First Ashes Test: Edgbaston: Days 1 & 2
View 39 photosGlenn McGrath, Steve Harmison, Bob Willis & Jonathan Trott
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The Wyatt Suite was completely sold out many months in advance for one of the most hotly anticipated clashes in the sporting world as the Australians rolled into town to contest the First Test of the Ashes series against Joe Root’s England. This is the pinnacle of cricket matches in England. With fantastic catering at Edgbaston, an all day complimentary bar and fabulous views of the action from our balcony there isn’t a better way to enjoy world class Test cricket!
Guests on both days were joined by Aussie fast bowling legend Glenn McGrath and 2005 Ashes-winning England hero Steve Harmison for plenty of cricket chat and analysis. On Day 1 we were also joined by another fast bowler with a great Ashes history, Bob Willis, who now features heavily in Sky Sports coverage of the cricket. On Day 2 Warwickshire and England star Jonathan Trott entertained guests in the room with Ashes tales from a batsman’s perspective.
The Australians won the toss on Day 1 and opted to bat but were quickly three down thanks to some superb bowling from Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. The sight of Jimmy Anderson struggling with an injury was not a welcome one for England fans, but it was only thanks to a majestic knock of 144 from Steve Smith that the visitors managed to post a respectable total of 284, with Smith aided by late resistance from Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon. Broad finished with an excellent return of 5-86 manfully assisted by local hero Chris Woakes’ 3-56. A good day for England and their fans!
On Day 2 England batted all day, and guests were thrilled to see Rory Burns land his maiden Test century, with an excellent knock of 133, assisted by half centuries from Root and Stokes. A total of 374 gave England a healthy first innings lead of 90, which was as good as it got in the match for England! In the Wyatt Suite we were lucky enough to see the period of the Test where England were on top, before more brilliance from Smith and 6 wickets for Nathan Lyon in England’s second innings saw England suffer a rare defeat in Birmingham later in the match!
It was another brilliant couple of days of top class England Test cricket hospitality in the Wyatt Suite and we very much look forward to next year and the visit of the West Indians for the Second Test of the series at Edgbaston.
