And one final thing: here is the report from day one in Ranchi.
STUMPS: Australia 299-4 (Smith 117, Maxwell 82).
A wonderful day for the visitors that looked in some doubt when Maxwell joined Smith. It was the second time a partnership had ended just after passing 50, and India would have felt some confidence about running through Australia’s lower-middle order if they could just do it one more time. But they wouldn’t, for the rest of the day.
Smith and Maxwell’s 194 minutes together has netted 159 runs, and will continue again in the morning. Smith’s fate, a 19th Test ton, was never in doubt at any stage today. Total control.
As was the case for Maxwell. The reputation did not meet the reality when getting through 56 balls without a boundary either side of Tea. He was a man on a mission with plenty to prove wrong. When he did swing hard, he was well set, and the balls remained well hit.
So it is Australia with first day honours, putting themselves into an excellent position to drive this vital Test Match when we return tomorrow. On behalf of Russell Jackson and myself, thanks for your company. We look forward to seeing you then.
90th over: Australia 299-4 (Smith 117, Maxwell 82). Maxwell tries to cut the first. Rather unnecessary, but no edge. An inside-edgey sort of clip gets him off strike. That should be his lot for the day provided Smith is happy to see it out. Last ball of the day coming. Bit of extra noise, but nothing like Bangalore. Smith defends into the off side. And that’s stumps, my friends. I’ll gather my thoughts and wrap up the final session in a tic.
89th over: Australia 298-4 (Smith 117, Maxwell 81). Penultimate over of the day, and the final set from the northern end. Umesh has it, and he’s still bending his back. Hard not to like. He bounces Maxwell who tries to swat it away rather than getting out the way of it. For his sake, he’s lucky no contact was made. Carry on. And another! But not quite on target, so he doesn’t need to duck. His last ball of the day is carved by Maxwell down to fine leg for one, meaning he’ll keep the strike for the last of the day, presumably coming from Ishant.
Today, DiS is dedicating an entire day's worth of content to the legend that was Dan Lucas. Sit back and enjoy...https://t.co/mWSwMDwBVu
— Dom Gourlay (@domlikesrabbits) March 16, 2017
88th over: Australia 297-4 (Smith 117, Maxwell 80). Ishant running away from us here from the southern end for what will be a 12-ball spell before stumps. He was ordinary this morning in his first spell, but bounced back well after lunch. Still, nothing in that wickets column. Bowling to Maxwell, his third delivery encourages a drive but Maxwell makes contact with the outside of the bat rather than the middle. But this outfield is quick enough for it not to matter, the ball beating squarish third man to the rope for his fifth boundary (to go with a couple of sixes). A quick single, that they are still keen to take even at this stage, gives Smith the strike back. He drives the last ball to mid-on and it beats the diving fielder, able to grab a couple to end the over. He’ll sleep well tonight, the captain. So much hustle.
How Australia saw the Ranchi groundsman vs the reality #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/T4OUkTZzBm
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) March 16, 2017
87th over: Australia 290-4 (Smith 115, Maxwell 75). Apologies for the lack of twitter action in the OBO this session. The press box wifi really has done a number on me, so I’m just going the belt and braces approach. Hope you’ll forgive me. Will invest in a back-up option for the rest of the Test. Back to the middle, it is Umesh with the new ball this time around. Smith flicks the first for one. Maxwell gets enough on a fuller ball later in the over to take one himself down the ground. That’s the 150 partnership between the two. We all talked about Maxwell being able to play this kind of innings-changing role at number six, and he’s certainly done that today. The job isn’t done, though. Has to be there at the end, and has to progress to three figures. All the hard work is done. Smith leaves the penultimate delivery as it just holds its line outside the off-stump. And defends the last.
86th over: Australia 288-4 (Smith 114, Maxwell 74). Ashwin is livid here. Ties up Smith who manages to get a glove on it and win a boundary. Then, persisting around the wicket to Maxwell later in the over, he misfires down the legside and Saha is beaten behind the stumps. Four byes. Another expensive over with none from it all told. Oh, and the second new ball will be taken after all, Rahane signalling to the umpires that he time has come with four overs to go on the opening day.
85th over: Australia 279-4 (Smith 109, Maxwell 74). Umesh given another go from the North End. We’re at the South End. They really need new names. Let’s save that for later in the Test. It’s a good, consistent maiden over to Maxwell, who is forced to play each delivery, coming back at him with ample reverse. They didn’t bother with the new ball when the chance was there. Probably a good call with these two set. Will only race away faster.
84th over: Australia 279-4 (Smith 109, Maxwell 74). Ashwin is back. He beats Maxwell immediately with one that doesn’t go. A good bowling change, as the Victorian looked well on top the last 20 minutes or so. Oh a reverse sweep comes next! That’s our guy! He doesn’t connect, a leg-bye is taken. Smith’s turn, and now with the ton out of the way he’s on the front foot and slaying through cover on the up. Gorgeous. Less pretty an outside edge to end the over, but it goes to ground and gets him a couple more. Australia piling on the runs in this final hour.
STEVE SMITH REACHES HIS 19TH TEST CENTURY!
There it is! Smashing Vijay down the ground, Smith has broken free after a long time in the 90s to reach three figures. His second of the series, and he’s really enjoyed it too. Purposeful bat-waves to the rooms, and maybe even the Indian rooms? He looked a lock for this from the moment he walked out this morning. If they can retain the trophy here in a few days time, so much will be owing to the captain’s contrinution here today.
83rd over: Australia 272-4 (Smith 103, Maxwell 74).
Updated
82nd over: Australia 266-4 (Smith 98, Maxwell 73). Jadeja into his 30th today. What a contrast to the first dig in Bangalore when he only really got a jam roll in order to take a wicket and then was off again. Rahane must like his flowing hair better than the usual skipper, who is still off with the shoulder issue. Maxwell is defending the first half of the over before shouldering arms and trying to kick away one well outside leg stump. They reckon it got glove and appeal accordingly. It didn’t. Maxwell responds by popping him back over his head for six! Oh he enjoyed that! He’s into the 70s with a bullet. Smith walks down to chat to him with one ball to go in the over. Actually, it is the other way around: Maxwell has cramp? I think that’s the go. You get cramp from whacking a bloke over the rope? Not a bad way to acquire it, I guess. A longer breather ensues, everyone having a drink. Back in the saddle, Maxwell kicks away the last one. An eventful over.
81st over: Australia 260-4 (Smith 98, Maxwell 67). Maxwell does the mind thing and gives Smith the strike after taking one to square leg off part-timer Vijay’s first ball. He has five balls to find three runs for his hundred. But not yet, a single to cover he takes himself. Maxwell really wants to get Smith back up there and takes a quick single in the same direction. But Smith is happy enough to defend the final delivery.
That moment you wake up in a strange bed with someone you barely know... #indvaus pic.twitter.com/zTGLg5kim4
— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) March 16, 2017
80th over: Australia 257-4 (Smith 97, Maxwell 65). I don’t really know how to describe the tangle Smith got himself into with Saha. After having a ball catch in his pads from Jadeja, the Indian keeper tried to pull the ball out of the flap to - presumably - claim a catch? Loose as. Anyway, to avoid that happening, Smith hit the deck and brought the stumper down with him. Some back and forth with the umpires, but the game goes on. I don’t reckon Smith liked the proposition too much to begin with though. Imagine he had of been successful. Would there’ve been an appeal? Ian Gould is laughing though. He’s one of those umpires who is more often than not. Part of his charm. Maiden it is. New ball due. Reviews reset. All that and more.
79th over: Australia 257-4 (Smith 97, Maxwell 65). Murali Vijay is the fifth bowler today. Glenn Maxwell likes that. A lot. He welcomes him to the crease by clobbering behind square for another boundary. He’s found another gear in the last half-hour. Don’t doubt he’ll be three figures by stumps if still there as well. He’s faced 100 balls in the innings as well, another small milestone, and in the context of this series, certainly not for nothing. Driving down the ground, a couple comes after he races between the wickets with his captain. Such good batting. Then he adds a couple more to end the over behind square.
78th over: Australia 249-4 (Smith 97, Maxwell 57). One of those 60-second maidens from Jadeja to Smith. I watched it while the wheels spun on my wifi connection with the previous post. But I assure you, it was uneventful. Let’s leave it there.
77th over: Australia 249-4 (Smith 97, Maxwell 57). A crowd-catch (or should I say, a Press Box catch, as a local journo starts clapping) where Smith digs a Umesh full ball back to the bowler in his follow through. Later in the over it is only Australian fans in the outer clapping, when Maxwell swivels and pulls with complete control, bisecting the two men out deep for a boundary. What a fantastic partnership this has been.
76th over: Australia 244-4 (Smith 96, Maxwell 53). Jadeja keeps going. Smith is very happy to get to this ton in singles, defending off the front foot until he’s too straight and can clip behind square. It’s the only run of the over, but I doubt they’ll mind. Jadeja’s not going to get any more potent as the day draws to a close. For the first time this series it might be the case that India actually need a third spinner.
@WhiteLineWire pic.twitter.com/OdtgzamNNI
— Julz Hay (@york_st) March 16, 2017
75th over: Australia 243-4 (Smith 95, Maxwell 53). Always good to change the ball and get it hooooping first up. Smith takes it down to fine leg for a single. Maxwell is defending and leaving, but it is a probing over from the Indian quick. He’s had an impressive series.
Phil Withall on the email. Hi Phil. “At the time of Virat’s injury Russell implied it had been an attempt to motivate his side with a display of energy and enthusiasm. It could prove to be one of the worst motivational tools in history.” He’s still odd, the Indian captain. I’m sure he’ll bat, even if he’s in a sling. Even so. A big talking point, as they say.
He just looks like a proper cricketer. pic.twitter.com/fM1Hv4lp2g
— Glenn Valencich (@glennvalencich) March 16, 2017
Drinks, prematurely. Because the ball is out of shape. Umesh is back for the single delivery before they call out the water bottles. Probably the Maxwell six causing the damage. He’ll enjoy that post-script, no doubt.
Updated
74th over: Australia 234-4 (Smith 94, Maxwell 45). Well how about that! Glenn Maxwell has a Test half-century! With talent like his, it shouldn’t be in doubt whether he can deploy it at this level, but many have. But he’s played a clutch role with his captain today. With a nod to his other Big Show persona, the milestone is reached with a smash over cow corner beyond the boundary. The first six of the innings, and also the 100 partnership between this pair. A couple more to fine leg makes it eight from the over. Really needs a break now, Jadeja.
Updated
73rd over: Australia 234-4 (Smith 94, Maxwell 45). Now both players on milestone watch as Maxwell takes two this time down the ground to Ashwin early in the over. Very good running. When the off-spinner threw it up to entice the drive he got what he wanted, but the Victorian absolutely smashed it through the covers. Four runs for that in this game. A single out to cover keeps him the strike.
72nd over: Australia 227-4 (Smith 94, Maxwell 38). Maxwell’s highest Test score comes with a single to square leg to the penultimate ball of the over. He’s lucky to still be there after the first ball of the Jadeja set nearly glances his outside edge when playing off the back foot. Not insignificant: how good does he look batting in that baggy green?
71st over: Australia 226-4 (Smith 94, Maxwell 37). Milking them, they are now. Ashwin has a couple spit in his last two overs, but not so much here. It’s Smith turning around the corner when he’s too straight, then Maxwell taking one down the ground when too full. Smith does likewise before Maxwell ends the over with a cover driven single to the sweeper. Four singles, all along the carpet. India need something. Smith nearly has another ton.
70th over: Australia 222-4 (Smith 92, Maxwell 35). Jadeja v Maxwell, and you don’t get a chance to breathe. He’s right on these two. They take a single each to begin - Maxwell to the wide expanse at cover, Smith around the corner - before the tweaker lands four consecutive balls on a 20c piece to the former. But he’s in good nick knocking them around. Doesn’t even look tempted to do anything other than this.
69th over: Australia 220-4 (Smith 91, Maxwell 34). A bit of a half-chance, Smith getting an inside edge early in the Ashwin over. That’s the spin we were expecting from the get go. Anyway, doesn’t go to hand or anywhere near, so he can carry on. And carry on he does, into the 90s with another single to mid-on. A lot of runs for these two in the ODI-mould, down the ground then walked through. Maxwell does likewise, as if to want to prove my point. Before Smith ends the over coming down the wicket and cover driving. It’s not the most fluent of shots, but beats the field for a couple. The partnership is now 80. What they would give for it to be unbeaten when stumps are drawn in about 80 minutes from now.
Winviz still likes the home side, despite the visitors having a pretty good day so far: 31% Australia ,10% Draw, 59% India. As my colleague Jarrod Kimber says from the back of the box, that doesn’t factor in the Maxwell Aura. Obviously.
68th over: Australia 216-4 (Smith 88, Maxwell 29). Jadeja might need a breather here. He just hasn’t looked like it today, for mine, other than holding up an end. And even that doesn’t work out this time around, Maxwell handling matters with relative ease early in the over before getting deep in the crease to cut behind point. He gets three for that. It may not be the safest strategy when the left-armer has that one that comes back into the pads, but Maxwell has his eye on now. And we know when that is the case that he is incredibly hard to bowl to. Smith keeps the strike this time, with one behind square. Easy peasy, dare I say.
67th over: Australia 212-4 (Smith 87, Maxwell 30). Ashwin’s back. It was a matter of time. Smith drives him to long-off to begin before Maxwell defends and defends and defends again. Must be taking all the patience in the world from the Big Show to be anything but this afternoon. But a great shift he is putting in with his captain. A single tucked behind square keeps him the strike, as well.
Updated
66th over: Australia 210-4 (Smith 86, Maxwell 29). Maxwell gets off strike early in the over again to Jadeja. Has made a habit of that today. The contest this bowler had with at Pune with Smith was fascinating, but he’s struggled to pin him back today as he did there. A single to long-off denies any real pressure from building.
65th over: Australia 208-4 (Smith 85, Maxwell 28). Excuse the technical difficulties, a wifi problem that I won’t be leaving to press box chance tomorrow. I’m back. In this over, which admittedly I half saw, Ishant pushed through a maiden to Smith. The quick earned a half-shout for LBW, but it was denied. The skipper was happy enough in defence. As he should be this close to a ton.
64th over: Australia 208-4 (Smith 85, Maxwell 28). Oh, there he is! Surely this is the first time GJ Maxwell has faced 56 balls in an innings of any kind without a boundary? Well, it won’t be 57. He took on Jadeja’s first delivery here and blasted it within a couple of inches of the long-on rope. With the sweeper no longer in that position, it’s safe and four. A sign of things to come? Encouragingly, in a way, maybe not. The incumbent Aussies exchange risk-free singles before Maxwell plays the over out with a straight bat. Excellent work from the returning Australian number six.
Updated
63rd over: Australia 202-4 (Smith 84, Maxwell 20). A nice steer from Maxwell brings a couple and Australia’s 200. A clip gets him down the non-strikers end before Smith defends the remainder of the set.
Here’s a song Dan shared with me and I bloody loved from the moment I heard it. I think I popped it into the OBO another time actually. Anyway, give it a blast today. It’s so beautiful.
62nd over: Australia 199-4 (Smith 84, Maxwell 20). Jadeja is back, and after Maxwell bunts a single off the back foot to the sweeper at cover it is Smith. Oh and the captain has nearly thrown it away! From nowhere, he dances and swings, but the spinner probably saw him coming and rushed it through. The mishit nearly ends up in mid-on’s hands. Phew.
In case you are joining the coverage, by the way, Virat remains off the field. He did a shoulder when diving early in the second session. Hasn’t been seen since. Suggests something more serious than a glancing blow.
61st over: Australia 198-4 (Smith 84, Maxwell 19). Most productive start for Australia. Sure, the session started with Smith getting beaten by one that ultimately went under his bat. That’s the bounce he expected. Later in the over, with a bit of width from Ishant, he slaps to the boundary. Nicely waited on.
To the cricket. Australia have done superbly in the second half of that session to make the most of what the locals are saying are the best batting conditions of the day. Smith has looked on-point from the moment he walked out there. His 76th run marked 5000 in Tests, the equal 7th to reach the mark in 97 Tests. But when you consider how slow he started, it gets even better. As of this interval, he has 4380 runs in 75 hits since before his breakout century in August 2013 at 71. Cop that.
Meanwhile, Maxwell is slowly building in what is his most important Test innings to date as well after a good couple of years in baggy green exile. He resumes on 19 from 44 balls with no boundaries, let alone reverse sweeps.
I’m told by the BCCI that 14,370 are now in here at the JSCA Stadium as the players make their way back to the middle. With this stand at exactly 50, India need to do what they have the previous two times that milestone has been reached so far today: strike immediately. As for Smith, he is 20 away from a 19th Test ton. Don’t doubt him.
Let’s do it.
Afternoon from Ranchi.
There’s a lot to talk about. But before I do that, I want to mark a place for Dan Lucas. Russ did a beautiful job earlier in his own preamble, which I nodded along to throughout. The first OBO I did in at Guardian HQ in London was with Dan. We had such a bloody good time that day as the rain fell and we talked trash about cricket and politics and music. I’ll miss his reliable company over the next two hours. I’ll also miss how caring he was when we weren’t on the clock either, which I explained over here when the awful news emerged. The OBO family won’t quite be the same.
That is it from me ...but as Australia continue to make a decent fist of this series, stick with us as Adam Collins grabs the old ball and goes to work in the final session. Honours might have tipped ever-so-slightly in favour of Australia in session two, but they’ll want far bigger runs than this by the end of the day.
Tea on day one - Glenn Maxwell is batting properly
60th over: Australia 194-4 (Smith 80, Maxwell 19)
And that is tea on day one. The final over was a more testing one for Maxwell as Jadeja wheeled away and attacked his stumps with a typically flat trajectory. Matthew Hayden was all the while saying something about mountains and resilience, and finishes his stream of consciousness with this: “your performances need to be solid for your family coming in behind you.” Luckily Maxwell couldn’t hear him, and sees things through to the break. He’s 19 from 50 deliveries and his skipper 80 from 161. Big ticks for that session for the tourists.
59th over: Australia 194-4 (Smith 80, Maxwell 19)
Some of the local commentators are calling for a bouncer barrage to Glenn Maxwell, and I’m sure if Ishant could hear them he’d like to get them out there with a bat in their hands. Hard work on this deck, guys. Maxwell also needs to be on strike. With tea only minutes away, Smith is watchful as he sees off this over and caresses a superb cover drive to the rope from the final delivery.
58th over: Australia 190-4 (Smith 76, Maxwell 19)
Another early single to Maxwell, another late one to Smith, and with that the 50 partnership is up from 94 deliveries and Steve Smith passes 5,000 Test runs. Bradman is only 1,996 away. He might do that by this time next year, to be honest.
57th over: Australia 188-4 (Smith 75, Maxwell 18)
As Maxwell glides Ishant down to third man, replays show the ball would have been clipping leg stump, though not enough to have overturned Chris Gaffaney’s not out verdict. It’s also a good time to point out that tea is not far away and that this partnership is nudging close to 50 in no time. Maxwell has been industrious but careful so far; exactly what the situation demanded.
Not out! It was a no-ball from Ishant!
So whether of not it hits the stumps is a moot point.
Review! India think Ishant has trapped Maxwell in front!
It’s given not out, but they’re convinced.
56th over: Australia 184-4 (Smith 74, Maxwell 16)
Right as I’m talking him up, Maxwell almost runs himself out heading to the non-striker’s end, but the 3rd umpire quickly rules in his favour and he goes on his merry way gathering more singles. That’s all prelude to quite emphatic square drive from Smith, who spears Ashwin to the boundary at deep point to finish the over. That was a glorious shot.
55th over: Australia 176-4 (Smith 69, Maxwell 13)
Glenn Maxwell is playing like a proper Test batsman, he really is. I told people this was possible, and they didn’t believe me. One to keep in mind: he made arguably the best Sheffield Shield century of the decade on a green-top against New South Wales. Victoria had been 9-6, then 32-7, before he went on his one-man rescue mission. The man can really bat.
Updated
54th over: Australia 172-4 (Smith 67, Maxwell 11)
Again Maxwell works the single early in the Ashwin over, this time driving to long on with composure. At the risk of mozzing both of them, Smith is also looking very calm and methodical as he gathers his runs. Says Dave Kallucy: “In the last innings of the last Test, there was a lot of banter about what each person could personally do, and “wouldn’t it be amazing if…” which was later followed by another wicket and eventually the fall of the Test match. So hows about a little more respect for the jinx? Find yourself some wood, get superstitious and maybe we might make 250, he says knocking on the desk.”
53rd over: Australia 171-4 (Smith 67, Maxwell 10)
Ravindra Jadeja gets shot down after an LBW appeal here, and to add insult to injury the umpire is telling him to get off the pitch as he turns it down. It was missing leg, and might have sailed path a fourth stump too.
52nd over: Australia 167-4 (Smith 64, Maxwell 10)
This is basically Ravichandran Ashwin vs Glenn Maxwell at the moment, and the Australian is so far surviving the examination. Wisely, his captain is taking as much of the strike as he can as the junior partner finds his feet. Maxwell’s 10 off 30 has been very measured so far.
51st over: Australia 163-4 (Smith 62, Maxwell 8)
In fact Umesh doesn’t have another over in him, so Jadeja returns with his spin. It didn’t work for his team-mates earlier, but Maxwell calls for his cap and ditches the helmet. Michael Clarke is loudly worrying that Maxwell won’t have the patience for this situation, but he’s been deferential and calm outside of the Ashwin scares. Not a reverse sweep in sight.
50th over: Australia 160-4 (Smith 61, Maxwell 6)
It sort of surprises me that Ravi Ashwin didn’t pursue a flatter trajectory earlier, given Maxwell’s comfort getting to the pitch of the ball when it’s tossed up. I guess he’ll keep it as his wicket ball. The first three here are tossed up and dealt with well, the fourth is quicker and flatter and brings an inside edge to fine leg. Maxwell was in all sorts there. Ashwin is doing that Warnie thing where he just seems 100% confident he’ll get him out sometime in the next two overs.
49th over: Australia 159-4 (Smith 61, Maxwell 5)
Learning from Peter Handscomb’s mistake, Steve Smith jams his bat down to an Umesh Yadav yorker and succeeds in that mission where his team-mate failed. Umesh continues to tail it in late but Smith is wise to his ways and sees off the over. He might not have many more left in this spell, so the threat has nearly passed.
48th over: Australia 158-4 (Smith 61, Maxwell 5)
Ashwin is a lot flatter to Maxwell early in this over, and that is a very sound approach because it almost pins the Australian to the crease when he tries to turn a straight one to leg. There is a spirited appeal for LBW but Gunner Gould won’t give it, and it proven correct by the ball-tracker reading. No review from India. They knew.
47th over: Australia 157-4 (Smith 61, Maxwell 5)
Hmm, actually I was wrong about Kohli. He’s still off the ground. That or he’s got a doppelgänger in the Indian changing rooms. Umesh Yadav continues to Maxwell, who turns a straight one to leg and gets off strike with a single. Umesh is the threat here, you feel. He has half an LBW shout against Maxwell late in the over but it’s going down leg.
Glenn Maxwell has batted in 6 diff positions in his 1st 7 Test inns
— Swamp (@sirswampthing) March 16, 2017
Eq most of any player after 7 inns (along with 11 others)#INDvAUS
46th over: Australia 154-4 (Smith 60, Maxwell 4)
Let’s not go the crow too early, but Glenn Maxwell is comfortingly casual in the way he glides down the pitch to get to the pitch of the ball and gently strokes Ashwin to long-on for a single. Attuned to his public image as he is, I’m sure he knows that right now he’s not only batting to establish an innings, but basically enduring a public trial back home in Australia. It’s 6:50pm in his home town right now – prime armchair critic territory. Let’s hope be passes this test, because he’s a sight to behold when he’s flaying bowling attacks.
45th over: Australia 151-4 (Smith 58, Maxwell 3)
Those expecting Glenn Maxwell to launch a reverse slog-sweep for six in his first few balls will be disappointed to know he’s so far playing straight and giving it the full face of the bat. “He is an incredible player when his confidence level is high,” says Matthew Hayden. “He could dominate the landscape.” Maxwell duly runs one down to third man for a single, and looks to have his wits about him so far. Smith finishes the over by glancing Umesh to the fine leg fence and with that, Australia reach 150 at the drinks break.
44th over: Australia 143-4 (Smith 52, Maxwell 1)
Ravichandran Ashwin is back into the attack now and has a slip and a short leg in place for Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell has been waiting impatiently for this moment for three years now, and will be desperate to impress. He’s off the mark with a nerve-settling single to long-on. Smith nudges one to leg to keep the strike.
43rd over: Australia 140-4 (Smith 50, Maxwell 0)
There is a lot going on here; with Handscomb gone his Victorian team-mate Glenn Maxwell is at the crease, and an entire nation inhales as one. Moments before the wicket, Steve Smith had brought up his half-century and if you looked closely at the celebration, you’d probably assume it meant a little more to him than many others. He was verging on smug as he pointed his bat towards the sheds. Now he might be a little worried. Maxwell survives four deliveries from Umesh and trots down the middle for a conference with his skipper.
WICKET! Handscomb LBW Umesh 19 (Australia 140-4)
Umesh does the trick again! And yet again Peter Handscomb perishes just as he looked perfectly comfortable. This time he’s done in by an absolute snorter of a yorker from the Indian paceman; it swings in late and appreciably to jam Handscomb on the toe and the minute that happens he knows he’s gone. The look to Smith for a referral is forlorn. Done.
42nd over: Australia 139-3 (Smith 49, Handscomb 19)
Ravindra Jadeja continues and Steve Smith moves closer to his half-century when he skips down the deck and hammers one to mid-on. A metre either way and it was four, but it does bring up the 50 partnership from 16.4 overs, which is pretty decent consolidation from this pair. And now a sight that will warm the hearts of club cricketers everywhere:
which shoulder is it, champ? #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cp6hTM1eBX
— Matt Coleman (@_MattColeman) March 16, 2017
41st over: Australia 137-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 18)
Peter Handscomb has been slightly constipated in his efforts in recent overs but he’s batting Imodium here, cutting late and magnificently off the returning Yadav to pick up four runs and get himself going again. Matthew Hayden, meanwhile, has been recreating the facial expressions of the average fan listening to his commentary:
Matthew Hayden, ladies and gentlemen. (@rustyjacko) pic.twitter.com/YYFSAzqbKW
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) March 16, 2017
40th over: Australia 132-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 13)
A delay now as Virat Kohli leaves the field after doing himself a mischief in the act of diving to save a boundary. You could see his idea; make a statement to his men by hurling himself at the rope and showing his commitment, but it was also foolhardy. India’s best batsman appears to crunch both his shoulder and head into the hard outfield, and physio Pat Farhart takes him from the field for treatment. Fear not: by over’s end he’s back out there.
39th over: Australia 129-3 (Smith 48, Handscomb 10)
Ishant looked to have shot his bolt last over, but Kohli gives him another one regardless. It’s all a bit grim, and Ishant is pinching the bridge of his nose after the fourth ball, perhaps as a coded signal to his skipper that he’s done with his thankless task. Hovering around the 140kmph mark throughout, he doesn’t concede a run until Smith glides the last ball to the rope at third man. Who’d be a fast bowler in these conditions?
38th over: Australia 125-3 (Smith 44, Handscomb 10)
Interesting times; Smith is very well set and Handscomb is starting to look very comfortable as well. Having taken a wicket early in the piece, Jadeja is looking unthreatening. Kohli needs to shuffle the deck here. It ain’t working.
37th over: Australia 124-3 (Smith 43, Handscomb 10)
Ishant gets another over and continues to bend his back without much joy. The broadcasters are calling for submissions under the #IshantGameFace hashtag, but I think his skipper would rather see his wicket-taking face as the moment. I won’t lie though, there are some genuinely disturbing sights via the hashtag.
Don't miss the 4th One ... 😂😂😂 #IshantGameFace pic.twitter.com/5Y3EjXsEyZ
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorz1) March 9, 2017
36th over: Australia 123-3 (Smith 42, Handscomb 10)
I wish I could do just one thing as well as the cover drive Steve Smith has just belted to the fence off Ravindra Jadeja. Even if I did, it would probably be something useless like tying Windsor knots upside down, I bet. I’ll try the latter and let you know.
35th over: Australia 118-3 (Smith 37, Handscomb 10)
“That’s how he plays, that’s his technique,” says Michael Clarke of Peter Handscomb’s shuffle back towards his stumps. Translation: “I don’t think he should play like that but it seems to work for him.” You’d hesitate to be too emphatic right now, as he hasn’t made a lot of runs in India just yet. My guess: they’ll come, and he’ll be a fixture of his side for most of the next decade. “He holds it a bit like an axe,” adds Brett Lee, planting seeds in the minds of cricket fans. Ishant might have had a maiden but again Vijay errs in the field, letting a regulation stop through to concede two. Kohli’s nudging further down the Border-McDermott continuum now.
34th over: Australia 116-3 (Smith 37, Handscomb 8)
Both batsmen are using their feet to Jadeja, confidently skipping down the track to hit him towards leg. Smith lofts a single that way and then throws back his head in disgust; it should have been four, by his reaction. Adding the observation that the Warner ball was trash, Jadeja really hasn’t bowled many “wicket balls” today.
33rd over: Australia 114-3 (Smith 36, Handscomb 7)
Australia’s smart running between the wickets continues as Handscomb turns one around the corner off his pads, down towards fine leg, and figures he can get back on the arm of the man down there. He’s right, and Kohli is doing the Allan Border teapot stance again. It’s about a 6.7 on the Craig McDermott scale.
32nd over: Australia 111-3 (Smith 35, Handscomb 7)
Ravindra Jadeja is favoured to pair with Ishant first up, but he’s not yet finding any spin in this pitch and gets turned to leg for a Handscomb single. Smith gets another hitting one very firmly to mid-on and then charging through. Kohli is cheesed off (“C’mon!” he screams at the offender, Murali Vijay), while Brett Lee says it’s spoiled a maiden. He clearly nodded off at the start of the over.
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31st over: Australia 109-3 (Smith 34, Handscomb 6)
OK, we’re off and away in the second session. Ishant Sharma, his man bun, and his Shaggy-style beard are all steaming in towards Steve Smith. Of Ishant, Brett Lee is full of praise for “the way he goes about his business”, which might have a bit more impact if he hadn’t already said it of the other 21 players in this game as well. Ishant is at the very least an accurate bowler in this over, and it’s a maiden.
Imagine the frustration around Australia if Handscomb and Smith stupidly bat through this session. #Maxwellball
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 16, 2017
We’re a few minutes from the second session now
...and a couple of good things: (1) if the Fox Sports coverage of this series has taught me one thing it’s that Henry Olonga is an opera singer, and (2) Glenn Maxwell might be batting soon. Good times.
Lunch break pearls from Rodney Hogg.
Hogg: "Australia is in a mega amount of trouble at lunch"
— The Run Home (@TheRunHome) March 16, 2017
I’m sure he didn’t mean to come across as pessimistic, but...
Nathan Lyon having a good look at the pitch in the lunch break. Renshaw came out as well. #INDvAUS
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) March 16, 2017
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Lunch on day one - Australia and India evenly poised so far
30th over: Australia 109-3 (Smith 34, Handscomb 6)
And that is lunch on day one at Ranchi, where Australia rattled along at a decent clip all morning thanks to Matt Renshaw and Steve Smith, but only the latter survived and Australia might rue the loss of early wickets given the need to maximise the value of this pitch in the first innings. India, on the other hand, will be very happy with those three wickets after losing the toss. Back with more shortly.
@rustyjacko The best thing we can do for Dan is to feel everything with the passion he felt and take it all with his grace and humour.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) March 16, 2017
29th over: Australia 106-3 (Smith 31, Handscomb 6)
Oof, Smith gets lucky here, sending an inside edge between his legs to pick up a boundary off Yadav, who has in fact stayed in the attack. A little more conventional is Smith’s next shot, which fizzes away past square leg for four more. The Australian pair will have one more over to survive before the break, and Ravindra Jadeja will bowl it.
28th over: Australia 97-3 (Smith 23, Handscomb 6)
I guess we’re likely to see Ravichandran Ashwin change ends now because only an over on from his removal of Marsh he’s been replaced by Jadeja. Yadav will probably be relieved of his duties next over, as India look to jam in as many as they can before the lunch break. Smith drives the final delivery to long-on for a single and keeps the strike.
27th over: Australia 96-3 (Smith 22, Handscomb 6)
Scarier stuff here for Handscomb as Umesh has a throaty LBW appeal against him early in the over, but it’s adjudged to be sailing down leg and the home side decides against a review. Maiden for Umesh, whose gone from zero to hero in the last 20 minutes.
26th over: Australia 96-3 (Smith 22, Handscomb 6)
Not perturbed by the crisis around him, Peter Handscomb arrives with a bang, driving sumptuously for a boundary to get off the mark.
WICKET! Marsh c Pujara b Ashwin 2 (Australia 89-3)
Marsh is gone! It was a definite inside edge as Marsh lunged forward and the ball flew off his pad to the man in close. He went at it with a confident stride and hard hands, and now he’s trotting back to the pavilion. Australia are teetering a little now; a session that promised much is falling away.
Review! India think Ashwin has Marsh caught in close at short leg
And they’re very, very confident in that, despite the appeal being turned down.
25th over: Australia 89-2 (Smith 21, Marsh 2)
One unique thing about Shaun Marsh is that he runs between the wickets like a character in a late 90s, early-3D video game – all robotic and square, with his chest puffed out and his long-suffering back rigidly straight. It’s a bit Fifa ‘97 referee, I reckon.
24th over: Australia 88-2 (Smith 21, Marsh 1)
Not quite as metronomic here from Ashwin, who is worked for a few singles and a two to Smith. Thomas Walker arrives with an email at the point. “Well past midnight here in Chicago but this first hour has already set up the match nicely... thanks for the OBO coverage, it’s been snowing all week here so it’s nice to be reminded that it’s warm cricket weather somewhere in the world. Also, RIP Dan Lucas, very sad to hear such awful news. I loved his Phil Hughes obituary and it feels even more poignant now.”
23rd over: Australia 84-2 (Smith 18, Marsh 1)
Shaun Marsh is the new man at the crease for the tourists, and he’s straight off the mark with a single. His eternal plight seems to be the need to survive an awkward period before lunch and tea, and that is his lot here. Twenty-five minutes will see him through to lunch. Another wicket could tip the balance in India’s favour but runs are also fairly easy to come by.
WICKET! Renshaw c Kohli b Yadav 44 (Australia 80-2)
Renshaw nicks Yadav to first slip! Well, that was not quite what we expected of that over but again Umesh Yadav has done the job for his skipper, with whom he combines for this wicket. A ball earlier Renshaw had teased the crowd by purposefully flicking one just short of Rahane at second slip, but his demise is a genuinely injudicious waft, from which the outside edge is well held by Kohli.
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22nd over: Australia 78-1 (Renshaw 41, Smith 15)
Another accurate and tight over from Ashwin, who is pursuing a stump-to-stump line to Steve Smith but looking increasingly less likely of actually getting him out. This is a danger time for India, I sense, because once Steven Peter Devereux Smith is in, it’s very hard to get him out.
21st over: Australia 77-1 (Renshaw 41, Smith 15)
Umesh Yadav was bowling like a drain earlier, but he returns now with his sights set on redeeming things with some reverse swing. So far it seems a double reverse, perhaps, cancelling itself out. Renshaw’s not troubled and drives for one, then Smith sees off the rest. They might tuck in next over from this end.
20th over: Australia 76-1 (Renshaw 40, Smith 15)
Some intrigue here; “We might have had our first explosion of the match,” says commentator Laxmanan Sivaramakrishnan . Don’t worry, he only means it in the sense of prodigious spin. A bit dramatic. The ball in qurstion looked a lot like it had trapped Renshaw in front, but the contact with the pad had come when he was outside the line of off stump. False alarm. Jadeja wisely decides against a review.
19th over: Australia 75-1 (Renshaw 39, Smith 15)
In a symbolic win for Matt Renshaw, Ravichandran Ashwin has moved his close-in fieldsmen back to short cover and short extra cover, but persists with a slip to the well-set batsman. Renshaw takes his time over a single and Smith bobs, weaves and cuts to pick up two to finish the over.
Ranchi pitch is playing way better than anyone expected. Retractions being drafted. Best first session deck of series.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 16, 2017
18th over: Australia 72-1 (Renshaw 38, Smith 13)
Michael Clarke reckons that this wicket is a lot easier to score on than those of the first two Tests, which is at odds with all of the pre-match outrage about the state of the strip. Renshaw and Smith look perfectly comfortable for now, I’ll say that. Meanwhile, Ryan Jones has accepted my choice of Cheese and Onion, but adds that Light and Tangy should not be left out of the conversation. He’s right, of course. A curiously maligned crisp flavour.
17th over: Australia 69-1 (Renshaw 36, Smith 12)
As Ashwin continues to ease into what will surely be a long spell, Scott Probst arrives with a delightful and unexpected email. “This talk of the Test being in Dharamsala brings to mind to local Tibetan community; Tibetans are really into their cricket. I know an ex-monk who was opening bat for his monastery. Once when I was on a meditation retreat in Nepal with a bunch of Tibetans, one of the monks made discreet enquiries as to whether I was Ricky Ponting.” That’s all on a slightly higher plane than Ryan Jones’ request for my favourite flavour of Smith’s crisps. Cheese and onion, if you must know.
16th over: Australia 68-1 (Renshaw 35, Smith 12)
Ravindra Jadeja gets us re-started after drinks and Smith is full of positive intent as he strokes him towards point and cover without piercing the field. Jadeja has a slip and a short leg, but both are moot when he over-pitches and Smith drives him wide of mid-wicket for a boundary. Jadeja has gone for 14 runs from his four overs, which actually counts as expensive by his usual miserly standards.
15th over: Australia 64-1 (Renshaw 35, Smith 8)
As drinks are called at the mid-way point of the first session, we can now reflect on what a bonanza it has been for Matt Renshaw. He’s 35 from 43 deliveries with seven boundaries and doesn’t look too perturbed by the loss of his opening partner David Warner. That said, Australia are on top for now.
Big wicket for 🇮🇳 the Aussie VC gone cheaply again.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 16, 2017
14th over: Australia 61-1 (Renshaw 34, Smith 6)
It’s been said a million times before, but the sight of Steve Smith bobbing up and down before playing a perfectly correct forward defence really is something. It’s like he’s doing the Zorba dance in this over from Jadeja, and he gets a single to retain the strike.
13th over: Australia 60-1 (Renshaw 34, Smith 5)
I’m not sure whether it is a concerted effort to score a lot of runs before the wicket starts deteriorating or a measure of the volume of loose balls bowled, but Renshaw is hitting boundaries for fun today and gets another through cover off Ashwin. It’s Matthew Haydenesque bully-batting and he’s perhaps setting the tone for what will follow.
12th over: Australia 54-1 (Renshaw 29, Smith 4)
The flipside of Ravindra Jadeja’s madcap brilliance so far is that he’s offering up plenty of buffet balls, and that allows Steve Smith to get off the mark with a boundary when he glances a leg-side dart down to the fence at fine leg. It’s been runs galore in this first session but you can sense imminent danger for the batsmen too.
11th over: Australia 50-1 (Renshaw 29, Smith 0)
“There is no justice when it comes to batting,” says Matthew Hayden of David Warner’s dismissal. A strange interpretation of such a dismal bit of human error, but OK. Ravi Ashwin continues to Renshaw and bowls an accurate, searching over that forces the Australian to defend as the general rule.
I know they don’t allow runners any more but surely we can make an exception to get Maxwell out there early. #INDvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 16, 2017
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10th over: Australia 50-1 (Renshaw 29, Smith 0)
The Australian captain strides to the crease now and has a couple of Jadeja’s best to defend first up. David Warner’s average, meanwhile, might soon dip below 48 and his struggles in India continue.
WICKET! Warner caught and bowled Jadeja 19 (Australia 50-1)
Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack and immediately claims Warner! My word that was a terrible dismissal. Warner had just called for his baggy green cap and ensured himself an unobstructed view of the ball, but having creamed the left-arm spinner through cover for a boundary, he then plays an ugly swipe at a full toss and sends it straight back to the bowler. That was an absolute shocker from Warner. He’s furious, and Jadeja strikes again.
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9th over: Australia 45-0 (Renshaw 28, Warner 15)
A hairy moment for Renshaw here as he reaches a long way forward to pat Ashwin towards mid-on, but a leading edge squirts the other way towards short cover. Ashwin is an obvious threat here, but it must be said that the Australian’s have tended to handle him very well early in the previous two Tests.
@rustyjacko Too early to have Renshaw knocking Boycott off his perch as the greatest living Yorkshireman?
— Lord Not the Singer (@master_grundy) March 16, 2017
8th over: Australia 44-0 (Renshaw 27, Warner 15)
Renshaw “comes across as a bloke who is very relaxed,” says Sunil Gavaskar, hardly the most chilled-out entertainer you’re likely to meet. Aside from that he’s just got a firm sense of his bearings and clear understanding of his own game; he knows where his off stump is and picks the right ball to hit. Here Umesh* gives Warner the right one; another half-volley that gets creamed through cover for a boundary.
*Yes, Umesh bowled the over. Yes, I’m reconsidering that promise to eat the crisp packet. It was like an ICL contract, OK?
7th over: Australia 36-0 (Renshaw 24, Warner 10)
Spin time: Ravi Ashwin first. He licks his finger, aggressively spins the ball around in his hand to get a feel for things, then sweeps his arms in those signature loops as he runs in to Warner. He’s also probably licking his lips. Warner drives and defends towards cover for the most part, then gets back and across to cut a long-hop out to deep cover for one. Not for the first time this morning, Renshaw does even better, taking the one delivery he has left to face and depositing it through mid-wicket for a boundary. This is something of a role reversal for the Australian openers, but combined they’re going at five an over. Renshaw is also the youngest man to reach 500 Test runs.
6th over: Australia 31-0 (Renshaw 20, Warner 9)
With Umesh Yadav continuing, David Warner tucks three around the corner to start the over, and I tuck into the final mouthful of a small bag of Smith’s original chicken crisps. Actually I’ll be 100% honest: I was upending the packet and it slightly obscured my view of the shot. I’m sure that happened to Neville Cardus all the time. Gunner Gould is going just as well, dodging and weaving to avoid being hit by a throw from the outfield. No worries a ball later: Umesh over-pitches and Renshaw lathers him through cover for yet another boundary. No throw required. If this isn’t the last over of Umesh’s spell, I’ll eat the actual packet the crisps came in.
5th over: Australia 22-0 (Renshaw 16, Warner 6)
Two more to Warner gets the local broadcasters agitated about bringing the Australian’s nemesis Ravi Ashwin into the fray, and soon their head-to-head stats are flashed up on the screen. To say they’re one-sided undersells it just a touch. For now, most of the hay is being made by Matt Renshaw. Again he takes advantages of some shonky length when Ishant over-pitches, allowing him to turn four more runs through deep square leg. Australia are cruising at the moment, so we’ll probably see some spin very shortly.
4th over: Australia 15-0 (Renshaw 12, Warner 3)
Having yet to establish his mojo, David Warner does the right thing and bunts a quick single towards cover in order to rotate the strike. Renshaw gets a few gifts from Umesh at that point; a full toss is cracked straight to the man at mid-off but a loose one outside off stump is beautifully angled between gully and point for a boundary. The Queenslander is establishing a decent little platform for his innings here.
3rd over: Australia 10-0 (Renshaw 8, Warner 2)
Ishant has done two very good things here; first he appears to trap Matt Renshaw in front with a gem of a delivery, but then rightly stops his skipper from calling for a review when it’s not given. It was pitching outside leg and Ishant knew it. Unfortunately, a few balls later he pitches an even shorter one on leg and Renshaw confidently biffs it to the fence wide of mid-wicket.
Phil Withall appears with his first dispatch of the day now. “I have a rare weekday off. My wife is working and the kids are at school, even the dog is asleep. How do I take advantage of this rare opportunity? I’m lying on the sofa reading the OBO classic book, “Is it cowardly to pray for rain”, following your OBO and watching the test. Do I need to reevaluate my lifestyle choices?”
Sounds perfect to me, Phil.
2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 2)
Umesh Yadav isn’t quite as accurate at the start of his first over, straying onto Warner’s pads to be turned around the corner for a couple of runs. Lulled into a false sense of comfort, Warner flinches as the next one rises up off the pitch and whistles past his ears. India think he’s strangled one down the leg side a ball later, but it’s all thigh pad.
Ravi Raman has a typical Dan Lucas music request story, which will cheer a few people up. “I called Radiohead dross and offered a jazzy cover of Creep by PMJ instead,” writes Ravi. “Not on, said Dan, ‘That’s not how OBG rolls.’ Very sad news indeed.”
Patrick O’Brien then arrives withe the appropriate REM b-side I referred to. It’s only got 1,200 views on YouTube. I bet Dan Lucas loved it.
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1st over: Australia 4-0 (Renshaw 4, Warner 0)
Taking guard for Australia is Matt Renshaw (Test average: currently three above the magical 50 mark) and standing at the other end is David Warner (Test average: now almost two runs below the magical 50 mark). Bowling: Ishant Sharma (Test average: hardly the point). Ishant sends them slanting across Renshaw first up and he’s got two slips and a gully in place for the edge.
To the fourth delivery, Renshaw is in two minds and gets no runs when he pulls out of a defensive stroke but feels the ball still cannoning into his bat. He’s off the mark with a gentle push to leg from the final delivery, which motors away past Ashwin and seems to gain pace all the way to the boundary. Renshaw only tapped that one, but he’s got full value for it.
We’re a few minutes from the opening delivery of the Test
And as the anthems groan away, I can’t help but think it appropriate to post a Dan Lucas-style Simpsons clip. Anthem-themed, of course.
Australian Selection
I will take any and all emails on Glenn Maxwell’s inclusion. As much as I love the desperately unlucky Usman Khawaja, it is genuinely great to see Maxwell back in this line-up because he’s a supremely talented player and a genuine competitor who offers back-up spin and a dangerous arm in the in-field. The latter is something Australian Test sides have sorely lacked in the last few years. Pat Cummins’ return is just a heart-warmer.
The Australian coach now steps up for an interview. “It looks OK mate,” Darren Lehmann says of the pitch. “It’ll be a great contest between bat and ball again, and we’ve got to bat better than we did in the second innings at Bangalore.”
Lehmann, you might remember, questioned the merit of picking Glenn Maxwell in the squad as recently as December last year. “(Maxwell) hasn’t made a hundred for two years,” Lehmann said at the time. “Are you going to pick a bloke who hasn’t made a hundred in two years?”
The answer: YES. “He’s got that X-factor,” says Allan Border, trolling the nation.
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Australia win the toss and bat!
Steve Smith looks at the pitch and sighs rather undiplomatically. “I don’t think there will be a great deal of bounce,” he says. “Hopefully we can post a good first innings total. Hopefully we can play well in this one.”
Team news: Australia have brought Glenn Maxwell in (!!!), as well as Pat Cummins, who hasn’t played “for a while”, says Smith. Almost six years, to be exact. India have brought opening batsman Murali Vijay back into their side as soon as possible. He replaces Abhinav Mukund.
Australia: Warner, Renshaw, Smith, S Marsh, Handscomb, Maxwell, Wade, O’Keefe, Cummins, Lyon, Hazlewood
India: Vijay, Rahul, Kohli, Pujara, Rahane, Nair, Saha, Jadeja, Ashwin, Ishant, U Yadav
“The toss is something that either goes your way or doesn’t,” says Indian captain Virat Kohli. “We’re taking it as a two-match series from here.” Then he says it’s about taking their momentum forward. I’m confused.
The pitch? Allan Border doesn’t like it, and both he and Brad Haddin think it’ll spin from ball one. “Looks as though we’re going to get much of the same,” huffs AB. “I think this looks worse than the Pune wicket” adds Haddin. They’re really struggling for a positive observation so far, but everybody agrees Australia is best not batting last on it.
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Preamble
Hello OBOers and welcome to the first day of the third Test in this fascinating Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India, which resumes on Ranchi’s much-discussed pitch today.
Before I get things under way as far as the minutiae of this encounter goes, I want to pause for a minute and pay tribute to our late OBO colleague Dan Lucas, whose death earlier this week is something we still can’t quite fathom. As any regular reader will know, Dan typified the spirit of the OBO; far more upbeat than most of us, he was an unapologetic cricket nerd with some of the shonkiest music opinions going, the latter of which were often presented as irrefutable facts.
That I’ll never get another furious email or message from him questioning my sanity for liking Future Islands is something I find very hard to process right now. Dan would have delighted in OBOing a match like this, and in fact, would have applied himself just as seriously if it was Tasmania vs South Australia in the Matador Cup, or a County 2nd XI game broadcast via Periscope. His enthusiasm was boundless. Once, when his bus failed to arrive on time, I filled in on one of his live blogs for a while but my OBOing wasn’t enough; he wanted extra updates on other details of the match via email.
What I find hardest right now is establishing exactly what Dan would want us to do here on the first OBO since we heard the news. Should we take this shocking and upsetting moment as a lesson that cricket, like every other sport, really isn’t that important in the grander scheme of life? Or – much more likely – adopt his spirit for the day and admit it’s actually of utmost importance, before linking to an obscure REM b-side whose lyrics perfectly encapsulate the situation?
Let’s just muck along, I guess. In the spirit of Dan’s eclectic music tastes, I’ve tried to be both obvious (Radiohead) and obscure (actually, RadioDREAD) in this YouTube tribute to him. I’ll be back with some cricket in a moment, but how about blasting this one through your speakers? If anyone complains or says it sounds rubbish, tell them they’re wrong. Fact.
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Russell will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Adam Collins’ preview of the match:
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