Australia Under Fire for Slow Play and Apparent Tactics in Ashes Test
Brisbane, Australia – Australia is facing scrutiny following a markedly slow over rate and accusations of deliberate delaying tactics during the first day of the recent ashes Test against England at the Gabba. The teamS approach, seemingly designed to avoid bowling under lights with the pink ball, has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from commentators and former players alike.
The issues began with the controversial decision to drop spinner Nathan Lyon in favor of a four-pronged pace attack, a move that ultimately contributed to the sluggish pace of play. Throughout the day, Australia repeatedly appeared to slow down proceedings, notably in the field, prompting umpire adrian Holdstock to intervene and urge captain Steve Smith to expedite play.
Instances of time-wasting were numerous. extended chats between Smith and bowlers at the top of their run-ups, unnecessary helmet changes, and constant adjustments to field settings all contributed to notable delays. One over alone lasted six minutes, and the period between the 68th and 70th overs consumed a combined 18 minutes, during which 19 runs were conceded.
Commentators noticed the pattern. James Brayshaw of Seven pointed out the “go-slow,” while Ricky Ponting jokingly suggested opposing players might feign shoelace issues to further disrupt the rhythm. The situation escalated to a verbal exchange between Smith and England’s Joe Root, with Root reportedly accusing Smith of deliberately slowing the game for 20 minutes.Brayshaw, with access to pitch microphones, confirmed the exchange.
The slow over rate is particularly concerning given Australia’s history with similar issues. The team was previously docked points in the World Test Championship (WTC) for a slow over rate against India at the MCG. Despite this, former Australian coach Darren Fleming dismissed the significance of potential penalties, suggesting even dominant teams of the past wouldn’t consistently bowl a higher volume of overs.
The contrast with previous pink-ball Tests is stark. During the 2021-22 Adelaide Test, England bowled 89 overs on the first day, compared to the 74 completed by Australia at the Gabba.The slower pace allowed England’s batters to capitalize, mounting a boundary-laden fightback and further extending
