Ali Martin’s day one report from the SCG:
Mark Wood on overcoming a ‘rough night’ to deliver:
The latest edition of The Final Word podcast:
The lights are on at the SCG and as the crowds drift away, that must be England’ most promising day of the series. An on-off, stop-starter, which perhaps gave England’s bowlers’ rest, and disrupted the rhythm of Australia’s batters who got going, but couldn’t accelerate. Much rests on Smith tomorrow. My eyes are being propped open so I’m going to leave you here. Thanks for all the messages, see you tomorrow at the witching hour!
Stumps! Australia 126-3 (Smith 6, Khawaja 4)
That’s it for the day with England, dare I say it, fractionally on top.
46.5 overs: Australia 126-3 (Smith 6, Khawaja 4) Broad it is, for Wood, as a flurry of rain hovers over the ground, and finally sends them off.
A lament arrives, from Tim Maitland.
“Happy New Year and all that stuff. I’m sitting here with all the doors and windows wide open because it’s 22C and sunny here... yet still suffering from a similar Mancunian gloom as your “only a box of tissues and the dog for company”. I can’t even bring myself to watch.
“If we’re going to keep The Ashes relevant, we need to switch some of the focus on to saving the long form of the game. It seems to me the ECB needs to take some sort of a central role in improving the viability of the County Championship, rather than letting it wither on the vine. At the moment, given the effort they put into the Hundred, it’s hard not to believe that they’re tacitly trying to ease the smaller counties out.
“Even as I write this I despair. But it could look different.
“They could be leveraging contracts for the domestic limited overs. T20 and even The Hundred to get more long-form cricket televised. They could be working with the counties - or those counties that will work with them - to help them boost attendances and income. They could, for instance, help create and fund a nationwide scheme to get more schools organising days out at county matches.
They could be using the under-utilised capacity of county championship games to introduce more children to playing the game. They could. Will they?
“I feel like I just wasted 20 minutes of my time and two minutes of yours. 2022 eh?”
46th over: Australia 125-3 (Smith 6, Khawaja 4) I think that’s a victory for Stokes - who sends down a half-tracker. Smith lays into it like a tennis player and it goes high, but safe, for four. It can’t be true that Smith’s bat is longer than anyone else’s, but why does it look that way? Does he have exceptionally long arms in comparison to his body?
45th over: Australia 121-3 (Smith 2, Khawaja 4) Khawaja scores his first runs in Tests for two and a half years, spins and pulls a short one from Wood to backward square leg for four.
Mark Wood has dismissed Marnus Labuschagne twice in 10 balls since he went to No1 in the Test rankings.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 5, 2022
44th over: Australia 117-3 (Smith 2, Khawaja 0) Stokes for Anderson: a maiden. Thirteen overs left in the day.
Being a Test cricketer:
Jack Leach signing a guy's head 😂 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/g6JL6xaqiC
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 5, 2022
43rd over: Australia 117-3 (Smith 2, Khawaja 0) Smart bowling from Wood, whose hair and shirt are soaked with sweat . He varies his length and speed and, whisper it, for the moment, England’s bowlers are on top.
42nd over: Australia 117-3 (Smith 2, Khawaja 0) A humdinger of a maiden from Anderson to Smith, who is completely beaten by one that straightens.
Morning @tjaldred, I was walking up happy they weren't 250-1 but there's Jimmy, doing what he does. He really is an enduring master, what on earth will we do when he's gone? Surely this is a(nother) vital period, and we'll get Wood on early to Smith? I'm stroking my rabbit's foot
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) January 5, 2022
41st over: Australia 113-3 (Smith 2, Khawaja 0) Wood’s first ball is beautifully back-foot driven for four by Labuschagne, but he gets his reward the very next delivery. Wood roars and a big smiles spreads over Buttler’s face, which is lovely to see after his tribulations.
WICKET! Labuschagne c Buttler b Wood 28 (Australia 117-3)
Nudged away and Labuschagne can’t resist, giving Buttler an easy catch. Beautifully bowled by Wood, nicely done bowling change by Root.
Updated
40th over: Australia 113-2 (Smith 2, Labuschagne 24) Smith off the mark straight away with an ambitious tilt at Anderson with a rising blade through the covers. Jedi and apprentice take the crease.
“Last match England were 2-22 twice,” writes Yum, “Australia before that were 2-222 and now at 1-111 another wicket falls so next wicket at 222?”
WICKET! Harris c Root b Anderson 38 (Australia 111-2)
Elegantly caught by Root at second slip, who sways to his left like a member of the corps de ballet. Beautiful from Anderson who finally tempts the edge.
Updated
39th over: Australia 111-1 (Harris 38, Labuschagne 24) Leach scurries through his second over.
38th over: Australia 110-1 (Harris 37, Labuschagne 24) The sun is fully out at last, decorating Anderson with a shrinking shadow that scuttles under his feet. He doesn’t exactly trouble Labuschagne, but worries him. Just two off the final ball.
“Morning Tanya and morning all those on GMT.” Hello Em Jackson!
“Andy Zaltzman on TMS just read out stats for Ben Stokes saying he’s averaging 60 with the ball in Aus for this Test . , . . . so what is Stokes actually balancing out this Series by his inclusion?”
It’s not been his best tour: whether it is rustiness or a fragility to the body I can’t tell you. I’d wager, not the time to hand him the Test captaincy. Discuss.
37th over: Australia 108-1 (Harris 37, Labuschagne 22) And Leach does get his chance. He dries his hands in the dust at the crease. Harris picks up one after a Stokes misfield. Against Labuschagne, there are four fielders in the deep, they must think he can’t resist. And that didn’t look a bad first over to me; and on the telly, the experts like it. DRINKS with a blueish sky watching over.
36th over: Australia 106-1 (Harris 36, Labuschagne 21) Anderson has had a brutal visit to the hairdressers, short on top, fierce on the sides. He sends now a metronomical maiden.
35th over: Australia 106-1 (Harris 36, Labuschagne 21) Beautiful from Harris: a short, fat one from Stokes is driven off the back foot, on his tip toes, for four. Beaten off the next ball.
34th over: Australia 102-1 (Harris 32, Labuschagne 21)I think play can continue till 8am GMT if the light holds. We get a peak at Haseeb Hameed’s new haircut, just a ruffle poking out from the back of his cap. Beard is now longer than hair. Anyway: Anderson is quite fierce this over, but Labuschagne leaves with perfect judgement and elaborate sound effects, then picks up a couple through the covers off the last ball.
Updated
33rd over: Australia 100-1 (Harris 32, Labuschagne 19) Stokes is the switch for Broad. Labuschagne brings up the hundred with a nurdle to the mid-wicket boundary which is just cut off by a diving Jack Leach. Talking of whom - time for a little bowl. Surely?
32nd over: Australia 92-1 (Harris 32, Labuschagne 16) A jitter, a judder, then a beautiful extra-cover drive from Harris for four.
“Is trousers that show a fair amount of sock!’ a euphemism? The children are not awake here yet, it’s safe to answer.” NO Kim Thonger. NO!!!!! “I’m ready to pronounce this game a draw by the way. Even England will struggle to collapse twice on this pitch, won’t they? Won’t they?”
Do you really need me to answer this?
31st over: Australia 92-1 (Harris 28, Labuschagne 16) Broad continues, let’s see what the old dogs can do in tandem. Labuschagne plays and misses again, one that jags away past the bat, but seems entirely unbothered. A maiden.
“Did anyone else just wake up, see Australia are only 80/1 and assume England had been bowled out for 50?” An entirely natural reaction, Peter Salmon.
30th over: Australia 92-1 (Harris 28, Labuschagne 16) Anderson is back for his second spell of the day. Three balls in and he’s asking for a new ball - and, lo, gets one - as the old one won’t fit through the umpire’s cookie cutter. Harris picks up a couple through square leg.
29th over: Australia 90-1 (Harris 26, Labuschagne 16) Root’s hands are on his hips at slip. Then he pulls his sleeve over his hand to give the ball a good polish before throwing it back to Broad. England could do with a bit of magic from somewhere here - a Mark Ramprakash at the MCG grab out of nowhere.
(Broad incidentally is not in shorts, but trousers that show a fair amount of sock!)
@tjaldred 'Broad, white bandana, short trousers, powers in.'
— William Hargreaves (@billhargreaves) January 5, 2022
Hang on a minute? Any pictures? Had his mum left his longs in the wash again?
28th over: Australia 87-1 (Harris 25, Labuschagne 14) Labuschagne is alarmed enough by his waft to quickly turn around to see where it has gone, but it flies well away from Jonny Bairstow at leg slip. Wood then bounces Harris, but he only has to duck the top of his head in greeting and it flies onwards, with Buttler just getting the top of his fingers to it to tip it down to the boundary.
27th over: Australia 80-1 (Harris 24, Labuschagne 13) Dib and dab.
26th over: Australia 76-1 (Harris 21, Labuschagne 12) A tasty over from Mark Wood, quick and sparky, with two balls up to 93mph. In the stands, t-shirts rule despite the rain.
“Hi Tanya.” Hello Tony Jennings! “On a scorching hot day at the Bay Oval in Tauranga Bangladesh finally have their second test match win. Congratulations to them. But mystery surrounds Kane Williamson captain of the Black Caps. He has been out of the game with an elbow injury for almost a year. NZ Cricket won’t say how he got it, presumably he was hit there by a cricket ball, he has played but then had to stop playing. Tom Latham his stand in is not quite of the same calibre as Williamson. Perhaps he will be back for the second test just a thought.”
It sounds nasty doesn’t it, I wouldn’t fancy a “re-aggravated” elbow problem.
25th over: Australia 75-1 (Harris 20, Labuschagne 12) Events. Labuschagne first squirts Broad between third slip and gully for four. Then leg glances -with debatable control - between Buttler and leg slip. Then a huge lbw appeal. Broad begs with typical Disney animation -but Stokes intervenes: inside edge.
Updated
24th over: Australia 67-1 (Harris 20, Labuschagne 4) Wood switches ends from his opening spell and takes over from Stokes. Harris’s on-drive slides off with geometrical purity and dribbles over the boundary rope.
“Afternoon Tanya!” Hello David Warner! “You may have covered this but if Travis Head is cleared tomorrow is he allowed to be a concussion sub? Clearly the continued rain delays have taken me right down the garden path mentally.”
Let me just dig through my CA regulation book 64.2b....
23rd over: Australia 60-1 (Harris 14, Labuschagne 4) Broad, white bandana, short trousers, powers in.The first keeps low, the fourth is eased by Labuschagne through the covers for four, like a long cool slurp of iced coffee.
Play!
22nd over: Australia 56-1 (Harris 14, Labuschagne 0) Stokes polishes off the remaining two balls of his over. Gently does it.
Updated
Appreciation for good housekeeping.
On a day where they’ve been kept busier than even the players, it’s very impressive how precise the SCG groundstaff have been each time they’ve had to fold up the hessian covers, which is plenty of times. Just felt somebody deserved an appreciation post today #Ashes pic.twitter.com/UkOz6xGHIQ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 5, 2022
Ten minutes till the restart
The umpires have just walked off and nodded to Pat Cummins, who is in leisure wear and drinking something that looks like a red bull but is probably isotonic vitamin water. Meanwhile David Gower is discussing crosswords and how the Times is more difficult than the Telegraph. I’m not sure if he’s talking cryptic or not.
The covers are coming off again...
Hmm, slight problem with the virtual ticket, the image seems to have disappeared off my laptop. Suggest doing it on a phone.
What skills!
@tjaldred spontaneous crowd entertainment at the SCG. The guy with the beard is just sitting behind me if the England team want to enquire about his playing eligibilities. #ashes #sydneycricketground #crowdentertainment pic.twitter.com/qflkYAtM6K
— gavin robertson (@gavin_robertson) January 5, 2022
More rain, alas
This is a such a lovely idea, to raise money for the McGrath Foundation. Buy a virtual seat at the Test - I’m going to get one for my dad who has never (yet) been to an Ashes Test in Australia - will let you know if it is an easy process.
Restart 4pm Sydney time, 5am GMT
If there is no more rain....
Rain still stopping play: Australia 56-1
Ali Martin has been walkabout and found the most perfect museum piece.
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 5, 2022
Coffee is calling from the kitchen.
I like this idea...
@tjaldred Could we follow the Morrison government's lead and redefine rain so we don't miss as much cricket?
— Lord Not the Singer (@master_grundy) January 5, 2022
“Enjoying the rain,” taps Jim Warwood, a Pom living in Australia for 37 years and “routinely having my summers ruined by Ashes series.
“It should mean the game is not finished before or during the crucial third day; that should help the McGrath Foundation.” (good point, and hopefully McGrath will be out of isolation by then too and able to be at the SCG)
“Wood X Factor: He would be better if he was not so nice, all the short balls are never directed in a way that may hurt the batsman. If he hits them its more because it misbehaves off the pitch and he makes me think of Statham who used to apologise. Now the Aussie bowlers never look at all distressed by it.”
The drizzle, it carries on drizzling, I’m afraid, and it is making Phelim Mcmanamon think of Manchester: “If Mattie Parkinson was bowling on the pitch Australia would be worried.”
He would be a fantastic joker to have up your sleeve. Is he ready? I’ve no idea - but he and Saqib Mahmood had moments of brilliance for Lancashire last season. And he’s definitely got the big match temperament.
His ball of the century from April:
Unadulterated leg-spin filth from Matt Parkinson 🤯 #CountyCricket2021 pic.twitter.com/VdvLwdccJv
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 16, 2021
Updated
Lovely scenes in the Bangladesh dressing room at Mount Maunganui. I’m reading Scyld Berry’s new book which contains a chapter on each Test country. I wasn’t aware just how unready Bangladesh were for Test cricket when they were given Test status. Their first-class competition had only been going a year, they’d never won a first-class match and never made a first-class tour. The only country they’d ever beaten in any format was Pakistan in that infamous 1999 World Cup match. No wonder it has been such a battle.
Bangladesh Team dressing room celebrations following the historic win at Mount Maunganui.#BCB #cricket #BANvsNZ pic.twitter.com/78pGFQ30wP
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) January 5, 2022
The covers are being preened and pressed back into position, which gives me an opportunity to bore you with my one Sydney Test story. It was the first time I’d ever been to Australia and I was blown away by how gorgeous Sydney was. I stayed at a friend’s house in Paddington, felt like I was living my best life, and then got to see Darren Gough take a hat-trick, centuries from Mark Waugh and Mark Slater and seven wickets for Stuart MacGill. Happy days.
If there is not further rain...cancel that....
I suspect one of the reasons they dropped Burns for Crawley is that they reckoned he was a better option at slip. He has an air of competence about him, despite being so tall, not quite Cameron Green, but the slightly cheaper English version. He swallowed that Warner catch really well, despite looking surprised by the fact it came so quickly.
My colleague Ali Martin tells me the big cover is coming off at the SCG and that it is very, very, humid.
An early email wings its way from Jimmy McManners: “It’s a fair point from Sankaran Krishna about Mark Wood’s stats, but there are a few caveats to that. Aside from the stop/start nature of his career (plenty of matches played half fit) there is also (and I’m not telling anyone anything they don’t know) the “X-Factor” of some bowlers.
“My mate Dave Murphy always says Stokes is a terrible bowler, not fast, nor scary, and with a bowling average of over 30. But… would you want to face Stokes with his pecker up in a vital part of a game? Botham has a batting average of under 35, but I bet most of those runs were very, very useful ones.
“ (And yes, I wrote this so Dave Murphy would react).”
Are you there Dave? I agree btw on Mark Wood’s X-factor, it’s worth more than a few runs, especially in an attack of same-i-ness.
Thanks Jonathan! Good morning wet Sydney from wet Manchester. I’ve put the Christmas tree lights on for the (almost) last time and have a box of tissues and the dog for company. How is it going for you? It’s nice to wake up to a day that hasn’t , yet, run away from England.
Updated
This rain delay offers a perfect opportunity for me to hand over the OBO to Tanya Aldred. I’ll be back for more shower-dodging tomorrow.
Rain stops play
22.4 overs: Australia 56-1 (Harris 14, Labuschagne 0) More extras against Stokes’ figures, this time five wides for a ball that bounces miles over Harris, and Buttler, and runs away to the sightscreen. And soon afterwards another shower bursts over the SCG, and we’re off again.
Bowler transgressions, Ashes 2021-22:
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) January 5, 2022
Aus 6 no balls, 3 wides
Eng 29 no balls, 9 wides
Updated
21st over: Australia 51-1 (Harris 14, Labuschagne 0) Warner pushed hard at a delivery at just that awkward length, the kind he’d done well leaving all morning. Surprise breakthrough for England.
Updated
WICKET! Warner c Crawley b Broad 30 (Australia 51-1)
Australia were cruising but Stuart Broad has come back into the attack and bagged his bunny. A copy-and-paste dismissal for the pair, Broad angling the ball in from around the wicket, Warner thick-edging to second slip. Unexpected in the context of the match, far from it in the history of that duel.
Updated
20th over: Australia 50-0 (Warner 30, Harris 13) Stokes > Warner > maiden.
Updated
19th over: Australia 50-0 (Warner 30, Harris 13) A couple of singles from a straight up-and-down Wood over make it consecutive 50+ opening partnerships for Australia. England are really up against it now with an ageing ball on a flat deck. Warner in particular looks in the mood.
Updated
18th over: Australia 48-0 (Warner 29, Harris 12) Stokes changes his line of attack to around the wicket, and two balls into the shift THE FIRST CHANCE OF THE DAY! Warner is squared up and gets a thick edge that flies to where a third slip would have stood. As it was, there were only two slips, the second of which, Zak Crawley, dived full length, but could barely get a fingertip to the chance. Warner replies by ushering a cover drive to the boundary with all the aggression of a shadow-stroke between overs. He has hit some gorgeous shots today.
Just out of reach of Crawley at second slip!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2022
Live #Ashes: https://t.co/PWTqeQ864A pic.twitter.com/KpGbykHOLw
Updated
17th over: Australia 40-0 (Warner 21, Harris 12) Warner content to allow Wood to hurl down a maiden.
“There is a bit too much talk about Mark Wood’s pace (high 140s quite often) and not enough about the fact that he has something like 69 wickets in 24 tests at about 33 apiece. Proof yet again that we sometimes focus on the wrong numbers.” I’m not far off this opinion from Sankaran Krishna, but Wood is such a tough bowler to appraise considering how stop-start his career has been. Plus, his extra pace is proportionally more valuable in Australian conditions than in England. It’s just a shame he doesn’t have Jofra Archer at the other end backing him up.
Updated
16th over: Australia 40-0 (Warner 21, Harris 12) Two front foot no-balls and a wide, as well as a perfect delivery that sashayed beyond Warner’s outside edge, in a curious Ben Stokes over. Australia up to 40 without much fanfare. England have not taken advantage of the new ball and the seam and swing it has offered.
We’ve had more dry hours today not playing cricket than we’ve had dry hours playing cricket. #Ashes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 5, 2022
Updated
15th over: Australia 36-0 (Warner 21, Harris 11) Warner purses his lips and nods appreciatively after he’s beaten for pace on his outside edge by Wood. The rapid delivery bounced just over the stumps. Warner is then induced into a leading edge later in a good maiden over.
Updated Session Times:
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2022
Second Session: 1:30pm - 4:00pm
Final Session: 4:20pm - 6:30pm
Minimum of 83 overs to be bowled in today’s play (rain permitting) #Ashes
Updated
14th over: Australia 36-0 (Warner 21, Harris 11) Stokes bowls the first full over after lunch, a maiden, and it brings the TV pundits (including Mike Atherton) in to discuss why neither Broad nor Anderson were called upon after a long break, considering they are England’s most likely wicket-takers. The extension of the conversation being Root’s captaincy decisions.
Updated
13th over: Australia 36-0 (Warner 21, Harris 11) David Warner is composed from the off, first presenting the full face of his bat to an overpitched Wood delivery, for two, then thrashing a wider half-volley through the covers for four. That was all hand-eye coordination, and to thrilling effect.
Updated
The players are back out in the middle after lunch. Time for another dart between showers.
Lunch: Australia 30-0
An early lunch has been called while the rain falls.
“The ground DJ had the temerity to play ‘Have you ever seen the rain?’ as the covers went on this time,” emails Gavin Robertson. “Answer- yes we bloody have.”
While we wait for play to resume, enjoy Bangladesh’s incredible Test triumph in New Zealand.
Rain stops play
12.3 overs: Australia 30-0 (Warner 15, Harris 11) Time for some raw pace with Mark Wood replacing James Anderson. If he doesn’t engineer an early breakthrough it could be a long couple of days in the field for the tourists.
He only gets three deliveries before the heavens open again.
12th over: Australia 30-0 (Warner 15, Harris 11) Ben Stokes replaces Stuart Broad and he fails to test either opener in an over that passes mostly outside Marcus Harris’s off stump. Warner advances his score with a simple nudge off his pads.
11th over: Australia 29-0 (Warner 14, Harris 11) Anderson continues around the wicket and Harris doesn’t look completely assured, especially when some movement beats his outside edge for the second time in a couple of overs. Anderson gets too straight though and concedes a couple of easy runs. Harris demonstrated his ability to shrug off the previous ball during his match-winning knock at the MCG and he is back in that groove today.
“Hey Jonathan,” good afternoon John Kyriazis. “At the game with the family, paid top dollar, looking forward to it and they stop playing for a few raindrops. Then too slow to restart. Please stick up for the fans at the game.” Agree 100% John. As Geoff tweeted earlier, quite why we can’t adapt and start earlier on days like this (when it’s sunny and dry with a forecast for later rain) is beyond me.
10th over: Australia 27-0 (Warner 14, Harris 9) Glorious swivel pull from Harris to despatch Broad through midwicket for four after the England bowler dropped short to begin the over. The remainder of the duel is even with Harris defending deliveries targeting the top of off, and picking up a further single for his troubles. This opening partnership looks rock solid.
“Get the spinners on,” emails Phelim Mcmanamon.
9th over: Australia 22-0 (Warner 14, Harris 4) I don’t think I was effusive enough in my praise for that final delivery of Broad’s over. It was a jaffa. The exact delivery that he had perfected to remove David Warner in England.
Now Anderson follows suit and moves around the wicket, but Warner again demonstrates how his eye is in today, timing an effortless straight drive for four to an overpitched delivery. Anderson responds well, rapping the opener on the pads, but it’s a stifled appeal after the ball jagged a mile off the surface into the left-hander. England decline a review, and DRS indicates the ball was a couple of coats of lacquer too high and wide of leg stump. England’s salt and pepper shaker finishes the over beating Warner’s defence again, but once more the line is angling down leg.
Updated
8th over: Australia 18-0 (Warner 10, Harris 4) Broad still pretty full, angling in to Harris from around the wicket. There’s no lateral movement on offer though, so by the time Broad refines his line to tempt Harris into a stroke, he’s too straight and it’s an easy nudge into the on-side for a couple of runs. Broad is undeterred and he does find a skerrick of wobble away from the bat and, for the first time today, there’s a genuine play-and-miss that beats an outside edge.
7th over: Australia 16-0 (Warner 10, Harris 2) Beautiful shot from Warner. After Anderson targeted the batter’s ribs, he threw a wide tempter that had some swing angling it away and the Australian calmly stroked it through the covers for a very pleasing boundary. Four more soon follows with Anderson losing his line and Warner glancing him fine for four... off his thigh-pad; leg-byes. England have not taken advantage of the new ball or the slightly helpful conditions.
6th over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 6, Harris 2) Broad has come back from the break fuller, forcing Harris to play around his off stump, inducing a false stroke from a very late leave. No alarms yet for this opening pair though.
5th over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 6, Harris 2) Anderson is harmlessly wide of off stump for a couple of deliveries, then he’s straight and towards Warner’s ribs to complete the fifth over.
Benedict Carter wants England to go back to basics. “There is a youtube video where Geoff Boycott gives a batting masterclass with Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting looking on in awe. We have to go back to basics with the batsmen - India can do it, Australia and New Zealand do it. But we ignore basic technique and the result is useless contortionists at the crease.”
Play resumes
We’re back on! Anderson has three deliveries remaining in the fifth over. David Warner on strike.
We could be back on in five minutes - further rain permitting.
“We’re gonna need a bigger whiteboard...”
@JPHowcroft If the ECB are looking for a driven individual who rips up the rule book, can eke out narrow wins with public schoolboys, and knows what it’s like to face public anger, I hear a certain sometime visitor to Barnard Castle is between jobs right now.
— Tom Wein (@tom_wein) January 5, 2022
David Sadler has sent in a lovely email, full of the common sense and naiveté of one not embittered by unravelling the mysteries of cricket for decades. “Still fairly in my infancy of watching Test cricket, and a vested interest in this match as I have tickets to days 3 and 4 (albeit reluctantly given the weather, England, and err, COVID). Is there any circumstance under which they will abandon the match early given it is forecast to rain every day pretty much continuously, barring a few brief spells of sunshine? E.g. would they get to the 3rd day, when Australia are still 50-1 on their first innings, and just go “well we’re not getting a full match, let’s call it”. Oh David, welcome to cricket. The short answer is no. The longer answer is: welcome to the club, you have more head-scratching ahead of you.
The covers are coming off again...
The umpires were out inspecting the square and the word was we were just five minutes or so away from a restart - but more rain has now arrived.
Brilliant. What a great achievement. Time to give Bangladesh a Test series in England. Last one was 2010. https://t.co/1JPG7zo5W9
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) January 5, 2022
Bangladesh have beaten World Test Champions New Zealand, in New Zealand, by eight wickets.
Aust last hosted Bangladesh for a Test match in 2003. In mid-winter in the Top End #Ashes https://t.co/7Iz4QBXXIy
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) January 5, 2022
The covers are being peeled back. We may be back on sooner than expected.
Ashley Giles has really rattled your cages, hasn’t he?
@JPHowcroft Giles and co are everything wrong with English cricket. Elite only at bland mediocrity. That whole 'bit shit at bowling but can add a useful 20 at no. 8 to avoid the follow-on' mentality we've had for years.
— Dave Loren (@Dave_Loren) January 5, 2022
See also: the maths of picking a batsman behind the stumps.
“It sounds as if they are on at the wrong ends,” emails John Davenport, “Jimmy can conjure movement out of nothing, but Broad needs some help. Anyway, who decides from which end the first over is bowled? In fairness, it should be the batsmen.” It’s up to the fielding team to decide that John, and as for which of the two new ball bowlers, most have a preferred end that factors in the run-up, landing position at the crease, or simple superstition. If both bowlers want the same end, we find out who the alpha is. But it’s a good general point about how Broad and Anderson (as magical as they have been for a long long time) have long felt as if they captain themselves in the absence of decisive/intuitive leadership from Cook or Root or whomever.
Anderson & Broad have started off very differently in the first session before rain halted play. Anderson going fuller looking for swing, while Broad attacking from round the wicket has looked to keep it tight, making the batters play a shot. @IGcom #Ashes pic.twitter.com/6faYz36gei
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 5, 2022
Updated
Rain stops play
4.3 over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 6, Harris 2) Anderson has decided his stock ball today will be the one that swings away from the left-handed openers. The problem he’s got is judging where to start his line. Anything wider than middle and Warner can leave outside off. Anything on leg allows Warner to get inside and work to the on-side.
That particular calibration will have to wait, because one of those heavy blustery showers has blown across the SCG. The players are coming off, and the blanket coverage of overhead clouds suggests they may not return for a while.
4th over: Australia 8-0 (Warner 6, Harris 2) Broad is still bowling gun barrel straight and a little short. Eventually he pitches up and Warner throws his hands at the ball outside off stump and crunches a four just in front of point. The kind of shot that encourages both batting and fielding units. Some drizzle in the air.
Meanwhile over in New Zealand, literally “THE BIGGEST UPSET IN THE HISTORY OF TEST CRICKET”.
Per my ratings, when Bangladesh win this, it will be the biggest upset in the history of Test cricket (a 0.038% or 1 in 2661 chance).
— Russell Degnan (@idlesummers) January 5, 2022
The previous biggest upset was England over West Indies in 1990 (a 0.159% or 1 in 629 chance)
3rd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 1, Harris 1) Another maiden, this time Anderson to Warner, the Aussie opener comfortable watching the ball sail over over his pegs or slant wide of them. There is something on offer for the new ball, but England have not yet hit the right lines and lengths.
2nd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 1, Harris 1) Broad begins around the wicket to the left-handed pair, searching for that delivery that angles in but seams away. There’s less movement on offer for Broad than Anderson and Harris defends a maiden from the crease with a lovely straight bat.
“Ashley Giles: the poor man’s Phil Tuffnell” is the kind of email I’m going to click on. “A few years ago, before he became a 3rd rate cricket administrator, the King of Spain tried his hand at being a summariser on TMS,” emails Tom Paternoster-Howe, who goes on to make his thoughts clear about Gilo on the radio. In short: no stars.
“I recall one particularly salient and topical incident, when rain delayed the start of play. The junior groundstaff were running a rope around the outfield and the commentators were wondering why. A physicist wrote in to explain that the rope running over the grass would break the water droplets up into smaller ones so they would evaporate quicker. A concept so simple I would expect a seven-year old to grasp almost immediately, but which Giles claimed not to be able to understand.”
As every year goes by, the Mitchell and Webb “are we the baddies?” meme about the 2005 Ashes series becomes more salient.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 1, Harris 1) Lively start from Oh Jimmy Jimmy, rapping Warner on his knuckles with a tasty lifter first up. Anderson is bowling over the wicket to the left-hander, and after that initial delivery curving back into Warner, the next three seam away, a couple prodigiously. Another in-ducker is too straight and Warner get the scoreboard moving with a tuck off his hip. Harris also gets off the mark with a single, but this is much tighter, and the product of a delivery that moved like a frisbee in the air. Promising signs for England with the new ball. Now, can then find the right length to take advantage?
30 minutes later than scheduled, David Warner is taking guard and James Anderson is at the top of his run-up. It’s cricket o’clock.
Uncle Allen Madden, the Gadigal Elder who did Welcome to Country at the SCG, signs off with an old aboriginal saying: "Where there's a will ... there's relatives"
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) January 5, 2022
In the last 10 years at home, Australia at the SCG average 54.5 runs per dismissal and have scored at 3.81 rpo - the highest average & quickest scoring of all venues. They've backed themselves again, electing to bat first, despite the overcast conditions today. #Ashes
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) January 4, 2022
“Hi Jonathan,” hello Ruth Purdue. “I have just listened to that Giles interview. Seriously, seriously, why is he so combative? They have nowhere to hide anymore. They have no excuses left. Some of these excuses were trotted out last time in Australia by the way. The worst being talking about being in bubbles and letting go home. How about they treat Leach better? How about playing a spinner when it’s spinning pitch? How about you let all the players that are never picked and deserve a chance go home? Why are kept around, in the hope of getting a game when they have no interest in playing them? We all know the names of these players now. They have a duty of care to those not playing too right?
Maybe try a different tone. I for one am no longer nodding along. Talk is cheap, I don’t give myself a bonus at the end of the year.”
The teams are out in the middle of a blustery but dry SCG for the anthems and Welcome To Country.
Want some positivity do ya?
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) January 4, 2022
Stuart Broad is 8wkts away from Ian Botham's England Ashes record. If he plays both Tests and gets his rhythm, he could walk away with a pretty sweet record.
Botham - 128
Willis - 123
Broad - 120
Anderson - 111
Rhodes - 109
All session times have been moved back 30 minutes. No time has been lost.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2022
Updated Session Times:
First Session: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Second Session: 1:40pm - 3:40pm
Final Session: 4:00pm - 6:00pm#Ashes
Colum Farrelly takes aim at the players: “The current batch of players are not anywhere near as good as they have been talked up to be and a little more realism and modesty from press and players wouldn’t go amiss.” The question, of course, is why are the best not good enough?
Spending an hour of dry weather standing around doing nothing while more rain approaches - that’s Test cricket, baby. #Ashes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 4, 2022
Andy Robinson is looking higher up for scapegoats. “Tom Harrison has to go along with the ludicrous Hundred. And some test matches have to be on terrestrial telly. Sacking Giles is just rearranging deckchairs.”
It’s safe to say Ashley Giles hasn’t endeared himself to some of you. Here’s Seth Levine’s take: “Just listened to the Ashley Giles interview on TMS. I cannot imagine any other leadership position where you get to burnish your credentials by referencing how poor your predecessors were (seriously - using 90s England as your benchmark?). He came across as chippy, self-serving and fatalistic. Harrison should be first to go. Then Giles.”
Joe Root admits he would have batted first too, given the option, but he likes the grass coverage on the pitch and hopes there’s some early movement. “We don’t need much change now,” Root adds, when asked about the one switch to the XI.
Australia win the toss and bat
Joe Root called incorrectly, Pat Cummins had no hesitation. Not the worst toss to lose given the rain and humidity around the SCG.
Just the one change expected to both XIs with Usman Khawaja replacing Travis Head (Covid) for Australia and Stuart Broad coming in for Ollie Robinson (shoulder).
Trevor Kingston is thrilled. “England bowled out for under 70 and the only change is the return of Broad in place of Robinson, lengthening the tail. But I suppose when the tail extends to the two openers...”
“Picking over the carcass of English cricket is unseemly and unhealthy. May I suggest an aquamation?” asks Scott Poynting, referencing a word I had not encountered until this week.
And here’s Andrew Benton with the first email of the day, enraged by the comments below from the King of Spain.
“It is remarkable and truly disappointing that Ashley Giles doesn’t feel that anyone’s head needs to roll for the appalling performances of late, especially given that the failures earlier this year were all prep for this series. He needs to take responsibility for the failures, and suffer because of them, to foster the change that is needed. Not do so makes a laughing stock of the ECB. Clearly he’s protecting his bonus. England have lost a supporter in me because of the way this is being handled. The only right thing is two resignations - Giles and Chris Silverwood. Then the changes that are needed can start.”
Updated
England’s managing director, Ashley Giles, understands the bigger picture. Now, what’s he going to do about it?
Unless we look at more systemic change, a collective responsibility and collective solutions, we can make whatever changes we want – you can change me, the head coach, the captain – but we’re only setting up future leaders for failure. That’s all we’re doing. We’re only pushing it down the road.
A reminder that the Sydney Test is the annual fundraising centrepiece for the McGrath Foundation. Let’s hope we reach day three and we can see the SCG turn pink again.
Welcome to Day 1 of the Vodafone Ashes Pink Test! 💕🏏
— Mcgrathfdn (@McGrathFdn) January 4, 2022
No matter where you are watching (or not watching) from today, it's time to grab your Virtual Pink Seat from https://t.co/hoChigRC3Y.#IveGotMine #PinkestAshes #McGrathFoundation #PinkTest pic.twitter.com/ejS8qCuiJu
Updated
Meanwhile in New Zealand, the World Test Champions are about to suffer an almighty upset.
New Zealand all out!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 4, 2022
Taijul takes a cracking catch leaving Bangladesh needed 40 runs to win the Test #NZvBAN https://t.co/13HsOvxv3F
Toss delayed by 30 minutes
Match now scheduled to start at 11am.
Ok, let’s tuck into some analysis of where we are in the series with Geoff Lemon and Jonathan Liew. Is it time to revise the Ashes schedule? Is there any appetite to to do so? Is it even feasible?
It's stopped raining
This is going to be one of those days full of heavy showers blowing through and the covers coming on and off again. But reports from the ground are that we should have a toss on time.
The scene in Sydney pic.twitter.com/fM6SYIEfEz
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 4, 2022
Updated
It's raining
Great news! There will be even more time to pick over the carcass of English cricket, because it’s raining in Sydney. Heavy showers are forecast over the next few days, blowing in from the east (the coast), and one of those bands is sweeping through Moore Park at the moment.
Let me shock you - it’s raining. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/IT8dsNimJN
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 4, 2022
Showers & storms expected this week, with some storms likely to be severe. Heavy rain leading to flash flooding & damaging wind gusts likely & possible hail. Inland NSW impacted from Wed, moving east to include ACT by Thurs & Sydney by Fri. Warnings: https://t.co/d1nppq0V9s pic.twitter.com/eJwnVspVj9
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) January 4, 2022
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live over-by-over coverage of the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test. We’re underway at the Sydney Cricket Ground at 10.30am local time (11.30pm UK).
With the Ashes done and dusted for another cycle it’s hard to know what to make of the remainder of this series. With both countries in the midst of another wave of the pandemic, sport once again feels detached from reality, especially a match such as this, where the sport itself is shorn of most of its competitive jeopardy.
With neither side ringing the changes at the selection table, we’re grasping for narratives like Old Mother Hubbard searching for a bone. “But it’s an Ashes Test!” some of you are probably yelling, “that’s all the bloody narrative you need.” Maybe, but in the current circumstances this Test feels like little more than a couple of dozen content providers fulfilling their production duties for a TV show that reached the apex of its plot arc earlier in the series.
Maybe Zak Crawley makes good on his pre-match comments? Maybe a fired up Stuart Broad delivers one of *those* \0/ spells? Maybe Harold Bishop returns from the dead and revives the format?
There has been lots written about the moribund state of English cricket since the Boxing Day Test, and some thought provoking pieces about Australia and the health of the rivalry too. So we should wade into that without further ado.
If you would like to join in, you can reach me by email or Twitter (@JPHowcroft).
