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Ashes 2023 | Root, Bairstow On A Fightback Road After Aussies Strike Early In the Second Session

image-liyopx8zBen Stokes walking off the field (AP Photo)

The Ashes 2023 is underway at Edgbaston and we have seen two riveting sessions of Test cricket so far. The second session produced two wickets and 116 runs and Australia seem to have an upper hand at Tea with England five down for 240.

The session started with Brook and Root starting off on a positive note but soon Lyon got rid of Brook in an unusual fashion while the England skipper Ben Stokes also could not last long. From 175-3, England were reduced to 176-5 and then it was only because of the efforts from Root and Bairstow that England could stabilise their innings.

Talking Points

Brook's Bizarre Dismissal

Harry Brook is considered as one of the most talented young batters in world cricket currently. He has been absolutely spectacular in Test cricket in his short career so far and looked all set for another big score at Edgbaston.

However, a bizarre dismissal which was completely out of the blue led to the downfall of Brook. It was the 38th over of the match and Nathan Lyon bowled an off-break that pitched on middle and turned into Brook. The Englishman decided to shoulder his arms at the last moment and the ball went high in the air initially after hitting his thigh pad. It then fell between Brook and stumps and went onto hit the timber leaving everyone on the field completely shocked.

Stokes Wastes A Review

Ben Stokes came into bat after Brook's dismissal but just could not find his feet. He went for a flashy drive off the bowling of Hazlewood in the 39th over and only managed an outside edge which was safely taken by Alex Carey behind the stumps.

However, Ben Stokes looked unaware that he got an edge, which was quite surprising actually and took the DRS. The replays though showed a big spike on the UltraEdge and Stokes ended up wasting a review with England in a spot of bother at 176-5.

Two Yorkshire Superstars Display Character

Bairstow joined Joe Root after the dismissal of Stokes and took some time to settled in as he was batting in Test cricket after a long injury lay-off. However, he found his groove eventually  and along with Root mixed caution with aggression nicely to build a solid 64-run stand off 82 balls.

Root got to his fifty as well and is playing on 66 off 97 balls while Jonny Bairstow is batting on 33 off 45 balls. Both of them would be looking to go big in the final session and take England's score well past 300.

Brief Score

England: 240 for 5 (52)

Joe Root 66 (97), Zak Crawley 61 (73);

Nathan Lyon 2-71 (16), Josh Hazlewood 2-44 (11)