And some post-match reaction.
Here’s Ali Martin on England’s troubles.
Vic Marks’s day four report
Close of play
34th over: Australia 114-0 (Bancroft 51, Warner 60) Anderson starts the last over of the day with an absurd wide beamer to Warner. It was an attempted slower ball. Anderson is still ticking, though, and such bad losing reflects well on him. There hasn’t been enough pride or anger in this England bowling performance.
The excellent Bancroft defends the final ball of the day, which ends with Australia on the brink of a mature and ultimately emphatic victory. They need a further 56 runs tomorrow morning; England need the apocalypse. It’s been slow torture over two or three days for England, with the occasional thump round the head from the fast bowlers to remind them of old times. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
Don't think it will be a crucial first hour tomorrow #ashes
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) November 26, 2017
Updated
33rd over: Australia 110-0 (Bancroft 50, Warner 58) James Anderson relieves his frustration by hosing some invective in the direction of the non-striker David Warner. He’s not even bowling! We’re going to miss that grumpy old champion when he’s gone.
“Who of the England XI would get in the Australia team?” says Gary Naylor. “Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow and... Can’t help thinking that the teams aren’t as close as we thought. The Australian batsmen have better techniques, playing later and below their eyes; and the bowlers are faster, bouncier and spin it harder. 5-0 or 4-1 is coming I fear.”
Yes I thought all along it would be 5-0, because of Australian ruthlessness and the fairweather nature of modern man. But I still think the biggest difference between the teams is home advantage.
Updated
32nd over: Australia 109-0 (Bancroft 50, Warner 58) Bancroft tucks Anderson off the pads for four to reach a calm, mature maiden Test fifty from 111 balls. It included five fours and one six, swished down the ground off Moeen Ali. Well played!
“Much was made of the risk of Australia’s going into this match with a four-man attack,” says Romeo. “England went in, it appears, with a two-man attack.”
31st over: Australia 104-0 (Bancroft 46, Warner 57) Broad returns to the attack, with Bancroft edging him just short of Cook at second slip. On BT Sport, Michael Vaughan is moaning about the decision to start with Woakes and Ball rather than Anderson and Broad after lunch yesterday. He’s right - that was the tipping point of the match. If it was a tactical decision it was not entirely fathomable, though there is a slight element of hindsight in that comment.
“So Rob, assuming an Australian victory, do England stick or twist with Adelaide?” says Isaac Forster. “The day night test should suit their bowlers better, and there’s no obvious batting upgrades beyond batting Bairstow higher than Moeen. Overton for Ball would reduce the length of tail, but Woakes hasn’t exactly set the world on fire with the pill. By the way after five Tests is it indecent to have a massive man crush on Pat Cummins? Seems like every test he’s played he’s made an outlandishly large contribution to the outcome.”
My instinct is that they will play Overton, but I don’t think it will make a huge difference. There will be a temptation to shove Mark Wood in but I’d save him for Perth. Pack the Adelaide team with swing bowlers and pray for twilight.
30th over: Australia 101-0 (Bancroft 44, Warner 56) Jimmy Anderson, who has admirable match figures of 34-11-58-2, returns to the attack. He starts with a maiden. Of course he does. Australia have had the simplest of plans in this Test - block Anderson and Broad, thwock the rest.
“G’day Rob,” says Mark White. “Aussie fan here watching the game from Sydney’s northern beaches. England look a couple of batsmen (plus that long long tail) and a couple of bowlers short, though Broad and Anderson have been excellent. Given the talk about the Aussie four-man attack, what happens if one of them is injured? And decent of the Poms to play Bancroft into Test form!”
Yes they took a risk with that attack but it has worked. They will probably play Chad Sayers at Adelaide to keep Cummins fresh for Perth.
29th over: Australia 101-0 (Bancroft 44, Warner 56) The impressive Bancroft works Root for two bring up the hundred partnership.
“Thoughts from Japan: I am nodding as I am ‘out there’,” says Richard T. “I am at home. Contemplative of how much this will demoralise the squad. We were expecting a loss at the Gabba, so in that sense it’s a win, because nothing has changed about expectations. A little frustrating that all the hard work put in saw the pitch wake up for the Aussie bowling. Anyway, some great positives to take away --fielding positions, mixing up the deliveries-- England just need to analyse that genius Smith and find a way through.”
Yes, it’s important to remember, as knees jerk and jerks neigh on social media, that this is nothing like the first Tests of 2013-14 or 2006-07. England have done plenty of good things in this game. They have a chance in the pink-ball Test, especially if it swings, but if they lose that it’s a helluva long way back.
Updated
28th over: Australia 98-0 (Bancroft 41, Warner 56) Warner slashes Ball for four to bring up a patient 75-ball fifty. A patient 75-ball fifty! Ball is bowling at half ratpower, if that, and Warner helps a short ball round the corner for four more to end the over.
“To keep you company, here’s a question: what changes should England make for the second Test?” says Aditi Aditi. “Would Mason Crane for Ball be a totally crazy selection?”
Yes. You’re welcome! I would make one change, Curran for Ball (I know, I know; it’s the 90s kid in me). I’d also swap Moeen and Bairstow.
27th over: Australia 87-0 (Bancroft 39, Warner 47) Warner guides Root deftly to the third-man boundary. His innings has been an immaculate construction, and he is three away from his half-century.
26th over: Australia 83-0 (Bancroft 35, Warner 43) Ball replaces Woakes and is thin-edged to fine leg for four by Bancroft. A severe interpretation of Ball’s career so far would be that he is to Trevor Bayliss was Saj Mahmood was to Duncan Fletcher. I’m not sure he’s been fully fit in this game though.
“To be honest, I’m admiring the cold steel ruthlessness of Oz,” says Mark Turner. “The way they murdered our tail then sauntered out to bat a few runs. Easy game this cricket, right?”
The greatest trick the Aussies ever pulled was convincing the world they knew they’d win all along. Even the awesome 1995-2007 teams were bluffers to some extent.
Updated
25th over: Australia 78-0 (Bancroft 35, Warner 42) A maiden from Root to Bancroft. This match won’t finish today.
24th over: Australia 78-0 (Bancroft 35, Warner 42) Bancroft flicks Woakes for two. Australia have been in total control against the change bowlers. To adapt the old Graham Gooch line, they are facing a World XI in one spell and Ilford 2nd XI in the next.
“If you pop on over to YouTube to watch the video,” says Yum, “I don’t think getting a wriggle on is going to result in Stokes booking an urgent flight to Oz.”
I didn’t say it was, my dear Yum. I merely think it would be good to know one way or another.
Updated
23rd over: Australia 73-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 42) Joe Root brings himself on to replace Jake Ball, and Bancroft turns him past leg slip for three. This is really starting to resemble the first two Tests of the Fart vs Thunder tour. England played well for a lot of that series, and lost it 3-0.
“It’s hard to believe, I know, but I saw a young Rick Wakeman in Brisbane in 1975, when I was working in a pub in West End,” says Robert Lewis. “I also saw Bo Diddley in Bondi and Chuck Berry, who definitely didn’t like the Queensland cops. The owner of the Boundary Hotel was later murdered, but that’s another story.”
Updated
22nd over: Australia 70-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 42)
Dear Avon & Somerset Police,
Please get a wriggle on. Nice one.
Love,
Bob
Updated
21st over: Australia 64-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 36) The most impressive thing about this Australian victory is that, apart from a couple of short spells of vicious fast bowling, they have won the match through stealth. That really wasn’t supposed to happen.
20th over: Australia 64-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 36) Woakes has bowled a bit better in this innings, though he still isn’t quite right and he still averages 66 in overseas Tests. Warner misses an almighty yahoo across the line and then plays an impressively controlled pull stroke through midwicket for four.
19th over: Australia 60-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 32) Jake Ball, on for Moeen Ali, concedes one from a forgettable first over.
Updated
18th over: Australia 59-0 (Bancroft 27, Warner 31) A half-volley from Woakes is driven deliciously through mid-on for four by Bancroft. He has looked extremely good in this innings. It must be lovely to make your Test debut when you’re in the form of your life.
Updated
17th over: Australia 53-0 (Bancroft 22, Warner 30) Adam Gilchrist and Geoff Boycott are in the BT Sport commentary box.
Gilchrist: What can Joe Root do now to blow this open?
Boycott: Pray.
Warner smears a low full toss from Moeen over midwicket for four to bring up the fifty. Australia are cruising, and for England there is a real danger that this arm-wrestle of a Test will end very nastily. (NB: Clip contains violent scenes, etc.)
Updated
16th over: Australia 45-0 (Bancroft 22, Warner 22) There’s an air of formality about the match now. I doubt Australia will finish it tonight, though it’s not beyond the realms: there are 18 overs remaining, plus the extra half-hour.
15th over: Australia 42-0 (Bancroft 20, Warner 21) Warner drags Moeen over mid-on for four. It wasn’t the cleanest shot but it cleared the field comfortably. This is a terrific, calculated assault on England’s change bowlers. A ten- or nine-wicket win would flatter Australia - but it would also demoralise England before the vital pink-ball Test. If they are going to lose, which seems inevitable, England really need to take a few Australian batsmen with them.
Updated
14th over: Australia 37-0 (Bancroft 20, Warner 16) England talked a lot before the series about playing on egos with the ball; I suspect they will have been surprised by the selflessness of Australia’s batting. It’s been a really mature performance. Warner, having seen off Branderson, is starting to attack: he pulls Woakes for two and then glides to third man for his first boundary. That was a beautifully placed shot, right between second slip and gully.
13th over: Australia 30-0 (Bancroft 20, Warner 9) Bancroft saunters down the track to drive Moeen for a sweet straight six. Shot! Moeen has had a poor game with the ball, particularly in comparison to Lyon.
12th over: Australia 23-0 (Bancroft 14, Warner 8) It’s a double bowling change, with Chris Woakes replacing Stuart Broad (5-1-11-0). His third ball zips past the outside edge of Bancroft, with a belated appeal for caught behind from the bowler. England decide against a review.
Bancroft’s bat certainly hit his pad, though Hotspot seemed to show another mark a bit higher on the bat. To the naked eye it seemed to miss the edge comfortably. I’m hugely confused Ted. (But I don’t think it was out.)
11th over: Australia 23-0 (Bancroft 14, Warner 8) Moeen replaces Anderson (5-1-8-0), who bowled excellently and was played excellently. Australia continue to get ‘em in singles, with three in that over. Bancroft and Warner have quietly played very well here.
“Bugger,” says Guy Hornsby. “Going to sleep l hopeful at 106-4 and waking up aghast to see Australia in after another England capitulation is distilled Ashes, like a McGrath 5-0 prediction or a 1990s dead rubber victory. For effs... while we watch Australia try to get 170 as quickly and demoralisingly as possible, surely the big worry for A******* is our second change? Ball and Woakes have looked off the pace, so what price Overton, Rob?”
I’m uncomfortable with replacing people after one Test, but England might make that change - especially as Overton can bat, at least in theory. The 1990s fan in me wants them to fly over a Neil Mallender-style specialist just for the pink-ball Test. What’s Martin Bicknell up to?
Updated
10th over: Australia 20-0 (Bancroft 12, Warner 7) Bancroft drops Broad on the off side and pegs it. He’s played with impressive composure, and has taken two-thirds of the strike in the first 10 overs. Moeen Ali is about to come into the attack, though the BT Sport team reckon he has a cut on his spinning finger. There are only a few days to the Adelaide Test; that said, you wouldn’t expect Moeen’s bowling to be so important there. Anderson looks fine, which is the most important thing.
9th over: Australia 17-0 (Bancroft 10, Warner 7) Warner clouts Anderson into the covers, where Malan dives to his right to make a fine stop. That was Warner’s first really attacking shot; he’s shown impressive patience against some excellent bowling. He knows England will have to make a change soon.
8th over: Australia 15-0 (Bancroft 9, Warner 6) One from Broad’s over.
7th over: Australia 14-0 (Bancroft 9, Warner 5) Bancroft survives a big LBW appeal when he pushes around a sharp inducker from Anderson. Marais Erasmus thought about it for a while but it looked high. Bancroft and Warner are playing with great commonsense. If they survive this new-ball spell, Australia will win the game.
6th over: Australia 13-0 (Bancroft 9, Warner 4) Broad is hammering a fullish length from around the wicket to Warner, who would have been subject to a huge LBW appeal but for a late inside-edge. England have started brilliantly but every dot ball is a triumph for Australia. Batting will be a lot easier in a few overs’ time.
Here’s Aditya Srinath. “Apropos Rick Wakeman in over 2... Australia are actually the biggest whingers in the world (and that’s from an Aussie paper).”
Rick Wakeman!
5th over: Australia 12-0 (Bancroft 9, Warner 3) Bancroft thick-edges/steers (delete depending on your nationality) Anderson through the cordon for four. The next ball is defended to Anderson, who flings it in the direction of the stumps and hits Bancroft near his private place. Bancroft didn’t flinch, just glared back at Anderson, who put his hand up in apology.
“Anticipating a defeat (whether sizeable or narrow), I can’t help feeling that Moeen is much more suited to batting with the tail than YJB...” says Chris Langmead. “It may not have saved England though, they just haven’t seized the key moments (Vince run out, Malan shot, Woakes/Ball bowling to Aussie lower order, Cook brain fade). I will, of course, happily recant all this should Woakes, Ball and Moeen tear through the Aussie line up...”
Yes, I didn’t/don’t understand that change at all. I have a lot of sympathy for Bairstow but maybe he gets too cute when he bats with the tail, whereas Moeen just plays his way. Bairstow is also more likely to construct a long innings at No6. England have done plenty of good things in this game so they shouldn’t be too disheartened. Adelaide is their big chance. It won’t be a draw, so it’s 2-0 (and then the smart money will be on 5-0) or 1-1 and all bets are off.
4th over: Australia 8-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 3) The quality of the bowling means Warner can’t dominate as he would like, at least not yet. He’s beaten by another cracking delivery from Broad, the highlight of a top-class maiden. Anderson and Broad (combined age: 66) have been wonderful in this game.
3rd over: Australia 8-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 3) Bancroft is beaten by another gorgeous delivery from Anderson, who has started majestically. England surely need to get Steve Smith in, and out, against the new ball if they are to win.
“I fear that Australia’s ability to blow away England’s tail may be a defining feature of this series,” says Brian Withington. “As you identify it also puts serious pressure on the last recognised batsman, and is not likely to be matched by England with the ball in hand. I don’t have the stats but I seem to recall that this was regularly an issue for England against the great W Indies team - surprisingly competitive up to about six wickets down, slaughtered thereafter.”
I thought it was an issue against the great Australia teams of the 90s/00s, and that any tailend runs from the West Indies were gratuitous torture like at Edgbaston in 1984. I might be wrong though.
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 2) There are another 33 overs remaining tonight. David Warner sets a positive tone by playing tip and run off his first two deliveries from Stuart Broad, before Bancroft gets the first boundary with a flick round the corner.
“The umpire gave Moeen out so he’s out, end of story,” says Rick Chapman. “Ever hear an Aussie whinge?!”
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Bancroft 0, Warner 0) James Anderson and Stuart Broad will need to do most/all of the work if England are to win this match. Anderson starts with the usual excellence, a maiden that includes a nervous play and miss from Bancroft.
Australia’s task is not just to win - it’s to do so in a manner that demoralises England before the Adelaide Test. The first two Tests of the 1990-91 Ashes series offer a decent template.
That’s tea. England fought hard in the afternoon session but they had always lost a couple of wickets too many, and the controversial dismissal of Moeen Ali came at a really bad time. We know Australia can get in a mess chasing low targets, particularly in Ashes Tests, but I’d expect them to win this pretty comfortably now.
Updated
WICKET! England 195 all out (Ball c Handscomb b Cummins 1)
Pat Cummins replaces Nathan Lyon, one last thump of the soapsock for England’s tailenders. He goes straight around the wicket to bomb the right-handed Ball, who gloves a nasty bouncer over the cordon and straight into the hands of Handscomb at fly slip. Brilliant, ruthless stuff from Australia, who have taken the last four wickets for 10 runs. They need 170 to win.
Updated
71st over: England 195-9 (Ball 1, Anderson 0) Broad is somewhere between affronted and perplexed at that decision. I don’t think he can argue with it, however, as the edge showed on both Hotspot and Snicko. It’s another feather in the baggy green of Tim Paine, who has had a brilliant session. Anderson survives the last ball of a scorching over from Starc, which included the wickets of Bairstow and Broad. He has done his job by knifing through the lower order in this spell.
WICKET! England 195-9 (Broad c Paine b Starc 2)
Ball is greeted by a storming bouncer that takes the splice and loops tantalisingly over the cordon. I think Ball was expecting the yorker, and by the time the ball the hit the bat his head was pointing towards third man. Starc is all over England’s tailenders, and now there’s a review for caught behind against Broad.
He seemed to play and miss at a hot delivery angled across him from around the wicket - but Paine went up on his own with such conviction that Smith decided to review, and Hotspot showed there was a very thin edge. Broad is out!
Updated
WICKET! England 194-8 (Bairstow c Handscomb b Starc 42)
Bairstow has gone, uppercutting a short ball from Starc straight to Handscomb at third man. It’s easy to say he’s been suckered, and the look on Starc’s face almost redefines smugness, but what is Bairstow supposed to do when he’s left with a tail that can’t or won’t defend?
Updated
70th over: England 194-7 (Bairstow 42, Broad 2) Lyon replaces Smith. Nowt happens. Meanwhile Mark Turner is armed with the laws of the game - and he’s not afraid to use them!
“7.3 The popping crease
The popping crease, which is the back edge of the crease marking, shall be in front of and parallel to the bowling crease and shall be 4 ft/1.22 m from it. The popping crease shall be marked to a minimum of 6 ft/1.83 m on either side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps and shall be considered to be unlimited in length.
“The ‘parallel to’ bit is interesting and surely the umpires know the rule. A better BoD case is difficult to imagine.”
69th over: England 193-7 (Bairstow 41, Broad 2) The new batsman is Stuart Broad. who is unlikely to hang around one way or another. He just manages to get an inside edge on his first delivery, a full-length inswinger from Starc. Bairstow has now gone into one-day mode, and he twice cuffs Starc through extra cover for three.
“This might just be a sleep-deprived niggle - but am I the only person getting annoyed at the talk of ‘spin’ by the commentators, when they mean turn?” says Tim Featherstone-Niggle. “MV keeps wittering on about Lyon getting plenty of spin - and I’ve just heard a claim that the pitch is still sound, although the ‘ball’s not spinning as much as earlier today’. Grumpy.”
I’m a big fan of the technically correct but practically unnecessary pet hate, and that’s right up there. Have you thought about a career in sub-editing?
WICKET! England 185-7 (Woakes c Smith b Starc 17)
That’s brilliant from Mitchell Starc. The ball is 69 overs old, the pitch is flat, yet he has managed to get blood out of the stone. He went back over the wicket and dug in a fine short ball that Woakes could only fend to second slip, where Smith swooped to take a good low catch. Woakes played well, hanging around for 57 balls, but his departure is probably the end of England’s hopes.
Updated
68th over: England 184-6 (Bairstow 34, Woakes 17) England must be itching to pump Smith down the ground. But they know how shattering it would be to lose a wicket to him and are thus dealing in zeroes and ones, looking for booby traps at every turn.
Updated
67th over: England 181-6 (Bairstow 33, Woakes 15) Starc moves around the wicket to Woakes, who is playing with impressive common-sense. When Starc drops short, Woakes places a fine cut between gully and backward point for four. Starc is limping a little and seems to have a problem with his right ankle. He still has enough to ram in a superb short ball that beats Bairstow that smacks into the bat before Bairstow is through his stroke. The ball lands safely and Starc suggests, via the medium of the four-letter word, that Bairstow’s technique was not entirely in sync with that proferred by the MCC Coaching Manual.
Updated
66th over: England 176-6 (Bairstow 33, Woakes 11) Woakes turns Smith round the corner to take the lead to 150. England are still in this, just about.
“Highest successful Ashes run-chase at the Gabba: 236,” says Mark Turner. “Whisper it whisperingly.”
I’m all for a shuddering statgasm in the early hours but I think run-chase stats are among the most irrelevant in the modern game. Batting has changed so much in the last 20 years.
65th over: England 174-6 (Bairstow 33, Woakes 8) Bairstow has played beautifully here. It’s such a shame he always has to think about manipulating the lower order rather than being able to bat in a bubble and relax a bit. I’d imagine it’s as frustrating as eating a Michelin-star meal with a full bladder. I’d imagine it’s exactly like that.
“For the record I think he probably didn’t have anything behind the line,” says Alistair Halton, “but even that photo you put on the feed I can’t say for sure.”
Yes, on reflection I’d agree with that. I suspect he was out, but whether you can give it out in accordance with the laws of the game, I’m not so sure. And that’s before we consider the fattest line seen in an Ashes Test since the rock-and-roll tour of [that’ll do! – ed]
64th over: England 172-6 (Bairstow 31, Woakes 8) Effing ‘Ell it’s Steve Smith! We don’t see his legspin very often these days but he’s coming into the attack. That’s a decent move, given the high he’s on and the awkward stick/twist dilemma for the England batsmen. For now they stick, settling for three low-risk singles.
63rd over: England 169-6 (Bairstow 29, Woakes 7) Starc replaces Hazlewood. He hasn’t had a great game but he could redeem himself by knifing through England’s tail. His first over is full of macho stuff that is ignored by Woakes, who is playing a good supporting role. He has seven from 37 balls, Bairstow 29 from 58.
“How enthralling it is,” says John Phaceas, “watching Australia’s Intimidator (Lyon) bowling to England’s Intimidator (Woakes)…”
It’s like a bloody Rocky film out there.
62nd over: England 168-6 (Bairstow 29, Woakes 6) Woakes turns Lyon just short of Bancroft at short leg. England don’t look particularly comfortable but they are inching towards a lead of 150. I think they need at least 250 to have a chance, though the BT chaps - who know marginally more than me - reckon 200 would be enough to make Australia nervous. If Anderson and Broad can bowl unchanged for 50 overs, England have probably got enough already.
Love all the "clearly out/not out" tweets for that UTTERLY MARGINAL Moeen Ali stumping
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) November 26, 2017
61st over: England 164-6 (Bairstow 27, Woakes 5) Bairstow has shown no sign of going into one-day mode; nor should he with the defensively sound Woakes at the crease. Batting time makes sense for now, though England will be conscious that the second new ball is due in 19 overs’ time. Woakes almost undoes some promising work when he misses an extravagant flick-pull at Hazlewood.
60th over: England 163-6 (Bairstow 26, Woakes 5) The superb Lyon hurries through another over, most of which I missed because I was considering the below.
“Does doubt still go with the batsman?” says Alistair Halton. “Because I heard Gaffeney say, ‘It looks from that angle like he’s got something back over’, so surely that creates more than a little? I know I’m supposed to put that decision behind me and focus on winning the game but I’ve put in 10½ sessions and I’m rocking.”
The benefit of the doubt is an obvious casualty of the fake-news era. Just push the button and justify it later. For what it’s worth – bugger all – I thought it was out, though I’m not sure what the laws of the game say about having a crease line shaped like a jumbo hot dog.
Updated
59th over: England 162-6 (Bairstow 25, Woakes 5) Thanks Geoff, hello you. Australia are probably one wicket away from victory, with not much batting to come after this partnership. Chris Woakes, who played such an uncharacteristically brainless shot in the first innings, has started sensibly this time and gets his first boundary with a mildly sumptuous flick through midwicket off Josh Hazlewood.
Putting aside where his foot is, any danger of marking out the line at one consistent width? Far thicker on the actual pitch. pic.twitter.com/INzWEXdcJt
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) November 26, 2017
Crease being re-painted during drinks. Doesn't appear to be using a 9-inch decorator's roller.
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) November 26, 2017
58th over: England 158-6 (Bairstow 25, Woakes 1) Lyon around the wicket to Bairstow, standing with his bat high in that distinctive back-lift shared by Peter Handscomb and Lauren Winfield. The bowler wants to straighten it down the line and trap him leg before. Lyon does win one shout, but the umpire doesn’t want any part of it. Bairstow is using his feet with great intent. Another maiden, and drinks.
That’s me done, thanks for the company. I’ll leave you with Rob Smyth. Make sure to direct your emails his way.
Updated
57th over: England 158-6 (Bairstow 25, Woakes 1) Woakes bats out a maiden from Hazlewood. Mark Turner (whose nickname must be ‘Rank’) is tending the flame. “No cricket on teevee in Peru, you’re my lifeline Geoff. Hope still alive, its shape is Bairstow. Then w____er Broad can knock an easy 20. Tail-end wag, throw the bat after tea, then snaffle two quick wickets before the close. Oz will sweat wanting 200 with eight left tomorrow, Gabba or not. Seriously man, keep hope alive, the delicious thought of a win at the Gabba, it’s not that far away.”
The lead is 132.
Dropped!
56th over: England 158-6 (Bairstow 25, Woakes 1) Woakes gets a life. Turns Lyon off his legs, and it’s straight in and straight out for Bancroft under the helmet. Not too hard, it went quickly but straight at him. Woakes gets one past that man a couple of balls later and evades a pair.
“No controversy there. If you need the magnifying glass to work out if there is a micron of boot behind the line, you’ve pretty much answered the question. BTW – Australia seems to have replaced the youngest over 30yo in world cricket (Adam Voges) with the next youngest (Tim Paine).”
Au contraire, John Phaceas - if you can’t find the slightest micron of line between the boot and the batsman’s ground, you’ve pretty much answered the question differently. Though Paine did well, which will be a relief for him.
55th over: England 156-6 (Bairstow 24, Woakes 0) So suddenly England’s burgeoning prospects become... unburgeoned? Bairstow blocks out most of Hazlewood’s over before taking a single.
Matt Carley says, “The white line marking the crease didn’t look very straight there, it’s a bit fatter over the wicket. (Though Ali still should have kept his feet behind it, it’s not like it moved during the session.)”
@GeoffLemonSport I have taken out a restraining order against Hope, the flirtation is just too much.
— Chris Langmead (@chrislangmead) November 26, 2017
54th over: England 155-6 (Bairstow 23, Woakes 0) Lyon. What a contribution. Three dangerous lefties gone. He has 3 for 59.
WICKET! Moeen Ali st Paine b Lyon 40
The third umpire gives it! I have to admit that I didn’t think that would be out. The toe was pushing back for its ground, questing like a worm that digs its way into your heart. The bails were broken with nothing really between the calls. It was one like the Ashton Agar decision in 2013, when it was probably out in reality but the footage wasn’t entirely conclusive. There could have been a few microns of boot material behind the line. So I thought there was doubt there, but it’s gone the other way. Huge blow for England. The lead is at 129.
Updated
Review for a stumping...
Moeen on the stretch. He’s lunged forward at Lyon, been beaten on the defensive stretch...
Updated
53rd over: England 155-5 (Moeen 40, Bairstow 23) Hazlewood back, the troublemaker from before. Bairstow treats him with care until the final ball, when he slashes hard and gets two through the cordon.
52nd over: England 153-5 (Moeen 40, Bairstow 21) A couple more singles from Lyon. This pair confident in picking the gaps.
51st over: England 151-5 (Moeen 39, Bairstow 20) The 150 comes up with another couple of Cummins singles. The lead pushes into slightly potentially defendable territory, with potential to grow. What a fine contest. “Some things take time,” writes Antony Ransome. “I accessed your second-day Ashes blog while curving through Victoria’s Gippsland lakes amongst seals, pelicans, cormorants and sea eagles. Perfect for the blood pressure.”
50th over: England 149-5 (Moeen 38, Bairstow 19) Lyon, short and smacked straight to point. Moeen missed out there. Bairstow has slip, short leg, and a 45. Plays with a straight bat back to the bowler. Decides that sighter is enough. Comes down the track and smashes six over midwicket! Picked the bones out of that one, as they somewhat grotesquely say. You could almost feel the impact of the wallop, as he swung a straight bat through the line. It looked like it could have been a chipped four, but it sailed away over the rope. England turning this into a good counterattack.
@GeoffLemonSport Watching Nathan L. getting plenty of spin makes me think that Jack Leach would cause mayhem on this wicket.
— Harry Haydon (@147harryh) November 26, 2017
49th over: England 141-5 (Moeen 37, Bairstow 12) They’re playing watchfully with Cummins, hanging back and just trying to nudge a single here and there. At least until Moeen whips out the pull shot one more time, for another single. That’s a lot of risk for not much reward.
48th over: England 138-5 (Moeen 35, Bairstow 11) Lyon to Moeen, driving off the back foot straight to cover. Eventually gets off strike and England finally have a right-hander facing the off-spinner. Relief. Should keep it this way. Bairstow immediately demonstrates his enjoyment, slapping a square drive for four! Not perfectly hit, that ball actually limped to the rope quite apologetically, but it still beat the trailing fieldsman in Cummins.
47th over: England 133-5 (Moeen 34, Bairstow 7) Back of a length, back foot drive. That’s the order of the over with Cummins versus Bairstow. It’s another maiden. The lead remains at 107.
Glad to hear some visitors have enjoyed this town.
@GeoffLemonSport I can vouch for your description of Brisbane: was there in February. Did you know many Ozzies disdainfully refer to it as Bris-Vegas? Bit unfair though admittedly it is a bit gaudy in its shininess. I liked it though: the river bus, urban beach, art museum: nice
— Pitflaps (@pitflaps) November 26, 2017
Updated
46th over: England 133-5 (Moeen 34, Bairstow 7) A maiden for Lyon, as Moeen plays an innings of contrasting states. Goes back to defend, comes forward to defend. Ian Forth is at the tabernacle. “There seems a split in the commentariat between those who favour intent at all costs (KP, Warne, Slater) and admirers of the Play Dry ethos, led by the ever astute Ian Chappell. It’s vaguely reminiscent of schisms in early church theology. I imagine Botham would have been a big proponent of introducing some symbolic wine into ceremonial proceedings had he been around at the time.”
Updated
45th over: England 133-5 (Moeen 34, Bairstow 7) Australia need to pressure Bairstow here. Dangerous player. But he gets the release ball from Cummins, nice and wide and lashed through point for four. Good start. Then a glance for a couple more.
Updated
44th over: England 127-5 (Moeen 34, Bairstow 1) So we’re back, and it’s Action Stations immediately. Lyon the bowler, shreds the first ball off the wicket. Beats Moeen with the second. Mo decides he needs to shake things up if he’s to avoid being yet another left-handed victim. He skips down and slaps four runs over mid-on. Didn’t remotely hit it cleanly, it went very high in the air, but the man was up in that position so it cleared him with ease. Then Moeen gets down low and sweeps for four more! Quite the opening stanza.
@GeoffLemonSport If anyone can save England now, it's @MoeenAli. Go Mo!
— Andrew Benton (@thangnangman) November 26, 2017
Andrew Benton: “Moeen Ali needs to make a century otherwise we’re pooped. And possibly pooped even if he does. He’s got the form, he’s got the pedigree. Has he got a rabbit in a hat?” He does, and a black Chevy ‘64 Impala. (See below.)
Lunch - England lead by 93 runs with 5 wickets in hand
Oh, tense times! Australia with the better of that session, taking three important wickets while conceding 86 runs. For a while, when Root and Moeen were ticking over, it looked like England could gain ascendancy. Had the former made it through to the interval with his partner, I’d say it was England’s session. But Hazlewood was able to dig deep and find something. Even while struggling, he has had a substantial influence on this innings.
“It’s Election Day in Queensland,” says Philip Davis. “When are you going to do an Antony Green and call the winner (of this Test) before all the preferences are counted?”
For the uninitiated, Antony Green is the ABC’s election prognosticator and he is never wrong. Also for the uninitiated, the Queensland election was yesterday, and while everyone says the results are unclear, Antony has called it narrowly for the Labor party.
I would say it’s down to this partnership. If Moeen and Bairstow can add 100 runs, it’s England by 30. If not, it’s Australia by six wickets.
Updated
43rd over: England 119-5 (Moeen 26, Bairstow 1) Hazlewood wins an extension at the crease, where probably a delivery earlier Smith would have wanted to take him off. Bairstow takes a Red Bull run to get off strike second ball. Moeen drives another single, Bairstow ducks the last bouncer, and that is lunch.
“Well that was a big wicket,” emails Niall Connolly. “I was starting to think with another 120 or so runs in the bank and quick scoring the situation was going from Dunkirk to Omaha Beach... and yet, this game continues to intrigue.”
Countdown clock starts for someone who doesn’t understand analogies to tell us that cricket isn’t war.
42nd over: England 117-5 (Moeen 25, Bairstow 0) Lyon still looking dangerous, with the odd bad ball. Mo pulls one of those through midwicket for four, then Lyon shreds past the edge again with one that rodeo-bucks off a length.
WICKET! Root lbw Hazlewood 51
41st over: England 113-5 (Moeen 21) The biggest wicket of the day goes down! From the last ball of the Hazlewood over, angling in to trap the English captain in front, one ball after he’d raised his half-century from 103 balls. His conversion rate has been the subject of much speculation, and you can’t get a starker version of not converting than that.
It’s redemption for Hazlewood, who hasn’t bowled well and who was smacked about in that same over. Moeen respectfully met a couple of balls, then got one nicely overpitched. Even the boundary wasn’t disrespectful; it was a lovely genteel straight drive, one of those ones that looks like a defensive stroke until you realise it’s flying past the bowler and not stopping for snacks on its way down the ground. He then pulled the short ball for a single, Root flicked a brace to midwicket, and while starting at the milestone, drove the England team bus into a ditch.
Updated
40th over: England 106-4 (Root 49, Moeen 15) In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the Lyon slips tonight. Can’t control this ball and it spears way down leg. Moeen gets a tickle on it and laughs as it rolls away for four. Then sweeps a single, before they each flick another run to leg. They’re finding a way, this pair, as Root closes on a fifty.
39th over: England 98-4 (Root 48, Moeen 10) Josh Hazlewood back into the attack. He’s struggled a bit so far, a good five minutes last night aside. And continues to strugggle, as Root chops four through point. Hard into the ground, away through the gully. Then Hazlewood bowls full and Root drives down the ground for four more! Warner does the full Superman in trying to haul it in, skimming across the grass like a hockey puck made of beef, but can’t flick it back.
38th over: England 90-4 (Root 40, Moeen 10) Lovely stuff from Moeen. It’s not actually that short from Lyon, but Moeen drops his weight in a splayed stance to get low, and smacks the cut shot through genuine cover for four.
“Not sure about the St Crispins Day speech when the real live cricket is more like Dunkirk,” writes Matthew Doherty. Rooty’s manning the boats.
37th over: England 84-4 (Root 39, Moeen 5) Starc is pinging down the bouncers at Moeen, who’s ducking like an iPhone autocorrect. Gets a single from the final ball.
On the email, Yum has been paying close attention to the scorecards. “Smith was on 19 at 76/4. Now Root is better set at 35 with the score on 76/4.” Meanwhile, Adam is GOAT farming.
That's Lyon's 50 Test wicket in 2017. He should have Morne covered today and Billy by Christmas. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7fqGyT1gyU
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 26, 2017
36th over: England 83-4 (Root 39, Moeen 4) England trying to work out how to play Lyon. Moeen rocks back to make a ball short enough to punch through cover. Initiative there. Root comes down the track to drive for none. Brian Withington writes in about sixes and sevens: “Surely there was a case to be made for promoting Bairstow to 6 to have two right handlers facing the off spin of Nathan Lyon whilst he is looking very dangerous to lefties.” Quite so.
35th over: England 80-4 (Root 39, Moeen 1) Osh kosh. Moeen nearly out three times in a minute. Shortish ball from Starc, drops the gloves but not enough and it lobs up towards slip. Smith comes diving as the ball dies, but even he can’t pull this one off. Moeen gets off strike with a dicey single flapped away in the air to the leg side. There’s a short catcher in waiting for something like that. Root is playing like an absolute drain against the short ball. Hooks at Starc but doesn’t time it and flat-bats it straight back to the bowler via the pitch, then hooks again and gets a bottom edge running very fine for four. Can’t see how this is sustainable.
34th over: England 74-4 (Root 34, Moeen 0) What an over. The croowd cooing and roaring at every ball from an off-spinner on Day 4. Lyon beats Moeen’s edge first ball through to the keeper, then gets one to leap off a good length and spin as well, as Moeen gropes nowhere at it. Brilliant stuff. 50 wickets so far in 2017 for Nathan Lyon.
Here’s a reunion special from James Irving. “Although 4000 miles away in Saint Paul, MN, I’ve had the pleasure of Patrick Duce’s friendship for 25 years and can honestly say we should all hope our batsmen keep scoring in time with his legendary constitution.”
Updated
WICKET! Malan c Smith b Lyon 4
It’s happened again! Same method, slightly different technique. Stoneman’s ball was just outside off and turned a bit, Malan’s ball was middle and leg and turned a lot. He defended the line and Lyon took the edge. Smith clasps it in the breadbasket. The lead is only 48. Trouble looms.
Updated
33rd over: England 73-3 (Root 33, Malan 4) Starc continues, hasn’t looked the biggest threat so far today. They’re able to tick three singles from his over, though Root is still hooking with two men out.
32nd over: England 70-3 (Root 31, Malan 3) A couple of short ones from Lyon that over, but neither batsman takes full toll. Malan with the cut, Root with the pull, both with the single.
Help this man out, someone. The pool has legitimately changed lives in Australia.
@GeoffLemonSport wondering how to recreate the Gabba’s pool deck here in Blighty. Think my mum still has one of those home foot spa jobbies from the 80s. Maybe that’ll cut it. What do you mean, “no”?
— Josie B (@Josseffernee) November 26, 2017
31st over: England 67-3 (Root 29, Malan 2) Cummins the post-hydration-refreshment-interval specialist, pounding up to the wicket. He has quite a simple action, thumps in chest-on, and then generates all his pace with the shoulder-down swing of the arm. “Comes in like he’s running the 100 metres,” says my colleague Adam Collins. Root gets off strike with a squirt, then Malan cops the short ball and hooks it for a single. Same way he got out in the first innings, and this run is taken to the man out in the deep for that purpose.
Speaking of drinks, “I’m on a night out in Kreuzberg in Berlin, following OBO from my pocket,” says Patrick Duce. “Interested to know what readers think will end in a bigger collapse - England’s innings or my night out?”
Updated
Drinks - England 64 for 3
30th over: England 64-3 (Root 27, Malan 1) Positive stuff from Malan to Lyon, coming down the wicket to drive a quick single and get off the mark. Gets the strike back from Root, and next ball Malan goes well back instead. Just trying to mix things up so the bowler can’t entirely settle.
That is drinks. It might be worth some enthusiasts taking up this excellent offer from Jake Hawkins.
“I’m just getting ready for my final night out in Clarksdale, at the Ground Zero blues club, and will shortly be strolling past the Devil’s Crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul. If any England fans wish to give me power of attorney over their ever lasting souls I’ll see what type of deal I can get for them. Honestly it seems like a win-win situation for most England fans; immediate cricket success on this mortal coil followed by a warm, familiar and comforting eternity of anguish and suffering (and none of that pesky hope to spoil it).”
29th over: England 62-3 (Root 26, Malan 0) Cummins then, bowling to Root. Even more of the pressure and expectation rests on him. He’s vulnerable outside the off stump still, and fishes again, edges on the bounce to Smith at slip. Then goes after another short ball and can’t make contact again. “He’s not batting with a lot of composure at the moment,” says Katich. “We’re not seeing the same steeliness we saw from Smith yesterday.” Maiden.
John Starbuck is having a madeleine moment. “It’s weird how your references bring back the media echoes. ABC used to be the independent TV broadcaster in the English Midlands, back in the 1950s-70s, and Grandstand was the Saturday BBC sports prog. It’s as if they were cloned for a future time but turned out as mutants in the Antipodes.”
Updated
28th over: England 62-3 (Root 26, Malan 0) So some turn in the pitch, an off-spinner, and many English left-handers. Lyon could well be the focus of the day. “Stoneman had no way out against Lyon there,” says Simon Katich on ABC radio. “He tried to cut him once, but that was it. He was just a sitting duck.”
WICKET! Stoneman c Smith b Lyon 27
Sorry to bring this news to the England part of our readership, but England’s morning is over. Lyon gives it a rip without too much flight, gets a bit of turn, and Stoneman with a stodgy forward defensive can only edge into the waiting hands of slip. Guess who.
27th over: England 61-2 (Stoneman 27, Root 25) Root hooks and misses! An appeal from behind the wicket as Cummins unleashes a springy short ball. It was straight through England’s captain without contact, but he gave it his best. Put it away, lad! He gets away from the examination with a nudge to leg.
26th over: England 60-2 (Stoneman 27, Root 24) Lyon doesn’t take much time to get into a spell these days. Lovely shape, not huge air but a nice bit of loop, and he’s extracting turn from the pitch in varying degrees while landing on a good length. Just a single.
“Hello Geoff - pleasure to have you on the OBO again,” writes the very polite John Culkin. “What a Test so far! I literally haven’t seen a single ball of it, but I’m hooked. Looking forward to falling asleep with TMS in my headphones and being woken by the cheer when a wicket falls. An odd way to follow sport. Anyone else having weird cricket-orientated dreams?”
My entire life is a weird cricket-oriented dream, John.
25th over: England 59-2 (Stoneman 27, Root 23) Edged, but safe! Stoneman goes hard forward at Cummins, gets the thick edge through gully, but fine of the catcher. It runs away for four. That touch of fortune.
24th over: England 54-2 (Stoneman 23, Root 22) Lyon on as well, in a double change. He lands them well from the get-go. Stoneman defends five, tries to slash away the sixth but can’t beat the field. Positive intent nonetheless.
Brian Withington is quick on the keyboard. “Your appeal to read the St Crispin’s day speech prompted me to revisit the concluding paragraphs of my longer Captain’s dressing room version, now adapted from an expectant OBO’er perspective …”
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that shares the OBO with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall keep his comments clean;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accurs’d they missed this day,
And hold their comments cheap whiles any tweets
That followed the Guardian stream on that Sunday.”Amen
23rd over: England 54-2 (Stoneman 23, Root 22) Cummins for his first bowl of the morning, and the batsmen use their pet areas, Root punching into cover, Stoneman tickling to leg.
22nd over: England 52-2 (Stoneman 22, Root 21) Another Starc over with a couple of nudged singles. Interesting chat between Nannes and Jonathan Agnew about England’s dismissals against the short ball, and the inability to put the shot away. Agnew references Smith’s batting from yesterday, in the way he responded to England’s tactics. “Oh, were trying that one are we? I’m not going to play. Oh, we’re going there now. I’m not going to do it.”
Hello to Chris Busby, who’s helping to keep people well. “Not really been into much Test cricket in the past. Currently on night shift in the hospital and checking in between patients. Loving the coverage, can’t wait to see how it goes today. Hoping for some drama with an England win at the end.”
21st over: England 50-2 (Stoneman 21, Root 20) Gee, this over seems stacked with portent. Hazlewood is bowling back of a length, and Root keeps playing at those off the back foot, reaching a bit, and guides a couple into the cordon on the bounce. He’ll nick off for sure if he keeps playing like that.
Counterpart to Root, allow me to present some interesting thoughts about the other captain. Exhibit A, this pair of messages.
And I was encouraging him to play for Surrey and England as I didn’t think the Australian set up recognised his talents and he was failing their eye test. Though that changed quickly when CA thought they were going to lose him to England.
— Trent Woodhill (@TrentWoodhill) November 25, 2017
Exhibit B, incisive stuff from our longtime correspondent Robert Wilson.
“I was thinking about Stevie S this morning, and I think I now understand everything. I tried to work out how many shots he had. Some batsmen build a career around two or three (in their different ways, Ponting and Cook spring to mind), some have every shot going but one neon-lit giant weakness.”
“Or was it an outsize mental strength or will (Waugh and Warne step up as temperamentally variant exemplars)? Particular dedication, lunatic ambition, global cussedness? He’s no Brian Lara but nor is he a Boycott, a Border nor a Gavaskar. It didn’t take me long to understand that I couldn’t work him out at all.”
“That was when the world became clear to me (and gloriously simple and beautiful too). I don’t think anyone can work him out. That’s a pretty sizable trump card.”
20th over: England 50-2 (Stoneman 21, Root 20) Jim Maxwell on the radio is enjoying Stoneman’s work, as he finally gets back on strike. Trades singles with Root, and thereafter he’s leaving Starc with discipline, and when the bowler goes at his ribs, he just hauls bat and gloves well up out the way, like people with TV sets held above their heads in those aforementioned Brisbane floods. He’s got a lot more wading to do, even if the Australian wicketkeeper of that name is not playing. The 50 comes up for England.
A piece of Dadaist chat in from Paul Billington. “Oh man oh man oh man. I’m not looking forward to this first session - and even if England survive intact I’m convinced they’ll cock it up afterwards. They always seem to lack the grit needed to just stay in there.I liken following winter ashes series over here to going to bed with a Shrödinger’s cat in a box downstairs. In the morning it normally turns out the box was balanced in lava all along. This may be the gin talking though.”
In which case, hand it the mic.
19th over: England 48-2 (Stoneman 20, Root 19) Root has been hogging up the strike so far, but he’s doing good things with it. Gets a bit too much width and plays a clever cut, getting the ball to ground so there’s no risk as it zooms through the gap between slip and gully. “You don’t want to hand England an easy lead just because your bowlers aren’t on target early,” says Dirk Nannes on ABC Grandstand. Root adds two more flicking a straight ball. Happy days.
18th over: England 42-2 (Stoneman 20, Root 13) Starc with first go at this alleged crack. To be honest, I can’t see anything much from my vantage point, nor on the monitor. Maybe it’s all bluff and bluster. Starc bowls full, and Root drives through cover for four. Not a full flowing glorious one, just a do-the-business cover drive. Your sort of 3pm Wednesday job. Short ball, and Root pulls. Controls it, gets a single down to fine leg. A lot of talk yesterday about whether he’d be able to put the pull away, with this paper’s writer Will Macpherson advancing the idea that Root is compulsive about it, but might be able to train himself in the idea with a full night to think about it. Evidently, that hasn’t worked.
“Come on everybody, let’s stop pussy footing around, surely the topic of the day is when exactly England should declare and put Australia in?!” Richard Williams has the spirit I want to hear.
Updated
17th over: England 37-2 (Stoneman 20, Root 8) Hazlewood to start things off, and he’s bowling from the Vulture Street end, where last night he came from Stanley Street. Former Australian batsman Chris Rogers hands me the tip that it’s because there’s a crack opening up from the other end, in an awkward spot for the right-hander, so the Aussies want Starc or Cummins to have a go at hitting that. We shall see. Hazle gets a thick edge from Root all along the ground, and it earns him two runs through the cordon. Then the bowler thinks he might be through onto Root’s pads, but the batsman comes down late on it and works a single. Stoneman got a run to start the over nudging a short ball square. Decent start for England.
About to start...
A lot of nervous English fans on the TL today. Let's play. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/oOaPU3Lo9W
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 26, 2017
This is a more upbeat phrasing of pessimism, at least.
@GeoffLemonSport can Root and co do as good a job of a rescue on this game as John Rambo in the movie I’m watching whilst waiting for play to start? It’s Rambo: first blood part 2
— Gideon Marshall (@GideonMarshall) November 25, 2017
A lot of it riding on Root. It’s his chance to match what Smith did yesterday. He’s ok to play...
Joe Root had a concussion test this morning. Cleared to play.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) November 25, 2017
But the numbers aren’t necessarily in his favour.
In the first innings of Tests Joe Root averages 63.05. In the second innings, he averages 41.57. Only one of his Test centuries has come in the second innings. #Ashes
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) November 25, 2017
Some anxious Englanders getting around this morning. Delicious.
@GeoffLemonSport what chance England getting blown away for under 150 today? I'm actually nervous for them this morning.
— Nathan Early (@nearly1980) November 25, 2017
“Shitting myself,” echoes Chris Allison in straightforward fashion. “That’s it. And I’m about to go to bed. Not a good combo. I don’t think the wife will be best pleased. I go hope I wake up to a glorious root 100. I fear I’ll wake up to 140 all out and the Aussies on their horrible way.”
Fear not, fair Isle dwellers. In my humble cricketing opinion, they’re well in this. Things haven’t been easy on this wicket, and a target of 200 could prove quite testing for the Wizards of Oz given the accuracy of bowling at England’s disposal. Keep the faith, read the St Crispin’s day speech to yourself, have a medicinal biscuit, whatever it takes.
Now, either someone has scripted a ‘Jimmy Anderson injury’ bot, or there is widespread concern out there on the internet.
@GeoffLemonSport - What are your thoughts on the rest of the series if Jimmy Anderson is injured?
— Bennet Andrews (@BennetAndrews) November 25, 2017
@GeoffLemonSport is the Anderson story all above board? Smoke and mirrors or just bad strategy?
— Cameron Higgins (@cameronhiggins) November 25, 2017
@GeoffLemonSport following from Germany. Are the Anderson injury rumours only that or something more tangible?
— Cameron Higgins (@cameronhiggins) November 25, 2017
Alright, already! Anderson is fine. All that happened yesterday is that he didn’t bowl at a stage when some of the commentators thought he should have been bowling. It was hot in the middle and he went off for a break. He did bowl 29 overs in the innings, so that doesn’t give the impression of infirmity. As far as we know, keeping an ear to the ground here at the Gabba, there’s no problem. Just a long series ahead of a veteran cricketer.
While we’re whiling away the whiles, let me tell you something about Brisbane. I’m guessing that a lot of you following cricket from the distant lands across the sea will know it only from descriptions of cricketing tours past. Johnson’s menace, Cook and Trott’s bat-a-thon, Nasser’s overly criticised decion-making and all the rest. So as a Queensland outsider myself, here are some impressions.
Brisbane is a city thick with tropical murk. In the middle of its more oppressive days, it can be like living in an overly exerted armpit. But then its evenings can unroll like picnic blankets, as the skies detonate in extraordinary configurations, and the fat leathery slap of the fruit-bats punctuates the evening on their way to frolic or feed. Some of the fruit-bats have a pretty nasty form of plague, so don’t hug them. It’s Australia, after all, where even the nice things have an edge.
From the 60s to the 80s, Brisbane was run by Joh Bjelke-Peterson, whose regime was a few degrees south of fascist. The town got nicknamed Pig City, due to its Premier’s fondness for using police force to solve just about every problem. It was a combative place with a slightly wild edge. Since then, the state has mostly had Labor governments, with that party holding a slight numerical advantage today after an unclear election result from yesterday.
The city itself is a beauty, in places. The river winds back and forth through it like a constantly changing mind. It’s Tony Greig’s bowling action, all loops and elbows. Southbank and West End, bridges akimbo as though a cartwheel had shattered, a mire of confusion for the visitor.
The river can turn against the city, as it did when Brisbane was submerged in 2010. The dams were at 200% capacity, and weeks of storms saw the water come downstream Biblically. But on a good day, like today, you can stroll down to the waterfront, jump on a fast ferry shooting up and down the river’s course, from the university out at St Lucia all the way down. I ran into The Age’s legendary scribe Greg Baum on the boat this morning, who covered an election up here in the 80s. “Brisbane has changed more than any Australian city,” he said. “It really was just a big country town.”
Now, it’s a different place. Hilly suburbs full of student sharehouses, cafes in old mechanic’s garages, art precincts and apartment towers. I was among thousands the other night jammed in to see Lorde play at the Riverside, a grassed amphitheatre down on the banks.
Take the ferry further up the river, and you’ll pass prehistoric-looking cliffs covered in foliage coming down to the water, and floating pontoon walkways along its length. Downstream, at night, the city’s bridges light up with projections in all colours as you sail underneath them, dancing and shifting. There are seabirds croaking and the captain announces the stops as you sail along. I can safely say that it beats the Luton bus.
Not the worst commute. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/NMewBjPUKw
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) November 25, 2017
Updated
Meanwhile, if you want a more fulsome description of the game so far than my potted summary, the report from Vic Marks is lovely as ever.
Drop me a line
Loved getting all your emails and twitter missives on Day 1, so please fire them through again. I’m @GeoffLemonSport on the birdbox, or geoff.lemon@theguardian.com on the old fashioned Royal Electronic Mail.
The game so far
One of those ones where you think, why did they even bother having a first innings? Scores ended up just about level, the Australians eventually with a 26-run lead. But it wasn’t straightforward, not at all. We’ve had surprises galore.
First from England, whose three debutants all impressed with half-centuries on debut, while the blue-chip options failed. That got England to a strong position of 246 for 4. Then the swing the other way, as Australia grabbed the last six wickets to wrap things up at 302. England got back on top with the ball, reducing the home team to 76 for 4, then back Australia came, with Steve Smith’s superb hundred doing what his top order teammates could not. He was not out with the innings worth 328.
Finally, the moment last night. An hour or so to bat, Alastair Cook facing, and hooking Josh Hazlewood to fine leg. Catch. Then JH produced an utter snorter to James Vince, the kind of ball any batsman would nick, and it ended with Smith at second slip.
So now we have England at 33 for 2, a lead of 7 runs, with eight wickets in hand, and two days to play. The match is anyone’s, and it’s a glorious time to follow Ashes cricket.
Hello friends, hello countrymen, and possibly even hello to a few Romans, who must count a few cricket enthusiasts among their number. I remember the days when Romans used to be legion. Welcome again to the McGinty’s Glorious High-Flying OBO Spectacular. I don’t know who McGinty is, because it’s Lemon and Smyth running the circus tent today - old man McGinty never gives us our cut. But enough preamble, we’ve got cricket to be played. And with a Test match brilliantly set up, we won’t be doing a lot of ambling through today’s play.
Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Adam Collins on Steve Smith’s performance at the crease on day three:
Updated
