The Ashes 2013: Five talking-points from Day 1 at Trent Bridge

James Anderson of England celebrates the wicket of Michael Clarke, captain of Australia during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

The first day of the Ashes proved to be a humdinger. It delivered to the level of expectations that it evokes among cricket enthusiasts and Test cricket loyalists. The tenuous cloud cover over Trent Bridge remained throughout the day but the grey skies could not foresee the heat that was to be exhibited on the 22 yards.

Trent Bridge had done its share of preparations for the renewal of this historic rivalry. The expecting audience gazed above as the Red Arrows flew-by in formation and the military brass bands did their bit before the start of play. The media frenzy that preceded the first day’s play contributed to the atmosphere of anticipation and the effect of that was rather visible on the players.

Australia threw a few surprises with their team sheet as Steve Smith was included in the side, but the bigger surprise was the surprise selection of 19-year-old left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who received his baggy green from Glenn McGrath. It was an aggressive move made by the Australians and purely as a courageous selection sent out a message of great self-belief.

England, on the other hand, fielded a settled side picking Steven Finn ahead of Tim Bresnan whereas Joe Root was slotted in as an opener. England won the toss and decided to bat. Here is a look at the some talking points that were generated from the day’s play (well, apart from that brilliant our-swinger from James Anderson to knock-off Michael Clarke‘s off-bail; much has been said about that already):

James Pattinson of Australia celebrates the wicket of Alastair Cook of England during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

5. Cook’s the difference?

Over the last two years, England have played some really good cricket and they briefly but deservedly climbed to the top in the rankings. A huge contribution to that cause was made by captain Alastair Cook.

He was the key man in the last Ashes that was played down under and ended up with a massive 766 runs in the five-Test match series. He emerged as the leading man in India as well scoring three centuries in four test matches. Does that mean that England are overly dependent on their captain and opening batsman?

It seemed to be the case on the first day of the Ashes Test. James Pattinson was struggling to find his radar in the first few overs and drifted onto his pads a couple of times. Cook characteristically made use of those deliveries. It seemed like Pattinson was targeting Joe Root going through a long way on his delivery side and snarling.

The entire discussion ahead of the series had been about the threat Mitchell Starc would pose to Cook, but it was a Pattinson, who managed to draw a casual drive from the captain and that ended his brief stay on the crease. The dismissal helped ease the pressure on the Australian bowlers and left the English middle order exposed to quality swing bowling in testing conditions.

Peter Siddle of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Ian Bell of England during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

4. Bowler’s paradise?

The wicket at Trent Bridge was always going to be sporting and was expected to offer a bit to the bowlers in the first few hours but it never seemed like it would produce 14 wickets on the first day.

It was a mixed case of some isolated good balls (that yorker to Root was preceded by some really ordinary bowling by Peter Siddle), some nagging swing in the air and some extremely casual batting. Pattinson and Starc were pretty awful in the first few overs, bowling wide outside the off-stump and giving the batsman a lot of balls to observe the bounce and swing movement.

They were rather lucky that they got a few wickets up-front and that Siddle fired up after his first wicket. It remains to be seen how it plays for the rest of the game but it sure looks like that we will have a result in this game.

Ed Cowan of Australia is caught off the bowling of Steven Finn of England during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

3. Finn with the new ball.

Finn got a blessing in disguise when he received the new ball from his captain as Stuart Broad was off-the-field due to a blow on the shoulder he suffered during the course of his courageous little innings.

Finn is not a bowler who derives a lot of swing but he relies on his high release point, and hits the deck to get some movement of the pitch. He is thus usually the first change bowler but he really turned the day around for England. Australia would have been really happy at the close of the English innings as they defied their critics to the word.

Finn dismissed the dangerous Shane Watson with a full delivery that tempted an expansive drive though Watson’s nerves played a significant role. He soon found himself on a hat-trick after he dismissed Ed Cowan with yet another full delivery that swung a tad bit. He was rather unlucky not to have dismissed Michael Clarke on the very first ball as he bowled an unplayable delivery.

He was definitely England’s player of the day especially given that some believed that he should not even have been there on the pitch.

Kevin Pietersen of England looks dejected after being dismissed by Peter Siddle of Australia during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

2. Middle-order failure

England’s middle-order failed to stand to the task at hand after the early dismissal of captain. Jonathan Trott looked fluent and proved that even though conditions were difficult, value for shots was available. He scored a quickfire 48 and that proved to be the highest score of the day by an individual batsman as no batsman crossed the half-century mark.

It was not particularly glum for England at end of the first session at 98/2 but the quick dismissal of Kevin Pietersen post-lunch opened the flood gates as Siddle began to roar a little louder. He threw a juicy out-swinger outside the off stump drawing a hard drive from Trott only to get an inside edge that led to his stumps being shattered.

Ian Bell failed to make any impact to the innings and Ashes debutant Jonny Bairstow looked steady before he was bowled by yet another beautiful yorker by Starc. That will be the template for Australia in this series: get the captain early, and put pressure on the middle-order.

Steve Smith of Australia hits a four as English wicketkeeper Matt Prior looks on during day one of the 1st Ashes Test at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on July 10, 2013 in Nottingham, England. (Getty Images)

1. Result in 9 sessions?

14 wickets on the first day opened up the possibility of quick result in this game. The fact that Australia have already lost a major bulk of their batting does not augur well for them in spite of their encouraging bowling performance.

They still trail by 140 runs which might be a handful in these conditions. The first two hours of the second day will be key for Australia. Steve Smith quickly raced to 38 and has batted aggressively, which might not be a bad tactic on this pitch as long as he is not rash.

England will not bowl as many loose deliveries as Australia did, but Smith will have enough scoring opportunities, given the penchant English bowlers showed for the short length delivery. If Australia can bat two sessions on Day 2, the contest will be even going into the second innings.