Here’s the full report from Vic. I’ll sign off now from the Gabba, where Australia celebrate and England try to work out what to do next. They have four days to turn it around.
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Of course, stick with us on the Guardian. I can see Vic Marks hammering away at his keyboard, Ali Martin is already keenly in the front row of the press conference, and Adam Collins is pacing up and down as he stews together various ideas about Cameron Bancroft. I’ll be writing between the Test matches on some broader themes, and of course we’ll be back on the OBO from Day 1 at Adelaide. There’s a whole huge summer of Ashes still to come, and we are the Vegas hotel guests who have but explored the first few sections of the buffet.
Steve Smith is unsurprisingly man of the match for his 141 not out, an innings that spanned an epic 512 minutes, and 326 balls. Only 14 boundaries in that knock, including five or so when he finally went for it while batting with the tail. What an impressive performance that was. He could be a bit more vulnerable in Adelaide, though. Not that he’s ever exactly vulnerable, but the one place he does sometimes get out is nicking seamers, and swing could test him. He had a few misses outside off stump even in this Test. Admittedly this ‘weakness’ is like a cat burglar eyeing off a tiny air vent 40 metres off the ground, but you have to work with what you’ve got.
Onward to Adelaide. Says Cummins, “It’s normally a bit lively, the wicket, and the ball swings around, so we’re looking forward to a good match.” England will have to hope so. In day-night conditions, on a pitch more lushly grassed than anything else in Australia, the visiting side will have to pour all their energies into getting that win. If they don’t, it will be a long hot summer ahead. If they can claw back, we could have a classic on our hands. And they can: they were well in this game, only to be denied by Smith’s otherworldly form and perhaps the lineball stumping of Moeen Ali. A couple of different quirks of fate, and England might have won here in Brisbane. There aren’t many times in the last few decades that you could say that on Day 5.
The ground DJ is playing Parklife, by the way. A cheeky bit of Britpop to celebrate an Australian win.
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Pat Cummins is chatting on Nine about his first Test in Australia, a landmark moment in his long-postponed career. A pretty good one to be involved in, he says. He’s full of praise for Nathan ‘Nathan’ Lyon.
“He’s almost the fourth and fifth bowler, the way he bowls, and allows Smithy to use us quicks in bursts from the other end. He’s been going beautifully. The way he bowled in the first innings, he could have had six or seven wickets, let alone the couple he ended up with.”
Australia win the first Ashes Test by 10 wickets
A crushing margin, in the end, but one that doesn’t represent the three and a half days out of just over four when England were well in the game. We had good batting from the visitors on Day 1, then a subsidence with the bat on Day 2 that prevented a more imposing total. We had some brilliant bowling from England in the first innings, and a singlehanded performance of actual sporting genius from Steve Smith to keep Australia in it. England showed resistance through the middle of the second innings, but were eventually overwhelmed by Australia’s bowling pressure, and in the end couldn’t set a lead that would trouble the home side. With the air let out of the match, Australia cruised home on the fourth evening and the final morning.
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50th over: Australia 173-0 (Warner 87, Bancroft 82)
The dream is officially over. Bancroft leg-glances Woakes for four. Five runs to win. He can finish it off this over. And he just about does, with a perfect off-drive for four. Lovely shot, beat the bowler and mid-off. Ten wickets for no run will deliver England a famous tie. Bancroft forces off the back foot to short leg and instinctively starts off for a run. Bad idea. Realised just in time. One ball to come in the over. Woakes bowls full, and Bancroft drives it back over his head for four! Australia win the first Ashes Test by ten wickets! Cleverly, the batsmen didn’t run after that shot, so Bancroft gets all four in the book. Could have been caught by the bowler too, a checked drive that just cleared Woakes.
Catherine Woods is of a like mind to mine on Warner. “Is it a sign of maturity? Proving that he doesn’t have to be flashy? That he can dig in for the good of the team when he wants to? As an aside, I’m flying to Adelaide next week for a girls’ away trip to the cricket. It’s become a regular thing: we were in Brisbane and Sydney for the last Ashes. The ladies are pretty excited especially given the expected result today in Brissy.”
Great to hear, we’ll see you in Adelaide. Best cricket ground in the world, folks.
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49th over: Australia 161-0 (Warner 87, Bancroft 70) Warner is just cat-and-mousing us here. What is his game? He could have a ton if he goes 4, 6, 4 or similar. Instead he defends most of the Root over. Second-last ball, takes a single. Will Bancroft crush this fragile dream from the one ball left? He will, cutting straight at point, then taking the run when there’s a misfield. Ok, now Warner will need some funny buggers with a six from the last ball.
I’m aware that no one in the middle is likely to care about this stuff, but you know. It’s something to think about. We have 9 to win. It’s drinks.
48th over: Australia 159-0 (Warner 86, Bancroft 69) Now Warner is going for it! He’s made a belated call to make the charge, has he? Lays into Ball on the pull shot and smashes it over square for four. Then plays the uppercut to a wider ball, placing it fine of the third man, and able to come back for two. Tries to repeat the first dose from the third ball, but this time the pull is intercepted and Warner loses the strike. Ball helps out from the fourth by accidentally getting in the way of Bancroft’s drive. But Bancroft isn’t playing the game right, as he works two runs away behind square leg. Drives the last ball at mid-off, and it’s a dot.
Win/century is 11/14, meaning Warner can still do it if he makes 10 runs, then hits a four.
47th over: Australia 150-0 (Warner 79, Bancroft 67) Joe Root is on, trying to turn the ball away fro the left-hander. Moeen Ali has a cut on his finger, so England don’t want to exacerbate that. Warner drives the second ball through covers to hand over the strike again. Bancroft comes down the wicket to a full ball, squeezes it out through backward square for three runs. Warner puts a spike in my theory by cutting a single from the last ball and keeping the strike. The 150 is up, 20 runs to win and Warner needs 21 for a hundred. What happens next?
46th over: Australia 145-0 (Warner 77, Bancroft 64) Yep. Warner has to duck the first Ball ball here, but pulls the second for a run. Bancroft edges past second slip for four. Had a push, got the timber. It looks like he may have raised a hand in apology to Warner? Intrigue! Maybe they have a deal: Warner gets the ton in singles, Bancroft gets a net. Win/century narrows to 25/23.
45th over: Australia 140-0 (Warner 76, Bancroft 60) And again! Warner pushes to mid-off, runs with the shot and pinches the single. Bancroft gets to defend four balls and duck a bouncer. Woakes toils fruitlessly. I’m very much of the opinion now that this is deliberate. Warner isn’t even looking for boundaries. Rather than think about another hundred himself, he wants to give his opening partner the best preparation for Adelaide. Long-term thinking.
44th over: Australia 139-0 (Warner 75, Bancroft 60) Another Warner single from the first ball, as he hops up on his adorable little toes and dinks Jake Ball away through square. Bancroft is practising getting forward and driving through the line. Only finding mid-off. But each ball he faces is going to help him for Adelaide and beyond. Last ball of the over, that work pays off. Strides forward and drives Ball (and ball) handsomely for four. Win/century is now 31/25.
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43rd over: Australia 134-0 (Warner 74, Bancroft 56) Warner still happy to look for the singles. You might think, given the match situation, he’d do something for the crowd and look for some shots. But, just pulls Woakes for one. Maybe he wants to give Bancroft more batting time. Maybe he wants to squeeze every drop of effort from England’s bowlers before Adelaide. You could absolutely never accus David Warner of playing for his average. I doubt he knows what it is.
42nd over: Australia 133-0 (Warner 73, Bancroft 56) And now Jake Ball holding his namesake. This really is rote stuff from England, just making sure everyone gets a bowl. Joe Rote? The seamer bowls a wide. Is this their plan to stop Warner getting to three figures? Clever.
Email from Andrew Benton, on our host city: “I had a great time in Brisbane, on my one and only trip downunder, in 2005. Like Britain but sunny. Even had a train trip to Eumundi, to see a bloke I know who runs a huge bamboo farm, which was rather spectacular.”
If it was spectacular, it would be BAM! boo. Anyway, plenty of time for sightseeing after this game wraps up. Though I suspect most of the Barmies will sightsee the inside of the Pig & Whistle for the sixth time this week.
Andrew Strauss on Bairstow incident
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) November 27, 2017
"Playfullness, no malice, blown out of all proportion. There will be a de-brief of players and staff after Test."#bbccricket #ashes pic.twitter.com/ap31qnd26Y
41st over: Australia 131-0 (Warner 72, Bancroft 56) Chris Woakes on for a spell. Bowls Warner a short ball and beats the top edge. Bit of an appeal, and the snicko graph shows a spike but it doesn’t seem to line up with the edge of the bat. More like the batmsan’s spikes scraping in the crease. Short again, England experiementing with Australia’s tactics, and this time Warner comfortably pulls a single. Bancroft blocks out the rest. Win/century is 39/28.
@GeoffLemonSport Seeing one's team win an Ashes Test IS a lure. Even at 12.09am on the telly in UK. This is great stuff. It was touch-and-go for a while, but the boys did it. Worth the sleepless nights and days of nothing concrete achieved.
— sarah jane bacon (@sportzzzgirl) November 27, 2017
40th over: Australia 130-0 (Warner 71, Bancroft 56) Rowan Sweeney is getting inventive. “Re Brendan Garry’s point about England forfeiting in the face of the inevitable, what do you think the chances are that Australia bat at a snail’s pace to really rub England’s face in it? 2 ½ sessions ought to do it.”
That would make them a lot of friends around the ground. Not least in the press box. Thankfully, Bancroft has found his stride. Cuts Anderson for two runs by splitting gover and point, then glances two more fine of the long leg. He loses his bat as he touches down for the first of those, and runs back without it. Warner comes down the wicket once the ball is dead to render unto Caesar that which Caesar’s sponsor provided. The win/century split is 40/29.
39th over: Australia 126-0 (Warner 71, Bancroft 51) “‘Nasty, brutish and short’ works just as well as a description of David Warner, doesn’t it?” offers Nick Carter. Nicely played. Poor Warner, he’s actually quite misunderstood. I guess all of his Test centuries and money are some consolation. He digs out a full ball from Broad for a single to start the over, and then it’s just more net work for Bancroft. How great an opportunity for the young debutant, to have the chance to come out in the morning, not out overnight, and rebuild an innings starting the next day. To practice against two world-class practitioners in Anderson and Broad, but to have nothing on the line to distract him. He’s fine personally, having made a fifty last night, and his team is fine. He finally gets off the mark for the day with a tip-and-run defensive drive towards mid-off. Has to hustle for his ground as the throw comes in. Warner misses out down leg from the last ball. 44 to win, 29 for his century.
38th over: Australia 124-0 (Warner 70, Bancroft 51) Warner, helps a short ball around the corner for four! There’s a deep backward square but it went just fine of him, well timed. That hundred is on. Loves a cheap last-day hundred, does Warner. That’s not a criticism, he’s made plenty of tough ones too. It’s actually quite admirable that when the chance is there to cash in, take a demoralised team for a ton before lunch, that kind of thing, he’s switched on enough to do it. And still retains the acceleration, even though he bats more conservatively these days by default. Walks towards off and knocks a single to leg. Easy done, he has 70, Bancroft hasn’t moved.
37th over: Australia 119-0 (Warner 65, Bancroft 51) Broad, Warner, and there’s that back-foot force again, this time with a little more windmill follow-through of the bat. There’s a sweeper in the deep, so just one run. Left-hander and right-hander in this opening combination, as per the classics. Bancroft continues in defence. Hasn’t scored today. Australia needs 51 to win.
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36th over: Australia 118-0 (Warner 64, Bancroft 51) Anderson from the other end. Would live a 509th Test wicket this morning. Warner escapes further examination by jamming the first ball round the corner. Bancroft gets a relatively dry line just outside off, and patiently waits the over out.
Robert Wilson pops a message in a Parisian wine bottle and floats it our way. “That’s a very nice Lyon piece by A. Collins there. He’s right about the arm-ball. The straight one is always very big gun indeed when it’s used wisely. An influencer and intensifier for several deliveries that follow (Warnie’s straight one used to eff with batsmen’s heads for a couple of whole overs). It’s good to see Lyon getting some love. I said yesterday that the secret to Smith’s success is that no one could work him out. I’ve always thought that Lyon’s secret was that everyone thinks they already have worked him out. There’s no advantage like a little bit of consistent and blockheaded underestimation.”
This... this is something. Spotted outside the Gabba just now. I wonder if it’s Nathan in the shirt.
@danbrettig #Ritzy shirt. Need it. pic.twitter.com/EMl3foXXaE
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 26, 2017
35th over: Australia 117-0 (Warner 63, Bancroft 51) And away we go. Stuart Broad to gangle his long legs into the opening bowler’s role. Warner punches off the back foot once, straight to cover. Twice, straight to cover. Thrice, picks the gap at last square of mid-off, and belts back for a third run. He could actually be on for a hundred here, if he gobbles up the bowling.
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Well, we’re close to getting underway. The teams are heading out to scattered applause. The Barmies are here, bless them. And a reasonable turnout at the pool deck. And quite a few random spectators, given it’s a gold-coin donation to charity for entry. Pretty decent Day 5 crowd, all things considered. I guess seeing your team win an Ashes Test remains a lure.
In more sombre news, today is also the anniversary of Phillip Hughes’ death. Someone who should have been out in the middle today. Plenty of reflection and tributes will come over the course of the day.
Never forgotten #408 pic.twitter.com/XSKBCtKIia
— Cricket Australia (@CAComms) November 26, 2017
❤️ #63notout pic.twitter.com/Gv57qzj5Op
— SACA News (@SACAnews) November 26, 2017
On the anniversary of his tragic passing, we remember Phillip Hughes today. #63notout pic.twitter.com/JwjZQP50j2
— England's Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) November 26, 2017
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In case you’re wondering what the Bairstow business is about, here we go. Obviously Australian media would quite like this to be a story, and English media is rather more keen for it not to be. It doesn’t really sound like much of a story. But we’ll find out eventually.
I understand there was an incident in a bar in Perth, The Avenue, where Jonny Bairstow’s head connected with the side of Cam Bancroft’s.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) November 26, 2017
Police were not involved & the matter went no further. But I understand that is what the heated sledging to Bairstow was referring to today. https://t.co/NM2tvFJjyt
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) November 26, 2017
I’m told Cricket Australia are satisfied with Bancroft’s version and have no interest in taking Bairstow allegations further. However it is an ECB investigation.
— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) November 26, 2017
Not that we’re in any way pre-judging what happened, but...
I like the alliteration of Bairstow butts Bancroft. Leaves lots of room for Cook clocks Cummins, Woakes whacks Warner, Stoneman spiflicates Starc, and Malan mauls Marsh
— Dawid Brown (@diogenesbrown) November 26, 2017
Brendan Garry is asking the big questions, about the point of it all. “I’m wondering about the psychology here. Both sides know that the result is in. Australia might lose 2 wickets but will bat for around 90 minutes. How does this work? In American Football they take the knee when the result is inevitable, should there be a cricket equivalent?”
I suppose cricket is about individual achievements, and there is still room for that. Some wickets for a bowler, a brilliant catch, a memorable shot. Whatever it may be. You assume nothing, and you play till the close. And there’s always the chance of a surprise. Many a dramatic finish might never have been if everyone had assumed the result an hour earlier.
So what does all this mean for England? This will be the big question out of the day, I suppose. Have they got the right side? Does their competitiveness through much of this match augur well, or is the greater problem the weak points that have been uncovered? Can their lower order combat the short stuff in any meaningful way? A massive difference in the way Cummins was able to contribute with the bat, versus the way England’s 9, 10, 11 weren’t.
“Hello Geoff,” writes philosopher-scribe Ashwin. “Am writing to you from Germany (moved in here for my Masters’ this year from India), and as a lifelong Aussie fan can’t wait to see Warner and Bancroft wrap things up. Do you think this will hold them (and Khawaja) in good stead come the second Test? I surely don’t want Smith to execute a rescue operation and burn out as the series progresses; not that he doesn’t look the part but surely he’s human....”
“Also as I was just finishing a paper on a certain Mr. Thomas Hobbes. His infamous words, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” ring a bell, don’t they? The first two aptly describe the loneliness of the English tail and ability while facing Starc and Cummins, banging in balls wonderfully captured by the last three words. Who would’ve thought Hobbes was describing cricket?”
Some fundamental truths in there. I’m sure Bancroft will be much the better for his fifty, even if it was made in far simpler circumstances than other Test innings he might play. If Khawaja gets a hit today, it would probably help him too. So does that mean the team thing is for Warner to get himself out? Doubt we’ll see that.
If you’ve had your fill of Katter, you can read about another iconic Australian, this time without a head. Every time Nathan Lyon bowls, I just worry about his poor, poor head. So naked and vulnerable. I hope he bathes that bonce in sunscreen at every session break. Here’s Adam Collins on the GOAT.
Now, I told you yesterday a bit about Queensland politics. I shouldn’t have neglected to include this man. Bob Katter is the most famous hat-wearer from North Queensland, he runs his own rural-focused party named after his good self, and his ability to still surprise people after years in Parliament rather sets him apart. This is him just after Australians voted to legalise marriage equality.
In case you missed it, here's Bob Katter's alternative view on the #samesexmarriage debate. Thanks for watching. #Insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/iObsR1tDs1
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) November 18, 2017
bob katter goes from cascading exuberance to thunderous grimdark on a dime. it's juilliard. it's branagh. it's inside the actors studio
— Tiger Webb (@tfswebb) November 19, 2017
“Evening Geoff,” writes Ross from Glasgow. “I was at Murrayfield yesterday and was delighted with that sporting offering from Australia. It probably won’t cross sports as I don’t think it possible for some moment of Oz recklessness to torpedo the chances of the rest of the team, but you never know.”
Hello, fellow knell-watchers. Or listeners, I suppose, but on the OBO you can listen by reading. It’s a veritable feast of the senses, an information-glut. It is only fitting that in a series called the Ashes there should be times when we gather for the last rites.
That’s what we’re doing today, as Australia resume needing only 56 runs for victory with 10 wickets in hand. It was a procession yesterday, as a deflated England side let the openers piles on 114 without loss. Hard not to be deflated after England stayed in the game for three days, then gave it all away in a session. A potentially challenging lead was undermined, first by Joe Root’s dismissal straight after reaching 50, then Moeen Ali’s line-ball stumping, Jonny Bairstow feeling isolated, and the tail being unable to withstand the short ball attack. Stand by, because this will be a theme.
We’ll be quietly limbering up here for the next 90 minutes, so feel free to tweet or email me any thoughts, observations, or conversation-starters.
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Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Vic Marks with his take on day four’s play at the Gabba, which saw Australia move into a match-winning position.
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