Ashes 2017-18, 3rd Test, Day 1, Review: Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow cap off a tough day for England

England dominated an attritional day of Test cricket on the first day of the third Test match in Perth at the WACA of the ongoing Ashes series. The urn is on the line for the visitors and their attitude to retain it was on display as Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow batted with all the grit in the world to tilt the day in their favour. However, the former went on to notch up a brilliant century, his maiden in Test cricket and most importantly remained unbeaten until stumps.

England skipper Joe Root won the toss for the third consecutive time this series at the historic WACA which is hosting its final international game and decided to bat first on a batting beauty. Australia made one change to their winning combination dropping Peter Handscomb for the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as England only swapped the batting positions of Bairstow and Moeen Ali.

Alastair Cook, playing his landmark 150th Test match, could make it count as he missed the line of the straighter delivery which was a tad full from Mitchell Starc. Mark Stoneman and James Vince then buckled down and did the hard work to see off the new ball. The former, however, scored some quick runs driving serenely through the covers. The morning session was about to go England’s way completely with a half-century stand but Josh Hazlewood found the edge of Vince’s bat to leave them two down at the stroke of lunch.

Short-ball barrage post-lunch

Australia came out with a certain plan against the pair of Joe Root and Stoneman as runs flew in the early part. Stoneman in the process also reached his half-century with some brilliant batting display. But he looked a little roughed up and disturbed when the short ball from Hazlewood hit his helmet and the similar delivery proved to be his undoing on 56 before which Root also was strangled down the leg-side. The start was wasted by the top-order as the poms were left reeling on 131/4 as the doubts of the infamous collapse lingering around in the minds of their supporters.

Malan and Bairstow partnership

Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow then got together and weathered some serious bowling from the Australians. Malan especially was peppered with a barrage of short-balls who survived and started accumulating some runs. The pair played extremely well as the pitch didn’t offer anything to the bowlers with the sun coming out. Moreover, they kept Nathan Lyon out of the game smartly by milking him for singles who has been breaking the partnerships off late in the series.

The final session was even more fruitful as they brought up the 100-run stand, only the second for England this series, the most important one given the context of the game and the Ashes. Promoting Bairstow up the order was paying off for England as the hosts kept on hunting for the wickets. Malan, however, was cool and calm playing his shots whenever it was pitched up and leaving the deliveries outside the off-stump. He neared his maiden century but showed no signs of nervousness with the new-ball approaching fast.

However, he was dropped on 93 by Cameron Bancroft off the first ball with the new ball off Starc which summed up the bad day for Australia. Malan went on to bring up his maiden Ashes and career century and buckled down after a subdued celebration. Even Bairstow went past his 50 in the process and looked absolutely unfazed. The grit and determination shown by this pair was really remarkable as they added 174 runs for the fifth and are still going strong. Malan was unbeaten on 110 as Bairstow looked solid for his 75* with England finishing the day strongly on 305/4. They would love to continue the same way on the second morning and post a monumental score in front of Australia.

The hosts, however, were a bit sloppy in the field and were wore down by the fifth wicket stand. Their bowlers though deserved the credit for creating the chances time and again as they had England on the brink at 131/4 in the middle session. Starc scalped two as Hazlewood and Pat Cummins picked up one wicket each in what was the toughest day of the series for Australia. They would like to pick some quick wickets in the first hour on the second day and bowl them out quickly under 400.

Brief Scores

England 305/4 after 89 overs (D Malan 110*, J Bairstow 75*, M Stoneman 56; M Starc 2/79)