Australia’s Darwin-born batter Jake Weatherald may certainly have been gutted (obviously not chuffed, right) at scoring a duck and that too, in his very first Test appearance on home soil for Australia against England. He lasted 2 deliveries. And that’s that. Just 2. But then what did his opposite number from the English camp do as opener for the visiting side Down Under? Worry not and it’s not worth your spinning your head for the answer isn’t a maze, really. Zak Crawley on the other hand, lasted for 6 deliveries during England’s first inning outing against the Aussies. And that’s that. So whilst an Aussie failed to get going when the chance came, it could be argued, the situation on England’s side didn’t seem any different. But then such is cricket- right? That’s what it does. It produces, every now and again, as it did on this rare and stunningly odd occasion, results that make the fun wonder whether the willow was blunted? Or had it been that way (blunt) always? Here’s what is making news and trending the way only statistical oddities in international Test match cricket can. For the first time ever in Ashes history- one that’s now 142 years and counting- a test match produced a result where both openers from either side ended up scoring a duck. A duck, can you believe it from right up the order. In the very same test game, and as seen on this occasion, at Perth. But then it’s not been a belter of a pitch, ever, isn’t it?
That said, the contest has begun on a low scoring game when England crashing out for just 172. That’s it.
Despite the unusual twist, the match remained tightly poised, with each side exchanging momentum swings throughout. Analysts noted that the unusual dismissals highlighted not just the pitch’s challenge but the psychological toll of high-stakes Test cricket.
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