Close of Day 2 - Pakistan 97-8 trail Australia by 332
Midway through the middle session of day two at the Gabba Pakistan had clawed their way back into the contest. Starting the day at 288/3 Australia slumped to 380/9, a collapse distracted by Peter Handscomb’s excellent maiden Test century. Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz did the damage with four wickets apiece and the contest seemed in the balance.
A 49-run last wicket partnership between Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon changed the day. Pakistan wilted, the Queensland crowd got involved, and in the blink of an eye Australia had an imposing total and the prospect of bowling under cloud cover and then floodlights.
The home attack seized their opportunity with both hands, putting the ball in the right place often enough to force mistakes. There were no miracle balls to engineer wickets from nothing but Pakistan batted abysmally, nicking time and again deliveries they needn’t have played at.
Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc deserved their three wickets, as did Jackson Bird his two. The seven catches between keeper and third slip testify to Australia’s safe hands in the field.
Clearly Australia will win this match at a canter, the only consideration now is how much remedial work can Pakistan put into their batting order to prevent the series petering out in Melbourne.
Thanks for joining us, we’ll do it all again tomorrow afternoon.
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43rd over: Pakistan 97-8 (Sarfraz 31, Amir 8)
Amir blocks out a maiden from Bird to see off the day.
Despite the extra half-hour and no breaks for rain, only 84 overs (plus the two lost to the changeover) were bowled.
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42nd over: Pakistan 97-8 (Sarfraz 31, Amir 8)
Lyon continuing and Sarfraz plays a rare beautiful shot. A fierce sweep from outside off that fizzes behind square on the onside for four. He backs that up with another sweep, a paddle this time, that he just works down to fine leg for four more. A hard run two makes it 10 from three deliveries. Can Sarfraz keep his head? Nope! Charges Lyon, misses but Wade can’t gather and complete the stumping. The ball bounced just over the bails on middle stump but ricocheted off the keeper’s left hand and away to gully. Not a sitter, but poor keeping at international level.
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41st over: Pakistan 86-8 (Sarfraz 21, Amir 7)
Bird returns as Smith continues to shuffle his four-man attack. This pair are starting to look comfortable at the crease now though and despite a half run-out chance there’s not a lot for the crowd to get involved in.
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40th over: Pakistan 84-8 (Sarfraz 20, Amir 6)
Lyon rattling through an over of darts to limit his skipper’s over-rate fine.
After a profligate first over costing 3 runs, JBird's spells have been 4-3-2-1 and 2-2-0-1 #AusvPak
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 16, 2016
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39th over: Pakistan 83-8 (Sarfraz 19, Amir 6)
Starc continuing and his first delivery is a rare edge that flies through the cordon uncaught. This was a thick edge between third slip and gully and away for four. Otherwise this pair ride out the over well continuing to counter-punch when possible. Much too little way too late though.
Dane’s emailed in: “Jonathan - what’s your take on the Pakistani innings?”
It’s been a shocker Dane. The question is whether this is first Test Gabba-shock, as so many touring teams have suffered from in the past, or a more chronic issue with their batting order. The big concern is the Younus/Misbah axis in the middle order looks nothing like the partnership of recent seasons and without that pair anchoring the innings it’s an unthreatening line-up. It will take some serious application in Melbourne and Sydney to remedy some obvious flaws in Australian conditions.
38th over: Pakistan 76-8 (Sarfraz 12, Amir 6)
The crowd goes wild as Nathan Lyon comes on for a twirl. And he feeds off the energy with a terrific over full of flight and guile.
37th over: Pakistan 73-8 (Sarfraz 10, Amir 6)
Amir uppercuts Starc for the first boundary in over 100 balls! Only the fifth four of the entire innings. The bowler responds with some short stuff and then a ripping yorker that Amir does well to jam his bat on and keep out.
They love the GOAT up here at the Gabba! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/cOe2pkIu31
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2016
36th over: Pakistan 69-8 (Sarfraz 10, Amir 2)
Into the extra half-hour tacked on to the end of the day to accommodate slow over rates - and there’s 12 overs still to be bowled!
Amir takes a single from Hazlewood while the crowd distracts itself with some jocular interaction with Nathan Lyon. Nice Gary!
Peter Salmon has emailed in a spirit-raising message. “Hi Jonathan, I LOVE Pakistan. Still crazy after all these years. Don’t bet against them winning the series. Pete.”
I’m not one to gamble Pete, but I reckon you’d get some pretty favourable odds right now.
35th over: Pakistan 68-8 (Sarfraz 10, Amir 1)
This has been disciplined, but by no means unplayable bowling from Australia. Nothing’s really misbehaved, there’s been a hint of seam and swing but nothing prodigious. Pakistan have been the architects of their own downfall, failing to come to terms with the conditions. It does not bode well for the series.
Pakistan have now lost 7-24 in this collapse... Yikes! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/GlZyMTzV7j
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2016
WICKET! Yasir c Khawaja b Starc 1 (Pakistan 67-8)
Control C, control V. Line and length for Australia, nick for Pakistan, catch in the cordon, batsman walks off shaking his head.
Insert Starc, Yasir Shah and Usman Khawaja into the sentence above and you have the latest dismal dismissal.
34th over: Pakistan 67-7 (Sarfraz 10, Yasir 1)
This has been a dire innings from Pakistan. Wahab tried to work Hazlewood to leg but spooned a dolly of a leading edge back to the bowler.
Good to see someone else collapsing like a house of cards for a change! #AUSvPAK
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 16, 2016
WICKET! Wahab c & b Hazlewood 1 (Pakistan 66-7)
Hazlewood comes back into the hunt for Pakistan’s final four wickets, with figures of nine overs two for 14.
Make that ten overs three for 17 as Wahab lobs back a simple caught and bowled chance that Hazlewood makes no mistake with.
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33rd over: Pakistan 63-6 (Sarfraz 8, Wahab 0)
Sarfraz continues his counterattack, flashing and missing at one Starc howitzer before picking up three with a decently timed cut in front of square.
Wahab doesn’t look happy against Starc, struggling to pick up the pace and only just getting his blade down in time on a couple of occasions. The big lefty’s radar isn’t spot on though and Pakistan’s number eight survives.
32nd over: Pakistan 60-6 (Sarfraz 5, Wahab 0)
Wahab begins Bird’s latest maiden by unfurling two glorious cover drives. Unfortunately for him, on neither occasion did his bat get anywhere near the ball, and his extravagance only served to highlight the pickle Pakistan have found themselves in.
31st over: Pakistan 60-6 (Sarfraz 5, Wahab 0)
Sarfraz is batting to type, which is a man who knows he’s here for a good time if not necessarily a long time. He looks to make things happen against Starc and gets away with it on a couple of occasions.
30th over: Pakistan 56-6 (Sarfraz 1, Wahab 0)
Bird completes his over for figures of six overs two for five.
Incidentally, Sami waited until exactly his hundredth ball for that brain fade.
Pakistan have lost 5/13 in 11 overs.
Well well.. Pakistan could be batting again tonight. 56-6 and there is a possibility of a follow-on innings. #AusvPak
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 16, 2016
WICKET! Sami c Wade b Bird 22 (Pakistan 56-6)
Deary me, what is going on!? Bird back into the attack and he strikes in unlikely circumstances. Sami, patient for so long, walks across his stumps and attempts to work the ball from middle behind square on the leg side. All he succeeds in doing is feathering an inside edge to the wicket keeper. Shambles.
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29th over: Pakistan 56-5 (Sami 21, Sarfraz 1)
Pakistan have made a right mess of this. They can’t score, they can’t stop nicking off, and they’re into their last recognised partnership. Hard to see this making five days.
WICKET! Shafiq c Khawaja b Starc 2 (Pakistan 54-5)
Things are going from bad to worse for Pakistan. Another edge, another sharp catch in the cordon and it’s five down. Starc, returning after drinks, gets the W against his name with a good line and length from over the wicket that the right hander plays at unnecessarily and offers a catching opportunity to third slip that Khawaja snaffles.
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28th over: Pakistan 51-4 (Sami 18, Shafiq 2)
A middle-order rebuilding job now for Pakistan who repel Hazlewood with comparative comfort.
Open to other thoughts, but maybe not driving at balls well outside off stump would be a good move. #AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 16, 2016
27th over: Pakistan 48-4 (Sami 17, Shafiq 0)
If the game swung Pakistan’s way in the early afternoon, since Bird and Lyon’s last wicket thrash it’s been all Australia and they are careering away with this Test match.
WICKET! Misbah c Renshaw b Bird 4 (Pakistan 48-4)
Bird strikes! Hazlewood-McGrath line and length has Misbah fishing and nicking to Renshaw at first slip. Poor shot. The ball might have swung a touch away in the air but it was a nothing shot in the circumstances. Decent catch by his ankles from the big lad.
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26th over: Pakistan 48-3 (Sami 17, Misbah 4)
I know it’s a cliche but Hazlewood is McGrath-like at times, hitting the same line and length time after time, drawing the error or extracting natural variation from the surface that makes him look like a genius. Misbah flirts with one that seams away, Sami just withdraws his bat in time from one seaming in. Top stuff.
25th over: Pakistan 47-3 (Sami 17, Misbah 3)
Bird bowls a pretty uneventful maiden to Sami but a couple gripped and seamed away from the left-hander, which will give the pacemen some encouragement.
As a few of you have pointed out, there is an issue with the scoreboard at the top of the page. Despite what you may see there have been 13 wickets so far in the match, not zero. People with greater technical skills than I are trying to remedy it with the utmost urgency.
24th over: Pakistan 46-3 (Sami 16, Misbah 3)
Sami’s technique against the short ball leaves a lot to be desired and he’s struck on the back of the helmet again from a Hazlewood bouncer the batsman takes his eye off and allows to crash into him. Second time tonight he’s been hit on the head.
It doesn’t phase him though and sees out the over comfortably, nudging a tip-and-run single from the final delivery.
Younis Khan last 6 Test innings:
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 16, 2016
0, 2, 1, 2, 11, 0 #AUSvPAK #Cricket
23rd over: Pakistan 46-3 (Sami 16, Misbah 3)
Not too much happening out there for Bird with no lateral movement in the air or off the seam. He gets one to bounce unexpectedly on Misbah, so high it raps him on the knuckle of his top glove. In general though Bird’s line is a touch too wide for his body position at delivery, allowing the right-handed batsman to leave confidently outside his off stump.
You beauty #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/SVSzW2H4KG
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2016
22nd over: Pakistan 46-3 (Sami 16, Misbah 3)
Hazlewood looks dangerous every delivery to Misbah who still looks in shock that he’s having to bat so soon after his feet must have been up and digesting his Queensland buffet. He eventually opens his account with a controlled drive down the ground for three.
Guess the Gabba at night isn't totally awful either. #AusvPak pic.twitter.com/LbG0xbTA7N
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 16, 2016
21st over: Pakistan 43-3 (Sami 16, Misbah 0)
Misbah’s a wily old fox and he took every second available before facing the hat-trick delivery, taking the sting out of the situation and safely getting back and across behind a Hazlewood standard.
Jackson Bird replaces Starc from the Vulture Street end for the first time this session. He’s not threatening but such is the tension in the middle Pakistan cannot break the shackles and block out another maiden.
20th over: Pakistan 43-3 (Sami 16, Misbah 0)
What an over from Josh Hazlewood! Misbah survives the hat-trick ball but a double-wicket maiden has ripped this session apart. After battling so patiently Pakistan are now under immense pressure.
WICKET! Younus c Wade b Hazlewood 0 (Pakistan 43-3)
First baller for the mighty Younus Khan! Hazlewood immediately on the same line and length and Younus leans forward and tickles a skinny edge through to Wade.
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WICKET! Babar c Smith b Hazlewood 19 (Pakistan 43-2)
Hazlewood replaces Lyon and it takes him just four deliveries to strike. Immediately into that fifth stump line on a good length, Babar can’t resist playing forward with hard hands to one he shouldn’t and it flies to Smith at second slip.
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19th over: Pakistan 43-1 (Sami 16, Babar 19)
Starc fuller to begin this over and Sami responds with a punchy checked drive straight past the bowler for a confidence boosting four. Shorter stuff follows that Sami is happy to evade and deflect.
18th over: Pakistan 39-1 (Sami 12, Babar 19)
Sniff of a chance for Australia as Babar advances purposefully to Lyon but gets a thick inside edge that loops well forward of the short square leg. A safer single brings Sami onto strike who’s been worryingly becalmed since dinner... until now! An agricultural mow across the line comes off a thick edge but over the infield towards cow corner and it trickles for a boundary.
“Nice Gary” count for the over (as picked up on stump mic) - 1
17th over: Pakistan 33-1 (Sami 7, Babar 18)
Despite all the conditions indicating there should be swing, everything so far for Starc since the interval has been gun barrel straight. It reminds me that there remains no scientific proof that overhead conditions influence cricket ball movement, but the effects of confirmation bias can make us think it is so.
Consequently Starc bowls short or back of a length to Sami who dodges ducks and defends five deliveries after Babar nudges a single.
16th over: Pakistan 32-1 (Sami 7, Babar 17)
Short delay here while the Pakistan physio attends to Sami’s right hand that was struck in Starc’s over. Doesn’t appear to be anything serious, but as we saw from Amir yesterday, that physio has magical qualities.
Single from a sedate Lyon over.
“Nice Gary” count for the over (as picked up on stump mic) - 6 - full house!
15th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Sami 7, Babar 16)
Starc’s line and length is a bit awry against this right/left combination, despite his action looking fluid and rhythmical. Plenty of Zoolander staring going on after his deliveries, but it’s not particularly threatening. More Beep Beep Barina than Ferrari.
14th over: Pakistan 29-1 (Sami 5, Babar 16)
Lyon continues around the wicket to Sami who has laboured to four from 42 deliveries, and his first shot in anger since dinner sees him top edge a sweep onto his helmet! More bounce for Lyon than Sami expected but he escapes and nurdles a single next ball.
“Nice Gary” count for the over (as picked up on stump mic) - 4.*
*Inlcudes a “Nice Gaz”.
13th over: Pakistan 28-1 (Sami 4, Babar 16)
These might not be perfect batting conditions but Babar Azam has unfurled an effortless drive through extra cover that deserves its own Instagram account, wellbeing detox juice range and celebrity followers. Babar bats like a man with all the time in the world, which is handy when Starc’s zinging down 150kph under lights.
Starc bowling a shorter length in response to that Babar drive, time for a pep talk from mid-on.
Taking the first wkt in an inns since 1/1/2013:
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 16, 2016
Starc 22 times
Johnson 14
Harris 14
Hazlewood 10
Lyon 8
Siddle 6
Pattinson 6
Watto 2
12th over: Pakistan 22-1 (Sami 4, Babar 10)
The haunting cry of “NOYYYYCE GARRAY!” echoes in the Queensland night, which can only mean one thing, Nathan Lyon is to share the newish ball with Mitchell Starc. The TV commentators are delighted, talking up Lyon’s ability extract turn and bounce from the Gabba surface. It wouldn’t have anything to do with the desperately slow over rate, nope.
A straightforward maiden is played out by Sami who props forward and dead bats six offies from around the wicket.
11th over: Pakistan 22-1 (Sami 4, Babar 10)
Right, we’re back underway, and it’s Mitchell Starc with a newish pink ball under lights at the Gabba. Test batting doesn’t get any tougher than this.
The big lefty is on target without threatening carnage. A couple of singles ease the Pakistan machine into life.
This logic is hard to refute. Glum faced emoji.
@JPHowcroft TV stations probably don't mind slow over rates. 20m of free content & bonus rating points. That's why the ICC don't clamp down.
— Nagarjun Kandukuru (@knagarjun) December 16, 2016
I know it’s impolite to start with a gripe, but the final session tonight is scheduled to contain a minimum of 37 overs. It begs the question - what on earth has been going on since the start of play for only 51 overs plus an innings break to be achieved in two full sessions?
While the MCC’s World Cricket Committee fiddles on the margins of issues that might effect the game, a honking great pustule continues to plague the longest format. Players should be incentivised to speed up, with disincentives increasingly stringent. It is 90-overs minimum in a day and it shouldn’t require a mad dash with spin from both ends near the close for the skipper to avoid a fine.
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Thank you very much Geoff.
A couple of public service announcements to kick us off.
Please reconsider where you’re firing your communication. With Geoff skating into the thick Queensland dusk you now need jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com and @JPHowcroft to make yourself heard.
If you can’t wait until the resumption of play to slake your thirst for OBO, the Guardian has you covered with England batting against India on the first day of the final Test of that particular tour. And Joe Root is batting, so it should be fun.
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Tea - Pakistan 20-1 in reply to Australia 429
It felt almost inevitable that there would be an early wicket here, what with the cloudy skies and the speed and menace of the Australian opening bowling pair. There was, just the one though, with the young duo of Babar and Sami holding firm until the break. That was just a matter of 10 overs though, and there will be up to 37 more to face today. Pakistan must get through to stumps without losing more than another one, perhaps two at most, to have any chance of drawing close to Australia’s first-innings total. A big ask, but not impossible on this pretty decent batting surface if they can get a few hours during the sunlight tomorrow.
That’s enough from me - Geoff Lemon waving you farewell, and Jonathan Howcroft will handle the pips, the other pips, and the cheerios from here on in.
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10th over: Pakistan 20-1 (Sami 3, Babar 9)
Same pattern even as the spinner comes on. Babar gets the poor short ball from Lyon and forces a single away. Then Sami gets the better balls, a couple turning sharply. The second especially he almost has to fall on to smother. Then he gets a bit rattled, sees the next one dropping wide, and tries a mighty wallop across the line. Even if he had hit that, it would probably just have gone 20 metres up in the air and been caught. Instead, he missed, despite Wade’s insistence otherwise from behind the stumps. Sami gets his composure back for the last couple of defended balls, and there is the tea break.
9th over: Pakistan 19-1 (Sami 3, Babar 8)
Jackson Bird on for his first foray, and Babar is immediately pushing through cover again for a run to get away from the bowling. Sami Aslam has proved much more willing to stand there and soak up deliveries, and he starts doing exactly that here. Watchful defence is the name, leaving where he can. Finally, from the last ball of the over, he gets his second run, then celebrates that with this third, after glancing to fine leg.
8th over: Pakistan 16-1 (Sami 1, Babar 7)
At least there’s some good positive stuff from Babar. Doesn’t look totally in control but he’s trying to turn the strike over and keep the bowlers from having it all their own way. Gets off strike against Hazlewood by squeezing a single to leg, then the bowler pings Sami in the helmet. A glancing blow, Hot Spot shows, and the batsman continues without medical intervention. Took his eyes off the ball there and was struck. He gets off strike next ball with a leg bye, then Babar takes a nice sharp single into the covers. That positivity again.
7th over: Pakistan 13-1 (Sami 1, Babar 5)
Babar is away as well. Gets a very wide and short ball that he chases, injudiciously, but manages to flail a couple of runs with the flourished toe of the bat. Then he chases the second ball, rather dragging it in the air through cover, but safely again and takes a couple more. The single to fine leg, and Sami survives the last couple of Starc short balls. Dusk starting to settle here in Brisbane. Feels like a wicket could fall any moment.
6th over: Pakistan 8-1 (Sami 1, Babar 0)
“How many lbw appeals must a bowler yell down, before you can give him a wicket?” So wrote a Nobel-winning lyricist, or thereabouts, as Hazlewood spends most of his over yelling and running backwards down the pitch. If that was the point of the game, he would have won it already. But, sadly, Backwards Yell Running is only a sport in small Scottish towns on certain festival days. Hazlewood pins Sami on the pad but too high, then Babar low down but via an inside edge, then Babar with another full ball that is just sliding down leg. Umpire Gould makes all three calls correctly, and the Australians resist reviewing them all correctly. Sami is off his duck with a single into the covers, and there’s a leg bye from the third appeal.
5th over: Pakistan 6-1 (Sami 0, Babar 0)
Babar Azam. Like the catchphrase of an elephant wizard. Another young batsman out in the middle, 22 and his partner is 21. His feet are dancing, shuffling in the crease as he awaits Starc, making sure he’s alert. But his head is still, and he looks comfortable enough in trying circumstances. Evades a couple, leaves a couple. Survives the over.
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WICKET! Azhar Ali c Khawaja b Starc 5
First one goes, and the one Pakistan could least afford. Their long-innings specialist gets a fuller length from Starc, Azhar is not quite forward to it, pressing defensively, and there was enough pace in this pitch to carry low to Khawaja in the slips.
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4th over: Pakistan 6-0 (Sami 0, Azhar 5)
Hazlewood has his length right. Gee, he can be ruthless. I remember him making his debut against India here, and he was exactly on the spot straight away there as well. Sits just back of a length, gets the ball to bounce well, moves it about just a touch, and occasionally goes fuller for a bit of inswing or outswing. Just the single from the over, Azhar pushing straight.
We’re also now live on day one of the fifth Test between England in India, if you feel like following two OBOs at once.
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3rd over: Pakistan 5-0 (Sami 0, Azhar 4)
No wonder people love watching Mitchell Starc. He’s nudging 150 kilometres an hour in this over, and he’s targeting Sami Aslam’s body. A lot of balls thudding into the thigh pad, from left-arm over the wicket to the left-handed batsman. Starc even bowls a wide as one of his short balls goes wildly high. Yes, ok. All well and good, but is hanging back of a length really going to help pick up wickets with the new ball? Surely the best move would be get a little fuller, and hope the bounce in this pitch undoes the batsman on the forward press or the drive.
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2nd over: Pakistan 4-0 (Sami 0, Azhar 4)
Hazlewood pretty well on the money as well, working away outside Azhar’s off stump, aside from one ball that slips down leg. Azhar is good enough to get a bit on it, and avoid the Joe Burns trap, and picks up an easy four.
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1st over: Pakistan 0-0 (Sami 0, Azhar 0)
The Pakistani openers take their sweet time getting to the crease, getting Sniffer Smith chatting to the umpires before the batsmen emerge. Azhar Ali made a triple hundred against the pink ball in Dubai recently, so he won’t be put off by the hue. The trajectory and movement will be a different matter. Sami Aslam, a bit like Renshaw, is a young opener making his way. Lively start from Starc, plenty of bounce for a couple of balls, a bit of shape as well, but Aslam survives.
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Australia bowled out for 429
An hour and a bit into this second sessions, that’s the Australian score. It’s a good one. Pakistan needed 15 chances needed to bowl out Australia here, and Australia scored about 100 runs too many for Pakistan’s liking. Somewhere around 300 would have been par. The visitors simply must show some resilience here. Runs don’t matter today: they need to get to stumps only a wicket or two down, and then look to build tomorrow. But I’m nervous about those prospects: Starc, Hazlewood, the decent amount of bounce in this wicket, the edginess of Pakistani batsmen in these conditions generally, then throw in a confident Jackson Bird, not out for by far his highest Test score.
There wasn’t great support for Handscomb from the middle and lower order as he went on to his century: Hazlewood went soon after tea, held at slip, then Handscomb was bowled next ball. But Bird and Lyon put on 49 runs, close to an Australian record between the No10 and No11. (That record was 52, says ABC stats guru Ric Finlay, between Jeff Thomson and someone else I can’t immediately remember.)
Mohammad Amir finished with 4 for 97, and could have had five if he’d heard Steve Smith nick that ball last night. Wahab Riaz was excellent, with 4 for 89. And the other two went to Yasir Shah, unlucky with 2 for 129, but having several chances dropped and missed as well.
Pakistan’s reply starts momentarily.
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WICKET! Lyon c Shafiq b Yasir 29
Finally it’s over. Australia ends on 429, and Lyon didn’t make 400 of them. Played well for the rest. He lifts Yasir off his toes through midwicket, but Asad Shafiq is stationed there and takes the simple catch. Bird finishes not out. Undismissed. Unbeaten. Rod. Rod. Hey Rod.
130th over: Australia 429-9 (Lyon 29, Bird 19)
Azhar Ali, Pakistan’s second leggie, shows up for a twirl before the drinks break. He bowled very well yesterday, had Smith dropped behind the wicket and landed a few beauties. Not quite there today, as he gives Lyon a full toss to sweep for four, after the batsmen had traded singles. There’s a long delay as a fully clothed young man decides to go for a jog on the nice grass, then is rudely interrupted by a security guard with a rugby tackle that leaves the guard limping and the jogger escorted off in handcuffs.
129th over: Australia 422-9 (Lyon 23, Bird 18)
Summer of Bird continues. He faces out Yasir’s entire over, and has now faced 41 balls. Scores a couple of runs when he picks a googly and plays with the turn to knock it behind him on the leg side.
128th over: Australia 420-9 (Lyon 23, Bird 16)
Four more! Lyon is playing beautifully now. Two men out in the deep behind square on the leg side, but he gets low and flips Wahab’s short ball in between them with the pull shot. Bird is taking the singles where they come.
127th over: Australia 415-9 (Lyon 19, Bird 15)
Yasir, it sure is sir. The little leggie takes up the ball from the Vulture street end. In terms of bowling approaches, if Wahab is the Big Bad Wolf, Yasir is Brer Rabbit. Hops up to the crease, trying to deceive with his tricksy mischief.
He does deceive Lyon on the sweep, and Pakistan go for a review. Might as well. The verdict is that the ball was umpire’s call as to whether it hit Lyon outside off stump. Weirdly though, they tracked that ball from the moment it hit his pad, where it looked like it had hit his forearm first and that might have changed the trajectory. Probably would have missed off anyway, but that all seems a bit odd.
126th over: Australia 414-9 (Lyon 19, Bird 14)
Slipping away from Pakistan here. Bird looks solid enough: block, block, glide for one. Then Lyon unfurls a perfect cover drive for four as Wahab gives him width and Lyon steps across to it neatly. The next boundary is luckier, as he tries to drive straight but gets the outside edge finer than the man in the deep but just past the slip. Surely it’s Yasir time?
125th over: Australia 405-9 (Lyon 11, Bird 13)
Four! Nathan Lyon backs away, finds room, and swas Amir back down through long off. Unsubtle but effective. The previous ball he’d clipped two to the leg side. Next ball? Short and stylishly pulled for another boundary, front leg high like an actual batsman. Australia goes past 400, Lyon goes to double figures, even though Amir is able to pin down Lyon for the rest of the over.
124th over: Australia 395-9 (Lyon 1, Bird 13)
Finally, Lyon faces a ball. You can see why Bird didn’t want him to, as he swats at Wahab outside off. They get a dicey single from the fourth ball, but Yasir’s throw from point isn’t quite powerful enough. Bird back on strike, he goes down the elevator shaft under the last couple of bouncers.
123rd over: Australia 394-9 (Lyon 0, Bird 13)
Sixer! A Tasmanian one, not a Sydney one. Bird creams that! Mohammad Amir, off the eyebrows, hook shot over deep backward square and into the crowd. What. A. Shot. Rod Marsh’s phone is blowing up. Partnership is four overs, 14 runs, and Lyon still hasn’t faced a ball.
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122nd over: Australia 388-9 (Lyon 0, Bird 7)
It’s the Summer of Bird. Our man plays a lovely cover punch from Wahab’s first ball, takes a couple of runs through cover. Wahab gets fired up and throws in a couple of short balls and a no-ey, but the radar isn’t there to make them threatening. Bird manages to punch the last lifter away to the leg side and get another run. Guess what? It’s the last ball of the over. Nathan Lyon still hasn’t faced a ball.
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121st over: Australia 384-9 (Lyon 0, Bird 4)
Wanted the strike, did Bird. He wanted to take the responsibility against Amir. And aside from a bit of a windy swing first ball, he manages to do that for the rest of the over. Some blocks, some leaves. Then the last ball he squirts away for one to third man! He is farming the strike.
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120th over: Australia 383-9 (Lyon 0, Bird 3)
Wahab Riaz is such a sight when he’s up and going. He’s got that full steam going now, pounds into the crease to demolish Handscomb’s stumps with teh first ball of the over. Lyon and Bird together now: the partnership can be called Griffin. Bird is now Australia’s favourite batsman, thanks to Rod Marsh, and the crowd delights in his edge for two, then his straight push for one.
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WICKET! Handscomb b Wahab 105
Brilliant bowling! And so ends a brilliant stand with the bat. Wahab again, full of energy, angle from around the wicket, targeting the right-hander’s off stump, and Handscomb was beaten for pace I fancy despite being out there with a hundred to his name. Rips past the inside edge and thus onto the stumps. Good cricket, and a wonderful ovation as Handscomb walks off after his maiden century, a moment he’ll treasure.
WICKET! Hazlewood c Azhar b Amir 8
119th over: Australia 380-8 (Handscomb 105)
Gone from the last ball! In similar fashion to Maddinson and Starc, all left-handers, Hazlewood pokes outside off and gives up a top edge to first slip. Handscomb had done well, waiting until the fifth ball of the over to hand the strike to the lower-order player, but J-Hazey can’t survive.
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118th over: Australia 378-7 (Handscomb 104, Hazlewood 8)
Thanks Adam, for that typically War-and-Peace style summary of the day’s events so far. A good one for Pakistan, but how much easier might they make life fo themselves if they didn’t have to take 15 wickets every innings.
They’re back underway here at the Gabba, with Wahab Riaz bounding in for an over that only produces a leg-side single to Handscomb.
Tea - Australia 377-7 (Handscomb 103, Hazlewood 8)
A session that commanded attention from start to end, Pakistan claiming 4-32 in the space of the middle hour before Pete Handscomb capitalised on plenty of hard graft to register his maiden Test century.
Australia were doing as they pleased early when Smith continued to score at will. But after surviving a chance in the deep as soon as Yasir came on - an appalling effort from Amir, truth be told - the same wasn’t the case from the other end, Wahab getting the captain’s edge for 130.
Maddinson should have departed before scoring, another dropped catch coming from Yasir, this time Azhar the culprit at short leg. It didn’t matter much, out moments later edging Wahab again to a ball that deserved leaving or flogging, not prodding. One run in two innings means the New South Welshman is already under the pump.
Matt Wade was brought back into the Australian team for his punchy skills with the bat, but they weren’t on display for long, out trying to force Amir off the back foot at the top of the bounce in a fashion that you get away with when you’re Joe Root. And especially not here, with Amir getting extra bounce from the moment he was back on.
The fourth to go as Starc - a fourth take behind the wicket - set up after a couple of bouncers by Amir, who has three wickets to his name. As does Wahab. They’ve both been outstanding. Yasir deserves better than his single strike to date, but he’ll surely add to that.
Back to Handscomb. Make no mistake: he battled last night. Just like his opening innings in Adelaide, it was a stream of inside edges from deep in the crease. But he didn’t give it away and wasn’t tempted. He fought through it. Much as he did when the second new ball was darting around corners before stumps last night. And when set, he’s just as adept as turning the strike over as he is finding the rope, typically when cutting.
He raced to 100 with a delightful six lifted over long-on when using his feet to the spin of Yasir, then a glorious square drive in the best Allan Border tradition. That’s the way to get through those nervous 90s if ever there was one. With the bowlers around him, his job isn’t finished yet as Australia strive towards 400 and beyond, Hazlewood a capable sidekick so far in his 20 minutes in the middle.
And that’ll do, I reckon. Geoff Lemon is replacing me in the Gabba Press Box OBO chair for the next couple of hours. Keep him company as you have me. See you tomorrow, hopefully from the pool.
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117th over: Australia 377-7 (Handscomb 103, Hazlewood 8) Yasir will have the last over before lunch. Hazlewood then Handscomb then Hazlewood again doing the job well, three singles acquired in the process. Handscomb is leaving the arena to another generous applause from the Brisbane crowd, and rightly so. I’ll gather my thoughts and sign off in a tic.
And it gets even better: he didn't kiss the badge. Thinks for himself. #Handscomb #AUSvPAK
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 16, 2016
116th over: Australia 373-7 (Handscomb 101, Hazlewood 6) A nice carve behind point from Hazlewood, gave Handscomb the chance to get that chance to move to 100 with two balls left in Amir set.
How good is this?! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/zEZoWOmD1k
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2016
Maiden century Peter Handscomb!
Afforded two balls to face in the Amir over, the Victorian only needs one. On 97 he strikes the most wondrous square drive, and he’s to three figures at the second time of asking. One six and ten fours to reach the milestone. He’s raced through the 90s; from 91 to 101 in two balls. Always a special moment the first hundred for a young player, Handscomb pumping the fist hard the moment the ball hit the bat and beat the man at point. Well played.
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115th over: Australia 366-7 (Handscomb 97, Hazlewood 3) This is the way to work through the 90s, a beautiful six over long-on from Handscomb taking on Yasir as he’s shown a tendency to throughout. In complete control there. Took another when using his feet to meet the pitch of the ball earlier in the set, Hazlewood collecting one himself off the pads. Three away from a maiden ton with nine minutes to the tea interval.
SIX! Handscomb to 97*...
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 16, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/avB8xPHSHV #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/RHuFusHEpd
114th over: Australia 358-7 (Handscomb 90, Hazlewood 2) Handscomb into the 90s now when steering Amir to third man late in the over, ensuring he’ll be at the business end for Yasir’s next over. But to be fair, Hazlewood looking alright here. That is until he cops a a nasty whack to the hand last ball. He doesn’t quite have time to duck the on-point bouncer. His bowling hand? Doesn’t look too worried in any case.
113rd over: Australia 356-7 (Handscomb 89, Hazlewood 1) Handscomb cuts to deep point to the first ball of the over. He’s nearly into the 90s and will want every run he can find, but it is a bold play to expose the new man to Yasir. Maybe that’s too defeatist. Probably. He looks pretty good actually, taking one himself to point.
112nd over: Australia 354-7 (Handscomb 89, Hazlewood 0) Hazlewood safely pushes away the only ball he has to see in the successful Amir over. A ripper second spell of the morning from the attack leader, now sporting the excellent figures of 3-for-69 from his 25 overs. The sun is blazing outside now. Can I OBO from the drink? We’ll find out by tomorrow.
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WICKET! Starc c Shafiq b Amir 10 (Australia 354-7)
Starc set up nicely from Amir, given a couple of short ones with the men back - taking them on with the hook. Then back outside the off-stump he has a big old slash, edging into the hands of Shafiq at first slip. They’re going to strand Handscomb here, are they? An hour ago Pakistan were an hour away from this game being right out of control. Instead? They’re taken 4-for-31 and are now some chance to roll the hosts inside four sessions.
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111th over: Australia 345-6 (Handscomb 87, Starc 2) Yasir v Handscomb is a good match up, both keen to go at each other. The bowler giving it a proper rip, the batsman happy to come down the track and get deep in the crease. A small victory to Handscomb getting him down the ground for one with a fluent punch. Starc’s inside edge is clipped with the one ball he has to face, but doesn’t go to hand.
Really enjoying Matt Wade's ability to dig in and provide valuable runs down the order. #AusvPak
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) December 16, 2016
110th over: Australia 344-6 (Handscomb 86, Starc 2) Starc away first ball with a couple, a nice drive down the ground.
Stop 👏picking 👏players 👏on 👏 hunches. #AUSvPAK
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) December 16, 2016
WICKET! Wade c Azhar b Amir 7 (Australia 342-6)
Pakistan are right back in this contest, and Wade is exasperated as he walks from the field. Fair enough too; that’s not a pretty shot. He essentially steered Amir into the hands of Azhar in the cordon, off the back foot forcing well away from his body. 400 looks a ways away now.
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109th over: Australia 342-5 (Handscomb 86, Wade 7) Wade approaching Yasir with appropriate respect, the bowler giving it a mighty rip. He gets one away to square leg. Handscomb still fancies his chances against the spin, using his feet to get to the pitch. Confidence that’ll help in securing his plane to ticket to India. If indeed that isn’t a lock already. And it probably is after this hand, which is now up to 210 balls. Equally as important as the 86 runs he’s scored when considering how tough it was when he first came out last night, and then up against the new ball under lights before stumps - the hardest time to bat all day in these pink ball fixtures.
108th over: Australia 341-5 (Handscomb 86, Wade 6) Amir is back from the Stanley Street End to replace Wahab actually, which I didn’t expect. Whenever I say or think ‘Amir’ I hear automatically have the first few bars of Interpol’s best love song run in my head. Anyway, the cricket. He’s right back on the mark, moving balls both away from the right hander and back into his stumps. Sound judgement from the Victorian who knows where his off-stump is by this stage. Very good return to the attack. A maiden.
107th over: Australia 341-5 (Handscomb 86, Wade 6) Lovely drive from Wade, his first boundary, when Yasir overpitches his first delivery of the set. The leggie mixes up his pace through the rest of the over to keep the left-hander thinking, an edge behind point turning the strike over late. Handscomb also takes one to mid-on ensuring he’ll keep the strike to Wahab. Who has a clear strategy here this morning. I mean, this afternoon. You know what I mean.
Wahab Riaz has pitched 58% of his deliveries today shorter than a good length #AUSvPAK
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) December 16, 2016
106th over: Australia 335-5 (Handscomb 85, Wade 1) Another quality maiden, this time Wahab to Handscomb. An edge was won, but soft hands ensured it didn’t go close to carrying. This will be no gentle glide to 100 for the Victoria.He’s going to have to do this the hard way.
Speaking of scrappers, on the other channel with Dan Lucas Cook has picked up his 11,000th Test run. The youngest to do so by, oh, many years. Respect.
105th over: Australia 335-5 (Handscomb 85, Wade 1) Yasir has three men around the bat to Wade, in full attack mode now. The Australian is driving hard at the bowler, who does beautifully in his follow through. He’s an excellent fielder, Yasir. Who did he take out deep at Lord’s? Was it Joe Root? Anyway, he’s setting the standard that his teammates must follow. One of those close men, the leg-slip, has work to do later in the over with Yasir generating plenty of turn to the left-hander from over the wicket. A penetrative maiden. The best kind.
Meanwhile, I think President Obama called this “change we can believe in.”
Maxi for Boxing Day. #AusvPak
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) December 16, 2016
104th over: Australia 335-5 (Handscomb 85, Wade 1) Wade is off the mark through the cordon, albeit safely. That’s a wonderful over from Wahab who finishes with a yorker to Hanscomb.
Callum Ferguson pic.twitter.com/OINSbiqweE
— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) December 16, 2016
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With that, they take a drink. Two wickets in ten minutes to finish an opening hour that looked, until then, as though it was destined to be a right shambles for Pakistan after Amir dropped Smith and burned a review. Now? Well, you wouldn’t say even honours on the whole. But it just about will be if they can get rid of Handscomb and get into the bowlers. The new man Wade has plenty of pressure on his shoulders as well. Proper Test Match cricket.
WICKET! Maddinson c Sarfraz b Wahab 1 (Australia 334-5)
The ball after playing and missing to a ball that wasn’t there to cut, Maddinson is tempted into dabbing at a ball even wider again. Looked like he was trying to let it go at the last possible moment, but it was all too late, the slight edge taken behind again by Sarfraz. That’s not a convincing stay from the New South Welshman. Anything but.
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103rd over: Australia 331-4 (Handscomb 84, Maddinson 1) How’s the smile on Nic Maddinson when taking his first run in Test cricket? It’s taken behind square on the legside, a relatively straightforward way to score after that ordeal. Nice moment.
102nd over: Australia 329-4 (Handscomb 83, Maddinson 0) Handscomb gets three more from the last ball of the over, inching towards a maiden ton here. Just a tad overpitched from Wahab, who has been comfortably the most threatening of the visiting bowlers this morning - notwithstanding the fact that Yasir has had two dropped catches from his two overs to far.
Rowan Sweeney gets his right of reply, and fair enough too. Thanks for playing along. “Tongue-in-cheek here, but Law 27 is quite explicit, a player is deemed out if an appeal is upheld or if he or she walks. Therefore Smith couldn’t have ‘known’ he was out unless he found his feet moving towards the dressing room of their own accord. Semantics aside, is it not reasonable to assume, on the part of Smith, that the fielding team knew something he didn’t when no appeal was forthcoming? An uncalled no-ball perhaps?”
I like it when the OBO goes philosophical.
101st over: Australia 324-4 (Handscomb 78, Maddinson 0) Again! DROPPED! “The most regulation short leg catch you’ll get,” says Katich. And it is. Straight into the hands of Azhar at bad pad to the last ball of Yasir’s over, winning the edge, going straight to hand. All before he has scored! It would have - should have - been another duck. Gross.
100th over: Australia 323-4 (Handscomb 77, Maddinson 0) Maddinson would have been visualising this moment for two weeks since he was dismissed for nothing in Adelaide - the chance for redemption. And then a few hours yesterday. And overnight. And this morning. And 45 minutes this afternoon. So much waiting. He’s in defence with a straight bat to the two deliveries he’s required to negotiate before the successful Wahab over concludes.
WICKET! Smith c Sarfraz b Wahab 130 (Australia 323-4)
At last! Wahab inspires a slash wide outside the off-stump, it’s an edge that no one can deny this time, the ‘keeper doing the business behind the stumps. The end of a fine hand over the course of 222 balls, and now the entrance of Nic Maddinson who is trying to get off the mark in Test cricket.
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99th over: Australia 322-3 (Smith 130, Handscomb 76) Oh no! DROPPED! That’s village. Smith takes on the new man Yasir but miscues, and gives a catch that is not hard at all, not at this level. The Pakistan quick Amir was under it at long off but didn’t get into position early enough, ultimately fumbling the chance. “It looked like he was half asleep as it came down to him,” says Simon Katich on the ABC. “Lazy.” That’s Smith’s third chance of sorts. It all went down right in front of where I’m positioned and the local fans are absolutely giving it to him. He’s gone the double tea-pot, realising what he’s done. Handscomb’s cutting once again later in the over for three. What a mess.
98th over: Australia 318-3 (Smith 129, Handscomb 73) Wahab is on to replace Amir, which is sound. But the eccentric quick hasn’t any luck here, getting Smith’s edge but not going to hand in the cordon - four scored. Handscomb is also beaten later in the over with a beauty. That’s better.
97th over: Australia 312-3 (Smith 125, Handscomb 72) Nice, safe square drive from Hanscomb gets him three. Smith repeats the result next ball when Amir is short, the captain knocking through point at the top of the bounce. Wonderful timing. This stand is now worth 161 and Pakistan urgently need something to go right. Or this could be one of those days. England have won the toss in their final Test against India. Chris Stocks on twitter observes that’s four from five for Al Cook this series. Hasn’t meant much. England will bat. Which means we have competing OBOs. Why not follow both? Dan Lucas is over there and he sent me a list of 2016 songs to listen to earlier this week as he’s much better at staying on top of this stuff than I am. Including this beauty.
96th over: Australia 305-3 (Smith 122, Handscomb 68) No one is happier working across the crease than Steve Smith, who does so gracefully in working Rahat fine to the rope. You don’t get a lot of room for error when bowling to the top ranked player on the planet. I tried to grab a stat last night to illustrate how important it is to get Smith early. How’s this: when he gets to 40, he averages 127. It’s very flat out there now.
95th over: Australia 301-3 (Smith 118, Handscomb 68) Handscomb is beaten outside the off-stump by Amir after the failed lbw review, a leg bye taken on that occasion. It was full enough to warrant the shot, but it did enough to defy the bat. But this doesn’t bother Handscomb too much, getting his first runs of the day with a deft cut the following delivery. Eventful. Oh, and the 300 is up.
Meanwhile, Rowan Sweeney has provoked a backlash! I do enjoy that - keep it coming. Patrick O’Brien is into him, saying his critique is “absolute cobblers.” He goes on: “Some players choose to walk when they know they’re out, others believe you’re only out when the umpire says you’re out. Whether the fielding team appeals or not is irrelevant. If you argue that Broad is outrageously unsportsmanlike because he knew that he hit it, and therefore should have walked, then you have to say the same about Smith.”
Greg Platt has a pop as well: “The lack of an appeal does not constitute a significant difference between Broad’s case & Smith’s. The question is whether you walk if you know you’re out, or if you wait till the umpire raises his/her finger. There is no case for saying “I’ll walk if there’s an appeal, but not if they don’t.”
Over to you, Ro.
Review! NOT OUT! Amir goes upstairs after hitting Smith’s front pad. But it’s pitching well outside leg, not a great review. And not a good time to blow one either this early in the day.
94th over: Australia 294-3 (Smith 116, Handscomb 64) A single to Smith through midwicket from Rahat pops Handscomb on strike. It’s a tidy over, forcing him to play throughout the over. Good little contest emerging here.
Me at the start of 2016 vs Me at the end of 2016 pic.twitter.com/3wXLkT38Qq
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) December 15, 2016
93rd over: Australia 293-3 (Smith 115, Handscomb 64) Smith leaving then defending Amir. It’s a good start from the talisman. Grabs a single off the back foot into the covers retaining the strike. There was plenty going on last night with Amir, his tour looking as good as over, wincing in pain down at fine leg. Looked your classic knee reconstruction moment. Thankfully, nothing like it. Bizarre times.
92nd over: Australia 292-3 (Smith 114, Handscomb 64) Handscomb deep in the crease in defence with Rahat Ali starting from the Stanley Street End. He sneaks one up into his inside edge later in the over - some encouraging early bounce.
Rowan Sweeney has dropped us a line about Stuart Broad. Thought my emphatic support of the England champion might provoke a bit of that.
“Broad is doing a fine job editorialising his own life,” he writes. “One major difference: The appeal. Pakistan didn’t appeal, Australia (in 2013) did. Smith – Outrageously lucky. Broad – Outrageously unsportsmanlike.” Reasonable point.
Meanwhile, the Whateley vs Sutherland interview has just finished, some eight minutes into the day’s play. Quite rare, befitting the significant discussion that’s going on here. Good, important radio.
91st over: Australia 292-3 (Smith 114, Handscomb 64) Smith happy enough to leave Amir alone in this first over. Until he’s not, latching onto a half-volley and crashing it to the boundary at cover point. That’s a lovely way to start the day. James Sutherland is continuing on the ABC despite the play having started, and Gerard Whateley is not letting up. It is put to him how he feels about the (below) report given his daughter is very likely to play for Australia. “We are about best practice,” he says.
James Sutherland, Cricket Australia boss, is on the ABC. He’s getting a grilling about the stories running about women’s team contract negotiations that I’ll link to below for a detailed report. It’s a story with plenty of heat in it, specifically whether the onus is on players to report pregnancies. Sutherland says: “We are asking the lady to declare to our doctor on a confidential basis so the doctor, who serves the cricket team can be aware, and if anything untoward happens that the needs, in terms of health and safety, can be serviced.”
“We are fully aware of our obligations as an employer,” he adds. “This is not a matter of us trying to take high ground on discrimination, it is all about health and safety.”
“He’s big, he’s bad, he’s better than his Dad...
...Stuart Broad! Stuart Broad!” Why am I talking about him? Because he’s so good at social media that it has to get an early mention.
As noted before, Steve Smith smashed an Amir outswinger on 97 last night, but no one went up. “I was very surprised, it was pretty loud,” the Australian captain said of it on ABC just before. “Obviously I was on 97, there was a fair bit going on in the crowd, it was pretty loud, but yeah, I did nick it, and no one went up so I wasn’t going to walk.”
So, back to Broady. What did he spend his time doing last night? ‘Liking’ posts on twitter referencing the episode in an oh-so-subtle nod to when he clobbered Ashton Agar to first slip in the opening 2013 Ashes contest, didn’t walk, and was savaged for it. Glorious areas. Can’t wait to see him in the Hurricanes purple when the BBL starts next week.
A sample of Stuart Broad's favourites. What a legend he is. pic.twitter.com/TfraaNpb6X
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 16, 2016
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Welcome to day two at the Gabba
Good afternoon one and all. Adam Collins back with you here on Guardian Australia’s live over-by-over coverage of the First Test between Australia and Pakistan here in Brisbane.
It was a fine opening day for the hosts, rattling together 288-3 by the close with the captain Steve Smith raising his 16th century in his 48th Test. He’s now has one against each country he has played Tests against. What a freak. Resuming on 110, he had his chances (edging behind on 97, but no appeal forthcoming) but that’s hardly going to bother him.
Pete Handscomb is on 64, doing it tough early and late but flourishing in between, coinciding with Mohammad Amir’s knee injury that looked a shocker but ended up anything but. He was back bowling an hour later. It’s never dull when he’s around.
Let’s leave the backward looking business there and start readying ourselves for what’s to come: six hours of Test Match cricket. I can report from the ground that it’s a bit muggy, and not as hot as yesterday. But I doubt that will keep the punters out of the party pool just to my left. I’ll be keeping a close eye on that. Maybe not quite as close as Channel Nine were yesterday, mind. Never change, fellas. Never change.
Want to chat? I want you to. Feed me your thoughts. On cricket. On pools at the cricket. On walking. On rapid injury comebacks. On hometown kids looking the goods. In exchange: I have some good little tales for you. To share with me: Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com in the old money, @collinadam the new.
Adam will be here shortly. If you missed all the action yesterday, check out what happened on day one in our report. Spoiler alert: Steve Smith makes more runs.
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