There has not been a blacker day for Australia in Ashes annals. Captain Michael Clarke’s career is teetering after a thrashing, desperate drive at Stewie Broad was shanked straight to slip.

Shaun Marsh’s vulnerability against the moving ball was again highlighted while Adam Voges may well have played his last Test.
Geoff Boycott on the BBC said he couldn’t remember any Australian top-order looking so frail and vulnerable. ‘They were as poor as I have ever seen a top order and I’ve seen all the series in England for the last 50 years,’ he said.

Only two players emerged from the opening day’s play at Trent Bridge with their heads high: pace pair Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. The rest under performed big time and in a game Clarke had billed as a Grand Final.

Years ago when an under-strength NZ toured downunder there was a famous sign pleading: ‘All we want is a five day Test’.
If Australia can force play into a fourth day it will be doing well. The 100s of supporters who had flown in for the final two deciding contests must be bitterly disappointed – and rightly so.

Should Clarke resign as captain? Yes.