The first Test of the Ashes 2023 ended in a thriller with Australia winning the game by two wickets. The game was impacted by rain on Day Four ad Five but still managed to separate both teams. Notably, the Aussies managed to return the favor of the 2005 game at the same venue in which they lost the game by two runs. 18 years back, despite coming close, the then-Ricky Ponting-led side lost the game.
Meanwhile, former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh opined that the Test matches must end on Day five and not on the third or fourth. Notably, he questioned India’s home Tests ending in two to three days after the Men In Blue lost the WTC Final early this month. Coming back to Ashes, the two-time World Champion added that when a Test goes on for five days, it presents different challenges every day.
“Test matches should end on the fifth day itself, not on Day 3 or Day 4. They play matches on good wickets that the spectators enjoy watching, everyone in the world is following this match, a hard-fought battle. Australia and England are showing other teams how to take Test matches into the final day.”
“At no point in this match there was a feeling that the bat dominated the ball or vice versa. When a Test goes on for five days, you will be presented with a different challenge on each day.”
Declaring the innings in the first innings made sense – Harbhajan Singh
Another topic that is heavily debated is England skipper Ben Stokes‘s decision to declare the innings. On the first day, the Three Lions amassed 393/8 and decided to declare the innings with only a few overs left. Singh said that it was well thought out decision.
“I think the decision to declare made sense, it was a smart thought. If Test cricket needs to survive, such positive intent needs to be on show more often, which is why this result was possible.”
