'What the hell': Australia crumble early in 'haunting' Ashes sign
Australia's top order fell like dominoes in the first session of the fifth Test in Hobart as England won the toss and elected to bowl on a green pitch.
Images before the toss showed plenty of green on the pitch and England won the toss and sent Australia in to bat.
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And it was immediately evident both David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith were uncomfortable after they were all dismissed for single figures with the pink ball.
Australia were sitting at just 3-12 early in overcast conditions at Bellerive Oval.
With the Aussie batting line-up reeling for the first time in the series, England captain Joe Root threw in five slips as the ball moved around.
Fans took to social media to express their shock at just how green the pitch was.
Many fans also pointed out it was dream bowling conditions for the visitors.
How it started // How it’s going #ashes pic.twitter.com/rsBCCdTgs7
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) January 14, 2022
This should be a great day/nighter!! #AshesTest
— steve johnson (@Steviejohnson20) January 14, 2022
Fantastic start .. These are perfect conditions for Englands attack .. most seam movement in an Aussie test for a decade .. !! #Ashes Quick games a good game … 😜
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 14, 2022
Test cricket 🤍#Ashes #bhatizhan pic.twitter.com/m3iMtsR2b9
— Bhat izhan♌ (@BhatIzhan2) January 14, 2022
Count ‘em: five slips. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/mSjcErpsFb
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 14, 2022
This is probably the greenest looking pitch I have seen in Australia. #AshesTest
— Aniruddha Bhondwe (@Ani_b95) January 14, 2022
First time David Warner and Steve Smith have each been out for a duck in the same Test innings #Ashes
— Sam Ferris (@samuelfez) January 14, 2022
Vests all round, green deck, bowl first, ball darting around - England has started the first game of the County season well #Ashes
— Andrew McCormack (@_AMcCormack7) January 14, 2022
The type of green wicket you’d typically only see on Shane Warne Cricket ‘99, and the ball’s moving at right angles… yet none of the wicket-taking balls so far were hitting the stumps. #Ashes #AUSvENG
— Russell Bennett (@rgbennett) January 14, 2022
Careful England, if you carry on like this you'll have to bat on this deck today too. Before tea #ashes
— Sam Clench (@SamClench) January 14, 2022
👀
Hobart haunting again...#Ashes— Rahul Kumar (@rahulk_10_19) January 14, 2022
What the hell is with this pitch? You had one job @BlundstoneArena. #Cricket #AshesTest #ashes pic.twitter.com/ZkZzwUKEUS
— Anthony Cat. (@CatchyAnt) January 14, 2022
Is the curator of English heritage #Ashes
— Two Bob (@Bob2u) January 14, 2022
Australia's Hobart horrors
Australia's last Test held in Hobart was the 2016 calamity, in which Australia was thumped by South Africa by an innings and 80 runs.
The hosts were rolled for 85 in the first innings and 161 in their second, lasting a combined 93 overs against South Africa.
Adam Voges, Callum Ferguson and Peter Nevill never played another Test, with only David Warner, Smith and Khawaja remaining in Australia's current top seven.
Earlier in the day, former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said it was a huge loss for England to have rested Jimmy Anderson for the final Test.
“Jimmy Anderson is not playing on this wicket and there’s some pressure on these bowlers to get 20 wickets from England,” he added.
“If Joe Root wins the toss and bowls and they have a bad day with no Anderson in this team on that wicket, good luck.”
However, early signs appeared England were able to cope in the ideal conditions without their veteran.
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