To the lions ...
Broad is loving Leeds ...
Archer is quite happy ...
I’ll leave you with a match report from Headingley. I’m off to give thanks for Jofra Archer, as an England fan, a cricket fan and a life fan. Bye!
Updated
That was a helluva day’s play. England started well, were a borderline disgrace for an hour after tea, and then Jofra Archer sparked a stunning Australian collapse. Whatever happens with Archer, and I’m not ruling out 801 Test wickets at an average of 12, we will be talking about the events of the last six days forever.
There’s nothing in sport, and not much in life, that is as exhilarating as watching the sudden emergence of a rare talent - not a good player, not even a potentially great one, but a potential all-time great. The last time I felt this excited about a sportsman was when Michael van Gerwen went into overdrive in the winter of 2012. Like van Gerwen, Archer will eventually become better than he is now. But he will never be more exciting.
Updated
Jofra Archer: 17.1-3-45-6. This is his second Test match.
Updated
Lyon whipped around his pad and was plumb LBW. He wanted to review, but Australia had none left. Australia have lost their last eight wickets for 43 runs. Eight Australian wickets for 43 at Headingley: that rings a bell.
Updated
WICKET! Australia 179 all out (Lyon LBW b Archer 1)
He needs just one ball to finish the job; of course he does.
Updated
Jofra Archer will bowl the final over of the day.
52nd over: Australia 179-9 (Lyon 1, Hazlewood 1) Australia have lost seven wickets for 41.
5,000 words on the head shaking batsmen do when they walk off pls
— Daniel Brigham (@dan_brigham) August 22, 2019
Updated
WICKET! Australia 177-9 (Labuschagne LBW b Stokes 74)
He’s out! That was a strange dismissal, a dipping full toss from Stokes that hit Labuschagne on both pads and knocked him off his feet. Replays showed it was hitting the stumps. Labuschagne looks unhappy, perhaps with the light. He ended up lying on his front, an undignified end to a fantastic innings.
Updated
Labuschagne is given out LBW - but he’s reviewed.
51st over: Australia 175-8 (Labuschagne 72, Lyon 0) The forecast is much better tomorrow. You can never be too sure with Headingley, but England should have a great opportunity to take a big first-innings lead. Should.
50th over: Australia 174-8 (Labuschagne 71, Lyon 0) “Fast bowlers, in their first series, are traditionally described as ‘raw’, but Jofra is very smart indeed isn’t he?” says Gary Naylor. “Like the young Michael Holding, the fire had plenty of brains directing it.”
He really is. And he can bowl forever, peaking at 96mph in his sixth or seventh spell of the innings. There must be a catch, but I’ve no idea what it is. It already feels like I’m watching the best England bowler I’ll ever see. It hurts my head to think how good he might be at 28.
Updated
Cummins was very confused by that decision. He was certain he hadn’t nicked it. He threw the bat at a wide one, and there was a noise as it passed the bat. There was a spike on Ultra-Edge – but the spike started before the ball went past the edge. Who knows. I suppose there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the on-field decision, although my instinct is that he didn’t hit it. What we do know for certain is that Jofra Archer has his first Test five-for. Insight department: it won’t be his last.
Updated
WICKET! Australia 174-8 (Cummins c Bairstow b Archer 0)
He’s given him out!
Updated
Jofra Archer has his first Test five-for! Or maybe not, because Cummins has reviewed.
Updated
49th over: Australia 173-7 (Labuschagne 71, Cummins 0) Labuschagne, as Ricky Ponting observes on Sky, has left the ball immaculately today - and he does so again during a maiden from Woakes. There aren’t many frills to his batting, but he knows his game like the back of his bat.
“I’m really hoping that we get to see Jofra and Jimmy bowling in tandem at least a few times,” says Tom Hopkins. “The thought of Jimmy’s control and Jofra’s fire dovetailing is really quite appealing.”
48th over: Australia 173-7 (Labuschagne 71, Cummins 0) Cummins is beaten by a hot one outside off stump, but that aside he defends with his usual solidity. He’s such an impressive lower-order batsman.
“Jofra for BBC Sports Personality of the Year?” wonders Will Buckley.
It’s a sore subject. He wasn’t even on the list (200-1 bar) before the World Cup, and I was tempted to put money on it. But I never really bet, and I simply couldn’t be bothered to request a bet, or whatever it’s called.
47th over: Australia 173-7 (Labuschagne 71, Cummins 0) A maiden from Woakes to Labuschagne, which means Archer will resume his battle with Pat Cummins.
46th over: Australia 173-7 (Labuschagne 71, Cummins 0) What have we done to deserve Jofra Archer?
Updated
WICKET! Australia 173-7 (Pattinson c Root b Archer 2)
The scary thing about Archer is that he hasn’t bowled that well today - yet he now has figures of 4-44. Pattinson edges an excellent delivery to first slip, where Root takes a really sharp catch. That was too good for a lower-order batsman.
Updated
45th over: Australia 171-6 (Labuschagne 70, Pattinson 1) Bad light is going to stop play very soon. Pattinson works Woakes off the hip to get off the mark, and then Labuschagne nails a drive behind square for four. He has played expertly in tough conditions.
Updated
44th over: Australia 164-6 (Labuschagne 64, Pattinson 0) Here’s Jofra. The light is fading, so Labuschagne makes sure Pattinson is not exposed and the over passes without incident. That was pretty selfless batting.
43rd over: Australia 162-6 (Labuschagne 62, Pattinson 0) Australia have lost four wickets for 26, and Paine has only 77 runs in five innings this series.
Updated
Paine’s head fell over towards the off side as he pushed around his front pad at a good delivery from Woakes, delivered from wider on the crease. I thought the angle was taking it past leg stump - or at best hitting the outside of the stump - but Root reviewed almost instantly and Hawkeye had it smacking into leg stump. That’s a fine breakthrough for England, who are having an excellent end to this peculiar day.
Updated
WICKET! Australia 162-6 (Paine LBW b Woakes 11)
He’s out! That’s a brilliant review from Joe Root.
Updated
England review for LBW against Tim Paine.
I think this will be umpire’s call at best for England.
42nd over: Australia 160-5 (Labuschagne 62, Paine 11) Labuschagne, the spelling of whose surname causes me almost as much bother as haemorrhoids, pulls Stokes smoothly for two. With that, the umpires call for drinks. There’s an hour of play remaining, caveats permitting.
“Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “Marnus Labuschagne is not the worst advert for looking at form in county cricket is he?”
Form in Division Two, too. There are, as Selve pointed out the other day, some very good attacks in that division this year.
41st over: Australia 160-5 (Labuschagne 60, Paine 11) Labuschagne is beaten, chasing a very wide tempter from Broad. He reproaches himself and, for his penance, ignores a series of similar deliveries thereafter. When Broad adjusts his line for the last ball of the over, Labuschagne thick edges for three.
40th over: Australia 157-5 (Labuschagne 57, Paine 11) A brilliant delivery from Stokes turns Labuschagne round, takes the edge and flies just wide of the diving Burns at gully for four.
“I agree there is no obvious new captain,” says Simon Yates. “Personal view - this is one of the few downsides of central contracts. In the old days, Test-standard players ended up skippering county sides all the time as they were typically the best at their clubs and played lots of county games. So they learnt how to do it and we all got to see who was any good. Now this never happens as contracted players are hardly ever seen in the shires. Result: hardly any international players have first-class captaincy experience. So here we are.”
Yep, I completely agree with this. Unless you come into the England side fairly late in your career - like, say, Andrew Strauss, or perhaps Rory Burns - it’s almost impossible to get any useful captaincy experience beforehand. When England do change captain, be it next month or in 2023, I hope they consider appointing a specialist.
39th over: Australia 149-5 (Labuschagne 52, Paine 8) Labuschagne pulls Broad round the corner for a single. These are the brighest conditions of the whole day, and batting looks a bit more comfortable as a result. Saying which, Labuschagne is flat on his back after being hit in the sweet spot by Broad. He really felt that, and there’s a break in play while he receives whatever treatment you can receive in such circumstances.
Updated
38th over: Australia 145-5 (Labuschagne 51, Paine 6) Stokes replaces Archer; nothing happens. The light has improved considerably inthe last 10 minutes, so play could continue until 7.30pm.
“The scoreboard may be looking a lot healthier but this feels a pretty odd day given how we finished the Lord’s Test,” says Guy Hornsby. “I like Root so much, but this team feels like an endless discussion around potential, rather than delivering. Like Cook, he was next off the rank, but when does the learning excuse end? He should be freed up to pile on runs at No4, but the Morgan/Brearley theory aside, where does a successor come from, given we’re not even sure what our best order is? It’s like we’ve got all the right instruments but we can’t find the right tune.”
No idea. Making Stokes vice-captain has complicated things as well. I suspect Buttler would be the best captain of the current team, but his place isn’t guaranteed and he will probably become ODI/T20 captain in the next year. He can’t do all three.
37th over: Australia 145-5 (Labuschagne 51, Paine 5) England know the light could go at any time. They’d love to take one more wicket and start afresh against the bowlers tomorrow (if Pat Cummins can be described as such). Broad bowls a maiden to Labuschagne, who had been comfortably the most, erm, comfortable of the Australian batsmen.
36th over: Australia 145-5 (Labuschagne 51, Paine 5) Jofra Archer currently has a Test bowling average of 16.37. Not even he will be able to sustain that, but it would surprise nobody if he became the first England bowler since Fred Trueman when to end a long Test career with an average below 25.
Paine, turned round by a good delivery earlier in the over, gets his first boundary by pinging Archer through mid-off. Good shot.
0 wickets from the first 46 plays and misses today.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2019
2 wickets from the next 3.#Ashes
35th over: Australia 141-5 (Labuschagne 51, Paine 1) A good spot from John Starbuck – Stuart Broad has now joined Lord Fred as the leading wickettaker in Tests at Headingley.
34th over: Australia 139-5 (Labuschagne 50, Paine 0) Wade was even more unfortunate than I first thought. The ball hit his thigh pad, deflected onto his glove and then dribbled back onto the stumps. That’s some dumb luck.
“Bit early to declare the end of the Root era – it seems harsh to blame him,” says Matt Jones. “What is he supposed to about something like the 28th over? Stokes is mature enough to know what’s required, and that simply isn’t good enough. He can hardly claim fatigue…”
I don’t know, this is his third summer and there isn’t much evidence that he’s a natural captain. He certainly isn’t flattered by the comparison with Eoin Morgan. As usual, though, it’ll depend on the Ashes – if they come back to win or even draw this series, he’ll surely keep going. I just feel like the team is going nowhere.
Updated
WICKET! Australia 139-5 (Wade b Archer 0)
A short ball from Archer follows Labuschagne and hits him on the glove, prompting the umpires to check the light meter. It’s okay for now. A quick single later in the over takes Labuschagne to another high-class fifty, this one from 73 balls. Come back Steve, all is forgiven.
Hang on, Wade has been bowled in bizarre circumstances! He was hit on the thigh pad by Archer, and the ball dribbled miserably onto the leg stump. That is so unlucky.
Updated
33rd over: Australia 138-4 (Labuschagne 49, Wade 0) Broad and Archer have combined figures of 21-5-59-4. Woakes and Stokes have combined figures of 12-1-73-0.
This is so much better from England. Broad has bowled Travis Head with a stunning delivery, a full-length legcutter that slammed into the top of off stump. It was unplayable - so good, in fact, that Broad pulled a Broadface in response to his own brilliance rather than that of a teammate.
Updated
WICKET! Australia 138-4 (Head b Broad 0)
Gone for all money!
Updated
32nd over: Australia 137-3 (Labuschagne 48, Head 0) Imagine how good Jofra Archer will be at the age of 28. It’s not the wicket so much as the timing and the manner of it; England were in all kinds of trouble, so he turned things up and sorted Warner out with the minimum of fuss. He almost makes it two in the over when Head plays and misses at another beautiful delivery. Archer is now bowling faster than at any stage today.
Updated
Archer may have been overbowled but he is still producing jaffas galore. The ball after beating Warner with a spectacular legcutter, he had him caught behind off a superb fuller delivery that seamed away just enough to take the edge. Glorious bowling.
WICKET! Australia 136-3 (Warner c Bairstow b Archer 61)
Oh man, this kid is sensational.
Updated
“This is highly frustrating,” says Ian Copestake. “Are ‘the guys’ just relying on conditions to do the work for them only to find a partial or complete concerted refusal to work, or retardation or obstruction of work, by persons who are or have been employed by the same employer or by different employers, for the purpose of remedying a grievance or resolving a dispute in respect of any matter of mutual interest between employer and employee in accordance with the Labour Relations Act, No 66 of 1995?”
It’s a bit more complicated than that.
31st over: Australia 133-2 (Warner 61, Labuschagne 45) That was an excellent, intense over from Broad. Time for drinks.
REVIEW: Australia 133-2 (Warner not out 61)
Warner is not out! It was a superb delivery from Broad, full of length and seaming away from Warner, but he reviewed it straight away and there was nothing on Ultra-Edge.
David Warner is given out caught behind off Broad - but he has reviewed it.
30th over: Australia 131-2 (Warner 59, Labuschagne 45) Root turns to Archer; of course he does. Archer’s pace has been down in the mid-80s today – we don’t know for sure whether that’s due to fatigue or because he wants to bowl a fuller length in these conditions.
A short ball is slapped up and over for a couple by Warner, who is starting to dominate in familiar style, and Labuschagne cuts emphatically for four later in the over. Even Archer is leaking runs now. I’m sorry to say that England have had an absolute shocker since tea. I’m probably overreacting - I do have a bit of a humour on right now - but these are starting to feel like end times for the Root era.
29th over: Australia 124-2 (Warner 57, Labuschagne 41) ‘I wouldn’t mind seeing better body language from the England players,’ says Shane Warne. This is the time they need to bring a fresh Archer into the attack to make something happen, but they’ve already overbowled him.
Woakes strays onto the pads of Labuschagne, who does the necessary to pick up his seventh four. Woakes has figures of 7-1-43-0, and though eight of those came from overthrows, there has been too much loose stuff.
“Root having his Nasser moment with the toss today?” says Kevin Wilson. “Warner played and missed so much he was nailed on for a ton.”
I thought it was close to a 50/50 call – they just haven’t bowled well.
28th over: Australia 120-2 (Warner 57, Labuschagne 37) A disgusting delivery from Stokes is slapped through point for four by Warner. That takes him to 49, and later in the over he pings a slower ball just over point for four more to reach his fifty. It’s been a seriously hard-fought innings, one that will give him so much satisfaction after his desperate start to the series.
Runs are flowing at Headingley. Stokes ends the over with a swinging full toss that is steered for the third boundary of the over. He needs to be replaced, probably by Stuart Broad. There have been 73 runs in the last 11 overs!
Updated
27th over: Australia 108-2 (Warner 45, Labuschagne 37) For the second time in half an hour, one becomes five for David Warner when he takes a quick single and the throw flies to the boundary. On this occasion there was no deflection off the bat; it was a loose throw from square leg. Labuschagne adds four more with a superb flick through square leg. The last 10 overs have cost 61 runs, which in such bowler-friendly conditions is a minor scandal. England look grumpy, ragged and in urgent need of a wicket. It’s no exaggeration to say that this session could cost them the Ashes.
26th over: Australia 97-2 (Warner 40, Labuschagne 31) A short ball from Woakes is pulled confidently behind square for four by Labuschagne. He looks a very accomplished player, although Glamorgan fans have known this for a while. He also leaves the ball a bit like Steve Smith, with a lightsaber swish after the ball has passed the bat.
25th over: Australia 93-2 (Warner 40, Labuschagne 27) Woakes is about to launch into an LBW appeal when Labuschagne gets a very late inside edge. Warner survives a biggish shout for LBW later in the over, and Woakes discourages Root from reviewing on the grounds that it might have been high. It was a lovely delivery, though, and Woakes is starting to look more dangerous.
24th over: Australia 92-2 (Warner 40, Labuschagne 26) A thick edge from Labuschagne flies wide of third slip for four. England are bowling some good balls - Woakes beat Warner twice in the previous over - but they are also haemorrhaging runs. One of these years I’ll remember how to spell haemorrhaging and won’t need to check.
“I can’t shake the feeling that if Jimmy Anderson had been able to bowl in these conditions, Australia wouldn’t be 70-2 after 19 overs,” says Christopher Davis. “A fair few plays and misses but also plenty of bad balls.”
Agreed. England haven’t bowled well enough so far, and that’s a big problem when your pace attack is your strength.
Updated
23rd over: Australia 87-2 (Warner 40, Labuschagne 21) Warner steals a quick single off Woakes - and he gets five when Denly’s throw deflects off the bat of Warner. He puts his hand up to apologise; it wasn’t his fault. These two have been superb between the wickets; in fact, they have scored 40 from the last six overs. These are worrying times for England. Might even be end times for Joe Root. If England lose here, that’s it, the Ashes have gone.
22nd over: Australia 79-2 (Warner 33, Labuschagne 20) Labuschagne is hit on the side, offering no stroke to a length delivery from Stokes. That was an odd leave, although there was no risk of getting out.
Warner then laces a drive to the right of mid-off, where Woakes saves three runs with a fine diving stop. Warner is starting to look like himself for the first time in the series, while Labuschagne is batting with authority at the other end. If Australia bat well in the next 24 hours, they could put England under intolerable pressure.
21st over: Australia 75-2 (Warner 32, Labuschagne 17) The ball is still swinging, and Woakes restores a bit of order with a tidy maiden to Warner.
“That’s interesting from Tom Carver and salutary that it’s post-2005 fastest balls. I’ve always had it in mind that Simon Jones was ‘properly fast’, but guess that the post-2005 cut off for that stat rules him out,” says Ben Powell. “Which set me wondering: how fast was Jones? Is my memory playing tricks on me, or was he really properly fast? I’d be grateful for any stats on his fastest spells.”
I don’t think he was as fast as Brett Lee or Shoaib Akhtar, but he hit 90mph more than anyone else in that England attack. That’s how I remember it, anyway. I have no hard data to offer you.
Updated
20th over: Australia 75-2 (Warner 32, Labuschagne 17) Stokes strays onto the pads of Labuschagne, who tucks him to the fine-leg boundary to bring up a fine fifty partnership. Australia are scoring freely at the moment.
Updated
BREAKING NEWS: JOFRA ARCHER HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE ATTACK
Ben Stokes is going to replace him.
19th over: Australia 70-2 (Warner 31, Labuschagne 13) Woakes’ first ball is edged for four by Warner. It went at catchable height through the vacant fourth-slip area. Later in the over he bowls a delivery to Labuschagne which swings so violently that it goes between first and second slip for four byes. The next ball is perfect, a classic outswinger that beats Labuschagne’s defensive prod, and an eventful over concludes with an excellent drive through mid-off for four. England are in a bit of bother here. I suspect Joe Root is starting to wish he had batted first.
“Archer won’t be RFF for much longer if Root has anything to do with it,” says Phil Harrison. “He’s like a kid on Xmas morning with an amazing new toy. He plays with it and plays with it and plays with it. And then it breaks.”
“I don’t know what ‘sorting Kohli out emphatically’ means,” says Digivjay Yadav. “He bowled a good bumper, then a slow one, and then a delivery which should have been smacked for six but he tried to be too clever with and guided it to gully. Hardly bounced out.”
Well, that’s your opinion. The people who emailed in before had a different opinion. And lo, life went on.
Play is about to resume. That’s nice. Play can go on until 7.30pm, weather permitting.
“I think Mac Millings has called Derek Thunderwood wrong,” says Jon Lever, “as that just sounds like a Cornish porn star. Derek Underflood, surely.”
“Finn was faster than you remember,” says Tom Carver. “Sky (or someone – Sky showed it on TV) produced a list of fastest spells by Englishmen since 2005. Flintoff faster than I remember. Everyone always said he bowled a heavy ball, rather than being particularly fast.
- 1. Andrew Flintoff – 91.5mph vs Australia, 2009 (Edgbaston)
- 2. Steve Harmison – 90.7mph vs Australia, 2006 (Adelaide)
- 3. Steven Finn – 90.6mph vs New Zealand, 2013 (Dunedin).”
That was my point – Finn at his best hovered around 88, with the ability to go up to around 92 when his rhythm was perfect. Of course that’s fast, but there is a level above that (Lee, Akhtar, Spencer, Patterson, van Troost, Johnson, Archer, etc.) Maybe we need four classifications for right-arm seam bowlers: RM, RFM, RF and RFF.
This, as usual, is a great spot from Tim. Archer should be a shock bowler, not a stock bowler. I also wonder about the effect it has had on the confidence of others, Woakes in particular.
Joe Root again in danger of overworking #JofraArcher. Outstanding as he's been, Archer now has the worst strike rate of England's specialist bowlers in his two Tests https://t.co/5lgaFa2Sqj
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) August 22, 2019
“Do you think that, with all this rain and bad light, Australia might win the Ashes 1-0?” says Malcolm Brown. “(Weather is nicer here in Tuscany by the way, and I’m sure there’s room for some cricket.) Ciao.”
I suspect we’ll get at least four days in one of the Tests, and that should be enough with these batting line-ups. It’s not beyond the realms, though, especially as this is the first Ashes series to include two Tests in September (I think).
Tea
The umpires have brought the tea break forward, which is sensible in the circumstances. Sky have switched to coverage from Antigua. India are 44 for three, with KL Rahul on 22 and Ajinkya Rahane on 1. Virat Kohli was dismissed for 9 by Shannon Gabriel - and, according to a couple of your emails, Gabriel sorted him out emphatically.
“It bothered me far too much that Mac Millings’ rain delay team didn’t have a keeper,” says Tim Wood. “I’ve spent 20 minutes trying to think of rain-related plays on Wasim Bari or wondering if we could partner Jack Russell with Phil Tufnell for when its raining cats and dogs. Then it came in a flash: Craig Kies-wetter. We can all get back to work now.”
“The last time I saw Steven Finn, he looked like a bowler impersonating Steven Finn,” says Gary Naylor. “Nothing was quite right - everything a little bit off. It was a reminder - as if we needed one - of what a strange and beautiful thing is fast bowling. As Mfuneko Ngam and Andre van Troost (amongst others, Frank Tyson anyone?) can attest, we should enjoy them while we can, for their bloom is often fleeting.”
Indeed. Although Finn was never fast, was he? I think of him at around 88mph, occasionally up to 92mph, rather than 95mph+ like van Troost and Tyson.
Bad light stops play
The crowd boo the decision, and the England players aren’t happy either. Joe Root was told he could bowl the spinners if he wanted to stay on.
Updated
18th over: Australia 54-2 (Warner 26, Labuschagne 7) Archer continues; of course he does. He’s bowled a third of England’s overs since the start of the Lord’s Test, which is bordering on a health-and-safety issue. Warner tucks him off the pads for three, then Labuschagne does likewise for four. Australia have played with impressive authority since the resumption.
“These rain delays are proving to be remorselessly helpful in terms of my productivity,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “I’d intended to hang my metamorphic Closed sign on the door from 11am and master the fine art of doing sweet eff all other than watching the cricket. But no, we have to have rain delays. Thus I’ve been writing 250 words here, three or four emails there. I curse this English weather for my employers and clients may come to expect this sort of responsiveness in the future.”
17th over: Australia 47-2 (Warner 23, Labuschagne 3) Chris Woakes replaces Stuart Broad. He should - should - bowl very well in those conditions. His first over is a bit of a range-finder, from which Australia grab three singles. Warner is starting to look busy between the wickets, which is usually a good sign for Australia.
16th over: Australia 44-2 (Warner 21, Labuschagne 2) Archer has five slips for David Warner, who drives a half-volley through mid-off for three. Archer has bowled more like an English seamer today, hitting a full length at around 85mph. I suppose he has to assume that role in the absence of James Anderson and Chris W-oh.
Archer reminds everyone of his menace with a sharp bouncer that is nicely avoided by Labuschagne. There’s no pace in this pitch.
“Whilst we are on the memory lane thing, I was at the England v SA 2003 match (as was Jimmy Anderson – he got two wickets in the match),” says Simon Thomas. “My wife called me to tell me the news that she was pregnant with our first child and I got so emotionally happy drunk that I was eventually turned away from a nightclub I wasn’t even trying to get into. The bouncer actually crossed the road to tell me ‘never, ever, are you coming in here’. Happy days.”
15th over: Australia 41-2 (Warner 18, Labuschagne 2) Broad bowls the last ball of his eighth over, which he started before the rain break, and Labuschagne scrunches it through the covers for a couple to get off the mark.
Updated
“The Wedding Present!” pants Martin Sinclair. “Blimey, this takes me back. I got into them in the sixth form and first saw them at the Reading Festival in 1989, when I was a tender lad of 16 years. Haven’t listened to them in ages until today and am now trawling their back catalogue, so even though there has been precious little cricket, it’s been a great morning just because of them. All together now – ‘ah-ah-oh!!’”
I thought that was Two Door Cinema Club.
Play is about to resume, and I have just one request for Joe Root: FOR THE LOVE OF SWING, GIVE CHRIS WOAKES A BLOODY BOWL.
World Test Championship department
Things are happening in Antigua. Things. India are 25-3 on the first morning of the series against West Indies, whose demolition of England may have been more than a glorious one-off.
“Pedantry corner,” begins Richard O’Hagan. “Precipitate’ just means something happening prematurely. Millings must be thinking of ‘Precipi’ Tait-ion.”
“I enjoyed the two emails regarding Finn,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “Reading about how Archer bowled some of England’s fastest ever overs lately, I noticed that Finn’s name kept on popping up as England’s last pace ace, so what actually happened? What led to him becoming unselectable during the tour of hell? He seems to have fizzled out of favour ever since. For the last few seasons, I forlornly check Middlesex’s score cards and county averages, in the hope to see him surging back to form, only to see he rarely gets picked. I’d love for somebody like Gideon Haigh or Simon Wilde to write a book really going into the full details. Was it confidence? Form? Injury? Giles? Saker? Flower? Cook? Morgan?”
I don’t know him, but I’m fairly sure the biggest factor, by some distance, was confidence. A few other things certainly didn’t help, like the Graeme Smith no-ball and being dropped in his first two Ashes series. The thing that confuses me about Finn is that he had a glorious comeback in 2015, and it seemed like he’d conquered all the demons. I’m not sure he ever bowled better for England than during the Boxing Day Test in Durban. But the following summer he struggled again, and he played what will almost certainly be his last Test at the age of 27. He’s pretty candid in the film The Edge (which is great, btw).
Play will restart at 3.40pm
Woot. Woot.
Thanks Adam, hello everyone. This is all a little irksome, but at least it means
I don’t have to do any work
we can talk nonsense for an hour or so. Right on cue, here’s Mac Millings:
“Adam chose not to publish this, but you, sir, are the kind of man prepared to sink to depths few others even know exist. So here it is, the all time Rain Delay XI:
- Cyril Washout
- Colin Cloudrey
- Splashin’ Tendulkar
- David Shower
- Drizzle Br’ollyveira
- Ian Rainbowtham
- Derek Thunderwood
- Harbhajan Singhin’ in the...
- ...Rain Delaymond Illingworth
- Shaun “Precipi” Tait
- Look outside, it’s P.Siddling down”
“I remember well a protracted spell of insomnia during the 06/07 Ashes,” writes David Alcock. “I think I followed every night (day?) of that series while writing interminable reports on medieval sculpture conservation. The grim yet bizarrely satisfying reading of the OBO kept me from being a complete gibbering wreck. Perverse, I know, but that strange perversion that is ‘proper’ English cricket... ie, losing. Keep it up.”
Thank you. We will. They’re more Smyth areas - thankfully, he’s here to take over from me in a jiffy.
One last Cud email before I go. “Never imagined I would put these two favourite things together in one heading OBO and CUD,” says a very happy Tim Cooper. “Just came back to my screen to see a thread on the greatest Leeds band that almost but never quite made it big, within coverage of cricket at Headingley. I’m in total heaven. My pledge for the most appropriately themed hit – Punishment-Reward Relationship.”
Thanks for being part of it. Given all this passion for Cud over the last few hours, I’m off to listen to them over a cup of tea. Thanks for your brilliant company as always. Over to Rob. Bye for now!
“You say the Aussie batsmen will be happy to get off the field due to the rain,” says Chris Parker, “but it is giving Broad and Archer nice rests between spells. Could see these two bowl the first 30-35 overs between them.”
Scyld Berry was making this very point to me last night about Gooch’s epic here in 1991 - it included several breaks for rain.
A few more emails before Rob takes over. “Watching in Malaysia and wondering if a hard day at work tomorrow is worth a sleepless night,” asks Joel Eley. You already know my view on this, I am sure. Stay up, stick it out. “The ball is hooping nicely and even though Lyon in the 4th innings could be tough these are ideal seem bowling conditions, right up Broad’s street. Imagine if Jimmy was available.”
Estsban Coniogordo has a thought - I suspect he’s following in Australia. “I am calling for everyone to do a rain dance. I am thinking of Purple Rain. We can win the weather. Play a song.”
Yep, proper rain now. Another mini-session, another wicket. Broad, who has dominated Warner, picked up Khawaja down the legside instead. But, much as it was during the earlier rain delay, the opener is still alive and that’s all that really matters. Big covers on.
Reflecting back on 25 summer sojourns in Sweden, I'm surprised they didn't take to cricket @collinsadam. The weather is good from May to August, the light never bad (even at night) and they're very keen on hitting heads with hard objects (ice hockey).
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 22, 2019
Or does it? The England fielders are stopping on the boundary line, arguing that the rain isn’t falling. The umpires, Wilson and Gaffaney, are already off the ground. The Headingley crowd aren’t thrilled either. Nup, they are off. The consensus on TMS is that it might be light rain now but the heavy stuff is on the way soon. Urrrrgh.
Rain stops play!
14.5 overs: Australia 39-2 (Warner 18, Labuschagne 0) It is a productive over for Australia with Warner crunching Broad behind point for four then grabbing a couple out to the covers... but then the rain arrives. Again. I’m sorry.
Updated
14th over: Australia 32-2 (Warner 11, Labuschagne 0) Three maidens on the bounce, Archer right on top of Labuschagne this time around. The short ball, which we haven’t seen much of so far, is just avoided to begin. As the over moves on, twice he’s beaten on the outside edge. How often have I typed those words in these 14 overs? “Maybe they should be using a Kookaburra,” says Jim Maxwell on TMS. “These Dukes balls are doing too much to get the edge!”
13th over: Australia 32-2 (Warner 11, Labuschagne 0) They can go through until 7:30pm to get the overs in, I am told. They will need that if Broad keeps beating Warner, the former slowly making his way back to the top of his mark after once again sorting him out outside the off stump to start this new over. Another lovely delivery. But the opener is able to leave four of the five balls that follow. Maybe Woakes from his end? Either way, time to give him a burst.
12th over: Australia 32-2 (Warner 11, Labuschagne 0) Ooh, Labuschagne has a pop at a ball well outside the off stump. It’s full enough, but the movement is sufficient to beat him. Alastair Cook is with me on the Queenslander copying the Steve Smith leave. Woakes now up the hill for a bit, yeah?
“Before we get too deep into the session, I’d just like to quickly second Avitaj Mitra’s praise of the OBO,” says Matt Dony. Okay, I’ll allow it! “OBO’s/MBM’s etc. have become a sort of ‘watching in the pub with my mates’ that, particularly during Test Matches and the World Cup, I can enjoy at work. (Or, as I currently am, on holiday.) Also, throwing all the way back, nice to see the effort you’re putting into following the AFL final. Sure beats will.i.am absently checking his phone while performing last year.”
Thank you. It’s an institution. Both the OBO and dodgy Grand Final entertainment. Google Meatloaf for verification of the latter point.
@collinsadam Can't believe I have missed all the Cud talk. Loved the band and ended up renting the guitarist's old house in Headingley from him. Housemate's boyfriend's brothers were in Spacehog and Liv Tyler came around one night. I missed her, though, as I was in bed.
— Paul Okey (@courierSportEd) August 22, 2019
11th over: Australia 32-2 (Warner 11, Labuschagne 0) Warner now into double figures on the board having already gone beyond ten plays and misses. But he’s still there. I’ve seen this one before: he’ll be 100-plus at the close. He reaches that first mark with a clip for two, able to deal with this Broad over without any serious concern.
“All these young whippersnapper bands!” says Andrew Tyacke. “I remember Leeds University Union hops in the mid 60’s through to 1972: The Who, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Alan Price Set, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber, Nadia Catouse and the incomparable BBC Northern Dance Orchestra who could play any style, en masse or in various groups. There seemed to be a brilliant group every other week!”
Oliver Thorpe has also enjoyed today’s OBO theme: “Loving your work and the mentions of The Wedding Present (seen ‘em about 30 times) and the Original Oak - Otley run (uni days in the 90s). Cud indeed used to live down the road from Headingley as we took on the flat after they left. I had Carl’s old room – I found some postcards his mum sent to him.”
Updated
10th over: Australia 30-2 (Warner 9, Labuschagne 0) Archer’s turn to work Warner over, beating him with the first ball of this new over - again on the drive. Deary me, this really is something - 11 plays and misses in 27 balls, according to Andrew Samson on TMS. Root moves a fifth slip into the cordon, Warner responding with a compact drive - that’s better; four runs from the overpitched offering. Archer gets one go at Labuschagne later in the over and he gives it a mini-lightsaber leave in response. They’re certainly in fashion.
Broad has a deserved wicket! 🔥
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 22, 2019
DRS shows Khawaja gets a thin nick through to Bairstow behind the stumps!
📺 Watch #TheAshes third Test now live on Sky Sports The Ashes or follow here: https://t.co/OSwpJUv5j9 pic.twitter.com/hhTAIQRVm3
WICKET! Khawaja c Bairstow b Broad 8 (Australia 25-2)
He is! Technology confirms an edge as the ball passes Khawaja’s bat. Broad finally picks up a wicket, from his worst delivery so far.
Updated
IS KHAWAJA CAUGHT DOWN THE LEGSIDE? Bairstow is insistent! Root goes upstairs. Stand by!
8th over: Australia 21-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 4) Archer beats Khawaja glorious bit of bowling. Broad and Archer will be criticised here, I am sure, for not bowling quite straight enough. But these are balls starting on middle and off - they are just moving it too much. Khawaja does well to grab a single when it is there to be taken behind square. Warner hasn’t seen much of Archer yet but he is beaten with the one delivery he has to see off here, attempting to drive. “That’s his first really bad shot,” notes Vaughan on TMS.
7th over: Australia 20-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 3) Broad vs Warner: they go again. He finds a leading edge to begin, but into the turf. Oh, and he’s done again prodding at a ball that he should have left alone. Nerves. But getting one that’s a touch straighter the opener doesn’t miss out, carefully clipping past the square leg umpire for his first four. Sure enough, Broad is right back on it, Warner this time leaving close to the off-stump. And he is up for lbw to finish! It looks to be angling down leg and is given not out. No review. Good decision, watching the replay back that was drifting down. Superb cricket.
“Just when I thought the OBO couldn’t get any better, the Rochy gets a shout out!” says Tom Tavener. “(Miss)spent a good portion of my uni days on that sticky dance floor. If you’re in need of some rain-delay listening, the Black Night Crash playlist is still live on Spotify.”
We probably know each other. I DJ’d there a few times. Ahhh.
Updated
6th over: Australia 16-1 (Warner 1, Khawaja 3) Oh, and now Khawaja has to handle Archer, who sorted him out so comprehensively on Sunday afternoon at Lord’s. Good batting here, defending with soft hands to both sides of the wicket, picking up a couple into the covers, then getting his blade out of the way when the length allows. All at managable pace this time around, in the low/mid 80s.
5th over: Australia 14-1 (Warner 1, Khawaja 1) Broad beats Warner first ball! Of course he does! It’s a beauty. Somehow, he gets off strike from the next, with one to square leg. Khawaja’s turn... and he cops a pearler first up as well! UNPLAYABLE! “He’s getting the ball doing too much,” says Michael Vaughan. FIVE SLIPS now. The number three does well to get on the front foot to push a single to get off the mark. Warner watches the last couple. Better. Blimey.
Five slips. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/CjTIrPlsEd
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 22, 2019
Updated
The players are back on the field!
Middle session: 1400 - 1640, final session: 1700 - 1900. 72 overs left to play today. Get in! It is Broad vs Warner again. PLAY!
One last bit on Cud. “A couple of members of Cud used to live in that row of big Victorian terraced houses on the way from the ground back into Headingley,” says Bertie Wooster. “I remember them complaining about people pissing in their garden during Test matches. Not huge cricket fans.”
Neil MacKenzie is in Adelaide, but was once in this part of the world. “I was a student in Leeds in the mid 80s living just over the boundary on cardigan rd. Used to frequent the ‘phono’ a club in the bowels of the merrian centre. Is it still there?” And one from Phil in Area 51: “Any self respecting Leeds centric cricketmusic blog needs a shout out to Delta5.” Consider them shouted.
“My girlfriend is expecting our first child in November,” says Damian Burns. Well done! “And after that super over I looked into her eyes and said that I honestly wouldn’t mind if Ben or Jofra turned out to be the father. While the euphoric hallucinations have now passed, I stand by that statement.”
I mentioned my girlfiend’s affection for Jofra earlier. We’re expecting our first in February and I suspect she shares your view.
“Can’t vouch for this,” says Thomas Langford, “but definitely remember being told that the 2005 ashes started at 10.30 so that channel 4 could still show the Simpsons at six.”
That’s why we have the earlier start in Australia: for the 6pm news.
Dan Collins has a more logical answer: “I believe that the early start issue was a problem because many people like to arrive at grounds by train, and trains arriving early enough in say Brum to get you to Edgbaston by 10.15am (which is still cutting it fine for a 10.30 start, with the crowds coming in) tend to have started out in their originating stations within peak times ie when tickets are (a lot) more expensive.”
2pm start! That's only ten minutes away!
“In response to David Murray worrying we won’t see Mark Wood again,” emails Fraser Padmore, “I’m looking forward to an Archer/Wood/Stone trident force-feeding the Aussies their own medicine on the proverbial “fast bouncy one” at the WACA.”
You’re half right. The WACA won’t be in use anymore for an Ashes Test (for shame), but the replacement ground over the river was rather sporting last year, especially later in the Test Match.
All the covers are off now and the stumps are going back in
“I don’t think enough credit is being given,” begins Richard Atenbury, “to the people who found Jofra Archer and who got him to come to England. Also to whoever got the rules governing the game changed so that he could qualify for England quicker and in time for the World Cup and the Ashes. I assume this will repeated and that we can get other young superstars into the England team, not just from the Caribbean but from all the other cricket playing nations of the world.”
Vaguely related: I liked this from Dave Tickner.
“What difference does a fairly small change in the angle the ball is coming from make?” asks Jonathan Brookes about bowling close to the wicket. “Shouldn’t the batsman just adjust his positioning slightly depending on the bowler to get himself in a position with relation to the line between the bowler’s release point and his wicket that he favours?” Above the shoulders, innit? How I’ve always felt.
“Also a big shout out for the mighty Pale Saints,” suggests Simon Thomas. “Proto-shoegazers in all their glory.” In terms of my request for dancing to guitars, John Starbuck has found me a flamenco studio. Not quite, but nearly. Let’s not rule it out.
“Talking of Gang Of Four,” on that same topic from Ian Forth. “I always hoped KP would choose ‘At Home He’s A Tourist’ to walk out to in T20s. Meanwhile, in the present, the stadium DJ might dig out ‘Damaged Goods’ for the announcement of the Aussie XI.”
When I grow up, I will be the Cricket Ground DJ.
“Tomorrow is my birthday and I am going as Wonder Woman,” Chris Mellor advises. “Please keep an eye out for me and give me a mention/wave if you spot me.” I’ll have my long lens out ready to pap/include you. Do it well.
“Morning Adam.” Hi Avitaj Mitra. “Just wanted to let you (and other OBO members) know how much I have come to enjoy the entire OBO.. thing.. I guess. It’s just something that grows on you, you know.. and on days when there’s no cricket (and consequently no OBO), there’s just a slightly empty feeling in your heart. And of course, enjoying the OBO has nothing to do with cricket, because I have learned about bands, cuisine, dance moves, puns.. the OBO has it all. Long story short, I love it. Here’s to a brilliant 5 days of sport.”
Well, that’s lovely. Thank you. And I understand: before I moved into this cricket writing caper, I had a real thing for reading the OBO. A lurker of sorts, I never emailed in. It’s a great joy steering the ship.
“Great to see the Wedding Present mentioned,” says Peter Salmon. “I saw them last month in Worcestershire doing a 30th anniversary tour of the album Bizarro. Took my missus who was busy being trained as a concert violinist in their heyday and so had never been to ANY rock gig EVER. She loved it – straight into the Mosh Pit the moment Brassneck started. So can I do us all a favour and make my OBO Love Song Dedication the song ‘Kennedy’, from 1989’s aforementioned Bizarro by the Wedding Present?”
This is the second time I’ve popped this in today. No regrets.
“The sun is just coming up in northern Michigan,” notes Mick Collins. “I also have fond memories of the Original Oak when studying in Leeds back in the 1990s. Of course, at that time, the Oak had a bowling green which made for a very comfortable mid-beerfest resting place.”
Only one cover is left on - the one in the middle. We can’t be far away from getting official word of some re-start times.
The covers are (very slowly) coming off! One by one... easy does it.
“I’d always been told that starting before 11 in England wasn’t advised because of the issues with dampness and dew on the ground,” says Ben Powell. “That said, the World Cup matches started, for the most part, at 10.30 so there may well be some latitude for looking at this.”
I asked around about this recently. Some of my colleagues, who have been around a while, remember when Tests could/did start at 10:30am when weather had intervened earlier in a match. They seemed to think the change happened around the 2005 Ashes?
I also have some advice from Simon Bellamy. “As one who also likes to dance to guitars,” (not related to Matt, are you?), “I was going to suggest that you head to the Cockpit in Leeds, cos there was bound to be something on that would tickle your fancy. I’m horrified to learn that it closed down five years ago. It was a fantastic venue, one every touring band played at at some point as they were coming up (or going down). I’m unaccountably upset, first because the Cockpit is no longer there, and second because everything I’ve just said makes me feel very, very old.”
Oh dear. I know how this feels. I was punter quoted in the story when The Rochy hit the wall in Melbourne a few years back.
“The Rochy has evolved into a bit of an indie music institution, a special place that went out of its way to make all types of people feel welcome and happy,” Collins said.
“It is the sort of place where if you spilled a drink on someone you’re more likely to get a new one bought for you than cop a punch in the nose.”
The rain has stopped, the sun is shining...
We are being gaslit by the Leeds weather.
Jason Ali doesn't need an argument @collinsadam, just an old-fashioned fact. In the last five years, James Anderson has taken 204 Test wickets at 21.21. Finished indeed...
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) August 22, 2019
“This is my first email into the Guardian, and to you, so it’s lovely to virtually meet you.” And you, Nathan Goldsmith. Let’s make it the first of many. “It is a great shame the weather isn’t as lovely as we are experiencing in Southampton right now, and a greater shame that Southampton won’t see another game of cricket played by England in it for the next few years. On the off chance you might know, when can we expect to see an England return to Southampton?”
I know they are very disappointed at the Rose Bowl not to have an Ashes Test this time or next, in 2023. They did very well out of the World Cup - I think they are still playing group games down there.
“This features Jimmy Anderson as a musician,” says John Starbuck. Okay, let’s give it a go.
Sticking with music, Matthew Dony: “As far as footballers-as-record-covers goes; The Wedding Present had a good stab. But it wasn’t a patch on the Super Furry Animals’ appropriation of Robin Friday.”
I wish to one day write a song about Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, who plays his 300th AFL game this weekend. Do yourself a favour.
All the covers are still on, in case you were wondering. “Dear Adam.” Hello Jason Ali. “During the last Test I raised the possibility that we were effectively witnessing the cricketing funeral of Jimmy Anderson. I stand by that call. In the last week or so, things have moved on so rapidly it is almost impossible to imagine him being recalled: the King is dead, long live the King. I’d be delighted to hear of the counter arguments.”
I’d be shocked if Jimmy doesn’t play at Old Trafford. Imagine if England get this done. We move to Manchester with Smith and Anderson returning. I’ll have all of that. To your broader point, I never really expected him to go beyond this Ashes - right? On the other hand, I’d love to see him in Australia once last time.
Back in ten. I’m going to grab a plate of food while there is one to be had.
“This is somewhat tangential to the earlier appropriate band/album suggestions,” Geoff Wignall begins - perfect for the OBO, then. “But apparently during the 1950s and ‘60s Leeds had a thriving jazz and folk scene and some blues but virtually no rock bands. According to guitar virtuoso Michael Chapman, this had a simple cause: the local police wouldn’t permit Tetley’s and rock’n’roll to coexist in the same building. I suspect the prohibition was broader than just Tetley’s but that’s just a detail.”
I’m really looking forward to a frolic this weekend. In addition to Mojo, can anyone recommend a place for me to dance to guitars?
“With all the talk about Archer, a thought for poor Mark Wood,” says David Murray. “After everyone was so excited he had recovered from his problems to be bowling super fast again he now seems to be well out of the picture.”
I don’t think he’ll ever be far away from calculations? Remember, Scyld Berry said his spell at St Lucia in February this year was the fastest he has seen for England and he’s covered 400-plus Tests.
LUNCH! It has been called, from 12:45 through to 1:25pm.
More on Steve Finn, forever a close-to-the-stumps operator. “As he was mentioned in passing a short while ago,” writes Jean Slater. “I was wondering if his time in an England shirt has gone? With Woods and Stone out for the series, would he be in contention if there were a couple of injuries in the existing seam department?”
I suspect not? BUT, how about his Middlesex teammate Toby Roland-Jones? Another big bag for the hyphen this week, I note. I hope that Finn gets back, of course. Would make a great story.
Scott Robert on him too. “Tom Carver makes a very good point about Steven Finn’s issues with bowling from close to the stumps, but I believe that good old David Saker was incredibly culpable in destroying Finn’s action, as he has tried to do with Stokes’s. You watch Stokes’s action when he first started playing, and even though he had the mad, curved run-up, he arrived at the crease very close to the stumps and rotated beautifully around his sideways on action, swinging the ball away from the right handers. If you watch him now, he doesn’t get as close to the stumps, and his arm goes beyond the perpendicular, meaning he closes his upper body off and can only angle the ball into the right hander. He’s lost his away swing. You could see exactly the same thing started happening with Finn. If you’re as sad as me, you can see the metamorphosis of both of their actions via the youtubes.”
There’s a lot going on here. I’ll jump on the ‘tube and take a look.
Back to the inbox, yeah? Before going to that, I’ll quickly note that the new grandstand looks magnificent. I loved the old view to the football stand, but they’ve done a great job. It’s not too big. Nice.
A lot of OBO love for Cud. Nick Witteveen recommends Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Cameron Derrick linking me to One Giant Love. He also wants to bring Gang of Four to my attention. “Also a potential nickname for a bowling attack?”
“Should we wait until after the end of the fifth test for Jofra to sort Brexit out, or can he do it between Tests?” asks Andrew in E7. Did everyone follow his tweets about the HDMI cable the other night? My girlfiend met Jofra I interviewed him in Cape Town last year. She doesn’t pay much attention to cricket but she always asks after him.
From the Jofradamous Archives:
Do I bring the rain to cricket ? 🤔
— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) May 17, 2019
All the covers are on, I'm afraid
So, four completed overs. Broad has beaten Warner’s blade five times by my count, but he’s still there. Earlier in the successful Archer set he found Harris’ edge, which ran through the cordon.
Alastair Cook on TMS is explaining batting in a mini-session like that when rain is on the way and the ball is doing plenty. “There is very little you can do other than try and survive.” Warner did, I guess. He is playing down the line and holding is shape. Small mercies.
It's that man again! 🏹
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 22, 2019
It's an absolute peach from Archer to dismiss Harris! 🍑
📺 Watch #TheAshes third Test now live on Sky Sports The Ashes or follow here: https://t.co/OSwpJUv5j9 pic.twitter.com/EK4bI9XfkO
WICKET! Harris c Bairstow b Archer 8 (Australia 12/1)
Archer has done it! Off stump, moving away delightfully. Harris edges through to Bairstow who makes no mistake. And they come off at the fall of the wicket for rain. Fantastic bowling.
4th over: Australia 12-1 (Warner 0)
Updated
3rd over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 0, Harris 4) Warner gets a similar ball on his hip to the delivery that finished the previous over, helping to the boundary off his thigh pad. Broad is right on the mark later in the over moving the ball a mile, just evading the edge and the off-stump. “That’s perfect,” says Alastair Cook on TMS. “If Warner was in better nick he would have nicked it.” On that second point, Warner has a waft at the next ball with a horizontal bat - not pretty. Broad goes again with another borderline-unplayable, missing everything, but only just. He makes it four misses in a row with the final offering - this is ridiculous bowling! That was much fuller too. Broad runs away to cover with his hands on his hips, the bowler and batsman sharing a smile now that it’s done. How is Warner still there?
“Surely a Test Match should be seen as 90 overs x 5 days rather than each day separate?” writes Hugh Molloy. “What I’m getting at is that any overs missed today could be caught up with an early start/late finish tomorrow. Even a total washout day could be caught up. Extra session, 9:30am start, late finish, have full matches played. Just a thought.”
I find it odd that play won’t start here before 11am. In Australia, we add half an hour to the start of days rather than at the end, when bad light is always a threat - especially this late in the northern season.
2nd over: Australia 4-0 (Warner 0, Harris 4) As Archer removes his jumper and cap there is a huge roar from the Leeds faithful. He’s too wide to begin but finds his range with his third offering, darting away gorgeously off the seam. Perfect length. Oh, and he’s done it again. Both are only in the mid-80s for pace; this is about skill. It is raining nearby we’re told - can England get something from these generous conditions beforehand? Well handled by the newcomer Harris, who tickles the final delivery off the face of the bat for four.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Harris 0) The lights are on and here comes Broad from around the wicket, Warner prodding the first ball of the Test to cover. “NO!” comes the call, defending the next two to midwicket. With the fourth ball he BEATS HIM with a beauty! There are four slips in play for that very delivery. Moved a mile. Andrew Samson reports that Warner averages 32 when taking the first ball, 53 when not. Warner leaves the last couple. Time for Jofra.
Updated
The players are on the field!
Let’s do this! Stuart Broad will bowl down the hill from the Kirkstall Lane End, where he did so well last year against Pakistan. David Warner is taking the first ball, which is a touch unusual. Marcus Harris is there with him, on Ashes debut. PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!
“Always a pleasure to tune in from sunny Spain,” reports Laurent Baldoni. Great to have you with us. “Question: what happens if you win a toss, choose to bowl, but it rains for, say, a whole day? You wanted to bowl on a grey, overcast day but then it’s bright sunshine the next day and a good day for batting? Do you lump it?”
You do, indeed, lump it. It was interesting last week when Justin Langer told us how he explored the option of essentially giving the toss to England at Lord’s. He was told that this isn’t allowed.
Do you want to see Geoff Lemon and me do our thing with Jim Maxwell before the Manchester Test? We’re doing another live show.
Jofra Archer is warming up in front of us... bowling spin, of course.
Jofra warming up bowling spin in a jumper and a cap is excellent
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) August 22, 2019
“Hi Adam.” Hi Dave Hibell. “Any truth to the rumour that the Australians have used drones to seed the clouds in an attempt to force the draw in Steve Smith’s absence? Just to clarify, that’s not a rumour I started, just one I heard.”
I think this might relate to our brilliant rain-OBO nonsense during the World Cup’s wet week when several very smart people emailed in to explain how the best way to put a roof on a cricket ground is by having drones holding a tarp aloft. One day, my friends. One day.
I’m getting the usual bulk emails about the overseas TMS link. For future reference, when I’m asked this, I go to google. Here ‘tis!
12:10pm start!
Lunch will be taken at 1:30pm.
“Re the ‘bowling close to the wicket’ brigade,” begins Martin Gillam in Sydney. “Let’s not forget Mr. LBW, Terry Alderman -- test average of 21 against England.” Indeed. He took nine wickets here in 1981 (before, you know) and ten in 1989.
We’re bouncing around a bit on JP’s earlier topics, but I have to include this absolute gem from Rob Lonergan. “Ah 1992,” he begins. “In a moment of serendipity I saw The Wedding Present at Cambridge Corn Exchange and Neil Mallender at Headingley for a double etched in my memory.” Nothing but net.
“Ah the Original Oak!” adds Ian Copestake of JP’s favourite Leeds drinking spot. “Resting point (or final resting place) of those on the famed Otley Run. Not the sort of run one gets sponsored for or boasts of on social media.”
Simon the Dentist is with us too, as the rope starts to make its way around the ground to clear some water before they think about moving the final cover off the playing strip. “On the subject of best bands from Leeds surely Cud must get a mention?” he insists. “Still going strong belting out the hits like I’ve Had It With Blondes and Only A Prawn In Whitby.” I’m moving from TMS to Cud. Thanks.
A few emails to get the blood pumping. “Does anyone know if Turkish Airlines have onboard WiFi?” asks Emiel de Bont. “About to board a flight for Istanbul, and the thought of having to miss 3 hours and 20 minutes of OBO coverage is kind of ruining my day.”
Usually, I enjoy the WiFi-free sanctuary of an international flight but it is right to make exceptions in these circumstances. Last year, I knew I would be flying when the AFL Grand Final was on so I made sure that I could jump on Norwegian Air because of their excellent WiFi. My poor girlfriend. And the poor person sitting next to me.
Joe Skinner has jumped in on the Goths in Leeds theme: “Bit before my time – I was more rave era – but this is proper grainy.”
I went to a dive/rock bar called Mojo a couple of nights ago, which came recommended. Good fun. Mentioned this to Jonny Bairstow after he batted yesterday. “Of course you (expletive) went to Mojo.” If anyone wants to find me on Friday night, I’ll be there again.
OH, GOOD NEWS: the covers are coming off!
Updated
Sure enough, the world leader impersonating other players is Glenn Maxwell. Skip to about 1:30. The Smith/Langer bits are ridiculously good. What a gem. I hope he’s having a great time at Lancs.
Hello from Headingley. As JP has explained, it is not a pleasant morning up here, but this grottiness really shouldn’t last. From my vantage point, I see dark clouds to my right but brighter sky to the right. The rain is light and annoying, not sufficient to raise a brolly.
What did we think of England’s decision? I don’t mind it. Putting to one side the ~look up before you look down~ mythology about the toss at Leeds, the idea of putting Australia’s weakened batting line-up under maximum pressure on morning one makes sense to me.
Urgh, ignore what I said a paragraph ago about the umbrellas - they’re up now, as the ground staff lay out the run-up covers. As my great, great (great?) uncle wrote 120 years years ago, Such Is Life.
I trust we all got a look at this video of Jofra? I was watching it all play out in the nets yesterday, picking up on the first of his several lightsaber leaves. He’s going to walk out this week and do this impersonation in a Test Match, isn’t he? It’s his sport now.
I expect we have some time to kill. You know the drill: email your considered prose, tweet me your hottest takes. Good morning.
Jofra Archer is the hero the world needs. pic.twitter.com/UlzFqHKlgX
— Greg James (@gregjames) August 22, 2019
Updated
Right, that’s all from me for now. Adam Collins has survived a tour of duty along the Western Terrace and he’s taken his seat in the media centre. I’ll catch you back here tomorrow.
“Surely the Wedding Present must head up the list up of any indie/hipster favourites from Leeds” emails Tom Lewsey. “One of the coolest album covers of all time as well...” Terrific call.
Updated
“With all this talk of Archer, let’s not forget that Broad only needs two wickets here to become Headingley’s leading wicket taker,” emails Luke Woodward. “I wonder what it is about this ground that the Nottinghamshire lad likes so much?” Maybe The Original Oak on Otley Road? I’ve sunk a few pints in there in my time.
“In response to Matthew Doherty’s question about Neil Mallendar, the answer is that he was umpiring at the Oval yesterday in the drawn Surrey v Hampshire County Championship match. He didn’t move any too quickly at the end of the over, either.” Thanks, Alan Trench.
Back to the chat...
“Scott Roberts should ask Steve Finn about bowling wicket to wicket. Not as easy as it looks.” Quite, Tom Carver.
And just like that, the covers are back on again. Sorry.
Australia XI
Australia have made three changes to their line-up. Marnus Labuschagne replaces the concussed Steve Smith as expected and there’s little surprise to see James Pattinson returning to the attack in place of Peter Siddle after he was rested for Lord’s. However, the recall of Marcus Harris at the expense of Cameron Bancroft has caught a few people off-guard.
A few changes for the Aussies... #Ashes pic.twitter.com/X88PA1DSHv
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 22, 2019
Updated
England XI
England have named an unchanged XI. There is a reshuffle to the batting order though with Jos Buttler returning to No.7.
We will bowl first! 🏴🇦🇺
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 22, 2019
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/GIcWxEdFgF#Ashes pic.twitter.com/6XvvoQEZFE
Updated
England win the toss and will bowl first
Bold from Joe Root, although with the floodlights on and the weather around you can empathise. Tim Paine was probably going to bat but was happy to lose the toss so as not to make the decision. He fancies Nathan Lyon later in the Test.
Updated
Scott Roberts with an email that chimes with thoughts I’ve often had. “Now that people have FINALLY realised that Archer’s danger derives as much from the fact that he bowls from close to stumps with a high action as it does from his raw pace, it does beg the question….why don’t all bowlers bowl wicket to wicket like him? If you look at all the best fast bowlers in recent years, every single one bowls/bowled from close to the stumps…..McGrath, Pollock, Ambrose, Philander, Steyn, Asif, Gillespie….some of these lads weren’t bad.”
With Australia opting for Marcus Harris ahead of Cameron Bancroft they now have five left-handers (Harris, Warner, Khawaja, Wade & Head) in their top six. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2019
“Can’t agree with Stefan Glosby when he says he feels disappointed by the prospect of beating Australia because of Smith’s injury, and that he’d probably feel different if it had been a McGrath-style freak accident,” emails Dan Collins. “Smith was hit fair and square and, while I’d rather he could play, that’s cricket.”
I told you all to stop. That means you, Richard Jansz-Moore. “Ian raises an excellent point. Let’s get rid of Ed Smith, James Taylor and the rest of the “metropolitan elite experts” who call themselves selectors. Each test squad should be chosen by a public ballot. I for one will be voting for Rob Key as I’d quite like to get his chirpy burblings off the TV, and make him face Pat Cummins instead.”
“Where is Neil Mallender when you need him?” asks Matthew Doherty. I presume this is in reference to the medium-pacer’s call-up from a lifetime of County service back in 1992. More on that below.
Oliver Smiddy is risking the mother of commentator’s curses. “Warner looks shot to me.” Gulp! “I wonder how much rope the Aussie selectors will give him? He’s not scoring runs, and has regularly shelled important catches in the slips this series. About the only purpose he serves at present is to act as a lightning rod for the crowd’s ire. With Bancroft dropped and Smith convalescing, he’s the only member of the Sandpaper Trio (sounds like a bluegrass band) still in the team – remove him and who would the crowd boo then eh? My jinx game is strong though, so I imagine he’ll get a ton by tea now.”
Jonny Mills with an email that pivots unexpectedly. “RE: Bob O’Hara’s observation about the joys of English weather... it’s something I miss too. Here in northern Italy there’s no rain or cloud for months and then you get a quarter-years worth in a couple of hours. Sadly, although Brescia have a team and have been champions of Italy many times over I’ve never been able to see a game played here or even find out where teams play! This is partly due to ever-more nationalist politics cracking down on supposedly “ethnic” sports being played in public spaces, some lads were fined for playing in a park in nearby Montichiari during the World Cup... talk about killjoys.”
Official: Toss at 11.05, start at 11.20.
“Weather update from my office window - approximately half a mile from Headingley stadium - it is not raining but it is rather grey and overcast. Also, I’ve got tickets for Day 4 which means we’re nailed on for a result inside two and a half days, even with the weather.” Thanks Sam Smith (presumably not that one).
The scene is clearing at Headingley. We should be cossing the toin very soon.
Ben Powell is trying to prove his hipster credentials. “Showing my age I guess,” he emails, “but I’d have preferred an opening of “Leeds, home of The Mission and The Sisters of Mercy”, with perhaps a link to some grainy late 80s footage, maybe from The Tube, or The Temple of Love or Severina. Niche, granted, but would have been appreciated here.”
Updated
Remember earlier on when I said Australia were employing an entirely new cordon? Well, the early signs are it might take some time to bed in, thanks to the merciless Yorkshire CCC Twitter account.
Spotter’s badge: John Ashdown.
Updated
@JPHowcroft on Kaiser Chiefs point. It was Leeds’ star defender Lucas Radebe that had been bought from Kaizer Chiefs FC that inspired that band’s name
— theviewfrom27a (@theviewfrom27a) August 22, 2019
David Seare brings the realism. “Regarding the absence of Robo-batter (Steve Smith), England have to play what’s in front of them and give that set of players due respect. Warner is due and Labuschagne seemed to have his game in order last week. It’s not as if England have been keeping the scorers busy on a regular basis is it?”
“Ian Batch (10.20) echoes my own thoughts in it not being just about the pace,” emails Geoff Wignall. “As well as Archer’s unchanging action and point of delivery, there’s also the small matter of skill - accuracy, movement, seam positions, variety of speed. Devon Malcolm was probably as quick as Malcolm Marshall for example, but there’s no doubt which of them any batsman would have preferred to face.”
“I feel Stuart Morphet’s pain as he seeks assurance in a world of chaos,” emails Ian Copestake. “Am sure that pushing experts to one side and letting the people decide is the way forward.” Stop it. Stop it now. All of you.
Bob O’Hara’s joined in. “When I lived in Finland, I would sometimes miss the grey drizzly Leeds weather: the Finnish rain knew it had to fall, and did it with purpose, rather than hanging around trying to be fog. There’s something comforting about the indecisiveness of the English weather.”
“Think about bowling, but bat anyway,” says Mark Taylor with the predictability of Matt Le Tissier lining up a penalty.
Jimmy Anderson is heading in the right direction for a return to Ashes action in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Australia's slips warming up with a completely new cordon: Labuschagne 1, Harris 2, Wade 3.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) August 22, 2019
Warner moved out, Smith injured, Bancroft binned.
Stefan Glosby with a thought worth sharing. “I don’t know if I’m alone in thinking this, but I can’t help feeling a bit disappointed by the prospect of beating Australia because of Smith’s injury. I’d probably feel different if it had been a McGrath-style freak accident, as opposed to him being hit on the neck by a bouncer (not that I lay any of the blame on Archer, I must add), but it just feels a bit hollow now.Maybe it’s just me.” I’m sure you’re not alone there Stefan. It’s also worth pointing out that ‘prospect’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that comment and England cricket fans must know by now not to count any chickens.
“The land of the actual Kaiser Chiefs” is the type of email I enjoy opening - so thanks Trevor Tutu. That is of course in reference to the Kaiser Chiefs (see preamble) a band from Leeds named after a football team from South Africa. Anyway, Trevor emails to say: “Going past Newlands to check on the preparations for the New Year’s Test, and, as everything seems to be under control, I’m going to spend the rest of the day pretending to work, but really keeping up with the goings on at Headingly in the company of the OBO.” Pleasure to have you on board. Hope there’s less drizzle in Cape Town.
Adam Collins is reporting from the scene, serving me with bad news: “the main cover and the two along the side are now on.” But also some good: “Players still out on the field. Aus doing short fielding drills, Eng slips catching.”
We’ll keep you updated. Toss is scheduled for five minutes from now, so we may be in for a delay.
Updated
Boooooo. The floodlights are coming on at Headingley and the covers are doing their business while some of that fine rain, you know, the kind that soaks you right through, floats across the ground.
Ian Batch has taken issue with Geoff Lemon’s column about Australia’s preparedness to face Jofra Archer. “Facing one bowler at 90mph is not the same as facing another. The reason Archer hits so many batsman (11 times) last Test, is that there is no difference in his action when he bowls a full length or a short one, which makes him unique, added to that he bowls from so close to the stumps that the batsman has no angle to work with. So much of facing fast bowling is anticipation and looking for the slightest tell to help you react in time, because there are none with Archer you simply don’t have time to get out of the road. That said, it is the full length which is the most dangerous at Headinglye so hopefully he will be concentrating on nicking off as many batsman as he is hitting them.”
Andy Bull has provided some context and a sense check following the avalanche of hyperbole that greeted Jofra Archer’s debut.
We get so worked up about what’s in front of us we cannot believe it was ever any better. There is a school of thought that bowlers are bound to be faster now, simply because of the advances in sport science, strength and conditioning. Records progress, the argument goes. Except no one has come within 20cm of Mike Powell’s long jump world record in almost 30 years and Seb Coe still holds the British 800m record set in 1981, and the time Jim Hines ran in the 1968 Olympic 100m final would have won him bronze at the world championships in 2017 in a dead heat with Usain Bolt.
Headingley: look up, etc etc. Toss in 20. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/0AhoRPqP2K
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 22, 2019
Stuart Morphet has logged on, ironically I’m assuming/hoping. “Fastest pitch in England you say? Archer causing chaos at Lord’s? Oh it has to be a bowl, whatever the clever machines say. After all, I think we’ve all had quite enough of experts in this country.”
Ali Martin was within earshot of Joe Root when the England skipper talked up his side’s chances of exploiting Steve Smith’s absence.
You get these swings within a big series like this and when you get your opportunity you’ve got to jump on it. It is a huge hole. He is a big focal point of their team and we have got to try to capitalise.
“Finally, after an interminable three days, we are back to the races! After Edgbaston it was all Smith; after Lords it was all Archer. Gotta love it. Is there any device to say when the conditions will be cloudy, because it seems that overhead conditions are at least as important as the pitch conditions?” Shankar Mony, this is Yorkshire, presume it is cloudy unless stated otherwise.
“Also, will Joe Root overbowl Archer and lead him to an early retirement by the Oval (by then he will be Sir Jofra, of course!).” That is an excellent question and one deserving plenty of scrutiny once England are in the field.
This has so far been a series dominated by bowlers. As Vic Marks reports the most acute batting issues have been at the top of the order. It looks like Australia have blinked first with the expected demotion of Bancroft for Harris.
The technical reasons are clear. The white ball does not swing as much; Roy’s role is to attack, to exploit the early gaps in the field and that suits him well; a few failures when playing an expansive game is an occupational hazard readily accepted. In ODI cricket the best place to bat is usually at the start of the innings. That rarely applies in Test cricket. Look at the struggles of Warner and Bancroft as well as England’s desperate, recent searches to find someone to bat there. The best bowlers are fresh, the ball swings, the nicks carry and the slip cordon is well-populated.
Pitch: Reports from the middle are coming back indicating the deck will be dry and already hinting at cracking. That would surely make it a bat-first toss to win, but then this is Headingley, and it’s cloudy, and the heebie-jeebies can grab you by the short and curlies and convince a captain otherwise.
According to our unique PitchViz model—which evaluates conditions by adjusting ball-tracking data for different bowlers—Headingley is one of the most difficult pitches to bat on in England, largely because it is the fastest pitch. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7ixUoutmR6
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) August 22, 2019
Updated
“Good morning, Jonathan.” Good morning James Debens, in with the opening salvo at .01 past the hour. Very sharp indeed. “If the only change England make is to the batting order by swapping Joe Denly and Jason Roy around, then it should be a significant one.” Agree 100%.
“Looking ahead, and the Ashes is no place for bedding in young talent, I’d like to see Dom Sibley, Sam Northeast and Olly Pope get a nibble on tour.” Agree 100% I’m disappointed Pope hasn’t been backed in more by the England selectors to be honest. His ceiling is surely way higher than Vince or Denly and worth a few early low scores.
Jofra Archer is the talk of the town but as Geoff Lemon writes, Australia have the experience to withstand England’s special new tyro.
Archer’s fast and furious visit to Lord’s probably left its deepest impression locally. Or to put it another way, England’s shock at having a fast bowler is much greater than Australia’s shock at facing one.
Weather: The forecast is for a cool, but at this stage largely dry, Test match.
Today’s weather is expected to be the poorest of the bunch but after some dawn drizzle the scene looks to be set fair. I say fair, this is Yorkshire*, so we can make do with slate grey foreboding overcast conditions and call them fair.
*I say this as a Tyke myself.
Some early team news filtering through from Headingley. Marcus Harris is in line for a slightly unexpected call-up.
Preamble
Light the blue touch paper and stand well back, it’s the opening day of the third Ashes Test from Headingley. You can follow it all here in time-honoured OBO fashion.
As we venture to Leeds the series scorecard shows Australia holding a 1-0 advantage but there was a discernible shift in momentum England’s way as the second Test unfolded. That was largely down to the exhilarating debut of Jofra Archer, and with him in England’s XI and Steve Smith temporarily absent from Australia’s, this third Test has taken on a new complexion.
I’ll be with you for the next hour or so to warm up the keys but Adam Collins will be in position before the opening delivery reaches the batsman. If you want to join in this pre-play fun before Adam arrives you can drop me an email or a tweet.
Updated
