1st Test Day 2: England's Battle Plans Leave Australia in Strife

The millennials are probably having heart palpitations over the sludgy pace that this 1st Test is being played at, but for the purists it has been fascinating and for the most part entertaining. Those brought up on a diet of ODI and T20 cricket would have trouble understanding what has happened over the first two days play in Brisbane, but those with a better head for the game will have felt well sated by stumps, with England having stuck their neck in front in a see-sawing game.

• Malan and Ali continued to frustrate the Aussie bowlers on the second morning, reaching 4/246 after drinks in the first session. Moeen proved he is going to be a thorn in Australia’s side this summer as he scored runs with a fluent ease, though mostly through the leg spin from inopportune deliveries, while Malan became the third English Ashes debutante to make a half century, something all three of Stoneman, Vince and Malan felt worthy of note at the end of the day’s play in response to Australia’s media and social media comments.
• That England could only eventually make a final total of 302 from this position mostly came from a change in direction and tactics from the fast bowlers, who for the first time in the Test decided to bowl hard, fast and short at the batsmen. In between Nathan Lyon spun his web and was finally rewarded with the wickets he deserved, the ball to get Woakes in particular being a beauty. It could have been better for Australia, but a late order slog of 20 from Broad got them past the 300 mark. The four sessions to reach this tally was considered of benefit to Australia because they had been able to halt the momentum, though this then depended on their own response.
• England's tactics with the ball and in the field were different, but effective. It showed that Joe Root and his conspirators had put a great deal of thought into the Australian batsmen and their perceived weaknesses. While Bancroft was caught behind driving on debut for 5, Khawaja was almost immediately faced with off spinner Moeen Ali and was undone by spin once again - or in this case the lack thereof. He has a major problem to overcome if his career is to thrive from this point. Warner was bottled up with a short and back field and given nothing to play at in his favourite zones, and again fell to the half pull half punch on the legside straight to the fieldsman put in place for it. England used this tactic against him in 2015 when it also worked. Once suspects he will face a lot more of it. Handscomb looked positive in his short stay, but was pinned behind the crease and LBW with his unusual footwork. It's a dismissal one would expect to see more of in Handscomb's career, and no doubt England will continue on this path. Great tactics, well executed, and at 4/76 England was deservedly in front.
• Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh fought through the last session, adding 89 runs to finish at 4/165 and helping to make the Australian dressing room more comfortable. Marsh again looked the part at Test level and would be well aware he needs lots of runs to maintain his position, but his calming partnership with Smith will have helped his cause, finishing overnight on 44.

England hold the whip hand after two days play with Australia still 137 runs behind, and early wickets on the third day will give them a handy lead and a great platform to push for further ascendancy in the first Test. Not for the first time in the last few years, the pressure rests with the Australian captain, who remains on 64 not out and will have to shoulder much of the run scoring if Australia is to fight its way back into this Test match.