| 2.5 : 2.5: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! First boundary of the innings and that's come off David Warner's bat. Anderson is short with his length so the left-hander puts it away. Crashes it through the left of point and sends it across the boundary line. |
| 11.4 : 11.4: C Woakes to Warner, FOUR! Fine shot! Full and outside off, Warner gets into his groove, does not let it go and drives it sweetly through the covers. James Anderson starts to jog from mid off, then gives it up. That was a boundary but England should not be disappointed with this length. |
| 14.3 : 14.3: S Broad to Bancroft, RUN OUT! Oh, can you believe it? Exactly the thing you don't want when play starts again after several breaks. Is that the spark England needed? Horrible mix-up in the middle. David Warner pushes it towards Moeen Ali at cover, who misfields. Upon seeing this, Warner calls for the run, Bancroft responds and halfway out, the southpaw retreats, leaving his partner in no man's land. Chris Woakes from short extra cover takes the ball and scores a direct hit at the bowler's |
| 19.5 : 19.5: J Anderson to D Warner, FOUR! It's gone all the way but still not exactly a free-flowing drive from David Warner. Still dwelling upon Bancroft's run out, probably. Full outside off, Warner drives it through the covers for a boundary. |
| 23.5: C Overton to Khawaja, FOUR! Rare boundary in this innings so far, that's very well played by Usman Khawaja. Sees the ball pitched a little short and he's on to it in a flash. Rocks back and pulls it well in front of square for a boundary. |
| 25.5: C Overton to Khawaja, FOUR! Not in perfect control, but the placement is good enough to fetch himself a boundary. Short ball which Khawaja pulls, off the top edge and over backward square leg. Moeen Ali in the deep can't get to it, just a little too far away from him. |
| 29.1 : 29.1: C Overton to Warner, FOUR! Overpitched and Warner has dispatched that. Around off, the southpaw opener drills it beautifully through the covers and earns himself a boundary. |
| 29.2 : 29.2: C Overton to Warner, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries, albeit this isn't under his control fully. Shortish outside off, Warner glides it off the outer half through point for a boundary. |
| 30.3 : 30.3: M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Good shot, that. Dropped short and flat outside off, Khawaja smacks it through the cover area and sends it across the boundary line. |
| 30.5 : 30.5: M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Another boundary, via a misfield from Stoneman this time. Khawaja cuts it towards short third man where Mark sloppily lets it through his legs. Nobody behind him to cover, so that will run away for a boundary. |
| 33.1 : 33.1: C Woakes to Warner, OUT! Caught behind and Woakes strikes for England! A wicket after 498 balls for a bowler. Remember, England were wicketless in the second innings at the 'Gabba while the first wicket today was that of a run out. What a timely strike. Things were just looking to go pear-shaped for the bowling side and then Woakes produces this. It is more of a bad shot though but the persistent lines and lengths have brought about that dismissal. It is pitched on a length, in line of the |
| 33.4 : 33.4: C Woakes to S Smith, FOUR! FLAMBOYANT! What a way to get going! Half volley, yes. Wide, yes. Scoring opportunity, yes. Off the mark, yes! Smith just leans into this one and caresses this through the covers. No soul moves. |
| 37.1 : 37.1: C Woakes to Khawaja, FOUR! A rare bad ball amidst all the applied pressure. Woakes bowls a half volley on the pads and Khawaja does not miss out. Tickles it towards fine leg. Normally in Test matches, we don't have fine leg manned. It is not in this case either. The stand moves to 11. |
| 39.1: C Woakes to Khawaja, FOUR! That is through! Again, that one bad ball which lets loose the pressure. Short and outside off, Khawaja punches it on the up, past a diving point and gets a boundary! |
| 39.3 : 39.3: C Woakes to Khawaja, FOUR. |
| 39.6 : 39.6: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR. |
| 43.5 : 43.5: C Overton to Smith, FOUR! GORGEOUS! Ah... that SSCD. A Steven Smith Cover Drive. Brilliant to watch. Half volley outside off, pretty wide, Smith leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary! Ian Chappell on air feels there were shades of Mark Waugh in that cover drive. |
| 45.4 : 45.4: M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Uppish but safe! He has been lucky today. But that does not mean he has not played well. Brings up his 9TH TEST FIFTY. Short and outside off, Khawaja looks to cut but is too close to the ball. He ends up being defeated by the bounce and gets a thick outside edge. Luckily for him, the ball flies past backward point to the third man fence. |
| 51.4: J Anderson to U Khawaja, OUT! Jimmy strikes immediately! Moments ago, Michael Vaughan on air said, 'England generally come to life at night.' Boy, hasn't he been proved right? A length ball wide outside off, Khawaja plays a loose drive, without moving his feet. Pays the price for it as he gets a thick outside edge. It flies towards gully where James Vince dives to his left and snaps it with ease! He then throws the ball up in the air and roars. Anderson reacts as if he gets such wickets ev |
| 56.2 : 56.2: S Broad to P Handscomb, FOUR! Squirted again. Handscomb is not looking comfortable at all. Plays back to a full ball, is squared up, gets an outside edge but is lucky again that the edge does not travel to hand. Past gully to third man for a boundary. |
| 62.1 : 62.1: C Overton to Smith, OUT! Stop the press! England have found a way to get past the Aussie skipper! Massive moment in the game. And what a feeling for the debutant! He is off and running, like Imran Tahir, circling the ground in wild celebration. But he deserves this every single bit. He has found the perfect length. It is in between full and good, outside off. Smith looks to play at that, but not quite sure whether he intended to play. His bat is not quite in front of the pad. The ball nips |
| 63.3 : 63.3: C Woakes to Handscomb, FOUR! That was so close! Full and straight, Handscomb gets across and at the last possible moment, gets bat on ball to flick it towards fine leg! |
| 65.2 : 65.2: C Woakes to Handscomb, FOUR! He continues playing that shot. There is a leg slip in place but Handscomb still gets across and tickles it between the keeper and that fielder to the fine leg fence. |
| 66.4 : 66.4: C Overton to Handscomb, FOUR! That's a dangerous shot to play, Peter! He's lucky to get away with it. Short ball outside off, Handscomb looks to ramp it over the slip cordon but gets a thick edge which instead flies past third slip. Runs away to the third man fence for a boundary. |
| 70.5 : 70.5: C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! Super shot. Short ball angling in, Marsh rides the bounce to perfection and pulls it along the ground through square leg for a boundary. |
| 75.3 : 75.3: S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Fine effort from Overton, even though it has been in vain. Fine effort nonetheless. Full and too straight from Broad, Marsh flicks it sweetly through mid-wicket. Craig moves to his right, dives to stop it and does so too, but seems like he's touched the rope as he's done it. Umpire goes upstairs to check and replays confirm that it is a boundary. |
| 76.2 : 76.2: J Anderson to P Handscomb, FOUR! Shot! Short and wide, width on offer and Handscomb takes full toll of it. Cuts it through gully and earns a boundary to his name. |
| 81.3 : 81.3: Broad to Handscomb, OUT! Handscomb will not review that. He's gone! Dream start for England, just what they wanted. What an exceptional delivery from Stuart Broad. He's right on the money as he pitches around off and makes it swing back in a crazy amount. Catches Handscomb on the back pad and there's a loud shout. The umpire raises his finger and he's out of here. Peter walks up to his partner, confers whether to take the review. Eventually, it's decided not to take it, and it's a good cal |
| 82.2 : 82.2: J Anderson to Paine, FOUR! Put away. A loose ball from Jimmy Anderson which is played well by Tim Paine. Short ball angling down, Paine helps the pull down towards fine leg for a boundary. |
| 83.6 : 83.6: S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Fraction too straight and Marsh has pounced on this. Full delivery angling in on middle and leg, it's flicked away nicely through the vacant mid-wicket area for a boundary. |
| 84.2 : 84.2: J Anderson to Tim Paine, FOUR! In style... That's how! Terrific shot from the Australian keeper. Sees the ball landing short early, Paine rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 84.6 : 84.6: J Anderson to Paine, FOUR! Too full, too wide, put away superbly. Outside off, Paine lofts it square over point. Nobody out there in the deep, so a boundary will result. |
| 85.1 : 85.1: S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! This is good cricket all around. England are attacking and so are Australia. This is really good to watch. Full delivery outside off, Shaun Marsh leans into the drive and crisply drives it through the covers to send it across the rope. |
| 88.1: C Overton to Paine, FOUR! Overpitched on off, Paine goes dead straight with this. Offers the full face of the bat and drives it through mid off, beating a chasing Stuart Broad to the boundary line. |
| 100.1: M Ali to Tim Paine, FOUR! That breaks the shackles a bit. A loosener from Moeen, tossed up wide outside off, Paine leans and lofts it over covers for a boundary! |
| 103.4 : 103.4: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! GLORIOUS! Half volley outside off, Marsh leans and drives it through the covers. Stuart Broad puts in a laboured dive to his right from mid off, gets fingertips to it but cannot prevent the boundary. |
| 104.6 : 104.6: M Ali to Paine, SIX! BOOM! That has come out of nowhere! Well, is by any chance, Paine having access to what is going on in the neighbouring country? Because there, Kraigg Brathwaite has just played a slog sweep to Mitchell Santner for a six over mid-wicket. Paine almost perfects that. Fuller and outside off, Paine has had enough, does not want Moeen to dictate terms and goes bang. Launches this slog sweep over mid-wicket for half a dozen. |
| 107.1 : 107.1: C Overton to Paine, FOUR! Like his previous spell, Overton starts this spell with a boundary too. And a loosener as well. Short and outside off, Paine who is in a no-sparing-freebies mode, slaps it over point for a boundary. |
| 107.5 : 107.5: C Overton to Tim Paine, OUT! Straight to the man! Paine has hit that like a tracer bullet - but straight to the target. Only, his target would have been the boundary, but it is a human being instead. England get a wicket after a long time and guess who has taken it? Craig Overton. Short and around off, Paine pulls this like a rocket but finds Moeen Ali to perfection at deep square leg. The catch is taken, Overton is pumped up but Paine is just shocked. He just stands there, as if thinking |
| 116.6 : 116.6: S Broad to Starc, OUT! Again Australia lose a wicket early in a session. Testing stuff from Broad. He bangs this in short, outside off and Starc is in two minds, whether to pull or let go. Goes for the former but he is a bit late. Gets a top edge which goes nowhere. Anderson runs to his left from mid on and takes the catch near short mid-wicket. |
| 119.1 : 119.1: J Anderson to Marsh, FOUR! HANDSOME! Full and wide outside off, Marsh leans and drives it through the covers. Don't bother chasing that. |
| 121.6 : 121.6: J Anderson to S Marsh, FOUR! LOVELY! Shaun Marsh is slowly and finally getting into his groove now. After facing more than 25 overs. Half volley wide outside off, Marsh leans and drives it through cover-point. Moeen Ali dives to his left from backward point but in vain. The stand moves to 10. |
| 126.4 : 126.4: C Overton to Cummins, FOUR! Off the mark on the 37th ball! A short ball outside off, Cummins looks to cut but ends up slicing it aerially. Gets it behind point and that will be a boundary! That will give him a sigh of relief. At least gets something on the scoreboard. |
| 127.2 : 127.2: M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! That is a terrific shot. Outstanding timing. Slightly short, around off and middle, Marsh goes back and flick-whips it through mid-wicket. Not much power but the timing just puts the speed on that. Deep mid-wicket hardly has to move 5 yards but is still beaten. |
| 129.6 : 129.6: M Ali to Pat Cummins, FOUR! Full and outside off, Cummins looks to slog but the ball goes off the toe end of the bat. Is good enough to beat mid on. |
| 130.2 : 130.2: C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! Terrific timing. Normally pull shots are not beautiful. They are more related to power. But this bloke - wow. Might well play a slog sweep and yet make it look beautiful. This is banged in short, outside off, Marsh quickly goes onto his back foot and plays the pull. But it is not ferocious. Just a help to the ball, giving it direction towards mid-wicket. Then the outfield becomes his partner, aiding the ball on its way to the mid-wicket fence. Brilliant. The stan |
| 134.3 : 134.3: C Woakes to Cummins, FOUR! BOSH! A right-handed version of Mark 'Tubby' Taylor according to my colleague to King Vic. Short and outside off, Cummins stands tall, gets on top of the bounce, then slaps it through cover-point for a boundary. Bring it on, says the number 3 from the reverse position. 50-RUN STAND is up too. 4th in this innings. The tail is wagging again for Australia. |
| 135.3: Joe Root to Pat Cummins, FOUR! BRUTAL! A short ball, down the leg side, Cummins shows no mercy as he pulls it over backward square leg for a boundary! |
| 136.4 : 136.4: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Room on offer and Marsh doesn't miss out. Gets the placement right too, that's a packed off side field. Shortish ball, the southpaw flays it between gully and backward point to send it across the boundary line. |
| 137.3 : 137.3: Joe Root to Cummins, FOUR! That's a proper batting stroke. Tossed right up, he plants his front foot forward and lofts it over mid on's head. Clean strike, didn't try to hit it too hard and got the desired result. |
| 141.1 : 141.1: M Ali to Cummins, FOUR! Well-placed. Good shot. The intent is right, Pat Cummins sees the flight and swings across the line. Plays with the pace and finds the mid-wicket fence, beating the two men out in the deep for a boundary. |
| 141.4 : 141.4: M Ali to S Marsh, FOUR! Moves on to 94 with that, good shot to get there. Very full and quite loopy, Marsh feasts on it with a cracking drive through the covers and fetches himself a boundary. |
| 141.6 : 141.6: M Ali to Cummins, FOUR! Boundary to end the over. Pat Cummins stands his ground and slogs it over mid-wicket to send it across the rope on one bounce. Cummins scored nothing in the first 36 balls he faced, then in he next 44 went on to score 40. Paced himself quite well, to say the least. Also, this partnership seems to have deflated the Englishmen, it's worth 85 right now. |
| 142.5 : 142.5: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! 5TH TEST TON FOR SHAUN MARSH! His first Ashes ton, what a way to bring it up. He raises his bat in to acknowledge the applause from the crowd and the dressing room, he's deserved every bit of it. Has had to grind it out, patiently build his innings, but he's braved through it and got there. Woakes angles in a short ball into the body from around the wicket, Marsh swivels and pulls it along the ground, bisecting the two men out in the deep for a boundary. He's ecst |
| 145.2 : 145.2: C Overton to Cummins, OUT! Cummins misses out on his half century! And we will not see a century stand in this innings. Unless Lyon and Hazlewood bat long enough to generate another opportunity. Once again, Australia lose a wicket early in a session and immediately after the break. The message seems to be clear - QUICK RUNS. Banged in short outside off, Cummins arches back and then plays the upper cut. However, he finds Dawid Malan to perfection at third man. He is standing a few yards in |
| 145.5 : 145.5: C Overton to Marsh, FOUR! The field comes in and Marsh decides to go over the top. Short and wide outside off, Marsh backs away and slashes hard. Only to get a thick outside edge over the slip cordon to third man. |
| 147.2 : 147.2: C Overton to Lyon, SIX! Lyon connects. And connects well! A short ball down the leg side, not as pacy as Broad and that helps Lyon put bat on ball. Swish. Kaboom. Over fine leg! |
| 148.2: S Broad to S Marsh, FOUR! Hard luck for Overton. A short ball, Marsh drags this through mid-wicket. The debutant runs to his right and dives, gets to the ball but then ends up parrying it into the ropes. |
| 148.3 : 148.3: S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Unbelievable shot. A terrific ball, almost a yorker, on middle, but somehow, Marsh whips this behind square and gets a boundary! |
| 148.4 : 148.4: Broad to Marsh, SIX! CLOBBERED! What a shot from Marsh! This is right in the arc if you are playing the death overs of an ODI. Right in the slot if you are batting in a T20I. But not quite if you are playing a Test match and that too, if you are Shaun Marsh who rarely plays such shots in this format. But now, he does. Sees the full ball, on middle and leg, knows that a declaration is round the corner and goes BANG. Swung right over the sightscreen. Broad has gone for 4,4,6 so far! |
| 2.1 : 2.1: M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! In the air... But safe! Now Starc has his hands on his head. Angles it in and then swings it away on middle and leg, Stoneman is squared up as he attempts to block. It goes off the leading edge and flies past the diving Usman Khawaja away to the boundary line. |
| 5.1: J Hazlewood to Cook, Rare bad ball from Josh Hazlewood. Arrows it full on the pads, Cook's strong suit. He will hit you all day if you bowl him there. Picked off the pads and away to the mid-wicket fence. |
| 5.5 : 5.5: J Hazlewood to Stoneman, FOUR! Flashes at that and flashes hard. Nothing wrong with that, the width's there, the pace is there and the field is inside the ring. Slashes it over backward point and across the boundary line. Needs to be careful not to do it too often, but that's a good shot. |
| 6.6 : 6.6: M Starc to Stoneman, OUT! STARC STRIKES! Draws first blood and sends the Kangaroos flying in this game. A change of bats has not bought the opener any luck. Stoneman was looking good out there, had a good start but has been undone for pace. Full delivery tailing back in on middle and leg, raps Mark low on the pads and the Aussies immediately appeal. The umpire raises his finger but the batsman thinks it's going down leg. So he reviews and it's taken upstairs. Replays show there's a tick on |
| 10.4 : 10.4: J Hazlewood to Vince, OUT! GOT HIM... YES, HE'S GONE! Josh Hazlewood has given his side the best of starts possible. Keeps it around off, in that zone, on a back of a length and Vince goes at this with hard hands. The extra zip off the deck does him in and the ball takes the edge behind. Tim Paine behind the stumps takes a regulation take which spells the end of the right-hander's knock. James didn't exactly play that with a straight bat, which proved to be his undoing. Marginal factor, bu |
| 15.2 : 15.2: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Pretty much intentional. On a length outside off, Root waits in his crease and then opens the bat-face at the last moment to guide it past gully to third man. Cummins smiles. He likes that intention from Root. |
| 15.3 : 15.3: Pat Cummins to Root, OUT! Caught behind! One brings two. Now Cummins will smile even more. Loose from Root. Almost the way Mitchell Johnson got him in the previous Ashes Down Under. Only this time there was no short stuff before the sucker ball. This is pretty much full outside off and a wide one as well. Root thinks he can drive but Australia have made that road their own. You cannot drive so early, they say. You don't have license. Root does not agree and goes after it. There is not too |
| 17.5 : 17.5: Pat Cummins to A Cook, MISFIELD! FOUR! Much better from Cook. He sees it short and goes after it because it is not that dangerous and not that wide. Pulls it on the bounce towards square leg. There is a substitute on the field who gets to his left but he gets a bad bounce too and the ball goes through. |
| 18.6 : 18.6: N Lyon to Malan, FOUR! Shot. Ends the over well. Shot and wide, Dawid Malan hangs back and cuts it past point to send it across the rope for a boundary. |
| 22.6: N Lyon to Cook, FOUR! Loosener from the offie. Short and wide outside off, Cook rocks back and pounces on it with a fierce cut shot through point for a boundary. |
| 28.1 : 28.1: N Lyon to A Cook, OUT! NATHAN LYON WITH THE ALL-IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH! This is what Australia wanted, this is what Australia needed. Could this be the turning point in the game? This is a huge wicket. Tossed up from around the wicket around off, spins away ever so slightly and that does Cook in. The line is such that he's drawn forward and the edge is taken. Steven Smith at first slip gets low and takes a good catch. Celebrates and screams under his breath. He knows what this wicket means |
| 36.5 : 36.5: N Lyon to Ali, FOUR! Finally Moeen gets one away! Full and down the leg side, Moeen gets down and sweeps it powerfully through the leg side, through square leg for a boundary! |
| 36.6 : 36.6: N Lyon to Ali, FOUR! This is more of a hack. Lyon drifts this a bit away from the batsman, bowls this slightly wider outside off, Moeen looks to slog sweep again but gets it off the inner half of the bat through mid-wicket. A boundary is the result. |
| 37.1 : 37.1: Pat Cummins to Malan, OUT! Caught behind! The bowling change works for Australia. This is pace bowling at its best. As a cricket fan, it is real fun to watch when someone moves a ball consistently at over 140 clicks. Here, it is someone plus someone plus someone. This trio can making life difficult for any world class batsman and Malan is only finding his feet in this world. Nothing much he could do about this. |
| 41.5 : 41.5: Pat Cummins to J Bairstow, FOUR! Actually a good shot. Not a bad ball. It is the sucker ball. Keep mixing the lengths and then bowl full, hoping he will nick one off the drive. Cummins got Root nicking but here Bairstow drives it straight down the ground past mid off. The stand moves to 10. |
| 43.1 : 43.1: Pat Cummins to J Bairstow, FOUR! MAGNIFICENT! Cummins keeps bowling full and Bairstow is not in the mood to leave balls alone. He drives it through the covers for a boundary. Cummins did not miss the length by much. May be, a tad shorter than this length could have got the edge. Cricket at its best. Good ball, a slight error and the batsman plays a wonderful shot. That is exactly how the sport should be. Love all. |
| 48.2 : 48.2: Lyon to Ali, OUT! OH DEAR GOD.... NATHAN LYON, YOU ABSOLUTE BEAUTY! What a catch! Out of the blue, taken it spectacularly. Wow! I think that's the best catch I've seen taken in recent memory. He's been bowling beautifully and taken an absolute ripper to dismiss Moeen Ali. Tossed up on the stumps, probably holds up a bit which is why Ali chips it back down the ground. The GOAT dives superman-like to his left and takes a one-handed stunner. The tradition of this game continues with this wick |
| 49.5 : 49.5: M Starc to Woakes, FOUR! That's a fantastic shot. Pure instincts took over there for Woakes. Short, he pulls it hard and along the ground through backward square leg, beating the man out in the deep. |
| 53.1 : 53.1: Starc to Bairstow, OUT! Another terrific catch! How did that stick in? Unreal. Lucky it didn't lob off behind, but he did well in the first place to get a hand on it to begin with. Starc bowls it full and straight from around the wicket, Jonny Bairstow drives it in the air straight back. The pacer sticks his right hand out, can't take it on the first attempt but then collects it on the second. Made that look quite comfortable to be honest, wasn't exactly as easy as it looked. With this wic |
| 55.6 : 55.6: M Starc to Woakes, FOUR! Shot. Literally nobody out there. Short and wide, Woakes flays it over point and sends it across the boundary line. Picked his spot well, executed it properly too. The 150 is up for England with that. |
| 56.4 : 56.4: J Hazlewood to Overton, FOUR! He's played that very well. Short ball outside off, Overton stands tall and steers it with an angled bat past the diving gully fielder. Behind him and away to the fence for a boundary. |
| 58.2 : 58.2: J Hazlewood to Overton, FOUR! Positive shot, that. Nicely done by Overton. It's on a length outside off, he square drives it through point and earns a boundary to his name. |
| 62.1 : 62.1: J Hazlewood to Woakes, FOUR! MAJESTIC! That is some shot. A length ball outside off, slightly wide, Woakes reaches out and drives it through cover-point and finds the boundary. |
| 63.5 : 63.5: M Starc to Woakes, FOUR! Lucky! England deserve some luck at least. A short ball outside off, poor Woakes is in no position to play that. He is off the ground, tries to fend that but can only spoon it in the air. Luckily for him, it flies over the slip cordon to the third man fence. The 50-RUN STAND is up. For all the fight that this pair has shown and given some of the lucky dismissals that Australia have got, England need some luck. Best stand of the innings. 49 more needed to avoid the |
| 66.4 : 66.4: N Lyon to Overton, FOUR! CLUBBED! The batsmen are now getting confident. The ball is nicely tossed up outside off and Overton gets down and then slog sweeps it over square leg. A one-bounce boundary. 200 UP FOR ENGLAND, a big psychological boost given the way the afternoon session panned out. |
| 69.4: Starc to Woakes, OUT! Simple caught and bowled. The plan works. It was short, short, short, short, short without much full when Woakes and Overton were new at the crease. No success. Then Australia reverted to bowling full, full, full, full and suddenly, from nowhere, this short ball comes. Woakes thinks he can pull but his bat twists in his hand while playing that shot. As a result, he gets a top edge which just lobs straight up in the air. For some reason, short extra cover and short mid |
| 70.5 : 70.5: J Hazlewood to Overton, FOUR! Very nicely played! Banged in short outside off, Overton is ready for it and deftly guides it over the slip cordon to third man! |
| 72.5: N Lyon to Overton, FOUR! Great shot! Full and outside off, Overton jumps down the track and hits this powerfully down the ground past the bowler, beating mid off! Good positive intent. 19 more needed to make Australia bat again. Overton is 10 shy of a half century now. |
| 74.4 : 74.4: N Lyon to Broad, OUT! That is a terrific catch! Tim Paine, you beauty! That is a ripper. Both, the ball and the catch. Lyon lands this around middle and Broad goes back in his crease to try and turn it to the leg side. However, the ball spins and bounces sharply past the outside edge. Paine collects beautifully and then straightaway goes up. We all thought it is just an appeal but the umpire raises his finger! And... Broad does not review. Replays show the tiniest of edges, the outside edg |
| 76.1 : 76.1: N Lyon to Anderson, OUT! Three reds. LBW! Anderson cannot rotate the strike. Overton does not get to 50 on debut. Full and in line of the stumps, Anderson gets down and looks to sweep that but misses, getting hit on the unmentionables. It looks dead, the decision that is and the umpire raises his finger. Anderson takes the review but the Hawk Eye does not allow the ball to go past the stumps. NATHAN LYON BECOMES THE LEADING WICKET TAKER IN TESTS IN 2017 - 55 in 9 Tests. Australia lead by 2 |
| 0.6 : 0.6: J Anderson to C Bancroft, FOUR! Bancroft is away! Not in the most convincing fashion. Outside off, full again, it swings away and induces an outside edge as Bancroft pushes at it. The ball squirts past third slip to the third man fence. |
| 2.2 : 2.2: J Anderson to Bancroft, OUT! This time the edge goes to hand! Anderson strikes early for England. The perfect outswinger. Pitched outside off, draws the batsman forward and then makes it to move away. Bancroft feels for it and gets a thick outside edge. Straight to Bairstow. Just the start England need and the confidence boost Anderson needed. He has been average against Australia both in England and Australia but this pink ball can change that. If he gets it right, he can run right through |
| 5.6 : 5.6: S Broad to U Khawaja, EDGED, FOUR! Countless times have we seen Khawaja getting squared up when the ball is moving around. Countless times have we seen him get runs through that slip cordon. This time too, he does. He is squared up, looking to defend, but the ball seams away and takes the outside edge which goes past third slip to third man! |
| 10.4 : 10.4: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! Full and down the leg side, plenty of swing, Warner slips but manages to get bat on ball and tickles it to the fine leg fence. |
| 11.2 : 11.2: C Overton to U Khawaja, FOUR! That is lucky again. Full and outside off, Khawaja pushes at it but gets a thick outside edge between third slip and gully to the fence behind. The lead is now 243. The stand moves to 23. Khawaja goes past Warner too, to 13. |
| 11.6 : 11.6: C Overton to Khawaja, FOUR! CLUNK! One of the most authoritative pull shots in this match. Banged in short and Khawaja is ready. Swivels in a flash and pulls it like a rash to see the ball crash into the square leg fence. |
| 18.4 : 18.4: Anderson to Khawaja, OUT! The decision stays and Usman Khawaja is gone! The decision to keep Jimmy Anderson going has paid off, a wicket has come finally. He continues from around the wicket and angles it in on middle and off, it moves away after hitting the deck and beats the outside edge, catching Khawaja on the back pad. Loud shout and the umpire raises his finger. Usman thinks he might be safe so he reviews. Replays show it's the umpire's call on impact, so the decision will not be ove |
| 19.5 : 19.5: C Woakes to D Warner, OUT! DAVID WARNER IS GONE! This is the wicket England wanted. That's a big one, really big one. The dangerous Warner departs. Woakes gets his line right and keeps it around off. It's angling away late and squares up David a touch. The edge is drawn and Joe Root at second slip takes a wonderful catch. Can another wicket be had here for the Englishmen? They have their tails up, have every chance to do so. |
| 20.4 : 20.4: J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! The class of this player! Packed on side field but it doesn't matter one bit to him. Flicks this full ball through the gap, between mid-wicket and square leg and finds the fence. Terrific execution of the shot. |
| 23.2 : 23.2: C Woakes to Smith, OUT! CHRIS WOAKES HAS GOT STEVEN SMITH! This could be the defining moment in this game. The big fish is hunted and England are elated here. Woakes with an absolute beauty as he lands it on a length around off, it angles in and beats Smith's defense. Catches him on the back pad and there's a loud shout. The umpire is convinced, he signals out but Steven Smith will not give in. He reviews. Takes it upstairs and replays show that the impact is umpire's call and it's even cl |
| 31.2: S Broad to Lyon, FOUR! Terrific response! A short ball outside off but Lyon is ready. He waits for the ball and ramps it over the slips to third man! |
| 31.4 : 31.4: S Broad to Lyon, FOUR! A tail-ender's square drive, says Warne on air! A length ball in line of the stumps, Lyon backs away and just steers it behind point for a boundary! |
| 32.2 : 32.2: J Anderson to Lyon, OUT! Caught! England get rid of the nightwatchman eventually. That hit on the helmet seemed to have stirred him. A length ball outside off, Lyon backs away and just attempts a slash over the off side. But he can only get it as far as mid off where Broad completes the formalities. A handy 14 from Lyon which is what Warner managed as well, in this innings and it is more than what his skipper could muster. Australia are effectively 286/5. |
| 34.4 : 34.4: J Anderson to Handscomb, OUT! Straight to the man! Catching practice but make no mistake, it is a good take. Landed outside off, between full and good, Handscomb backs away a touch and guides it towards third man. But he does not find the gap, nor does he try to keep the ball down. It goes thick and fast but straight to Dawid Malan at gully who does well to take it low to his right. If you have ever observed coaches giving catching practice behind the wicket before the start of play, Hands |
| 39.4: C Woakes to Paine, OVERTHROWS! FOUR! Oh dear... poor stuff from Stuart Broad. Paine pushes it towards point and calls for a single. Marsh responds but then is sent back. Shaun is in no man's land, has to stop, then turn. But he slips a touch. However, he manages to turn around in time and dives in his crease. James Vince comes running in from backward point, gets to the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end. Misses but would not have mattered even if he had hit. But hello, what is Broad d |
| 43.4: C Woakes to Paine, OUT! Tim Paine departs! But this is another excellent catch from England. We saw Malan taking one a while back and now it's Overton! Woakes bangs in a short ball outside off, it hurries onto the batsman who tries to pull. Gets a top edge that lobs high up in the air. The man from square leg runs backward and Overton from deep backward square leg runs forward. Ideally, he is in the position to take it. He runs forward and puts a dive forward. Then stretches both his hands |
| 45.5 : 45.5: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Edged and that goes over the slip cordon! Woakes slants it away on a length outside off, gives width and the southpaw decides to go after it. Flashes hard at it and gets a thick edge which flies over the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| 49.6 : 49.6: C Woakes to M Starc, FOUR! Edgy but Australia wouldn't mind but England would! Angles it away on a length outside off, Starc swings at it. Gets a thick edge which flies safely through gully and backward point for a streaky boundary to end the over. Australia's total reaches Nelson! |
| 50.1 : 50.1: M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Excellent! Marsh was trying to do this since the last over of Ali but mid off was there to cut it off! This time he gets what he wants! Loopy delivery outside off, Marsh dances down the track and drives it off the meat through covers for a boundary. |
| 50.5 : 50.5: M Ali to Starc, SIX! When Starc hits it, it stays hit! Such is the power of this man! Ali bowls it full and in the slot for Starc who gets down and pummels it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Runs have started to flow now for the hosts. |
| 51.2 : 51.2: C Woakes to Marsh, OUT! Chris Woakes has a 4-fer now! Shaun Marsh is finally being dismissed in this Test. Fuller in length, curling back in a bit, Marsh was eyeing that wide mid on area as he looks to work it away. But there is a bit of inward movement which takes the inside edge and cannons onto the stumps. He walks back but Australia have a lead of 337! |
| 54.2: J Anderson to Starc, OUT! Anderson gets a 5-fer, his first one in Australia. He has been made to work hard for this and he can finally sink in the moment. Well done, Jimmy! The whole of Adelaide Oval applauds the effort as he shows the cherry around the ground. That's the most wonderful feeling ever. Ball - Fuller in length and around off, Starc tries to go big down the ground. Miscues it high in the air and it's a simple catch to Moeen Ali at mid off who moves swiftly to his right and tak |
| 57.6 : 57.6: C Overton to J Hazlewood, OUT! AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 138, LEAD BY 353! Overton from around the wicket, bangs in a short ball on the body. Hazlewood was never comfortable in playing that one. Doesn't know how to counter this as he just hangs his bat out taking his eyes off the ball. The ball takes the edge and flies towards Malan at gully who takes a diving catch forward. |
| 4.2 : 4.2: M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! Well not this time! He gets it again right there and flicks it beautifully. Was in the air for a while but goes safely to the mid-wicket fence. He's off the mark with a boundary. |
| 4.3 : 4.3: M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! Once again aerial and once again gets the same result. Starc in search of some swing, sprays it on the pads. Stoneman shuffles a bit and clips it aerially over mid-wicket for back-to-back boundaries. |
| 4.4 : 4.4: M Starc to Stoneman, FOUR! This is all along the ground now! The best of the lot! And the most pleasing one. Fuller and once again not where Starc wants. It's on the pads and guess what? Stoneman makes the most of it by flicking it away through mid-wicket. Three on the troy! What will Starc do now? |
| 6.2 : 6.2: M Starc to Cook, FOUR! Pulled away in style! Cook at his best! Sees the length short, stands tall with swivels just a bit to pull it in front of square on the leg side for a boundary. Smith immediately drops a man back on the boundary. |
| 7.2: J Hazlewood to Cook, FOUR! Handsome looking shot, that! Cook has come out with intent it seems! Leaving the balls outside off and then making the most when it's there to be hit. Shortish but not rising much, Cook gets on top of the bounce and pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 7.4 : 7.4: J Hazlewood to A Cook, FOUR! Edged and through! Fuller in length and just outside off, Cook comes forward to defend but gets an outside edge which flies past the second slip fielder for a boundary towards third man. This is the highest opening stand for England in this series. |
| 7.6 : 7.6: J Hazlewood to Stoneman, FOUR! Eased down the ground!An overpitched delivery from Josh. |
| 12.6: Pat Cummins to Stoneman, FOUR! Spoils a good over! Could have been back-to-back maidens for Cummins! He serves a short ball, slighlty wider outside off. This makes Stoneman greedy. He opens the bat face and guides it through backward point. It was in the air for a while but through the gap. A boundary to end the over. Stoneman has quickly moves to 32 from just 34 balls. |
| 19.5 : 19.5: Lyon to Cook, OUT! LBW! The decision is overturned! Australia strike, the GOAT roars. Beautiful bowling again. Lyon tosses this up around leg and Cook looks to flick. Our first reaction is a leading edge as the ball goes to cover. However, Lyon and Paine put in a huge appeal. But the umpire is unmoved. Now, this is interesting. Smith asks Lyon about the inside edge. The bowler shakes his head but feels it is spinning away! Smith disagrees to that. He just confirms whether there is an insid |
| 23.3 : 23.3: M Starc to M Stoneman, OUT! Ohhh... Handscomb has a competition for a position of a fielding coach who gives catching practice. It was Handscomb this afternoon. Now, it is Stoneman. This wicket has to go to Steve Smith. Not because he brought Starc on. With this field setting, even Peter Handscomb bowling would have got a wicket. Nothing special on the delivery. It is a short one outside off but it is playing with that habit of Stoneman. He likes to play the ball behind point and through g |
| 24.6 : 24.6: J Hazlewood to Vince, FOUR! MARVELLOUS! That is the Root effect! One has to say, going by Chappell's comments. He has comfortably come forward to this one and driven a length ball through the covers. This would have got to do with Root in the middle. He would have eased the new man's nerves. |
| 25.6: M Starc to Root, FOUR! Almost got him! Australia bowling to a plan. In the first innings, Root was out in a similar fashion. Full and wide outside off, Root looks to drive away from the body and gets a thick outside edge. In the first innings, it went straight to gully. This time, it went between gully and backward point. Starc smiles. |
| 29.1 : 29.1: M Starc to Root, FOUR! Right through the gap! Actin immediately! We saw Root edging a couple off Starc before the break and now again he survives! Length delivery, angling away outside off. Root stays back to dab it away but gets it off the outer part right through the gap between the third slip and gully for a streaky boundary. |
| 33.6 : 33.6: M Starc to J Vince, OUT! Wicket number 3 is down! And Australia have struck in the 6th over of the night session. |
| 35.1 : 35.1: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! PRISTINE! Welcome into the attack, mate! Full and wide outside off, Root leans into this one, GETS TO THE PITCH OF THE BALL and drives it through the covers. What was wrong with the one Vince played? Similar shot there, similar shot here. Similar ball there, similar ball here. Similar pace there, similar pace here. The difference - words mentioned in bold. |
| 36.5 : 36.5: N Lyon to Root, FOUR! 'This was always coming,' says an excited Amit, my colleague, with his mouth full of food. The excitement got the better of him as he could not even wait to swallow the morsel before speaking. Coming to the ball, a rare bad one from Lyon, banged in short, on middle and Root pounces. Goes back in his crease and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. 100 UP FOR ENGLAND! |
| 40.1 : 40.1: N Lyon to Root, FOUR! Nicely done. Full and around off, Root gets down and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. The runs needed come under 250 now. |
| 45.1: Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! SUBLIME! Best shot of the day by Malan. Full and outside off, Malan reaches out and drives it through the covers. Even Warner, who usually chases everything, gives it up after taking 10 steps. 237 runs more needed. |
| 46.2 : 46.2: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Beautiful! Just so beautiful! Hazlewood fires it full on the stumps, a bit around the pads. A batsman like Root won't miss out. He gets forward and across and flicks it neatly through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 46.3 : 46.3: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! And again! Hazlewood once again sprays on the pads, Root maintains his balance and clips it again. This time through square leg. Moves to 45 now! |
| 49.5 : 49.5: M Starc to Root, FOUR! Using the pace of the bowler! Well played, skip! Joe Root, the English run-machine has taken it on himself. Gets to his 34th Test fifty, raises the bat but knows the job isn't done yet. Got to convert it now. Ball - A bit short, angling away, Root arches back a bit and places it with an angled bat past a diving backward point fielder for a boundary. |
| 51.1 : 51.1: M Starc to Malan, FOUR! Squeezed through! Brings up the 50-run stand! These two have brought the chase back on track or should I say, they have steadied the ship? Be it anything, that English dressing room can breathe a sigh of relief. Fuller in length and outside off, a wide yorker. Malan crouches low and squeezes it through backward point. No need to run for those. |
| 51.2 : 51.2: M Starc to Malan, FOUR! Inside edge... Lucky Malan! On a length and this one jags back in, Malan looks to defend but gets a thick inside edge. The ball just goes past the leg stump and races down to the fine leg fence for back-to-back boundaries. |
| 51.6 : 51.6: M Starc to D Malan, FOUR! Another boundary! 14 off the over! All of a sudden the runs are flowing now! Starc goes short, angling in on middle. Malan swivels and pulls it along the ground. Boy, how well has he connected it? Bisects the gap through backward square leg. Hazlewood and Lyon were in the deep but could do nothing about it. 150 up as well! |
| 57.4 : 57.4: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! It's uppish but safe! Cummins keeps it full outside off, Root strides forward a touch and drives it uppishly. Seemed like Bancroft got a hand to it at short cover. Anyway, the ball goes through to the rope for a boundary. |
| 59.5 : 59.5: Cummins to D Malan, OUT! Knocked him over! Cummins brings the Adelaide Oval to life! This is a ripper. He perhaps is bowling the second-last over in this spell and gives it his all. In the first innings, he got Malan with a beauty. In this one, he gets him with another attractive one. On a length outside off, Malan looks to defend, seems to have covered the line but the ball comes back in, goes past the inside edge and hits the top of off stump! He was dismissed by a similar ball in the fi |
| 62.2 : 62.2: J Hazlewood to Woakes, OUT! The decision stays as it is! Bizarre. Really bizarre. Really, really bizarre. Not because of the decision but because of the protocol. A cracker of a delivery first up. It is on a length outside off and Woakes has to play at it. There is a noise as the ball goes past and the whole of Australia goes up. Aleem Dar thinks, thinks, thinks and then raises his finger! Oh oh... no mate, Woakes straightaway shakes his head. He takes the review without consulting his par |
| 64.5 : 64.5: J Hazlewood to Root, OUT! Caught behind! Is that the game for Australia? Hazlewood gets Root as his 125th Test wicket but I doubt he will put this on to of the most important dismissals he has taken. Another beautiful delivery. Australia are sensing that England are a bit on the back foot as they are not sure whether the ball will move in or out. Hazlewood finds his length and nails it. Similar to the one which got Woakes. Around that length area. This one hits some patch and then stays lo |
| 65.4 : 65.4: M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! SWEET! You are not going to win by just blocking. You need to score. And Bairstow does just that. Half volley, wide outside off, Jonny leans and drives it through the covers for a boundary! Some way to get off the mark. |
| 67.4: M Starc to J Bairstow, EDGED, FOUR! Perhaps Starc needs some luck as well to get some rhythm going. He gets this to swing a little bit and induces an outside edge as Bairstow flays at that. However, the ball lands short of a diving second slip and goes through. 167 more needed for a win. The stand moves to 10. |
| 70.6 : 70.6: N Lyon to Ali, OUT! LBW! Another decision stays from Aleem Dar! Lyon now has Moeen 4 on 4 in this series. 2 LBWs, 1 stumped and 1 caught. Just felt Moeen was going to do something because of what happened on the fourth ball. He did not want to come down the track but wanted to score. Saw this as something of the latter. A scoring opportunity. The ball was pitched outside off and Moeen thought about the sweep. But he missed and was hit on the pads. To the naked eye, that looked plumb and Al |
| 73.5 : 73.5: Pat Cummins to C Overton, EDGED, FOUR! A length ball outside off, Overton feels for it and the ball goes off the outside edge. It lands just short of the diving second slip fielder enroute the third man fence. That dive... oh a certain Ricky Thomas Ponting would have probably taken that. |
| 80.1 : 80.1: Starc to Overton, OUT! The new ball has done the trick straightaway. Starc gets his third. A brilliant delivery, possibly his best in this innings. He comes running in and lands it on a length. Overton who has been very solid in defense, lunges forward to defend again but this time is undone by the inswing as the ball hits him on the front pad. The Australians appeal and the umpire immediately raises his finger. Overton starts walking back as he knew that, he was a dead duck. Replays later |
| 80.5 : 80.5: M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! Delightful! Jonny has to continue playing his shots> Starc dishes out a fuller length ball on off, Bairstow Leans into it and drives it straight back past the bowler for a boundary. |
| 82.6 : 82.6: M Starc to Broad, OUT! England are nine down now! Starc has a 4-fer! Finally an edge carries. Starc bowls it fuller around off, gets it to shape away. Broad is half-forward as he tries to defend. The ball takes the outside edge and goes to Paine who takes it. The Australians celebrate. Broad's short but uncomfortable stay comes to an end. He was expecting a short ball throughout his innings but did not get any. Nevertheless, the Aussies are just one wicket away now. |
| 83.5 : 83.5: J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! England need a lot more! Bairstow times the full ball outside off through covers for a boundary. |
| 84.1 : 84.1: M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! Exquisite! A half-volley outside off by Starc. Bairstow drives it through covers for a boundary. That shot was very pleasing to the eye. |
| 84.2 : 84.2: M Starc to Bairstow, OUT! BOWLED"EM! THAT IS IT! A fifer for Starc. He has not been at his best but he has five wickets to his name. Mitchell lands it on a length around off, gets it to shape back in. Bairstow tries to defend it away from his body but the ball takes the inside edge and onto the middle stump, which is uprooted. All smiles on the faces of the Australian players as they have made quick work of the English lower-order. THEY GO 2-0 UP IN THE SERIES AS THEY HAVE WON BY 120 RUNS! |
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