Australian media on Thursday bemoaned another brittle top-order batting display in undermining the good work from the bowlers on a topsy-turvy opening day of the Ashes series against England.
Michael Clarke’s team bowled England out for a seemingly meagre 215 only to relinquish their grip to be 75 for four after the first day’s play at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday.
Australian hopes have not been high of Ashes success going into the series, but the country’s cricket writers said what could have been a positive start to the series was squandered by poor batting.
“Another fragile batting performance by Australia has destroyed the good work of its bowlers on the opening day of the first Test,” The Sydney Daily Telegraph’s Malcolm Conn said.
He added that skipper Clarke must move back to number five in the batting and stay there after his duck at number four.
“Clarke is simply too valuable to be exposed against the new ball as he was on day one. The only world-class player in Australia’s fragile line-up should be batting where he has dominated the world these past few years,” he said.
