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Bowlers put Australia on top despite Brook special
Despite heading into the final Test of the series with the urn safely in their hands, Australia faced a lot of heat regarding their position in the series after the rain-enforced draw at Manchester. All that was put to rest as the World Test Championship winners put on a strong performance on the first day at The Oval. For a change, Pat Cummins won a toss and his bowling unit responded brilliantly to restrict England to just 283 in their first innings before knocking off 61 from that by Stumps.
The hosts did get off to a solid start through their openers as Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got off the blocks briskly. Australia’s pacers didn’t get their radar right initially and it helped England to get away a bit early on. However, Mitchell Marsh broke through – courtesy a down-the-leg strangle that got Duckett. Australia reviewed successfully to get the wicket after it wasn’t given on-field.
Crawley, who had endured a couple of close calls, fell to Cummins almost instantly as Australia wrested the advantage after a lazy opening hour. Josh Hazlewood soon made it worse for England as he got Joe Root to drag one onto the stumps. Australia’s skipper was on fire from the get-go and should have gotten a wicket first ball if David Warmer held onto an edge from Duckett at first slip.
Harry Brook also started scratchily and was lucky to be dropped when on five as a regulation nick was spilled by a diving Alex Carey behind the sticks. Despite the struggles, he wasn’t bogged down and soon went into his adventurous ways, being particularly severe against Marsh and Starc. He was in total control while Moeen Ali played the silent foil at the other end.
Australia were still the happier side at lunch due to the three wickets but the second session started with Brook continuing the onslaught. Moeen also joined in due to compulsion as a groin injury had him swinging at every ball. Runs came thick and fast before Todd Murphy broke the stand in his very first over. Moeen played a shot too many and perished in the process. Much like the Duckett dismissal in the morning, this was a gift that gave Australia a sniff.
The visitors made full use of it as Starc and Hazlewood turned the tables with a fantastic partnership spell. The left-armer nipped out Ben Stokes with a peach and also got the well-set Brook while Hazlewood took out Jonny Bairstow with a cracking nip-backer. From a position of strength, England were once again reeling. Chris Woakes and Mark Wood did add some valuable runs but Australia finished things off just after Tea without conceding too many.
The tourists then batted steadily despite losing Warner after the opener had gotten yet another start in the series. He fell to Woakes for the third time in a row but Usman Khawaja along with Marnus Labuschagne batted with caution to prevent further damage. There is enough life in the pitch for the seamers and the visitors did well to see the day off on a high.