Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten 91 put Australia in charge of the final Test despite some fine batting from England’s lower order earlier in the day
Related: Australia in charge of fifth Ashes Test after Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten 91
That was another good day for Australia, who are well set to complete a 4-0 series victory after fine batting from Warner, Khawaja and the inevitable Smith. England bowled pretty well on a flat pitch, with Mason Crane doing enough to stir excitement in those with an ounce of soul, but they don’t have enough runs to play with. It will take something pretty special for them to win the match from here. I’ll leave you with an email from Ben Parker. Thanks for your company; night!
“As OBOers love stats and cynicism,” says Ben, “I’d like to point out that only two players average over 150 in this series. Steve Smith (162) and Moeen Ali (151.66).”
67th over: Australia 193-2 (Khawaja 91, Smith 44) Joe Root brings himself on for the last over of the day. I’d like to see him bowl a bit more, particularly when Moeen’s confidence is through the floor. Root’s first ball is filth, a long hop that Khawaja pulls for four to move into the nineties. Those are the last runs of the day. Khawaja will start tomorrow needing nine for his century, having played with increasing fluency in this innings.
Chance to win a copy of In Tandem by @MasterlyBatting in this week's @guardian_sport Spin, sign up to Spin at https://t.co/kn99C9oB4O#Ashespic.twitter.com/eEZszkmdaB
66th over: Australia 189-2 (Khawaja 87, Smith 44) Smith works Crane round the corner for two to bring up a low-key, high-class hundred partnership that has put Australia in a very strong position. Crane’s day ends with figures of 17-0-58-0.
Brotherly love
Joe Root's brother Billy in full voice with The Barmy Army supporting the boys...
Singing his heart out #ItsTheAshes#Ashespic.twitter.com/aLFFXIwJwh
65th over: Australia 185-2 (Khawaja 86, Smith 41) Smith works Moeen for a single to move within 159 of his double hundred. You think I’m joking.
64th over: Australia 184-2 (Khawaja 86, Smith 40) Mason Crane changes ends to replace Anderson, and is milked for a couple of runs. There was mayhem just before the close yesterday. Tonight, all is calm.
“I might be an Aussie in Sydney, but I can’t help feeling that England still have a big chance to win this Test,” says Martin Gillam. “It looks like one of those wickets that don’t come on to the bat, and Smith has been at his least impressive of the series. Australia will need to get 100+ in front, no certainty, because we know what it’s like chasing in Sydney against spin in the fourth innings.”
63rd over: Australia 181-2 (Khawaja 85, Smith 38) There are five overs remaining. Australia don’t look like losing a wicket. Since the first innings at Brisbane, when he bowled well, Moeen has taken one wicket for 381 runs. Oof.
62nd over: Australia 177-2 (Khawaja 84, Smith 35) Khawaja waves Anderson through the covers for three, a classy stroke at the end of a long day.
“Good to hear Crane bowling well on his debut,” says Kevin Wilson. “Seeing as Hampshire seem reluctant to play him, picking Dawson as their main spinner, what can be done to increase his playing time?”
61st over: Australia 172-2 (Khawaja 81, Smith 33) Moeen Ali replaces Mason Crane, who has had a promising first day as a Test bowler. Poor Moeen: his allrounder quotient for this series (batting average minus bowling average) is now minus 129. I was sure he’d have a poor series in Australia, but I didn’t expect averages of 21 with the bat and 150 with the ball. Moeen reminds us of his ability with a jaffa that spits past Khawaja’s outside edge.
“And you wonder why the website is continually pleading for memberships and subscriptions,” says Steven McKiernan, “because I’m not buying your response.”
60th over: Australia 170-2 (Khawaja 80, Smith 32) Root has put a helmet on so he can stand closer at second slip when Anderson is bowling. Khawaja, who has surely secured a tour to South Africa with this innings, carefully plays out another maiden.
“So much effort lauding Crane, and very little about the 80-run-and-counting partnership,” says Steven McKiernan. “Your bias is showing.”
59th over: Australia 170-2 (Khawaja 80, Smith 32) A googly from Crane is jabbed to leg by Smith. Australia are 17 minutes’ away for completing another very good day. England need a wicket or eight.
58th over: Australia 164-2 (Khawaja 76, Smith 30) This match is starting to go a bit Perth, and tomorrow could be a day of the hardest yakka for England’s bowlers. Anderson is definitely getting a bit of reverse here, and Khawaja respectfully plays out a maiden.
57th over: Australia 164-2 (Khawaja 76, Smith 30)“Delightful as it is to learn via TMS — and you — that Crane is being lauded by the great and the good, even an old wizened Aussie (me) knows that one should look at Crane with a more writerly aspect,” says Sarah Bacon. “Don’t kill this darling. He’s doing beautifully, he should grow naturally, be nurtured sensibly. Let Crane be Crane. At 20, there is a great deal to appreciate, but don’t use him up, wear him out, and generally do what too many have had done to them in England’s cricketing past. Please.”
That appeal to Joe Bloggs’s better nature is as lovely as it is misplaced.
56th over: Australia 163-2 (Khawaja 75, Smith 30) Jimmy Anderson replaces Stuart Broad (10-2-28-1). For a 35-year-old who is allergic to the Kookaburra, he’d had some series: 17 wickets at 25.52, with an economy rate of 2.17. If his body holds up, he should be around for one last Ashes series in 2019. Three from this over, with a slight suggestion of reverse swing.
Here’s Ian Copestake. “In the words of the sage, ‘Cool your boots, man. Find your neutral space away from Twitter’.”
55th over: Australia 160-2 (Khawaja 72, Smith 30) Khawaja, trying to go downtown, drags Crane short of deep midwicket. There have been enough false strokes, most of them forced errors, for this to constitute a good day for Crane, even if figures are 13-0-45-0 are nothing to tweet about.
“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “In years to come, when young Mason Crane is fully established, we shall need a word to describe his bowling style. May I suggest Cranuscular?”
54th over: Australia 159-2 (Khawaja 71, Smith 30) Smith again edges Broad for four, with the ball falling just short of first slip. Soft hands saved him. This is a good spell from Broad, who has been close to his best in the last two Tests.
53rd over: Australia 154-2 (Khawaja 70, Smith 26) England need at least one more wicket before the close, ideally Smith. He has just pulled Crane for a single to reach 6,000 Test runs in his 61st match. It’s his 111st innings, which makes him joint second-fastest to the milestone alongside Sir Garry Sobers. That’s just staggering.
52nd over: Australia 152-2 (Khawaja 69, Smith 25) Another bit of fortune for Smith, who edges Broad just short and wide of the diving Root at second slip. The ball runs away for four. That’s two false strokes in as many overs from Smith. He’s all over the show; it’s sad to watch a once great player fall so far. I think Broad is starting to get a bit of reverse: later in the over Khawaja leaves a ball that tails back and almost hits the off stump.
51st over: Australia 147-2 (Khawaja 69, Smith 20) I’m not sure why but I decided to type ‘Mason Crane’ into Twitter just now. The amount of ignorant sneering is staggering. What the hell is wrong with people? He’s a 20-year-old kid, bowling pretty well on his Test debut and earning warm praise from, among others, Brett Lee, Mike Hussey, Graeme Swann, Geoff Boycott, Alison Mitchell and Michael Vaughan. That’s not good enough for life’s great achievers, the social-media sne’er-do-wells. On reflection, Twitter might be even more disgusting than morning people.
While I was typing the above, Crane almost dismissed both batsmen in an excellent over. Smith edged just short of slip; then Khawaja pad-gloved the ball up in the air, only for it to bisect Crane and Stoneman as they charged towards it.
50th over: Australia 145-2 (Khawaja 68, Smith 19) Broad replaces Curran, who bowled an effervescent but unthreatening spell. He’s on 399 Test wickets. Smith ignores a few wide tempters, and Broad’s first over back is a maiden.
A great insight from cricket legend Steve Waugh on Steve Smith's impact in this #Ashes series. https://t.co/Xmfn1OsOK2
49th over: Australia 145-2 (Khawaja 68, Smith 19) All the BT Sport pundits have been impressed with Crane, particularly Graeme Swann. He draws an edge from Khawaja that goes straight between Bairstow and Root at catchable height. It was too sharp for Bairstow and I suspect Root was unsighted. There are a few jeers when Crane stops twice in his delivery stride. When he finally sends the next delivery down, it’s a high full toss that Smith wallops for four. Imagine the mental strain of being a legspinner in an Ashes Test at the age of 20. At the same age I could barely cope with eye contact.
48th over: Australia 136-2 (Khawaja 65, Smith 13) A good maiden from Curran to Khawaja.
47th over: Australia 136-2 (Khawaja 65, Smith 13) Lovely batting from Khawaja, who dumps Crane back over his head for four. A single brings up an assured fifty partnership, dominated by Khawaja.
46th over: Australia 131-2 (Khawaja 60, Smith 13) An attempted slower ball from Curran comes out as a loopy full toss that Smith fails to put away. A maiden. England have control of the scoring rate, even if they don’t particularly look like taking a wicket.
45th over: Australia 131-2 (Khawaja 60, Smith 13) Khawaja bat-pads Crane fractionally short of Stoneman at a deepish short leg. That was the closest Crane has come to a wicket so far. Had Stoneman been in an orthodox short-leg position that would probably have been a comfortable catch.
“Hi Rob,” says Jim Fitz. “I think Ireland could give England a go in Malahide right now. Everything depends on Cook. He creates the tempo and gives or takes the hope. Who can replace him, and is this Aussie team the next team to dominate?”
44th over: Australia 127-2 (Khawaja 57, Smith 12) At some point in the next few months, Tom Curran is going to wake up from a Steve Smith dream, shaking with fear and babbling: “He’s middling everything! He’s middling everything!” Smith looks so good already and is surely nailed-on for a hundred. He’s 12 not out.
“Morning, Rob,” says Sarah Bacon. “Interesting that you note that the unorthodoxy of Curran might bear fruit when Australia’s most consistent, yet UN-orthodox batsmen has all the orthodox bases covered. How does that work exactly? Asking for a friend.”
43rd over: Australia 126-2 (Khawaja 56, Smith 12) Crane has his first bowl to Smith. He’s already dismissed AB de Villiers in international cricket, so what’s the worst than can happen? Oh. Smith has a respectful look at a couple of deliveries and then cuts a single. Crane has shown plenty of promise today. He has so much going for him at the age of 20.
“Rowan Sweeney (over 28) wondered why Johnny Watkins’ brief stint was so famously bad,” says Gervase Greene. “He was picked from utter obscurity, to the befuddlement of all, and then lived down to that expectation. The poor guy was so nervous his first three balls were wides. And so wide they should have counted as 2 or more runs each. The umpire called the first few and then politely demurred for most of the rest, which were just as bad. Two overs of utter agony. Even the batsman - might have been the majestic Majid Khan or Mushtaq Mohammed, both of whom ate leg-spin for tiffin - chose to just let the slow car-crash slide without plundering, to their very great credit.”
42nd over: Australia 124-2 (Khawaja 55, Smith 11) “Rob,” says Mac Millings. “Just tuning in, and your 37th-over entry was posted four times. Weirdest thing was, the 4th one said “38th over”. Now, I’m a little the worse for celebration, what with Snowmageddon having cancelled my last three days of school (I’m a teacher, though not a good one), but that does seem odd. Nothing further to add. I’m a little tipsy, is all.”
It’s not me, Millings, it’s you. It’s always you.
41st over: Australia 121-2 (Khawaja 55, Smith 8) Mason Crane replaces Moeen Ali, whose series bowling average is now 149.66. His first ball brings an unsuccessful LBW shout against Khawaja, who pushed around his pad at a legspinner. England considered a review but Crane suggested it was going down the leg side; he was right. A good over is spoiled by a poor final delivery that Khawaja bashes through extra cover for four.
40th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 51, Smith 8) Tom Curran replaces Jimmy Anderson (10-2-17-1). Smith, surprised by a bit of extra bounce, jerks his head back in surprise as he plays a back-defensive stroke. Curran’s occasional unorthodoxy might be a useful weapon against Smith, who seems to have all the orthodox bases covered. A good over, two from it.
39th over: Australia 114-2 (Khawaja 51, Smith 6) Moeen continues to Smith, the wrong tactic in ma opinion but not Joe Root’s. Smith dumps a slog sweep into the leg of Stoneman at short leg, with the ball rebounding for a single. And then Khawaja reaches his fifty in style, driving Moeen for a sweet straight six! In the personal circumstances it’s been an admirable knock.
38th over: Australia 107-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 5) Smith starts his innings with the certainty of a man who’s already on 50. It must be soul-crushing for bowlers.
37th over: Australia 106-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 4) I’d like to see Crane bowl before Smith gets his eye in. Moeen is always a good option to Khawaja but Smith is the priority. Khawaja continues to use his feet to Moeen, dancing down the track to whip a low full toss for four.
36th over: Australia 101-2 (Khawaja 41, Smith 3) A short ball from Anderson is pulled swaggeringly for four by Khawaja. Shot!
“Crepuscular is a word that is only used by people who get up really early,” says Ian Copestake. “I want no more to do with it.”
35th over: Australia 97-2 (Khawaja 37, Smith 3) Moeen Ali starts with a poor over after tea. Only one from it, but he got away with a dreadful long hop to Smith.
“Hi Rob,” says Ben Parker. “I won £220 on my first ever cricket bet last year - backing Windies at 11-1 to win at Headingley. Buoyed by my success I followed some professional cricket writer’s tip: ‘If you have a spare mortgage, put it on Warner making another SCG hundred’ and am now down £217,000 for the year.”
Big news of the day: tea has been reached with 30 overs left in the day. Over-rate on target. So how will the players manage to make it a two-and-a-half hour session? #Ashes
34th over: Australia 96-2 (Khawaja 36, Smith 3) Steve Smith gets off the mark with a confident drive through extra cover for three off Anderson. A BT Sport graphic tells us that he has scored more runs after 60 Tests than any player in history. Donald Bradman is not even in the top 10, which again shows how overrated he was.
Anyway, that’s tea. England did well to stay in the game on a flat pitch, with Anderson and Broad (combined figures 15-3-30-2) showing their class in what will probably be their last Test in Australia. Warner played beautifully, Khawaja scrapped admirably and Steve Smith looks nailed-on for a hundred. He’s three not out.
33rd over: Australia 92-2 (Khawaja 35, Smith 0) A poor ball from Moeen is cut easily for four by Khawaja.
“Please pass on my thanks to Ian Copestake!” says Rowan Sweeney. “My excruciatingly self-righteous father uses the word ‘crepuscular’ like mad. I only just looked it up. Doesn’t mean what I thought it would...”
32nd over: Australia 86-2 (Khawaja 29, Smith 0) The good news for England is they’ve dismissed David Warner. The bad news is that somebody has to replace him.
“Morning Rob,” says James Lane. “It’s a glorious winter morning in the foothills of the Himalayas, punctuated only by the sound of shrieking monkeys being chased off by my neighbour (she’s a policewoman with a big stick). Your particular brand of dry despair is especially tickling today. Why do the English deal with losing so much better than everybody else?”
Ah that’s lovely bowling from Jimmy Anderson. Warner fiddled at a fine leg-cutter that moved sharply off the pitch to take the edge, and Bairstow took a nice low catch. That’s a vital wicket because Warner was playing with formidable certainty.
31st over: Australia 84-1 (Warner 54, Khawaja 29) Khawaja, who has looked unconvincing against Moeen all day, charges down the pitch and drives airily past the diving Cook at absurd mid-off. Moeen then beats the outside edge with a classical off-spinner. While he’s still nowhere near his best, Moeen is bowling better than at any stage since the first innings in Brisbane.
30th over: Australia 84-1 (Warner 54, Khawaja 29) Anderson bursts one past Warner’s outside edge. England have bowled well enough on what is a very flat pitch. SMIYTYHTOB, but they simply didn’t make enough runs.
29th over: Australia 83-1 (Warner 54, Khawaja 28) The ball is being changed by the umpires. BREAKING NEWS: ENGLAND ROCKED BY FRESH BALL-TAMPERING SCANDAL. Warner treats the new ball as he did the old, thumping Moeen for four. He is playing with total authority.
“Morning,” says Ian Copestake. “Am at an excruciatingly self-righteous academic conference and desperately need you to lift our boys so they can get the bacon delivered and I can erase from memory having heard someone use the word ‘crepuscular’.”
28th over: Australia 79-1 (Warner 50, Khawaja 28) Here comes Jimmy, on to replace the excellent Broad (7-1-18-1). Warner touches him for a single to reach a masterful half-century. If you have a spare mortgage, put it on Warner making another SCG hundred.
“What was wrong with Johnny Watkins’ debut (22nd over)?” says Rowan Sweeney. “His figures of 6-1-21-0 don’t look terrible...? What am I missing?”
27th over: Australia 78-1 (Warner 49, Khawaja 28) A flighted half-volley from Moeen is driven majestically for four by Warner. Khawaja then survives a big LBW shout after missing a premeditated lap. I thought it was outside the line, though it was close. Replays show it was umpire’s call on point of contact with both the pad and the stumps, so England were right not to review.
26th over: Australia 73-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 28) Broad bowls a maiden to Khawaja. There have been a few innings in this series when Jimmy Anderson has been underused early in the innings, and this is another: he’s bowled four out of 26 overs so far.
25th over: Australia 73-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 28) This is an important innings for Khawaja, with the South Africa series in mind. I’d take him regardless, given the nature of the pitches and the challenge. Bancroft and Mitch Marsh are the two who would worry me. Moeen, on for Crane, beats Khawaja with his first ball.
24th over: Australia 70-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 25) Warner edges Broad this far short of Root at second slip. There was just enough seam movement to take the edge, though Warner did well to soften his hands and ensure it fell short of slip.
23rd over: Australia 69-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 24) Khawaja bat-pads Crane safely into the leg side. Crane seems to be enjoying himself, which is an achievement in itself. If I was a 20-year-old English legspinner making my Test debut in Australia, enjoyment would be a long way down the list of dominant feelings.
22nd over: Australia 68-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 23) Broad replaces Moeen (6-2-13-0). There is a very little happening for England, with no sign of swing, reverse swing, seam movement or hope.
“After young Crane’s first three balls I thought we were set for a repeat of the Johnny Watkins debut (and only) Test match, against Pakistan in 1973-74,” says Gervase Greene. “To this day the most excruciating two overs I have ever seen in cricket. Not even ‘watch-through-both-set-of-fingers’ stuff. Glad he made it through to the other side. Only other leggies could ever really understand.”
21st over: Australia 65-1 (Warner 44, Khawaja 20) Australia are milking the spinners a bit too easily, and England might need to go back to Anderson or Broad pretty soon. Warner defends a nice googly from Crane.
20th over: Australia 61-1 (Warner 41, Khawaja 19) Warner rifles Moeen down the ground, a lovely shot for one. He looks in charge out there, the game being played on his terms. It feels like he’s had a relatively quiet series, yet he’s averaging 71. I suppose that perception is more down to his relatively slow strike-rate of 53, easily his lowest in a home series.
19th over: Australia 58-1 (Warner 39, Khawaja 18) Crane is worked for three singles. He has started promisingly, and has an optimistic LBW appeal turned down when Khawaja pushes forward with bat and pad close together. I’m not sure it hit the pad first; even if it did, it was probably outside the line.
18th over: Australia 55-1 (Warner 37, Khawaja 17) Thanks Adam, hello all. While I ease into the chair, Moeen hurries through an uneventful over; one from it. Warner, who has made hundreds in the last three Sydney Tests, looks ominously set.
17th over: Australia 53-1 (Warner 36, Khawaja 16) Crane’s second over didn’t get a lot of turn, but he’s found his range. Warner down the ground to begin, then a bye, moving the partnership to 50. When Crane drops short there is an audible “oooh” through the press box, but instead of clobbering it the Australian opener punches in front of point for a comfortable two. “He has quite an aggressive run up,” observes Vic Marks on radio. “He’s looked OK. But the margin for error is not huge.”
It being drinks, that’s time for me to say goodbye. Rob Smyth with you for the rest of the day. Thanks for your company. New Yorkers: please find a room for John Harrison. I’m off to a text a few mates about that right now. Speak to you again on Sunday.
16th over: Australia 49-1 (Warner 33, Khawaja 16) Moeen returns having switched ends. Khawaja grabs one behind square off his pads early. Warner has a look at a couple before driving the final ball down the ground for a single. I’m sure he will want the strike to get another early bite at Crane before the new man settles in at the bowling crease.
15th over: Australia 47-1 (Warner 32, Khawaja 15) As I’m sure you can tell as astute OBO readers, often you are still very much writing about the previous over when the next is being bowled. Then, I was quite distracted by Mason Crane’s first trundle in Test cricket. He got through it OK, conceding three. But that could have been six from the first ball when dropping short to Khawaja, who elected instead to pull out to the sweeper. Next, he failed to leg the ball go stopping in his approach. Then a misfire down the legside. But well played by the young man finding his way into the over, landing the last few to Warner, who defended him with respect before driving the final delivery through cover for a couple. He’s away.
14th over: Australia 44-1 (Warner 30, Khawaja 14) Warner wants nothing of the 20s, racing through in the space of four Curran deliveries. Four, four, four. Cover drive, fine clip, straight drive. Buckle up, Davey is here.
SHOT! Khawaja goes back down the ground against Moeen.
Australia 1-32: https://t.co/vhFwlbdpM8#Ashespic.twitter.com/BqKpkO1BRG
13th over: Australia 32-1 (Warner 18, Khawaja 14) Been a while since our last dose of Usmania. I miss it. Maybe today? Dances, drives. Beautiful. Moeen’s string of dots broken in the process. And he’s into double figures.
Aust on course for a bigger total #Ashes attendance than 2006-07 record, and first summer ever to top two million spectators https://t.co/4k8gqMx2t5
12th over: Australia 26-1 (Warner 17, Khawaja 9) The Richies are singing the national anthem again. Onya, guys. On the field, the Australian pair score from four of Curran’s deliveries - Khawaja driving then flicking then Warner stroking to cover. Both are in decent nick.
11th over: Australia 21-1 (Warner 16, Khawaja 5) Moeen back to back maidens? Including one at David Warner? Is this a dream? Probably not. My last two cricket dreams were enough for one summer. One had me bowling in tandem with Greg Matthews. In the other, I was umpiring my first Test Match. And a good afternoon to my psychologist, if she’s reading on.
10th over: Australia 21-1 (Warner 16, Khawaja 5) Double change, Curran on from the Paddington End. Warner pulls his first offering for a couple. Short again to begin at Warner. Not sure about that. Gets it up later in the set, driven down the ground. He’ll keep the strike. Good statto work here from Ric Finlay.
9th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 13, Khawaja 5) Moeen Ali gets a jam roll before Mason Crane. Khawaja plays him respectfully. Probably says more about the batsman’s current run of than the bowler’s that he hasn’t immediately gone straight at him as Australia have tended to. A maiden. From Moeen. To begin. As I live and breathe.
8th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 13, Khawaja 5) Brief wifi saga in the press box. So let’s do this quickly. Khawaja picked up one from Broad through midwicket then Warner a located couple in that general direction as well to finish the set.
7th over: Australia 15-1 (Warner 11, Khawaja 4) Had a great time watching Anderson and Broad in the second dig last week, before the life was sucked out of the game. Shaping up as another good stoush between the two here. The England top dog is relentless, Warner forced to defend throughout. Until the final delivery of the over, which the opener pushes for two through cover.
Our Vic Marks on TMS doing his thing. Asked about Bancroft, who has been picked up by his club for the 2018 Championship. “He’s been signed by Somerset as an opening batsman. And he’s just missed a straight one. But I think the chances of him getting a call from Cricket Australia in winter saying he’s required for are now reduced.”
6th over: Australia 13-1 (Warner 9, Khawaja 4) Warner’s first boundary of the day isn’t making any highlight packages, an inside edge onto his pad then down to the rope. Broad wins his inside edge a second time in the over. Both England quicks looking the part, Khawaja leaving very close to his off-stump.
5th over: Australia 8-1 (Warner 4, Khawaja 4) Nice. Khawaja unfurls his first proper drive of the day, but without a lot of power. Two down the ground the result. Anderson straight back on it though, beating the left-hander’s bat for the first time. Khawaja respectful thereafter.
Bancroft's six dismissals in this series have been to very similar deliveries. The fullest pitched 5.4m from the stumps, the shortest 7.7m. Only one of those balls swung more than 1°, Bancroft's technique largely to blame - a technique he has failed to adapt. #Ashespic.twitter.com/ZvlReUhXQY
4th over: Australia 6-1 (Warner 4, Khawaja 2) Warner looking set nice and early here, hitting mid-off a couple of times with firm drives. Grabs a single to midwicket when Broad is too straight, Khawaja then gets his second run from a push past cover.
Here is Robert James Lee Hawke doing his trick, by the way. Gotta say, I liked it better when this wasn’t a made-for-TV annual event.
"Look at him go. He's 88 years of age. Well done Bob 'superstar' Hawke." #Ashespic.twitter.com/CBGlgytxos
3rd over: Australia 4-1 (Warner 3, Khawaja 1) Anderson sends down a second maiden, to Khawaja this time. Defends the first five deliveries before leaving the last. Also a big day for Khawaja.
It would be the first time a team has gone through a five (or more) match with only 4 (or fewer) wicket-takers.
2nd over: Australia 4-1 (Warner 3, Khawaja 1) Bancroft’s Test career may very well be over. Simple as that. I’m not advocating for it to be that way, but after what happened to Renshaw, would anyone be surprised? Khawaja away through midwicket with one. Warner pushes a couple from the middle of the bat.
“We (two brits and an Aussie) are stranded at JFK due to the snow,” Oh no!. “Do any OBObers know of a bar in Brooklyn that will be showing the cricket?” Someone help John Harrison, please.“PS do any OBObers in the Brooklyn area also have 3 spare beds for the night?” Surely, surely we can make this work and locate him a Brooklyn bed?
Not the start Australia - or Cam Bancroft - wanted! #Ashespic.twitter.com/iy8GXKaQFm
First ball from Broad to Bancroft, through the gate and crashing into middle stump! In from over the wicket, full, missing. Broad has 399 Test wickets!
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Bancroft 0, Warner 0) A maiden from Jimmy to Bancroft. Careful in defence. Can’t overstate what a huge day it is for the West Australian. They’ll punt him if he fails, make no mistake.
I said I would explain the Bob Hawke thing for UK readers. In short, Australia’s longest serving Labor PM (1983-91) comes to the SCG each year and skols a beer on the big screen. There’s context. In his Oxford days as a Rhodes Scholar, he knocked over a yard glass in world record time. When PM, he said that the feat was more important than any other in getting him into the top job.
@collinsadam
Hawkey sculling compilation: https://t.co/VqFx5TEa3Y
The Hawkey holy trinity
1. Brought Australia into modern economic age, gun PM, man of the proletariat/people;
2. Gun cricketer; and
3. They've named a beer after him.
Simple explanation really.
They say Bradman, in his advancing years, set himself the goal of shooting his age at golf.@scg sources confirm Bob Hawke has set himself the same goal with schooners today.#88notout#Ashespic.twitter.com/gF1bO9omNz
The players are back on the field. England starting with three slips and a gully for Jimmy. Bancroft is on strike, for perhaps his biggest innings yet as an Australian player. Play.
England are dismissed but won the morning, adding 113 for their final five wickets. That’s well above par relative to what we have seen from their bottom half this series.
A bit of Smith fielding magic got the home side going, taking a blinding catch at second slip to remove Malan just as the Middlesex man looked a lock for a second Ashes ton. But the opposite was true when Hazlewood and Cummins put down Curran and Moeen in consecutive overs shortly thereafter. Both shocking drops.
Mix-up, Crane desperately trying to get back to the bowlers’ end with a dive, but Mitch Marsh’s throw to Bancroft is sufficient. England all out.
112th over: England 346-9 (Crane 4, Anderson 0) They crossed, so Crane has the last couple to see off from Lyon. Defends well. Meanwhile, all the chat at the SCG is about Bob Hawke skoling a beer. This is a bit hard to explain to UK readers. I’ll give it a crack at the interval.
At last, Australia get the bloke who annoys them more than any other. Lyon wins the top edge, straight in the air, Smith jumps around to complete the catch.
111th over: England 344-8 (Broad 29, Crane 4) Crane does well to keep his nerve in response to a short ball on his body, working it fine for one. Over the wicket Cummins goes now to Broad, and sends a bouncer too high over his head. A wide is called. That’ll annoy the captain. As will Broad having enough time to again swat him across the line, albeit only for one this time. Fuller to Crane, he grabs a couple to midwicket. Neato.
“I think these two tests should go down in the annals of Australian cricket as the Butterfingers Brace,” writes Andrew Benton. “What d’you think? The ball’s been pretty slippery for Australia since Perth.” Ric Finlay reports that Australia have put down 11 chances in the series.
110th over: England 339-8 (Broad 28, Crane 1) Lyon to Broad. He’s trying to sweep, unsuccessfully. Then defending. He does make contact sweeping behind square in the air, but Bancroft can’t complete what would have been a spectacular diving catch. About a metre away from it, to be fair. Broad beaten by the last ball of the over. Probably five overs left until the lunch break.
A theory: having first played as a very young leg-spinner, by the time he's 28 Mason Crane will have forgotten how to bowl but average 63 with the bat
109th over: England 337-8 (Broad 26, Crane 1) Mason Crane is off the mark from his first ball via an inside edge. Just past Bancroft at short leg, but he won’t mind. He’s away in Test cricket. “The cricket is certainly entertaining,” notes the great Jim Maxwell on ABC. Broad has a go as well, down to fine leg off the top edge, they take a single to finish the eventful over.
Stuart Broad playing the pull shot. #Ashespic.twitter.com/0aoFYAJUto
Excellent passage of Test cricket, this. Like button bashing in Chess. #Ashes
A handy cameo comes to an end with some catching practice for Bancroft at short leg. Straight off the splice of the bat from the Cummins short ball, into the hands without having to move. Well played, Tom Curran.
108th over: England 334-7 (Curran 39, Broad 24) “The Australians haven’t even tried a yorker to use the element of surprise,” notes Simon Katich. They are trying Nathan Lyon, who slows the run rate down at least. Three singles. Broad keeps the strike, so he’ll resume his stoush with Cummins assuming the Aussie quick hasn’t been dragged.
107th over: England 331-7 (Curran 38, Broad 22) Disco Stuart Broad! Cummins is getting rather predicable with the short ball, the England villain able to navigate a slap over mid-on instead of taking on the fielders behind square. Four more for that. But then he decides to take on the catchers, doing it with a smashed pull across the line for a second six! This is fantastic stuff.
106th over: England 320-7 (Curran 38, Broad 11) Marsh to his new Surrey teammate and childhood pal Tom Curran. But just as he did in the previous over, he is more than happy having a crack at the first ball, getting just enough on it through backward point for another boundary. He cops a whack from a shorter one, but keeps going. Awkward singles exchanged later in the over before Curran pulls the last ball with power to the square leg rope. That’s the shot of a top six bat. Ten from the over. Very much England’s morning. Australia have 38 minutes to finish the job before lunch.
105th over: England 310-7 (Curran 29, Broad 10) Ha! Cummins, the meanest quick in all the land, bowls a series of bumpers at Broad. Of course he does. But the Englishman, well aware of what is coming to finish, only goes and nails the most lovely pull shot over square leg and into the crowd! Superb work. At various times during the over it looked like the partnership would be broken, but Broad is coming off a half-century at the MCG and seeing them well. Go you good thing.
I love how Broad has fought back. Pantomime villain but highly respected opponent.#Ashes
Genuinely didn't realise there were so many ways to back away to square leg. #Ashes
104th over: England 300-7 (Curran 28, Broad 1) Mitch Marsh gets a twist for the first time today. Not Starc? Interesting. Curran doesn’t mind, flaying at the first ball in a sign that he doesn’t have much faith in the batting to come. It goes through fourth slip, but only two are in position, so he gets four runs. He pulls safely enough when the short ball comes, giving Broad the strike. He knows it is going at his body as well, so he makes room to slap over square leg to the sweeper. That beings up the England 300. “I think we have entered the entertaining phase of this innings,” says Al Nicholson on ABC radio.
“Bloody hell, it’s all go out there” writes Robert Wilson. “Having got my hands on a pre-pub copy of Michael Wolff’s Trump is a Nut book, it took quite a lot to drag me away.” (I want it now). “That bonkers Smith catch did the job beautifully. I’m back in the world of moral rectitude and sledging. Speaking of which, given your political previous life, I’m sure you were always working out who you were most like on The West Wing (Josh is a slam-dunk - though Toby is always in with a chance). That was then and this is now. Can you work out who you are most like in the Trump administration. Does seeing Stephen Miller make you feel all hot and uncomfortable? (I’m Bannon, by the way, mostly because I am currently wearing two tshirts and once read half of that dopey Well of Saints book).” Rich content, as they say. I am returning to this in the innings break when there is less going on.
103rd over: England 294-7 (Curran 23, Broad 0) A fair bit of chat about whether that was the third bouncer at Moeen for the over. Decent point if the umpire already gave the signal for two above shoulder height? Surely he did given that the first two balls of the over were bumpers. Broad is here now, cue the hammed up booing. And nearly gone first ball! Jumping across his crease, he got something on it down to forward short leg, but it falls just out of the reach of Cameron Bancroft. And nearly a repeat next up! Doesn’t make it quite as close to the man under the helmet this time, though. Can be sure that’s exactly what Cummins will go with if he gets another crack at him.
Meanwhile, Gary is back on the aesthetic charm (or otherwise) of Lyon’s approach.
Well I grew up watching Derek Underwood and Tony Greig bowling spin - their run ups were hardly Sergei Polunin like in grace @collinsadam, so anything short of falling over looks good to me.
Excellent short ball from Cummins. Moeen considers leaving, ends up playing with both feet off the ground. The glove is clipped, his innings is over. Beautiful bowling.
102nd over: England 294-6 (Moeen 30, Curran 23) Lyon to Curran. Defending. Better. Then pushing one to mid-off when the spinner gives him the chance. Moeen does likewise to retain the strike. They’ve put on 43.
101st over: England 292-6 (Moeen 29, Curran 22) Cummins short again at Moeen from the get-go after the breather, but he is up to the task, pulling a couple. On reflection, not the most controlled stroke. But there is no fielder there, so play on. Oh gosh, he tries to lift the next short ball over the slips cordon. Thankfully for the left-hander, he didn’t make contact. Can’t let himself nick off here. A couple through cover to finish, which should help with his confidence against the Australian quick. Better.
Sorry,” begins Rob Heath. “I won’t have that about Lyon being good to watch. I’ll give you that he delivers a nicely flighted ball with dip and arc and all that baloney, but his “run-up”, with one-and-a-half steps of running suddenly switching into a brisk walk and then back to running again, and the ridiculous windmilling of his elbows and knees immediately prior to delivery, are the most infuriating things to watch. Every single time, you think “surely he’s not going to do all that again” But he does!” Your move, Gary Naylor.
Cricket's basically deranged. Smith snares a wondercatch, then Cummo (genuine nickname) and Hazlewood grass a couple of slapstick goobers. Eng fans haven't had this much fun in years #ashes
100th over: England 288-6 (Moeen 25, Curran 22) Moeen pushes to midwicket. He’s been good through that region off both pace and spin so far this morning. He’s made it to the drinks break. Not for nothing after the series he has had. Enjoy that drink. I’ll grab one too. Back in a tic.
99th over: England 287-6 (Moeen 24, Curran 22)ANOTHER DROPPED CATCH! Hazlewood this time! Top edge from Moeen to Cummins’ first ball. Maybe it serves him right after the chance he put down in the previous over. But still, goodness me. Hazlewood was running around from mid-on to midwicket. He wouldn’t have seen an easier catch in his days as an Australian player. Both England players dropped inside five balls. One brilliant chance taken by Smith, then two of the most basic put down. Curran’s now on strike, getting one to midwicket. Predicably, Cummins is back upstairs to Moeen to finish off. He grabs one off the back foot. Good batting. Scenes!
“Difficult to judge the value of England’s first innings without prior knowledge of Steve Smith’s score,” writes Brian Withington. “Less than a ton for him and 300 might be very sporting. More than 150 and the same may start looking distinctly anaemic. Please pass the blood transfusion bottle, nurse.” Bit like that, isn’t it?
Dear, oh dear... https://t.co/vhFwlbdpM8#Ashespic.twitter.com/zLQrwFSQFA
98th over: England 284-6 (Moeen 22, Curran 21) DROPPED CATCH! Cummins! You don’t see that. I’ve never seen him drop a catch! At mid-on, catching practice from Curran. Lyon should be in the book, but isn’t. How has he put that down? Chris Rogers cannot believe it on the radio. “You would back him to take that 100 times in 100.” Wow. Curran survives. Maiden.
97th over: England 284-6 (Moeen 22, Curran 21) Handy little stand between these two now, both players into the 20s with four balls scored from in the Hazlewood over. Moeen nudged fine, Curran hooked, Moeen on the drive for a couple. Continuing to swing the bat hard, Moeen gets a fat edge that runs through the cordon and down to the rope. Nothing pretty about it, but they’ve collected eight from the set. That’ll do.
96th over: England 276-6 (Moeen 15, Curran 20) Curran is having a lovely time! Down the track and lashing Lyon through cover for a third boundary. There are risks involved to play this way, but he’s up to 20 by the end of the over when cutting a couple more. By the standards of England players at number eight across this series, 20 is more than ample. Oh, hang on. He’s nearly ran out last ball. By Paine. He’s edged onto the pad and doesn’t ground his bat immediately. Gee, he’s lucky there. Drops his blade just over the line just in time. Concentrate! The first hour complete. England have probably won it, given the locals were operating witih the second new ball. No Cummins yet. Hmmm.
John Starbuck again, on Lyon. “Gary Naylor is correct as usual, in that most really good bowlers, particularly spinners, only become so in retrospect. It’s a wonderful opportunity for humblebrags, with batsmen who faced whoever-it-is saying how difficult he was to pick, how so many of their partners he got, while ‘I was fortunate enough to get a few fifties/centuries against him but he caused problems all the way, you could never settle’. Humbug.”
95th over: England 270-6 (Moeen 15, Curran 14) Flashy! Curran drives Hazlewood on up and through the covers but only just wide of Jackson Bird who is on for Warner. For the briefest moment it looked liked his dive would be enough, but missed by about a foot. “I’m not sure about this approach,” says Ali Mitchell on the radio. He looks much better when playing the same stroke along the ground later in the over. Then keeps the strike with a clip through midwicket. “It’s a strange old innings,” adds Dirk Nannes.
@collinsadam at the risk of massive mockers, Curran bats well for @surreycricket and 8 shouldn't be too high for him. He'll certainly back himself
94th over: England 263-6 (Moeen 15, Curran 7) The Richies have their first sing of the day, rolling out their tune about Nathan Lyon. That’s all I’ll say about them for now. The focus of their attention finds Curran’s inside edge for a second time. A big chance to go through his gate, tossing it up to encourage that mode of dismissal. The new man cuts when the spinner drops short. That’s better. Moeen defends the rest.
DEVIL AT THE CROSSROADS: So, you get to take a really good catch. A blinder. On all the highlight reels.
STEVE SMITH: What's the price?
DEVIL: You have to drop three easy catches.
SMITH: Pass me that blood pen. #Ashes
93rd over: England 262-6 (Moeen 15, Curran 6) Josh Hazlewood to replace Starc. Sure enough, a maiden to begin to Moeen. But with a focus on peppering Moeen’s body rather than his off-stump channel. Hits him on the side at one stage. A couple of bouncers in there too. Softening the left-hander up for Lyon? Something like that.
John Starbuck is having a decent old frolic on Mason Crane’s name on the email, continuing the chat that Geoff had going as the rain fell yesterday morning.
“Further to yesterday’s conjuring with Mason Crane’s name as a mortar hoist, a few others.
Alastair Cook - Still on the building site, he’s the one instructed to add fresh bacon sandwiches (from an oil-drum barbie) to the tea brewing.
92nd over: England 262-6 (Moeen 15, Curran 6) Curran looks in control on the front foot to begin, down the ground for one. Moeen does likewise, dancing to the pitch of the ball. Dragging his length back a bit, the spinner rips one at the right-handed Curran, beating him on the inside edge. Close call. Then finds the inside edge with one that also rags. “Lyon is getting more turn this morning,” says Dirk Nannes on ABC. Sure is.
91st over: England 260-6 (Moeen 14, Curran 5) Starc to Moeen. Again gets off the mark first ball. Dare I say it, he’s looking alright. Pulling on this occasion, along the carpet. Curran helps one in that direction too, albeit off his thigh pad. Moeen a thrid run from the over off the pads. Pace has improved this morning, but Starc’s line is far from consistent. Curran wants nothing to do with a bumper later in the set, but is happy to drive through cover for one to retain the strike.
90th over: England 256-6 (Moeen 12, Curran 4) Lyon to Moeen. He’s wide to begin, allowing a single to be cut through point from the man who has been his best buddy throughout the series. Curran looks far from comfortable from there, looking to score but doing so awkwardly. In saying that, he defends the last couple of balls solidly. That’ll be good for the confidence. A fair few nerves, presumably.
Is Nathan Lyon underappreciated in terms of aesthetics @collinsadam? He's a lovely bowler to watch, the ball curving, dipping and bouncing, the action propelling it like a coil unsprung, bristling with energy but beautifully balanced. We'll only talk like this when he's finished.
89th over: England 255-6 (Moeen 11, Curran 4) Curran elevated to no. 8. Massive job ahead of the man playing his second Test. And he’s slashing at Starc first ball, past point for four! Have that! Then nearly bowled next ball, Starc too quick. Haven’t had the chance to say that too often in this innings. Just got his bat down in time. Neglected to add, Moeen edged before the wicket earlier in the over, to the rope through the cordon. That pushed England above 250. “There’s no reason why 270 or so shouldn’t be a significant first innings score,” adds Adam Hirst in response to John Starbuck. Droll.
Meanwhile, how about that snaffle... pop it on loop.
Wow, what a catch from Aussie skipper Steve Smith! https://t.co/vhFwlbdpM8#Ashespic.twitter.com/c0hoAucGeD
WHAT A CATCH! WHAT A CATCH! Starc finds Malan’s edge, the left-hander stuck on the crease, but this is all about Steve Smith. Diving with his left hand low, snaffles it an inch from the ground. “One of the best catches he will ever take,” says Simon Katich on the radio. Sure was. Will dig out the vision right away.
88th over: England 244-5 (Malan 62, Moeen 4) Nathan “Nathan” Lyon into the attack for the first time today. Finds Moeen’s edge first ball, but safely to ground, a single taken. Malan more convincing, driving gracefully off the front foot through cover for his first boundary of the day. That’s a super shot. Nearly another edge to end the over, Malan beaten with a nothing shot off the back foot. Eventful start for the tweaker.
87th over: England 239-5 (Malan 58, Moeen 3) Moeen’s third run off the pads, Starc obliging with the first ball of his new over. Another on Malan’s feet too, slipping down. Poor start from the Australian attack leader. Malan then gets a chance to cut, but Khawaja does wonderfully to make the stop at backward point. Was another ball that deserved punishment. He then gets a couple down the ground, leaning on a drive. Busy over. Had looked at home in the top flight throughout the series. Good on him.
“There’s no reason why 300 or so shouldn’t be a significant first innings score,” suggests my man Johnny Starbuck. “We’ve grown so used to the 400-500+ that we forget how a relatively low-scoring games can be one of the best. The pitch, the mood and experience of the bowlers, the catches dropped or taken, the idiocy of the batsmen all pay a part.”
In the film, Mitchell Starc would be played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. #Ashes
86th over: England 236-5 (Malan 56, Moeen 2) Had a couple of colleagues inform me that THREE TIME Hawthorn Premiership player Josh Gibson is in the press box. No idea why, but welcome along you Golden God Bird. Distracted me from Big Josh’s over, if I’m honest. Malan did take one down the ground to get his day going. Moeen didn’t need his bat until Hazlewood misdirected onto his pads, clipping his second run. Sedate start from him compared to last week in Melbourne. “Starc won’t get Ali out with the new ball,” emails Yum. “He’s saving himself for Lyon.”
I'd say "cometh the hour, cometh the man" for Moeen @collinsadam& up to this series you'd think anything's possible, but honestly, like Vince (or even less so, right now) there's just no expectation any more. It's so odd that he's this scrambled, for such a placid, languid man.
85th over: England 234-5 (Malan 55, Moeen 1) Starc really isn’t penetrating. A third ball on the trot down the legside to begin. Then finds his line to Moeen, if not quite his length. A bouncer blows out the cobwebs, maybe. Not a lot going on from the Randwick End. Maiden.
84th over: England 234-5 (Malan 55, Moeen 1) Malan has Hazlewood zipping it away from him then back at his pads, an inside edge located in the process. Then a really good leave just north of his off-stump. It encourages the quick to change direction from round the wicket. Malan defends then shoulders arms. Good early scrap. Maiden.
A lot of chat on my twitter feed about Cummins v Rabada come March in South Africa across four Test Matches. Cannot wait for that. I’ll be there throughout, so we can continue this OBO discussion for months on end. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
Has Ed Cowan just decided to stop ageing? https://t.co/1i4gWuGIaY
83rd over: England 234-5 (Malan 55, Moeen 1) Pedestrian start by Starc standards, his first three deliveries comfortably below 140kph. Watchful Moeen. Sprays the last couple well down the legside. A maiden, but a wasted over with the second new ball. Yesterday, CricViz calculated for me that it was the slowest that the left-armer has ever bowled on average in a Test played in Australia. Is he fit? Not an unreasonable query.
82nd over: England 234-5 (Malan 55, Moeen 1) Good start from Moeen, clipping a single to the first ball of the day. One to come in the over, sprayed down the legside. Also liked this last night from Phil Walker at Wisden, especially the Volvo line.
Fine point on Cummins. “He’ll only be the best when commentators stop pronouncing his surname with a ‘g’ at the end,” tweets Geoff Foley. WILL IT EVER END? As a radio commentator myself, I know well the risk of repeating a name wrongly time and again. Can be difficult to adjust once you have it in your muscle memory. But this one makes no sense. Anyway, the players are on the field, so we can worry about that later. Josh Hazlewood to complete his over, Moeen Ali to face his first ball. Buckle up. This could be a loose first half an hour.
He against Kagiso is going to be tremendous fun
Righto, upstairs now. Quite the mission. But I can confirm that it is sparkling day in the harbour city. Not a cloud, not that hot. Perfect for leather versus willow.
Nathan Early with the early mail to get us going. “I reckon we’ll learn a bunch about Root The Captain with his handling of Mason Crane later today,” he wrties. “Don’t hook him after 4-0-32-0.” From our parish more often than not, but writing next door at the moment, Will Mac did a lovely bit on the leggie ahead of the Test. What a day for Mason.
Related: England’s James Vince takes the bait again in another maddening Ashes knock | Ali Martin
Morning, trendsetters. So what will it be? England’s more garden-variety botching, where they end up all out 300? Or the more catastrophic version, the last seven wickets falling for 30 odd? Either way, they stuffed a decent enough day in the space of 10 deliveries last night. That’s where we resume in about half an hour from now at the SCG. Don’t change, England. Don’t change.
I was pretty excited about Pat Cummins last night, so that’s where I’ll direct you to begin. The bloke we spend every other moment discussing when he should take a rest. But he’s now bowled more deliveries than any other Australian seamer in the series. 1038 to be precise. And some fine ones along the way, getting Australia going yesterday. Will he finish the year as the best quick in the world? I think so.
Adam will be here shortly. Meanwhile, read Ali Martin on another maddening innings by England batsman James Vince.
One wonders what Yabba would have come up with for James Vince, a touring batsman with the inbuilt capacity to both delight and infuriate in equal measure, and never more so than on the opening day of this fifth Ashes Test. For 82 minutes at the crease Vince looked the part as he so often does, dispatching the bad balls like Jardine versus the local insect population en route to a 25 that can be added to the list of magnificent yet maddening innings.
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