Dropped catches and lethargic pace were the theme of the afternoon for England, as they struggled late on the first day of the second Ashes Test.
A slow over rate meant the visitors didn’t get as much time as they would have liked with the new ball under the lights at Adelaide Oval, as Australia ended the day on 2-221.
Marcus Harris went cheaply as his struggles continue, but the partnership of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, which has become one of the most-feared in world cricket, shined.
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Warner would eventually depart — out in the 90s for the second straight innings — but Labuschagne remained unbeated on 95 at stumps, with new captain Steve Smith beside him on 18.
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With no established spinner, England captain Joe Root brought himself back into the attack with less than an hour to go, as England raced to get as many overs as possible with the new ball under the lights.
The attack was handed back over to James Anderson and Stuart Broad with 35 minutes left in the day — but there was no breakthrough, save for a nasty short one that clipped Labuschagne’s elbow.
There should have been, though. Having earlier been dropped on 21 by Jos Buttler, Labuschagne was dropped again on 95.
The first was a relatively easy chance, particularly when you consider the screamer the English keeper took earlier in the innings — and the second was an absolute sitter.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Labuschagne said of his second reprieve.
“I was a bit in disbelief.”
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It was pure grit and patience after the new ball was taken, with Australia barely scoring a run.
“That was massive for the team there, just getting through that period,” Labuschagne said of the last few overs.
“It really sets us up well for tomorrow.”
Much was made of the absence of Anderson and Broad for the first Test at the Gabba, but both cut frustrated figures for most of their spells on day one in Adelaide.
As it were, the only real mea culpa from the visitors’ selections came in the form of Jack Leach’s absence.
The under-fire spinner’s place in the team was under a cloud heading into the second Test, and it says a lot about his performance in Brisbane that England’s response to being slugged with penalties relating to a slow over rate was to add another seamer.
Leach may not have been the answer, but Root was the architect of his own demise as the team again quickly fell behind the number of expected overs bowled.
England desperately needed something, and with the quality of the final few overs of the day, it may have come with the new rock in hand for a bit longer.
Instead, the advantage has been to Australia with England facing temperatures of close to 40C on day two, and an uphill battle once again.
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