The Australians have enjoyed a dominant start to the second Ashes Test in Adelaide, with Marnus Labuschagne (95*) and Steve Smith (18*) occupying the crease heading into Day 2.
As we have become accustomed to in day-night Test matches, the opening chapter of the match was eventful from start to finish. Australian skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out the morning of the match as a result of being listed as a close contact to a COVID-19 case the evening prior, whilst Smith was promoted to captain for the first time in three years, winning the toss and electing to bat. Recalled stars Stuart Broad and James Anderson headlined a five-pronged pace attack for England, with finger-spinner Jack Leach omitted following a poor outing in Brisbane.
The English quicks looked dangerous early on, with Australian openers Marcus Harris and David Warner struggling to find runs anywhere. Harris survived an early leg-before appeal thanks to a successful review, before edging a Broad delivery down leg-side into the outstretched mitt of wicket-keeper Jos Buttler, with just three runs under his belt. Calls for Harris’ dropping continue growing louder with each of his uninspiring innings – he has reached double figures in just one of his past eight Test innings.
Labuschagne tussled through periods of shakiness early on, before being dropped on 21 by Buttler. Down the other end, Warner again managed to see out the new ball and patiently crafted a neat half-century; the third-slowest of his storied career. Not long after, Labuschagne reached his 17th half-century in just 20 test matches – the most ever. Warner looked poised to hit his 25th test hundred, before cannoning a cover drive into Broad’s hands off the bowling of Ben Stokes on 95, making it back-to-back dismissals for him in the mid-nineties.
Smith came to the crease and looked uncomfortable early on but managed to build a 45-run partnership with Labuschagne heading into stumps. Under lights, the pink, new ball was clearly troubling the pair who were barely able to keep the run rate ticking over the final 10 overs. Labuschagne enjoyed a second stroke of luck, with a demoralised Buttler dropping a regulation catch behind the stumps late in the night’s play.
Having lost the toss and managing only two dismissals, England enter the second day of play with their backs against the wall and in danger of letting the match and perhaps series slip away.
