| 0.0 : Endings and beginnings are a part of life. As historic a series the Ashes is, equally significant has been the role of the WACA Ground in Perth. This third Test of the Ashes 2017 will be an end of different sort. The above mentioned ground is all set to host its last game of the iconic series - to make way for the new venue in the same city - and one would vouch for the venue to sign off on a high. We welcome you to our coverage of the first day of this game with this preface. |
| The scoreline stands at 2-0 in favour of Australia. However, it doesn't paint a true picture in entirety as England have had their moments in both the games which they couldn't turn into their advantage. While the tourists have named an unchanged eleven for this mid-series game, the hosts have kept us waiting - building further suspense over who between Peter Handscomb and Mitchell Marsh will play. The former's woeful run with the bat has seen his spot be in a jeopardy for this contest. However, |
| Alastair Cook will be featuring in his 150th Test. The occasion couldn't get any better for him to play a knock with his side needing a batting savior badly. All the talks and numbers building up to this game point to circumstances being against England. But runs from the blade is second only to nothing and who better than the former skipper to know that. So... what do we have in store for us in this Perth Test? A ruthless Australian performance? A spirited English revival? Stay with us to find |
| TOSS - Joe Root, oh Joe Root! He CALLS IT RIGHT at the toss for the third consecutive occasion and this time OPTS TO BAT FIRST! Learning from the past, ehh? He has been handed that opportunity with the coin spinning his way. Will the final result follow suit? England, we knew, are going in with the same side that played the last game. And the Handscomb-Marsh suspense ends! MITCHELL MARSH comes in for Peter Handscomb. |
| It's time! We are all set to begin a journey which, at the end, will reveal whether England hang on to the urn or Australia regain it. ALASTAIR COOK, getting 150-Test old, walks out to the centre along with MARK STONEMAN. Their aim, as obvious as it is, would be to give their side a good, tidy start. Contrastingly, with a mindset of denying this from happening, MITCHELL STARC will steam in with the new red cherry. Three slips and a gully. Let's play says umpire Chris Gaffaney... |
| 0.1 : M Starc to Cook, Starts on the money! Spears in a full length delivery around middle and off. A bit of shape towards the slip cordon. Cook stays in the crease, hops a touch and keeps it out towards mid-wicket. |
| 0.2 : M Starc to Cook, Fuller and well outside off, it swings away from the batter. Cook is experienced enough to know that these deliveries can be left unharmed. Does so. |
| 0.3 : M Starc to Cook, Fuller around off, Cook blocks it from the crease. |
| With Handscomb out of the side, Mitchell Marsh is seen standing at first slip. We mentioned in our build-up that he was seen practicing to man that position. |
| 0.4 : M Starc to Cook, This ball is delivered around off and middle, Cook gets ahead and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 0.5 : M Starc to Cook, Another delivery around off, blocked off the front foot. |
| 0.6 : M Starc to Cook, Maiden from Starc to begin the game! Outside off, swinging away, shouldered arms to by Cook. |
| Starc's partner in crime, JOSH HAZLEWOOD to bowl from the other end. Same fielding set up for him too. |
| 1.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Starts off with a delivery outside off, Stoneman watches it sail to the keeper. |
| 1.2 : Hazlewood to Stoneman, Appeal straightaway, for LBW! Turned down. Hazlewood spears this full around leg, Stoneman misses the flick and gets hit low on the pads. On the question being asked, umpire Erasmus replied in the negation. Pitching outside leg the reason. Hawk Eye confirms the same. |
| 1.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Good tactic from Josh to make the batsman play. Bowls it full around off, Stoneman drives it to the man at covers. |
| 1.4 : J Hazlewood to M Stoneman, Similar delivery, driven to mid off. |
| 1.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, FOUR! First runs for Stoneman and England! Hazlewood shouldn't mind it though. He bowls it fuller outside off, the opening batsman reaches out to it with a stride and drives it through covers for a boundary. Good for the bowler that the batter is reaching out to such deliveries. Increases the chances of inducing a nick. |
| 1.6 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, A touch shorter than the previous one, well outside off. Left alone by Mark. Four runs from the over, courtesy a boundary. |
| 2.1 : M Starc to Cook, Hurled around off, Cooky stays in the crease and blocks it solidly. |
| 2.2 : M Starc to Cook, Well done, Cook. Gets off the mark with a quick run. Length delivery on the stumps, Alastair taps it in front of mid-wicket and hares to the other end. |
| 2.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, Beauty! Starc and swing is a treacherous combination for a batsman to negotiate. He lands it on a length around off, the ball moves away from the batsman just a touch. Stoneman looks to whip it to the on side but the ball just spears past the outside edge and flies to the keeper. |
| 2.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! A low full toss in search of a yorker. Ends up being a run-yielding delivery. It is on the pads of Stoneman, who does well to get some bat to that. The ball speeds away to the fine leg fence. |
| 2.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! Encore from Starc! Another very low full toss around leg, Stoneman clips it through square leg to earn himself another boundary. Not a wrong strategy this from the bowler but shows how narrow the margin for error is. |
| 2.6 : M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! Ahhh! The square drive is such a glorious shot in the game. More so if it earns you a third consecutive boundary. Fuller outside off, driven through backward point from Stoneman. Another boundary results. 13 from this over. |
| 3.1 : J Hazlewood to Cook, This one is outside off, left alone by AC. |
| 3.2 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Fuller around off, defended towards mid off. |
| 3.3 : J Hazlewood to A Cook, FOUR! It's so good to see how strokes from a particular batter gets his partner going. This one is fuller outside off, Cook gets his stride forward and drives it through wide mid off. The proof of how good the outfield is, is evident as even Warner's hare to cut that off proved futile. He dived like one does in a swimming pool yet the ball trickled away to the fence. |
| 3.4 : J Hazlewood to Cook, This delivery is pushed towards mid off. |
| 3.5 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Around middle and off, turned towards mid on. |
| 3.6 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Length delivery outside off, Cook has a feel for it but gets beaten. Good one to end the over from the bowler. |
| 4.1 : M Starc to Stoneman, Full length ball outside off, Stoneman gets it off the outer half of his bat. The ball rolls past gully and the batsman gets a brace. |
| 4.2 : M Starc to Stoneman, Full ball around middle and leg, clipped straight to the man at deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 4.3 : M Starc to Cook, Starc hurls it on a length around middle and angling down leg. Cook flicks it through backward square leg. Hazlewood gets to his right from fine leg, slides and parries it to Shaun Marsh who returns the throw. Two runs is the result. |
| 4.4 : M Starc to Cook, OUT! Alastair Cook's wretched form on this tour ensues! Starc's persistence with the fuller delivery has reaped dividends. Hurls it full around middle and leg, Cook doesn't move his feet and looks to keep it out from the crease. Misses the ball and gets caught adjacent to the stumps. As plumb as it gets. He doesn't bother reviewing that and he never should on such occasions. This is his 34th Test innings without an Ashes ton. Notably, this was Starc's fastest ball in this |
| JAMES VINCE walks in at the fall of the first English wicket. He has a fifty in this series and nothing thenceforth. Can he make amends now? |
| 4.5 : M Starc to Vince, Very full outside off, Vince covers the stumps and lets that go. |
| 4.6 : M Starc to Vince, Another delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 5.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Hazlewood continues round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off. Stoneman has a feel for that just to find the ball whiz past the edge of the bat. |
| 5.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Outside off, left alone. |
| 5.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Short leg, where art thou? This could have been a potential catch if that man would have been there. Hazlewood bends his back and bowls it short around middle. Stoneman looks to fend it away but gets a glove on that. The ball lobs on the leg side and a run results. |
| 5.4 : J Hazlewood to Vince, On a length around off, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 5.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, A touch fuller outside off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 5.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince gets behind the line of the ball and blocks it. |
| 6.1 : M Starc to Stoneman, The news is out - Stoneman isn't comfortable with the short length delivery. Starc bowls it on a back of a length around middle and leg, Stoneman presents a straight bat face but the ball hits the blade near the handle before dying down on the pitch. |
| 0.0 : Broken bat for Stoneman! He got the previous ball high on the blade and needs a change of willow as a result. |
| 6.2 : M Starc to Stoneman, Full delivery down the leg side, Mark misses the flick. |
| 6.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, Edged but safe! Bowled on a back of a length around off, Stoneman looks to keep it away from the crease. Ends up getting an edge off the shoulder of the bat and the ball lands just short of backward point. He is not looking at ease against the short ball. |
| 6.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! This should ease Stoneman's nerves a bit. Starc looks to do the double bluff and bowls it full around off and middle. Stoneman is up to the task and drives it straight back. The ball races past mid on for a boundary. |
| 6.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, The short ball is back. Stoneman keeps it out uncomfortably towards the vacant short leg region. |
| 6.6 : M Starc to Vince, Length delivery angling away from James, left alone. |
| 7.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Stoneman keeps it out off the front foot. |
| 7.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Back of a length delivery around off, Stoneman gets squared up and gets an outside edge towards backward point. |
| A bat-pad in place now. The on-air commentators reckon that this is a good field position to have at this venue. |
| 7.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Length ball on the stumps, stonewalled with a straight bat. |
| 7.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, FOUR! Stoneman is looking very comfortable against the full ball and hence Australia would need to realise this sooner than later. Hazlewood angles it into the batsman on a full length. Mark clips it away through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, This is outside off, Mark lets this one go unharmed. |
| 7.6 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Bouncer around off, Stoneman picked that one early and evaded it. |
| More fire! PAT CUMMINS is brought into the attack. He wanted to emulate Mitchell Johnson and here is his chance. |
| 8.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Begins with a length delivery outside off, Vince shoulders arms to that. |
| 8.2 : Pat Cummins to J Vince, Fuller on the stumps, flicked towards wide mid on, where the fielder dives to prevent a run. |
| The on-air commentators have just analyzed what Stoneman has shown in this innings so far. You pitch the ball upto him and he looks at ease in banishing it to the fence or negotiates it without much ado. Bowl him something on a back of a length and he is all at sea. There were a couple of edges in the vacant short leg region and some behind point on the off side. All safe as yet. |
| 8.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Another full ball around off, Vince looks to block it from the crease. Gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 8.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Outside off, left alone. |
| 8.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, FOUR! Beautiful stroke. Cummins delivers this on a length on the fuller side outside off. Vince gets forward and drives it through covers. Gets a boundary for doing so. A nice way to get off the mark. |
| 8.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Vince lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 9.1 : J Hazlewood to M Stoneman, Another one! Stoneman stays in the crease to block this one but gets a thick outside edge. The ball rolls towards gully. |
| 0.0 : Short point in place. Nathan Lyon has been brought to that position. |
| 9.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Smell the ball, did you? Hazlewood bangs it short at 143.4 kmph. Stoneman is alive to this one and ducks to let the ball pass. Paine has to leap up and gets his right hand to collect that but doesn't do so cleanly. |
| 9.3 : J Hazlewood to M Stoneman, The batsman gets an inside edge and the ball hits him on the pads. |
| 9.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Stoneman is playing for the short ball. Not looking good this. This is a length ball, not too short. Since the batter is on the back foot he gets the toe end of the bat as he looks to keep it out. The ball goes towards covers and he gets a run. |
| 9.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, This ball is blocked from the front foot. |
| 9.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, FOUR! The margin for error on this surface is very little. Hazlewood angles it full into the batsman, Vince shows good balance as he clips it through mid-wicket. The timing is so good that a boundary is what he gets. |
| Cummins has to abort his run up. Reason - the batsman wasn't ready. |
| 10.1 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, An edge for the umpteenth time! This time the ball rolls towards the vacant third slip region. Smith from second slip puts in the dive and stops the ball. |
| 10.2 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Stoneman plays it with soft hands towards covers for a run. |
| 10.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 10.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Cracking shot, straight to the fielder. Cummins bowls it on a length outside off, Vince stands tall and cuts it. Finds the man at point, who mimes a throw to the non-striker's end. |
| 10.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Now Vince is caught being unsure of his footwork here. Length delivery, a touch on the fuller side this time. James presents a straight bat but ends up getting an inside edge onto the front pad. |
| 10.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| MITCHELL STARC gets a change of end. |
| 11.1 : M Starc to M Stoneman, Fuller around middle, driven to mid on. |
| 11.2 : M Starc to Stoneman, Don't know who has a task cut out to the short ball - the batsman or the keeper. Starc bangs it short on the stumps, Stoneman ducks under that. Paine has to leap high yet again to prevent the ball from passing him. |
| 11.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 11.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, Punched through the cover region by Mark for a couple. |
| Ian Chappell makes a good observation here. He is of the opinion that the proper bouncer should be aimed at the batsman's helmet grill. Anything higher than that is easier to negotiate by ducking under and anything below could be played with the bat. At the level of the grill, the batsman is unsure whether to play at it or let it go and that could cause problems for him. |
| 11.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, Back of a length delivery around middle, Stoneman looks to fend it but wears it on the side of the stomach. Ouch that must have hurt! |
| 11.6 : M Starc to Stoneman, Four Byes! This is what I was talking about earlier. Another effort ball from Starc, the batsman ducks under it. In spite of Paine's high jump, the ball flies over him and into the boundary fence. These runs would be mistaken to be the keeper's fault but not this one. |
| 12.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Vince taps it towards cover-point for a single. |
| 12.2 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Stoneman pushes it towards covers and crosses over to the other end. |
| 12.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Harmless delivery outside off, Vince has nothing to do with that. |
| 12.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Brilliant delivery. On a fuller length around off, Vince is caught on the crease. Thankfully gets an inside edge onto the front pad and the ball rolls towards first slip. If not for that edge, another man would have been sent packing. |
| 12.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Outside off, left alone. |
| 12.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, FOUR! There will be deliveries that may be unplayable but it is all about forgetting that and playing the next ball on its merit. Proved rightly by Vince. This one is fuller outside off. He forgets what happened a ball before and drives it confidently through point for a boundary. Good to see. |
| Drinks are on the field now. The first hour of play has seen the hosts strike a crucial blow on the visitors. Cook's sorry run continues as he failed to trouble the scorers much. All the seamers have looked incisive and look like picking up a wicket every single ball. Would be good to see how long Vince and Stoneman can keep them quiet. |
| 13.1 : M Starc to Stoneman, First loose shot attempted by Stoneman. Length ball outside off, he looks to flay it through the off side but gets beaten. |
| 13.2 : M Starc to Stoneman, Howzzat? Nothing from the Aussies there. Starc angles it on the pads, Stoneman looks to flick it but the ball goes off something to Paine who dives to his right to catch that. No real appeal from the home side as it seems to have gone off the pads. |
| 13.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, Stoneman negotiates this bouncer well by ducking under it. |
| 13.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, This one's flicked round the corner for a single. |
| 13.5 : M Starc to Vince, Fuller outside off, Vince drives it through covers. The ball doesn't have enough legs to go to the fence and the batsmen get three for that. |
| 13.6 : M Starc to Stoneman, This ball is kept off from the back foot. |
| 14.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, On a length outside off, Vince shoulders arms to that. Good judgement there as the ball moved in after passing the batsman. |
| 14.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Similar delivery around off, Vince gets it off the inner half towards fine leg for a single. |
| 14.3 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Post the drinks break, Stoneman has been a bit assured in dealing with the short ball, observed my colleague Praky. There might have been a message sent to him from the dressing room he reckons. Mark picks this bouncer early and crouches low for the keeper to do the rest. |
| 14.4 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Length ball around off, blocked watchfully from the crease. |
| 14.5 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Stoneman gets forward to this one and blocks it towards covers. |
| 14.6 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Delivered on a length outside off, MS stands his crease and defends it towards point. |
| 15.1 : M Starc to Vince, Full ball on the pads, James fails to flick it away and wears it on the protective gear. |
| 15.2 : M Starc to Vince, Back of a length delivery around leg, Vince hops and fends it towards fine leg for one. |
| 15.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, This ball is blocked from the crease. |
| 15.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, What happened there? Starc spears it full outside off, Stoneman's concentration lapses a bit. He looks to drive it away from the body but just misses the ball by a whisker. Smith, strangely, is seen thinking about a review for caught behind as he seems to have heard something there. Strange because the nick is generally spotted by the keeper and the bowler first, who on this occasion weren't excited. |
| 15.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, Back of a length ball well outside off, easy leave for the southpaw. |
| 15.6 : M Starc to Stoneman, A touch closer to the off stump this time. Blocked solidly off the front foot. |
| 16.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Where's the ball? Cummins bowls it around off, Vince gets it off the inside half of his bat towards mid-wicket for one. But the camera pans to the cover region to cover the region of the original shot. |
| 16.2 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 16.3 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, A bit fuller around off, Mark presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 16.4 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, FOUR! The boundaries have slowed, says Ian Healy on air and immediately comes this shot. Cummins hurls it full around off, something that hasn't troubled the English opener. Stoneman drives it straight back past the bowler and gets a boundary. |
| 16.5 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Perfect reply from a fast bowler after being hit for a boundary. Pat bangs in a bouncer from wide of the crease, Stoneman ducks to let it pass. |
| 16.6 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Beauty to end the over. Length ball just outside off, making Stoneman play. He has a feel for that and gets beaten. |
| 17.1 : M Starc to Vince, Nearly! Starc bowls it very full outside off, Vince looks to drive it without great feet movement. Ends up hitting the bat on the ground. This is how he was dismissed in the previous game and he seems to be falling to the trap there. |
| 17.2 : M Starc to Vince, This time this delivery is confidently pushed to the cover region. |
| 17.3 : M Starc to Vince, Length ball outside off, Vince this time does well to not play at that. |
| 17.4 : M Starc to Vince, Vince pushes this length ball around middle and leg defensively towards mid on. |
| 17.5 : M Starc to Vince, Four Byes! Poor Paine, how he'd hope that he had been much more taller to stop such deliveries. Starc bowls it short down the leg side, Vince crouches in response. Paine leaps to his left but fails to get a hand to that. |
| 17.6 : M Starc to Vince, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Spin time! NATHAN LYON comes into the attack. Two things - one, the over rate will get a boost because of this. Two, with a southpaw at the crease, a wicket before lunch would be helpful. A slip and a short leg in place. |
| 18.1 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Floated around off, Stoneman defends with his bat and pad close together. |
| 18.2 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Stoneman's intent is to attack Lyon it seems. He comes down and sweeps it towards fine leg for a single. |
| 18.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Lyon continues round the wicket to Vince. Vince uses his feet and turns it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 18.4 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Hello, Stoneman! What are you upto? The sweep isn't the safest option against the off spinner but he doesn't care. He plays that shot to the man at fine leg for a run. Brings up the 50-RUN STAND between Stoneman and Vince. These two have done well to hold fort post Cook's departure. Even in the first game these two were among the runs with fifties to their names and they would do well to not miss the chance yet again. |
| 18.5 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince picks up a run after driving it through mid on. |
| 18.6 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD back for another burst before lunch. |
| 19.1 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince defends it off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 19.2 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 19.3 : J Hazlewood to Vince, This one is too wide to make James play there. |
| 19.4 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Another ball outside off is left alone by Vince. He is in no hurry to get bat to ball. |
| 19.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Leave no.4! Hazlewood offers this well outside off, JV lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 19.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Has to play this time. Length delivery angling into the batsman, Vince stands tall and keeps it out. |
| 20.1 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Flatter around off and middle, a bit of spin there. Stoneman pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| 20.2 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Stoneman is following the risk-reward policy. He uses his feet to spin yet again but is not to the pitch of the ball. Hits it a touch aerially towards mid on. Starc the man there, Mark takes on him and gets a run. |
| 20.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Vinces comes down the track and blocks it. |
| 20.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Flicked off his pads towards backward square leg. |
| 20.5 : N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! Wonderful use of the feet. Lyon serves it around off, Vince comes down and hits it through covers against the spin. The ball finds the gap and races away to the boundary. He moves to 25. |
| 20.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince keeps it out from the crease. |
| 21.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Fuller but the line is wrong. It is on the pads. Stoneman misses the flick and gets it off his pads towards fine leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 21.2 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Outside off, easy leave for James. |
| 21.3 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Hazlewood bangs it short outside off, Vince evades to let it go. |
| 21.4 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Fuller around off, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 21.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Similar delivery, Vince defends it off the front foot. |
| 21.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Landed outside off, Vince gets a half-stride forward and lets it go. |
| 22.1 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Served outside off, Stoneman pushes it towards covers. |
| 22.2 : N Lyon to Stoneman, FOUR! Wow! Lunch-break looming? Best spinner around? Who cares! Lyon lands it around off, Stoneman gets low and slog sweeps it aerially. The ball lands just inside the rope before crossing over the square leg boundary. |
| 22.3 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Now Mark does the sensible thing of pushing it towards covers and crossing over to the other end. |
| 22.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 22.5 : N Lyon to Vince, Fired around middle and leg, bunted off the front foot. |
| 22.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince buries this delivery onto the ground. |
| 23.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Length ball on the pads, Stoneman fails to flick it away. Gets it off his thigh pad towards fine leg for a leg bye. |
| 23.2 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince keeps it out solidly off the front foot. |
| 23.3 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Back of a length delivery around off, Vince arches back and lets it go through to the keeper. |
| 23.4 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Hazlewood goes wide of the crease and angles it into Vince. The latter is good in judging this and points his bat skywards as he lets it go. |
| 23.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Short outside off, Vince doesn't bother playing that. |
| 23.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Fuller around middle and leg, clipped towards mid-wicket. |
| 24.1 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Flatter delivery around 91.8 kmph, Stoneman stays back and offers a straight bat face to that. |
| 24.2 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Mark watchfully defends this from the crease. |
| 24.3 : N Lyon to Stoneman, MS lunges forward and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 24.4 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Nicely bowled. Lyon darts it around middle, Stoneman looks to defend. Gets an inside edge that goes on the bounce to short leg. |
| 24.5 : N Lyon to Stoneman, This is outside off, MS cuts it towards backward point. |
| 24.6 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Dropped but a tough chance that. Lyon delivers it around middle and leg, Stoneman flicks it. Ends up hitting it straight on the boot of Bancroft at short leg. The ball lobs up but Cameron isn't able to get to that and catch it. Very tough chance this. These are the sort that stick. |
| 25.1 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince blocks it from the crease. |
| 25.2 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince gets forward and blocks it solidly. |
| 25.3 : J Hazlewood to Vince, OUT! Hazlewood is the man! His consistent lines and lengths have got him the desired result - a wicket. Full delivery outside off, Vince looks to drive this one. Ends up getting the faintest of nicks to Paine who doesn't miss such chances. Know a thing or two about earning your scalp? This is it. Hazlewood had bowled three consecutive maidens prior to this, just a couple of leg byes had come off them. Post that, Vince was the man facing the remaining deliveries. The |
| JOE ROOT, the English skipper, walks in to the middle. He has had a quiet series so far and this is the game for him to come good, we believe. Will he? Three minutes left before Lunch... |
| 25.4 : J Hazlewood to Root, Full delivery outside off, Root lets it go. The keeper had to collect it in front of his face. Shows the carry off the surface. |
| 25.5 : J Hazlewood to Root, Root shoulders arms to this length delivery. The ball moves in prodigiously after pitching. Good for him that it was far from the off stick. |
| 25.6 : J Hazlewood to Root, Short ball around off, ducked under by Joe. |
| 26.1 : N Lyon to Stoneman, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 26.2 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Lunged forward and blocked off the front foot. |
| 26.3 : N Lyon to Stoneman, A touch short outside off, Stoneman cuts it to the man at deep backward point for a run. |
| 26.4 : N Lyon to Root, Root clips it off his pads through backward square leg for a run to get off the mark. |
| 26.5 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Mark gets forward and presents a straight bat in blocking that. |
| Last ball before Lunch... |
| 26.6 : N Lyon to Stoneman, Stoneman will go into LUNCH, DAY 1, unbeaten on 48 as he blocks this delivery from the crease. |
| The session ends on an equilibrium! We wouldn't have said that 10 balls before the break as the 63-run partnership between Stoneman and Vince seemed to tilt the initial balance of the game in their favour. But Vince's untimely shot changed that. He would be kicking himself as he had largely looked at ease unlike the southpaw who looked troubled by the short delivery. Nevertheless, he is still unbeaten on 48. |
| The Aussie seamers were right on the money from the word go. In search of swing early on, they offered freebies but Cook's wicket reduced those vague offerings. Cricket is a team sport and their bowling efforts so far show exactly that. All the bowlers have looked threatening in their own way. What will the post-Lunch session have in store for us? A few more wickets? Runs galore? Staunch resistance? Join us to know. |
| ...Day 1, second session... |
| Welcome back for the afternoon session. The players are taking the field again. It will be JOE ROOT on strike with his partner MARK STONEMAN at the other end on 48. JOSH HAZLEWOOD to continue. Three slips and a gully in place. Sun out in its full glory, here we go... |
| 27.1 : J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! A bit edgy, half a victory for the bowler. He pitches it full and outside off, forcing the batsman forward, Root plays the drive away from his body but fails to middle it the way he would have liked. It comes off the outer half of his willow and runs behind backward point for a boundary. |
| 27.2 : J Hazlewood to Root, Good length delivery in the region outside off, Root shoulders arms. |
| 27.3 : J Hazlewood to Root, An inswinger this time, but it's too full and too straight. Root clips it off his pads to fine leg and gets off strike. |
| Short leg and deep square leg in place. |
| 27.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 27.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Play and a miss! Hazlewood serves it short and wide outside off, Stoneman stands back to slap it through the line but misses. Needs to be careful as there is some extra lift on this surface. |
| 27.6 : J Hazlewood to M Stoneman, FOUR! Connects and connects well this time to reach his third Test fifty. Another half-tracker outside off, this time Mark whacks it past the point fielder for a boundary. Fantastic knock by him! He was positive from the onset, punished most of the full balls coming his way, although struggled against the shorter ones. Good part is that he is still out there and looking good for a big one. |
| PAT CUMMINS to operate from the other end. |
| 28.1 : Pat Cummins to Root, Wide called for height! Cummins bowls a bouncer first up and it sails over the batsman. |
| Pat Cummins to Root, Back of a length delivery outside off, Root takes a liking to that length. Just stays back and punches it through cover-point for a couple. |
| 28.2 : Pat Cummins to Root, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 28.3 : Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Fab shot! Cummins overdoes his length and bowls it fuller around middle and leg. Root leans forward and across before flicking it wide of mid on for a boundary. |
| 28.4 : Pat Cummins to Root, A touch short and on off, Root goes back and shoulders arms. |
| 28.5 : Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! No stopping Root if it's short and around off. He just camps back, rides the bounce and strokes it with all the timing in the world. Finds the gap through point and fetches another boundary in the over. Australia need to be careful here, Root is known to score in brisk manner. |
| 28.6 : Pat Cummins to Root, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 29.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Gets behind the line of the delivery and dead bats it watchfully. |
| 29.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Hurls on a length outside off, Stoneman has nothing to do with it. |
| 29.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, A touch short and around off, angling in, Mark leans back, drops his wrists and allows it through. |
| 29.4 : J Hazlewood to M Stoneman, EDGED AND DROPPED! Mitchell Marsh, what have you done? Hazlewood keeps probing around the off stump line and delivers this one outside off on a length. Stoneman plays a loose drive away from his body and gets big fat outside edge behind. It flies straight in and out of Marsh's hands at first slip. He tried pouching it with his fingers pointing skywards but his hands never came together. A sitter has gone down. |
| 29.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Pitches it up and outside off, Stoneman drives it off his front foot to mid off. |
| 29.6 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, On a length around off, Stoneman defends it solidly. Excellent over by Josh, unlucky not to have Stoneman. |
| 30.1 : Pat Cummins to Joe Root, EDGY FOUR! Cummins bowls it on a length outside off, moving away a bit, Root strides forward, opens the face of the bat and gets it away off the outer half. It runs wide of the slip cordon and races away to the fence. |
| 30.2 : Pat Cummins to Root, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 30.3 : Pat Cummins to Root, Back of a length delivery on off, Root rocks back and punches it to the off side. |
| 30.4 : Pat Cummins to Root, Pitches it full this time, around off and shaping back in, Root is on the front foot as he meets the ball with a straight bat. Nicely blocked. |
| 30.5 : Pat Cummins to Root, An effort delivery to hurry up the English skipper. Cummins bangs in short, around middle and leg, Root rises on his back foot and tries to fend it away. He is hurried up by the extra pace and somehow keeps it out safe towards short leg. No bat-pad around! |
| 30.6 : Pat Cummins to Root, Good length delivery angling in, Root helps it towards mid-wicket to end the over. |
| 31.1 : Hazlewood to Stoneman, OUCH! Stoneman is hit on the helmet by a Hazlewood bouncer. A well-directed one, Mark takes his eyes off the ball as he tries to duck. He fails to get away from the line of fire and takes a nasty blow on the right side of the grille as the extra protection comes off. Concerned looking Aussies surround him. Everybody checking with him. Stoneman is slowly walking away from the pitch. He is moving freely, that's good to see. |
| 0.0 : Physio comes out! Mark Stoneman seems fine though. He is just buying some time to catch his breath after that blow. Maybe, a change of helmet as well. |
| 31.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Nearly a catch next ball! It's a cruel sport. Hazlewood shows no mercy after delivering a blow on the last ball. Serves yet another sharp short delivery. Around middle and Stoneman is not at all comfortable dealing with it. Fends at it awkwardly, it flies off the handle and Lyon running in from point nearly snapped it inches off the surface. Another life for Stoneman. |
| 31.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Alters his length and bowls it a tad fuller outside off, Stoneman sticks back and plays it out to the off side. |
| 31.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Bumper! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 31.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Beaten! Hazlewood cooks yet another full delivery outside off, tempting the batsman into the drive. Stoneman obliges but gets beaten by the slight away movement. This is extraordinary stuff from Josh, just toying with the batsman who has scored a fifty. |
| 31.6 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Good length outside off, defended to the off side to end the over. A testing one. |
| 32.1 : Pat Cummins to Root, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 32.2 : Pat Cummins to Root, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. |
| 32.3 : Pat Cummins to Root, Length and on off, defended by Root. |
| 32.4 : Pat Cummins to Root, OUT! Gone! Big wicket for Australia and the crowd roarrrrr... Another effort delivery by Pat, bends his back and darts in a shortish delivery around middle and leg. Angling down and Root tries glancing it off his hips. He fails to middle his shot and gets it away off the bottom of the gloves. Paine makes no mistake behind the stumps and they all go up in a huge appeal. The finger goes up immediately and Joe takes a long walk back to the hut. Cummins hunts down England' |
| Dawid Malan is the new batsman. |
| 32.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bowls it around off, Malan covers the line and blocks it. |
| 32.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins uses the crease well. Goes wide this time as he dishes out a lethal short delivery, 144.2 kph in pace. Malan just manages to evade it. Cracking over, a wicket maiden! |
| 33.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Beaten! Hazlewood continues to flirt with the outside edge of Stoneman's bat. Bowls it on a length outside off, sucking the batsman into a drive. The extra movement beats the bat. |
| 33.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, And a bouncer to soften the batsman. His alteration in lengths have kept Stoneman guessing. As a result, Mark is not getting either entirely forward or backward. |
| 33.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, FOUR! Just used the pace of the bowler. A length ball around off, Stoneman stands back with an open face of the bat and guides it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 33.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Stoneman is having a really tough time. Josh tests him with yet another well-directed short delivery, Mark fails to get away from the line and takes a blow near his right shoulder. |
| 33.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Movement away from the batsman, Stoneman tries to drive without getting entirely forward and is beaten. |
| 33.6 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, A bouncer to end the over. An easy leave this time for Mark. |
| 34.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 34.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Good length delivery angling into the body of the batsman, Malan tries working it away but is beaten for pace. He takes a hit on his thigh pad as it rolls to the leg side. |
| 34.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 34.4 : Cummins to Malan, Huge appeal for a caught behind but only from the bowler. He bowls it short and down the leg side, Malan tries getting it away fine but misses. Paine collects the ball and Cummins appeals. Nothing from the umpire! |
| 34.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, The batsman picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. |
| 34.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, A delightful drive through the gap between extra cover and mid off. Warner gives it the chase and pulls it back just before the rope. Saves a run for his side. Top effort! |
| Mitchell Starc is back on for a burst. |
| 35.1 : M Starc to Malan, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 35.2 : M Starc to Malan, Angles in a length ball on off, Malan draws forward with a straight bat and defends it back. |
| 35.3 : M Starc to Malan, Just short of short leg! Starc bangs in a short ball on middle and off, Malan probably picks the length late and hence gets into an awkward position. Tries avoiding the delivery but it takes his gloves and pops out. Bancroft under the lid stretches to his right but it falls just short of his outstretched hand. |
| 35.4 : M Starc to Malan, Some chin music for Malan. It whistles past his face as he tries to duck. |
| 35.5 : M Starc to Malan, FOUR! Starc goes for the magic delivery to follow-up his shorter one. But it turns out to be a fuller length ball down the leg side. Malan tickles it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 35.6 : M Starc to Malan, FOUR! Streaky! Short delivery wide outside off, Malan throws his bat at it and it flies off the outside edge over the slip cordon for a boundary. Loose! |
| 36.1 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Good length delivery on off, defended from the crease. |
| 36.2 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, On a length around off, Stoneman defends it off his back foot. |
| 36.3 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 36.4 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Another bouncer is safely negotiated by Stoneman. |
| 36.5 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Back of a length delivery on off, Stoneman defends it from the back foot. |
| 36.6 : Pat Cummins to Stoneman, Switches to over the wicket for the last delivery and serves a shortish ball on off, angling away, Mark goes on his toes and defends it down with gentle hands. |
| 37.1 : M Starc to Malan, Straighter in line, Malan turns it in the gap at mid-wicket and takes a single. |
| 37.2 : M Starc to Stoneman, Slips a length delivery down the leg side, Stoneman tries flicking but misses. Michael Clarke on air feels that this pitch has quickened up a little bit. |
| 37.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, Good length delivery on off, Mark covers the line, goes on his toes and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 37.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, Another delivery on middle and off, good accurate bowling, Mark keeps it out safely towards mid on. |
| Tim Paine has plucked a catch out of thin air and is appealing. The umpire shakes his head and Australia take the referral. |
| 37.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, OUT! Stoneman fails to survive the tough period. He made a strong fifty but looked very uncomfortable against the short pitch bowling. That has finally brought his downfall. A well-directed one by Starc. Fearsome pace. Stoneman tries fending at it and in the process his bottom hand comes off the handle. There is some noise as it flies behind to Paine. He catches it with a jump, they appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Now, Steven Smith goes for the DRS and the repla |
| JONNY BAIRSTOW is the new batsman. The umpires were looking at further replays to look if the ball had indeed brushed the gloves. Meanwhile, Joe Root and Paul Collingwood don't seem one bit amused with that decision as inspite of not having conclusive decision, the on-field call was overturned. This has resulted in a small halt in play. |
| 37.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 38.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, In the zone outside off, left alone. |
| 38.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! Not in control. Short delivery arrowed into the batsman, Malan tried to pull but probably got a top edge which sped past the keeper to the fine leg fence. On the replays, it seems it came off Malan's helmet. Given as runs. |
| 38.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Angling into the batsman, on a length, Malan is strong in his front foot defense. |
| 38.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Short and around middle, worked to deep backward square leg for a run. |
| 38.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Bowls it in the area outside off, Jonny shoulders arms. |
| 38.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Another watchful leave outside the off stump by Bairstow to end the over. |
| 39.1 : M Starc to D Malan, FOUR! Cracking shot! This will settle down some nerves. A full pitched delivery outside off, Malan takes his front leg forward and drives it crisply through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 39.2 : M Starc to Malan, Pulls his length back a bit and keeps it on off, Malan defends it from the back foot. |
| 39.3 : M Starc to D Malan, Unconvincing from Malan. He takes on Starc's short delivery and tries to pull. Gets a big top edge but luckily for him it falls safely in the deep mid-wicket region. A couple of runs taken. |
| 39.4 : M Starc to Malan, Length delivery outside off, played down towards covers. |
| 39.5 : M Starc to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 39.6 : M Starc to Malan, In better control with his pull shot this time. Keeps it all along the ground through square leg and takes a single. |
| A leg slip in place. |
| 40.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Short and around leg, Malan once again takes the challenge of pulling it but fails to connect. There is an element of risk in this shot at the moment. Australia have set a trap on the leg side. |
| 40.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They pick up a single. |
| 40.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Back of a length delivery on off, Bairstow punches it off his back foot but finds the point fielder. He is not off the mark yet. |
| 40.4 : Pat Cummins to J Bairstow, FOUR! Gets off the mark in style. A juicy half-volley outside off, Bairstow drives it with all the elegance through mid off for a boundary. |
| 40.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, The batsman picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. |
| 40.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 41.1 : M Starc to Malan, Starc steams in from around the wicket and lets out a short delivery around leg, Malan ducks. |
| 41.2 : M Starc to Malan, SIX! Malan is fighting fire with fire! Starc digs in another short delivery, sharp pace, Dawid tries pulling it with a swivel but gets a thick top edge which flies all the way over fine leg for a biggie. |
| 41.3 : M Starc to Malan, Angling away from the left hander, short in length, Malan drops his wrists and allows it through. |
| 41.4 : M Starc to Malan, Once again Malan leaves a delivery outside off untouched. |
| 41.5 : M Starc to Malan, Short in length outside off, Malan sways away from the line. |
| 41.6 : M Starc to D Malan, Another rib-tickler by Starc, Malan plays a strong pull shot. Sends it to deep backward square leg for a single. |
| NATHAN LYON is back into the attack. |
| 42.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Flighted full ball on off, Malan gets on the front foot and defends it to the leg side. |
| 42.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Loopy and full around off, Malan takes a step down the track and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 42.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Flighted and on off, turning away a bit, Malan tries playing a little lap sweep but fails to connect. He is hit on the pads, they appeal but the umpire disagrees. Impact well outside off. |
| 42.4 : N Lyon to D Malan, Lyon drops it short outside off, Malan fails to cash in on the gift and cracks it straight to the point fielder. |
| 42.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Walks down the track to a full ball and defends it to the off side. A little bit of outside edge there. |
| 42.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 43.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fractionally short in length and angling away from the batsman, around off, Bairstow stands back and allows it through to the keeper. |
| 43.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Puts it on a length around off, Jonny gets half forward and defends it to point. |
| 43.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Shout for a catch! Starc sprays it down the leg side, Bairstow fails to flick and there is some deflection along with noise as it goes past Jonny. Paine collects the ball, throws it in the air and Steven Smith joins him in appeal. It lacks conviction though. Nothing from the umpire. |
| 43.4 : M Starc to D Malan, Direct hit would have been curtains for Malan! A back of a length delivery on off, Jonny goes back and taps it down at covers. They scamper across for a quick single as Warner attacks the ball. He has a shy at the striker's end but misses. The replays show that Dawid would have been a goner in case of a direct hit. A chance missed. |
| 43.5 : M Starc to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 43.6 : M Starc to Malan, Short and on middle, Malan jumps and keeps it out on the leg side. |
| 44.1 : N Lyon to J Bairstow, FOUR! Fine shot! A flighted full ball on middle and off, Bairstow draws forward, shows the full face of the bat and drives it through mid off for a boundary. |
| 44.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Tossed up ball on middle, Bairstow gets forward and defends it to the leg side. |
| 44.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Almost a return catch! Floated full ball on off, spinning back in, Bairstow tries driving through the line but there is some overspin on this delivery and he ends up pushing it back aerially. Lyon flies to his left but it goes wide of him. He took a stunner in Adelaide and nearly repeated the same. |
| 44.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Gets on the front foot and defends it watchfully. |
| 44.5 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Flatter and a touch short around off, Jonny defends it from the back foot. |
| 44.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Played to the point region by the batsman. No run to end the over. |
| Bowling change. JOSH HAZLEWOOD to have another go. |
| 45.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Full length ball angling into the batsman, Malan defends it back. |
| 45.2 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, Another textbook forward defense offered by Malan to a full delivery. |
| 45.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, This was coming, a bouncer. It's around middle and leg, Malan easily ducks. |
| 45.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Good length delivery on off, Malan remains back and defends it towards cover-point. |
| 45.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Hurls in a length ball in the corridor of uncertainty, Malan makes a watchful leave. |
| 45.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Malan picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. Maiden. |
| 46.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Loopy and full on middle, it's flicked in front of square leg for a single. |
| 46.2 : N Lyon to Malan, A touch short and around off, skidding back into the batsman, Malan punches it off his back foot to covers. |
| 46.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Another delivery skidding back into the batsman, Malan deals with it from the crease and pushes it to covers. |
| 46.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Uses his feet on this occasion and flicks it wide of mid on for a single. |
| 46.5 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker one, 93 kph, around middle, Bairstow goes deep inside the crease and helps it towards square leg. |
| 46.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Another quicker delivery on middle, Jonny keeps it out safely on the leg side to end the over. |
| 47.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Full in length outside off, Malan leans forward and across before flicking it with good timing through mid-wicket. Three runs added to the total. Shades of Alastair Cook in that flick. |
| 47.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 47.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Good length delivery on off, Bairstow punches it from the back foot to covers. |
| 47.4 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Angling into the batsman, targeting the top of off stump, Bairstow defends it to the off side. |
| 47.5 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Presses forward to a length ball and drives it towards mid off. |
| 47.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Brilliant fielding, Bancroft! Hazlewood pitches it full and outside off, Bairstow unfurls a delightful off drive which is stopped by Cameron with a dive at mid off. Saved a certain boundary. |
| 48.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Loopy and full on middle, Malan lunges and defends it back. |
| 48.2 : N Lyon to Malan, A touch short and around off, skidding back in, Malan gets deep inside the crease and defends it back. |
| 48.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 48.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Flighted and full on middle, Dawid leans forward and defends it back. |
| 48.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Walks down the track to a full delivery and defends it back. |
| 48.6 : N Lyon to Malan, A slider around off, skidding through and cramping the batsman, Malan moves back and defends it at the last moment. |
| MITCHELL MARSH is introduced into the attack. The local lad is greeted with a big cheer from the crowd. |
| 49.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Starts with a good length delivery on off, Bairstow defends it back. |
| 49.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Probably attempts a yorker but it turns out to be a full toss on middle, Jonny flicks it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 49.3 : M Marsh to Malan, Too full in length outside off, Malan squeezes out his drive through backward point. Nathan Lyon anticipates it well, immediately rushes across to his right and slides to stop the ball. Only a single taken. |
| 49.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Fullish and on the pads, worked through square leg for a run. |
| 49.5 : M Marsh to Malan, Angles across a length delivery outside off, Malan shoulders arms. |
| 49.6 : M Marsh to Malan, Another leave outside off to end the over. |
| 50.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Flighted and outside off, a bit on the shorter side, Bairstow watches the line closely before making the leave. |
| 50.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Lunges to a full ball and defends it solidly. |
| 50.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Shortish and on off, Jonny goes on the back foot and punches it to covers. |
| 50.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Floated and fuller on off, Bairstow presses forward and defends it back. |
| 50.5 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Tossed up outside off, left alone. |
| 50.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Fullish and on off, Jonny strides forward to meet the ball and jams it out. |
| 51.1 : M Marsh to Malan, Good length delivery on middle and off, Malan stays on the back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 51.2 : M Marsh to Malan, Play and a miss! Marsh hurls across a full delivery around off, Malan pushes inside the line and is beaten. Nearly edged it. |
| 51.3 : M Marsh to Malan, Bowls it wide outside off, on a length, Dawid shoulders arms. Watchful. |
| 51.4 : M Marsh to Malan, A pitched up delivery on middle and off, Malan drove off the front foot to mid off. |
| 51.5 : M Marsh to Malan, Angling away from the batsman, outside off, Dawid leaves it. |
| 51.6 : M Marsh to Malan, FOUR! Good shot! This time Marsh is too full and too straight in his line and length, Malan flicks it with good timing through mid-wicket. It beats the diving mid on fielder, Starc and races through. Shaun Marsh runs a marathon from deep mid-wicket, puts in a dive just before the rope but fails to pull it back. |
| 52.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 52.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter and on off, punched off the back foot towards cover-point for a run. |
| 52.3 : N Lyon to J Bairstow, Knocks a full ball down to long on for a run. |
| 52.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Loopy ball on middle, Malan defends it off his front foot. |
| 52.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Change of angle for Nathan Lyon. Comes from over the wicket and bowls a tossed up delivery on leg, Malan defends it off his front foot. |
| 52.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Was there a chance? An off spinner landing on middle, Malan flicks it across the line, a shade uppish and it hits the short leg fielder who was late in reacting. Too tough to catch those. That will be TEA ON DAY 1! |
| Enthralling session! The Aussie pacers bowled with a lot of intent and pace to unsettle the English batsmen. Pat Cummins removed Joe Root early and Mark Stoneman after crossing his fifty had a real torrid time in the middle against the short pitch bowling dished at him. He eventually succumbed to it, however, it was a controversial decision. |
| The pitch looks a good one for stroke-making but the extra pace and bounce available has tested the batsmen. Dawid Malan adopted an aggressive approach to deal with Australia's short ball tactics and has succeeded so far. Jonny Bairstow has also looked quite at ease and England will be banking on this partnership to take them through the day's play. The hosts, on the contrary, will be aiming to make early inroads after the break to get into the tail. Do join us in a short while for the last sess |
| ...Day 1, third session... |
| We're back! 37 overs left in the day's play. Will we get all of those? Not sure. The Australians are done with their final planning in the huddle and rush out to the center. DAWID MALAN and JONNY BAIRSTOW will resume their innings. The latter will face PAT CUMMINS for the first ball in this session. How long can this pair keep the hosts at bay? Here we go... |
| 53.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Starts off with a back of a length delivery outside off, Bairstow covers his stumps and shoulders arms to that. |
| 53.2 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Jonny cuts it to the man at point. |
| 53.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, On a length around off, Bairstow stays in the crease and keeps it out watchfully. |
| 53.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Another harmless delivery outside off, Jonny lets that one go through the keeper. |
| 53.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Again outside off, left alone by JB. |
| 53.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, This time the keeper keeps it out from the crease. |
| NATHAN LYON to carry on. |
| 54.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Straighter delivery well outside off, Dawid covers his stumps and lets that go. |
| 54.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan makes use of his feet to come down the track but all he does post that is block it to the off side. |
| 54.3 : N Lyon to D Malan, A tad shorter outside off, cut away towards backward point. |
| 54.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan takes a single after driving it to long off. |
| Hit out or get out? That's what Kevin Pietersen opines on air. He says you'd be well off going for your strokes and getting out caught in the deep rather than defends and get out in some close-in area. What this would do is disturb the spinner's rhythm which will aid England. |
| 54.5 : N Lyon to Bairstow, On the pads, flicked away to square leg. |
| 54.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow lunges forward and blocks it off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 55.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins comes round the wicket and lands it around off. Malan defends it off the front foot. |
| 55.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This ball is blocked from the crease. |
| 55.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball around off, Malan stays in the crease and defends it towards gully. |
| 55.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins bangs in a bouncer around off, Malan sways away from the line to let it go. |
| 55.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Full and well outside off, Malan does the right thing by not going for it. |
| 55.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Doesn't let this be a maiden over as Dawid pushes it towards covers for a single. |
| 56.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter around middle, Malan goes back and blocks it. |
| 56.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan charges down the track yet again only to block it watchfully. |
| 56.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter on the stumps, Malan gets down the track and looks to flick it through mid-wicket but gets it off the inner half past short leg for a single. |
| 56.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Darted around leg, Bairstow flicks it past short leg for one. |
| 56.5 : N Lyon to Malan, FOUR! 50-run stand up between these two in style! Malan had come down the track on a couple of occasions and this forced Lyon to shorten his length. There is width on offer as well and Dawid goes back and deftly guides it through short third man for a boundary. This is another good stand developing for England and they would want it to carry on for long. |
| 56.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan slinks down and blocks this one towards mid off. Wants a run to take him to fifty but Lyon gets to the ball quickly. Malan stays on 49. |
| 57.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Full length ball around off, defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 57.2 : Pat Cummins to J Bairstow, A touch fuller, driven to mid on. |
| 57.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Jonny covers the sticks and lets it pass safely. |
| 57.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Full delivery on the pads, turned through square leg for a brace. |
| 57.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Bouncer around off, Bairstow moves away from the line. |
| 57.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Length ball on the pads, nudged down to fine leg for a single. |
| 58.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Floated around off and middle, JB gets a stride forward and defends it towards covers. |
| 58.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow flicks it aerially towards mid on. Mitchell Marsh dives to his left and doesn't concede a run. |
| 58.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker one around middle and leg, turned through mid-wicket for one. |
| 58.4 : N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 58.5 : N Lyon to Malan, 4th Test fifty for Dawid Malan! How different has he played. He wasn't shy on taking on the seamers when they were peppering him with short stuffs and against Lyon, he is using all his freedom to use his feet. He would know, however, that his job is just half done. Knocks this one down to long off for a single. |
| 58.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Flatter outside off, cut straight to the man at point. Shouts a huge NO as soon as he played that. |
| 59.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 59.2 : Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! This is what runs under the belt can do to you,to the extent that Pietersen calls it as the short of the game so far. Cummins spears an overpitched delivery outside off. Malan gets his left foot forward and drives it magnificently through covers for a boundary. There's nothing stopping that. |
| 59.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan stays in the crease and blocks it. |
| 59.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bouncer around off and angling in to Dawid. He crouches low to let the keeper do the rest. |
| 59.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Another delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 59.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Sometimes the sound that is made when the ball and the bat make contact shows how confidence a batter is playing. This one is blocked off the front foot towards mid off. |
| 60.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Flatter quicker delivery outside off, Jonny lets it go. |
| 60.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow lunges forward and buries it onto the ground. |
| 60.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 60.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Around off, watchfully defended from the crease. |
| 60.5 : N Lyon to J Bairstow, FOUR! Oh Starc! Floated around off, Bairtsow gets nicely forward and drives it through covers. Starc runs to his left from mid off, puts in the dive but fails to stop that. Gets up chases the ball and again dives but the ball beats him to the fence. |
| 60.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Jonny hangs back in his crease and negotiates it safely to end the over. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD is back on. Often he gives the breakthrough when his skipper requires one. Can he do so now? |
| 61.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, What's that? Hazlewood comes into the attack and there's some action right away. Bowls a length ball from round the wicket, Malan looks to pull it. But the ball doesn't climb as expected and ends up striking him high on the thigh pad. |
| 61.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Fuller on the line of off stump, Malan meets the ball with a straight bat face. |
| 61.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Malan blocks this delivery from the crease. No ball signaled as Josh has overstepped big time. |
| J Hazlewood to Malan, Nicely clipped to the man at mid on who stops it with a dive. |
| 61.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 61.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, On the pads, flicked away round the corner for one. |
| 61.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Hazlewood comes over the wicket and bowls it around off, pushed towards point. |
| MITCHELL STARC is brought over to bowl now. |
| Starc runs in to bowl but has to abort his run up. Malan had some issues with the sightscreen there. |
| 62.1 : M Starc to D Malan, Full delivery searching for the reverse swing, Malan pushes it towards covers and scampers across for a quick run. |
| 62.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, On a length outside off, Bairstow is unsure of his footwork and ends up chopping it back towards the bowler. |
| 62.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Similar delivery outside off, this time Jonny just lets it be. |
| 62.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Here comes the bouncer. It is down the leg side, Jonny ducks to let it go. |
| 62.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, Good length delivery on the pads, Bairstow clips it fine down the leg side and hares across to the other end as he wants two. The fine leg fielder runs to his right and returns the throw to keep it down to one. Jonny slipped as he turned and hence couldn't complete the second. Cheers go around the ground as ENGLAND REACH 200! |
| 62.6 : M Starc to D Malan, Very full delivery around off, driven beautifully through covers. Gets a brace for that shot. |
| 63.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Majestic! Hazlewood errs in his line and ends up serving it around middle and leg. Bairstow is really watching the ball well and clips it through mid-wicket for a boundary. The Hotspot shows that the ball made contact with the middle of the bat. Great feeling. |
| 63.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Outside off, crunched towards covers. There's a slight misfield and that enables JB to complete a quick run. |
| 63.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Josh continues over the wicket to Malan and bowls it fuller around off. Malan defends it from the crease. |
| 63.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Length ball going away from Dawid. He has nothing to do with that. |
| 63.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 63.6 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, FOUR! The quality of a stroke is often judged by how it is described, Normally Warner is a good fielder and hence the final outcome isn't often predicted when he is chasing the ball. But looking at the way the ball was struck, Mark Taylor on air said it's a four. It stayed that way. Fuller delivery around off, Malan drives it crisply through the gap between covers and mid off. The ball has just one destination - the boundary fence. |
| 64.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Starc comes around the wicket to Bairstow and lands it on a fuller length around off. Jonny stands tall and blocks it from the crease. |
| 64.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller outside off, JB mistimes his drive towards covers. |
| 64.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Banged short on the stumps, Bairstow ducks and lets it go. |
| 64.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 64.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! This is one of the disadvantages of coming around the wicket. Most of the fielders are manning the off side area and the natural angle of the left arm bowler angles the ball into the batsman. This makes it a touch easier for the batter to score through the on side. Starc angles in a length delivery into Jonny, who flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary. This partnership is now worth 84! |
| 64.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| PAT CUMMINS back on. |
| 65.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins comes round the wicket and lands it around off, Malan defends. |
| 65.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Short delivery around off, Malan swivels and pulls it in front of square on the leg side. Before Shaun Marsh can get to his right and stop that, a couple of runs result. |
| 65.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Oh Cummins, you little beauty! You almost did it! He bowls a length delivery angling into Malan, the Englishman looks to clip it away and it goes off something to the keeper. Paine gets low to his right, catches that and along with the bowler, rises in appeal. The umpire stays unmoved. On second look, you realise the umpire is right as it came off the thighs. Hotspot is shown from the off side but not from the other side. The incoming nippy delivery seems to be Dawid' |
| 65.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This ball is punched off the back foot towards covers. |
| 65.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Short delivery down the leg side, Malan looks to pull it initially but then decides against it. |
| 65.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Some chin music for the batsman, he lets that bouncer through to the wicket-keeper. |
| 66.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Starc bowls a very full delivery with a scrambled seam. Bairstow digs it out towards mid off. |
| 66.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, This ball is pushed towards covers. |
| 66.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Bouncer around off, swayed away from the line. |
| 66.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Landed around off and middle, kept off with a straight bat. |
| 66.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, On a length around middle and leg, clipped towards mid-wicket. |
| 66.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Another length ball on the stumps, turned towards square leg. |
| Big appeal for LBW from the Aussies against Malan. The umpire says NO. After much deliberation, Smith opts for the DRS. Height could be a factor... |
| 67.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, The cheer from the Barmy Army shows that the decision returned is NOT OUT! Cummins steams in from over the wicket and spears it on a length outside off. The ball nips back in after pitching. Malan hops to flick it away but fails to do so and gets hit on the knee roll. The Australians put in a HUUGEEEEE appeal only to see it turned down. There was some signal from covers saying height could be a factor. But considering Malan is on 64, Smith decides to take it upstairs. |
| 67.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bowled outside off, well left by Dawid. |
| 67.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This delivery is pushed towards point. |
| 67.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bouncer around off, angling into the batter. DM ducks under that. |
| 67.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan stays in the crease and blocks. |
| 67.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Fuller around off, Malan gets his bat down in time to defend it towards mid on. |
| NATHAN LYON to roll his arm over. |
| 68.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Lyon serves it around middle and leg, Jonny works it with the spin through square leg for a single. |
| 68.2 : N Lyon to Malan, FOUR! Gorgeous! Lyon floats it around middle and leg, Malan comes down the track and pushes it past the bowler's left side. Such pristine is the timing that it beats mid on and goes to the fence. This is Malan's best Test score now. |
| 68.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Landed around off, driven through covers for one. |
| 68.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker one on the pads, Bairstow clips it in front of square on the leg side for a single. |
| 68.5 : N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 68.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan drives it to long off for one. |
| 69.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan blocks it by getting behind the line of the ball. |
| 69.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! Risky but effective in this case. Length ball outside off, Malan slashes at it with hard hands. The ball flies off the edge past a diving gully fielder and races away to the third man fence. |
| 69.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 69.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Full outside off, Malan reaches out and drives it straight to the man at deep backward point for a single. |
| 69.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Bouncer outside off, left alone. |
| 69.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Fuller outside off, driven straight to the man at covers. |
| Time for Drinks. Dawid Malan is the man that the Aussies dearly want as he is carrying on well post his half century. This was evident in the review that they decided to take against him. At the other end, Bairstow is looking good with a solid 35 and is amidst a 99-run stand. The hosts would want to get a break before the day's play to make inroads into the opposition. |
| 70.1 : N Lyon to Malan, A touch short in length and around off, Malan gets back and plays it down to covers. |
| 70.2 : N Lyon to Malan, 100-run stand comes up! What a fruitful partnership this has been! England were struggling after losing Mark Stoneman and that was the moment when the Aussie pacers were dominating proceedings. These two weathered the early storm and have now settled in. Dawid Malan in particular has batted with a lot of intent. Coming to the delivery, it was a full ball which got driven through covers for one. |
| 70.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Turning down the leg side, helped wide of short fine leg for one. |
| 70.4 : N Lyon to Malan, FOUR! Growing in confidence with every shot and is nearing his maiden Test ton. A flighted full ball outside off has been drilled through covers for a boundary. |
| 70.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Walks down the track and pushes it out towards mid on. |
| 70.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Sliding down the leg side, worked behind square leg for a couple of runs. |
| MITCHELL MARSH is back into the attack. |
| 71.1 : M Marsh to J Bairstow, Pitches it full outside off, Jonny takes his front leg to the pitch of the ball and drives it through covers for three runs. Not quite the timing to take it past the ropes. |
| 71.2 : M Marsh to D Malan, Short and on middle, pulled down to long leg for one. |
| 71.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Nearly chops it on! This delivery nips back in a little bit, Jonny tries playing at it from the crease but gets an inside edge onto the back leg. |
| 71.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Good length delivery outside off, once again Bairstow sticks back and taps it down to point. |
| 71.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Angling down the leg side, too straight in line, Bairstow clips it in front of square leg and picks up a single. |
| 71.6 : M Marsh to Malan, Fractionally short in length on off, Dawid defends it off his back foot. |
| 72.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Sharp spin into the batsman from a full length outside off, Bairstow tries to defend but gets an inside edge. It rolls past short leg. |
| 72.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Tossed up ball on middle, pushed down towards short mid-wicket. |
| 72.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Spinning back into the batsman from outside off, Jonny goes deep inside the crease and helps it to backward square leg. He needs to be careful with these shots as Cameron Bancroft at short leg is quite sharp with his reflexes. |
| 72.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Walks down the track and pushes it off the inner half of the bat. It sneaks past the short mid-wicket fielder to the widish long region for one. |
| 72.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Loopy full ball outside off, Malan drives it through covers for a couple of runs. This is now the highest score by an Englishman in this series. |
| 72.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Tossed up ball on middle, played off the pads to mid-wicket. |
| 73.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Back of a length delivery outside off, punched to covers. |
| 73.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 73.3 : M Marsh to J Bairstow, Rising delivery, on middle, Bairstow does well to play it through backward square leg for a couple of runs. |
| 73.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Width on offer outside off, Jonny stands tall and steers it down towards third man for a couple of runs. |
| 73.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Gets on the front foot to a full ball and drives it to point. |
| 73.6 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Full and angling into the batsman, Jonny flicks it off his pads to short mid-wicket. |
| 74.1 : N Lyon to D Malan, Flighted ball outside off, Malan jumps out of the crease and drives it through mid off for a single. |
| 74.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow plays it with an angled bat and guides it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 74.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Skidding back into the batsman from outside off, Malan draws forward and pushes it to covers for one. |
| 74.4 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 74.5 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Loopy and on off, defended back off the front foot. |
| 74.6 : N Lyon to J Bairstow, A hint of inward spin from a fuller length around middle, Bairstow gets on the front foot and knocks it down to long on for a single. |
| Steven Smith introduces himself into the attack! He used to be a leg spinner, then became a part-timer and now is an occasional bowler who just fills in if the new ball is around the corner or some bowler needs a change of ends. |
| 75.1 : S Smith to Bairstow, As expected, first delivery is short and around middle and leg, Bairstow nudges it through square leg for a run. |
| 75.2 : S Smith to Malan, Short again, outside off, Malan tries to cut but misses. |
| 75.3 : S Smith to Malan, This time Malan connects with his attempted square cut and finds the gap. Returns for the second run. |
| 75.4 : S Smith to Malan, Loopy and full on middle, Malan is on the front foot in defense. |
| 75.5 : S Smith to Malan, Presses forward to a full ball and drives it to mid off. |
| 75.6 : S Smith to Malan, A full toss on middle, helped on the leg side but straight to mid-wicket. |
| Change of ends for Mitchell Marsh. |
| 76.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Fullish and on middle, driven down to mid on. |
| 76.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Shortish on middle, worked straight to mid-wicket. |
| 76.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, FOUR! Change in batting order and Jonny Bairstow is back in business, scoring runs for England. His 18th Test half century. A brilliant shot to get there too. Marsh dishes out a length delivery just outside off, Jonny delays his shot and plays an extremely late cut fine down to third man for a boundary. Wonderful knock! |
| 76.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Short and on off, Bairstow moves away from the line. |
| 76.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, A cracking delivery, yorker on middle and leg, Jonny does really well to dig it out. |
| 76.6 : M Marsh to Bairstow, On the pads, eased down to long leg for a single. |
| 77.1 : S Smith to Bairstow, Flighted ball on middle, driven back to the bowler. |
| 77.2 : S Smith to Bairstow, Loopy and on middle, Bairstow leans forward and eases it down to fine leg for a run. |
| 77.3 : S Smith to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 77.4 : S Smith to Malan, Moves into the 90s! Smith serves it short and wide outside off, Malan reaches out for it and forces it past the first slip fielder for three runs. |
| 77.5 : S Smith to Bairstow, Tossed up ball on off, Bairstow plays it out with the spin but finds the point fielder. |
| 77.6 : S Smith to Bairstow, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. Easy going for England. |
| 78.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Good length ball on off, Bairstow gets on his back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 78.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, A hint of reverse there, full and moving into the batsman, Jonny gets forward and pushes it down to mid on. |
| 78.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Good length ball on off, Bairstow turns it on the leg side but finds the fielder at mid-wicket. |
| 78.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| Mitchell Starc is warming up. Second new ball is just 7 balls away. We will see him bowling soon in all likelihood. |
| 78.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 78.6 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Short in length outside off, Jonny allows it through. |
| 79.1 : S Smith to D Malan, Quicker full on middle, dug out back to the bowler. |
| 79.2 : S Smith to Malan, Loopy full ball on middle, Malan lunges and pushes it to mid off. |
| 79.3 : S Smith to Malan, Gets forward to a full ball and drives it to mid off. |
| 79.4 : S Smith to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 79.5 : S Smith to Malan, Tossed up delivery outside off, Malan reaches out and drives it to covers. |
| 79.6 : S Smith to Malan, A low full toss outside off, Malan tries to play an extravagant cover drive but it takes the inside edge of his bat and rolls to mid-wicket. |
| Second new ball is now available but not taken. Steven Smith signals one more. Mitchell Marsh continues... |
| 80.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Full and on middle, driven down to mid on. |
| 80.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, FOUR! Easy runs! On the pads, fuller in length, Jonny gets some part of bat behind it and it happily races away to the fine leg fence. |
| 80.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Back of a length delivery on off, Bairstow punches it from the back foot to mid off. |
| 80.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Bouncer at 134.1 kph, Jonny ducks. |
| 80.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Angling into the batsman, on middle, Bairstow gets behind the line and defends it to mid-wicket. |
| 80.6 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Another bouncer, down the leg side, a harmless one, Bairstow gets underneath that one. Safely negotiated. |
| Second new ball taken and MITCHELL STARC is back in action. |
| 81.1 : M Starc to D Malan, DROPPED BY BANCROFT! Action immediately after the second new ball is taken. Starc steams in and spears in a fuller length ball outside off. Some movement off the pitch there as Malan tries flicking it across the line. It gets to him quicker than he expects and as a result, he edges it behind. It flies towards second slip, Steven Smith stretches to his left to take the catch but Bancroft from third slip intervenes and spills the chance. Oh dear, they waited for this oppo |
| 81.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Going down the leg side, Bairstow tries flicking but misses. |
| 81.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Angles across a length ball outside off, Bairstow with minuscule front foot movement tries to drive and gets beaten. It's all happening now. |
| 81.4 : M Starc to J Bairstow, EDGY FOUR! Bairstow is very lucky here. It could have easily gone into gully's hands. Starc runs in again and darts in a fuller length ball on middle. Jonny is early into the shot as he tries to flick through mid-wicket. Closes the face of the bat early and the outside edge flies behind past the gully fielder for a boundary. |
| 81.5 : M Starc to J Bairstow, Bairstow is living dangerously. This time attempts a cover drive to a full delivery but it seams back in to gather the inside edge. It hits him on the leg. Could have easily gone onto the stumps. |
| 81.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller and around off, Bairstow keeps it out safely at point. Top over! |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD to share the new cherry from the other end. |
| 82.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Sliding down the leg side, Malan tries to flick but misses. Paine dives across to his right to collect the ball. He has dived around whole day today. |
| 82.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Stifled appeal for an lbw. A short delivery angling into the batsman, Malan fails to defend and is hit on the front pad. They appeal but it's too high. |
| 82.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 82.4 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, FOUR! This will release some pressure. He moves to 97 and can smell his maiden Test century. A full length delivery outside off, Malan leans forward and caresses it through covers. |
| 82.5 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, Another delightful drive, this time straight towards point. |
| 82.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Short and angling down the leg side, Malan tries to pull but misses. |
| 83.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Full and on middle, Bairstow drives it straight back past the bowler. The mid off fielder dives and parries it to Cummins at mid on. |
| 83.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Gentle hands by Bairstow. He taps a length ball to mid on and scampers across to the other end. The stand is now worth 150! |
| 83.3 : M Starc to Malan, Starc attempts to spear in a yorker but instead it's a friendly full toss on the pads, Malan helps it to fine leg for a run. |
| 83.4 : M Starc to J Bairstow, FOUR! Wow, great shot! A pitched up delivery on off, Bairstow presses forward and drives it handsomely past the left side of the mid off fielder for a boundary. All of a sudden, runs are flowing. That's one of the disadvantages of taking the new ball. It's hard and will come onto the bat nicely. 3000 Test runs for Jonny as well! |
| 83.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, Effort ball, it's short and wide outside off, Bairstow flashes and misses. Jonny getting carried away now. |
| 83.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Poor shot attempted! Starc delivers it very full and outside off, Bairstow attempts to drive it through covers but is probably beaten for pace. Needs to be careful here. England don't want to lose a wicket and expose the lower half against the new ball. |
| 84.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Back of a length delivery on middle, played straight to mid-wicket. |
| 84.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, FOUR! Here it is, maiden Test hundred for Dawid Malan. First time since 2006 an England number 5 has made and an Ashes ton Down Under. Also the first century by an Englishman in this series. What a moment for Malan! He brings it up with a pull shot. The shot he has played really well in this innings. Connects well and sends this short ball down to fine leg for a boundary. The Barmy Army gets into action now. A loud cheer for the 30-year old. An Ashes ton, something ev |
| 84.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 84.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, FOUR! He is not done yet, this time displays his range of shots like he has done all innings. Receives a full ball and nails his drive through covers for a boundary. |
| 84.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Fullish again, outside off, Josh wants him to keep driving and err once. This time though he middles his shot and defends it back. |
| 84.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under it at the last moment. |
| 85.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Slips a length ball down the leg side, Bairstow tries to flick but misses. |
| 85.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 85.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller in length and on middle, Bairstow gets half forward and defends it back. |
| 85.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Shout for an lbw! Bairstow has failed to connect with his flick shot here. The umpire remains unmoved. The replays show it to be pitching outside leg. |
| 85.5 : M Starc to J Bairstow, FOUR! Not the desired result for the bowler. He wanted to hurl in a yorker but ends up dishing a full toss, at 143.8 kph. Starc is cranking it up. Bairstow tries driving but it takes the outer half of the bat and speeds through the gap between gully and slips for a boundary. |
| 85.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fullish and on middle, Jonny flicks it through backward square leg for a couple of runs. 300 up for England! |
| Pat Cummins is back on. |
| 86.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Steams in from around the wicket and bowls it down the leg side. Malan lets it be. |
| 86.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 86.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length and around off, Dawid pushes it towards mid off. |
| 86.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Shortish and on off, Malan goes on his toes to play that one. Blocks it safely. |
| 86.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Good length delivery landing outside off and shaping back into the batsman, Malan deals with an inswinger well. Brings his bat and front pad close in defense. |
| 86.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bangs in a bouncer, Malan sits underneath it. |
| Josh Hazlewood is back on. |
| 87.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Full delivery outside off, Bairstow is again loose on the drive. Looks to go through the off side but gets an inside edge towards backward square leg. One run is what he gets for that. |
| 87.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Josh comes around the wicket for the southpaw and delivers it outside off. Malan doesn't bother playing that. |
| 87.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Full delivery around off, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 87.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Back of a length delivery outside off, Dawid arches back to let the ball fly to the keeper. |
| 87.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, FOUR! Such shots are a delight to watch at any part of the day, let alone towards the end of day's play. Hazlewood spears it full around off, Malan drives it crisply down the ground. Josh gets out his right hand but fails to stop that. A boundary results. This stand is now worth 174 runs, THE HIGHEST OF THIS SERIES! |
| 87.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Short ball around off, ducked under by Malan. He shut shop for the day and started making his way to the dressing room. The umpire though decides that there is time for one more over. |
| The Australian players rush to change over. The clock is showing one more minute left and the hosts want to slip in another over. Pat Cummins charges in... |
| 88.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 88.2 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Outside off on a length, Bairstow plays it down to point. |
| 88.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Beats the edge! Terrific delivery, on a length just outside off, shaping in a bit, Jonny plays inside the line, flat-footed completely and is beaten. |
| 88.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Brave leave! Cummins hurls across a full length ball outside off, moving back in a little, Bairstow covers his stumps and shoulders arms. That wasn't very far from the off stick. |
| 88.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Sharp delivery, full and nipping back into the batsman, Bairstow keeps it out from the inner half of the bat to mid-wicket. |
| 88.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Cummins charges in one final time for the day. Serves a length ball around off and it shapes back in, Bairstow gets forward and defends it with a loose bottom hand. It takes the inside edge and rolls behind towards the slip cordon off his pads. David Warner walks up and shakes hand with the centurion. Stumps on day 1! |
| A wicketless evening session and England have taken the advantage home courtesy the unbeaten 174-run stand between Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow. These two joined forces when Mark Stoneman got dismissed and things were not looking too promising for England. The Aussie speedsters had their tails up and were bowling with fire. Not only did the current pair survive the onslaught, they also made sure that the runs kept coming. Malan, in particular, fought fire with fire and dealt with Aussies' shor |
| Australia will be disappointed with the result of the last session but they won't be disappointed with the efforts of their bowlers. Led by Mitchell Starc, all the seamers were right on the money most of the time and consistently tested the English batsmen. Nathan Lyon didn't look at his usual best but he too cannot be faulted for the effort. The hosts would hope for a change in fortunes tomorrow morning. The second new ball is only 8 overs old and they will expect some assistance. Also, they wo |
| Michael Slater has a chat with Mitchell Starc on the sidelines. He reckons Malan has batted really well. States that there is a bit of bounce on the track but not much sideways movement. Opines that they didn't bowl in the right areas consistently. Feels that this is the quickest outfield in the country. Mentions that it has been a pretty even day for both sides even though they would have loved to pick up a few wickets and have their noses in front. Ends saying that England took their risks and |
| Finally, England have batted to their potential and have put up a good score. What is to be seen is whether this is just a one-off day or can they prolong this good period of play for them. Day 2 promises thrills to no end. We will resume this battle tomorrow at 1030 local time (0230 GMT). Do join us then. Till then, take care and goodbye! |
| ... Day 2, first session... |
| A crisp Dawid Malan century, a gritty 75 by Jonny Bairstow and a fighting half century from Mark Stoneman were on display on the first day of the Perth Test. Malan and Bairstow are amidst a yet-undefeated 174-run partnership and the first aim would be to see off the first hour in order to inflict more misery on the hosts. We welcome you to the second day of this third Ashes Test match with the prospect of a double hundred stand and a ton for the English wicketkeeper. |
| Talking about Australia, they weren't as ineffective as the scorecard may suggest. The seam bowlers were on the money throughout and the Englishmen made merry because of some untidy catching. Stoneman and Malan were the beneficiaries of the dropped catches. While the former couldn't add on much after the reprieve, the latter completed his maiden ton and is still in the middle. The second new ball is just 8 overs old. As we saw towards the end yesterday, it isn't very easy to negotiate that. The |
| With blue skies and the sun shining bright at the WACA, the Australian players make their way out to the middle with a spring in their steps. The ton-man DAWID MALAN and the run-hungry JONNY BAIRSTOW have a look upwards before shadow-practicing their shots on the way to the middle. As expected, MITCHELL STARC will begin the proceedings with the 8-over old new ball. Three slips and a gully in place. Let's roll... |
| 89.1 : M Starc to Malan, Starc begins with a low full toss around middle, Malan keeps it out from the crease. |
| 89.2 : M Starc to Malan, Length ball next up, outside off. Dawid covers his stumps and lets the ball go unharmed to the keeper. |
| 89.3 : M Starc to D Malan, Fuller outside off, Malan hits it to the mid off fielder off the bottom part of the blade. |
| 89.4 : M Starc to Malan, Angled on the pads, Malan clips it to mid-wicket. |
| 89.5 : M Starc to Malan, Sprayed down the leg side, Dawid misses the flick. Paine dives to his right to collect that one. Good bounce on that one as Paine had to collect it high on the right side in spite of the ball being on a fuller length. |
| Interesting to note that Mitchell Marsh is standing at first slip. He let Stoneman off yesterday. |
| 89.6 : M Starc to Malan, Maiden to begin the day from Starc. Bangs in a bouncer around off, all Malan has to do is sway away from the line and let the ball pass. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD to bowl from the other end. |
| 90.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Starts off with a full ball around off, Bairstow mistimes it back to the bowler. |
| 90.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Full delivery around off, hit back straight to the bowler. Josh throws it back to the keeper. |
| 90.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Straight ball outside off, Bairstow lunges forward and lets that pass. |
| 90.4 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, On a length in the corridor of uncertainty, Bairstow has a feel for that. The ball misses the edge of the bat by not much. |
| 90.5 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Harmless full ball outside off, left alone by Jonny. |
| 90.6 : J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, Around off on a fuller length, driven straight to mid off. A couple of maidens to start the day for the Aussies. |
| 91.1 : M Starc to Malan, Almost! Starc delivers it fuller around off, Malan looks to play the cover drive. Ends up getting an inside edge onto his pads. The ball didn't roll far from the leg stick. |
| 91.2 : M Starc to Malan, Length delivery around off, Malan hangs on the back foot and defends it towards point. |
| Review early in the day! Malan is struck low on his front pad and the Aussies appeal for LBW. The umpire turns that down. Smith decides to take it upstairs. Looks to be missing the stumps due to the angle of the ball... |
| 91.3 : M Starc to Malan, NOT OUT! Australia lose both their reviews now. This didn't look right in the first view and hence the call to review that was always dicey. For starters, this delivery is almost like the one that got Cook. Only difference was that this one wasn't in line of the stumps like that one was. Starc hurls it very full but around middle and leg and further sliding down. Malan misses the flick to get hit on the front pad which draws appeal from the Australians. The umpire shakes |
| 91.4 : M Starc to Malan, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 91.5 : M Starc to Malan, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 91.6 : M Starc to Malan, Malan drives this towards mid off. |
| 92.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Fuller around off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 92.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Length ball outside off, Jonny shoulders arms to that. |
| 92.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Another one outside off, left alone by JB. |
| Very interesting. Generally, wicketkeepers' movement gives indication as to whether the ball is sliding down the leg side or no. In the LBW appeal, it is seen that Paine never moved to his right, the angle that the delivery was going. This is what made the hosts seem confident. More creditable here, is the fact that the on-field umpire didn't base his decision on Paine's movement and went ahead with what he saw and felt. |
| 92.4 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Some chin music now. Bouncer on the stumps, ducked under by the English wicketkeeper. |
| 92.5 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, This ball is blocked off the back foot. |
| 92.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, On the pads, Bairstow misses the flick. The ball rolls to the keeper off his pads. Four maidens in a row from the Aussies at the beginning of the day here. What's more, it has been 31 balls since England last scored! |
| 93.1 : M Starc to Malan, Make that 32 now. Another delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 93.2 : M Starc to Malan, The counter is ticking, taking the dot ball count to 33 in a row. This ball is worked round the corner towards square leg. |
| 93.3 : M Starc to Malan, Finally a run! Full on the pads, clipped away to fine leg for a single. This should ease the nerves for Dawid, if any. |
| 93.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Straight delivery angling across the batsman, JB just lets it through. |
| 93.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, Good bowling this. Starc lands this on a length on the stumps, Jonny is late to bring his flick shot. Gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 93.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Similar delivery around middle, flicked towards mid on. The fielder gets to right and slides to stop that. Cummins the fielder there. |
| 94.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Malan tucks this away to fine leg for a single. |
| 94.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Good shot. First runs for Bairstow in the day and it comes off a confident drive. On a length outside off, Jonny leans ahead and times it through covers. The quick outfield takes the ball to the fence. First boundary for the day. |
| 94.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Length ball around off, JB stands tall and blocks it towards mid off. |
| 94.4 : J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, Fuller around off and middle, pushed towards mid on. |
| 94.5 : J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, Edged! Another length delivery around off, Bairstow is squared up a touch. The ball goes off the outer edge towards third slip on a couple of bounces. This should boost Josh as he has managed to trouble a set batter here. |
| 94.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Outside off, left alone. |
| Dawid Malan gets his bat taped up a bit. |
| 95.1 : M Starc to Malan, FOUR! Malan gets a boundary with his taped up bat now. Moves to 116 now. Starc bowls a low full toss outside off, Malan drives it with aplomb timing through covers. There is plenty of real estate there and no hindrance for the ball to race away to the fence. |
| 95.2 : M Starc to Malan, Length ball down the leg side, Malan wants to get runs off that too. He looks to flick but misses. |
| 95.3 : M Starc to Malan, Straight delivery outside off, Malan points his bat skywards to let that go. |
| 95.4 : M Starc to Malan, A misdirected bouncer from Starc. Bowls it down the leg side, Dawid ducks under that one. |
| 95.5 : M Starc to Malan, On a fuller length outside off, the southpaw covers his stumps and lets that go. A bit of movement away on that occasion after the ball passes the batter. |
| 95.6 : M Starc to Malan, Brilliantly bowled, well played too. Starc dishes out a toe-crusher around middle and leg, Malan does well to dig it out through square leg. Picks up a run as the ball rolls through the vacant region. |
| 96.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Short ball down the leg side, Malan withdraws his bat after shaping up to pull. The ball goes to the keeper. |
| 96.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 96.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Length around off, blocked from the crease. |
| 96.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| 96.5 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, Not a wise shot with a man at square leg and mid on in place. Short ball around off, Malan swivels and pulls it through the gap between the two. Gets a brace for doing so here. |
| 96.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Full outside off, Malan hits it on the up through covers. The men from covers and mid off chase it down. The former parries it to Warner who came in from the latter position. Meanwhile the batters have run only two. Not the best of running between the wickets that. |
| PAT CUMMINS will run in for the first time today. Two slips and a backward point in position. |
| 97.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 97.2 : Pat Cummins to J Bairstow, FOUR! There's nothing stopping this one. Cummins bowls it full outside off, Bairstow drives it confidently through covers. Bancroft gives it the chase and puts in the dive too. All turns out to be futile as a boundary result. |
| 97.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, FOUR! This is the highest 5th wicket stand for England against Australia in Australia now. It is worth 197 runs. What's more, Bairstow is 13 short of his ton and has thirteen boundaries to his credit. Talk about superstition. Coming back to the shot, it is a fuller delivery outside off, Bairstow drives it through the gap between covers and mid off for a boundary. |
| 97.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Bouncer on the stumps, ducked under by Jonny. |
| 97.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Jb blocks this one off the back foot. |
| 97.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Around off and middle, kept out from the crease. |
| Double change. MITCHELL MARSH to bowl now. |
| 98.1 : M Marsh to Malan, Malan works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 98.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, JB defends this off the back foot. |
| 98.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, 200-run partnership between Malan and Bairstow! 11th such stand by England against Australia in Australia. Well played, gentlemen. They have looked in good control and the runs seem to be flowing pretty fluently. This one is clipped behind square on the leg side for a brace. Also, Bairstow is on 89 now. |
| 98.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Outside off, left alone by Jonny. |
| 98.5 : M Marsh to Bairstow, FOUR! Marsh has lost his line here. Angles it full on the pads, all Bairstow has to do is flick it away. He does so and the ball goes through square leg for a boundary. Runs have suddenly started to come at a quick pace. Into the 90s goes Jonny. |
| 98.6 : M Marsh to Bairstow, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 99.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan stays in the crease and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 99.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball outside off, left alone by Dawid. |
| 99.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! Malan slashes and slashes hard. Shouts of 'catch it' follow but there's no one to do so. Full ball outside off, Malan goes at it with hard hands. Ends up getting it through backward point for a boundary. |
| 99.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Oh dear! Now it's all coming down for Australia. Cummins bowls it on a length outside off, Malan covers his stumps and lets it go. The ball moves in a touch and that undoes Paine behind, who lets it through for two byes. |
| 99.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Short ball on the stumps, ducked under by Dawid. |
| 99.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! Clever! Back of a length delivery angling across Malan. He stays in the crease and guides it past third slip for a boundary. |
| 100.1 : M Marsh to Bairstow, FOUR! This gets Bairstow to 97! On a length outside off, Jonny stands tall and just punches it through covers. Such has been the timing on that that the ball goes all the way to the fence. |
| 100.2 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Fuller on the pads, flicked through backward square leg. Before the man from fine leg can get to the ball, a couple results. |
| Jonny Bairstow on 99... |
| 100.3 : M Marsh to Bairstow, The batsman picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. |
| 100.4 : M Marsh to Bairstow, Gets it? No! Flicks the full ball straight to the man at square leg. |
| 100.5 : M Marsh to J Bairstow, There it is, first Ashes ton for Jonny Bairstow! His 4th in Tests, 2nd away from home. How elated he is with this knock! He wanted it so badly after a string of poor scores. He was batting down the order for many's liking. But here he came in at no.6 and has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. He pulls this short ball towards long leg and gets to the other end to get to his landmark. Leaps high, kisses the helmet and soaks in the applause. He is pumped up so mu |
| 100.6 : M Marsh to Malan, FOUR! Malan continues his boundary-scoring spree from the other end. Looks to cut this length ball outside off. Ends up getting it through the gap between third slip and gully for a boundary. 11 runs came off this over. |
| 101.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, On a length around off, defended towards cover-point. |
| 101.2 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Another ball on the stumps, blocked from the crease. |
| 101.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Bumper in line of the stumps, Jonny gets low and lets it pass. |
| 101.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 101.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Jonny hangs on the back foot and defends it. |
| 101.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Another bouncer to end the over. Bairstow crouches low to let it pass. |
| Drinks are on the field. England have just carried on with confidence. Bairstow got to his first ton in the Ashes and he has looked solid so far. The Aussies have a task at hand to separate this pair. Hope the break comes with a potion for them. |
| NATHAN LYON to roll his arm over now. Would be good to see how much purchase he generates from the surface today. |
| 102.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Good shot. Landed around off, Malan gets a stride forward and drives it through covers for a brace. |
| 102.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Cuts this one through point for one. |
| 102.3 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Lyon continues round the wicket to Jonny, who flicks it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 102.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down the track and defends it. |
| 102.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down yet again and pushes it through mid on for a single. |
| 102.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Bairstow stays back to this one and defends. |
| 103.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins runs in, bends his back and hurls across a sharp short ball outside off. Malan arches back and allows it through to the keeper. |
| 103.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins cooks up yet another lethal short delivery. Well-directed one, Malan leans back and sways away from the line of fire. |
| 103.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This time the bowler attempts a length ball, keeps it just outside off, Malan stays on the back foot and punches it to the cover region. Highest score by an English number 5 at Perth, Dawid in the record books. Proud moment for him! |
| 103.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins keeps running from round the wicket. This time he goes wide of the crease as he angles in a length ball. Too straight in line though as Malan nudges it in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. |
| 103.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Slightly short and around off, from over the wicket to the right hander, Jonny turns it down to fine leg for a single. |
| 103.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, hows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 104.1 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Allows the ball to spin back in and plays it down from the back foot to short leg. |
| 104.2 : N Lyon to Bairstow, On the shorter side is Lyon. Bairstow goes back, picks it from around off and hits it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 104.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Switches his angle to round the wicket for the left hander. A tossed up ball on off, landing full, Malan draws forward in defense. |
| 104.4 : N Lyon to Malan, A floated full ball on off, it's pushed back to the bowler. |
| 104.5 : N Lyon to Malan, A little shimmy down the track by Malan as he flicks a full ball wide of mid on for a single. |
| 104.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, Quicker this time, full and on middle, 86.3 kph, Bairstow tickles it through mid-wicket and crosses for a single. |
| 105.1 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Cummins bangs in a short ball down the leg side, running in from around the wicket for the right hander also now. Bairstow just ducks underneath it. |
| 105.2 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Shortish again, bowled from wide of the crease, almost cutting the back line, Bairstow helps it through mid-wicket and collects a couple of runs. |
| 105.3 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Serves a bouncer, around middle, Jonny ducks. |
| 105.4 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Getting a bit too predictable here, Cummins. Another bouncer, the batsman is expecting it, offers no shot and just ducks underneath it. |
| 105.5 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Short and down the leg side, Bairstow walks across the stumps and lets it go to the keeper. |
| 105.6 : Pat Cummins to Bairstow, Another short ball down the leg side, waste of energy from the bowler. Jonny is not at all bothered as he allows it through. |
| 106.1 : N Lyon to Malan, A nicely tossed up ball outside off, turning away, Malan reads the delivery well before making a leave. |
| 106.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Interesting! A touch short in length and on off, Malan gets back to play the square cut but it hits the handle of his bat and rolls towards the bowler. |
| 106.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Walks down the track and pushes a full ball back to the bowler. |
| 106.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 106.5 : N Lyon to Malan, OUT! STUNNING DIVING CATCH! Peter Handscomb, take a bow! Australia needed something special to break this partnership and it has arrived in the form of a special catch by the substitute fielder. Lyon with the breakthrough here. He serves a flighted ball around off, getting it to spin away a shade after kissing the turf. Malan gets forward and tries to flick it over the leg side but it turns away to gather the leading edge. It balloons in the air and Handscomb moves across |
| MOEEN ALI walks in next. |
| 106.6 : N Lyon to Bairstow, FOUR! Flighted ball on off, turning down, Jonny gets back and nudges it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 107.1 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Bouncer to greet the new batsman! Moeen ducks under it at the last moment. |
| 107.2 : Pat Cummins to Ali, OUT! Moeen gone for a duck! All of a sudden, Australia have made a comeback in this game. Cummins softens Moeen with a bouncer on the previous delivery and that did all the trick for him. Follows it up with a length delivery outside off, angling in from wide of the crease, Moeen is caught back on the back foot (expecting another bouncer) and has a tame push inside the line at the last moment. The extra bounce from that length takes his gloves and flies behind to Steven |
| CHRIS WOAKES is the new batsman. |
| 107.3 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Another bumper for the new batsman. Woakes ducks. |
| 107.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Back of a length delivery on middle and leg. Woakes gets across to work it on the leg side but misses to take a blow near his rib cage. |
| 107.5 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Wide down the leg side, the batsman leaves it alone. |
| 107.6 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. End of a successful over for Cummins, a wicket maiden. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD is back on. |
| 108.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Good length delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 108.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Streaky from Jonny! Goes after a length delivery outside off, tries to drive but gets a thick outside edge right through the gap between second slip and gully. |
| 108.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Play and a miss! Intentions quite clear from Bairstow now. He is going after every delivery. Gets width outside off, once again throws his bat at it but fails to make any connection. |
| 108.4 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Sliding down the leg side, Bairstow this time lets it through. |
| 108.5 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 108.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Just over leaping Lyon! Back of a length delivery outside off, Bairstow rocks back and punches it in front of point. It goes on one bounce over Lyon for a boundary. 8 from the over! |
| 109.1 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Short in length on middle and off, Woakes plays it down from the back foot. |
| 109.2 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Drifting down the leg side, Woakes tries getting some bat behind it but misses. |
| 109.3 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, FOUR! Intentional from the batsman. Cummins digs in a shortish ball outside off. The width on offer made Chris play at it. He opens the face and lofts it over the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| 109.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Woakes has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 109.5 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it safely. |
| 109.6 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Cummins steams in from around the wicket with a leg gully, short leg and deep square leg in place. The length was quite predictable with that field. Woakes anticipates the short ball and ducks under it comfortably. The on air commentator was expecting the double bluff but Cummins disappointed him. |
| 110.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Bouncer, around off, Jonny drops his hands and lets it through. |
| 110.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 110.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Fractionally short on middle, Jonny eases it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 110.4 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, FOUR! What a brilliant piece of timing on that shot by Woakes. Not a bad delivery, it's full and swinging away as it lands outside off, there is an element of risk in driving it but Woakes takes it and crunches it through covers for a boundary. |
| 110.5 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, OUT! Another wicket goes down in quick time and Australia are enjoying a great passage of play since the drinks break. This wicket is the result of hitting the shot too well. A back of a length delivery on middle and leg, angling down, Woakes stands tall in an attempt to glance it off his hips for probably a single. But he middles it too well. So well that it flies all the way down to fine leg where Pat Cummins grabs the catch diving forward. The short ball ploy kee |
| CRAIG OVERTON is the new batsman. |
| 110.6 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| Mitchell Starc replaces Cummins in the attack. |
| 111.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Right on the mark, full and on middle, Bairstow gets forward and defends it. |
| 111.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, OUT! England are falling like nine pins, have now lost 4 for 21! Starc spears in a fuller length ball on middle, a late bit of swing on that one as Bairstow tries whipping it across the line. But he gets a thick inside edge which destroys his stumps. Jonny was bowled in a similar fashion to Starc in Adelaide as well, only difference is that he has a century to his name this time. Can Australia stop England before 400? |
| STUART BROAD arrives to some boos from the crowd. He will be expecting some short stuff. |
| 111.3 : M Starc to Broad, As expected, Broad is welcomed with a short ball near his rib cage. He does well to stand tall and work it around the corner for a single. |
| 111.4 : M Starc to Overton, Strides forward pushes it through covers for a couple of runs. |
| 111.5 : M Starc to Overton, In the zone outside off, left alone. |
| 111.6 : M Starc to Overton, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 112.1 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Broad is going to be given a lot of short stuff here! Gets away with this one. Hazlewood lands it on a back of a length around leg, Broad moves back and across and looks to tuck it away. Ends up almost giving a catch to short leg. The ball lands just short of Bancroft there. |
| 112.2 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Another back of a length delivery around off and middle, blocked from the crease. |
| 112.3 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Gets away yet again does Stuart Broad! Another bouncer rising at around chest high. Broad looks to turn it away to the leg side. Does so aerially agonizingly close to Bancroft at short leg. The ball rolls through square leg and Stuart will be relieved to get to the other end. |
| 112.4 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Short ball around off, Overton keeps it out towards point. |
| 112.5 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Bouncer around off and middle, Overton ducks. |
| 112.6 : J Hazlewood to C Overton, OUT! The short-ball ploy is working big time for the Aussies. Another one bites the dust here. Hazlewood bangs it short on the stumps, Overton, the tailender that he is, gets into a tangle as he deals with it. He looks to walk across and work it on the on side but the bounce gets to him. The ball lobs off his gloves straight into the waiting hands of Bancroft at short leg. The end looks nigh for England. |
| JAMES ANDERSON is the last man walking in. |
| 113.1 : M Starc to Broad, Starc is making Broad dance to his tunes. He switches to over the wicket and serves a lethal short ball outside off, angling away, Broad jumps and tries pushing at it but fails to make any connection. |
| 113.2 : M Starc to Broad, Starc hurls across a short ball again, Broad is expecting it, goes way deep inside the crease after walking back and punches it over wide mid off. No one in that region and Broad wanted to run all four. However, Anderson is late in responding and by that time Lyon has returned the ball in play. Cummins and Starc who were at the non-striker's end are smiling. That shot did look a bit funny. |
| 113.3 : M Starc to Anderson, Poor Anderson. He is also expecting to get bombarded with shorter ones. Starc dishes it around leg, Jammy somehow keeps it out safely after getting across the stumps. |
| 113.4 : M Starc to Anderson, Full and down the leg side, Anderson tries to flick but misses. |
| 113.5 : M Starc to Anderson, Shortish and down the leg side again, Anderson shuffles across and lets it be. |
| 113.6 : M Starc to Anderson, Bouncer, well-directed at the batsman, Anderson ducks to end the over. |
| 114.1 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Play and a miss! Back of a length delivery, following the batsman down the leg side, Broad attempts to play a late upper cut but is too late into it. Ends up missing it completely. |
| 114.2 : J Hazlewood to Broad, SIX! Whoa! That's the way to bat probably, take the attack to the bowler. Broad receives yet another short ball and pulls it powerfully. It comes from the middle of the bat and flies over square leg for a maximum. That's a gigantic one, 104m on the radar. 400 up for England. |
| 114.3 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Backs away again and turns it through square leg for a single. |
| 114.4 : J Hazlewood to Anderson, Sliding down the leg side, Anderson gets across the line to flick but ends up gloving it behind. Paine dives and stops it. |
| 114.5 : J Hazlewood to Anderson, The ball is down the leg side but the batsman still goes after it and misses. |
| 114.6 : J Hazlewood to Anderson, Anderson offers the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 115.1 : M Starc to Broad, OUT! What was that? For a moment we thought Broad has hit that for a boundary to fine leg but no, that's not the case. He is caught at short leg. Starc speeds in and bangs in a short ball around leg, angling across the left hander from round the wicket. Broad jumps across the stumps and tries to pull it down towards fine leg. But he gets a top edge which loops up and falls down into the safe hands of Bancroft. That will be it, England are bowled out for 403! |
| Outstanding comeback by Australia after the drinks break. England were going great guns on the back of a stupendous partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan. The hosts were looking down and out but then Nathan Lyon produced the breakthrough in the form of Malan's wicket. That triggered a collapse and England lost their last six wickets for only 35 runs. The visitors, although crossed the 400-run mark, will be disappointed with the way their innings ended. |
| After winning his third toss on this tour, Joe Root decided to have a bat first. It was yet another flop show from Alastair Cook but Mark Stoneman played a gritty knock and was involved in an early partnership with James Vince to steady the nerves. Their innings, however, lost its way when Stoneman and Root got out in quick succession and it required a record fifth wicket partnership between Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow to bail them out. The duo added 237 runs and also notched up their respect |
| Australia bowled their hearts out yesterday but didn't get the rewards they deserved. It was shaping up to be a similar story today morning as well but their fortunes changed after the first hour. Mitchell Starc led from the front with a 4-wicket haul while Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins also played their part. The short ball ploy reaped rich dividends for them and the extra mile of pace they had played a crucial part also, something the English bowlers would like to take a cue from. Do join us |
| 0.1 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Anderson starts right on the money. Bowls a full delivery outside off, just a hint of movement away. Bancroft gets behind it solidly and defends it towards covers. |
| 0.2 : J Anderson to Bancroft, On a length outside off, Cameron covers the stumps and lets that go. |
| 0.3 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Australia are away! Bancroft taps it towards covers and crosses to the other end. He gets off the mark as well. |
| 0.4 : J Anderson to Warner, Lands it on a length around off, Warner hangs on the back foot and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 0.5 : J Anderson to Warner, Length delivery outside off, Warner shoulders arms to that. Not much movement seen here for Anderson. |
| 0.6 : J Anderson to Warner, Length delivery around off, David stays in the crease and keeps it out towards cover-point. Not a testing over, but a good one to start off. |
| STUART BROAD to begin with the new ball from the other end. |
| 1.1 : S Broad to Bancroft, Broad begins with a length ball on the stumps. Bancroft defends it back towards the bowler. |
| 1.2 : S Broad to Bancroft, Full and sprayed down the leg side, Bancroft looks to flick it away but misses. |
| 1.3 : S Broad to Bancroft, This is on a length outside off, Bancroft points his bat skywards to let that go. Interestingly, it went on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 1.4 : S Broad to Bancroft, Bouncer around off, Bancroft gets away from the line and lets the ball sail through. |
| 1.5 : S Broad to Bancroft, Outside off, Bancroft moves back and across and then lets it be. |
| 1.6 : S Broad to Bancroft, Another bouncer to end the over. Bends his back to bowl a short one, Cameron ducks in response. A maiden for Broad to start with. |
| 2.1 : J Anderson to Warner, Length delivery around off, defended from within the crease. |
| 2.2 : J Anderson to Warner, Well bowled. On a length just outside off, Warner plays inside the line. The ball moves in prodigiously after passing the batsman. |
| 2.3 : J Anderson to Warner, Straight bat face presented by Warner as he keeps it out safely. |
| 2.4 : J Anderson to Warner, Another one on the stumps, blocked off the back foot. |
| 2.5 : J Anderson to Warner, Warner gets forward and stonewalls it with the full face of the bat. |
| 2.6 : J Anderson to Warner, Hurled on the stumps, Warner hangs back and defends. A maiden for Anderson now, back-to-back for England. |
| 3.1 : S Broad to Bancroft, On a length outside off, Bancroft keeps his sticks covered and lets the keeper do the rest. |
| 3.2 : S Broad to Bancroft, Bancroft looks to play the cover drive but gets it off the bottom of the bat. Enables him to pick up an easy single. |
| The fielder at point is in the deep and there is a short cover-point waiting in position. |
| 3.3 : S Broad to Warner, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 3.4 : S Broad to Warner, Easy single for Warner to get off the mark. There was no one close at point and you don't give away easy runs for the Aussie opener. He taps it towards point and takes off for a run. This is not the Warner of old who'd throw it away if kept quiet for a while. |
| 3.5 : S Broad to Bancroft, Bancroft turns it towards wide mid on and hares across for a run. |
| 3.6 : S Broad to Warner, On the pads, tucked away quite comfortably through square leg for a single. |
| 4.1 : Anderson to Warner, Well done, Bancroft! It was full around middle, Warner hits it straight back. Anderson gets down to his right on his followthrough, gets a hand on that. The ball goes down to hit the stumps at the other end. Bancroft does well to put in the dive and makes it in easily. No need to go upstairs as the umpire has had a good look there. |
| 4.2 : J Anderson to Warner, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 4.3 : J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! What do you say about the timing on that stroke! Pristine. It is a full ball around off, Warner just pushes it gently towards mid off. The ball beats the man at that position who dives to his left. Next destination, the boundary, the first of the innings. |
| 4.4 : J Anderson to Warner, A touch short on the stumps, Warner pulls it towards mid-wicket. Ali dives to his left and makes a half-stop. Only one run results. |
| 4.5 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Flicked away through square leg for a brace. |
| 4.6 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Outside off, left alone. |
| 5.1 : S Broad to Warner, Length ball outside off, Warner steers it past gully. Moeen Ali chases it down and keeps the batsmen down to two. |
| 0.0 : The on-air commentators inform us that this is the 100th Test that Anderson and Broad are playing together in. |
| 5.2 : S Broad to Warner, Warner taps it towards point and sets across for an easy single. Broad lets out a huge grunt seeing that run on offer. Rather than doing that, he'd rather speak to his skipper and get a fielder to prevent easy runs. |
| 5.3 : S Broad to Bancroft, Bancroft pushes it towards covers and immediately takes a run. |
| 5.4 : S Broad to Warner, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 5.5 : S Broad to C Bancroft, FOUR! Shot! But the question that belies is, what is Anderson doing at mid on when he is bowling from the other end? Fuller delivery around middle and leg, Bancroft drives it down the ground. Anderson was late to take a start to his left and once the ball beat him, it was always going to the fence. |
| 5.6 : S Broad to Bancroft, Outside off, left alone. |
| 6.1 : J Anderson to Warner, On a length around middle and leg, Warner gets across and flicks it through square leg for a single. |
| 6.2 : J Anderson to C Bancroft, Edged but safe! Anderson bowls it full around off, Bancroft gets ahead in defense. The ball moves away just a touch and takes the outer edge of the bat. Goes on the bounce to the man at third slip. |
| 6.3 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Cameron taps it towards cover-point and gets to the other end. |
| 6.4 : J Anderson to Warner, On the pads, worked away round the corner for one. |
| 6.5 : J Anderson to Bancroft, Angled in to the batsman, Bancroft clips it through square leg for a single. |
| 6.6 : J Anderson to Warner, Extra bounce on that occasion, surprising Warner as he poked at it. He did so with soft hands and got it past gully for a brace. |
| 7.1 : S Broad to Bancroft, Length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 7.2 : S Broad to Bancroft, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 7.3 : S Broad to Bancroft, Fuller around off, driven towards mid off. |
| 7.4 : S Broad to Bancroft, FOUR! Length ball outside off, Bancroft looks to chop it. Ends up getting hurried up and gets an outside edge past gully for a boundary. |
| 7.5 : S Broad to Bancroft, Driven towrads mid off. |
| 7.6 : S Broad to C Bancroft, Finds the mid on fielder with the drive. |
| CHRIS WOAKES to bowl first change. On first look, this track seems ideal for his style of bowling. Let's see if it indeed is the case. |
| Chris Woakes gets into his stride and aborts without delivering the ball. Immediately has a look at his landing. Not sure what the exact scene is but he probably just wanted to make sure he isn't overstepping. |
| 8.1 : C Woakes to Warner, Warner hangs on the back foot defends it watchfully. |
| 8.2 : C Woakes to Warner, Length ball a touch on the shorter side. Warner looks to pull it but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 8.3 : C Woakes to Warner, Manages to pick up a single after pushing it towards covers. |
| 8.4 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Length delivery around off, defended from the crease. |
| 8.5 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Pitched further up, driven straight back to the bowler. |
| 8.6 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Short delivery around off, Cameron ducks in response. |
| 9.1 : S Broad to Warner, Broad runs in from round the wicket and angles it on a length around off. Warner swats it through the front of square on the leg side for a single. |
| 9.2 : S Broad to C Bancroft, Full delivery outside off, driven straight to covers. Bancroft immediately has a look at the bottom of his blade. |
| 9.3 : S Broad to Bancroft, Angled on the pads, helped on its way through square leg for one. |
| 9.4 : S Broad to Warner, length ball angling in to Warner around off. He presents a straight bat and pushes it towards mid-wicket. |
| 9.5 : S Broad to Warner, Fuller around middle, driven towards mid-wicket. |
| 9.6 : S Broad to Warner, Fuller around off and middle, pushed back defensively to the bowler. |
| 10.1 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Woakes runs in and bangs it short around off. Bancroft gets down and lets the ball pass over. The fault with this is, his bat is left pointing in the air. So the ball can fly off that to end his stay. Needs to be careful. |
| 10.2 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Harmless length delivery outside off, Cameron just lets it be. |
| 10.3 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Similar delivery and sequence of actions like the previous one. |
| 10.4 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Woakes bangs another one short, Bancroft just lets it be. It climbs high and the leaping Bairstow just manages to get some glove on that. Immediately my colleague reckons that it's four byes! But wait. Cook hares after that, puts in the dive and keeps the ball in the field of play. Just two byes there. |
| 10.5 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Flicked away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 10.6 : C Woakes to Warner, Warner punches it through covers and wanted two immediately. But Overton in the deep does well to get to his left and restrict the run flow to one. |
| CRAIG OVERTON into the attack. |
| 11.1 : C Overton to Warner, Overton begins with a 126 kmph gentle delivery. Warner hits it to deep point for one. |
| 11.2 : C Overton to Bancroft, Good judgement by Bancroft there. It is an incoming delivery that starts from outside off. But the batsman is sure that it won't strike the stumps and covers it to shoulder arms. |
| 11.3 : C Overton to Bancroft, Bangs in a short one on the stumps, Bancroft evades it by ducking under that. |
| 11.4 : C Overton to Bancroft, Flicked away with the angle through square leg for a single. |
| 11.5 : C Overton to Warner, Why, oh why, Warner? Overton bangs it short from round the wicket, Warner initially looks to sway away. Then tries to be cheeky by playing the ramp shot. Ends up missing the ball but not by much. |
| 11.6 : C Overton to Warner, This one is defended from the crease. |
| 12.1 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Bancroft pats it towards covers and gets to the other end. |
| 12.2 : C Woakes to D Warner, Length ball outside off, Warner stays in the crease and slaps it through covers. The sound should denote the final result as a boundary. It is not to be. The ball slows down a bit even as Anderson hares after it from mid off and saves a run for his side. |
| 12.3 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Short ball on the stumps, CB ducks in response. |
| 12.4 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Bancroft drives this full ball straight back. Woakes stops it in his followthrough. |
| 12.5 : C Woakes to Bancroft, This is outside off, left alone. |
| 12.6 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Another bouncer to Bancroft, he ducks under that and lets it go. |
| Drinks are on the field now. Well begun is half done, they say. Australia have done just that. Warner and Bancroft are off to a decent start and have amassed 44 runs already. England need to find ideas quickly to dismantle this stand sooner than later. Will the drinks break do the magic that we saw in the last session? |
| 13.1 : C Overton to Warner, Edged but safe! Overton continues from round the wicket angle for the southpaw and serves a back of a length delivery outside off. Warner stays back to punch through the line but edges it. Doesn't carry to gully. |
| 13.2 : C Overton to Warner, OUT! Overton hunts down the big fish! The WACA lover is out cheaply. It's a length delivery angling in to the batsman, Warner has his weight on the back foot but feels the need to play the trajectory. However, the ball holds its line to grab the outside edge. Jonny Bairstow makes no mistake and the English boys are delighted. Neither forward nor back and more often than not, you edge those. The drinks break has done the trick for the visiting team. A disappointed Warne |
| USMAN KHAWAJA arrives at number 3. |
| 13.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, Good length delivery in the channel outside off, Khawaja allows it through. |
| 13.4 : C Overton to Khawaja, This one is pitched short into the batsman, Usman leans back to sway away from the line. |
| 13.5 : Overton to Khawaja, Overton drops a return catch! Boy, that would have been a stunner! A length ball angling down the leg side, Khawaja tries working it on the leg side but closes the face of the bat early. It pops out to the left of the bowler who puts in a dive but fails to hold on to the catch. Khawaja survives an early scare. |
| 13.6 : C Overton to Khawaja, A watchful leave outside off to end the over. A successful one, wicket maiden. |
| 14.1 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Full and swinging back into the batsman, Bancroft tries flicking it but it takes the inner half of the bat and rolls to mid-wicket. |
| 14.2 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Short in length and outside off, punched off the back foot to covers. |
| 14.3 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Keeps his length full this time and angles it into the batsman, Cameron drives it right back to the bowler. |
| 14.4 : C Woakes to Bancroft, A bouncer on this occasion to force the batsman back inside the crease. CB ducks. |
| 14.5 : C Woakes to Bancroft, FOUR! Oh, that's a top shot! Woakes overpitches outside off and pays the price. Bancroft shows some positive front foot movement as he cracks it through covers. |
| 14.6 : C Woakes to C Bancroft, Full in length outside off, Bancroft pushes it down from the inner half of the bat to mid on. |
| 15.1 : C Overton to U Khawaja, Bowls a bouncer to begin the over, Khawaja ducks. |
| 15.2 : C Overton to Khawaja, A silly mid on comes in as Overton serves a back of a length delivery outside off, straightening a touch, Khawaja feels for it and is beaten. |
| 15.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 15.4 : C Overton to Khawaja, On the pads and it's worked through mid-wicket. Broad chases it from mid on and they take a couple of runs. |
| 15.5 : C Overton to Khawaja, Once again Overton is too straight with his line and Usman eases it in the big gap at mid-wicket. Another couple of runs added to the scoreboard. |
| 15.6 : C Overton to Khawaja, Shortish ball outside off, pulled to deep square leg for one. |
| 16.1 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Pitches it full and outside off, Khawaja drives it off his front foot to mid off. |
| 16.2 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Length ball on middle, Khawaja flicks it off his pads but finds the fielder on the leg side. |
| 16.3 : C Woakes to Khawaja, This time it's full and on middle, Khawaja turns it off his pads past the diving mid-wicket fielder, Moeen Ali. Broad chases it down from mid on and they take a single. |
| 16.4 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 16.5 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Extra bounce from a good length around off, Bancroft nicely stands tall inside the crease and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 16.6 : C Woakes to Bancroft, Effort ball this time by Woakes. Bends his back and delivers a back of a length ball on middle and leg at 135.9 kph, Bancroft moves across and nudges it to fine leg for one. |
| 17.1 : C Overton to Bancroft, Good length delivery just outside off, holding its line, Cameron covers the line and shoulders arms. |
| 0.0 : Huge shout for an lbw! Marais Erasmus shakes his head. The bowler is very confident here and he convinces his skipper to take the DRS. That looks quite adjacent to the stumps. Is there an inside edge? |
| 17.2 : C Overton to Bancroft, OUT! No inside edge and Cameron Bancroft gets the walking orders. A really good review by England. Overton with his second wicket and he is turning on the heat. He dishes out an inswinger around off, fuller in length, Bancroft tries playing it down the ground, probably towards mid on as his bat's face suggests. But he fails to middle his shot and is rapped on the pads. The English players appeal vociferously, there are two noises, and the umpire remains unmoved. Crai |
| Skipper Steven Smith strides out with his team in early trouble. |
| 17.3 : C Overton to S Smith, Movement away from the new batsman, Smith pushes inside the line and edges it past gully for a couple of runs. He is off the mark, however, in an unconvincing manner. |
| 17.4 : C Overton to Smith, Bangs in a bouncer, Smith has nothing to do with it. |
| 17.5 : C Overton to Smith, FOUR! Take that for a shot! Overton serves it on a length and outside off. There is ample width on offer and Smith latches onto it. He plays a free flowing cover drive, pierces the gap and finds the boundary. |
| 17.6 : C Overton to Smith, Full and on middle, Smith helps it down to fine leg for one. |
| 18.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 18.2 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 18.3 : C Woakes to Smith, Wide called for height! A bouncer outside off, Smith gets across the stumps and then ducks to let it go over his head. |
| C Woakes to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 18.4 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Shot! Timing of high class. Woakes delivers a back of a length delivery around off, Smith stands back inside the crease and punches it sweetly through covers for a glorious boundary. Right from the meat of the bat. |
| 18.5 : C Woakes to Smith, A length ball nipping back into the batsman with some extra lift off the surface, Smith gets across and is hurried up. He gets hit on the gloves but no damage done. |
| 18.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Angling into the batsman, Smith pushes it down off the inner half to mid on. |
| 19.1 : C Overton to Khawaja, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 19.2 : C Overton to Khawaja, Good length ball angling away from the batsman, Khawaja lets it through. |
| 19.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, Khawaja has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 19.4 : C Overton to Khawaja, Pitches it full and outside off, Khawaja gets on the front foot and drives it to covers. |
| 19.5 : C Overton to Khawaja, Goes short this time with his length, around leg, Usman gets back and pulls it behind square leg for a single. |
| 19.6 : C Overton to Smith, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under it at the last moment. |
| Time for some spin. MOEEN ALI comes into the attack. A slip, short leg and short cover in place. |
| 20.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, Flighted and full outside off, Khawaja gets forward and defends. |
| 20.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Nicely played! A loopy ball around middle and off, Khawaja goes down on one knee and paddles it across the line. Doesn't attempt to keep it down and it flies past short leg. Stoneman gives the chase but he can only retrieve it from the fine leg boundary rope. |
| 20.3 : M Ali to Khawaja, Khawaja has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery |
| 20.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, Tossed up ball on off, defended off the front leg. |
| 20.5 : M Ali to U Khawaja, Floated and outside off, an uppish drive there but it doesn't carry to the short cover fielder. |
| 20.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Lunges to a full ball and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 21.1 : C Overton to Smith, FOUR! Quality shot! A fractionally overpitched delivery on off, angling in, Smith gets forward, presents a straight bat and unfurls a beautiful off drive for a boundary. Broad at mid off didn't bother running. Supreme timing. |
| 21.2 : C Overton to Smith, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 21.3 : C Overton to Smith, Back of a length delivery outside off, Smith rises on his back foot and punches it on the up through covers. They take two runs, Smith wants the third but Khawaja slips while dragging his bat inside the crease. |
| 21.4 : C Overton to Smith, Smith has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 21.5 : C Overton to Smith, Angles in a length ball on off, Smith gets behind the line and defends it back. |
| 21.6 : C Overton to Smith, Good length ball outside off, shaping back in, Smith covers the line and pushes it towards mid on. |
| 22.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, Tossed up ball on middle, defended back from the crease. |
| 22.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, Khawaja has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 22.3 : M Ali to Khawaja, Gets forward to a full ball and blocks it safely. |
| 22.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, A touch flatter on middle, Usman goes back inside the crease and defends. |
| 22.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, Floated full ball outside off, driven off the front foot to covers. |
| 22.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Strides forward to a full ball and pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 23.1 : C Overton to Smith, This one is on the pads, Smith easily plays it through the gap at mid-wicket and collects a single. |
| 0.0 : Gully moves to short cover-point for Usman Khawaja. |
| 23.2 : C Overton to Khawaja, Good length ball outside off, angling in, Usman stands back to cover the line and shoulders arms. |
| 23.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, A length delivery is angled on off, some extra bounce visible, Khawaja gets across and defends it with a loose bottom hand. There are a few cracks outside his off stump area which might be putting some doubt in his mind. |
| 23.4 : C Overton to Khawaja, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 23.5 : C Overton to Khawaja, Lazy fielding by Anderson! Overton overpitches it by a fraction, outside off, Usman reaches out for it and drives it to the right of mid off. Jimmy is late in getting down and concedes a couple. |
| 23.6 : C Overton to Khawaja, Short in length and on middle, pulled down fine on the leg side for a run. |
| 24.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, Excellent delivery, attacking the stumps. A slider around off, skidding on, Khawaja fails to pick it. He goes deep inside the crease and somehow punches it out from middle and leg line. Very risky. |
| 24.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, Flighted and full outside off, Khawaja gets on the front foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 24.3 : M Ali to Khawaja, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| Nice and interesting point by Michael Clarke on air. We are shown the pitch map and visibly, a few cracks are appearing on the surface. While the general tendency by a bowler would be to hit the cracks, what Pup says is very rarely does one get wickets by hitting those areas. But what that does is cause doubts in the minds of the batsmen as they are not sure whether the next one will move or cause some discomfort or not. Eventually, if you do observe, they tend to give their wickets away on ball |
| 24.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, Khawaja has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 24.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, Loopy full ball on middle, Khawaja lunges and defends it in front of his pads. |
| 24.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Drives a full ball with the spin to covers. End of a good over by Moeen! |
| 25.1 : C Overton to Smith, Length ball angling into the batsman, around middle, Smith shuffles across and helps it off his pads to short mid-wicket. |
| 25.2 : C Overton to S Smith, FOUR! A juicy half-volley outside off, that's bread and butter for someone of Smith's class. He just leans forward and creams it through the gap at covers. No stopping this one. |
| 25.3 : C Overton to Smith, Overton overcorrects his line and bowls it full on middle and leg. Smith gets across and works it through square leg for a couple of runs. |
| 25.4 : C Overton to Smith, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 25.5 : C Overton to Smith, Another bouncer around off, Smith sits underneath it comfortably. |
| 25.6 : C Overton to Smith, That's a SNORTER! Last ball of the session and Overton puts in all the effort. He bends his back and lets out a back of a length ball around off. It shoots up as it reaches the batsman and takes Smith by surprise. The Aussie skipper tries getting away from the line but it hits his right thumb and smashes him on the chin. The ball starts rolling behind towards the stump but Steve immediately keeps it out. He now throws his bat away and is looking in some pain. No visible |
| Another action-packed session and England will be the happier side heading into the break. After a watchful start made by the Aussie openers, Craig Overton got into the act and removed the dangerous David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in quick time. There is certainly some life in this pitch and it's not easy to bat on. Having said that, the Aussie skipper has looked at ease in the middle and apart from the last ball of the session, he never looked bothered. Usman Khawaja, on the other hand, is ta |
| ... Day 2, Session 3... |
| Here we are! Final session of the day, a pitch with some life on it - makings of a good serious contest between the cherry and the willow. Add the likes of Smith and Overton to the mix, we surely have our plates full in anticipation. STEVE SMITH has USMAN KHAWAJA for company in the middle. England hand the ball over to MOEEN ALI. A slip and a bat-pad in place. |
| 26.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, Flatter around middle and leg, Khawaja goes back and hits it to short leg. |
| 26.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, Floated around off and middle, Usman gets ahead and pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| 26.3 : M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Bang goes Khawaja seeing the half-tracker on offer. Ali lands it around off, the southpaw goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 26.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, Now he drives it inside out towards wide mid off. The fielder gets to his right but is unable to prevent a run. |
| 26.5 : M Ali to Smith, Smith gets back and turns it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| 26.6 : M Ali to Smith, This ball is punched towards covers for a single. |
| STUART BROAD to bowl from the other end. |
| 27.1 : S Broad to Smith, On a length outside off, punched towards mid off. |
| 27.2 : S Broad to Smith, SIX! Going, going, gone! Broad bangs it short in line of the stumps, Smith gets across and smashes it over fine leg for a maximum. nitially it looked as if he had top-edged that but the Hot Spot showed that it came off the meat of the bat. 71m hit that to bring up 100 for Australia. |
| 27.3 : S Broad to Smith, Delivered around off, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 27.4 : S Broad to Smith, Smith drives it through covers and sets off for a run. The man from mid off, probably a substitute, gets to his left, puts in the dive and keeps it down to one. |
| 27.5 : S Broad to Khawaja, Broad switches to round the wicket and lands it on a length outside off. Khawaja offers the bat but it goes off the edge towards gully. Purposely played so. |
| 27.6 : S Broad to Khawaja, FOUR! Authoritative! Length ball outside off, enough width on offer for Khawaja. He cashes on it and cuts it powerfully through point for a boundary. Talk about struggling now... |
| 28.1 : M Ali to Smith, Floated outside off, Smith wristily cover drives that. An air of Kohli in that shot, reckons our statsman. |
| 28.2 : M Ali to Smith, Smith punches it towards cover-point and ambles to the other end. |
| 28.3 : M Ali to Khawaja, Ali comes round the wicket and lands it around off and middle. Usman blocks it solidly. |
| 28.4 : Ali to Khawaja, A yorker from Ali bowled with a side-arm action. Khawaja digs it out well. |
| 28.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 28.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Another delivery on the stumps blocked off the front foot. |
| 29.1 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Confidence? Assuredness? This is something different from the Australian skipper. Smith is batting on an altogether different surface here. While the others aren't looking at ease scoring, Steven has moved to 37 off just 33 deliveries. A touch short outside off this one, Smith hangs back and cuts it behind point for a boundary. Just after he played that, jerks his body forward, to display some swag. |
| 29.2 : S Broad to Smith, On the stumps blocked from the crease. |
| 29.3 : S Broad to Smith, Fuller on middle, played out to square leg. |
| 29.4 : S Broad to Smith, Gets on the front foot and pushes it back. |
| 29.5 : S Broad to Smith, Gets behind the line of the delivery and pushes it back again. Broad picks up the ball and has a shy at the striker's end. The crowd boos. |
| 29.6 : S Broad to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 30.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, No run. |
| 30.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, Lands it full on off, once again it's defended by Usman. |
| 30.3 : M Ali to U Khawaja, EDGY FOUR! A flighted off spinner landing on a fuller length around off, Khawaja tries to play an expansive drive through covers but it takes the outside edge and flies past the first slip fielder fora a boundary. |
| 30.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 30.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, Not short enough for the cut shot but Khawaja still goes for it and gets beaten. He is getting a bit restless. |
| 30.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Tossed up ball on middle and off, defended off the front foot. |
| 31.1 : S Broad to Smith, Good length ball on off, staying a bit low, Smith does well to defend it after moving across the stumps. |
| 31.2 : S Broad to Smith, Hurls a length ball outside off, Smith allows it through to the keeper. |
| 31.3 : S Broad to Smith, Wow, a cracking straight drive but for nothing. Broad bowls it full and around middle, Smith brings down a straight bat and caresses it down the ground. Anderson dives from mid on to save a certain boundary. |
| 31.4 : S Broad to Smith, Angles it into the batsman, Smith covers the line and blocks it safely. |
| 31.5 : S Broad to Smith, Turns it off his pads to the on side but finds the fielder. |
| 31.6 : S Broad to Smith, Smith has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 32.1 : M Ali to Khawaja, Floated full around middle and leg, pushed towards mid on. |
| 32.2 : M Ali to Khawaja, Khawaja uses hit feet and drives it through covers for a run. |
| 32.3 : M Ali to Smith, Served on a length on the stumps, Smith goes back and punches it towards mid on. Seeing the fielder a touch deep, he takes a single. |
| 32.4 : M Ali to Khawaja, Flatter around off and middle, blocked from the crease. |
| 32.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, Similar delivery outside off, Usman goes back and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 32.6 : M Ali to Khawaja, Flighted delivery around middle, the southpaw lunges forward to block. |
| 33.1 : S Broad to Smith, Broad runs in and hurls a full delivery around off and middle. The Aussie skipper pushes it defensively towards mid on. |
| 33.2 : S Broad to Smith, Bowled outside off, Smith points his bat skywards to let that go. |
| 33.3 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Smith maybe unorthodox in his technique but he is effective nevertheless. This is speared full around middle and leg, Smith moves back and across initially. Gets his bat down in time to flick it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 33.4 : S Broad to Smith, Length ball angling down leg, Smith misses the flick. It goes on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 33.5 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! If the previous shot was brilliant, this one is magnificent. Broad bowls it on a length and Smith looks to go for the pull. But the ball didn't rise as much as he expected. Yet he adjusted his shot well and pulled it all along the ground through mid-wicket for a boundary. After he played that he indicated to his partner that the ball skidded through. |
| 33.6 : S Broad to Smith, Outside off, left alone. |
| JAMES ANDERSON is brought into the attack now. Surprisingly, he has just bowled 4 overs so far. |
| 34.1 : J Anderson to Khawaja, No run. |
| 34.2 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Similar length delivery, this time blocked with a straight bat. |
| 34.3 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Outside off, left alone. |
| Seems that Anderson had an issue with his finger of the right hand after he attempted to run Bancroft out earlier today. |
| 34.4 : J Anderson to Khawaja, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 34.5 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Khawaja stands his ground and defends it within the crease. |
| 34.6 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Another delivery around off, blocked from the crease. |
| CHRIS WOAKES is also brought back. He went through a good spell earlier today. |
| 35.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith punches it towards covers. |
| 35.2 : C Woakes to S Smith, On a length outside off, Smith gets squared up a touch. The ball takes the outside edge and rolls towards second slip. Root dives to his right and makes a half-stop. A run taken. |
| 35.3 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Length around off, Khawaja defends it to the off side. |
| 35.4 : C Woakes to Khawaja, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 35.5 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Usman hangs deep in the crease and presents a straight bat face in defense. |
| 35.6 : C Woakes to U Khawaja, DROPPED and FOUR! A chance goes abegging! Joe Root is the man to be blamed. Woakes lands it on a back of a length around middle and off, it goes away from the angle. Khawaja ends up poking at it away from the body. The ball flies off the edge and Root is late in recating to that. Doesn't manage to get a hand onto it and the ball flies away to the third man fence for a boundary. How costly will this be? |
| 36.1 : J Anderson to S Smith, A run taken after Smith drives it through covers. |
| 36.2 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Comes round the wicket and bowls it around off. Usman stonewalls it. |
| 36.3 : J Anderson to Khawaja, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 36.4 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Full length ball around off, driven to mid off. |
| 36.5 : J Anderson to Khawaja, On a length around middle and leg, Khawaja taps it towards backward square leg for one. |
| 36.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Full outside off, defended off the front foot. After that Smith did some strange movement of the bat as he withdrew his bat. |
| 37.1 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Outside off, Khawaja lets it be. It moves in a touch after passing the batsman. |
| 37.2 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Outside off, left alone. |
| 37.3 : C Woakes to U Khawaja, A touch short on the stumps, Usman looks to pull it but gets it off the inner half through backward square leg for a single. |
| 37.4 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 37.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith defends it from the crease. |
| 37.6 : C Woakes to S Smith, FOUR! What a shot to bring up the 22nd TEST FIFTY for Steven Smith! He gets it off just 58 balls, shows how at ease he has been. Woakes hurls it full outside off, Smith leans into the shot and drives it crisply through covers. Boundary all the way. |
| 38.1 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Full around off, Khawaja gets ahead and defends it with a straight bat. |
| 38.2 : J Anderson to Khawaja, This is outside off, Khawaja shoulders arms to that. |
| 38.3 : J Anderson to Khawaja, On a fuller length around off, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 38.4 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Driven straight to the fielder at covers. |
| My colleague makes a fair point here. Normally Steven Smith is associated with playing those wristy flicks through the on side to accumulate the runs. But a glance at his wagon wheel at this point of time will reveal that majority of his runs have come through the off side - 21 through covers. So in spite of the shuffle that he does, he has hit shots through the off side. Yes, one could argue that the bowlers could have bowled more outside off and hence the shots there. But that generally has be |
| 38.5 : J Anderson to Khawaja, This ball is kept out safely from the crease. |
| 38.6 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Around off, Khawaja hangs on the back foot and defends. |
| 39.1 : C Woakes to Smith, On a length around off, defended with a straight bat from the crease. |
| 39.2 : C Woakes to Smith, This is too wide to make Smith play. |
| 39.3 : C Woakes to Smith, Harmless length ball outside off, Smith shoulders arms to that. |
| 39.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Another ball outside off, left alone. |
| 39.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Around off, Smith hangs in the crease and presents a straight bat face. |
| 39.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Again Woakes bowls it well wide of the off stick, Smith just lets it be. |
| 40.1 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Anderson now isn't making Khawaja play here. Bowls it outside off, left alone by UK. |
| 40.2 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Khawaja gets forward to this one and blocks it. |
| 40.3 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Angled across Usman he just lets it be. |
| 40.4 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Wow! What did Mr. Bairstow hear there? Anderson bowls a lovely delivery for starters. Angles it across Khawaja on a length. It is closer to the off pole and that makes Khawaja play. He pokes his bat at it but the ball beats the outer edge of the bat and goes through to Jonny. He leaps up in appeal immediately, only to calm down immediately seeing no company. |
| 40.5 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Angled across Usman again, he just lets it be. |
| 40.6 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Another ball outside off, left alone. |
| 41.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Landed well outside off, shouldered arms to. |
| 41.2 : C Woakes to Smith, Length ball outside off, punched to sweeper cover for one. |
| 41.3 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Fuller around off and middle, presented a straight bat by Usman. |
| 41.4 : C Woakes to Khawaja, FOUR! The longer you spend time in the middle, the more confident you look. Khawaja's stay shows just that. Woakes delivers this on a length outside off, Usman hangs back and cuts it behind point for a boundary. Crisp shot that. |
| 41.5 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Woakes runs in from round the wicket and lands it around off and middle, blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 41.6 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Outside off, Khawaja shoulders arms to that. |
| 42.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Length ball around off, Smith swats it towards square leg. Khawaja thought about a run there but the skipper sent him back. |
| 42.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith gets ahead and blocks it off the front foot. |
| 42.3 : J Anderson to Smith, No run. |
| 42.4 : J Anderson to Smith, No run. |
| 42.5 : J Anderson to Smith, No run. |
| The umpire is keeping a close eye on James Anderson's landing area. No official warning. But Jimmy needs to be careful here. He is continuously flirting with the danger area. |
| 42.6 : J Anderson to S Smith, FOUR. |
| 43.1 : C Woakes to Khawaja, FOUR. |
| 43.2 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Outside off, left alone. |
| 43.3 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Another harmless ball outside off, UK shoulders arms. |
| 43.4 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Fuller around off, driven towards covers. |
| 43.5 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Yorker around off, Khawaja digs it out towards point. |
| 43.6 : C Woakes to Khawaja, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 44.1 : J Anderson to Smith, On a length around off, Smith hangs on the back foot and blocks. |
| 44.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Similar delivery, Smith defends it from the crease. |
| 44.3 : J Anderson to Smith, On the pads, clipped towards square leg. |
| 44.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Outside off, left alone. |
| 44.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Punched off the back foot towards covers. |
| 44.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Length delivery around off, Smith defends it towards mid on off the back foot. A maiden for Jimmy. |
| Drinks are on the field. Smith and Khawaja have been successful in negotiating the first hour in this session safely. The skipper has looked fluent throughout and is ably supported by Khawaja, who seems to be coming back to his own. England have a task cut out at the moment. Will they make the numbers in the wickets column rise? |
| And here comes, CRAIG OVERTON. |
| 45.1 : C Overton to Khawaja, Initiates the spell with a fuller length ball angling in around off, Khawaja presses forward and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 45.2 : C Overton to Khawaja, Good length delivery in the channel outside off, Usman shoulders arms. |
| 45.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, Similar length, closer to the off stump line, Khawaja gets behind the line and blocks it down safely. |
| 45.4 : C Overton to Khawaja, A touch fuller than the last time, around off and shaping in, Usman defends it from the back foot to the off side. |
| 45.5 : C Overton to Khawaja, Cracking pull shot by Khawaja and an outstanding piece of fielding by Stoneman to save a certain boundary. Short on middle, Khawaja smashes it across the line and Mark at short mid-wicket makes a partial stop, diving to his right. They cross for a run. 150 up for Australia! |
| 45.6 : C Overton to Smith, FOUR! Effortless by Smith! He gets across the stumps to a short ball and rolls his wrists over the ball. Does well to keep his pull shot down but it has enough pace to beat Vince at backward square leg. James does get a few fingertips on it but cannot prevent the boundary. |
| 46.1 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 46.2 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Pitches it full and around off, Khawaja drives it to mid off. |
| 46.3 : J Anderson to Khawaja, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 46.4 : J Anderson to Khawaja, Another back foot defense by Usman Khawaja. He is looking a lot at ease now. |
| 46.5 : J Anderson to U Khawaja, Fullish and outside off, Khawaja plays a mistimed off drive for a run. 100-run stand comes up! |
| 46.6 : J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! That's a poor delivery and punished. Short and outside off, Smith stands back and packs a punch through cover-point. Into the game it runs and finds the boundary rope. He now becomes the leading run-scorer in this series, overtaking Dawid Malan. |
| 47.1 : C Overton to Khawaja, Overton continues from his round the wicket angle. Digs in a short ball on middle and leg, Khawaja ducks. |
| 47.2 : C Overton to Khawaja, FOUR! Easily done! Wrong line by Overton. He bowls it short and sliding down the leg side, Khawaja just uses the angle and pulls it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 47.3 : C Overton to Khawaja, Another good shot! Khawaja sits back to fetch a shortish ball from outside off and pulls it past backward square leg for a run. |
| What happened to Overton here? He is looking in some discomfort. Goes down on his haunches and is catching some breath. Issues with left rib. If you remember, he took a blow there in the second Test and also today while attempting a return catch he landed exactly on that area. Physio comes out. |
| 47.4 : C Overton to S Smith, FOUR! Help yourself delivery. It's short, it's wide and it's begging to be hit. Smith accepts the proposal and smashes it square of the wicket on the off side for a boundary. That delivery was in the 120s kph, clearly Overton is struggling. |
| 47.5 : C Overton to S Smith, Goes short and on middle, Smith pulls it down to fine leg for a run. |
| 47.6 : C Overton to Khawaja, A length delivery and on middle, Khawaja gets across and keeps it out on the leg side. Finds mid-wicket. |
| Craig Overton heads back to the pavilion. England will hope there is nothing serious and he recovers quickly. Meanwhile, there is a bowling change. MOEEN ALI to roll his arm. |
| 48.1 : M Ali to Smith, A gentle loosener, short and outside off, Smith rocks back and slaps it to sweeper cover. Mason Crane (sub) moves across to his right in the deep and makes a tumbling stop. They take a couple. |
| 48.2 : M Ali to S Smith, Presses forward and pushes it off the leading half of his blade to mid off. |
| 48.3 : M Ali to Smith, Flatter and quicker on off, Smith goes on the back foot and blocks it. |
| 48.4 : M Ali to Smith, Smith has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 48.5 : M Ali to Smith, Tossed up ball on middle, Smith walks forward with the flick shot and finds the gap through square leg. The Aussie skipper tries to press his partner for the third run but Khawaja refuses. |
| 48.6 : M Ali to Smith, Loopy ball on off, defended easily to end the over. |
| CHRIS WOAKES replaces Overton in the attack. |
| 49.1 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Back of a length delivery in the zone outside off, holding its line, Khawaja moves back, shapes for the square cut but at the last moment lets it be. |
| 49.2 : C Woakes to Khawaja, This time the length is full and it's around off, Khawaja closes the face of the bat and pushes it towards mid-wicket. |
| 49.3 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Pitches it full and outside off, Usman drives it through the line but finds the extra cover fielder. Remains on 49! |
| 49.4 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Straighter in line on this occasion, Khawaja remains back and helps it to mid-wicket. Not finding the gaps, Uzzie. |
| 49.5 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Woakes dishes out a slower one, dipping into the batsman and landing just ahead of the yorker mark. Khawaja does well to read it and keep it out. |
| 49.6 : C Woakes to Khawaja, Khawaja has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 50.1 : M Ali to Smith, Loopy off spinner outside off, Smith tries driving through covers but it turns back in to catch the inside edge. It rolls safely to mid on. |
| 50.2 : M Ali to Smith, FOUR! Bang! Moeen tosses it up outside and lands it short outside off. Smith picks the length early, goes deep inside the crease and cuts it through backward point for a boundary. Nicely placed. |
| 50.3 : M Ali to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 50.4 : M Ali to Smith, Tossed up ball on off, Smith strides forward and forces it down through mid on for a run. |
| 50.5 : M Ali to Khawaja, Fifty for Usman Khawaja, 10th in Tests! Finally he finds the gap after playing a cover drive and takes the single. The crowd cheers for him and he acknowledges by raising his bat. |
| 50.6 : M Ali to Smith, The batsman works it down the leg side. No run to end the over. |
| Usman Khawaja is adjudged lbw. Is it too high? Usman has a chat with his skipper and signals for the DRS. |
| 51.1 : Woakes to Khawaja, OUT! Umpire's call, it's clipping the bails. Finally some success for England as they manage to break the 124-run stand. Woakes gets a length ball to cut back into the batsman from outside off. Usman tries to defend it from the crease by going on his toes but he misses. He is hit high on the back pad, they appeal and the finger goes up after some delay. Khawaja looks at his skipper and then decides to review it. The replays roll in and there is some confusion initially t |
| 0.0 : Shaun Marsh, the local lad, comes out to a big ovation from the crowd. |
| 51.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Marsh has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 51.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 51.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Straighter in line, Marsh works it on the leg side but straight to square leg. |
| 51.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Outside off, a watchful looking Marsh lets it be. |
| 51.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Woakes gets very full with his length and spears it on middle and leg line. It's further angling down as Marsh attempts to flick. He misses and is hit on the pads. They appeal but nothing from the umpire. |
| JAMES ANDERSON comes back into the attack. |
| 52.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Oohhh...this one stays low after landing full around off, Smith does well to keep his eyes on the ball as he defends it on the leg side. |
| 52.2 : J Anderson to Smith, On a length around off, defended off the back foot. |
| The umpires check the shape of the ball by using the 8-ball gauge. Seems it's fine to continue... |
| 52.3 : J Anderson to Smith, A good looking drive from the bat of Smith but he fails to beat the cover fielder. |
| 52.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Helps it off his pads but once again finds the gap. |
| 52.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Hangs on the back foot and punches it to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 52.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 53.1 : C Woakes to S Smith, Too full in length outside off, driven off the front foot to covers. |
| 53.2 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Great timing! Fullish in length and on middle, Smith leans and flicks it in front of square leg with excellent timing. It races through and finds the fence in no time. |
| 53.3 : C Woakes to Smith, Too full and on middle, Smith plays a good looking drive down the ground but finds the mid on fielder. |
| 53.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Fine delivery, full and around off, shaping in, Smith gets behind the line and blocks. |
| 53.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Good length ball on off, Smith once again offers a dead straight bat in defense. |
| 53.6 : C Woakes to Smith, A slower one at 118.4 kph, around off, Smith drives it to mid off. |
| 54.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 54.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it down safely. |
| 54.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, Length delivery on middle and off, Marsh is right behind the line as he dead bats it. |
| 54.4 : J Anderson to Marsh, Angling away from the batsman, from around off, Marsh watches the line closely before making the leave. |
| 54.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Almost identical to the last delivery, this time Marsh stays back footed and punches it down towards gully. |
| 54.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Fuller in length on middle, Marsh gets forward and across before defending it to mid-wicket. |
| 55.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Turns it off his pads through backward square leg for a single. |
| 55.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Outside off, Shaun taps it down to point. 13 balls faced, no run scored. The local lad will be feeling some pressure. |
| 55.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 55.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Four leg byes! A length delivery angling down the leg side, Marsh tries his best to cash in on the gift but fails to get any bat behind it. It takes his pads and speeds away to the fine leg fence. Marsh remains on naught. |
| 55.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Bowls it in the channel outside off, Marsh leaves it alone. |
| 55.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Gets on the front foot and flicks it to mid-wicket. |
| 56.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Good length delivery just outside off, Smith firmly gets behind the line and blocks it on the leg side. |
| 56.2 : J Anderson to Smith, A front foot drive by Smith to a full delivery and he finds the gap at covers. A single taken. |
| 56.3 : J Anderson to S Marsh, FOUR! Marsh finally gets off the mark after 17 balls. In a streaky manner though. Anderson dishes out a fullish ball outside off, Marsh tries to drive it through the line but it catches the outer portion of his bat and races past the diving gully fielder for a boundary. |
| 56.4 : J Anderson to Marsh, Presses forward to a full ball and pushes it to covers. |
| 56.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Good length delivery on middle, Marsh defends it off his back foot to square leg. |
| 56.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Pitches it full on middle and off, Marsh gets on the front foot and drives it back with a straight bat. Anderson makes a good stop in his followthrough. |
| STUART BROAD to have one final go today. A single slip in place along with a short mid-wicket. |
| 57.1 : S Broad to Smith, Leans forward to a length ball and drives it with nice timing. Finds the cover fielder. |
| 57.2 : S Broad to Smith, Too full in length outside off, Smith reaches out for it and squeezes it through point for a couple of runs. |
| 57.3 : S Broad to Smith, Full in length on middle and leg, angling down, Smith gets across and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one. |
| 57.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Broad switches to around the wicket and angles in a full ball on off, Marsh gets forward and pushes it to covers. |
| 57.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Broad lets out a grunt and spears in a fullish ball on middle, Marsh does well to dig it out towards mid on. |
| 57.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Broad errs in line and serves it on the pads, Marsh eases it in front of square leg and comes back for the third run. 200 up for Australia. |
| MOEEN ALI replaces Anderson in the attack. |
| 58.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Loopy full ball on middle, drifting in, Marsh defends it off his front foot. |
| 58.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Flighted and full on middle, Marsh leans across and pushes it to mid on. |
| 58.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Presses forward and drives it straight back to the bowler. |
| 58.4 : M Ali to Marsh, In the air...DROPPED! A flighted ball on middle, Marsh gets on the front foot and flicks it across the line. It drops flush on Stoneman's left boot who is standing at short leg. It pops out and Bairstow reacts to his right. Mark also realizes and dives to his left. Two hands come in picture, none managed to gobble it. The replays show that it brushed some part of Jonny's gloves, so the dropped catch will go in his account. A similar moment happened in the first innings, int |
| 58.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 58.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Gets forward to a full ball and defends it to the off side. |
| 59.1 : S Broad to Smith, Too wide outside off, an easy leave for Smith. |
| 59.2 : S Broad to Smith, Back of a length delivery on off, Smith shuffles and plays it down to square leg. |
| 59.3 : S Broad to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 59.4 : S Broad to Smith, A full ball outside off, driven off the front foot to mid off. Should have put that away. |
| 59.5 : S Broad to Smith, Smith has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 59.6 : S Broad to Smith, Presses forward and pushes it through covers for a single. Smith moves to 90! |
| 60.1 : M Ali to Smith, Floated around off, driven towards mid on for one. |
| 60.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter on the stumps, Marsh goes back and works it towards square leg. |
| 60.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Tossed up around off and middle, Shaun lunges forward in defense. |
| 60.4 : M Ali to Marsh, This ball is pushed towards mid on. |
| 60.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Slow loopy full ball on off, Marsh lunges and defends it with soft hands. |
| 60.6 : M Ali to Marsh, A touch on the shorter side around off, Marsh moves back and punches it towards the bowler. |
| 61.1 : S Broad to Smith, Back of a length ball on off, jumping onto the batsman, Smith goes on his toes and keeps it out off the leading half of his blade. |
| 61.2 : S Broad to Smith, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 61.3 : S Broad to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 61.4 : S Broad to Smith, Waste of energy. It's short but wide outside off to trouble the batsman. |
| 61.5 : S Broad to Smith, Gets behind the line of the delivery and pushes it gently to mid off. He scampers across to the other end. |
| 61.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Broad runs in from around the wicket and arrows in a fuller length ball on off, Marsh strides forward and defends it safely to the off side. That's it, STUMPS ON DAY 2! |
| Another engrossing day of cricket ends! Steve Smith - the one name that the whole of England would not be loving - is still unbeaten at the crease, eight short of a century. He was not one bit fazed with whatever was on offer when he walked in. The pitch was starting to liven up and he countered all of that to make life easy for his side. He started off rather quickly - getting to a fifty in just 58 balls - before slowing down towards the end. His fluid innings helped Usman Khawaja settle down a |
| The hosts began reasonably well with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft providing them a free-flowing start. Their innings culminated when the cherry was handed to Craig Overton. He got rid of both in quick succession and looked the only incisive one. He walked off after aggravating his rib injury, which he picked in the last Test. The tourists would hope he is fit and takes the field tomorrow. They would also want James Anderson and Stuart Broad to strike the right chord along with Chris Woakes, |
| 35-6 is the figure that would haunt England today. They were well-placed at 368/4 when Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow were going great guns after crossing their respective tons. Once the former departed, the procession continued as England were kept down to far less than what they promised. This has given the home side a sniff and mind you, they are too good a side to not make use of that. Australia are 200 runs behind now. The Smith-Marsh pair would hope to carry on for long and probably look t |
| ... Day 3, First session... |
| Day 3 is often the moving day in a Test match. The Perth Test enters its third day. Both the sides have had a day to their credit so far. Who will rule the roost today? Welcome to our coverage as we await yet another Steven Smith century. He has looked commanding in his time out there and England would either have to get him out quickly or chip away at the wickets from the other end. |
| For England, the way forward would be for Anderson and Broad to get into their groove and strike early. They were a tad below par yesterday, which made matters difficult for them. The visitors will also sweat over the availability of Overton who had to walk out due to a rib injury. Can the tourists trigger a batting collapse here? Remember, the hosts trail still stands at 200. Stay with us as we get all the action to you. |
| BREAKING NEWS - England have confirmed that Craig Overton has come through fine in the nets and is FIT TO BOWL. They will heave a huge sigh of relief. |
| It's time for things to get rolling. STEVE SMITH and SHAUN MARSH make their way to the middle. They are going through a 24-run stand. It has been a slow one but one can understand the cause as it was towards the dying stages of the day's play yesterday. They will look to reduce the deficit as quickly as they can and go into the lead as the forecast for the next couple of days isn't too promising. |
| With a view to avoid being on the back foot, the Englishmen take their spots in the field. Overton's availability would be a shot in the arm for them. The second new ball is still 18 overs away. One can expect something to happen when they opt for that. How they perform in the interim would be an interesting watch. For starters, it will be JAMES ANDERSON to bowl. Only one slip stands in anticipation apart from a square leg and a short mid-wicket. |
| 62.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Begins with a length delivery around off that climbs up a bit more than it ideally should have. Smith rides it well and defends it with a straight bat to the leg side. |
| 62.2 : J Anderson to Smith, A touch fuller around off, flicked away towards square leg. |
| 62.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Pitched up to the batsman around off and middle, Smith blocks it with the bat close to his front pad. |
| 62.4 : J Anderson to Smith, First run for the day. Fuller around middle, Smith moves across and flicks it away through backward square leg for a run. He gets to 93 now. |
| 62.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Anderson continues over the wicket to the southpaw. Hurls it across the left-hander around off. Marsh covers the stumps and lets it pass. |
| 62.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, A slight confusion, all safe in the end. Marsh taps this length delivery in front of point and immediately sets off for a run, only to be sent back by Smith. The skipper was right as the man from the region gets to the ball quickly. |
| STUART BROAD to run in from the other end. He's going over 4 an over and is wicketless. However, this is a new day and he would look to make an impact right away. Same field for him too. |
| 63.1 : S Broad to Smith, Full delivery well outside off to start with. Smith square drives it to deep point for a single. |
| 63.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Now Marsh would feel a bit easy after this shot. Broad comes round the wicket and bowls it full around off and middle. Shaun flicks it nicely through mid-wicket for three. Overton is the man doing the chasing job there. |
| 63.3 : S Broad to Smith, Fuller around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 63.4 : S Broad to Smith, Hurled outside off, Smith shoulders arms to that. |
| 63.5 : S Broad to Smith, Smith gets forward and presents a straight bat face to block that. |
| 63.6 : S Broad to Smith, Length ball around off and middle, defended from the crease. |
| 64.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Length ball on middle and leg, Marsh stands tall and defends it showing the full face of the bat. |
| 64.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, This length is more near the batsman, Marsh pushes it back to the bowler. |
| 64.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, Fuller on middle, pushed towards mid on. |
| 64.4 : J Anderson to Marsh, Back of a length around leg, Marsh stays in the crease and looks to work it away to the on side. Ends up being hit on the gloves. The ball dies down in front of him. |
| 64.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Defended off the front foot. |
| 64.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Served around off and angling away, Marsh withdraws his bat and lets the ball pass through to the keeper. A maiden this one. |
| 65.1 : S Broad to Smith, Broad, looking to attack the stumps, bowls this on full on off. Smith dead-bats it with a straight blade. |
| 65.2 : S Broad to Smith, Similar delivery, Smith defends it towards the bowler. |
| 65.3 : S Broad to Smith, Full ball outside off, Smith takes his right leg across and looks to drive it through covers. Ends up getting it off the inner half towards mid off. |
| 65.4 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Wow! The way Smith finds the minutest of gaps in the field, it is comparable to the thread going through the eye of the needle. This is a full length ball on middle, Smith just flicks it nonchalantly. Finds the gap between short mid-wicket and mid on for a glorious boundary that takes him to 98. The first one of the day. |
| 65.5 : S Broad to Smith, Blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 65.6 : S Broad to Smith, Flicked through mid-wicket for a single. Smith moves to 99. |
| 66.1 : J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! 22nd Test century for Steven Peter Deveraux Smith and he gets there in style. Gets a fuller delivery around middle and leg, he clips it nicely through mid-wicket. The timing on that is such that the ball speeds away to the fence. This is his second ton in the series, 5th in this calendar year. He is in stupendous form and this has been a staggering knock. Fluent from the word go, authoritative throughout. Dwells in the moment by taking off his helmet and raising |
| 66.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Now he nudges this one to fine leg and gets to the other end. |
| 66.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, Length ball on the middle stump, defended from the crease. |
| 66.4 : J Anderson to Marsh, Marsh pats it towards covers and picks up a run. |
| 66.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith dabs this one towards point for a single. |
| 66.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 67.1 : S Broad to Smith, Broad bowls this short around off and middle, Smith ducks under that to let it go. |
| 67.2 : S Broad to Smith, The Aussie skipper gets behind the line of the ball and defends it. |
| 67.3 : S Broad to Smith, Another short ball angling down leg, Smith mistimes his pull. Actually this wasn't that short for the shot. Ends up gloving it towards fine leg for a single. |
| 67.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Fuller on the stumps from round the wicket, Marsh hits it straight to the man at the mid-wicket region. |
| 67.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Length outside off, left alone. |
| 67.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Fuller outside off, Marsh gets ahead and defends. |
| 68.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Anderson delivers this full on off and middle, Smith looks to clip it to the on side, ends up getting an outside edge through the point region for a single. |
| 68.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Quick single. Marsh pats it towards mid-wicket and sets off. Makes it to the other end before Ali charges in and misses his shy at the bowler's end. |
| 68.3 : J Anderson to S Smith, This ball is driven to the man at mid off. |
| 68.4 : J Anderson to Smith, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 68.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| 68.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Around off, blocked off the front foot. |
| Take note of this - This is Smith's FASTEST TEST HUNDRED. Further proof of how commanding he has been out there. Just a head up, the Australian skipper had scored his slowest ton in the first Test and here he is. Amazing to see the way he possesses the ability to change gears. |
| CRAIG OVERTON to have a bowl now. He was good yesterday before walking off. How will he fare today? |
| 69.1 : C Overton to Marsh, Length ball on off, Marsh stonewalls it from the crease. |
| 69.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Harmless ball outside off, SM leaves it alone. |
| 69.3 : C Overton to S Marsh, FOUR! Here is a gracious stroke from Marsh's blade. Full length ball on off and middle, Marsh just plays it with the angle. Flicks it through the gap between mid-wicket and mid on for a boundary. |
| 69.4 : C Overton to Marsh, Outside off, left alone. |
| 69.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Overton strays on the pads, gets clipped through square leg for a single. |
| 69.6 : C Overton to Smith, Smith flicks it away wristily through backward square leg for one. |
| Double change. CHRIS WOAKES is brought into the attack now. |
| 70.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Full ball outside off, defended from the crease. |
| 70.2 : C Woakes to Smith, On a length around off, Smith gets squared up a touch as he defends it. |
| 70.3 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Gets to landmarks in style, doesn't he? Steven Smith! 1000 TEST RUNS IN 2017 for the Australian skipper. Woakes spears it full outside off, Smith gets ahead and drives it nicely through covers for a boundary. |
| 70.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Like any pacer, Woakes bowls a short one to follow up the full one dished out earlier. smith is up to the occasion and he pulls it down to fine leg for a run. As he played that shot, he waved his bat in circular motion like a magic wand. Indeed, he looks like a magician out there at the moment. |
| 70.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Angled across Marsh, left alone. |
| 70.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Another one outside off, well left by Shaun. |
| 71.1 : C Overton to Smith, Length ball just outside off, Smith gets behind it and blocks it. There is some extra bounce on that one and the ball hits him high on the bat. |
| 71.2 : C Overton to Smith, Angling down the leg side, Smith watches it go to the keeper. |
| 71.3 : C Overton to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 71.4 : C Overton to Smith, Punched through cover-point for a run. |
| 71.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Landed around off, blocked from the crease. |
| 71.6 : C Overton to Marsh, Angled in around off and middle, turned towards mid on for a run. Broad there fields that and throws it to the keeper's end. |
| 72.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Fuller around off and middle, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 72.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Around off and middle, defended solidly from the crease. |
| 72.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Bowled outside off, Marsh doesn't bother putting bat to that. |
| 72.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Marsh flicks this one past the short mid-wicket fielder and gets a brace. |
| 72.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Well outside off, Shaun doesn't bother to put bat to that. |
| 72.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Another delivery landed outside off, duly left alone by the left-handed batsman. |
| 73.1 : C Overton to Smith, Craig bowls it on a length outside off, Smith just glides it through backward point for a single. |
| 0.0 : A catching mid-wicket in place. |
| 73.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Fuller outside off, Marsh covers his stumps and lets it be. |
| 73.3 : C Overton to Marsh, Landed in line of the stumps, blocked towards mid-wicket. |
| 73.4 : C Overton to Marsh, There's the effect of the crack! Overton serves it on a length and the ball lands on the crack and shoots up. Marsh, unaware of the effect of the crack, looks to shoulder arms after covering the stumps. The ball comes in and strikes him on the thigh pad on the back foot. A stifled appeal dies down immediately. This will get Shaun thinking now. |
| 73.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Angled down the leg side, Marsh misses the flick and wears it on the pads. |
| 73.6 : C Overton to Marsh, Length ball outside off, Marsh points his bat skywards to let it go. |
| MOEEN ALI to roll his arm over now. A drier pitch should help him a bit. |
| 74.1 : M Ali to S Smith, Floated around off, Smith gets back and plays it through mid on for a single. |
| 74.2 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Well played, Shaun! Ali offers this short and flat around off and middle, Marsh gets back and swats it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 74.3 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! How easy did this shot look! Ali tosses this up around off, Marsh slinks down the track and just flicks it past mid-wicket. Anderson there was lazy to put in the dive and the ball sped away to the fence. |
| Ian Chappell believes that Root wasn't right at the beginning of the day with just a slip for Smith. Although the Aussie skipper was in the 90s, England should have shown more intent, feels the on-air commentator. |
| 74.4 : M Ali to S Marsh, OUT! After two boundary balls comes a wicket. Ali strikes! This is wonderful bit of off spin. A perfect one to pick up a southpaw. Tossed up around off, Marsh lunges half-forward to defend. The ball spins away just a touch and catches the outside edge of the bat. Root is alert at first slip on this occasion and takes a good catch to his right. Soft dismissal in the end for Marsh, end of a 69-run stand. Australia still 155 runs behind. |
| Marsh replaces Marsh! MITCHELL MARSH walks in next after the fall of Shaun's wicket. He was in form for Western Australia, which mooted his comeback to the side. This is his home ground. Can he replicate that success here? |
| 74.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh strides forward and blocks it. |
| 74.6 : M Ali to Marsh, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 75.1 : C Overton to Smith, Smith stays on the back foot and blocks. |
| 75.2 : C Overton to Smith, Overton 2, Smith 0! The seamer lands it on a back of a length around off, Steven thinks it to be short enough to duck under and does so. But as the ball doesn't rise as expected, he gets hit on the left biceps. That should have ruffled his feathers. |
| 75.3 : C Overton to Smith, FOUR! This is Smith's way of getting back. Overton bowls it on a length outside off, the Australian skipper hangs back and opens the face of the bat. The ball goes through the gully region for a boundary. |
| 75.4 : C Overton to Smith, The batsman plays a pull shot to this short delivery. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 75.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Outside off, left alone. |
| 75.6 : C Overton to Marsh, Another delivery well outside off, Shaun doesn't bother playing that. |
| Time for drinks! Imagine this - a clear broad highway, good for driving fast. You do so and there comes a speed-breaker where you have to slow down a touch. Compare this with Australia's batting so far. They were cruising along the highway of runs this morning before the speed breaker in the form of Marsh's wicket came. Whether that causes them to slow down is to be seen. Mitchell Marsh isn't known to grind it out there and will look to wield his willow soon. Smith is going smoothly to even thin |
| 76.1 : M Ali to Smith, Tossed up ball on middle, turning in, Smith gets back and defends it on the leg side. |
| 76.2 : M Ali to Smith, Goes back to a short ball and punches it through covers for one. |
| 76.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Loopy and full on off, Mitchell lunges and defends it watchfully. |
| 76.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Off the mark and will be a relieved man. Marsh leans forward to a full ball and drives it towards point for a run. |
| 76.5 : M Ali to Smith, An off break delivery on the shorter side outside off, Smith uses the crease to create room and cracks it through point for a run. The field is well spread out for the Aussie skipper. |
| 76.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 77.1 : C Overton to Smith, Turns this delivery in front of square leg and scampers across for a quick single. |
| 77.2 : Overton to Marsh, Fullish and on middle, Marsh chips it over the bowler's head with a straight willow. The mid on fielder runs across to his left and then chases it down. A single taken. That probably stopped a bit onto the batsman. |
| 77.3 : C Overton to Smith, Angling down the leg side, nudged to fine leg for a run. |
| 77.4 : C Overton to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 77.5 : C Overton to Marsh, In the channel outside off, Marsh allows it through to the keeper. |
| 77.6 : C Overton to Marsh, On a good length outside off, staying a bit low, Marsh does well to block it safely. |
| JAMES ANDERSON is brought back into the attack for another spell. The second new ball is due in two overs. A slip and leg gully in place. A late field change with short mid-wicket coming in too. |
| 78.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Anderson operates from around the wicket. Bowls it shortish and on leg, Smith gets behind the line and defends it on the leg side. |
| 78.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Good length delivery on middle, Smith hangs on the back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 78.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith is anticipating the line from Anderson as he is bowling from around the wicket. The Aussie skipper stands a bit open up in his stance and defends the length delivery on the leg side. |
| 78.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Action replay of the last delivery. Not sure this ploy will trouble the Australian skipper. Only thing working so far is that he has not scored any run. |
| 78.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Gets behind the line and defends it comfortably to the on side again. |
| 78.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Anderson alters his length to go short, around off, Smith just rolls his wrists over the pull shot and sends it to deep backward square leg for one. |
| 79.1 : C Overton to Smith, Full in length and around off, Smith covers the line and presents a straight defensive bat of his. |
| 79.2 : C Overton to Smith, A juicy half-volley on offer outside off, Smith eases his square drive through the gap for a single. |
| 79.3 : C Overton to Marsh, Good length delivery in the channel outside off, not rising much, Marsh allows it through. |
| 79.4 : C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! Overton is too straight in line on this occasion, on a length, Mitchell Marsh picks it up off his pads and flicks it with good timing through square leg for a boundary. There was a silly mid on waiting for any error from Mitch's bat but he closed the face of the bat at the right time. |
| 79.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Length and around off, defended back easily. |
| 79.6 : C Overton to Marsh, A forward defense by Marsh to end the over. |
| Second new ball is available now. |
| 80.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Anderson continues from his around the wicket angle and bowls it too full on leg. Smith loves playing that shot. He just flicks it through backward square leg for a run. Smithy can even flick those through his legs, we have seen that in the past, mainly in shorter formats. |
| 80.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 80.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! Shot of the morning for me! A cracking sound of the bat meeting the ball. Anderson switches to over the wicket for Mitch. He delivers a full ball on off which has been driven down the ground through mid off. |
| The last boundary prompts for the change in ball. England have taken the second new nut! |
| 80.4 : J Anderson to M Marsh, Movement straight away. Swinging away from the batsman, Marsh pushes inside the line and edges it behind. Luckily for the local lad, it doesn't carry to the gully fielder. |
| 80.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Length ball outside off, once again some visible away movement, however, Marsh does well to drive it through covers for a couple of runs. |
| 80.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Outside off, left alone. |
| STUART BROAD to share the new cherry from the other end. Two slips a gully in place. Fielders in the deep at point and square leg. |
| 81.1 : S Broad to Smith, Good length ball on middle, Smith works it around the corner and takes a single. England won't mind that as Broad gets the opportunity to bowl at the new batsman with the new cherry. |
| 81.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 81.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Beauty to beat the edge! This one swing into the batsman and nips away of the pitch. All the action happens just around off and Marsh has a tame push and miss inside the line. |
| 81.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Good length ball on off, Marsh nicely gets behind the line this time and blocks it to the off side. |
| 81.5 : S Broad to M Marsh, Woakes saves a certain boundary! Broad pitches it up and outside off, enticing the drive from Marsh. He cracks that off the front foot and Woakes at covers dives to his left to make a superb stop. Although it's not a clean on and the batsmen cross. |
| 81.6 : S Broad to Smith, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 82.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Full and angling down the leg side, Marsh flicks it off the inner half of the bat to fine leg for one. |
| 82.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Lands it full and on middle, Smith helps it off his pads to mid-wicket. |
| 82.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Straighter in line, Smith flicks it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 82.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 82.5 : Anderson to Smith, Wow, an eye-catching straight drive by Smith. But it's so straight that Anderson gets some part of his right hand on it and deflects it towards the stumps at the non-striker's end. Mitchell Marsh was safely in. |
| 82.6 : J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! You will never get tired of watching him drive. He receives a full ball in his half, not much movement and he just caresses it through covers for a boundary. |
| 83.1 : S Broad to Marsh, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 83.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Good length delivery on off, Marsh drives it through the line but finds mid off. |
| 83.3 : S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! A thumping drive from Mitchell Marsh. The company of Steven Smith is infectious. Marsh shows his class as he gets a full ball from Broad. Unfurls a cover drive and times it with aplomb. Away it runs through the gap for a boundary. |
| 83.4 : S Broad to Marsh, A block this time to a length ball angled into him. |
| 83.5 : S Broad to Marsh, The batsman works it down the leg side. One run added to the total. |
| 83.6 : S Broad to Smith, Length delivery outside off, defended by Smith. |
| 84.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Some spice from the wicket. Anderson gets the inswinger going from a length around off, Marsh tries to defend but misses and takes a blow near the groin region. |
| 84.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Excellent delivery and a good leave. Anderson serves it full and just around off, straightening off the pitch, Marsh plants his front foot forward to cover the line and allows it through. |
| 84.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, Width on offer outside off, Marsh rocks back to punch it through the line but gets an inside edge past the stumps. A single taken. |
| Shout for an lbw by James Anderson. Steven Smith misses his flick for a change and is hit on the back pad. It races to the fence. Joe Root waits for the umpire's decision but the umpire stays put. He, then, opts for the DRS after getting convinced by his bowler. Missing leg, it seems. |
| 84.4 : J Anderson to Smith, NOT OUT! It indeed is missing leg and by a good margin as well. Desperation creeping in the English camp. As said before, Smith missed a full ball sliding down the leg side by Anderson to get hit on the back leg. An appeal was made by Jimmy but to no avail as the ball raced away to fine leg for a boundary. Root waited for the umpire's decision to know whether there was any inside edge but the umpire kept his decision safe. After that Anderson convinced his skipper for |
| 84.5 : J Anderson to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 84.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| CHRIS WOAKES is back on. |
| 85.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it safely. |
| 85.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Pitches it up this time, Marsh drives it back to the bowler. |
| 85.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Shortish and outside off, a mistimed square cut by Mitchell. |
| 85.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, This one is angled into the batsman, Marsh flicks it through square leg for a couple. |
| 85.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Once again it's full and straight, Marsh forces it down the ground, finds mid on. |
| 85.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| STUART BROAD gets a change of ends. He's been driven, cut and clipped away for runs so far. Redemption time? |
| 86.1 : S Broad to Smith, Overpitched outside off, driven straight to the cover fielder. |
| 86.2 : S Broad to Smith, Another full ball outside off. However, instead of going for the drive, Smith lets the ball come to him and guides it through point for one. The stand moves up to 46. |
| 86.3 : S Broad to M Marsh, Full length ball outside off, Marsh is getting out his drives well. Drills it towards mid off where Ali does well to put in a dive to his right and stop that. |
| 86.4 : S Broad to Marsh, This ball is defended with a straight bat towards covers. |
| 86.5 : S Broad to M Marsh, Angling into the batsman on a fuller length around off and middle, Mitch drives it to mid on. |
| 86.6 : S Broad to M Marsh, Good running. Moral victory to the bowler first up. Delivers it full and angling into the batsman around off and middle, Marsh gets an inside edge onto his pad and the ball rolls towards square leg. Spotting no fielder in that region, the batters run two. |
| 87.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Back of a length delivery on middle and leg, Smith nudges it to fine leg for a single. He always has that extra second to play his shots. |
| 87.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 87.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Lovely shot to bring up the 50-run stand! Full in length and outside off, Marsh strides forward and unveils an on drive for a boundary. Timing there was excellent even though it wasn't middled properly. |
| 87.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Australia's deficit goes below hundred now. Also Mitchell Marsh overtakes his brother in this innings. Woakes overdoes his line this time, bowls it full and on the pads. All Mitch has to do is to deflect it fine. He does exactly that and collects an easy boundary. |
| 87.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Woakes is too straight again and Marsh flicks it through mid-wicket. Overton in the deep slides near the fence and saves a run for his side. |
| 87.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Full and outside off, driven through covers for a couple of runs. 14 off the over, Woakes completely lost his radar! |
| 88.1 : S Broad to Marsh, The batsman picked that bouncer early and let it through to the keeper. |
| 88.2 : S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! That's crunched! Short and wide outside off, Marsh, the local lad, loves it there. He just rises on his back foot and whacks it behind point for a boundary. He knows the amount of bounce here after playing all his domestic cricket at this venue. |
| 88.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 88.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Well-directed short ball, just around off and speeding off the surface, Marsh shows good technique there as he drops his wrists and allows it through. |
| 88.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Bangs in a bouncer on middle, Marsh ducks this time. |
| 88.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Full in length outside off, Marsh plays a textbook forward defense to end the session. LUNCH ON DAY 3! |
| Australia enjoyed the morning session. We said that the first hour was going to be crucial and they batted the most part of it without any trouble. The partnership between Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh blossomed but just when the latter started to get going with his shots, he was dismissed by Moeen Ali. England thought they had an opening there but the junior Marsh joined forces with his skipper to shut down that door of opportunity. |
| The Aussie skipper was the star of the session! He continued from where he left yesterday and punished the English bowlers to all parts of the park. His delightful strokes, coupled with excellent running between the wickets, kept annoying the Englishmen as he scooted his way to his 22nd Test century, fastest for him in Tests. The current pair has further piled on the agony on England as they've added runs at a brisk pace and the deficit has come down to 89 runs. |
| England will be disappointed with their overall work in the morning. Their bowling was flat and Root's strategy was also not up to the mark. They were 200 runs ahead at the start but rather than attacking at the beginning, they decided to sit back and wait for things to happen. Their pacers looked off-colour, to say the least and the second new ball also didn't do any wonders for them. Australia have maintained the momentum they gained yesterday and will be eyeing a good lead at the moment. Havi |
| ... Day 3, Second Session... |
| The players and the umpires make their way out to the middle after what we believe, must have been a sumptuous meal. From a bird's-eye view, this will possibly be another run-scoring session. We'll reserve the closer view for the session end. The authoritative STEVE SMITH and a confident MITCHELL MARSH will continue their innings. CHRIS WOAKES to steam in first up. Will the tourists reduce their toil in the session? |
| 89.1 : C Woakes to Smith, On a length outside off, slapped through cover-point for a single. |
| 89.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, This is outside off, Mitch doesn't fiddle with that. |
| 89.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Full outside off, left alone by Marsh. |
| 89.4 : C Woakes to M Marsh, This ball is driven on the up to mid off. |
| 89.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Harmless ball outside off, Marsh covers his sticks and shoulders arms to let that pass. |
| 89.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Length ball outside off, Marsh keeps it out towards gully. |
| STUART BROAD will bowl from the other end. |
| 90.1 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Steve Smith gets to 144, the highest individual score of the series so far, going past his own unbeaten 141. This was a length ball outside off, all Smith had to do was to hang back and punch it through covers. A boundary results. |
| 90.2 : S Broad to Smith, Smith gets an inside edge onto his pads and the ball rolls through backward square leg. A run taken. At this point, Broad’s bowling average this series has been 49.20, his worst in any series he has played 3 or more matches in. |
| Stuart Broad is a defensive bowler reckons Ian Chappell on air. He states that the pacer relies on the fielders to save runs rather than expecting them to take catches and bowl accordingly. This is something that worries Chappell. |
| 90.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Bouncer! The batsman does well to evade it. |
| 90.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Another bouncer on the stumps, Mitch ducks and lets it go. |
| 90.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Short delivery angling down the leg side, Marsh looks to pull but doesn't make any contact with the ball. |
| 90.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Another bouncer, ducked under. |
| 91.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Extra bounce! Length ball outside off, Smith looks to unleash the cover drive. But the ball gets big on him and he ends up getting it off the inner half of the bat towards the bowler. |
| 91.2 : C Woakes to Smith, Full ball around off, driven to mid off. |
| 91.3 : C Woakes to Smith, This one is kept out from the crease. |
| 91.4 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 91.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Pushed towards covers for nothing. |
| 91.6 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Nailed it! Woakes serves it on a back of a length around off, Smith swivels and pulls it through mid-wicket. He kept it all along the ground and the ball raced away to the fence. |
| 92.1 : S Broad to Marsh, Short ball on the stumps, Mitch gets low and lets it go. |
| 92.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 92.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Howzzat? On a length outside off, Marsh looks to sway back and let that go. But he fails to get his entire body out of the way. The ball goes off his right biceps through to the keeper. |
| 92.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Lovely timing. Marsh punches it through mid off from the back foot and gets three runs. Stoneman is the man who does the mopping up, running all the way there with his pads on. |
| 92.5 : S Broad to Smith, Dangerous! Smith ducks under this bouncer and lets it go. A second look at that revealed that he had taken his eyes off the ball early and ducked. This could get nasty. |
| 92.6 : S Broad to Smith, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 93.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Tapped towards covers for one by Marsh. |
| 93.2 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith gets on the back foot and punches it straight to the cover fielder. |
| 93.3 : C Woakes to Smith, Seventh score of over 150 in Tests for Steven Smith! The run-machine is just impossible to stop, feel the Englishmen on the field. Woakes bowls it full outside off, the Aussie skipper drives it through covers for a brace. |
| 93.4 : C Woakes to Smith, SS defends it from within the crease. |
| 93.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith lets this full ball come to the bat before blocking it. |
| 93.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Outside off, left alone. |
| 94.1 : S Broad to Marsh, Length delivery around off, defended solidly by Mitch. |
| 94.2 : S Broad to Marsh, There's the zippy nature of the track coming to the fore. Broad bends his back and bangs it short in the line of the middle stump. Marsh looks to hook it away but gets beaten due to the pace and bounce. On another day, he could easily end up gloving it to the cover. |
| 94.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Misdirected delivery, down the leg side. Marsh doesn't go behind that and just lets it be. |
| 94.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Short ball, pulled away through mid-wicket for one. |
| 94.5 : S Broad to Smith, FOUR! And the Smith-show keeps on getting better and better. Broad bowls it on a length just outside off, Smith has so much time up his sleeves that he gets up on his toes and punches it crisply through covers for a glorious boundary. |
| 94.6 : S Broad to Smith, Length ball down the leg side, Smith gets out one of his animated leaves to let the keeper do the rest. |
| Silly mid off in place now. |
| 95.1 : C Woakes to M Marsh, Full ball outside off, driven crisply straight to the man stationed at covers. |
| 95.2 : C Woakes to M Marsh, FOUR! No half measures there. Often batters are tentative outside their off stump but not Mitch. Length ball outside off, Marsh slashes hard at that. Gets a thick outside edge and the ball flies over the gully region for a boundary. Moves to 48 now, partnership gets to 91. |
| 95.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Marsh taps it towards cover-point and gets to the other end. |
| 95.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Back of a length around off, pulled through mid-wicket for a brace. |
| 95.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Is there a fly there, Steven Smith? As he lets this length ball outside off go unharmed, he does the action of swatting a fly with the bat. Smith and his strange ways! |
| 95.6 : C Woakes to Smith, A bit more conventional leave this time. This is outside off, left alone by SPD Smith. |
| The only wicket-taker of the day so far, MOEEN ALI, comes back to bowl. Will he have a ball again? |
| 96.1 : M Ali to M Marsh, THIRD TEST FIFTY FOR MITCHELL MARSH! He last played a Test in March 2017 against India and what a comeback for him here. This has been a sensible yet attacking innings here. Loopy ball outside off, he pushes it towards wide mid off for a run to get to 50. |
| 96.2 : M Ali to Smith, FOUR! Flatter outside off, Smith has plenty of time in the world. He goes back and cuts it through point. Overton chases it from cover-point, puts in the slide and gets the rope between both his legs. A boundary isn't saved. |
| 96.3 : M Ali to Smith, Delivered down the leg side, Smith lets it be. |
| 96.4 : M Ali to Smith, Punched off the back foot by Smith. |
| 96.5 : M Ali to Smith, The 100-run stand between Smith and Marsh is up. Smith hits this through covers for a brace. On a lighter note, they are just 124 away from registering the highest stand in the series. Trail gets down to 54. |
| 96.6 : M Ali to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| CRAIG OVERTON to run in with the ball now. |
| 97.1 : C Overton to Marsh, Blocked off the back foot with a straight bat. |
| 97.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Marsh defends this by getting behind the line of the ball. |
| 97.3 : C Overton to Marsh, Flicked off the pads through square leg for a run. |
| 97.4 : C Overton to Smith, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 97.5 : C Overton to S Smith, Edged but safe. Finally an English bowler manages to get the edge of Smith's bat but it lands well short of Cook at widish first slip. He does well to stop it with a dive to his left. |
| 97.6 : C Overton to Smith, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 98.1 : M Ali to M Marsh, 1 run. |
| 98.2 : M Ali to S Smith, Smith drives this through the covers. One run added to the total. |
| 98.3 : M Ali to Marsh, These are easy runs on offer for the hosts. Again it is played through covers for one. |
| 98.4 : M Ali to Smith, Smith comes down the track and bunts it solidly. |
| 98.5 : M Ali to Smith, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 98.6 : M Ali to S Smith, Floated around off, Steven drives it through covers for a brace. Easily, 5 runs have come off this over. |
| 99.1 : C Overton to Marsh, Length ball on the off stump line, defended from the crease. |
| 99.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Marsh keeps it out watchfully off the back foot. |
| 99.3 : C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! The straight drive is one of the most beautiful shots in the sport. Overton spears it full around off, Marsh times it sweetly down the ground and gets a boundary to his name. |
| 99.4 : C Overton to Marsh, Sprayed down the leg side, left alone. |
| 99.5 : C Overton to Marsh, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 99.6 : C Overton to Marsh, A loud shot from the English side for an LBW, the umpire stays unmoved. Overton angles it down leg and lands it around middle. Marsh misses the flick and it goes off the pad through square leg. The batsmen cross over for one. England appeal but the umpire stays unmoved. He reserves his decision of a leg bye till the time they ponder over taking the DRS. After seeing that they aren't opting for it, a leg bye is signaled. |
| 100.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh goes back and blocks it stoutly. |
| 100.2 : M Ali to M Marsh, Another run taken after playing the ball through the cover region. |
| 100.3 : M Ali to Smith, A touch shorter, Smith goes back and flicks it towards square leg and takes off for a run. Overton gets to his left and fires a direct hit at the non-striker's end but the batter was well in. |
| 100.4 : M Ali to Marsh, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 100.5 : M Ali to Smith, This one is punched through covers for a single. |
| 100.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Turned round the corner for nothing. |
| 101.1 : C Overton to Smith, FOUR! Off target yet again from Overton. Bowls it on the pads, Smith tickles it fine. The ball is on the way to the fine leg fence. Ali runs to his right, does well to try and stop that but the adamant cherry insists and does make contact with the boundary ropes. This is the highest individual score at the WACA. What's more, the score is 368/4 - the numbers from where England slid down to get bowled out! |
| 101.2 : C Overton to Smith, Smith drives it straight to mid off. |
| 101.3 : C Overton to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 101.4 : C Overton to Smith, Bouncer in line of the stumps, Smith gets down and sways away from the line simultaneously as he lets it go. |
| 101.5 : C Overton to Smith, Clipped towards mid-wicket. |
| 101.6 : C Overton to Smith, Short ball pulled away to fine leg. One shouts Smith, one he gets. |
| JAMES ANDERSON is back for another spell. |
| 102.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Length ball on the stumps, blocked from the crease. |
| 0.0 : Silly mid on and a catching mid-wicket in place. |
| 102.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith defends it solidly. |
| 102.3 : J Anderson to Smith, This ball is pushed towards the catching mid-wicket fielder. |
| Time for the review! Smith misses the flick and is rapped on the front pad. England appeal but the umpire denies the affirmation that they want. After some thought they opt to take it upstairs. Looks close... |
| 102.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Would you believe it! It's a NO BALL! Oh Jimmy, how could you do that? He delivers it on a length on off and middle, angling into the batsman. Smith looks to flick but misses and the ball strikes him on the front pad. Anderson lets out a huge appeal and is joined by his teammates but to no avail. Bairstow seems pretty sure and eggs his skipper to take the DRS. Root signals the 'T'. The TV umpire has multiple looks at the front foot and it is seen that Anderson's foot |
| J Anderson to Smith, Smith keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 102.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 102.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Landed around off, Smith presents a straight bat face as he blocks that. |
| Drinks are on the field. The traffic has flown one way. Smith and Marsh are unbeaten in their 122-run stand. As this stand lingers on, the Englishmen look flatter and flatter. Root seems to be running out of ideas (would have been surprised if he hadn't already). Although the trail stands at 33, it is purely academic at the moment. Can England inspire themselves to come back from this point? |
| 103.1 : C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! Shot! Overton overpitched around middle and off, Marsh gets forward and pumps it straight back past the bowler for a boundary. As straight as an arrow! |
| 103.2 : C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! Another fine shot from Marsh's bat! He is writing his own little chapter amidst all the attention on the Aussie skipper. Overton goes a little bit short around off, Marsh camps back and cuts it late to get his placement right. He beats backward point by doing so and it races away to the fence. All too easy at the moment for Australia. |
| 103.3 : C Overton to Marsh, Angles in a length ball on off, defended. |
| 103.4 : C Overton to Marsh, Extra bounce from a length around off, Mitchell jumps and defends it to the off side. |
| 103.5 : Overton to Marsh, Funny! Plenty of footwork there, not only from the batsman but also from the bowler and the umpire. Overton slants in a length ball on middle and off, Mitchell drives it straight back off his front foot and Overton sticks his right leg out. It gets deflected off his boot and rolls behind the stumps at the non-striker's end. Marais Erasmus tries getting away from its way but the ball hits him too on the boots. It now ricochets and they cross over for a single. |
| 103.6 : C Overton to Smith, Smith has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 104.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! Width on offer outside off, Marsh stands on the back leg and runs it down to third man for a boundary. |
| 104.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! Excellently played! Anderson seems to be getting some reverse going but he fails to land his delivery. It's a low full toss on the pads and Marsh cashes in on the gift by tickling it through mid-wicket. |
| 104.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, Angles in a full length ball on off, Marsh defends it from the crease. |
| 104.4 : J Anderson to M Marsh, Gets behind the line of the delivery and pushes it to mid on. |
| 104.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 104.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, The length is not ideal to cut but Marsh still goes for it and inside edges it. Not far from the stumps as it speeds away to fine leg. A single taken. |
| CHRIS WOAKES is back on. |
| 105.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Starts this spell with a fuller length ball on off, it's driven down the ground to mid off. |
| 105.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Good length ball on off, Marsh firmly gets behind the line and blocks it safely. |
| 105.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Slower one! Woakes bowls an off pace delivery, 117.7 kph, lands it full outside off, Marsh defends it back. |
| 105.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 105.5 : C Woakes to Marsh, Too full and on middle, pushed back to the bowler. |
| 105.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Targets the off stump with a length ball, staying a touch low, Marsh keeps his watchful eyes on the ball and defends it down. |
| 106.1 : J Anderson to Smith, EDGED BUT SAFE! Smiles exchanged between Smith and Anderson. A length delivery outside off, Steven gets across to play at it but the ball takes the outside edge and flies behind. Doesn't carry to Cook at widish first slip. They cross for a run. |
| 106.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 106.3 : J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! Sweet! Anderson serves a back of a length delivery around off, Marsh gets tall inside the crease and punches it exceedingly well through the gap at covers. Growing in confidence with every shot and is fast approaching his maiden Test hundred. Currently on 81, 87 is his highest in Tests. |
| 106.4 : J Anderson to Marsh, Presents the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 106.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 106.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! Glorious! Anderson pitches it up around middle and Marsh gives it the straight bat treatment. Connects right from the middle of the willow and it screams past the bowler for a boundary down the ground. |
| 107.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Good length ball around off, Smith is watchful in his back foot defense. |
| 107.2 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Smart batting! Woakes dishes out a slower delivery, a cutter dropping on a length at 123 kph, Smith picks it in a trice and just opens the face of his blade to guide it through the gap between first slip and gully. The deficit is down to 2. This is now the highest score by a skipper at the WACA! |
| 107.3 : C Woakes to Smith, Length delivery on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 107.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Goes back to a length ball and blocks it safely. |
| 107.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Angling into the batsman around middle, Smith brings down a straight bat and pushes it towards mid on. |
| 107.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Shout for an lbw, a stifled one though. Nothing from the umpire. Slants a full ball down the leg side, Smith tries to flick but fails to middle. It goes off the inside edge and rolls towards square leg before taking the pads. A single taken. |
| STUART BROAD is back into the attack. |
| 108.1 : S Broad to Smith, Angles in a length ball on middle, Smith defends it on the leg side. |
| 108.2 : S Broad to Smith, Shuffles across the stumps to a length ball and pushes it down to mid on. |
| 108.3 : S Broad to Smith, Smith has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 108.4 : S Broad to S Smith, Another tiring looking shot from Smith. Width on offer outside off, Smith tries to punch it through covers but fails to middle his shot properly. |
| 108.5 : S Broad to S Smith, Pitches it up and outside off, Smith drives it down to mid off. |
| 108.6 : S Broad to Smith, Fullish and outside off, pushed through covers for one. SCORES LEVEL! |
| 109.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Good length ball on middle, Smith defends it towards mid on. |
| 109.2 : C Woakes to Smith, AUSTRALIA LEAD BY 1! Woakes lets out a fuller length ball and Smith drives it down the ground. Overton stops it moving across to his left and they cross for one. |
| 109.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 109.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Back of a length delivery on middle and off, Marsh goes back to defend but it takes the inside edge and rolls behind square leg. A single results. |
| 109.5 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 109.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Fullish and straight, Smith flicks it straight to mid-wicket. |
| 110.1 : S Broad to Marsh, Pitched up outside off, driven down towards mid off. |
| 110.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Good length ball on off, Marsh goes on his toes and blocks it down. |
| 110.3 : S Broad to Marsh, Back of a length delivery on off, Marsh defends it off his back foot. |
| 110.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Marsh has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Point drops back. |
| 110.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Shout for an lbw, a muted one by Broad. Nothing doing. Broad gets a length ball to move back into the batsman from around off, Marsh tries to defend by getting forward but misses. It brushes the flap of his front pad before going on to hit him on the back leg. Broad puts in an unsuccessful appeal. We wondered why he didn't go for the review. But then the replays are shown and it detected a massive inside edge. Hmm... Good spot, ump! |
| 110.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Back of a length ball on off, tapped to covers for one. Moves to 87, the devil's number and also equals his highest Test score. |
| 111.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Cracking straight drive. A length ball on middle, Marsh smashes it straight back and Marais Erasmus takes evasive action. He jumps sideways and makes way for the speeding ball. A boundary results, Marsh gets into the 90s! |
| 111.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, Fractionally short around off, defended off the back foot. |
| 111.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Offers the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 111.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 111.5 : C Woakes to M Marsh, An off pace delivery, around off, Marsh drives but finds the extra cover fielder. |
| 111.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, A block to end the over. 4 from it. Both batsmen are nearing their respective milestones - 9 needed for Marsh's maiden century in Tests and 20 more for Steven Smith's second double ton. Can we get both before the tea break? |
| 112.1 : S Broad to Smith, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 112.2 : S Broad to S Smith, Another edge from Smith's bat doesn't carry to Cook at first slip. Soft hands. |
| 112.3 : S Broad to Smith, A touch short around off, defended off the back foot by Smith. |
| 112.4 : S Broad to Smith, Walks forward and across to a length ball and defends it back to the bowler. |
| 112.5 : S Broad to Smith, Goes back to cover the line and defends it to the off side. Ian Chappell on air reckons that England have finally got their field right, keeping point in the deep and plugging the gap at covers. Mark Taylor further adds that England have tried 5-6 plans against Steven Smith but none has worked. He emphasizes that all the plans have been with the pacers, not much with the spinner. |
| 112.6 : S Broad to Smith, Blocked off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| Here comes a spinner. MOEEN ALI to bowl with a slip and short leg. |
| 113.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Full flighted outside off, drilled down to deepish mid off for a single. |
| 113.2 : M Ali to Smith, Lunges to a full ball and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 113.3 : M Ali to Smith, Flatter and shorter on middle, Smith gets back and hits it to square leg. |
| 113.4 : M Ali to Smith, Leans forward to a full ball and drives it straight to mid off. |
| 113.5 : M Ali to Smith, Loopy and on middle, Smith walks forward and whips it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 113.6 : M Ali to Smith, Allows the ball to turn back in and plays it towards backward square leg. |
| 114.1 : S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Marsh is just another boundary away from his maiden Test hundred! Broad dishes out a back of a length delivery outside off, Marsh rocks back to latch onto it and slams it behind point for a boundary. |
| 0.0 : Short mid off in place now. |
| 114.2 : S Broad to Marsh, Almost an identical delivery, this time Marsh mistimes his shot to covers. |
| 114.3 : S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Here it is, a well-deserved century for Mitchell Marsh. He is up and running in celebration and has a wide smile across his face. The crowd is on its feet too, applauding the local boy. This could prove to be a career-defining knock. His older brother in the dressing room also gives him a standing ovation. Broad bowls it full and outside off, Marsh gets forward and drives it crisply through point for a boundary. A joyous moment for the Marsh family. Steven Smith is |
| 114.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Length ball around off, staying low, Marsh defends it from the crease. |
| 114.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Helps a length ball on the leg side, finds mid-wicket. |
| 114.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Fractionally short around off, Marsh stands across and taps it down to cover-point. That will be TEA ON DAY 3! |
| Australia head into the dressing room after dominating yet another session. 107 runs in 26 overs without losing a wicket - these figures mean that the home team is in the lead and has a firm control on this Test match. England continue to be wayward and below par in their effort. Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh are amidst a 173-run stand and that has put the tourists in a corner, mainly due to the pace at which they are scoring runs. |
| The Aussie skipper is nearing his double century, while Mitchell Marsh after notching his maiden Test hundred will be eyeing a daddy one too. England should try to break this stand quickly, otherwise Australia will run away with this game after taking a handy lead. Let's see how the last session pans out. Do join us in a little while. |
| ... Day 3, Last Session... |
| Welcome back for the final segment of the day's play. 37 overs to be bowled in the day yet. Smith and Marsh stride out with the bat - the former awaiting his double ton and the latter batting past his ton. MOEEN ALI will begin the proceedings. |
| 115.1 : M Ali to Smith, Floated around off, smith lunges forward and blocks. |
| 115.2 : M Ali to Smith, Smith pats it towards cover-point and takes the first run of the session that takes him to 183. |
| 115.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Served outside off, Marsh prods forward in defense. |
| 115.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh gets ahead and dead-bats it. |
| 115.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Tossed up outside off, Marsh leans forward and guides it towards third man for a brace. |
| 115.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Blocked off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 116.1 : C Overton to Smith, Length ball around off, Smith presents a straight bat face in defense. |
| 0.0 : CRAIG OVERTON is the man bowling. Today he hasn't looked as effective as he did yesterday. |
| 116.2 : C Overton to Smith, On a length around the off stump line, Smith defends. |
| 116.3 : C Overton to Smith, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 116.4 : C Overton to Smith, Full face of the bat shown in defending that delivery. |
| 116.5 : C Overton to Smith, Bouncer on the stumps, Smith ducks. Initially he looked to sway away from the line but seeing the inswing on that, he had to duck to avoid wearing it on the head. |
| 116.6 : C Overton to Smith, Punched through covers off the back foot for one. |
| 117.1 : M Ali to Smith, Flighted ball outside off, Smith prods forward and blocks. |
| 117.2 : M Ali to Smith, Steven goes back and turns it to square leg. |
| 117.3 : M Ali to Smith, Bunted from the crease onto the ground. |
| 117.4 : M Ali to Smith, FOUR! Clever! Flatter delivery in line of the stumps, Smith goes back and works it away fine off his pads. The fine leg fence is the destination in spite of the chase from the fielder at square leg. |
| 117.5 : M Ali to Smith, Does the right thing of rotating the strike after hitting the boundary. Plays it through point and gets to the other end. |
| 117.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Floated on off, Marsh lunges forward and blocks. |
| 118.1 : C Overton to Smith, Length ball around off, punched through point for one. |
| 118.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Length delivery in line of the stumps, Marsh clips it through backward square leg for a brace. |
| 118.3 : C Overton to M Marsh, FOUR! Lifeless short ball, dealt with in the right manner. Overton bangs it in the zone of the off stump, it doesn't climb up much. Easily, Marsh pulls it through mid-wicket and helps himself to a boundary. |
| 118.4 : C Overton to Marsh, Crisply driven on the up to mid off. |
| 118.5 : C Overton to Marsh, Similar delivery hit in the same region as the previous one. |
| 118.6 : C Overton to Marsh, On a length around off and middle, kept out from the crease. |
| 119.1 : M Ali to Smith, Tossed up ball in the line of the off stick, Smith gets ahead and drives it down to long on for one. Questionable field placing this. With Smith playing on 190 (now 191), you can have your mid on up and try and entice him to hit over the field. Yet England are happy to concede a run to him. |
| 119.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Prodded forward and kept out with a straight bat. |
| 119.3 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Tired body, Anderson! Floated in the zone outside off, Marsh leans ahead and thumps it towards covers. The fielder there puts in a lousy dive and lets it through. Once that happens, a boundary is the result. |
| 119.4 : M Ali to Marsh, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 119.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter around off, kept out from the crease. |
| 119.6 : M Ali to M Marsh, Pushed towards covers where Woakes fields this. |
| 120.1 : C Overton to Smith, Smith goes on the back foot and punches it through covers for a single run. |
| 120.2 : C Overton to Marsh, Now Marsh drives this one through the cover region for one. |
| 120.3 : C Overton to Smith, Speared full outside off, Steven drives it towards covers. The fielder there stops it partially but is unable to prevent a single that results. |
| 120.4 : C Overton to Marsh, The run-flow just continues. Now the stand is worth 200 runs. These two have just been uncontainable and have scored runs at will. Coming to this ball, it was on a back of a length. Marsh moves across and tucks it fine on the leg side. Ali does well to save a run for his side with the slide. |
| 120.5 : C Overton to Smith, Guided towards backward point. |
| 120.6 : C Overton to Smith, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 121.1 : M Ali to Smith, Driven through mid on for a single. |
| 121.2 : M Ali to Marsh, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 121.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 121.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Driven through the covers by the batsman. |
| 121.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh strides forward and defends it watchfully. |
| 121.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Flicked away towards square leg off his pads. |
| The failure of his bowlers has made the skipper JOE ROOT bring himself on to bowl. |
| 122.1 : Joe Root to Smith, No run. |
| 122.2 : Joe Root to Smith, Turned towards mid-wicket from the crease. |
| 122.3 : Joe Root to S Smith, Smith gets to the other end by driving it through mid on. |
| 122.4 : Joe Root to Marsh, Marsh finds the man at mid on with this hit. |
| 122.5 : Joe Root to Marsh, Worked off his pads through square leg for one. |
| 122.6 : Joe Root to Smith, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 123.1 : M Ali to Smith, Flicked away through square leg for a single. |
| 123.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh gets forward and blocks it solidly. |
| 123.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter around leg, Marsh flicks it straight to short leg. |
| 123.4 : M Ali to Marsh, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 123.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh slinks down and turns it to the man at mid-wicket. |
| 123.6 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! A classic back foot drive, says the Ian Healy on air. Ali errs in delivering it outside off, Marsh punch-drives it though covers for a boundary. |
| 124.1 : Joe Root to Smith, Lunged forward and blocked back towards the bowler. |
| 124.2 : Joe Root to Smith, This delivery is turned towards mid-wicket. |
| 124.3 : Joe Root to Smith, Smith flicks this one but finds the man stationed in front of square on the leg side. |
| 124.4 : Joe Root to Smith, Smith moves to 199 by flicking this delivery through mid-wicket. |
| 124.5 : Joe Root to Marsh, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 124.6 : Joe Root to Marsh, Pushed back towards the bowler. |
| Smith is on strike... On 199... He has a dismissal on this number in Test cricket. |
| 125.1 : M Ali to Smith, Flatter on the stumps, SS goes back and defends it solidly. |
| 125.2 : M Ali to Smith, Landed around off and middle, a front foot defense presented. |
| 125.3 : M Ali to Smith, 2nd TEST DOUBLE TON for the Australian skipper! Oh boy, has he deserved it! He sure has. Even with his unorthodox technique, he has found the runs coming which is the basic necessity of batting. This has been a chanceless knock from a man who started off as a leg spinner in international cricket. To get to his milestone, he shimmies down the track to a floated ball and works it away towards wide mid on. Runs to the other end, leaps up with joy and roars with elation. We al |
| 125.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Defended solidly off the back foot. |
| 125.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 125.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Mitch goes back and negotiates this safely. |
| 126.1 : Joe Root to Smith, Flicked off the pads round the corner. |
| 126.2 : Joe Root to Smith, Clipped through square leg for a single. |
| 126.3 : Joe Root to Marsh, Marsh lunges forward and blocks this one. |
| 126.4 : Joe Root to M Marsh, FOUR! Runs flowing freely from Mitch's bat too. Flatter outside off, Marsh goes back and slaps this through covers for a boundary. |
| 126.5 : Joe Root to Marsh, Lunged forward and blocked. |
| 126.6 : Joe Root to Marsh, FOUR! Second boundary of the over! Ali is losing it here. Offers a half-tracker around off, Marsh just goes back and punches it through wide mid off for another boundary. 9 off this over. |
| 127.1 : M Ali to S Smith, 1 run. |
| 127.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Mitchell shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 127.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Flicked off his pads through square leg for a single. |
| 127.4 : M Ali to Smith, Smith finds the mid on fielder with the drive. |
| 127.5 : M Ali to S Smith, Floated around middle, driven to mid on. |
| 127.6 : M Ali to Smith, Landed around middle, Steven blocks it off the front foot. |
| CHRIS WOAKES back on. |
| 128.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Fuller in line of the stumps, driven straight back. The mid on fielder intercepts it. |
| 128.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! What a shot! Length delivery just outside off Marsh is so well set that he doesn't require much width. Works this past gully for a boundary. |
| 128.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Marsh punches this off the back foot through covers. As the fielder from mid off chases it down, the batsmen run two. But a slight fumble by the man there allows the third run for Marsh. |
| 128.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Full ball on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 128.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith hangs back and blocks this. |
| 128.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Clipped to deep square leg for one run. |
| 129.1 : M Ali to Smith, Flatter on the stumps, pushed back defensively to the bowler. |
| 129.2 : M Ali to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 129.3 : M Ali to S Smith, Floated around off, driven to mid off. |
| 129.4 : M Ali to S Smith, No run. |
| 129.5 : M Ali to Smith, No run. |
| 129.6 : M Ali to Smith, No run. |
| 130.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, No run. |
| 130.2 : C Woakes to M Marsh, Short delivery, pulled behind square leg for a single. |
| 130.3 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 130.4 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 130.5 : C Woakes to S Smith, Full and outside off, driven off the front foot to covers. |
| 130.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 131.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Tossed up ball on middle, defended off the back foot to short mid-wicket. |
| 131.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 131.3 : M Ali to M Marsh, Skidding away from the batsman with some extra bounce, Marsh pushes at it and edges it past first slip for a couple of runs. The on air commentators inform that Mitchell Marsh now has the highest Test score in the family at the WACA, going past his dad. |
| 131.4 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Good effort by Overton but all in vain. Moeen strays down the leg side and Marsh nudges it fine down the leg side. Craig puts in a sliding effort near the rope but fails to stop it cleanly. The third umpire confirms that. |
| 131.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 131.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Floated ball on middle, worked off the inside half of the bat to backward square leg for one. |
| 132.1 : C Woakes to Marsh, Length delivery outside off, Marsh lunges forward and blocks it to the short mid off fielder. |
| 132.2 : C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Short, wide and punished. Woakes gives him enough width with this length ball. Marsh hangs back and cuts it over backward point for a boundary. 100 up for Chris Woakes! |
| 132.3 : C Woakes to M Marsh, Full ball driven straight to mid off. |
| 132.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, 150 for Mitchell Marsh! He got his maiden ton just a while back and here he is surpassing the 150-run mark as well. This has been a confident innings from the younger marsh brother. This ball is on a back of a length around off, Mitch hops up and drops it towards backward point and gets to the other end in a jiffy. |
| 132.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Flicked away off his pads for a single. |
| 132.6 : C Woakes to Marsh, Length ball on the stumps, dead-batted from the crease. |
| England are not happy with the shape of the ball and get it checked. Marais Erasmus passes it through the 8-shaped gauge and deems it fit to carry on. Can't fault the English side here. When two men are on song like Smith and Marsh are, even a new ball would seem out of shape. |
| 133.1 : M Ali to Smith, Smith goes back to work this through backward square leg for a single. |
| 133.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh does the same now but finds the square leg fielder. |
| 133.3 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter on the stumps, defended watchfully off the back foot. |
| 133.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Served in line of the off stump, Marsh punches it to covers. The fielder there hurls a wild throw at the keeper's end that is fielded by the square leg fielder. |
| 133.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh making his intentions clear here. Looks to go downtown but ends up mistiming his drive straight to the bowler. |
| 133.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Floated around off, defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| JAMES ANDERSON summoned into the attack. |
| 134.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Good length ball outside off, punched towards covers. |
| 134.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Another ball outside off, pushed to the man at covers. |
| 134.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Fuller outside off, defended towards covers. |
| 134.4 : J Anderson to Smith, On a back of a length, Smith hangs back and keeps it out towards point. |
| 134.5 : Anderson to Smith, Well bowled. Anderson steams in and lets out a full delivery, targeting the off and middle stumps. Smith digs that out towards mid on. |
| 134.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. |
| 135.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter around middle and leg, pushed back towards the bowler. |
| 135.2 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh lunges forward and bunts it towards covers. |
| 135.3 : M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Boom goes Marsh! Ali tosses this a bit wider outside off, Marsh frees his arms and belts it through cover-point for a boundary. 250-run stand is up. |
| 135.4 : M Ali to Marsh, Marsh buries the turn onto the ground. |
| 135.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Almost a catch! Tossed up around middle and leg, Marsh doesn't get to the pitch of the ball and drives it uppishly towards the bowler. There is a silly mid on in place as well for such a shot. However, the ball lands just short of Ali. |
| 135.6 : M Ali to Marsh, This one is hit towards mid-wicket. |
| 136.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith punches this through covers for a brace. Brings up the 500 for Australia. |
| 136.2 : J Anderson to S Smith, Short ball outside off, cut away to the point fielder. |
| 136.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 136.4 : J Anderson to Smith, Full ball on off, Smith lets it come on to the blade before stonewalling it. |
| 136.5 : J Anderson to Smith, A hint of swing for Anderson here. On a length in line of the stumps, Smith misses the clip and the ball makes contact with his thigh pad. |
| 136.6 : J Anderson to Smith, Fuller on middle and leg, Smith defends it to mid on. |
| The final drinks break of the day. Smith and Marsh have looked unfazed by all that's thrown at them. The former seems to be fighting fatigue as he is seen popping some pills during the break. England's fall has been continuing, with their fielding starting to reflect what they are going through. A couple of misfields haven't helped their cause. Remember, the battle for the urn is about the fight between the strongest. Will the tourists spark some magic? |
| DAWID MALAN to bowl. |
| 137.1 : D Malan to Marsh, Starts with a flatter ball on the off stump, Marsh slaps it through covers for one. |
| 137.2 : D Malan to Smith, Turn and bounce for Malan on this occasion. Smith goes back and keeps it out with a straight bat. |
| 137.3 : D Malan to Smith, Floated on the stumps, Smith clips it towards mid-wicket, where Anderson dives and stops it partially. A run taken. |
| 137.4 : D Malan to Marsh, Marsh goes back and keeps it out safely. |
| 137.5 : D Malan to Marsh, Marsh strides forward and defends it watchfully. |
| 137.6 : D Malan to Marsh, Tossed up around off, driven to long off for one. Not a bad start for Dawid, 3 from it. The lead reaches 100 now for Australia. |
| 138.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Length ball angling down leg, Marsh clips it through square leg. Before the man at deep mid-wicket gets to his right to get to the ball, a couple results. |
| 138.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, Clipped to the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 138.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Smith stands tall and punches it to cover. |
| 138.4 : J Anderson to Smith, An off cutter around off, Smith gets it off the inner half through mid-wicket for a single. |
| Root has a chat with Anderson and now a straight mid on is positioned. Crap that.. he is moved towards mid-wicket and the man at that position is moves to square leg. Mid off gets a bit straight as well. |
| 138.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Banged short on middle and leg, Marsh gets out of the way of the ball. |
| 138.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Another short ball but Marsh just smashes it with a pull shot. The ball rolls towards deep mid-wicket where Woakes dives and keeps it down to two. He later signaled that he didn't sight it initially. |
| 139.1 : D Malan to Smith, Bowled on middle, driven down to long on. Easy run on offer. Smith moves to 210, 5 short of his Test-best score. |
| 139.2 : D Malan to Marsh, Flipper landing around off, the ball skids after pitching. Marsh plays for the turn and ends up getting an inside edge through the vacant short leg region. |
| 139.3 : D Malan to Marsh, Mitch lunges forward and blocks that. |
| 139.4 : D Malan to Marsh, Flatter on the stumps, MM keeps it out from the crease. |
| 139.5 : D Malan to Marsh, Marsh plays it with the slight spin towards covers. |
| 139.6 : D Malan to Marsh, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 140.1 : J Anderson to Smith, Length around off, blocked from the crease. |
| 140.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Bowled just outside off, Smith gets across and presents a straight bat as he pushes it towards the bowler. |
| 140.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Length ball outside off, Steven hangs back and pushes it towards covers. |
| 140.4 : J Anderson to Smith, A low full toss dished out in search of a yorker, Smith works it through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 140.5 : J Anderson to Marsh, Anderson lands it on a length outside off, Marsh defends by getting behind that solidly. |
| 140.6 : J Anderson to Marsh, Blocked off the front foot towards covers. |
| 141.1 : D Malan to Smith, Flatter on the stumps, blocked from the crease. |
| 141.2 : D Malan to Smith, This ball is pushed towards mid off. |
| 141.3 : D Malan to Smith, Tossed up ball on off, defended back. |
| 141.4 : D Malan to Smith, A touch flatter on middle and off, blocked again. |
| 141.5 : D Malan to Smith, Smith has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 141.6 : D Malan to Smith, Malan is on the shorter side around off, Smith cuts from his back foot to point. |
| STUART BROAD is back on. |
| 142.1 : S Broad to Marsh, Landed in line of the off and middle stumps, Marsh presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 142.2 : S Broad to M Marsh, Marsh punches this through covers and gets back for a brace. |
| 142.3 : S Broad to M Marsh, FOUR! Oh my my! This isn't too short and wide, yet Marsh cuts it through point. The man in the deep rushes to his left, puts in the slide as well. But it all turns futile as a boundary results. |
| 142.4 : S Broad to M Marsh, FOUR! Does Marsh feel that double tons are on sale today? He seems to be in a hurry to get there. Broad bends his back and bangs it short on off, it climbs up stomach high. Marsh pulls it with disdain through mid-wicket for a boundary. There was a fielder in the deep but he was a mere spectator. |
| 142.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Marsh blocks it from the crease. |
| 142.6 : S Broad to Marsh, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 143.1 : D Malan to Smith, Smith rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. |
| 143.2 : D Malan to S Smith, Floated around middle, turned towards mid on. |
| 143.3 : D Malan to Smith, Flicked away towards mid-wicket. |
| 143.4 : D Malan to Smith, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 143.5 : D Malan to Smith, FOUR! Floated around off, Smith goes inside out through covers. Hits it all along the ground and gets a boundary. He now equals his best score in Tests - 215. |
| 143.6 : D Malan to S Smith, Here is the next single towards sweeper cover that takes Steven Smith to 216, his best score in Test cricket. |
| 144.1 : S Broad to Smith, Fuller around off, defended towards the bowler. |
| 144.2 : S Broad to Smith, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 144.3 : S Broad to Smith, Flicked off the pads for a single through mid-wicket. |
| 144.4 : S Broad to Marsh, Marsh defends this off the front foot. |
| Picture this - We have all been raving about how dominant Steven Smith has been today. But he was on 116 when Mitchell Marsh walked out to bat. Currently Smith's tally is 217 runs. So while the skipper has scored 101 runs, Marsh has accumulated 171 runs under his belt. |
| 144.5 : S Broad to Marsh, Driven towards mid off. |
| 144.6 : S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Fuller delivery in line of the stumps, Marsh flicks it past mid on and helps himself to a boundary. |
| 145.1 : D Malan to Smith, Where were you all this while, Malan? The revs that he is generating is so good to watch. Lures Smith into playing a loose drive, who ends up almost offering a return catch to Malan. The ball lands just in front of the bowler. The on-air commentators reckon that this is because the Aussie is tiring. Had he been fresh, this could have gone straight to the bowler, they reckon. |
| 145.2 : D Malan to Smith, Smith carefully drives it towards mid on. Anderson makes a diving stop to not concede a run. |
| 145.3 : D Malan to Smith, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 145.4 : D Malan to Smith, Smith lunges forward and blocks it firmly. |
| 145.5 : D Malan to Smith, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total. |
| 145.6 : D Malan to Marsh, Marsh retains strike after driving it to long on. |
| MOEEN ALI to bowl now. |
| 146.1 : M Ali to Marsh, Flatter on the pads, clipped away through square leg for one. |
| 146.2 : M Ali to Smith, Smith stays in the crease and dead-bats it. |
| 146.3 : M Ali to Smith, Floated around off, driven to mid off. |
| 146.4 : M Ali to Smith, Served on the stumps, kept out from the crease. |
| 146.5 : M Ali to S Smith, Smith eases this down to long on for a single. |
| 146.6 : M Ali to Marsh, Cut through point for one run. |
| 147.1 : D Malan to Marsh, Landed around middle, the ball goes on with the angle. Marsh works it to square leg. |
| 147.2 : D Malan to Marsh, Floated gently on off and middle, driven towards mid on. |
| 147.3 : D Malan to Marsh, Marsh has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 147.4 : D Malan to Marsh, Punched through covers for a single. |
| Fair point. Ian Healy on air observes that mid on is up when Malan is bowling while he is in the deep for Ali. He deems this to lack some logic as the latter is the more experienced of the two bowlers in question. |
| 147.5 : D Malan to Smith, Smith presents a straight bat face to keep this out. |
| 147.6 : D Malan to Smith, Smith ambles to the other end by playing it through covers. |
| 148.1 : M Ali to Smith, In line of the stumps, Steven goes back and blocks it. |
| 148.2 : M Ali to S Smith, Floated around off, driven towards mid off. |
| 148.3 : M Ali to Smith, Worked away towards square leg. |
| 148.4 : M Ali to Smith, Smith lunges forward and defends it solidly. |
| 148.5 : M Ali to Smith, Clipped straight to the man at backward square leg. |
| 148.6 : M Ali to Smith, This time Smith manages to pick up a run by flicking this through front of square on the leg side. |
| CHRIS WOAKES to have one final burst today. A silly mid on, short mid-wicket and a widish mid on in place. So, Root and his love for weird on-side field placements for Smith continues. |
| 149.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Full ball around off, defended to the off side. |
| 149.2 : C Woakes to S Smith, Full ball angling into the batsman, Smith clips it to the wide mid on fielder. |
| 149.3 : C Woakes to Smith, To make use of the leg side field on offer, Woakes bowls this from wide of the crease. Smith carefully presents a straight bat face to block it out. |
| 149.4 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith stays in the crease and defends it to the on side. |
| 149.5 : C Woakes to Smith, A touch fuller, the Australian skipper drives it to silly mid on. |
| 149.6 : C Woakes to Smith, On a length outside off, an opportunity for Smith to pick up a run. Plays it towards cover-point and gets to the other end. |
| Change of ends for MOEEN ALI. 2 overs left in the day's play. |
| 150.1 : M Ali to Smith, Floated gently in line of the middle stump at 85.4 kmph. Smith strides forward and defends. |
| 150.2 : M Ali to Smith, FOUR! Tired bowling arm - Moeen Ali. Drops it flat and short around off, Smith goes back and slaps it through covers for a boundary. With major protection on the on side, there is a lot of real estate on the off site and Smith just cashed on that. |
| 150.3 : M Ali to Smith, Flicked away towards square leg. |
| 150.4 : M Ali to Smith, Worked away off his pads for a single. |
| 150.5 : M Ali to Marsh, Driven through covers for a single. |
| 150.6 : M Ali to S Smith, Walks down to the pitch of the ball and drives it down to long off for one. |
| Woakes to bowl the last over of the day. The partnership between Smith and Marsh is worth 299 at the moment. |
| 151.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Smith blocks it towards covers. |
| 151.2 : C Woakes to Smith, Back of a length ball on the stumps, Smith moves across and tucks it down to fine leg for a single. Brings up the 300-run stand between Smith and Marsh. The skipper moves to 229. |
| 151.3 : C Woakes to Marsh, Landed around off, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 151.4 : C Woakes to Marsh, This ball is played to the man at the deep mid-wicket fence by Mitchell Marsh for his 181st run. |
| 151.5 : C Woakes to Smith, Bowled around off and middle, defended with a straight bat face. |
| 151.6 : C Woakes to Smith, Woakes steams in and delivers a fuller length ball as the last one of the day. Steven Smith lets it come to him and defends it watchfully towards the bowler. That's STUMPS, DAY 3! |
| A day filled with runs comes to an end! The Australian batters return to the dressing room with satisfaction, joy and runs, while England return with more questions about their composition than answers. If we solely look at the last names, it was a day of Smith and Marsh with the bat. The day began with Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh at the crease. The latter missed out encashing the run-scoring opportunity, being the only wicket to fall today. After his fall, his brother rose, literally. |
| Mitchell Marsh looked solid from the moment he walked in. Crisp cuts, glorious drives and powerful pulls were in his armory and he unleashed them as per the situation to wow the viewers and pile agony on the tourists. While the Mitch-show was on from the other end, we could never take our eyes off the ever-so-unorthodox-yet-so-effective Steven Smith. The Australian skipper notched up his second double ton in Tests and went on to bat the whole day. He is still unbeaten on 229, while the duo's sta |
| Steven Smith says that he felt good yesterday and was in the zone, which he wanted to cash in on. Is lucky that it came off today. States that the opposition bowled well and terms Dawid Malan as the pick of the spinners (ahem). Reckons that tomorrow they will look to play positively. Opines Mitchell Marsh should try to get to his double ton tomorrow, adding that he loved his intent and the way he attacked the bowlers. About his fitness after being out for so long, he feels a bit sore but has no |
| Mitchell Marsh feels good to get a Test hundred after 22 games. Says he was relaxed in his preparations and was looking to give it his all. States that the roar after his milestone was pure emotion and this is something he would look back at after a couple of years and savor. Asserts that he knows where his family was seated and adds that it feels good to score in front of them. Ends being hopeful of scoring a double ton tomorrow. |
| Cricket has two sides. England were the second one here. Their bowlers were reduced to mere bowling machines with the way the hosts batted. Anderson, Broad, Woakes, Overton, throw all the names you want, they still lacked inspiration to run through the opposition. Root's field placements would rule the talk around these games. Being defensive when there is a need to attack isn't something that a captain should do and the English skipper is guilty of doing just that. |
| All the tired bodies would take a deserved break now. After a good night's rest, will England come out with fresh vigour to still make a match of it? Remember, the Australian lead is 146 runs. So all's not lost yet. Or will the hosts continue with what they have done so far? Let's find out and at the same time, hope, for some fightback from the tourists. See you tomorrow at 1030 local time (0230 GMT). Till then, adios, take care! |
| ...Day 4, 1st session... |
| First up, it's not raining, although, there is a cloud cover around the stadium and the forecast is for some showers in the afternoon. Hmm... that is something we can't control and can only hope for the best. On that note, let me welcome you all for the fourth day of the Perth Test. We've often heard the statement that the third day is considered to be the moving day of a Test match and yesterday Australia not only turned it in their favour but punched their way into a position from where they c |
| 'We will be quite aggressive this morning, and then the captain will work out what he wants.' That's what Darren Lehmann had to say a little while back. The intention is quite clear from the Australian camp. Both Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith won't hold back and we can expect a plenty of big shots in the morning session. England will hope that they can buy some wickets in the process. |
| It's time to get going! The English players are walking to the middle along with the umpires. Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh, both with daddy hundreds to their name and amidst a triple century stand come out to a rousing ovation from the crowd. It will be JAMES ANDERSON to begin proceedings. A single slip in place. Here we go... |
| 152.1 : J Anderson to Marsh, Starts with a good length delivery on middle, straightening a bit after landing, Marsh goes on the back foot and defends it back. |
| 0.0 : Early action! Mitchell Marsh is adjudged lbw and he reviews it. Looks plumb to the naked eye, let's see... |
| 152.2 : J Anderson to Marsh, OUT! Umpire's call. That's cricket for you, my friends. Toiled whole day yesterday without any success and here he is, a wicket off the second ball of the day. James Anderson is looking more relieved than happy. He serves a good length delivery around off and gets it to nip back into the batsman. Marsh is caught back inside the crease as he tries to defend it. But he fails to do so because of the movement and takes a blow on his back pad. Jimmy appeals and the finger |
| Tim Paine arrives. |
| 152.3 : J Anderson to Paine, Shortish around off, Paine goes on his toes and defends it out. |
| 152.4 : J Anderson to Paine, Good length delivery outside off, Paine drives it wide of mid off for a single. |
| 152.5 : J Anderson to Smith, Bows it around and on off, Smith brings down a straight bat in defense. |
| 152.6 : J Anderson to Smith, A bit full on this occasion, Smith is watchful and blocks it safely. A successful over for England to start the day. |
| CHRIS WOAKES to bowl from the other end. |
| 153.1 : C Woakes to Paine, Starts with a fractionally short delivery on off, Tim defends it off his back foot. |
| 153.2 : C Woakes to Paine, Paine has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 153.3 : C Woakes to Paine, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 153.4 : C Woakes to Paine, Short delivery outside off, quite wide from the batsman, an easy leave for Paine. |
| 153.5 : C Woakes to Paine, Back of a length delivery on middle, Paine defends it from the crease. |
| 153.6 : C Woakes to Paine, Bouncer around middle and leg, Paine sits underneath it comfortably. |
| 154.1 : J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! Steven Smith is up and running on day 4! Anderson errs in his line and serves a leg stump half-volley. The Aussie skipper picks it off his pads and clips it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 154.2 : J Anderson to Smith, Angles in a length ball on off, Smith gets on the front foot and defends it back. |
| 154.3 : J Anderson to Smith, Straighter in line again, Smith works it in front of square leg and Moeen moves across to his left to stop the ball. They cross for a run in the meantime. Australia are 555/5! |
| 154.4 : J Anderson to Paine, Fullish and on middle and leg, angling down, Paine tries flicking but misses. Gets hit on the pads, a muted appeal follows but nothing from the umpire. |
| 154.5 : J Anderson to Paine, Anderson gets it around off, Paine defends it off the front foot. |
| 154.6 : J Anderson to Paine, Whoa! That's a fast leg break, screams Shane Warne, the legendary leggie, on air. It indeed was. Jimmy slants in a length ball on and around off, angling in and moving away prodigiously. Paine can't do anything with it. Just pushes at it tamely and misses. Big smile spreads across his face. Somewhere deep down he knows, it's not going to be easy to bat here. The replays show that more than the skill of the bowler, the ball moved because it hit one of the cracks. |
| 155.1 : C Woakes to Smith, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 155.2 : C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Smith just continues to bat with fluency. It doesn't matter to him if there are cracks around on the surface and the ball can misbehave. He just stands tall inside the crease and runs a shortish ball down to third man for a boundary. |
| 155.3 : C Woakes to Smith, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 155.4 : C Woakes to Paine, Good length delivery on off, defended to the off side. |
| 155.5 : C Woakes to Paine, Paine has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 155.6 : C Woakes to Paine, Bangs in a bouncer outside off, Paine allows it through. My friend quietly asks me - why is he bowling short and not targeting the cracks which is around the length area? I don't have any answer to that. |
| Review for lbw against Steven Smith. Neither Anderson nor Root looking too convinced but nothing wrong in taking a chance, especially when it's Steven Smith. Height could be a factor here. Let's see... |
| 156.1 : J Anderson to Smith, OUT! Stop the press, Steven Smith is gone! The on-field decision is overturned and Anderson gets his second wicket of the morning. Once again it's a delivery angling back into the batsman. Steven Smith stays back to work it around the corner but misses to get hit on the back leg. They appeal but the umpire shakes his head. James Anderson and Joe Root get together and opt for the review. Both don't look convinced though. The replays roll in and it finds that Smith is h |
| 0.0 : MITCHELL STARC walks in next. Pat Cummins will have to wait for his batting promotion. |
| 156.2 : J Anderson to Starc, Good length delivery on off, Starc defends it from the crease to the off side. |
| 156.3 : J Anderson to Starc, Turns it off his pads to the leg side but finds the fielder. |
| 156.4 : Anderson to Starc, Length ball on middle, Starc chips it over the bowler's head for a single. |
| 156.5 : J Anderson to Tim Paine, Shaping back into the batsman, Paine tries flicking but gets an inside edge onto the pads. |
| 156.6 : J Anderson to Paine, OUT! Starc is the sacrificial lamb! Paine tries flicking a full ball again but misses and it goes towards backward point off his pads. The bowler is busy appealing as Tim rushes forward in search of a wicket. Starc is not interested but seeing his partner mid-way, he also comes out. Has no chance of making it but makes sure to cross Paine as James Vince runs with the ball and takes the bails off at the striker's end. Flurry of wickets here will please England, althoug |
| PAT CUMMINS in next. |
| 157.1 : C Woakes to Paine, Taps it down to point and crosses for a hesitant single. Vince misses his shy at the bowler's end. |
| 157.2 : C Woakes to Cummins, Shortish and around off, straightening off the pitch, Cummins pushes at it and misses. |
| 157.3 : C Woakes to Cummins, Cummins has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 157.4 : C Woakes to Pat Cummins, Good length delivery outside off, Pat pokes his bat at it and edges it behind. Doesn't carry to the only slip fielder. |
| 157.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 157.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under it at the last moment. |
| 158.1 : J Anderson to Paine, Paine has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 158.2 : J Anderson to Paine, In the zone outside off, Paine shoulders arms. |
| 158.3 : J Anderson to Paine, Pushes a length ball with soft hands to covers and crosses. |
| 158.4 : J Anderson to Cummins, Full and outside off, Cummins defends it off his front foot to covers. |
| 158.5 : J Anderson to Cummins, A length delivery in the channel outside off, straightening a bit, Cummins covers the line and shoulders arms. |
| 158.6 : J Anderson to Cummins, Angles it into the batsman, around middle, Cummins defends it off his front foot to mid-wicket. |
| 159.1 : C Woakes to Paine, Pitches it up outside off, Paine drives it to mid off. |
| 159.2 : C Woakes to Paine, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 159.3 : C Woakes to Paine, On middle, flicked on the leg side but not in the gap. |
| 159.4 : C Woakes to Paine, Good shot for nothing! A short ball around off, Paine swivels with the pull shot, connects well but finds Overton at square leg. |
| 159.5 : C Woakes to Paine, Fuller and on off, Paine is on the front foot as he pushes it to mid off. |
| 159.6 : C Woakes to Paine, Angles in a length ball on middle, straightening a bit, Paine gets behind the line and pushes it to mid on. |
| 160.1 : J Anderson to Cummins, Length ball angling into the batsman, Cummins plays it across the line towards mid-wicket. |
| 160.2 : J Anderson to Cummins, Lovely shot! A free flowing square drive by Pat and the point fielder dives but misfields. Three runs taken. 100 runs in the series for Cummins. |
| 160.3 : J Anderson to Tim Paine, FOUR! Oh, he has crunched that one. Anderson goes short and wide outside off, Paine transfers his weight on the back leg beautifully and strokes it over backward point for a boundary. |
| 160.4 : J Anderson to Paine, A length ball on off, Tim is forward in defense. |
| 160.5 : J Anderson to Paine, Paine has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 160.6 : J Anderson to Paine, Gentle hands this time. Paine just taps a length ball in the gap at cover-point for one. |
| 161.1 : C Woakes to Paine, Good length delivery around off, Paine pushes it with an angled bat to point. Woakes has not get much support from the pitch from this end. |
| 161.2 : C Woakes to Paine, The line is too straight this time and the length is too full, Paine flicks it through backward square leg and pinches a couple of runs. |
| 161.3 : C Woakes to Paine, Length ball on middle, defended back. |
| 161.4 : C Woakes to Paine, Woakes takes the pace off his delivery and serves an off cutter outside off, 120 kph, Paine pushes it towards cover-point for one. |
| 161.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 161.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Fuller and on off, defended off the front foot by Cummins. |
| 162.1 : J Anderson to Paine, Good length delivery around off, Paine defends it by getting forward. |
| 0.0 : James Anderson traps yet another batsman in front of the stumps. Looks plumb but Tim Paine wants to review it. |
| 162.2 : J Anderson to Paine, NOT OUT! Wow, it's going over the leg stump. How? You surely cannot blame the umpire for giving that out. That looked quite plumb. Anderson drops it on a length just around off and gets it to shape back into the batsman. Paine strides half forward to defend but misses. He is rapped on the pads, they appeal and the finger goes up. Paine reviews it and the Hawk Eye shows that the impact is in line but it is going over the leg pole. The extra bounce at the WACA, maybe. B |
| 162.3 : J Anderson to Paine, Good length ball on off, defended towards mid off. |
| 162.4 : J Anderson to Paine, Short and around off, Paine tries to cut but misses. |
| 162.5 : J Anderson to Paine, Gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it back. |
| 162.6 : J Anderson to Paine, Rocks back to a short ball and punches it through cover-point for a brace. |
| 163.1 : C Woakes to Cummins, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 163.2 : C Woakes to Cummins, Prods forward to a full ball and drives it to wide mid off. |
| 163.3 : C Woakes to Cummins, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 163.4 : C Woakes to Cummins, Tickles a length ball off his pads but finds the backward square leg fielder. |
| 163.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, A bumper, Cummins evades it. |
| 163.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Back of a length ball on off, Cummins blocks it safely. |
| 164.1 : J Anderson to Paine, Paine has pushed it to the cover region. Two runs added to the total. |
| 164.2 : J Anderson to Paine, Fine running between the wickets. A full ball outside off, Paine pushes it with gentle hands through point and calls his partner through for the second run. |
| 164.3 : J Anderson to Paine, Fuller and on middle, worked off the pads on the leg side but straight towards mid-wicket. |
| 164.4 : J Anderson to Paine, Keeps it just ahead of a length outside off, Paine gets across the stumps to cover the line and defends it solidly towards mid off. |
| 164.5 : J Anderson to Paine, Fullish and off, Paine leans forward and pushes it with soft hands at covers. Good running again to steal a single. |
| 164.6 : J Anderson to Pat Cummins, FOUR! Unintentional from Cummins but he will not mind a boundary! Anderson serves a full ball on off, getting it to nip back in, Pat strides forward in defense but it catches the outside half of his bat and runs through the slip cordon for a boundary. This is now the joint fifth highest score at the WACA! |
| Drinks break. Excellent first hour for England as they bounced back after a miserable performance yesterday. James Anderson once again is the one leading the attack from the front. However, as far as the game situation is concerned, Australia are ahead by 182 runs and have the upper hand. The way the bowlers are getting assistance from the pitch will please the home team. Those cracks near the good length will come in handy and play a major role in this Test match going forward. Let's see whethe |
| 165.1 : C Woakes to Tim Paine, 1 run. |
| 165.2 : C Woakes to Cummins, Length ball outside off, Pat covers his stumps and shoulders arms. |
| 165.3 : C Woakes to Cummins, Outside off on a length, Cummins punches it towards cover-point. |
| 165.4 : C Woakes to Cummins, Fuller outside off, Cummins lets that one go. |
| 165.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, Banged short in line of the stumps, Cummins crouches low and lets it go. |
| 165.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Another one outside off, PC just lets it be. |
| STUART BROAD to bowl for the first time today. He will be operating from the end where Anderson got all his wickets. Can Stuart get off the mark? So far, his bowling figures read - 0/112. |
| 166.1 : S Broad to Paine, Paine blocks it towards point from the crease. Cummins wanted a run but it was never on. There is a direct hit at the bowler's end but all's safe. Malan was the fielder on that occasion. Paine thought of taking him on thinking the ball is going to the wrong side of the fielder but he realises eventually that Malan throws with his right hand. |
| 166.2 : S Broad to Paine, Outside off, on a length, Paine taps it towards point. |
| 166.3 : S Broad to Paine, Another length ball blocked towards point. |
| 166.4 : S Broad to Paine, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 166.5 : S Broad to Paine, Paine drives it straight back to the bowler. |
| 166.6 : S Broad to Paine, FOUR! Clever! England had their field up on the off side to deny Paine the rotation of strike. Instead he gleefully accepts the boundary-scoring opportunity. This one is on a length outside off, Paine guides it to the third man fence for a boundary. |
| Interesting. Pat Cummins currently averages over 50 with the bat in this series. The likes of Root and Cook are not up there yet. Shows the area of concern of the visitors. |
| 167.1 : C Woakes to Cummins, Outside off, left alone. |
| 167.2 : C Woakes to Cummins, Banged short in line of the stumps, Cummins ducks under that one. |
| 167.3 : C Woakes to Cummins, Where's the bounce gone? Woakes hurls it on a length outside off, the ball refuses to climb up. Cummins looks to punch it off the back foot but ends up getting a bottom edge towards the keeper. |
| 167.4 : C Woakes to Pat Cummins, This ball is driven towards mid off. |
| 167.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, Back of a length ball outside off, Cummins looks to punch it off the back foot. But the ball climbs a bit more and he ends up making contact only with the air. |
| 167.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Blocked from the crease solidly. |
| 168.1 : S Broad to Paine, A harmless delivery outside off, left alone by Tim. |
| 168.2 : S Broad to Paine, Oh crack! This ball is hurled on a length outside off, Paine looks to drive it towards mid off. The ball lands on the seam and nips away and goes through to the keeper. These ones look like leg breaks initially before you realise that the cracks are responsible for such movement. |
| 168.3 : S Broad to Paine, Four Byes! Poor Bairstow! He cannot do anything about this. Broad runs and spears this down the leg side. Paine misses his flick and the ball goes to the fine leg fence. The keeper didn't stand a chance of cutting that off. |
| 168.4 : S Broad to Paine, FOUR! And now here's a genuine edge that ends up being runs. Fuller just outside off, Paine looks to play the drive. Gets a thick outside edge. The ball goes through the gap between the keeper and the wide slip fielder and went away to the fence. |
| 168.5 : S Broad to Paine, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 168.6 : S Broad to Paine, Tim was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 169.1 : C Woakes to Cummins, 600 up for Australia! This length ball just outside off is nicely glided through backward point. Such is the timing on it that Cummins gets three as a result. |
| 169.2 : C Woakes to Paine, Tapped towards cover-point for a run. |
| 169.3 : C Woakes to Cummins, The lead crosses 200! Cummins flicks it nicely through square leg for a brace. The hosts are chugging along nicely here. |
| 169.4 : C Woakes to Cummins, FOUR! Is batting as easy as Cummins is making it look? He is accumulating runs at will here. Outside off on a length, Cummins bashes it through point for a boundary. The Paine-Cummins stand is worth 47 now. |
| 169.5 : C Woakes to Cummins, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball but fails. |
| 169.6 : C Woakes to Cummins, Blocked solidly off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 170.1 : S Broad to Paine, Length ball angling on the pads, Paine looks to tuck it away but fails to do so due to the extra bounce. Gets it off his thigh pad towards fine leg. Before Bairstow does the fielding task, a leg bye stolen. |
| 170.2 : S Broad to Cummins, Another nice crisp square drive from Pat for a run towards deep point. |
| 170.3 : S Broad to Paine, Length ball outside off, Paine hangs his bat out at that but misses the ball. |
| 170.4 : S Broad to Paine, Paine strides forward and blocks. |
| 170.5 : S Broad to Paine, Outside off, left alone. |
| 170.6 : S Broad to Paine, Another delivery in the channel outside off, Paine doesn't put bat to that. |
| CRAIG OVERTON, playing with a cracked rib, comes into the attack. |
| 171.1 : C Overton to Cummins, Starts with a delivery that is on a length outside off, Cummins guides it towards third man for a single. Brings up the 50-run stand between these two. |
| 171.2 : C Overton to Paine, Angled into the batsman, worked away with that through square leg for a single. |
| 171.3 : C Overton to Cummins, In the air but safe. Cummins realises that it is time for him to play some shots now. Banged short around off, Paine mistimes his pull. The ball goes over square leg and lands near the boundary. Two runs result before the ball is returned. |
| 171.4 : C Overton to Cummins, Again, Pat looks to play the cut but misses the ball by a huge margin. |
| 171.5 : C Overton to Cummins, This ball is guided towards third man for a single. |
| 171.6 : C Overton to Paine, Paine punches this one through covers. Takes three runs before the ball is fielded and returned. |
| 172.1 : S Broad to Paine, Full length ball aimed at the off stump, Paine strides forward with a straight bat, pats it towards mid off and gets to the other end. |
| 0.0 : Seems like the declaration will be during Lunch. Although Smith is seen in his whites in the dressing room, his mates are still in their practise gear. The skipper is seen doing some paper-work with his vice-captain Warner. |
| 172.2 : S Broad to Cummins, Cummins keeps this out safely off the front foot. |
| 172.3 : S Broad to Cummins, Cummins hangs back and defends it towards point. |
| 172.4 : S Broad to Cummins, Nasty! Broad bangs this short and Cummins looks to duck. The ball, initially it seems, strikes his elbow guard and goes towards fine leg. The batters cross over for a run. The umpire asks Pat before signalling a leg bye after getting a confirmation that he hadn't hit it. Replays show that it actually came off the batsman's elbow and not the guard. How painful would that be! |
| 172.5 : S Broad to Paine, Paine drives it to the man at mid on. |
| 172.6 : S Broad to Paine, FOUR! How well has Paine timed his cover drive! Fuller ball outside off, Paine just creams it through the cover region. The sweeper gets to his left but still fails to stop that. A boundary it is. |
| 'WHAT, WHAT!' exclaims my mate here, as he sees MOEEN ALI come into the attack. This is because at a time when you should look to restrict the run flow, a spinner could end up doing exactly the opposite. |
| 173.1 : M Ali to Cummins, Flicked off his pads towards square leg. |
| 173.2 : M Ali to Cummins, Well done, Overton! Landed around leg, Cummins gets down and sweeps it towards fine leg. Craig runs to his right, slides and saves a run for his side. |
| Craig Overton is going off the field. After he slid to prevent a boundary on 173.2, he grimaced as he was getting up. The cracked rib, remember? Strong gutsy chap but unfortunately, has to walk out this time. |
| 173.3 : M Ali to Paine, Paine turns this one towards mid-wicket. |
| 173.4 : M Ali to Paine, Flatter down the leg side, Time offers no stroke and wears it on the pads. |
| 173.5 : M Ali to Paine, Driven to long on for a single. |
| 173.6 : M Ali to Cummins, Cummins lunges forward and blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 174.1 : S Broad to Paine, Paine drives it through the cover region and ambles to the other end. The stand is now worth 68. |
| 174.2 : S Broad to Cummins, Fuller outside off, Cummins looks to dig it out but gets an inside edge onto his pads. |
| 174.3 : S Broad to Cummins, Length ball, tucked down to fine leg for a run. |
| 174.4 : S Broad to Paine, Guided nicely to third man for one run. |
| 174.5 : S Broad to Cummins, Outside off on a length, Cummins slaps it towards cover-point, where the fielder dives and stops. |
| 174.6 : S Broad to Cummins, Length ball down the leg side, Cummins just lets it be. |
| 175.1 : M Ali to Paine, Flatter on middle and leg, Paine goes back and hits it to mid-wicket. |
| 175.2 : M Ali to Paine, A touch shorter in the same line, Paine pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single. |
| 175.3 : M Ali to Cummins, FOUR! Darted on a length in line of the leg stick, Cummins kneels and plays the sweep. The ball goes fine down the leg side past short fine leg for a boundary. |
| 175.4 : M Ali to Cummins, SIX! It's party time for Cummins! Ali tosses this one in line of the stumps, Cummins gets down and slogs it high and handsome over deep mid-wicket. This one has traveled 94 metres! |
| 175.5 : M Ali to Cummins, Fired down the leg side, Pat looks to sweep but misses. |
| 175.6 : M Ali to Cummins, Short in length from Moeen, pulled away to deep square leg for a single. That's it for this session. It's LUNCH, DAY 4! |
| End of an entertaining session! It had runs as well as wickets. This would have pleased the cricket fans. As far as this game is concerned, it is heavily tilted in favour of the home side. So the supporters of the tourists wouldn't really be pleased with this. Anderson combined with the cracks on the track to send the overnight batsmen packing in quick succession. Marsh couldn't to his overnight score while Smith didn't finish far ahead from where he was yesterday. |
| However, the batting collapse that every English fan anticipated since the time Australia walked out to bat, remained ever-elusive. Now the eighth wicket pair of Paine and Cummins have also added 82 to place their side in front by 240 runs. There was a 28-ball period in the middle when the hosts had lost 12/3. Yet their innings is yet to culminate. |
| Talks of the Aussie declaration get louder now. With inclement weather around, Australia wouldn't risk with playing on and settling for a draw. The cracks on the pitch are helping the odd ball to misbehave. Will Smith declare during the break? Let's wait and watch. England will hope for help from the skies to come sooner. Join us in a while. |
| ...Day 4, 2nd session... |
| Australia are batting on! They want to add more to their lead. Stuart Broad to start proceedings. It's quite sunny at the moment with blue skies visible. Let's hope it stays that way. Here we go... |
| 176.1 : S Broad to Cummins, Cummins punches this off the back foot towards covers. |
| 176.2 : S Broad to Pat Cummins, FOUR! Cummins is brimming with confidence here. Moves to 40 with this one. Smashes this through the cover region and helps himself to a boundary. |
| 176.3 : S Broad to Cummins, Length ball in the channel outside off, Cummins arches back and guides it to third man for a single. Both the batters are on 41 now. |
| 176.4 : S Broad to Paine, Angled down the leg side, Paine fails to flick it away. |
| 176.5 : S Broad to Paine, Paine has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 176.6 : S Broad to Paine, FOUR! Runs are being leaked without much control. Short ball around middle and angling down leg. Paine swivels and controls his pull through fine leg for a boundary. |
| JAMES ANDERSON will bowl from the other end. |
| 177.1 : J Anderson to Cummins, On a length in the zone just outside off, Cummins looks to cut it away but ends up chopping it towards the slip cordon. |
| 177.2 : J Anderson to Cummins, Cummins shows a straight bat in defense for that delivery. |
| 177.3 : J Anderson to Cummins, Sprayed down the leg side, Pat misses his flick. Bairstow dives to his left but the ball bounces just in front of his outstretched left hand. The ball slows down after hitting his gloves. |
| 177.4 : J Anderson to Cummins, Cummins fails to flick it away and gets hit low on the pads. |
| 177.5 : J Anderson to Cummins, This ball is defended from the back foot solidly. |
| Cummins is a goner! He doesn't think so and opts for DRS. Only an inside edge can save him, we reckon. |
| 177.6 : J Anderson to Cummins, OUT! 50th Test wicket for James Anderson in 2017, the third time he has achieved this in a calendar year. No signs of elation from him after getting the umpire's nod on this one. He angles it on a length which is a touch on the fuller side. Cummins looks to clip it away with the angle but misses the cherry completely. The ball catches him plumb in front. On appealing, the umpire gives him the marching orders. However, he opts to review that. There was no inside edge |
| Although he would have a major role with the ball later, NATHAN LYON is out there with the bat now. |
| 178.1 : S Broad to Paine, Tim failed to make contact and was hit low on the pads. |
| 178.2 : S Broad to Paine, Short ball down the leg side, Paine looks to pull but misses. |
| 178.3 : S Broad to Paine, This one is guided towards gully. |
| 178.4 : S Broad to Paine, FOUR! Paine is out there to wield his willow. Charges down the track and hits it over wide mid on for a boundary. Clean hit that. |
| 178.5 : S Broad to Paine, Blocked off the back foot onto the ground. |
| 178.6 : S Broad to Paine, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 179.1 : J Anderson to Lyon, Lyon misses the flick down the leg side. |
| 179.2 : Anderson to Lyon, FOUR! If you can do it, so can I, says Lyon to Paine with this shot. Anderson lands it on a length, Nathan comes down and belts it straight back over the bowler's outstretched right hand for a boundary. |
| 179.3 : J Anderson to Lyon, OUT! End of Lyon's (mis)adventure! Full ball around off, he looks to go downtown yet again. All he does is manage to sky it. The ball stays up eternally before coming down in the safe waiting hands of Ali who has moved ahead from mid on to position himself underneath it. Immediately, Smith calls them back as AUSTRALIA DECLARE ON 662/9, with a LEAD OF 259 runs! |
| Australia batted for 21 balls after Lunch. One will wonder why. Perhaps for Paine and Cummins to get to their respective milestones. But none got them. While Cummins was sent back by Anderson, Paine was undefeated on 49 when the declaration came. |
| The Australian innings was based on the initial platform of the 124-run stand between Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. But the lion's share in the mammoth score is the 301-run partnership between the skipper and Mitchell Marsh. Once they departed, Cummins and Paine had some fun in the middle before inviting England to bat again. |
| There's nothing great to talk about the English bowling. Anderson picked four today on route to his 50th this year, but it purely was academic. Everybody suffered the ignominy at the hands of the Aussie batters. Now, they have four and something sessions to contend with. Alastair Cook, the leader of this visiting side for years now is going through a prolonged lean patch. Can the tourists spring a surprise by displaying a dogged resistance? Remember, they have the firing Australian seamers and t |
| 0.1 : M Starc to Cook, A misdirected back of a length ball to start with. Bowls this down the leg side, Cook has nothing to do with it and just lets it be. |
| 0.2 : M Starc to Cook, Cook's away! On a length on middle and leg, the former skipper hops and clips it away through square leg for a single to get going. |
| Two slips and a short leg in place. |
| 0.3 : M Starc to Stoneman, Speared outside off, Stoneman drives it through point for a brace. He gets going as well. |
| 0.4 : M Starc to Stoneman, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. No real swing seen from Starc so far. |
| 0.5 : M Starc to Stoneman, Bowled in the line of the stumps on a length, Mark flicks it aerially past short leg for one. There is a man stationed at deep square leg. |
| 0.6 : M Starc to Cook, Fuller on off and middle, blocked towards mid on watchfully with a straight bat. |
| 1.1 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, This is hurled outside off, Mark just lets it be. |
| 1.2 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 1.3 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Stoneman blocks this by getting solidly behind that. |
| 1.4 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, Short delivery, Stoneman looks to pull it but misses. |
| As seen earlier, there are visible cracks on the surface. If there is an accurate bowler who can exploit that, it is Josh Hazlewood, who is bowling right now. |
| 1.5 : J Hazlewood to Stoneman, OUT! Josh Hazlewood draws first blood! For a change today, this isn't a good wicket that is aided by a crack on the surface. Hazlewood angles this across Stoneman on a length, the English opener has a tame nervous poke at it. That's enough for the ball to grab the outside edge and land in the waiting hands of Paine, who acceps it gleefully. England rocked back early. |
| JAMES VINCE is the next man in. He got to a start in the first innings yet couldn't carry on for long. Needs to rectify that wrongdoing. |
| 1.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Vince blocks it off the front foot towards covers. |
| 2.1 : M Starc to Cook, Landed around off, Cook defends it from the crease. |
| 2.2 : M Starc to Cook, FOUR! Starc hasn't found his rhythm yet and he sprays this on the pads. Cook flicks this through backward square leg for a boundary. This is the first of many to come in this innings. |
| 2.3 : M Starc to Cook, Sprayed down the leg side, Alastair misses his flick. |
| 2.4 : M Starc to Cook, Well outside off, left alone. |
| 2.5 : M Starc to Cook, Fuller around off and middle, Cook hangs on his back foot and drives it off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket for a single. |
| 2.6 : M Starc to Vince, Kept out from the crease. |
| 3.1 : J Hazlewood to Cook, No run. |
| 3.2 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Another delivery outside off, left alone. |
| 3.3 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Outside off, left alone. |
| 3.4 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Cook stays in the crease and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 3.5 : J Hazlewood to Cook, The batsman fails to put bat on ball. |
| 3.6 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Blocked out safely from the crease. |
| 4.1 : M Starc to Vince, In the zone of apprehension, Vince hangs back and defends it solidly. |
| 4.2 : M Starc to Vince, Well outside off, James doesn't bother getting bat to that. |
| 4.3 : M Starc to J Vince, FOUR! Classy, crisp and delicious! Starc bowls it full outside off, Vince gets a nice stride forward and drives it nicely through covers to get going with a boundary. |
| 4.4 : M Starc to Vince, Bouncer on the stumps, ducked under by James. |
| 4.5 : M Starc to Vince, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 4.6 : M Starc to Vince, Solidly defended by James from the crease. |
| 5.1 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Cook fishes but misses! |
| 5.2 : J Hazlewood to Cook, Similar delivery outside off, Cook plays it with soft hands. Guides it through the slip cordon. Smith hares after it from second slip and dives to save a run. He's making sure that the out-of-form Cook doesn't get easy runs. |
| 5.3 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Flicked away towards square leg. |
| 5.4 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Outside off, left alone. |
| 5.5 : J Hazlewood to Vince, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 5.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 6.1 : M Starc to Cook, 1 run. |
| 6.2 : M Starc to Vince, FOUR! Starc is not on the radar here! Comes round the wicket and sprays it on the pads. Vince just tickles it away to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 6.3 : M Starc to Vince, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. |
| 6.4 : M Starc to Vince, Driven towards mid off. |
| James Vince needs to be aware of where his off stump is. He has been out nicking four times in this series so far. Awareness of where his off stump is will make it easier for him to know which ones to play at and which ones to leave. |
| 6.5 : M Starc to Vince, FOUR! Lovely shot yet again! Starc hurls it full outside off, Vince drives it through covers for a boundary. The elbow position was so good there. |
| 6.6 : M Starc to Vince, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 7.1 : J Hazlewood to Cook, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 7.2 : J Hazlewood to A Cook, FOUR! Short ball in line of the stumps, Cook is already on the back foot. Just pulls it through mid-wicket. Cummins hares after it from mid on but fails to prevent the boundary. |
| 7.3 : Hazlewood to Cook, OUT! Cook's misery continues! Josh Hazlewood is breathing fire at the Furnace! Cook has been guilty of hanging on the back foot and he eventually pays the price for that. Gets a full length delivery on middle, he looks to work it away from the crease. Is a touch early into the shot and ends up getting it close to the edge of the bat back towards the bowler. The speedster is alert and gets low to his right and grabs it inches over the ground with his right hand. This is C |
| Skipper JOSEPH EDWARD ROOT strides out with the bat to play an important innings. He needs to emulate his counterpart for his side to save the game and hang on to the urn. |
| 7.4 : J Hazlewood to Root, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 7.5 : J Hazlewood to Root, Outside off, left alone. |
| 7.6 : J Hazlewood to Root, Root stays in the crease and blocks this with a straight bat. |
| MITCHELL MARSH into the attack. He bowls more in the line of the stumps and that would mean that he exploits the cracks available more. |
| 8.1 : M Marsh to Vince, Begins with a delivery in line of the stumps, Vince stays in the crease and defends it solidly. |
| 8.2 : M Marsh to Vince, Vince gets ahead and defends it off the front foot. |
| 8.3 : M Marsh to Vince, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 8.4 : M Marsh to Vince, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| 8.5 : M Marsh to Vince, On a length in line of the stumps, driven towards mid on. |
| 8.6 : M Marsh to Vince, Bumper in line of the stumps, Vince ducks under that to let it pass. |
| 9.1 : J Hazlewood to Root, Root hangs on his back foot and keeps it out towards mid on. |
| 9.2 : J Hazlewood to Root, Root punches this off the back foot towards covers. Lyon there misfields a touch and Root looks to make use of this opportunity to get off the mark but Warner runs in from mid off to quell any such chance. Throws it to the keeper. |
| Two slips and a catching mid-wicket in place. |
| 9.3 : J Hazlewood to Root, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 9.4 : J Hazlewood to Joe Root, Root gets off the mark with a risky single. Taps it towards covers and sets off. Lyon gets to his right and misses his shy at the bowler's end. England should be careful in taking on Lyon's arm as they have paid the price for doing so earlier in the series. |
| 9.5 : Hazlewood to Vince, An appeal for LBW dies down after Hazlewood spots that Vince got an inside edge there. Vince had looked to flick that full delivery to the on side. |
| 9.6 : J Hazlewood to Vince, Bowled outside off, left alone. |
| Drinks are on the field now. England are in a situation that they would have got in their worst nightmare. They are rocked back early with a couple of scalps. Cook's horrid run with the bat continues and he will be spending time in the dressing room contemplating where his midas touch has disappeared. Hazleweood is going through an impressive spell that reads 5-2-8-2! Starc meanwhile hasn't found his radar yet. Will England manage to stand their ground atleast till the time the weather has a try |
| Mitchell Marsh to continue after the drinks break... |
| 10.1 : M Marsh to Root, Sliding down the leg side, Root flicks it fine down to leg side for a run. |
| 10.2 : M Marsh to Vince, Outside off, on a length, Vince stays back and pats it down to point. |
| 10.3 : M Marsh to Vince, FOUR! Nicely played! A short delivery angling into the batsman, Vince gets on top of the bounce and pulls it through backward square leg. Nice placement to beat the fine leg fielder and the deep square leg fielder. |
| 10.4 : M Marsh to Vince, Shaping back into the batsman from around off, Vince plays it off his pads to mid-wicket. |
| 10.5 : M Marsh to J Vince, FOUR! Lovely shot! Too full in length this time by Marsh, it's around middle and Vince clips it past the right side of the mid on fielder. It just races past and reaches the fence in no time. |
| 10.6 : M Marsh to J Vince, Once again it's full and straight, Vince keeps it out safely on the leg side. |
| 11.1 : J Hazlewood to Root, Full and on middle, defended back. |
| 0.0 : Rain in the air... |
| 11.2 : J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Hazlewood overpitches it slightly outside off, Root strides forward and drives it through extra cover. Warner gives it the chase from mid off but fails to pull it back. Ian Chappell on air - If David Warner can't catch up with it, nobody can! |
| 11.3 : J Hazlewood to Root, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 11.4 : J Hazlewood to Joe Root, FOUR! Getting Root to drive early in his innings is a good idea. Australia won't be minding these boundaries as there is always a chance of an outside edge. A conscious effort here by Hazlewood to pitch it up outside off, Root unveils a lovely cover drive for a boundary. |
| 11.5 : J Hazlewood to Root, Pulls his length back and lands it around off, Root shifts his weight on the back foot and punches it on the off side. |
| 11.6 : J Hazlewood to Root, A length ball around middle and off, Root stays back in defense. Two boundaries from the over. |
| 12.1 : M Marsh to J Vince, Short and on middle, pulled down to fine leg for one. |
| 12.2 : M Marsh to Root, Root has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 12.3 : M Marsh to Root, Back of a length ball on off, Root remains back and defends it on the off side. |
| 12.4 : M Marsh to Root, Another back foot defense by Root. He loves staying back inside the crease. |
| 12.5 : M Marsh to Root, FOUR! Misfield in the deep by Shaun Marsh! He did the hard work of reaching the ball but then fails to stop it with a dive. Marsh once again keeps his length short around off, Root stands tall and pulls it with a swivel through square leg. Marsh runs across to his left from fine leg but as mentioned above failed to prevent the boundary. |
| 12.6 : M Marsh to Root, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| PAT CUMMINS replaces Josh in the attack. |
| 13.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Good line first up, no gentle looseners. Keeps it on a length around off, decent pace, Vince gets behind the line and blocks it back. |
| 13.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Shortish and around middle, turned to square leg. |
| 13.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, A rising delivery from a shortish length around off, Vince goes on his toes to block it. The ball drops nearby the stumps and James shapes up to keep it out if it heads towards the sticks. |
| 13.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, FOUR! Excellent shot off the back foot. Vince has looked quite positive from the onset. Cummins dishes out a back of a length delivery just around off, James goes on the back foot and packs a punch through cover-point for a boundary. |
| 13.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 13.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, EDGY FOUR! A length delivery just outside off, Vince gets forward in defense but it takes the outside edge of his bat and speeds past the slip cordon for a boundary. Runs are coming at a good rate for England in this partnership. |
| NATHAN LYON to roll his arm. |
| 14.1 : N Lyon to Root, OUT! Steven Smith takes a fantastic reflex catch! Not easy when there is a deflection from the keeper's gloves. Lyon is up and roaring in celebration. England lose their third wicket and trail by 199 runs. A flighted delivery landing full outside off, Root strides forward to drive it through covers but gets a thick outside edge behind. Paine tries catching it but it brushes his gloves and flies behind towards first slip. Steven Smith stationed there initially looks to move |
| 0.0 : The centurion from the first innings, Dawid Malan arrives with his team in a spot of bother. |
| 14.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Gets on the front foot and defends it back. |
| 14.3 : N Lyon to Malan, FOUR! Good shot to get off the mark. It's a bit on the shorter side around off, Malan stays back and plays at it late. He runs it wide of backward point for a boundary. |
| 14.4 : N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. |
| 14.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 14.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter and on middle, defended off the pads towards short leg. |
| 15.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Fullish and outside off, driven back without much timing. |
| 15.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 15.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Good length ball on off, Vince defends it off his back foot. |
| 15.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Helps it off his pads through backward square leg for one. |
| 15.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Angling away from the batsman, on a length, Malan pushes at it and misses. |
| 15.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, In the line of the stumps, Dawid defends it from the crease. |
| 16.1 : N Lyon to Vince, Flighted and full on off, defended off the front foot. |
| 16.2 : N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! Tossed up ball on off, Vince walks down the track and drills it through the gap between covers and mid off for a boundary. This is the danger period for Vince. He looks good for his first 25-30 runs but then loses his concentration. |
| Huge dark angry clouds surrounding the WACA! They are looking quite threatening. |
| 16.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Shortish and on middle, Vince keeps it out from the crease towards the right of mid on. |
| 16.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Flatter ball outside off, staying low, Vince chops it down towards point for one. |
| 16.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Tossed up ball on middle, defended on the leg side. |
| 16.6 : N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 17.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Back of a length delivery on off, Vince solidly gets behind the line and defends. |
| 17.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Once again it's on the shorter side, outside off though, Vince defends it off his back foot and then immediately looks behind thinking it's going back onto the stumps. |
| 17.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 17.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Straighter in line on a good length, James gets behind the line and defends it towards mid on. |
| 17.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Straying down the leg side, Vince eases it through backward square leg for one. |
| 17.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Extra bounce from a length around leg, Malan goes back and defends it on the leg side. |
| 18.1 : N Lyon to Vince, Flighted ball outside off, a touch on the shorter side, Vince defends it off his back foot. |
| 18.2 : N Lyon to Vince, This one is served full and outside off, Vince takes a good long stride forward in defense. |
| 18.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Quicker one, short and on middle, turned on the leg side but straight to short leg. |
| 18.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Leans forward to a full ball and defends it off the outer half of the bat to point. |
| 18.5 : N Lyon to Vince, Quicker through the air again, shortish and on off, Vince moves across the stumps and defends it back. |
| 18.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Bowls it in the flatter trajectory, quicker than the usual pace, James covers the line and blocks. Tidy over. |
| 19.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Angles across a back of a length delivery outside off, Malan jumps on the back foot and pushes it with an angled bat to point. |
| 0.0 : It has started to rain. The Barmy Army is making a lot of noise, they are certainly excited. They don't want any more play in this Test match so that England can survive and keep their hopes of retaining the urn. Won't judge them for this. It appears to be the best option they have at the moment. |
| 19.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, In the channel outside off, Malan watchfully lets it through to the keeper. |
| And the players are off! The rain is coming down hard and the umpires have called for covers. EARLY TEA has been taken. |
| Another session belonging to the home team. They batted for a little while after the lunch break before declaring their innings with a lead of 259 runs. England, in their reply, were rocked early as their openers failed to provide any solid platform. It became even worse for them when their skipper got dismissed without contributing much to the cause. |
| The responsibility to save this game and the urn has once again fallen on the shoulders of the middle and lower order batsmen. James Vince has looked delightful with his stroke play and is in the company of Dawid Malan, who got a century in the first innings. It's a tall ask for them from here onward but they have the batting depth. Let's see how they respond after the break, provided the rain stops. Do join us to find out. |
| ...Day 4, 3rd session... |
| Rain has eased off! We're done with the tea break and are set to resume. The players are back on the field. Pat Cummins to continue... |
| 19.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Shout straightaway for an LBW! Cummins steams in from over the wicket and pitches it on a fuller length around leg. Malan misses the flick and gets hit on the pads. The Aussies ask the question but the umpire stays put. Pitching outside leg, as confirmed by the Hawk Eye. |
| 19.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Blocked off the front foot towards mid on. |
| 19.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Driven towards the man at mid on. |
| 19.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length around middle and leg, defended from the crease. |
| NATHAN LYON continues. |
| 20.1 : N Lyon to Vince, Floated outside off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 20.2 : N Lyon to Vince, Flatter on a length outside off, Vince goes back to cut it but the ball just passes the outside edge and through into the keeper's mitts. |
| 20.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince goes back to this one and blocks it with a straight bat. |
| 20.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Flatter on the stumps, defended off the back foot. |
| 20.5 : N Lyon to Vince, This stays a touch low as James keeps it out towards short leg. |
| 20.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince gets it off the inside edge of the bat towards backward square leg. |
| 21.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Landed around middle and leg, clipped away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 21.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Careful Vince, careful! Playing across the line could be dangerous. This is a fuller ball on middle that straightens after pitching. Vince looks to work it away but the ball takes the face of the bat and rolls towards mid off. That straightened off the crack. |
| 21.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Four Leg byes! Now the crack makes the ball go the other way. Hurled on a fuller length on middle, Vince again looks to clip it away. The ball lands on the crack and moves in, taking James' pad on the way to the fine leg fence. |
| 21.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Banged short in line of the stumps, Vince crouches to let that go. |
| 21.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Yorker on off and middle, Vince does well to dig it out towards the bowler. |
| 21.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Length ball on the stumps, kept out safely from the crease. |
| 22.1 : N Lyon to D Malan, Malan had handled Lyon well in the first outing and looks at ease so far even this time round. Gets his right foot to the pitch of the ball and drives it to mid off. |
| 22.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down the track and eases it towards covers. |
| 22.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter on middle and leg, Dawid gets his bat in front of his pad and defends it back towards the bowler. |
| 22.4 : N Lyon to Malan, What's that? Floated around off, Malan uses his feet and looks to drive it but hits it straight back to the bowler. Lyon catches it and asks the umpire whether it came off Malan's boot. The umpire rightly refers it upstairs, the soft signal being not out. Replay shows that the ball bumped up off a crack and went to the bowler. |
| 22.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Driven back towards the bowler. |
| 22.6 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan again drives it confidently towards mid off. |
| 23.1 : Pat Cummins to Vince, On a length in the line of the middle and off stumps, Vince goes back and presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 23.2 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Similar delivery on the stumps, blocked solidly. |
| 23.3 : Pat Cummins to Vince, A touch fuller than the previous one, pushed towards covers. |
| 23.4 : Pat Cummins to Vince, Bumper around off, Vince sways back and lets the cherry fly to Paine. |
| 23.5 : Pat Cummins to Vince, FOUR! This shot proves that Vince has watched the ball till the very end. Another back of a length delivery just outside off, Vince hangs back and cuts it powerfully through backward point for a boundary. Vince goes to 40. |
| 23.6 : Pat Cummins to Vince, This ball is flicked to mid-wicket. |
| 24.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Floated up outside off, defended back towards the bowler. |
| 24.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter outside off, Malan goes back and punches it to deep cover-point for one. |
| 24.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince uses his feet to this flighted ball and drives it to long on for a single. |
| 24.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter on the pads, turned away to deep fine leg for a single. |
| 24.5 : N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! James Vince is looking so good out there. Lyon serves it on a length outside off, Vince gets back quickly and slaps it through the cover-point region for a boundary. Moves to 45 now. |
| 24.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince lunges forward and blocks it watchfully. |
| MITCHELL STARC has the cherry in hand now. His current figures of 4-0-22-0 show how easy to handle he had been in his first spell. |
| 25.1 : M Starc to Malan, On off, blocked from the crease. |
| 25.2 : M Starc to Malan, Starc spears this wide outside off, the ball nips in after landing. Not enough to make Malan play. |
| The wind has picked up now. Every pacer loves this, but not what is being mentioned next. The groundsmen are getting ready to get into the mix now. The trees are seen swaying heavily. Signs of a storm brewing as some drops of rain are visible as well... |
| 25.3 : M Starc to Malan, Fuller around off, Malan defends with his bat close to his front pad. |
| 25.4 : M Starc to Malan, That ball has taken the inside edge onto the pads. |
| 25.5 : M Starc to Malan, A hint of reverse swing there. Hurled just outside off, the ball moves in a touch. Malan blocks it with a straight bat face. Another look reveals that Starc has the shinier side inside and the rough one out. |
| 25.6 : M Starc to D Malan, Similar line but this one moves in more prodigiously than the previous one. Defended nicely off the front foot. |
| 26.1 : N Lyon to Vince, Aimed at the off stump, defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 26.2 : N Lyon to Vince, Flatter on the pads, flicked away. Short leg does well to stop that. |
| 26.3 : N Lyon to Vince, Defended solidly with a stride forward. |
| 26.4 : N Lyon to Vince, Driven to the cover fielder. |
| 26.5 : N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! Well played, Vince. Lyon bowls it wider outside off, Vince goes back and slaps it through cover-point. There are wide open spaces in the off side and the ball speeds away to the fence to take him to 49. |
| 26.6 : N Lyon to Vince, Gets to his 2nd Test fifty in style, does James Vince. Sees the tossed up ball outside off, he slinks down and works it past mid-wicket for one. Well played, James! He has doubled his first innings score and England would hope he doubles or maybe quadruples it from here. |
| 27.1 : M Starc to Vince, Starc runs in from round the wicket to the righty with the reverse swing coming into play. Lands it around off, defended from the crease. |
| 27.2 : M Starc to Vince, Vince stays in the crease and defends it nicely. |
| 27.3 : M Starc to Vince, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 27.4 : M Starc to Vince, Vince looks to turn this away to the on side but gets squared up a touch. Ends up getting it off the outer half towards the off side. |
| 27.5 : M Starc to Vince, This ball is defended towards backward point. |
| 27.6 : M Starc to Vince, Length ball around off, bunted watchfully. |
| 28.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Defended off the front foot onto the ground. |
| 28.2 : N Lyon to Malan, On he pads flicked away round the corner for one. |
| 28.3 : N Lyon to Vince, This is tapped towards covers and Vince gets to the other end. |
| 28.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan uses his feet to come down the track and eases it to mid on for a single. |
| 28.5 : N Lyon to Vince, Vince lunges forward and defends it stoutly. |
| 28.6 : N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! Authoritative and clever! Lyon floats it around middle and leg, Vince gets down and sweeps it powerfully through backward square leg for a boundary. Shouts of 'yeah, nice bowling' were heard after that shot as it seems that the Aussies don't mind such shots. A chance that he mistimes the shot and gets a top edge can never be ruled out. |
| 29.1 : M Starc to Malan, Length ball outside off, Malan is tentative in his defense. Gets an inside edge through square leg for a single. |
| 29.2 : M Starc to Vince, Blocked solildy from the crease. |
| 29.3 : M Starc to Vince, This is bowled outside off, left alone by James. |
| 29.4 : M Starc to Vince, Vince has driven that ball straight back. |
| James Vince is currently batting on 55. It features 12 boundaries and 7 singles. Shows that he is playing a lot of dot balls. The on-air commentators reckon that he should try and convert those into runs and include the running-between-the-wickets aspect in his game more. |
| 29.5 : Starc to J Vince, OUT! Knocked him over with a jaffa! Ball of the summer, says Mark Taylor on air. Starc angles in from round the wicket and hurls a full length ball pitching around middle. The ball pitches and deflects at an angle of 3.9 degrees. Vince looks to clip it away with the angle but finds the late movement tough to counter. The ball uproots the off stump and the anguish on Vince's face is telling. Starc, well, he is up and running and just sprints in celebration. On another loo |
| JONNY BAIRSTOW is the next man in. He is fresh from a big ton in the first essay and has his partner from the first innings, Malan at the other end. Encore? |
| 29.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Down the leg side, Jonny misses the flick. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD brought back from the other end. |
| 30.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Malan was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 30.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 30.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Driven towards point off the front foot. |
| 30.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 30.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bouncer on the stumps, Dawid sways back and lets it be. |
| 30.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, DM shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 31.1 : M Starc to Bairstow, Landed in line of the stumps, Bairstow presents a straight bat in defending it towards the bowler. |
| 31.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| A bit of rain in the air and very windy, says Shane Warne on air. |
| 31.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, Jonny looks to work it away to the on side but gets it off his thigh pad to the off side. |
| 31.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Defended off the front foot back towards the bowler. |
| The on-air commentators analyze Stac's bowling. As a left handed bowler, the natural momentum in the followthrough takes him to the right. But when he steams in from round the wicket, he has to watch that he doesn't go with his natural momentum and tread on the danger area. This is not an easy task. Hence, that wicket becomes an even more commendable effort. |
| 31.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, This ball is pushed towards mid-wicket. |
| 31.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 32.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Malan blocks this one from the crease. |
| 32.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Outside off, left alone. |
| 32.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Fuller around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 32.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Hazlewood comes round the wicket and bowls it fuller on off, pushed towards mid off. |
| 32.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Short ball on the body, pulled through backward square leg for a single. |
| 32.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Sprayed down the leg side, Jonny misses the flick. |
| 33.1 : M Starc to Malan, On the pads, flicked away to fine leg for a single. |
| 0.0 : To add to the previous insert about Starc, here's an inserting observation that my colleague Praky had just before the wicket. He said that the beauty of this seamer is that he never bowls in search of the edge of the bat. He always aims at the stumps to beat the batsmen's defense and that's what helped him make the crucial strike today. |
| 33.2 : Starc to Bairstow, Yorker on the stumps, blocked well by Jonny. |
| 33.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! The extra yard of pace can help the ball speed away to the fence. Angled this full around middle and leg, Bairstow just clips it away through square leg for a boundary. |
| 33.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Jonny blocks this solidly off the front foot. |
| 33.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, Hurled outside off, left alone by JB. |
| 33.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller on the stumps, driven to mid on. |
| 34.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! Ahhh! The straight drive combined with the left-hander's elegance - sumptuous! Cummins is brought into the attack and he steams in from round the wicket. Bowls this full just outside off. Malan drives it straight down the ground past the bowler's right hand for a boundary. |
| 34.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! In response to the previous ball, Cummins bangs this short. Malan knows this and is in readiness. Pulls this powerfully through square leg for another boundary. |
| 34.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 34.4 : Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! The third one of the over! Malan is getting all over Cummins here. Another delivery, the length of which is on the shorter side. The confidence from the first innings' knock is seen here. He pulls this nicely through mid-wicket for another boundary, the third of the over. |
| 34.5 : Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! Is this Dawid Malan playing some other match or what? He isn't playing a game where his side is trailing by 141 (now 137) runs. Cummins changes his angle but the result doesn't change. Serves it on a length outside off, Malan hangs back and cuts it through backward point for another boundary, the fourth in the over. |
| 34.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This ball is defended with a straight bat. 16 runs have come off this over. |
| 35.1 : M Starc to J Bairstow, No run. |
| 35.2 : M Starc to Bairstow, Fuller outside off, driven towards cover. |
| 35.3 : M Starc to Bairstow, On the pads, flicked away towards square leg. |
| 35.4 : M Starc to Bairstow, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 35.5 : M Starc to Bairstow, Full outside off, squeezed away to the off side. |
| 35.6 : M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! Bairstow's time out in the first essay is helping him gauge the track here. Length ball just outside off, Bairstow punches this nicely through the cover region for a boundary. |
| 36.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball outside off, Malan covers his sticks and lets it go. |
| 36.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Fuller on the leg, Malan misses the flick and gets rapped on the pads. |
| 36.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, This delivery is blocked watchfully from the crease. |
| 36.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, On a length on the stumps, defended off the back foot. |
| 36.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Fuller on middle, flicked away to mid on. |
| 36.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length delivery around off and middle, defended solidly towards cover-point. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD back on. |
| 37.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Fuller ball angling down leg, Jonny misses the flick and the ball goes off his pads towards backward square leg. |
| 37.2 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, On off, blocked towards the point region. |
| 37.3 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Full ball angling down the leg side, Bairstow misses the flick yet again. Huge appeal from the Aussies but the umpire stays put. All the three stumps were visible when he was hit, actually. |
| 37.4 : J Hazlewood to J Bairstow, FOUR! Glorious cover drive that. Full ball outside off, it swings in a touch. Bairstow does well to hit it through covers for a boundary. |
| 37.5 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Defended from the crease to the off side. |
| It has gone dark now and the floodlights are starting to take effect... |
| 37.6 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, Jonny guides this length ball through point for a brace. |
| 38.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Landed around off and middle, Malan goes back and keeps it out with a straight bat. |
| 38.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length delivery, defended from the crease. |
| Here it is... the rain! It forces the players and the umpires off the field. The groundsmen are quick to bring the covers on. The pitch is covered immediately. At this point, England are still 127 behind Australia. We should be in for a lengthy stop if the visuals are anything to go by. It is pelting down at the WACA with heavy winds blowing across as well. My colleague says, 'You have lights that can be used if it turns dark, do you have roofs to cover the ground if it rains?' Not at the moment |
| 1653 local time - Good news folks! The sun is out and the covers are coming off now. We should soon see the resumption of play. |
| 1700 local time update - We are still waiting for the resumption. It is taking longer that we expected. We should get underway in about 5-10 minutes from now, provided the rain stays away. |
| 1710 local time update - Scrap all of the happiness that you had after reading the previous update. The rain has returned and so have the covers. The players were actually walking out to resume the action but were forced back into the the dressing rooms as the downpour returned. |
| Called off! That's it for today then. Rain playing hide and seek has meant that cricket has to take the back seat for now. Who will be happy with this? No prizes for guessing, England! They were rocked early in the piece by Hazlewood who sent back both the openers quickly. Then there was a mini-resistance from Vince and Malan - the former getting to a fifty - before Starc returned with a fiery delivery to leave the former in a state of incredulity. |
| All this was after Australia batted for a long time to get ahead by 259 runs in the game. Although Smith and Marsh couldn't add anything to their overnight stand, their tail wagged - 8th wicket partnership precisely. Paine and Cummins added a good 93 runs to deflate England (if they were even in good spirits then) completely. The strategy of not giving some easy time for the English openers saw the declaration being done 4 overs after the lunch interval and boy, didn't it work! |
| What shall we expect on the final day of this game? Maybe rain. More rain. Even more rain. Because that's what the forecast suggests. If at all England need any help from someone or something apart from their own selves, it would have to appear from the skies. The stop-start nature of the game would be another obstacle that stands in the way of the tourists. They have to see off three sessions, especially with the Aussie bowlers breathing fire. The trail stands at 27 runs more than 100. We have |
| ... Final Day, First Session... |
| Hello one and all! Welcome to our coverage of Day 5 of this third Ashes Test being played at the WACA in Perth. Although we are into the final day in the game, we are actually forced into the day after rains washed out around an hour of the evening session. Not that we wouldn't have come this far if not for the inclement weather but few would have thought it to be possible seeing Starc and Hazlewood go about their task towards the end. A while back, Cricket Australia's tweet said that although i |
| On paper, we should have 98 overs to be bowled today, though we await an official confirmation about this. Only time will tell how much we get to see actually. We hope to get enough play to get a result today. Will Australia regain the urn today? Or will England manage to cling on to it for another game at least? On the weather front, here is what the Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia have tweeted a while ago - 'Heavy showers this morning will have dampened conditions around the WACA. Sho |
| 0955 local time update - We are hearing that the start of play today has been delayed. There was a visual where we could see the strong winds blowing away the cover on the pitch. This has made water seep into the cracks. The umpires want the pitch to be as it was when play was stopped yesterday. Hence the delay. Hang on with us for more updates... |
| 1005 local time update - The visuals, that we have, show that the drizzle has returned. The pitch is starting to go under the covers. The stop-start nature of rain was predicted today. It is coming to the fore now. |
| 1045 local time update - Still no signs of resumption of play. The umpires are still skeptical about the surface and Trevor Bayliss, after having a look at the surface, is happy to go with the umpires' decision. Darren Lehmann voices the same opinion in a small chat with Mark Taylor. So, the wait continues... |
| 1135 local time update - The rain returns, forcing the covers to come on the track. Just a while earlier, there was a tweet from Michael Vaughan, the former English skipper, which said that the game would start at 12 noon. That goes into trash as of now. More than hide and seek, the rains seem to be working by a click of a switch and hence this constant bursts of downpour. |
| 1148 local time update - The rain disappears yet again. The groundsmen fold the covers. We could be in for a start soon, if there's no further downpour. The clouds appear and disappear as if someone is sitting up there with a remote and having fun. |
| 1155 local time update - LUNCH has been taken early. On a lighter note, England manage to negotiate a session today with some help (all of it) from the heavens! We should resume at 1240 local time provided there is no rain then. |
| ...Day 5, 2nd session... |
| 1240 local time update - We're back but not with any promising news. The players are done with the lunch break but even the rain gods return after having a break with their tanks full. It has started to drizzle and the covers are in place. The wait continues. Stay with us, we will keep you posted. |
| 1255 local time update - Play will resume at 1300 local time and carry on till 1520 local time. After a 20-minute tea interval, the game can continue till 1800 local time. |
| So! Finally we are all set to get underway. The sun is shining brightly as if nothing wrong had happened till now. After getting into a huddle, the home team makes its way out to the middle. PAT CUMMINS will run in to bowl the remaining 4 deliveries of his over. The first innings batting heroes for England, DAWID MALAN and JONNY BAIRSTOW, are at the crease for them and have 32 runs between them as of now. They stride out with the bat in a bid to save the game for the side. They will be a touch h |
| 38.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Cummins runs in from over the wicket and bangs it short on the stumps. He has two men in the deep for the hook. Malan ducks under it to let it go. |
| 38.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Another bouncer on the stumps, Dawid crouches low to let it go. |
| 38.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Another short delivery down the leg side, Malan ducks under it again. Umpire Gaffaney at square leg says enough and signals a no ball for height. |
| Smith moves to second slip as Cummins changes his angle now. Mitchell Marsh is standing at first slip. |
| Pat Cummins to Malan, From round the wicket, Cummins lands it on a length outside off, Malan has a feel for it but gets beaten. That landed on a crack and didn't come in with the angle. |
| 38.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball around off, defended from the crease. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD will run in from the other end. |
| 39.1 : J Hazlewood to Bairstow, OUT! My word! Hazlewood and Australia are up and running straightaway. The first innings centurion, Bairstow has to depart with an incredulous look on his face. Hazlewood runs in from over the wicket and lands it on a length just outside off. Bairstow looks to play that angle but the ball doesn't come in. It stays a touch low as well and beats the outside of Jonny's bat and disturbs the off stick. The bowler roars in delight and is joined by the WACA crowd. Englan |
| 0.0 : MOEEN ALI walks in next. He is no mug with the bat but hasn't been at his usual best in this series so far. Will love to change that now. Moreover, he is on a pair now. |
| 39.2 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Length ball on middle, defended solidly from the crease. |
| 39.3 : J Hazlewood to Ali, FOUR! Ali is off the mark and the pair as well. Lovely shot that. Josh serves it on a length in the line of the middle and off stumps. Ali just pushes it down gently. The timing is good enough to take the ball to the fence. |
| 39.4 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Angled outside off, left alone. |
| Steve Smith seems confident of catching Ali at second slip. The umpires aren't sure and hence they refer it upstairs. |
| 39.5 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Not Out! The benefit of doubt seems to have gone in the batsman's favour here. This is on a length around middle, angling away from Ali. He is forced to play at that and gets a thick inside edge straight towards Smith at second slip. He catches it after the ball bounces off his fingers. Marais Erasmus isn't sure and refers it upstairs, the soft signal being not out. On having repeated looks, it seems on some angles that Smith's fingers are underneath the ball. But there |
| 39.6 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Ali defends it back towards the bowler. Hazlewood has a few words to offer to Ali who remains unfazed. |
| 40.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR. |
| 40.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Banged in short on the stumps, ducked under by DM. |
| 40.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Another bounce, left alone by Malan. |
| 40.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 40.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Blocked solidly from the crease. |
| 40.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Another short ball to end the over, Malan ducks under that. |
| 41.1 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Woah! The cracks in play! Hazlewood angles this across the batter on a length. Ali plays inside the line. The ball, however, lands on a crack and moves away. It flies towards the right of first slip. |
| 41.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Aimed at the off stick on a length, defended from the crease. |
| 41.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 41.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 41.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, FOUR! Not that line, Josh! Spears it full on the pads, Malan just glances it away through fine leg for a boundary. The trail comes down to 113 now. |
| 41.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Dawid gets forward a touch and defends. |
| 42.1 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Cummins continues round the wicket and bangs it short on the batsman. Ali gets down low and lets it go. |
| 42.2 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Another banged in delivery, ducked under by MA. |
| 42.3 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Length ball on off, defended from the crease. |
| 42.4 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 42.5 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Ali's struggles against the bumpers is well documented and he is being fed with them at the moment. He crouched and lets it go yet again. |
| 42.6 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Ali blocks this solidly from the crease. A maiden from Pat. |
| 43.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Flicked off the pads towards fine leg for a single. |
| 43.2 : J Hazlewood to M Ali, Close single! This isn't one of Moeen's wisest decisions, I must say. He pats it towards covers and sets off for a quick run. Warner gets ahead and collects the ball. Has a shy at the stumps at the non-striker's end but misses it by a hair's breath. Ali wasn't even in the frame as this happened. Gets a run eventually but he should be careful before taking on one of the best fielder's arms. |
| 43.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Defended towards covers by DM. |
| 43.4 : J Hazlewood to D Malan, A touch short length on the stumps, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 43.5 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Ali gets his front foot forward and defends with a straight bat. |
| 43.6 : J Hazlewood to Ali, Outside off, left alone. |
| 44.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball around off, kept out from the crease. |
| 44.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Back of a length delivery angling in to Malan, he looks to clip it away but the ball rolls towards the off side after striking him high on the thigh pad. |
| 44.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Banged short on the stumps, Malan ducks. |
| 44.4 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Oh crack! Cummins spears it on a length outside off, Malan shoulders arms to that thinking that the ball would pass straight from where it landed. But no, the crack at that spot says 'I'm here'! The ball nips in after landing on that and raps Malan high on the front pad. |
| 44.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan defends this from the crease. |
| 44.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Malan gets forward in defense to this delivery that is around the off stump. |
| MITCHELL STARC to bowl now. He has a bruised heel but is fit and raring to go at the moment. |
| 45.1 : M Starc to Ali, Full length ball on off, turned towards mid on. |
| 45.2 : M Starc to Ali, A touch shorter than the previous one, Ali plays it with soft hands towards mid-wicket. |
| 45.3 : M Starc to Ali, It's amazing how one's shortcoming plays on his mind rather than the opposition's. Ali expecting a short ball, hangs on the back foot. Starc serves a full inswinging delivery angling down. Ali fails to flick it away and gets hit on the pads. A stifled appeal follows but isn't persisted with. Sliding down leg for sure. |
| 45.4 : M Starc to M Ali, Fuller just outside off, moves in a touch. Ali drives it towards mid off. |
| 45.5 : M Starc to Ali, Ali drives it nicely towards mid off where Warner dives to prevent a run. |
| 45.6 : M Starc to Ali, Ali hangs on his back foot and defends it with a straight bat. |
| NATHAN LYON to roll his arm over now. He could extract a great deal from the cracks on offer... |
| 46.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan gets his front foot to the pitch of the ball and drives it back towards the bowler. |
| 46.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan has looked good against Lyon throughout this game. Slinks down the crease and flicks it a touch aerially past mid-wicket. There are shouts of 'catch it' but the ball is nowhere near the fielder. Khawaja, the birthday boy, chases it from mid on and saves a run for his side. |
| 46.3 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali defends it back towards the bowler. |
| 46.4 : N Lyon to Ali, Moeen defends this ball in line of the stumps from the crease. |
| 46.5 : N Lyon to Ali, Clipped through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 46.6 : N Lyon to Malan, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 47.1 : M Starc to Ali, FOUR BYES! Starc serves a full inswinging delivery down the leg side. Ali misses the flick. The ball bounces on the crack on the crease and flies past the keeper for four byes. Paine had no chance to even have a try at that. |
| 47.2 : Starc to Ali, Full delivery on the pads, Ali fails to flick it away. A small appeal made, to not avail though. |
| 47.3 : M Starc to Ali, This ball is driven towards mid on. |
| 47.4 : M Starc to Ali, Ali blocks this full ball confidently from the crease. |
| 47.5 : M Starc to Ali, Sprayed full outside off, left alone by Ali. |
| Five full deliveries so far. A short one for surprise? |
| 47.6 : M Starc to Ali, No! Another full ball angling down leg, Moeen flicks it through backward square leg for a single. |
| 48.1 : N Lyon to Ali, Flatter on off, Ali lunges forward in defense. |
| 48.2 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali comes down the track and defends it towards mid on. |
| Lyon has dismissed Ali 4 times out of 5 in this series. The only time he didn't get him was in the first essay here. |
| 48.3 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali defends it from the crease. |
| 48.4 : N Lyon to Ali, Flatter outside off, left alone by Moeen. |
| 48.5 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali prods forward in defense to this ball. |
| 48.6 : N Lyon to Ali, Another ball defended back to the bowler off the front foot. |
| 49.1 : M Starc to Malan, Starc speeds in from around the wicket and spears in a very full ball on middle and leg, Malan flicks it over the short leg's head for a single. Bancroft didn't get enough opportunity to react there. Before he can even raise his hands, it has gone over his head. With a leg gully in place along with the around the wicket angle, the length served was a double bluff. |
| 49.2 : M Starc to Ali, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 49.3 : M Starc to Ali, Fullish and on middle, Moeen keeps it out towards mid-wicket. |
| 49.4 : M Starc to Ali, Pitches it full and around off, Ali drives it off his front leg to mid off. |
| 49.5 : M Starc to Ali, Here comes the bouncer, nicely directed, Moeen ducks underneath it immediately. Good take by Paine by stretching to his right. He has been pretty impressive with his glovework in this Test match. |
| 49.6 : M Starc to Ali, Sprays it down the leg side, Ali tries flicking but misses. |
| 50.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Floated around leg, Malan drives it towards wide mid on for a single. |
| 50.2 : N Lyon to Ali, Tossed up around off, Ali prods forward in defense. He is on 7 off 42 balls so far. |
| 50.3 : N Lyon to Ali, Seeing some more flight on this one, Ali gets down and turns it towards mid-wicket. |
| 50.4 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point. |
| 50.5 : N Lyon to Ali, In line of the stumps, MA gets ahead in defense. |
| 50.6 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 51.1 : M Starc to Malan, Length delivery angled across the batsman from round the wicket, Malan covers the stumps and shoulders arms to that. |
| 51.2 : M Starc to Malan, Fuller ball on middle in an attempt to swing it back in, Malan looks to drive it down but gets an inside edge onto his pads. Nicely bowled. |
| 51.3 : M Starc to D Malan, Full length ball outside off, driven towards mid off. |
| 51.4 : M Starc to Malan, Four Leg byes! Starc spears this on the pads, Malan misses the flick shot. The ball takes his pads and flies over the leaping Paine for a boundary. |
| 51.5 : M Starc to Malan, An attempt to bowl a yorker in line of the stumps ends up being a low full toss. Malan does well to keep it out towards mid on. |
| 51.6 : M Starc to Malan, Full on the pads, clipped away to fine leg for one. |
| 52.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter on off, Malan strides forward but then guides it towards backward point. |
| 52.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter again on middle and leg, kept out from the crease. |
| 52.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down the track and eases it through mid on for a run. The visitors trail by 93 now. |
| 52.4 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali uses his feet to come down and defend this ball solidly. |
| 52.5 : N Lyon to Ali, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 52.6 : N Lyon to Ali, Darted in line of the off stump, Ali keeps it out from the crease. |
| PAT CUMMINS back on for another burst. The tactic seems to be bowl short as there is a fielder at deep square leg. Starc, meanwhile, is seen rushing out of the field, perhaps to get his heel checked. |
| 53.1 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length ball in line of the stumps, Dawid defends it showing the full face of the bat. |
| 53.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Worked away off his pads towards deep backward square leg for a single. |
| Handscomb is on the field as the substitute for the pacer. In the first innings, he was the one who took a brilliant diving catch to end Malan's stay, from where, England slid down to lose 6/35. |
| 53.3 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 53.4 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Ali misses to flick this delivery that is down the leg side. |
| 53.5 : Pat Cummins to M Ali, FOUR! Runs after 21 balls for Moeen Ali! The usually free-flowing batsman has failed to score freely in this innings so far but this should ease his nerves a bit. Cummins hurls it full on off, Ali leans ahead and drives it nicely through the cover region. The ball slows down a touch as it approaches the fence but reaches it eventually. |
| 53.6 : Pat Cummins to Ali, Length ball outside off, Ali feels for it but misses. |
| 54.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Blocked from the crease with a straight bat. |
| 54.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Worked away through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 54.3 : N Lyon to Ali, Ali goes back to keep this out with a straight bat. |
| 54.4 : Lyon to Ali, Howzzaat? Tim Paine appeals his lungs out but to no avail! Lyon tosses this up in the line of the stumps, Ali lunges forward to defend but gets hit on the pad. The umpire stays unmoved after the Aussies appeal. Smith ponders about the review before deciding against it. Inside edge there, confirmed by Hot Spot. |
| 54.5 : N Lyon to Ali, OUT! No inside edge this time and Ali has to walk back! 5/6 for Nathan Lyon against Moeen Ali. Lyon serves this flighted ball on middle, Moeen lunges forward to defend but misses. Like the previous ball, the ball strikes him on the front pad. This time the hosts know they've got their man. They appeal and the dreaded finger is raised. Ali has a chat with his partner and walks off without taking the review. The tourists trail by 87 and the hosts are just 4 wickets away from |
| Drinks are on the field. Australia are at it from the word go. They are chipping away at the wickets continuously. The track hasn't been as spicy as we thought it would be yet they have bowled well. It's just a matter about when than if the hosts will regain the urn. Malan stands between them and the Ashes at the moment. For how long can he delay the inevitable? Can rains rescue England? |
| CHRIS WOAKES is the next man in for England. |
| 54.6 : N Lyon to Woakes, Floated around off and middle, flicked aerially through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 55.1 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Woakes defends this length ball around off with a straight bat face. |
| 55.2 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Woakes hangs back and blocks it with a straight bat face. |
| 55.3 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. |
| 55.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Woakes punches this through covers and picks up three runs. |
| 55.5 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Bouncer outside off, left alone by Malan. |
| 55.6 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Length delivery on the pads, it goes off the thigh pad through backward square leg. A leg bye results. |
| Mitchell Starc is back on the field. |
| 56.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan prods forward in defense. |
| 56.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 56.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Dawid gets his stride forward and defends that with a straight bat. |
| 56.4 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down to this flighted ball and blocks, |
| 56.5 : N Lyon to Malan, This time, Malan turns it through mid on after coming down. Gets one run that takes him to 48. |
| 56.6 : N Lyon to Woakes, Woakes keeps it out from the crease. |
| 57.1 : Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! 4th Test fifty for Dawid Malan, his second in this game. He has stood tall amid the ruins in this innings and would be ruing the lack of support from the other end. How did he get there? Cummins bowls it short down leg, Malan just rolls his wrists to keep this half-pull shot along the ground. It speeds away to the fine leg fence. Well played, son! |
| 57.2 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Banged down the leg side, Malan watches this closely to the keeper. |
| 57.3 : Pat Cummins to Malan, Ouch! That won't hurt much now but will sting tomorrow. Length ball around leg, Malan fails to flick it. The ball hits him on the right glute before rolling towards fine leg for a leg bye. |
| 57.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Full ball around middle and off, Woakes keeps it out from the crease. |
| 57.5 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 57.6 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Full delivery on off, defended with a straight bat. |
| 58.1 : N Lyon to Malan, Flatter outside off, Malan chops it to slip. |
| 58.2 : N Lyon to Malan, Dawid goes back to this one and defends. |
| 58.3 : N Lyon to Malan, Served just around off, Malan lunges forward in defense. |
| 58.4 : N Lyon to Malan, This one is negotiated well with a forward defense. |
| 58.5 : N Lyon to Malan, Malan comes down and slices it through point for a single. An air of Cook surrounds Malan, feels Praky, my colleague! If this chap can do what the person with whom he is compared with has done in his Test career, England would be grateful. |
| 58.6 : N Lyon to Woakes, FOUR! Flatter outside off, Woakes goes back to cut it. Ends up getting it just past slip, finer that he would have wanted. Gets a boundary nevertheless. |
| JOSH HAZLEWOOD to bowl now. |
| 59.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Length ball around middle and off, defended from the crease. |
| 59.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Landed outside off, left alone. |
| 59.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Well bowled. Outside off on a length, Malan looks to push at it but just misses. |
| 59.4 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Josh bends his back and bangs it short. Malan ducks in response. |
| 59.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, In the line of the off stump on a fuller length, Malan presents a straight bat in defense. |
| 59.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bumper to end the over, which is a maiden. Malan lets it pass to the keeper. |
| Enough of spin! MITCHELL STARC is running in with the ball now. Smith wants to have this done and dusted soon. |
| 60.1 : M Starc to Woakes, Full length ball on off and middle, Woakes shows the forward defense to this one. |
| 60.2 : M Starc to Woakes, Outside off on a full length, Chris pushes it towards covers. |
| 60.3 : M Starc to Woakes, Length ball that is the channel outside off, the all-rounder taps it towards cover-point. |
| 60.4 : M Starc to Woakes, Back of a length delivery well outside off, Woakes arches back ad lets it go. |
| 60.5 : M Starc to Woakes, Low full toss in line of the stumps, Woakes looks to work it away but gets it off the outer half towards mid off. |
| 60.6 : M Starc to Woakes, Woakes keeps it out watchfully off his front foot. Another maiden for the hosts. |
| 61.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Bowled on a length around middle and off, Malan hangs back and keeps it down to the off side. |
| 61.2 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Length ball outside off, left alone unhindered by Malan. |
| 61.3 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Crack(er)! Hazlewood is the kind of the hit-the-spot bowler. He hits the crack that is close to a full length around the left-hander's middle and leg stumps. Malan looks to play for the angle but the ball deviates away past the outside edge to the keeper. |
| Disastrous wind! So strong it has been, that the boundary rope is seen broken due to that. |
| Huge shout for LBW against Malan. Australia think they have their man and opt for the referral! Looks very close... Should be out unless it pitches outside leg. |
| 61.4 : Hazlewood to Malan, Yes! The pitching is the problem and hence it stays NOT OUT! Hazlewood bowls it on a back of a length. Malan hops up to keep it away with his bat close to his front pad. The ball strikes the pad and the Aussies appeal. The umpire denies them the wicket. They are sure it is pad first and hence opt for the DRS. The Hawk Eye shows that the ball pitches outside leg, although it goes on to hit the off stump. The on-field call stays and the Australians lose a review. |
| 61.5 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Length ball down the leg side, Dawid misses flicking it away. |
| 61.6 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Angled across the batsman, Malan plays inside the line and lets it go. |
| 62.1 : M Starc to Woakes, Bowled outside off, driven through covers. Before the fielder retrieves it, three runs have been taken. |
| 62.2 : M Starc to Malan, Full ball on off, pushed through covers for one. |
| 62.3 : M Starc to Woakes, Full outside off, left alone. |
| 62.4 : M Starc to Woakes, Bumper down the leg side, Woakes ducks and just lets it be. |
| 62.5 : M Starc to Woakes, FOUR! Pristine! Starc spears it on a full length on middle and leg, Woakes just times his flick. The outfield is fast enough to take the ball to the mid-wicket fence. |
| 62.6 : M Starc to Woakes, On a length in line of the stumps, kept out from the crease. |
| 63.1 : J Hazlewood to Malan, Landed around middle, defended solidly from the crease. |
| 63.2 : Hazlewood to Malan, OUT! That should be the final nail in the coffin for England! On some days, you get belted for runs off the good balls that you deliver and on others, you get rewarded off the not-so-great ones. This is bowled on a length down the leg side, it should have been blasted to the backward square leg fence for a boundary. With that intention in mind, Malan looks to pull it but ends up feathering an edge to Paine behind. The Australians are elated and why not. The urn is just |
| CRAIG OVERTON is the next man in. Remember, he has a cracked rib. Will we see the Aussies be ruthless and feed him with short stuff on the body? A minimum 45.4 overs to negotiate for England now. |
| 63.3 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Beauty first up. Length ball just outside off, Overton looks to defend it but gets beaten. |
| 63.4 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Craig was beaten and missed the line of the delivery. |
| 63.5 : J Hazlewood to Overton, CO stays in the crease and defends it watchfully. |
| 63.6 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Full ball angling down leg, the ball rolls off his pads towards fine leg after he misses the flick. Gets a leg bye even as the hosts appeal for an LBW. |
| PAT CUMMINS back into the attack. |
| 64.1 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Length delivery outside off, left alone by Overton. |
| 64.2 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Banged short in the line of the stumps, Overton spots it and ducks under that quickly. |
| 64.3 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Back of a length ball on the stumps, Overton fends it awkwardly from the crease. Lands well short of short leg. |
| 64.4 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Full ball around off, blocked from the crease. |
| 64.5 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Cricket can be a cruel sport, Starc would agree! Overton drives it towards mid on and sets off for a run. Starc, who already has a sore heel, dives to his left in an attempt to stop that. But the ball deflects off his arms, strikes him on the head and rolls further towards the boundary. Two runs result in this delivery. |
| 64.6 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Cummins comes round the wicket and lands a fiery bouncer, Craig ducks at the last moment. |
| 65.1 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, The ball strikes the batsman very low on the pads |
| 65.2 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, Woakes gets behind that one and blocks it watchfully |
| 65.3 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, 200 up for England, courtesy a tap-and-run from Woakes towards covers. |
| 65.4 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Overton defends this one from the front foot. |
| 65.5 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Sprayed down the leg side, Craig looks to flick but fails to make contact. |
| 65.6 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Length ball on the hips, tucked away to fine leg for one. |
| 66.1 : Pat Cummins to Overton, DROPPED but what will concern Australia is that Lyon has hurt himself in the process and is walking off. Cummins runs in from round the wicket and serves a delivery on a length which is on the shorter side. Overton looks to tuck it away unmindful of the leg gully in position. The ball barely carries to Lyon there, who gets his land down low but fails to catch that. The ball hits his right hand middle finger and that's seen bleeding. Not for nothing do they say that |
| 66.2 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Length delivery, defended from the crease. |
| 66.3 : Pat Cummins to Overton, Almost an action replay of 66.1! Just that, instead of Warner, if someone as tall as Morne Morkel or Mohammad Irfan would have been there, it could have been taken. The ball flies over leg gully for a single. |
| 66.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Another bouncer, ducked under. |
| 66.5 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Bouncer! The batsman ducks in time to let that one go over him. |
| 66.6 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Almost takes the leg stump, that! Bowled on a line that is down the leg side, Woakes walks across a touch to flick it but misses. The ball wasn't far from the leg pole as it went on the bounce to the keeper. |
| 67.1 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Overton keeps it out off the back foot. |
| 67.2 : J Hazlewood to Overton, FOUR! Is he a number 9 or what? Seeing this full length ball outside off, Overton gets his stride forward and just creams it through covers for a boundary. |
| 67.3 : J Hazlewood to Overton, Craig misses the flick to this one that is down the leg side. |
| 67.4 : J Hazlewood to Overton, FOUR! Overton is no mug with the bat! Seeing the width on offer to this one, Overton decides to cash in on that. Cuts it over backward point for a boundary. |
| 67.5 : J Hazlewood to Overton, OUT! MAIDEN ASHES FIVE-FER for Josh Hazlewood! Bowls a beauty to get this one. Lands it on a length in the line of the off and middle stumps, Overton looks to work it away to the on side. The ball takes the leading edge and goes to gully. Guess who's there - the 31-year old birthday boy Usman Khawaja! He gets down low and catches it with ease before throwing it up in the air in celebration. Josh has an outside chance of getting a 10-fer in this game - he picked 3 i |
| STUART BROAD makes his way out to the middle. |
| 67.6 : J Hazlewood to Broad, Defended stoutly by Broad from the crease. |
| 68.1 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Flicked away off his pads for a single. |
| 68.2 : Cummins to Broad, OUT! Aussies smell the Ashes now! Cummins steams in from round the wicket and lands it on a back of a length around off. The ball is angled in to Broad. He moves to the off side and looks to fend it away. All he manages is a tickle to the keeper. And we all know that Broad is not a walker. He waits for the dreaded finger to send him back. The hosts roar in delight. One more wicket away they are. |
| The last man out for England is JAMES ANDERSON. |
| 68.3 : Pat Cummins to Anderson, Ouch! That's nasty! Cummins bangs it short around off, Anderson does the cardinal sin of taking his eyes off the ball early. Ends up getting hit on the right side of his helmet grille and immediately crouches low in pain. And not for nothing is this sport known as the gentlmen's game. The opposition skipper Smith immediately rushes to him in concern, asking if he is alright. The worried look on his and the other Aussies' faces show that in between the vicious urge |
| 68.4 : Pat Cummins to Anderson, Back of a length ball outside off, Anderson has a feel for that but misses. |
| 68.5 : Pat Cummins to Anderson, Appeal for caught behind! This is delivered on a shorter length outside off, Anderson hangs on his back foot and has a waft at that. The ball flies to the keeper who appeals immediately. Nothing doing. |
| 68.6 : Pat Cummins to Anderson, Anderson keeps this delivery down on the leg side with hop. |
| 69.1 : J Hazlewood to C Woakes, Length delivery angled into the batsman, Woakes gets an inside edge through backward short leg. |
| 69.2 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, On a length around off, defended from the crease. |
| 69.3 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| The field comes in now in order to keep Woakes on strike so as to let Anderson face the next over. |
| 69.4 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, Woakes blocks this one solidly from the crease. |
| 69.5 : J Hazlewood to Woakes, Woakes keeps it out towards point from the crease. |
| 69.6 : Hazlewood to C Woakes, FOUR! Banged short around off, Woakes goes for the pull. Ends up getting a top edge over short fine leg for a boundary. |
| The area under the right ear of James Anderson is swollen, courtesy the blow that he took earlier. |
| 70.1 : Pat Cummins to Anderson, Anderson gets off the mark and gets cheered by the crowd. He taps it towards point and gets to the other end. |
| 70.2 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Bumper on the stumps, ducked under by Chris. |
| Just for the record, play has been extended as the last wicket is the only one that remains. We were supposed to take Tea at 1520 local time. |
| 70.3 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Cummins hurls in a length ball across Woakes. The latter has a tame poke at it and misses. |
| 70.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Another bouncer, Woakes evades it by ducking. |
| 70.5 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Length delivery down the leg side, Woakes fails to get it away. |
| 70.6 : Pat Cummins to J Anderson, Atrocious! We saw Anderson and Woakes have a chat before this ball and wondered what it was about. Now we know. Cummins bangs it short on the stumps, Woakes crouches low and ducks. There's more. The batters cross over for a bye and are successful in doing so. Paine underarms a throw at his end but misses. It would have been curtains had he hit. |
| MITCHELL STARC back for what could be the final burst of this game. |
| 71.1 : M Starc to Woakes, On the mark right away! Spears in a yorker on the stumps, Woakes digs it back towards the bowler. |
| 71.2 : M Starc to Woakes, Full ball around off, defended off the front foot. |
| 71.3 : M Starc to Woakes, Similar delivery on the stumps, pushed down the ground. The mid on fielder intercepts it. |
| 71.4 : M Starc to Woakes, Length ball angling in, Woakes hops and tucks it through backward square leg for a single. |
| 71.5 : M Starc to Anderson, Anderson lives another ball! This is just outside off on a length, Jimmy stays put in the crease and defends it to the off side. |
| 71.6 : M Starc to Anderson, Yorker outside off, Anderson keeps it out towards gully. Huge cheers eclipse the WACA, the majority would be the Barmy Army, I'm sure. |
| 72.1 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Full ball angled in around middle and leg, Woakes plays it with a straight bat through wide mid on but refuses to take a run. |
| 72.2 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, This is aimed at the off pole on a length, stayed a bit low. Woakes is solid in defense. |
| 72.3 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Fuller ball outside off, this one almost sneaks through. Chris hangs back and presents a straight bat and the ball hits him very low on the bat. |
| 72.4 : Pat Cummins to Woakes, Back of a length just outside off, Woakes goes back and guides it to gully. |
| The field comes in again to keep Woakes on strike. |
| 72.5 : Cummins to C Woakes, OUT! That's it! AUSTRALIA REGAIN THE ASHES! The plan to lure Woakes (well even if not directly) has worked. The field was in and Cummins banged it short just outside off. Woakes did the unwise choice of looking to take easy runs with a ramp over the keeper's head. All he manages is a nick to Paine who doesn't miss many. The hosts are elated and why not. They win this Test by an innings and 41 runs. |
| The urn returns to Australia! The home team is over the moon and the players are delighted. The crowd at the WACA has gone bonkers. A deafening applause going all around. High-fives, hugs, handshakes, smiling faces, hang on where is Steven Smith running? Oh, the skip wants the ball. He takes it from one of the umpires and quietly hands it over to Josh Hazlewood with a hug. Special feeling for each and every individual out there, supporting Australia. |
| What a game of Test cricket we have witnessed! This historic venue is surely signing off in style. It has withstood the moment of Australia regaining the Ashes in its final game of this historic series. |
| This was a Test match with plenty of records, batting records to be specific. England elected to bat on the first morning and found themselves in a spot of bother. But then the magnificent record 237-run stand for the fifth wicket between Jonny Bairstow (119) and Dawid Malan(140) bailed them out. Just when they were marching towards a big first innings total, the Australian bowlers made a resounding comeback to force a collapse. It was a complete disintegration of the English lower middle order |
| The action didn't end there! In reply, although Australia got off to a decent start, they soon found themselves in a spot of bother. But as we have seen for the umpteenth time in the recent past, Steven Smith stepped up to the occasion and stroked a superlative double ton to push the English team in a corner. His 301-run stand with Mitchell Marsh was the talk of the town on day 3 as they made a complete mockery of the opposition's bowling attack. The junior Marsh in his return game proved his me |
| Staring down a deficit of 259 runs, England's second innings didn't get off to a good start either. They lost Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman and Joe Root cheaply, and then Mitchell Starc produced the 'ball of the season' to dismiss James Vince, who before getting out looked in fluent touch. The final day was a rain-marred one. England would have hoped for it to come down and save them but that was not meant to be. It did wash out the entire first session but then eased out soon after the lunch bre |
| Shane Warne catches up with the Marsh brothers on the sidelines. SHAUN MARSH admits that winning an Ashes series is a very special feeling. He lauds all the players for the feat. About he having one run more than his brother Mitchell as the highest Test score, he says that they haven't spoken about that yet. States that the plan was to stay nice and calm and bowl well today. Credits the bowlers for the win. Ends saying that they can't ask anything more from them. |
| To score a Test ton after 22 games and that too in an Ashes Test has been a surreal feeling for MITCHELL MARSH. Admits that it is a good feeling to play a part in getting his side ahead in the game. Says that they were pretty nervous today and now that the task has been accomplished, it feels great. Asserts that it has been pretty special to walk into a side that was winning and then regain the Ashes. |
| Let's now see what the skippers have got to say... |
| JOE ROOT, the English skipper, admits that it is a very difficult defeat to take but they have been outplayed in the series so far. About the surface today, he reckons that it wasn't fit to play when they arrived but later it dried out due to the sun and the winds around and so was good to play. Agrees that it isn't ideal to have a batting collapse. Lauds Bairstow and Malan for their stand. Opines that the knocks of the above pair and Vince are some of the positives that they would take from her |
| STEVE SMITH, the Australian captain, is also the Man Of The Match. He states that he would be happy to have conceded this player of the game trophy to Hazlewood as he doesn't really care about personal awards. He feels good to get his highest Test score in the Ashes and put that stand with Mitchell Marsh. Commends the efforts of his batsmen to get a huge lead after the opposition scored over 400 runs. Is delighted to win his first Ashes as skipper. Lauds Lyon for his efforts in the games. Credit |
| The WACA bows out of the Ashes, making it a memorable game for Australia. They have looked professional and ruthless all throughout. About Australia it is often said - you give them an inch and they grab a mile. England were guilty of doing just that in this series. They have been in dominant positions on more than one occasion, just to give it all away in a platter to the hosts. They have done so with the urn as well. Although the Ashes is won, the series is yet to be completed. Root and his me |
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