England lost their last six wickets for 56 runs then took Australia’s first four wickets for 76, only for Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh to settle the ship
And here’s Ali Martin’s take on Joe Root’s captaincy:
Related: Joe Root’s meticulous approach pays Ashes dividends for England | Ali Martin
And here’s the day two diary:
Related: Ashes diary: pool proposal makes a splash on day two in Brisbane
And here’s Adam Collins’ view on the day’s play
Related: Australia go short but it may yet be an Ashes opportunity missed | Adam Collins
Related: Smith stands tall to keep first Ashes Test in balance after England apply pressure
And with that, I’m off. Bye!
A fascinating day, and it ends with the match still nicely poised, but it’s certainly Australia who will sleep more soundly. England didn’t make the best of a beautiful situation as they slipped from 246-4 to 302 all out. Then they reduced Australia to 76-4, and with Marsh next in everything looked deeply troubling for the home side. Not any more. Smith is on 64 and looking ominous. Marsh often doesn’t hang around long - 58% of his Test innings have brought fewer than 20 runs; 40% have brought no more than 10 - but he looks in fine nick and full confidence. Tomorrow is plump with potential.
62nd over: Australia 165-4 (Smith 64, Marsh 44) Broad bowls it, with a short mid off, a short mid on, a short midwicket and one - rising to two after three deliveries - short covers. After four balls Root adds a short leg, and Root bowls a fine yorker, well defended. One final delivery, and it passes safely down leg. A maiden to end the day.
Related: The Recap: sign up for the best of the Guardian's sport coverage
61st over: Australia 165-4 (Smith 64, Marsh 44) Anderson bowls, and it’s another maiden. With two more minutes on the clock, there’s time for one more over before stumps.
60th over: Australia 165-4 (Smith 64, Marsh 44) Broad replaces Root, England throwing everything at the problem in these final minutes of the day. It’s a maiden, Marsh content to defend or leave.
59th over: Australia 165-4 (Smith 64, Marsh 44) Anderson goes over the wicket, he goes round the wicket, but like a stubborn stain there seems to be absolutely no shifting these two.
58th over: Australia 163-4 (Smith 63, Marsh 43) Root continues, and Marsh tries to cut the ball to backward point, misjudges and instead top edges over Anderson at slip for four.
57th over: Australia 159-4 (Smith 63, Marsh 39) As the shadows cover the crease, Anderson’s over yields a single to Marsh.
England have grown ragged, with just 28% of their deliveries on a good line and length in the last ten overs. #Ashes
For those playing along, Glenn Maxwell finishes 213 not out at North Sydney. The same score Ellyse Perry made at the ground a couple of weeks back. #Ashes#WomensAshespic.twitter.com/4yMBoLdGLi
56th over: Australia 158-4 (Smith 63, Marsh 38) Root gives himself a bowl, and it’s a more than decent over, the penultimate delivery zipping just past the edge. There should be five more overs today, and if this pair survive them Australia will be the happier team tonight.
55th over: Australia 157-4 (Smith 63, Marsh 37) Anderson continues, and he ends his over with a lovely delivery that straightens slightly and beats the edge! He gets an admiring nod from Smith for his troubles, but no more than that.
54th over: Australia 155-4 (Smith 61, Marsh 37) The batsmen are both starting to motor now. Ball gives Marsh some width, and the ball is slapped past point for three.
53rd over: Australia 151-4 (Smith 60, Marsh 34) With the shadows lengthening and England really in need of a wicket before stumps, Anderson returns. Smith misjudges his first delivery, trying to paddle to square leg, missing, and getting a ball in the groin instead. That’s gotta hurt, box or no box, but Smith gets up, dusts himself down and, a few balls later, drives through cover for four to reach 60. He gave England a chance with a top-edged pull and got away with it; when will he offer another one?
52nd over: Australia 147-4 (Smith 56, Marsh 34) Ball’s back and bowling, so there was clearly nothing wrong with him but a desire to use the dressing-room’s facilities. Smith drives straight-ish and Broad dives to his left to turn a four into a single. Marsh then drives straight-ish and Broad dives to his right and can’t reach it.
51st over: Australia 142-4 (Smith 55, Marsh 30) Marsh comes down the pitch to thump Moeen’s first delivery through the covers for four. Forgot to place that Maxwell-related tweet in some kind of context: he’s reached 200 off 226 deliveries, the first first-class double century of his career. How big can he go?
50th over: Australia 138-4 (Smith 55, Marsh 26) Smith hits Ball’s first ball through cover for three. Then, at the end of the over, Ball runs straight off the pitch, in a hurry, for reasons unknown and thus free to be wildly speculated on.
Glenn Maxwell brings up his JLT #SheffieldShield double-century in style! https://t.co/xmaCqdknHj#NSWvVICpic.twitter.com/ExIiBRTCqg
49th over: Australia 134-4 (Smith 52, Marsh 25) Another Moeen maiden. Of the last 10 times Smith has reached 50, he has gone on to make six centuries and twice exceeded 150. He has exceeded 60 26 times in his career, and on 20 of those occasions, including seven of the last eight, went on to get a century.
48th over: Australia 134-4 (Smith 52, Marsh 25) Ball comes back as England attempt to shift momentum back their way. “I’m watching your over by over account of the match from holiday in the Maldives, thinking how much my darling Dad, who would have been 110 today, would have loved the technology that allows such wonderful in depth analysis and instant news,” writes Debbie Fortune. “As a Yorkshire cricket follower, he used to camp out in the car with his pipe and the ‘tranny’ so that he could be up to date as much as possible and not annoy my Mum, who just couldn’t understand his obsession. Now I find myself equally obsessed, so ... like father, like daughter!” Thanks Debbie. It’s certainly easier these days to keep totally up to date without your family even knowing what you’re up to.
47th over: Australia 132-4 (Smith 50, Marsh 25) Smith gets a single from Moeen’s first ball, which takes him to 50 and Marsh onto strike, where he comes forward to clip the ball through midwicket for another four.
46th over: Australia 127-4 (Smith 49, Marsh 21) Marsh pulls Woakes through midwicket for a fine four, and a further single brings up the 50 partnership, from 125 balls. There’s a sense that they have survived a difficult period, and are emerging, blinking, on the other side, a side full of plump potential.
45th over: Australia 120-4 (Smith 47, Marsh 16) Meanwhile Moeen concedes seven. Along the way he bowls a full toss, probably his worst delivery of the day, and Smith thwacks it away for four
44th over: Australia 113-4 (Smith 40, Marsh 16) Woakes continues after the refreshments and it’s a maiden, his first of the match.
43rd over: Australia 113-4 (Smith 40, Marsh 16) Moeen bowls a maiden to Smith, and the players have earned, and will take, some drinks.
42nd over: Australia 113-4 (Smith 40, Marsh 16) The shackles are off! The couple of boundaries in the 40th over, streaky as one of them was, seem to have changed the mood and there’s another one here, Marsh hitting a fine shot through the covers for four.
41st over: Australia 108-4 (Smith 39, Marsh 12) Moeen bowls, and each batsman helps himself to a carefree single.
40th over: Australia 105-4 (Smith 37, Marsh 11) Chris Woakes returns, and Smith top-edges a pull into the air! But it falls between two fielders and bounces away for four, and then the next ball is worked down the leg side for four more! Then Marsh mistimes a drive but rather than inside-edge it onto his stumps it hits the bat just a millimetre or two to the right, and, well, doesn’t. That over might have been very different. “Root has been outstanding as captain,” enthuses Matt Carley. “He’s surprised and perturbed the Australians at every stage. Who would have called Ali into the attack so soon? And the bowlers have backed him up, this is the least Gabbery Gabba test to be played at the Gabba in recent Gabba history.”
39th over: Australia 96-4 (Smith 28, Marsh 11) Smith edges! But the ball lands short of slip. Then a single later Marsh edges! This time the ball doesn’t just land short of the slips, it also goes between them. Two runs.
38th over: Australia 93-4 (Smith 27, Marsh 9) Another maiden. This is very slow, and not a little tense. Cricket for the purists, this session. “This Test has a physical quality about it,” writes Stephen Cryan. “Every time you think you know what will happen something else does. Endlessly surprising. Inevitably unpredictable. Gravity unavoidable. Wickets or runs?”
Marsh plays no shot and the ball, angling towards the stumps, hits his thigh. But it would have gone just over the stumps! And also just wide of them!
Umpire says no. Broad, obviously, wants a review, and Root goes for it!
37th over: Australia 93-4 (Smith 27, Marsh 9) After five dots, Moeen bowls wide and Marsh cuts it away for three. Freebies, those. The last few overs, in reverse order, in full:
3...../...4../....../....../1...../..1.../....../......
36th over: Australia 90-4 (Smith 27, Marsh 6) A couple more dots, and then Smith pushes a straight ball through mid-on for four, just to show he can. And then some more dots.
Masterful captaincy by Joe Root, as well as disciplined bowling, dried up Australia: ten runs off the first 11 overs after tea before Steve Smith ondriven four...
35th over: Australia 86-4 (Smith 23, Marsh 6) There’s not much to report other than the absence of things to report. Another maiden, bowled by Moeen to Marsh.
34th over: Australia 86-4 (Smith 23, Marsh 6) Yet another maiden, from Broad. Australia are in the doldrums, this partnership bringing 10 runs from 55 deliveries.
33rd over: Australia 86-4 (Smith 23, Marsh 6) Moeen’s back after a change of ends, and Smith gets a single off the first. Later there’s a cry of “catch!” as the ball hits silly mid off and loops up to Cook, but only one cry, and it doesn’t last very long. The ball had bounced up off the ground.
Anderson... deceptive changes of pace, cutter here, bit of swing there, regimented lines... fabulous spell...
32nd over: Australia 85-4 (Smith 21, Marsh 6) Broad’s back, and Smith gets a single off the last, Australia’s second run in the last four overs. They’ve scored nine runs in the last eight overs.
31st over: Australia 84-4 (Smith 20, Marsh 6) A run! Smith rolls the ball into a gap in the field and takes a single. Meanwhile, 10 wickets in the day so far suggests that there’s a decent chance of there being another in the next 90 minutes or so but let’s not be greedy, eh?
@Simon_Burnton Oh, the joy of waking up go a clatter of Aussie wickets! Please sir, could I have some more?#ashes
30th over: Australia 83-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 6) And another maiden, from Moeen to Marsh, who makes no attempt to score a run and duly doesn’t score any.
Moeen may need to change his line of attack. 98% of his Test deliveries to left-handers have been from around the wicket, but Marsh averages 85.25 to off-spin from that angle. #Ashes
29th over: Australia 83-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 6) A maiden from Anderson to Smith, with subtle variations in pace and trajectory enough to keep the scoring corked.
28th over: Australia 83-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 6) Smith gets a single from Moeen’s first delivery, leaving him five goes at Marsh. Four dots later he works one gently wide of slip for a couple.
England have done their homework, first in bowling Moeen to Khawaja, and then in bowling full and straight to Handscomb. They targeted the stumps fantastically. #Ashespic.twitter.com/nV9627awDt
27th over: Australia 80-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 4) Marsh gets off the mark with a delicious cover drive for four, right off the middle of the bat. That’s the only scoring stroke of an over that ends with an excellent delivery that flashes past the edge.
26th over: Australia 76-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 0) Moeen returns, with a maiden to Smith. “So, when does 302 start to look like a decent knock?” asks Simon Powell. I think it is a decent score on this wicket, but England know it could have been better and the fact that Australia’s batsmen keep making key mistakes doesn’t change that. Still, it’s starting to look a long way off.
I know it *looks* like England are doing OK, but I've been listening to Channel Nine's commentary all day, and it turns out Australia are actually still winning. So now you know.
25th over: Australia 76-4 (Smith 19, Marsh 0) Finally Anderson has a chance to bowl at Handscomb, and after aiming four balls at off stump, all nicely defended, he sends one towards leg, the batsman gets nothing on it, and the debutant is on his way! The one delivery at Marsh to end the over is another fine one, sliding across the batsman and just past the bat.
It looked a good shout live, and in slow-motion from straight on it looked absolutely plumb. And so it proved. What a start to the session for England!
Anderson has sent the ball clattering into Handscomb’s pads, but the umpire’s unimpressed. England think he’s wrong...
The players are back out. Anderson has the ball. Big moments.
So once again the next session is looking potentially crucial in this Test. The first five sessions have set up an excellently competitive match but one wicketless session, or a few quick dismissals, could change everything. Or at least, a lot.
24th over: Australia 76-3 (Smith 19, Handscomb 14) Handscomb prods forward and edges the ball, which doesn’t carry to the slips and goes wide of them as well, skipping away for four. Then he flays a wide, short ball that was pretty much asking to get the treatment. It’s not quite hard enough to reach the boundary but the batsmen run four anyway. Add a nice push through the covers for three and you’ve got an expensive final over of the session and Peter Handscomb’s tea will taste a little sweeter now.
23rd over: Australia 65-3 (Smith 19, Handscomb 3) And Anderson still hasn’t bowled at Handscomb, five dot balls being followed by a couple for Smith, who shuffles across to give himself the chance to work the ball into a nearly vacant leg side. “Must say I’m rather relieved to see the back of Warner,” writes Phil Withall. “Four years ago I spent the Saturday of the Gabba test watching him and Michael Clarke score depressingly rapid centuries and set the tone for the series. With him gone it will take an English collapse of mind-blowing ineptitude for him to get the chance to spoil my day of drinking overpriced weak beer and being mocked by passing Aussies.” Certainly if today’s your day of drinking overpriced weak beer I’d say it’s pretty safe. Tomorrow, well, anything can happen.
22nd over: Australia 63-3 (Smith 17, Handscomb 3) Ball bowls a fine yorker to Handscomb, but the batsman deals with it exemplarily. A couple of balls later he tries to cut a shorter delivery but bottom-edges down into the ground, though well wide of his stumps.
21st over: Australia 63-3 (Smith 17, Handscomb 3) Anderson’s back, presumably to have a go at Handscomb, though he never gets the chance, bowling a maiden to Smith. “Should England enforce the follow on? Asking for a friend,” writes Tom from Sydney. Very droll.
Ball's delivery to dismiss Warner was the shortest delivery he faced in his innings. #Ashes
20th over: Australia 63-3 (Smith 17, Handscomb 3) That was just a misjudgement by Warner, faced with a shortish, straightish but not wildly challenging delivery. Handscomb comes out and hits his first delivery square for three, a handsome start.
I thought David Warner had changed?! #Ashes
A key breakthrough! Warner thumps the ball straight to midwicket, where Malan doesn’t quite gather at the first attempt but pockets it at the second!
19th over: Australia 56-2 (Warner 24, Smith 15) A boundary! The first for seven and a bit overs. Warner cuts Moeen nicely, and a couple of balls later Smith hits through midwicket and very nearly gets another: the ball is finally chased down a yard or so from the rope. Eight runs from the second half of the over.
18th over: Australia 48-2 (Warner 19, Smith 12) Smith and Warner have been entirely unruffled since they came together, and Ball fails to significantly ruffle them, though it’s a pretty decent introductory over but for an early no-ball.
17th over: Australia 46-2 (Warner 18, Smith 12) Morning whinge: BT Sport/Channel 9/whoever’s fault it is’s inability to show the number of overs that have been bowled, and the number of balls in the current over, makes an OBOer’s life even more difficult. “Smith and Warner showing little respect for the respectfully sedate template laid down by England’s batsmen,” writes Brian Withington. “Already batting with indecent purpose and intent - have they no shame?” Jake Ball’s about to find out if he can do anything about it.
16th over: Australia 41-2 (Warner 16, Smith 9) David Warner averages 25.76 in his first innings against England, and 69.09 in his second. Which is strange because across his entire Test career he averages slightly more in his first innings than his second (49.32 v 46.57).
15th over: Australia 40-2 (Warner 15, Smith 9) A couple of singles off Moeen. Still the early days of what might be the match’s most crucial partnership.
14th over: Australia 38-2 (Warner 14, Smith 8) Three dot balls from Woakes, and then one goes too straight and Smith gets a couple. In other news from the Gabba today, some people got engaged in (or at least very near) the swimming pool:
13th over: Australia 35-2 (Warner 14, Smith 5) Morning/afternoon/whateveritiswhereyouare world! I am welcomed by a Moeen maiden to Warner. These are exciting times, which certainly sugars the pill of being conscious and this unconscionable hour.
12th over: Australia 35-2 (Warner 14, Smith 5) I think there’s still a sneaking dismissal of Steve Smith’s brilliance in some English quarters but a rasping straight drive to an over-pitched Woakes delivery will go some way to correcting that misapprehension. Smith is his idiosyncratic self at the crease, shuffling, scratching, twitching, but crucially, when it matters most he’s still and focussed. The challenge for Woakes and co is Smith moves so far across to the offside the standard fourth stump line has to become fifth stump, which means of course that if Smith stands his ground he has width to play with.
Anyhow, that’s my last over for the day. Time to pass you into the safe hands of Simon Burnton.
11th over: Australia 31-2 (Warner 14, Smith 1) All the talk around Khawaja was his ability against spin after being discarded for the subcontinental tours, and he was immediately found out against England’s offie. The most significant partnership of the match so far you feel now with Australia’s two guns at the crease and under pressure. Gripping stuff under the Queensland sun.
Um, what was that about Australia settling? After Warner had taken a single from the opening delivery, Moeen got stuck into Khawaja. The first ripped past the outside edge. The second, faster and flatter strikes him on the pad plumb in front and Aleem Dar wastes no time raising his finger. There was barely even a discussion with Warner about a review.
10th over: Australia 29-1 (Warner 13, Khawaja 11) Woakes makes it a double bowling change, giving the TV commentators an opportunity to admire a classical bowling action. Not much to report from the over with a couple of singles keeping the scoreboard moving. After that early breakthrough for England, Australia have settled.
9th over: Australia 27-1 (Warner 12, Khawaja 10) Interesting - England have brought Moeen Ali into the attack very early, Joe Root looking to replicate the impact of Nathan Lyon. David Warner isn’t interested in allowing the off-spinner to settle, getting forward quickly and driving with hard fast hands through the off-side. Moeen is undaunted and flights one beyond Warner’s defensive prod, demonstrating there’s still plenty of turn in this wicket. Excellent contest.
Bowling off spin in Australia if you're not from Australia (and often if you are) is usually really hard.
Almost all the best offies have struggled here.
And Moeen does bowl loose balls as a rule.
But if you are an off spinner in OZ, this is one hell of a pitch to start on.
8th over: Australia 23-1 (Warner 8, Khawaja 10) A disturbance in the force at the start of the eighth over as Warner takes two from the opening delivery. Broad responds with a full straight delivery with a hint of in-swing from around the wicket that Warner inside-edges onto his pads.
After listening to Channel 9 commentary, I wonder why they aren’t waving Aussie flags while commentating (or cheerleading, more accurately) #Ashes
7th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 8) You know the drill, Warner is allowed off strike first ball of the over. Khawaja doesn’t struggle with the next delivery though, driving an over-pitched Anderson delivery for four behind square.
6th over: Australia 13-1 (Warner 4, Khawaja 4) Guess what, another single to Warner, the fourth from the six deliveries he’s faced. It’s almost as though England are happy for him to be at the non-striker’s end. And you can see why when Khawaja is squared up by Broad, the ball squirting off the shoulder of the bat but just in front of a diving third slip who can only parry the ball down to the third-man fence.
Interesting tidbit on @wwos coverage #Ashespic.twitter.com/A1mVKzxoPF
5th over: Australia 8-1 (Warner 3, Khawaja 0) Another single to Warner invites Khawaja to face Anderson and he is beaten all ends up first ball by one that leaves him off the pitch. Same same three deliveries later as Anderson continues to angle the ball across the left hander whose feet are yet to start moving. England are on top here, they need to cash in before Warner bludgeons the momentum away from them.
4th over: Australia 7-1 (Warner 2, Khawaja 0) That was a classic England new ball dismissal. Broad offered it up for the drive, the batsman thought about it without committing and the catch goes to hand. I liked the little I saw of Bancroft mind you, and he clearly isn’t the first to succumb to Broad in such a fashion, nor is he likely to be the last.
That’s the early breakthrough for England! Bancroft looked untroubled for 18 deliveries but to his 19th he pushed half-heartedly at a line and length delivery from Broad and succeeded only in deflecting it behind the wicket where Bairstow does well to dive to his right and snaffle the catch. Just the start England wanted.
Meanwhile in the Sheffield Shield...
#Maxwellball#Ashespic.twitter.com/RXTr9tiJrK
3rd over: Australia 4-0 (Bancroft 3, Warner 1) After Warner’s tip-and-run gets him off the mark, Anderson finds some movement off the seam, getting one to nip back and rap Bancroft just above his pad. Anderson’s bowling from wide-ish of the crease, angling in to Bancroft, looking for the one to hold its line and tickle the outside edge.
Owen Liiv is ready to up the ante in the contest to rack up the most air miles between Ashes OBOs. “I’m travelling from Whangarei (NZ, currently 4pm and a balmy 22 degrees) to London (18,194km) for Christmas this year, and will be back in NZ in time for the fifth test. 36,000km travelled (with two kids under five to boot) over the series has to be worth a mention! Whether I will be this active/coherent on the chat during my time in England remains to be seen.”
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Bancroft 3, Warner 0) Broad shares the new ball and his line is much straighter than Anderson’s, targeting the stumps and pads of Bancroft. Bancroft looks to the manor born though, confidently getting into line and presenting the full face of the bat. Remember, he was smacked in the grille at short leg earlier the day, and there was nary a flinch.
Cameron Bancroft is the 10th different person to open the batting with David Warner in Tests
Only Alick Bannerman & Arthur Morris (12 each) have had more opening partners than Warner for @CricketAus#Ashes
1st over: Australia 3-0 (Bancroft 3, Warner 0) Bancroft faces up to Anderson for his first over in Test cricket and the Western Australian is off the mark with a couple squirted down to third man, quickly followed a clip off his pads for one. Not a lot to get excited about for England, the ball gun barrel straight with no hint of misbehaviour either in the air or off the seam.
The sun is out, the players out, the Gabba is a scene. Time for the afternoon session.
Jimmy picking out the new ball pic.twitter.com/t1DnxwvWuc
Time to start looking towards Australia’s reply. How will Cameron Bancroft play on Test debut? Is David Warner’s neck still an impediment? Can England get the Kookaburra ball to move laterally? Another engrossing session is in prospect.
@JPHowcroft Would you pop your contact details on the top of the blog? Meantime.....I'm expecting England to break the Aussie momentum and snaffle three or four early wickets by tea.... #ashes
Peter Gibbs brings up a point that was also in the back of my mind: “Good morning from exotic Selsey, where people go to die then forget what they came for (but more famous for a namecheck from Madness). I was thinking about that pitch side pool and how anyone should follow the same advice I was given, namely to avoid and take note how the drinkers managed to sup beer all day but never needed to leave for the toilets. Already going gold in there I should imagine and should be green also before too long.”
Some more correspondence from around the world as the players tuck into their lunch.
Keith Roderick is in Thailand: “Good Morrow, I am stuck here in a dark, damp office in Sri Racha, Thailand following the cricket on OBO only, somewhat regretting my decision to come out of enforced retirement to take on a temporary work assignment that will finish at year’s end, meaning I shall miss all the live coverage bar the final Test, damn it!”
@JPHowcroft greetings and salutations from Iowa in the central USA, where I'm stuffed full of Thanksgiving dinner and ready to see where Australia's response takes us.
3 - This is the third time England have reached 300 batting first at the Gabba, winning on both previous occasions (1936/37, 1986/87). Lunch. #Ashespic.twitter.com/PMOxVx7Cqe
That ends England’s innings and heralds the 40-minute lunch break.
302 is a disappointing total for England who were 245-4 and coasting just over an hour ago. After navigating the new ball this morning England fell apart in the second hour of the session, losing six wickets in a flurry to hand the initiative to Australia.
Hazlewood replaces Cummins as thoughts start to shift away from the fun and games of tenderising England’s opening bowlers to actually getting them out. The line and length continues to be short and at the body but after three nondescript deliveries Broad pulls out his slap again and sends it into the safe hands of Handscomb at deep square leg.
116th over: England 301-9 (Broad 20, Anderson 4) Starc continues the barrage of short-pitched bowling from around the wicket to England’s left-handed tail-enders and Broad loves it! After almost wearing the first delivery he decides he’s had enough and slaps hard at the second. He looks out for all money on the square leg boundary but Marsh makes a horlicks of the chance, spilling the ball with Pat Cummins on the periphery of his eyeline. Broad continues his slap-happy approach with a two and then another four in the on-side, bringing up England’s 300.
Robert Wilson is tuning in from Provence. “Given your rotating correspondents from Ulan Bator, Uranus and Proxima Centauri, I’m not sure humble old Arles cuts the mustard. Nonetheless, here I am. Vincent Van Gogh blahblah, South of France blahblahblah. At least I can claim to have greatly perturbed the locals when they heard that I’d spent last night watching croquet. By far the best moment was when a local barkeep and general sage, Virgil, wrinkled his considerable brow and asked me (disapprovingly) if the horses didn’t get a bit hot what with it being Australia and all. I thought it was safer - and definitely shorter to reply; Yes, sometimes.”
115th over: England 291-9 (Broad 10, Anderson 4) Australia clearly want to take the tenth English wicket but I think they’ll also be happy if they’re out there for a few overs of chin music. Cummins is short and at the body of England’s new ball pair but after Broad nurdles a single, Anderson backs away and top-edges a hoick that sails over Paine’s head for four.
What a catch from David Warner! https://t.co/P6sH6ROa7L#Ashespic.twitter.com/TERsHkHVVH
114th over: England 286-9 (Broad 9, Anderson 0) Anderson evades the final two deliveries of the over but he will not be able to come back in for lunch as the extra half-hour has been taken.
This will be the final over before lunch you’d fancy and it’s a chance for tail mopper-upper Mitchell Starc to come back into the attack. He begins around the wicket again, targeting Broad’s body, but the lanky lefty stands his ground, getting off strike after two deliveries.
Ball applies the same technique but - wowzer - he’s out! The right-hander stepped inside the line, worked the ball neatly off his hip but David Warner flies like superman to take a blinder of a catch at leg slip. That is an outstanding grab.
113th over: England 285-8 (Broad 8, Ball 14) Neither Ball nor Broad look happy against Cummins but they both stand their ground and survive.
If this from Owen Liiv isn’t an incentive to turn on TMS I don’t know what is! “Is it just me or does Phil Tufnell’s commentary remind you of Peter Cook from the Derek and Clive days? Half expecting him to come out with a story about Jayne Mansfield and lobsters.”
112th over: England 283-8 (Broad 7, Ball 13) Hang on, Jake Ball can apparently bat a bit. 13 runs come from the hitherto parsimonious Lyon and they are very handy for England. The first four come via a streaky edge through the cordon, the next four from a lusty slog sweep, the third boundary is a classic back foot drive through the covers, and then he pinches strike with a single.
111th over: England 270-8 (Broad 7, Ball 0) Hard to see this lasting much longer. Broad doesn’t look happy against the pacemen and he is considered more adept than two of his teammates. Just 45 minutes ago England were 245-4 and grinding Australia down. Now they’re contemplating another collapse and the prospect of taking ten wickets on a flat strip that’s only offered assistance to the spinner.
England’s misery continues. Bairstow top-edges an attempted pull to a delivery that wasn’t short enough and succeeds only in skying the ball towards square leg where Paine had jogged around to pouch a comfortable catch.
110th over: England 270-7 (Bairstow 9, Broad 7) Broad much happier on strike to Lyon, rotating the strike comfortably with Bairstow and easing a two through the covers to conclude the over. Bairstow will take responsibility against the pacemen.
Matthew Williams emails in some reasons for England fans to be cheerful. “You know that this is England’s 4th highest 1st innings score at the Gabba already Batting 2nd has produced some higher scores - but first innings of the Test? 456 in 1986, 358 in 1936, 260 in 2010. 219, 194, 134 are the others in 1982, 1990 and 1958 respectively. Let’s cross our fingers for a new Top 2, anything over 358 will see me having a drink.”
109th over: England 266-7 (Bairstow 8, Broad 4) England’s hopes now rest on the shoulders of Jonny Bairstow. How attacking can he be? How much strike does he farm? If he continues like he does in this over against Cummins England will reach a handy total. A well-worked two is followed by a delightful late cut four. He can’t find the single to keep Broad off strike but the Yorkshireman looks in very good nick.
Ian Reynolds is one of many frustrated England supporters right now. “England haven’t resolved the same issues they have suffered from for years. First, we score too slowly, and when we accelerate errors creep in. Second, we refuse to score big when in - there are too many handy looking 30s and 40s in the book. Third, we refuse to look busy at the crease - Root aside. All of that leads to well sub-par first innings totals - and it’s hard to look good from there. It may be a coaching issue - particularly a Ramprakash problem, who suffered from all those problems at test level (but not the levels below).”
108th over: England 260-7 (Bairstow 2, Broad 4) Massive turn and bounce from Lyon to Bairstow from around the wicket; four byes to open the over to one that pitched in line but beat the dive of leg-slip. When Broad gets his go he takes the pitch out of the equation, reaching down the wicket to lap on the full and away to fine-leg for four.
Lyon's delivery to dismiss Woakes turned 9.6°, and was his biggest spinning delivery of the match. #Ashes
107th over: England 251-7 (Bairstow 1, Broad 0) Smith going for the jugular now, bringing Cummins back into the attack to bowl short from around the wicket to Bairstow. Scrap that, Cummins bails out of that plan after one iffy delivery, returning over the wicket and operating a more conventional strategy. After England’s ‘keeper takes a single the short stuff from around the wicket returns to the left-handed Broad. Broad is opting for the evasive technique, getting under the first one comfortably, the second didn’t get up as much and only just missed his periscopic bat. Cummins shifts to over the wicket for the third and strikes his victim firmly on his body. This is not going to be pleasant for Broad or England.
On cue, "Broad is a wanker" chant goes up around the Gabba. #Ashes#Queensland
Lyon 0 wickets off 188 balls. Then 2 in 5.
106th over: England 250-7 (Bairstow 0, Broad 0) That really was a glorious delivery from Lyon. Full, inviting the drive, appreciable turn and earning the reward his persistence for two days toil deserved. Local favourite Stuart Broad is now at the crease.
Blimey, Australia are rampant now. Lyon tosses one up to Woakes who opens the gate to drive, only to watch the ball grip, rip, and knock back the off stump. Gorgeous off-spin bowling.
105th over: England 250-6 (Bairstow 0, Woakes 0) Starc continues, over the wicket now to the right-handers, but still doesn’t look comfortable in his delivery stride. Bairstow, taking guard with a stickerless bat.
Jonny Bairstow is using a sticker-free bat & apparently Australia still have a "team song." Honestly don't know what the justification for continuing this series is.
MStarc the 22nd Aussie with 150 Test wickets. Bill Johnston (160) next in his sights.
104th over: England 249-6 (Bairstow 0, Woakes 0) Australia have roared back into this match and England are suddenly under all sorts of pressure. This partnership features the last two recognised batsmen and England will need them to turn in a rearguard action.
There’s been a lot of chuntering about commentators adding two to the scoreboard but in the blink of an eye that’s exactly what’s happened. England’s two set batsmen are both out in consecutive overs. The latest is Moeen who just played around a standard Lyon delivery from around the wicket, the ball hit his front pad and Aleem Dar raised his finger. The review proved only the onfield umpire was correct.
104th over: England 248-5 (Moeen 36, Bairstow 0) Where does the game go from here? This pair like to counterattack, Australia will have their tails up. They know England have been on top but the scoreboard hasn’t got away from them.
The first place it goes is to DRS because Moeen’s been given LBW to Lyon!
103rd over: England 247-5 (Moeen 36, Bairstow 0) Australia needed that breakthrough after toiling so far this morning. The plan of asking Starc to bowl bodyline didn’t seem to be working but Malan eventually mistimed one and the field was set perfectly to capitalise. It was an excellent innings from England’s number five, his offside drives especially. As with Vince and Stoneman before him though there will be a sense of opportunity lost after passing 50 but not cashing in.
Gah! After talking down Australia’s strategy and Starc’s execution the plan comes off. Malan top-edges a pull from a short Starc delivery from around the wicket. It gets bigger on him than he expected and Shaun Marsh moves in safely to take the catch.
102nd over: England 245-4 (Malan 56, Moeen 34) A few more oohs and ahhs for Lyon as Moeen works a few just wide of short leg and mistimes a sweep that lobs agonisingly towards the vacant silly point area.
101st over: England 242-4 (Malan 56, Moeen 31) Starc continues his short-pitched assault from around the wicket but once again it is unthreatening. Malan shows just how unthreatening with a lusty pull for four. Starc doesn’t seem to be committing to his delivery stride and his follow through is barely there.
Charlie Jeffery is within his rights to pick me up on Moeen’s heritage. “Hi there from late night Paris, I notice you say Moeen is a Warwickshire player, I thought he just signed a new deal with Worcestershire. He certainly a Birmingham lad, but he ain’t half Worcester too.” I meant that he was Brum born, but as you say his county career has been spent further south.
100th over: England 236-4 (Malan 51, Moeen 30) One of Lyon’s more lacklustre overs but despite Moeen’s best intentions he can’t pierce the field and he has to settle for a maiden.
@JPHowcroft Ohayo gozaimasu, Tokyo calling! Tell that Neil Anderson chap that he can listen to TMS via this Australian website. https://t.co/IMabUXOhIm
99th over: England 236-4 (Malan 51, Moeen 30) Starc returns to the attack after drinks with a field that screams short-pitched barrage. There’s a packed leg-side field and plenty of catchers behind square on the off for the paceman who’s coming around the wicket to the left-handers. Starc’s over lacks menace though, in keeping with his lack of rhythm so far this Test. The bounce is loopy, the batsmen are set and two singles are all the over offers. However, the replay of the final delivery reveals Bancroft was crunched in the grille at short-leg from a full-blooded Malan pull. Bancroft didn’t flinch!
That’s 50s for Stoneman, Vince and now Malan - England’s nobodies are turning into somebodies.
James Fitzpatrick is excited about Ireland’s prospects of sitting at the top table of international cricket. “Hi Jonathan, As one of the many sports fanatics from gloriously sunny, no balmy Ireland, perched under the coconut tree, I thought I would let you know we are really excited about Ireland’s ‘acceptance’ in to the lofty world of First Class Test Cricket. There won’t be a juicier match up in the history of the sport then the two aul enemies going at it, and like Croke Park, I think England will have to beat both history and their opponents in Lords.”
98th over: England 234-4 (Malan 50, Moeen 29) Malan reaches 50 with an excellent sweep to conclude an otherwise unremarkable over from Lyon, one that heralds a drinks break.
The Guardian’s own Kevin Mitchell is on the line. “In response to concerns about England’s lower order if an early wicket falls: As of August, they were top of the international Test table of No 8-11 in the order with 2,129 runs from last 27 matches; Australia had 1,070 runs at 13.71 per wicket from 22 Tests in that time - ahead only of Bangladesh.”
97th over: England 233-4 (Malan 49, Moeen 29) Cummins back around the wicket but his length is just a tad short, allowing both batsmen to ride the bounce on the angle down towards fine-leg. A single apiece for this pair who have done superbly this morning, taking the sting out of the game and forcing Australia to answer soe awkward questions about the make-up of their attack.
Neil Anderson emails a request: “Hello If you can, can you slip in a request in your OBO coverage for information of how (if at all) it is possible to listen to TMS if not in UK? No sign of streaming coverage on Youtube as there was for all games back in the UK, and BBC has progressively strangled all VPNs. Hoping the hive mind of OBO followers can come up with an answer!”
@JPHowcroft Hot chocolate has done its thing - or perhaps it's the hour, past 2.30 am here in #Finland. #Hope to wake up to a century or two! #ashespic.twitter.com/vIZKDrYVWI
96th over: England 231-4 (Malan 48, Moeen 28) England have safely navigated the first hour of the day and once again Lyon is Australia’s most likely wicket-taker. In between the unplayable turning bouncing deliveries Malan pierces the gully region for a confident boundary.
A cut and a ripped pair of pants for Starc after this incident in the outfield #Ashespic.twitter.com/1lzWHwhlMF
95th over: England 226-4 (Malan 44, Moeen 27) Cummins has shifted his line from around to over the wicket to Malan. That means his bouncer could be more awkward to handle but Malan does superbly pulling with control down to fine-leg for two. What’s happened here? Could be trouble for Australia as Starc leaves the field with his left knee bleeding and his whites torn. Replays show he clipped the spikes of Marsh when the pair both swooped onto that ball near the boundary. Starc’s now jogging away and seems in no discomfort. Malan is in no discomfort, crunching a square drive for four. Gee, his offside driving is a treat to watch.
Swann on Lyon: "Looks pretty, looks great - oohs and aahs around the place - but he's not bowling any ball to hit the stumps. He should be the one taking the wickets now." #Ashes
94th over: England 220-4 (Malan 38, Moeen 27) Battle recommences between Lyon and Moeen and after watching a couple into the ‘keeper’s gloves, Moeen rolls his wrists over a powerful sweep to collect England’s first boundary in ten overs. That prompts a move over the wicket and a series of rudimentary front-foot blocked dot balls.
@JPHowcroft Lyon's teasing Moeen outside off stump would be more dangerous if he could bowl the ball that slides on. Mo looks safe leaving anything that pitches on off or wider. (Awaits explosion of own petard)
93rd over: England 216-4 (Malan 38, Moeen 23) The battle between Cummins and Malan is building nicely. The opening delivery of the over is pushed gracefully through the covers for two but the bowler returns with a fast cutter that passes the batsman’s outside edge. Four more dots follow but the second relied on a smart stop in the field because Malan middled another of those supreme cover drives.
92nd over: England 214-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 23) Lyon is tempting Moeen with some beautifully flighted deliveries, the odd one occasionally doing plenty, the odd one doing nothing. Moeen is watchful playing out a maiden but you can seem him wrestling with the urge to go after some of the loopier ones.
91st over: England 214-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 23) Cummins returns to his line and length targeting Moeen’s body but the Warwickshire man gets off strike first ball with a glance towards the vacant leg slip region. Malan sees off the rest of the over, unfortunate to see one drive rocket straight to mid-off and not the Gabba fence.
KP having a pop at Australia on the telly. Hates the field and lack of short bowling. "This is not good enough from Australia. If I were the coach, I would send a message out there to tell them to wake up.” #Ashes
90th over: England 213-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 22) Just ten overs into the second new ball and Nathan Lyon is already into the attack. He’s sending down his offies from around the wicket to Moeen and after three nondescript balls his fourth is a jaffa, pitching on middle, ripping, and bouncing just over the off bail. Sensational delivery. Moeen steals a single from the final ball to bring up the 50 partnership.
@JPHowcroft re Phil Sawyer’s correspondence on elasticated pants - any man yet to see replays Pat Cummins’ pearler to remove Stoneman may require elasticated pants too, though for different reasons.
@JPHowcroft Are we sure that Australia hasn't recommissioned that red carpet for the English batsmen?
89th over: England 212-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 21) Mystifyingly Australia have been reluctant to test Moeen with much short stuff. When Cummins does Moeen mistimes a pull towards square leg but Shaun Marsh is too deep to run in and take the catch. Again the change of length upsets England’s rhythm. Malan squirting a length delivery just in front of second slip and then evading a shortish delivery without much conviction. Better from Australia.
88th over: England 211-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 20) Hazlewood continues around the wicket to Malan and there are oohs and ahhs with the first ball to legitimately beat the outside edge this morning. Malan is in defensive mode, blocking the straight ones, leaving the wider ones, but he got caught betwixt and between to one that just held its line and passed his defensive prod. Another maiden.
The international correspondents are coming thick and fast, including Richard Stanton: “Hi Jonathan, to add to your international band, I’m following the OBO from work in sunny Canberra! It’s a very pleasant 21C. On the Channel 9 coverage yesterday 70% of respondents thought Aus is ahead but I put it at evens especially as Australia will have to bat last unless England enforces the follow on after bowling Australia out for double figures which is **definitely** going to happen. Keep up the good work. Sorry no haiku.”
@JPHowcroft humble viewing brag from Vancouver. Stood at my desk surreptitiously checking in on the score and hoping a lost wicket curse word doesn’t undo my crafty viewing.
On the topic of your colonial community, thinking that there is not going to be much achieved in the office here in Singapore today. To be honest, if England are still in after lunch in the hunt for 350, may have to call stumps at work and head to Boomerang on Boat Quay.
87th over: England 211-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 20) Early and unsurprising bowling change with Cummins replacing Starc. From around the wicket the form paceman from day one bends his back and hurls down a maiden to Moeen. His line is around off-stump, his length is good, verging on full. Moeen is untroubled. Excellent half-hour for the tourists to start the day.
Matthew Doherty likes what he’s seen so far. “Hello Jonathan, Is it too early to say 518 for England?”
@JPHowcroft Since you seem to be collecting these: writing in from Bombay. Woken up 2 hours early by bloody mosquitoes. Still dark outside. Moeen playing like a god, but my mood is so.. so... dark... I cannot even being ,myself to appreciate it. Just awaiting the collapse.
86th over: England 211-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 20) Hazlewood around the wicket to Malan who is watchful, defending anything straight, leaving anything wide. One attempted pull to a shorter ball hurries onto the batsman and trickles to mid-on. England’s plan of wearing down Australia’s pacemen already seems to be paying dividends with this new ball pair lacking pep. Will we see a change in Australian selection strategy for Adelaide and the inclusion of a fifth bowling option?
Happy Friday!
Moeen and Malan ready to pile on the runs this morning... #Ashespic.twitter.com/y9DuoLC95X
85th over: England 211-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 20)First time this morning Moeen faces up to Starc and there’s no double-bluffing going on; a short-leg comes in and a bumper is served first up. It’s down the leg side and evaded safely but it’s value almost tells later in the over. Second ball is a length delivery played deeper in the crease than usual and almost spooned to the short cover fielder. The third delivery is a full toss that should be dispatched but Moeen’s weight is again off balance and he can only squirt a couple to midwicket, while the fifth is there to pull only to be missed with a wafty swish. Meanwhile, Starc continues to look ruefully at his footmarks and the groundstaff are out with the mallets.
Phil Sawyer is on the lookout for some elasticated pants. “Evening Jonathan. An unforeseen consequence of this series is that, at a time when I would normally be switching the lights off, for the second night in a row I find myself sat in bed watching on the laptop munching on a plate of cheese and crackers to fortify my way through the first session. I fear that after five tests my circumference is going to be reaching Gattingesque proportions. Does anyone have some extremely elasticated pants they can lend me?”
84th over: England 209-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 18)Moeen’s already forced a change of field with third slip moving to extra-cover. Hazlewood responds with a tight line-and length over with just the single from it. Not much happening out there for Australia with the new ball. The pitch looks flat, there’s no lateral movement and neither bowler do far looks to be in peak rhythm.
83rd over: England 208-4 (Malan 36, Moeen 17)Third over, third sumptuous boundary for England. Malan this time caressing Starc through the covers for a textbook four. Australia have not come out with any intent so far, and Shane Warne on commentary is letting us know it! Starc is only loping, not charging, in and he’s sending down pretty innocuous-looking length deliveries. I expected more short stuff by now.
82nd over: England 204-4 (Malan 32, Moeen 17)Hazlewood shares the new ball and he also doesn’t hit top pace as he works through the gears bowling to Moeen. After seeing off four innocuous deliveries all on a good line but varying lengths, Moeen picks up a half-volley and lofts it over mid-off for an ambitious four. Good start for England this morning.
Rupert Weaver emails from Colombia: “Hola Jonathan. Keeping up with the internationality of the OBO from yesterday I believe I’m the second posting in from Colombia. This time from Medellin-where I’ve taken to the Spanish language with Stoneman’s fluency if not his diligence. From what I’ve managed to gather, the general consensus here is if Lyon is already getting a bit of purchase on day one the batsmen might find batting as tough as a 1000 pesos steak. Talk then quickly returns to the national soccer team Los Cafeteros (The coffee growers) chances next year in Russia. However, they all think Lochlan from Laos nailed it that the series looks to be set up for a belta! Also, does he know of any good sandwich joints in the Vientiane area? Todo Bien!”
Fair play to @davidwarner31 for fronting up at the Gabba with a neck stiffer than Herman Munster but, from the look of him interviewed on the morning of day 2 of #Ashes Australia are already a man down #madness Prediction: England 450 at stumps
81st over: England 200-4 (Malan 32, Moeen 13)Starc has three deliveries to complete the 81st over of England’s first innings, the first with the second new ball. It’s a good start for England with Malan clipping the second delivery - a full half-volley on leg-stump - for four through midwicket. Starc just loosening up, and not looking overly pleased with where his front foot is landing.
Aleem Dar and Marais Erasmus lead Australia’s fielders and England’s batsmen out onto the sun-drenched outfield. Play will recommence shortly.
Ah. It’s for the groundsman. FFS
That’s right, a farewell for Kevin Mitchell Jr who retires this week after 27-years as head curator at the Gabba.
How can you not love him?
For all you fashion gurus out there hammering my shoes...! The more you pipe up, the more I’ll wear ‘em. Even some blue socks for you today! pic.twitter.com/o7L9qt6vnk
Earlier on we heard of some schmuck voluntarily relinquishing his Ashes 2005 DVDs. It seems misunderstanding the value of cricket memorabilia is rife, especially in South Australia.
@JPHowcroft Adelaide charity shops have yielded to me signed McGrath, Walker, Ian Chappell, Ashley Mallett and Alan Donald books among others.
Revisiting the subject of Australian grade cricket, Mark Stoneman and Josh Hazlewood might be rivals in this series but not long ago they were clubmates in Sydney.
Good duel Stoneman v Hazlewood. Here they are playing together for St George in Sydney eight years ago https://t.co/DEyhKuAlkw
Seventh Horcrux I’m sure speaks for thousands with his email. “Morning/Evening Jonathan. I have an exam day after, and I was marvelling on how long I’ll have to feel guilty about waking up at ungodly hours to watch cricket instead of studying. Reading about all these people skipping work or taking questionably long breaks to catch up just makes me realise it’s a lifelong endeavour. Feel slightly better now. Cheers!”
As you can see, the weather is much more conducive to cricket today than yesterday, and it is expected to stay that way for the remainder of play.
Gabba from 13 floors. 8:30 am, Day 2. pic.twitter.com/8YsFSwRbFg
While I go and brew myself a quick cup of something hot and brown I’ll leave you with a fitting track from the most quintessential Brisbane band.
England fans may be unfamiliar with some of the *bantz* they can hear emanating from behind the stumps when Nathan Lyon bowls. In case you didn’t know, Australia’s leading off-spinner’s nickname is Garry. This is in relation to another famous Australian sporting Lyon, Garry Lyon, who was a star of Australian rules football during the 1980s and 90s and has since progressed into a prominent TV and radio personality. The Gary Lineker of Australian sport if you like.
Cricket fans were just waiting for two simple words from behind the stumps on day one... #Ashespic.twitter.com/G72VfEQGQM
I’m being fed doomsday predictions like a first-team batsmen receiving unplayable throw-downs from a fourth-team battler. Full disclosure, I may have just finished reading The Grade Cricketer’s latest book.
Dave Adams is worried about England’s prospects. “Hard not to think that England will be seriously regretting the Vince run out by the time yesterday’s lost overs are completed. England 257; Australia 180-1 at stumps. Obviously would be delighted to be wrong.”
On the subject of TV coverage, here’s Simon Burnton (more from him later) on the Ashes experience delivered by BT Sport into the UK.
After sampling both BT Sport and Channel Nine yesterday, I would take the UK feed over the Australian one, given the choice.
Related: BT Sport’s fine Ashes partnerships blighted by commercial breakdowns | Simon Burnton
Wardrobe update: KP is still wearing the fawn desert boots. Although this morning his first involvement was alongside Shane Warne, so the eye was drawn to other questionable fashion choices.
KP your shoes! pic.twitter.com/rmSqwsADN8
The local cheer squad was predictably delighted by England’s batting on day one. Apparently the Vince-Stoneman partnership of 125 from 310 deliveries against what has been trumpeted as the best new ball attack in the world wasn’t engrossing Test match cricket.
Great stuff pic.twitter.com/1izuA0Kcj5
Hmmm, this is an interesting tidbit from Alison Mitchell.
Warner tells me this morn his neck is still bothering him a bit. He’ll have to adjust his technique when batting @btsportcricket#Ashes
In the ‘where in the world are you following from’ stakes, Frank Ventham takes the clubhouse lead. “Greetings from Seoul, South Korea. Very un-cricket like conditions here as we have had our first snow of the year . Looking forward to following the action today when not working.”
Harkarn Sumal is in the less glamorous (well, to some anyway) Warwickshire, but he has a question to ask: “Evening Jonathan, evening everyone. You will doubtless have readers and OBO correspondents scattered around the world this evening and through the night. In order to prove or disprove the old adage, may I be so bold as to ask if any of them is currently in the process of hitting Vic Marks for six?”
Correspondence arriving thick and fast - much obliged.
Stuie with a prediction I would be delighted to see eventuate, although I reckon we’ll see more runs today with the added overs, increased pace of the pitch and the likely batters on show.
@JPHowcroft evening JP
ENG 375 i reckon
AUS 60/2 at stumps #predictions#ashes
Here’s your deck for today. Should be good for batting, should be good for bowling.
Opportunity for England to motor towards a healthy first innings total if Moeen and Malan can see off what’s sure to be a hostile opening hour.
Ready for Day 2!
Thoughts on this track? #Ashespic.twitter.com/ZpHoytG8eM
Day 2 #Ashespic.twitter.com/QgzbfWtMnR
To misquote Truman Burbank, good morning, good evening, good afternoon and goodnight. Wherever you happen to be in the world, it’s my pleasure to welcome you on board the good ship OBO for the second day of the 2017-18 Ashes.
Let’s get some housekeeping out of the way before we get much further. Play will begin half-an-hour earlier than scheduled in a bid to make up the 9.3 overs lost to rain and bad light yesterday. That means Mitchell Starc will conclude the 81st over of England’s first innings at 9.30am local time (10.30am AET, 11.30pm GMT). The weather is set fair so a full complement of overs can be expected.
Jonathan will be here shortly. Until then, here’s all the reaction to the first day in Brisbane:
Related: Australia rally as England’s Joe Root falls late on even Ashes opening day
Related: England’s James Vince says Matthew Hayden will know who he is now
Related: Australia's pace attack off to slow start as Gabba fails to live up to reputation | Adam Collins
Related: James Vince avoids pitfalls of Ashes past to give selectors satisfaction | Ali Martin
Continue reading...