England seamer Stuart Broad ripped Australia apart with a record-breaking 8-wicket haul, as the visitors were dismissed for a paltry 60 at Trent Bridge. The Aussies were completely annihilated by their hosts as Alastair Cook’s men are on the brink of regaining the Ashes, having been whitewashed 20 months earlier Down Under.
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In the absence of James Anderson, Broad sent the Aussie batsmen back to the pavilion rather nonchalantly, picking up his fifer in a mere 19 balls. Australia on the other hand, are now only the first side to be bowled out before lunch on the first day of a test. The innings lasted only 93 minutes, as opener Chris Rogers was sent back to the pavilion with only the second ball of the test, handing Broad his 300th test wicket. Mr Reliable Steve Smith was sent back on the last ball of Broad’s opening over, as he was caught behind at third slip by Joe Root. Mark Wood picked his only wicket of the innings in the second over, as David Warner was caught behind in the slips.
Broad continued to torment the Australian batting order, as Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges were sent back to the dressing room within two overs to make it 5-21 in 4.1 overs. Voges was amazingly dismissed at fifth slip when Ben Stokes took a breathtaking one-handed catch, leaving Broad and his teammates rather perplexed. Broad completed his 5-wicket haul, when Michael Clarke was caught by Cook at first slip, breaking the record for the fastest 5-wicket haul taken from the start of an innings.
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Steven Finn bowled Peter Nevill to make it 33-7 in the 10th over and although Mitchell Johnson put up a fight to avert the impending disaster, he was caught by Joe Root in the slips. Mitchell Starc edged again to Root off Broad and the lanky pacer got his last victim when Nathan Lyon was caught by Ben Stokes at sixth slip, finishing with figures of 8-15 at the end of the first innings.
Although Starc picked up 3 English wickets in after lunch, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow’s solid partnership has put England on course for a massive lead in the second innings.
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It took only 111 balls for the first innings to come to an end and for the first time in Ashes history, extras were the top scorers with 14. Stuart Broad is now the joint-fourth highest English wicket-taker, tied with Fred Trueman at 307 scalps.
Australian commentator Jim Maxwell later said, “This is one of the most embarrassing batting performances in Test history.” Well that’s got to hurt.
Tags: England vs Australia Stuart Broad
