Did One Shot Help England Win The Mcg Test?

England began their chase of 175 with intent, and one early moment may have tilted the match their way. It wasn’t Harry Brook’s flick for four leg byes that sealed the win, but Zak Crawley’s drop-kick over Michael Neser’s head for six during the fourth over of the innings.

Crawley and Ben Duckett once formed one of England’s most reliable opening pairs, but the partnership had faded in Australia. 

Yet their 51-run stand at the MCG was their best of the tour, proving priceless in a game where the biggest partnership was the 52-run stand between Cameron Green and Michael Neser. As Ben Stokes put it: "That opening partnership between Zak and Ducky was a huge, huge reason as to why we chased that total down."

Smith admitted:

"I thought the way they started with the bat was good…. A couple of their heavy blows softened our seam quite a bit and probably didn't offer quite as much as it had for the rest of the game after that, so credit to them."

He added:

"They obviously played some shots where they hit the ball pretty hard, and then I think Zak hit one into the LED boards, and that definitely softened the seam, no doubt about it. But credit to them for doing that."

England have referenced LED boards before as factors affecting the new ball, and last year they benefited when Mikyle Louis struck one into the boards, causing an unexpected reverse swing.

Smith felt this was a turning point:

"I think [the ball] did a fair amount for the whole game - [it was] just probably when the ball got softened from a few lusty blows from their top order today, where it started to go a little bit less, potentially."

England Stay True to Their Attack-First Style

Stokes applauded his batters for staying aggressive early, then adapting once the field spread.

"There was only one way of going about chasing that tally down, which was to go out there and try to put the pressure on from ball one, to be honest."

He explained that on such a wicket, letting bowlers dictate was never an option.

"It wasn't just the boundaries that were allowing us to tick that total down; it was the ones and twos, and the running between the wickets…"

Tactical Surprise at No. 3

After Ben Duckett fell for 34 off 26, England surprised many by sending Brydon Carse at No. 3. His brief cameo ended on six off eight balls, but it ensured the specialist batters faced a slightly older ball.

Stokes said:

"That wicket was very tricky, especially with a newer ball… We went with an idea of sending someone who's got talent with the bat and a very good eye for hitting the ball [in at No. 3]."

He revealed he even considered sending Gus Atkinson higher before realising the rules prevented it:

"There was a bit of a dumb moment from me… he can't bat until No. 8 anyway."