Express & Star

Ashes Verdict: Walsall Cricket Club

England's dominant position in the First Ashes Test has been a surprise to Walsall Cricket Club's batsman Tim Maxfield.

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The 24-year-old, who has played for Walsall for around 12 years, is the latest name to join the Express and Star's Ashes Verdict series which sees players and officials from clubs in and around the Black Country and Staffordshire area give their take on cricket's greatest rivalry.

And today saw England take a commanding position in Cardiff as they closed the day 289 all out in their second innings with Australia facing a daunting task of needing 412 to win the Test.

  • Walsall's first cricket match for which details were recorded was on August 30 1833, when the town club entertained Bilston at the Chuckery. Walsall won by an innings and 20 runs.

  • Historical evidence has been unearthed which indicates that Walsall Cricket Club is older than originally thought. It now appears that the club may have been formed as early as 1812.

  • Walsall currently play in the First Division of the Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League.

  • The club play their home games at Gorway Road, Walsall.

Starting the day in the field, England managed to dismiss Australia for 308 giving England a healthy first innings lead of 122.

The tourists lost their last five wickets for just 43 runs as England's pace attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Mark Wood.

And England made the most of that big lead as Joe Root and Ian Bell both made fifties to give the hosts a huge lead of more than 400.

But the hosts were dismissed after losing their last six wickets for 82 runs - meaning the tourists have two full days to chase down the huge target.

Maxfield, who has also played club cricket in Australia, said England are making the most of home conditions with Australia still getting to grips with playing in English conditions.

"England are looking pretty strong at the minute, I'm quite surprised to be honest," he said.

"I think the condition of the pitch is helping (the hosts) because I've played in Australia and the wickets there are very fast and you come back to England and you notice there is a pace difference.

"This morning was a big session for England. If Australia got near enough level the game would have been very different but to bowl the way they did has put them in a great position.

"Now they have a lead of 400, I would struggle to see Australia getting anywhere near it. The wicket's not getting any better and is already starting to deteriorate. I think Moeen Ali will have a big part to play towards the end of tomorrow because it will just get worse with the spin.

"But you can never write Australia off. If England go onto win the First Test I think the Australians will come back twice as hard."

To get involved in the Ashes Verdict email nigel.slater@expressandstar.co.uk

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