ICC Champions Trophy 2017, England vs. Australia: 5 Talking Points

#4 Starc and Hazlewood’s initial outburst

Hazlewood and Starc had the English in trouble early on

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood exploited the conditions conducive for seam bowling perfectly as they sent both the English openers back to the pavilion cheaply. Starc got the out of form Jason Roy dismissed LBW in the very first over whereas Hazlewood claimed the wicket of the in-form Alex Hales in the very next over.

England thus found themselves in deep trouble at 6/2 as early as in the second over. If that was not enough, Hazlewood also dismissed England’s star batsman Joe Root in the sixth over of the innings caught behind for 15. England were thus reduced to 35/3 and their chase looked a distant dream now with their top order depleted.