The Ashes 2023: Australia finally arrives in a gripping 20-minute period in Edgbaston

In an electrifying 20-minute period on Sunday afternoon, having previously chosen to fight off English aggression from the Bazball with soft pillows, they were awakened by Edgbaston's gloom which sparked all their brand hostility.
In just 22 balls, the Rampant Tourists took two wickets, conceded just one run outright and made impassioned call after impassioned call.
"It the Australian team I've known from all the time I've been watching Test cricket," former England captain Michael Vaughan noted.
Australia's advance benefits
After an initial rain delay, England resumed their second leg 26-0. Twenty minutes later they were 28-2.
Conditions fell perfectly for Australia, as for England early on day two, with captain Pat Cummins feeling his moment after threatening dark clouds gathered over Edgbaston.
Day one defensive fields were gone. In come the Seekers - Cummins and fellow dressmaker Scott Boland threatening a wicket with almost every ball.
After 10 balls and a single point scored, Ben Duckett found himself in the hands of the mountaineer Cameron Green in the ravine, having already been beaten by Cummins earlier in the over.
Three balls later , Zak Crawley slashed Boland from behind and the Australians roared with joy as only they can.
There were four calls for lbw and a review for late on Joe Root, maybe the most breathtaking moment for England fans.
"In this first period before the rain, Australia have been terrible," Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.
"Since Australia returned, it's a different mindset, different fields.
"There has been help with the conditions, and the ball started to move, but that's just the mindset.
"Australia told batters 'we're here to get you out, not just extend the fields and get hit'."
'A different game' - how bowling has changed
The percentage fake shots for England went from 11% before the rain and 13% in the first innings to 50% in the 20 minute period.
Beating was much harder. Since the 6.5 period before the first rain break, the average off-court seam movement has jumped about 50%, from 0.39 degrees to 0.59.
Through it all Australia rushed with determination, Marnus Labuschagne appealing like a hysterical schoolboy for extra cover.

"The beauty of the game is that you have to adapt to changing conditions and Pat Cummins was very quick there- down, he admitted it," former England skipper Michael Atherton told Sky Sports.
"He obviously had the ball in his hands and he could feel it. Suddenly the pitch comes, the seekers and...

Sports Jun 19, 2023 0 37 Add to Reading List

The Ashes 2023: Australia finally arrives in a gripping 20-minute period in Edgbaston

In an electrifying 20-minute period on Sunday afternoon, having previously chosen to fight off English aggression from the Bazball with soft pillows, they were awakened by Edgbaston's gloom which sparked all their brand hostility.

In just 22 balls, the Rampant Tourists took two wickets, conceded just one run outright and made impassioned call after impassioned call.

"It the Australian team I've known from all the time I've been watching Test cricket," former England captain Michael Vaughan noted.

Australia's advance benefits

After an initial rain delay, England resumed their second leg 26-0. Twenty minutes later they were 28-2.

Conditions fell perfectly for Australia, as for England early on day two, with captain Pat Cummins feeling his moment after threatening dark clouds gathered over Edgbaston.

Day one defensive fields were gone. In come the Seekers - Cummins and fellow dressmaker Scott Boland threatening a wicket with almost every ball.

Scorebook of Australia's period of success

After 10 balls and a single point scored, Ben Duckett found himself in the hands of the mountaineer Cameron Green in the ravine, having already been beaten by Cummins earlier in the over.

Three balls later , Zak Crawley slashed Boland from behind and the Australians roared with joy as only they can.

There were four calls for lbw and a review for late on Joe Root, maybe the most breathtaking moment for England fans.

"In this first period before the rain, Australia have been terrible," Vaughan said on BBC Test Match Special.

"Since Australia returned, it's a different mindset, different fields.

"There has been help with the conditions, and the ball started to move, but that's just the mindset.

"Australia told batters 'we're here to get you out, not just extend the fields and get hit'."

'A different game' - how bowling has changed

The percentage fake shots for England went from 11% before the rain and 13% in the first innings to 50% in the 20 minute period.

Beating was much harder. Since the 6.5 period before the first rain break, the average off-court seam movement has jumped about 50%, from 0.39 degrees to 0.59.

Through it all Australia rushed with determination, Marnus Labuschagne appealing like a hysterical schoolboy for extra cover.

"The beauty of the game is that you have to adapt to changing conditions and Pat Cummins was very quick there- down, he admitted it," former England skipper Michael Atherton told Sky Sports.

"He obviously had the ball in his hands and he could feel it. Suddenly the pitch comes, the seekers and...