The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fightback by Buttler papers over cracks
CRICKET: England struggle to 271 for eight on first day of final Ashes Test
Jos Buttler’s late fightback papered over the cracks after England failed to make the most of Australian mistakes on day one of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.
Fighting to avoid a first defeat on home shores since 2001 but unable to reclaim the urn, the hosts were surprised to be sent in on a true pitch and reached stumps on 271 for eight with Buttler unbeaten on a counter-attacking 64.
Australia’s gamble having won the toss faltered when they dropped home captain Joe Root three times – on 24, 25 and 30 – and allowed England to move to 170 for three at the start of the final session.
The stage was set for England to knuckle down to a match-winning first innings but they instead lost five for 56, including Root for 57, and were staring down the barrel when Buttler launched his fightback.
Hit on the chest on 17 he decided to take matters into his own hands, peppering the boundary and unloading three sixes as he put on 45 with ninth-wicket partner Jack Leach.
Mitchell Marsh was the unlikely source of England’s earlier struggles, the all-rounder having been recalled for his first game of the series nine months after being dropped over concerns about his weight and conditioning.
He took four for 35, currently his career-best figures, before an attack of cramp interrupted his quest for a maiden five-for.
Tim Paine was influenced by a “strange” looking pitch with a tinge of grass, pressing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood back into service just four days on from the rigours of the fifth day at Old Trafford.
Rory Burns was beaten on the outside edge twice in the first over and successfully overturned an lbw decision on four, while Joe Denly felt bat on ball twice when he had intended to leave.
The pair managed to scramble together 27 in just under 10 overs, remarkably the highest opening stand of a series that has been a bonfire for toporder batsmen.
Cummins parted them, Denly with a familiar waft outside off stump and Steve Smith taking the slip catch after a couple of fumbles.
Whether or not the 33-year-old has a Test career after this week is open to question, but this cannot have helped.
Buttler is confident England can add more to their total on the second morning.
He said on Sky Sports: “We were 170 for three so it was a shame not to really capitalise on it, but it’s shown it’s a good cricket wicket.
“If you bowl well there’s wickets there but if you bat well and apply yourself there’s runs there. We’ll hopefully try to get a few more in the morning.”
On his own innings, Buttler said: “It was tough to start with. I’ve found batting tough all summer in this series, so it was nice in the end to take the shackles off and try to have some fun.”
Mitchell Marsh said the tourists were pleased with their day’s work.
He said: “It (the score) could have been even less than that if we’d held our catches early on. We spoke about coming here and wanting to win the series 3-1.
“It probably wasn’t reflected in our first session but you drop catches sometimes. It could have been better but we’d definitely take eight for 270 on that.”