England were bowled out for 283 inside 55 overs at Headingley on the opening day of the fifth test of the 2023 Ashes. Australia dropped five catches after winning the toss and spending the majority of the day fielding. A bright start saw the hosts race to 62-0 before being pegged back to 72-3.
Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley failed to capitalise upon those drops. The Australians sacrificed just 11 runs by virtue of their mistakes. Harry Brook did a better job punishing the tourists, top-scoring with 85 off 91 balls. Moeen Ali formed an admirable partnership with the Yorkshire right-hander for an 111-run stand.
Chris Woakes failed to clear Travis Head with a short ball, ending England’s batting all out for 283. Ali did not reemerge to field, having injured his groin while batting. Woakes redeemed himself at the crease, with his efforts allowing Zak Crawley a sharp catch from David Warner. It was a pivotal moment for England, who are seeking to avoid a first series defeat on home soil for 22 years.
Still, it was Australia with more to celebrate on day one. Closing at 61-1 with a deficit of 22, they’ll be happier with the day’s cricket. For England, they face more questions on the relative merits of Bazball as they aim to save face in an Ashes series that is at risk of slipping away.
