Nasser Hussain knocks Joe Root's decision to bat first at The Gabba

Nineteen years on from inserting Australia in Brisbane, the former England skipper believes the current captain chose wrong on the opening morning of the series. The tourists went on to be dismissed for 147

Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain has criticised Joe Root's decision to bat on the opening day of the Ashes series at The Gabba after the tourists were dismissed for 147 by Australia.

Captain Pat Cummins claimed 5 for 38 and Mitchell Starc - who bowled Rory Burns via the opening delivery of the match - and Josh Hazlewood claimed two each as the hosts were skittled before tea.

Rain ensured Australia will have to wait until day two to begin their reply, but it was the perfect start to their Ashes defence.

In contrast, it was a torrid day for England and skipper Root, who won the toss - he won four out of five in 2017/18 in a 4-0 defeat - but watched his side toil as the ball nipped around. Cummins himself admitted he would have put England in the field if he'd won the 50/50.

It came almost 19 years after Hussain called right in the air ahead of the first Test of the 2003/03 series, only to insert Australia. Steve Waugh's side reached 364 for 2 by the close in what remains one of the most infamous decisions made by an England captain.  

^{Hussain won the toss in 2002 - but inserted Australia with devastating consequences (Tom Shaw/Getty Images)}

He later reflected: "But by the fifth or sixth over nothing was happening and the world was closing in on me. I thought to myself: 'Oh God, Nass, what have you done?'"

Australia would go on to prevail by 384 runs, retain the Ashes in just 11 days of cricket and win the series 4-1.

Despite the ignominy of the decision, Hussain is under no illusion that Root should have followed his decision and bowled first.

"It was a green pitch it has been raining but history tells you at Brisbane that it does a little bit more, it gets a little bit quicker into day two," he told Sky Sports.

"As a captain, you look down. Everyone is focusing on what the pitch is on the first morning, but as a captain, you've also got to look at what that pitch will look like on day three, day four, day five. The humidity, the cracks at Brisbane, it gets a bit quicker, you have to think ahead as well.

The Cricketer columnist added: "Obviously 147 all-out tells you that it was the wrong decision and the way it played it did seam around, it did bounce, there was tennis ball bounce there.

"I think sometimes you confuse it all. You turn up, I did it, you look down at a pitch it's green, it has rained - what is your stronger suit? I would say to anyone who has watched England over the last three or four years that bowling is their stronger suit. 

"What is Australia's weaker suit? That is their batting, they've got a very fine bowling attack. Sometimes you just complicate it. Forget the stats, forget everything, just look down at what is in front of you and try and make a decision."

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