The Ashes 2013: 1st Test - Five players to watch out for on Day 2

The first day of the Ashes belonged to the quicks on both the sides as 14 batsmen walked to the pitch and back to the pavilion without reaching the half-century mark. The match is in balance after three sessions and the possibility of a hasty result is extremely high.

England won the toss and chose to bat first only to see their captain Alastair Cook fall early on in the game. Jonathan Trott made a breezy 48 before he fell to a tempting out-swinger from star of the day Peter Siddle.

The English innings crumbled like a pack of cards after that, as Siddle completed his five-for and claimed the cherry for the day. England did well to pull back the game in the final session of the day as Steven Finn and James Anderson picked up a couple of wickets each to leave Australia trailing by 140 runs with six wickets remaining.

Day 2 can tilt the balance of the game to either side and we’ll be hoping that somebody can grab this game by the scruff of its neck to give it some shape. There will be a few contenders who can do that. Here is a list of five players who will play a critical role at Trent Bridge on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test:

5. Mitchell Starc

The left-handed fast bowler found it difficult to control the cherry when conditions supported swing bowling at the head of the innings. He looked like a bundle of nerves, but thankfully, his bowling partners penetrated the English batting line-up.

He helped Australia wind up the innings and ended with a few scalps including that of Jonny Bairstow, who was bowled to a swinging yorker. Considering the rate at which wickets have been falling, he might have the ball in his hand once again in the last session of the day (or before) and then we might be able to witness the much awaited battle with Cook.

However, he will have a role to play before that with the bat. He has proved that he can be handy with the willow and nearly got a century in India. England’s tail did not show much application, apart from Stuart Broad, but Australia’s tail-end batsman have a combined average of 69.00.