Cricket fans at Brisbane's Gabba were left feeling short-changed after a shock team selection backfired spectacularly, resulting in one of the slowest and most criticised days of Ashes cricket in recent memory.
A Controversial Omission and a Sluggish Day
The day's troubles began with Australia's bold and controversial call to drop veteran spinner Nathan Lyon from the home Test side for the first time in 14 years. The decision to field an all-pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett, and Cameron Green immediately raised eyebrows, and its impact became painfully clear as the innings dragged on.
Without a specialist spinner to vary the pace and speed up proceedings, Australia's bowlers laboured, managing an average of only 12 or 13 overs per hour. This was well below the International Cricket Council's mandated rate of 15 overs per hour. By the close of play, spectators who had paid for a full 90 overs of pink-ball cricket had witnessed just 74 overs.
Frustration Boils Over On and Off the Field
The glacial pace drew fierce criticism from commentators and fans alike. Former Australian opener Simon Katich was scathing on SEN radio, stating, 'To think we are going to get through an extra half-hour... and we are going to get 74 overs in. It's beyond a joke, an absolute joke.'
Frustration echoed online, with one supporter fuming, 'They should get fined. 90 overs a day and they weren't even close,' while another suggested fans deserved refunds for a product not delivered. Many pointed to Lyon's absence as a key factor, with one noting, 'Garry [Lyon] should have played for this reason alone.'
Stand-in captain Steve Smith came under particular scrutiny for repeated field changes between deliveries. Former England bowler Steven Finn suggested on TNT Sports that Australia was deliberately slowing the game to avoid batting under lights with the new pink ball, a tactic he believed the umpires should have addressed.
Tactical and Financial Consequences
The slow over rate had direct and costly tactical repercussions for Australia. Because they failed to bowl the required 80 overs, they were denied the chance to take the second new ball under lights – the most potent period in a day-night Test. Instead of attacking England's tail with a hard Kookaburra, Australia was stuck with a soft, old ball.
This allowed England's last-wicket pair of Joe Root and Jofra Archer to capitalise, adding an unbeaten 61 runs. Root finished the day on 135 not out, with Archer on 32, swinging momentum firmly in England's favour. Commentator Isa Guha noted on Fox Cricket that the soft ball allowed the partnership to flourish, a situation Australia may rue by the Test's end.
Under ICC regulations, teams face fines and points deductions in the World Test Championship for slow over rates. Players can be fined 20% of their match fee for every over short, and teams lose one WTC point per over. Australia finished the day eight overs behind, risking an eight-point penalty, though a recent rule change championed by Usman Khawaja could spare them if they take the final wicket before England faces 80 overs.
When questioned after play, Mitchell Starc appeared unconcerned, brushing the issue aside by saying, 'Over-rates are what they are. If we keep taking the wickets, I won't worry about it.' For the paying public at the Gabba, however, the worry was over a day of promised cricket that never materialised.
