The Vengeance Served: Pat Cummins Takes Revenge for The 2019 Edgbaston Test

Who doesn’t remember the 2019 Ben Stokes heroics at Edgbaston? Well, Pat Cummins has given Ben Stokes a taste of his own medicine in the 1st Test of the 2023 Ashes. Pat Cummins, the captain of the Australian team along with the resilient Nathan Lyon took Australia home from the jaws of defeat. Australia has got off to an amazing start in the 2023 Ashes as they are 1-0 up in the series. Did Ben Stokes’ decision in the 1st innings fireback? Let’s analyze and review the first Test.

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Ashes 2023: Australia Vs England 1st Test

The first test of the 2023 Ashes took place at Edgbaston. After winning the toss, England decided to bat first and posted a total of 393/8 before declaring the innings on the first day. In reply, Australia made 386 in their first innings led by a brilliant 141 off 321 balls from Usman Khawaja. England in response could only make 273 in the third innings as they were bowled out in the third session of the fourth day.

Australia required only 281 to win in roughly three and a half sessions. However, Australia was 89/3 at the end of the fourth day and required 192 to win on the last day. A fighting knock of 65 off 197 from Usman Khawaja kept Australia in the game but he also got out to Ben Stokes and Australia were 227/8 when Lyon joined the captain Cummins on the crease. Australia needed 54 off 20-odd overs and it seemed like they would probably go for a draw but Pat Cummins had other ideas as he led Australia to victory with a clutch and smart knock of 44 off 73 balls, consisting of 4 fours and 2 sixes. Nathan Lyon also played an equally crucial knock of 16 off 28.

Did Ben Stokes’ Decision Fire Back?

Ben Stokes’ decision to declare the innings on the first day has raised a few eyebrows as they could have easily added a few more runs with the well-set Joe Root on the crease. The pitch was very good for batting and a few more runs might have made a difference. During the post-match presentation, Pat Cummins was asked if he would have declared the innings on the first day under similar conditions. He responded with a smile and said, “Probably not.”

Should James Anderson Play The Next Game?

Absolutely, if he is fit and ready to go then he should undoubtedly play the game because he is the kind of player who can decimate the entire batting lineup and one bad outing doesn’t take that away from him. The 40-year-old, James Anderson has taken as many as 1100 First-Class wickets in just 289 games.

Marnus Labuschagne’s Struggle Continues in the Away Conditions

Marnus Labuschagne’s struggle in overseas conditions continues. First, he failed in the WTC Final, and now in the first Ashes Test. Questions have been raised regarding his ability to perform well away from home. Marnus Labuschagne has made 2397 Test runs in Australia at an average of 70.50 including nine centuries and nine half-centuries. However, his performance on away tours tells a different story. He has scored 1077 runs in 31 innings, averaging only 37.14, with just one century and six half-centuries to his name. Despite this, Labuschagne is highly regarded by cricket pundits and undoubtedly has more to offer. With four Tests remaining in the series, I believe he has the potential to prove his critics wrong.

Ashes 2023 Fixtures:

No	Date	Venue
2nd Test	28th June – 2nd July	Lord’s
3rd Test	6th July – 10th July	Headingley
4th Test	19th July – 23rd July	Old Trafford
5th Test	27th July – 31st July	The Oval

Top Run-Scorers and Wicket-Takers of The Ashes 2023

Let’s take a look at the players with the most runs and wickets in the Ashes 2023 after the first Test.

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	50s	100s	H/S
Usman Khawaja	1	2	206	103.00	1	1	141
Joe Root	1	2	164	164.00	–	1	118*
Jonny Bairstow	1	2	98	49.00	1	–	78
Alex Carey	1	2	86	43.00	1	–	66
Pat Cummins	1	2	82	82.00	–	–	44*

Player	Matches	Innings	Overs	Wickets	Average
Nathan Lyon	1	2	53	8	28.62
Stuart Broad	1	2	44	6	22.00
Ollie Robinson	1	2	40.4	5	19.60
Pat Cummins	1	2	32.2	4	30.50
Josh Hazlewood	1	2	25	3	36.33

Read More: A Guide To The Ashes 2023