More comment and analysis
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That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with a report from Edgbaston on an intriguing arm-wrestle of a Test that could yet develop into an Ashes classic. Please join Geoff Lemon and Tim de Lisle in the morning for day four, and thanks for your company today. Bye!
And here’s James Pattinson “We’d have taken this position at the start of the day. Now it’s about trying to bat all day tomorrow. We were a bit unlucky yesterday, but our plans were good, we executed well and we got our rewards today. Hats off to Rory Burns, who played fantastically.
“You’ve got to make the most of the new ball before it starts getting a bit flat and a bit soft, especially on these dry wickets. It’s great to be back playing Test cricket in front of a really boisterous crowd.”
Here’s Chris Woakes “We are pleased to have taken three wickets, although we probably leaked a few too many runs. You’d probably say we’re slightly ahead in the game. The fields weren’t overly attacking. We probably didn’t quite get our lengths right.
“[How are you gonna get Steve Smith out?] You got any ideas?! On a slow wicket like that, you need to build pressure, build pressure, build pressure and hope the batsman makes a mistake. But he’s a world-class player and he makes very few mistakes. It’s a tricky one – if you bowl well outside off stump, you’re taking bowled and LBW out of the game. You want two guys having two plans for him so you can test him both sides of the wicket.”
Close of play: Australia lead by 34
That was another intriguing day’s play. The initiative changes hands a few times, and at the moment it’s in the twitching hands of Steve Smith. If England don’t get him before lunch, they will be in trouble. And if Smith makes two centuries to win a lowish-scoring Ashes Test, it will be a comeback for the ages.
“I think the catch to Michael Collins’s perfectly sensible suggestion is that many folk like to have ‘a few’ drinks at the cricket whilst not getting totally ‘tanked up’ and spoiling other people’s enjoyment,” says Simon McMahon. “A three, sorry thirteen, sorry thirty-pint limit would work at most grounds, no?”
That’s a bit rich coming from the man who’s been running round the Hollies Stand dressed as Bobby Charlton all afternoon.
Bad light stops play
And like that, the day’s play is over. The crowd boo but it has become very dark at Edgbaston. Australia lead by 34 at the close; crucially, Steve Smith is still at the crease. He has batted with awesome certainty.
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31st over: Australia 124-3 (Smith 46, Head 21) Smith drags a short ball from Stokes round the corner for four. Australia are scoring at more than four an over, a reflection of their intent and also some loose England bowling. They have really missed Jimmy Anderson - not just his wicket-taking threat but also his relentless accuracy.
“Rob, I’m mortified!” says Emiel de Bont. “Ben Macintyre’s interruption surely qualifies as the first ever mention of avocado toast in the context of a cricket match. Wait till the Aussies catch on. They’ll be laughing themselves silly and believe England are toast now. Millennials...”
30th over: Australia 119-3 (Smith 41, Head 21) A slick of luck for Head, who flashes Root over the left shoulder of Stokes at first slip and away for four. He nails the cut stroke next ball, timing it through backward point for four more. Australia lead by 29.
“There is always an alcohol-free stand at the MCG which seems to work well,” says Julie Wilson. “Has the advantage of not so many people obscuring your view on their way to the bar.”
29th over: Australia 111-3 (Smith 41, Head 13) Smith continues; of course he does. A maiden from Stokes.
“Rob,” says Romeo. “It’ll be interesting if they try and find a like-for-like concussion substitute for Smith.”
‘The new Australian batsman, Virat Kohli...’
28.2 overs: Australia 111-3 (Smith 41, Head 13) A bouncer from Stokes hits Smith flush in the grille. He staggers away towards silly point, just about staying on his feet, and there’s a break in play while he has a concussion test. He looks compos mentis, and I’m sure he’ll want to continue, but that little stagger away from the crease did not look good. He was very wobbly.
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28th over: Australia 111-3 (Smith 41, Head 13) Joe Root replaces Moeen Ali, nothing much happens. I really feel for Moeen. He seemed to have cracked it as a Test spinner after his recall last summer, but now he’s almost back where he was 18 months ago.
“The answer to the problem caused by the tension that exists between those of us wanting to just watch the cricket and others just wanting to get tanked up and engage in hilarious (sic) banter is to have alcohol-free stands,” says Michael Collins. “Let those who enjoy beer snakes and yet-another-round-of-amusing-chanting all sit together and revel in each other’s witty company.”
That’s an extremely persuasive idea. What’s the catch?
27th over: Australia 109-3 (Smith 40, Head 12) Smith survives a big LBW appeal from Stokes after getting in a bit of a tangle on the back foot. The ball hit him between the legs and was going over the top, though not by much. England didn’t review.
“Those readers frustrated about the liveblog time stamps should consider themselves lucky to be only a few hours off,” says Mac Millings, “because here in South Carolina it appears to be the year 1953.”
26th over: Australia 108-3 (Smith 40, Head 12) Smith laces Moeen emphatically through extra cover for four. What a brilliant stroke. It’s only his second boundary, yet he is still scoring at almost a run a ball. It’s the third day of the series and it already feels like he’s broken England’s will.
I’m starting to think England should pick Jack Leach at Lord’s, partly because of Smith’s record against left-arm spin. When Moeen’s confidence goes, it goes quickly, and at the moment he is bowling in hope rather than expectation. Australia have gone after him, a sensible approach given his fragile confidence, and he has figures of 9-0-48-1. Australia lead by 18.
25th over: Australia 100-3 (Smith 34, Head 10) Head survives a run-out chance off the first ball after drinks. He would have been miles out had Burns’ throw from short square-leg hit the stumps. Thanks, incidentally, for all your emails about the time zone problem. You’ll be pleased to know they’ve made things even muddier, because everyone’s case seems to be different.
24th over: Australia 98-3 (Smith 33, Head 9) Jofra Archer is on the field as a substitute. It’ll be fascinating to see how he tries to get Steve Smith out when he makes his Test debut. Moeen has an LBW shout against Smith turned down by Aleem Dar. It was a dangerous delivery which turned sharply and kept low, but it hit Smith well outside the line of off stump.
“Nick Barlow doesn’t speak for the silent majority but rather for the older contingent of cricket fans,” says Ben Macintyre. “Not saying alcohol is the answer to get young people into cricket, but I find it’s the same people who sit around harking for the days of tea and polite applause who also wonder why cricket fans aren’t getting younger and think that my generation (I’m 21) is lazy because we eat avocado on toast. Not everyone has to be a part of the Barmy Army the same way not everyone has to restrict themselves to tea and polite applause.”
I’m staying out of this one.
23rd over: Australia 94-3 (Smith 30, Head 8) Smith works a single off Stokes to put Australia in the lead. He is stockpiling runs, mainly ones and twos on the leg side, with intimidating ease. I say this genuinely, rather than in a half-arsed attempt to jinx Smith: I cannot see him getting out.
“Neil Golightly (19th over) is quite wrong,” says Dan Jones. “My phone has never been out of the UK and it persists in showing the time in EDT (and indeed any other opponents’ time zone). I therefore believe this *is* a conspiracy to annoy Heather Bartlett.”
And what about Heather Greenstreet? Or are they the same person? This is like a bloomin’ John le Carré book.
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22nd over: Australia 90-3 (Smith 27, Head 7) If Smith does have a weakness it’s against left-arm spin, which may influence England’s selection as the series develops, especially if he keeps scoring 150 in every innings. At the moment, absurd as it sounds, you’d probably back Jack Leach to get as many runs as Moeen Ali, never mind wickets.
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21st over: Australia 85-3 (Smith 23, Head 5) In his last 10 Test innings against England, Steve Smith has a preposterous average of 142.28. If anyone in this side can rip him from his bubble it’s probably Stokes. But not in that over - five from it.
20th over: Australia 80-3 (Smith 20, Head 3) Moeen Ali replaces Joe Root, who replaced Moeen Ali for one over. Head flicks for three to get off the mark. Although he took the wicket of Bancroft, Moeen looks a bit low on confidence and has gone for 31 from six overs.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I effing LOVE cricket. And the OBO. I’m not even drunk. Somethings just need saying sometimes.”
You’re the one dressed as Bobby Charlton in the Hollies Stand, aren’t you?
19th over: Australia 75-3 (Smith 19, Head 0) Head is beaten first ball by another cracker from Stokes, who looks pretty fired up. A wicket maiden to start what, knowing Stokes, could be a long spell.
“It doesn’t actually matter which edition of the website you’re reading, the timestamps will be displayed as local to whichever time zone your device is set to,” says Neil Golightly. “If you want BST, you’ll have to change your device settings.”
I’ll level with you - I haven’t a clue how it works. But I do know it’s not a conspiracy to irritate Heather Greenstreet.
WICKET! Australia 75-3 (Khawaja c Bairstow b Stokes 40)
Ben Stokes has made something happen! He’s dismissed Usman Khawaja second ball with a sizzling delivery that straightened sharply to cut him in half and shave the inside-edge on its way through to Bairstow. That’s a big wicket for England, and a classic bit of Stokesian partnership-breaking.
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18th over: Australia 75-2 (Khawaja 40, Smith 19) Joe Root turns to his second-change bowler, Joe Root. That’s an interesting move. It might just be a single over so that Moeen Ali can change ends. Nothing much happens, with each batsman taking a single. I think England need to bring Ben Stokes on and set him to make-things-happen mode.
Here’s Philip Saunders. “Nick Barlow (15th over) speaks for the silent majority (pun intended!).”
I completely understand that view. I think years of watching darts has left me dead inside inured me to such crowds.
17th over: Australia 73-2 (Khawaja 39, Smith 18) Struggling to replicate the adrenaline rush of the World Cup final? Fear not: England are on course to provide another nerve-shredding runchase either tomorrow or Monday.
Khawaja drives Woakes crisply through backward point for four, another shot of unobtrusive excellence, and waves another boundary through mid-on later in the over. This is an excellent spell for Australia and it’s very quiet at Edgbaston. England need a wicket, or even a near miss to get the crowd going.
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16th over: Australia 64-2 (Khawaja 31, Smith 17) “Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “Re: the England batting order, I know I’m not alone in fancying Stokes at four. The suggestion of Bairstow at five astonishes me. Over the last year or so, aside from his outlier ton at Columbo his Test match performances suggest nine or ten would be about right. And of course they should be picking the best keeper since Taylor in Foakes, who’s easily good enough to bat at seven.”
You may fancy Stokes at No4 but he doesn’t – he asked to drop from five to six in the winter because he felt there was a hangover from his bowling and fielding. I agree that Bairstow has batted abysmally of late, but he’s a much better player than that. If he’s anywhere near his best I would bat him at No5, not that this is likely to happen.
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15th over: Australia 61-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 15) Khawaja, surprised by a bit of extra bounce from Woakes, does well to get over the ball and drop it on the off side. The next ball is too straight and flicked through midwicket for two by Khawaja. He’s playing beautifully.
“Hiya Rob,” says Nick Barlow. “Just watching the game and am getting seriously fed up with the football-style chants and general foolishness. I realise the halcyon days of yore are rare these days with polite applause sustaining the audience while cups of tea are served, but if I wanted pillocks chanting I’d follow football. Can’t we just ban the Barmy Army and make them watch the game in pubs? Yes, I am fun at parties.”
Is it actually the Barmy Army, though? I always assumed it was isolated groups of banterers. I don’t mind them, personally, if the jollity is coupled with an appreciation of decent cricket. The booing of Smith and Warner feels like wackiness for the sake of it, the kind of thing Colin Hunt would do. The drunken gaeity doesn’t bother me so much, though I probably wouldn’t be as equable if I was at the ground and had a fat bloke in a ballerina dress belching in my face every couple of overs.
14th over: Australia 58-2 (Khawaja 28, Smith 14) Khawaja has stealthily moved to 28 from 30 balls and looks comfortable against Moeen, which hasn’t always been the case. This is really excellent stuff; England lead by 32.
“When,” says Gary Naylor, “do England start giving Smith the single?”
13th over: Australia 55-2 (Khawaja 27, Smith 12) Woakes replaces Broad, who bowled a slightly loose opening spell of 6-0-26-1. This is such an important spell, because if Smith gets in England are in trouble. Woakes hits him on the thigh or pad three times during a fine over; all too high for LBW appeals, but challenging bowling nonetheless.
“Remember,” says Glenn Brazier, “when our top four consisted of Tresco, Strauss, Vaughan and Thorpe? Insanity looking at today’s batting line-up.”
I cannot tell you how much I loathe myself for what I’m about to do, but … they were never England’s top four. Thorpe batted at No5 in the twilight of his career. The pedant in me is caged by frail and fragile bars.
12th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 27, Smith 9) His batting may have gone to seed, but Moeen has been a matchwinner with the ball since his recall a year ago. He should be England’s biggest wicket-taking threat on this dusty surface. For now, though, England could use a maiden or two. Khawaja flicks four more to fine leg - both he and Smith are scoring at a run a ball or better.
11th over: Australia 45-2 (Khawaja 21, Smith 9) Khawaja hits consecutive boundaries off Broad, a flick through midwicket followed by a shovel round the corner. Australia are scoring very freely just now, with 29 runs coming from the last four overs.
“Nope I see EDT too, not just Heather Greenstreet,” says James Governor. “To be fair you had weird time zones throughout the World Cup too.”
Are you sure you’re reading the UK edition? It’s fine on my browser. I’ll ask the desk about it.
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10th over: Australia 33-2 (Khawaja 12, Smith 5) Khawaja is dropped! It was a very sharp, low chance to Buttler in the gully off the bowling of Moeen; he couldn’t get his hands down fast enough and the ball ran through his legs. Smith then gets his first boundary with a classy flick behind square. He looks in ominous touch. He’s faced four balls.
“Wonderful Test cricket we are witnessing,” says Sam. “Though not cricket, and to reverse the confusion back across the Atlantic, when I was around ten I believed that if you turned a baseball diamond into a straight line it would be a mile long. What incredible athletes they must be.”
WICKET! Australia 27-2 (Bancroft c Buttler b Ali 7)
Cameron Bancroft is put out of his misery by Moeen Ali. He shaped to come down the track, changed his mind and gave a simple bat-pad catch to short leg. It was good bowling from Moeen, who saw Bancroft coming and fired the ball flatter and straighter. Bancroft, in a bit of a tangle, could only deflect it onto the pad and into the hands of Jos Buttler.
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9th over: Australia 27-1 (Bancroft 7, Khawaja 11) Bancroft is beaten, chasing a length outswinger from Broad. I’m not sure England have made him play enough; when he does, he looks vulnerable. At the other end, Khawaja looks calmer and more secure.
“Sir, if you do have a change take a glance at the Windies score in their T20I v India being played at Miami,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “Debutant teenager Saini took two consecutive wickets in his first over. They’re 43/5 as I write this ... Some scenes, and some talent on display!”
Truly, you can never have enough scenes. If anything can save this world gone wrong, it will surely be scenes.
This isn’t the only live sport today. “It’s not going so well for England at Woburn,” says golfblog genius Scott T Murray, “as birdie putt after birdie putt fails to drop for Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Bronte Law.”
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8th over: Australia 26-1 (Bancroft 6, Khawaja 11) Moeen Ali does come into the attack. His second ball, to Bancroft, is an absolute jaffa that roars through the gate and just misses the off stump. Khawaja then edges wide of slip for four. Nine from the over but that was a promising start from Moeen.
“Sat at Mombasa airport,” says Mike Harding. “I have got your commentary in one ear of the Test match and watching a live stream of my club Wilmslow Cc playing Woodford CC in Cheshire. It is tea at Edgbaston and tea at the Rectory Field Wilmslow. The wonder of the internet.”
I especially love that it enables you to hear the written word.
7th over: Australia 17-1 (Bancroft 6, Khawaja 3) Joe Root must be tempted to have an early look at Moeen Ali against Khawaja, although Broad and Woakes are bowling well. Bancroft edges a good delivery from Broad along the floor to third slip before flicking a single to long leg.
“On Curran, and this is meant seriously, not provocatively!” begins Andrew Hurley. “Who would you fancy to get more runs, he or Denly?”
I know what you mean, but I don’t think Curran is ready to bat No4 against Australia. And Jos Buttler certainly isn’t. It wouldn’t surprise me if, come the winter, Jason Roy bats at No4 and Rory Burns opens with somebody else.
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6th over: Australia 15-1 (Bancroft 5, Khawaja 2) Bancroft is beaten, fencing away from his body at Woakes. This is a million miles from the hord and forst wickets he bats on in Perth, and you can see how desperate he is just to get through this new-ball spell.
“Faced with a dilemma,” says Colum Fordham. “Whether to watch the fascinating prospect of Broad and Woakes trying to dismiss the Australian batsmen or go out and get a bit of net practice with Sri Lankans in makeshift nets created on a former 5-a side football pitch surrounded by brambles (good blackberries by the way). Part of me says that I’m crazy even to contemplate the latter option. I suppose I can always follow the Guardian OBO while in the scorching afternoon heat of Naples wondering why I made the wrong decision.”
Do as I say, not as I would do: go and play cricket.
5th over: Australia 14-1 (Bancroft 5, Khawaja 1) England would love to get Steve Smith in against the new ball. Broad strays onto the pads of Khawaja, who flicks a single to get off the mark. Nothing else to report from a pretty quiet over.
“You are a UK paper,” says Heather Greenstreet. “We are UK listeners. Match is being played in the UK. PLEASE use BST.”
Listen, we are using BST. I suspect you’re reading the US edition.
4th over: Australia 13-1 (Bancroft 5, Khawaja 0) Woakes keeps the pressure on with a maiden to Bancroft. That’s only the third time in Warner’s Test career, and the first against England, that he has been out in single figures in both innings.
3rd over: Australia 13-1 (Bancroft 5, Khawaja 0) That’s a huge wicket. Warner has started busily and had hit Broad for two fours earlier in the over.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “Can I be the first to predict that rarest of outcomes, a draw? Australia, after a Smith double hundred, set England 401 to win, which they politely decline to attempt, and a fifth day filled with obdurate blocking, Mexican waves, streakers, and elderly members failing to stay awake.”
That’s Stuart Broad’s 450th Test wicket. It was a mighty delivery that lifted and straightened dramatically from around the wicket; Warner tried to leave at the last minute but was too late and the ball kissed the edge on its wasy through to Bairstow. The not-out decision looks a bit of a shocker from Joel Wilson, because there was a fairly big deflection, but in his defence Broad also wasn’t sure.
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WICKET! Australia 13-1 (Warner c Bairstow b Broad 8)
That’s out!
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ENGLAND REVIEW FOR CAUGHT BEHIND AGAINST WARNER!
I think this out, purely because Warner’s head snapped round the moment the ball went past the bat.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 0) James Anderson is off the field, so Chris Woakes will share the new ball. After a good start, he ends the over with a dreadful delivery on leg stump that Bancroft flicks through midwicket for four.
“I suggested to the OBO last year that perhaps Bairstow could keep for one of the innings, depending on the toss and Buttler (or Foakes or Burns) keep for the other,” says Mark Slater. “That way you can have him bat at No5, and pander to his preference.”
I think his preference is to bat No7 and keep. Either way, I’m not sure Test cricket is ready for such funky tactics just yet.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Bancroft 1, Warner 0) A superb start to the innings from Stuart Broad. Bancroft survives a big LBW appeal (too high), is beaten outside off and takes a quick single to get down the other end.
“Remember when Dominic Cork made a half century at the Oval in 2002?” says Chris Fryer. “He held up seven defiant fingers to show he was up to batting that high in the order. England made 515, so it might have been a bit of a flat track.”
That went well; it was his last Test innings.
Tea-time chit chat
“When we were kids,” says Paul Metcalfe, “big brother Andy had us all convinced that there was a rule called ‘Last Man Stands’ whereby the eleventh batsman could, in special circumstances, soldier on alone. I’ve never been sure whether he actually believed it himself.”
“Nice to see a TV sports producer with a sense of mischief,” says Ian Copestake. “Warne comes on commentary and the camera switches to Steve Waugh. Silence ensues.”
Tea
The innings break means the players will take an early tea. There are still 44 overs remaining, so the evening session could be a cracker. Although he batted, I don’t think Anderson is fit enough to bowl. We’ll soon find out.
WICKET! England 374 all out (Anderson c Cummins b Lyon 3)
The third bowling change in as many overs. Lyon replaces Pattinson who replaced Cummins who replaced Lyon - and the move has the desired effect when Anderson slog-sweeps straight up in the air. That’s Lyon’s third wicket, all left-handers of course. Chris Woakes is left unbeaten on 37, and England lead by 90.
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135th over: England 373-9 (Woakes 36, Anderson 3) Cummins has changed ends in an attempt to end this nonsense. No dice, at least not yet. Anderson squirts two through point and plays out the remainder of the over. England lead by 89.
134th over: England 371-9 (Woakes 36, Anderson 1) Woakes has a big drive at the new bowler Pattinson and edges it wide of the solitary slip for four. His numbers in home Tests are quite spectacular – 43 with the bat, 22 with the ball.
“This could be a lot worse,” says Lee Calvert. “It wasn’t so long ago that Ryan Sidebottom batted at 8 for England. Ryan Sidebottom. At eight.”
133rd over: England 367-9 (Woakes 32, Anderson 1) “Is there an unsentimental argument that, given that Buttler keeps, that Curran brings more value to the Test team as a lower-order counter-puncher than World Cup hero Young Jonny Bairstow?” asks Christian Cummins. “Curran must have outperformed him with the bat in the past 18 months.”
I think it’s a bit too early for that, especially as it would be a relatively seismic change. But Bairstow’s Test form has been a worry for a while. In the last two years he averages 29, which is absurd for a player of his ability. I’d love him to bat No5 and not keep wicket, but it seems that isn’t going to happen. As for Curran, if he plays I think it needs to be as the third seamer, certainly for the time being.
132nd over: England 365-9 (Woakes 31, Anderson 0) I think I would promote Woakes above Moeen in the oder; he’s in much better form and has a higher Test average. He can’t add any runs in that over, with Cummins bowling a very wide short ball to ensure Anderson is on strike for the next over.
“Was in England for glorious World Cup campaign,” says Mark Davies. “Now back in my newly built house in the Ecuadorian Andes at 2,600metres of altitude. There are folks here from the subcontinent who play cricket at weekends. Not enough Brits to get a team out though. My Ecuadorian partner actually enjoys watching cricket when we are in the UK, but not sure if she is on top of all the rules!”
Oh, so she’s an umpire? Honkety-honk.
131st over: England 365-9 (Woakes 31, Anderson 0) James Anderson plays out a maiden from Lyon, including a reverse sweep for no run that prompts lusty cheers from the crowd.
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130th over: England 365-9 (Woakes 31, Anderson 0) “Following on from Dave Adams’ email...” begins Joseph Hutchison. “I was watching the TV highlights with my wife a few years ago when suddenly she turned to me and exclaimed, ‘How can that not be out?’ I explained that the ball had hit the ground before the fielder caught it. ‘Yes,’ she said, indignantly. ‘But one hand, one bounce.’
WICKET! England 365-9 (Broad c Pattinson b Cummins 29)
Thanks Adam, hello everyone. Stuart Broad has gone, roughed up emphatically by Pat Cummins. Every ball in the over was short, and eventually Broad jumped across his stumps to flick one high in the air towards fine leg. Pattinson got in position and crouched to take a comfortable catch. That ends his and Chris Woakes’ second excellent partnership of the game.
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129th over: England 365-8 (Woakes 31, Broad 29) The Smith Experienment has been shelved in favour of Nathan Lyon. Woakes plays out a maiden defending off both the front and back foot. That brings the third hour of the day to an end with drinks on the field. An excellent session so far for England, this partnership now worth 65 with the lead climbing to 81.
With that, I’m out of here. Thanks for your company and excellent emails. Over to the master of the genre, Rob Smyth. Bye!
128th over: England 365-8 (Woakes 31, Broad 29) Woakes is right in behind Cummins until the penultimate delivery, which is gets down nicely to third man for a single. Paine changes the field for Broad, a short leg into the mix for the one ball he has to negotiate. Of course, the bouncer is coming but he manages to get out of the way. Just.
127th over: England 364-8 (Woakes 30, Broad 29) Smith has Broad miscuing a sweep off the bottom of his bat but it runs away for four past the gloves of Paine! With three more singles to the sweepers, these two have now put on 64 in 22 overs together. We saw a partnership for the ninth wicket define Australia’s innings, we’re seeing another critical one here. This is nearly Sam Curran stuff.
126th over: England 357-8 (Woakes 28, Broad 24) Cummins is doing what a fast bowler must in this situation: keeping it tight. And he’s still flinging it down as well. Oh, the short one has Broad trying to get out of the way but he can’t - the ball landing where short leg would be. But not at this stage of the innings with the lead now 73.
Some housekeeping as I move towards the end of my stint. Robert Wilson is back in my inbox - he has news on his knees.
“Glen Hatrick is absolutely bang dead to rights on the money on all things kneecappish (although it was Musgrave Park rather than the Royal). Knows his stuff, this G Hatrick, if only he were real... When I later got to Cambridge, I used to roll up my trouser legs in college bars and tell wispy girls I had been kneecapped (I hadn’t). I thought it would be thrillingly effective (it wasn’t). I haven’t kneeled down since I was sixteen.”
Of course you did...
“PS. Re. early rules and regs ignorance. For the first two or three years of my cricket loving life, I thought the pitch was about 12 feet long due to TV camera foreshortening. I used to get my brothers to bowl golf balls at me on strips of concrete that long. Ignorance is not always bliss.”
A mate of mine growing up was insistent that the TV broadcasters slowed the deliveries down so that we were able to see the ball.
125th over: England 356-8 (Woakes 27, Broad 24) Steve Smith! For the first time in this innings. You can imagine what the response is from the fired-up Hollies Stand. He’s actually turned into a better bowler since the ban - we’ll see. The leggie lands them throughout the over but neither player is going to take the bait and have a pop. Broad’s outside edge is beaten by the final delivery - with a topspinner, by the looks, Paine taking the bails - but he’s safe.
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124th over: England 354-8 (Woakes 26, Broad 23) He turns to Pat Cummins, replacing Pattinson. Two more singles start the over as the attack-leader works into it before dotting up Woakes, angling in at his stumps trying to find any movement. Nothing doing, though.
123rd over: England 352-8 (Woakes 25, Broad 22) The Hollies Stand are involved here now. To begin, Lyon is no-balled, I think, because Bancroft at short leg is behind square making three fielders to the right of the umpire? You don’t see that often. With a Woakes single down the ground the England 350 is up, which also makes a partnership of 50 between this pair. They have done so well, coming together when England were collapsing. With Broad on strike, Warner is sent out to the boundary in front of the Hollies Stand at deep square leg and they give it big again. Warner, of course, blows them a kiss. Two more singles to finish. Your move, Tim Paine.
122nd over: England 348-8 (Woakes 23, Broad 21) The Australians try to get their ball changed between overs but it gets through the ring. Back to Pattinson, two singles start his over with Woakes and Broad both using the pace to deflect. The quick replies with an outswinger, beating the blade nicely. He then finds the edge, but on the bounce to the cordon, skipping through for a run that will frustrate them. The crowd are going WILD; the loudest they have been all week.
121st over: England 345-8 (Woakes 21, Broad 20) Lyon changes it up to go around the wicket at Woakes, who gets him down the ground. Sticking with that angle to Broad he nearly bowls him around his legs! Hands on heads around the bat and from the bowlers. Broad nearly gets runs on the sweep again but can’t beat the man at backward square, getting well forward to defend the rest.
120th over: England 344-8 (Woakes 20, Broad 20) Anderson update: the England camp say that he has bowled in the nets during the lunch break. Wouldn’t that be something if he got on and picked up some second-innings wickets? Who knows, it might be the final time he bowls in an Ashes Test if he hurts himself again. What a great match this is in terms of storylines. Three more singles off Pattinson, all without fuss, both players now into the 20s. The lead is 60.
119th over: England 341-8 (Woakes 18, Broad 19) Broad is playing Lyon well off the front foot, making contact with soft hands as required, pushing a single to point. Woakes plays with the spin as well, tucking one around the corner. The lead is 57.
118th over: England 339-8 (Woakes 17, Broad 18) This is getting slightly problematic for Australia now, the pace of Pattinson not bothering the set England pair as they hoped. Granted, Broad was beaten early in the over, but another three runs were added - each cheered enthusiastically by the crowd. Paine must remain patient.
Tim Stappard “just exited a Nazi submarine base on the outskirts of Bordeaux” to check the OBO. As you do!
117th over: England 336-8 (Woakes 15, Broad 17) Lyon beats the bat with one that spins big at Broad but it is well outside the off-stump. Going straighter with the next ball, Broad is down into his slog sweep and nails it for four out to the Hollies Stand! That moves the lead beyond 50. Broad get another single around the corner. Good batting. Ooh, not far away to finish, Woakes beaten when cutting too close to his body. This pair have put on 36. There was confirmation at the lunch break too that Jimmy Anderson will bat. But will he bowl?
116th over: England 330-8 (Woakes 14, Broad 12) Pattinson takes a couple of balls to get going - he’ll be a tired boy by now. Onto Broad’s pads, he takes an easy single. He’s back on the money to Woakes, getting a ball to seam way from Woakes and finding his edge but away from the catchers for one down to third man.
“I prefer following The Ashes on The Guardian rather than television as watching live is so stressful,” reports Graham Hand. “Why? Because as a Pom living in Sydney, everyone else wants the Aussies to win, and I know I will be mercilessly bagged at work if England does badly. You folk living in England, watching in your mutual apprehension and perhaps misery, console each other together.
But when you’re alone, the consequences of a bad day can be dire. I often watch until tea then go to bed, and nervously check the score when I wake up. It’s painful. I wouldn’t mind if it rained for two months. On the other hand, watching the World Cup Final all night until 5am was wonderful.”
Thanks for being part of it!
“I for one would love to read an interview with Orlando’s uncle,” says Dave Jackson. Okay, good call: I’ll get on it. Orlando, hit me up.
That went fast... the players are back on the field. Pattinson to Broad. PLAY!
A few more before we return.
On Bob’s knees? Davy Given: “I would guess that Paris Bob was recovering at Belfast’s Musgrave Park hospital, which - for various reasons - housed the world’s foremost experts for knee reconstruction during the 1980s.”
And Glen Hatrick: “My money’s on the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast – the Venn diagram of joyriders and kneecapping victims would show a substantial degree of overlap. The fact that they all hated cricket was also a bit of a giveaway. On the plus side, Bob couldn’t have picked a better place to have a knee injury – due to the kneecappings, Belfast is the world leader for knee surgery. We’re very proud.”
We wait for Bob’s reply.
“I note that Ed Smith is wearing the same tie as yesterday,” Romeo reports. “Is this his lucky tie, or has he spilt his dinner down all his others?” Or he might have been out with Beefy (see much earlier today a note saying he is in the same shirt as yesterday)
This is a corker from Kanishk Srinivasan on the topic of misunderstood laws and quirks of cricket: “Dave Adams raised a great question about not understanding certain rules in cricket, and I couldn’t help but think of a friend (who shall remain anonymous) who used to think that the 30-yard circle was a mini-boundary, and that if you got the ball past it, you’d get 2 runs be default, and three if you got it past without a bounce. He used to explain the batsmen running between wickets as a sign of excitement or celebration.”
And on the same topic, Chris Thompson in Melbourne: Not quite a rule-based misunderstanding, but many years ago I was watching Steve Waugh’s final test when my ex-girlfriend wandered in just as they were giving speeches. The announcer described him as “one of those rare players who leaves the game in better shape than when he started”. A pause from the ex, then... ‘did he used to be really fat or something?’” Too good. Nothing but net.
Ben Mimmack is currently flying over Greenland and pondering. “I’m thinking about the reaction to Steve Smith’s century on day 1. All I’ve seen in the press is universal condemnation of the people who booed it. I would have applauded myself because it was such a special innings, but when all’s said and done, he blatantly cheated to try and win a match. How is the reaction of the crowd on Thursday different to those swimmers who refused to share a podium with Sun Yang? Reactions that were pretty favourably reported on from what I saw and the parallels seem pretty close to me.”
I respectfully disagree with your comparison but I’ll leave this be.
“After yet another failure for Bairstow and Ali,” notes Joe Cross. “I’m reminded of my view when the side was selected that their places shouldn’t be considered secure. May seem harsh but after the Ireland debacle I would have dropped both for this one. Would we really have been worse off with Foakes and Leach? Or Curran and Leach? The latter especially with Anderson’s fitness concern in mind.”
Remember that Moeen’s main job (at the moment) is what he does later today. But yes, this is far from a settled side.
Lunchtime emails. Shall we do a few?
“Thank you to the OBO team for helping me through yesterday,” says Richard Exworthy. “Thanks also to Aneurin Bevan (Labour’s Minister for Health,1945-51) and the wonderful, amazing, stupendously brilliant staff at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff for removing my kidney stones, a procedure which basically involved passing a camera, a laser and a collection basket, up what the surgeon euphemistically referred to as my ‘water pipe’.”
Blimey! I’m glad we were able to see you through that. I had to go to hospital yesterday as well and, goodness me, I love the NHS. I’m not sick or anything like that, before you ask!
“The first Test series I got in to was England v Pakistan in 2006,” says Zoe Belk. “Radio coverage of cricket had only recently arrived in Canada via the BBC online, and TV coverage was non-existent. Actually, I’m not sure much has changed. Along with giving me a somewhat skewed view of the high drama that cricket offers, it meant that, when I moved to London five years later, I was completely unable to tell a yorker from a googly or third man from a slip. The shame!”
Love this stuff. I often wonder whether I would have found cricket I was brought up in a country where it isn’t traditional? Hope so.
“My Venezuelan girlfriend asked if “the Australians were, still there (ie England)?” says Tom Morgan. “The concept of five-day matches and six-week series eludes her. When I explained the, Ozzies would be in UK from may to September just for cricket she malfunctioned. Funny game.” Tell her about the nine-month tours of the old days!
What an entertaining session. Australia picked up four of the six wickets they required to end this England innings, giving up just 61 runs along the way. Tim Paine will definitely be happy with that. Granted, they had the chance to roll through them before the break when taking three wickets in four balls via Nathan Lyon then Pete Siddle, but they now eat knowing that the deficit should be manageable. For England’s part, they’ve missed an opportunity but now have two players capable of really frustrating Australia. Who would want to be doing anything other than following this Test Match? I’m going to take a break and grab a bite to eat. Back soon!
Updated
LUNCH! England 328-8
115th over: England 328-8 (Woakes 13, Broad 11) Last over before lunch, to be bowled by Lyon. Just block it out, right? Naaah! Chris Woakes goes BIG with a heeeeave over midwicket, timing the pants off it over the rope for SIX. As you do. He does the conventional thing for the rest of the over, keeping Lyon out when on his stumps and getting his blade and gloves out of the way when he was slightly outside his off-stump. Lunch it is! What a fascinating two hours that turned out to be. These two have put on 28 and the lead is 44.
Updated
114th over: England 322-8 (Woakes 7, Broad 11) The lead moves to 38 with two singles off Siddle, Broad picking one up past point and Woakes a single off his inside edge. Frustrating for Siddle. I’m asked what consitutes a “handy lead” by Graeme Burton. I don’t think they are quite there yet but these two have stopped the collapse and just about got them to lunch. That’ll do as a start.
113th over: England 320-8 (Woakes 6, Broad 10) Broad sweeps Lyon again; it’s working for him. Woakes also scores through midwicket to the sweeper - good batting. Oh yes, thanks for the emails saying that I had Woakes’ score wrong - it happens. All fixed now. Extras to finish! Four of them, of the byes variety, when Woakes is beaten close to his woodwork and Paine doesn’t get to it. He’ll hate that.
“Hello.” Hi Orlando Ames-Lewis. “My uncle Phil was at Lord’s for England’s victorious World Cup final in July. As England’s front row coach in 2003 he celebrated on the pitch in Sydney after England won the Rugby World Cup in another epic final. And as a 22 year old he was at Wembley in 1966 when Bobby Moore lifted the Football WC. Was anyone else at all three?”
Blimey. Can I interview him, please?
“Same old problem with England,” writes Joe Cross. “Once you’re through our rock solid top order the middle just melts away.” Droll.
On that topic from Kevin Wilson: “I’m far more disappointed in Bairstow than Mo. Mo’s wicket was a misjudgement by a guy out of form when the offie is spinning it miles. Bairstow’s shot was incredibly irresponsible as the last real batsman. What’s Ben Foakes’s form like?” A question that needs asking, for mine. Let Bairstow bat. Let Buttler bat. Let Foakes keep. Not rocket science.
“Why do we hate Stuart Broad so much again?” asks Ben Mostyn in Australia. I don’t think we actually do? It was definitely a thing for about five minutes in 2013, but I don’t think so anymore. Right?
112th over: England 313-8 (Woakes 5, Broad 8) It’s Siddle replacing Cummins rather than Pattinson. Once again, he starts a spell with a maiden, keeping Woakes in defence throughout. Oh, as I type that he tries to crash the final ball to the rope at cover - a nice stroke - but it is stopped well by Bancroft in the covers moving to his right.
Updated
111th over: England 313-8 (Woakes 5, Broad 8) Broad again sweeps Lyon to get off strike first up. Woakes is beaten on the inside edge, the ball lobbing to slip. The appeal is turned down, there’s no edge. Broad has a couple of balls to handle to finish off and he does well. 13 minutes until lunch, which will be extended if Australia take another wicket between now and then. An OBOers nightmare.
Updated
110th over: England 311-8 (Woakes 4, Broad 7) Woakes then Broad score off Cummins behind square, using the pace pretty well. Might we see Pattinson back from our pavilion end next over?
Peter Cave has some intel on the bails debate: “To my mind, the problem with the argument that the laws re bails should be changed to reflect the availability of technology is that the laws have to be applicable for cricket at all levels. In village cricket etc, the kind of technology you have at international level isn’t available. This is a point about the laws that John Holder made in his TMS Ask the Umpire slot yesterday.” I’ll have a listen. Thanks.
Hugh Maguire is on my team, by the looks. “I quite like the potential for freakery that is a bails jostle not out. But the frequency is getting a bit much. And the recent lack of stump cartwheeling when a fast bowler hits the stumps makes me think the issue is not the bails, rather overly robust stumps. Could we not fiddle with the laws, but just make sure the stumps are not set in concrete as it seems they now are?” Just use snicko, right? Keep the bails for run outs.
“In response to Dave Adams question about not understanding a key rule,” writes Habib Butt, “back in 1990 when I first started following cricket as an eleven year old I thought the follow on was giving a side three innings in a match, I was baffled why any team would want to enforce the follow on.” Outstanding. That’s tough to top.
109th over: England 307-8 (Woakes 3, Broad 4) Lyon finds Woakes’ inside edge! But instead of going to short leg it ends up around the corner where there now isn’t a leg gully. I’d have three men catching there with the spin he is generating at the moment. Between overs, Athers on the telly shows how Lyon’s seam position was different for the Burns and Moeen Ali dismissals. “Deliberate or not?” he asks. If we get to talk to him tonight at stumps, I’ll ask him. A giant Trump inflatable balloon is floating in the Hollies Stand. Gower jumps in, doing a Trump voice: “Fake news!” Words I didn’t expect to type. Broad swept Lyon for three earlier in the over, I should add.
Updated
108th over: England 303-8 (Woakes 2, Broad 1) Pat Cummins is back to replace Siddle, which can only mean one thing. Yep, here’s the bouncer - Woakes nearly making a complete meal of it; he wasn’t keen at all. Understandbly so. He shares a laugh with Cummins, or at least that’s what it looks like from where I’m sitting. But he gets to the other end of the interrogation with his wicket in tact.
“I read that ECB was telecasting the Ashes live in the continent,” emails Anand Kumar. “Is that true? Anyone out there who can help a cricket fan with world cup withdrawal and need for live cricket?”
Ian Forth has a counterview in reply to my point about a boring Test: “Melbourne 2017 was mint. It’s the only test England haven’t lost in Australia for the last 8 years, Cook got on the honours bar board and even Broad got a score. Also, my son got a nosebleed and the first aid staff were very nice to him. Fond memories.”
Mac Millings too, in reference to Paris Bob’s point: “What kind of terrifying town does he live in, that *all* the other knee-injury patients are “joyriders and kneecapping victims”? How does a joyrider injure his or her knees, anyway? Bob said it was a childhood memory - so was he a childhood knecapping viictim or a junior carjacker And how did he, a kid in a room of (presumably) adult criminals, get to be in charge of the remote? Was *he* the one who kecapped the other patients?”
Bob, this is going to be a fun reply from you, isn’t it?
107th over: England 301-8 (Woakes 1, Broad 0) Lyon is ripping them at Woakes from wide of the crease looking for an inside edge with two catchers in on the leg side but the Brummy Botham is up to the task, getting off the mark with one down the ground. Broad then keeps out the couple of deliveries he has to deal with.
On lighter matters... “Re lunchtime/teatime nourishment,” writes John Starbuck, “Stuart Broad once confided that the quicker bowlers have fortified milkshakes and not much else. It probably doesn’t make them full of cheese.” I’d insist on a Maccas thickshake.
Burns goes for 133 👏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2019
What a knock on Ashes debut from the opener but Lyon gets a deserved wicket
Watch #TheAshes live on Sky Sports Cricket now or follow here: https://t.co/9nrJgYF5SQ pic.twitter.com/C61y0ymjRD
Straight one from Lyon!
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2019
The Aussie spinner is causing havoc now and Ali goes for 0
Watch #TheAshes live on Sky Sports Cricket now or follow here: https://t.co/9nrJgYF5SQ pic.twitter.com/XUiSPSy4gS
106th over: England 300-8 (Woakes 0, Broad 0) From such a strong position, England now have two men in the middle yet to face a delivery. We spent so much time last night talking about how small England’s lead would need to be for Australia to feel right back in the game. Well, that number is currently 16. With the visitors bowling last and England without Anderson later today (more than likely) this becomes a massive half an hour or so before lunch.
#Ashes Even when they appear to be well on top, England can conjure a collapse from nowhere @collinsadam
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) August 3, 2019
WICKET! Bairstow c Warner b Siddle 8 (England 300-8)
Catching practice! England needed Bairstow but instead, he’s steered a catch from too close to his body straight into the hands of Warner at first slip. Australia have taken three wickets in 11 balls.
Updated
WICKET! Moeen Ali b Lyon 0 (England 300-7)
Moeen bowled off-stump shouldering arms! Two wickets in the over! We have ourselves a proper Test Match here. He can’t believe it; Lyon has done him with his straight ball from around the wicket. That’s such clever bowling from the Australian twirler.
105th over: England 300-7 (Bairstow 8)
Updated
WICKET! Burns c Paine b Lyon 133 (England 296-6)
The end of a massive hand, Burns removed by Lyon after 312 balls at the crease. It’s a classic off-spinners’ wicket, turning away from the left-hander from around the wicket, the edge taken safely by Paine. Burns stops at the rope as they check for the no-ball (he wasn’t far away from it!), but the third ump confirms that he has to go. Played.
Updated
104th over: England 296-5 (Burns 133, Bairstow 8) Bairstow clips Siddle behind square for a couple and is kept honest for the rest by the Australian first change. Drying it up, drying it up. That’s his job.
Michael Robinson has a potential solution for the numbers issue that might keep the purists happy: listing them 1-11. Don Wilson is happy that the Sky TV commentators have ditched the ties this summer.
“Regarding numbers on shirts,” emails Tobias Peggs. “I was high up in the stands for the first two days with my English father and Aussie father-in-law, and it certainly made identifying players easier - especially from the other teams, where you might not be so familiar with a particular gait or a nervous tick that marks a player out from distance. In a group where we wanted to talk about players both sides, it was super helpful. My only question is the apparently random number selection. Root 66, Jimmy pretending he’s a striker for Burnley (number 9) and all that. Any other players have good back stories for their numbers?”
Shane Warne made a very big deal of the 23 back in 1994 when Australia first moved to the numbers. Indeed, he has a bar in the casino in Melbourne named after it.
103rd over: England 293-5 (Burns 132, Bairstow 6) Lyon is getting plenty of turn and even more bounce. In response, Bairstow is getting across his stumps before leaving, which is bold but effective - for now. “It is an obvious plan isn’t it,” says Isa Guha on the telly.
102nd over: England 293-5 (Burns 132, Bairstow 6) Shot! Rory Burns leans into a lovely cover drive off Peter Siddle, out to the rope in front of the Hollies Stand. He played and missed to begin the over, but as Sangakarra said earlier today, the best part of Burns’ innings has been his ability to put those moments behind him. DRINKS!
Time to quickly get through some of your emails...
“I am one of those people that, of a Saturday, are unable to follow the cricket EXCEPT via the hinderwebz,” writes Mark Slater in Cornwall. “Being at work with no radio within this Sceptical Isles. Keep up the good work and greetings from Ye Ende of Ye World.”
Thanks for being with us, Mark.
“Morning Adam.” Hi, Dave Adams. “To my surprise and delight, my nine year old has been avidly watching this match. Aside from bemoaning the slow scoring (he watched the World Cup Final), he’s been constantly asking questions about the game. Again, explaining the laws and customs of the sport we all love is also a joy. It took my mind back, though, to when I first got into cricket. My first series watching was the 1989 Ashes and I had no parent around to ask all the questions of. As a result, whenever I saw an unsuccessful lbw appeal and heard the commentators say that it was ‘worth a shout’, I assumed that an extra run was awarded to the batting side. I have no idea when or how I discovered the truth. Have any other OBO readers been similarly unaware of a key rule of the game?”
The cricketing equivalent of Hold Me Closer Tony Danza! Great news about your kid. Everything crossed that the World Cup has the desired effect and the game can finally find a younger audience.
“Just settling down for a solid day doing nothing but watching, listening to, and reading about The Ashes.” Lovely stuff, Kim Thonger. “But the two hours prior to this morning’s first ball were spent pressure washing and manicuring the garden at the instruction of my wife, (or the senior umpire as I romantically refer to her), so I understand a little of what the ground staff go through every morning before the paying punters arrive and I think we should give them a round of hearty applause.”
They are certainly under more public scrutiny than ever before. In Australia, we now get a full-on press conferene with the curator before every Test Match. I feel for the new bloke at Lord’s.
Tim Sattertwaite isn’t that worried about numbers on shirts but he sure doesn’t like the advertsing on the stumps. I’m more frustrated about the bails debate, but that’s for another time. In short, we have the technology to know if the ball hit, let’s use it! Another time.
101st over: England 289-5 (Burns 128, Bairstow 6) Lyon replaces Pattinson and turns is square at Burns who is lucky to miss it. Later, Bairstow has a couple to look at and is straight onto the front foot looking to score. Oh, England are now in the lead, by the way. I missed that a couple of overs ago. This is such an important period for the hosts with Lyon getting the chance to bowl last on this track.
Alex Hargreaves writes me to report that he was trying to bring sandpaper into the ground today but it was confiscated on the way in by the stewards. He isn’t pleased. “If we aren’t allowed to mock the Aussies what is the point?” I’ll take that as a comment.
100th over: England 288-5 (Burns 127, Bairstow 6) Peter Siddle, welcome to the attack. And guess what? It’s a maiden. A maiden where he nearly castles Bairstow when shouldering arms. A maiden where he finds Bairstow’s inside edge. A maiden where he beats Bairstow’s outside edge with a beauty. Superb bowling.
99th over: England 288-5 (Burns 127, Bairstow 6) A rapid bumper to begin! Pattinson nearly hits Bairstow on the lid, collecting his arm on the way through. It prompts the ground staff to come out to hammer the pitch where the footmarks are for the bowler - not sure if the two events are linked, but we lose a couple of minutes. Bairstow deals with the first ball back very nicely, clipping four to midwicket with lovely timing. That’ll feel good. But in keeping of the theme of the morning, Pattinson bounces straight back to find the outside edge, falling a couple of metres short of Smith at second slip. Plenty going on out there at the moment. Fantastic Test Match cricket.
“I was about to write to you of what a cracking game this is when I realised that’s all I ever do,” writes Bob Wilson, who I owe a proper email to. “All Test matches are cracking. Have I ever seen a bad one? I eat up a snore-draw with four days of rain or two struggling minnows battling it out ineptly for the reputational wooden spoon. Can there be a truly bad Test? (That said, I have a dark childhood memory of knee-operation hospitalization, watching Sunny Gavaskar giving it the Existential short-handle for a three day double ton while every joyrider and kneecapping victim in the beds beside me sledged me for my viewing preferences - ah, good times).”
They’re only bad when the tracks are trash. Thinking, for instance, Melbourne 2017. But yes - I truly love it. Especially days like this.
98th over: England 283-5 (Burns 127, Bairstow 1) Bairstow had a full day in the viewing room yesterday - I saw him on the treadmill last night at stumps doing his thing. Of course, he’s coming off a pair at Lord’s last week. Cummins is attacking the line of his body from the get-go, whacking him high on the pad with an off-cutter. He’s off the duck from the final ball of the successful over with one to cover.
WICKET! Stokes c Paine b Cummins 50 (England 282-5)
Pat Cummins finds the edge and makes the BIG breakthrough! Stokes tried to flay the quick through point from the crease but it bounced a tad more than he thought, getting a tiny edge through to Paine. They really, really needed that. Cummins rewarded for a fine spell.
Updated
Stokes to 50!
97th over: England 282-4 (Burns 127, Stokes 50) Burns deflects one off the back foot behind point for one giving the strike back to Stokes, who pushes a single to mid-off to raise a classy half-century. 95 balls to reach the mark with eight boundaries along the way. The feel of the game changed completely when he walked out yesterday.
96th over: England 280-4 (Burns 126, Stokes 49) Stokes gets four more but off the edge this time through about fourth slip. Cummins is drying it up nicely at his end, allowing Pattinson to attack.
95th over: England 275-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 45) Shot! Stokes crushes a glorious straight drive to the rope off Pattinton to begin his new over. Sure enough, the big quick responds with a good’un, beating the edge for about sixth time already in this spell. The all-rounder defends the rest carefully. Great contest between these two.
“Hi Adam.” Hi @AndyinBrum on the tweet machine. “Was in Birmingham centre this morning, respect to the England fans on the 8:30 bus who were well on their way through a six pack of Stella. Guessing they’ll be asleep by lunch.”
Barney Ronay noted on twitter this morning that fans were getting their breakfast beers in at 8am where he is staying. I really can’t judge and I won’t. But I do wonder the extent to which the Saturday drink-a-thon is becoming a little bit of an issue at England Tests?
94th over: England 271-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 41) Cummins to Burns, who defends and leaves well before flashing; his outside edge beaten. How often did we see that pattern yesterday? But he’s still there. The Australian quicks have to stay patient here. Maiden.
“Why do they have those ridiculous numbers and names on the back of their shirts?” asks Brendan Bolton from Lennox Head. “What is the actual point? Apart from just more gimmicky shite?”
This is the sort of email I am going to put in then get 74 punchy replies, isn’t it? Let’s break it down. Why? Because they decided to try something new with the World Test Championship. The ICC’s logic is that making it easier to identify the players is worthwhile. The counterview boils down to why does it need to be easier? Isn’t the status quo fine? I’m on the fence. Tried to write a column about it but I realised that I don’t have a strong view. Boring, boring Adam.
93rd over: England 271-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 41) Stokes is driving hard again into the off side but can’t beat mid-off. He does get runs on the pull shot though, climbing into a shorter Pattinson delivery and grabbing a couple to Trav Head fielding in front of the Hollies. What a job that is on a Saturday. Speaking of boozey Saturdays...
“Reporting from deepest Jutland in Denmark whilst preparing for a gin tasting,” says John Bruce. Have that! “I don’t know what was more nerve racking, Rory Burns anticipated maiden test ton or the imminent arrival of some seriously thirsty Danish gin fans. Thank the dear lord that all ended well and Mothers ruin didn’t get the better of me. Congrats to Rory and I shall raise a big fish bowl glass of gin today.. Fantastic, witty and detailed OBO reporting.”
Thank you, John. Have a skinful for me.
To finish the over, Pattinson beats Stokes and is up for caught behind because he heard a noise. But it is bat on ground. Good decision from Tim Paine not to send it upstairs with one referral left.
92nd over: England 269-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 39) Stokes gets the first run from the bat on day three, driving Cummins to cover - well slowed down by Bancroft. They take one. Burns deals with the rest.
“Can you please enlighten me as to what the players have to eat during the lunch break of a Test?” asks Phil Murnane. “Are they all finely tuned specimens with strict dietary and macronutrient needs, or is it a case of Jammy Dodgers and Jaffa Cakes all round?”
They get a proper feed, as I understand it. But the bowlers have their intake measured through the day - especially when it is hot. Tim Murtagh spoke last week of the double desserts at Lord’s. Old school.
91st over: England 268-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 38) Pattinson wins an early false stroke from Stokes, who chases a ball he should have left, beating his outside edge by quite a distance. WHOA, the next delivery has gone to first slip! I don’t think that was the pitch either, it has just swung a MILE. They take a bye. Burns’ turn, and he is beaten first ball of his morning too. Gorgeous delivery. “This is the life of a batsman in England,” observes Kumar Sangakkara on TV. “You will play and miss a lot. You need to put it behind you.”
The players are on the field! Well, one team at least. That’s quite unusual: Australia are set and in their positions for a good minute before Burns and Stokes leave the dressing room and make their way to the middle. But they’re there now. James Pattinson has the ball in his hand, he will be starting the day from the City End. Stokes (38) is facing the first delivery, Burns (125) up the other end. PLAY!
Updated
Before we get going, Barney on Rory last night.
“Hi Adam.” Morning, Paul Baalham. “When was the last time an English batsman batted for three consecutive days in the *same* innings in a Test Match?”
It has to be Cookie. Maybe his double ton in India? Or the UAE?
“England to get to 420 as Stokes goes nuts,” says Dean Bainbridge in Cardiff. (More like blaaaaze 420, ayyy. Sorry, I can’t help myself) Dean continues with his prediction: “Broad rips through the Aussie top order, Moeen wipes up the tail & England win by an innings with a day to spare. Sorry, Sunday ticket holders.”
As a freelancer, curse you for saying such a heinous thing! The push for four-day Tests might be strong, but I want them to go TIMELESS.
“I notice on Sky that Sir Ian’s wearing the same shirt as yesterday,” observes Simon Richards. “Must’ve been a good night in Birmingham!”
It was loose on Broad Street last night, I can tell you that much. Cricket punters from both nations mixed with the usual, predicably wild, Friday night crew. And yes, I stayed out of the Walkabout.
“Good morning, Adam.” G’day, Geoff Wignall. “I’d be interested to know what single thing others would most like to occur today. My choice would be for Modern to find some form and make a decent (60+) score; simply because it would make the world a better and happier place. Except perhaps for Australian fans and I can live with that.”
Moeen’s role is crucial later today - with the ball. Given that Anderson surely won’t actually bowl, they need to set-and-forget with him from the City End and rotate the quicks. He can’t afford to have a bad day. But yes, runs first. He needs those quite a lot.
Today’s global TMS link. For overseas listeners only. If you’re in the UK, grab their coverage in the usual BBC places. Here it is, with thanks to Peter Haining for sending it through.
Jimmy Anderson update. From the England camp: he will bat if required and do some running before play today. They will “take a view later” on whether he will bowl in Australia’s second innings.
Welcome to day three at Edgbaston!
Clears throat for a necessary cliché. Big first hour, innit?
Isn’t it ever. The sun has successfully burned through the morning cloud cover here at Birmingham and we’re in for what will probably be the day that defines the outcome of this First Ashes Test of 2019. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday? Welcome to you all.
In 45 minutes from now we will pick up the action with Rory Burns and Ben Stokes some 17 runs away from banking a first innings lead, the former having batted through the duration of day two for his maiden Test ton. It wasn’t pretty but do you think he cares? This isn’t a beauty pageant. Stokes can do the pretty for both of them.
The all-rounder was the most assured man at Edgbaston yesterday. Walking in at the moment Australia were threatening to ruin the afternoon for Joe Root and co, he picked up where he left off at Lord’s a few weekends ago. If he can bat for a couple of hours this morning, Tim Paine’s men are in a lot of trouble.
To their credit, despite only taking four wickets yesterday, the Australian bowlers did very little wrong. Epecially James Pattinson, who was outstanding in his first Test since February 2016, and Pete Siddle landed it in a shoebox all day. Pat Cummims bounced back well late in the day and Nathan Lyon was Nathan Lyon. They will bowl a lot worse and bowl teams out. That’s their job today: ripping through England’s lower order and keeping the deficit in check.
Righto, I’ll leave it there for the time being as we make our way towards the first ball of morning three. Do drop me a line in the usual way, or ping me a tweet if that’s more your style. This should be fun.
