The Ashes 2013: 1st Test - Five players to watch out for on Day 2

The first day of the Ashes belonged to the quicks on both the sides as 14 batsmen walked to the pitch and back to the pavilion without reaching the half-century mark. The match is in balance after three sessions and the possibility of a hasty result is extremely high.

England won the toss and chose to bat first only to see their captain Alastair Cook fall early on in the game. Jonathan Trott made a breezy 48 before he fell to a tempting out-swinger from star of the day Peter Siddle.

The English innings crumbled like a pack of cards after that, as Siddle completed his five-for and claimed the cherry for the day. England did well to pull back the game in the final session of the day as Steven Finn and James Anderson picked up a couple of wickets each to leave Australia trailing by 140 runs with six wickets remaining.

Day 2 can tilt the balance of the game to either side and we’ll be hoping that somebody can grab this game by the scruff of its neck to give it some shape. There will be a few contenders who can do that. Here is a list of five players who will play a critical role at Trent Bridge on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test:

5. Mitchell Starc

The left-handed fast bowler found it difficult to control the cherry when conditions supported swing bowling at the head of the innings. He looked like a bundle of nerves, but thankfully, his bowling partners penetrated the English batting line-up.

He helped Australia wind up the innings and ended with a few scalps including that of Jonny Bairstow, who was bowled to a swinging yorker. Considering the rate at which wickets have been falling, he might have the ball in his hand once again in the last session of the day (or before) and then we might be able to witness the much awaited battle with Cook.

However, he will have a role to play before that with the bat. He has proved that he can be handy with the willow and nearly got a century in India. England’s tail did not show much application, apart from Stuart Broad, but Australia’s tail-end batsman have a combined average of 69.00.

4. Brad Haddin

The wicket-keeper batsman, who also happens to be Australia’s vice captain, will have a job on his hand when he walks out on the wicket on Day 2. He will be hoping that Phil Hughes and Steven Smith can wither out the first two hours of the day so that he can capitalise on the good start to the day to take Australia’s score closer to England’s total.

Brad Haddin is a typical Australian cricketer, something that this team ironically lacks, and he will play his shots whatever be the situation without being reckless. Trott’s innings was testament to the fact that you get value for your shots at the ground, and it is inevitable that you will get a beauty sooner rather than later. If he can apply himself, Australia can hope to gain some sort of lead in this innings.

3. Alastair Cook

The England captain will be hoping that he gets to the crease as soon as possible. His dismissal in the first innings exposed the English middle-order to Australia’s hostility. He has been a consistent performer in the past, and while that is an advantage, the team has become used to his playing the role of the anchorman. England will suffer in this series if he has more of such outing as he had on the first day.

If he can plug up one end, not only will he be able to score at a healthy rate, he will ensure that the effectively of those playing around him increases manifold. If England come out to bat in the last session, he will be under pressure to preserve the middle-order from the kind of meltdown that Australia suffered on Day 1.

2. James Anderson

Anderson produced a peach of a delivery in the last session of play to dismiss Australian captain, and batting mainstay, Michael Clarke. He tried to explore the shorter length in his initial overs but that tactic was destined to fail.

He must stick to his strength and try to extract swing by bowling a fuller length. Australia are tottering at four down trailing by 140 runs and a good spell of bowling in the first hour may even see England getting a handy lead for the second innings.

He will be up against a right-hand, left-hand combination in Steven Smith and Phil Hughes but that should not be a problem for him given that he can move the ball either way with equally brilliant execution.

1. Steven Smith

Smith was a surprise selection in some sense but he was perhaps the best batsman on the day alongside Trott. He ensured that runs kept coming as he despatched anything that was short while holding up one-end.

He could have easily crumbled under pressure and given way to the penetration of the English bowlers. He was very intelligent in counter-attacking Graeme Swann. He did not allow him to settle down and was unfazed by the presence of close-in fielders.

He should look to repeat that tactic on Day 2 if gets a chance but he will have to face up to some quality swing bowling first. His brief innings of 38 holds some hope for Australia. If he can build upon that to weave a partnership with Hughes in the first few hours of Day 2, Australia will be able to attain a lead in this innings.