If you took your cues from the England camp, you could be forgiven for thinking that they had taken an Ashes lead in Birmingham. It is true that by probability they should have won the first Test, at least from the point when Australia went eight wickets down in the chase. It’s also true that they didn’t and heading to Lord’s Australia have that most precious commodity for visiting teams: a lead.
After Edgbaston had proved a tricky venue over several tours, they would be as relieved to come away from the ground with a win this time as they were in 2019. Both times, first with Steve Smith’s comeback ton from a terrible position, then with Pat Cummins and his run-chase charge, there is a sense of having burgled a result from a place England have tried to characterise as a fortress.
