By Niall Hickman
England’s Under-19s face a nervous battle to avoid the follow on in the Ashes ‘test’ as Australia took control at the Emirates Durham ICG.
An unbroken sixth wicket stand of 81 by Aaron Thomason and wicket keeper Ryan Davies means England are back in the hunt, but are still 55 runs short of avoiding the follow on at 242-5. While their position is still precarious, it would have been considerably worse had it not been for the sixth wicket pair.
Earlier in the day, Australia took their total to 446 all out, primarily thanks to David Grant’s 46 not out and although England started their response confidently, a mid-table collapse of four wickets for just 18 runs left their innings in a groggy state.
At the close though Thomason and Davies had fought back bravely with an unbroken stand of 81, but Australia are still in a dominant position in this summer’s only ‘test’ match against the old enemy.
Seventeen-year-old England opener Max Holden, who chipped in with a gutsy half century, said: “That was my first 50 for the Under-19s and it was great to get out there and take on the Aussies. It is always good to contribute to the team and we have got to hope we can get as close as we can to parity with their score.
“There was a bit of scoreboard pressure after we were in the field for so long, but we all knuckled down and we managed to get us off to a reasonable start.
“I tried to wait for the ball in the right areas. They bowled very well and restricted us. Australia knocked over a few holes in our middle order, but the two lads at the end batted superbly. They put the bad ball away superbly and we have now got something to build on.”
Matt Parkinson continued his sterling work from the previous day and a dropped early catch off his bowling meant England missed an opportunity to quickly clean up the Aussie tail. Parkinson eventually got his man as Liam Hatcher missed a straight one and was bowled for 36, having put on 72 with his partner Grant, leaving the Lancashire leg spinner with figures of 6-130.
Ben Green quickly got rid of Australia’s No11 Sam Grimwade giving the seamer a third wicket for just 72 runs as the visitors ended their innings on 446.
Tom Alsop and Holden, of Hampshire and Middlesex respectively, began England’s reply adroitly, with the openers looking totally in command. Alsop reached his half century but then Fletcher Seymour trapped him in front and a successful LBW shout ended his knock for 66.
Three wickets then fell for seven balls – all on 114 – as England’s middle order rapidly folded. Holden went for 55, before Essex boys Dan Lawrence and Callum Taylor both fell for ducks, with Jhye Richardson successful on each occasion.
When skipper Haseeb Hameed fell LBW on 161 for the fifth wicket, again to Richardson, the skids were really on the England innings, but Davies and Thomason showed tremendous resilience to take the fight back to the tourists.
Davies was 42 not out at the close with Thomason unbeaten on 31, as the sixth wicket pair put on 81, leaving them 55 shy of the follow-on target.
Holden said: “We have got to try and get past the follow on target and then push on as far as we can from there.”
At the halfway stage of this summer’s only test between the two nations, Australia are marginally in front, but with nearly 200 overs still to go there is plenty of cricket to be played as England seek to avoid defeat.