Ali’s vital breakthrough helps England push for a decisive Ashes victory

England fought hard on the opening day of the Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford, with a crucial performance from Moeen Ali keeping them in contention. Australia was 187 for four at tea, with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head stabilising the innings after the early loss of Australia’s openers.

Ben Stokes made the bold decision to bowl first after winning the toss, even though conditions were starting to favour the batsmen as the day progressed. The pitch appeared flat, and as rain was forecasted for the weekend, England had to make the most of the time they had.

Australia’s opening pair of David Warner and Usman Khawaja gave England an early scare but were dismissed by Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. Broad celebrated his 599th career wicket, removing Khawaja for just three. Warner followed soon after, dismissed by Woakes for 32.

Despite the early breakthroughs, Australia’s middle order started to look dangerous. Steve Smith, coming in at three, and Labuschagne seemed to take control of the game with a solid partnership, but their progress was halted. Mark Wood, known for his pace, removed Smith with a well-placed delivery at 92mph, trapping him lbw.

Moeen Ali then struck at a critical moment, sending Labuschagne packing for 51. The Australian had just reached his first half-century of the series and appeared to be finding form, but a well-executed delivery from Moeen spun past Labuschagne’s inside edge, and he was given out lbw. The wicket was confirmed after a DRS review, keeping England’s hopes alive.

The breakthrough also cast doubt on Australia’s decision to field a team without a specialist spinner, a move not seen in 120 Tests. Moeen’s early success with the ball demonstrated that England’s strategy could disrupt Australia’s top order.

With Australia sitting at 107 for two at lunch, England’s bowlers began to regain control after the break. Wood and Moeen’s disciplined bowling forced Australia into a series of mistakes. After a few tense moments, Travis Head, who had been struck by a bouncer from Wood earlier, stepped up to the challenge. At tea, Head was still at the crease, unbeaten on 47, but England had made inroads into Australia’s middle order.

The match is delicately poised as both teams look to seize the advantage. With the forecasted rain likely to intervene, England needs to continue applying pressure to keep their Ashes dreams alive.