Ashes Paper Talk
Thursday 6 August 2015 21:58, UK
Round-up of the reaction from down under from the back pages of Friday’s Australian newspapers.
We check out what the Australian press have had to say about day one of the fourth Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
HERALD SUN
Tyson Otto was pulling no punches, writing: “At least death came quick for the Aussies' Ashes campaign.
“The post mortem into the calamitous failure has already begun with fans demanding the Aussie batsmen, coaches and officials be held accountable for the black eye their pathetic performance has given Australian cricket.
“Yes, all out for 60 in 111 balls really is that bad.”
BRISBANE COURIER MAIL
Ben Horne believes the team "has spiralled into crisis" having come into this series as firm favourites.
He wrote: “BEFORE lunch, Australia had already been Broad-sided.
“By stumps their Ashes campaign was all but Rooted.
"Australian cricket has spiralled into crisis after arguably the darkest day in Ashes history, as England took an extraordinary 214-run lead heading into day two - the third biggest advantage ever taken on the opening day of a Test.”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Greg Baum turned his attention to Australia’s skipper Michael Clarke, whose poor form continued after being dismissed by Stuart Broad for 10, after his pre-match comments about the hard work he is putting in.
“If Michael Clarke has said it once in the last month, he has said it a dozen times.
"No, he hasn't made the runs he would like. But he is working as hard as ever, which is all he can ask of himself. Oh, and maybe some runs, but no rush.
“Hard work isn't even a guarantee. Clarke says he is working hard and so knows the runs WILL come, as if it is a linear equation. It is not.
"I've never seen a cricketer who worked harder at his game than Ricky Ponting, and harder again as the game got harder for him. But the point came where even all his slavishness wasn't enough.”
THE AUSTRALIAN
Peter Lalor lamented the display by the tourists’ batsmen, writing: “The first day of the fourth Test will go down as one of the most shameful days for Australia in the history of the Ashes.”
THE AGE
Jesse Hogan said the batting display which saw the Aussies skittled out for 60 was “unfathomable” given their performance in the eight-wicket third Test defeat at Edgbaston last week.
“While pitch and weather conditions were helpful for fast-bowling it was nevertheless unfathomable, even given Australia's capitulation last week at Edgbaston, that their innings could be so brief.
"It left Australia with the sobering reality that their past two first innings have lasted for a combined 55.1 overs, barely more than a one-day innings.”
