On day 1, 19 wickets fell, while on day 2, 13 wickets were taken on the tough track. Australia chased a target of 205 runs in just 28.2 overs Travis Heads thrilling knock of 123 off 83 balls. The hosts became the first team to chase a target of over 200 with a run-rate of over six.
When England came to bat, they were bowled out in 32.5 overs in the first innings and 34.4 in the second. They failed to learn from their first innings mistakes, and their penchant for a batted ball ultimately led to their downfall. In total, England batted just 67.3 overs over the two innings.
The manner in which some batters were dismissed has left England fans frustrated. Trying to play higher up, creating a gap between bat and pad, and many more glaring errors led to the batting debacle.
The fact that the match is over in two days means Cricket Australia (CA) is on course for an estimated loss of more than $3 million in ticket revenue after suffering game losses on days three and four, according to AAP. Ahead of the test match, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg claimed there are “competing demands” when preparing a pitch for a match. However, he assured fans that the curators have full control of the pitch.
“There are competing demands in Australian cricket and I understand that. There are performance demands and what suits the teams best. There are commercial returns, which are very important,” he said.
The action now shifts to The Gabba in Brisbane for the second Test. After taking a 0-1 lead in the five-match series, Ben Stokes’ men will look to fight back in River City.
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