James Vince revels in silencing doubters
England batsman misses maiden ton but gives visitors hope on Day One of opening Ashes Test
BRISBANE: England batsman James Vince was left to rue missing out on a maiden Test century but revelled in silencing the doubters on Day One of the Ashes at the Gabba.
Vince was a surprise inclusion in the squad to face Australia, having been dropped last year after failing to make a half-century in his first seven Tests.
The 26-year-old showed what he is capable of in Brisbane on Thursday, making an assured 83 before he was run out by Nathan Lyon going for a quick single as England closed on 196-4.Vince was dropped by Tim Paine after edging Lyon behind on 68 and was left with mixed feelings, having come so close to reaching three figures.
“Not getting a ton is disappointing. No matter what score you get you always want more. It would have been nice to be there at the end of the day, but stuff like that happens in cricket.” Vince said. “I’m sure lying in bed I’ll have a few thoughts about missing out, but if you’d offered me 80-odd I’d have taken it.
“Next time I probably won’t take that run. It was a good bit of fielding. He [Lyon] bowled pretty well and deserved something from the day.” Vince and Mark Stoneman (53) put on 125 for the second wicket after Alastair Cook fell in the third over of the day.
The duo were more than likely two of the England players that former Australia opener Matthew Hayden said he had no knowledge of prior to the series, so the number three was pleased to introduce himself with an impressive knock.
Vince said: “Hayden’s comments give you an incentive to make a statement. It’s nice to spend some time in the middle and get some confidence. If he didn’t know who we were, he probably does now.
OZ FIGHT BACK
Australia fought back after the dismissal of Vince and Mark Stoneman. Vince (83) — who made his maiden Test half-century— and Stoneman (53) had threatened to put the tourists in a great position after the pair put on 125 for the second wicket.
However, Pat Cummins (2-59) — playing his first Test in Australia — bowled Stoneman and grabbed the huge wicket of Root (15), while Nathan Lyon produced a brilliant piece of fielding to remove Vince, leaving England at 196-4 at stumps with Dawid Malan (28) and Moeen Ali (13) unbeaten. Rain led to a lengthy delay prior to the start of the second session in Brisbane, where David Warner and Shaun Marsh were cleared to play for Australia despite being under injury clouds.
While there was little in the pitch early, Mitchell Starc (1-45) got one to move away slightly from Alastair Cook, who edged to Peter Handscomb at first slip and was out in the third over.
Vince and Stoneman steadied for England but they scored slowly, reaching 59-1 at lunch with few troubles. Rain saw the start of the second session delayed by more than 90 minutes, but the tourists were in command once play resumed. Vince brought up his half-century with a fine square drive for four and Stoneman also reached 50.
But Vince should have departed on 68, edging the impressive and unfortunate Lyon (0-40) behind, only for Tim Paine to drop the catch.