ASHES BRUNCH: A BIG CALL, A BIG HEAD AND A BIG FIRST WICKET

The Cricketer wraps up all the action from Adelaide

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The Cricketer wraps up all the action on and off the field.


“I think it's an attacking option on this wicket”

Joe Root made England the first team to win the the toss and elect to bowl first at Adelaide since India in 1992.

Steve Smith said he would have had a bat anyway... a good toss to lose as they say.

Opening up

After taking the decision to field first, England's captain needed his bowlers to step up but they were poor in the first session, bowling far too short for too long.

Packed-out Oval

Day one saw the largest ever attendance for a cricket match at the Adelaide Oval, and the biggest crowd of any sporting event since its redevelopment with 55,317 people coming through the gates.

The previous highest for a Test match at the Oval was 50,962 during the Bodlyine tour.

618

Craig Overton - replacing Jake Ball - received his Test cap from John Emburey before the start of play, and by the end of it he had claimed the precious wicket of Steve Smith.

England pay their respects

In wake of the sombre news that Russell Evans passed away this week, England’s players wore black armbands as a mark of remembrance.

Curfew capers

With the Adelaide weather claiming much of the first session, the day’s play was pushed back and England were cutting it fine to get back to the team hotel before their midnight curfew… (Andrew Strauss imposed the curfew for England’s players in the wake of the Jonny Bairstow headbutt gaffe).

Mo’s misfield

England had a large slice of luck with the breakthrough as Moeen Ali’s misfield led to Cameron Bancroft’s run out. That or it is the greatest assist of our time. 

Quote of the day

“I don’t think he’s paid his brain bill” - Damien Fleming on Warner’s role in the run out.

Hands of Stone

"The catching has been terrible. We are certainly not going to go [to Australia] and win anything dropping that many.”

Trevor Bayliss warned England would have to improve in the field if they were to have success in Australia. Luckily for Stoneman, Khawaja was caught at gully shortly after dinner and the spill only cost England nine runs.

Bancroft’s noggin

Cameron Bancroft quipped that he had the 'heaviest head' in the Western Australia dressing room, making him an easy target when he found himself being stitched up by David Warner.

Watch The Ashes exclusively live on BT Sport throughout the series. Never miss a moment with daily highlights on BT Sport, as well as short highlights available for free every evening from 7pm on bt.com and on the BT Sport App. For more information, visit www.bt.com/sport

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