The bravado that Ben Stokes instilled in England was evident on the first day of Ashes. p>Declaration when Joe Root is still in thought? Consider it the most amazing moment of an unforgettable fearless opening day of the English era of baseball. When you pretend to be great daredevil entertainers, you can either conjure up the cricket of the gods or fall face down in the dirt. Such is the rough binary for England: the team quickly proves that they do not pay attention to the middle ground between triumph and defeat.
Their ethos is based mainly on death or glory. And on an auspicious, sun-drenched day here in Edgbaston, Ben Stokes' players proved without a shadow of a doubt that they were determined to make this a great summer. For England, the announcement just moments after Ruth reached his century required audacity to a previously unheard of level, which was a testament to their refusal to die wondering. Those around Edgbaston greeted this decision, mixed with obvious disbelief.
This was the moment when Brandon McCallum's reimagining of England could face an uncomfortable reality. This was the moment when, frightened by the expectations of the nation, their carelessness of risk could be shown as less courage than simply stupidity. And yet, true to the insatiable piratical spirit they've displayed for the past 12 months, they've run into danger, looking up to fast Aussies and Nathan Lyon's enigmatic variations to produce a first day as exhilarating as any in Ashes history.
A flawless age for Joe Root? Run-a-ball 78 for Johnny Barstow? Choir Hollies Stand nonsense that never relented? It was hard to imagine how this first act of the most anticipated Ashes in decades could unfold in a more memorable way. Yes, they shipped nine wickets, but they also amassed 393 runs, with a sharp statement to boot. It was an assessment highlighting their relentless commitment, no matter the circumstances, to lift people from their seats, to remind their students and their doubters of the power this sport can bring.
Zach Crowley smashed Pat Cummins' The opening of delivery for four set the tone. Photo: Getty Images/Ryan Pierse
Like a picture of England in mid-June, the scene in Edgbaston a few seconds after 11 am was almost perfect. With Zach Crowley still striking a pose after hitting the first ball through extra cover for four, Stokes, dressed more for Glastonbury in his festive bucket hat, beamed proudly from the balcony. Hollies Stand regulars, savoring their first pints as the sun shone down on the yard, reacted with a mixture of applause, relief and ironic laughter. Everything, however fleeting, felt good in this world.
There is nothing better than ashes to strengthen the spirit of the nation. In 1981, ravaged by race riots and a terrible economic downturn that left one in nine workers out of work, Ian Botham staged an exhibition in Headingley so transcendent that Union flags fluttered in front of the pavilion. And in 2005, the series, which began amid the horrific backdrop of the July 7 bombings, ended with a spectacle in which Tony Blair apologized to viewers in the City for having the temerity to distract them from watching their last day at the Oval. /p>
At best, this is an event that serves as nothing more than a balm for the soul. It certainly felt here, from the moment Pat Cummins pulled out of his long run. Where once people might have gathered before the start of a game, Edgbaston was now packed to gunwales, the crowd roasting softly in the morning heat. It was Ashes like a real meeting, re-watched. Just like being late for your seats in the West End — infralance, no one wants to miss the opening production, which has become a kind of micro-theater.
These players adhere to the wisdom that history is nonsense.
Traditionally, this drama has led to the discrediting of England. Take Phil DeFreitas, who was crushed by four goals by Michael Slater in 1994 when the first man scored 176 points. Or the wide rank of Steve Harmison, who heralded the breakup of his team in 2006, or the pained look of Rory Burns when the first arrow from Mitchell Stark pierced his middle. stump just 19 months ago. For past England teams, history has sometimes been dead weight. Except that these players, liberated by the commandments of baseball, hold on to the wisdom that history is nonsense. And so Crowley broke the Cummins to the limit without much difficulty.
It was exactly the tone that England longed for. Just as Burns' castling in Brisbane brought the whole system down, Crowley's clearest blow seemed to portend a much happier outcome. Bravado is the essence of the philosophy that Stokes instilled.
And while Stokes showed the flip side of that idea by getting ready to launch a covering attack but only succeeding in getting past Alex Carey in one of them, the persistence with which his team attacked that first day was never less compelling. Avoiding a flurry of boundaries for a silky kick spin, they scored with dismissive ease, making 26 singles in the first hour. No sooner had Ruth survived one weight appeal than he hit a four on the next ball.
Stokes is unequivocal about England's mission in this series, explaining that under his leadership the players have a license to play. «I've seen what it's like to have those moments that fire up the audience and create something that goes beyond cricket,» he says. «Flintoff in 2005, Beefy at 81: Magical Events that Astonish the Imagination.»
Obviously, this will be a series based on noble traditions. Because it was a day when almost everyone showed up to the party: Ruth showed off his amazing smorgasbord of shots, and Bairstow picked up where he left off before his leg injury, electrifying the audience at every turn.
Sometimes the pressure can be a suffocating blanket. But for this England team, it serves as an incentive to stay true to themselves, keep on fever and take the country with them.
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