Given the dominance of England's batting throughout the season and the limited nature of Australia's bowling, both sides were surprised as England stuttered to 3/17 in their first innings, with Merv Hughes providing the venom he had been promising. Hughes, still inexperienced at this point, was one of the players the selectors stuck with despite his poor form. England recovered somewhat through the strokeplay of Gower and an unexpected 69 from John Emburey (who kept falling over when playing the sweep shot). But it was debutant Peter Taylor taking 6/78 off 26 overs that ran through the middle order, including the dangerous Ian Botham.