| 0.4 : 0.4: S Broad to Warner, OUT! Caught behind! Broad gets Warner again! A wry smile from Warner as he mutters something like 'knicked it' to Harris while going past. Gosh. He cannot buy a run against Broad. The son of Chris Broad is flying. Just the start England would have wanted after being asked to bowl first. A length delivery wide outside off, could have been left alone but Warner wants to play at it. Wants to have a feel. Then, he realizes that this is just the first over and he can let it go |
| 2.1 : 2.1: S Broad to Harris, FOUR! Beautiful drive! This is full and outside off, Harris just leans into his drive and caresses it through covers for a boundary. |
| 2.5 : 2.5: S Broad to Labuschagne, FOUR! Uppish but well short of the Overton at aquarish mid-wicket. On the pads of Marnus, he flicks the ball off his pads towards the mid-wicket, Overton dives to his right in an attempt to stop the ball but he is a bit far away. The ball goes to the fence and boundary is signalled. |
| 5.6 : 5.6: J Archer to Labuschagne, FOUR! On the pads of Marnus, he flicks it between mid-wicket and square leg as he finds the gap and the ball races to the fence. Good over for the Aussies this. |
| 6.6: S Broad to Harris, OUT! LBW! The review is retained but Australia lose their second wicket in the form of Marcus Harris. This was pitched on a length around the fourth stump line by Broad, he gets it to angle into the southpaw. Harris looks to come on the front foot and defend it but misses the ball to get hit high on the pad. The English players appeal and the umpire raises his finger after thinking for a long time. Harris is not totally convinced that this would hit the stumps. He has a |
| 9.1 : 9.1: J Archer to S Smith, FOUR! SUBLIME! Half volley outside off, Smith leans and drives it through the covers. No one moves. |
| 12.3 : 12.3: S Broad to Labuschagne, FOUR! Beautiful shot! First half volley of the day by England and just a push by Labuschagne on this. Full ball on middle and leg, Labuschagne leans on his front foot and pushes it through mid on for a boundary. The pace of the outfield and the slope of the ground also helped a bit in taking the ball towards the fence. |
| 12.6 : 12.6: S Broad to Labuschagne, FOUR! Just a flick and boom, a boundary! Broad bowls this full and on the pads of Marnus, he flicks it with class towards mid-wicket, in the gap and the ball races towards the fence. Good over for the Aussies this. 8 off it. |
| 13.4 : 13.4: Ben Stokes to S Smith, FOUR! SWEET! Overpitched, outside off, Smith leans and drives it through the covers. Jofra Archer ambles after it from cover but never gets close to the ball. |
| 13.5 : 13.5: Ben Stokes to S Smith, FOUR! Cracking shot. Short and outside off, Smith rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket. |
| 14.2 : 14.2: J Leach to Labuschagne, FOUR! Bad ball. Short and outside off, Labuschagne goes back and punches it behind point. The ball races away. |
| 14.3 : 14.3: J Leach to Labuschagne, FOUR! Short again, outside off once more, Marnus cuts it behind point again and beats backward point. |
| 15.4 : 15.4: Ben Stokes to S Smith, FOUR! A short ball, down the leg side, Smith pulls it with total control through fine leg to find the fence. |
| 23.1 : 23.1: C Overton to Labuschagne, FOUR! AMAZING! Full and outside off, Labuschagne leans and drives it through cover, past the diving fielder to his left, finding the ropes behind. |
| 25.1: C Overton to Labuschagne, FOUR! Nicely timed. Full and outside off, Labuschagne leans and drives it behind point. The ball beats the diving gully fielder and races to the fence. Moves to 49. |
| 29.1: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! AWESOME! Great shot. Loosener from Broad and Smith does not miss out. Overpitched, around off, Steven gets across and drives it powerfully down the ground through mid on. |
| 30.2 : 30.2: J Archer to S Smith, FOUR! SMOKED! Ordinary ball. Short and outside off, Smith arches back and flays it behind point for a boundary! The stand is worth 90 from 140 balls. Smith moves to 42 from 63 with his 6th boundary. |
| 35.2: C Overton to M Labuschagne, FOUR! 100-RUN STAND IS UP! Full and outside off, Labuschagne looks to drive but the ball goes off the outside edge past third slip towards the third man fence. Good fight. |
| 37.6 : 37.6: C Overton to Labuschagne, FOUR! Late cut! Risky but well played. A length ball outside off, Labuschagne steers it with an open bat-face and guides it behind gully to third man! The stand moves to 110 now. |
| 38.1 : 38.1: Ben Stokes to Smith, FOUR! HALF CENTURY FOR SMITH NOW! 26th in Tests, 8th in the Ashes. Gets there in bizarre fashion. Full and miles outside off, Smith reaches out, slips and almost dives to get bat to ball. Manages to get it through cover but was there any need to go after that? He could have so easily nicked it behind or handed a catch to cover-point. Anyways, another terrific innings. |
| 39.2 : 39.2: Overton to M Labuschagne, OUT! BOWLED! A jaffa to break a terrific stand. We felt someone had to something special to break this partnership and Overton has done it. This is so, so similar to his first Test wicket in Adelaide. That time, it was Smith. This time, it is Labuschagne. Nothing much either batsman could have done on either occasion. A length ball, outside off, Labuschagne looks to defend, thinking he has covered the line but the ball seams back in, goes between bat and pad and h |
| 39.4 : 39.4: C Overton to Head, FOUR! Wrong line. Overpitched outside leg, Head flicks it through square leg and gets off the mark. |
| 42.5 : 42.5: Ben Stokes to Head, FOUR! JUST OVER! That is why that man has been placed there. Full and down the leg side, Head flicks it and it looks to be a very good shot. Till Jos Buttler flies across to his left at squarish mid-wicket. But the ball flies over him to the fence at mid-wicket. |
| 43.4 : 43.4: C Overton to Head, FOUR! Wrong line and punished. A length ball, down the leg side, Head tucks it through square leg. Plenty of free real estate there. |
| 45.2 : 45.2: J Archer to Smith, FOUR! Great reply by Smith. This is fuller and outside off, Smith pushes this towards cover with one hand and the ball races to the fence. First boundary of the day! |
| 45.3 : 45.3: J Archer to Smith, DROPPED AND FOUR! Almost into the hands of Archer. A low full toss by Archer on middle, Smith pushes it back towards him uppishly. Archer gets his right hand's fingertips to it but the ball goes through his hand and straight down the ground towards the mid off fence. |
| 48.4 : 48.4: S Broad to Head, OUT! LBW! Travis Head is outta here and the hosts get their first breakthrough of the day. Broad is the man again. He bowls this on a length outside off, it comes in with the angle. Head looks to block it out but misses as the ball hits him on the knee roll. The English players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. Smith and Head mull over taking the review but eventually decide against it. Replays roll in and Ball Tracker shows it to be clipping leg. |
| 51.4: J Archer to Smith, FOUR! Great shot by Smith! This is a length ball outside off, Smith just guides it towards the empty third man region and the ball races towards the fence. |
| 55.3 : 55.3: J Archer to Wade, FOUR! Good length ball outside off, Wade just opens the face of the bat and guides this one between point and gully as the ball races towards the third man fence. |
| 56.5 : 56.5: J Leach to Wade, FOUR! Flighted by Leach on the pads of Wade, he comes down the track and flicks it towards mid-wicket as the ball races to the fence. |
| 58.3 : 58.3: J Leach to Smith, FOUR! Whipped and whipped well. This is floated on the pads again, Smith just gets on the front foot and flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 60.5 : 60.5: J Leach to Wade, OUT! CAUGHT! Wade is out of here and Australia are five down now! Leach tosses this one just outside off, Wade comes down the track and looks to heave this one over mid-wicket. It takes a thickish outside edge as the ball skies towards mid on. Root at mid on takes a couple of steps back, takes a lot of time and eventually settles himself under it and takes a good catch. The 41-run partnership is broken and Wade departs for 16. |
| 68.4 : 68.4: J Leach to Paine, FOUR! Excellent finding of the gap! Full and outside off, Paine comes forward and drives. Silly point jumps and the ball goes through his legs. Short extra cover gets across but cannot put in a dive. Joe Root does so, from mid off but his dive cannot take him near to the ball. It scoots through and the ball races to the fence. |
| 71.2 : 71.2: S Broad to S Smith, FOUR! Another back foot drive! How does he manage those? A length ball outside off, Smith goes back and punch-drives it through the covers. 250 UP FOR AUSTRALIA. |
| 72.3 : 72.3: J Leach to Paine, FOUR! Short and outside off, Paine rocks back and punches it through the covers! |
| 73.1 : 73.1: Ben Stokes to Paine, FOUR! BEAUTY! Loosener from Stokes, a gentle half volley outside off but even that has to be put away. Paine drives it straight back down the ground and beats wide mid on. |
| 73.3 : 73.3: Ben Stokes to Smith, FOUR! Another bad ball. Short and down the leg side, Smith hooks it towards fine leg! |
| 73.4 : 73.4: Ben Stokes to Smith, FOUR! How do you play that? Unbelievable from the 'I-make-them-look-believable' Smith. Outside off, on a length, Smith waits and waits and at the last moment, guides it between the second slip fielder and gully to third man! |
| 75.6 : 75.6: Ben Stokes to Smith, FOUR! When you are on 121, this is a gift. A full toss outside off, Smith leans and drives it through the covers. |
| 80.4 : 80.4: S Broad to Tim Paine, FOUR! Cracking shot. Short and wide outside off, Paine cuts it through point for a boundary! The stand moves to 72 from 119 balls. |
| 82.3 : 82.3: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Stand and deliver. Full and wide outside off, Smith leans and eases this through the covers. 300 UP FOR AUSTRALIA with that. |
| 85.2 : 85.2: J Archer to Paine, FOUR! BRILLIANT! Pretty straight, full and outside off, a bit of width, Paine cashes in and drives it through the covers. The stand is worth 93 from 147 balls now. |
| 89.3 : 89.3: C Overton to Paine, FOUR! CARESSED! Half volley outside off, Paine comes forward and drives it between cover and mid off. Stuart Broad gives it a good chase from mid off but the ball wins the race. 100-RUN STAND IS UP! |
| 90.3: Ben Stokes to Paine, FOUR! CLASSY! Half volley outside off, into the mid 80s is Stokes, Paine leans and drives it through the covers. |
| 93.3: C Overton to Smith, FOUR! Help yourself. Full and outside off, pretty wide, Smith leans and drives it through the covers. |
| 95.2 : 95.2: C Overton to Smith, FOUR! CLASSY! Boundary number 18 for Smith. Another fine shot. Full and straight, Smith drives it straight back to where it came from. Through mid on and to the fence. |
| 96.2: J Archer to Smith, FOUR! Off the glove. A short ball, down the leg side, Smith gets across to nudge and just gets it past a diving Jonny Bairstow to the fine leg fence. |
| 98.6 : 98.6: J Archer to Paine, FOUR! Short and outside off, Paine cuts it behind point and gets a boundary! |
| 100.5 : 100.5: Joe Denly to Smith, FOUR! Oh dear. Loads of rubbish. A half-tracker, around middle, Smith heaves this wide of mid on and finds the fence as well. And with that STEVEN SMITH GOES PAST VIRAT KOHLI. He now has 6750 Test runs, as opposed to Kohli's 6749. Smith's average is 64.90, while VK's average is 53.14. |
| 101.1 : 101.1: C Overton to Tim Paine, OUT! Caught behind! A wicket on the very first ball after Tea! Will this spice England up? A length ball, outside off, Paine looks to defend but the ball straightens slightly to take a thin outside edge. Jonny Bairstow collects and appeals and Paine is on his bike. A dogged, watchful innings comes to an end and England break the 145-run stand at last. |
| 101.3 : 101.3: C Overton to Cummins, FOUR! Cummins is underway. Full and down the leg side, Patrick just tickles it towards the fine leg fence. |
| 102.1 : 102.1: J Leach to Smith, SIX! A full toss from Leach, Smith comes down the track and hammers it over mid-wicket. Just clears the ropes. |
| 104.2 : 104.2: J Leach to Smith, FOUR! Another freebie. A flighted ball, Smith dances down the track, converts this into a full toss and whips this through mid-wicket. |
| 104.6 : 104.6: J Leach to Pat Cummins, OUT! Edged and taken. This is not a no ball. Nicely bowled. Flighted outside off, Cummins comes forward to defend but there is some extra bounce on this one. The ball hits the splice of the bat and goes towards first slip where Ben Stokes takes a sitter. |
| 107.3 : 107.3: C Overton to S Smith, FOUR! Into the 190s! A short ball outside off, Smith gets across and drags this wide of mid on for a boundary! |
| 111.5 : 111.5: C Overton to Starc, FOUR! CRISP! Full and straight, Starc drives this straight back as an arrow and hits the long on fence! |
| 112.1 : 112.1: J Leach to Smith, SIX! Moves to 197! Full and outside off, Smith comes down the track and lofts it over mid off. He seems to have got enough on it and clears long off! 400 UP FOR AUSTRALIA! |
| 114.6 : 114.6: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Fine shot. Full and around middle, Smith drives this through mid on and finds the long on fence. |
| 116.3 : 116.3: S Broad to Starc, FOUR! That is a full toss, on the pads and Starc tickles it to the fine leg fence. |
| 116.4 : 116.4: S Broad to Starc, FOUR! SPANKED! Starc has got the license. Full and on middle, Starc hammers this straight back past the bowler through mid on! |
| 116.5 : 116.5: S Broad to Starc, FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Starc is in the mood. Full and straight again, Starc bashes it over mid on! |
| 116.6 : 116.6: S Broad to Starc, FOUR! A bit streaky this time and Starc is having fun at Broad's cost. A length ball outside off, pretty wide, Starc throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge which flies behind point to the fence! 17 from the over. |
| 117.4 : 117.4: Joe Root to Smith, FOUR! Terrific shot. Full and down the leg side, Smith paddles this through fine leg and beats the man in the deep, to his right! 50-RUN STAND is up between these two as well! |
| 117.5 : 117.5: Joe Root to Smith, OUT! Oh dear. What has happened? Is the press working? Stop it. Restart. Steven Smith has been dismissed. Yes, you read that right. Steven Smith has been dismissed. Copy that. Roger that. England could not find a way to get him out, so he himself has got out. Full and outside off, Smith looks to play the reverse sweep but finds Joe Denly at short third man. Interestingly, Root, who is an off spinner, tried the leg spin and voila, it worked! The best batsman of the oppos |
| 118.3 : 118.3: Archer to N Lyon, TOP EDGE, FOUR! A short ball, around middle, Lyon looks to pull but gets a top edge which sails over long leg! The fielder runs across to his left but cannot get there! The ball just bounces into the ropes. |
| 118.5 : 118.5: J Archer to Lyon, FOUR! Stunning shot. Outside off, Lyon punches it through the covers for a boundary! |
| 119.2 : 119.2: Joe Root to Starc, SIX! TAKE THAT! Tossed up, outside off, Starc gets down and mows it over mid-wicket for half a dozen! |
| 119.5 : 119.5: Joe Root to Starc, FOUR! Another mow. Full and outside off, Starc gets down and swings this cleanly over mid-wicket. Stuart Broad at wide long on can only watch. |
| 119.6 : 119.6: Joe Root to Starc, FOUR! The slog sweep again! Full and in the arc of Starc, looks to dismiss it out of the park but cannot quite get it over. Beats Broad to his left at wide long on. 16 from the over. |
| 120.5 : 120.5: Archer to M Starc, EDGED AND SIX! This is a shorter one outside off, Starc goes for the pull but top edges it towards third man. Buttler goes for a diving effort on the fence but the ball just goes past him and past the boundary ropes for a six. |
| 124.3 : 124.3: J Archer to Lyon, TOP EDGED AND FOUR! Another bouncer by Archer, Lyon goes for the wild pull but he gets a top edge on it. The ball skies and goes behind towards the third man fence on one bounce. |
| 125.5 : 125.5: Joe Root to Lyon, FOUR! Lyon comes down the track to this floated ball on middle and off. He smashes it towards mid-wicket as the ball crosses the fence on one bounce. |
| 6.5 : 6.5: Pat Cummins to Joe Denly, OUT! CAUGHT! Sharp catch by Matthew Wade and Joe Denly is a goner! This is on a length, on middle and leg, Denly looks to tuck it towards the leg side but does so uppishly and straight towards Wade at short leg. It goes quickly towards him, hits him on the chest and the ball bounces out. Wade is quick to react and he dives to his right full stretch to gobble up the ball. Australia get the first wicket that they desperately wanted today and it is delivered by Hazle |
| 7.2 : 7.2: N Lyon to Burns, FOUR! Short and outside off, Burns rocks back and cuts it through point for a boundary! |
| 7.4 : 7.4: N Lyon to Burns, FOUR! Off the bottom edge! Short and outside off, Burns looks to cut but gets a bottom edge past the keeper to the third man fence. |
| 11.3 : 11.3: J Hazlewood to C Overton, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! 50th Test wicket for Hazlewood against England in Tests. The nightwatchman is out of here and early on. Perfect start for the Australians as had Overton hung out there, it would have really frustrated them. Another length delivery by Hazlewood, this is angled into the batter. Overton looks to defend it but does so with hard hands. The ball straightens, goes off the outside edge quickly to Smith at second slip who makes no mistake. |
| 12.6 : 12.6: M Starc to Burns, FOUR! First boundary of the day! Lovely shot. This is fuller and on off, it is a half volley. Burns creams it through covers and it races away to the fence. |
| 15.4 : 15.4: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Deft! Nicely played! Shorter and outside off, Root goes back and plays it late. He guides it past third slip and the ball races away to the third man fence. |
| 16.2 : 16.2: M Starc to Burns, FOUR! A freebie but it still has to be put away! A full toss on off, Burns says thank you very much and creams it through covers for a boundary. |
| 24.4 : 24.4: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Again on the pads of Root, this time he flicks it towards square leg and the ball goes towards the fence in a jiffy. |
| 25.4: N Lyon to Root, FOUR! Too fine! It is on the pads, Root works it fine on the leg side and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 26.2 : 26.2: J Hazlewood to R Burns, FOUR! Good pull shot by Burns! Short and on the leg pole line, Burns gets into position and pulls the ball all along the ground towards the fine leg boundary. |
| 32.3 : 32.3: M Starc to Burns, FOUR! Graceful by Burns! This is short of a length and outside off, Burns rocks onto the back foot and caresses it through covers for a boundary. |
| 32.5 : 32.5: M Starc to Burns, FOUR! FIFTY UP FOR BURNS! A great innings and exactly what England needed. This is a length ball outside off, Burns just opens the face of his bat and guides it down towards the empty third man region for a boundary. His 4th Test fifty but his job is not done as England will be asking for a ton from him so that they have a chance of chasing this mammoth total down. |
| 34.2 : 34.2: M Starc to Root, FOUR! Runs flowing now! Poor ball. Easy pickings for Root. It is on the pads, Root tucks it fine on the leg side and bags a boundary. |
| 35.2: N Lyon to Root, EDGED AND FOUR! Missing the off stump this time by just a whisker. This one is again pitched outside off and it spins back in sharply. Root tries to open the face of his bat and guide it down towards third man but the ball is too close for that. It takes the inside edge and misses the off pole as the ball goes towards the fine leg fence. |
| 40.2: M Starc to Root, FOUR! This time Root gets it right as he guides this one between point and third slip towards the third man fence for a boundary. |
| 43.5 : 43.5: J Hazlewood to Root, FOUR! Short of a length ball around off, Root rocks onto the back foot and pulls this one towards square leg for a boundary. The partnership moves onto 97 with that boundary. |
| 47.4 : 47.4: N Lyon to Burns, FOUR! First boundary of the session! A hit-me ball. Short and outside off, Rory goes back and hammers it through covers for a boundary. A nothing delivery and it got the treatment. |
| 52.3 : 52.3: Pat Cummins to Root, FOUR! Fullish and outside off, Root square drives this one beautifully towards the point region off the front foot and the ball races to the fence. |
| 52.5 : 52.5: Pat Cummins to Joe Root, FOUR! In between the keeper and the slip fielder! Frustrating for Cummins as on a day where the ball is doing nothing for the bowlers, you would want the fielders to grab any kind of opportunity that comes towards them. This is a gem of a delivery. It is fuller and around off, it shapes away late. Root looks to work it on the leg side but due to the movement, it goes off the outside edge in between keeper and Warner who fail to react and it goes to the third man f |
| 53.2 : 53.2: N Lyon to Burns, FOUR! Another one tossed up around off, Burns gets down on one knee and sweeps this one towards the mid-wicket fence for a boundary. |
| 54.3 : 54.3: Pat Cummins to Joe Root, FOUR! EDGY! Australia continue to get frustrated! This is on a length again and around off, straightens once again. Root looks to defend but the ball goes off the outside edge, wide of second slip and into the third man fence. |
| 64.2 : 64.2: J Hazlewood to R Burns, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! At last, Australia have managed to break the stand. It has been a good passage of play for them, they started to trouble the English batters and have got the reward. End of the 141-run stand and the Aussies are pumped up. Burns misses out on his ton by 19 runs. Once again excellent use of the angle by Hazlewood. It is on a length and around off, going away with the angle. Burns looks to defend but does so inside the line. It goes off the outsid |
| 66.4 : 66.4: J Hazlewood to J Roy, FOUR! That is authoritative! Roy should feel really good after that shot. It is a length ball around off, Roy strides forward and strokes it on the up through covers for a boundary. |
| 66.6 : 66.6: J Hazlewood to Root, OUT! LBW! That is plumb in front! Pin-drop silence here. Root is a goner and once again he fails to convert his half ton into a ton. However, there is not a lot he could have done here. This lands just outside off and it jags back in sharply. Root looks to defend off the back foot but the ball stays low. He misses and is hit right in front of the pad. An appeal and up goes the finger. Root walks back straightaway as he knows he is a goner. Hazlewood gets him once again |
| 67.3 : 67.3: N Lyon to Roy, FOUR! Slapped! Another boundary for Roy. Shorter and outside off, Roy goes back and hits it hard through covers for a boundary. |
| 72.3: J Hazlewood to Roy, FOUR! Nice shot! Short and outside off, Roy stands tall and punches it through covers. No stopping those. He got on top of the bounce really nicely. |
| 72.4 : 72.4: Hazlewood to J Roy, OUT! Roy is cleaned up! That is a jaffa of a delivery! Three wickets in quick time. Hazlewood gets another. This lands on a length and around off, Roy looks to push at it, once again, he tries to connect with the ball way ahead of his pad. The ball though jags back in, sneaks between bat and pad and knocks the middle pole over. Lovely sight for a bowler. England in a spot of bother now. Still another 102 runs to avoid the follow-on. They have half the side back in the |
| 74.5 : 74.5: Pat Cummins to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Stokes gets off the mark today in style! A short one but it bounces at a comfortable height for the the batter. Stokes swivels and pulls it behind square and bags a boundary. First of the day. |
| 81.3 : 81.3: J Hazlewood to Bairstow, FOUR! Good reply by Bairstow! Hazlewood bowls this a touch fuller and Bairstow pounces at it as he drives this through mid off for a boundary. Wade at mid off dives to his right but fails to stop it. |
| 82.4 : 82.4: M Starc to Stokes, EDGED AND FOUR! Beauty by Starc! This was a scrambled delivery, on a length just outside off. Stokes looks to push this towards the off side but it comes back in just a little. Stokes ends up playing it outside the line, it goes off the inside edge, over the stumps and down to the fine leg fence. |
| 84.2 : 84.2: M Starc to Bairstow, FOUR! Length ball just outside off, Bairstow goes onto the back foot and slaps this through covers for a boundary. |
| 84.5 : 84.5: M Starc to Bairstow, OUT! TIMBER! Jaffa by Starc! What a beauty! He sets up Bairstow on the two previous deliveries and brings this one back. Starc pitches this one on a length and on middle, Bairstow expects this one to move away but it nips back in this time. Bairstow is completely beaten and misses the ball which goes on to hit the top of the middle pole. Bairstow is out of here. |
| 87.3 : 87.3: J Hazlewood to Stokes, TOP EDGE AND FOUR! Bouncer on the body, Stokes looks to pull it but eventually ends up getting a top edge which runs to the fine leg fence. |
| 88.1 : 88.1: M Starc to Buttler, FOUR! Fuller in length and outside off, Buttler drives it crisply through covers and the ball races to the long off fence for a boundary. |
| 88.3 : 88.3: M Starc to Stokes, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Starc gets another! He is on fire at the moment and this is probably the biggest wicket of all. Ben Stokes, the star of the England side. Another excellent delivery. The new ball is working wonders for the left-arm pacer. This is an outswinger. It is on a length and around off. Stokes goes back and tries to defend but the ball goes off the outside edge straight to Smith at second slip. He makes no mistake. Australia are ecstatic. Into the bowling al |
| 88.5 : 88.5: M Starc to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Starc over pitches and Buttler takes full toll off it. He drives this fuller one outside off through the cover region and the ball crosses the fence in a flash. |
| 92.6 : 92.6: Pat Cummins to J Archer, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! England 8 down now and they are still 42 away from avoiding the follow-on. Australia right on top at the moment. This though is a needless shot by Archer. This is a nothing delivery. It is short and outside off. Archer earlier in the over, went after one outside off but got away with that. This time too he hangs his bat out again, does not get away with it. It goes off the outside edge to Paine who takes it. |
| 93.2 : 93.2: N Lyon to Buttler, FOUR! Loopy delivery outside off, Buttler drives it through the covers. The man at long off runs across but he fails to reach the ball as it crosses the fence. |
| 93.4 : 93.4: N Lyon to Buttler, FOUR! Flatter and quicker one on middle and leg, Buttler glances it nicely towards fine leg fence to earn a boundary. |
| 94.6 : 94.6: Pat Cummins to Buttler, FOUR! Buttler is playing a responsible innings here. He is leaving the good ones and taking full toll off the bad ones. Cummins bowls fuller length delivery outside off and Buttler drives it through point. The ball reaches the fence and Buttler fetches a boundary. A very valuable one though. |
| 101.5 : 101.5: M Starc to Broad, OUT! Woodwork disturbed with a beauty. Starc is brilliant against the tail-enders says the commentator on air. He is obviously right as we see Broad's stumps flattened. Fuller ball, which swings back in as Broad looks to block. He can't get behind the swing and pushes at the wrong line to see the stumps shattered. That was a quicker one and Broad could do nothing about it. Starc has looked in good rhythm and he would like to finish off things quickly. |
| 102.5: N Lyon to Buttler, FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Buttler slaps this one through covers for a boundary. |
| 103.3 : 103.3: M Starc to Leach, FOUR! Leach is a confident man. He had done really well in the last Test during that partnership with Stokes. Shows a glimpse of that here. Starc goes fuller but outside off, Leach drives this through mid off firmly. The ball races to the fence but gets a chase from Mathew Wade. He dives to get the ball back in play and does so. However, the umpire checks with the the third man if he was touching the ropes as he tried to get the ball back in. And, yes, touched ropes when |
| 105.4 : 105.4: M Starc to Jos Buttler, FOUR! The follow-on has been avoided! Full and wide outside off, Buttler pushes this through covers and the ball races to the fence. They would now look to cut the deficit as much as they can. |
| 106.6 : 106.6: Pat Cummins to Buttler, OUT! Cleans him up with a moving peach! It's a fuller ball which comes back in to Buttler. He stays in the crease and wants to go down town. But as the ball moves in, Buttler plays down the wrong line. The ball goes onto hit the off pole behind. But hello, hold on. They're checking for the front foot no ball. That looks really close but the third umpire feels there's enough behind the line which means Buttler has to walk back. However, he has played a very handy kn |
| 0.6 : 0.6: S Broad to Warner, OUT! LBW! Warner is out of here and Broad is the man who has got him again! HIS 300TH TEST WICKET IN ENGLAND. This one is on a good length and just outside off, it comes in with the angle. Warner tries to block it out but misses and he is hit high on the pad. The English players go for the appeal in unison and the umpire gives it out. Warner has a chat with his partner at the non-striker's end but Harris tells him there is no use of taking the review. Ball Tracker comes i |
| 3.2 : 3.2: J Archer to M Harris, FOUR! Great reply by Harris! Full and on the pads, Harris drives this one wide of mid on and the ball has raced towards the fence. |
| 4.4 : 4.4: S Broad to Labuschagne, FOUR! Superb shot! This is a fullish ball outside off, Labuschagne slaps this through covers for a boundary. |
| 6.1 : 6.1: S Broad to Harris, OUT! Three reds and Harris is a goner! A waste of a review to be honest, that looked out. This is almost a carbon copy of how Harris got out in the first innings. Broad comes steaming in from around the wicket just like he did in the first innings. He lands it on off and it is slightly fuller, it jags back in. Harris looks to play it with a straight bat but misses and is hit flush on the front pad. An appeal and up goes the finger. Marcus walks up to his partner and after |
| 7.5 : 7.5: J Archer to Labuschagne, FOUR! Back of a length and outside off, Labuschagne opens the face of his bat at the last moment and runs it down to third man. The ball crosses the fence to hand a boundary to Australia and Marnus. |
| 9.3 : 9.3: Archer to Labuschagne, OUT! That looked dead plumb! Marnus knew it as soon as he was hit on the pads. England are on fire. This time it is Jofra Archer. Fuller and a straight one. Marnus looks to defend but he the ball shapes in late to miss the forward block. He is hit on the pads. Archer and England make a loud appeal along with the crowd. The umpire agrees and sends him packing. He though consults with Smith and eventually goes for the review. This looks close, very close. The Ultra Edge |
| 11.2 : 11.2: J Archer to T Head, FOUR! Crunched! Overpitched by Archer and Head lifts this over cover-point to get off the mark with a boundary. Archer won't mind this as the batter seems to be ready to drive the ball outside off. |
| 12.6 : 12.6: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Smith is not bothered about what is happening around. Good length ball outside off, enough room for Smith to carve the cover drive for a boundary. |
| 13.5 : 13.5: J Archer to T Head, FOUR! Top shot. Fullish length, there's room on offer for Head. He leans into the drive and powers it through covers for a boundary. |
| 13.6 : 13.6: J Archer to Head, OUT! The middle stump takes a walk! Whatta jaffa from Archer. England are all over the visitors. Fuller length on middle, comes into the batter. Head looks to go for the drive but he has played all over this delivery. The ball sneaks through and shatters the timbers behind. Wicket number two for Archer. Australia 240 ahead with 6 wickets in hand. Smith watching all the damage from the other end. |
| 21.2 : 21.2: J Leach to Smith, FOUR! Hammered! That is an aggressive shot from Smith. Australia going to go all guns blazing after the break? Maybe. Smith steps down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball and hammers it down to the long on fence. |
| 25.2: J Leach to Smith, FOUR! Tossed up and outside off, Smith gets down on one knee and sweeps it through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 26.2: C Overton to Wade, FOUR! Beautifully done! Wade has played a gorgeous square cut. Overton bowls on a length and outside off, Wade frees his arms and cuts it through point for a magnificent boundary. That should give some confidence to Wade. |
| 28.3 : 28.3: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Fuller and on the pads, Smith flicks it awkwardly through mid-wicket for a boundary. His methods might be awkward but he is getting the desired result. |
| 29.1 : 29.1: J Leach to Smith, FOUR! Good improvisation by Smith. This is way down the leg side, Smith paddles this one very fine and the ball races through to the fine leg fence. |
| 32.3 : 32.3: S Broad to S Smith, FOUR! Crunched through the covers! There is no stopping Steven Smith. Broad dishes a fuller ball outside off, Smith leans into his drive and creams this through the covers. |
| 33.1 : 33.1: J Archer to Smith, FOUR! Length ball just outside off, Smith gets onto the back foot and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 33.2 : 33.2: J Archer to Smith, FOUR! Smith seems to be playing with the bowler's mind here. Archer bowls this length ball closer to the body expecting that Smith would shuffle across the stumps. Instead, he makes room and guides this past the third slip fielder for a boundary towards third man. |
| 34.4 : 34.4: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Good length ball on middle and leg, Smith slaps this over Mid on and gets a boundary off it. He didn't time it that well and that's why it went to the long on fence on the bounce. |
| 36.2 : 36.2: S Broad to Smith, FOUR! Pulled away handsomely! Smith is looking from another planet right now. Short of a length and outside off, Smith pulls this wide of mid-wicket for a boundary. Root inside the circle dives to his right but cannot save the boundary. |
| 36.6 : 36.6: S Broad to S Smith, FOUR! Smith brings up the 100-run stand up between him and Wade. Another short of a length ball by Broad, Smith rocks onto the back foot and pulls this one towards long on for a boundary. Smith moves to 81 with this boundary. Another century on the cards? Most probably! |
| 38.1 : 38.1: J Leach to Smith, OUT! CAUGHT! Smith is out of here after setting Australia well on their way! One can say that this was a suicidal shot but Smith wanted to up the ante of the game. Tossed up way outside off, Smith tries to go over the man at long off but does not get the best connection on it. Stokes runs to his left from long off and takes an easy catch in the deep. The crowd breathe a huge sigh of relief as the main man is out of here. |
| 38.6 : 38.6: J Leach to Wade, FOUR! Fuller ball this time. Wade leans into the drive and carves this through the covers to get another boundary. |
| 39.2 : 39.2: J Archer to Wade, OUT! A stunner from Bairstow behind the wicket to send Wade packing. Fullish ball outside off, shaping away. Wade is looking for quick runs and hence he throws his bat at the ball. He can only manage an outside edge which goes left of Bairstow. He dives to his and holds onto it with one hand. A handy knock from Wade comes to an end. However, no declaration from Australia. |
| 40.2: J Leach to Paine, FOUR! Floated on middle and off, Paine lofts this one over mid on and past the long on fence for a boundary. |
| 40.3 : 40.3: J Leach to Paine, FOUR! Another boundary! This is shortish and outside off, Paine goes onto the back foot and slaps it through extra cover for a boundary. |
| 40.6 : 40.6: J Leach to Paine, FOUR! Reverse swept by Paine and this time he connects it to properly as the ball races towards the third man fence. |
| 41.5 : 41.5: J Archer to Tim Paine, FOUR! Dealing in boundaries is Paine. This is short and on middle, Paine goes back and pulls it nicely through mid-wicket. It is a well-controlled pull shot. |
| 0.3 : 0.3: Pat Cummins to Burns, OUT! In the air... taken! Could Australia have asked for a better start than this? The ploy to start the bowling with Pat Cummins has worked wonders. Also, it is a big wicket as Burns has been the in-form player for the hosts. This is a soft, soft dismissal. It is a nothing delivery, down the leg side. Burns looks flick but is early into the shot. A leading edge and it lobs towards Head at extra cover. |
| 0.4 : 0.4: Cummins to Joe Root, OUT! TIMBER! That is a peach! This is Pat Cummins, this is Australia at their best. Outstanding start for them. Root bags a first-baller. An absolute beauty. Exactly what a pace bowler is taught - to hit the top of off and Cummins has done that here. He lands this one on a length and around middle, it pitches and straightens. Root is squared up as he tries to defend. The ball goes past the outside edge and hits the off pole. Root can't believe it as he looks back once. |
| 2.6 : 2.6: Pat Cummins to Roy, FOUR! First boundary of the chase! This is easy for Roy. A half volley on the pads, it is worked through mid-wicket and the ball races away. Maybe Cummins was guilty of trying a little too hard and hence, ends up bowling a boundary delivery. |
| 5.2 : 5.2: N Lyon to Denly, FOUR! That is a top shot. Minimal risk as it was with the turn and it was nicely hit. Stretches out and plays the sweep shot. Drags it outside off and hits it through mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 8.3 : 8.3: Pat Cummins to Roy, In the air but wide! FOUR! First boundary and runs of Day 5. This is angled into the pads, Roy flicks it uppishly but wide of the diving mid-wicket fielder and bags a boundary. |
| 14.5 : 14.5: M Starc to Denly, FOUR! EDGY! Lucky there was Denly. Not a good shot that. Denly is sucked into going after a wide delivery outside off. The ball flies off the outside edge over third slip. Marnus Labuschagne does not react in time and it goes over him and to the third man fence. That went really quickly. |
| 15.3 : 15.3: N Lyon to Denly, FOUR! That is a top sweep shot. A shot which Denly looks really confident while playing. He drags it from outside off and gets it through square leg. |
| 16.5 : 16.5: M Starc to Roy, FOUR! That's done nicely by Roy. Another attempt of bowling the yorker has gone wrong as Starc sends a full toss on the pads. Roy whips it firmly through the diving mid on fielder. The fielder gets up and chases but the ball wins the race. |
| 20.3 : 20.3: M Starc to J Roy, FOUR! Crunched through covers. Starc overpitches outside off, Roy leans into the drive and creams it through covers. |
| 24.6 : 24.6: Cummins to J Roy, OUT! KABOOM! There's the breakthrough Australia needed. Cummins has provided it. They had to wait for quite a while today for the first wicket but they have now got it. Australia will hope this opens the floodgates. Once again we see the ball sneaking through Roy's bat and pad. Cummins bowls it just outside off and on a length. Roy lunges and tries to push at it but leaves a gap between bat and pad. The ball tails back in, goes between the gap and hits the stumps behind. |
| 26.5 : 26.5: Pat Cummins to Denly, LUCKY FOUR! This is just outside off, Denly is not sure whether to play at it or leave it. In the end he tries to leave but the ball hits the bat which is at an angle. Goes past the diving third slip fielder and into the third man fence. |
| 30.2 : 30.2: Cummins to Stokes, OUT! Stokes walks! He is caught behind! This is a massive, massive wicket. Probably the biggest of them all as Stokes has been the man for England. Excellent sportsmanship by him though. Not many in modern day cricket walk but he does here and that too in a game which means so much. Brilliant. Brilliant by Cummins too. He is once again the man doing it for Australia. This is shortish and on off, Stokes initially looks to defend but then tries to leave it on length. Too l |
| 31.5 : 31.5: J Hazlewood to Denly, FOUR! Fuller ball on off, driven through covers nicely for a boundary. Denly moves to 48 with that one. |
| 36.2 : 36.2: Pat Cummins to Denly, FOUR! Fifty for Denly! Excellent innings from him. He gets there with a delightful stroke. He creams this full delivery on off through mid off and it races away. He needs to make it big here, he just can't relax. It is his third in Tests. |
| 39.2: N Lyon to Joe Denly, OUT! Finally, finally, Nathan Lyon gets a wicket. It is of the well set Denly and England now have half the side back in the hut. Denly once again falls shortly after getting to his half ton. This is an excellent delivery though. Turn, bounce, it had everything. It lands outside off and spins back in sharply. There is a lot of bounce on it. Denly goes back and tries to defend but the ball hits the handle and lobs towards short leg where Labuschagne takes a dolly. Early |
| 40.2: Pat Cummins to Jos Buttler, EDGY FOUR! Goes slightly fuller around off, Buttler looks to push it towards the off side but the ball takes outside edge and goes wide of the slip cordon to the third man fence. |
| 47.2: N Lyon to J Bairstow, FOUR! Too full and it is put away! Full and on off, Bairstow leans into it and strokes it down to the long off fence. |
| 47.5 : 47.5: N Lyon to Buttler, FOUR! Lovely use of the wrists! Also, there is minimal risk in that shot as it was with the turn. On middle and it is fuller. Buttler whips it through mid-wicket and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 53.1 : 53.1: Starc to Bairstow, OUT! LBW! Jonny Bairstow has to walk back. Starc strikes first ball after Drinks. How often we see a wicket after the break. Beauty from him to wrap him in front of the stumps. Height was the only issues which could've had saved him but no, the Ball Tracker rolls in to show that the the ball is clipping the stumps. It was pitched on a good length and came back in sharply. Bairstow wanted to work it down the leg side but is hit flush on the pads. A huge appeal follows an |
| 63.4 : 63.4: J Hazlewood to C Overton, FOUR! Brilliantly done! Length ball outside off, Overton leans into drive and drills this through the covers for a boundary. |
| 64.4: M Starc to Buttler, FOUR! Gets it in the gap this time! Nicely played. This is fuller and outside off, Buttler waits for it and then just opens the face of the bat. Guides it through point and it races away. |
| 70.6 : 70.6: J Hazlewood to Buttler, FOUR! Fuller ball, Buttler goes for the drive but gets an outside edge. The ball flies through the slip cordon and to the third man fence. |
| 74.2 : 74.2: J Hazlewood to Buttler, OUT! TIMBER! Nelson strikes for England. He is dismissed on the 111th ball. Is this the Ashes for Australia? They have got the last recognized batsman. A gritty partnership and a gritty knock by Buttler comes to an end. Josh Hazlewood gets the breakthrough. Once again, Australia strike early after the break. Not sure what happened to Buttler there? He has been leaving the ball brilliantly till now. This time though maybe he misreads the length. Josh bowls this very |
| 75.5 : 75.5: N Lyon to Archer, OUT! LBW! That's unlucky as long as Archer and England are concerned. Lyon pitches this around off on the rough. The ball has been bouncing high off those roughs but this time it keeps very low. Archer can't do anything about this. He is hit dead on the pads, in front of the stumps. Lyon and Australia appeal. The umpire agrees. Lyon and Australia celebrate. Archer thinks of the review but Overton suggests not to go for it. Archer walks back with a wry smile. Nothing he co |
| 79.5: M Starc to C Overton, EDGY FOUR! This is angled into the batter and it is fuller on off. The ball pitches and moves away. Overton looks to defend but it goes off the outside edge down to the third man fence. Runs needed below 200 but that is immaterial right now. 151 balls left to survive. |
| 81.5: M Starc to Leach, FOUR! On the pads on a fullish length of Leach and he crunches this behind square on the leg side for a boundary. The fielder from backward square leg chases the ball but comes second. Some shot that and gets the crowd going as well. |
| 89.5: M Labuschagne to J Leach, OUT! Catch it... gone! No. 9 is down. This should settle some nerves that was building in the Australian side. Leach's resistance comes to an end. Excellent bowling change by Paine. I had written it is a surprise to many but he has delivered by ending this frustrating stand. A masterstroke by the skipper. Once again, Labuschagne lands it in the rough outside off. It pitches and turns back in sharply. Leach looks to work it on the leg side but due to the extra boun |
| 91.3 : 91.3: J Hazlewood to Overton, OUT! Three reds and Overton is a goner! Marvelous scenes out there as AUSTRALIA HAVE RETAINED THE ASHES! Overton's fighting innings comes to an end. It is Josh Hazlewood who gets the last wicket. A good nut. It lands on off and jags back in. Overton looks to defend but misses to get hit on the front pad. A huge appeal. It looked a touch high but up goes the finger. Overton has no choice but to review. He signals the 'T'. Time for the replays. Ultra Edge shows no bat |
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