Ali Martin's day two verdict
England will resume tomorrow afternoon on 29 for one, 413 runs behind Australia. They need to bat all day to stay in the match and the series. Whatever happens, it won’t be dull. Thanks for your company today, bye!
Play has been abandoned for the day
The outfield is still pretty wet and the umpires have called time. That’s a bit of a bonus for England, who were being used as a punchbag by the Australian fast bowlers.
UPDATE: The umpires will reinspect at 8:55pm local time #Ashes
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 3, 2017
While you wait for some more Ashes joy/misery (delete as appropriate), why not read about Ben Stokes’ return to action?
It’s still raining, albeit lightly, and the covers are still on. This is an unexpected bonus for England. Could this stay of execution be the turning point of the entire series? (Clue: no.)
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The rain has started to ease off. They should be back on in 10-15 minutes.
“Not sure about the assertion that the Adelaide Oval redevelopment was not universally popular with members,” says Liam. “There was nearly an 80% yes vote to the development. That’s a good result for any binary question, as Britain would know...”
I’ll touché to that.
Here’s Bill Hargreaves. “Sean Boiling asks an interesting question, I think: ‘Does the difference between 135 kmh and 145 kmh make a difference?’ Those old plough hands got it just about right with the length of the wicket at a chain (22 yards, the distance from an ox’s nose to the end of the plough handles that it pulls). By my maths, this gives a batsman between 0.312 seconds and 0.277 seconds to react, by the time 200ms have been removed for reaction time (thank you Jimmy Wales). It doesn’t sound a lot, but in his prime this was enough for IT Botham to finish a cheese sandwich, have a draught of nutty ale and get into position for a hook shot. By such small margins, etc...”
The older I get, and the more the world changes, the more I realise that Beefy was the most ridiculous, magnificent beast. He could have the kind of drinking session that would leave most of us bedridden for a month and still take a wicket in the first over of the day. It would have been so good to see him in his prime. Still, I’ll always have his Trevor Hohns moment.
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“Morning Rob, greetings from a quiet beach in Thailand and following the game via the Guardian,” says Dave Laybourne. “Having a cold beer with an Aussie who reckons Cook will be batting again by the second session tomorrow. What’s the score to avoid the follow on?”
It’s 243. They should avoid the follow on, all things being equal, but they’ll do very well to avoid defeat. Unless it rains for three days, which would be a terrific shame.
Rain stops play
9.1 overs: England 29-1 (Cook 11, Vince 0) Pat Cummins replaces Hazlewood and has a huge shout for caught behind against Cook with his first ball. It was a stunning delivery that jagged off the seam, squared Cook up and clipped the thigh on its way through to Tim Paine. That’s brilliant umpiring from Aleem Dar because it was a seductive appeal. Australia decided not to review, and seconds later the players were charging off the field because of a sudden downpour.
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9th over: England 29-1 (Cook 11, Vince 0) When James Vince signed up for a second crack at Test cricket, this wasn’t in the brochure. His first ball is a sizzling yorker from Starc that he does well to defend, and his third snakes past the outside edge. This is a serious test of the England batsmen, so much so that I think it’s time to sagely observe that this is why it’s called Test cricket!
8th over: England 29-1 (Cook 11, Vince 0) Cook is fighting his technique and trying to get his feet moving. So far he looks reasonably good. England really need him to be at the crease when play resumes tomorrow afternoon. Ideally in the first innings.
“Morning Rob,” says Kimberley Thonger. “My subconscious has been working overtime during a particularly detailed dream. It’s predicting an easy England victory by tea on the fifth day. Double hundreds for Vince and Malian in a 750 run first innings total, complied at a steady 4.5 an over, and then Root declaring with an hour to play on day 4. Six wickets for Anderson and Broad in that hour with the pink ball under lights, and then Overton bounces the tail out on the morning of day five. Oz all out for 94. On waking up, my conscious mind is more concerned about the chances of Smith enforcing the follow on when we’re all out for 193. I believe this is called cognitive dissonance?”
7th over: England 29-1 (Cook 11, Vince 0) “Adelaide Oval is a lovely ground - a tough two days so far - but the redevelopment was not universally popular with those SACA members who did not like AFL, according to my friend and host for this trip,” says Nick Donovan. “The scoreboard, the trees behind the Cathedral End, and the view of the Cathedral are all protected as part of it.”
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WICKET! England 29-1 (Stoneman LBW b Starc 18)
Stoneman has gone, flicking around a very full delivery from Starc that hit him on the pad in front of middle and leg. Stoneman decided to review it in the hope it was going down leg. It wasn’t. Wasn’t even Umpire’s Call, so England have lost review. He was so deep in his crease that the ball didn’t have far to travel, and replays showed it would have slammed into leg stump.
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6th over: England 28-0 (Cook 10, Stoneman 18) Cook gets his first boundary, clipping Hazlewood through square leg. There’s an excellent graphic on BT Sport, contrasting the pitch maps of England and Australia in the first five overs. Australia have bowled much fuller. When Hazlewooddrags his length back, Stoneman flashes just over gully for four. He has raced to 18 from 20 balls, though not without alarm.
What amuses me is assumption that if Eng bat first they get 400. Might have got 150. And if bowled better first up Aus might be 270. Can't hypothesise
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) December 3, 2017
5th over: England 17-0 (Cook 5, Stoneman 12) Cook is beaten, chasing a wide one from Starc. This is the torrid session we expected. He plays a nice shot later in the over, flicking crisply through midwicket for three. As Michael Vaughan says on BT Sport, Cook is the key here. If he bats long, England will draw strength from him and might save this game. If he doesn’t, this match will take a deal of drawing.
“There’s been some criticism of BT Sport’s coverage of this Ashes series,” says Niall Mullen. “I, for one. am extremely grateful that they are showing it. I haven’t seen a single ball...”
I’m already regretting the decision to make myself available for the fourth and fifth Tests. I’ve already OBOed two whitewashes! It would be a terrific shame if there was a mysterious BT outage in my area from December 26 to January 8.
4th over: England 12-0 (Cook 2, Stoneman 10) Stoneman survives a huge LBW appeal after flicking across the line at Hazlewood. It pitched miles outside leg, but these are nervous moments for Stoneman. He digs out a yorker and breaks his bat in the process. “Get ready for a broken fucken bat” and all that. Australia are bowling a lot of full deliveries, something England failed to do yesterday morning. They really made a balls of that session. Stoneman survives an even bigger LBW appeal off the last ball of the over; again it pitched well outside leg.
“G’day Rob,” says Sean Boiling. “Genuine question, do England need faster bowlers? Does the difference between 135 kmh and 145 kmh make a difference?”
A huge difference, especially when there’s not much sideways movement.
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3rd over: England 12-0 (Cook 2, Stoneman 10) It’s getting hot out there. Stoneman, squared up by Starc, gets a leading edge that flashes just past the diving Khawaja at gully and runs away for four. Two balls later he tries to drive and is beaten. Starc is all over him like a cheap cliche.
“Morning, Rob,” says James Higgott. “Rather than Sunday morning telly, I may settle down with the copy of Willie Rushton’s W.G. Grace’s Last Case that I found in a local charity shop yesterday. According to the setup, the blurb involves the mysterious death of a bowler at Lord’s from an arrow in his back. Shades of the crossbow bolt incident at the Oval earlier this year? The bowler’s name is “Castor Vilebastard (pronounced ‘Villibart’)“ so I know exactly the level of humour I am in for.”
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2nd over: England 7-0 (Cook 2, Stoneman 5) Josh Hazlewood, the interrogator to Starc’s hardass, starts at the other end. Cook works a single off the pads and Stoneman half plays at a ball that zips past the outside edge. This is an excellent start from Australia, full of intensity and purpose. It’s also been a good start from Stoneman, who looks busy and intent of scoring rather than surviving. When Hazlewood overpitches a touch he drives crisply through mid-off for three. An eventful over ends with Cook playing and missing at a jaffa that snaps past the outside edge.
“This is depressing,” says Mike Grant. “Going back to bed to read. Currently enjoying Scoundrels - not explicitly about cricket but there’s a very funny bit on Douglas Jardine shattering someone’s knee cap during a school visit in 1934. Could have done with him on this tour.”
1st over: England 2-0 (Cook 1, Stoneman 1) Mitchell Starc breaks 90mph with his first delivery, which zips through outside Alastair Cook’s off stump. Cook and Mark Stoneman trade singles but it’s an encouraging first over for Starc, with good pace - the last ball was 94mph - and a soupçon of swing.
“Well, what with it being handed out to us, and only likely to get worse, I’m not sure we’re on the front foot to take on the Aussie rules fans as well,” says Jon Millard. “I’m going for a long run in the pouring rain as punishment, listening to a relentlessly grim, harrowing historical tale on my phone. And when TMS finishes, I’ll switch back to the biography of Guy Burgess which is also on there.”
Don’t forget, England fans: the entire Dawson’s Creek boxset has just reappeared on All 4!
You may have heard that Ben Stokes played some cricket today. Sure, he only scored two runs and took no wickets. But he played some cricket today.
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149th over: Australia 442-8 declared (Marsh 126, Lyon 10)
Shaun Marsh shoves England deeper into the dirt, smacking Stuart Broad for 14 in three deliveries. He mowed four to midwicket, Natmegged another to long leg and then launched a sweet straight hit that went all the way. Broad nodded his head respectfully at that last shot. The end of the over is the end of the innings, with Steve Smith deciding to declare. Shaun Marsh ends on 126 not out, a high-class innings that should secure his place for a while, and England’s batsmen have 32 torrid overs to endure before the close.
148th over: Australia 427-8 (Marsh 111, Lyon 10) Lyon gets off the mark with a six, hoicking Overton to long leg, and prompts one of the biggest cheers of the match. Later in the over he top-edges a big yahoo straight over the head of Bairstow. This is a thoroughly miserable experience for England.
147th over: Australia 416-8 (Marsh 110, Lyon 0) Stuart Broad returns to the attack and goes straight round the wicket, with a field that suggests Nathan Lyon won’t be getting many drive balls. Lyon drags the first ball onto his shoulder and misses a roundhouse swing at each of the next four deliveries. The last ball is full and driven to deep cover, with Marsh turning down a single.
146th over: Australia 416-8 (Marsh 110, Lyon 0) Overton could sneak a debut five-for here. He has three wickets and Australia will play their strokes with a declaration in mind. Marsh slashes him over the slips for four more.
WICKET! Australia 410-8 (Cummins c Malan b Overton 44)
Bloody hell, England have bounced out a tailender. It was the second ball after dinner, a good one from Overton that followed Cummins off the pitch. He was cramped for room and swatted the ball to straight to third man, where Malan took an easy catch.
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In other news...
“Something to keep an eye on is the India/Sri Lanka Test,” says Manoj Joseph. “The air quality is so poor that the Lankan bowlers are falling ill, unable to bowl. I don’t understand why the powers-that-be don’t call for a halt in play. Nothing is worth the lasting damage to the health of the players and even the spectators that is being caused by breathing the noxious smog that passes for air at the Kotla.”
Crikey. Somewhere in the world, Ted Dexter smiles knowingly.
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Dinnertime chit-chat
“Question for you as Shaun Marsh brings up a wonderful ton,” says Alistair Gillett. “What can England do to revitalise their bowling, this game and the series? I don’t see 20 wickets falling to their bowling as we sit here watching right now.”
All they can do is draw this game and see where it takes them. I’d expect Mark Wood to play at Perth – he is genuinely quick, if sadly injury prone. A pace attack of Broad, Anderson, Stokes and Wood would have been pretty good in these conditions. The other thing they really need on their side is scoreboard pressure.
“Only a successful Watto LBW review could make this worse for England,” says Patrick O’Brien.
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145th over: Australia 409-7 (Marsh 103, Cummins 44) “What can England do?” says Geoff Boycott, before answering his own question: “I don’t know.”
What England have done is drop Shaun Marsh. Woakes got one to kick from a length and take the splice before looping between Cook at slip and Vince at gully. They both dived to take the catch and the ball ended up on the floor. Cook had it in his grasp before Vince knocked it out. Ricky Ponting, who was there in Kandy in 1999, points out that the collision could have been a lot worse.
That was the last over of the session. It’s time for dinner, with England’s top order on the menu as a digestif. See you in half an hour for what should be a pulsating session.
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144th over: Australia 405-7 (Marsh 102, Cummins 41) Overton replaces Moeen. There’s nothing left for England bar random bowling changes, impotent rage and the desperate hope that Alastair Cook will bat for three days. Overton almost strikes, with Marsh inside-edging a drive just wide of leg stump. England haven’t had much luck in this innings.
Meanwhile, heeeeeeeeeeeere’s Gary! (Gary Naylor, that is.) “In response to Sarah’s point (137th over) my comment re “for shame” is not the parochial point of a Little Englander, but a lament that some of the great cricketers who have played at one of the world’s cricket venues have been crowded out when stands were named a similar way that a grand cricket old cricket ground has been buried under a gigantic multi-use stadium. I know things change, but am I right in thinking it looks more like a footy putsch than a marriage of equals?”
SHAUN MARSH MAKES HIS FIFTH TEST CENTURY!
143rd over: Australia 402-7 (Marsh 100, Cummins 41) Shaun Marsh pulls Woakes smoothly for four to reach an outstanding century. He has played immaculately, with so much maturity and class. It took 213 balls and included 12 fours. Even Geoff Boycott, who doesn’t always suffer Australian centuries gladly, describes it as “fantastic” on BT Sport.
“Right then Rob,” says Rob Lewis. “Change glasses and mark some student essays. Should be more fun than following the foot on throat drama.”
And don’t forget, if you’re in England, Tim Lovejoy’s Sunday Brunch is on Channel 4 at 9am!
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How did we survive before Twitter, part 413904254
England in poo-poo! #Ashes
— KP (@KP24) December 3, 2017
142nd over: Australia 396-7 (Marsh 95, Cummins 40) Cummins whips the struggling Moeen through square leg for four, and then Marsh flat bats another boundary through extra cover. Batting looks throughly easy at the moment, and Cummins completes the over with another boundary. Fourteen runs from the over! You know what they say: never judge a pink ball until both sides have batted against it. By the close we’ll know whether England have a chance of drawing this match, or whether they are facing yet another pounding in Australia.
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141st over: Australia 382-7 (Marsh 90, Cummins 30) Chris Woakes averages 24 with the ball at home and 70 away. That would be considered a problem in some cultures. I’m not suggesting he should be dropped, not with Stokes and Wood unavailable, but it’d be swell if he could bring that average down a touch.
“Australian Football is the reason that Australia’s cricket grounds have such large capacities - Australia is unique in that the highest-drawing sporting code here is played on large elliptical playing arenas (because they began by playing on cricket ovals,” says somebody called Rocket Rocket. “Contrast this with England, NZ, South Africa where the “quaint” stands at the small cricket venues are dwarfed by the large capacity soccer and rugby stadia. So I think the famous South Australian footballers deserve their names on those grandstands - grandstands which almost certainly would not be there if not for Australian Football.”
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140th over: Australia 380-7 (Marsh 89, Cummins 30) Moeen replaces Root, in accordance with the Titanic Deckchair Principle. Two from the over. There are around 25 minutes to dinner, after which you’d expect Australia to unleash the beasts.
139th over: Australia 378-7 (Marsh 88, Cummins 29) I remember a time - a distant, more innocent time - when the words ‘Shaun Marsh’ made England cricket fans laugh uncontrollably.
138th over: Australia 378-7 (Marsh 88, Cummins 29) Cummins, whose fledgling series average is in the 70s, chips Root lazily down the ground for four. That’s a lovely shot. The last ball is put downb by the stretching Stoneman at short leg; Root seems to think it was a bat-pad chance, though replays are unclear.
137th over: Australia 372-7 (Marsh 88, Cummins 23) Marsh steers Woakes for four more. This is sadistic stuff from Australia, who are allowing England’s misery to marinate for as long as possible. They have been superb.
“Why ‘for shame’, Gary (127th over)?” says Sarah Bacon. “Because you don’t know the names on the stands, or that AFL players are lauded at all? Australian Football, after all, was originally conceived as a winter game, in order to keep CRICKETERS fit during the off-season. The fact that it went on to become such a revered sport in and of itself, is due to the respect and love it attracts, but we should never forget that cricket should be thanked for its origin!”
136th over: Australia 368-7 (Marsh 84, Cummins 23) Cummins heaves Root round the corner for another boundary. This is the turning into a miserable day for England. All they can is to try to Brisbane 2010 their way to a draw, but that looks pretty unlikely at this stage. We’re all doomed!
“You can’t beat the magic of the Ashes, can you, Rob?” says Guy Hornsby. “It’s clear batting is easy on this Adelaide track, so whatever the folly of putting Australia in, Cook and Stoneman should find this a walk in the park. If Shaun Marsh can nudge his way to a ton, we shouldn’t have any problem at all, right. RIGHT?”
135th over: Australia 361-7 (Marsh 83, Cummins 17) A short ball from Woakes is slammed through the covers for four by Cummins, which brings up a fine fifty partnership. Woakes is becoming a problem for England in this series. He’s nothing like the bowler who had such a great 2016.
134th over: Australia 357-7 (Marsh 83, Cummins 13) Root replaces Moeen and hurries through an over that costs two. Australia’s scoring rate in this series is 2.73, their lowest in a home series since 1997-98. No that was a compliment. I think the patience and maturity of their batting has surprised England. It’s been a clever, two-paced approach: slow and calm with the bat, fast and furious with the ball.
133rd over: Australia 355-7 (Marsh 82, Cummins 12) Woakes returns to the attack. Nothing happens. With each passing day, England have to further compromise their plan to retain the Ashes. Two days ago, they had to win at Adelaide. Now they would happily take a draw and put their faith in the law of averages for the next Test at Perth. It’s not a good position to be in, especially not this early in the series.
132nd over: Australia 354-7 (Marsh 81, Cummins 12) Moeen continues, nursing a series average of 80-odd. Australia are toying with England, who know their batsmen are going to face a torrid last session.
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Thanks Jonathan, morning everyone. If you’re an England fan, I have a message for you: The Secret History of the British Garden is on BBC2 at 7.35am. Trust me, it’ll be kinder to your serotonin levels.
131st over: Australia 350-7 (Marsh 78, Cummins 11) Marsh is the transcendent figure out there now, seeing the pink ball like a watermelon, dismissing Overton for four through midwicket and then finding more runs with a thick edge towards third man. He has occupied the crease, ridden his luck, and now he’s cashing in. Cummins joins in the fun, chipping a checked drive just beyond the outstretched arm of the bowler to bring up the 350.
That’s enough from me for today. Rob Smyth is your man until the close.
130th over: Australia 340-7 (Marsh 71, Cummins 8) Cummins doubles his score with a handy swipe down the ground for four. Moeen causing no problems whatsoever for this pair at the moment.
Closing in on the drinks break of this middle session of the day. After that break you shall be in the safe hands of Rob Smyth to see you through to the end of play.
129th over: Australia 335-7 (Marsh 70, Cummins 4) England’s frustration grows as this partnership slowly builds. Marsh milking singles at will, Cummins blunting England’s attack, Overton the latest to send down an over that will not last long in anybody’s memory.
Brian asks a question I’m sure someone out there can Google the answer to pretty quickly. “Pat Cummins’ innings makes me think: what is the highest number of dot balls faced by a batsman before getting out for 0? (although as I type this he has scored his first runs).”
128th over: Australia 334-7 (Marsh 69, Cummins 4) Moeen turns up for his first bowl since Tea and his presence is greeted warmly by Marsh who whips him to midwicket for an effortless four.
Aust batting time to have England start under lights "just like Paul Keating telling John Hewson 'I want to do you slowly'" says @GerardWhateley #Ashes
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) December 3, 2017
127th over: Australia 329-7 (Marsh 64, Cummins 4) Overton gives Broad a spell and he suffers the indignity of watching Cummins score his first runs after 40 barren minutes at he crease. It’s a neat boundary from the number nine too, leaning back and guiding a late cut through the vacant gully region.
A wide shot just showed the stands' names at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and I recognised none of the names. Is that because the people honoured are local SA cricketers or (for shame) Aussie Rules players @JPHowcroft?
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) December 3, 2017
The latter Gary. As this link explains. http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/newsdetail/16/27/sa-greats-honoured.aspx
126th over: Australia 324-7 (Marsh 63, Cummins 0) Deary me, what has James Anderson done to upset the Gods? (Don’t answer that). A routine outside edge from Cummins fails to reach Bairstow behind the stumps and the umpteenth opportunity of a horribly frustrating day goes begging. Cummins continues to rack up the dots, reaching 34 without troubling the scoreboard. This meandering session probably suits both sides in a roundabout way. England will want to delay batting under lights but suffer minimal scoreboard damage along the way. Australia will be happy to drag the game closer to dusk and set up the possibility of a declaration.
125th over: Australia 323-7 (Marsh 62, Cummins 0) Cummins showing plenty of patience out there, continuing to allow anything wide from Broad to sail through to Bairstow, and presenting a perpendicular defensive bat to anything straight. 28 balls faced without scoring now for the big quick.
124th over: Australia 322-7 (Marsh 62, Cummins 0) Anderson is confident with an LBW shout against Marsh. It’s given not-out on-field with question marks over where it pitched. Root REVIEWS but DRS doesn’t last long as it reveals the ball pitched outside leg stump. It’s a testing over from Anderson who hits Cummins in his box on a couple of occasions.
England have been very good to Marsh, targeting his weak areas and keeping the pressure on. He's played very, very well though, playing 12% false shots. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kx1EEq8Tlx
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 3, 2017
123rd over: Australia 321-7 (Marsh 62, Cummins 0) Another maiden from Broad to Cummins spent largely with the batsmen executing a textbook forward defensive. There was a sniff of a caught and bowled chance among the dots, suggesting the off-pace delivery is gripping in the pitch.
Shaun Marsh becomes the 17th person to hit a Test 50 at each of Australia's 6 main #cricket grounds
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) December 3, 2017
(Steve Smith still yet to achieve the feat)#Ashes @TheAdelaideOval @CricketAus
122nd over: Australia 321-7 (Marsh 62, Cummins 0) Marsh is looking to get onto the front foot and attack Anderson, and after five false starts he finally gets a half volley to square drive through point for four.
121st over: Australia 317-7 (Marsh 58, Cummins 0) Broad is fuller to Cummins this over who looks tidy getting in line and presenting a proud bat-face to block out a maiden.
Jay Collins takes umbrage with some adjectives. “How has the cricket been ‘turgid going’ (5.44)? Torpid, perhaps, or possibly turbid, but hardly turgid.”
120th over: Australia 317-7 (Marsh 58, Cummins 0) Australia yet to get going since Tea but that’ll help, Marsh unfurling a magnificent cover drive to a good length Anderson delivery on the up that skips away to the boundary. The rest of the over contains little of note.
119th over: Australia 313-7 (Marsh 54, Cummins 0) Broad going short to Cummins three times in a row. I’m not sure whether this is in order to get him out, or therapy following Brisbane. Either way most deliveries are left alone in a largely theatrical over.
118th over: Australia 312-7 (Marsh 53, Cummins 0) Anderson bowling in tandem with Broad to start the session and after Marsh accepts a single into the offside he has first go at Cummins. The number nine (he should be number eight really) looks as composed here as he did in Brisbane though and navigates the over successfully.
117th over: Australia 311-7 (Marsh 52, Cummins 0) Broad with the first over after Tea and as well as the wicket it contains Marsh’s ninth Test 50 and second in successive innings, one that’s taken 138 balls to accumulate. It’s been an excellent knock through two testing spells last night and this morning. He has an excellent chance to add to his four hundreds and cement his place once again in Australia’s top order.
WICKET! Starc c Anderson b Broad 4 (Australia 311-7)
For the second time today Broad strikes in the first over of a session. This time he beats Starc for pace as the big left-hander tries to pull, succeeding only in scooping a catch to Anderson at mid-on.
England MUCH better today!
— KP (@KP24) December 3, 2017
Australia have been lucky!
Edges not carrying, fortunate reviews!
Great day so far...! #Ashes
@JPHowcroft Despite a few creditable scalps, it's turgid going out there, for both England and Australia. If it's taken this long to get to 300, how many hours will see Oz through the next fifty, if they indeed get there? Or will England wipe out Australia's tail first? #Ashes
— sarah jane bacon (@sportzzzgirl) December 3, 2017
I think Australia won’t be unhappy either way. This next session will be one of cat and mouse, with neither side really wanting to bat under lights. England will probably look to slow up the scoring so they face as little as possible of Starc & co this evening. Don’t rule out a funky-looking declaration either if Smith really fancies playing the alpha.
Tea - Australia 306-6
England struck in the opening over of the day but thereafter it became Australia’s session. Shaun Marsh played the anchor role, Tim Paine the aggressor, and between them they rode their luck with two LBW decisions overturned on review, edges not reaching fielders, and no shortage of plays and misses.
Most of these nervy moments arrived early in the afternoon when England looked threatening with the new ball. After the first hour had been seen off and Broad and Anderson were replaced by the supporting cast things became considerably easier for the hosts.
The total is already a handy one, setting up a late acceleration ahead of England facing trial by floodlight later in the day.
116th over: Australia 306-6 (Marsh 49, Starc 4) Root brings himself on for the free over before Tea and he almost accounts for Marsh first ball. There’s turn from around the wicket and England think there may be an edge but if there was it’s shelled by Bairstow. Replays indicate there probably wasn’t any contact so the inquest’s over. Starc blocks out the rest of the over to send Australia into a very healthy position at the first interval of this day’s play.
115th over: Australia 305-6 (Marsh 48, Starc 4) There’s increasing turn and bounce for Moeen, which isn’t what England really want to see considering Nathan Lyon’s form. He beats Marsh on the outside before almost getting one beyond the inside-edge of Starc. One more over before Tea.
15 - Australia are currently enjoying a 15-match unbeaten run when scoring 300+ having been asked to bat first, dating back to 2002 (W11, D4). Comfy. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/hZg0tb0Ltk
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) December 3, 2017
114th over: Australia 300-6 (Marsh 45, Starc 2) Overton toiling with little penetration against this pair of left-handers. Three singles, two of which are squirted off inside edges near the toe of the bat, contribute to the 300 coming up for Australia.
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113th over: Australia 297-6 (Marsh 43, Starc 1) Starc continues to be watchful in the shadows of Tea, treading carefully as Moeen probes from around the wicket.
112th over: Australia 296-6 (Marsh 42, Starc 1) Overton continues his productive spell, ploughing a furrow outside Marsh’s off-stump on a decent length. Out of nowhere he finds one to climb on the batsman that’s unlucky not to find a glove. Speaking of luck, Starc is two metres short of his ground for a run-out opportunity but Stoneman can’t hit the pegs running in from cover.
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111st over: Australia 295-6 (Marsh 41, Starc 1) Starc was unexpectedly patient against Overton, how will be be against Moeen? Remarkably composed, as it happens, bunting away a sedate over until he’s beaten by a ripper that turns and bounces past the shoulder of his defensive prod.
hi there. been out raving all night, now settling in for some OBO chillout room decompression. Any fellow ravers in my boat @JPHowcroft ?
— Matt Huxley (@Matt_Huxley) December 3, 2017
110th over: Australia 295-6 (Marsh 41, Starc 1) Overton has Starc on strike to begin the second over of his spell but he can’t get anything beyond the left-hander. Starc does look a threat of being caught in front of the wicket though, with his hard hands pushing at the ball, which accounts for the placement of a short mid-off in his eyeline. Overton should have a maiden on his figures but a misfield from the last ball of the over gets Starc off a duck.
@JPHowcroft Wickets of Paine and Smith notwithstanding, having 128km/h Overton as your enforcer is a bad as having Woakes as your designated sledger.
— Roscommon the Cat (@Roscommon_Cat) December 3, 2017
109th over: Australia 294-6 (Marsh 41, Starc 0) Moeen with a rapid maiden to Marsh from around the wicket. 20 minutes until Tea. Can England snag a couple more?
108th over: Australia 294-6 (Marsh 41, Starc 0) England bowled well enough earlier today to earn a clump of wickets, then when they’re going through the motions and Australia are scoring for fun they burgle one. Funny old game.
WICKET! Paine c Moeen b Overton 57 (Australia 295-6)
Overton recalled into the attack to play the enforcer, banging the ball in short and asking different questions of Australia’s batsmen. The first question is answered emphatically by Paine who carves him over point for four. But four balls later the plan works! A pretty ordinary looking long-hop has Paine pulling, and pulling hard, but straight to Moeen just inside the midwicket boundary. A gift from England, but that shouldn’t detract from a terrific innings from Paine.
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107th over: Australia 290-5 (Marsh 41, Paine 53) Moeen continues his line to Paine from around the wicket and it continues to not look like bearing fruit. Australia taking the game away from England every over.
Aussie selectors:
— KP (@KP24) December 3, 2017
Bancroft ✔️
Marsh ✔️
Paine ✔️#Ashes
Their logic might have been flawed but their decisions have been justified so far.
105th over: Australia 286-5 (Marsh 40, Paine 50) Tim Paine brings up an excellent counterattacking 50 with a straight drive for two - his first half-century in Tests since October 2010! It’s another so-so over from the ineffective Woakes.
@JPHowcroft this is already the second highest total in the (albeit brief) history of the D/N Test. England done for if Aust post 350.
— Roscommon the Cat (@Roscommon_Cat) December 3, 2017
104th over: Australia 281-5 (Marsh 39, Paine 48) Moeen now around the wicket to the right-handed Paine, a symptom of how this innings is drifting away from England’s grasp. Never mind drifting, it’s racing away from them with Paine hoicking a six with a lazy swish over midwicket to conclude the over.
@@JPHowcroft bowling dry but where’s the hostility? They do know we need to win this, right?
— paul (@pfon73) December 3, 2017
104th over: Australia 275-5 (Marsh 39, Paine 42) Better from Woakes who’s decided to pitch the ball up but it doesn’t take long for Marsh to adjust, waiting on the crease and then leaning into one that beats Broad’s dive at mid-off. That’s Marsh’s first boundary in over an hour but he’s still doing a terrific job for his side - and he’s doing so without a chunk of his bat with a fat splinter coming away from the toe during a mistimed drive.
103rd over: Australia 271-5 (Marsh 35, Paine 42) Not a lot happening in that Moeen over. England need to shake things up somehow because Australia are now cruising.
102nd over: Australia 270-5 (Marsh 34, Paine 42) Woakes continues to be too short, allowing both batsmen the opportunity to leave more than they play until Marsh drills a nice three down the ground. At the start of this over this partnership was up to 58, but Marsh had only made 11 of them, having scored just two singles in the last hour.
101st over: Australia 265-5 (Marsh 31, Paine 41) Paine might be troubled by his finger but he’s not troubled by Moeen who he slaps dismissively over cover for four. Australia have seen off England’s early assault and are bedding in for a healthy score.
100th over: Australia 260-5 (Marsh 31, Paine 36) Woakes resumes his spell but he remains comparatively innocuous, failing to hit the required full length or generating any lateral movement. It’s an issue bemusing Ian Reynolds. “We’ve all been watching England bowl 20% too short 20% of the time for 20 years. What are they watching on those laptops - or is it NSFW? Chunter, chunter, rhubarb, rhubarb, etc.”
99th over: Australia 259-5 (Marsh 31, Paine 35) We’ve just had a drinks break and Australia will be happy losing only one wicket during the opening hour after a testing spell of English bowling. Moeen Ali has been brought on and he is so unlucky not to get Marsh. He slides one into the left-hander’s front pad from around the wicket two balls before ripping one on the same line and length that catches the outside edge but only reaches Root at slip on the bounce. What do England have to do!?
Paine received plenty of treatment on his finger during that interval. Let’s hope a man beset by injuries avoids another serious one.
98th over: Australia 257-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 34) Woakes into the attack for his first spell of the day and he immediately find’s Paine’s outside edge but it doesn’t carry to second slip. Thereafter he’s much too short, failing to take advantage of the conditions. As this ball reaches its 18th over, England may be watching their opportunity of bowling their way into contention in this match slipping away.
Paine doing it tough here. Right hand immediately off the bat when turning into the legside. #Ashes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) December 3, 2017
97th over: Australia 257-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 34) I’ve only just noticed the speed gun for Overton who’s registering in the mid-to-high 120kph range. It’s noticeable to Paine who seems almost to be waiting for the ball to reach him after getting in line. Despite this he’s struck again on his right index finger, and this time he doesn’t look happy at all. This could be a big story brewing for Australia. Paine manages to get off strike and Marsh, who’s barely scored a run all afternoon, plays and misses twice outside off.
96th over: Australia 256-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 33) Anderson just wavering slightly from the immaculate line and length of recent overs, allowing Marsh to see off any danger without much concern. TV replays show that during the previous Overton over Paine was struck on his right index finger, the one he broke in 2010 derailing his promising career. He seems fine for now though.
95th over: Australia 255-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 32) England have applied a stack of pressure in recent overs, curtailing Australia’s counterattack, but this Overton over will have the batsmen breathing a little easier again. There are four byes gifted early with the ball trampoline bouncing beyond the fingertip parry of Bairstow and away to the boundary. A couple of singles rotate the strike and take the score beyond 250, which already looks a handy total.
94th over: Australia 248-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 29) Can Anderson’s luck turn? Not during this over of probing good length deliveries to Paine. He beats the outside edge twice with classical deliveries that hold their line, while the batsman does enough to repel the ones angled in.
As Andrew puts it in his email, “Jimmy’s got the ball talking. Unfortunately it’s saying “I don’t feel like hitting the wicket today.”
93rd over: Australia 247-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 28) Overton’s turn now to appeal for a wicket with Paine again rapped on the inside thigh of his front leg. His appeal is declined though and replays show the ball was bouncing over. Overton persists with a straight line and Paine adjusts, milking runs to the leg-side.
According to HawkEye this match is being played in zero gravity.#Ashes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 3, 2017
Updated
92nd over: Australia 244-5 (Marsh 30, Paine 25) Torture for Anderson! Again he beats an Australian’s defence, again he’s awarded an LBW and again DRS saves the batsman. Paine this time survives a decision that looked plumb on-field but ball-tracking indicated would have bounced over the stumps. England cursing their luck. A further appeal for LBW is rejected because of a healthy inside edge.
91st over: Australia 241-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 23) Overton resumes his line and length, keeping the ball full to both batsmen, but he’s lacking a touch of magic to provoke a false stroke.
90th over: Australia 240-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 22) Anderson wasn’t cooling his heels long, he’s back on swiftly in place of Broad from the Cathedral end. And he takes only three deliveries to strike, trapping Marsh in front LBW. It looks plumb, striking him on the knee-roll bang in front, and the finger’s raised. MARSH REVIEWS and DRS indicates the ball was bouncing over. Oh my days, that is unbelievable. It looked a nailed on dismissal in real time and the review was speculative, maybe hoping to benefit from the ball pitching outside leg stump, but Marsh escapes.
89th over: Australia 240-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 22) Sniff of a caught and bowled first up from Overton but instead it becomes a straight-driven four for Paine. The ball was in the air a few inches from Overton’s dive but it wasn’t really a chance in the end and credit has to go to the batsman for a crisp stroke. Dots thereafter.
88th over: Australia 236-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 18) The least eventful over of Broad’s spell this afternoon. Anything straight Paine played with a straight bat, anything he needn’t play at he avoided. The quick single from the final delivery of the over reflects his proactive approach since arriving at the crease. Nice busy little innings so far from the wicketkeeper.
87th over: Australia 235-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 17) Joe Root has stamped his authority on this England team already and has withdrawn his star paceman from the attack after just two iffy overs. Overton replaces Anderson and he immediately settles into a lovely line and length that’s just waiting for the surface to offer some assistance to generate a chance. Some extra bounce almost does just that but Marsh is able to manipulate the ball off the shoulder of his bat away from danger. Good start from the debutant.
@JPHowcroft The eternal question of why a player as good as Anderson can't consistently bowl a full length.
— Adrian Morris (@11AMdeclaration) December 3, 2017
Also known as the Jimmy Riddle. #Ashes
Updated
86th over: Australia 233-5 (Marsh 29, Paine 15) This is developing into an entertaining spell of cricket. Broad is on the money but Marsh and Paine are counterattacking, acknowledging the conditions are not in their favour and looking for runs whenever they can. Marsh takes four by leaning on a meaty cover drive before a couple of singles keep the scoreboard ticking over. In between Broad beats Paine’s bat with one that reminds anyone yet to be convinced that a full length is paramount.
85th over: Australia 228-5 (Marsh 24, Paine 15) These are ideal conditions for Broad and Anderson to bowl in, but Anderson can’t string enough decent deliveries together to maintain the pressure. He opens with a beauty that squeaks past the outside edge of Paine’s bat but his follow up is way too short and it’s punished to the midwicket fence. There’s more humdrum before a wide loosener is slapped over point for another four.
Runs added after being not out at an interval in this Test:
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 3, 2017
Bancroft 0
Khawaja 0
Handscomb 0#Ashes
84th over: Australia 220-5 (Marsh 24, Paine 7) Broad is fuller, bowling to Marsh from around the wicket. The batsman is watchful to begin with, surviving a half-hearted appeal for caught behind to a jaffa that seamed away from the outside edge like Flintoff to Gilchrist in 2005. He clips the final delivery of the over nicely through midwicket for a boundary.
Matt Carley is right. “The nightmare scenario for England is to take a session and a half to bowl out the Aussies so we start batting as dusk falls and the ball starts talking, we could lose five or six in no time at all. In other words they need at least three in the first 45 minutes.” One down...
83rd over: Australia 216-5 (Marsh 20, Paine 7) Anderson squares Paine up with his first delivery of the day, getting plenty of movement off the pitch with the new ball. Paine survives with a couple through the gully region though and backs it up with a comprehensive pull for four as Anderson fails to persist with a fuller length. England have to pitch it up at all costs while there’s pace and movement in the wicket.
Alrighty then! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/qlWHXiEReN
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 3, 2017
Broad's surely booked himself a visit from the match referee, and I reckon Peter Handscomb's chances of bagging a county gig next summer are dwindling by the day #Ashes
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) December 3, 2017
82nd over: Australia 210-5 (Marsh 20, Paine 1) Terrific over from Broad, worked Handscomb over before the wicket ball, and then he’s full to both Paine and Marsh, forcing false strokes from both. That dismissal will do nothing to quieten the critics of Handscomb’s idiosyncratic technique, playing as he does so deep in his crease.
WICKET! Handscomb LBW Broad 36 (Australia 209-5)
What a start for England!
Plenty of pace and carry for Broad who’s into his work early. He beats Handscomb’s nervy backfoot prod first up, and then raps him on his thigh with one that cuts off the pitch. Third delivery strikes! Handscomb back onto his stumps can’t get his bat down in time to another one that jags in. No review. Broad jubilant, England back into this contest.
Updated
Here we go then, Stuart Broad from the Cathedral end with the second pink ball just one over old...
Ten minutes is the call, which means play will get underway at 1.40pm local time, 2.10pm AET, 3.10am UK.
The covers are coming off again. We’ll miss the scheduled start, but not by much.
Andrew Benton has checked in. “England will need to take the game to Australia today,” he writes, “they’ll need some early breakthroughs and have the Aussies all out around teatime, otherwise they’ll be on the road to Ashes defeat. Also wondering - why do England keep Cook? Is it out of respect for what he’s done as captain (which would be understandable)? He doesn’t do much that someone else couldn’t, and shouldn’t, have a go at, these days.”
It’s easy to reach that conclusion but Cook’s average this calendar year is still 39, last year it was 42, and the year before that 55, so despite him falling below his previous lofty standards he’s not yet a liability. Moreover, he’s seen enough partners come and go to disprove the notion he deserves to lose his place to a rival as none are making a compelling case for selection. In other words, he remains one of England’s best two opening batsmen.
Hmmm, the big covers have just been pulled on to augment the hessian already down. I can’t see us starting on time any more. Still, there’s enough blue sky to indicate it won’t be a long delay.
I don’t know what to tell you about the weather because the covers keep coming on and off seemingly by the minute as the TV crews dissect yesterday’s play out in the middle. Rain is drifting across the arena with the breeze despite large patches of blue sky. We may not hit the scheduled start time but if we don’t it shouldn’t be by much.
The good news is the forecast for the rest of today is much drier than yesterday. In fact there’s little prospect of further rain for the remainder of the Test. It’s still on the chilly side though with a stiff southerly ensuring temperatures are unlikely to push beyond the teens.
As Martin Turnbull emails: “Absolutely would not want to be Anderson or Broad when it is their time to bat.” They’re sure not to face the gentle looseners the Aussie pacemen are sending down in the nets at the moment.
Rule No.13 of the FBU Code of Behaviour: Thou shall not bowl bouncers to thy fellow FBU member #Ashes 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/WtZ554qaZM
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 3, 2017
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the Ben Stokes circus rolled into Canterbury yesterday with the England allrounder failing with the bat...
7 balls 🏏
— The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 3, 2017
5 minutes ⏰
2 runs 👀
1 slip 😬
Ben Stokes' debut for Canterbury didn't quite go to plan... #Ashes pic.twitter.com/PLRCgPOLNZ
... and now struggling with the ball.
Stokes's opening spell in Rangiora: 4-0-26-0, including two big lbw shouts and a lucky slash over the slips
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) December 3, 2017
We’re making a big deal of the pink ball during this Test, here’s why.
Phil Sawyer has sent in the opening email of the day. “Morning/evening Jonathan. Have been out all night with some friends playing poker (lost) and drinking beer (won - well, I’m claiming a win). Just got back. It seems naive to think if I go to bed now I’ll wake up at a decent enough hour to catch any play, so instead I’m going to stay up and see how far I get into today’s play. I may carry on drinking. In tribute to the England cricket team, it’s not much of a plan, but it’s the only plan I’ve got and I’m sticking to it.”
Good luck Phil and drink responsibly. I think you may have more fun watching England bowl with a new ball tonight than see them contend with Australia using one of their own under lights tomorrow morning.
The panelists on Channel Nine are of like mind that the game is very much on Australia’s terms. This is due to the combination of Australian runs on the board and the likelihood of England having to spend the early portion of their first innings under floodlights.
If you like your information disseminated in pictorial form here’s some of yesterday’s best snaps.
From an Australian perspective the story of the opening day was one of false starts with David Warner, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja all getting in before getting out. Khawaja in particular will rue the missed opportunity to cement his status as his side’s number three, as Adam Collins discusses.
One of the most notable elements of the Adelaide Test is the festival feel of the place for the five days. Around the beautiful arena there are myriad hospitality options patronised by thousands of fans who make the pilgrimage as much for the event as the cricket. It’s a summer celebration for South Australia like a day at the races or an enormous fete. And they do it so well, promoting the region superbly as a tourist destination and source of incredible produce. If you ever get the chance to go, take it. It’s a sporting occasion worthy of the hype.
Adelaide getting on it again pic.twitter.com/tXSDVgUzHw
— Tim (@timwig) December 3, 2017
The star of day one for England was arguably Craig Overton. The Somerset seamer received his maiden England cap from John Embury before play and went on to snare the hitherto immovable Steve Smith as his first Test wicket. Not a bad day’s work.
Preamble
Hello and thank you for joining us for live OBO coverage of day two of the second Ashes Test from Adelaide Oval.
At 209-4 Australia have their noses in front - just - following an engrossing first day’s play featuring a controversial toss call, plenty of niggle, some unwelcome showers, and no shortage of excellent cricket. We’ll cover off the big ticket items as we build towards the resumption of play at 1.30pm local time (2pm AET, 3am UK). This is half an hour earlier than scheduled in a bid to make up the nine overs lost to rain yesterday.
As always feel free to direct the conversation using the contact details at the top of the page.
Day one was always likely to be a feisty affair after the English and Australian camps spent a week exchanging barbs, and so it proved, with the row between England’s attack and Steve Smith continuing to simmer.
Updated
Jonathan will be here soon. Here’s what happened during the first day, and night, of play:
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