Pom pair opening up at last
A HAPPY relationship needs a strong foundation.
England’s opening partnership was on rocky ground during the first two Ashes Tests after a string of low scores.
With Alastair Cook horribly out of form, England’s best opening stand was a mere 28.
Their three other stands were single digit efforts.
But Cook and Michael Carberry finally had something to smile about yesterday after sharing an 85-run partnership in the third Ashes Test at the WACAGround.
The partnership was the highest opening dig of the series, bettering the 67 that Chris Rogers and David Warner combined for in the first Test in Brisbane.
Cook walked to the WACA crease under immense pressure after averaging just 25.64 in seven Tests against Australia this year. But the 28-year-old played a composed innings to give England a solid start in reply to Australia’s 385.
Carberry also did his job. But like he’s done for much of this series failed to capitalise on a solid start, chopping Ryan Harris onto his stumps for 43.
Carberry has passed 40 on three occasions this series, but he has just one half-century to his name and a highest score of 60.
Good players turn starts into centuries.
Last year, Carberry took up a job as an electrician after thinking he wouldn’t get the chance to add to his first Test against Bangladesh in 2010.
But some solid form during the Ashes warm- up matches catapulted him into the side.
With England 2-0 down in the series, he and Cook have some major work to do to turn things around.
Their first-innings stand in Perth could be the start of something special.