After a long wait, the 2021/22 Ashes finally kicked off on Wednesday December 8th at The Gabba, Brisbane. The series got off to a dream start for hosts led by Pat Cummins as Mitchell Starc got rid of England opener Rory Burns on the series’ first ball.
Starc cleaned up Burns’ stumps on the first ball itself as the ball had a late swing and rounded the batter’s pads to hit the wood. Here’s the layoff that lit up the atmosphere at Gabba, Brisbane:
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For the uninitiated, this is only the second time a window has fallen on the very first delivery of an Ashes series. On December 4, 1936, the Englishman Stan Worthington was sacked by the Australian Ernie McCormick on the first Ashes 1936/37 ball. After 82 years, Starc recreated the feat. Interestingly, in both cases the Ashes edition took place Down Under (i.e. in the backyard of Australians).
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Speaking of Day 1, Cummins was leading forward as his 5 for 38, on his debut as captain, rocked England for 146 after Joe Root & Co. decided to strike first in the match. ‘a day marked by rain. The Australians will go out to bat on day two and hope to take a colossal lead over the distraught visitors.