ENG vs AUS: "The First And The Only Time In This Series When Australia Have Been…" - Alastair Cook
Published - 27 Jul 2023, 06:50 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:16 AM
Former England captain Alastair Cook believes that the early declaration was the reason for the team’s loss in the first Test of the ongoing Ashes series at Edgbaston. Alastair Cook highlighted that England’s bowlers failed to pick up the last two wickets in Australia’s second innings.
Ben Stokes declared their first innings just 20 minutes before stumps on Day 1 of the series opener. However, their strategy didn’t work for them, as they failed to pick up any wickets at the end of the day’s play. Joe Root scored an unbeaten knock of 118 runs in the first innings.
The Opportunity Missed Was At The End – Alastair Cook
During a media interaction organized by Sony Sports Network, Alastair Cook highlighted that Australia showed aggression only once throughout the series.
“I don’t put it down to that declaration. England were ahead pretty much all the way in that first Test. The opportunity missed was at the end. How many times would you back yourself as a side for 50 runs with 2 wickets left? Let’s say 9 times out of 10, to win that game.
“But ironically, that was the first and the only time in this series when Australia have been aggressive towards England. That Pat Cummins innings when Carey got out, he was suddenly on the front foot. He got a great reward for a great innings,” Cook said.
Skipper Pat Cummins added an unbeaten 55 runs with Nathan Lyon for the ninth wicket to help the team start the series with a victory. Cummins scored 44 runs off 73 balls, while Lyon contributed 16 runs off 28 balls.
The former England skipper said that the hosts deserved to be at 2-2, highlighting that they had more dominant days than Australia in the series.
“Australia have been quite passive in this series, trying to sit back and force England to make mistakes. Which, I’d say, is an unusual Australian way. The proof of putting those tactics right will be better seen at The Oval.”
“If they win the series 3-1, they can put down their beers aside and say, ‘We got that tactic right.’ But it feels like England would have deserved 2-2. Probably, they dominated more days than Australia have,” he concluded.
The Ben Stokes-led team is currently taking on Australia in the final match at the Oval in London. The visitors won the toss and asked the England team to bat first in the Ashes finale.
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Alastair Cook Australia National Cricket Team England National Cricket Team Pat Cummins The Ashes 2023
