| 3.4 : 3.4: S Broad to Warner, FOUR! Sublime! This shot shows that how true the MCG pitch is, says Mark Nicholas on air. Overpitched on off, Warner drives it elegantly past the bowler and through mid off for a majestic boundary. The first one of the day. |
| 4.4: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! This is one of the best shots that you will ever see. Timing and grace written all over that. Genuine half-volley on off, Warner strides forward confidently and shows the full face of the bat. Strokes it and the ball whistles away through mid off and through the fence. The moment it left the bat, it raced off. Textbook stuff. |
| 10.4: J Anderson to D Warner, FOUR! Shot! Fullish delivery well outside off, Warner gets to the pitch of the ball and creams it through covers to pick up another boundary. |
| 15.6 : 15.6: M Ali to Warner, FOUR! That's off the meat! Moeen Ali has been guilty of dropping it short. Earlier he was lucky to get away with one, this time Warner makes him pay. Rocks back in a flash and smacks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. No need to run for those! |
| 18.2 : 18.2: C Woakes to D Warner, FOUR! Great placement from Davey Warner! There was a short cover and mid off in place but he still manages to pierce the gap. Micheal Clarke tells us how. It's a half volley, served outside off, Warner bends forward and across, the momentum helps him generate the power behind the shot and as a result gets one off the middle of the bat. Anderson at mid off gave up ages before. A boundary results! |
| 18.6 : 18.6: C Woakes to D Warner, FOUR! What a way to get to his fifty, his 26th in Tests! He has dealt with the short one with utmost ease and does so again! Short and outside off, Warner stays back and drags it from outside off to hit it through mid-wicket for a boundary. The capacity crowd likes it and lauds the effort of the southpaw. Warner has got a start here, will be itching to get a big one today. |
| 19.3 : 19.3: Tom Curran to Bancroft, FOUR! Unlucky, Curran! He bowls it short and just outside the off stump line, giving no room to Bancroft. The batsman still goes at it and ends up getting a fat outside edge. Much to his delight, the ball flies right between second slip and a gully fielder for a boundary towards third man. A streaky one. |
| 20.3: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! Classical hit, that! All timing! It's a great feeling when the ball hits the sweet spot and we have already seen a few from Warner's bat today. Fuller ball on off, David takes a stride forward and just presents a straight bat. Root at silly mid off had no chance to cut that off as it just raced away to the long off fence. Warner must be oozing in confidence. |
| 22.5 : 22.5: J Anderson to D Warner, FOUR! There you go! After bowling tight line, Anderson serves a gift to Warner! Bowls it short, offers too much of width and David Warner says, thank you very much! He gets on top of the bounce and flays it past a diving Curran at backward point to find the fence. |
| 24.1 : 24.1: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! Edged but safely through the gap! Good bowling Jimmy this! Keeps it fuller on off, asking Warner to go after it. David for once doesn't use his feet as he tries to go hard at it. Gets a thick edge which flies safely through the backward point region for a boundary. |
| 25.3 : 25.3: Tom Curran to D Warner, FOUR! Easy peasy for Warner! There is no one patrolling the area behind square on the leg side and Curran is guilty of bowling it short on the hips. Warner, with one leg up in the air, sweep/pulls it through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 25.5 : 25.5: Tom Curran to Warner, FOUR! Clipped away! Tom Curran serves it on the pads, Warner gets across and just tickles it fine down the leg side for the second boundary of the over. Australia just 4 short of the three-figure mark now. |
| 27.3 : 27.3: Ali to Warner, SIX! Downtown goes Warner! It's 100 up for the hosts as well. The last time an Australian opening pair added 100-plus in an Ashes Boxing Day Test was way back in 2002! Woaah! Moeen Ali tosses it up on the stumps, with nothing off the surface, David decides to go after it. He doesn't care if lunch is approaching as he gets down and swings his bat to make sure the ball hits the sightscreen. First biggie of the match as well. |
| 28.4 : 28.4: C Woakes to C Bancroft, FOUR! Edgyyyy! Not a bad ball at all but luck is with Bancroft this time! It's fuller and served outside off, asking Cameron to go after it. He obliges with a drive but gets a thick outside edge wide of the man at gully for a boundary towards third man. |
| 29.1 : 29.1: S Broad to Warner, FOUR! Beautiful! Warner goes to 87, the devil's number! Broad from around the wicket, goes short but the line is down the leg side. There is a packed off side field given to him and this is not where he should be bowling! Warner hops and helps his pull down to fine leg for a boundary to start the session for himself. |
| 33.4 : 33.4: S Broad to Warner, FOUR! Superbbbb, says Bill Lawry on air. David Warner has totally nailed it down the ground! Was waiting for the ball to be a half volley and spanks as soon as he gets it there. Broad overcooks it and the southpaw is up for it. Leans into it and eases it off the meat past mid off for a boundary. |
| 34.3 : 34.3: C Woakes to Bancroft, OUT! Trapped in front! Cameron Bancroft is walking off, he knows he is a goner! Rejoice for England! Brilliant delivery from Woakes. Deserved it thoroughly. He comes steaming in and drops it near the good length area. The ball deviates off the pitch, stays a touch low and pings Cameron on the front pad. They all appeal in jubilation and umpire Dharmasena has no qualms in raising his finger. Bancroft starts to walk back and England finally get a breakthrough. Hawk Eye |
| 47.4 : 47.4: J Anderson to Warner, OUT! The best bowler in the English side strikes! Intelligent bowling from the experienced campaigner and he reaps the dividends. After bowling a couple of back of length delivery, he goes back to a fullish ball. He hurls in the channel outside off, angling in initially. Warner with minimal foot movement pokes at it and gets a faint nick. Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps takes a regulation catch and throws the ball up in the air. Anderson is confident as well and up |
| 50.3 : 50.3: C Woakes to U Khawaja, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Short ball on middle and leg, you can't bowl there with no fine leg in place. Khawaja stands tall and pulls it through the same region to find the fence. |
| 54.2 : 54.2: C Woakes to S Smith, FOUR! Shot! Shortish delivery on middle and leg, Smith gets on top of the bounce and pulls it with aplomb through backward square leg to find the fence. |
| 55.3 : 55.3: S Broad to U Khawaja, FOUR! Elegant! This will give Khawaja confidence. Half volley outside off, the batsman leans ahead and creams it through extra cover for a glorious boundary. |
| 56.6 : 56.6: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Timing and placement, brilliantly played! Short of a length outside off, Smith waits for it and places it deftly past point for a boundary. |
| 57.1 : 57.1: S Broad to Khawaja, OUT! Soft dismissal! Khawaja never looked at ease throughout his knock and has finally perished. Broad steams in from around the wicket and bowls it on a good length in the zone of apprehension. The ball is holding its line as Khawaja pokes at it tamely. Ends up getting a feather and Bairstow accepts it gleefully. Bowling in the corridor has worked wonders for the visitors. Is this the opening England needed? |
| 58.2 : 58.2: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Brilliantly played! Fullish delivery, Smith shuffles a touch and clips it in the gap between the two short mid-wicket fielders and picks up another boundary. Smith becomes the leading run-scorer in Tests in 2017. The best Test batsman in the world keeps on getting better and better. |
| 60.1 : 60.1: M Ali to Smith, FOUR! Sublime! Tossed up outside off, Smith strides forward confidently and strokes it through extra cover. The fielder in the deep covers a lot of ground to his right, slides but fails to keep the ball in play. The skipper is going from strength-to-strength. |
| 62.5 : 62.5: M Ali to S Marsh, FOUR! Nicely done! A fraction short this time, spinning away. Marsh rocks back and cuts it past the point fielder for a boundary. He found the gap to perfection. This stroke will calm his nerves. |
| 64.3 : 64.3: M Ali to S Marsh, FOUR! Marsh is growing in confidence. Gets a full ball on middle and clips it beautifully through mid on for a boundary. |
| 69.1 : 69.1: Tom Curran to S Smith, FOUR! Great stroke! Shortish delivery outside off and a bit of room on offer. Smith rises with the bounce and steers it through the point region to pick up another boundary. |
| 78.3 : 78.3: D Malan to Marsh, FOUR! That's a rare mistake from Malan! He drops it short on middle, Marsh has ample of time to rock back and pull it. He does so in front of square on the leg side. There were two men in the deep but he bisected the gap to perfection. |
| 81.5 : 81.5: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Delightful from Marshy! A bit too full outside off, right in the slot for the southpaw. Shaun leans into it and caresses it through cover. Into the gap and away she whistles to the ropes. |
| 84.3 : 84.3: Tom Curran to S Smith, FOUR! Not intentional but gets the desired result! Curran bowls it full and wide outside off, too much of width and Steven Smith decides to go after it. He looks to guide it down but gets it off the outer half wide of the gully fielder for a boundary towards third man. No one in the deep, so it's easy pickings for him. |
| 94.3: J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! There he goes! Delightful from Smith! Anderson bowls it around off, Smith takes it from there as he gets across a touch and then his wrists takes over. Beats the dive of the fielder at square leg and picks up his first boundary of the day. |
| 94.5 : 94.5: J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! Superb batting! Second boundary of the over! He goes past 500 runs in the Ashes this year. Anderson drops it short on middle, not much venom behind it. Smith pulls it neatly and the man at long leg could do nothing about it. Steven is on the move. |
| 96.2 : 96.2: Tom Curran to Smith, OUT! Drags it on! Tom Curran gets the big fish, folks! And his landing is fine this time. Maiden wicket for him and he is up and running! What a moment for him. England have got the breakthrough and the bowling change has done the trick. He bowls it short and a bit wide outside off, Smith tries to force it through the off side but the ball bounces a bit more which takes the inside edge and cannons on the stumps. Steven Smith is finally dismissed at the MCG for the firs |
| 96.4 : 96.4: Tom Curran to Marsh, FOUR! What a shot! That's some way to show the opposition that you are in form! Short and outside off, Marsh packs a punch. Gets it squarer and the man at backward poitn had no chance to stop that one. |
| 98.5 : 98.5: Tom Curran to Marsh, FOUR! Curran is not getting it right to the left-hander! Sprays it on the pads yet again, Shaun Marsh gets inside the line and clips it neatly down to fine leg to pick up a boundary. |
| 100.5: C Woakes to Marsh, OUT! Another one chops it back on! Is this the signs of the pitch being a two-paced? Anyway, the bowling change has done the trick for Root again. He removes Curran and brought Woakes and sees the back of the centurion from the last game. Superb from England! Chris Woakes from over the wicket, hurls it a bit wider outside off. Mitchell Marsh, just like his skipper, tries to go at it with hard hands. An inside edge has be induced as the ball bounces and then hits the top |
| 101.6 : 101.6: M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Good placement! Ali sees Marsh stepping out, so he shortens his length. What does Marsh do? He still walks out and with pure placement he guides it through point to end the over with a boundary. Moves to 49 with that. |
| 104.1 : 104.1: C Woakes to Marsh, FOUR! Brilliantly executed! Short of a length ball outside off, Marsh waits for it and steers it past the gully region to find the fence. Not an easy shot to play on a track which has become a bit two-paced. |
| 104.5 : 104.5: C Woakes to Paine, FOUR! Poor fielding and the visitors pay the price for it. On a hot day with the temperatures soaring around 35 degrees, you need to support your bowlers. Overpitched around off, Paine leans into it and drives it towards wide mid off. The fielder moves to his left, puts in a lazy dive and makes a mess of it. Ends up conceding a boundary. |
| 107.1 : 107.1: M Ali to Tim Paine, FOUR! Amazing shot! Flighted ball outside off, Paine reaches the pitch of the ball and drives it elegantly through covers. The substitute, Crane at sweeper cover goes to his right, slides but fails to keep the ball in play. |
| 107.6 : 107.6: M Ali to Marsh, FOUR! Shot! Fullish ball on middle, Marsh clears his front leg and strokes it towards mid on. Timing is spot on and away she whistles to the fence. |
| 108.3 : 108.3: Tom Curran to Tim Paine, FOUR! Shot of the day! Paine is flowing freely. Tossed up outside off, Paine drives it beautifully in the gap between mid off and extra cover to pick up another boundary. Textbook stuff from the wicket-keeper batsman. |
| 109.6 : 109.6: S Broad to Marsh, OUT! No inside edge, what a judicious use of the review from England! He is over the moon and so are his teammates. He steams in from over the wicket and bowls a length ball on middle and leg. Gets it to seam away after pitching. Marsh puts in a nice stride forward to counter it but misses the line of the ball to get pinged on the front pad. Broad roars in an appeal along with his teammates but umpire S Ravi remains unmoved. He is on the run and tells Joe Root to challe |
| 110.1 : 110.1: J Anderson to Paine, FOUR. |
| 112.2 : 112.2: J Anderson to Paine, OUT! England are back in the contest exclaims an excited Bill Lawry on air! Chopped on. This is the third time this has happened this morning. 520th Test wicket for Jimmy. With that, he goes past the legendary Courtney Walsh and becomes the second leading wicket-taker in terms of a pace bowler. This is the beauty of bowling closer to the stumps, you are always in with a chance when a batsman makes a mistake. Shortish delivery around off, Paine stands tall and goes for |
| 112.5 : 112.5: J Anderson to J Bird, FOUR! Completely beats Bairstow for pace and an opportunity goes down! Full delivery outside off, a lot of nibble in the air. Bird goes for a drive with minimal foot movement and gets a thick outside edge. Jonny dives to his right but the ball goes past him in a flash and also beats Cook at first slip. A boundary results. |
| 113.6 : 113.6: Broad to Bird, OUT! Plumb! Broad is breathing fire, picks up his third wicket. Good length ball around off, angling in appreciably and stays a bit low. Bird is caught in the crease as he tries to keep it out but misses to get pinged on the pads. The Englishmen appeal in unison and up goes the umpire's finger. Bird has a chat with his partner and challenges the decision. There is no inside edge as shown by the Snicko. The Hawk Eye rolls in. The impact is umpire's call and it is going on t |
| 115.2 : 115.2: S Broad to Pat Cummins, OUT! Yes, it is indeed a clean take from Alastair Cook. 4-fer for Stuart Broad and this is his 397th Test wicket, three short of a commendable landmark. He hurls this one on a drivable length outside off, Cummins goes for a booming drive but gets a fat outside edge. The English ex-skipper at first slip crouches and seems to have taken it just above the ground. However, the umpires decide to have a check regarding the clarity of the catch. The replays roll in and t |
| 118.6 : 118.6: J Anderson to Lyon, OUT! Umpire's call and England have done extremely well to restrict Australia under 350. Once again the shiny side of the ball is on the inside. Gets prodigious reverse swing on that as Lyon loses his balance in an attempt to flick it away. Misses it completely to get hit on the pads. The hosts roar in appeal and the umpire obliges. Lyon opts for the DRS. There is no bat involved. It's in line and would have clipped the leg stump. That is it! AUSTRALIA ARE BOWLED OUT |
| 2.5 : 2.5: J Hazlewood to Cook, FOUR! Well played! Length delivery in line of the stumps, Cook shuffles a bit and clips it nicely through backward square leg to find the fence. His first of the innings. |
| 3.1 : 3.1: J Bird to Stoneman, FOUR! A cracker of a stroke! Stoneman is looking very confident in the middle. Leans ahead to a full delivery and drives it elegantly through covers to pick up a boundary. |
| 6.6 : 6.6: J Hazlewood to A Cook, FOUR! Brilliant! Short delivery, sits up nicely for Cook. He nails the pull and dismisses the ball from its presence. The ball rockets through square leg to reach the fence. |
| 10.3 : 10.3: Pat Cummins to Cook, FOUR! Superb from Cook! Splits the gap to perfection! Cummins overpitches it again, Cook leans forward and smashes it off the meat. Brilliant timing as the ball pierces the gap through cover to the fence. |
| 11.3: Lyon to Stoneman, OUT! What-a-catch! Nathan Lyon, you beauty! This is a stunning return catch and Shane Warner on air goes - NICE GARRY! He draws first blood and has the crowd right behind him. Nicely floats it up around off, gives it a lot of revs. Stoneman advances down the track to go after it but ends up getting a leading edge to the right of Lyon. Seemed like the ball would go past him, but... No. Lyon shows outstanding reflexes as he leaps just a bit and stretches out his right hand |
| 13.4 : 13.4: N Lyon to Vince, FOUR! Glorious from Vince! He is off the mark as well! He is a good driver of the ball and it's a treat to watch him play. Lyon tosses it up wider outside off, Vince leans into it and laces it through extra cover for a boundary. No need to run for those! |
| 14.3 : 14.3: J Bird to Cook, FOUR! Ahhhh, gets one now! This is even better! The previous one off the pads but this a classical punch down the ground! It's a length delivery on middle and off, Alastair stays back and unfurls a lovely punch past the bowler. Warner at mid off had no chance to cut that off. Another milestone for Cook - He becomes the first Englishman to score 15K international runs, veteran for a reason! |
| 16.4 : 16.4: J Bird to Cook, FOUR! Cracks it away! Short and outside off, a bit of width on offer. Enough for Cook to make the most of it as he rocks back and slaps it wide of the man at gully to pick up a boundary towards third man. Is has got a good start there. Needs to make a big one. |
| 17.3 : 17.3: N Lyon to J Vince, FOUR! Vince and his drives! Have mentioned it before as well. Simply textbook stuff! Lyon tosses it up outside off, asking Vince to go after it. He obliges and times his drive elegantly through extra cover. The man there did dive but the ball beats him to reach the fence. |
| 22.3: J Bird to Vince, FOUR! In the air... safe again! It's on a length and once again in the corridor outside off, Vince needs to just keep it out as this is the last over before tea. But for some reason he thinks this as an opportunity to score. Goes fishing after it with a drive but gets a thick outside edge which flies past the man at backward point for a boundary. Cook immediately comes up to him to have a word. |
| 23.2 : 23.2: Pat Cummins to A Cook, FOUR! Hit with authority! Cook is flowing at the moment. Short ball on off, the southpaw stands tall and pulls it with aplomb over mid-wicket for a boundary. This is now the highest score for Cook in the series. |
| 23.6 : 23.6: Pat Cummins to Cook, FOUR! All about timing and grace! Back of a length outside off, Cook hangs back and punches it through covers to find the fence. |
| 24.1 : 24.1: Hazlewood to Vince, OUT! Got him! Hazlewood is absolutely pumped up. Just the start the hosts wanted after the break. He steams in and bowls a fullish ball around off, reversing in appreciably. Vince is caught in a tangle as he tries to drive it down the ground but seems to have missed it to get pinged on the pads. The Aussies appeal in unison and the umpire raises the dreaded finger. James walks across to his partner but doesn't challenge the decision. There were two noises on that says |
| 29.5 : 29.5: Pat Cummins to Cook, FOUR! There it is! 56th Test fifty for the English ex skipper! How badly he needed this? A fifty after 11 innings, this will calm him down. Well played, Cooky! Now convert this into a big one. Cummins after keeping it outside off, cleverly attacks the stumps. Fires it full on middle and leg but Cook is up for it. He leans across and whips it through mid-wicket. No one in the deep and he picks up a boundary. The Barmy Army loves it as well. |
| 30.4 : 30.4: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Using the pace of the bowler! Root is just good at doing it. Hazlewood bowls this a bit short at 139.7 clicks, Root stays back and opens the face of the bat at the very last moment. Seemed like it went off the edge but he intended to play there. Goes right between the slip cordon and the man at gully for a boundary. |
| 31.3 : 31.3: M Marsh to Cook, FOUR! Beautiful! Looks so beautiful when the ball hits the sweet spot! Marsh overcooks this one but Cook doesn't miss out. Takes a stride forward and bunts it back down the track past mid off for a rocketing boundary. He held the pose as well. |
| 33.2 : 33.2: M Marsh to Cook, FOUR! Slashed! Short and wide outside off, Alastair Cook stays back and flays it powerfully to beat the man at gully. A boundary results. |
| 34.2: J Bird to Root, FOUR! Deft! Short and outside off, Root once again sits back, uses the pace of the bowler and delicately gets it between the slip cordon and gully for a boundary. |
| 39.2: N Lyon to Cook, FOUR! Shot! Short and spinning away, Cook rocks back and slaps it through covers to find the fence. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. Sensible cricket from them. |
| 42.1 : 42.1: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Streaky runs! Back of a length ball outside off, stays a bit low. Root goes for a punch but gets an outside edge. The ball lands well short of the diving Smith and first slip and beats him to race to the fence. No matter where you are standing, the edges don't seem to carry at the MCG. |
| 46.5 : 46.5: J Hazlewood to Cook, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Short and a lot of room on offer, Cook pounces on it and slaps it behind point for a rocketing boundary. |
| 49.5: N Lyon to Root, FOUR! Lucky Root! That could have easily gone back to disturb the stumps. Slow through the air and on a fullish length on off, Root kneels and goes for a full-fledged sweep but seems to have got a bottom edge. The ball beats the keeper and the leg slip and rolls to the fence behind. The replays show that the bottom edge led the ball between Root's legs and just missed the stumps. How fortunate! |
| 50.4 : 50.4: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Root takes full toll off the loose delivery. Short delivery, the intention is correct but the execution isn't. The line is on leg stump. Root swivels across and pulls it down through the vacant fine leg region to find the fence. Cummins has been struggling and here is another example of that. |
| 52.4: Pat Cummins to A Cook, FOUR! Cook continues to play freely. Moves into the nineties. Fullish delivery around off, Cook just pushes it past the bowler and through mid off. Warner from the same region hare after it, puts in a desperate dive near the ropes but fails to keep the ball in play. |
| 53.2 : 53.2: N Lyon to Root, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Half-tracker on leg stump, Root rocks back and half pulls it behind square on the leg side to pick up another boundary. Moves to 49 with that. |
| 56.1 : 56.1: S Smith to Cook, FOUR! Freebie for Cook and he relishes on it! He won't mind Smith bowling this over. Gets easy for him to milk runs and he is inching closer to his ton. Juicy full toss on middle and leg, Cook clips it through wide mid on to pick up a boundary. |
| 56.4 : 56.4: S Smith to Cook, FOUR! Take a bow, Alastair Cook! A great display of temperament and composure. Reaches his 32nd Test hundred in deserving style and is absolutely elated! He needed this, England needed this and finally it has come. He last scored an Ashes ton way back in 2011. That's 35 innings ago, woah! Coming back to the ball, it is a half-tracker on leg stump. Cook rocks back and pulls it through backward square leg to reach to the milestone in style. Lifts his bat towards the dressin |
| 65.3 : 65.3: J Bird to Cook, FOUR! Shot! Cook is really strong whenever there is width on offer. Short delivery, Cook cuts it past the right side of backward point for a rocketing boundary. Not good from Bird, he needs to find his mark back. |
| 68.2 : 68.2: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Uses the pace of the ball to perfection! Back of a length and a bit of width on offer, Root waits for it and taps it deftly past the gully region for a boundary. |
| 68.5 : 68.5: Cummins to Joe Root, OUT! Cummins draws first blood this morning! Big, big breakthrough. The hard work put in by Hazlewood and Bird has been a major reason for the English skipper's downfall. Well-directed short ball around off, Root is not in a good position but still goes for the pull shot. Is beaten for pace and as a result, he ends up top edging it towards deepish mid-wicket. Lyon who is stationed quite up from the ropes stays cool as a cucumber and pouches it safely. There was a set p |
| 70.3 : 70.3: Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! Is that a dropped chance? Low full toss around off, Malan is rooted inside the crease as he attempts to keep it out but gets an outside edge that flies past the gap between Paine and Smith and races to the fence behind. Well, the replays show that the ball hit the turf before flying behind. So, it was not a chance. |
| 72.5 : 72.5: Pat Cummins to Malan, FOUR! In the air... but safely through the gap! Fuller and a bit of away swing this time, Malan crouches low and looks to square drive this. It's uppish but wide of Lyon at backward point for a boundary. A streaky one. |
| 72.6 : 72.6: Pat Cummins to D Malan, FOUR! More runs! Cummins seems to be frustrated now! Hurls it on a length, just outside off, Malan hangs back and looks to dab it away. Gets it off the outer half past Khawaja at gully for back-to-back boundaries. England trail by 93 runs. |
| 76.2 : 76.2: M Marsh to Cook, FOUR! Flawless from Cook! Marsh goes full, it's on middle and off. Cook leans forward and presents a full face of the bat. Connects the middle of the bat and mid on was a mere spectator. |
| 80.2: Hazlewood to Malan, OUT! Trapped in front! The new cherry works almost instantly for Australia and Josh Hazlewood is absolutely delighted. He comes from around the wicket and drops it on a fuller length around off, it nips back in appreciably. Malan stays rooted inside the crease to defend but the inward movement gets the better of him. He gets pinged on the pads and a loud appeal follows to which umpire S Ravi raises his finger. Malan walks across to Cook, thinks about the review but then |
| 81.6 : 81.6: J Bird to Bairstow, FOUR! Delightful stuff! Bird goes full, searching for some swing but dishes it pretty full outside off. Bairstow leans forward and times his drive well to beat Warner at mid off and picks up a boundary. |
| 83.4 : 83.4: J Bird to Bairstow, FOUR! Through the slip cordon! This must be frustrating for the Aussies! Bird nicely bowls it full, lures Bairstow into a drive who obliges. The ball moves away a bit, takes a fat edge and flies right between second slip and gully for a streaky boundary. |
| 85.6 : 85.6: J Bird to Cook, FOUR! Lovely straight drive from Cook! Bird in his quest to bring it back in, overpitches it by a margin. Cook doesn't miss out as he leans forward and caresses it down the ground past Bairstow for a boundary down the ground. Effortless from Alastair! |
| 87.5 : 87.5: J Bird to Bairstow, FOUR! Wayward from Bird! Too straight from him, it's a cross seam delivery down the leg side. All Jonny had to do was to get some bat on it, he does so and Paine behind the stumps, despite a full stretch dive to his left couldn't cut it off. Races away to the fine leg fence for a boundary. |
| 89.6 : 89.6: N Lyon to Bairstow, OUT! Nathan Lyon at it again! Good bowling, good catch from Paine as well! Australia strike early in the session, just what they wanted. The bowling change does the trick again. Lyon pushes it quicker through the air, bowls it short and it turns back in with extra bounce. Bairstow goes back to cut but the length isn't a good one to play that kind of a shot. Gets a faint tickle and Tim Paine behind the stumps gathers it. Not an easy take, that. Half the English side back |
| 91.1 : 91.1: N Lyon to Ali, SIX! In the air... just over Cummins! What is Ali doing here? Tries to take Lyon on and nearly pays the price. The offies bowls it slower through the air, Moeen dances down the track to go big down the ground but is done in by the flight. Miscues it high in the air and shouts of CATCH IT! follows. Pat Cummins who is placed at deepish mid on backtracks, keeps his eyes on the ball but is aware that the momentum might take him further. By the time he tries to take it the ball |
| 91.2 : 91.2: N Lyon to Ali, FOUR! Uppish but safe again! Tosses it up generously outside off, Ali looks to go after it again. Gets it past the man at short cover for a boundary. |
| 92.3 : 92.3: Pat Cummins to Ali, FOUR! Ali is living dangerously here! Short of a length delivery, on the body of Moeen. He looks to pull but isn't in complete control. The ball flies right between the fine leg fielder and deep square leg fielder and goes to the fence. |
| 93.1 : 93.1: Lyon to Ali, OUT! Got him! What a catch by Shaun Marsh! Spectacular stuff from him and his mates barge towards him. Steven Smith likes it and lets out a huge roar. Lyon wins the battle again, 6th time in the series his dismisses Moeen Ali. Third one in the game for him and boy, Australia on the charge now. He drops it a bit short and serves it around off, Ali rocks back to punch it over cover but Shaun Marsh at short extra cover times his leap to perfection to take a stunning catch over hi |
| 94.1: Cummins to A Cook, FOUR! Top edge but it flies safely! 150 up for Alastair Cook. 11th time he has reached the landmark, third time against Australia. Phenomenal! Cummins bangs in a short ball, Cook is in a tangle as he tries to play the hook shot. Gets a top edge but much to his delight the ball flies safely over the keeper for a boundary. Raises his bat and gets a warm applause from the crowd. |
| 104.1: M Marsh to Cook, FOUR! Pure timing and class! Back of a length ball outside off, Cook stands tall and times his punch to perfection. He beats the two men at short cover and picks up a boundary. |
| 109.6 : 109.6: J Bird to C Woakes, FOUR! A boundary after ages! Fullish ball outside off, Woakes creams it through extra cover. Warner from mid off gives a long hard chase but only comes second best. |
| 110.4 : 110.4: J Hazlewood to C Woakes, FOUR! Oh no, another one flies past the gap between the keeper and first slip. The edges fly at a lower height at the MCG and it is the keeper who needs to go for those catches. On a length around off, Woakes feels for it but gets an outside edge. Paine doesn't go for the catch, neither does Smith and the ball flies past and reaches to the fence behind. Cricket. What a feeling! is flashed on a board behind. Sums it up pretty nicely. |
| 111.2 : 111.2: J Bird to C Woakes, FOUR! Streaky again! On a drivable length outside off, Woakes falls for the bait and gets an outside edge past the slip region to pick up a boundary. The Barmy Army is cheering loudly. |
| 114.5 : 114.5: Pat Cummins to Woakes, OUT! Australia once again strike early after the break! The short ball ploy has worked against Woakes. Smart bowling from Cummins and he reaps the dividends for doing so. He cleverly bowls a slower bouncer around leg stump, Woakes goes for a pull shot but the ball arrives really late after pitching. Ends up getting it off the gloves and the ball lobs towards Tim Paine. He accepts the dolly gleefully. Actually the speed of the delivery was 132.2 kph but Cummins rolle |
| 116.4 : 116.4: Pat Cummins to Tom Curran, FOUR! First Test runs for Tom Curran! That was streaky but he will be happy to open his account. In the zone outside off, Curran pokes at it and gets an outside edge past first slip to pick up a boundary. |
| 119.3 : 119.3: J Hazlewood to Curran, OUT! Yes, there is a nick and the Australians have got their man! Judicious use of the review from them. Probing line from Hazlewood. He bowls a back of a length ball in the corridor of uncertainty, Curran tries to defend it but seems to have got an outside edge. Paine collects it and goes up in an appeal. However, umpire Dharmasena shakes his head. Smith is really confident and takes the DRS immediately. Time for the replays. The Hot Spot shows a slight mark and t |
| 122.1 : 122.1: Pat Cummins to Broad, FOUR! How do you explain that shot? That was really funny. Cummins angles in a shortish delivery from around the wicket and aims at Broad's body. He backs away and manages to ramp it over the slip fielder to pick up a boundary. He didn't intend to play it that fine but somehow succeeds. |
| 123.2 : 123.2: Hazlewood to S Broad, FOUR! Broad is entertaining the crowd. Bouncer on middle, shoots off the deck. Broad has his feet up in the air as he attempts a pull but top edges it over the keeper to find the ropes. |
| 123.6 : 123.6: J Hazlewood to A Cook, FOUR! Pure class! Good length ball around off, Cook stands tall and caresses it through covers for a glorious boundary. Moves into the 190s. |
| 125.6: J Hazlewood to Broad, FOUR! These are handy runs for England. Broad is throwing his bat around and it is working. Fuller in length but it is well outside off, Broad flays at it and gets it through backward point to find the fence. |
| 126.1 : 126.1: N Lyon to Cook, FOUR! Picks his spot to perfection! He has mixed caution with aggression to great effect today. Skips down the track to the tossed up delivery and times his loft nicely over mid on to pick up a boundary. Moves to 195 with that. |
| 127.4 : 127.4: J Bird to A Cook, FOUR! A glorious drive! Sensational shot to reach to a double ton! Class act from Cook! He becomes the first player to score two double hundreds in Australia. This is his 5th overall! Masterclass innings and this shall be remembered for a very, very long time. Bird keeps it full on the stumps, Alastair presses forward a touch and just checks his drive. Gets it off the middle of the bat and away she races for a boundary towards long on. Takes the helmet off, is a bit emo |
| 129.4: J Bird to Broad, FOUR! Will it reach a boundary this time? Yes, it does! Bird drops it on a length outside off, Broad makes room and flays it through extra cover. This time the batsmen continue to run hard, keeping in mind that the ball might stop again. It crosses the fence, a boundary results. Tell you what, 50-run stand is up as well. |
| 130.6 : 130.6: Lyon to Broad, SIX! That's gone the distance! Broad has nailed one down the ground! Lyon flights it on the stumps, Stuart clears his front leg and just swings across the line. Gets enough behind the shot as the ball sails over the long on fence for a biggie. |
| 131.6: Pat Cummins to Broad, FOUR! Runs are flowing for England. Back of a length on middle, Broad backs away and carves it over the leaping extra cover fielder to find the fence. |
| 132.5 : 132.5: N Lyon to Broad, FOUR! How well has Broad timed this? Brilliant! A bit short and outside off, Stuart rocks back and punches it square of the wicket on the off side for a boundary. He moves into the 40s. |
| 137.1 : 137.1: Pat Cummins to Broad, FOUR! Beats the dive of the fielder in the deep and reaches his fifty! Well played Broad! He was tested with some short stuff when he walked in but now has played a class knock to take the game away from Australia. Shortish and angling in on the body, Broad clears his front leg and nails the pull to beat the two men in the deep, fine leg and deep square leg. A boundary results! |
| 137.2 : 137.2: Pat Cummins to S Broad, FOUR! Now the 100-run stand comes up! No stopping Broad! Short ball, on middle and leg, Broad pulls it in the same region. Lyon at deep square leg comes in a few steps but then seems to have misjudged it completely. The ball flies over his head and it's another boundary to Stuart. |
| 137.5 : 137.5: Pat Cummins to Broad, OUT! Broad is asked to walk off! But this could be really, really debatable! I will explain you why! Cummins bowls a short ball outside off, Broad goes for the upper cut but seems to have mistimed it. The ball goes high up in the and Usman Khawaja from third man calls for it. He comes sprinting in and then at the very last minute, dives forward to take it inches above the ground. He claims that he has taken it but umpire Dharmasena refers it upstairs but gives the so |
| 139.5: Pat Cummins to Cook, FOUR! Uppish but safe! Short and outside off, Cook waits for the ball to come and then at the very last moment dabs it away, it flies past a diving Khawaja at gully for a boundary to take the lead in excess of 150! |
| 139.6 : 139.6: Pat Cummins to Cook, FOUR! This is better! Another short ball outside off, Cook goes after it and places it perfectly through point to find the fence. |
| 141.5 : 141.5: Marsh to A Cook, FOUR! Slashes and slashes hard at it! Marsh bowls it short and offers a bit of width, Cook goes hard at it. Gets a thick edge which flies past gully to the third man fence for a boundary. |
| 143.5: M Marsh to Cook, FOUR! Superb shot! Fuller in length and just outside off, Cook leans ahead and drives it elegantly between extra cover and mid off to pick up a boundary. |
| 144.1 : 144.1: Pat Cummins to Anderson, OUT! Gone first ball! They came and they are going now. Didn't even let me open my eyes! Cummins from around the wicket comes running in and bangs in a short ball on middle and leg, Anderson tries to fend it away but all he manages is to do that straight to Cameron Bancroft at short leg who takes a smart catch. ENGLAND HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT FOR 491! |
| 3.3 : 3.3: S Broad to Bancroft, FOUR! Shot! Broad goes short, doesn't rise much and Bancroft is up for the task. He swivels just a touch and goes bang over mid-wicket with a pull shot. No need to run for those. |
| 3.4 : 3.4: S Broad to Bancroft, FOUR! Classical! We saw a few from Cook when he was batting and now this young lad shows us what he has got. After a short one, Broad pitches it up but it's too full. Bancroft leans ahead and with a straight bat he drives it down the ground for back-to-back boundaries. Pleasing to the eyes stuff! |
| 4.3 : 4.3: J Anderson to Warner, FOUR! Nicely done by Warner! Anderson slants it away on a length outside off, Warner just opens the face of the bat to guide it between the gap at first slip and the gully fielder for a boundary. Seemed to have gone off the edge but he intended to play there. |
| 12.1 : 12.1: Tom Curran to Warner, FOUR! Gets one through the cover region! This should calm Warner's nerves! Curran pitches it up outside off, Warner makes room and drills it through extra cover for a rocketing boundary. |
| 12.6 : 12.6: Tom Curran to Bancroft, FOUR! Lovely shot! We saw him playing one straight drive at the start and he does it again! This was even better. Curran keeps it full on the stumps, Bancroft is quick to bring his bat down and drive it back from where it came. Tom in his followthrough fails to stop it as the ball goes through his legs to the fence for a boundary. |
| 15.3 : 15.3: C Woakes to C Bancroft, FOUR! Beautiful stroke! Bancroft is playing positive cricket and it is working for him. Fractionally overpitched on middle, Bancroft clips it nonchalantly through wide mid on and away she whistles to the fence. |
| 15.4 : 15.4: C Woakes to Bancroft, OUT! Bowled 'em! Woakes is up and running. Look at the jubilation on his face! Bowls a good length ball around off, in the corridor of uncertainty and gets it to nip in a touch after pitching. Bancroft leans ahead tentatively and tries to defend it but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball then goes onto crash into the stumps. He was looking solid as compared to his first innings but fails to make it count. This is the fourth Australian batsman who has dragged i |
| 18.4: M Ali to Khawaja, SIX! What a way to get off the mark! This is good intent from Khawaja. He skips down the track to the tossed up ball around off and lifts it over long off for a big maximum. The replays show that a young man in crowd took a scorcher of a catch. His friends are congratulating him and have big smiles on their faces. |
| 18.6 : 18.6: M Ali to Khawaja, FOUR! Khawaja is putting Ali is out of his rhythm. Excellent use of the field again as he drives it crisply through mid off for a glorious boundary. 11 from the over. |
| 21.1 : 21.1: J Anderson to Khawaja, OUT! Edged and gone! The strike bowler brings in the reward and England continue to remain on top. He is so good from around the wicket and it works for him. Bowls it on a good length around off, coming in with the natural angle but just when the ball pitches on the track, it seams away after that. Khawaja has no choice but to play at it and an outside edge is induced. Jonny Bairstow moves to his left and takes a regulation catch. |
| 26.1: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Beautiful! Smith is such a treat to watch when he is in the zone. Shuffles a bit to the half volley and drives it crisply down the ground. No chance for mid off to cut it off and the ball whistles away to the fence. |
| 40.4 : 40.4: Tom Curran to Warner, FOUR! That will certainly break the shackles! Curran pounds in a short ball, doesn't rise much. Warner with one leg up in the air, pulls it over mid-wicket. Didn't try to hit it hard just timed it well. Away she goes for a boundary. The crowd loves it! |
| 43.3 : 43.3: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Cracked it through with that strong bottom hand! Woakes goes wider of the crease and angles in a fuller ball on middle and off. Smith with no feet movement, relies more on his power this time. He packs a drive to split the gap between extra cover and mid off to pick up a boundary. |
| 46.2 : 46.2: J Anderson to D Warner, FOUR! Streaky runs! Anderson has won a mini battle here. Bowls a good length ball in the zone of apprehension, takes off a bit after pitching. Warner pushes at it tentatively and gets it off the outer half wide of the man at gully. The fielder gives a chase but only comes second best. |
| 58.1 : 58.1: M Ali to D Warner, FOUR! Warner breaks the shackles! Slow through the air outside off, Warner gets to the pitch of the ball and takes it on the full. Drives it elegantly through covers to find the fence. Pretty much reminiscent of Alastiar's Cook's drives in this match. |
| 61.1: Tom Curran to D Warner, FOUR! Brilliantly done! Shortish ball on off, Warner hops a bit and short-arm-jabs it in the gap between mid on and mid-wicket to pick up a boundary. Good timing on that, it raced off the bat. |
| 63.1: Tom Curran to Warner, FOUR! Lovely placement! Fractionally full, it's outside off, Warner leans into it and with pure timing he caresses it through cover to beat the dive of the man there. Warner is upping the ante in the last couple of overs now. |
| 65.2 : 65.2: C Woakes to Warner, FOUR! Easy peasy for Warner! Too full and too straight from Woakes, Warner works it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 66.4 : 66.4: D Malan to Smith, FOUR! That's a good shot to level the scores! Malan drops it short on leg, Smith waits for it and then swipes it on the turf to get it well over Cook at leg slip for a boundary towards fine leg. First boundary of the day for the Aussie skipper. |
| 67.2 : 67.2: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! No feet movement but still picks up a boundary! Smith stays leg side, Woakes fires it full and wide on off. Steven reaches out to that one and drives it through covers. Finds the gap and picks up his second boundary of the day. |
| 69.2: Joe Root to Warner, OUT! Got him! Joe Root brings himself into the attack and strikes! That's a big wicket. He is all pumped up, the Barmy Army finds its voice again. Ladies and Gentlemen, David Warner has thrown it away. Root stays round the wicket and floats it up around the rough. The ball turns a touch and a puff of dust was seen coming off. Warner gets down on one knee to slog sweep it across the line but ends up miscuing it high up in the air on the off side. Shouts of Catch it from |
| 72.4 : 72.4: J Anderson to S Marsh, FOUR! Edgyyyy! Anderson slants it across the left-hander, it swings away late and Marsh gets squared up. He tentatively pokes at it and gets it off the outer half right between the slip cordon and the gully fielder for a streaky boundary. |
| 75.6 : 75.6: S Broad to Marsh, OUT! Edged and that's a stunner from Jonny Bairstow! Stuart Broad removes Shaun Marsh and have a look at the joy on the faces of the England players. What were you doing Marsh? The lunch was around the corner and you could have just left it alone. Sigh! Got to feel for Steven Smith, he can't believe as he stands in disappointment at the other end. Broad from over the wicket, drops it on a length and gets the ball to seam away a touch. Shaun Marsh pokes at it and it is eno |
| 83.4 : 83.4: S Broad to M Marsh, FOUR! Bashed it! Mitchell Marsh is off the mark finally and this is some shot to get off the mark. Broad serves a half volley, wanting Marsh to go after it and he obliges. Bends his back knee and drills it along the ground through cover. |
| 87.2 : 87.2: C Woakes to Smith, FOUR! Helps it on its way! Short delivery, very wayward as it is down the leg side. Smith moves inside the line and makes sure he helps it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 105.5 : 105.5: S Broad to M Marsh, FOUR! A boundary after ages! Half volley outside off, Marsh leans ahead and strokes it through covers for a glorious boundary. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. Resolute stuff! |
| 106.4 : 106.4: J Anderson to Smith, FOUR! Nervy! A rare false stroke from the Australian skipper. On a length outside off, shaping away a touch. Smith goes for a drive but gets an outside edge that flies towards the left of gully and goes past him in a flash to the fence behind. Moves into the nineties with that. |
| 109.3 : 109.3: S Broad to Marsh, FOUR! Poor delivery and duly punished! Short and room on offer, Marsh pounces on it and cuts it through backward point for a boundary. |
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