Aussie move for fourth Test under fire as cricket world left gobsmacked

Commentators and cricket fans have taken aim at Australia's decision not to pick a front-line spinner for the fourth Ashes Test, after an opening day at Old Trafford where the Aussies failed to take their chances. Marnus Labuschagne (51) and Mitchell Marsh (51) both scored half-centuries and several others got off to good starts but none were able to go on and make a big score as Australia ended on 8-299 at stumps.

England spinner Moeen Ali showed the visitors what they were missing after Pat Cummins' men opted to go without a frontline spinner for the first time in a Test match in 11 years. Moeen removed the dangerous Labuschagne after trapping him LBW, and the England tweaker produced some sharp turn and bounce on the opening day, in perhaps an ominous sign of what's to come later in the Test.

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Particularly to Australia's right-handed batters, Mooed was a handful as he kept the visitors guessing on a dry wicket that was nevertheless a decent deck to bat on. The veteran bowled 17 overs for the hosts at an economy rate under four, with Aussie cricket great Ricky Ponting among those to question Australia's decision not to include frontline spinner Todd Murphy in their XI.

“I was surprised they didn’t go in with a spinner... if you haven’t got one, you can be found out very easily,” Ponting said on Sky Sports. “Moeen Ali got one to turn, I wouldn’t have expected that by looking at the pitch this morning.”

Fellow former Aussie skipper Mark Taylor agreed, saying: “Now that Australia are bowling last in this Test match, you would have loved to have a spinner at your disposal.” Ex-England opener Mark Butcher added: “Australia not playing a spin bowler blows my mind a bit... it feels quite defensive. They don’t have the ability then to change it up should things not work with the seam bowlers.”

New Zealand cricket icon Ian Smith echoed those sentiments and the thoughts of many fans by warning that the Aussies could be left to rue their contentious decision over the coming days. “They would never have considered this if Nathan Lyon was available,” Smith told SEN NZ.

“That’s just total lack of faith in Todd Murphy. Absolute total lack of faith, and they might get burned by it if they’re able to get five reasonable days of cricket and the pitch at Old Trafford starts to turn. They might get embarrassed and caught short here and level the series.”

Pat Cummins backs Travis Head for spin role

In Australia's defence, there is an argument that the wet weather predicted for later in the week won't be conducive to spin conditions. Regardless, Cummins said he had confidence in part-time tweaker Travis Head being able to do a job for his side.

“Even when he started his career with Australia, (Head) was basically the frontline spinner in ODI cricket,” Cummins said. “I think he’s got better and better... he defends himself well, uses a bit of drift as much as spin, and he’s quite clever. Lot a confidence in his bowling.”

Cummins (one not out) and Mitchell Starc (23 not out) will resume the batting for Australia when day two gets underway on Thursday. Ponting was among those to slam the Aussie batters for failing to make more of their first innings after being sent in to bat under what turned out to be favourable conditions.

Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head and Marsh all made it past 40 but none of them were able to cash in for a big score. Ponting was particularly critical of Labuschagne's dismissal after he played all around a straight ball and was given out lbw after an England review. “There was no way in the world that ball should get you out,” Ponting said in commentary, describing the dismissal as "lazy" from Labuschagne.

Smith also uncharacteristically missed a ball from Mark Wood and was given out lbw for 41, while Travis Head fell for England's short-ball trap and holed out in the deep after an aggressive knock of 48. Marsh continued his fine form with 51 off 60 balls but also managed to get out at the worst time.

Alex Carey was caught behind late in the day for 20, becoming the fourth man to fall to Chris Woakes when he nicked a ball he was trying to leave. Seven Australians got starts, with David Warner making 32 off 38 balls at the top of the order and Starc remaining unbeaten on 23 at the close of play.

with agencies

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