Ashes in a nutshell: All you need to know from day one in Adelaide
Written by News on 03/12/2017
The men’s Ashes used a pink ball for the first time as the day-night game got underway in Adelaide. Here’s all you need to know from the opening skirmishes of the twilight Test…
Craig Overton made Steve Smith his first Test wicket as Australia closed on 209-4 after being inserted by Joe Root at Adelaide Oval, the first time a captain has made that call in a day-night Test.
WHAT THEY SAID
Craig Overton, speaking to BT Sport: "We were pretty happy to bowl first – there were overhead conditions and we felt we could get a couple of early ones. I thought we bowled pretty well all day but just didn’t get the nicks we deserved. We’ll come back tomorrow, get early ones and be on top.
"My first spell wasn’t great but to come back later in the day was really good. I bowled a cross-seam ball (to Smith) and it came back in, skidded on and almost beat him for a bit of pace. He was having a bit of banter saying I was a bit slow but I kept coming in and hitting the deck."
Read more from Overton here.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja, speaking to BT Sport: "We feel pretty good. I think it will be a big first session tomorrow – if [Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh] can keep going and set up a first-innings total it will go a long way to winning the game.
"The pink ball is always tricky – it is a bit slow, a bit two-paced but that may change as the wicket gets harder and dryer. It was classic day one of a pink-ball cricket game. I was disappointed to get out when I did – I think Steve was as well – but that’s just cricket."
MOMENT OF THE DAY
It looked like it might be Root’s hotly-debated decision to bowl first but it turned out to be debutant Overton dismissing the previously indomitable Smith with the first ball of his second spell.
The Somerset seamer, picked in place of Jake Ball, bowled the Australia captain with a nip-backer that brushed his pad, flew through the gate, clattered the stumps and reduced the hosts to 161-4.
TWEETS OF THE DAY
Somerset hailed one of their own after his maiden Test wicket…
Being castled was not Smith’s usual dismissal…
Shane Warne was not sure Root chose wisely at the toss…
Did his substantial skull contribute to Cameron Bancroft’s run out at the hands of Chris Woakes?
Ben Stokes – you know, the lad who’s playing for Canterbury tomorrow – gave Woakes props for his snappy fielding…
THE KEY DEBATE
WATCH: ATHERS’ ASHES REVIEW
(c) Sky News 2017: Ashes in a nutshell: All you need to know from day one in Adelaide
