NICK HOWSON takes a look at the major topics to emerge from day two of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide
Though he did much of his good work on day one, Marnus Labuschagne reaching a maiden Ashes century gives us the opportunity to reflect on another performance where he looked in the whites of England's eyes and saw fear.
Since replacing Steve Smith at Lord's, the 27-year-old has scored 530 Ashes runs at 58.88, with five fifties and a century in 10 innings. He already has one of the best eight averages in Tests between Australia and England.
As well as constructing a half-century on day one, Labuschagne also became the fifth-fastest player to reach 2,000 Test runs. Only Don Bradman, George Headley, Herbert Sutcliffe and Michael Hussey have done it in fewer innings.
Unlike most players in this series, the right-hander came into the Tests with some red-ball form. Two hundreds and a fifty for Queensland had acted as his tune-up.
Despite having looked rock solid during the start of his international career, this innings was anything but faultless. He was put down three times and nicked off when Ollie Robinson overstepped. He was arguably 103 for 5 after being trapped lbw.
In between those chances, Labuschagne was typically determined, frustrating England with his overzealous calls and unflappable demeanour. He's developed a handy knack of scoring significant runs on the biggest stage, which however they come is a nice habit.
Rory Burns was dismissed in single figures by Mitchell Starc once again (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Australia have a better collection of cricketers than England. Apologies if this statement catches you unaware, but it is glaringly obvious.
The debate might rage over the formation, identity and balance of the XI for a particular match, but this is the best group of players the tourists have to choose from.
Dom Bess? Liam Livingstone? Ben Foakes? Dom Sibley? It's all pretty marginal when you boil down to it. The reputations of these players and others may swell this winter, but they're unlikely to have offered up much better.
The uncomfortable truth is this is England's best team. And they should be judged as such.
It might not feel like it now, but there will be more difficult days for Australia during the remainder of this summer than the first two of the second Test.
What they have learned about England is while they keep themselves in the contest and create chances, they'll always leave the door ajar. Regardless of whether it is missed opportunities or a release of pressure, this is not a ruthless outfit led by Joe Root.
Maybe you could excuse Jos Buttler's dropped chance late on day one and put it down to jadedness. Matt Prior had sensed as much in the lead-up to the shelled opportunity.
But errors early on day two were down to an inability to sustain high standards. Robinson, who missed a catch, overstepped as Labuschagne edged behind to give him yet another life.
Labuschagne is hard enough to unseat, particularly if you're giving him several opportunities to build an innings.
Above all else, England's failure to grasp the nettle means Australia know they have a way out of the grimmest of predicaments. That gives them a degree of freedom, knowing the next mistake is only just around the corner. They've dropped nine catches (11 if you're being harsh) taken wickets off no-balls twice and scuppered a handful of run-out chances.
England need everything to go their way at the best of times to stage an Ashes win down under. When they're contributing to their own problems the task becomes near-insurmountable.
Lightning eventually saw played suspended with England in trouble (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Adam Gilchrist. Shane Warne. Michael Hussey. A line-up that used to strike fear into England fans during their playing careers.
The problem is it does the same thing now they've moved into the commentary box.
With BT Sport using Fox Sports' commentary team the action has a one-eyed soundtrack. Isa Guha meanwhile does her best to provide some balance and offers some much-needed diversity.
The Channel 7 team is led by Ricky Ponting, who retains a key role in the game as coach of Delhi Capitals. The ex-Australia batter reads the game as well as anyone and has an acute awareness of batters' weaknesses.
Many were in awe after he called Prithvi Shaw's dismissal in the first Australia Test a year ago.
And he did similar with Cameron Green in the opening session, identifying his open stance, England's intent to bowl at the stumps and the rest followed. Ben Stokes crashed into off as Green was bowled for the second time in as many innings.
Meanwhile, the Fox Sports contingent harped on about instinct over data, told in-jokes, asked if The Beatles had mullets and above all else made watching and listening to Test cricket a struggle. Time to change the record, boys.
"A very distinct change of tactics now for Cam Green - they'll get a lot fuller and a lot straighter, they'll target his stumps."
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2021
- Ricky Ponting, right as Ben Stokes runs in and ... bowls Green #Ashes pic.twitter.com/wPTV9kDE1Y
Among the questions to feature on #AskGeorge after day one surrounded the role of Chris Woakes, who is playing successive overseas Tests for the first time since the last Ashes tour.
It has been a rather wretched year for the 32-year-old, who probably anticipated a peripheral role in Australia at the start of 2021. Jofra Archer and Olly Stone's absence, along with the batting frailties, has caused a rethink.
With Stokes and an all-seam attack in the XI, he's been relegated to a bit-part allrounder in this Test. Batting at No.7 (Robinson isn't yet trusted there) and fifth choice seamer, he doesn't have a particularly crucial role to play. If Root had his time again he'd probably give Jack Leach a whirl.
His selection highlights England's failure to adapt to conditions they're confronted with. They've anticipated a hooping pink ball, picking bowlers who are experts at squeezing every sinew out of the conditions. Instead, it has been slow, low and lateral movement has been limited when the floodlights aren't beaming.
In reality, it should have been one of James Anderson or Woakes. But England had a plan and they stuck to it.
Plenty is made of Woakes' overseas record and that return is hardly going to improve when he's given the old ball, asked to bowl to keep the front-line quicks fresh and conditions aren't overly conducive. Towards the twilight of the Australia innings, he bowled to Mitchell Starc with five fielders on the leg-side boundary. He now averages 52 overseas, compared to 22.63 at home, a record that will be hard to improve on if he continues to be flogged like this.
Steve Smith on his way to 93 (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
"Someone like Rory Burns in the England team has a great deal of patience and a great opportunity to go out there, see off as much of the new ball as possible and get into the game. I see a lot of similarities between him and myself and if he gets the rub of the green then there is a really good chance he could score a lot of runs."
Those were the thoughts of Chris Broad, part of the victorious England 86/87 side, ahead of this series.
A run of 0, 13 and 4 later and it is fair to say the Surrey batter has endured a nightmare start to the tour.
It all began with that first ball departure in Brisbane when a loosener from Starc swung a bit, Burns missed one on leg-stump and he was bowled.
You wonder how much that delivery is still on his mind. He was dismissed for the second time in the series by Starc, who caught the edge with a regulation delivery that didn't swing under lights but flew into the hands of Smith. It was an ideal line but it was a preventable dismissal all the same.
The way Starc shapes the ball means he is always looking for that delivery which pins batters in front and having got out to it once before, in rather ignominious circumstances, Burns would only be human if a seed has been planted.
💥SLICK MICK CLAIMS HIS FIRST!💥
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 17, 2021
It only took 2 balls for Michael Neser to take his first international test wicket! 🔥
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I spoke to Michael Neser 14 months ago about his unenviable position of trying to break into the Australia fast-bowling battery.
A talented, popular individual who has stayed patient but who heading into this series looked set for another watching brief.
Injury to Josh Hazlewood and the absence of Pat Cummins threw him into the fray and he made up for lost time immediately, getting Haseeb Hameed in his first over.
Though England would hardly agree, it was a wicket down to patience and perseverance, as much as talent.
Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22
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