There was no prouder spectator at Trent Bridge as Stuart Broad took eight wickets to reduce Australia to 60 all out on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test than the England paceman’s father, Chris.
Broad’s stunning haul of eight for 15 in 9.3 overs on his Nottinghamshire home ground saw Australia bowled out in a historically low 18.3 overs – the shortest completed first innings in the 138-year history of Test cricket.
After England captain Alastair Cook won the toss in overcast conditions, there was drama right from the third ball of the match when fast-medium bowler Broad had Chris Rogers caught at first slip by Cook for nought for his 300th Test wicket.
“He only wanted one, it’s just being greedy isn’t it?” Chris Broad told BBC Radio’s Test Match Special. “He chatted to me a couple of days prior and said ‘all I want is one’. I was a bit concerned he was too focused on getting to 300,” said Broad senior, a former Nottinghamshire and England opening batsman.
“If you’re not focused on your action and rhythm you can search for wickets – but to get one in the first over was a release,” said Broad, who is an International Cricket Council match referee.
Broad’s haul drew him level with England fast bowling great Fred Trueman’s career Test tally of 307 wickets.
When England came in to bat, Joe Root (124 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (74) confirmed a position of utter dominance in a partnership of 173, which helped England close Day 1 on 274 for four and with one hand on the urn.
Twenty-four hours earlier, captain Alastair Cook had called on his team to “etch themselves into history”, and Broad especially took him at his word.
By the time he had finished – and it took little more than an hour-and-a-half – England were almost over the line.
Australia’s batting was hapless, albeit in cloudy conditions, which had persuaded Cook to bowl first on a pitch tinged with green, as a blur of edges were all expertly held in the slip cordon.
If there was any consolation for Australia, it came when Mitchells Starc and Johnson took them past their worst ever Test total – 36 against England at Edgbaston in 1902.
Starc (3-73) profited relatively as the ball continued to swing in the afternoon but England eased in front.
Adam Lyth edged behind and Bell and Cook were both pinned on the crease lbw. The captain and his deputy, Root, had nonetheless added between them two runs more than Australia could muster collectively and, after tea, an all-Yorkshire alliance ruled.
Under ever sunnier skies, Root was in command on the way to his second century of the series, and Bairstow joined in with a heartening 73-ball 50 before eventually chipping Josh Hazlewood to square-leg.
Australia captain Clarke said: “It was certainly a tough day. Stuart Broad’s execution was top class. I thought Joe Root played really well.
“I am really disappointed with how the day turned out. We will have to find a way to front up tomorrow.
“We got out to good balls and poor shots. I don’t want to take anything from Broad.
“I don’t necessarily think it was our aggression that cost out wickets, we good some good balls. England left the ball well.
“We have to fight. But we need something special over the next four days.”
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