The Ashes 2013 - First Test, Trent Bridge: Five talking points for Day 3

The nervousness at Trent Bridge during the last session of play on Day 3 was a throwback to the high-intensity moments of the 2005 Ashes that reignited the rivalry for modern-day audiences in some sense. The visual of Darren Lehmann standing on the balcony shaking his head in ferocious disappointment when Stuart Broad decided not to walk inspite of almost middling the ball was a testament to the emotions that are involved in this keenly contested battle.

England finished the day in a strong position, leading by 261 runs and looking strong to go beyond that 300-run mark. The surface has now been punctuated by rough patches, which means that batting in the last innings will not be easy.

England started Day 3 at 80/2 with Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen at the crease. They played out the first hours of the play and Pietersen came out of his shell to hit some flowing cover drives. It looked as if England would pile on the runs at that stage given the fact that both the experienced campaigners tend to make it a big innings once they have gone past the half-century mark.

However, Australia gate-crashed the party as Pattinson removed Pietersen and Ashton Agar claimed his first dismissal in Test cricket as Cook edged one to Michael Clarke. Bairstow and Prior applied themselves to the task, but Australia kept coming back with wickets leaving England in a precarious position at 218/6 when Ian Bell and Stuart Broad got together. Their 108-run partnership has given the match definite shape as England look front-runners going into Day 4 of the match.

Here are five talking points from an enthralling day’s cricket at Trent Bridge:

5. Ashton Agar’s first scalp

Alastair Cook has always converted a half-century into a hundred ever since he was elevated to captaincy. He had been patient in his innings, playing out maiden after maiden in the last session of day 2. The Australians had a clear plan for him; do not allow easy runs of the pads and bowl outside the off-stump with a packed off side field. The plan was not enough to get an early dismissal, but patience on both sides meant that we were exposed to a long-drawn tactical battle.

Ashton Agar was selected for the first Test primarily as an off-spinner who would be able to trouble the right-handed batsmen in this English side. He was ineffective on Day 1, but stole the limelight with his resolve with the bat. Tipped to be the next Daniel Vettori, he had done no wrong with the ball in the second innings; but as the rough patches on the surface became more prominent, he began to look like a wicket-taking option.

He would proud of his first scalp as Alastair Cook’s dismissal was critical for Australia’s fortunes in the match at that stage. He continued to bowl outside the off-stump till one delivery stopped and bounced out of the rough taking the edge. Michael Clarke held on to the catch and Agar’s dream debut continued.

4. Kevin Pietersen’s Innings

Kevin Pietersen has a native swagger that constantly pushes to express itself when he has the willow in his hand. It was thus a feeling of quiet satisfaction as he dug into his reserves of patience to stem the boiling storm on Day 2.

He was cautious, but more inclined to play his shots on Day 3. He struck twelve boundaries in his innings of 64 runs, which included some mesmerizing straight drives and a couple of courageous cover drives. It is a delight to watch him bat as he uses his feet to good effect making sure he reaches the pitch of the ball. It was a slightly unfortunate way of getting dismissed as he chopped a length delivery outside off-stump only see James Pattinson thump his chest in joy and relief. We saw glimpses of what can happen in the rest of the series.

3. Should Broad have walked?

There was a bit of context to the entire controversy that centred around the Stuart Broad ‘dismissal’. Australia would have realized that the clock was ticking like a time-bomb for them as every run added made the eventual task of batting in the fourth innings more daunting for them. This was evident in the excessive appealing as well as in the body language of the players after the fateful delivery.

Stuart Broad edged (read: almost middled) a delivery from Ashton Agar when England led by 232 runs. The ball was deflected by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin’s gloves prior to being caught by Michael Clarke. Stuart Broad, according to commentator David Lloyd, ‘had the audacity’ to walk to the other end of the pitch as if to have friendly banter with his colleague.

Aleem Dar’s shocking decision could not be reviewed as Australia had already exhausted their allotted quota. The ghost of this incident is likely to hover around the Test match. If the ‘spirit of the game’ exists, it was unquestionably violated in that incident and yet no laws were broken. Ah, the tricks that cricket plays!

2. Bell’s Heroics

While all hell was breaking loose at Stuart Broad’s end, Ian Bell went about doing his job in an understated manner. The middle-order batsman has been chastised for his inconsistency, but he has truly paid off all debts with this innings that has come in a critical situation in the Ashes opener.

He could not have scripted it better himself. As he stands at the verge of the first hundred that would be scored in this match, Ian Bell can be proud of the fact that England lead by 261 runs and have a real chance of going 1-0 up in this series. His innings was all the more remarkable as he was able to find the right balance. He did not go into a shell and released the pressure by scoring off the loose deliveries. He was helped by the fact that the Australian bowlers began to crack by the last session of the day.

1. State of the match

Batting in the 4th innings will not be an easy task. Australia were lucky to be rescued by Ashton Agar in the first innings, but they will not have that luxury again. James Anderson will have a run-in at the top-order with the new ball, whereas Graeme Swann would be smacking his lips upon observing the state of the surface that has markedly deteriorated over the course of three days.

Australia need quick wickets on the morning of Day 4 so that they can restrict England to within a lead of 300 runs or a maximum of 325. It will be a record chase if Australia accomplish that in the fourth innings of the game.