Australia closed day one on 244-3 after winning the toss after David Warner smashed his 21st Test century and Tom Curran made a promising debut for England
Read Vic Marks’s day one report
Read Vic Marks’s day one report
Related: Drama of Warner's Ashes century ignites Boxing Day of Australian control
Australia close day one of the Boxing Day Test on top, in front of 88,172 crammed into the MCG. After winning a vital toss they had first use of a flat surface and made hay during the morning session with David Warner showing no mercy to England’s attack.
With lunch taken at 102-0 a monster score looked in the offing but the game changed along with England’s planning and execution. Dry lines to Warner slowed the run-rate, earned the wicket of the skittish Cameron Bancroft, and began to drag the game in England’s direction.
Related: Drama of Warner's Ashes century ignites Boxing Day of Australian control
89th over: Australia 244-3 (Smith 65, S Marsh 31) Despite 13 overs of spin and an extra half-hour, England will leave an over in the sheds. Umpires really need to up the ante on this and give paying customers the full compliment in the time allotted. Anyway, chunter over for now, Anderson extracts every ounce of energy to bowl six deliveries on a good length around off-stump to Smith. Each is either defended down the pitch or left alone. That’s yer lot.
88th over: Australia 244-3 (Smith 65, S Marsh 31) Broad’s first full over is with the new ball is serviceable but lacks menace. After a Smith nurdle Marsh defends resolutely as the close of play draws near.
87th over: Australia 243-3 (Smith 64, S Marsh 31) Anderson will have two overs with this new ball before the close of play. And he almost makes the first one count, ripping one past Smith’s outside edge and then beating Marsh for pace and bounce. A belated tasty contest between bat and ball.
Steve Smith moves to 63 and with it his Test career average has also touched 63.00. What a form he is having. #Ashes
86th over: Australia 242-3 (Smith 63, S Marsh 31) Five deliveries into the first over of Broad’s latest spell and the new ball is taken. I’m sure there’s a reason it was delayed this long, but here it is. There’s an immediate impact with the ball zipping off the surface as it did before lunch.
Would England be getting pelters if they had scored at this rate, the series already won, on a flat road @JPHowcroft? I suspect the Aussie press pack would have been sharpening their pencils for sure.
85th over: Australia 242-3 (Smith 63, S Marsh 31) Curran with the unenviable task of sending down an 85-over ball in Steve Smith’s direction. There would only ever be one winner, and that’s the number one ranked batsman in the world, who skims a boundary through gully and rotates the strike at will. The moribund atmosphere is enlivened by Shane Warne describing Tom Curran’s hairstyle as “fast” before expounding on male grooming like a man oblivious to the existence of Alan Partridge.
84th over: Australia 236-3 (Smith 58, S Marsh 30) As the day’s play grinds to a halt and the game ebbs away from England, Woakes continues his toil, conceding just one run.
Fun fact: Australia has won every Boxing Day Test Match at the MCG when the #Melbourne temperature has reached 30°C or more on Boxing Day. May get warmer still, check here: https://t.co/MfREwYwQfV#Ashes#melbweatherpic.twitter.com/rMcJE2mu1L
83rd over: Australia 235-3 (Smith 57, S Marsh 30) Still no sign of the new ball which means Curran goes through the full repertoire of his slower ball variations and Smith and Marsh pick up the occasional run on offer. As we’ve seen throughout the series, England have managed to contain but proven unable to change gears when the game has entered a lull.
A tremendous crowd of 88,172 for day one of the Boxing Day Test! #Ashespic.twitter.com/ZHa0AUZUEO
82nd over: Australia 232-3 (Smith 55, S Marsh 29) Woakes continues with the old ball and Marsh pierces the packed off-side field for what seems like the first aesthetically pleasing boundary in hours. The whipcrack of willow clattering leather waking the game from its evening slumber.
81st over: Australia 228-3 (Smith 55, S Marsh 25) The new ball has not been taken, but Curran returns to the attack in place of Malan. It’s another over that literally happened but without much to report. The day’s play has been slowly petering out for about 40 overs and judging by the massive gaps in the once-full MCG the local patrons have had enough.
80th over: Australia 226-3 (Smith 54, S Marsh 24) Woakes continues the Sisyphean task of bowling to Steve Smith at the MCG. It’s a nondescript over with the whiff of the last before the new ball.
@JPHowcroft I hope that whenever they put a David Warner statue at the SCG it's him playing that silly down low pull that got him out all the time, even today on the no-ball
79th over: Australia 225-3 (Smith 53, S Marsh 24) Malan into the seventh over of his spell, continues to do his thing. Australia look to get after him more than usual though, rotating the strike and feasting on a rare long-hop.
78th over: Australia 218-3 (Smith 51, S Marsh 19) Woakes relieves Anderson and his introduction into the attack livens up Marsh who’s keen to pick off the bowler’s natural shorter length. It almost accounts for him twice though, the first time slapping a pull just short of Malan at short midwicket, and later missing a pull that canons into his box. Somehow the over ends as a maiden.
77th over: Australia 218-3 (Smith 51, S Marsh 19) The becalming of the session has owed plenty to Malan’s parsimony. He continues to prove difficult to get away with Australia content just to dead-bat dots and bunt occasional ones and twos. One of those scoring shots finally brings about Smith’s 50, another chanceless knock from one of the all-time greats.
76th over: Australia 213-3 (Smith 49, S Marsh 16) The longer Anderson continues the less likely it would seem Root intends to take the new ball in four overs. He’s not making this old ball talk, but he is getting it to whisper, extracting reverse swing in both directions. One standout delivery beats Marsh’s outside edge from around the wicket. The game is in a bit of a late-afternoon holding pattern, the kind where the crowd start to get restless as the mid-strength lager finally takes its toll.
75th over: Australia 212-3 (Smith 49, S Marsh 15) Consecutive maidens for England with Smith unable to work Malan into any gaps. The performance of the part-time spinner has been an unexpected bright spot for Joe Root today.
74th over: Australia 212-3 (Smith 49, S Marsh 15) Anderson stays on for a second over and it’s a skilful one, making the ball wobble both ways in the air. Unfortunately for the bowler the movement is from the hand and coming out at 135kph, which isn’t enough to concern a well-set Shaun Marsh in a defensive mindset.
73rd over: Australia 212-3 (Smith 49, S Marsh 15) All filler, no killer, with Malan feeding innocuous deliveries to Smith who works three runs at his leisure. He will soon pass 50 for the 44th time in his Test career. He’s reached 100 on 22 of the previous occasions.
72nd over: Australia 209-3 (Smith 46, S Marsh 15) The final drinks break of the day has been taken. 19 overs now remain, which means we’ll be using the extra half-hour buffer zone after 5.30pm local time. Anderson is back for an unexpected bowl to Smith, perhaps sensing the reverse-swing could be a weapon. There’s a skerrick of tail into the right-hander but not enough quickly enough to trouble the batsman who defends five deliveries and brings up the 50-partnership with a final ball single.
71st over: Australia 209-3 (Smith 46, S Marsh 15) Another tidy offering from Malan, who’s receiving plenty of praise from Shane Warne on the telly. He’s landing them beautifully to both right and left-hander, but without the kind of venom to cause them much discomfort. Still, two overs in a row conceding just one run will do captain Root as he awaits the new ball.
Can't remember the last time I saw this many people leave the G this early in the day. Either the beer has run out, or there is a place outside the ground offering free brunches.
70th over: Australia 208-3 (Smith 45, S Marsh 15) Smith capitalises on a rare loose delivery from Curran, cutting a loopy shorter ball for four behind point. Curran now hiding the ball in his run-up, presumably suggesting there’s some reverse swing on offer with this 70-over old ball.
69th over: Australia 203-3 (Smith 40, S Marsh 15) Malan gets a second over and it’s a tidy one, keeping this set pair on their toes and conceding just the single. Smith has cruised to 40 off 70 balls.
68th over: Australia 202-3 (Smith 39, S Marsh 15) Curran continues, offering bags of energy and purpose. He stifles an LBW appeal against Marsh, who looks suspect playing around his front pad, before executing the slower ball out of the back of his hand to perfection. It’s worthy of multiple replays and analysis, the ball coming out with the seam in ideal position, becoming effectively a disguised top-spinner, 30kph slower than a standard offering. It’s a sign of Curran’s talent that he has the wherewithal to try, let alone execute, such a difficult skill in such a pressurised environment.
67th over: Australia 200-3 (Smith 38, S Marsh 15) Root has turned to Malan’s part-time leggies to buy himself some overs of spin. It says all you need to know about Moeen, unfortunately, who ends his second spell with six overs 0-35. Malan does a decent job but both batsmen milk him with the minimum of fuss.
Smith's last 400 runs at the @MCG have come without being dismissed (134*, 70*, 165* & 31*) #Ashes
66th over: Australia 196-3 (Smith 37, S Marsh 12) Curran to Smith is an intriguing contest. The batsman almost seems to be enjoying the unpredictability of the deliveries and the positions he finds himself in combatting the variety of cutters, slower-balls and genuine seam-up pace that hits the bat hard. Just a single from that set of six.
Bradman vs Ponting vs Smith's test careers compared: pic.twitter.com/mZKZMsmVpg
65th over: Australia 195-3 (Smith 36, S Marsh 12) Another disappointing Moeen over puts more pressure on Root to find overs to relieve his four hardworking pacemen. Only one dot in an over containing four effortless singles and a chanceless boundary.
64th over: Australia 187-3 (Smith 34, S Marsh 6) Young Curran with the small victory of a maiden over to the imperious Smith. The batsman was largely untroubled but Curran’s variations of pace proved difficult to score from.
63rd over: Australia 187-3 (Smith 34, S Marsh 6) Moeen is practically throw-downs at the moment, generating no turn, drift or bounce. Smith easily picks up a couple, then a single, handing over to Marsh who cuts a short delivery for four. The inability to expose one of Australia’s potential weaknesses has really handicapped England this series.
62nd over: Australia 180-3 (Smith 31, S Marsh 2) The impressive Curran comes back into the attack with figures of nine overs 0-23 from his previous two eventful spells. He returns with plenty of oomph, hitting the pitch hard, throwing in the odd slower ball, keeping both batsmen on their toes. Curran is effectively bowling like he’s playing an ODI, which is no bad thing considering the pitch is somewhat receptive to slower variations with this old ball. Three singles keep the scoreboard moving.
61st over: Australia 177-3 (Smith 29, S Marsh 1) Moeen into the attack for his second spell after a brief opening dart before lunch. Smith is immediately on the attack, belting another four through the covers to establish the alpha in that particular relationship. Not a lot happening out there for England’s spinner.
60th over: Australia 172-3 (Smith 24, S Marsh 1) Broad to continue his spell to Smith who earns three with a shot I could watch on repeat forever. It’s a typical Smith stroke, a drive on the up through extra-cover, but there’s something about it that makes it something altogether more exciting. I think it’s the way his hands come down through the line of the ball with an almost supernatural force with apparently so little effort. There’s no Lara flourish or Martyn grace, he’s just in position bullet time early and the blade comes through like a blacksmith pounding steel into shape in a fantasy movie. Five from the over; Marsh off the mark.
59th over: Australia 167-3 (Smith 20, S Marsh 0) It looks like we could be in for one of those spells where Smith looks like he’s batting on a different strip to his partner. After Khawaja and Marsh’s travails the skipper is unruffled against Woakes, working a four and a three with an economy of batsmanship.
SBroad breaks a 414-ball barren streak before breaking through with his 415th.
58th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 13, S Marsh 0) Eventful over from Broad. The wicket ball, the review, and one further hearty roar for LBW (correctly declined) as England’s fast bowler finally gets the bit between his teeth. Interesting hour or so coming up. If England can winkle out Smith they will be right back in this.
REVIEW! Broad’s first delivery to Marsh spears in from around the wicket and beats the bat aiming a shot to the leg-side from around the front pad. Broad is convinced, the umpire not so much. Root backs his bowler but the NOT OUT decision stands, umpire’s call on height saving Marsh from a golden.
Broad ends his loooooooooong barren spell with the wicket of Khawaja. It was a line and length delivery from around the wicket that Khawaja meets on the push tentatively, nibbling a lazy edge behind the wicket. A bit of a gift that one but England will take it, Broad especially.
57th over: Australia 160-2 (Khawaja 17, Smith 13) Woakes continues and he hurls down five respectable deliveries before Smith turns the sixth into four with a back-foot drive behind point.
Nicholas Butt (maybe that one, who knows?) asks what the point is in considering sessions won or lost in the context of a five-day Test? I think players and coaches always like to demarcate such a long contest (batting for an hour or a session) to focus the mind and keep the immediate relevant even if the bigger picture may seem foregone. The first time I think I recall the sessions being so closely contested was the 2005 Ashes when a camera caught the whiteboard in Australia’s changing room with a series of ticks and crosses next to the day’s sessions.
56th over: Australia 156-2 (Khawaja 17, Smith 9) Broad continues after Tea but like Woakes he isn’t immediately into his groove. A touch on the floaty and full side he offers Khawaja a number of scoring opportunities with a couple worked to square leg and four driven through mid-off.
55th over: Australia 150-2 (Khawaja 11, Smith 9) Woakes begins the 36-over final session, but it doesn’t start how he would like. After conceding a single to Khawaja, he watches Smith pull him off his hip for four. The Warwickshire man doesn’t let his head drop, fizzing one past Smith’s outside edge later in the over.
Pitch still looking at tea! How many runs for Aus in the final session? #Ashespic.twitter.com/xmdujnfvTc
So I'm confused @JPHowcroft. Is this a batting paradise or is the kind of wicket that yields 43-2 in a session (against "useless" bowlers to boot). Might pundits have been a tiny bit hasty in assessing the pitch? (Yet again).
Good question Gary. In my opinion it’s a road. Only a handful of deliveries have moved off the seam and bounce is true and consistent. The only thing to note may be an issue picking up the slower-than-may-be-expected pace early in a knock - especially with the softer older ball. The difference between the sessions was simply England’s plans. They began after lunch looking to dry up the runs, setting fields to do so and bowling to them accordingly. They’ve been helped by Bancroft and Khawaja both looking uncertain at the crease too.
Some smart plans and careful execution made that England’s session. Arriving after lunch 102-0 Australia made only 43 more, losing both openers along the way.
54th over: Australia 145-2 (Khawaja 10, Smith 5) The final over before Tea will be sent down by Broad, who has now ticked past 400 balls since his last wicket. He almost ends that run with the prize scalp of Smith, beating the right-hander’s outside edge with one that jags away off a length. Smith responds by cautiously nursing his way to the interval.
53rd over: Australia 144-2 (Khawaja 9, Smith 5) That funkiness early on to Smith appears to have just been an Anderson thing. For Woakes the approach is more orthodox, albeit with an emphasis on containment rather than taking the home skipper’s wicket. That containment works in a maiden over that owed more to well-placed fielders than canny bowling.
52nd over: Australia 144-2 (Khawaja 9, Smith 5) Double change for England with Broad replacing Anderson. Plenty of chat on TV about the extent of Smith’s bruised hand, an injury the Australian skipper picked up in a freak practice accident, but he doesn’t need to worry about it for long, rotating the strike early in the over. Thereafter Broad keeps Khawaja honest and there are signs of frustration with the batsman swishing unconvincingly at a wider one that only just passes the inside edge.
51st over: Australia 143-2 (Khawaja 9, Smith 4) Woakes with the job of backing up Curran’s superb spell but it doesn’t begin auspiciously. He over-pitches with his second delivery, allowing Smith to throw his hands of stone through the ball and earn three out towards extra-cover, and follows that up with a rubbish long-hop that Khawaja pulls dismissively for four. Khawaja immediately looks to play the aggressor after soaking up pressure from Anderson and Curran. Australia’s ability to punish England’s weak links has been a feature of this series.
Hats off to England for the way they’ve adjusted on this wicket. Floating slip and a stacked off side, hang it out there. Standard mcg tactics executed well.
50th over: Australia 136-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 1) Here we go, funky from Root for Smith’s first full over - Anderson from around the wicket to a leg-side field, including a leg slip and a short midwicket. Smith does his thing, shuffling and doing just enough to keep the ball out, pinching a single from the final delivery.
@jphowcroft All England need to do is play smart - they've not done it down under this past month, but better late than never....
49th over: Australia 135-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 0) More of the same for Curran who sends down his third maiden of this five-over spell. Curran did his bit earning that wicket of Warner; “bowling in partnerships” and all that. Khawaja in particular does not know what to do with the debutant.
Tom Curran is currently hitting the slowest average pace for an England seamer this series, yet he's drawn the highest percentage of false shots. #Ashes
Looking forward to seeing Curran get Smith out for 199#cricketkarma#Ashes@JPHowcroft
48th over: Australia 135-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 0) Imagine removing a centurion only to find Steve Smith striding out purposefully to the crease? Can England finally find a way to unsettle the best since Bradman? Anderson starts full and straight, targeting LBW, securing the final two dots for his wicket-maiden.
519 - In taking his 100th #Ashes wicket, James Anderson has moved alongside Courtney Walsh as the fifth most prolific bowler of all time on 519 Test wickets. Longevity. pic.twitter.com/6PcfU3UFDF
England do make their tight hour of dry lines and bowling to plans count. After denying the centurion Warner runs he wafts lazily at an Anderson delivery wide of off-stump, nicking the thinnest of edges to Bairstow. Superb knock from the Aussie vice-captain. Just reward for some diligent cricket from England.
47th over: Australia 135-1 (Warner 103, Khawaja 5) Another maiden, and another promising over for Curran who keeps Khawaja pinned to his crease and playing watchfully. The Surrey schemer beats him once too with one that moves fractionally off the seam, a monster turner on this runway.
46th over: Australia 135-1 (Warner 103, Khawaja 5) After England revised their approach to delay Warner’s century the runs have dried up for Australia. Only 13 have been scored from the past 10 overs, and none from this Anderson maiden, it’s an hour since the last boundary. Bancroft was becalmed before his dismissal, Khawaja has yet to get in, while England’s attack is bowling to a plan to Warner who is struggling to pierce the packed off-side field. Can the tourists convert this pressure into wickets?
45th over: Australia 135-1 (Warner 103, Khawaja 5) Another decent over for Curran, who’s an encouraging hustler of a bowler. Not the tallest, not the quickest, but always looks likes making something happen with his energy and variety.
Bancroft and Khawaja have made 30 runs off 128 balls. Warner has made 102 off 140.
Curran gets Warner on 99.
Third Umpire calls no-ball.
Warner gets his 100 and celebrates for 10 minutes.
A heartbreaking three act drama at the MCG. #Ashes
44th over: Australia 132-1 (Warner 101, Khawaja 4) Curran’s error reopens the debate about the adjudication of no-balls. As journalist Brydon Coverdale notes: “There has to be a way of fixing the no-ball issue. If on-field umps won’t call them, get the third ump to watch every ball and call it before the next delivery. Otherwise they’ll only ever get called on wicket balls”. While that’s being chewed over, Anderson bowls a straightforward maiden to Khawaja. Australia’s number three is four from 32 deliveries.
43rd over: Australia 132-1 (Warner 101, Khawaja 4) A fired up Curran returns to bowl to a fired up Warner, and the result is a not-so fired up maiden. Curran pitching the ball up well and mixing his pace nicely, bowling to his field.
Considering England’s luck so far this series, Mark White may be on to something. “G’day from Sydney. Could this Curran no-wicket no-ball be the trigger for England losing the plot, and the series 6-0? Yes, I’m aware there are only five matches...”.
If you start watching Tom Curran’s over at 11:57:10 on NYE, his no ball to David Warner will drop at exactly midnight, and his heartbreak will ring in 2018.
Start the year off right. #ashes
42nd over: Australia 132-1 (Warner 101, Khawaja 4) Anderson sends down a nondescript over after the drinks break, giving everybody the opportunity to celebrate the chaos of the previous over. Poor Tom Curran, who thought he had David Warner as his first Test wicket, only to see it overturned for overstepping. Warner celebrated his century as triumphantly as any of his 21, and then went on to share some angry words with Curran and Jonny Bairstow. Fun and games.
Thanks Adam, good afternoon everybody, I’ll be with you until the close of play, in about three-and-a-half hours or 49 overs time. I dare say I’ll spend most of my time communicating the torrent of Australian runs on this Boxing Day batting bonanza. The MCG curator has served up a road for this dead rubber and since winning the toss the home side have largely been in cruise control. The new contact details are at the top of the page, please feel free to get in touch as we go, tell me your festive cricketing tales and maybe share your best/worst cricketing gifts.
The ball after all the the mayhem, Warner turns it into square leg for the one he required for the century. Oh dear me, what an incredible couple of minutes they were. Warner celebrates with his customary leap. 130 balls to reach the mark, 13 boundaries and a six. The response of the Barmy Army to the wicket, then the MCG faithful to the no-ball, then their second chance to go wild. They didn’t miss out. Drinks on the field. A decent time to hand over to JP Howcroft. Blimey. See you tomorrow.
41st over: Australia 131-1 (Warner 100, Khawaja 4).
He thought he had Warner on 99, spooning up a catch to mid-on, but the television shows that he is over the line! SCENES!
40th over: Australia 128-1 (Warner 99, Khawaja 3). Booo! Broad taken out of the attack. Fun while it lasted. Right, it’s Jimmy to replace him. Warner on 98. And on the front foot pushing to cover, but only for one. That makes 6000 Test runs for Warner. The equal-fifth fastest to the mark the TV says (measured by Tests, currently in his 70th) behind Bradman (45), Gavaskar, Sobers and Hutton. Equal with Hammond. Khawaja beaten outside the off-stump. Not a lot of footwork there. But gets one out to midwicket. So, Warner has one ball left in the over to find his 100th run... but doesn’t. Hit it well enough to point, but Moeen down in time.
Oh, and he’s fourth quickest Australian by innings played according to this.
David Warner becomes the 14th Australian to score 6,000 Test runs.
Warner is equal 4th fastest Australian to reach 6,000 Test runs:
- Sir Don Bradman - 68 innings
- Ricky Ponting - 125 innings
- Matthew Hayden - 126 innings
- @davidwarner31& Greg Chappell - 129 innings#Ashespic.twitter.com/c4LYQkOJTr
39th over: Australia 126-1 (Warner 98, Khawaja 2). Khawaja off the mark with a nice push past mid-on. The crowd urged a third to get Warner back on strike. Not to be. Another useful over from Woakes.
Standby for Warner's heavily choreographed century celebration #Ashespic.twitter.com/Fmim2iQIbG
38th over: Australia 124-1 (Warner 98, Khawaja 0). Broad back to a straighter line to begin, drawing out a false stroke when Warner tried to cut, but it went straight into the ground. Then driving, Warner timed it well back at the bowler but he did well to stop it. Could have been the ton. They go again. Cut, in the air! Bad shot, sliced past the man at point. But only just. Not hit well enough to go, they take a couple. Warner throws his hands at the final ball, but along the carpet to extra cover. Say what you will about Broad’s approach in his previous over, but it had forced Warner to think about it.
37th over: Australia 122-1 (Warner 96, Khawaja 0). “What a great time to come out to bat,” Dirk Nannes says of Usman Khawaja’s opportunity to enjoy this flat pitch. Woakes is around the wicket to him and is beaten. Very nice delivery. Next up, Khawaja is back and trying to pull but doesn’t make contact. Didn’t get up at all. Woakes in the contest. Khawaja too, driving to mid-off then mid-on. Good cricket.Maiden.
Tbf he’s bowling to the field his captain set #Ashes
36th over: Australia 122-1 (Warner 96, Khawaja 0). Warner watches Broad outside the off-stump, four times in a row. Goes progressively wider through the over. Bowling with a 7-2 field in an effort to force Warner into something daft this close to 100. He’s back out there to finish the over. That should have been signalled. Umpire Ravi says no. The crowd are involved, booing loudly. Twitter doesn’t like the tactic either.
This is pathetic cricket from England.
35th over: Australia 122-1 (Warner 96, Khawaja 0). Full from Woakes to Khawaja, the new man defending the three remaining balls. Looks so much better for it. Hung back of a length throughout his first spell for no obvious reason.
A wicket! Khawaja to the crease with Warner 96*.
Live video, radio, scores and more: https://t.co/osnYPjcpzQ#Ashespic.twitter.com/QsYOBJbkXz
Oh yes, that is very out. Beaten by Woakes on the back foot from a ball that jagged back off the seam. Woakes was the man least likely until about ten minutes ago, but has found a way to get the ball moving off the straight. And that’s been enough to get him into the book.
34th over: Australia 122-0 (Bancroft 25, Warner 96). Broad has one slip, a man at backward point but half way to the boundary. Not sure what his role is in this cunning plan. It matters not, Warner really giving it to a half-volley, straight back past the bowler for his 13th boundary. A real beaut of a shot. He’s five away from 6000 career runs, the TV tells me. Make that three, when he tucks the final delivery to long leg.
Complete this sequence. Lost by 10 wickets. Lost by 120 runs. Lost by an innings and 41 runs. #ashes
33rd over: Australia 115-0 (Bancroft 25, Warner 90). Woakes changes it up, now coming around to Warner. And gets the first one to come back at him off the seam. That’ll play. A rare inside edge from the left-hander. More convincing later in the over, crouching low before pouncing at a fuller delivery, square driving a couple. A bit of movement at the end of the over as well. Nothing to get too excited about, but he’s vaguely in the game. And Warner is into the 90s.
At least they picked the only strip of bitumen in Melbourne that doesn't have a roadworks crew reducing things to a standstill.
32nd over: Australia 113-0 (Bancroft 25, Warner 88). Broad was the best of the England quicks earlier. Spent some time off the field following his spell, presumably treating the knee that has bothered him throughout the series. Warner takes him off his pads to the sweeper at midwicket. Bancroft deals with the rest, without fanfare.
31st over: Australia 112-0 (Bancroft 25, Warner 87). A couple to Bancroft clipping off his hip. The Mexican Wave is circulating around the MCG for the first time today. Tipping it won’t be the last. The members even getting involved.
This feels like 2002
30th over: Australia 110-0 (Bancroft 23, Warner 87). Broad to resume from the Great Southern Stand End. A nothing delivery to begin, short and on Warner’s body, who plays that tuck-pull behind square for four. To 87 he moves. This gives me a chance to relay that last week I had ABC stats guru Ric Finlay run something for me. I remembered hearing a predecessor of his on the radio in the mid-90s reveal that every other score in the 80s has had Australians dismissed with greater frequency than 87. Ric has confirmed that this remains the case. So much for the superstition.
29th over: Australia 106-0 (Bancroft 23, Warner 83). Edge, gap, four. Bancroft wasn’t in control of that prod, but gets a boundary past gully. Woakes throws his head back and says some naughty words. Fair enough.
We had the scallywag tax before lunch, coming in at $1138. This is the bill if you want to get on for a frolic with the fellas. Probably not worth it.
I'm assuming this includes Trespass Tax @henrymoeranBBC#MCGpic.twitter.com/Qg2gFw4wzN
The players are back. Bless ‘em. Woakes vs Bancroft. Play.
“Speaking of Stretch Armstrongs,” writes Stephen Davenport “My wife saw fit to purchase me an equally nostalgic Hot Wheels, for some mad reason. I now proudly possess a collection of one Hot Wheel. A flaming orange 1970s Dodge Dart with orange flames. She also found a game called “Code Breaker” which is a copy in wood rather than plastic of the confusingly-named (because of the concurrent TV show) 1970s game “Mastermind”. You know, the one that featured the knock-off Bond-villain-type couple on the box.I’m in Indianapolis (-7 C at the moment, dropping to -16C tomorrow night) and Skyped my brother in Southampton, who excitedly informed me that just a couple of days ago he bought an original Mastermind in a charity store for £1.50. The 1970s price sticker was still on it, speaking of inexplicable numbers like $1138: it was an imaginative £1.08. On the face of it my brother just got shafted to the tune of 42 pence.”
On Christmas gifts. For those who were following in Perth last week, I wasn’t able to purchase the Notting Hill bench for my girlfriend. But I have faith I’ll be able to pull it off in time for her birthday next month. (Got her singing lessons).
Gavin Robertson (the same Gavin Robertson?) on the email. “Having watched Warner get his century before lunch on the first day of the Sydney Test at the start of this year, I’ve been wondering what I can look forward on the 4th January 2018. Is it asking too much to think that England bat first and are all out before I start on my ham and cheese sandwiches around this time of day?”
Quite the year for Dave. Yep, the ton in two hours to begin. Then the awful series in India. A brilliant IPL campaign after that to get back on track. Two months working as a quasi-shop steward in the pay dispute. To Bangladesh for his first tons in the subcontinent. Feels right that he’d cap it with a massive Boxing Day ton. It would also make my end of day piece that much easier.
28th over: Australia 102-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 83). As is the custom, the spinner Moeen Ali gets to deliver the final over before lunch. Just play it back to him, right? Get to lunch, yeah? No. Warner clobbers him straight over his head for SIX. What a way to punctuate a dominant session. He’s into the 80s with the strike. It brings up Australia’s 100 as well. Lunch.
This is going to get ugly. Back with you after a quick bite.
Miss the first session? Here's all you need to know: pic.twitter.com/G5VdrudsOf
27th over: Australia 96-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 77). Anderson with probably the last over before lunch. No stalling from Bancroft though, defending and leaving. Very close to his off-stump at one stage. Prompts a chat from Warner. Hit again with the short ball. On the arm this time, by the looks. Chris Rogers on radio admiring how hard the West Australian has had to work to survive out there so far. He looks badly out of form. The over concludes at 12:29pm, so they will go around again.
(PS - hit refresh and pretend the initial version of that 26th over update didn’t happen. Still battling technology)
26th over: Australia 96-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 77). Forget what I said about Warner, he’s back doing that thing he does. He pulls Curran off his hip with a leg in the air. A harder shot to play than it looks. You get four runs for that. Easier pickings when Curran drifts down the legside, helped on its way. Into, and nearly out of, the 70s. Just like that.
25th over: Australia 88-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 69). Another Warner boundary behind point off Anderson. On another day, both could have found gully. Warner looked a million bucks half an hour ago. Less so now. He’s down the other end with a single to cover. Bancroft is defending solidly for the rest. They have probably three overs to see off to make it a wicketless session.
“$1138? What an odd figure to settle on,” observes Jay Rose. “Someone in the fines department is a George Lucas fan.” I keep a file tracking these figures from ground to ground. All to be revealed at Sydney. Did enjoy the ten-fold increase from Adelaide to Perth. That’s the mining boom for you, etc etc.
It's the epilogue that makes it. pic.twitter.com/IHFvXXSloR
24th over: Australia 83-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 64). Maiden sent down from Curran to Bancroft. The right-hander had a couple of chances to attack, but didn’t beat the off-side field. A sharper delivery concludes the set, ripping back off the seam and collecting an inside edge. Some encouraging early signs for him.
“G’day, Adam.” Hi Sarah Bacon. “After a huge day’s food’n’booze, I’ve had my disco nap, and am on my first coffee of this graveyard shift. Husband has gone to bed in disgust (he’s a Pom), declaring that if Australia loses more than one wicket today, then we should hang our heads in shame. Apparently, it would be ‘unAustralian’ (yes, he knows all phrases) to even consider that happening, given the terrible bowling ‘attack’ on show today at the ‘G. So that’s me told then.”
23rd over: Australia 83-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 64). Anderson to Warner. The latter happy enough to defend early in the over. Setting himself for a long day. That is until the champion seamer drops short, Warner accepting the invitation for a lash. Not his best shot so far today, through the air behind point, but to the boundary it goes.
What ground in Australia is the cheapest to be a dickhead at?#ashespic.twitter.com/UDLQVe91SD
22nd over: Australia 79-0 (Bancroft 19, Warner 60). Sorry about the lag, technology not my friend this morning. The short story is that Curran has five taken from his over. Would have been six had Bancroft’s push out to point made it to the rope. Instead, Anderson put in an athletic dive to prevent that.
21st over: Australia 74-0 (Bancroft 16, Warner 58). Jimmy is back for a second spell. Oh what a glorious shot, Warner straight down the ground past the bowler and to the rope in a flash. “Might be making a late charge for a century in a session,” says Simon Katich on radio when driving out to cover for three more. They have the field stacked in that region, but Warner’s placement is the key these days.
A bit tongue in cheek from Gary Naylor here, I suspect. “More evidence today that this can only be described as a hollow Ashes victory for Australia, after they blatantly doctored their team to suit the pitches.”
Unicorns #ThingsEnglandAreMoreLikelyToGet20OfThanWicketsInThisGame
20th over: Australia 63-0 (Bancroft 16, Warner 51). Tom Curran to bowl his first over in Test cricket. Bancroft drives the first one, but the bowler does well to stop it in his follow through. Edge! That’s gone through the cordon at the right height, but not to hand. To the left of gully. So close to an immediate breakthrough. Cruel game, ay?
Collar popped, hair looking
Hugely promising start to Test cricket for Tom Curran. #Ashes
19th over: Australia 63-0 (Bancroft 12, Warner 51). He’s racing now. Warner smacks a pair of boundaries to bring up his half century. Six fours, 64 balls. The first is another wonderfully struck drive through cover. Woakes battling here. The left-hander has enough time to get onto the back foot in response to the final ball, pulling with authority. Ten from the over.
18th over: Australia 53-0 (Bancroft 11, Warner 42). Moeen not posing any problems for Warner, who has improved his game against finger spin. He’s down the track, driving to cover for two. Another down the ground with that same footwork. “Aggressive defence” is how Warner describes his approach of leaping out of the blocks to combat any turn. Did it very nicely in Bangladesh.
17th over: Australia 50-0 (Bancroft 11, Warner 39). Okay, now Woakes is getting somewhere. A much healthier length to Bancroft. A nice bouncer in there too. Oh, wrote too soon. Not his fault that Mason Crane, the sub, hit the stumps after Bancroft took one to mid-off. It allowed that one to become two with the ball spilling away. The crowd enjoy that. Probably 85,000 in here now. Will be over 90,000 after lunch and the Members section fills out a bit. The 50 up with a Warner single to cover to finish the over.
“From the horsebox,” writes Peter Gibbs. “I mean, really Adam. That it should come to this. But thankful for the small mercies of OBO. Total presents: one pair of socks. No, really. One argument: Brother couldn’t hear the Queen over my occasional sniggering commentary about spare rooms at Buck House. Ooh the language.”
16th over: Australia 46-0 (Bancroft 8, Warner 38). Moeen Ali is into it now, replacing Broad. Around the wicket to Warner. Has a look for a couple of balls before getting onto the front foot, walking a single to the man at a deepish mid-off, I suppose you would call it. Odd not to have him up saving the single. Bancroft to long-on next ball, using his feet nicely. Warner’s turn, who leans back to wallop the final delivery of the over through midwicket for four. His fourth boundary. It won’t be a century in a session, but Warner should be plenty by the time they break for lunch.
England are persisting with a wide line to Warner, but it's feeding his strong areas. Whilst he's not attacking too many of these wide deliveries, it's a dangerous tactic against the Australian opener. #Ashespic.twitter.com/LSB4M2CLeP
15th over: Australia 40-0 (Bancroft 7, Warner 33). “I am absolutely mystified by this field,” says Simon Katich on the radio. “They are just hoping Warner makes a mistake. That’s it.” He is reflecting on the deep point and deep square leg in place as Woakes runs in to begin the second hour of play. Sure enough, Warner pings a cut to the sweeper. The third time he’s been able to do that in seven Woakes deliveries so far. Too short. Takes another single out there later it the over. Bancroft again looking uncomfortable to a ball short of a length, defending from an inside edge.
“Evening/morning Adam.” Hi Paul. “I’m lazily orbiting about 2m from my childhood bedroom trying not to wake up my father. Just finished off a 12 hour-ish shift on warm ale and my Christmas wish has been granted by England not batting first and ending up 25/6. I also got me two front teeth, as well as a Stretch Armstrong.”
"It's going to be a batting paradise." - Vaughan. AUS 0/40 #Ashespic.twitter.com/hwa9BzbXrs
14th over: Australia 37-0 (Bancroft 7, Warner 30). Broad goes again, his seventh over of the spell. Not a difficult one for Bancroft to negotiate, a couple drifting down the leg side. He defends the rest. Drinks.
“At what point should the captain bring the slips closer in?” asks John Starbuck. “The nicks aren’t carrying, so you’d expect Root, a slipper himself, to react pretty quickly but it usually takes a while. They seem to just stick in another close fielder, but making the existing field closer would have more effect.” Root doesn’t mind popping the helmet on for that job himself in the short third slip position. But to be fair, the edges so far have been more of the soft hands variety.
Stuart Broad has 0-197 from 61 overs since he last took a wicket, on day two of the Adelaide Test #Ashes
13th over: Australia 37-0 (Bancroft 7, Warner 30). Here is that change, Woakes to replace Anderson. Too short to begin, Warner cutting a couple. Sticks with his plan throughout, allowing Warner to repeat the stroke later in the over. Poor start.
- How should we symbolise the spirit of modern England at the Ashes?
- Er, how about medieval religious fanatics imposing bloody domination on the Middle East?#Ashes@collinsadampic.twitter.com/G9dXAZ6WKc
12th over: Australia 33-0 (Bancroft 7, Warner 26). Another short ball to Bancroft that ends up where short leg would be if Root had one in position. That’s the best of the four, Broad getting that to really leap. Now the helmet comes out for the forward short leg. Bouncer comes next, naturally, but he’s under it. A better strategy. A couple down the ground to finish the over.
Australia’s last six 1st wicket partnerships immediately after winning the toss and batting at home:
151
70
75
101
161
200#Ashes
11th over: Australia 31-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 26). Warner back in business, on the up he goes past cover. Not in complete control, but a boundary for the left-hander. Probably a change coming from Anderson’s end.
The "Christmas Day" test streaming in LA. #boxingdaytest#Ashespic.twitter.com/VOTxjGaZZE
10th over: Australia 27-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 22). Broad again. Warner picks up a single to midwicket, the first run in 28 balls. Bancroft’s turn, and again he’s in some strife against the short ball. Broad gets one into his ribs this time. No short leg though. A bit out of fashion early in a Test Match, isn’t it?
“We’re lazily orbiting on a boat 200 km off the coast of Suriname for the next few months,” emails Glenn Reynolds. As you do. “Finishing off a 14-hour shift after a nice Christmas lunch and dinner today, and very much looking forward to my Christmas present: a mass of early wickets. Christmas doesn’t end for 3.5 more hours here, so fingers crossed. Your commentary critical!” Just don’t rely on it bringing you wickets.
9th over: Australia 26-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 21). Wouldn’t be the opening day of a Test Match without a WiFi drop out. The good news for England: the scoreboard didn’t move. Bancroft for the second time misjudged Jimmy’s shorter one, getting a leading edge. Anderson went upstairs again to finish the over. Lively from his end.
8th over: Australia 26-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 21). Three maidens on the spin. England’s veteran seamers doing well to chill Australia out. Warner defending then leaving Broad. Nearly a mix up to finish. Moeen picks up a deflection at mid-off. They consider running on it before realising that would risk repeating the run out they were involved in on the opening day in Adelaide.
Some colour from Michael Cooney on the balcony. “Is Root’s motto ‘Let Warner be Warner?’” West Wing references always welcome on the OBO. Still holding my Maxwell for Australia napkin.
7th over: Australia 26-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 21). Back to back maidens. What doing? It’s Jimmy to Bancroft. He hit him to begin as well. Only on the glove, or shoulder of the bat. Still, a yard is a yard. There’s an inside edge in there, another bouncer. Okay then.
Just quietly, grateful Crane wasn’t given a debut. No way a dead-rubber MCG wicket would’ve benefitted his career. #bulletdodged#asheshttps://t.co/xzS90jtNYk
6th over: Australia 26-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 21).“Gallows humour has started at home,” informs Simon Mann on ABC. To be fair, Broad has just delivered the best over so far, beating Warner with a good’un. “Write it down, the ball has beaten the bat at 10:51am,” quips David Clough from Press Association sitting nearby. Tidy thereafter. Maiden. For real.
Broad bowling a maiden to Warner might genuinely end up being England's best moment of the day.
5th over: Australia 26-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 21). Hips don’t lie. And Warner’s are swivelling about, all nimble like. A couple behind square, solid contact. Oh, forget that, another booming drive, past cover this time. I say booming, it’s the timing rather than the swing. Very Davey v2.0 so far this morning.
I regret to announce that it’s illegal for anybody to go to bed before England have taken a wicket. #Ashes
4th over: Australia 19-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 14). Bang. Warner has the time to hop onto his front foot and stroke through the line, and does so with immaculate timing down the ground. That’s the first boundary of the Test Match. Watching the replay, that was Tendulkar-like, very compact. Comes after Broad looked a bit likely early in the set. Anyway, not now, Warner grabbing another couple off the pads. Keeps the strike with a further push down the ground. Accumulating with ease.
“That phrase ‘dead rubber’” begins Johnny Starbuck. “I know it comes from card games but apply it as it stands; in England, a rubber is something you can use to erase the past, while in Australia it prevents something happening in the first place. I think I prefer the English usage. let’s appreciate the match for what it is, not what its place is in a series.”
3rd over: Australia 10-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 5). Going to be incredibly hard graft for the England bowlers today. Anderson down legside to begin, that’s not going to help. Warner then has the width to push past point for one, Jimmy then on Bancroft’s pads who helps himself to a couple. Finds his range by the end of the set. Not a great start.
For those who have asked, the Australians are wearing black armbands in memory of Thomas Maggs, Tim Paine’s’s father in law, who passed away on Christmas Eve.
Groundsman thought there was a BBL game on
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Bancroft 3, Warner 4). Disco Stuart Broad from the Great Southern Stand End. I get a bit shirty when it is described as the Southern Stand. That got knocked down in 1990. Anyway, he cops a healthy boo. More a football crowd on Boxing Day here. About 70-odd thousand in at the moment, by my MCG-trained eye. Plenty outside. The queues were moving well but very long. Warner leaving a couple to begin before pushing a single to mid-off. Bancroft watching as well. Last one sprayed.
The look on Mitch Marsh's face when he sees the camera will be hard to beat for moment of this Test. #BoxingDayTestpic.twitter.com/4zC7JWSEP7
1st over: Australia 6-0 (Bancroft 3, Warner 3). Nice bit of shape for Jimmy to begin, running away from us at the Members’ End. Bancroft is away with a push off the back foot through cover. “It is the first sign that this pitch is an absolute belter,” says Jim Maxwell on the ABC. Glenn Maxwell on Twitter has predicted that Australia won’t lose a single wicket. I hate to say this as a proud man of this city, but the least interesting pitch in Australia these days? Competitive field. Warner’s turn: he pushes behind point from the balls of his feet, doesn’t get all of it, but picks up three himself. Two threes to open the Test. Couldn’t have happened that often.
“Adam, Sweden has nothing on Edmonton, it is minus 23 at the moment,” emails Pam Carlton. “I would prefer to be eating turkey sandwiches in the outer. I come from Melbourne.”
Nothing like a delightful Christmas Day with loved ones, new and old, before settling down in front of a dodgy stream for David Warner's impending hundred in a session. #Ashes
Anthems, and all that. We’ll do emails.
“I’m rather relying on Cricket Australia being found to have financial irregularities and is docked 500 runs, and we win,” hopes Chris Purcell. “I hope this is not the Baileys talking, other incredibly sweet alcoholic drinks are available. Still, cross fingers. From a wet and windy Dulwich.” Du du du du du du du du, Dulwich Hamlet!
Gary Naylor can beat rural Ireland.
“G’day.” Hi mate. Hope you had a smashing Christmas. “I’m in rural Sweden where the temperature is hovering around 0, so white Christmas is more sludgy, sandy grey. Just finished Alastair Campbell’s latest diaries (2005-7)- so a decade on not great times for an England supporting, anti-Brexit, palest pink Leftie.”
What happened to Moeen, then? Hit on the the neck. Or arm. Unclear. But copped the whack in the nets yesterday. He’s playing. As for Tom Curran, he received his cap from Bob Willis earlier. Mike Atherton to my right likes the link, for he was another Surrey quick brought onto an Ashes tour late in 1970-71.
And why wouldn’t they on a day like this? To the teams. Australia as named yesterday, with Jason Bird in for Mitch Starc, who is injured. As for England, Moeen Ali did make the XI after an injury scare yesterday. Tom Curran to debut.
Australia
“I’m high on the hill, looking over the bridge, to the M.C.G.” Well, in the back of an uber actually. But giving it my best. To reiterate from earlier, it is a postcard-perfect day in Melbourne. Not a single cloud. Not too hot. But warm enough to know it is summer.
Damian Kemp, meanwhile, comes to us from rural Ireland. “Dodgy mobile phone connection, dreaming of summer and wondering what the movie like narrative ending of the series will be?” Oh dear. Bit grim, Damo. But please do continue. “Root throwing his bag at Lyon? Smith hugging Cook after dismissing him for 99? Paine making the high leaping catch of the century and acting like it was nothing? The MCC showing a rule that means England won the series?” Sounds like you should be writing X-Files fan fiction.
Housekeeping.
Firstly, if you’re on the way into the ‘G on the train, use the time to have a listen to Geoff and my chat with Vic Marks after the Perth Test. About everything other than the current series, really. We talked Somerset, Viv, Roebuck, TMS, Sunday newspapers and the “digital sweet spot”. Off the top of my head. What a wonderful man.
Related: Joe Root dismisses Ricky Ponting ‘little boy’ jibe before fourth Ashes Test
Well, the place I’m cowering while seeking the courage to interact with other humans in the flesh. The complexities of Boxing Day: one really wants to be thereearly, but at the same time never wants to see sunlight again. More indulgent posts about my Christmas indulgence as we go on, I suspect. Teaser: it involved going the full Ben Duckett vs Jimmy Anderson in a hottub quite a few times. Feels only a few hours ago. (Was it?) Compliments of the season to you all, though, my OBO comrades!
Just after 10pm in Blighty. What does that mean if you’re happening upon this preamble rather than finishing off the day with some Pictionary with the fam? That you can’t bloody wait for the first ball, of course. Dead rubber, pffft. They’re all dead in Ashes series this time of year, so what does it matter? Smashing sunny day, one of the best we’ve had on a Boxing Day in years. Mason Crane is probably going to debut, Tom Curran definitely is. Jack Bird is back in the team too. There’s plenty under the tree for all of us.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a listen to the latest Final Word podcast, in which the great Vic Marks talks candidly about many, many things:
Related: The Final Word: Vic Marks and how Australia won the Ashes – podcast
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