of the 35 year old Lancastrian in all cases.
Hope you enjoyed the first edition of the Lowdown over the advent period, expect to see much more in the next 23 days!
Chris :)
Welcome to the first day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.
So England won the toss at the Gabba on a very bright mid-morning in Brisbane, and expectation was immediately slammed when Cook departed for single figures early on. But the rebuilding by Ashes debutants Stoneman and Vince looked at points to be turning the game in England's favour. Further cameos from Malan and Ali launched England to a steady 302.
Aussie openers faltered and England were on top early through wickets from Broad, Ball and Ali, but they didn't count on the supremely unassailable performance from Australian captain Steve Smith. hitting an absolutely stunning 141 not out as a staggering 42% of the entire total of 328.
So only a lead of 26 and renewed optimism after a perhaps below par score was once again immediately crashed back down to the ground after another poor score from Cook. The former skipper didn't put the mark on the game he would have liked and as he did back in 2011. But with Vince unable to replicate his first innings heroics, with only Stoneman, Root, Ali, Bairstow passing 27, it was a top order collapse which turned into a calamity for England ending in 195, setting the hosts 168 for victory.
Then it was like taking candy from a baby. Despite the economical efforts pf the legendary duo of Broad and Anderson, the somewhat terrible efforts of Ball and Woakes may come into account and places could be nabbed by those in reserve.
Here's a more detailed look at the players' performance:
Mark STONEMAN 7/10
I said in my very first piece on this blog that Stoneman would not disappoint on the Ashes tour, and so at he has done exactly what is expected. One of only two to produce decent runs in both innings alongside Moeen Ali, the Surrey star looked composed and chilled under the strong pressure from Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood, but of course, the improvement will be to turn those starts into match winning scores which separate the elite like Smith, and notably Virat Kohli who scored yet another double hundred this week.
Alastair COOK 1/10
I expected more from the ex-skipper. One of England's two batting talismen and they both failed really to deliver in this test match. He will have to improve if England are to regain the Ashes and for his place to be secure.
James VINCE 6/10
After an uninspiring start to his test career, Vince came in with huge shock at number 3 after an indifferent season with Hampshire. But a sublime 83 in the first innings headlined a decent first innings total of 302 for England, however his consistency is already in question after a low score in the second innings. I'm sure he will respond in the second test, but how well is the determiner on his longevity.
Joe ROOT (c) 4/10
Of course Root scored a 50 in the second innings as the only beacon for England, but we come to expect more from the world cricketing star. and he had no effect on the game as we expected. He will learn from his opposite number Smith but on unfamiliar conditions he isn't fully comfortable with, he performed on an average level.
Dawid MALAN 5/10
I'm impressed with Malan's attitude, willingness and technique during this test match. An oxymoronic dogged and stylish 56 in the first innings coupled with a failure in the second innings give him the midpoint score. The former Essex man for me has a place in the team long term.
Moeen ALI 6/10
Moeen hasn't failed in this test match. Of course these conditions offer him basically nothing and he should be judged mainly on his batting, in which he provided starts in both innings and therefore he gets a decent 6. Perhaps he will be given the opportunity to do his job with the ball in a future match, possibly in the Adelaide day-nighter.
Jonny BAIRSTOW 6/10
Of course once again we expect more from Bairstow with the bat, but that's just the delights we've been treated to in the past 12 months from this excellent middle order, usually including ginger partner Ben Stokes. But a decent 40 in the second innings and smart work behind the stumps all match earn him an average 6.
Chris WOAKES 3/10
Woakes's 2016 was better than anyone else's in the England set up. But an injury striking him in the opening overs of the Champions Trophy has seemed to affect him a little in this Test Match, as his economy rate was somewhat abhorrent at 4.18 in the second innings. His position has immediate pressure from those such as Jamie Overton but with Woakes's better batting average and prowess which he's yet to show in this match, he should remain in the team after the series.
Stuart BROAD 7/10
After a very decent 3-49 in the first innings followed by a decent fight in the second innings in comparison to the rest, Broad was England's best player during the first test. He displayed experience and flair when England needed him to and he will need to continue this in order for England to have any chance in this series.
Jake BALL 3/10
I'm firmly against his position in the team ahead of Overton, with the Somerset man taking more wickets and scoring more runs than the man going at over 4 an over in each innings, in a test match? Come on man that's poor! But I hope he becomes an Ali or Woakes, after a poor start to his England career, he can produce well and become a cult hero, but unfortunately I don't think he possesses the quality or potential that either of those two.
Jimmy ANDERSON 6/10
What do we come to expect from the great man? He's just so consistent, and the true mark of a great bowler is if when they're not taking wickets, they're not conceding runs. Jimmy is the master of this. Going at 1.72 and 2.45 in a time where Smith, Bancroft and Renshaw were all firing only show the quality of the 35 year old Lancastrian in all cases.
Hope you enjoyed the first edition of the Lowdown over the advent period, expect to see much more in the next 23 days!
Chris :)
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