When you’re trying to achieve something you have never managed before, help from the opposition is always welcome.
Losing wickets to loose, attacking strokes has been a market cornered by Englishmen over the past four weeks down under.
Day one of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide – a match England must win to have any hope of coming from 2-0 down to win an Ashes series for the first time – was the day Australia’s top-order batting got a touch soft, some might say Englandy.
By drinks in the evening session the hosts were 271-7 on a blameless surface – the pitch best for batting in Australia.
Six of the hosts’ top seven had made double figures, only for all bar wicketkeeper Alex Carey to be dismissed.
Batter Jake Weatherald was the first to go, bounced out by the impressive Jofra Archer for 10, but he was the least guilty.
