Mitchell Starc put on a brave face in defending his team’s effort with the bat, but national coach Andrew McDonald and his brains trust need all the sticky tape they can find to piece their brittle batting line-up back together.
The home side’s “Dad’s Army” top seven looked every bit their age, limping to 9/123 at stumps. England’s modest 172 is but a speck on the horizon.
Injured Australian skipper Pat Cummins could only watch on from the sidelines as Steve Smith’s men capitulated.Credit: Getty Images
England’s speedsters were brutal, landing blows both on Australia’s batters and the scoreboard.
Floored by Archer in the 2019 Ashes, Smith was struck again by England’s demon quick, who reached a peak of 149.3 km/h, this time wearing a blow on the gloves that required treatment. Smith also copped one to the elbow from Gus Atkinson, having also been hit several times in the nets.
Marnus Labuschagne, who struggled for nearly 90 minutes to make nine, copped injury to insult, rubbing his elbow as he began his way back to the pavilion after Archer’s 144.2 km/h bullet deflected off his arm and onto the stumps.
But the darkest cloud hovers over veteran Usman Khawaja, who is not inspiring confidence he can negotiate such high-speed bowling less than a month out from his 39th birthday.
Khawaja attempted to fend off worries over his form against India last summer by glibly saying he had been “Bumrah’d” – and his reflexes are being tested again. Hurried by Brydon Carse, he could not pull his bat out of the way in time to avoid a feather to a searing lifter.
Vaughan has called for Australia to dump Khawaja and recall Marsh, the man his teammates call “Bison” for his physique but whose bull-at-a-gate approach would add spark to a top order that could neither bat for survival nor tick over the scoreboard. When Khawaja fell at 4-31, Australia’s run rate was below two an over.
“England are quite happy bowling to those two [Khawaja and Labuschagne] because they don’t think the game’s moving,” Vaughan, a commentator for Kayo Sports, which is broadcasting the Ashes series, said.
“This attack will feel they can damage Australia at the top. Bring Smith in a little earlier, [and] there’s a lot of pressure on him.
“We saw this last year against India when things were exposed and there was a big crisis. If I was Australia, I’d be looking at Usman.”
Marsh has not worn the baggy green since being dumped after last year’s Boxing Day Test, but has an excellent record against England, averaging 47 with three centuries.
Marnus Labuschagne struggled before his unlucky dismissal.Credit: Getty Images
“Someone like Mitch Marsh, they would not like to see him strolling out to bat,” Vaughan said. “He’s a free spirit, can get on the front foot and hit. A right-hand, left-hand combination is something that no bowlers like at the top of the order.”
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Starc, who spearheaded Australia’s early assault with the ball with career-best figures of 7-58, credited England’s prowess with the ball rather than his teammates’ woes with the bat for the collapse.
“It’s on fast-forward – it’s happening quickly,” Starc said. “I thought both teams bowled pretty well for the 19 wickets. We often sit here and say it’s the wicket, or it’s the batting, but I think both teams bowled really well. We know England want to be aggressive and that creates opportunities.
“They’ve obviously come with an approach of extra pace. Extra airspeed is going to create some angst or exciting stuff, but it’s not the be-all and end all.”
