The Ashes 2013 - 1st Test at Trent Bridge: Five talking points for Day 4

The fourth day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge ended with England nudging ahead of Australia in the final hour of the last session of play. This has been a most engaging exhibition of Test match cricket so far as both sides have remained in the reckoning for 12 sessions of the game, and while the winner cannot be declared till the last wicket falls (a lesson we learnt from the heroics of a certain number eleven who is currently at the crease), England seem to be in the driving seat going into the final day.

Play began on Day 4 with Ian Bell and Stuart Broad at the crease on the verge of personal milestones. Ian Bell wore his emotions on his sleeve as he brought up his century punching the air, as his family cheered him on from the stands. Stuart Broad received a generous ovation for his half-century, and a standing ovation when he was eventually dismissed as the English fans showed their unwavering loyalty to a player who has been called the ‘victim of circumstance’. They brought England close to the 300 run mark but their dismissal triggered a minor meltdown as England set a challenging total of 311 to Australia.

Australia began the chase in the best possible fashion as Chris Rogers and Shane Watson batted with controlled aggression while England tried their best to roughen up the ball so as to escalate the probability of extracting reverse swing. At 84/0, Australia looked in control and on their way to cause an upset of sorts, given the tag of the underdog prior to the series.

England made the first dent through Stuart Broad, who caught Shane Watson in front of the stumps, and Ed Cowan followed soon after. Chris Rogers’ departure would have set the alarm bells ringing for Australia but Michael Clarke and Steve Smith steadied the ship a little only before Graeme Swann caused a meltdown, leaving Australian languishing at 174/6 with Haddin and Agar on the crease.

Here are five talking points that were generated from the day’s play:

5. Alastair Cook‘s captaincy

The English captain has an understated style and too often fell short when compared to Michael Clarke in the run-up to this series. However, he made the right moves on day four. He had to handle the difficult task of setting wicket-taking field placements while making sure that he does not leak runs. He did not repeat some of the mistakes that he was committing in the first innings, like that of setting fields for the short length delivery. He encouraged Anderson and Broad to bowl full and bring the slips and the leg-before dismissal in play. He surprised everybody by handing the ball to Joe Root and that worked like magic as he picked up his first wicket in Test match cricket when Ed Cowan edged one to the slips.

4. The Opening Stand

Australia’s opening pair of Chris Rogers and Shane Watson might have failed to take the team into a match winning position, but they did give the team a terrific platform to build upon. Only if it was not squandered by the Australian middle-order, their efforts would have reaped rich rewards. The pair has been put together in some haste by Darren Lehmann. Rogers is only playing his 2nd Test for Australia at an age of 35 years whereas Watson was moved from this position in Mickey Arthur’s reign. The two complement each other really well as Watson has a natural aptitude for shot-making whereas Rogers is the epitome of patience and solidity. They did well to score at a healthy rate against the new ball as they were aware that reverse swing would soon kick in.

3. Michael Clarke’s failure

Clarke failed with the willow once again as he edged a Stuart Broad delivery that landed just outside his off-stump, leaving his side vulnerable to a defeat. It was a critical situation in the game when the match was still in balance. If Australia had closed the day with his presence at the crease, it would have been an entirely different set of odds. He has certainly lost out to his counterpart in terms of leading from the front. He will now be hoping against hope that Haddin and Agar can put up a fight on Day 5.

2. Graeme Swann

The off-spinner had to work hard on Day 4 to get his scalps as he was dismissed easily by Chris Rogers early on in the innings. He made sure that he kept it tight at the other end after the first dismissal and helped out his captain by doing the bulk of the bowling. His moment came later on in the day as he picked up two wickets in two consecutive overs. He trapped Steven Smith on the very first ball of his over, after captain Michael Clarke had been dismissed by James Anderson on the last delivery of the previous over, with a delivery that turned sharply trapping him in his crease and in front of the wickets. He dismissed Australia’s first innings hero Philip Hughes in the very next over, which was a close call but credit should be given where deserved.

1. Australian Hopes

This Test match is no more in the balance now and the bottom-line is that England now need 4 wickets to win the first Ashes Test. Australia will have to do something very close to what they did in the first innings to turn that equation. The new ball will be due for England in another ten overs, though it remains to be seen if Alastair Cook opts for that in the circumstance of an early wicket. Brad Haddin has not been in particularly good form prior to the Ashes Test and he will have to play with the tail, and that is never easy. He has experience on his side and the promise of 19-year-old Ashton Agar for company. They can look back the Edgbaston Test of 2005 for some inspiration (although that effort was eventually in vain).