Bangladesh have had an excellent World Cup, without quite getting the results to reflect their performances. It’s not over yet, though: Friday’s match against Pakistan could still be meaningful, depending on what happens tomorrow, and I feel it might be a cracker.
Virat Kohli is pleased:
Bangladesh has played some really good cricket in the tournament, and deserve a lot of credit for the fight that they put up. We had to work hard for the win, and we’re very happy to see a Q in front of the team’s name in the table now. Very happy that we’ve qualified with a game to spare.
Here are the latest standings. Two semi-final spots remain unclaimed, with Pakistan, England and New Zealand still in the hunt. England have to beat New Zealand tomorrow, or hope that Pakistan fail to beat Bangladesh on Friday. New Zealand are through already, unless something very odd happens to their net run rate.
Rohit Sharma is named man of the match, for his 92-ball 104.
I had a great feeling right at the start. Obviously the pitch was good to bat on. Batting first, obviously there’s no scoreboard pressure. You come out thinking you want to be positive, and that’s what I was trying to do. Of course I was lucky. Fortune favours the brave, I guess.
India qualify for the semi-finals; Bangladesh are eliminated
And that is very much that. Bangladesh gave it a damn fine go, but India just had a little bit too much class.
The Fizz falls flat as Bumrah hits off stump with another pinpoint yorker!
Bumrah whips out the yorker, and with a Rubel yell Bangladesh lose their ninth wicket!
47th over: Bangladesh 279-8 (Saifuddin 45, Rubel 8) Saifuddin gets four in return for a fine shot, flicked round the corner to long leg. It’s otherwise an excellent over from Shami, which concludes with Bangladesh needing 36 from 18 balls at precisely two apiece.
46th over: Bangladesh 272-8 (Saifuddin 40, Rubel 7) Lovely shot from Rubel, who hammers the ball back past Bumrah and holds his pose at the end of the followthrough as if posing for a portrait. And a very handsome one it would be too. He swings at the next, and top-edges it towards deep cover, where the fielder misjudges its flight and thus fails to reach it before it falls. Bangladesh are just refusing to give up on this, and now need 43 from four overs.
Bangladesh are heading out of the World Cup here, but they're going out with fight, aggression, and serious competitive spirit. The rate is climbing, but they just keep playing their shots, keep attacking, keep trying to put pressure on the bowlers. It's glorious. #CWC19
45th over: Bangladesh 264-8 (Saifuddin 38, Rubel 1) Mortaza attacks Bhuvi’s first ball, which goes high and long, and just clears both the fielder running round from long-on and the boundary! Briefly, hope is rekindled in Bangladeshi hearts. He’s out next ball.
Mortaza nicks it, Dhoni pouches, and that’s another one down!
44th over: Bangladesh 251-7 (Saifuddin 33, Mortaza 2) Mashrafe Mortaza is welcomed with an excellent yorker, which he does well to survive. The required run rate is now above 10 an over.
Bumrah’s back, and he strikes with his first ball! It’s slow, full, misses the swinging bat and clips the outside of leg stump!
43rd over: Bangladesh 243-6 (Sabbir 35, Saifuddin 30) Two singles, two wides and a lot of variation from Bhuvi, whose line, length and pace are all over the place. He thus gets away with a last-ball full toss, from which Sabbir can get only a single.
42nd over: Bangladesh 240-6 (Sabbir 33, Saifuddin 29) While it was tempting to declare them doomed the moment Shakib was dismissed, Bangladesh refuse to lose touch completely. They need a couple of boundaries from every over, and Saifuddin gets them here, off Shami. 11 off the over, and they need 9.4 from here on in. The bad news is that Bhuvi Kumar and Bumrah still have three overs each.
41st over: Bangladesh 229-6 (Sabbir 32, Saifuddin 20) Sabbir swings his bat so hard at Chahal’s delivery that when he makes no contact he loses balance completely and falls over. Three singles and a wide from the over, and that’s Chahal done for the day. Bangladesh need 9.55 an over.
40th over: Bangladesh 225-6 (Sabbir 30, Shaifuddin 19) Shaifuddin sends the first ball of Pandya’s final over thudding past square leg for four, but then he’s nearly out next ball after going for a sharp/desperate single, which the bowler fields. He spins and shies at the stumps, but misses!
39th over: Bangladesh 219-6 (Sabbir 29, Saifuddin 14) The good news for India is that Bumrah’s back on the field. The bad news is that he wasn’t in the right place to pounch Saifuddin’s sweep, which looped over his head, dropped just out of reach and ran away. Sabbir then flicks Chahal’s last ball through midwicket for four. They’re within 100 runs of their target now. How close can they get?
38th over: Bangladesh 208-6 (Sabbir 24, Saifuddin 9) That’s more like it! Mohammed Shami returns, and Sabbir spanks his first ball perfectly between mid-on and midwicket for four and plays the next fine for four more. A single later, Shaifuddin advances and pummels past mid-on for another boundary, and then he lifts the last over midwicket for a fourth! Seventeen off the over, and that brings the required run rate back below nine.
37th over: Bangladesh 191-6 (Sabbir 15, Shaifuddin 1) Bangladesh will be out if/when they lose this. There is no obvious reason why at this stage they shouldn’t just fling their bat and hope for the best. Instead Chahal bowls, they get a single from the first, and they settle for that. They need more than 9.5 an over now.
36th over: Bangladesh 190-6 (Sabbir 14, Shaifuddin 1) Sabbir cuffs the ball to long leg, where Bumrah runs round to cut it off, stoops, stumbles, picks it up, flings it away and falls. He stays down for a while as the physio sprints to treat him, but he’s soon back on his feet and apparently untroubled. Still, he leaves the field for further prodding and poking.
35th over: Bangladesh 182-6 (Sabbir 7, Shaifuddin 1) Bumrah’s seventh over brings three singles, and the required run rate is very nearly nine.
34th over: Bangladesh 177-6 (Shabbir 4, Shaifuddin 0) Pandya was supposed to be the weakest of India’s five bowlers, but that’s his third wicket, and his last couple of overs have been superb. What had become an unlikely target for Bangladesh now looks very distant indeed
Shakib’s gone! Again Pandya’s variations of pace bear fruit, with Shakib mistiming the ball to midwicket!
33rd over: Bangladesh 177-5 (Shakib 65, Shabbir 4) Sabbir Rahman edges his first ball for four. The required run rate ticks past eight for the first time, and Bangladesh are running out of batsmen, but where there’s Shakib there’s hope, I suppose.
A classic slower ball dismissal for Bumrah. His previous ball was 140kph - the wicket ball was 118kph. Such a difficult bowler to face. #CWC19
This time a slow ball yields a wicket! Bumrah’s offcutter clips the inside edge and ricochets into the stumps!
32nd over: Bangladesh 169-4 (Shakib 64, Mosaddek 3) Good bowling this from Pandya, whose variations of pace confuse and frustrate the batsmen. There are many wild swings, few genuine connections, three singles and a last-ball bottom-edge from Mosaddek that doesn’t carry to Dhoni.
31st over: Bangladesh 169-4 (Shakib 62, Mosaddek 2) Bangladesh’s hopes surely hinge on the survival of Shakib, and India bring back Bumrah in an attempt to remove him. No joy, though there’s a lovely slow, wide yorker that does befuddle the batsman, and also a four played fine to third man. “The answer to your question about why umpires need to have a run-out checked by TV is simple: showbiz,” says John Starbuck.
30th over: Bangladesh 163-4 (Shakib 57, Mosaddek 1) Six runs! Das lazily hammers the ball over long-on for the first maximum of the innings, with the insouciance of someone picking a stray piece of corn from between his teeth! Then, two balls later, he’s gone.
That’s a big wicket! Pandya’s bouncer cramps Das, whose pull loops into the hands of Karthik at midwicket!
29th over: Bangladesh 156-3 (Shakib 57, Das 16) It happens again. This time Kohli throws the ball into the stumps from short range and sets off in celebration, even though he could have had no idea where exactly Shakib, diving behind him and manifestly in, might have been. Marais Erasmus should have known, but he refers up to the overworked Aleem Dar, who doesn’t take long over the decision. Nine off Bhuvi Kumar’s seventh over, and the run rate remains around 7.5.
28th over: Bangladesh 147-3 (Shakib 50, Das 14) I’m not sure how umpires regularly spot tiny nicks, accurately predict the ball’s path, spot when a ball pitches outside the line of leg stump even when nobody else can, yet when there’s an appeal for a run-out they always - always - need the TV umpire’s assistance. Das is obviously in here, even if he had to dive to be sure, and it’s eventually confirmed. Then Shakib hits to cover, where Karthik misjudges the bounce and lets it through to the boundary.
27th over: Bangladesh 139-3 (Shakib 43, Das 13) Bhuvi Kumar returns. They take a single to extra cover and Das would probably have gone had Bumrah, the fielder, scored a direct hit; instead he misses, nobody’s backing up and Bangladesh get a bonus second. Plus the ball is then misfielded, so had they been on their toes they could have got a third.
26th over: Bangladesh 133-3 (Shakib 43, Das 7) Das works the ball to deep square leg, where Rahul makes a fine stop on the rope to save a couple.
25th over: Bangladesh 127-3 (Shakib 42, Das 3) I’ve got to admit, I spend most of this over copying down Das’s recent scores. Fortunately there were only two singles scored. We’ll just pretend it never happened. Anyway, halfway through, and Bangladesh need to go large.
24th over: Bangladesh 125-3 (Shakib 41, Das 2) Liton Das has been extraordinarily inconsistent with the bat. Before this tournament there had only been three occasions when he had got consecutive double-digit scores. His last 20 ODI innings before today were: 6, 0, 6, 7, 41, 6, 121, 4, 83, 0, 41, 8, 23, 1, 1, 1, 76 and then his unprecedented run of scores in this tournament: 94*, 20, 16.
Mushfiqur is sent packing! His slog-sweep flies to the fielder at square leg, and the partnership is broken!
22nd over: Bangladesh 116-2 (Shakib 38, Mushfiqur 20) Pandya’s first ball is pummelled past point, and the rest all yield singles. The game could be decided in the next 10 overs, as this pair either get motoring, or get on their bike.
21st over: Bangladesh 107-2 (Shakib 31, Mushfiqur 18) Chahal’s half-way through his allocation now. Just two singles off his fifth over, a setback after Bangladesh had started to bring the run rate down - it was very briefly below seven a couple of overs back.
20th over: Bangladesh 104-2 (Shakib 29, Mushfiqur 17) Every bowler is going between five and six, except for Kumar’s 3.60. Pandya bowls this one, and three singles and a couple are scored.
19th over: Bangladesh 98-2 (Shakib 25, Mushfiqur 15) Successive boundaries for Mushfiqur, who flicks one down the leg side and then hammers the next over midwicket.
18th over: Bangladesh 88-2 (Shakib 24, Mushfiqur 6) Shakib, who’s having a ridiculous tournament with the bat, dabs the ball fine for four. Nine off the over, but they need more than seven from here on in. India were 105 without loss at this point.
17th over: Bangladesh 79-2 (Shakib 18, Mushfiqur 3) Chahal bowls to Shakib, and it comes off his gloves, nutmegs Dhoni and rolls away for one.
16th over: Bangladesh 75-2 (Shakib 16, Mushfiqur 1) A wide, a wicket and a run from the over. And here’s a stat about Soumya attacking wide deliveries; he certainly attacked his last one.
India really have refused to give Soumya Sarkar width with any great regularity - but when they have, Soumya has looked to punish it. Of the nine widest balls he's faced, he's attacked seven of them. He's only attacked one straighter delivery. #CWC19pic.twitter.com/o2P1kQVeKl
Pandya bowls short and wide; Soumya licks his lips, swings his bat, and smacks it straight to extra cover, where Kohli does’t have to move!
15th over: Bangladesh 71-1 (Soumya 33, Shakib 16) Chahal bowls, and the batsmen take a single. As the ball is thrown back to the bowler from the field he overbalances, and headbuts Shakib’s bat. He rises, winces, rubs his jaw and gets on with it.
14th over: Bangladesh 69-1 (Soumya 31, Shakib 14) Shami’s back, and Soumya honks the first ball down the ground for four, and hoiks the last over cover for four more!
13th over: Bangladesh 59-1 (Soumya 22, Shakib 13) Chahal bowls, and Shakib lifts his first delivery over his right shoulder to fine leg for four. Rishabh Pant has kept wicket for the last couple of overs, with Dhoni briefly off the field, but is now handing back the gloves.
12th over: Bangladesh 53-1 (Soumya 22, Shakib 7) India thus lose their review, which seems a little harsh for such a marginal decision, and when ball tracking would have shown umpire’s call, which would have allowed them to keep it. The over had started with Soumya hitting through the covers for four, the best shot of his innings so far.
It doesn’t even get that far, as it’s impossible to decide with any certainty that the ball didn’t hit the bat, or, if it did so, whether it hit the pad first. It all seemed to happen at the same time, and given the on-field decision I can’t see how it could have happened any differently. Kohli is miffed about it, but for what it’s worth ball tracking wouldn’t have overruled the umpire’s call.
The umpire, however, doesn’t. It looked to me like it was probably missing leg stump.
11th over: Bangladesh 47-1 (Soumya 17, Shakib 6) Bumrah’s back, presumably in the belief that cheaply dismissing Shakib Al Hasan would snap Bangladesh’s spirit like a brittle twig. Instead Shakib drives down the ground for four, nicely timed.
10th over: Bangladesh 40-0 (Soumya 16, Shakib 1) Tamim raced out of the blocks, scored 15 from his first 12 deliveries with three excellent boundaries, then his form suddenly departed and he got seven off his next 17 balls, with no boundaries.
Tamim tries to push a rising ball down to third man but he’s late to it, and it flicks off the toe of the bat and into the stumps!
9th over: Bangladesh 38-0 (Tamim 22, Soumya 15) Bhuvi Kumar continues, and four singles are taken. This is a decent start from Bangladesh, but they require something a bit more than decent.
8th over: Bangladesh 34-0 (Tamim 20, Soumya 13) Mohammad Shami replaces Bumrah, and Soumya Sakar gets his first boundary, lifting over point for four. Meanwhile in Leicester, England are struggling against both Australia and the umpires:
WICKET! Fran WIlson cannot believe she is given out lbw with the ball clearly striking her glove.
England 52-4 after 15 overs, with Sciver (12 not out) and Brunt (3 not out) at the crease.
7th over: Bangladesh 28-0 (Tamim 20, Soumya 7) Tamim, timing still Awol, slogs the ball skyward towards deep midwicket, where it lands safely.
6th over: Bangladesh 24-0 (Tamim 16, Soumya 7) They take a sharp single to short third man, where Pandya fields and takes a shy at the stumps. He misses, though, and with nobody backing up it rockets away to the rope and they end up with five. Bumrah’s penultimate delivery is clocked at 93mph; his last is a steepling bouncer that Dhoni does well to get a glovetip to, saving a few runs in the process. Six off the over: a single, four overthrows and a bye.
5th over: Bangladesh 18-0 (Tamim 16, Soumya 2) Tamim’s timing vanishes as Bhuvi takes aims at leg stump, and after some awkward squirming they scamper a couple of singles off the last couple of deliveries.
4th over: Bangladesh 16-0 (Tamim 15, Soumya 1) Phwoar! Bumrah’s delivery heads towards leg stump, straightens off the seam, whips past the bat and bounces just over off. A maiden, and a very uncomfortable one for the batsman.
3rd over: Bangladesh 16-0 (Tamim 15, Soumya 1) Tamim is looking in fabulous nick already, now driving imperiously through the covers. Soumya, by contrast, is feeling his way into proceedings.
2nd over: Bangladesh 9-0 (Tamim 9, Soumya 0) Tamim pings the ball off his pads and through midwicket for four, fabulously timed. Then Bumrah’s last delivery, a bit too wide of off stump, is speared through the covers.
1st over: Bangladesh 1-0 (Tamim 1, Soumya 0) Bhuvi Kumar bowls, and after two dots Tamim Iqbal waves his bat at a delivery that starts wide and moves wider, an ugly shot that misses the ball by a distance. A single later Soumya’s at it as well, after the ball jags wildly off the seam, and then the last heads the other way, into the batsman who reacts well to fend it away.
The players are already back out, and ready to rock.
Thanks Daniel. Afternoon/morning/whatever everyone. Well this might be fun. At one stage it looked like Bangladesh would have had a lot more than 315 runs to aim at, though they have only scored 300+ to win ODIs four times in their history (most recently against West Indies a couple of weeks back). This might just be doable, if they get off to a good start and assuming India’s late-innings slow-down was entirely down to Bangladesh’s excellence and not the pitch suddenly mutating into something awkward.
I suppose the most likely outcome here is India by 60 or so, but there’s plenty of scope for something way, way better than that. Bangladesh will miss Mamudullah (and yours) - they’ll probably need something serious from Tamim, who owes them one, and Shakib – but both are eminently capable.
Simon Burnton will coax you through all of that - you can email him here or tweet @Simon_Burnton.
For a long time, that looked like being a lot more – Rohit Sharma is decent at ODIs – and Bangladesh will fancy they’ve a chance in the chase. India are warm favourites, especially with the pitch slowing up, but Bangladesh have some serious firepower, if they can avoid losing wickets in the opening powerplay.
Shami does all he can to manufacture a hoik to leg from a ball outside off, but contrives to shovel onto his stumps instead. That’s fifer for Mustafizur, who bowled a superb final over.
They run on a wide and Mushfiqur chucks to Mustafizur, who removes the bails.
50th over: India 315-7 (Kumar 3, Shami 1) Bhuvi forces a single to midwicket, then Shami drags from outside off to wide long on. Then a wide, and they try to steal and extra run...
Dhoni goes again, unloading the years at a bouncer, but it’s on him too quickly and he slams it into the air, cross-batted; Shakib catches easily, behind the stumps at the non-striker’s.
50th over: India 311-6 (Dhoni 35, Kumar 1) Mustafizur charges in and Dhoni flays him to long off, but there’s a man out; Dhoni refuses the single because he’s Dhoni. Next, he cracks to the man at mid on...
49th over: India 311-6 (Dhoni 35, Kumar 1) Dhoni drives two to cover and they run two, then he absolutely zetzes four through extra cover, down on one knee like back in the day. Two dots follows, then he hops back, waits, and clouts four more - through extra cover again. “Dhoni, Dhoni, Dhoni!” chant the crowd, even though their hero is wearing a tank top. I guess we can abandon the OBO’s sartorial code when it comes to his ilk.
48th over: India 300-6 (Dhoni 24, Kumar 1) Bhuvi gets off the mark immediately, nudging into the off side for one, then Dhoni adds another. This has been a really great comeback from Bangladesh, who were in danger of chasing a monster but are now looking at something manageable.
“I think the point is that by virtue of being level on points both teams have had the same chance against the same opposition and ended up with the same points,” says Geoff Saunders. “So head to head must be a better indicator of the better side to go forward. If not, you get a situation where one team goes to the next stage by virtue of hitting more runs against poor opposition but the team that beat them is left out. How would you feel if you had beaten that team yet they go through?”
A well-disguised slower-ball bouncer has Karthik piling through the shot way too soon and spooning a catch to mid on.
47th over: India 297-5 (Dhoni 22, Karthik 8) Shaifuddin returns, and Karthik could do with doing something, being picked for roughly this eventuality. And he does, shaping to drive then opening the face to smack a square drive through point for four. Three singles before, then two after, make this a reasonable over, nine coming from it, but I’m not sure why India aren’t swinging for the fences. Bhuvi can bat, so they’ve got at least one more wicket to risk losing.
46th over: India 288-5 (Dhoni 19, Karthik 2) Is Dhoni going? He takes a tiny step then allows the ball across body and bat, glancing to the fence for four. A single follows, but the fielder shies, hits, and concedes an overthrow., then three more singles arrive.
“Have you seen the number of times that Rohit Sharma gets out immediately after getting his hundred,” tweets Krish. “Show me a more selfish , personal glory driven cricketer than him. And Bangladesh has all chances now to wrap up this game.”
45th over: India 279-5 (Dhoni 11, Karthik 1) India need something from Dhoni here, but it’s Karthik on strike and he’s off the mark right away, turning to midwicket. Dhoni has to content himself with a single too, then an absolute jaffa grips and spins past Karthik’s outside edge. The last delivery is a dot, and Shakib finishes with 1-41 from his 10, yet another dazzling effort.
A heave takes the ball from outside off to deep square, but it’s not out of the middle and picks out the man, who botches it ... only to take the rebound off his own shoulder. Bangladesh are bang in this!
44th over: India 277-4 (Pant 48, Dhoni 10) Rubel returns and strays to leg - though Mushfiqur should stop it - ceding four leg byes. Dhoni’s found it tricky against the spinners so might fancy a dart here, but it takes until the fourth ball of the over for Pant to work a single ... but it doesn’t matter, its final delivery pulled hard to deep square for four.
The women’s Ashes are about to get underway - be following them here.
43rd over: India 268-4 (Pant 47, Dhoni 6) Shakib has bowled pretty well here - he’s 0-39 off nine - and the three added to his tally from this over, he’d’ve took, as Ryan Giggs would say.
42nd over: India 265-4 (Pant 44, Dhoni 6) And there he goes! Mustafizur tries a full one and Pant bends the knee to curl a pull around his front foot, sending a one-bounce four to deep square. Pant is a serious talent!A wide follows, then a single, before Dhoni times three through midwicket. Pant responds with a single, and that’s 10 off the over.
“After that wicket of Pandya, India’s progress depends on three wicket-keepers,” says Mahindra Killedar. “Not sure how many times that has happened before!!”
41st over: India 255-4 (Pant 38, Dhoni 3) Shakib returns for a go at Dhoni, who twirls through a very useful over, just three coming from it. I wonder if Dhoni will be content to keep the score moving, leaving the pyrotechnics to Pant [insert name-based gag here].
40th over: India 251-4 (Pant 36, Dhoni 1) Have a look! Pant does not wait to be asked! After defending Saifuddin’s first ball, he creams him through cover for four; then whacks through midwicket for four; then rousts through point for four! Two singles follow, and that’s 14 from the over.
“One theoretical consideration against head-to-head as a tournament classifier”, tweets Rory Bowden, “is that, if two teams are tied on overall results, then head-to-head and each team’s performance against all other teams necessarily give opposing results.”
39th over: India 237-4 (Pant 23, Dhoni 0) A double-wicket maiden from Mustafizur, and the key over of the match so far. Bangladesh won’t mind even 10 an over from here.
Yep, this new one works well! Mustafizur rolls his fingers over one, it sticks in the pitch a little, and Pandya guides expertly to slip. Bangladesh might just have themselves a live chase!
39th over: India 237-3 (Pant 23, Pandya 0) Pandya plays one defensive shot, then calls for a new bat. Attention to detail, that.
They’re not together anymore! Kohli pulls for his favourite short boundary and is punished for his ungentlemanly conduct, picking out the fielder who snaffles, then puts the brakes on sharpish. Not that short after all then, what.
38th over: India 237-2 (Kohli 26, Pant 23) Pant is in alright! Soumya offers him length, so he gets down to it, sways away, and sweeps it fine for four. That is rrrridiculous behaviour, and another six runs come from the over; as kong as these two are togther, India are looking good for 350 or so.
“Iconoclast or bust,” says Matt Dony. “Completely on board with your summation of Imagine. Obviously, there are objectively worse songs in existence, but I don’t think there’s another song with so great a disparity between actual quality and the amount of praise heaped upon it by people who should know better. Bad 6th Form poetry set to a twee melody. See also: the writings of Philip K Dick. His books always make great sci-fi lists and people eulogise about his genius, but they’re so badly written that they’re almost unreadable at points. Great ideas, yes. But shocking execution.”
37th over: India 227-2 (Kohli 23, Pant 16) Shakib returns and have a look! He gives one some air, and Virat - he of the elasticated iron wrists - spirits it through midwicket, breaking them at the last second. Four, then a single, then four to Pant who gets down on one knee, stays low, and paddles over the spin. He’s in now, and will be snorting a chance to establish himself.
36th over: India 217-2 (Kohli 18, Pant 11) Soumya returns just as my Sky player crashes, but they milk six from his over. If Bangldesh can limit India to, say, another 120 from the 14 overs left, they might just fancy the chase. However, they’ll need to get Kohli out to get near that. Good luck, lads.
“As a Bangladesh fan I am happy to echo praise for Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim,” says Sumit Rahman, “but we must surely salute the best news story of all so far from Bangladesh in this World Cup. But then again, I don’t know if we want to give Jonny Bairstow any more ideas of dealing with criticism – I prefer his ‘score a century next match’ method.”
35th over: India 211-2 (Kohli 14, Pant 9) Rubel opens his seventh over with a leg bye, then Kohli twizzles four through midwicket - Mashrafe dived, but couldn’t get down fast enough.Two singles follow.
34th over: India 204-2 (Kohli 9, Pant 8) Mossadek replaces Soumya and is doing quite nicely, just a wide conceded from his first four balls, until Pant sidles down the track and swings him into the seats at long on with minimum effort and maximum prejudice.
“After seeing the post suggesting that England and NZ might contrive a result to keep Pakistan out,” says Terry Hogan, “I knocked up a quick NRR spreadsheet to run a few hypotheticals.
33rd over: India 196-2 (Kohli 9, Pant 1) Pant will be nervous here and Rubel sends him a tempter to start, slanted across and pleading to be played. Pant has a wave but misses, then gets off the mark with one to square leg.
Rahul looks to cut a ball that’s too close to him and clunks a substantial edge behind. Suddenly, Bangladesh are in the game!
33rd over: India 195-1 (Rahul 77, Kohli 9) Rubel overpitches to Virat, who monsters him for four down the ground then ro-tates the strike.
32nd over: India 190-1 (Rahul 77, Kohli 4) Soumya is milked for six, and I wonder if Kohli will set about him next time.
“You are not the only one wondering that about Rahul,” emails Digvijay Yadav. “Most of India is too. I wonder if there is a similarity between KL Rahul and, say, a young Ian Bell in that he’s obsessed with technical purity and perfectionism instead of simply seeing the ball and smacking it.”
31st over: India 184-1 (Rahul 74, Kohli 1) Rubel is the lucky man, allowed to rustle through an over or two before Kohli gets violent. Just three from it - one to Kohli, who bunts into the off side and sets off, and two singles to Rahul.
“Given that we inhabit that layer of the multiverse in which Mull of Kintyre exists,” says Billy Mills, “neither Imagine nor Chasing Cars can be said to be the worst song ever. Not by a long shot, no!”
30th over: India 181-1 (Rahul 72 ,Kohli 0) All Tamim wanted was to keep Kohli in the hutch and now look what his mates have gone and done.
An off break diddles Rohit’s timing as he looks to go over midwicket allowing Liton Das to retreat and take the catch at cover. Decent knock, but at least they got him early before Tamim’s drop could really matter.
30th over: India 180-0 (Rahul 71, Rohit 104) Rohit turns four off his hip to square leg.
29th over: India 176-0 (Rahul 71, Rohit 100) Shakib is on the floor! He targets the stumps, the bounce stays low, and Rohit misses with his drive! Poor Tamim! The batsmen then swap singles, and the crowd are up, waiting for Rohit’s century ... and there it is, the run he needs coming to cover. He tosses his bat, catches it, and is now tied with Sangakkara for the most tons in any world cup, four - except he’s not done here, not by a long chalk. He’s quite good at cricket.
28th over: India 173-0 (Rahul 70, Rohit 98) “Rohit, Rohit, Rohit!” chant the crowd as Soumya trundles through another quiet over, three singles and a wide coming from it.
“This should be called the Net Run Rate game,” tweets Guy Hornsby. “It neatly explains MSD’s antics at the end of Sunday when they moved their focus to hammering a fast glut of runs today. But I’d argue we’ll be more battle hardened by India and NZ, as long as we win, which is a big IF.”
27th over: India 169-0 (Rahul 69, Rohit 96) Shakib returns and is milked for five singles. I wonder how many Rohit can make here, because this first hundred, if he makes it will be quick by his standards.
“Isn’t it amazing how the short boundaries seem to now be against the very essence of cricket in the narratives of Harsha Bhogle and Sanjay Manjrekar,” emails Suhas Misra. “I am pretty sure that the boundaries were just as short earlier and the only thing new is the post-match comments of Virat Kohli after the loss to England. Cricket has famously had its quirks through all of its history, and to hanker for standardising boundaries now, seems little else then getting (and acting on) the memo from a captain who just can’t accept that his team can lose without externalities.”
26th over: India 164-0 (Rahul 67, Rohit 93) Soumya Sarkar into the attack and that’s a decent start - he cedes just two singles. Poor Tamim.
I’m told that my email address was incorrect - that’s now changed if you’d like to refresh, but otherwise try daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com
25th over: India 162-0 (Rahul 66, Rohit 92) There’s not a lot in this pitch, but Bumrah hasn’t bowled on it yet, with 613 on the board. Rubel escapes with four from the over.
24th over: India 158-0 (Rahul 63, Rohit 91) Mustafizur back into the defence, and immediately Rohit goes onto the attack, tapping six over the bowler’s head and striking the pose like there’s nothing to it, Rogue, Rogue, Rogue. he’s playing with such confidence, like a man entirely comfortable with his talent and in himself - it’s easy for him. Two singles, a two and a single follow, making this another big over, 11 from it. Poor old Tamim; if you octuple the score at 24 overs you get the intensity of his guilt.
23rd over: India 147-0 (Rahul 62, Rohit 81) Er, thanks for coming Rubel. Rahul takes a single then Rohit pulls high for four to long on, He’s already got three tons in this World Cup, and it’s impossible to see him not making it four. He’s now the competition’s leading run scorer.
“Imagine Rohit Sharma hitting a double ton today,” croons Abhijato Sensarma. “Pulling serenely all the way in peace/ You may say that I’m a dreamer/ But I’m not the only one/ I hope that during some over, you’ll join us/ And the world will be as one.....”
22nd over: India 139-0 (Rahul 60, Rohit 75) Rahul guides Mosaddek into the off side, then Rohit dematerialises him back over his head into the second tier; pace off the ball, like I said. There’s something about Rohit’s swing, there really is - it’s so simple and so smooth, but so gloriously exaggerated like he’s in a comic book and I guess he sort of is, it’s just real life for the rest of us. Anyway, he and Rahul exchange singles before a jaunt down the wicket allows him to assault the final delivery on the full, whamming over cow corner for four more and breaking his bat in he process. Thirteen off the over.
21st over: India 126-0 (Rahul 58, Rohit 64) Rohit swings at Rubel and doesn’t get all of him, carting high towards wide long on - the ball’s in the air a long time and Tamim doesn’t drop it. Any port in a storm. The batsmen run two, then Rahul nurdles one, and that’s a better over – pace off the ball seems like a better option for Bangladesh.
20th over: India 122-0 (Rahul 57, Rohit 61) The problem for Bangladesh now is that quiet overs won’t do it, especially when a quiet over means five singles ... and a drop? Rahul shoves back to Mossadek, who goes low to field ... but it’s not clear whether the ball carried and he couldn’t hold, or if it fell short.
19th over: India 117-0 (Rahul 55, Rohit 58) Rubel into the attack and Rahul is ready for him, waiting for his slotted loosener and cleansing it back past him. Good morrow, young sir, and welcome to the middle. Rubel’s next effort is on the pads, so Rahul turns it away and a misfield grants him the two he needs to raise his fifty; he’s looking very confident now. I wonder with him, though, if he’ll ever be top level, or just someone who scores big against less good opposition but when it really counts is unlikely to offer much more than a spawny 40. Anyway, Rubel then beats him outside off before due punishment is administered, a fit as cover-drive for four more. If Bangladesh can’t find something and soon, this is going to get pretty ugly and ugly pretty.
18th over: India 105-0 (Rahul 44, Rohit 57) Mosaddek into the attack and Rohit sweeps his second ball for two; that’s the hundred partnership. Four singles follow and both these batsmen are seeing it now, their footwork so sharp and dainty.
17th over: India 99-0 (Rahul 42, Rohit 53) Rahul cuts Shakib – I think he cussed down his mum – but an excellent dive at point from Sabbir saves four. A single follows, then Rohit connects with a sweep but picks out square leg; they run one.
16th over: India 97-0 (Rahul 41, Rohit 52) KL Rahul comes to the party! Sorry, Mark Nicholas just elbowed me off my keyboard, but what happened was Rahul caned Mashrafe over wide long on for six! He then adds three more with a flick to midwicket, and India are flying.
“You want a life hack?” asks Ian Copestake. “You can’t handle this life hack. Viv Richards fairly famously suffered from haemorrhoids and faced down the social embarrassment that goes with it. I don’t know if his discomfort ever reached the stage of having to have the blighters removed but if he had known this hack he would not have needed to. To all OBOers suffering in silence I say unto you that a fibre supplement like metamucil is all you need. It will change your life.”
15th over: India 87-0 (Rahul 32, Rohit 51) Time’s up, my child. Rohit presses forward, backs away, and admonishes Shakib over the short boundary at midwicket - Virat asks that the runs be chalked off due to the unfairness of it all, but nothing doing. Next, a single down to the point fence, and that’s yet another fifty for yerman, who’s now just 27 behind Warner and 13 behind Finch in the competition top-scorers list.
14th over: India 78-0 (Rahul 31, Rohit 43) This is much better from Bangladesh, who’ve stemmed the flow of boundaries. A two and two ones come from the over as we see the highest averages of one-day openers; Rohit is top with 57.88, Amla second with 49.89. Basically, don’t be dropping him.
13th over: India 74-0 (Rahul 30, Rohit 41) Perhaps the middle overs have come early because this is another tight one. Rahul takes one to cover, the only run of the over.
“Talking of keeping stuff in the freezer,” says John Starbuck, “do the same with your bottle of Limoncello, but remember to bring it out near the start of the meal so it’s had the ice melted ready for consuming with the dessert. (Note: this is a reprise of an OBO email some years back.) PS. When you get to a certain age, you no longer have to worry about being cool or not.”
12th over: India 73-0 (Rahul 29, Rohit 40) Mashrafe must’ve been tempted to thank himself but forces another turn and it’s a much better effort, ceding just two singles.
“Vital life hack that I successfully deployed as recently as yesterday evening,” advises Brian Withington . “Changing the rubber grip on a cricket bat without a cone (re)using just a plastic bag. Engenders a tremendous sense of satisfaction that overrides any lingering environmental concerns.
11th over: India 71-0 (Rahul 28, Rohit 39) Shakib into the attack - I’m a little surprised it’s taken so long - and he sends down a much-needed over of serious bowling, just a single and a wide from it.
“That clip of Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street is one of my favourites,” emails Simon McMahon, “and as luck would have it, I’m going to see him in Hyde Park on Saturday, the day after I’ve been to Lord’s to see Bangladesh play Pakistan. Now I’m hoping that Stevie will turn up at the cricket and give the Bangladeshi anthem the full treatment. I think the ICC is missing a trick there.”
10th over: India 69-0 (Rahul 28, Rohit 38) The thing about England beating India is how it’s really knocked their confidence ... ah yes, there’s Rahul coming down to Mushrafe’s first ball and cracking it past mid off for four. And, well, oh dear - India, who tend to go slowish at the start to go ape later on are taking Bangladesh off the set, Rohit caressing through third man for four more.
9th over: India 59-0 (Rahul 23, Rohit 33) Lifehack: do not drop Rohit Sharma. After Rahul nudges a single to midwicket, consecutive fours, the first clouted on the up through extra, the second chased and angled, flat-batted, through backward point. In case Tamim is following the OBO, here’s another lifehack: keep your scotch bonnets (the best chilli pepper by far, don’t @ me) in the freezer, so that once you’ve chopped them you’re free to take your lenses out, go to the toilet, or do any of the normal, stupid things you were never warned not to do. Any more for any more?
8th over: India 47-0 (Rahul 21, Rohit 24) Mark Nicholas talks about Englanc crowding Rahul, thereby putting Rohit under pressure - it seemed to really upset him. Anyway, Saifuddin gives Rahul one on his pads which he expertly glances for four, so Saifuddin goes back outside off, overpitching, and the full face says in your face; four more. A single follows, that’s another fat-up over, 11 from it. Bangladesh are in a situation.
7th over: India 36-0 (Rahul 11, Rohit 23) A full one from Mustafizur hauls Rohit forward, and he unloads the suitcase at a drive, edging wide of slip for four as the ground spins around Tamim, grey, tessellating circles subsuming his vision. Two singles follow.
6th over: India 30-0 (Rahul 10, Rohit 18) Ker-nuck! Rohit, beaten by Saif’s first ball, larrups his third over extra cover for another six; poor Tamim. A single follows, then Rahul takes two through midwicket and everything about this smells huge.
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5th over: India 21-0 (Rahul 8, Rohit 11) After three dots, Rohit swipes across the line ... and running around the square leg fence, Tamim – Hebrew meaning, “Perfect” – is chugging along to pouch! Except he spills it and his team are now in world of trouble. That was so miserable it deserves its own Blackadderian extended metaphor: more miserable than Mark Hughes chopping onions, with The Champ tattooed onto his eyelids.
4th over: India 18-0 (Rahul 8, Rohit 9) Bit of swing for Saifuddin, who then beats Rahul with length and bounce. Two more dots follow one strays straight; Rahul turns it away, then Shakib dives over it and turns two into four.
3rd over: India 14-0 (Rahul 4, Rohit 9) Mustafizur replaces Mashrafe and concedes three singles. Already, Bangladesh need a wicket, because getting stuck into the middle order early is the only way they win this, save a ludcirous intervention by one of their batsmen.
“With everyone talking up Shakib,” says Matt Potter, “has it gone under the radar how brilliant a tournament Mushfiqur Rahim is having? Comfortably the highest run scoring keeper in the tournament and very few errors behind the stumps.”
2nd over: India 11-0 (Rahul 2, Rohit 8) Mohammad Saifuddin opens from the other end and is immediately into stride, bowling mainly full of and on a length. Rahul digs out his final ball for a single to square leg, the only run off the over.
1st over: India 10-0 (Rahul 1, Rohit 8) India avoid the ignominy of an opening-over maiden, Rahul easing Mashrafe for one to backward point. A wide follows, then a dot and a short one; Rohit deadbats it back to the bowler. Nah, not really. As if! He spanks it for six over deep backward square, then turns two to midwicket, and that’s a useful start. Also: is Rohit the coolest man in this competition? Virat is also a contender, but only if you define “cool” as “everything every human should be but can’t be”, rather than “calm, composed and with a mortifying yet inspiring presence”.
“What’s your take on a deliciously contrived result tomorrow?” asks Brian Withington. “A narrow win for England would almost certainly take NZ through on Net Run Rate. Adam Collins was intrigued by the prospect of cricket’s own version of the 1982 ‘Disgrace of Gijón’, when Austria and West Germany role-played out a 1-0 win for the latter that caused a furore that changed the playing format of all future World Cups. We won’t even mention Somerset’s declaration vs Worcester in the 1979 B&H after just one over as that wouldn’t help the NRR any more (and got Somerset retrospectively banned).”
There’s a game on tomorrow? I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, but were there to be one, we could be sure that both sides would go at it like meshuggeners.
“Batsmen in...”
The India anthem is a lowkey banger, and what I love about Bangladesh’s is that, like Stevie on Sesame Street, it shows no mercy. It’s got stuff it wants to say, and it’s saying it, properly and well.
Out come the teams!
There’s already a fairly decent racket in the ground, but it won’t feel like a proper atmosphere until there’s a band and people cheering their own taxed-from-football songs.
Do we need an England World Cup song, and who would sing it? An Alex and Dave duet?
It’s taken 12 minutes, but finally they’re showing us highlights of England-India. But I still see that sweep from Fat Gatt, Wasim castling Lamb, and Imran dancing...
Sky have some VT for Shakib, who says he’s not sure why it’s all going so well for him. He’s got himself fitter, but isn’t the only person working hard, which is to say asking someone good at something how they’re good at something is like nailing gold dust to the sea.
Two changes apiece: for India, Bhuvi replaces Yadav - Virat references that short boundary one more – and Karthik replaces Jadhav.
For Bangladesh, Mahmudullah doesn’t make it, and is replaced by Sabbir Rahman, and Rubel Hossain also plays, replacing Mehidy Hasan.
Mashrafe Mortaza would’ve batted too.
It’s a used wicket and got slower and slower on Sunday, plus it’s good to put runs on the board, apparently.
Accuse me of recency bias if you like, but I don’t think there’s ever been a competition quite like this one in one key aspect: we’ve not a clue who’s going to win it. Usually, we think we know even if we don’t, but if the last four turns out to be Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan, I’d feel confident laying New Zealand but wouldn’t have a clue about the rest.
I’m beginning to doubt that a box-room in north London is, in fact, the best place to spend today.
Neither side is likely to alter much following their last match. India have the option of restoring Bhuvneshwar Kumar to their XI and I fancy they might, to shore up the batting as much as anything. He’d replace either Mohammed Shami, who bowled really well against England except when he didn’t or, given the flat track and asymmetric boundaries, either Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal. My guess is that Chahal gets the chop.
As for Bangladesh, Mahmudullah, who hurt his calf against Afghanistan, is good to go.
The phrase “bad World Cup” is an oxymoron up there with “cool beard”, “orderly Brexit” and “young love”, but for a while, when it was raining and predictable, we were on the cusp. Now, though, as we complete the penultimate round of matches, we stand on the cusp of a jazzer for the ages. There is still only one side guaranteed a semi-final slot, with five others ruckusing for the remaining three - including both of those charged with enriching our Tuesday.
India are almost there – a win today or a win over Sri Lanka on Saturday is all they need. But suddenly, that “all” isn’t uttered quite as glibly as before. Their three champions – Rohit, Virat and Jasprit – should do enough, but aggravation against Afghanistan and defeat to England made clear that if they don’t, the others can’t be relied upon to intervene.
Australia did their best to lose this game – 178 should have been a doddle – but they did eventually creep over the line. Lanning and co will be very frustrated as to their performance though, particularly with the bat, and there will be a lot to work on before the second ODI on Thursday.
That will also be played in Leicester, and is the penultimate ODI (the third being in Canterbury on Sunday) before a one-off Test match and three T20s.
Ellyse Perry is named player of the match, although I’m surprised not to see Healy up on the podium. That said, Perry’s three wickets – at the top of England’s order – went a long way to deciding the game.
Meg Lanning, Australia’s skipper, is next to speak:
I thought 177 wasn’t a straightforward total. We need to work on our execution. Healy showed everyone how to bat, to be honest, pouncing on width. Hopefully the quality overall improves over the series. We’ve got a lot to work on, as have England. A win is a win, but we’re looking forward to improving.
England’s captain, Heather Knight, speaks:
I’m really proud of the girls. Brunt and Ecclestone were excellent I thought. We lost too many early wickets. We want to be positive but there were some soft dismissals. We have the belief to win and unfortunately couldn’t get over the line. We have a lot of options and variety.
As players we want it. It’s down to money of course.
Brunt is suitably ashen-faced as she leaves the field– such a miserable way to gift Australia the win. After their terrible performance with the bat, England were right in this one until the very end, taking key wickets at key junctures of the game. Ultimately they didn’t do enough with the bat, and some fielding errors really let them down – Anya Shrubsole in particular was culpable, dropping twice.
43rd over: Australia 178-7 (Wareham 0, Kimmince 14) Two catching chances for England, a difficult c&b one for Brunt then another on the rope as Kimmince pulls for four. Three balls remaining in the over … and Brunt bowls a wide down leg side! Taylor, standing up to the stumps, can’t get across to cut it off, and the balls fizzes down to fine, fine leg to the rope for five runs! What a way to end it! Something of an anti-climax after a pulsating match.
42nd over: Australia 169-7 (Wareham 0, Kimmince 10) High tension for Australia. I can practically feel Kimmince’s bat shaking from here, and she thinks about a dangerous single. Wareham sends her back, and there’s very nearly a mix up, but both batsman return safely to their creases. One from the over, nine more required!
After this game, if you fancy something to do, have a listen to our Spin podcast.
41st over: Australia 168-7 (Wareham 0, Kimmince 9) Brilliant, tight bowling from Brunt. Just one from the over.
40th over: Australia 167-7 (Wareham 0, Kimmince 8) Wareham comes in, on her Ashes debut, having to save Australia with the bat.As it stands, the tourists require 11 runs with two tail-end wickets remaining. That’s the end of Ecclestone’s 10 overs, finishing with 10-0-34-3, her best Ashes figures.
Does anybody actually want to win this game?! Both teams with the bat have been pretty poor. Jonassen had at least been playing just as Australia required – prodding and poking her way around the field – but here, inexplicably – she lifts one straight into the hands of Shrubsole at mid-off! Shrubsole finally takes a catch – there’s a hint of a smile as she jogs into to high-five her team-mates. Had she taken the other two, this match would be over.
39th over: Australia 166-7 (Kimmince 7, Jonassen 19)Brunt is back on, and she needs to pitch the ball up to Kimmince, but there are two many nothing balls, wide of off-stump or on the hip. Just a couple of runs from the over – I’m being harsh on Brunt perhaps, but she’s got to be immaculate now and make the No 9 defend her stumps.
38th over: Australia 164-7 (Kimmince 6, Jonassen 18)Nerves will play a big part now. Who’s got the bottle? Ecclestone has the ball back in her hand, Kimmince thick edges one to third man, but steadies herself and rotates the strike. Australia edging towards their total. Fourteen runs required, the last throw of the dice for England. They have to take a risk or two now. Get a slip in!
37th over: Australia 162-7 (Kimmince 5, Jonassen 17)Knight chooses arguably her clutch bowler, KatherineBrunt comes into the attack. But the veteran is slightly off with her line and Jonassen is able to steal a few runs on the on-side. Four more from the over, just 16 to win. It’s Australia’s to lose.
36th over: Australia 158-7 (Kimmince 2, Jonassen 14)Squeaky-bum time. Marsh has taken two vital wickets but is a little loose here, conceding a wide. England have to be so disciplined now, they can ill-afford to give away free runs. A Kimmince strike on the last ball finds the gap, and Australia scamper away for two more precious runs. Twenty runs to win, three wickets left.
35th over: Australia 154-7 (Kimmince 2, Jonassen 13)Another drop from Shrubsole! Oooooooh, this was a complete dolly, Kimmich spooning the ball back down the wicket to England’s bowler. Shrubsole got two hands to it, had recovered from actually bowling her ball, but simply just put it down. If England go on to lose this match, it will be their mistakes in the field that will be the biggest reason. Really painful to watch, especially after Shrubsole had dropped Healy early on in her innings.
34th over: Australia 151-7 (Kimmince 1, Jonassen 12)Such a strange dismissal, that one. The ball before, Mooney had launched Marsh over mid-off for four. She was full of confidence, and then that …
What was Mooney thinking?! Just when the game looked to be heading Australia’s way, Mooney wanders across her stumps, tries to play the reverse sweep, panics, misses everything and is clean bowled! Mooney so often plays that shot to great effect in T20 but this was neither the time or place. It was a nothing ball from Marsh, but Australia’s best remaining batsman has been removed.
33rd over: Australia 146-6 (Mooney 21, Jonassen 12)Shrubsole didn’t have the best first spell – she did get Bolton out – but she’s brought back into the attack by Knight here. With Taylor stood up to the stumps, Shrubsole’s deliveries are a little rusty. Easy runs for Mooney and Jonassen, four from the over. That’s more than what’s required, Australia’s run rate is less than two now.
32nd over: Australia 142-6 (Mooney 20, Jonassen 9)Two Queensland players in for Australia, so both Mooney and Jonassen know each other very well, the latter sending her Mooney back when the part-time wicketkeeper tries to sneak a quick single. Sensible stuff.
31st over: Australia 140-6 (Mooney 19, Jonassen 8)Interesting that Australia are still going for their shots, with just 40-ish runs remaining. But it’s a quite magnificent cover drive from Jonassen, following by a slightly uglier heave to cow corner. It lands safely, from Australia’s point of view. They are living a lot more dangerously than they have to.
Drinks. What a beautiful sunny evening in Leicester it is.
30th over: Australia 132-6 (Mooney 18, Jonassen 2)Marsh is also proving a real menace for England, spinning one through the gate and just over Jonassen’s stumps! Wow, what a ball. Marsh is getting some real turn, and twice it spins down the leg side. Some brilliant fielding from Beaumont saves a boundary at fine leg. That’s a lot better from England, whose fielding thus far has largely been left wanting.
29th over: Australia 126-6 (Mooney 16, Jonassen 1)So much is now on Mooney, from an Australian point of view. What a game we have here! Brilliant from Ecclestone.
Ecclestone continues – which is somewhat of a surprise given her last over – but the gamble pays off! A quite brilliant, looping delivery which deceives Gardner mid-flight. Replays show that would have careered into leg stump. It initially looked like it may have caught an inside edge, hitting the pads and carrying through to Taylor behind the stumps but it was indeed leg before wicket.
28th over: Australia 123-5 (Mooney 16, Gardner 7) Australia’s run rate is now well under three, so runs aren’t a problem here. That said, Mooney motors another ball to the boundary for four. Since dismissing Healy, England’s bowling has been very loose.
Apologies and thanks to those that pointed out my Knight/Taylor mix-up earlier.
27th over: Australia 116-5 (Mooney 11, Gardner 5) Ecclestone’s worst over of the day, as she gifts both Mooney and Gardner, new to the crease, an easy four with some wayward, short deliveries. Knight, Taylor, Marsh and Shrubsole are having a long, old chat as the over ends, I think we’ll see a bowling change at the end of the the next over.
26th over: Australia 106-5 (Mooney 6, Gardner 0) Healy had launched Marsh over extra cover for four to start the over – these two know each other well from playing against each other (and with each other at New South Wales). But it was the English woman that ended it on top, and Marsh may have swung this game in England’s favour.
A massive wicket for England! That’s the one they wanted! Could this be the turning point in the game? Healy has anchored Australia’s innings from the start but she goes to a fantastic catch in the deep by Fran Wilson. It was a big, lofted hit that was dipping and dying on Wilson, who dived forward with cupped hands just before it hit the turf. Could England now be considered favourites now?
25th over: Australia 99-4 (Mooney 2, Healy 60) The game is definitely in the balance here. Australia still hold the upper hand here, especially with Healy still out there, but England are only a couple of wickets from getting stuck into the tail. Ecclestone continues her excellent spell, just two runs from her latest over.
24th over: Australia 97-4 (Mooney 2, Healy 60) Marsh comes into the attack, four from the over as Mooney and Healy tickle a few runs through the covers and mid-on.
23rd over: Australia 93-4 (Mooney 1, Healy 59) That’s an excellent over from Ecclestone, two runs and a wicket from it. There was another stumping chance, which was referred upstairs by the umpires, but Mooney just got her foot back over the crease before Taylor swept off the bails.
Ecclestone changes ends, and England pick up another wicket! Haynes carelessly plays across the line and is caught right in front. There was a suggestion of an inside edge, but the finger is raised!
22nd over: Australia 92-3 (Haynes 10, Healy 59) Sciver did take the wicket of Perry, but she’s proving expensive, as Healy takes her to task, pulling the ball over the rope for six. Healy brings up her 50 – she has been excellent, save for that dropped Shrubsole chance. Having made her half-century, Healy gets a little lucky in this over, just clearing mid-off with a lofted drive and then just landing short of mid-on with her next shot, the ball bouncing past Ecclestone for four.
21st over: Australia 80-3 (Haynes 10, Healy 47) I wonder when we’ll see Marsh brought into the attack. Knight is persevering with Brunt at the moment, but surely the veteran will want to be saved for the death? Perhaps Knight doesn’t think England will last that long. Go for broke, bowl your best now? Three from the over.
20th over: Australia 77-3 (Haynes 9, Healy 45) You know what I said about Haynes looking a little shaky? Yeah, she just walloped Sciver over square leg for four, then tickles another boundary fine down to fine leg. A good over for the tourists, they require 101 from 180 balls. Should still be easy for them. Should.
19th over: Australia 69-3 Haynes 1, Healy 45) England have their tails up here. Brunt twice goes past the edge of Haynes – Australia’s vice-captain looks awful shaky, but sje gets off the mark with the last ball of the over.
18th over: Australia 67-3 (Haynes 0, Healy 44) It is hard to convey what a shocking delivery that was from Sciver, but what outstanding glovework that was. Take a bow, Sarah Taylor.
Sciver has a knack of taking important wickets at important times and she comes into the attack with great effect! It’s not the delivery that she would have wanted to bowl, a full-ish wide ball down the leg side but Perry misses the ball, lurches out of her crease and Taylor expertly crabs round to stump arguably the best ODI batsman in the world. Wow! England have a sniff here!
17th over: Australia 65-2 (Perry 3, Healy 43) Healy is dropped! Oooooooohh, this is a golden chance for England, but Shrubsole puts it down off Brunt’s bowling! It was not a easy chance by any means, high over her left shoulder, but it wasn’t particularly difficult either; Shrubsole will be disappointed, especially as Healy is arguably Australia’s most dangerous player right now – the opener had previously smashed Brunt for four off the first ball of the over. Brunt was down on her haunches, head in hands with that one.
Aaaaaaaand, that’s drinks.
16th over: Australia 57-2 (Perry 3, Healy 35) Healy relieves some of the pressure, lofting Ecclestone back down the ground for four. I’ve mentioned it before, but if Ecclestone can get it together, she could yet be the decisive bowler for England today. So many of these players know each other so well, loads of England’s have played in Australia, but Ecclestone is a relative unknown.
15th over: Australia 53-2 (Perry 3, Healy 31) Sloppy from England in the field, on three separate occasions conceding runs to overthrows, which leaves the bowler, Brunt, utterly perplexed. “What are you doing?!” she screams at her team-mates, who were guilty there of poor throws and worse backing up: at one point Knight didn’t bother with a long barrier and could only watch at the ball bounced through her legs.
14th over: Australia 48-2 (Perry 2, Healy 27) You wouldn’t quite say that pressure is building on the Australian’s, but England have certainly looked more threatening in the last few overs. Perry is feeling her way into her innings, content to play things late (and conservatively).
13th over: Australia 47-2 (Perry 2, Healy 26) Brunt is causing all sorts of problems, it looks like a mistake from Knight not to use her from the start. Perry is trapped in front, but the ball was just sliding down leg. Not out. With that wicket, Brunt is now the world’s joint third leading wicket taker in ODIs, 147 wickets from 119 matches.
Lanning veers across the line clumsily, and is caught plumb in front!
12th over: Australia 45-1 (Lanning 16, Healy 26) Ecclestone might just be England’s best hope. The youngest English player at 20, the spin bowler played well with the bat today, hitting 27 to save England’s total. But it’s her bowling that she’ll cause the biggest threat, remember last year she was named the International Cricket Council’s Emerging Player of the Year.
11th over: Australia 43-1 (Lanning 15, Healy 24) Brunt comes into the attack, showing no signs of bitterness despite not being chosen to open the bowling. Her and Heather Knight are good mates though, with England’s captain calling Brunt both “a bit of a grandma” and “the most competitive person I’ve ever met” in the pre-match chat. Brunt certainly looks focused – just a single and a leg-bye from the over. Australia well above the run-rate here, going at 3.91, when the required rate is 3.46.
10th over: Australia 41-1 (Lanning 14, Healy 24) Perry really got some swing during England’s innings, and that did for Beaumont, Jones, and Heather Knight. But England’s bowlers can’t seem to get things moving, and Australia look very comfortable at the moment, losing just one wicket as the end of the first powerplay. Healy in particular looks in top nick, crashing a wide delivery behind square for another boundary.
9th over: Australia 36-1 (Lanning 13, Healy 20) Defending a ‘normal’ total, this could be considered to be an excellent start from England. But it’s Australia that will be delighted, seeing off the new ball and chugging along very nicely. Lanning accelerates things slightly, but clipping a six off her pads. Just like Healy a few over ago, that was all timing, and all in the wrists. Brilliant, terrifying technique. Healy also chimes in with a four, punishing a full, wide delivery through point.
8th over: Australia 25-1 (Lanning 6, Healy 16) Knight stands up to the stumps now, as Cross trundles in – Knight is one of the world’s best with the gloves, and she reminds Lanning of her talents as she removes the bails after her opposite number plays and misses. One wide and one scampering single from the over.
7th over: Australia 23-1 (Lanning 5, Healy 16) Shrubsole continues and registers the first maiden of the innings. Lots of encouraging chat around the bat from England’s fielders, Ecclestone and Heather Knight, England’s captain, are chirping. They still believe.
6th over: Australia 23-1 (Lanning 5, Healy 16) A repeat over for Cross, who keeps it very tight and then bowls a little too full for her final delivery. Lanning simply clips it to the rope for four, one bounce. It’s a daunting task for England and not going to get any easier: out on the boundary, Ellyse Perry – Australia’s most experienced player – is practising her strokes.
5th over: Australia 19-1 (Lanning 1, Healy 16) Lanning gets off to precarious start herself, a thick edge avoiding England’s one slip for a run down to third man. Healy adds a couple to finish the over.
England have the breakthrough, and it comes from a pretty poor shot from Bolton, wafting the bat at a length delivery. It just wasn’t there to drive, and she should really have let it go in the circumstances. In contrast to Healy, Bolton looked nervous every since she came to the crease, and now she’s back in the pavilion.
4th over: Australia 16-0 (Bolton 1, Healy 14) Cross comes again, and starts by keeping things tight – just the one run from the first five balls. Cross has good memories against Australia, and played a vital role in the Test victory in Perth which set England on the way to winning the 2013-14 Ashes - the last time England held the trophy. But then Healy ruins the over, by punching gloriously down the ground for four.
3rd over: Australia 11-0 (Bolton 1, Healy 10) Healy hits the first boundaries, clipping Shrubsole off her pads for four, then a six through midwicket! What timing! Healy’s follow-through on that six barely reached her head, yet the ball went sailing over the ropes. She looks in the mood, not content with creeping safely to 177.
2nd over: Australia 1-0 (Bolton 1, Healy 0) Kate Cross bowls England’s second over, perhaps a bit of a surprise not to see Katherine Brunt. But then Cross is the self-proclaimed “workhorse” of the team, and she’s going up the hill. It’s a maiden, with Bolton looks a little nervous as she misconnects with a short delivery and then is so-nearly caught lbw by Cross. Pitching outside leg.
1st over:Australia 1-0 (Bolton 1, Healy 0) It’s just one run from the final ball of the over to start Australia’s reply. The only way that Australia will lose this is if they are bowled out, and the new ball is England’s best chance.
The Australian openers– Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy – are back out. Let’s go! Anya Shrubsole will bowl the first over for England.
“Where does 178 figure in these heady days?” asks Aussie fan Glenn Reynolds.
You’ll be pleased to know, Glenn, it’s not a tall order. It’s more of a T20 today these days, and Australia require only 3.5 runs per over to surpass the total. This is a batting pitch, and England have only defended less than 200 against Australia once in 177 matches.
Megan Schutt– probably the pick of Australia’s bowlers today with two wickets for 19 runs – certainly thinks so.
We just wanted to keep them under 300 so stoked with that one. It’s a pretty good pitch. If we play some sensible shots, we’ll get the total easy. There’s a bit of a breeze going on there. When we trained yesterday, it was blowing a gale, so we’d hoped for some of that but overall we’re very happy.
Back to the important stuff: England are facing an uphill battle to save this Ashes opener. Australia were absolutely lethal with the new ball, it was swinging all over the joint, and at 44-5, England must have been fearing the worst.
Without Nat Sciver’s knock of 64, England would have been well short of their total of 177.
Hello everyone, Michael here. While Geoff is at Leicester, I’m in dark room at Guardian HQ. If he is enjoying the atmosphere, I’m ‘enjoying’ the replays on the telly, which are almost exclusively showing England’s wickets.
I’ve only been to Leicester the once, to have a little poke around the university. All I really remember from that trip was going on the paternoster (a dangerous lift, now decommissioned)
The first Ashes ODI and the first two points are there on a plate for Australia, unless England can produce one hell of a bowling and fielding performance. It’s not like Australia were unplayable today. Schutt swung the ball a lot but could have been dealt with more pragmatically. Perry was rather given her early wickets. But England just looked limp today: an early wicket, then three with the score on 19.
They were unlucky to lose Wilson to an umpiring shocker after that, and then it was just Sciver scraping together whatever she could with the lower order. Brunt helped, then Marsh and Ecclestone at the end. But England are well short, and Australia will fancy knocking these off promptly.
That’s it. That’s the end of the Lord’s Mayor’s Show. Cross tries to sweep against Schutt for some reason. Schutt is almost em barrassed, and just smiles a bit rather than celebrating. England lost a lot of wickets on the sweep today. Nowhere near it, was Cross, and she played over the ball and lost her off stump.
46th over: England 174-9 (Marsh 22, Cross 0) Ecclestone had one more lovely shot before she fell, hitting cleanly into the midwicket gap, but goes once too often to be dismissed. Second wicket for Gardner.
The cameo is over. Ecclestone’s score went higher than her age, which is always a good marker. Goes for a big loft down the ground and it settles with Mooney at long-on.
45th over: England 167-8 (Marsh 20, Ecclestone 22) What did I tell you! The Ecclestone Express is at full steam. Don’t drop Eccles, folks. Kimmince bowls her a couple of half-volley treats, and Sophie’s choice is to drive straight back down the ground: once, twice, then denied thrice by a short ball that she has to cut for four instead.
44th over: England 154-8 (Marsh 20, Ecclestone 9) Don’t bowl there to Laura Marsh! She will definitely score one, possibly two runs. Gardner short and Marsh cuts for a brace. Drives a single straight. Ecclestone does the same. Sophie E has looks more composed than anyone else today, to be hoenst.
43rd over: England 150-8 (Marsh 17, Ecclestone 8) Marsh is getting out the sweeps. A mistimed one to fine leg for two, and a nailed sweep that bounces straight to the boundary rider for a single. A couple more singles and another team milestone ticks by.
42nd over: England 145-8 (Marsh 13, Ecclestone 7) Ecclestone drives Gardner and is dropped! That was as easy as they come. It literally fell into Rachael Haynes’ lap. She knelt down at mid-off and the ball landed in her lap. Somehow she didn’t get her hands around it and it spilled out. The fielder who just took the best catch of the day can’t take the simplest. Ecclestone celebrates by lofting four down the ground.
41st over: England 141-8 (Marsh 13, Ecclestone 3) Sophie Ecclestone can bat a bit, it must be said. Has a defence, and plays the odd elegant stroke. She’s cautious against Wareham’s leg-breaks until she gets a run to deep cover. One from the over. This is the big hitting in the final ten, folks.
40th over: England 140-8 (Marsh 13, Ecclestone 2) Runs! Four of them. All in singles from Jonassen, as the England lower-order pair keep doing the sensible thing.
39th over: England 136-8 (Marsh 11, Ecclestone 0) Nothing I love more than seeing a Marsh block out a testing over of swing in the Ashes. Laura does a more than passable job, waiting until Schutt’s sixth ball before playing out to cover to farm the strike.
38th over: England 135-8 (Marsh 10, Ecclestone 0) A big over in all respects. Sciver had swept four from Jonassen, then skipped down to smack a lovely straight drive back past her. But one sweep too many has ended her day.
That’s pretty out! What a shame for Sciver, she’d just started to motor with a couple of boundaries from Jonassen, but that’s what you get for messing with my puns. Sciver gets down on one knee to sweep, misses, and is hit on the back leg. This time, Umpire Saggers is spared any glove, as it nails Sciver in front of leg stump.
37th over: England 127-7 (Sciver 56, Marsh 10) Megan Schutt is back, pinning down Marsh for half the over, then leaving Sciver to do the cautious thing and just take a single from the last ball.
36th over: England 125-7 (Sciver 55, Marsh 9) The slow boat tootles on. A couple of singles from Jonassen, as she comes back with her stingy left-arm tweak. Un-four-hittable, that’s what you are.
35th over: England 123-7 (Sciver 54, Marsh 8) Wide and short again from Wareham, she’s actually lost control more as her day has gone on rather than less. Marsh picks the gap and cuts four. England hanging in there as we break for drinks. If they could even get to 180 or so and just bat out most of their overs, that would be a decent result from their start.
34th over: England 116-7 (Sciver 53, Marsh 4) Two more singles from Gardner’s over. She’s got through five of them now for only 12 runs, plus a wicket. Life’s a stroll when the opening bowlers burn through four or five in no time.
33rd over: England 116-7 (Sciver 52, Marsh 3) There’s that milestone for Sciver, and richly deserved. Wareham gives her some dross outside off stump and Sciver clobbers it through cover with a horizontal bat.
“Afternoon Geoff. I can appreciate that it’s hard to get the officiating right. I mean, it’s not as if there are any decent umpires in the country at the minute.”
32nd over: England 110-7 (Sciver 47, Marsh 2) I retract that statement about Marsh. She’s very happy to stay at home after Sciver takes a single from Gardner’s first ball. There’s an appeal for a caught behind off Marsh at one stage, but she survives that and safely sees out the over.
31st over: England 109-7 (Sciver 46, Marsh 2) So Marsh has at least been able to get off strike with a nudge to square leg both times she’s been on strike, and now Sciver is able to press a couple of runs to cover. She’s moving towards a half-century in an innings that has been very impressive in the circumstances.
30th over: England 104-7 (Sciver 43, Marsh 1) What Ashes series would be complete without a Marsh? Laura can bat, she used to open in the T20 side years ago. But she’s very much the batter of a decade ago in women’s cricket. Just needs to provide support.
There you have it. Shrubsole tries to go over mid-off, but slices it and doesn’t get great distance. Rachael Haynes has taken a few one-handed screamers running back with the flight of the ball before, and this one looks spectacular while being relatively comfortable by her high standards. A great snare made possible because she gets herself in the right position.
29th over: England 102-6 (Sciver 42, Shrubsole 2) Kimmince to Sciver, who soaks up the whole over with a couple of defensive shots and a couple to the field before working a single from the final ball to keep strike.
28th over: England 101-6 (Sciver 41, Shrubsole 2) It’s not that Anya Shrubsole can’t bat at all. She’s the holder of one of the longest ever ducks in Test cricket – I think it was 54 balls, at Canterbury in 2015. Geoff Allott faced 77 and Jimmy Anderson 55 when he nearly drew that Test against Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. But Shrubsole is probably a solid defensive No10, not a No8. She’s off the mark in this match though, and adds a second run in Gardner’s over.
27th over: England 99-6 (Sciver 40, Shrubsole 1) Well, it’s all on Sciver now. She’s made some audacious hundreds but she’ll have to do so on her own if England are to post a competitive total.
The partnership had just gone past 50, and it’s broken. A ball that wasn’t that short, but Brunt went back and tried to pull. it jagged back in and hit her on the back thigh right in front of middle. That’s stone, I’m afraid. Brunt battled through, made 20 from 49, and did her best. But the top-order collapse means her team is still in a parlous position. And Anya Shrubsole batting at No8 feels very high in the order.
26th over: England 96-5 (Sciver 39, Brunt 20) Double change, and Ash Gardner’s off-breaks will be the new entrant to the bowling book. She gets a couple driving back to her, which shows she’s landing them well. But when Sciver advances to turn a ball into a high full toss, she checks her shot and deflects it cleverly out through cover for a couple, following from another brace that she drove.
25th over: England 91-5 (Sciver 34, Brunt 20) Delissa Kimmince comes on. Seam-up, strong-shouldered, the safe-pair-of-hands type of all-rounder who is so useful in the 20-over format. Only played a dozen ODIs before today though. She’s back of a length mostly, picked off for a couple of singles, then Brunt gets a faint edge on a leg-side ball for four as Kimmince strays. This partnership heading towards 50 now, and vital for England.
24th over: England 84-5 (Sciver 32, Brunt 15) Edged and four! That’s extra pace for you. Sciver flirts with the ball outside off and draws a genuine nick, just past the diving Healy. It skipped away for four.
23rd over: England 77-5 (Sciver 26, Brunt 14) Wareham follows up to Sciver, who bolts a single and draws a direct hit at the non-striker’s end. But she’s home. A couple more singles follow.
22nd over: England 74-5 (Sciver 24, Brunt 13) Enough spin, Lanning wants a wicket. Perry comes back and immediately is up in an appeal for lbw. I’ll tell you what, Martin Saggers is never going to give another leg-before decision for the rest of his career. That gun is welded into the holster after his last misadventure. Brunt doesn’t mind, gallops down the track next ball and clobbers Perry over midwicket. Brunt has a particular personal friction with her fast-bowling counterpart.
21st over: England 68-5 (Sciver 23, Brunt 8) England really putting the foot down now, with four from the over. Slow down! Wareham gives them too much width and Sciver is able to dust off the cut shot a couple of times.
20th over: England 64-5 (Sciver 20, Brunt 7) Getting a bit more adventurous against Jonassen, is brunt. Skips down the pitch to drive back to the bowler on the bounce, then down again to cut a ball hard but straight to the field. Jonassen gives one more air and Brunt can’t unlock its secrets. Then finally she gets one away to deep backward point. Sciver taps and runs one to cover.
19th over: England 62-5 (Sciver 19, Brunt 6) Wareham has strayed onto leg stump too many times today, but it’s only costing her singles as they can’t afford to attack her. What a luxury for a leg-spinner. Four overs for 13 runs.
18th over: England 60-5 (Sciver 18, Brunt 5) Sciver again forcing the pace, bolting back for a second run after clipping Jonassen to deep square, then cutting a single and dashing for one. That’s what they need, to make the most of every chance to score.
17th over: England 57-5 (Sciver 15, Brunt 5) How many times would Katherine Brunt have been 4 off 20 balls? She loves a clout. But Wareham keeps floating the ball up at her pads, a threatening line in these circumstances. Finally Brunt gets one leg-side enough that she can bunt a single. Then they get a little busier, with a brace and a single from Sciver.
16th over: England 53-5 (Sciver 12, Brunt 4) The main thing for England though is not losing any more wickets. Even if they go at 1 run per over for the next 20, that would be vastly preferable than hitting out and getting bowled out in a rush. A single from Jonassen’s over, and it’s time for drinks.
15th over: England 52-5 (Sciver 12, Brunt 3) England becalmed. Wareham to Brunt, and bowls a gorgeous over. Beats the top edge with an over-spinner that bounces, gives a lot of loop to balls that dip on the bat. Brunt looks all at sea, finally stabbing a single off the last ball.
14th over: England 51-5 (Sciver 12, Brunt 2) The spinners racing through the overs here, apologies for the brief posts. A single for Brunt from Jonassen is all they’ll get.
13th over: England 50-5 (Sciver 12, Brunt 1) Georgia Wareham the leg-spinner comes on, and bowls tidily enough aside from a ball that Sciver punches over cover for four. A single to Brunt raises England’s 50. Their 100 looks a long way off.
12th over: England 44-5 (Sciver 7, Brunt 0) Another wicket maiden. Katherine Brunt to the crease with a fire to fight.
Mercy. (Invoke the rule?) Wilson has looked the most assured, but a change to spin brings her undone. Jess Jonassen, left-arm crafty, hits the stumps every ball she bowls. Sciver taps away one on leg stump for a single, then Wilson goes down to sweep but misses, kneeling in front of off. But hang on... did that hit her on the thigh or the glove? Wilson didn’t show much obvious dissent that I could see, aside from looking disappointed, but hasn’t she gloved that? Here comes the replay, and, yes, she’s absolutely punched that away to square leg trying to sweep. It hasn’t even hit her pad! It’s gone from the glove into the ground. The umpire at square leg could have seen that. That is, flat out, one of the worst umpiring errors I think I’ve seen.
11th over: England 44-4 (Sciver 7, Wilson 15) Schutt, pitching up and looking for something. Nearly gets it with a ball that beats the edge. Draws the drive from Wilson twice more, stopped each time, before an eventual single squeezed away is the only run from the over.
10th over: England 43-4 (Sciver 7, Wilson 14) England lucky they picked Fran Wilson today. She nails a drive through cover, then slashes Perry high off the top edge over backward point for another four. Perry oversteps with a fuller ball, then Wilson steps back for an almighty hoick off the free hit, soaring way up in the air before dropping next to Lanning behind point. A dozen runs from the over, and England salvage something from the first Powerplay. If you ignore the four wickets down, that is.
9th over: England 31-4 (Sciver 5, Wilson 5) Nat Sciver gets a fair working over now. A ball that zips past the outside edge. A drive struck well but straight at cover. Then a ball that cuts back in and takes her high on the thigh pad, drawing a shout from Schutt, but Sciver is preoccupied with the ball rolling back from the collision and just missing her off stump. Sciver goes right back into defensive mode, and plays out another maiden.
8th over: England 31-4 (Sciver 5, Wilson 5) Could any linguists out there confirm my suspicion that Vlaeminck would be the antecedent of the name Fleming? Probably deriving from... Flemish, chances are. Perry bowls a maiden that has Wilson defending half the over before nicking one on the bounce to Healy behind the stumps.
7th over: England 31-4 (Sciver 5, Wilson 5) So after a couple of overs of Fast & The Furious level swerve, Schutt loses it completely with a wide outside off then a wide down leg. Then a long-hop that Sciver thwacks for four.
6th over: England 25-4 (Sciver 1, Wilson 5) On the Tuffers & Vaughan show on BBC radio this week, Tammy Beaumont was bemoaning the fact they wouldn’t be able to watch the England women’s team in the football tonight. At this rate...
Fran Wilson comes in, having surged into the side on the back of recent good form. She’ll need every shred of it. She blocks out Perry’s hat-trick ball, works a single, gets the strike back and then slashes a cut for four. That’s more like it.
Cue up the Freddie Mercury! Another one bites the dust. Perry bowls a pretty straightforward ball, maybe cutting in a touch off the seam. Knight is camped on the back foot trying to work it to square leg, and... misses. That’s all. Hit on the knee roll in front of middle, and she’s not tall enough for that to mean it’s going over. Four down, three without the score moving.
5th over: England 19-3 (Knight 0, Sciver 0) Jeepers creepers. It’s a wicket maiden for Schutt, and a vicious start from the Australians by now.
What on earth was that from Sarah Taylor? Schutt bowls a beauty, hooping in again, but Taylor was nowhere near it. Surely she’s seen from the other end how much the ball is moving. But she tries to play a big airy drive through midwicket, across the line of the ball, which swings far enough to beat her inside edge and knock over her stumps. England in all sorts.
4th over: England 19-2 (Taylor 1) Bowled from the last ball! Beaumont had finally got motoring in this over, smacking the first ball through cover for four, then cutting the fifth ball savagely as Perry gave her width. But a similar delivery brings Beaumont’s undoing, cutting off the bottom edge and onto the stumps. That hurts.
3rd over: England 9-1 (Beaumont 7, Taylor 0) Schutt is still hooping the ball in the way she does, and Beaumont is equal to it for a single, but Taylor is taking things very carefully to begin with, seeing out the rest of the over.
2nd over: England 8-1 (Beaumont 6, Taylor 0) Just two singles and the wicket from Perry’s first over, and if there’s one thing you don’t want to donate to Perry, it’s an easy entree to the series.
Oh, that’s a soft start. Ellyse Perry has been in good nick with the new ball for a fair while, and she gets a gift very early. Beaumont takes a single first ball of the over, then Jones sees a shortish ball and tries to pull, but it’s only waist high and she doesn’t get in the right position to play it. A looping top edge pops up for an easy catch for Healy trotting towards square leg.
1st over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 4, Jones 0) Lovely start for Beaumont! Schutt swings the ball wildly into her pads, but Beaumont was waiting for the inswing and drove the full length away through mid-on for four. That’s the only scoring shot off the bat though, with a leg bye and a wide adding to the score as Schutt doesn’t give anything to swing through.
If you’ee puzzled by that last reference and need an introduction, find a record called As Heard on Radio Soulwax. A giant of the mash-up genre.
We’re getting what can only be described as an extremely rousing rendition of Jerusalem, my favourite song about artichokes, from a local soprano whose name I have unfortunately missed, my apologies. She finishes with an enormous flourish, backed by what is either an invisible choir and brass band, or a backing tape. The PA then gives way to Run the World by Beyoncé. Classic mash-up, that must have been a 2 Many DJs jam.
Vlaeminck, Villani and Nicola Carey are the three of Australia’s 14 who miss out. Wyatt, Winfield and Gunn miss for England. Omitting Danni Wyatt for Fran Wilson is a big call, though her best format is T20.
If you’re wondering about pronunciation, Tayla Vlaeminck says her name goes Val-e-mick.
Electing to chase from the outset, Meg Lanning. Heather Knight says she would batted first anyway. So there.
The teams are warming up out in front of us at the Leicester County Ground. The English women started with a round-ball football, the Australians with an oval Aussie Rules ball. By now they’ve reverted to actual cricket kit. The Australians are formidable, and the English are stewing. I also wrote a preview to fill you in on the details.
Good... not morning. It’s afternoon in the UK. Most of our World Cup starts have been 10:30 am so it’s hard to adjust. But this is a different competition, a different set of teams, different parameters. This is the start of the Women’s Ashes series of 2019. Across the multi-format series we’ll start with three 50-over matches, then a Test match, then three T20s to close things out, with the final T20 coming the night before the men’s Ashes series starts at Edgbaston.
Well that was such a convincing win as to become almost a nonevent. It’s not that England were flawless – they got bogged down in the second half of their innings – but from the moment the fledgling partnership between Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson was, somewhat fortuitously, ended, the outcome was never in doubt. England had some luck – with the toss, with the conditions, with a couple of the dismissals – but they were focused and impressive in the field, which has been the most pleasant surprise about a campaign that has sometimes stumbled. And Roy and Bairstow remain a cut above as an opening partnership. On to Edgbaston, a happy hunting ground, they go, for fun and frolics against Australia or India, for their first semi-final for 27 years. They and we should be buzzing.
New Zealand are, likely as not, heading to Old Trafford for the other semi, and in as downbeat a mood as semi-finalists can be. They bowled tightly, as they have for most of the tournament, but desperately need to address their batting woes, and have become progressively more dependent on their captain as the tournament has gone on. They’ll almost certainly qualify, and if Bangladesh bat first against Pakistan at Lord’s on Friday, New Zealand are through before that match starts (ask someone else to explain the maths).
Trevor Bayliss has also been chatting, and he praises the players’ inclinations to speak up confidently in the dressing room. He admits Sri Lanka was a departure from their previous style, but is particularly encouraged by how the bowling has come on as the tournament has progressed. He says Archer has added to the pace dimension, and Wood being injury-free and full of confidence has also helped. Rob Key wonders whether day games have made a difference, with the ball skidding on less than in day-night games. “Could be the case,” says the coach, who will give the team a few days off before reconvening for Edgbaston.
The captains speak. First up, Kane Williamson:
“Obviously it’s not ideal [a third straight loss] but the recipe is easy, to go out and play a better brand of cricket. There are a lot of variables in these games and the margins on the scoreboard looks bigger than perhaps it was, but we’ve got a lot to learn. I think England did get the best of the conditions but they were the better team, they outplayed us in all facets, conditions didn’t decide the result, but changed after 20 overs, cutters became more effective. They put us under pressure from the start. We needed to build partnerships in the second half of the game but we weren’t able to do that, and we haven’t had a flow with our batting yet. Today with a couple of run-outs and one down the legside is not ideal. [re batting woes]: “So much to learn from, and the most important thing is to look at where we need to be as a group, and look at how we can add value on whatever surface it is. There’s a lot of learning curves and we need to adapt to a lot of different surfaces. In some ways it starts again with the semi-final. We know we haven’t played our best cricket and hopefully we’ll get that opportiunity. Ferguson’s injury was precautionary and I’m very confident he’ll be fit in a few days’ time.”
Jonny Bairstow, named man of the match after his third consecutive century against New Zealand, speaks:
“We knew these games [v India and New Zealand] were must-win games, and we knew that the previous couple of games we hadn’t been up to scratch.” Asked about whether it was helpful to bat first, he adds: “You’ve just got to do what’s put in front of you, we won the toss today, and the guys applied themselves pretty well. I don’t know what’s special about the partnership [with Roy], but if you bat together for a long time you get a feel for each other’s moods, for certain bowlers and communication is the key.
England move up to third, so as things stand are set to play India in the semi-finals,depending on how their and Australia’s final games go.
45 overs: New Zealand 186 all out (Southee 7*), target 306. Rashid continues, to a drunken soundtrack of Sweet Caroline from a well-refreshed crowd. He turns one sharply into the advancing Boult’s pads but the unorthodox tailender was way down the track. Unorthodox or no, he picks up Rashid’s next delivery with aplomb, thumping it high to the onside boundary for four. But it’s the last runs of the day as next ball Boult advances, swings and misses, and Buttler whips the bails off with – as the review confirms – Boult out of his ground. England have won! They’re in the semis!
“How much have New Zealand’s woes been partly self-inflicted in this match? A kind of ‘Hava-Kiwi’ if you will,” quips Tommy Marlow. They were unlucky at the start to be fair, but have been just a bit limp.
44th over: New Zealand 181-9 (Southee 6, Boult 0), target 306. Wood bowls his ninth over and gets a third scalp, bowling straight at the stumps at pace, which is enough to get rid of Henry. He concedes only the one from the over, and has 3 for 34 from nine. He’s now the fifth most prolific wicket-taker of this World Cup.
Henry steps back, prods, misses, and the stumps are clattered. Textbook. Wood has a third wicket.
43rd over: New Zealand 180-8 (Southee 5, Henry 7), target 306. Rashid hurries through another over, which is a decent one, with some nice variety and the odd googly, one of which deceives batsman and keeper alike, gifting New Zealand a bye. Encouraging, as he needs to bowl himself into a bit of form.
42nd over: New Zealand 176-8 (Southee 4, Henry 6), target 306. A few emails asking whether Jason Roy is fielding, and I’m pleased to report he is. Wood continues to pound in – you can’t fault England’s intensity – and concedes only one from his eighth over.
41st over: New Zealand 175-8 (Southee 4, Henry 5), target 306. Morgan funks it up a bit – as Uptown Funk blasts out of the PA – by giving Rashid another go. He needs a bit of a net. These two tail-enders trade singles for a bit before Rashid rips an encouraging leg-break past Henry’s outside edge.
40th over: New Zealand 171-8 (Southee 2, Henry 3), target 306. Wood sends a pleasing outswinger past Santner’s outside edge before pinning him in front. Henry is off the mark with a confident cover drive for three. It could easily have been four but it’s a measure of this England side’s eagerness/foolhardiness that Joe Root absolutely hares after it to dive and cut it off. England have absolutely throttled New Zealand here. They need 135 from … ah, let’s stop this pretence eh.
Santner misses an attempted leg-glance, it raps the pad and up goes the finger. The batsman reviews, but to no avail. He’d shuffled a long way across his stumps and it was banging out leg stump.
39th over: New Zealand 166-7 (Santner 12, Southee 1), target 306. Bairstow continues to rub his shoulder gingerly out in the deep, as the seventh wicket goes down, Santner messing up his hook shot off a cross-seamer. Southee, who can give it some welly with the bat, is the new man in and he gets off the mark straight away with a leg glance. Santner adds another, and after the expensive aberration of the previous over England are back on track. New Zealand “need” 140 off 11 overs.
Latham miscues a pull off a short, slower ball from Plunkett and gloves it through to the keeper. This game is pretty much done.
38th over: New Zealand 164-6 (Latham 57, Santner 11), target 306. A productive over for New Zealand. Latham clips Woakes for four through the onside despite the best diving efforts of, I think, Morgan at midwicket. Santner also helps himself to four with a nice back-foot drive over extra cover, which has Bairstow over-exerting himself sprawling on the ropes. He looks in a bit of pain as a result.
“It seems to be received wisdom now that Dhoni just gave up on Sunday,” writes Andrew Cosgrove, “and played out the end for the run chase. It didn’t look like that to me, he was swinging along, he was just missing a lot (he’s been looking past his best this tournament, untidy behind the stumps and not the go-getter with the bat that he used to be).” Yeah he’s still a finisher, but not the finisher of old, though I wouldn’t write him off just yet. Being devilishly difficult to get out is still a massive asset.
37th over: New Zealand 153-6 (Latham 50, Santner 7), target 306. Latham hacks Stokes to mid-on for a single to reach his 50, which will lift his morale for a semi-final for which his side will be a lengthening-odds underdog. It’s not been pretty, but it’ll help. Stokes is enjoying his bowling practice too, and discomfits Santner with an attempted yorker speared into his shins.
Are New Zealand the PSG of cricket?” wonders Paul Harnett. “Flatter to decieve, India will have them beat before a ball is bowled.” Well they’re not a wholly owned colony of an undemocratic petro-state for a start. And they don’t really have a Neymar figure.
36th over: New Zealand 151-6 (Latham 49, Santner 6), target 306. This is like the fifth day of a drawn Test match at the moment. Woakes is doing a decent job of being accurate and stingy, and Latham and Santner are playing for their averages, though the latter briefly enlivens proceedings with a lofted chip through midwicket for three, which is well cut off at the boundary by Wood, who induces jitters by sprawling around on the deck in a manner ill-befitting of such an injury-prone player.
“Re: this NRR headache,” says Keith Johnson in Noo York, “if teams tied on points have had matches that result in a No Result, then toss the NRR and make it head-to-head result based. Kiwis haven’t beaten anyone in this tournament and their NRR surely would have suffered losing to India by 100+ runs (which I think is a compliment to NZ about right now!). Cheers!” Yeah there’ve been times during this tournament where I’ve almost pined for the old Super Six format, whereby points got carried through from games against other qualified teams. But you can usually rely on the ICC to replace stodge with stodge.
35th over: New Zealand 147-6 (Latham 48, Santner 3), target 306. “So there will be no attempt to chase as now and we are in the Doni phase,” harrumphs Ian Copestake. “So Why Don’t You Just Switch Off Your Television Set and Go Out and Do Something Less Boring Instead?” Like just follow it on the OBO? Another tight over from Stokes, and Ian’s got a point. New Zealand aren’t exactly busting a gut for this, but nor are they being allowed to.
34th over: New Zealand 146-6 (Latham 47, Santner 3), target 306. Woakes returns for his second spell, and begins it with an optimistic lbw shout against Latham, who was well forward and not in any danger. Latham is also deceived by a scrambled-seamer that rears up against his top edge but lands safely. He makes amends with a well-timed on-drive down the ground for four. And then there’s a long delay caused by a streaker on the pitch, that great symbol of bawdy English repression. The cameras aren’t showing, obviously, but whoever they are, they’re pretty agile, as the last delivery of the over is delayed by an age, and when it comes Latham flicks a single
“Who’d you rather?” asks Stephen Cottrell in an email arrestingly headlined “Shag, marry, kill?” “Hard to believe as an England fan I’m thinking about this, but what do we want in the semis! Unlikely to happen, but Aus at Edgbaston please. India will be better next time out; don’t want to face Starc, Lyon and JB at Lords with the slope again thanks!”
33rd over: New Zealand 139-6 (Latham 41, Santner 2), target 306. England continue to show willing in the field, Woakes picking up, swivelling and throwing in an ambitious but admirable run-out attempt from extra cover, though his throw isn’t accurate enough. Stokes keeps it tight too, mixing up his lengths while maintaining accuracy – is he England’s man of the tournament thus far?
32nd over: New Zealand 136-6 (Latham 40, Santner 1), target 306. Archer’s getting the kind of pace and bounce that was nowhere to be found at this stage of the England innings. And New Zealand can eke out only a single from the over. That’s drinks.
Some NRR enlightenment, I think – first, from Akshay Shah: “Of course, its possible. By my rough calculation (attached), if NZ lose this by 150 runs, Pak should need to beat Bangladesh by a mere 396 runs.” While Alec adds: “I looked at this before because there was some confusion. Net Run Rate works by adding up all the runs scored and divided by overs faced (or would have been faced if they’d not been bowled out) and takes away runs conceded divided by overs bowled (or would have been bowled if not bowled out). So effectively you can multiply the net run rate currently, by the number of games played to work out how many each team need to score. Ie if NZ lose by 150 runs (to get their NRR to zero) then Pakistan need to win by 300 runs (to get their NRR to zero). Of course 300 runs could be scoring 400 and bowling Bangladesh out for 100 or bowling Bangladesh out for 100 and then scoring their runs in 15 overs.”
31st over: New Zealand 135-6 (Latham 39, Santner 1), target 306. Latham’s New Zealand’s last hope now, but he’s slowed up too over the past few overs. He flicks a single round the corner to leg, Santner gets off the mark with a drive on the off before Latham slightly miscues a hook from a short Stokes delivery but gets away with it and gets a single. But three from the over is not much use to New Zealand.
“Just wanted to send some love to the DJ (DJs?) working at the Riverside today,” trills Jesse Linklater. “There hasn’t been a single time that the music playing between overs or after wickets has made me want to top myself. Which can’t be said for many other cricket ground music people working elsewhere in this tournament.” Yeah I’ve noticed an upgrade today. Did I catch the glorious Ain’t Nobody earlier?
30th over: New Zealand 132-6 (Latham 37, Santner 0), target 306. Archer begins his second spell with a wide but other than that is pretty searingly accurate. Ian Smith is getting very rueful about New Zealand’s performances of late, and that’s the thing with a tournament this long. You can play yourself out of form, and they’ll cut a limp contrast as semi-finalists with the sort of sprightly approach they took into the last four in 2015. They, and the game, miss Brendon McCullum.
“Sitting on a beach in Sicily,” humble-brags Steve Perrin, “My (English) wife keeps trying to show interest then dropping off to sleep while my Sicilian friends refuse to believe that cricket is a real thing. Still, it’s a nice day.” I’m sure it is. Have some fine seafood for me.
29th over: New Zealand 130-6 (Latham 37, Santner 0), target 306. Stokes is introduced for the first time, and to immediate effect, De Grandhomme holing out a loosener to Root on the boundary. A single and a wide are the only scoring strokes from a fine first over. England may have been a little lucky, but they’ve been pretty damn tight in the field today too.
“So it’s pretty obvious, we know which way this game is going,” says Moneeb Hafeez. “Can someone (with better maths and cricket knowledge) work out if it is even possible for Pakistan to catch New Zealand’s net run rate? It’s the hope that kills you......should we just let it die now?” I’m gonna outsource this one to You The Public for the moment, what with my various other multi-tasking duties.
Ben Stokes gets his first bowl of the innings and, whaddya know, strikes straight away, De Grandhomme somewhat lazily hoiking to deep midwicket where Root takes a comfortable catch. Stokes is as Stokes does, that Botham-esque ability to get wickets with indifferent balls shows itself.
28th over: New Zealand 128-5 (Latham 36, De Grandhomme 3), target 306. Wood continues, and the screw continues to tighten. Decent pace, decent line, and that’s enough at the moment. Only two from the over again, and New Zealand just can’t get enough, which is now blaring out of the PA.
“Folsom Prison Blues perhaps a reference to England getting out of jail?” suggests Olly Horne. I presume they’ve got Hurt lined up if all goes pear-shaped for England, and they’ve certainly Walked the Line at times this summer.
27th over: New Zealand 126-5 (Latham 36, De Grandhomme 2), target 306. Plunkett almost strangles De Grandhomme down the legside, the new man attempting an unconvincing flick, and then beats him outside off with a slower ball. De Grandhomme can bat so this is impressive stuff from Plunkett. Only two from the over.
26th over: New Zealand 124-5 (Latham 35, De Grandhomme 1), target 306. Wood strikes to end a pesky partnership, with Neesham playing on. New man De Grandhomme is greeted with a zinger into his pads, before getting off the mark with a single. That’s an excellent over.
“Am hoping that if Plunkett keeps getting his specials through the announcer will take pity on NZ and play the Echo’s refrain ‘Spare us the Cutter.’” With Wood, I’d have thought this would be a more appropriate Bunnymen refrain:
That’s an important breakthrough. Neesham chops on, trying to cut when he didn’t really have enough room. Wood is properly involved in this game.
25th over: New Zealand 123-4 (Latham 35, Neesham 19), target 306. Some uneven bounce from Plunkett down the legside with one that barely bounces it all, but so far down leg that it’s called wide. A modest diet of ones takes the partnership beyond 50 before Latham cover drives beautifully for four. Root can’t cut it off, and eight off the over will perk New Zealand off. We’re halfway through the innings and New Zealand need more than seven an over.
24th over: New Zealand 115-4 (Latham 30, Neesham 17), target 306. Even more speed, as Wood comes back for Root, which is a widely applauded move in the commentary box. A leg-bye a two, a three (a particularly well-timed clip through midwicket from Latham) and a single are milked from the over. These too have stealthily added 46 off 44 balls. This game has a way to go yet. (And they’re playing Folsom Prison Blues on the PA system, one of the more unusual but welcome choices of between-overs music. Its significance?)
23rd over: New Zealand 108-4 (Latham 25, Neesham 16), target 306. Pace is indeed back, with Plunkett, who tightens things back up again, conceding only four. Which leaves New Zealand needing 198 off 27.
“I wonder how Moeen is feeling at being dropped so late in the World Cup campaign,” ponders Damian Burns, “especially after declaring it his job to get Kohli out in the Guardian last week. Should England win today, do you think he’ll get back into the side for the remaining games?” Probably not, to be honest, because his batting hasn’t been sufficiently reliable, even though he’s bowled ably enough. Though it’s such a long tournament that form can fluctuate considerably from stage to stage. A few weeks ago we were marvelling about West Indies’ pace attack after all, and assuming Jos Buttler would be England’s most destructive batsman.
22nd over: New Zealand 104-4 (Latham 22, Neesham 15), target 306. Root’s rattling through his overs faster than I can type, but he might want to take a bit more time over them if he’s going to drop the kinds of long-hop that Neesham can easily clatter square on the off for four. I’d change it up a bit now, bowler wise, if I were Morgan.
21st over: New Zealand 97-4 (Latham 20, Neesham 10), target 306. Rashid has a half-hearted lbw appeal against Latham but it was going down leg, and Latham responds with a fine straight drive off the back foot that goes all the way for four. Assorted ones and twos make it another expensive over.
“As a foreigner trying to puzzle things out,” writes David Peterson, “can you explain why the Guy who Runs the Guy Out, gets no credit on the scorecard, while every other sort of dismissal seems to be treated differently?” Some scorecards do now refer to the runner out, but there was a time when no newspaper, no Wisden, nothing, would mention it. It’s a fair point David.
20th over: New Zealand 87-4 (Latham 11, Neesham 9), target 306. Root’s tidier than Rashid so far, and concedes only three singles from his second over.
“Best way to keep the kids occupied is to ask them to restructure a cricket scorebook into a third normal form database design,” advises Adam Dawson, for which thanks. I’d offer even more thanks if I knew what you were on about, mind.
19th over: New Zealand 84-4 (Latham 10, Neesham 7), target 306. We have spin at both ends now, as Rashid replaces Plunkett. His radar is a little bit awry initially and he yields nine runs, including an easy cut for four from Latham off a pretty ropey long-hop outside off.
“I knew Williamson and Taylor were renowned for their likelihood of run-outs when batting together, but this brings it to a whole new level!” yelps Jack Jorgensen. “I must admit that type of dismissal always leaves a very hollow feeling. Amplified in this case by it being Williamson (and NZs chances) that has to go.” They started this tournament so well, but they’ve looked a more timid side as it’s gone on, and Pakistan must be kicking themselves for starting so poorly.
18th over: New Zealand 75-4 (Latham 5, Neesham 3), target 306. Spin for the first time, not Rashid but Root, who gets to twirl at the two new left-handers. They milk him for some ones and a two.
17th over: New Zealand 70-4 (Latham 2, Neesham 1), target 306. New Zealand are the authors of their own misfortune here, as Taylor is run out coming back for a second after a glance to fine leg, though it’s a fine throw from Rashid. And only two from the over. England now, officially, on top. We might even want to tell our cricket-agnostic relatives that England are “winning”. Though we might want to hedge our bets.
New Zealand are of course still well placed to qualify, assuming they don’t lose their last seven for about 20 now. And it being incumbent on Pakistan to absolutely pulverise Bangladesh on Friday, which, given Bangladesh’s properly competitive performances throughout the tournament, seems unlikely. But even if that one at Lord’s on Friday is a dead rubber, it’ll still be worth watching, and those MCC members inclined to swerve it might want to have a long, hard word with themselves. Or at least give their tickets to those that aren’t.
Has Taylor paid the price for a foolish return run here? He has. There was never really a second run there and Rashid’s return throw to Buttler, is easily converted by the keeper. New Zealand in bother now.
16th over: New Zealand 68-3 (Taylor 27, Latham 2), target 306. Calamitous misfortune for New Zealand, as Taylor’s straight drive is very lightly deflected onto the stumps by Wood’s fingertips, leaving Williamson at the non-striker’s end out of his ground. Wood celebrates with some sort of baby’s-dummy mime (not a patch on his rocking horse capers, for my money). Taylor is then given the hurry-up straight away with a jaffa past his outside edge but responds with a well placed and executed pull in front of square that the fielder can only fumble into the ropes. He the man now, with the new batsman in, Latham, currently out of sorts. Though he gets off the mark with a confident shot for two.
Has Wood deflected the ball onto the stumps to run out Williamson here? HE HAS! We need ultra-edge to determine it though, as the batsman is out of his ground after Taylor drove hard at the bowler who thinks he may have edged it onto the stumps. A lengthy examination determines that Wood got a fingertip to it, and England have a vital dismissal, and another fortunate one.
15th over: New Zealand 61-2 (Williamson 27, Taylor 22), target 306. Five from Plunkett’s latest over, as this pair continue to look unruffled. “I think England may have missed a trick here,” reckons Stephen Cottrell. “I think Rashid could have got through 4 overs for virtually nothing in overs 10-18. If Kane and Taylor stay together they can milk him and maybe even look to target him a bit later in the innings. Here comes the fear, hot on the heels of his old mate Hope.” How come Fear comes out for a pint so much more often than Hope, who’s always working late? All of which has given me both a pessimistic earworm, and a more hopeful one?
14th over: New Zealand 56-2 (Williamson 26, Taylor 19), target 306. Wood’s finding some decent pace in the circs and hurries Williamson up with a short one that the batsman has to glove away awkwardly. A well-run two is followed by the least convincing run-out appeal ever from Morgan as the ball is hurled into the stumps with the batsman several yards home. We’re heading for middle-overs-meander territory at the moment. Who’s winning? Nope, still not getting anything …
13th over: New Zealand 51-2 (Williamson 25, Taylor 15), target 306. Plunkett gives Williamson enough room to cut for one, and they take another following a fumble by Morgan at point. Four singles from the over, which New Zealand will be happy enough with at this juncture.
“Family uninterested in cricket? Pah” snorts Julian Menz. “Try living in Sweden. Sat in the garden with the family, OBO and TMS on the go. Every time a cheer goes up, my daughter asks if England have scored, the father-in- law asks if it’s still the same game that started hours ago, and my wife glares at me for disturbing the otherwise bucolic peace.” Still, you’ve got a vaguely functioning government over there, so that’s something.
12th over: New Zealand 47-2 (Williamson 23, Taylor 13), target 306. Big cheers go up as Durham’s own Mark Wood is introduced in place of Archer, though none greet his first ball, which is an ugly wide down leg. The paceman then has a strangled lbw appeal at one speared into Taylor’s pads but it’s going down the legside. Williamson seeing it like a football and takes advantage of the pace to cut for four off the back foot. Apart from the wide, it’s not a bad over, but this pair look pretty set already. They’ve added 33.
11th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 18, Taylor 13), target 306. Plunkett, the master of the middle overs, gets his first bowl, replacing Woakes. He yields three singles, but generally does his job well, stemming the flow a little.
“Just saw Tom Levesley’s bit on his kids renaming cricket positions,” emails Kanishk Srinivasan. “Surely cow corner must have given them a real laugh? Anyone up for signing a petition to rename it hamburger pocket?” Another thing that might help is turning kids’ fascination with numbers – particularly big numbers – into an inculcation into the joys of staring at a cricket scoreboard. Figures all over the shop.
10th over: New Zealand 37-2 (Williamson 17, Taylor 11), target 306. Rashid saves at least two run with a fine diving stop from Taylor’s flick to square leg, but no one can stop the next one, beautifully driven through the covers for four by Taylor. That’s what this pair can do with even a smidgeon of width. They’re running the singles well too. Archer’s getting more pace off this pitch than anyone else has today but maybe time for a wee rest? New Zealand end the first powerplay in slightly healthier nick than they might have imagined 10 minutes ago.
9th over: New Zealand 28-2 (Williamson 16, Taylor 3), target 306. Taylor hesitantly dollies up a slower ball from Woakes that doesn’t fall too far from the bowlers’ grasp as he attempts the return catch. Taylor then adds a single before Williamson creams a cover drive to the boundary and adds a clipped two for good measure. ENGLAND NEED TO GET HIM OUT ALREADY.
“In response to David Lombard I would suggest a recourse to metaphysics,” writes David Lombard, optimistically. “It is the only way: Winning and losing should be thought of as an antagonistic duality that, like the fight between good and evil, must be overcome through achieving emptiness in the sense of recognizing them as not being reality but two opposing principles that might (albeit rarely in ODI) end up perfectly balanced in a state of infinite tension. This is sure to separate the cricket fan from the rest.”
8th over: New Zealand 21-2 (Williamson 10, Taylor 2), target 306. Taylor hooks and misses at a steepling lifter from Archer, which feels like a statement of intent from both bowler and batsman, but bowler’s winning this duel at the moment, conceding only one from the over.
To dampen English optimism, can I just say that Williamson and Taylor being together in an NZ 300+ run-chase is bringing back memories of being up in the middle of the night 16 months ago OBO-ing this one.
7th over: New Zealand 20-2 (Williamson 10, Taylor 1), target 306. More parsimonious excellence from Woakes until Williamson deflects a full-ish ball between the keeper and the very wide solitary slip, Joe Root. Definitely deliberate, and excellent.
“Like David Lombard I’ve got a family totally uninterested in cricket,” says Tom Levesley, channeling my life, “but I’ve managed to engage my 9 and 11 year-olds by playing true or false for cricket positions. They still don’t believe me that backward point is a position and silly mid anything is always funny. They’ve even started inventing their own – deep fried square leg a constant favourite. As for who’s winning the cricket, they don’t really want to know so contempt is the only fair response.”
6th over: New Zealand 16-2 (Williamson 6, Taylor 1), target 306. Archer gets in on the act, taking Guptill’s wicket courtesy of Buttler’s superb left-handed catch, which brings Taylor to the crease. “The old firm are back together again,” trills Ian Smith in the commentary box, “Celtic and Rangers, Liverpool and Everton, Exeter and Argyle,” an analogy that only really works if Williamson and Taylor really, really hate each other and are consumed by conspiratorial thinking about the other’s antics. Three singles and a wicket from another fine Archer over.
A magnificent catch! Guptill gloves down the legside and Buttler springs athletically to his left for a brilliant take low-down. As good a catch as a keeper has made in this tournament.
5th over: New Zealand 13-1 (Guptill 8, Williamson 4), target 306. England’s pressure forces Guptill into a foolhardy single off Woakes but Plunkett isn’t quite on it and at the stumps quick enough for the run-out. Guptill finds his groove with a lovely straight drive for four. A better over for the Black Caps.
“In response to David Lombard (over 2) the CricViz app is great,” tweets BW Campbell, “and has a handy ‘who’s winning’ on the front page. Yours, following from Glasgow while my lovely wife and father are in Chester-le-Street. Not bitter...” Personally I like the enigmatic mystery of not being able to forensically prove who’s winning, and just speculating.
4th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Guptill 3, Williamson 3), target 306. An excellent maiden from Archer, mostly pitched up at Williamson and denying him room, and when he does drop short it’s a proper snorter, width-less and forcing the New Zealand captain to jerk out of the way. England have started well – they’ve got lucky with the Nicholls dismissal, but they’re doing what they have to do. So far.
3rd over: New Zealand 7-1 (Guptill 3, Williamson 3), target 306. Williamson has scored more than 32% of his team’s runs in this World Cup – the man’s a machine – and he does his best to up that even more with a neat push through the covers for three. England are apparently 1-5 to win at the moment, according to an email I’ve just had from Bookmakers.tv, also tempting fate, and also forgetting that England last made a semi-final when John Major was still prime minister.
2nd over: New Zealand 4-1 (Guptill 3, Williamson 0), target 306. Ooh, TV replays suggest Nicholls’ dismissal was wrong. It was too high – that’s a really poor failure to review, and not great umpiring. Meanwhile, Archer works up enough pace to whistle some chin music past Guptill, who’s watchful. He gets two off the last ball of the over, which is its only scoring stroke.
“Afternoon, Tom.” Afternoon David Lombard. “As the only cricket lover in my house (I’m working on my 5-year old grandson but am not that hopeful - he seems infinitely more interested in Lightning McQueen), can anyone offer me advice on how to answer the question that I’m often asked by other members of my family “Who’s winning the cricket match?” Or the variation I regularly get from my son “Whose winning the cricket? Answer in no more than one sentence please.
“Do I lie and randomly name one of the protagonists, knowing that the questioner is merely being polite and has no interest in the answer? Or, being in possession of a teaching gene, do I attempt to educate the questioner as to the intricacies and permutations of the situation, knowing that none of it will stick and I’ll be asked the same question tomorrow?”
1st over: New Zealand 2-1 (Guptill 1, Williamson 0), target 306. Woakes began with three maidens on Sunday, so unsurprisingly gets first use here and though there’s no introductory maiden this time though – a wide down Guptill’s legside and a well-run single putting paid to that – there is a wicket, Nicholls lbw first ball. The bad news for England is that Williamson is in, and not out yet.
Woakes strikes in the first over! A back of a length ball raps him quite high on the pads, and somewhat surprisingly, New Zealand decline to review it. As a result, Nicholls is out for a golden duck.
The players are trotting back out …
“So a lot of England batsmen were out driving,” observes Robin Hazlehurst, “and Bairstow says ‘The pitch was a little bit slow and they bowled a lot of cutters into the wicket’, suggesting good length bowling, so perhaps England should bowl the same. Which would require them to pitch the thing up a bit, as everybody has been imploring them to do for years now. What are the odds on it happening today, or will England bowl too short and not threaten enough? I have a sinking feeling we all know the answer to that one already.....”
Woakes, Stokes and Plunkett could be the key men here – it’s gonna be about canny accuracy rather then firing it into their faces. But England haven’t been as guilty of over-reliance on the short stuff as others, for my money.
“So when did squeaky bum time start for this England campaign?” asks Tim Ward. “After Root or Stokes got out in this innings when we didn’t adjust to the bowling; after the loss to Sri Lanka when we looked like we didn’t have a plan B; or in losing the warm up against Australia, when we realised we weren’t as good as we thought we were?” That Australia match was a bit of a silly waste of time, so let’s blame that.
While we’re pondering, and waiting for New Zealand’s innings to start, why not download and start listening to The Spin?
Thanks Rob. Afternoon/evening/morning everyone. Now is the worrying time eh, from an England perspective. At one point I thought I’d done a proper Nasser-at-Brisbane-in-2002 in winning the toss and offering Rob first OBO use of the surface, but it all went a little strange, with England becalmed by some accurate bowling and an increasingly sticky surface in the second half of the innings. Is 305 enough? At the start of this tournament, we were mocking the idea that England merely reaching 300 was worthy of plaudits, but this hasn’t been the sort of free-scoring tournament we expected, and the hosts have plenty to bowl at here. New Zealand have neither been set nor scored 300+ at any point in this World Cup, but some of their batsmen (Guptill, Taylor to name two) are ominously due, and Kane Williamson is frequently the hardest batsman in the world to get out. In summary then, I haven’t got a clue. So let’s find out together. Don’t go anywhere.
“I’m pleased to get a hundred. You want to fire against the best teams in the world. We’ll be looking to implement the things we’ve seen in that first innings when we bowl. We’ll have to adjust a little bit, like they did with the ball. The pitch was a little bit slow and they bowled a lot of cutters into the wicket. [Confident, Jonny?] We’ll see.”
That was some comeback from New Zealand, who made the most of an increasingly awkward pitch. In the last 20 overs, England made 111 for seven.
50th over: England 305-8 (Plunkett 14, Archer 1) England can’t find a boundary in Southee’s final over, but they do scamper six runs. New Zealand need 306 to win and (probably) put England out of the World Cup
Rashid’s cameo of 16 from 12 balls ends when he is cleaned up by an immaculate yorker from Southee. England have three balls remaining.
49th over: England 299-7 (Plunkett 11, Rashid 15) Matt Henry’s final over is a brilliant one for England, who beg, steal and borrow 13 precious runs. Rashid lifts a boundary over extra cover, Plunkett smears another behind square and then top-edges a pull short of deep square leg.
48th over: England 286-7 (Plunkett 4, Rashid 9) Rashid plays one of his unusual shots, driving Boult high over cover for a couple. It went miles in the air yet still feel short of the man running in from the boundary. Later in the over he drives Boult towards long-on, where Southee drops a difficult, low chance. It looked strange that he went with one hand but I think it curved at the last minute. A decent over for England - nine from it - and Boult finishes with 2 for 56.
47th over: England 277-7 (Plunkett 2, Rashid 3) Nasser Hussain makes an excellent point on Sky – Roy, Buttler and Morgan have all been caught mistiming drives off balls that have stuck in the pitch. England’s bowlers will use similar tactics. My instinct is that England will have enough runs, but it’ll be tight - especially if Guptill gets New Zealand off to a flyer against the harder ball. England will be desperate to get rid of him early in the innings.
What a brilliant catch from Mitchell Santner! Morgan check-drove from Henry a cutter towards short extra cover, where Santner changed direction to grab it spectacularly with both hands. Morgan played a sensible innings of 42 from 40 balls, but it might not be enough.
46th over: England 267-6 (Morgan 42, Plunkett 1) Boult, New Zealand’s star man, returns to the attack - but England take him for 13. His first ball is driven over mid-off for four by Morgan, who then pulls confidently round the corner for four more. Those are the first boundaries since the 40th over.
45th over: England 259-6 (Morgan 30, Plunkett 0) This pitch has definitely become more awkward to bat on. Even so, these are worrying times for England. Neesham ends an excellent morning’s work with figures of 10-1-41-2.
Another one gone. Woakes chips Neesham straight to mid-off to end a scruffy innings of four from 11 balls.
44th over: England 254-5 (Morgan 28, Woakes 2) I’m sure England would take 300 now. They are struggling to score four an over, never mind off one ball. But they do, with the aid of a wide, grab five from Santner’s final over. He finishes with figures of 10-0-65-1.
43rd over: England 249-5 (Morgan 26, Woakes 0) Woakes is beaten by consecutive deliveries from the increasingly impressive Neesham, who concedes only one from his ninth over. England’s innings is grinding to a halt. Since Bairstow reached his century they have made 55 for four from 13 overs.
42nd over: England 248-5 (Morgan 24, Woakes 0) “I wonder what the Dutch folk around me on this train to Schiphol make of my constant twitching as I look for the updates on my phone?” says Niall Mcclure. “Obviously, they think I’m an idiot.”
Now England do have a problem. After a laboured innings, full of frustration, Stokes charges down the track and drives Santner straight to Henry at long-on. He made 11 from 27 balls and could not get going at all.
41st over: England 246-4 (Morgan 24, Stokes 10) The relative caution of this partnership suggests England don’t trust their lower order as much as they did a few months ago. Which is fair enough, as most of them have had poor tournaments with the bat.
Stokes, on the charge, slices Neesham over backward point for a couple, with three singles on top of that. England’s run rate is now exactly six per over. New Zealand will fancy this, especially as it is effectively a free chase, with no consequences if they fail.
40th over: England 241-4 (Morgan 23, Stokes 6) Santner comes into the attack, bowling around the wicket to Morgan. He got Morgan for a golden duck on this ground in 2015, caught on the boundary I think. There’s no such intent from Morgan this time, at least not yet, but he does get a sweep away for four to turn a decent over into a good on for England.
“I do wish the score predictor would do one,” says Ian Copestake. It’s like telling Fate what the future is going to be and then acting surprised when your trousers are pulled down around your ankles.”
39th over: England 232-4 (Morgan 16, Stokes 5) Three singles from Neesham’s over. Stokes, in particular, is struggling to time the ball and/or pierce the field. Morgan said that Roy and Bairstow made the pitch look better than it was on Sunday; perhaps the same is true here.
38th over: England 229-4 (Morgan 14, Stokes 4) Southee beats Stokes with consecutive deliveries outside off stump. England are struggling here, as they did at a similar stage of the innings against India. They’ll do well to make 350 now. I think I just heard the first strains of the Jaws theme.
“Oh dear Rob,” says John Withington. “Just as I was about to type about Morgan’s generally negative impact on this batting team, Buttler chips one up to mid-off. I’m trying not to make Morgan responsible for everything but it’s seemed to me for a long time that he has the vampiric ability to suck the life out of an England innings. Routinely coming in and blocking most of his first dozen or so balls he seems singularly unsuited to bat high up in this high tempo batting order. Did the malaise of the previous over lead to Buttler pushing his hands impatiently at that one? Who knows. But with occasional dramatic exceptions I think Morgan has no place in the top six of a team batting so fluently. I said it in each of the previous few games and it feels like it’s the same here. Even in the India win his impact was marked and nearly cost England dear.”
37th over: England 226-4 (Morgan 12, Stokes 3) Boult, who has two overs remaining, is replaced by Neesham. He bowls a maiden to Stokes - yet it should have brought the wicket of Morgan. He was sent back by Stokes, but Santner’s close-range throw missed the stumps. Sheesh, that was close. This is getting very hairy.
“The difference between England’s openers, if they succeed, and the rest, is striking, and means they won’t be beaten if those two give them decent starts, especially with Stokes in such good form and Buttler to come after him,” says Andrew Hurley. “It’s interesting to see the discussion of Root’s strike rate, but isn’t it a non-issue when you think of the strike-rate of NZ’s top 3, Rahul, Australia’s two 3s (Khawaja and Smith are two 3s squeezed into 3 and 4).”
36th over: England 226-4 (Morgan 12, Stokes 3) On further reflection, it was a brilliant delivery from Boult to Buttler, a kind of knuckle ball that kicked from a length to induce the error.
Southee comes on to replace Henry and is hit for consecutive boundaries by Morgan. The first was an unconvincing, gloved pull; the second was a emphatic back cut.
35th over: England 218-4 (Morgan 4, Stokes 3) I assumed it was a slower ball from Boult, simply because Buttler mistimed it so badly, but I’m not sure it was. England are one wicket away from being in a bit of trouble.
“Wotcha Rob,” says Mac Millings. “I can’t remember my first nosebleed, but I do remember my first time on stage. I was 11 years old. Our English teacher had written a play, the plot of which involved a bunch of people stranded on a desert island. He had, wisely, given me a part with only one line, but even that proved too much. We performed in front of the whole school. My heart was beating out of my chest. I was to stand at the front of the stage, point into the distance, and say, ‘Look at that boat!’ Everything’s going to be fine, everything’s going to be fine, everything’s going to be fine, I told myself. And then I stood at the front of the stage, in front of the whole bloody school, pointed off into the distance, and said, ‘Look at that finger!’”
Boult has taken the big wicket! Buttler drove a slower ball towards mid-off, where Williamson moved to the right to take a smart catch. That is a huge moment, and reward for Williamson’s aggressive captaincy.
34th over: England 214-3 (Buttler 11, Morgan 3) New Zealand are hunting another wickets, with their strike bowlers Henry and Boult in the attack. It means that, if England get through this spell, they will have a chance to really punish the change bowlers and the hitherto rusty Southee.Three singles from Henry’s over; he has two more, Boult has three.
“Given the odd nature of Root’s dismissal, I’m wondering how the umpire gave him out,” says Matt Emerson. “Normally for a catch behind it’s on sound or an obvious deflection. Seeing as Root didn’t even feel that he hit it, I’m presuming he didn’t hear a nick either. So that means that the umpire has better hearing even though he’s 22 yards away (not impossible as Root has a helmet on and the fielders went up), or he guessed...”
33rd over: England 211-3 (Buttler 9, Morgan 2) Morgan crunches a Boult yorker down the ground for a single to get off the mark. Later in the over he pulls a single. It’s the hook, rather than the pull, that has been a problem in the last week or so. Boult is surely setting him up for the higher bouncer at some stage.
“My first nosebleed followed my being headbutted by my brother,” says Ian Copestake. “Not as painful, though, as being told to boost my accas.”
32nd over: England 206-3 (Buttler 6, Morgan 0) The new batsman is Eoin Morgan, who is unsurprisingly greeted with a short ball from Henry. He sways out of the way.
“My first nosebleed was in the opening minutes of my first O level exam,” says Kev. “Leaning forward to read the first question on the paper, I found the text obscured by my own freshly spilt blood. I immediately raised my hand in the manner instructed, inviting the invigilator’s response, ‘What is it now boy?’ stage whispered through gritted teeth. Ah, schooldays...”
For the second match in a row, Bairstow falls soon after reaching his century. He launched into a big drive at Henry and dragged the ball back onto the stumps. The first person to shake his hand was Kane Williamson, class act that he is, and Bairstow strolled off to a fine ovation for a superb innings: 106 from 99 balls with 15 fours and a six.
31st over: England 200-2 (Bairstow 100, Buttler 6) Jos Buttler has been promoted to No4, a good move that should allow him a bit of time to get his eye in. That’s what he does - for two balls, and then he drives his third sweetly for four. That’s drinks.
“Hi Rob!” says Kanishk Srinivasan. “As a kid, I had some terrible instances of nosebleeds. It was always a problem when the days were too hot, which was always the case in Calcutta. And for some reason, cricket practice sessions were the best of times for my nose to start bleeding. It came to a point where my parents were surprised when my whites weren’t red from blood after cricket, so they made me start packing one or two extra T-shirts, knowing that I’d need them. Thankfully, my nose finally decided to stop bleeding one day, so I haven’t had to deal with too many instances since I was a kid.”
Root tried to hook the first ball of a new spell from Trent Boult, and Latham took the catch down the leg side. Root reviewed almost instantly – but there was a small spike on Ultra-Edge, so the original decision stands. It was such a faint touch that Root didn’t feel it, and he shakes his head as he leaves the field. He takes England’s only review with him.
Root seems pretty confident he didn’t hit this.
30th over: England 194-1 (Bairstow 100, Root 24) Jonny Bairstow has had quite a week. He hits Southee for two boundaries behind square on the leg side to become the first England player ever to make consecutive World Cup hundreds. It’s also his third in a row against New Zealand, and it’s been an innings of such authority: 95 balls, 14 fours and one six.
“Do you suppose that Root’s struggles with fast run-making is because the other sides have worked him out, and bowled/set fields accordingly?” says John Starbuck. “All teams have had a good chance to analyse the opposition in this tournament so slow scorers will be accommodated accordingly. The better batsmen will adjust in response, while the best batsmen will go their own sweet ways because that’s what they do.”
29th over: England 186-1 (Bairstow 92, Root 24) Root back cuts Neesham for a single, and thus becomes the first England batsman ever to score 500 runs in a single World Cup. The overall record - Sachin Tendulkar’s 673 in 2003 - will probably be broken by somebody in the next 10 days.
“How good is this Kiwi batting line-up?” asks Matt Turland, interrogatively rather than rhetorically. “Like you said, no-one has really hit form so far but I’m worried that it’s all going to click. Guptill to score a rapid 70-80 before Williamson comes in with Taylor to smite the ball to all corners of the field.”
28th over: England 182-1 (Bairstow 90, Root 22) Well, there’s a bit of thwacking. Bairstow blasts Southee back over his head for the first six of the match.
“11.7 million people watched the England women’s football last night,” says Tom Carver. “I offer that as a statement of fact, not as a rebuke to the ECB.”
27th over: England 173-1 (Bairstow 83, Root 20) I suspect Jos Buttler will come in at the fall of the next wicket, unless it’s in the next couple of overs. A quick single brings up a good fifty partnership, which has been built on running rather than thwacking. There have been only four boundaries since Roy was dismissed.
“Cheers from USA Rob!” says John Bonn. “I grew up playing and following baseball but somehow, in my sixties, I started following the travails of English cricket through your coverage. I’m convinced I have the “cricket mentality” although I can only behold it from afar. Give ‘em hell England!”
Nosebleed stops play There’s an extended break in play while Joe Root receives treatment for what looks like a nosebleed. He’s okay to continue.
26th over: England 168-1 (Bairstow 80, Root 19) Root is dropped by Latham off Santner, although it was a tough chance from a pretty big deflection. Bairstow also has an escape later in the over, flashing at a ball that keeps a bit low and skids just past off stump. That was a really good over from Santner - yet England still scampered seven from it.
“After a 38-hour trip from Cornwall to Brisbane, I’m currently fighting off the urge to go to sleep, but I’m not going to be able to make it through all of this innings,” says Andrew Jolly. “Hoping I wake up to England being in the semis and at least one or two all-nighters to come. It is of course the hope that gets you.”
25th over: England 161-1 (Bairstow 76, Root 16) Bairstow drives Neesham not far short of Henry at mid-on, and then Root steals a second to long leg. He is still going along at a run a ball.
“This is a cracking start, again, but it makes me wonder which is the ‘real’ England team?” says Guy Hornsby. “On a good pitch we can really be aggressive, especially batting first, and we’ve shown against India how dangerous that makes us. But on slower, sticky pitches we struggle. So has this team been here all along? And are we finally coming to terms with the stifling pressure cooker tournament cricket? And can I have a gin before 12:30?”
24th over: England 156-1 (Bairstow 74, Root 13) A short ball from Santner is dumped over midwicket for four by Bairstow. His ODI career was reborn against New Zealand on this ground in 2015, when he was called up as a late replacement and scored a series-winning 83 not out. In fact he has quite a record against New Zealand, with an average of 92 and a strike rate of 118.
Meanwhile, Root gets his first boundary with a jaunty reverse ramp.
23rd over: England 145-1 (Bairstow 69, Root 7) Root plays a classical back-foot drive through extra cover for three. He has seven from eight balls. The size of this ground should allow him to be busy between the wickets, which is important because at times in this tournament he has struggled to up the rate when England have batted first.
22nd over: England 141-1 (Bairstow 68, Root 4) Santner replaces Southee. Bairstow hacks him behind square for four, the highlight of the over. England are going at 6.41 per over, and Bairstow needs 32 more to become the first England batsman to make back-to-back World Cup hundreds. I offer that as a statement of fact, not a tempter of fate.
21st over: England 133-1 (Bairstow 63, Root 3) “With most of my family living abroad, me and my dad meet up with my uncle and cousin every summer for a day at the internationals,” says Damian Burns. “We usually start at around 6am, setting off by train to some far flung corner of Britain from our base on the South Coast, with a large bag full of cans to ready us for a day spent drunkenly cheering England on (or heckling, depending on the mood – I once asked Joe Root on the square leg boundary at Edgbaston whether he voted in or out on the day of the Brexit result). We usually arrive back South so sozzled after a 15-hour session mum has to peel us off the front step because we’ve lost the ability to operate a set of keys. I know that’s not necessarily how the ECB want things but it’s tradition, right?”
It’s what this great empire was built on.
20th over: England 133-1 (Bairstow 62, Root 2) Bairstow and Root remind everyone of how well they run together by stealing a second run on the leg side. No running is required from the next delivery, a contemptuous smack through midwicket by Bairstow off Southee.
19th over: England 124-1 (Bairstow 54, Root 1) “I moved to NZ in 2014,” says Alex Webster. “Since then I’ve seen England dumped out of the group stages at three different World Cups, including being in the stadium with my (extremely drunk) cricket team when we got pumped in Wellington. I’m now sat at the bottom of the South Island, withstanding a Fiordland winter, mentally high fiving every well run two with a bristling intensity. I NEED this!”
Roy has gone! After pulling consecutive boundaries off Neesham, he check-drove the next ball straight to Santner at short extra cover. It was a loose stroke and Roy was angry with himself as he walks off; he knows he is leaving a few runs out there. But his swaggering 61-ball 60 has given England a great start.
18th over: England 115-0 (Roy 52, Bairstow 54) Tim Southee replaces Santner. He bowled a poor first spell (2-0-23-0), although in his defence it’s his first game of the tournament so he cannot be without rust. His first over back is a low-key affair; four singles from it.
17th over: England 111-0 (Roy 50, Bairstow 52) Roy wins the race to a half-century, working the new bowler Jimmy Neesham for a single. That’s the seventh time in the last eight innings that he has reached fifty. Bairstow joins him later in the over with a work off the pads for two. He’s played particularly well this morning: 46 balls, nine fours. That’s drinks.
16th over: England 107-0 (Roy 49, Bairstow 49) A quite over from Santner; three singles from it. Roy and Bairstow are yet to hit a six - there are no short boundaries today - but they have hit 15 fours between them.
15th over: England 104-0 (Roy 47, Bairstow 48) The medium-pacer Colin de Grandhomme comes into the attack, or rather the defence. His first over goes for 11. Bairstow steers the second ball to third man for four, a single for Roy brings up another rapid hundred partnership and then Bairstow repeats his earlier boundary. It’s worth dusting off an old stat: of the 124 openers who have scored 1000 runs in ODIs. Bairstow and Roy have the highest strike rate.
14th over: England 93-0 (Roy 45, Bairstow 39) Roy makes room to crash Santner through extra cover for four, a quite brutal shot. Seven from the over, which makes it 25 from the last three after that slightly quiet spell.
“I feel sick even though I’m not watching the game on TV here in Slovenia yet,” says Karen. “I have to rely on husband Spike to do all the necessary technical stuff & he doesn’t feel the urgency like me! I adore cricket, my Dad was a huge fan & I used to think it was soooo boring, but since Flintoff I’ve been hooked.”
13th over: England 86-0 (Roy 39, Bairstow 38) That’s the shot of the morning from Bairstow, a glorious drive for four that goes between the legs of Roy at the non-striker’s end. It’s been another excellent start for England on what looks like a belter.
“In response to Simon McMahon (over 9), we were at London St Pancras station on Sat morning at 7.30am on our way to watch the MLB at the London Stadium,” says Andy Beardsley. “We were on coffee but there was a chap sat behind us who ordered two pints for himself for breakfast. I assume he had a good day!”
12th over: England 78-0 (Roy 36, Bairstow 33) Santner returns to the attack in place of Boult, and Roy thwacks his second ball inside out over extra cover for a one-bounce four. Southee ran round from long off but it was a safe shot. A handful of ones and twos make it a good over for England.
“I have a day full of meetings, which means analysing charts, graphs and spreadsheets, obligatory PowerPoint presentations, and maybe some light arguing,” boasts Matt Dony. “Normally, obviously, this ticks all my boxes, but today I’m very frustrated at not being able to follow the match. I’m hoping that the next time I check the score, it’ll be a very big number followed by a very small number. Say, 350 for two? Is that too much to ask? Really?”
11th over: England 68-0 (Roy 27, Bairstow 32) An accurate over from Henry also brings only one run. Bairstow played a few crisp drives without piercing the field. New Zealand have pulled this back quite well, with the last six overs going for 24.
10th over: England 67-0 (Roy 26, Bairstow 32) England are handling Boult with care unless it’s a rank bad ball. One from the over, which gives Boult decent figures of 5-0-19-0. He also received an official warning for running on the pitch from the umpire S Ravi.
9th over: England 66-0 (Roy 25, Bairstow 32) Roy top-edges a pull over the keeper’s head for four The ball disappears under the covers on the boundary edge, and there’s a delay of around two minutes before the New Zealand wicketkeeper Tom Latham finds it - and receives the biggest cheer of the morning.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Dave Voss need not worry. Drinking at 10am in London (for this Scotsman anyway) is compulsory. Cheers. And cards on the table, I want England to go through but it would be quite good fun for me personally if they lose today and have to rely on Bangladesh on Friday when I’ll be watching at Lord’s, although I realise this scenario will not be universally popular with England fans.”
8th over: England 59-0 (Roy 19, Bairstow 31) A short ball from Boult is pulled viciously through midwicket for four by Roy. There’s no swing now, which is very good news for England. At the moment this is a below average partnership Bairstow and Roy; of the 53 opening partnerships who have added at least 1000 runs in ODIs, their average of 68 is the highest.
“Just wanted to ask what a competitive total is one this pitch, 315+?” asks Mohammed Hansrod.
7th over: England 53-0 (Roy 14, Bairstow 30) After two poor overs, Tim Southee is replaced by Matt Henry. He started the tournament superbly, with seven wickets in the first two games, but since then he has taken one wicket for 185. Bairstow works him for two to bring up an aggressive fifty partnership from only 38 balls. At the moment, New Zealand look like a team who don’t need to win, although a wicket would probably change that.
“Obviously, the unpleasantness you were feeling is down to all that milk in your flat whites,” says John Starbuck. “Do what I do, switch to double espressos all the time. You don’t have to worry about what to choose and the effect lasts longer, so it’s cheaper too.”
6th over: England 48-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 27) Boult beats Bairstow with a lovely delivery that moves away off the seam. The ball has stopped swinging, however, and that allows Bairstow to lace a drive over extra cover for four. That was an emphatic stroke.
“After six years working in the Philippines I’m here with my brother in law, both in some England tops from ‘99 that we swore weren’t this tight!” says Adam Kennedy. “What a beautiful stadium this is! Come on England!”
5th over: England 44-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 23) Southee has started poorly. He drifts onto the pads of Bairstow, who accepts the offer of bread and butter. That’s the first of three consecutive boundaries from Bairstow, who drives just over Santner at cover before slamming a pull through square leg. He has 23 from 12 balls and England are off to a flyer.
“Morning Rob,” says David Horn. “So, you won the toss with Tom Davies this morning and opted to OBO first. That seems smart to me. Get your comms on the board, let Tom deal with the lower bounce/gripping balls later in the day. Plus, harder to type when your fingernails have been reduced to painful, bloody stumps. Good luck to everyone out there today. Good luck with getting any work done, with maintaining your sanity, with this business of Being A Supporter. We’re gonna need it.”
4th over: England 31-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 10) Boult swings one too far into Roy, and the ball runs away off the pad for four leg-byes. But Roy doesn’t look particularly comfortable against Boult: he mistimes a smear to leg and then misses a big drive at a very wide delivery.
Here’s Mark O’Brien. “Three Englishmen, to Kiwis in a bar on the tropical island of Koh Phangan trying to explain rules of 50-over cricket to local Thai contingent through international sign language & role play.”
3rd over: England 25-0 (Roy 11, Bairstow 10) Tim Southee, whose swing bowling destroyed England in Wellington four years ago, replaces Mitchell Santner. Bairstow gets off the mark from his third ball, thumping a short ball through extra cover for four. He clouts the next delivery over the off side for four more, although that was a riskier shot from a wide outswinger, and finishes the over with an edge wide of slip for two. It’s been a fast start for England, though New Zealand will be encouraged by the fact the ball is swinging.
2nd over: England 15-0 (Roy 11, Bairstow 0) This, as Athers says on Sky, is a key phase of the game. England struggle against left-armers and Trent Boult is a world-class swing bowler. His first ball curves back into the pads of Roy, who survives a biggish LBW appeal. Although it was missing leg stump, that’s a really encouraging start for Boult. With the ball swinging, Roy starts respectfully against Boult, but he is alert enough to put a poor delivery through midwicket for four. He has faced every ball so far.
1st over: England 9-0 (Roy 5, Bairstow 0) Oh my! Santner’s first delivery is a beautiful arm ball that curves into Roy, beats his attempted cut and just misses the leg stump. It races away for four byes, but that could easily have been a first-baller for Roy. He gets off the mark later in the over by slapping a low full toss through the covers. Doom department: as Mike Atherton says on Sky, if the ball is swinging for the spinner, it will surely do so for Trent Boult.
“Very old school choice of Cole Porter lyrics – nice,” says Brian Withington. “First saw George Melly perform it at a British Gas Dinner Dance (!) circa 1980 in an enormous London Hotel ballroom, which he described in his inimitable style as an ‘intimate little boîte’ (to the amusement of those of us with O-level French).”
It’s time. The left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner will bowl the first over.
You know it’s a big game when ... you have umpteen unread emails before a ball has been bowled. (It’s not as bad as the 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan, when I had something like 94 unread emails before the toss.) Please keep them coming, even if I’ll struggle to read them all until tonight.
“Are they playing on the same pitch as Sri Lanka v West Indies, who both scored well on Monday?” asks Scott Rutherford.
No, it’s a new pitch and looks full of runs. The swing of Southee and especially Boult is probably England’s main concern.
“Why am I doing this?” says Sam Collier. “I was an absolute wreck on Sunday. I remained that way even while there was only a mathematical chance of India winning. And after England won, as realised I was going to have to go through it all again. Possibly three times. I just need you to tell me it’s going to be okay. Okay?”
Thankfully I’ve been an oasis of calm throughout this World Cup, and the crippling nausea I experienced all day Sunday was purely down to an excess of flat whites.
“Is there are way - other than trawling through the matches, one by one - to find out the percentage of toss wins that England has achieved during this tournament?” asks Sarah Bacon. “Feels excessive.”
Dave Voss is confident.“The Fear,” he says. “I’ve got it. I feel sick and trembling and it’s going to be like this all day isn’t it? Is it cowardly to start drinking at 10am?”
“We’ve finally made it to a match in England again,” writes Eva Maaten. “The Riverside is quite a change from the Wanderers in Joburg, lovely stadium. Witnessed some good-humoured banter between England and NZ fans on the bus to the stadium - it should be an exciting game on the most perfect of all English cricket days, sunny with picture book clouds.”
England are unchanged. New Zealand bring in Matt Henry and Tim Southee for Ish Sodhi and the injured Lockie Ferguson.
England Roy, Bairstow, Root, Morgan (c), Stokes, Buttler (wk), Woakes, Plunkett, Rashid, Archer, Wood.
“On a dark and stormy™ Wellington night, I’m hunkered down and ready for this to get started,” writes my old colleague Paul Cockburn. “I was in the Cake Tin for the monstering NZ gave England in 2015... but down here I think people are nervous England will end the 13k-day streak. The Black Caps have rather lost their way as this compy has unwound, haven’t they?”
A little, mainly because they have too many players out of form. But they are – and I forgot to say this in the preamble – a dangerous team to underestimate.
An email!
“Could you put the standings table up pls?” asks Rob Connelly. “I can’t find the link on the Guardian site.”
The ferocious Lockie Ferguson is out with a tight hamstring, which is good news for Eoin Morgan’s hook stroke. Matt Henry or Tim Southee will replace him in the New Zealand side.
Birds do it. Bees do it. Even educated fleas do it. But let’s not do it. Please, let’s not underestimate New Zealand. Since England’s stirring win over India on Sunday, there has been an unspoken, possibly unconscious assumption that they have nine toes in the semi-final. It’s dangerous, disrespectful and just plain wrong. England are below New Zealand in the table and have not beaten them at a World Cup for 13,173 days.
West Indies set an imposing target with a late flurry of runs and it proved too much for Afghanistan, despite an impressive knock of 86 from teenager Ikram Alikhil
And here’s Jason Holder: “It’s good to get over the line, we’ve had some close encounters in the tournament. The batting went nicely, but we didn’t start that well in the field. They had a good partnership up front, but we got the wickets we needed.
Inconsistency let us down in this tournament, we need to be more consistent with the bat and ball going forward. It’s hard to see Chris play his last World Cup game, but he’s done so much for the game back home. I want to say congrats to him.”
Here’s the Afghanistan captain, Gulbadin Naib: “We are disappointed to lose, but pleased with our score today. Ikram and Rahmat both played very well. Inshallah, we’ve learned from this World Cup - and I have learned a lot personally. The fitness is a big issue, and pressure - if you can handle the pressure, you can chase easily.”
He also pays tribute to the Afghanistan fans, who have turned out at every ground to cheer their team on in big numbers.
Well, that dead rubber had a bit of bounce left, didn’t it? From the Windies’ power-hitting at the end of their innings, to Ikram Alikhil’s hugely impressive knock, via comedy fielding, spectacular catches and co-ordinated celebrations - there was something for everyone.
As his final World Cup match comes to a close, Gayle leads the West Indies off to applause from his teammates. Despite losing his wicket early, he still played his part - taking a key catch, dismissing Ikram Alikhil lbw and setting up a run-out with a crafty decoy run. All in a day’s work.
What a way to finish - with a final-ball wicket as Fabian Allen takes a spectacular catch! He could have let Shirzad’s shot drop over his head, but threw himself backwards to end the match in style. Afghanistan 288 all out, easily their highest total of the tournament.
49.5 overs: Afghanistan 288-9 (Shirzad 29, Mujeeb 7) Shirzad clobbers a Thomas full toss over cover for tour, then smashes a six down the ground! He’s enjoyed this tail-end cameo...
49th over: Afghanistan 278-9 (Shirzad 15, Mujeeb 7) Brathwaite back in, chasing a five-fer despite some pretty ragged stuff early on. He almost clean-bowled Mujeeb with the last ball, but finishes with figures of 9-0-63-4.
48th over: Afghanistan 275-9 (Shirzad 13, Mujeeb 6) The last man in, Mujeeb sends Thomas back down the ground for four. Remarkably, Afghanistan are ahead of the Windies’ 48-over total - but 37 runs off their target.
47th over: Afghanistan 268-9 (Shirzad 11, Mujeeb 1) Shirzad smashes a six that just evades Holder’s reach. Afghanistan are going down swinging.
This was a better shot than Asghar’s, but the end result is the same, with the 6’7” Holder jumping to catch at the fence!
46th over: Afghanistan 260-8 (Rashid 8, Shirzad 4) The Windies fielding has been verging on competent in the last few overs, so here comes Pooran, juggling the ball in clownish fashion and failing to catch Rashid Khan at cover. Shirzad creams a drive for four to give Afghanistan just a glimmer of hope.
“Asghar went for the widest possible ball and hit it with one toe,” laments a heartbroken Romeo.
45th over: Afghanistan 255-8 (Rashid 8, Shirzad 0) A very strange over ends with another wicket! Dawlat holes out to Cottrell, who makes up for his howler earlier on by dismissing the new man. Salute! In between, Rashid smashed a six and Brathwaite sent down three wides.
That might be curtains. Asghar moves across to meet a Brathwaite delivery - it would have been a wide - but doesn’t get enough on it, and Holder collects at long on, inches from the boundary!
45th over:The expensive Brathwaite returns, with Asghar ducking under an opening bouncer...
44th over: Afghanistan 244-6 (Asghar 40, Rashid 1) Roach ends his spell with another tight over - he’s held down his end superbly. The dot-balls keep coming, the seamer mixing things to great effect - but he’s gone to the pavilion, perhaps with an injury.
43rd over: Afghanistan 241-6 (Asghar 37, Rashid 1) Last-chance saloon time, with the two men capable of getting the required blast of runs both in the middle. And Asghar makes a start with two consecutive fours off Holder! 12 off the over, 71 required off the last seven overs.
42nd over: Afghanistan 229-6 (Asghar 27, Rashid 0) So it’s exit Shinwari, who never got going - and enter Rashid Khan.
Roach begins with a quick ball outside off-stump that Asghar prods nervously at. Afganistan need to get a move on, and Shinwari forces a shot towards deep midwicket, and Hetmyer takes a fine, diving catch.
41st over: Afghanistan 226-5 (Afghan 26, Shinwari 6) Into the final 10 overs, and Brathwaite saves a boundary with a dive to his right. Is he reading the OBO? We can’t rule it out. Holder bowls a wide line, so wide he concedes, well, a wide.
40th over: Afghanistan 219-5 (Asghar 25, Shinwari 3) Five singles squeezed from the over off Roach, who has figures of 8-2-32-2.
“What’s struck me is how much more effective both these sides could be if they got plenty of proper fielding practice,” says John Starbuck. “They both possess talent with bat and ball but that’s not enough.”
39th over: Afghanistan 215-5 (Asghar 21, Shinwari 1) Samiullah Shinwari comes in, with Rashid Khan next in line. Asghar offers up some big hitting of his own, leathering a six off a slow Cottrell ball, and following up with a slash through the off-side for four. Just when all hope looked lost...
Oh dear. Nabi leaves his experience in the pavilion, and gets caught cold by a short, wide ball from Roach. He slices it to deep point, where Allen collects.
37th over: Afghanistan 201-4 (Asghar 8, Nabi 1) Figures of 6-0-28-1 for Gayle, more than a match for the rest of the Windies’ attack. Mohammed Nabi will need to bring his experience to the crease if Afghanistan are to keep pace.
Asghar looks to run two off Gayle, but as he runs after it, he hides the batsmen’s view and as they slow up, Hetmeyer collects at midwicket and sends an exocet to Brathwaite behind the stumps, who whips off the bails before Najibullah can get there.
36th over: Asghar Afghan trots out to the crease and starts with a four - helped by a misfield at square leg! No matter ...
Well, I feel partly responsible for this. Ikram tries the reverse sweep one too many times, and gets trapped lbw by Gayle! He reviews, somewhat hopefully, but he’s a goner.
35th over: Afghanistan 182-2 (Ikram 85, Najibullah 30) Cottrell returns, aiming both barrels at Ikram, who swings and misses at a slower ball, then flicks the next away for a single. He’s getting close...
34th over: Afghanistan 182-2 (Ikram 83, Najibullah 27) When you need to hold an end down and tighten things up, you are gonna call? Chris Gayle, of course. It’s another very tidy over, just two singles from it. And that’s drinks.
33rd over: Afghanistan 180-2 (Ikram 82, Najibullah 26) Wallop! Najibullah sizes up Braithwaite and smacks a dead straight drive all the way for six! That’s eased the pressure, and the Windies ease it further with more comical fielding - both Roach and Cottrell guilty as 12 runs are collected off the over.
32nd over: Afghanistan 167-2 (Ikram 77, Najibullah 18) The required run rate creeps over eight per over after, whisper it, another very handy over from Gayle. Ikram hasn’t found the same fluency with Najib - yet.
31st over: Afghanistan 164-2 (Ikram 76, Najibullah 16) More suspect fielding as Najibullah slashes at a slower ball, sending it past Thomas at third man. He just couldn’t get down to it in time.
@niallmcveigh Brathwaite just bowled a juicy half volley. Long hops are rank. What other adjectives are used for particular deliveries...?
Before today, Ikram Alikhil of Afghanistan had faced 166 balls in ODIs and hit two of them for four. Today, he's faced 75 and hit seven for four. It's like seeing a tongue-tied teenager make a rousing speech @niallmcveigh
30th over: Afghanistan 155-2 (Ikram 74, Najibullah 10)Has Ikram been stumped here? He stepped forward to try and sweep Gayle. Hope collects and breaks the bails - but replays show that the ball spilled out of his gloves, and didn’t touch the stumps. Not out! Another missed opportunity for the Windies.
29th over: Afghanistan 154-2 (Ikram 73, Najibullah 10) Ikram breaks his run of singles with a pull over midwicket after Brathwaite leaves one short. Win or lose, it would be fantastic to see him pick up a century here.
“It’s about time they got Najib back into a sensible batting position,” says Romeo. “Rahmat did very, very well.”
28th over: Afghanistan 146-2 (Ikram 67, Najibullah 8) Najibullah settles in with a cover drive off Gayle - but Hetmyer, last seen lugging a pile of autographed bats across the outfield, sprints across to deny him the boundary!
“When Cottrell dropped that catch, did any of the Afghanistan fans salute him? I know I would have done,” asks Andrew Cosgrove.
They saluted him, one way or another.
27th over: Afghanistan 139-2 (Ikram 67, Najibullah 1) Najibullah Zadran is next to the crease. It felt like Afghanistan’s chances were growing with every over Ikram and Rahmat stayed in. Can they keep that momentum going?
After a dismal run in the field, the Windies have the breakthrough they needed. It’s Gayle, diving forward niftily as Rahmat’s drive pops up.
26th over: Afghanistan 138-1 (Ikram 67, Rahmat 62) Ikram should have been caught and bowled, but Gayle has his lead boots on and doesn’t stretch, letting the ball slip away over his head. Afghanistan keep the scoreboard ticking over with a run every ball.
Afghanistan know they need to keep ahead of the curve, because the Windies finished with such a flourish (100+ runs in their last 10 overs). At halfway, they’re on 132-1 to West Indies’ 109-2. And what’s this? Chris Gayle is having a bowl...
25th over: Afghanistan 132-1 (Ikram 64, Rahmat 59) That almighty let-off is followed by a missed run-out opportunity, as the Windies lose their collective heads in the field. Halfway through the chase, and it’s very much on.
Holder adjusts his field, and Rahmat mistimes his shot, sending it high towards Cottrell at long on. Poised underneath it, he somehow lets it bobble from his grasp. Oh dear, that’s a stinker. His shades fell off too, for added comic effect.
24th over: Afghanistan 128-1 (Ikram 62, Rahmat 57) A couple of artful singles from the over, Holder proving harder to read than his colleagues so far. Having said that, his next is angled incorrectly and Ikram finds the gap between square and short fine leg.
23rd over: Afghanistan 122-1 (Ikram 57, Rahmat 56) Holder takes a chance on Carlos Brathwaite in an effort to disrupt this partnership. It doesn’t work, Rahmat unfurling a classical on-drive from a poor second ball. Ikram ends the over with a spiky chip towards midwicket. Very nice contrast in styles between these two.
22nd over: Afghanistan 116-1 (Ikram 56, Rahmat 51) Ikram sends Holder packing back down the ground, a bit scruffily, but it made its way to the rope. The Windies need to get their act together.
21st over: Afghanistan 109-1 (Ikram 50, Rahmat 50) Fifty runs a piece for these two, Allen 0-26 off three overs.
Fabian Allen is having a rough time of it; first ball here, Ikram cuts it regally away for four, and follows up with a glorious pull shot off a short ball. He’s the fourth-youngest batsman to score a World Cup 50.
20th over: Afghanistan 101-1 (Ikram 42, Rahmat 50) West Indies shoulders are slumping as they realise they’ve got a game on their hands. Holder takes it upon himself to stop the flow of runs: just one from the over.
Here’s Vic Marks on England, who are very much back in the game:
19th over: Afghanistan 100-1 (Ikram 41, Rahmat 50) Ikram has been moved up the order here - he’s batted as low as nine previously - and is repaying the gamble. He plays a chip shot, not perfectly timed, but beyond mid-off for four. Rahmat cuts beyond a despairing dive for another boundary, then adds the single for his first World Cup half-century! Batted.
18th over: Afghanistan 88-1 (Ikram 35, Rahmat 44) Rahmat has a spot of cramp. Finally, I have something in common with a World Cup cricketer! The captain, Jason Holder, mixes up the length dramatically but Rahmat bides his time before pulling wristily away for four. He’s played some lovely shots. Holder’s frustration is completed by a late no-ball call, from which Rahmat slogs a single.
“Earlier on, Rob suggested that Ireland could build a team around Tim Murtagh for the next decade or two,” writes Billy Mills. “He currently has figures of 6-1-12-3 against Zimbabwe. May he never retire. Ever.”
17th over: Afghanistan 80-1 (Ikram 34, Rahmat 38) Oh Oshane! Spinner Allen comes in, and Ikram lofts him towards long-off - but Thomas mistimes his run and can’t get near the catch. And that’s drinks.
16th over: Afghanistan 74-1 (Ikram 30, Rahmat 36) After five dot balls, Rahmat cuts away Holder’s final delivery at the last moment. It’s too fast for Thomas, lumbering across from third man, and goes for four.
15th over: Afghanistan 70-1 (Ikram 30, Rahmat 32) Rahmat’s drive inconveniences Gayle at cover, who has to amble across to cut it off. Some really smart running from these two, avoiding a run-out even after some lightning-quick fielding. It keeps them in touch with the Windies’ score at this stage, which was 73-1.
14th over: Afghanistan 67-1 (Ikram 29, Rahmat 31) Both batsmen are squarely in the danger zone now. Afghan batsmen have got out between 20 and 49 TWENTY-SIX TIMES in this World Cup. They stand firm in this over, the first from Jason Holder.
“In the commentary box, Michael Holding is having a go at his former captains, net bowlers, visitors wearing fancy dress in the crowd, club music ... He’s in an entertainingly grumpy mood,” writes Honor Harger.
When Rahmat played that exquisite shot over midwicket, Holding grumbled that the pitch was flat and slow.
13th over: Afghanistan 65-1 (Ikram 28, Rahmat 30) Rahmat Shah is picking his shots very nicely - pulling Thomas dismissively for four, then ending the over with a crisp cover drive. The partnership is now 60 from 71 balls.
12th over: Afghanistan 54-1 (Ikram 26, Rahmat 21) Sixth over for Roach, and a trickle of singles. The bowler’s figures are a so-so 6-1-27-1.
Romeo wasn’t done. “Ikram and Rahmat are both technically sound batsmen who can score, and Ikram is only 18. I pray (in my own way) they stay together and build something for the others to work with.”
11th over: Afghanistan 49-1 (Ikram 23, Rahmat 19) Ikram defends deftly as Cottrell backs him up, before a single gets Rahmat on strike. He picks his moment to cut away a shorter one for four.
10th over: Afghanistan 44-1 (Ikram 22, Rahmat 15) Shot! Ikram picks a straight-ish Roach delivery and hoicks it back down the ground for a one-bounce four.
Meanwhile, Liam Plunkett has called on the powers that be to put the final on free-to-air, so as many people as possible can watch India v Australia:
9th over: Afghanistan 37-1 (Ikram 15, Rahmat 15) Oshane Thomas comes into the attack, angling his 85mph deliveries across Ikram, who looks uncomfortable, as one might. One shorter ball offers the chance to run a double, but progress is still slow for Afghanistan.
8th over: Afghanistan 34-1 (Ikram 12, Rahmat 15) Rahmat has warmed up, shifting his feet to exploit a gap in the onside for another four. The Windies were 35-1 at this stage; fair to say they went up a gear or two later on.
7th over: Afghanistan 29-1 (Ikram 11, Rahmat 11) A lovely drive from Rahmat Shah, punishing a loose delivery from Cottrell, who throws in a couple of wides for good measure. Another four for Rahmat to end the over, sweetly timed and stroked beyond midwicket. That’s a bit more like it.
“While I love Gulbadin dearly, and have done so since Jersey in 2008, he hasn’t been a regular in the side for a while, until very recently,” writes Romeo.
“He’s now opening the batting, for god’s sake, but at least only bowled three overs and had the sense to take himself off. One four and then he’s out, playing a frankly rubbish shot. Who is running the Afghan team? It can’t be Simmons. I am more than a little angry.”
Romeo done, it would seem.
6th over: Afghanistan 19-1 (Ikram 11, Rahmat 3) Chris Gayle was convinced one of those swings caught a top edge as it flew through to Hope, but Cottrell convinced him not to review, and rightly so. No such drama here, another tight over from Roach.
5th over: Afghanistan 16-1 (Ikram 9, Rahmat 2) Fabian Allen springs to his left to deny Rahmat at point, before Ikram glances Cottrell elegantly off his pads for four. Cottrell mixes up the length, and prompts a couple of wild swings from the teenager.
4th over: Afghanistan 11-1 (Ikram 5, Rahmat 1) The Sky win predictor gives Afghanistan a 5% chance, which feels about right. Neither batsmen looks to have settled yet, and it’s a maiden for Roach, with a skittering run for a single aborted on the final ball.
3rd over: Afghanistan 11-1 (Ikram 5, Rahmat 1) Cottrell keeps the deliveries on the full side, keeping Ikram on his toes. A nudge through the off side and an outside edge beyond the slips keep the scoreboard just about moving.
2nd over: Afghanistan 8-1 (Ikram 3, Rahmat 0) 18-year-old Ikram Alikhil marches out to the crease, and Cottrell has to move fast to deny him a boundary.
The Windies add a slip as Kemar Roach comes in. His second ball is hooked effortlessly to the boundary by Gulbadin. On the next, the Afghan captain tries to repeat the trick, and wafts it straight to Lewis at square leg!
1st over: Afghanistan 1-0 (Gulbadin 1, Rahmat 0) Sheldon Cottrell opens the bowling, catching Gulbadin on the pads second ball. It was sailing over the stumps, so no review. A fuller delivery then beats the captain’s outside edge. Just one off the over.
The Windies players are back out in a huddle, and looking pretty relaxed and confident. They added 111 runs in the last 10 overs; they’ve earned it.
Lunchtime reading
Catch up on the reaction to England’s win on Wednesday:
Thanks Rob. Well, you can’t deny that was entertaining. It’s a big target for Afghanistan to chase down - they are yet to pass 250 in this tournament. The underdogs have been competitive, won hearts and won respect - but haven’t won a game. They’ve got one more chance.
Brathwaite finishes with 14 not out from four balls, and Afghanistan need 312 for a famous victory. That’s a pretty tough ask. West Indies scored 93 from the last seven overs. Niall McVeigh will join you for their runchase. You can email him on niall.mcveigh@theguardian.com or tweet @niallmcveigh. Thanks for your company - bye!
50th over: West Indies 311-6 (Brathwaite 14, Allen 0) Carlos Brathwaite launches his second ball over long off for six, which takes West Indies past 300. That’s the 12th six of an entertaining innings; in fact, Chris Gayle is the only batsman who hasn’t hit a six (excluding Fabian Allen, who hasn’t faced a ball). An edge for four is followed by another huge hit down the ground. This time it goes straight to Gulbadin … who lets it pass over his head for a one-bounce four. The sun was in his eyes, it says here.
Two wickets in two balls. Holder lifts a slower ball towards backward square leg, where Dawlat takes a nonchalant running catch. Holder hit four of the tournament’s cleaner sixes in a 34-ball 45.
A farcical run out. Holder missed a slower ball, at which point Pooran tried to steal a bye to the keeper. He got all the way down the other end before he realised that Holder hadn’t moved, so he turned round and ran straight off the field. A daft end to another cracking innings from Pooran: 58 from 43 balls.
49th over: West Indies 297-4 (Pooran 58, Holder 45) The penultimate over, bowled by Dawlat, disappears for 20! Holder lifted an attempted yorker into the crowd, Pooran smeared a slower ball back over the bowler’s head for six more, and then Ikram left a slower ball slip away for four wides. The West Indies have hit 78 from the last six overs.
48th over: West Indies 277-4 (Pooran 50, Holder 38) The in-form Pooran slashes Mujeeb over backward point for three to bring up a 40-ball half-century. He’s been dropped twice, but he has also played some spectacular strokes. Holder glides the next ball very fine for four to make it yet another good over for the West Indies, who could still make 300. Mujeeb finishes with 10-0-52-0.
47th over: West Indies 267-4 (Pooran 46, Holder 33) Holder swings Dawlat over midwicket for another big six, his third of the innings. It’s another fine over for the West Indies, with 15 from it. They’ve scored 48 from the last four.
46th over: West Indies 252-4 (Pooran 40, Holder 24) A couple of wides in Rashid’s last over, but that aside he kept West Indies to singles. He ends with figures of 10-0-52-1, though he bowled better than they suggest.
45th over: West Indies 246-4 (Pooran 38, Holder 22) Holder slog-sweeps Mujeeb for a huge, 98-metre six. That made the most beautiful sound off the bat. For the first time Afghanistan’s spinners look rattled, and Pooran gets a couple of boundaries with a gloved sweep and a fleet-footed cut. Sixteen from the over.
44th over: West Indies 230-4 (Pooran 30, Holder 15) After a sedate start to his innings, Holder drives Rashid Khan over long-off for six. Eleven from the over. West Indies are getting away from Afghanistan.
43rd over: West Indies 219-4 (Pooran 26, Holder 7) Mujeeb comes back into the attack. His first ball is lashed majestically over mid-off for four by Pooran, but he pulls things back thereafter. Seven from the over.
42nd over: West Indies 212-4 (Pooran 20, Holder 6) Rashid Khan, who has three overs remaining, returns to the attack. His frustrating day continues when Pooran edges a kicking legbreak and is dropped by the keeper Ikram. It was another very tough chance. A fine over from Rashid yields just three singles.
41st over: West Indies 209-4 (Pooran 18, Holder 5) Pooran is dropped off Shirzad again, this time by the diving Gulbadin at mid-off. It was another very tough chance. A deft pull later in the over brings Pooran his second boundary. A useful over for West Indies; nine from it.
“New Zealand can beat Australia,” says Ian Copestake. “Because this is sport. And I want Trent Boult to find his happy place.”
40th over: West Indies 200-4 (Pooran 12, Holder 2) Pooran works Nabi for a single to bring up the 200. West Indies are in a strong position here. Nabi, still bowling round the wicket to the right-handers, angles a good delivery past Holder’s outside edge. He finishes with figures of 10-0-56-1, and nine wickets at 32 in the tournament. He’s been excellent.
39th over: West Indies 196-4 (Pooran 9, Holder 1) A stinging pull from Pooran, off Shirzad, is dropped by the leaping Rahmat at midwicket. It would have been a great catch because Pooran nailed the shot.
38th over: West Indies 192-4 (Pooran 6, Holder 0) It was good bowling from Nabi, who switched to round the wicket after being hit for the two boundaries earlier. That meant Hope had slightly less room to free his arms.
Shai Hope misses out on a century. After thumping Nabi twice through mid-off for four earlier in the over, he holed out to Rashid Khan on the midwicket boundary. It was a lovely innings of 77 from 92 balls, but that’s a soft dismissal.
37th over: West Indies 184-3 (Hope 69, Pooran 6) Hope survives an LBW appeal after being hoodwinked by a slower ball from Dawlat. It was close, but I think it was going down the leg side. There was certainly no point reviewing because it was umpire’s call at best. In fact, Hawkeye shows it was missing.
36th over: West Indies 180-3 (Hope 66, Pooran 5) “There are no, absolutely zero, international fixtures for Afghanistan, of any kind, in any format, in any place, until October next year at the World T20, according to Cricinfo, the ICC and the ACB (whose homepage is currently a white screen), unless I’m very much mistaken,” says Romeo. “I hope I am but fear I’m not. How are they supposed to develop if the $$$$ countries, even WI and SA, won’t invite them/play them? They haven’t even been allowed a commentator for this World Cup, unlike everyone else. Meanwhile, Dawlat is doing well (ish).”
I’m sure some fixtures will be arranged at short notice. Even so, that’s nowhere near good enough.
35th over: West Indies 178-3 (Hope 65, Pooran 4) There was astunning shot earlier in the over from Hope, who drove Dawlat elegantly down the ground for six. And there was another one after the wicket, when Nicholas Pooran pulled his first ball savagely for four. There is an obscene amount of talent in this West Indies batting line-up.
“To be honest, I hope Bangladesh DO bat first, for the sake of Pakistan’s fans,” says Matt Dony. “As sports fans, we generally tend towards the pessimistic, but there’s usually a part of us desperate to hang on to any hope whatsoever. Realistically, there is no way Pakistan can qualify, but as long as there is even a teeny-weeny mathematical chance, their fans won’t be able to relax. If Bangladesh bat first, it’s sorted. Like ripping off a plaster. Then they can just get in with enjoying what should be a decent standalone match.”
Hetmyer’s frisky end-of-term innings comes to an end. He pulled Dawlat towards short midwicket, where the substitute Noor Ali swooped to his right to take a fine two-handed catch. That was a fairly typical cameo from Hetmyer: 39 from 31 balls, with three fours and two sixes.
34th over: West Indies 165-2 (Hope 57, Hetmyer 38) Hetymer has three close shaves in one over from Rashid Khan: an LBW appeal (too high), a run-out chance (he would just have been home) and finally a slog-sweep that went miles in the air and dropped between two fielders on the leg side. That should have been taken by the man running in from the boundary, but he may have been worried about a collision. Rashid Khan hoofed the ground in disgust at the end ofthe over.
“Interesting, and just a bit sad, to see George Dockrell left out of the Ireland squad for this ODI series,” says Billy Mills. “To think he was once on England’s radar, but recently his batting has been better than his bowling, and his batting’s not great, to be fair.”
33rd over: West Indies 160-2 (Hope 55, Hetmyer 36)
32nd over: West Indies 153-2 (Hope 54, Hetmyer 31) Hope tries to reverse sweep Mujeeb but can’t beat Gulbadin at short third man. The next ball is a beauty - fuller, wider, faster and zipping past the outside edge.
“If Pakistan bat first and beat Bangladesh then Bangladesh’s reply is counted as if against 50 overs come what may,” writes Neill. “If Pakistan get (say) 380, then they’ll need to bowl Bangladesh out for 66. Not impossible.”
31st over: West Indies 152-2 (Hope 53, Hetmyer 31) Afghanistan have struggled when chasing totals between 200-230 in this tournament, so West Indies look very well placed.
“Outside the Fab Four” says Abhijato Sensarma, “Hetmyer has the potential to become the world’s best all-format batsman.”
30th over: West Indies 147-2 (Hope 50, Hetmyer 29) Hope drives Nabi for a single to reach a serene half-century from 65 balls. But enough about everyone else on the planet, because Shimron Hetmyer is batting. He slog-sweeps Nabi mightily for six and survives a stumping review after attempting to repeat the stroke.
29th over: West Indies 139-2 (Hope 49, Hetmyer 22) The left-arm seamer Shirzad returns to the attack. After three dot balls, Hetmyer pings a short ball round the corner for four. That was a nice, deft stroke, which takes him to 22 from 14 balls.
“Apart from having one of the best first names I’ve ever heard (sounding like a minor galactic ruler in Douglas Adams’ universe) isn’t Hetmyer one of the best things about this World Cup?” says Guy Hornsby. “He came with expectation, and while he’s not delivered every game he’s sumptuous to watch. I was at Old Trafford for the NZ game and one of his off drives was so decadent it could’ve sat down for a cognac and Cuban cigar. Such a shame he’s in a team that’s disappointed so frequently here.”
28th over: West Indies 133-2 (Hope 48, Hetmyer 17) Hetmyer drives Nabi down the ground for four more. His batting is unfettered at the best of times, so you can imagine what he’s like on the last day of term.An uppish drive wide of extra cover brings four more, and he has raced to 17 from nine balls.
27th over: West Indies 121-2 (Hope 46, Hetmyer 7) Rashid Khan’s wrong’un almost sneaks through Hope, who had approximately 0.00 per cent what was going on. Four from the over.
“Josh Little is decent enough,” says Martin Gilbert. “I’ve not seen a lot of him, but he’s one of a few good youngsters around the team. He’s not in the ODI squad for Zimbabwe, but is in the T20 squad. First impressions are that he’s good but inconsistent. Not as fast as Adair (I think), so he could be a successor to Murtagh more than Rankin (who I think is still in this squad largely for sentimental reasons). Forget to mention Lorcan Tucker (wk) as another young fella in the team today. All told, am quite optimistic for the future.”
26th over: West Indies 117-2 (Hope 41, Hetmyer 7) Having taken longer than usual to get his eye in, Hetmyer waves the fourth ball of his innings, from Nabi, over long off for six.
25th over: West Indies 109-2 (Hope 41, Hetmyer 0) The new batsman is the infectious Shimron Hetmyer.
Lewis has gone now. He hoicked Rashid Khan high towards long on, where Nabi took a superbly judged running catch. Lewis played nicely, making 58 from 78 balls.
24th over: West Indies 100-1 (Lewis 58, Hope 32) Evin Lewis survives a very close review for LBW. He got in a tangle as he tried to slog-sweep Mujeeb, and when the ball ran on to hit the pad he looked plumb. The umpire Nigel Llong disagreed, so Gulbadin went upstairs. Hawkeye showed that this much of the ball hit the pad outside the line of off stump, which meant it was umpire’s call and Lewis survived.
23rd over: West Indies 97-1 (Lewis 57, Hope 31) That was a stumping chance in the previous over, when Hope pushed forward at Mujeeb and overbalanced. It looked a fairly routine take for Ikram, although he might been unsighted.
22nd over: West Indies 91-1 (Lewis 52, Hope 30) Mujeeb returns to the attack and beats Hope with a lovely carrom ball. The keeper Ikram dropped the ball, although I’m not sure whether it was a stumping chance because we haven’t seen a side-on replay. It did look like Hope might have overbalanced.
“Using my expertise as (not) a long-dead historian, I’m going to comment briefly on the other ODI happening today – ‘my’ Ireland vs Zimbabwe,” says Martin Gilbert. “Ireland off to a good start (74/0 off 17 overs) with three youngsters (McCollum opening the batting this morning, Adair a decent fast/medium bowler and Getkate a good allrounder) in the starting 11. The last few years have been a bit of a slog because they’ve stuck too long with the old guard in order to ensure they won Test status, but now there’s some hope for the future. This series should be interesting, and hopefully we’ll make it to the next World Cup…”
21st over: West Indies 88-1 (Lewis 51, Hope 28) There’s no mystery to Nabi’s bowling, but he consistently ties batsmen down in the middle overs. West Indies have scored only 15 from the last six overs.
20th over: West Indies 86-1 (Lewis 50, Hope 27) Lewis drives a single off Rashid Khan to reach a stylish half-century from 62 balls.
19th over: West Indies 82-1 (Lewis 48, Hope 25) Another tight over from Nabi, who has figures of 4-0-14-0. This is a decent spell for Afghanistan.
“Given that the ‘spirit of cricket’ is an integral and important part of the laws of the game, if Bangladesh win the toss and elect to bat, thereby denying Pakistan any chance of getting a semi-final berth, would they be guilty of contravening the aforementioned laws?” wonders Jon Short.
18th over: West Indies 81-1 (Lewis 48, Hope 24) Rashid Khan, who has had such success against West Indies in the past, comes into the attack. His third ball is a beauty that beats Hope, who has played a few false strokes in this innings. Three from the over.
17th over: West Indies 78-1 (Lewis 48, Hope 21) Fifteen of the last 20 games in this competition have been won the team batting first, and this already feels like West Indies’ game to lose. Time for drinks.
16th over: West Indies 76-1 (Lewis 47, Hope 20) “Some matches ago, you were discussing songs that sound like cricketer names,” says Aditya Nair. “I’m a bit late to the party, but I can’t help but hum AR Rahman’s Jai Ho every time Shai Hope is at the crease. Shai Hope!! Shai Hope!”
That sent my train of thought straight to this, even if it’s not quite as phonetically similar.
15th over: West Indies 73-1 (Lewis 45, Hope 19) Hope makes it two sixes in three balls for the West Indies with a sweet straight drive off Nabi. West Indies are having fun today. I wonder if Jason Holder regrets bowling first so often during this World Cup.
“Nice to see so many school kids in the crowd, providing a different atmosphere in the Western Terrace than is usual,” says Jonny Heyhoe. “Hitting inflatables (on each other), clapping and singing. Be a different story when I’m back for the Ashes - pity the ECB don’t do it more often.”
14th over: West Indies 65-1 (Lewis 44, Hope 12) Lewis, on the run, drives Gulbadin through extra cover for four. The next ball is short and pulled over midwicket for a majestic flat six. Afghanistan need a wicket soon, because I doubt they’ll want to chase much more than 200.
“Between the Duckworth Lewis Stern method, NRR calculations and Arthur Miller references it is apparent that a PhD in maths is insufficient to understand cricket,” says David Farrelly. “I would add another twist which has, inexplicably not been commented upon re: the Bangladesh v. Pakistan match. Whilst in the air the coin is in a superposition of heads and tails. Observing will collapse the wave function into one state or the other but what happens if everybody closes their eyes?”
13th over: West Indies 53-1 (Lewis 32, Hope 12) The offspinner Mohammad Nabi, who has had a fine tournament, comes into the attack. Three singles from his first over.
“Hi Rob,” says Pete Salmon. “I love that coming back from the dead is referred to as ‘returning to the fold’ by Ian Copestake. Sounds like the sort of encouraging thing an English vicar might say. Questions, is that our last sight of Chris Gayle do you think, or will he indeed return to the fold?”
12th over: West Indies 50-1 (Lewis 30, Hope 11) Gulbadin Naib, whose lamentable bowling cost Bangladesh victory over Pakistan here on Saturday, gets back on the horse. A well-timed drive from Lewis is superbly stopped at mid-off, and then Hope is beaten outside off stump by a change of pace. The seamers are already using lots of slower balls.
11th over: West Indies 47-1 (Lewis 27, Hope 11) Hope is beaten by a delicious slower ball from Shirzad that bounces twice on its way through to the keeper. Hope has been a big disappointment in this tournament - he averages 30, which is okay, but he had a prehistoric strike-rate of 66.
10th over: West Indies 43-1 (Lewis 25, Hope 9) Lewis survives an appeal for a catch down the leg side off Dawlat. It was a beautiful take from the keeper Ikram, but the ball came off the pad. A maiden from Dawlat, who has bowled a useful new-ball spell.
“Thanks to Martin Gilbert,” says Ian Copestake (again). “That it has taken a deceased academic author of 88 books on world history to return to the fold to explain the minutae of this competition’s qualifying permutations speaks for itself.”
9th over: West Indies 43-1 (Lewis 25, Hope 9) The left-arm seamer Sayed Shirzad comes into the attack. His second ball is short and outside the leg stump of Lewis, who picks it up for a big six. He has raced to 25 from 21 balls.
“I know it is not relevant here (good start, Ian) but can we talk about Trent Boult?” says Ian Copestake. “I was intrigued at seeing a grown man plainly in a foul mood and muttering off attempts by his wicketkeeper to cheer him up. It was passed off by the commentators as jokingly typical of a fast bowler. But was it? Given NZ’s shocking decline over the course of being in the UK is something rotten in the state of them?”
8th over: West Indies 35-1 (Lewis 18, Hope 8) Oh dear. Hope flicks Dawlat straight to short midwicket, where the usually reliable Rashid Khan drops a sitter. Lewis gets his fourth boundary later in the over, pulling Dawlat behind square.
“Nice to see you coming over all Arthur Miller,” says Robert Wilson. “Tenth vs Ninth indeed. Of course, you shouldn’t have to do any patter or spiel (less Death of a Salesman than Stubbed Toe of a Trader). We all know that these games are literally the whole point of a World Cup. Don’t we? They’re its glitter and magic, its warmth and its heart. They’re the World part. Otherwise, they’d just call it the Cup.”
7th over: West Indies 28-1 (Lewis 14, Hope 5) A quiet over from Mujeeb: 1 x single, 1 x leg bye, 1 x wide.
“Morning Rob,” says Alex Bramble. “Glad to see Mark Wood’s fingertips spared yours from being too gnawed and bloodied to take the helm of the good ship OBO this morning. I’m already tingling with terror and even some excitement (!) at the prospect of the semis. I’m tempted to say come on the Saffers on Saturday so back-in-business England can have a crack at Australia at Edgbaston in the semis, which seems a more likely setting to conquer them than the final at Lord’s - the utter devastation of the inevitable Australian win in a World Cup final at Lord’s might be too much for even misery-hardened England supporters. But then again, imagine the unbridled joy of a World Cup final win against Australia at Lord’s...”
6th over: West Indies 25-1 (Lewis 14, Hope 4) “Pakistan are definitely out if Bangladesh bat first because, even if Bangladesh are bowled out for 0, and Pakistan win with a six on the first ball, their NRR will still be less than New Zealand’s, because they haven’t added enough runs to their score to increase their own “for” run rate, and their “against” run rate won’t have been decreased by enough (even counting Bangladesh’s score as 0 runs for 50 overs),” says Martin Gilbert. “The best NRR they can have in that scenario is about 0.051, when NZ’s is 0.175.”
Yes, I think I get it. Essentially, they need a 100-over game (for NRR purposes) to have any chance of overhauling New Zealand.
Christopher Henry fails in his his final World Cup innings. He made room to smash Dawlat through the off side - but the delivery was full and wide, which meant Gayle could barely reach it. All he could do was snick it through to the keeper.
5th over: West Indies 20-0 (Gayle 7, Lewis 13) Mujeeb is cut for four by Lewis, a beautifully played shot. He’s had a frustrating World Cup, mainly because of injury: his scores have been 1, 2, 70, 0 and 13*.
4th over: West Indies 15-0 (Gayle 7, Lewis 8) A typical Gayle over: dot, dot, dot, four, dot, dot.
“I think that South Africa vs Australia is going to be a huge deal from England’s point of view,” says Don Wilson. “If we’re going to win this thing, we’re going to have to beat both India and Australia. As it stands we will have to play India at Edgbaston and hopefully Australia at Lord’s. I feel our chances would be better if that situation were reversed. Hence, for once in my life I will be rooting for a Saffer victory.”
3rd over: West Indies 11-0 (Gayle 3, Lewis 8) Apologies, we’re having a few technical problems. Lewis, who has started aggressively, clatters Mujeeb to the cover boundary.
In other news, can anyone explain why Pakistan are definitely out if Bangladesh bat first tomorrow? I sort of get it, except I don’t. I only got a B at GCSE maths.
2nd over: West Indies 6-0 (Gayle 2, Lewis 4) It’s the right-arm seamer Dawlat Zadran from the other end, and Lewis gets off the mark by working a boundary to fine leg.
1st over: West Indies 1-0 (Gayle 1, Lewis 0) The mystery offspinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman will, as usual, take the new ball. It’s a good over to Gayle, who has a few sighters before taking a slow single off the last delivery.
“I don’t think we need any more talk of ‘dead rubbers’,” writes
Barry Hearn Damian Burns. “Even though the next four games may not matter a huge deal for this World Cup (bar placings for the semis), international cricket exists, unlike other sports, outside of major tournaments. All these games will provide fodder for discussions for series to come over the next few years.
“A final hammering for South Africa by Australia would prompt some serious discussion at Cricket South Africa about funding and international wages. Another India win against Sri Lanka could see them once again overtake England in the ICC rankings [it wouldn’t – ed, but a win in the semi-final would]. A Bangladesh victory over Pakistan would cement their place as a modern-day force of the subcontinent. And as you mention in the preamble, an Afghanistan win today would be an historic upset to be talked about for years to come. I also got great odds on an Afghanistan win today so that will keep me entertained if nothing else!”
Morning and welcome to live coverage of Afghanistan v West Indies from Headingley. Let’s be honest, even Barry Hearn would struggle to sell this one. It’s tenth vs ninth, a Dodo-dead rubber. And yet, this could turn out to be one of the most memorable games of the tournament.
Afghanistan are chasing their first World Cup win against a fellow Test-playing nation. When that happens, be it today or in 2023, it will be a landmark in their development - one to sit alongside historic victories like Sri Lanka v India in 1979, Zimbabwe v Australia in 1983 and Bangladesh v Pakistan in 1999.
So, England go into the third and final ODI with all the pressure and none of the points. Pluses - their batting at the tail can only get better, they lost 6-34 at the end, and Tammy Beaumont should be buzzing with that first Ashes hundred. Australia are proving that, surprise, surprise, they’re a force to be reckoned with, and they’re only warming up. Thanks for your emails, especially those of you clocking in during the night hours. Good night!
Meg Lanning: “It was about being disciplined and composed under pressure and I thought Ellyse Perry batted really well and so did Beth Mooney at the end.”
And the player of the match is ... Delissa Kimmince for her career best five for 26.
Heather Knight:
“I think it was a frustrating one. I thought Tammy played outstandingly on a slow wicket, and if we’d had someone who’d stayed with her we’d have pushed it up to 250 and beyond. We tried to put a bit of pressure on them with the ball and we did outstandingly well taking early wickets, but those two at the end batted well. We need to be a bit smarter with the bat. We’re going to have to debrief quite quickly and turn it around very quickly.”
A clinical Australian performance. England can be grateful to a wonderful century by Tammy Beaumont, her first against Australia, which propped up the batting and deserved more. With the ball, England didn’t quite have the incisiveness against the quality of Perry, Mooney, Haynes and Lanning. The batting line-up that never ends.
Australia have now won the first two ODI matches, which gives them a 4-0 lead in the series. One ODI, a Test and the T20s to go. Next? Canterbury on Sunday.
With 28 balls spare.Not flawless, but efficient, and clever.
45th over: Australia 215-6 (Jonassen 29, Mooney 42) Cross comes back and Mooney drives her up and gloriously over extra cover. The crowd pack up their picnics and wander away.
Australia need three to win off five overs.
44th over: Australia 208-6 (Jonassen 29, Mooney 36) Ecclestone bravely throws it up. Australia potter through for a couple of singles. And the fifty stand comes up.
Australia need ten to win.
43rd over: Australia 206-6 (Jonassen 28, Mooney 35) Katherine Brunt is the last throw of the dice. She stops the flow of boundaries, but Australia jog through for four singles. Anyone got a miracle up their sleeve?
Australia need 12 from 41 balls.
42nd over: Australia 202-6 (Jonassen 26, Mooney 33) Mooney top-edges Ecclestone’s first ball but it descends between the clutching fingers of three fielders. Jonassen goes for a similar shot next ball, but executes it much better and it soars one bounce over long on to the rope. A shake of singles and Australia are cruising now. They need 16 from 48 balls.
41st over: Australia 195-6 (Jonassen 21, Mooney 31) Marsh bowls a more tidy over, and though the ball is hitting the fielders now, Australia still run eager singles. Five from the over, no risks, no bother.
Australia need 23 from 54 balls.
40th over: Australia 190-6 (Jonassen 19, Mooney 28) We’re back to dibble-dabble strokes from Australia as Shrubsole regains some authority. Just two off the over.
Australia need 28 from 60 balls and it all depends if Australia make the same hash of the end of their innings as England did.
39th over: Australia 188-6 (Jonassen 18, Mooney 27) A pricey over from Laura Marsh - eleven off it. Mooney has itchy feet and lofts her up and over extra cover and through the off side.
Australia need 30 off 66 balls.
38th over: Australia 177-6 (Jonassen 12, Mooney 22) A ruddy-faced Shrubsole thunders in. She’s been the most expensive of the bunch, but has a Bothamesque ability to take wickets from both brilliance and bathos. Mooney slog-sweeps her for four, then a handful of singles.
Australia need 41 off 72 balls.
37th over: Australia 169-6 (Jonassen 10, Mooney 16) Two fours from Sophie Ecclestone’s over as she strays uncharacteristically wild. A little wide and Jonassen directs her past third man, then again through the covers.
36th over: Australia 159-6 (Jonassen 1, Mooney 15) An intriguing game now, as the swingometer inches over from Australia to England.
A cross-seamed tortoise-paced ball from Shrubsole bowls Gardener, who was attempting to drive her. Big relief there for Shrubsole who dropped her in the previous over.
35th over: Australia 155-5 (Gardener 12, Mooney 13) A good over for Australia. Ecclestone still causing problems but two boundaries, one awkward, ugly, four between midwicket and mid-on, and a gorgeous extra-cover drive.
34th over: Australia 146-5 (Gardener 8, Mooney 8) Shrubsole bowls full and on the stumps, Gardener whips her for four. Then, a howler. Gardener pushes back at Shrubsole who somehow lets the ball fall through her fingers. She gets a consoling pat from Knight and Jones but is mouthdownturningly miserable about that.
33rd over: Australia 140-5 (Gardener 2, Mooney 8) Brunt marches with intent. She does everything with intent. Gardner watches carefully, showing the face of her bat. She swings round at the last ball of the over, a shorter ball, which she pulls down for a single.
32nd over: Australia 138-5 (Gardener 1, Mooney 8) The breakthrough of the match for England. It feels like it is advantage England now
At 31.3 overs (the fall of the wicket) England were 144-4; Australia were 136-5. Swings and roundabouts.
A terrible wide nothing that Perry stands still to, stretches for, and gets the lightest of touches on. Even Shrubsole looks embarrassed. But that is a vital breakthrough for England - Perry was in sparkling form.
31st over: Australia 132-4 ( Perry 58, Mooney 7) A ripple of applause as Katherine Brunt serves her appointed time prowling in the deep and is thrown the ball again. Six off the over, one a leg-side loosener that Perry helps on its way to the boundary. Thanks vey much
Australia need 86 from 19 overs at 4.25.
30th over: Australia 126-4 ( Perry 53, Mooney 6) That’s a super shot by Perry to bring up her fifty. She squared up and just pinged the ball past mid-on, straight and hard. She raises her bat and smiles, blond ponytail poking out of the back of her helmet.
That hundred came from 72 balls, and included seven fours.
29th over: Australia 119-4 ( Perry 48, Mooney 4) England keeping Perry waiting for her fifty. Three singles off Marsh’s over, including an inelegant sweep by Mooney that catches the glove and might have been a possible run-out had the throw hit.
28th over: Australia 116-4 ( Perry 47, Mooney 2) Two off Cross’s over and three emails! Untold riches. Oh: they all say the same thing - I have Austria playing in the Ashes. Thanks Jordan, Nick and Martin!
27th over: Austria 114-4 ( Perry 46, Mooney 1) A vital wicket there for Marsh, but Haynes is replaced by another left hander in Mooney. This Australian batting line-up is long but, number by number, England are getting there.
The breakthrough England needed. A leading edge back to the delighted bowler and England reap the rewards for frustrating Haynes. A partnership with Perry of 53.
26th over: Austria 110-3 ( Perry 44, Haynes 29) The sun has disappeared now at Grace Road and the floodlights are on, a nonsensical rule means they have to be switched on for the second innings, no ifs, no buts. In England in midsummer? Seems daft not to be able to use your initiative, and a terrible waste of electricity. Just two off that Cross over. Tick, tock.
Katherine Brunt was off the field for about half an hour so won’t be able to bowl again till about quarter to eight.
25th over: Austria 110-3 ( Perry 44, Haynes 29) Laura Marsh, red soled shoes, flights it and Haynes gets in a tangle, pads over boots. Just a couple from that one. Nice over.
24th over: Austria 108-3 ( Perry 40, Haynes 29) Sciver has bowled well but with the odd loose ball every over. And it happens again. A short one that Perry sends dismissively on its way.
And Australia are half way to their target, after 24 overs.
23rd over: Austria 102-3 ( Perry 36, Haynes 29) Haynes squints through the bars of her helmet at Laura Marsh, watches, watches, then takes two steps down the pitch and drives just to the side of the stumps for four. She smiles, pleased. And so she should be. Gorgeous.
22nd over: Austria 94-3 ( Perry 34, Haynes 23) Nat Sciver, hair in a bun, complete action, scampers in . Her second ball is a shorter ball and Haynes deposits it through midwicket for four. A few more scrambled runs and Australia are ticking over.
21st over: Austria 86-3 ( Perry 32, Haynes 17). And England keep it tight again, just one off Marsh’s over. Something will give soon, what will it be? And there is Katherine Brunt back on the field. Phew!
20th over: Austria 85-3 ( Perry 31, Haynes 17) Nat Sciver, who looks like the type of schoolgirl who was good at everything AND nice, takes the ball. Full of energy, but Perry’s eyes light up to her second ball and sends it spinning back through the covers for four.
And off the pitch, we see Katherine Brunt in a yellow bib, perhaps banana, galloping from side to side. The odd grimace, but it’s obviously not too bad. Perhaps a twisted ankle? (aside: don’t trust me, I’m not a doctor).
19th over: Austria 79-3 ( Perry 26, Haynes 16) Ah Rachael Haynes, that was gorgeous. A drive off Marsh through mid off for four. The sublime is nearly followed by the ridiculous as Perry and Haynes try to run each other out. But the England throw wasn’t accurate enough to milk their mistakes.
18th over: Austria 74-3 ( Perry 25, Haynes 10) Just two off Ecclestone’s over as Australia struggle to pin point the boundary. Patient? Impatient? We shall see.
17th over: Austria 72-3 ( Perry 25, Haynes 10) Laura Marsh, bowling in sunnies. Not Chris Gayle wide boy sunnies, just your bog standard sporty numbers. Haynes looks desperate to twinkle down the pitch but restrains herself. A good over apart from when she strays a little leg side. Tim Robinson, looking grizzled, signals wide.
16th over: Austria 71-3 ( Perry 25, Haynes 10) Long shadows stretching over the field as Ecclestone bowls her fourth over. She’s quick through these overs - have some compassion Sophie! Rachel Haynes jigs forward and lifts her high and handsome for six. And that’s drinks.
15th over: Austria 62-3 ( Perry 24, Haynes 2) Laura Marsh comes on where Brunt came off and Australia only scuttle through for a couple.
England will desperately miss Brunt, who bowled four overs, taking one for 16 before she went off. If she doesn’t come back, England will have to somehow muddle through, a bowler down.
14th over: Australia 61-3 ( Perry 24, Haynes 1) Just two from Ecclestone’s over. Lovely stuff.
13th over: Australia 59-3 ( Perry 23, Haynes o) Brunt limps off with the strength and conditioning coach on one arm and the physio on the other. Hope she’ll be ok. She was walking gingerly, but walking. A great wicket though, a super ball, and Lanning was done over by the speed - or lack of it. The average partnership between Perry and Lanning before today was a hundred. Not anymore!
A slower ball gets the gun! Lanning gets an edge and the bails go flying. But Brunt goes down flat on the ground. This doesn’t look good. An ankle? Hamstring?
12th over: Australia 56-2 ( Perry 21, Lanning 17) Ecclesstone bowls with a tangle of arms, as if she’s using one of those old fashioned hand-whisks with a turning circle. She flights it, tempting the bats, who are watchful. Just a couple of singles from the over
11th over: Australia 54-2 ( Perry 20, Lanning 16) Brunt and England keep it tight, frustrating Perry and Lanning who like to deal in boundaries. I just get the feeling they’re going to want to hit out soon.
10th over: Australia 51-2 ( Perry 19, Lanning 14) Perry is watchful as Knight turns to Ecclestone. She’s on her toes straight away, but is unable to get her away.Ecclestone in sunglasses, her long ponytail dancing down her back, has a maiden to start. End of the powerplay.
9th over: Australia 51-2 ( Perry 19, Lanning 14) A super over from Brunt. Dot to dot from one to four. Then a wide. Then Perry angles her bat and guides the ball into the offside and the Aussies scamper through for two quick and determined singles. That’s the fifty up at the close of the ninth over.
Abhijato Sensarma again:
8th over: Australia 48-2 ( Perry 19, Lanning 12) Perry swings at Cross’s first ball and misses. Point to Cross. Then she dollies up a half volley and Perry needs little temptation and it crosses the rope with a twang. Banana or gold, Perry is class.
7th over: Australia 44-2 ( Perry 15, Lanning 12) Heather Knight scratches her cap and throws the ball to Katherine Brunt who marches with military precision to her mark. But Perry doffs her cap to no-one, nudging the first ball down to the boundary where Laura Marsh just fails to cut it off.
OB Jato is in poetic mode: “Vague drives are the death of precision, yet the birth of simultaneous lazy excellence and frustration depending on whether the concerned individual pulls off the shot or not.”
6th over: Australia 37-2 ( Perry 10, Lanning 10) England struggling to keep Australia from bubbling over here. Another four from Lanning screams “look at me”
5th over: Australia 32-2 ( Perry 6, Lanning 9) Now Lanning gets in on the act, a square drive, lovely, through the covers, brmmm, brmmm, for four.
Abhijato Sensarma writes in with An ode to all the batsmen I’ve ever batted with:
4th over: Australia 26-2 ( Perry 8, Lanning 1) Perry knows how to turn disappointment into crushing disappointment in a single stroke, a drive through midwicket off Kate Cross sighs prettily over the rope the ball after the stumping review.
Perry’s foot seems to rest almost exactly on the white line at the crucial moment. A fine bit of work by Warwickshire’s Amy Jones, but Perry survives by a big toe.
England look confident as the umpires consider the review... We look at the replay from the side and the back...
3rd over: Australia 17-2 ( Perry 0, Lanning 0) Two big banana inswingers from Anya Shrubsole, but Healy drives the second straight down the ground for four. Then a wide. And another one. Yikes, Healy looking ominous. But Shrubsole has always possessed the ability to conjure important wickets from nothing. And does it again!
The danger woman goes! A vague drive to Danni Wyatt at backward point is well caught by Wyatt perching on her knees.
2nd over: Australia 11-1 (Healy 5, Lanning 0) Kate Cross on the money straight away. An energetic run up, long too. She bristles with the ball, and Bolton couldn’t resist. Lanning carefully plays back her first two deliveries.
A lovely tidy catch by Amy Jones as Bolton drives loosely at a wide one from Cross.
1st over: Australia 9-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 0) Not a great start with five wides from Shrubsole who is straying legside. Then Healy turns another wide one down past fine leg for four.
can England restrict this dangerous Australian batting line up? Anya Shrubsole to bowl the first over.
A reminder of the teams for those of you joining us late. Australia are unchanged, England are without Sarah Taylor, resting with an ankle niggle. Danni Wyatt replaces her.
England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (w), Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Danielle Wyatt, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross.
Not sure if they’re borrowing the World Cup win predictor for the women’s ashes. I’d guess: 60:40 Australia today?
But Raf Nicholson has watched a lot of women’s cricket and she points out that this would have been a winning total on Tuesday.
Think Aussie fans will rightly be more optimistic, but this total would have won Tuesday's game on this pitch. https://t.co/Dk3mSObaFw
Graham is keen to nail the Australian colours:
“Australians seem very exercised when their uniform is called yellow and green, insisting it is gold and green. If you ever see a piece of jewellery that colour, keep walking. I wonder what would be the best moniker for the colour? Canary, buttercup, primrose, maize, chunder yellow? If you want to call it gold you have to change it to something like the San Francisco 49ers or New Orleans Saints. “
Thanks Adam and hi everyone! Looks like a beautiful July afternoon at Grace Road, T-shirts and shadows, but England won’t be too pleased with that collapse of four for six at the end. Still, better than a collapse at the top of the order, which is what they conjured up for the first ODI.
Tammy Beaumont was chuffed to bits when interviewed at the break. Honest too: “The pitch was a little bit slow and we were a bit lucky with a few loose balls early on.”
Beaumont brilliant but Australia too good. The most important component to a big ODI innings is partnerships and England never did that, their highest 65 between Beaumont and Knight for the second wicket. There was no collapse (until the end), rather, each time they had Austalia under pressure a bowling change was made by Lanning a wicket fell and the stand and Beaumont had to start again.
The opener was outstanding in tallying her first Ashes ton and sixth in ODIs. She could not have done any more to keep the board ticking, getting to the mark at better than a run a ball. What a fantastic player she has been over the last three years. “It is the best innings she has played for England,” says Charlotte Edwards.
Five for Kimmince! A superb shift by the seamer, claiming the third best figures for an Australian against England in ODIs. She leads Australia from the field with 5/26 from her 7.4 overs. In the process, she’s torn this England innings apart. The fifth was Kate Cross, picked up first ball giving catching practice to point. Great job.
Marsh tries to go long down the ground but doesn’t get much of it, caught at long off by Gardner. That’s four for Kimmince, who is deservedly cashing in.
47th over: England 216-8 (Ecclestone 3, Marsh 2) It was this pair who put on a decent stand of 38 in the final handful of overs on Tuesday, Ecclestone the far more likely of the two to find or clear the boundary. But with Schutt on, they are going to have to get resourceful or back their eye. They do neither in this over, Ecclestone looking to clear the front leg but not getting the ball she needs. Excellent from the Australian opening bowler, who has been faultless today.
Kimminceis getting just reward for an excellent afternoon at the bowling crease, Shrubsole her second wicket in the over when top edging high in the air, Mooney taking the straightforward chance at midwicket.
46th over: England 212-8 (Ecclestone 1, Marsh 0)
Clever from Kimmince, sending it wide when Brunt dances before the ball is bowled. Healy did the rest, getting a good look to complete the classy stumping.
45th over: England 210-6 (Brunt 11, Shrubsole 11) Schutt has three left and they can’t get her away either. Brunt advances to the final ball and makes solid enough contact to long-off but Mooney makes a brilliant diving one-handed stop in front of our press box position to ensure that they can’t get four for it. When Beaumont was there, 270 was within reach. Now? They’ll be very pleased with 250-odd.
44th over: England 204-6 (Brunt 9, Shrubsole 9) Kimmince again giving away very little: singles down the ground starting the over off the front foot, singles out to cover ending it off the back foot. In common is at no point did they get a chance to free the arms and attack the rope without a fair degree of risk. Lanning should just bowl out Kimmince here, I reckon. Especially given that Perry has been ropey.
43rd over: England 199-6 (Brunt 7, Shrubsole 6) Despite the fact that this pair can both hit the ball a long way, they are happy enough building in the smaller denominations here, the sweeper at cover the preference. It might be time for Brunt to take a few risks and bosh it about with Ecclestone able to replace her if it doesn’t work out.
42nd over: England 195-6 (Brunt 4, Shrubsole 5) Kimmince is having a brilliant day, really showing her worth as a change bowler in this side. It wasn’t for nothing that she held her nerve at number nine the other night, too. Clever cricketer.
Best women's ODI conversion rate (min 3 centuries)
52.2 Lanning 40.0 Beaumont 38.5 Brittin 29.4 Devine 28.6 Bates 25.9 SJ Taylor 25.8 SC Taylor 25.0 Bolton #Ashes#ENgvAUS
41st over: England 193-6 (Brunt 3, Shrubsole 4) The start of happy hour, sent down by Wareham who has a bit of work today in this final ten. She’s bowled aggressively so far, which is to be commended. Brunt and Shrubsole, both still playing themselves in, are happy to take the singles on offer square of the wicket.
40th over: England 188-6 (Brunt 1, Shrubsole 1) The long-term opening bowling partners, Brunt and Shrubsole, are together now with bat in hand. The former has been just as important with her runs as her wickets over the last couple of years. She can’t get Jonassen away here though, the successful over worth only three.
Two in two overs! And it is the big one: Beaumont. She edges onto her stumps when going for the reverse sweep. The opener receives warm congratulations from the Australian players when walking off, marking the end of an outstanding hand.
39th over: England 185-5 (Beaumont 112, Brunt 1) Beaumont nearly run out! An excellent pressure over by Schutt, who has barely done a thing wrong across these two games so far. Back to the run out chance, Brunt tipped and ran to point, Beaumont en route before getting sent back. She was gone with a direct hit.
Excellent cricket by Schutt and Healy: the bowler finding the edge, taken by the ‘keeper up to the stumps. Perhaps a tad close for Wyatt to using the horizontal bat.
38th over: England 183-4 (Beaumont 111, Wyatt 25) Ping! Wyatt comes down the track at Jonassen who had her under control until the penultimate ball of this over, creating a half-volley and smashing it for four down the ground. Going again, I think she’s steered that through the slips but it might have been off the edge, either way - three are added making eight from the over and 33 in the last five.
37th over: England 175-4 (Beaumont 110, Wyatt 18) I’m advised that Beaumont’s century is the first by an England player since ODIs were incorporated into the Women’s Ashes. You’ll see that in all of our copy later tonight, I suspect. Six from Schutt’s new over, her sixth of the innings, all in ones an twos.
36th over: England 169-4 (Beaumont 109, Wyatt 13) Gardner goes again and after the set pair set up the over with a couple of singles, Beaumont busts out the reverse sweep and nails it just wide of the fielder at backward point. A couple of further singles to finish makes another over worth eight. They’re on track for a very healthy total here, especially if Beaumont can last another half an hour or so.
35th over: England 161-4 (Beaumont 103, Wyatt 11) Charlotte Edwards on the TV notes that the job for Beaumont is to go BIG now, which she has once before against Pakistan in 2016 down at Taunton. Wyatt is making the running against Perry here though, hammering the second ball of her new spell past point for four.
Brilliant ton from Tammy Beaumont, her first against Australia. If you want to learn more about her story, I wrote the @WisdenAlmanack essay when she was made one of the five cricketers of the year in April. https://t.co/7zckfUfYJo#WomensAshes
34th over: England 154-4 (Beaumont 101, Wyatt 7) Beaumont is back on strike via a Wyatt single and the crowd go wild, confusing the pair. But now they get a chance to cheer, Beaumont tucking Gardner for the run she needs to bring up her first Ashes ton. “Come on!” roars the pocket-rocket opener. What a fine innings this has been, raising the hundred in 99 balls, striking 11 boundaries along the way.
33rd over: England 150-4 (Beaumont 99, Wyatt 5) Beaumont to 98 through midwicket and 99 in that diretion too. The 150 is raised when Wyatt gives her the strike back with one ball to go in the over... which she defends. DRINKS!
Catch up with Victor’s latest following England’s win in the men’s World Cup yesterday, ensuring their progress to the semi-finals next week.
32nd over: England 146-4 (Beaumont 97, Wyatt 3) Gardner is on to replace Kimmince. Beaumont is sweeping, Wyatt pushing, Beaumont scooping, Wyatt paddling. The board keeps ticking, England’s opener three short of a ton.
31st over: England 141-4 (Beaumont 95, Wyatt 0) A wicket slows England down, the sucessful Jonassen over on track for a wicket maiden until Beaumont retains the strike with a push through cover.
At Leeds, Afghanistan are making steady progress in pursuit of the Windies’ 311-6.
Straight down deep square leg’s throat! Given how many sweeps these two have been playing, it was highly probable that the shot would get one of them. It was a full-blooded strike of the ball, but Gardner didn’t need to move a muscle.
30th over: England 140-3 (Beaumont 94, Wilson 8) Beaumont gets two from a clip off Kimmince, running hard for the second. Later in the over she plays a gorgeous square drive steered between the two fielders patrolling the backward point region. Just about the shot of the day for mine, that. It advances the opener to 94.
29th over: England 132-3 (Beaumont 87, Wilson 7) When spin is on, these two will sweep at every avaialble opportunity. They have the paddle, the conventional, the lap, the reverse. In addition to a couple of drives down the ground, five are added from Jonassen’s first over back after Beaumont hit her out of the attack earlier.
28th over: England 127-3 (Beaumont 84, Wilson 5) Kimmince is an outstanding middle-overs bowler, the perfect combination of accuracy and pace variation. It’s a great story behind her return to Australian colours after a long absence (which included working in a London pub for a time), and she’s really making it count.
27th over: England 125-3 (Beaumont 83, Wilson 4) Four singles off Wareham, all taken via sweeps to fine leg. Wilson, in particular, is known as a prolific sweeper, taking the mantle from Lydia Greenway as the best in this England side when the World Cup winner retired a couple of summers ago.She was out sweeping on Tuesday, given leg before off her glove. Sure enough, that caused quite a stir: why isn’t there DRS in this series? The technology is here, they saw it on the big screen.
26th over: England 121-3 (Beaumont 81, Wilson 2) Excellent from Kimmince, through another accurate over giving up just three. She’s very hard to hit from nagging line just on the off-stump, mixing up her speeds along the way.
25th over: England 118-3 (Beaumont 78, Wilson 2) Wilson has to dive to make her ground when Beaumont takes a quick single. The stumps weren’t broken, otherwise she would have been in strife. But the near miss doesn’t deter the opener, who moves through the 70s with a crisp conventional sweep to the rope.
24th over: England 109-3 (Beaumont 71, Wilson 0) A successful over, Lanning again rewarded with a wicket in the over where she made a change. Kimmince got the nod ahead of Nicola Carey for these ODIs and has looked the part so far.
Meanwhile in men’s World Cup land, Plunkett wants the final on free TV. I’m sure the players all think that, but it is interesting that he would actually say it.
Sciver plays across the line and pays the price for missing the ball, struck on the back pad. That was good enough for the umpire, who didn’t hesitate.
23rd over: England 106-2 (Beaumont 69, Sciver 14) Warhem begins her second spell from the Bennett/Curzon Rd/Broadcast end, her first three overs going for 0/16. Beaumont is dancing at her straight away, Sciver doing likewise when she gets on strike, winning a misfield out of Mooney at mid-off due to how hard she hits it.
22nd over: England 103-2 (Beaumont 67, Sciver 13) Sciver brings up the England 100, starting the new Gardner over with one behind square. Beaumont then paddle sweeps another single before Sciver picks out the midwicket sweeper. They’re risk-free runs, even when the reverse sweep is busted out later in the over.
21st over: England 99-2 (Beaumont 65, Sciver 11) Better from Perry, keeping Beaumont quiet early in the over. The opener plays a fine square drive through the gap that would have been four if not for an assured diving stop from Schutt. To finish, another dive is required - this time by Wareham - to again deny a boundary.
20th over: England 94-2 (Beaumont 61, Sciver 10) That’s Sciver’s jam, dancing down at Gardner from around the wicket and driving over mid-on for her first four. With four other singles around the sweepers, it’s another good over.
19th over: England 86-2 (Beaumont 59, Sciver 4) Good start for Beaumont, driving through the gap at cover for three. In response, Perry attacks the stumps but it ends up a full toss, the opener helping it along for four. The Australian attack-leader has not been at her best so far today.
18th over: England 77-2 (Beaumont 51, Sciver 3) Beaumont laps the first ball of Gardner’s fresh over, bringing up her half-century from 44 deliveries, striking eight boundaries along the way. Only couple further singles come from it, though. Gardner was Australia’s most frugal bowler here during the 2017 World Cup.
17th over: England 74-2 (Beaumont 49, Sciver 2) Perry returns to the attack, replacing Wareham. Beaumont plays her with respect, happy with a single to cover. Sciver, with one ball to deal with, needs to get low to a ball that doesn’t get up but keeps it out safely. Beaumont is one away from raising her bat.
16th over: England 73-2 (Beaumont 48, Sciver 2) Sciver was superb on Tuesday. She’s off the mark first ball here today with a couple behind square. Of course, this is where she made her towering maiden ODI ton during the 2017 World Cup. Great change from Lanning to get Gardner on just as the previous pair were getting busy.
Gardner strikes with her third ball! Brought in to replace Jonassen, Knight tried to take the off-spinner long and straight after dancing down the track but miscued the stroke, the ball flying high into the air, taken easily by Haynes at mid-off.
15th over: England 69-1 (Beaumont 46, Knight 17) You can’t bowl full tosses at Tammy Beaumont, the opener hitting a four from the first ball of the over for the third time on the bounce. She really is flying now, striking at nearly 130.
14th over: England 62-1 (Beaumont 40, Knight 16) Beaumont is go!She begins the Jonassen over with a loft over mid-off for four, landing just inside the rope. That’s the way to go after a spinner, doing it early in the set. She goes again from the second ball, punching through cover and timing it so well that it runs away for four more. The 50-partnership is raised with it. Fine batting. Of course, after failing cheaply in the first ODI last home summer, she hit back to back tons against South Africa. Of course, now I’ve mentioned this she’ll get out straight away.
13th over: England 53-1 (Beaumont 31, Knight 16) Better from Wareham, who has found her length nice and early. I’m enjoying how much air she is giving. I’ve no time for leggies who rush it through. Give me risk/reward, thanks very much.
12th over: England 49-1 (Beaumont 29, Knight 14) Beaumont is going again at Jonassen early in the over, this time on the cut first ball behind for her fifth boundary. A couple of further singles makes another healthy over. After the early wicket and slow start against Schutt, the England base is now building very nicely.
11th over: England 43-1 (Beaumont 24, Knight 13) The leggie Wareham is on for her first go and it takes Beaumont only only two balls to get resourceful, deflecting expertly through the vacant third man for four. Giving it plenty of air, the opener is playing watchfully before tucking one to keep the strike.
10th over: England 38-1 (Beaumont 19, Knight 13) Spin for the final over of the first power play, via left-armer Jess Jonassen. Singles are exchanged early in the over to the sweeper at cover. Given a bit more depth later in the set, Knight uses the crease and crunches behind point for four. Shot. Jonassen bounces back though, slipping a straight one past the captain’s inside edge. They’re up for leg before but the appeal is turned down. Of course, we have no DRS in this series. Grrrrr.
9th over: England 32-1 (Beaumont 18, Knight 8) Schutt oversteps first up, which is most unusual. Beaumont gets a fair of the free hit but not quite enough to reach the rope, a diving stop from Lanning denying the fourth. The skipper wouldn’t be denied getting a boundary of her own later in the over though, Knight creaming an overpitched delivery through extra cover for four. Nice, positive batting.
8th over: England 23-1 (Beaumont 15, Knight 3) Beaumont takes one to third man early. Perry is up for leg before to Knight but it is quickly turned down. The captain picks out the fielders on the circle a couple of times but is unable to pick the gap.
7th over: England 22-1 (Beaumont 14, Knight 3) Beaumont takes a run off Schutt after a couple of maidens from her end, on the front foot to mid-on. Knight grabs a couple around the corner to get her moving in the right direction. These two have an even bigger job ahead of them than usual today with Sarah Taylor missing.
6th over: England 19-1 (Beaumont 13, Knight 1) Beaumont leaps onto a short and wide delivery, cutting her third boundary off Perry. She’s then down the other end via a steered single to third man. Good batting. They’re giving the home skipper nothing when she’s on strike, Knight again playing out the remainder of the set.
5th over: England 14-1 (Beaumont 8, Knight 1) Schutt is bowling into a shoebox. It isn’t always easy to get into that groove early as a swing bowler but it is exactly what the South Australian has done early on here. Knight is forced to make a good decision from each delivery, and does, playing out another maiden.
4th over: England 14-1 (Beaumont 8, Knight 1) Perry gives Beaumont a full toss on her pads and she makes no mistake putting it away through square leg to get off the mark. She makes it two boundaries in the over from the final delivery, crashing a half-volley through cover. Beaumont’s away.
Left the Women's Ashes game on Tuesday night, got to Dublin on Wednesday, left this morning and I'm back in Leicester for the start of play in Game 2. Never miss a minute.
3rd over: England 6-1 (Beaumont 0, Knight 1) Schutt is right on the money here, bouncing in after that familiar squat at the top of her mark, ala Rubel Hossain from the Bangladesh men’s team. A maiden it is, Knight in defence throughout.
2nd over: England 6-1 (Beaumont 0, Knight 1) Such a poor start for Jones, who has had a brilliant nine months or so. This is the series she has been longing to play in and dominate. She’ll have to wait for Sunday now. Earlier in the over, she picked up a boundary off Perry’s first ball down to fine leg. With Taylor missing, the captain Heather Knight shuffles up to No3. She was out first ball to Perry on Tuesday, lbw, but is off the mark first up today, with a tuck behind square.
Back to back soft dismissals for Jones, chipping a catch to midwicket.
1st over: England 1-0 (Jones 0, Beaumont 0) Tidy from Schutt to begin, line and length to Jones who is happy to get her eye in with the full face of the blade in defence. She is off the mark from the final delivery down to fine leg for the easiest of singles. Plug Schutt’s column again? I will. The discussion about how the Australian dressing room has changed from 2017 is really interesting.
The players are on the field! Megan Schutt has the ball in her hand, running away from us at the the broadcast or Bennett end. Amy Jones will be facing the first ball, Tammy Beaumont opening the batting with her. PLAY!
It is an ankle niggle. Official word from the England team: “Sarah Taylor injured her ankle in the first ODI and hasn’t recovered in time to play today.”
Dave Lawrence opening up on the emails. “Greetings! Looking forward to another exciting Ashes ODI.” Good afternoon to you. Let’s hope for a high-scoring thriller. “Re: the multi-format series, would you not rather see a higher points weighting for the Test Match and lesser for the T20s? Or perhaps an extra test with one fewer of each of the limited overs formats?”
My fix: ODIs 3, Test 5 (two each for a draw), T20s 2. Reduces the likelihood of an even scoreline and reflects the fact that winning an ODI is harder than a T20.
England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (w), Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Danielle Wyatt, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross.
“It is important that we move on quite quickly,” she says. “I asked for some fight in the last game after the bad start we had, which was brilliant. But not enough.”
Sarah Taylor is out. She has a niggle. Danni Wyatt comes into the XI for her. Amy Jones will ‘keep for England, as she does whenever Taylor misses out.
In front of my OBO position, the England superstar ‘keeper hasn’t got the gloves on and doesn’t appear to be warming up. We’ll find out what’s going on there at the toss in a couple of minutes.
Welcome to Leicester for the second Women’s Ashes ODI! It’s a glorious day here at Grace Road, where surely the successful captain at the toss will bat. It is a used pitch as well - the same strip that was played on when Australia got over the line by two wickets on Tuesday - so it will doubtless take to turn as the day wears on.
The hosts were abysmal early with the bat in the series opener, slumping to 4/19 and eventually skittled for 177. All that stood between them and a double-digit tally was all-rounder Nat Sciver (64) and No10 Sophie Ecclestone (27 in 27 balls).
Don’t buy into the idea that Australia are raging hot Women's Ashes favourites | Megan Schutt https://t.co/ChOhtsrtv9
Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh at Lord’s but are still on their way home after failing to overcome the odds that were stacked against them
Goodnight to Pakistan and Bangladesh. Both sides have given us plenty of enjoyment over the last six weeks, despite missing the final four. And goodnight to you all. Thanks for your brilliant company. Let’s do it again tomorrow. Bye!
Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pakistan captain, speaks. Unfortunately haven’t qualified. One match cost us for the whole tournament (with NRR). But we played better cricket at the end. Combination used got better. Shaheen bowled extremely well. Need to sit down together in two months off to do lots of work to get better. Babar, Imam, Sohail very pleased with their batting. Today was one of the best bowling efforts he’s ever seen from Shaheen Afridi. Thanks to the supporters.
Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh captain, speaks. The last two matches haven’t chased well enough. We’re very sorry to Shakib for not making more runs to go with him. He was exceptional for the team. He’s been fantastic. Fielding in important matches cost a lot. Batting fantastic but fielding needs work. Mustafizur bowling really well. A real asset for Bangladesh cricket. We cannot be satisfied. Could have finished on a good note but didn’t. Still thinking about whether he keeps playing. Supporters all over grateful for.
Shaheen Afridi, player of the match, speaks. Been working with the bowling coach to get success and he’s happy with the performance. It is a special feeling for all of Pakistan and him to win this final game. The wicket was slow and he saw what Muastafizur did so he decided to use cutters and yorkers. It is a special award for his family.
Pakistan finish with -0.43 NRR compared to New Zealand’s +0.17, so they finish fifth. Shaheen is the youngest man to take a five-wicket bag in a World Cup. We’ll hear what the captains have to say in a few minutes.
What a shame that Pakistan won’t be there next week. They really have lit up the final fortnight of this group stage, led by their eletrifying teenage quick. He did it every time Sarfaraz threw him the ball today, with slower balls to the established batsmen - his cutter to Tamim a gem - and yorkers at the tail. It’s hard to think of a fast bowler better suited to the modern white-ball game than Shaheen Afridi.
SHAHEEN AFRIDI GETS SIX! 6/35 to be precise. He ends it with another quite brilliant swinging yorker. What a moment for the 19-year-old.
Big swing, no contact, well out of his ground. Proving that I’ve got the Cricketarist’s method sorted, he does play Everlong as the Bangladesh captain makes his way from from the field, possibly for the last time in his long career.
43rd over: Bangladesh 214-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 15) MORTAZA GOES AGAIN! He knows Shaheen Afridi is going to bowl them out, but not before smashing him over his head for another six, hiiiiiiigh into the air before landing. He’s doing this right. The fans, who love him, are again going wild.
42nd over: Bangladesh 206-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 8) MORTAZA! The Bangladesh captain isn’t going down without a fight, launching Shadhab back over his head for SIX OF THE BEST! This will almost certainly be his final ODI, debuting for his country back in 2000. At almost every important point in the great story of Bangladesh cricket over the last 15 years, he has bee front and centre. Keep going!
Brian Withington has done an outrageously kind thing and purchased me the Bangladesh away kit. I can’t tell you how lovely that is. I’ll wear it with pride.
41st over: Bangladesh 199-8 (Mehidy 1, Mortaza 1) 15 wickets in five games now for Shaheen. How is it possible that he didn’t play against India? This young fella is clearly born for the big stage. Can he make it six or even seven? Not this time around, Mortaza - the man at the other end of his career - managing to keep him out. Shaheen now has 5/26 from his eight. Have that!
FIVE FOR SHAHEEN AFRIDI! Onto the honours board he does go, castling the last recognised Bangladesh batsman with a rapid, hooping yorker. It has been his slower ball doing the damage today but that’s raw pace. Sensational bowling.
A golden duck for the No8, giving catching practice to Amir. It gives Shaheen a fourth wicket, for the second time today into the book with the first delivery of a fresh spell. Unfurl those arms, young man. Get yourself on that honour board.
40th over: Bangladesh 197-6 (Mahmudullah 29, Saifuddin 0) I’ve answered my own question about the Cricketarist, Don’t Dream It’s Over getting a run as Mosaddek walks off. For me, that song will now be forever linked to the montage in the opening scene of the final season of The Americans. Some 14 months on, I haven’t adequately replaced that show in my life. I might never.
Babar takes the catch this time! Mosaddek gave it his best to smash Shadab over cover but sends it high in the air to Babar who completes an easy chance running in off the rope.
39th over: Bangladesh 191-5 (Mahmudullah 28, Mosaddek 11) Bumper, top edge, four! Far from convincing cricket from Mahmudullah, but he keeps the board ticking. Wahab never wins. The No6 made better contact earlier in the over through midwicket, stopped by an excellent dive. The required rate is now above 11 an over.
38th over: Bangladesh 183-5 (Mahmudullah 21, Mosaddek 10) Another drop! An even tougher one this time, Babar running at full pace and diving at mid-off after Shadhab earned a fat top edge of Mahmudullah. Suddenly, it feels like they are close to crashing through Bangladesh here.
“Live from Lords,” is James Maltby. “It’s died down a bit as this match drifts towards a Pakistan win, but a game between rivals like this does show you don’t need a cricketarist or blasts of Blur to get the atmosphere going. That said, if I can get a shout out for my friend Richard who went in too hard on the pre lunch drinks and has since slept for two hours of the Bangladesh innings, that would be great.”
37th over: Bangladesh 178-5 (Mahmudullah 18, Mosaddek 8) Wahab is tidy and accurate, eventually winning Mahmudullah’s edge but there’s nobody in the cordon so four are added against his name. It’s a batsman’s game. Oh, and a toughdrop to finish at mid-off, the usually reliable Hafeez putting down the same man. Add that to the long, long list of catches put down off Wahab Riaz over his career.
36th over: Bangladesh 172-5 (Mahmudullah 13, Mosaddek 7) Nearly the most magnificent piece of fielding of the tournament just about by Babar Azam, making a ridiculous one-handed stop at point, an inch away from nailing run out that would have ended Mosaddek’s afternoon. Four from the Amir over. Not enough.
“You may be right here,” says Romeo of my theory about how an Indian final will also end up on TV if they make it and England don’t. “India in the final will get more UK viewers than if England are. It’ll be on a Sky channel, possibly only on YouTube like BT did with the football, and NOT on BBC or ITV. Viewer numbers will still be far lower (I bet it’s less than half) than the women’s football semi-final simply because it’s not on the BBC or ITV. It is, though a PR cock-up, I think. It’s come about just now because of Plunkett on the BBC saying something (and then being told off and having to try and retract and the reaction to that).”
35th over: Bangladesh 168-5 (Mahmudullah 12, Mosaddek 5) Wahab is brought back to replace Shaheen, the brilliant young man held back for three at the end, presumably. Wahab, the old bull of this attack, holds up his end of the bargain.
“If I might be allowed a final right of reply,” asks Brian Witington. Go on, then! This is the last one. “My wife would like to thank all her fellow flat-earthers (my words, not hers) whilst I would respectfully suggest Peter Williams’ ask his learned friend Daz (over 21) whether he is saying 0.9 recurring is less than 1? And then refer him to the ultimate arbiter of all such matters, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/0.999... whilst offering big respect to his PhD thesis. Surely the Twistor transform of symmetries can help solve the NRR tie-break conundrum?”
Under this proposal, Pakistan would need to bowl Bangladesh out for 185
34th over: Bangladesh 164-5 (Mahmudullah 10, Mosaddek 3) Close to a run out with Shadab nearly going the full Jonty from backward point, taking out all the stumps! The umpire upstairs, though, shows Mosaddek just in his ground. For Bangladesh, 152 runs are needed at a rate of 9.5 an over as they grab a drink.
33rd over: Bangladesh 161-5 (Mahmudullah 8, Mosaddek 2) The enigmatic Mosaddek let’s Shaheen’s off-cutter hit him on the backside, running away for four leg byes. He’s off the mark himself with a couple behind point. Shaheen, who really is the perfect modern white-ball quick, has 3/24 from his seven.
That’s that wicket! Shakib’s extraordinary tournament is brought to an end by Shaheen Afridi, who wins an edge with a length delivery through to the captain. He finishes the World Cup with 606 runs. Take a bow. A mighty performance.
32nd over: Bangladesh 154-4 (Shakib 64, Mahmudullah 8) Sarfaraz is going for wickets, bringing back Amir for a quick burst. They play him carefully but the attack leader gets a little victory from the final ball, causing Mahmudullah a considerable amount of discomfort when hitting him in the box. Ouch. They take a breather to let him gather his thoughts, and so on, at the end of the over.
31st over: Bangladesh 151-4 (Shakib 61, Mahmudullah 8) Shaheen is handled better this time around, his variety of slower short balls and off-cutters worked around the field for seven relatively straightforward runs. It was important they found a way to finally start scoring off the teen sensation.
30th over: Bangladesh 144-4 (Shakib 57, Mahmudullah 6) Speaking of fielding, Imam makes a great stop at cover to deny Mahmudullah a boundary early in Shadab’s over. But he can’t stop a full-blooded sweep through midwicket, crashing into the boundary. We saw the way the Bangladesh No6 batted against Australia when chasing a similar required run rate. In short: he won’t be mucking around.
“Mr Atherton mentioned areas where Bangladesh need to improve,” writes Garry Sharp. “Something about batting and bowling, I think. They have those things in cricket, right? But he didn’t mention their fielding; I reckon they only started fielding on 34.4 when Tamim actually stopped a boundary, and then ceased fielding again about ten overs later. Oh and I know you’ve closed the topic but Adam Cooke and Rich Prince are both wrong because 10 times a number will have one less digit after the decimal place than 1 times the number. I promise I didn’t mention the fielding just to sneak that in....”
29th over: Bangladesh 139-4 (Shakib 57, Mahmudullah 1) Shaheen taking on Shahid Afridi’s celebration is the best. I spoke to him after he took his first T20 wickets in Harare last year. One of his answers was that he had a dream that his first scalps would be Finch and Maxwell so that’s why he achieved it. Love it.
“Got to say, I’m a little peeved about the Final only being free to air if England qualify,” writes Peter Salmon. “Having followed most of it, it seems to me a lot of, say, Indian fans in the UK, might quite like to watch it. Not to mention neutrals, who presumably must accept that if England isn’t there the final is sort of pointless. Seems indicative of Sky and the ICC’s whole approach to the tournament as ‘something for England to win.’ The idea that some people might actually enjoy cricket seems an anathema to them in so many ways.”
Shaheen again with the first ball of his new spell! He does it with a top-notch slower ball, Das through the shot early and chipping to cover. Brilliant bowling.
28th over: Bangladesh 136-3 (Shakib 56, Das 32) That might be a gear shift! When Shadab missed his line, Shakib helped him away behind square for four. When he missed his length, Das hammered him back down the ground for four more. Hmm.
27th over: Bangladesh 125-3 (Shakib 51, Das 26) The spin twins continue, three added. Imad went beyond Shakib’s edge but he’s right back on the task after that.
Okay, this is pretty cool so I’ll include it. LAST ONE!
26th over: Bangladesh 122-3 (Shakib 50, Das 24) Early in the over Shakib takes on Shadab, lofting him through cover for four! Then with one off his pads, he has raised another half-century! The Bangladesh all-rounder joins Sachin Tendulkar from 2003 with the most 50+ scores in a single World Cup, this his seventh with two tons along the way. Go on, make it three. Go you good thing.
Every time he's batted in this World Cup, #ShakibalHasan has reached 40. His idea of a failure is making 41 against Australia at a run a ball. He's in with a chance of averaging 100, though ideally he'll end up with 99.94 @collinsadam
25th over: Bangladesh 115-3 (Shakib 45, Das 22) They’re happy to go down the ground time and again at Imad. But he’s doing his job, conceding just 23 runs across five overs. How will Shakib deal with the next half an hour or so? Will he leave Das to the long-handle caper and keep taking the singles? Or go himself?
24th over: Bangladesh 111-3 (Shakib 43, Das 20) Six runs - all to to the sweepers - off Shadab, who they have started nicely against.
23rd over: Bangladesh 105-3 (Shakib 41, Das 16) Shakib into the 40s once again! What a brilliant tournament, never failing to make it this far in eight innings. It is off an edge, but let’s not worry about that. The Bangladesh fans won’t be.
22nd over: Bangladesh 98-3 (Shakib 36, Das 14) Shadab! Another of my faves. He’s on for his probing leggies but Das is keen to get in his head early, doing so by smashing him through midwicket into the gap for four! Boundaries in back to back overs helps with the big task they have ahead of them. Can these two do as they did against West Indies?
21st over: Bangladesh 92-3 (Shakib 35, Das 9) Imad is yet to bowl a bad ball so Das gets down low to meet him with a little paddle/lap number, timed and placed well enough to get him four. Imad’s done quite a bit right in this World Cup, for mine.
I’m going to take a couple more emails supporting/repudiating Brian before moving on. “One third as 0.333 recurring is just a convention based on the limitations of the decimal system,” insists Mark Dawson, and who am I to question him? “A third of three is one, a third of twelve is four. A third of ten is tricky. So if 0.999 is intended to represent one arrived at by multiplying a decimal third by three, Brian’s dead right and silly old decimal system. If on the other hand it’s the product of a different calculation, AINT NO WAY it’s the same as one. Her Indoors ruleth. Just don’t get me started on Pi.”
20th over: Bangladesh 86-3 (Shakib 33, Das 3) Bangadesh are only going at 4.3 an over here, needing 7.7 from this point. Just two from Wahab’s set with singles behind square bookending it, the big quick also sending down a wide.
“An (actual!) Cambridge mathematician in response to Brian Withington’s wife,” emails Joseph Boorman. “If 1 does not equal 0.[9 recurring], then 0.[9 recurring] is smaller than 3. Thus (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) is greater than 0. However we also have 0.9 recurring being greater than 0.[any fixed number of 9s] and (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) must then be smaller than (3 - 0.[any fixed number of 9s]) which equals 0.00...01 for any fixed number of 0s. Now if (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) is greater than 0, it follows that there is a non-zero number in the decimal expansion, ie. (3 - 0.[9 recurring]) = 0.00...0x>=0.00...01 for some fixed number of zeros. This is a contradiction. I hope this clears things up!”
19th over: Bangladesh 83-3 (Shakib 33, Das 3) Wahab resting after his over stops four at backward point to begin. Imad’s length improves from there, Shakib and Das both playing him conservatively early in his shift from the pavilion end.
“The ICC designed the Sydney Opera House?!?!?!” lols Ryan Loonan. “No wonder their abilities as Cricket Administrators are questionable, their talents obviously lie elsewhere! Thanks for the coverage, keep up the good work.”
18th over: Bangladesh 79-3 (Shakib 31, Das 1) Das, who was brilliant in that West Indies chase a few weeks back, is off the mark with a pull behing square. The end of Wahab’s successful over, a drinks break taken in there too.
“Afternoon Adam.” Hi Simon McMahon. “Enjoying a tremendous day out at Lord’s with Mrs McMahon, just a pity neither of these teams can qualify. I can only imagine what the atmosphere might be like if that was the case.” He goes on to say critical things about his wife’s cricket IQ, which I’m going to leave out for his sake.
It’s quick, it finds an inside edge, it’s bowled! Wahab does the trick.
17th over: Bangladesh 77-2 (Shakib 30, Mushfiqur 16) The Welshman, Imad Wasim, is brought on to break up the left-arm pace. He’s into his work straight away, just two singles taken sqaure of the wicket, the rest played defensively.
“If NRR was weighted depending on the phase of the innings you were batting in, would it be better?” asks Pat Noone of the CricViz factory. “Like, if there was an incentive to score quickly at the death, it might prevent teams from just tediously batting out the overs:
PP1 - run rate x 1.5 PP2 - normal run rate PP3 - run rate x 2
Sure there’s something I’m overlooking for why this won’t work, and it’s a bit contrived, but it at least addresses the issue of teams playing dull cricket when the game is gone.”
16th over: Bangladesh 75-2 (Shakib 29, Mushfiqur 15) A sharper set from Wahab, who is angling into that awkard hip/armpit area throughout. He hits the thigh pad a couple of times after Shakib misses when trying to ping him on to Abbey Rd.
15th over: Bangladesh 73-2 (Shakib 28, Mushfiqur 14) Mushfiqur mix up! Had a direct hit been forthcoming from midwicket, the wicketkeeper was in real trouble. Earlier, Shakib nailed a picture-perfect straight drive down the ground. He’s played a couple of false strokes but he is keeping the board ticking. They need just on seven an over from here to repeat their victory of 1999 in the final group game.
14th over: Bangladesh 67-2 (Shakib 23, Mushfiqur 14) Wahab, on for his first over, is immediately punched through cover by Mushfiqur through cover for four. That’s a delightful bit of batting. There’s every chance he will try and give Shakib a workout with the short ball as well. I’m not sure why, given how well he hooked Archer way back when at Cardiff. No issues here, keeping the strike with a tuck.
13th over: Bangladesh 59-2 (Shakib 20, Mushfiqur 9) Shaheen is really into Shakib here with a bumper, followed in customary fast-bowler fashion with a delivery aimed full at his stumps. This is shaping up as an excellent little battle.
John Starbuck has dropped me a line about the news that the final will be on free telly in the UK is England make it. “Even if England do go through to the CWC final, there’s no guarantee that, when Sky say they’ll broadcast it free-to-air, they don’t necessarily mean BBC, ITV, Ch 4 or Ch 5. They could be meaning to those who just have Sky, without the Sports options. If they genuinely mean free-to-air, it must be on either one of the aforementioned, or at least on Pick, which exists on Freeview, though that wouldn’t be completely free-to-air either. Remember, for these broadcasters, the money comes first, not the game.”
12th over: Bangladesh 57-2 (Shakib 19, Mushfiqur 8) Hafeez in for his fifth, Sarfaraz trying to get through his overs while the going is good. This Bangladesh engine room, which includes Mahmudulluh (back from injury) is so important if they are a serious chance of chasing this down. Needless to say, the wicketkeeper is resourceful early on, hammering a premeditated sweep behind square for four then lapping over the head of the ‘keeper for a couple more to finish.
“Isn’t NRR the equivalent of the Sydney Opera House already?” asks Andrew Cosgrove. “The winning design turns out to be impossible, so they fudge it with one that looks like it works but actually isn’t fit for purpose.” If this is a Sydney sledge, I’m well in for it. Just putting that on the record.
11th over: Bangladesh 49-2 (Shakib 18, Mushfiqur 1) AFRIDI, AFRIDI, AFRIDI chants at last half of the Lord’s audience. They’re in fine nick today. Mushfiqur is off the mark from the final ball of the successful over, taking one behind point.
BOWLED! Shaheen runs his fingers down the left-hand side of the ball to generate a bit of off-cut and it is enough to slip through Tamim, into his leg stump. Fantastic bowling from one of the most exciting young cricketers in the world.
10th over: Bangladesh 47-1 (Tamim 8, Shakib 17) Hafeez is spun around for the final over of the power play. All six balls are scored from, five of them to the sweepers in front of square at midwicket and long-on. 47 from the first ten. The TV calls that ~phase~ a draw. Will we ever see phases used again? I suspect not.
9th over: Bangladesh 40-1 (Tamim 6, Shakib 12) Shaheeeeeeen Afridi! Here’s the main man! Mine, at least. Tamim gets off strike early in the over, Shakib again rushed by a short one before taking a single to third man. He gets one to jump to finish, beyond Tamim’s inside edge and into his pad, prompting half an appeal.
“Not sure exactly what bone was broken but I think the technical term used by my Australian orthopaedic colleagues is a ‘f**ken fracture of the forearm’” writes Charlie Tinsley. Or as he signs off, ‘Dr Charles Tinsley MRCGP MBBS’. Very good.
8th over: Bangladesh 38-1 (Tamim 5, Shakib 11) Lovely shot from Shakib, turning Amir with ease off his pads to move into double figures. Wouldn’t a Lord’s ton be the perfect full stop on his wonderful World Cup? Amir bounces straight back to beat his blade when cutting and hurries him up with a short one too. That should be enough for the skipper to keep him on to try and get Shakib before he’s set.
“I see net run rate has taken over from free-to-air TV, rain, and Jofra Archer as the things everyone is banging on about in this World Cup,” observes Andrew Cosgrove. “You’re right that there’s a better way than NRR, but it’s not DLS. It’s not having an extended group stage to start with, having adequate provision for wash-outs, and going with head-to-head as the primary tiebreaker. All the discussion is interesting (what else are we going to do to while away the time), but given that the format changes every time, these discussions will end up like previous England campaigns - out of date immediately the tournament is over, and trying to play the current World Cup according to the conventions of the previous one.”
7th over: Bangladesh 32-1 (Tamim 4, Shakib 6) Hafeez does get another and Shakib is too good to give it any meaningful respect, smashing a long hop to the rope.
Ten steps to glory for England. When did Rob find the time to write this?!
6th over: Bangladesh 27-1 (Tamim 4, Shakib 1) What an ovation when Shakib walks to the middle! He’s had a World Cup that we will talk about for a long time; two tons and four 50s in eight hits with a lowest score of 41, coming in at number three throughout. He’s off the mark with a single third man.
The wicket Amir deserved, that of Soumya. Earlier in the over he took him down the ground for four but the left-arm quick had the last laugh, the left-hander picking out Fakhar at point with a miscued cut, completing a tidy low catch.
5th over: Bangladesh 22-0 (Tamim 4, Soumya 18) Sarfaraz sticks with Hafeez but Soumya isn’t having any of it this time to begin, dancing and lofting him over long-off for four. Nice. With both openers now getting their eye in, they take three further risk-free singles. The noise at Lord’s is absoultely brilliant.
Hooley dooley, I’ve just looked at my inbox and it is FLOODED with emails about Brian Withington’s 0.999 (etc) proposition. I’ll get to them in the middle overs.
4th over: Bangladesh 15-0 (Tamim 3, Soumya 12) Tamim again gets one from the first ball of the over, this time to midwicket. Amir is working Soumya over. After last over winning a chance, this time he collects his inside edge. With Tamim back on strike, his outside edge is located too, albeit into the ground before the cordon. Amir was absolutely outstanding the last time that Pakistan played here, against South Africa a couple of weeks ago. He looks to be in that mood again today.
3rd over: Bangladesh 13-0 (Tamim 2, Soumya 11) Tamim gets a single from the first Hafeez delivery this time around but pins Soumya to the crease until the final delivery, which slips out of his hand! Arriving as a full toss after flying hiiiiigh into the London sky, the left-hander elects to try and hit it for six rather than letting it land as a wide. And I tell you what, he nearly picked out the man on the rope at deep square leg too, watching the replay back. Loves me some loose cricket.
2nd over: Bangladesh 8-0 (Tamim 1, Soumya 7) Soumya gets Bangladesh away with a clip from Amir’s first ball to long leg. He gets a four next ball from an uppish slap through cover, somehow evading the packed field in that area. DROPPED CATCH NEXT! Oh no! Amir has earned a soft edge, Soumya presenting the most straightforward chance for Sohail at first slip. It was in the air long enough for me to jump through my TV screen and snaffle it. But not to be. That hurts.
“How about those Hawks!” writes Damien McLean, in reference to my football team getting over the line by a very narrow margin at the MCG just before. “Always great to beat the pies, and a win for the underdog. Hopefully we can see Bangladesh continue the underdog upsets tonight. Thanks for your work.”
1st over: Bangladesh 0-0 (Tamim 0, Soumya 0) A lovely start from the old man of this Pakistan side, sending down an accurate maiden at Tamim.
“Never mind Net Run Rate,” adds Brian Withington. “Can we have your inside scoop on what on earth has been going on in the Australian net practice sessions? Sounds like Game of Thrones style mayhem.”
The players are back on the field. Pakistan need to rock and roll Bangladesh for seven to progress. I’m looking forward to that being out of the way. Sarfaraz the skipper has the gloves, despite the whack he copped to the arm earlier. To be fair, as Simon Doull notes on telly, they don’t have another ‘keeper so he didn’t have much of a choice. Tamim, who has a Test ton at HQ, will take the first ball. Hafeez, the 38-year-old offspinner, will take over one from the Nursery End. PLAY!
Brian Withington has dropped me a line.You can too. “Prompted by febrile Net Run Rate angst, I was intrigued to see in the Cricinfo league table that Australia is reported as having an NRR of exactly 1,” he says. “On closer inspection it would appear that there is some rounding down going on in the fourth decimal place, so that the figure should perhaps more strictly be presented as 1.000 (correct to 3 decimal places) - pleasingly I see that the Guardian adopts said convention.”
We aim to please.
Speaking of outstanding. We’re getting a Wasim Akram TV package at lunch. Our own Vic Marks makes a very good point on it: how many left-arm quicks bowled around the wicket before Wasim? He changed the game. On that, what a top finish for Mustafizur, the rapid young southpaw getting his name on the Lord’s board.
Thanks, Rob. Before going anywhere with this conversation can I ask one question: WHERE HAVE THESE RED BANGLADESH AWAY KITS BEEN ALL TOURNAMENT? Absolutely outstanding. I can’t look away. I need one.
That’s it from me.Adam Collins will be with you for what should be a thrilling runchase, so please email him at adam.collins@theguardian.com. Thanks for your company, bye!
50th over: Pakistan 315-9 (Sarfaraz 3, Shaheen 0)No hat-trick for Mustafizur, with Sarfaraz taking a single off the last delivery. But two World Cup five-fors in a row isn’t bad, and he has taken a shortcut to second on the list of leading wickettakers at this tournament.
That means Bangladesh need 316 to win and finish above Pakistan in the table. It’s safe to say New Zealand will be in the semi-finals; to move above them, Pakistan need to bowl Bangladesh out for 7.
Back-to-back five-fors for the Fizz! He deceives Amir with a slower bouncer that is thin-edged through to the keeper, so poor Sarfaraz will have to come out for the final delivery.
Imad slashes Mustafizur high to third man to end a fine innings of 43 from 26 deliveries. There are two balls remaining.
49th over: Pakistan 308-7 (Imad 37, Amir 8) The impressive Imad Wasim slams Saifuddin through the covers for four to take Pakistan past 300. He flat-bats the next ball over the top for another boundary, too. This is a terrific cameo: 37 from 22 balls. Actually, Imad isn’t a million miles away from the ultimate statgasm, when a batsman’s average is higher than his highest score. Imad’s ODI best is 63, and his average 44.
“Whose idea was it to have the World Cup final and the British F1 GP on the same day?” asks H&J Goodman. “What if England are one of the finalists and it is on free to air TV as Sky said today and Channel 4 have the GP live!”
48th over: Pakistan 295-7 (Imad 27, Amir 5)
This is a sensational catch from the big man! Shadab, trying to turn an attempted yorker to leg, got a leading edge back towards Mustafizur. The ball was only a few centimetres off the ground, but Mustafizur - who is a very tall man - got down and changed direction in his follow through to claw it with his left hand. That was so good.
47th over: Pakistan 288-6 (Imad 26, Shadab 1) Pakistan are effectively seven down, in view of Sarfaraz’s injury.
After Imad Wasim drives a sweet six over long-on, Wahab is cleaned up by an immaculate yorker from Saifuddin. Beautifully bowled.
The Spin
The latest episode of our all-singing, occasionally dancing World Cup podcast is available. And while I’m disappointed they ignored my suggestion to play the popular pub game, ‘Name the England XI from the first ODI v New Zealand in 1994’, it does include:
46th over: Pakistan 279-5 (Imad 19, Wahab 1) The resourceful Imad Wasim, who batted so impressively against Afghanistan on Saturday, drags Pakistan closer to 300 with consecutive boundaries. He has 19 from 13 balls.
“Phase v faze,” says Anthony Fletcher. “Stuart Sanders going through a bad phase, leaving Smythe unfazed.”
Sarfaraz’s elbow injury is too painful for him to continue, so he walks off the field to be replaced by Wahab Riaz.
45th over: Pakistan 267-5 (Imad 9, Sarfaraz 2) “As Haris Sohail was half-way through his shot I thought to myself he was taking part in a strenuous catching-practice session,” says Romeo. “All a bit dumb.”
There’s been a slight end-of-term feel to the innings since it became apparent they couldn’t reach 400. As someone whose productivity from 4-5pm on a Friday has consistency left everything to be desired, I can empathise with that.
44.2 overs: Pakistan 257-5 (Imad 3, Sarfaraz 0) Imad Wasim smashes Saifuddin straight into the elbow of Sarfaraz at the non-striker’s end. That looked so painful, and there’s a long break in play while he receives treatment.
44th over: Pakistan 256-5 (Imad 2, Sarfaraz 0) “Faze not phase!” says Stuart Sanders of my unforgivable typo in the 42nd over. It’s been a long tournament.
Mustafizur takes his 100th ODI wicket! Haris cuts a short ball towards the cover boundary, where Soumya Sarkar takes a comfortable catch. Pakistan have lost three wickets for nine runs.
43rd over: Pakistan 248-4 (Haris 1, Imad 0) Mehidy Hasan ends a parsimonious day’s work with figures of 10-0-30-1. Had he not played silly buggers in the 33rd over, they would have been 10-0-26-1.
“I think I have the response to Paul’s concern (33rd over) on the Zaltzman/DLS proposal,” says Sumit Rahman. “If a team wins by 20 runs, they batted first and completed their innings. Whether they finished all 50 overs or were bowled out before the 50th, they will have used all their ‘resources’ (in DLS language). There is no reason to give them more or less credit depending on whether they lost 2 wickets, 9 wickets or 10 wickets by the end of their innings; they knew at the start of their innings that they’d have 10 wickets and 50 overs to score as many runs as possible. The team chasing has their wickets fallen taken into consideration because they have not had the chance to use up all their resources (specifically, they won’t have had the chance to face all 50 overs). So the use of DLS in this way seems fair to me. The alternative is to make the second team keep on batting even after they have won the game, until 50 overs or 10 wickets, to find out what they ‘really’ won by in terms of runs.”
Hafeez slog-sweeps Mehidy straight to deep midwicket, where Shakib takes a comfortable catch. Bangladesh are right in this game.
42nd over: Pakistan 246-3 (Hafeez 26, Haris 0) Although Pakistan are on top, this runchase won’t phase Bangladesh, who have posted some big scores batting second in this tournament.
Imam-ul-Haq scores a classy maiden World Cup century from 99 balls - only to tread on his stumps next ball. That was a peculiar dismissal, as he went back too far to work Mustafizur off the hip, but he played seriously well. He now has seven hundreds in only 36 ODIs.
41st over: Pakistan 243-2 (Imam 99, Hafeez 24) Hafeez drives Shakib inside out over extra cover for four, a graceful and classy stroke which he follows with an efficient tickle to the fine-leg boundary. Imam then cuts for two to move within one of a fine century.
40th over: Pakistan 230-2 (Imam 96, Hafeez 14) An overthrow takes Imam from 95 to 96, with one ball of Mehidy’s over remaining. He ignores the dangerous temptation of instant glory with a straight drive along the floor that is fielded by the bowler.
39th over: Pakistan 225-2 (Imam 93, Hafeez 14) Imam, down on one knee, smears Shakib back over his head for four, the first Shakib has conceded today.
“Net run rate is a bit like penalties in football,” says Kevin Wilson. “We don’t like them, particularly when our team loses out. We agonise about alternatives, all of which are flawed. Then we realise that actually they are the best solution, as bad as they are, and the best way to avoid them is to actually win your games in the first place.”
38th over: Pakistan 216-2 (Imam 87, Hafeez 11) Imam, on the charge, slaps Mortaza over extra cover for four. He is 13 away from a seventh ODI century, which is spectacular going for somebody who has only played 36 matches. Especially as he’s also been abused by fans for most of his career.
37th over: Pakistan 209-2 (Imam 81, Hafeez 10) Shakib is so hard to get away. He hasn’t conceded a single boundary in his eight overs, the last seven of which have gone for only 24 runs.
“Net run rate is an imperfect tie-breaking system, but so are they all,” says Keith Smith. “The real problem is the bloated tournament format. If there had been three groups of six teams, each would play five games, so there would be more hanging on each individual match. That would have provided the exact same number of total group games (45), got associate nations involved, and allowed the insertion of a quarter-final round (top two in each group plus the two best third-placed teams). Alas, the ICC preferred to guarantee nine games to each of the money-spinning teams...”
36th over: Pakistan 204-2 (Imam 79, Hafeez 8) Hafeez, who can be a dangerous hitter when the stars align, drives Mortaza over extra cover for his first boundary. But there are only three runs from the other five deliveries, which leaves Pakistan needing around 200 from the last 14 overs. Nice one.
“How about a French Cricket decider,” says Mark Hooper. “Played on the nearest beach, one hand one bounce, can’t be out first ball.”
35th over: Pakistan 197-2 (Imam 78, Hafeez 2) Shakib returns to the attack and concedes just three singles.. I think Pakistan have settled for trying to win the match rather than trying to reach 400.
34th over: Pakistan 194-2 (Imam 76, Hafeez 1) Imam flashes a back cut for four off Saifuddin, an excellent stroke. The scoreboard suggests he’s going fairly slowly but he’s only had around 35 per cent of the strike. His 76 has taken only 71 balls.
33rd over: Pakistan 187-2 (Imam 69, Hafeez 1) The first boundary off Mehidy comes from ... Mehidy, who collects a straight drive from Imam, flings the ball back at the batsman and watches in horror as it beats Mushfiqur and runs away to the fence.
“I heard the system proposed by Andy Zaltzman on TMS and liked the sound of it as well, but I was slightly concerned by the idea that a team winning by runs (i.e. defending) might end up benefitting over those chasing,” says Paul Billington. “The way it was explained it sounded like a team winning by 20 runs would get those 20 runs credited to them, whereas the team winning in a chase would have the DLS applied to get their credit; the former doesn’t take into consideration wickets fallen, which may be the catch, unless I’ve not been listening or that thing I found on the carpet wasa piece of my brain.”
32nd over: Pakistan 180-2 (Imam 63, Hafeez 0) Pakistan were just starting to motor before the loss of Babar; the last three overs have gone for 32 runs.
“How about the approach taken in gymnastics and some other sports – take out the best and worst individual NRR performances and calculate the NRR from the remaining matches?” says Martin Gilbert. “Rewards consistency and makes sure that a couple of terrible performances (either for or against the team) don’t unduly weigh on the end result.”
Babar Azam falls four runs short of a charming century. He walked across to flick a yorker from Saifuddin to leg, missed and was given out LBW. He reviewed the decision instantly, hoping it was sliding down. In fact it was hitting the inside of leg stump, so he’s on his way and Pakistan have lost their review. It was a masterful innings: 96 from 98 balls with 11 pristine fours.
31st over: Pakistan 166-1 (Imam 59, Babar 87) Were it not for Mehidy, Pakistan would still have a chance of getting the huge score they need. He has now bowled seven overs for 16.
“Disappointed to see Millings (19th over) pushing the anti-tall agenda,” says Matt Dony. “Just another member of the insular elitist cadre of closed-minded short people. All fun and games until he needs something from the top shelf. And, when that day comes, we will be gracious enough to help out, because we are all brilliant, kind, warm, giving individuals. As a sign of goodwill, we’ll even playfully tousle (what’s left of) his hair.”
30th over: Pakistan 163-1 (Imam 57, Babar 86) A short ball from Mustafizur is flogged through midwicket for four by Babar Azam, who is on course to become the third Pakistan batsman - after Rameez Raja in 1992 and Saeed Anwar in 1999 - to make two hundreds in a World Cup. He moves to 86 with two thrilling, fast-handed pulls for four more off the last two deliveries of the over. What a player this chap is.
“Andy Zaltzman is in favour of a DLS system for tie-breaking,” says Robert Taylor, “and it’s not as complicated as you’d think. If a team wins/loses by a number runs then that’s their net runs for the game. If the team chasing wins batting second, the margin of victory is the difference between their score and the DLS par score for that point in their innings.
29th over: Pakistan 148-1 (Imam 55, Babar 73) The thrifty Mehidy returns to the attack. Four singles from the over (again), which gives him figures of 6-0-13-0.
“Has anyone else noticed the Groundhog Day element to the latter stages of this World Cup?” says Damian Ainsworth. “Favourite wins toss, bats first, racks up a decent score that always looks just out of reach of the underdogs who, despite occasionally threatening heroics, always fall short. Rinse and repeat. After it looked as though it would really get going with some great middle period matches it’s all gone a bit flat; unlike Yorkshire’s sensational Championship victory on Monday at the home of cricket, North Marine Road, Scarborough.”
28th over: Pakistan 144-1 (Imam 53, Babar 71) Yet another exquisite stroke from Babar, who flicks Mushfiqur wristily through midwicket for four. Babar then survives a very optimistic LBW appeal from a ball that pitched well outside leg stump.
“I’d like to add my support to Mac Millings’ proposals,” says Tom Hopkins. “Partly because they’re objectively better, partly because I want to see more of Doug the Rug.”
27th over: Pakistan 137-1 (Imam 52, Babar 66) Babar dances down the track to drive Mosaddek on the full to the extra-cover boundary. That’s another beautiful stroke. He has just gone past Javed Miandad, whose 437 runs in the 1992 World Cup were a record for Pakistan. He is such a good player, and it might not be too long before we are talking about world cricket’s Fab Five.
Imam gets four more with the aid of a dismal misfield from Saifuddin, and an edge through the left hand of Mushfiqur takes him to a 52-ball fifty. Technically that was a dropped catch from Mushfiqur, though it was an almost impossible chance. He misses Babar later in the over as well, although again it was a big deflection and therefore a very difficult chance. He couldn’t get a hand on the ball, which instead hit him painfully on the knee.
26th over: Pakistan 123-1 (Imam 45, Babar 60) A change of pace, with Mustafizur returning to the attack - and he has Babar dropped at backward point. That was a sharp but essentially straightforward chance to Mosaddek, who tried it take it two-handed to his left. Imam gets a rare boundary off the last delivery with a vigorous pull stroke through midwicket.
“I think Net Wickets Taken is a debate worth having,” says Martyn Fairbrother. “Currently there is no reward for a team getting 350 for no loss of wicket compared to 350 all out over the same number of overs. NRR can even reward the 350 all out team just because they happen to get their 350 quicker than the 350 for no wicket team. Maybe this is an aspect of the game that should have a small reward, in the form of being the second factor taken into consideration for qualification.”
25th over: Pakistan 113-1 (Imam 40, Babar 57) A sharp offspinner from Mosaddek is almost defended onto his own stumps by Babar, who sees it bouncing towards his furniture and gets his body in the way. Four singles from the over. I feel like I’ve typed that a lot today.
24th over: Pakistan 111-1 (Imam 38, Babar 55) Three singles from Shakib’s over, which he bowled in about two minutes flat.
“Barring New Zealand who have chased successfully on four occasions (albeit shorter targets), the table toppers - Australia, India and England have won just a match chasing,” says Mukundhan. “Interspersed between England’s poor show (at the end of the SL game) and their superiority (ahead of the semi-finals) were two matches where England got to bat first. Does it mean the semi-finals are going to be reduced to a game of tosses?”
23rd over: Pakistan 108-1 (Imam 37, Babar 53) Babar rocks back to drive Mosaddek through extra-cover for four, another lovely shot that brings up a 62-ball half-century. He secretes class.
22nd over: Pakistan 103-1 (Imam 37, Babar 48) Bangladesh’s spinners are racing through their overs, which is making it difficult to keep up - and, more importantly, for Pakistan to hit boundaries. Five singles from Shakib’s fifth over. We’ve still had just six fours in this innings.
21st over: Pakistan 98-1 (Imam 36, Babar 46) Mosaddek Hossain comes into the attack to bowl some offspin. If this was a normal game, Pakistan would be going along nicely. As it is they need around 10 an over to have a chance of reaching the semi-finals.
20th over: Pakistan 94-1 (Imam 33, Babar 42) “In answer to Jezz Nash’s question, the pavilion is undersubscribed,” says Michael. “Tickets were made available to MCC Members, then Associate members and then Middlesex members. But it still didn’t sell out so the club has invited a few hundred local schoolchildren into the pavilion for the day which is, in my view, marvellous. The atmosphere is fantastic and the kids all clapped the players through the long room. Most of my fellow members I’ve spoken to seem delighted with the initiative. Pretty cool for the kids I’d have thought. Also probably brings the average age in the pavilion down into the 50s...”
It’s a lovely initative but let’s not get carried away.
19th over: Pakistan 91-1 (Imam 32, Babar 40) Babar uses his rubber wrists to flip Mortaza towards the square-leg boundary, where Saifuddin saves to runs with a fine tumbling stop. Seven from the over, all in ones and twos.
“A much fairer way to split teams level on points, if you ask me, would be by average squad height - shortest takes all, of course, as that negates the unfair advantage bestowed, in both cricket and life, upon the very tall,” says Mac Millings. “My own modest stature has, naturally, not influenced my suggestion in any way. Other bias-free tiebreaker suggestions: most balding; least respected by work colleagues; most-laughed-at-by-their-wife-during-their-marriage-vows.”
Sky Sports will make the #CWC19 final available on free-to-air television should #ENG make it to the showpiece event at Lord’s on Sunday, July 14.
18th over: Pakistan 84-1 (Imam 28, Babar 38) After an expensive first over, Shakib is into his parsimonious work. An excellent third over to Babar includes five dot balls; that’s drinks.
17th over: Pakistan 82-1 (Imam 28, Babar 36) “Pakistan’s loss to West Indies feels about equivalent to an 8-0 drubbing in soccer - something that should inflict permanent damage on your goal difference/net run rate and could come back to bite you,” says Andrew Gladwin. I’m not sure whether there is a better, relatively simple tiebreaker than Net Run Rate for cricket – unless you bring in something more mathematically complicated like Duckworth Lewis which the public doesn’t always understand or trust. I think the main reason for some dissatisfaction that we haven’t necessarily got the ‘right’ top 4 is all the rained off matches – most of which would have a significant impact on the fourth qualifier (New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka x2).”
Yes, and the fact New Zealand go into the semi-finals in unprecedentedly bad form. The other thing is that Pakistan have had chances to improve their NRR; instead they focussed purely on winning games. I understand why - I thought India would beat England - but they must now regret not trying to beat New Zealand by a much heavier margin.
16th over: Pakistan 76-1 (Imam 27, Babar 31) Pakistan continue to pootle along. They’ve only hit six boundaries but they have nurdled nicely, Babar in particular.
15th over: Pakistan 72-1 (Imam 25, Babar 29) “As irrelevant as this debate may now be, I’m perplexed by the apparent consensus for Pakistan having to bat first,” says Josh Hadfield. “I am quite convinced they had to bowl in order to have the best chance of progressing (although perhaps not of winning the match).”
There was, it says here, no way they could qualify by bowling first. I assume this is because they need all 100 overs in play to effect a sufficient swing in their net run-rate. Even if they bowled Bangladesh out for 0 in 50 overs, they would then need to score 300-odd themselves, which is not possible when chasing 1 to win.
14th over: Pakistan 64-1 (Imam 18, Babar 28) Shakib Al Hasan, one of the players of the tournament, comes into the attack. His first ball touches the pads of Babar and runs away for four leg byes. Actually, they’ve been given as wides, which is a little harsh as I’m sure it hit the pad. Six singles make it a very good over for Pakistan.
“If New Zealand had lost to the West Indies,” says Jane van Teeuwe, “their attitude and selection in their remaining games would presumably have been very different?”
13th over: Pakistan 53-1 (Imam 15, Babar 25) I hadn’t realised that the MCC have invited around 200 schoolchildren into the pavilion for this match. That’s a fine gesture, and I’m sure all the members are thrilled to have such vivacious, shrill company for the day.
Meanwhile, on the field, Babar berates Imam for missing out on a potential second run. It’s seems he still believes in miracles.
12th over: Pakistan 49-1 (Imam 13, Babar 23) A lucky escape for Babar, who edges a short ball from Mustafizur through the vacant first-slip area for four. Bangladesh had only just moved their slip into a wider position.
“Instead of Net Run Rate or the head-to-head result, how about using net wickets taken/lost?” says Martyn Fairbrother. “This would keep the excitement going in the end games of the tournament, be easier to calculate for mere mortals than NRR and fairer than head-to-head.”
11th over: Pakistan 45-1 (Imam 13, Babar 19) The captain Mashrafe Mortaza, playing his 24th and final World Cup game, repliaces Mehidy (5-0-9-0). Seven from the over. Babar, the silken assassin, has quietly raced to 19 from 18 balls.
“Have the members turned up to watch?” says Jezz Nash. “If I were one, I couldn’t imagine not wanting to be there today for what should be a fantastic game on a glorious day.”
10th over: Pakistan 38-1 (Imam 11, Babar 14) The left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman comes into the attack, and Babar forces him through cover point for four off the back foot. Gorgeous shot.
“Morning Rob,” says Dominic Nozahic. “Hope you’re settled in and enjoying the game. For me this match represents one of the great things about high-level sport: the sheer sense of hope and promise it provokes. Pakistan’s progression remains entirely unlikely, but it’s mere possibility is enough to whet the appetite. Whether Pakistan make 482-3 or are skittled for 119, a match like this is so exciting partly because of what might happen. I hope the exciting Babar Azam ends his tournament (or prolongs it!) with a big century today.”
9th over: Pakistan 31-1 (Imam 10, Babar 8) We can forget the miracle. In a way that’s a good thing, because it allows complete focus on what is intrinsically a huge game. Babar takes three off Mehidy’s fifth over.
8th over: Pakistan 28-1 (Imam 10, Babar 5) “I understand the sentiment of wanting to keep something riding on the last set of matches, but I don’t think Net Run Rate manages this, at least when there’s so many group games,” says Philip Reilly. “It’s so rare that an average over 9 matches could be altered meaningfully by a good performance in just one.
“How about this: semi-final seedings, and ties between three or more teams are settled by head-to-head, then net run rate. But if two teams are tied for fourth/fifth then we have a play-off to decide who makes the semi-final. Makes the last round of games exciting, as teams jockey to make the play-off, but also means that one terrible performance won’t put a team out the World Cup. Plus, teams will have less incentive to play defensively and protect their NRR. This time, the play-off could’ve been scheduled for Monday.”
Fakhar’s miserable tournament ends with another failure. He slashed a wide, full delivery from Saifuddin straight to backward point to end a scratchy innings of 13 from 31 balls.
7th over: Pakistan 23-0 (Fakhar 13, Imam 10) Another quiet over form Mehidy, whose figures of 4-0-6-0. I hate to break it to you, but Pakistan aren’t going to score 400.
“In one of those other sports happening at the moment, Bernard Tomic was fined £45,000 for not putting in the expected level of effort,” says Matt Dony. “Considering the amount of time I’ve spent listening to TMS and following OBOs during work hours over the last few weeks, I’m a bit concerned my manager might get ideas. The fact that today’s match looks like it should be a really interesting match-up is not helping.”
6th over: Pakistan 22-0 (Fakhar 12, Imam 10) Imam plays a lovely shot, driving Saifuddin through the covers for his second boundary. He looks calm in his strokeplay, if not necessarily his running.
“I am from India and a die-hard fan of England,” writes Amit Sebastian. “I am so delighted to see Morgan and the lads in the semis after 27 years. All day when England have matches I wear an England jersey and my whole bay in the office is decorated with English flags and players’ photos.”
5th over: Pakistan 17-0 (Fakhar 11, Imam 6) A good over from Mehidy to Fakhar, with just a single off the last ball.
“Whilst idly attempting to check on the etymology of ‘preambulation’ (walking ahead) I was instead directed to the entry for ‘perambulation’ which has a pleasing cricketing connotation of sorts,” says Brian Withington. “As well as the everyday meaning of walking around, this has historically included beating the bounds, namely touring the boundary of a parish - not sure if St. John’s Wood counts, though? Curiously, the Great Perambulation was an act of significantly reducing England’s forests circa 1300, thereby kickstarting all this climate change palaver even earlier than suspected.”
4th over: Pakistan 16-0 (Fakhar 10, Imam 6) Imam survives a run-out chance when Mehidy’s close-range throw misses the stumps. Pakistan look a little frantic, as would you and I if we needed to score at least 400; they should probably just forget about the tournament situation and try to win the match. Imam gets his first boundary off the final ball of Shaifuddin’s over with a tuck behind square onthe leg side.
“As someone who isn’t a huge follower of cricket, I’m intrigued as to what the ‘ethics’ would have been of Bangladesh winning the toss,” says Zach Gough. “Would letting Pakistan bat first, even if Bangladesh actually wanted to, be considered ‘gentlemanly’ or would that not be ‘in the competitive spirit’ of the game?”
3rd over: Pakistan 10-0 (Fakhar 9, Imam 1) Fakhar is almost dismissed twice in Mehidy’s second over. First he plays a miscued drive that bisects a couple of fielders; then he runs two-thirds of the way down the track before realising Imam hasn’t moved. Thankfully for him, there is enough time to get back.
“I know you’ve more important things on the go today, but you were fairly spot on with your Tim Murtagh numbers yesterday,” says Martin Gilbert. “Match winner with 10-1-21-5. And a gentleman too – my son was mascot for the England ODI at Malahide and my wife said Tim Murtagh was lovely to them both. I’d be very happy if he kept bowling for another 10 years.”
2nd over: Pakistan 7-0 (Fakhar 7, Imam 0) Mohammad Shaifuddin shares the new ball. After a slow start - 1 from 8 balls - Fakhar scythes a short ball through point for four. He’s had a disappointing tournament, with only one half-century against India, but maybe he can bat with the freedom of the damned today.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Just taken my seat at Lord’s with Mrs McMahon in time for the toss, big cheer from the Pakistan fans. As Russ Abbot liked to say, what an atmosphere. It’s my first time at HQ and it looks magnificent, the sun is out, the champagne is chilled and the picnic sausage rolls are warm. What’s not to like? Pakistan 501-0 and Bangladesh 185 all out is my prediction. Hat trick from Amir to seal the deal. I think it’s 99.94% certain, don’t you? Let’s hope for a cracker anyway.”
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Fakhar 1, Imam 0) Fakhar Zaman comes crawling out of the blocks, with four dot balls from the offspinner Mehidy Hasan to start the innings. He drives a single into the off side, and that’s it.
“NRR seems such an unsatisfactory way to go out, virtually penalising a team for one bad performance,” says Neil Harris. “Surely the head-to-head result should come first?”
It’s time for some cricket. Just imagine the #scenes if Pakistan pull this off.
Pakistan realistically need to score at least 400, ideally 800. The next few hours could be fun.
Bat first. I meant bat first.
“Thought for the day,” begins Michael Suffield. “If Carlos Brathwaite had levered an extra yard or so from his final heave against NZ, we would now be awaiting the match of the tournament. Margins.”
Oof, yes, because New Zealand’s run-rate would be within reach for Bangladesh, and Pakistan would just need any old win.
“In all seriousness though, I think this Bangladesh team should pip Pakistan today,” says Matt Turland. “They’ve got a really good core that have been a little unfortunate this WC. They have a steady consistency that, if taken up a notch, could see them separating themselves from the chasing pack and nestle in behind Australia, India, England and New Zealand. Admittedly, still some way short of their overall quality but certainly moving in the right direction. They’re also providing a template of sorts for Afghanistan to follow.”
A lot depends on their regeneration, because the spine of their side are all in their thirties. They have players with oodles of potential, though: Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mehedi, Mustafizur, Saifuddin. And I agree that they’ve been pretty unfortunate. Had they won that tight game against New Zealand early in the tournament, I suspect they’d have made the semis.
Bangladesh are aiming for a fifth consecutive ODI victory over Pakistan. That would be quite an achievement - especially as, before that run of victories started, they had lost 25 in a row. They are a serious team now. (NB: Clip contains some effervescent language.)
“Don’t care if Bangladesh bat first,” says Matt Turland. “Whatever happens, I reckon this is going an absolute belter of a match. The Win Predictor thingymabob is going to go into meltdown today.”
Good morning. On 21 December 1983, an association football match took place in Seville. Spain hosted Malta, needing to win by 11 goals to qualify for the European Championship ahead of the Netherlands. They won 12-1. And although there have been allegations ever since of the game being fixed or Malta’s players being drugged, the match remains clean.
The strangest things can happen in sport. Pakistan need something even more unlikely if they are to qualify for the World Cup semi-finals. They must beat an excellent Bangladesh side by a world-record margin of at least 316 runs (the actual margin of victory depends on how many they score) if they are to drag their net run-rate above New Zealand’s. They may be the Ethan Hunts of world cricket, but this surely is impossible.
“We wanted to play good cricket but we didn’t expect to have such a good record (7 wins, 1 defeat) going into the semis. It’s an honour for all of us to play together for India. We don’t want to be one-dimensional in the knockout stages, and we will try to find the right balance depending on the conditions and pitches.
The Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne speaks
“It’s a good wicket to bat on and Rohit and Rahul batted really well. We have to sit back and think about what we did wrong at this World Cup, and find some new talent with the next World Cup in mind. Sri Lankan cricket will miss Lasith Malinga; he has made such a wonderful effort for us. We have to find a new guy who can take wickets in the middle overs.”
Australia are in big trouble against South Africa, and it looks increasingly likely that the semi-finals will be:
“I was just trying to do my job, not thinking of any milestones. I know that if I play well these things will happen along the way. Once you’re in, the shot selection becomes very important. – I try to calculate it based on the pitch and what the bowler is trying to do. You have to be disciplined and I have learned from some mistakes in the past.
The players on both sides embrace the departing pair of Lasith Malinga and Ian Gould as they walk from the field. There’s a familiar end-of-term goodwill around the ground, and everyone seems very happy with life.
India will play either England or New Zealand in the semi-final. At the moment, it’s touch and go.
43.3 overs: India 265-3 (Kohli 34, Pandya 7) Hardik Pandya finishes the match with an edge for a single off Udana. India were far too good for Sri Lanka.
43rd over: India 263-3 (Kohli 33, Pandya 6) Malinga, bowling his final over in World Cup cricket, almost swerves a typical yorker through Pandya, who gets his bat down at the last second to drag the ball between his legs. His last ball is flicked for four by Pandya. Malinga ends a disappointing day with figures of 10-1-82-1 - but he has been a true World Cup great. India need two to win.
42nd over: India 253-3 (Kohli 30, Pandya 0) That was the last ball of the over.
Rishabh Pant is given out on review. He missed a slog-sweep at a slower ball Udana and was hit in the box. Ian Gould gave it not out - I suspect he thought it was bouncing over the stumps - but replays showed it would have hit the top of leg stump.
41st over: India 244-2 (Kohli 25, Pant 0) A few days ago,KL Rahul’s form was a concern for India. It isn’t now.
Lasith Malinga takes his 56th World Cup wicket! Rahul, who had smashed two boundaries earlier in the over, was dismissed by a superb short ball that followed him and shaved the bat on its way through to the keeper.
40th over: India 234-1 (Rahul 102, Kohli 24) Four runs from Udana’s eighth over. India are winning this match at their leisure.
39th over: India 230-1 (Rahul 101, Kohli 21) KL Rahul glides Malinga for a single to reach his first World Cup hundred, a stylish knock that has taken 109 balls. That’s the seventh century by an Indian opener in this World Cup, an achievement that is almost entirely ludicrous.
38th over: India 222-1 (Rahul 99, Kohli 15) Rahul inches closer to his first World Cup hundred. Perera ends a good afternoon’s work with figures of 10-0-34-0.
Oozing class on the way to the 5th ton of the world cup. @ImRo45 is now making numbers look silly. #ICCCricketWorldCup
37th over: India 221-1 (Rahul 98, Kohli 15) This match was over, pretty much, when Rohit hit two of Dhananjaya’s first three balls for six. As the only spinner he had to bowl well Sri Lanka to win, as he did when they shocked England on this ground; instead he has been bullied for 51 from six overs.
36th over: India 214-1 (Rahul 93, Kohli 13) I honestly don’t know what to say. India are cruising to victory; Rahul is cruising to a century. That’s about it. India need 51 from 14 overs.
35th over: India 211-1 (Rahul 91, Kohli 12) “Hi Rob,” says Anand. “No matter the SF line up, it is shaping up nicely. India still figuring out their ideal XI after bossing most of the tournament. Aus under pressure today against SA. England peaking at the right time. NZ hopefully have gotten their bad days out of the way.”
Yep. All have great players and weak links. And though New Zealand are big outsiders, they have three or four stars who could feasibly drag them to victory. The main concern is that batting first has been such a huge advantage of late - I think 17 of the last 20 matches have been won by the team that bats first, although it will soon be 17 of the last 21.
34th over: India 207-1 (Rahul 90, Kohli 9) A single off the new bowler Perera takes Rahul into the nineties. Sri Lanka’s peculiar World Cup campaign is ending with a whimper.
33rd over: India 203-1 (Rahul 88, Kohli 7) There’s a hint of reverse-swing for Rajitha, but it’s far too late to have an impact on this match. He drops short later in the over, for some reason, and Rahul drags a pull through backward square leg for four. This is an important innings for him, which should ensure he goes into the semi-final high on confidence, cricket and life.
32nd over: India 196-1 (Rahul 82, Kohli 6) South Africa have finished on 325 for six at Old Trafford. That means Australia need the second highest runchase in a World Cup match to finish top of the table. If they fail, they’ll be playing England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday, and India will meet New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
31st over: India 194-1 (Rahul 81, Kohli 5) I thought India might give Dinesh Karthik some time in the middle, but Virat Kohli is the new batsman. He gets going with a masterful extra-cover drive for four.
Only two men in 142 years history of international cricket have scored 5 centuries in one series/tournament. Rohit Sharma in WC 2019 and Sir Clyde Walcott in a Test series vs Aus in 1955. #CWC19
No ten-wicket win for India, and no big hundred for Rohit Sharma. He mistimes a drive to mid-off and leans on his bat in irritation before walking off to his latest standing ovation. He is an extraordinary player.
29th over: India 183-0 (Rohit 102, Rahul 76) Rohit pulls Rajitha sweetly for four to reach yet another hundred - his third in seven days and his fifth in the tournament. That’s a new record for a single World Cup. It’s been the most beautiful innings: 92 balls, 14 fours and two sixes.
28th over: India 176-0 (Rohit 97, Rahul 75) “Interesting dynamic developing between the two games,” says Bill Hargreaves. “RSA’s resurgence might just be enough to knock the Aussies off their perch, deflating their confidence a tad before a prospective game against Eoin’s army.”
Yes, I assumed they’d win that game comfortably but they are facing a very tricky chase – South Africa are 297-4 with three overs remaining.
27th over: India 174-0 (Rohit 95, Rahul 73) Rahul picks Malinga’s slower ball and swings it viciously over midwicket for four. He would also love a century today; his last was against Zimbabwe on his ODI debut in 2016. But Rohit is going to get there first. He drives a low full toss from Malinga for his 13th four, and a single off the last delivery means he keeps the strike.
26th over: India 160-0 (Rohit 89, Rahul 68) Rohit back cuts Udana for four with precisely 0.00 per cent fuss, and then edges wide of the diving keeper for another boundary. That takes him to within 11 of a new World Cup record - nobody has ever scored fivecenturies in a single tournament. Five centuries! That’s more than most England batsmen (pre-2015) scored in a career.
25th over: India 152-0 (Rohit 81, Rahul 68) Sri Lanka are starting to unravel. Rahul drags a short ball from Malinga round the corner and gets four after a misfield from Udana. England’s defeat to this Sri Lankan team will never make sense.
24th over: India 141-0 (Rohit 78, Rahul 61) Udana returns, concedes four runs, and life goes on. In the other match at Old Trafford, Faf du Plessis’ marvellous 93-ball hundred has put the cat among the semi-final pigeons.
23rd over: India 137-0 (Rohit 75, Rahul 60) KL Rahul rocks back to smash Dhananjaya for four to reach a second consecutive fifty - and then he makes room to swipe a beautiful six over mid-off next ball. Another very expensive over, 17 from it, ends with Rahul swishing over mid-off for four more. Dhananjaya was a potential matchwinner for Sri Lanka on a very dry pitch, but that early statement from Rohit - two sixes off his first three balls - nipped any threat in the bud.
22nd over: India 120-0 (Rohit 74, Rahul 45) There have been a few plays-and-misses from Rohit, for all his coruscating strokeplay, and there’s another off Perera. Six from the over, all in ones and twos, which means India need 145 from 28 overs.
“If it was a very small gun,” says John Starbuck, “you could tuck it into your cheek and mumble well enough.”
21st over: India 114-0 (Rohit 71, Rahul 42) Rohit continues his merry dance towards a third century in seven days, clubbing a short ball from Dhananjaya over midwicket for four.
20th over: India 109-0 (Rohit 66, Rahul 42) Perera is sometimes seen a death-hitter who bowls a bit. A biffs-and-pieces player, if you will. Oh, okay. This has been a goodspell, though, with excellent control of length and a tight line to the right-handers.
The downside of that, as Nasser says on Sky, is that the batsman knows what is coming. Rohit rocks back in the crease to dump a pull over midwicket for four. That takes him past Shakib to the top of the runscoring charts in this tournament. He has 609. The record for any World Cup is 673, by Sachin Tendulkar in 2003. He could break that today.
19th over: India 103-0 (Rohit 61, Rahul 41) “Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “A week today and it will be the day before the greatest sporting event of many a year. That’s right, the Scottish League Cup Group H meeting of St. Mirren and Dunfermlin- sorry the men’s singles final at Wimbledo-, sorry the British Grand Pri-, sorry the CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL AT LORD’S!!! What’s your gut telling you? I know we like to joke about it here on the OBO, but it’s coming home, right?”
My gut tells me it’s going home, to Australia, for the fifth time in the last six tournaments. My brain tells me it could be any of the big three. There’s so little between them. If I had a gun in my mouth I’d say Australia, because of Mitchell Starc. Or rather Auaia, because my friend told me when you have a gun barrel between your teeth you speak only in vowels.
18th over: India 99-0 (Rohit 60, Rahul 38) Any slight pressure on India was alleviated by that huge over off Dhananjaya, which means they again treat Perera with respect. Two from the over, and he has figures of 4-0-12-0.
“South Africa are doing well, but of course they might choke in the end,” says Romeo. “However I hope they do win because, if I wanted England to win the thing, I’d rather they played Australia at Edgbaston, where they’ve won 6 out of 11 games between the two, with two no-results. At Lord’s, Australia have won 9 out of 15 with one tied and as I remember they’ve always done very well at Lord’s, at least since the Massie Test I was lucky enough to go to.”
17th over: India 97-0 (Rohit 59, Rahul 37) Sri Lanka introduce their only spinner, Dhananjaya da Silva. Rohit Sharma introduces himself to Dhananjaya by hitting two of his first three deliveries for six! The first, driven contemptously over extra cover, brought up an effortless 48-ball fifty; the second was a mighty hit over the sightscreen. Glorious batsmanship.
That’s drinks. In the other game at Old Trafford, Faf du Plessis is officially on one - which means an England v Australia semi-final could be on.
16th over: India 83-0 (Rohit 46, Rahul 36) Rohit is beaten by a lovely, scrambled-seam delivery from Perera. After all those early boundaries, the tone has changed in the last 20 minutes - the last three overs have produced only six runs, the last 10 a fairly modest 35.
15th over: India 81-0 (Rohit 45, Rahul 35) Udana is bowling quite nicely, using a lot of cutters. It does feel like the pitch is starting to slow down; India will be thankful for that flying start.
14th over: India 79-0 (Rohit 44, Rahul 34) India are in complete control of this chase, which means they don’t have to force things and can take the occasional over off. Like that one from Perera, which brings just two singles.
13th over: India 77-0 (Rohit 43, Rahul 33) A slower ball from Udana is dragged, one-handed, over mid-on for four by Rohit. If he gets a hundred today, he will break Kumar Sangakkara’s record for most centuries in a World Cup. Sangakkara made four in 2015.
12th over: India 71-0 (Rohit 38, Rahul 32) A double bowling change, with Thisara Perera replacing Kasun Rajitha (5-0-29-0). Six from his first over, none in boundaries.
11th over: India 65-0 (Rohit 36, Rahul 28) The left-armer Isuru Udana comes into the attack, and after a couple of sighters Rohit drives him beautifully through extra cover for four. His batting is almost too elegant to function.
Meanwhile, South Africa have continued their excellent start against Australia at Old Trafford. If they win that game, and India win here, India will face New Zealand in the first semi-final on Tuesday.
10th over: India 59-0 (Rohit 31, Rahul 27) I suspect we’ll see this approach in the knockout games, with batsmen trying to get ahead of the game in the Powerplay, before the pitches slow down and their heart rate speeds up.
A short ball from Rajitha follows Rahul, who bends backwards like a limbo dancer to steer it off the face of the bat and straight over the keeper’s head for four. That’s outrageous.
9th over: India 52-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 22) Malinga, who has improved after a poor start, bowls a maiden to KL Rahul.
“Afternoon Rob!” says Spencer Francis. “This has been a good World Cup, for my money, especially with the exciting hosts England in the semis. Three genuine contenders (with no disrespect to New Zealand) who will all be worthy winners. So much better than last few where there was clearly one standout team (mostly Australia). What do you think has caused that? Do you think all the three teams are flawed so there is no standout or they have all these teams have lifted their standards? Would any of these have a chance against Australia 2003 or 2007?”
8th over: India 52-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 22) “Hi Rob,” says Romeo. “My side for Brian’s game: Rohit, Williamson (he can open, usually almost does), Shakib, Babar, Mathews (proved today how good he is and I’ve always liked him), Buttler (will do well from here on, and hasn’t been shabby thus far), Holder (one of my favourite cricketers), Starc (have to have him), Bumrah (double have to have him), Imran Tahir and Mujeeb.
“Because of the captain rule, it has to be Rohit, or maybe Bumrah, but Williamson, Holder or Buttler can actually be in charge. A bit spin-heavy but it’ll be played on an old pitch, no doubt.”
7th over: India 51-0 (Rohit 29, Rahul 21) A single from Rohit off Malinga brings up the fifty partnership inside seven overs. That’s India’s fastest start of the tournament.
6th over: India 48-0 (Rohit 28, Rahul 19) An elegant square-drive off Rajitha brings Rohit his fifth boundary. He cuts the next ball a fraction short of Mendis at short point before resuming normal service with another effortless flick through midwicket for four. He looks in stunning touch, and already looks good for his fifth century of the tournament. He only needs 72 more, after all.
5th over: India 39-0 (Rohit 20, Rahul 18) Malinga has started poorly. A low full toss is steered through backward point for four by Rohit, who times the next delivery off his pads to the midwicket boundary. He has 20 from only 12 balls.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Brian Withington. “In view of Tim’s sensible objections (over 41), can I now drop Finch for Starc, promote Williamson to opener (he’s been doing the job all tournament) but keep Archer instead of Bairstow for exactly the reasons Tim outlined.”
4th over: India 28-0 (Rohit 11, Rahul 16) “Today is Ian Gould’s last international match as an umpire,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “For a young man like me, he’s been as synonymous with the sport as many contemporary cricketers. He’s one of the best in the world who stood in many all-time classic encounters. Like a decisive shadow, he made the tough decisions, which were correct most of the time too. Your presence will surely be missed, Mr Gould... Enjoy retirement!”
Indeed. In sport, as in life, there are characters and characters. Gould is the good kind.
3rd over: India 27-0 (Rohit 11, Rahul 15) Another stunning drive from Rahul, this time off the front foot, races through the covers for four. He glides Malinga for another boundary two balls later, a beautifully placed shot between short third man and backward point, and then Rohit flicks majestically to the midwicket boundary. India, who started so slowly against England in their last run-chase, have got off to a flyer.
2nd over: India 14-0 (Rohit 7, Rahul 6) Rajitha to Rohit: short, wide, four. Rahul gets his first boundary, too, with a gorgeous back-foot drive through the covers.
1st over: India 2-0 (Rohit 1, Rahul 1) We’re having a few technical problems I’m afraid. You haven’t missed much, just a quiet first over from Lasith Malinga.
Thanks Tim, hello everyone. If India need any incentive to win this game, the Old Trafford scoreboard should provide it. South Africa have got off to a flyer agianst Australia, which increases India’s chances of topping the table and setting up a theoretically easier semi-final against New Zealand.
First, they need to win this match. A target of 265 could be tricky on this pitch - Sri Lanka defended 232 against England on this ground - and much will depend on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It usually does.
50th over: Sri Lanka 264-7 (de Silva 29, Udana 1) Seven off the last over as de Silva keeps on accumulating to the end and Kumar finds a sliver of redemption. That’s an impressive recovery by Sri Lanka, based on one strong partnership by Mathews and Thirimanne. Bumrah was outstanding again, and so was Jadeja for his first six overs (1-16), but given that they had Sri Lanka reeling at 55-4, India will wonder how they’ve allowed them to add another 200. In a normal ODI, India would be hot favourites from here; in this World Cup, Sri Lanka may well have enough to defend, especially if Malinga is in the mood for a last hurrah.
Thanks for your company, your correspondence and your complaints about everything from TMS to the OBO. Time to hand over to Rob Smyth, the Bumrah of the keyboard.
After bowling two wides in the final over, Kumar finally does something right. His slower ball lures Perera into a half-baked slog and Pandya races in from long-off to take an excellent diving catch.
49th over: Sri Lanka 257-6 (de Silva 26, Perera 2) Bumrah finishes with 10-2-37-3. What a master he is. In a tournament that has largely belonged to the left-arm seamers, he has been the king of the right-armers.
Mathews makes a miscalculation at last, trying to chip Bumrah over the infield but leaning back too much and offering a catch at extra cover, crisply taken by Sharma. That’s the end of a memorable feat of rebuilding.
48th over: Sri Lanka 251-5 (Mathews 112, de Silva 23) Sangakkara, who is so much more incisive than most of the ICC commentators, feels these two batsmen have been “too cute” and have missed a trick by not hitting the ball hard enough. Mathews responds instantly by shoving a slow bouncer from Kumar into the gap at deep midwicket. Eight off the over, and SL have now made it to 250, which has been enough, for the side batting first, in every World Cup match bar one.
47th over: Sri Lanka 244-5 (Mathews 105, de Silva 20) Just four singles off Bumrah, the kid at the front of the class who will insist on showing everyone else up.
And here’s an email from John Starbuck. “Well done for publishing Ray Barnes’ email [42nd over].” he says. “TMS are suddenly announcing not only fielding positions, but also their changes when each ball is bowled. Proper cricket.” I’m not sure the OBO is that influential, is it?
46th over: Sri Lanka 240-5 (Mathews 105, de Silva 20) Dhananjaya de Silva has been happily playing second fiddle but now he plays a solo, chipping elegantly into the gap between the two boundary riders on the leg side. Pandya finishes with 10-0-50-1 and a new world record for the number of slow bouncers in one day.
45th over: Sri Lanka 233-5 (Mathews 104, de Silva 14) Back comes Kumar, summoned from the doghouse. He goes for six singles and now has figures of 8-0-58-0.
44th over: Sri Lanka 227-5 (Mathews 101, de Silva 11) Mathews sees that there’s nobody at deep square and plants a pull there. Offered a free hit by a big no-ball, he can’t connect with Pandya’s umpteenth slow bouncer, but the next one he uppercuts for four to reach his hundred off 115 balls. It’s been a masterclass in moving through the gears.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 215-5 (Mathews 91, de Silva 10) Bumrah continues and Mathews treats him with great respect. Even a full toss goes for only a single.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 212-5 (Mathews 89, de Silva 9) Pandya tries to fool Mathews with a wide slower ball – and succeeds, but also deceives Dhoni, who concedes four byes.
Here’s Ray Barnes. “I am emailing from Adelaide. Can the BBC cricket commentators please, instead of prattling on about a lot of nothing, describe what is actually happening on the field, e.g. field positions, what type of ball the bowler is bowling, where what type of stroke the batsman plays – you know, describe the cricket. Often they don’t actually describe anything until after the ball has been hit. We are not told anything else, I feel very sorry for the blind people listening, because they cannot see it.Thanks for your time.”
41st over: Sri Lanka 205-5 (Mathews 87, de Silva 8) Kohli is in a grump, understandably, although he is part of the problem – he’s been reactive, and often over-reactive, rather than proactive. He goes back to Bumrah, who surely has instructions to Get Mathews. He doesn’t manage it, but goes for only five.
“Now we have almost concluded the preliminaries,” says Brian Withington, “would you care to invite recommendations for a team of the tournament, one player from each country plus free pick of captain?” Interesting rule. “I’d go with Kohli as captain and batting 3/4 (or opening?) so Bumrah can bowl (or Sharma open). Finch vice-captain and opener (but then no Starc bowling?). Williamson as 3/4 obviously. But then where does Shakib bat? Afridi bowling rather than Amir? Hope keeping and batting? Mujeeb Zadran bowling economically. Tahir spinning I assume. Archer bowling fast. Sri Lanka nominee tricky, Malinga for old time’s sake? Trickier than I thought ...” Surely you have to have Starc, the man of the month. And if your choice of Kohli as opener ever reaches the ears of Jonny Bairstow, he’ll be so incensed that he may well make a double hundred.
40th over: Sri Lanka 200-5 (Mathews 85, de Silva 6) Mathews, enjoying himself now, reverse-sweeps Kuldeep in the air for four. Mathews has 29 off his last 18 balls.
39th over: Sri Lanka 193-5 (Mathews 80, de Silva 4) Just when he might go back to milking, Mathews decides to go for broke instead. He takes on Jadeja, gets a leading edge – and still collects six. Then he plays an uppish glide for four to leave Jadeja, so immaculate early on, with figures of 10-0-40-1. The score predictor has crept up to 264.
38th over: Sri Lanka 182-5 (Mathews 70, de Silva 0) Success for Kuldeep, who has 9-0-51-1, and more weight on the shoulders of Mathews, who now needs to bat through.
Just to underline the point, Jadeja snaffles one. Thirimanne gave Kuldeep the charge, didn’t allow for the dip, and chipped the simplest of catches to extra cover. End of a partnership of 124 that was first halting, then fluent, and finally commanding.
37th over: Sri Lanka 177-4 (Mathews 69, Thirimanne 52) Kohli brings back Jadeja to restore order, and it almost works. Mathews is dropped in a way that bears out what Alaina Venkatesh was saying (31st over) – if Jadeja himself had been at long-on, he would have swallowed that, but it was poor old Kumar, whose day goes from bad to worse as he puts it down. Mathews rubs it in by playing the same shot, better, to hit the first six of the day.
36th over: Sri Lanka 169-4 (Mathews 61, Thirimanne 52) Kuldeep strays onto the pads and Thirimanne plays the finest of glances to reach fifty off 65 balls. Mathews, fully relaxed now, plays a reverse chip-sweep for four more. The last two overs have gone for 20: a lot of bowling changes, achieving nothing.
35th over: Sri Lanka 159-4 (Mathews 57, Thirimanne 47) I take it back – Kumar was just changing ends. His luck, however, doesn’t change, as Mathews dances down to loft him back over his head, and Thirimanne whips a pull into the gap at midwicket. That’s the hundred partnership – 103 off 141 balls. That’s only the second hundred partnership for SL in this World Cup, and the first by anyone other than the openers. Just what the doctor ordered.
34th over: Sri Lanka 149-4 (Mathews 52, Thirimanne 42) Kumar is banished again, after just one over. Kuldeep returns and concedes a regulation five.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 144-4 (Mathews 50, Thirimanne 39) Thirimanne gets away with one, flapping at Pandya’s slow bouncer and seeing the ball loop just over Dhoni. Mathews, more composed, dabs a more orthodox bouncer down for a single to short square leg, to reach a fine fighting fifty off 76 balls. He’s a good man in a tight corner. And that’s drinks, with SL winning that session to give themselves a chance of making a game of it.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 140-4 (Mathews 48, Thirimanne 37) If Jadeja has sailed through the audition, Bhuvi Kumar is failing it. He replaces Bumrah and Thirimanne, suddenly liberated, comes down the track to slap him through extra cover. The partnership is up to 85 now.
“Gentleman’s game – not in media,” says Arun Bharrat Dhinagar Vaidegi, picking up on something I said at 11:31. “Losing the way of comments (Old Man Dhoni).” I wasn’t trying to be ungentlemanly – just playful. And he is old, by sporting standards, isn’t he?
31st over: Sri Lanka 134-4 (Mathews 47, Thirimanne 32) Mathews decides Pandya’s bouncer has to go and pulls it to the midwicket fence, with some authority.
“I have been waiting (very) patiently,” says Alaina Venkatesh, “for Jadeja to finally be included in the playing XI and receive his due credit in the scorecard for his excellent fielding. I must say, I’ve been incredibly impressed by his bowling. When Jadeja first bowled today, the commentators were talking about how his average was higher than the other bowlers’ - which is only really the case because Jadeja can’t field when Jadeja’s bowling.” Good line. “Also, I have been thoroughly enjoying your OBO! The Guardian has been keeping me all caught up when I can’t watch the matches live and I’m extremely thankful.” Nice of you to say so. Up next, in the interests of balance: a reader who’s not so happy.
30th over: Sri Lanka 127-4 (Mathews 41, Thirimanne 31) Bumrah strays just close enough to leg stump to offer each batsman a clip for two. Annoyed with himself, he then produces a fine snarling bouncer, which manages to hit Thirimanne on both the hand and the head. Two blows for the price of one.
“After today’s match,” says Amod Paranjape, “all Indians are going to be affected by the English fan pessimism virus. New Zealand are going to find form in the semi-finals, aren’t they Tim?” They may well do. And yes, there has been a bug going round – since about 1971, when Ray Illingworth’s triumphant Ashes-winners were taught a lesson by Ajit Wadekar’s unfancied Indians.
29th over: Sri Lanka 122-4 (Mathews 38, Thirimanne 29) Pandya continues banging it in, but Mathews isn’t taking the bait – he either sways or swats for a single.
Here’s Pete Salmon, coming off his long run. “I did bring this up yesterday, so feel free to ignore, but I just read Vic Marks’ article. All true and good, but what seems to have been missed is that the final is only free if England are in it. Seems indicative of the ICC/Sky mindset that we watch cricket to see our team win, rather than because we like cricket. India v Australia is obviously not something anyone could be bothered to watch apparently – after 48 matches, England not winning means the tournament was pointless. Given the large numbers of non-England fans who have attended, this seems pretty poor – and I guess in this T20 hoopla world, why would a neutral bother? This World Cup has been great – in spite of the ICC.”
28th over: Sri Lanka 118-4 (Mathews 36, Thirimanne 27) Kohli wants wickets, so he sends for Bumrah. His radar is immaculate, as ever, and by the end of the over he’s almost enticing Mathews into giving Dhoni yet another catch.
27th over: Sri Lanka 116-4 (Mathews 35, Thirimanne 26) Kohli decides he wants to hear some chin music, so Jadeja gets a breather (8-0-21-1) and Pandya comes back, bearing bouncers, both fast and slow. This time the batsmen can cope.
“As we get down to the business end of the World Cup,” says Pratik Dubey, “I wonder what will be the injury of the tournament.” Good question. “For me personally I think Dhawan’s injury will prove to be decisive, as it has thrown off the balance of the Indian team and has upset their rhythm.” Yes, a serious blow. But it has only cost them a maximum of one match, hasn’t it?
26th over: Sri Lanka 109-4 (Mathews 31, Thirimanne 24) A few singles off Kuldeep bring up the fifty partnership, off 14 overs, and then Mathews plays another of his cuts for four. The ship has been steadied, just about.
25th over: Sri Lanka 102-4 (Mathews 26, Thirimanne 22) Two singles off Jadeja, who may well bowl his ten overs off the reel. This, Nasser Hussain notes, is Sri Lanka’s lowest total at the half-way mark in the 2019 World Cup.
24th over: Sri Lanka 100-4 (Mathews 25, Thirimanne 21) Thirimanne chops Kuldeep for two to bring up the hundred. If there are any Sri Lankan supporters in the ground, they’re too deflated to make much noise.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 96-4 (Mathews 24, Thirimanne 18) Three singles off Jadeja, who can now expect not just to play against England, but to open the bowling and spook the hell out of Jason Roy.
22nd over: Sri Lanka 93-4 (Mathews 23, Thirimanne 16) Thirimanne gets a slog in, swinging Kuldeep for four to midwicket. This partnership is beginning to look as if might be OK after all.
21st over: Sri Lanka 87-4 (Mathews 22, Thirimanne 11) If this is an audition for the semi-final, Jadeja has already aced it. He has the exemplary figures of 6-0-16-1, and England, if it is they, would surely rather face Kuldeep and Chahal, after bullying both the other day, than Jadeja plus one of those two.
20th over: Sri Lanka 83-4 (Mathews 19, Thirimanne 10) This is more like it from Mathews, who seizes on a slightly short one from Kuldeep and cuts for four.
“Morning @TimdeLisle,” says Guy Hornsby, “on what may yet be an interesting day before the semis. Really glad that Sri Lanka won the toss because this is their chance to put India under pressure.” It was, Guy, it was, and it may yet be again. These two just need to add another 130.
19th over: Sri Lanka 77-4 (Mathews 14, Thirimanne 9) If Sri Lanka are going to get 240, Angelo Mathews will probably have to get 80. He’s in better form than he was, but that’s not saying much. He edges Jadeja for three to move to a less than authoritative 14 off 28.
18th over: Sri Lanka 74-4 (Mathews 11, Thirimanne 9) Another run-out chance, fluffed by Pant, and it seems to knock some sense into the batsmen, who start milking Kuldeep.
17th over: Sri Lanka 68-4 (Mathews 9, Thirimanne 4) Jadeja races through another over – it’s almost as if he’s not thinking of the people trying to write an OBO here. He has Thirimanne groping and missing, so SL remain on the ropes.
16th over: Sri Lanka 65-4 (Mathews 8, Thirimanne 3) Pandya takes a breather to congratulate himself on figures of 3-0-6-1, and Kohli opts for spin at both ends. Kuldeep Yadav finds some turn too, on a used surface, which perhaps gives Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope for later.
15th over: Sri Lanka 62-4 (Mathews 7, Thirimanne 2) Jadeja keeps it tighter still, even with a slip and a short leg. And that’s drinks, with Sri Lanka falling apart and India, yet again, well on top without having to get everything right. This is one game that seems unlikely to finish in a win for the side batting first.
14th over: Sri Lanka 61-4 (Mathews 6, Thirimanne 2) Pandya keeps it tight. The score predictor is saying 243, which the Sri Lankans would surely take, depending on the timing of their flight.
13th over: Sri Lanka 58-4 (Mathews 4, Thirimanne 1) I’ve worked it out: the Sri Lankans have a flight home booked for about 5pm. Their next ploy is to try and contrive a run-out, but the fielding isn’t quite sharp enough to make it happen.
Here’s Uma Venkatraman, pondering the semis. “If India win today and Australia lose, India get to play New Zealand in the semis. India might prefer to play the Kiwis rather than England, and the Kiwis would be happy to avoid Australia. As a bonus, we would get to watch India and New Zealand play after the earlier washout.” Good point. “That would leave England the task of denying the Aussies another final appearance and they would earn the gratitude of the cricketing world - well, at least mine. I would even root for England over India/NZ in the final.” It’s a deal.
12th over: Sri Lanka 55-4 (Mathews 2, Thirimanne 0) How did this happen? The Sri Lankans have turned a breezy start into a crisis.
Nooooo! Pandya tries a slower-ball bouncer and Fernando can only wave at it and get a top edge. That’s a smart move by Pandya, a hammer blow for Sri Lanka, and a fourth dismissal this morning for old man Dhoni.
11th over: Sri Lanka 54-3 (Fernando 20, Mathews 1) Five minutes ago Jadeja looked like being a curiosity in this World Cup, the sub fielder who was hardly ever off the field. But now he’s back as a bowler and doing the business – he saw Mendis coming and fired the ball in, but not so quick as to lose his natural turn away from the right-hander. Kumar Sangakkara reckons he will be ‘a force’ if, as you’d expect, India play England at Edgbaston.
Kohli turns to spin, Jadeja finds some turn, and Mendis’s turn is all over as he charges down the track and misses. That was a strange decision, a desperate measure at a less than desperate time.
10th over: Sri Lanka 52-2 (Fernando 19, Mendis 3) The bowling change does come, but it’s Bumrah who is taken off. Hardik Pandya replaces him, goes back-of-a-length as usual, and concedes only a couple of singles. So the powerplay ends with honours about even, given that the Sri Lankans have had to cope with the genius of Bumrah.
“If England do play India again,” says Niall Mullen, “I wonder if Bumrah could tread on a ball while playing rugby.”
9th over: Sri Lanka 50-2 (Fernando 18, Mendis 2) Kohli shows some faith in Kumar, not with his fields, which continue to change about three times an over, but by keeping him on. And it’s repaid as Kumar finds a tight line to tie Mendis down. The only run in the over comes from a misfield.
8th over: Sri Lanka 49-2 (Fernando 18, Mendis 1) So Fernando is joined by Mendis. I have seen the future of Sri Lankan cricket and it is working already – Mendis takes a brisk single to get off the mark, and Fernando stands tall again and eases a square drive away for four, before pulling for four more. So Bumrah, after conceding only five off 19 balls, goes for nine off the next five. Keep him on, Virat – this is a proper contest.
The masterclass continues. Perera, trying to find a way to score his first run off Bumrah, hangs a crooked bat out at a quick one outside off, which straightens to take the edge and give Dhoni another simple catch. And Bumrah has 2-5.
7th over: Sri Lanka 40-1 (Perera 18, Fernando 10) Kohli persists with Kumar and perhaps regrets it as Fernando plucks another stroke from an old textbook, an upright push through the covers that’s so well timed that it goes for four. Then, as if suddenly alarmed at being labelled a classicist, Fernando chips high over mid-on for two. Kumar has 4-0-35-0. Even the captain of Ilford 2nds might take him off now.
6th over: Sri Lanka 33-1 (Perera 17, Fernando 4) If that decision had stood, Bumrah would have had 2-0 off 16 balls. Instead he has 1-5 off three overs, as Fernando cashes in with a straight push for four, showing him the maker’s name. That’s class.
It was too high, just going over the leg bail. Good news for Sri Lanka, and for the neutral.
Bumrah, still immaculate, pins Fernando on the crease. Only the height can save him.
5th over: Sri Lanka 28-1 (Perera 17, Fernando 0) Kumar finally gets it right and hurries Perera into a top-edged pull. It’s an easy catch for either mid-on or mid-off, but they both go for it and they collide. It’s Pandya and Kuldeep, a pair of schoolboys. Perera celebrates by smoking through the covers and tickling past Dhoni. Kohli has given up on slips altogether now, which is a bit feeble.
4th over: Sri Lanka 17-1 (Perera 7, Fernando 0) So Bumrah follows a maiden with a wicket maiden. And so far this game is like what Graham Gooch famously said about facing New Zealand in 1990 – the World XI at one end and Ilford 2nds at the other.
And here’s Peter Gluckstein. “As you quite rightly say, SL winning the toss should make for a more even contest. So, in future World Cups, why not award the toss in every game to the lower ranked team (going into the tournament)?? Might have completely screwed England in our last two games, mind you!”
Boom boom Bumrah! After nine dots, even Karunaratne gets frustrated and has a waft outside off. A bottom edge and Dhoni barely has to move.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 17-0 (Karunaratne 10, Perera 7) Kumar loses his length. Too short, so Perera shovels him to midwicket for three, even though it’s off the toe of the bat. Too short again, and even Karunaratne can slap that for four. Too full, and any opener in the world can clip that behind square for four more. Great over for Sri Lanka, and for the game.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Perera 4) No need to score runs off Bumrah – just survive. Karunaratne manages it, but you do wonder, not for the first time, if he is cut out to be a one-day opener.
1st over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Perera 4) Bhuvi Kumar opens up – Sourav Ganguly reckons he’s been brought in to swing the ball away from the left-handers. He has two to bowl at here: Karunaratne, who is watchful as ever, and Kusal Perera, who drives his first ball, on the up, for a spanking four. Virat Kohli responds by taking second slip out, which seems a little hasty.
In case you’re wondering how England can finally win the World Cup, Rob Smyth has a ten-point plan.
India do rest a fast bowler, but it’s not Bumrah – it’s Shami, who is replaced by Jadeja, making for a shorter tail. Kuldeep comes in for Chahal as Kohli rotates his wrist spinners. Sri Lanka stiffen their seam attack, and their lower order, by bringing in Thisara Perera for Jeffrey Vandersay.
Dimuth Karunaratne wins the toss and – like every captain now – chooses to bat first. Which should make for a more even contest.
A few sub-plots. Sri Lanka, who will finish sixth whatever happens, pulled off an upset against England – can they do the same to India? They did it the last time these two sides met, also in England, in the 2017 Champions’ Trophy, which perhaps makes it less likely now, on the basis of lightning not striking twice in the same place. Can Avishka Fernando, who announced himself with a sumptuous hundred against the West Indies’ quicks on Monday, do something similar to Bumrah and Shami? Or will Bumrah be rested, now that India are being expected to play as often as everyone else? And if so, will Kohli be short of a cutting edge?
Morning everyone and welcome to day 38 in the Big Brother house. By this evening, Phase One will finally be over. Only one question of any significance remains to be answered: who will finish top?
It will be either Australia or India, both of whom play today. They’re through to the semi-finals already, but there’s a small prize still to be fought for: facing New Zealand, who are on the slide, rather than England, who are back to their best. Australia are ahead by a nose, also known as one point, so if they beat South Africa in the day-nighter at Old Trafford (from 1.30pm BST), the top spot is theirs. If they don’t, and India have seen off Sri Lanka in this game at Headingley (10.30am), it will be Virat Kohli who joins Kane Williamson for the toss on Tuesday. Somehow, this clunky format has managed to hold our interest to the end. As round robins go, it’s been even more long-winded than the Christmas sheet of A4 from a boastful friend. But a lot more entertaining.
That’s it from me. The big news from Old Trafford is that Australia will travel to Birmingham to play England on Thursday, India now en route to Manchester for the first semi-final against New Zealand on Tuesday. We’ll be back with the OBO tomorrow for the Women’s Ashes clash from Canterbury. Until then... goodnight!
Faf du Plessis talks. He wanted his team to go home with a small smile and they have. Cites van der Dussen is a great example for young players out there if you are struggling to get it away early you need to hang in there. Says it shows maturity from him. Mark Nicholas is thrilled about a slap he played down the ground off Pat Cummins and Faf is too. A word for JP Duminy and Imran Tahir as champion human beings. Well done, Faf. Class as always from the Proteas’ captain.
Blimey, what an evening. Warner, brilliant. Carey, even better. Khawaja, in major strife with his hamstring. Stoinis, quite possibly in just as much trouble with a side strain. For South Africa, Imran Tahir and JP Duminy leave the field in this format for their country for the final time and leave as winners. Rabada did it early and late, Phehlukwayo held his nerve. Faf du Plessis in the player of the match.
The No 11 holes out to deep midwicket from the penultimate ball. A fine victory by the Protreas after an eventful run chase. Australia will play England in the second semi-final at Edgbaston on Thursday! WHOA!
IS BEHRENDORFF RUN OUT? Stand by! He isn’t. NOT OUT! Play on! Australia need 12 from the final three balls, having added a most unlikely three to begin the 50th.
49th over: Australia 308-9 (Behrendorff 5, Lyon 2) Target 326. Outstanding death bowling by Rabada. He’s left Australia 18 to get from the last over. Phehlukwayo, who picked up the important wicket of Cummins just as Australia got on a roll, to bowl it.
BOWLED! He’s bent back middle stump! Starc did what he had to, trying to pop the length ball over long-on, but he missed and his opposing number hit.
Khawaja ramps perfectly from well outside off stump... but it is on to his leg stump! He could not have timed that any better from outside the tram tracks; it was a certain boundary had it not collected the stumps en route. 25 off 11 needed.
48th over: Australia 301-7 (Starc 16, Khawaja 18) Target 326. Khawaja tries to ramp Morris and it comes off the outside edge, somehow, to third man. They all have a good laugh. Less so the bowler when Starc smacks him 81 metres over long-on for SIX! Back in the slot, Starc goes over his head for four more! Your move, Faf. He gets Starc off strike with one to deep point, Khawaja on strike for the final two balls as the sun finally goes back behind the stand. And he plays a brilliant clip off his pads into the gap for another boundary! One more to come in the expensive over, Khawaja digs it out for one to keep the strike. 17 from the over! They need 25 from 12 balls! Surely Australia can’t do this with a bloke on one leg?!
47th over: Australia 284-7 (Starc 5, Khawaja 12) Target 326. Khawaja can’t get Rabada away when it is in his half - or a couple of low full tosses - but he can help a bouncer on the way, hooking over short fine for four. With 42 from 18 balls needed, I can’t imagine a scenario where he will risk doing any more damage to that hammy. Watching the close up camera, he is grimmacing between overs.
46th over: Australia 277-7 (Starc 4, Khawaja 6) Target 326. Well played, Chris Morris. He’s done plenty right in this tournament without much reward but this over has probably won it for the Proteas - just three singles coming after claiming the key wicket of Carey. Instructively, Khawaja declines a sharp single, suggesting that if they are any chance it has to be in boundaries. They need 49 in 24 balls.
Morris has got him! Carey slices, it’s high in the air and Markram takes a fine catch running in off the deep point rope! The end of a brilliant 69-ball innings from the South Aussie. That should be that for South Africa. Khawaja walking out to resume his innings.
45th over: Australia 274-6 (Carey 85, Starc 1) Target 326. Excellent over of slower balls from Phehlukwayo, repaying the faith showed in him by du Plessis. Interestingly, it is Starc joining Carey rather than the injured Khawaja. We are told that he sustained the hamstring strain when batting, not fielding.
“A quick question, and I just joined the OBO and so do not know if this has been asked and answered already,” starts Archishman “Who would the typical England supporter prefer to face in the semis? Australia or India? Does anyone know?”
Cummins hits the all-rounder hiiiiigh in the air off the top edge and Duminy takes the safe chance at long-off. The main man, Carey, is still there but he’s running out of reliable partners.
44th over: Australia 269-5 (Carey 83, Cummins 8) Target 326. Tandem legspinners in the final ten overs of an ODI! Brilliant scenes for lovers of the craft. Shamsi is less effective this time around though, unlucky not to win Carey’s wicket off an edge that runs away for four but culpable for letting the left-hander free his arms in the slot, slow-swept like Steve Waugh in this corresponding fixture (sort of!) in 1999. All told, 12 from it. They need 57 from 36 balls.
43rd over: Australia 257-5 (Carey 72, Cummins 7) Target 326. Told you! Cummins backs himself against Tahir, nailing him over cover. Carey’s turn and he goes better again HUGE over long on for SIX! And again, he directs to the other side of the ground, flat-batting four more to long off. Supreme timing! 17 off it. The battle for (staying in) Manchester has some sting left in it yet!
42nd over: Australia 240-5 (Carey 60, Cummins 2) Target 326. Outstanding over from Shamsi, back into the attack and going for just two singles, Carey to third man and Cummins down the ground. He has 0/48 from his eight so far but with the exception of one, he’s been frugal and dangerous. Keep him on, Faf! Jarrod Kimber notes on radio that Cummins was up at No7 in the Big Bash a couple of years ago and did well enough to win a Man of the Match gong on the basis of his biffing. Somewhere, he has the skills to do this alongside Carey.
41st over: Australia 236-5 (Carey 58, Cummins 1) Target 326. With Carey there is hope for the Australians. He is taking on Tahir, down the track for two to begin down the ground with mid-off up then launching over his head to finish! Nine from the over, which is just short of what they need in every over in this final stretch. And despite Cummins’ troubles of late with the blade, he can hit a ball.
40th over: Australia 227-5 (Carey 50, Cummins 0) Target 326. A wicket maiden in the 40th over! How about that! Cummins cannot get Pretorious away. A magnificent over at a crucial time. Australia need 99 from the final ten.
From nowhere! THE BIG WICKET! Warner tries to clear mid-on after running the pitch but he’s caught by a diving Chris Morris.
39th over: Australia 227-4 (Warner 122, Carey 50) Target 326. Carey to 50 with a clever shot, steering over third man for another four. Rabada has been brought back but it hasn’t worked. He has only two overs left. They need a wicket urgently.
@collinsadam Warner seems quite intent on avoiding a meeting with England and Joe Root in Birmingham, location of their Walkabout contretemps a few years back!
38th over: Australia 220-4 (Warner 121, Carey 45) Target 326. Morris still has four overs left to get through, which Warner will like the sound of. But they do show him a fraction more respect after the big over against Shamsi, satisfied with the singles on offer out to the sweepers. The fourth of those rasied the 100 partnership between these two, in just 83 balls. But they need 106 more in 72.
37th over: Australia 215-4 (Warner 118, Carey 43) Target 326. They are having a real pop now, Shamsi under pressure for the first time so far today. They go bang, bang, bang here - Carey smashing a long-hop, Warner pulling behind square then lofting over cover for back to back boundaries. 16 from the over. “Never have we seen a team fight so hard to stay in Manchester,” quips Bharat Sundaresan on radio. 111 from 78 balls is an equation Warner and Carey won’t be daunted by.
36th over: Australia 199-4 (Warner 109, Carey 36) Target 326. Watching Warner’s ton celebration back, he really gave it big. More than usual. Perhaps it means a touch more against South Africa? I’m sure we’ll ask him later. He goes again from the first ball of Morris’ fresh over, hammering him back over his head! He’s getting better and better the longer he is there. What could halt him? Injury. Or cramp. There’s something giving him trouble, causing him to signal to the dressing room. Probably cramp. Time for some of that pickle juice they so enjoy.
“Is this the World Cup with the highest number of injuries to players during the tournament and at nets?” asks Anand Kumar. “Dont remember reading about do many net session injuries.” Better than pre-play football injuries. Actually, I shouldn’t say that as I really enjoy watching England play their games before play.
35th over: Australia 191-4 (Warner 102, Carey 35) Target 326. Carey is going stroke for stroke with Warner, jumping down at Tahir’s first ball and driving over mid-off for his fifth four. Warner’s turn,who is denied another four himself only by the stumps at the non-strikers’ end. They now need 135 from 90 balls.
34th over: Australia 183-4 (Warner 101, Carey 29) Target 326. What a wonderful way to bring it up, a perfect late cut through the cordon for four. His ton is up from an even 100 balls. Even if Australia don’t get up here, what form this opener is in. From the ball before he struck another four off Morris to move to 97 off his hip with ease. Put it this way: if Warner is still batting in an hour, they probably win.
33rd over: Australia 174-4 (Warner 93, Carey 28) Target 326. CRUNCH! Warner gets a full toss from Tahir, back into the attack, and gives it the treatment through cover to move into the 90s. Carey’s turn and he looks like he might have given a return catch but the replay confirms it is a bump ball. Drinks are on the field
“Is Khawaja going to be able to bat?” asks Aleksei Vasilev. “And with Stoinis too injured, does this mean Handscomb and Mitch Marsh will now play the semifinal? If Khawaja is gone, I say parachute Matty Wade in.”
32nd over: Australia 167-4 (Warner 88, Carey 26) Target 326. Carey is flying now. He’s such a clever cricketer, laying his base before going at the bowling. Against Duminy, the sixth bowler for South Africa, he cuts late and perfectly behind point for four. Later in the set, he punishes an overpitched delivery through cover for another. They are keeping the required rate below nine. Now to keep it there.
31st over: Australia 157-4 (Warner 88, Carey 17) Target 326. Shot, Alex. That’s a gem of a stroke, timed off the pads what gap there is on the legside, racing away. Make no mistake, he’s been Australia’s find of the comp. Warner is less convincing with another top edge, this time landing just beyond the man on the 45.
“Evening Adam.” Hello, Damian Clarke. “There I was, in the garden, evening sunshine dappling onto my deckchair through the leaves of the oak, gently dozing to the commentary on the DAB. Lovely. Then, two doors down, the party starts, with a Liam Gallagher impressionist screeching out at nearly 150dB on the PA. So I’ve retreated to my safe room in the basement to join you on OBO. Sanity slowly returning.”
30th over: Australia 148-4 (Warner 84, Carey 12) Target 326. Clever from Warner, reversing his hands to access the territory behind point for a boundary. We should never forget that he still has all of those tricks. Carey is happy enough playing himself in with singles for now but they’ll have to put the foot down soon.
29th over: Australia 141-4 (Warner 78, Carey 11) Target 326. Warner nearly caught by van der Dussen running back with the flight at mid-off! Shamsi creates the error, the opener miscuing high in the air. He stuck out a hand but didn’t quite have the reach. Earlier in the over, Carey nearly gave a catch back to the spinner as well. Shamsi remains dangerous in over over where he is used.
“The absolute ‘bantz’ if England get knocked out of their own World Cup due to inclement weather,” replies Digvijay Yadav about the prospect of Edgbaston’s semi getting rained out. They do have spare days for the semi, it’s worth noting
28th over: Australia 136-4 (Warner 74, Carey 10) Target 326. Five more risk-free singles down the ground off Duminy. We’re yet to get an update on Stoinis from CA’s media officer. As soon as that comes through, I’ll let you know.
27th over: Australia 131-4 (Warner 71, Carey 8) Target 326. Spin twins! Shamsi does take over at the Jimmy End. They are more comfortable against him this time around, hitting the sweepers and rotating the strike for five. Australia now require 8.5 runs an over. Alternatively: they require 200-odd from Warner.
“People question whether Marcus Stoinis justifies his spot in a top-line outfit,” says Nick Toovey, “but one aspect where he leads the world is the disappointed/angry look at himself. He truly is world class at letting everybody know that he really is better than what he has just produced.”
26th over: Australia 126-4 (Warner 69, Carey 5) Target 326. A bit strange that Shamsi was taken off with Warner so obviously struggling against him. We’ll see if he is swung around next up. Instead, it JP Duminy now with his off-breaks for now, operating from the broadcast end in this his final ODI. It works a treat to begin, going for just one down the ground, Carey defending the rest.
25th over: Australia 125-4 (Warner 68, Carey 5) Target 326. I’m surprised that Carey wasn’t elevated ahead of Stoinis and Maxwell given how he is going but he’s out there now at No7 with plenty of overs still in this game for him. First up, the ‘keeper is beaten by Rabada, squaring him up a treat. But he gets a chance to play a cover drive - his best shot - later in the set, making no mistake.
Urrrgh, Maxwell out just as he was against England off an edge behind from a pull/hook gone wrong, de Kock pouching an easy chance. Bringing Rabada on to him has worked a treat. He never looked at ease out there today.
24th over: Australia 119-3 (Warner 67, Maxwell 12) Target 326. Maxwell isn’t in control here, his inside edge used to begin from Shamsi. Later in the over, they’re up for leg before against Warner but it is heading down leg and they don’t review.
23rd over: Australia 116-3 (Warner 66, Maxwell 10) Target 326. Rabada is back, which is a logical move from Faf given the way Maxwell has been out in the competition so far. Even Justin Langer issued some concern about the Victorian against genuine pace. Sure enough, he beats him twice to begin. The first comes off the inside edge, not far at all from the woodwork, the next sailing past the outside edge with the bat a fair way from his body. Maxwell does get a couple with a neat steer down to third man, which will be good for the confidence. He keeps the strike with one to cover. His strike rate in the tournament is 195.
22nd over: Australia 113-3 (Warner 66, Maxwell 7) Target 326. Shamsi is well in the game early in this spell, both batsmen only taking the single to long off on offer. Warner is well beaten by the last delivery, a genuine edge spitting through first slip for four. Not a bad matchup with the left-arm wrist spinner against the opener.
21st over: Australia 107-3 (Warner 61, Maxwell 6) Target 326. A poor over from Phehlukwayo to begin, Maxwell getting the chance to free his arms to smash through midwicket to the rope. Don’t bowl there to him. Oh, he does again to Warner, who puts away a second half-tracker. South Africa are in control but they need a decent shift from their all-rounder with these two batting together.
20th over: Australia 97-3 (Warner 56, Maxwell 1) Target 326. Thanks, Geoff, for stepping in as the super sub. What an unfortunate bit of running, Stoinis unable to dive due to the side strain injury he is so clearly carrying. He was very glum walking off in front of my position - he looks to be in big trouble for the semi. Shamsi now for his first over of left-arm wrist spin, Warner trying to force him away through the off-side but unable to beat the field through the first four balls, two singles to finish through cover. An excellent start from the second spinner.
“If I’ve understood the rules correctly,” says Phillip Mallett, “Australia may have good reason to want to play at Edgbaston, given the forecast for rain on Thursday and Friday, since if the game is cancelled they surely go through to the final as the higher placed team?”
19th over: Australia 95-3 (Warner 55, Maxwell 0) Target 326. Tahir slips after a good over in the 16th. He bowls a full toss and Warner punishes it through midwicket. Easy. But then the run-out comes, and Maxwell comes in. Carefully. Blots out the over.
Adam Collins is back. Alley-oop.
That is an incredible piece of wicketkeeping from Quentin de Kock! Rabada has botched two previous run-outs but this time he’s involved with a successful one. Warner knocks Tahir away for a single and takes off. Stoinis isn’t fully fit and struggles. Rabada tries to throw down the stumps from midwicket and is just offline, but instead of taking the ball as it bounces near his left leg, de Kock stretches down his left hand and redirects it behind himself onto the stumps. No-look deflection. And Stoinis is short by a few inches.
17th over: Australia 91-2 (Warner 51, Stoinis 22) Target 326. Warner drives straight for one, and there’s his milestone. There are some jeers but more cheers from the stands. “I even saw a South African applauding!” says Jim Maxwell on the wireless. A couple more singles, then Stoinis gets a leg-side gift and swivels on his back leg to pull it fine for four. The partnership is worth 58 now.
17th over: Australia 84-2 (Warner 49, Stoinis 17) Target 326. Tahir is back. A couple of leg breaks, a couple of googlies, off his long curved run. From the far end it almost looks like he’s running at right angles to the wicket. Warner just knocks a couple of singles, gauging the risk.
16th over: Australia 81-2 (Warner 47, Stoinis 16) Target 326. Chris Morris in from the broadcast end and Warner pulls him for six! Lined it up, Warner, and got it a bit up and down but lobbed it comfortably into the crowd on the short side of the ground. Warner is having to fire up in the absence of his senior teammates. Drinks.
“Given the history between these sides in world cups happening in England, a tie is always on the cards. So, does NRR decide the final standings as India and Aus will end up with same number of wins?” Hello Anand. It’ll be NRR indeed if that’s the case.
15th over: Australia 72-2 (Warner 39, Stoinis 15) Target 326. Pretorious pitches up, Warner just lofts the straight drive casually over the bowler, and it bounces away for four down the ground. Chip shot with a bit of sauce. Stoinis gets the strike after a single, and he’s determined to play everything off the back foot. He does so again, for an on-side drive! Outstanding technique. Back-foot punch through wide long-on for four. You don’t see many of those.
14th over: Australia 63-2 (Warner 34, Stoinis 11) Target 326. Morris is bowling full, but the batsmen keep finding the field. Just a single to Warner from the over.
“Australia not looking like a team that’s too concerned at the prospect of a trip to Edgbaston on Thursday?” asks Brian Withington. I’m sure England would rather play Australia at Edgbaston than Lord’s. And Australia would have two more days to get their injury niggles right.
13th over: Australia 62-2 (Warner 33, Stoinis 11) Target 326. I said cheerio very blithely before, didn’t I? Now I’m back. When they sentence you to seven years hard labour on the OBO, they mean it. So a half-hobbled Stoinis and a counter-punching Warner are doing their best. Pretorius gives Stoinis exactly the length that he wants so he can punch off the back foot instead of striding forward. Four through point. Warner slashes four of his own off the top edge, fine third man.
12th over: Australia 51-2 (Warner 28, Stoinis 6) Target 326. Morris, who has had some very good days with the ball in this tournament, replaces the excellent Rabada. Warner enjoys the shift, smashing a loose first delivery off the back foot through point for four. The new man responds well, beating Warner with one that cuts away. Into his channel, Warner plays out the rest respectfully.
I’m returning to radio for half an hour, Geoff Lemon jumping back into the chair in my place. Keep him company at geoff.lemon@theguardian.com. Back shortly.
11th over: Australia 47-2 (Warner 24, Stoinis 6) Target 326. George Dobell makes an interesting point on the radio: if Khawaja’s hamstring problem is a strain rather than a tear, losing here buys him two extra days. A fascinating little twist this Australian tale seems to be taking here at Old Trafford. Three singles taken off Pretorious, all through the legside. Will Faf stick with Rabada for another?
10th over: Australia 44-2 (Warner 23, Stoinis 4) Target 326. Between overs, two things happen. One, a Mexican Wave. Two, Marcus Stoinis swallows a couple of tablets. That’s the third time we’ve seen the medicos out in the middle during this power play. They are truly up against it here now. Then again, this is precisely what Warner loves. He’ll probably make 212 not out. Don’t doubt it. The opener is out of the frying pan from the first Rabada ball with one to square leg. Can Stoinis get off the mark? He can, with a gorgeous drive on the up through extra cover.
9th over: Australia 39-2 (Warner 22, Stoinis 0) Target 326. Pretorious jags back at Stoinis, hitting his inside edge. The all-rounder plays out the rest, coninuing the process of getting his eye in. He’s yet to score off nine deliveries so far.
@collinsadam do you know whether Australia will get the Tuesday or Thursday semi? Presume first placing get the Tuesday?
8th over: Australia 38-2 (Warner 22, Stoinis 0) Target 326. Back to Rabada versus Warner at the Statham End, which is proper BOX OFFICE. The quick finds his top edge pulling but fine leg is inside the ring so the ball falls safe! Just 10 metres inside the rope in front of the big red corporate box, rolling over the rope. He takes one to mid-on from the next ball to calm things down a tad and put Stoinis into the firing line for one delivery, the all-rounder defending it off the back foot.
7th over: Australia 33-2 (Warner 17, Stoinis 0) Target 326. Fantastic decision from Warner to advise Smith not to review, umpires call coming up on the TV technology, the ball just hitting the balls after just striking in line. Meanwhile, it’s Marcus Stoinis into the middle during the power play. As Jarrod Kimber notes on the SEN radio call, he made his name as an early-overs slugger but rarely gets a chance in the first ten these days. Then again, that’s not his role today. I wonder how close they were to sending Alex Carey out to join Warner? Australia in strife.
Smith is given out lbw from Pretorious’ second ball! It looks high and potentially hitting outside the line even, so he consults Warner... but the opener has advised him to keep walking. Can’t wait to see the restrospective technology on this one!
6th over: Australia 29-1 (Warner 17, Smith 3) Target 326. I tell you what, lucky that the Australia ‘A’ squad are out here with Pete Handscomb ready to be pulled off the bench for the semi-final if Khawaja’s injury is a serious one. We didn’t pick up anything at the ground during the fielding innings. We have asked the CA media officer what the situation is, who replies that it is a “hamstring strain” that is “currently being assessed.” Back in the middle, WARNER SMACKS RABADA FOR SIX OVER MIDWICKET! As you do! Slapped more than pulled. Compelling scenes!
Brian Withington is worried that I’m leaving the OBO full stop. Not at all! I’ll be with you throughout the Ashes, both women and men. I love you guys.
5th over: Australia 20-1 (Warner 10, Smith 0) Target 326. Tahir into his third off the top. It doesn’t take long for Khawaja to employ the reverse sweep, but picks out backward pont. He plays the conventional version of it next, into the deep for one. Hold on, at the end of that single Khawaja has called for the physio. He has RETIRED HURT! That left thigh he was strapping? Steve Smith is out there now, Warner playing out the couple of remaining deliveries. Big news, this.
4th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 10, Khawaja 5) Target 326. Between overs, the medical staff are out with Khawaja, who is having his thigh restrapped. He’s only been out there for a few balls. Slightly odd, but play on. Rabada’s turn again and Warner is after him straight away, smashing the fast bowler off a length over cover for four. Shot. Sure enough, Rabada responds with a rapid bouncer. It says 142kph on the clock but forget that, this was quick with both of Warner’s feet off the ground swaying out the way as the ball went past his grille. Exiting cricket, this.
“Ahhh South Africa,” emails Paul Rice. “Always raise their game against the “abrasive” Australian side. I wonder if Mr de Kock will have a few words for Mr Warner? Where was this batting performance in the last matches.”
3rd over: Australia 13-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 5) Target 326. Make no mistake, Australia are under all sorts of pressure here. Yes, they have been certain starters in the semi-finals for 11 days and had the last week off, but if they can’t stick the landing on their group stage today, they have to move to Birmingham for a semi-final against England on Thursday. Both in terms of the logistics of moving and the opposition - New Zealand the alternative if they get up - this is serious stuff. Khawaja is off the mark with one to square leg then back on strike for the final delivery, which he duly hits down the ground with authority for a boundary.
RUN IMRAN TAHIR, RUN! He sets off for a 100m dash with Finch giving catching practice off the back foot to Markram. Wickets don’t come easier than that.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Warner 2, Finch 3) Target 326. Rabada is on and from his first ball Finch is playing well away from his body down to third man, no more than ten metres away from landing in the pouch of the fielder placed there. Warner’s turn, and he’s playing and missing. Singles follow to mid-off and square leg before Rabada cuts Warner in half. That’s a fantastic over of fast bowling. This is a nervous start from the Australians.
1st over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 1, Finch 1) Target 326. Rabada should have ran Warner out! From the third ball, the left-hander took off after clipping to short fine leg but Finch said NO and rightly so. Had the throw been to his end rather than back to Tahir, it would have surely been curtains for Warner on zero. He’s off strike next ball down to mid-off, Finch then getting his first run to square leg.
The players are back on the field. Duminy and Tahir lead out South Africa in front of me, arm in arm, for the final innings of the ODI careers. A nice moment. And Tahir will be opening the attack with his leg spin; David Warner on strike. PLAY!
Thanks, Geoff. I come to you slightly gutted that Rassie van der Dussen didn’t make it three maiden tons in the final week from the game’s young guns, Avishka Fernando and Nicholas Pooran saluting for the first time in this World Cup. What looks certain is that the South African number has a fine career ahead of him.
One small query, though. Not about his batting but his treatment. Twice he was hit on the head by bouncers. The first of those, via Pat Cummins, was flush on the front of the lid. When the medical staff walked out to the middle, they were sent straight off by Umpire Dharmasena. Now, I know that RVDD didn’t appear worried but surely he has to be given the once over before continuing? Anyway - I’m glad he was not only fine but in outstanding nick in those final ten overs.
If nothing else, this will be a good workout for Australia’s batting ahead of the finals. They’ve had a difficult time recently, with Shaun Marsh badly injured in the nets and Glenn Maxwell recovering. They made a real hash of their big chase against India at The Oval, and they were pretty ordinary in chasing a small total against Afghanistan. They’ll have to do well today if they want to keep top spot, because India are romping past Sri Lanka in Leeds.
South African fans meanwhile will be a combination of delighted and frustrated, wondering where this kind of batting was earlier in the tournament. But the question is also where were these surfaces. This one looks lovely for batting, lots of even bounce and the ability to play through the line.
50th over: South Africa 325-6 (Phehlukwayo 4) Well, there was drama in the sub-plot with van der Dussen pulling a single first ball. Phehlukwayo got a full wide on and carved it away for four while probably just looking for a single, but hit it too well. He missed the next ball, but van der Dussen ran as soon as Cummins released it, and got through for a bye. Rassie then flicked two runs to midwicket and made it back for the second, but Cummins got through the batsman next ball, hitting his helmet and lobbing away to leg. They could have got a leg bye but didn’t go for it. Final ball of the day, van der Dussen had to go for it. He ends on 95 from 97 balls, and made up beautifully for a slow start.
He falls short! Goes for the glory shot from the final ball, pulling Cummins and striking it well, but not well enough to the long side. Maxwell is lurking back on the rope and doesn’t drop outfield catches.
49th over: South Africa 317-5 (van der Dussen 92, Phehlukwayo 0) Starc finishes his work for the day without bowling his full ten, which you wouldn’t have believed four hours ago. He was no good early but he found his way late. He does have his 25th and 26th wickets for the tournament, and he does continue his streak of taking a wicket in every match he’s played here. That last spell was still going at 93 or 94 miles an hour, and still very full aside from the odd deliberate short ball.Phehlukwayo keeps out the final ball of the over, another fine yorker that bounces over his stumps after the squeezing defensive shot, and van der Dussen will have strike next over.
He’s had a dirty day, but he’s cleaning up at the end. Finally Starc gets the line right, nice and full, a bit of reverse tweaking the line off straight, and Pretorius tries to go across the ball as so many have done before in the milliseconds before their doom. Zing go the bails, boys, clip clip clip.
48th over: South Africa 313-4 (van der Dussen 90, Pretorius 1) Cummins to bowl, btu starts with a wide. The gamble on a short batting line-up has worked for South Africa, with Pretorius listed too high at No6 but not having to come out until the 47th over. Rassie van der Dussen nearly runs himself out trying to get the strike back, coming too far down as Pretorius hits straight to Smith at cover. But Smith’s throw misses, and gives away a run, allowing van der Dussen the chance to pull Pat Cummins for six! Huge, over the long side of the ground. The pitch is off-centre today, so it’s a lot closer to the western edge than the eastern. But van der Dussen defies the advice of the Pet Shop Boys and goes east.
He... dussen van der listen to anyone.
47th over: South Africa 297-4 (van der Dussen 77, Pretorius 0) The next batsman to the crease is Dwayne Pre- Pre-, Pretorius, Pretorius.
Starc gets a late consolation. Great catch from Stoinis, running in from long on. Duminy had to go for it, pulling the short ball but toe-ending it a bit probably, for it to go quite straight but into the hands.
The umpires are getting a replay to check the catch, but it’s fine. Stoinis was coming in and around a bit, dived forward, got his hand under the ball. The crowd don’t like it and give it a boo, assuming that it must have bounced, but that’s just silly because it clearly landed on his fingers first. Lots of those replays are vague, but this one was clear.
46th over: South Africa 290-3 (van der Dussen 73, Duminy 11) Maxwell to bowl out, but Finch might have gone to the well once too often. Duminy only has one job, and he does it, crouching low to smear with a flat bat through cover for four. Really reached for it and got enough. Pulls a single, then van der Dussen opens his stance and blasts it straight for six! Imperious. Maxwell starts trying to bowl roundarm to confuse Rassie, who clips a brace, then a single, for the over to cost 14. Maxwell ends with 10 overs, 0-57.
45th over: South Africa 276-3 (van der Dussen 64, Duminy 6) Starc is back. He’s battled today, with suggestions that he’s got a sore knee. But he’s landing his length right finally, in the yorker stage of the day. The line isn’t perfect but the full balls at least make it hard to score more than singles. Five from the over.
44th over: South Africa 271-3 (van der Dussen 62, Duminy 3) Lyon’s day is done, with 2-53 from his ten overs, and Maxwell is back with a couple of overs left up his sleeve. He bowls as well as ever, five singles and a wide, and has got through nine overs conceding 43. What will South Africa decide is enough? Just getting to 300 should be the main priority, to put that chasing pressure on.
43rd over: South Africa 265-3 (van der Dussen 60) Brilliant running from du Plessis to start the over. The very second that he turns Behrendroff off his pads he is sprinting, head down, never doubting that he’ll come back as the ball runs softly towards the midwicket fielder charging in from the deep. They make it back for the second. He’s on 99... and drives to long off for his hundred! It’s his 12th overall, and his third fastest. But he won’t go past that score – after van der Dussen sweeps the fast man into a gap behind square leg for four, then turns the strike over again, du Plessis gets a short ball that he has to go for, gets a thick top edge and it lobs up to short third man where Starc is waiting.
42nd over: South Africa 257-2 (du Plessis 97, van der Dussen 55) A classic of the genre: du Plessis slowing up a bit as he approaches a century. A few dots from Lyon before Faf gets off strike. But his partner makes up for it by reverse-lapping Lyon for four.
Romeo is hoping for a South African win “because if I wanted England to win the thing, I’d rather they played Australia at Edgbaston, where they’ve won 6 out of 11 ODIs between the two with two no-results. At Lord’s, Australia have won 9 out of 15 with one tied and as I remember they’ve always done very well at Lord’s, at least since the Massie Test I was lucky enough to go to.”
41st over: South Africa 251-2 (du Plessis 96, van der Dussen 51) Ten overs to go. Teams can get 100 from the last 10 if they’re going well. But it almost starts terribly for South Africa, with van der Dussen nearly run out. He walks at Behrendorff, punches to mid-off and runs with the shot. Finch gathers and flicks at the stumps, hitting direct. It looks very much like the batsman is out. But the replay shows that his sprint from the second he hit the ball saved him. He dives full length, and just gets the toe of the bat into his ground before the stumps light up. And that’s the 50th run for van der Dussen. Six from the over in the end including a brace for du Plessis.
40th over: South Africa 245-2 (du Plessis 92, van der Dussen 49) Cummins decides to try bowling properly short, and it works. Rassie van der Dussen gets a lucky top edge for one, then bails out of another pull, then misses a third. Four singles from the over, a tidy one for an Australian seamer for once.
39th over: South Africa 241-2 (du Plessis 90, van der Dussen 47) What a shot from van der Dussen! He’s not late to the party; he’s been at the part for ages, he’s just been sitting in the corner sulking and not talking to anyone. But suddenly he’s jumped on the floor with a fresh repertoire of moves from Breakdance II: Electric Boogaloo. He walks at Behrendorff, arrives at the ball, then whips it off his pads and high over square leg for six. That was... attractive. Unsettlingly so.
38th over: South Africa 231-2 (du Plessis 88, van der Dussen 39) They’ve obviously got a policy of more caution against spin in this innings. Again, I wonder where Smith has been, or even Finch, and Lyon’s last two overs. Maxwell gets through another for four singles, and has conceded 37 from 48 balls even with that six last over.
37th over: South Africa 227-2 (du Plessis 86, van der Dussen 37) Behrendorff hasn’t been seen since the 13th over, but here he is at last. He’s tight on the stumps, and they only manage a couple of singles from the first few balls. This will not stand, decides Faf du Plessis. Gets a ball back of a length and muscles it past mid-on for four. Airborne but straight enough, the short-arm jab, not timed but with Finch up in the circle it goes for four anyway. The next ball, fuller, gives Faf the chance for a fuller swing, and he gets a cleaner lofted connection for four more! These two are not slowing down.
36th over: South Africa 217-2 (du Plessis 77, van der Dussen 36) Away we go for six more! Maxwell has been going at 4 runs per over to this point, but his seventh over may have been one too many. Van der Dussen hasn’t looked great today, and he’s still going slowly, but he’s tried to lift the rate there, skipping down to launch Maxwell straight and high. That was a big one. Nine from the over with some singles.
35th over: South Africa 208-2 (du Plessis 75, van der Dussen 29) The frontliners are being hit alright! Lyon comes back on for Cummins, and du Plessis drops to one knee and plants him over midwicket for six more. Right out of the middle again, that sounded lush. Singles, ten from the over, the 200 up with 90 balls to go. South Africa don’t bat deep in meaningful terms but their all-rounders can hit. They could be on for a really big one today. Drinks.
34th over: South Africa 198-2 (du Plessis 68, van der Dussen 26) Maxwell for his sixth, and again it’s five runs. Singles, a two when deep backward square is slow to get around. So the frontliners are being hit and the support bowlers are having the quiet time.
33rd over: South Africa 193-2 (du Plessis 65, van der Dussen 24) Faf du Plessis has a lot of respect for Pat Cummins. I interviewed him after the Test series last year and quoted some of it in my book.
“He’s an exceptional player. We would sit on the side of the field and just admire what he does. We’d say, ‘Look at the guy, he’s still running in and bowling quick.’ Diving at balls when he’s just finished an eight-over spell, runs in the series. As a batter I definitely felt he was the biggest challenge. He’s a nice guy, Pat. You enjoy it when nice guys do well, even opposition, the good people of the game. We’re looking forward to having a beer now with the Australian team.”
32nd over: South Africa 179-2 (du Plessis 53, van der Dussen 24) Maxwell burgles another over for four singles. He’ll be out the laundry window before you know it.
31st over: South Africa 175-2 (du Plessis 51, van der Dussen 22) Mitchell Starc is down on his haunches for a moment here, looking discomfited. An injury to him would be quite literally the last thing Australia would want, even if he’s been off the boil today. Rassie hands the strike over to Faf, who drives a single to raise his minor milestone. Excellent innings at just about a run a ball. Five from the over with a few singles and a leg bye.
30th over: South Africa 170-2 (du Plessis 49, van der Dussen 20) Maxwell zips through another over for three singles. He’s loving this, just 14 from his 24 balls so far. Steal another couple and he will have had a great day even before he bats.
29th over: South Africa 167-2 (du Plessis 48, van der Dussen 18) That’s just rude from du Plessis! Starc returns, all is quiet, no wides, an early single. The South African captain plays out four balls with due respect and care. Then the last ball of the over, he camps on the back foot and flays through cover for four! Back-foot punch with an angled blade and a flourish after the stroke, just beating the field.
On the slow-mo replay, Faf is a picture: lime-green shirt, hot pink gloves, forearms like knotted rope. I hope he doesn’t retire.
28th over: South Africa 162-2 (du Plessis 44, van der Dussen 17) Faf is running the doubles like an American barkeep. Taking Maxwell through square leg, then through point. Hustling back. Five from the over thanks to a Rassie single first ball, managing to actually drive a spinner for a risk-free run. He’s much happier against pace, clearly.
27th over: South Africa 157-2 (du Plessis 40, van der Dussen 16) Stoinis gets a lot of wickets with the short ball, and Rassie nearly becomes another one but doesn’t hit his pull well enough to reach deep square leg. He does drive a full toss through cover for four.
“Hi Geoff,” emails John Barnes. “I was surprised that there was rain about earlier today and thought I’d take a look at Edgbaston for Thursday. Er, looks like there might not be a game even with a reserve day! What happens in that case? Does the higher team go through or is it head to heads? Christ I hope there’s a game. I can see England being bundled out because of the bloody weather.”
26th over: South Africa 148-2 (du Plessis 38, van der Dussen 9) Maxwell gets through a quiet over for four runs. They’ll want to be a bit more proactive against Maxwell, I would have thought.
25th over: South Africa 144-2 (du Plessis 35, van der Dussen 8) Stoinis with his medium pace, and the batsmen are happy to work him around. Ones and twos, a wide for a bouncer. If only Markram were still out there, he was exquisite to watch today. Nothing gold can stay.
24th over: South Africa 136-2 (du Plessis 31, van der Dussen 5) There you have it! Rassie looking desperate, sees Maxwell the part-time off-spinner bowling and wants to crash him for six. Comes down, beaten on the outside edge by a quicker ball, and it’s a missed stumping. The ball crashed into Carey, maybe his wrists or his chest even with some bounce and pace, but there was no nick on it. The gloveman should have taken that, unfortunately. Maxwell is playing today being smashed on the arm by Starc in the same net session where Cummins broke Shaun Marsh’s arm. But Maxwell has come good. Three singles from his over.
23rd over: South Africa 133-2 (du Plessis 29, van der Dussen 4) It’s fifth-bowler time. Finch has decided he needs some from his second liners, so Maxwell is warming up while Stoinis comes on to bowl. A quiet over as the batsmen have a look at him, just a couple of singles. They’ve got some latitude to take their time, and van der Dussen has looked scratchy all day.
22nd over: South Africa 131-2 (du Plessis 28, van der Dussen 3) Lyon very nearly gets through another tight over, two runs and a leg bye, but from the last ball du Plessis comes forward and drives him through cover for four. Top shot. South Africa need those sort of strokes, to make sure their early initiative doesn’t drift away.
21st over: South Africa 124-2 (du Plessis 23, van der Dussen 3) Cummins has hit van der Dussen! Flush on the helmet with a short ball. Rassie tried to hook and missed, very late on the shot. There’s a curious lack of response. The batsman just shakes his head and carries on. The bowler just turns and walks back. The medical staff don’t appear. They try to come on at the end of the over but the batsman waves them back. Surely they have to at least check him? That was solid contact to the side of the head.
20th over: South Africa 122-2 (du Plessis 22, van der Dussen 2) Faf drives a single from Lyon’s first ball, but after that the spinner is all over van der Dussen. He nearly yorks the batsman at one stage, and Rassie is very uncomfortable and is entirely engaged in just keeping Lyon out. Five dot balls.
19th over: South Africa 121-2 (du Plessis 21, van der Dussen 2) Cummins starting to get some assistance from the wicket as the ball wears, which is curious. He nips one back in to van der Dussen that nearly cleans up the stumps. Du Plessis isn’t sure about the pace of Cummins’ short balls, either, lumping a couple away towards point for a two and then a three, but not with any conviction.
“Up in Leeds, Geoff. We win at Northernness,” emails Jon Millard. “Yes, yes, complete massacre on the Football, before of them points that out. And the music, to be fair. And rain...”
18th over: South Africa 115-2 (du Plessis 16, van der Dussen 1) There’s what Lyon brings to the team. The quicks all get belted, the track looks lovely for batting, the outfield is lightning, and he says give the ball to me, I’ll sort this out. Brakes on. Both openers gone. Rassie van der Dussen is next out, right-handed as is Faf du Plessis. Lyon flights the ball to Rassie immediately.
Lyon again! De Kock wants to take him down, and goes for a huge hoy over the leg side. Spin, takes the outside edge after straightening from around the wicket, and the ball goes high and drops comfortably into the hands of Starc at backward point around about the fielding circle line.
17th over: South Africa 112-1 (de Kock 51, du Plessis 15) Here’s fun, Steve Smith is going to bowl. He took a wicket against New Zealand, with Colin de Grandhomme punting the first ball he’d faced from Smith to long-off. Smith starts, not really short but on leg stump and de Kock almost does the splits to get low enough to pull that ball regardless, and hits it well for four.
“Hang on, I thought Ashley Giles was the King of Spain?” writes Andrew Thomas regarding El Rey. I don’t know what El Rey is El Rey of. El Rey of Sunshine, perhaps?
16th over: South Africa 107-1 (de Kock 46, du Plessis 15) De Kock doesn’t want to let the momentum shift. He drops to one knee facing Lyon and plays a scoop shot fine for four. Well timed. Drinks.
“Monitoring the excellent coverage from a damp and rainy Sydney,” writes Jonothan Holt. “Query for you. If a fielder hits the stumps with a direct throw they get the run out credit – all good. However if the fielder’s throw is gathered by the wicketkeeper who breaks the stumps why is it still the fielder’s credit and not the wicketkeepers? Seems a bit unfair (as an ex-keeper myself!)”
15th over: South Africa 102-1 (de Kock 41, du Plessis 15) Back comes Starc. Can he get his game together this time around? Well, he doesn’t bowl five wides. Instead his line is sufficiently improved that it clips the pad and goes for four leg byes instead. Marginal gains? Again he over-corrects with width, and du Plessis drives square for four. “I have to say, the Aussies are rather going around the park,” says Jonathan Agnew on the BBC, definitely not at all like someone who might be finding the sight enjoyable. Here’s another for him, as du Plessis drives through extra cover for four! Top shot. Starc has 0-34 from four overs, and South Africa have their hundred up.
14th over: South Africa 90-1 (de Kock 41, du Plessis 7) Inside edged past the stumps! De Kock is nearly bowled as Lyon bowls around the wicket and angles in towards the left-hander. Survives. They milk the spinner rather than attacking now.
13th over: South Africa 84-1 (de Kock 38, du Plessis 4) Some calm returns to the field of play. Du Plessis chops a short ball through cover and gets three, as Cummins tippy-toes inside the rope trying not to kick it as he saves. Sri Lanka have reached 267 at Headingley, with Angelo Mathews making a hundred.
12th over: South Africa 80-1 (de Kock 37, du Plessis 1) Well, you wonder whether Markram’s slight tentativeness in the last couple of overs brought his undoing. He’d been so positive and assured before that, and if he’d come down to that ball or gone back to attack it, he might have defused it.
Against the run of play, Nathan Lyon does the trick! Sure, he’s been hit for six, but he’s held his nerve. Flights the ball again in this over, draws Markram forward and dips it on him. Markram’s back foot is dragged an inch out of his ground, and there’s no way to get back before Carey has the bails off. The third umpire confirms a clear-cut call.
11th over: South Africa 78-0 (Markram 34, de Kock 36) Australia finally gets out of the first ten overs. Runs ahoy. Cummins to de Markram, who knocks a single, then de Kock who flicks three runs. Cummins bowls a wide way over Markram’s head. Then the batsman is defending up on his toes. I think Markram has made the assessment that they’re off to a wonderful start, and he just wants to rein it in now and make sure he doesn’t play one shot too many. Tries to glide past backward point but Maxwell is too fast.
“I am backing Proteas to get a result today when it least matters most,” writes John Norris. “Sure they haven’t really clicked, but you should know more than most that past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance, Geoff.”
10th over: South Africa 73-0 (Markram 33, de Kock 33) Behrendorff bowls and Markram misses and is hit on the thigh pad. Then gets tangled in his next shot. Then hits the next to cover. Three dot balls, what is this? Straight to point. Four dot balls. Fielded by the bowler. Five! Could this be a maiden? No, a single from the last ball. But a good comeback from Behrendorff.
9th over: South Africa 72-0 (Markram 32, de Kock 33) De Kock is going stroke for stroke with Markram now, and passes his teammate’s score by cutting another boundary from Cummins. Crisp again.
8th over: South Africa 66-0 (Markram 32, de Kock 27) Lyon for his second over, and Markram skips down and drives him for six! Over long on, 85 metres into the camera area at ground level. What a knock from Markram already. Then he dinks a single, and de Kock pushes another. Lyon darts the ball through, almost bowling inswingers rather than off-breaks. Australia rattled.
“On your point of Hashim Amla possibly playing his last ODI, I wonder if it may well be Faf’s last match as well?” writes Ranjit Unnithan. “His comments at the pre-match presser certainly didn’t exclude the possibility. If so, he will be missed - one of the most underrated cricketers in world cricket! But it certainly looks the end for many - Tahir, Duminy - but possibly Faf, Amla, Steyn and even Ottis?”
7th over: South Africa 57-0 (Markram 25, de Kock 25) Now they get some ballet involved. Cummins bowls his first ball, de Kock smacks a straight drive for four, and Markram at the far end has to do a theatrical spinning fall to get out of the way. I think he was more concerned with not stopping a boundary rather than his own safety, because he twirled to make sure he got no touch, rather than trying to protect himself. It works, and the ball goes straight for four. Then another drive on the up to the cover boundary! What a display of strokeplay! The batsmen have 25 apiece, after Australia donated the first few runs of the day. Seven overs and 57 on the board. Whoosh.
6th over: South Africa 48-0 (Markram 25, de Kock 16) Jim Maxwell is on BBC radio. “This ground, if it didn’t have a boundary, the ball would roll into the North Sea.” Value for shots today. Aaron Finch turns to Nathan Lyon, hoping that spin will slow the South Africans, but Markram produces a perfect straight drive for four.
5th over: South Africa 42-0 (Markram 20, de Kock 15) Now Quinton de Kock is joining the party! Starc serves him up a tray of hors d’oeuvres first up to be fair, and Quinny stuffs himself with a leg glance from the leg stump line. But his next shot isn’t to buffet bowling, its Quinton rushing into the kitchen and seizing a steak off the open flame. Decent length, on the up, but he drives it cleanly through cover nonetheless for four.
4th over: South Africa 34-0 (Markram 20, de Kock 7) Glorious shot from Markram! Behrendorff gives him a bit of width, but there must be been telepathy. Markram clears his front leg early, shuffles to open up the angle for himself, and carves it away for four! Third man is back, but that back-cut beats him easily into the rope. Outstanding. Then Markram hops on the front dog and laces a cover drive for the same result. Those shots were pure Outkast, just so fresh and clean.
3rd over: South Africa 25-0 (Markram 12, de Kock 6) A bit more controlled from Starc this time, clipped for a two and a one by de Kock, and just the one wide this time, well outside off stump this time. Radar still processing, though he produces a good yorker.
2nd over: South Africa 21-0 (Markram 12, de Kock 3) I neglected to mention, apologies, that Hashim Amla is missing after a knock on the knee. I wonder if we’ve seen him play his last ODI for South Africa. The replacement is the left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, and everyone else shuffles up the order, with the all-rounders Pretorious, Phehlukwayo and Morris starting from No6.
Behrendorff will bowl, left-arm swing from both ends. He’s picked off by de Kock for two off the pads, then one to point, and Markram finishes the over with a cover drive for four. He played a belter against Australia in the Durban Test last year, did Markram, in the fourth innings. All cuts and cover drives. Looking in top touch today.
1st over: South Africa 14-0 (Markram 8, de Kock 0) South Africa score six runs with one ball bowled. Not because Markram has smashed it over the rope, but because Starc bowls five wides, a dot ball, then another wide. He’s bowling fast, 90 miles an hour from the off. But not accurately. When he finally corrects to the off side, Markram drives him on the bounce over point for four, then cuts another four. Quite the start from Starc! Not in a good way.
Anthem time. Who doesn’t love an anthem? With the mascot kids and the players and the big balloon. Some of these kids look relatively old compared to the usual, I wonder how they feel at being made to hold hands with grizzled cricketers. Reeza Hendricks has to take two mascot kids because he’s last in line and someone hasn’t done their maths. It’s all a bit Pied Piper for me. And as someone smarter than me once said, if there’s one lesson from the Pied Piper it’s: pay your freelancers.
Mitchell Starc will have first use of the ball today. If you still need something to fill in your time, here’s a long piece that I wrote in appreciation of his Ben Stokes yorker. This is my highest ever words-per-delivery ratio, by the way.
Cheers for Faf du Plessis, who calls correctly. Bat first, the sensible method. And why not? Australia have only chased twice in this tournament, and they lost to India and were very sluggish against Afghanistan in so doing.
“Should be a great match,” writes El Rey. To those who don’t speak Spanish, The King. Humble chap. “Is a preamble preliminary to an amble?”
I think it’s more of a preliminary amble, Your Grace. That makes sense to me etymologically, because a preamble is an early stroll through a garden of ideas before you get down to the serious labour in the furrows of the main text. An idea is a seed, ready to be planted.
If you want to keep up to date with the India-Sri Lanka match while we wait, Tim de Lisle can take care of you.
Updates from Manchester: there was a smattering of rain earlier this morning, and there’s still some thick cloud and a very humid atmosphere. But there are patches of blue as well and the sun is breaking through here and there. Hopefully we have no interruptions. Both teams are out there warming up at the moment with nets and practice stumps and all kinds of equipment out on the ground, it’s very busy out there with the blue-and-orange shirted ground staff and some broadcasters and security and umpires. High traffic area.
Drop me a line. The usual communication lines are open. Email is good, isn’t it? geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or on Twitter using @GeoffLemonSport. Hop in.
Good morning or other time of day to you all, and welcome to Old Trafford. So much better than New Trafford. (Is there a New Trafford?) It’s the final day of the World Cup group stage. Not to be confused with a finals day, which is when finals will be played. Australia and India will both play on this final day and a subsequent finals day, but South Africa and Sri Lanka will play today but no further. India and Sri Lanka are playing right now down in Leeds (up in Leeds? Sideways in Leeds?) and then Australia v South Africa will start at 13:30 local British time.
There’s still a bit to play for, for the finalists. If Australia win, they get to chill out here in Manchester before their semi-final, then have a couple more days to relax before the final should they qualify. If Australia lose and India win, India will go top of the table and get the Manchester semi, which will be against the theoretically easier opponent New Zealand rather than England in Birmingham. Plenty to play for then.
The brilliant Ellyse Perry took seven for 22, the best ODI figures by an Australian, as England were humiliated at Canterbury
That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Raf Nicholson’s report from Canterbury, where Australia moved closer to retaining the Ashes after humiliating England by 194 runs. Thanks for your company; bye.
The Player of the Match is the exceedingly modest Ellyse Perry
“I guess it was my day today, which is really nice, but it’s equally pleasing to win all three ODIs and finish this bit of the series as well as we did. I think the slope here works really well for us and it was nice to be able to attack the stumps. Megan Schutt was absolutely brilliant at the other end.”
Here’s the Australian captain Meg Lanning
“I’m very pleased with that performance. Ellyse Perry really showed the way and it’s nice to get the job done. She and Megan Schutt are great – they take wickets up front and can keep it economical as well. They’ve got great variety.
The England captain Heather Knight speaks
“Not good enough. It’s very tough to take. I thought Australia bowled very well and came at us hard, and we didn’t have an answer to that. We can’t feel sorry for ourselves; we need to prepare for that Test match and try to restart the series. We need to have some honest conversations and work out what’s gone wrong. At the moment, I’m not too sure. Credit to Australia – they were too good for us.
If Australia draw or win the Test at Taunton, starting on 18 July, they will retain the Ashes with three T20s to spare.
If you’re into association football, it’s half-time in the World Cup final: USA 0-0 Netherlands.
That was a brutal shellacking. Ellyse Perry took a shortcut through the England top order during a majestic new-ball spell, and returned later in the innings to finish with seven for 22. Absurd as it sounds, England did quite well to reach 75, having been 21 for six and 45 for eight.
WICKET! England 75 all out (Marsh LBW b Jonassen 21) It’s all over. Marsh misses a sweep and is plumb LBW to Jonassen. England have been dismissed for their lowest score in an ODI against Australia.
32nd over: England 74-9 (Marsh 21, Cross 8) Cross survives a biggish LBW appeal from Kimmince, who has started with consecutive maidens. That looked very close.
31st over: England 74-9 (Marsh 21, Cross 8) Cross brings up England’s first fifty partnership of the day. Fifty balls, that is. It’s not often that the tenth-wicket stand is the longest of the innings. It should have ended at 53 balls, but Jonassen dropped a tricky return chance offered by Cross.
30th over: England 73-9 (Marsh 21, Cross 7) Delissa Kimmince, who won the 2nd ODI at Leicester with her maiden five-for, comes into the attack. Marsh survives an appeal for caught behind after missing a cut, and it’s a maiden.
29th over: England 73-9 (Marsh 21, Cross 7) Cross pings Schutt through midwicket for four - the first boundary of her burgeoning international career, in fact. She looks a better player than her modest record, and her position in the batting order, would suggest.
28th over: England 69-9 (Marsh 21, Cross 3) Jess Jonassen replaces Ashleigh Gardner and almost skids an arm ball straight through Marsh to finish the match. Marsh just managed to get some bat on it at the last minute.
27th over: England 67-9 (Marsh 19, Cross 3) Cross shovels Schutt behind square for a single. England need 13 more to avoid their lowest ODI score against Australia.
26th over: England 64-9 (Marsh 17, Cross 2) Cross survives an LBW appeal after missing a heave across the line at Gardner. I think it pitched outside leg stump.
25th over: England 64-9 (Marsh 17, Cross 2) On another day, Megan Schutt’s figures would be outstanding. They are tarnished slightly when the determined Marsh steers her for four, but she’ll still be very happy with 7-1-14-2.
“Funny thing about the English dismissals is that they didn’t get out to unplayable deliveries and neither were they especially rash shots,” says Avitaj Mitra. “I don’t know.. they look to be really innocuous ways to get out. The pitch clearly has no real demons, so any theories to explain the absurd scoreline?”
24th over: England 59-9 (Marsh 13, Cross 1) Two from Gardner’s fourth over. England need 211 fro- oh what’s the point.
23rd over: England 57-9 (Marsh 12, Cross 0) The new batter is Kate Cross, whose ODI average (4.67) is higher than her highest score (4). She plays out the remainder of the over to deny Perry an eighth wicket. She has to settle for the best figures by an Australian in an ODI: 10-4-22-7. And they still don’t flatter her!
There’s one of them! Perry gets her seventh wicket, with Ecclestone driving straight to mid-off. This is verging on the surreal: England are 57 for nine.
22nd over: England 57-8 (Marsh 12, Ecclestone 0) Marsh slog-sweeps Gardner for four to become the third batter, after Wilson and Shrubsole, to reach double figures.
21st over: England 53-8 (Marsh 8, Ecclestone 0) Ecclestone sensibly plays out a maiden from Perry, who has one over remaining.
“The team appears to have gone backwards ever since going fully pro,” says Tim. “What are the coaches doing for their money?”
20th over: England 53-8 (Marsh 8, Ecclestone 0) Marsh slog-sweeps Gardner for four, aided by a misfield from Schutt that elicits one of the biggest cheers of the day. An expert back cut brings Marsh four more later in the over - and takes England past their lowest-ever ODI score.
“An early end to the OBO lies ahead, Mr Smyth!” says Abhijato Sensarma. “What’s your plans for the rest of the day?”
19th over: England 45-8 (Marsh 0, Ecclestone 0) That wicket gives Perry career-best figures of six for 22. It’s been a masterclass in new-ball bowling.
A sadistic bowling change from Meg Lanning, who brings back Ellyse Perry to finish England off. And on the sixth ball, Perry takes her sixth wicket, with Shrubsole bowled by a big nipbacker. It hit the pad first, and Perry was in the process of appealing for LBW when she realised it had deflected onto the stumps.
18th over: England 41-7 (Shrubsole 7, Marsh 0) The offspinner Ashleigh Gardner comes into the attack. Her first ball is edged just wide of slip for a single by Shrubsole. That’s your lot.
“The indisputable pleasure I’m absorbing from today’s game will be something to remember fondly on Thursday in that, er, other cricket thing between our two countries,” says Sarah Bacon. “Call me old and cynical, but I can’t help but imagine that Thursday’s game will be clinical, ruthless and brutal. Hope you beat India in the final, England!”
17th over: England 40-7 (Shrubsole 6, Marsh 0) It’s worth a reminder that England’s lowest ODI score is 50. Their lowest against Australia is 79, a match which doubles up as their record defeat against the Aussies.
Oh dear. Fran Wilson is bowled round her legs when she misses an attempted sweep off Schutt. Wilson played well for her 17, but that was an ugly dismissal.
16th over: England 39-6 (Wilson 16, Shrubsole 6) A maiden from Jonassen to Wilson. She keeps trying to slide an arm ball through Wilson’s defence, thus far without success.
15th over: England 39-6 (Wilson 16, Shrubsole 6) Ultra-Edge shows that Shrubsole did get a thin bottom-edge through to Healy. There’s no DRS in this series, however, so the umpire’s decision is final.
Meanwhile, Megan Schutt replaces Ellyse Perry (7-2-18-5) and has Shrubsole dropped by Healy. It was a front-foot no-ball, so it wouldn’t have counted anyway; it was also a very difficult chance standing up to the stumps.
14th over: England 38-6 (Wilson 16, Shrubsole 6) Shrubsole rocks back to bash Jonassen through the covers for her first boundary. She almost falls trying to repeat the stroke, with the ball skidding under the bat. Healy went up for caught-behind but Martin Saggers wasn’t interested. There was a noise as it went past the bat, though we haven’t seen the Ultra-Edge verdict yet.
13th over: England 33-6 (Wilson 16, Shrubsole 1) Shrubsole edges Perry along the floor for a single to get off the mark. England’s first target is 51; their lowest ODI score is 50, against India in 2005-06. Wilson, who has played nicely, moves England four runs closer with a confident slap through the covers.
12th over: England 27-6 (Wilson 12, Shrubsole 0) Unless one of the T20s are tied or rained off, England will have to win all four remaining games - one Test and three T20s - to regain the Ashes.
11th over: England 26-6 (Wilson 12, Shrubsole 0) Perry’s best ODI figures are five for 19, against India at Mumbai in 2012. At the moment she has five for 12 - and she almost cements these as a new career-best when Wilson chips on the bounce to mid-on.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “You’re going to have to compile an OBO highlights (lowlights?) reel to fill the next couple of hours at this rate...”
10th over: England 26-6 (Wilson 12, Shrubsole 0) Jess Jonassen replaces Megan Schutt. Wilson, who has fallen to Jonassen twice already in this series, pulls the first ball for four.
9th over: England 21-6 (Wilson 7, Shrubsole 0) England have not batted well, with Beaumont, Sciver and Wyatt all out playing across the line. Only Sarah Taylor was blameless. But it’s been an extraordinary performance from Perry: 5-1-12-5. She took a six-for in an Ashes Test on this ground four years agoa as well.
Ellyse Perry is destroying England! Wyatt is the latest to go, pushing desperately around a full delivery that homes in on her front pad. Perry has five wickets ... already.
Ellyse Perry gets her fourth wicket! Knight is drawn towards a wider, scrambled-seam delivery that shaves the edge and is pouched with glee by the wicketkeeper Healy. It was an injudicious stroke, but the seam isn’t the only thing Perry scrambles. Even by her standards, this is stunning stuff.
8th over: England 18-4 (Knight 5, Wilson 6) The first boundary of the innings comes from the 51st ball, with Fran Wilson pulling Schutt carefully over square leg. Good shot.
7th over: England 14-4 (Knight 5, Wilson 2)
6th over: England 10-4 (Knight 4, Wilson 0)Replays confirm it was a very good decision by the umpire Martin Saggers. Sciver was a long way back and it would have hit the top of leg stump. There’s no way back from here for England - in this match or, you suspect, in the Ashes.
England are in disarray. Sciver is the third batter to be dismissed for nought, trapped on the back foot by a big inswinger from Megan Schutt. It might have been swinging past leg stump but on balance I think that’s a good decision.
5th over: England 9-3 (Knight 3, Sciver 0)Heather Knight defends the hat-trick ball from Perry. England cannot even think about attacking at the moment, even though the required rate is approaching six an over. Knight takes a single off the last ball of the over, with a couple of wides pushing England to the dizzy heights of nine for three.
4th over: England 6-3 (Knight 2, Sciver 0)
3rd over: England 5-3 (Knight 1, Sciver 0)Ellyse Perry’s figures are 2-1-4-3. And they don’t even flatter her!
Sarah Taylor goes for a golden duck! This is stunning stuff from Ellyse Perry. That was a brilliant delivery, almost unplayable for a new batter. It was angled in from wide on the crease and then curved way just enough to take a thin edge on its way through to Alyssa Healy.
This is a quite majestic opening spell from Ellyse Perry. She has taken the big wicket of Tammy Beaumont, trapped plumb LBW as she played around a straight one. She could have fallen earlier in the over, too, when a leading edge looped just over backward point.
2nd over: England 1-1 (Beaumont 1, Knight 0) Megan Schutt shares the new ball. Australia have packed the off side for Tammy Beaumont, who made that glorious hundred at Leicester in the second ODI. She gets the first run of the innings and Knight blocks the rest of the over. This is a brilliant start for Australia.
1st over: England 0-1 (Beaumont 0, Knight 0) At the moment, Jones is Perry’s bunny. She has fallen to her in all three ODIs, with a head-to-head average of 1.33. The new batter is Heather Knight, who has moved herself above Sarah Taylor, and she survives a huge should for caught behind first ball. It was a stunning delivery that shapes away and then seams back to beat Knight on the inside. Australia were certain it was out, but it was an eerily good bit of umpiring from Young Bumble, Graham Lloyd. The ball missed the inside edge and flicked the flap of the pad.
A perfect start for Australia! Amy Jones, who has had a desperate series, chips an outswinger high in the air towards mid-on, where the substitute Nicola Carey takes a comfortable catch.
Thanks Geoff, hello everyone. At the moment, Australia look a bit too good - for England, for everyone. As Geoff explains below, 269 is an intimidating total; for England to win, someone will have probably to play an innings that is close to career-defining.
That’s a big score. Lee Henderson emailed me (a few overs ago, granted) saying “It’s looking like a competitive total from the Australians but probably not as high of a score as they’d of wished for. How is the wicket playing? Any worries in it for the the English batters do you think? Perry has been able to get wickets on some benign surfaces before this.”
But in women’s 50-over cricket we don’t see a lot of big run chases. The batting revolution is ongoing. It’s not so much about bowlers doing anything unplayable out of the surface, it’s about being disciplined with where they bowl. Then it’s on the batters to keep up with the rate without making a mistake. Usually those mistakes will come.
50th over: Australia 269-7 (Jonassen 24, Kimmince 18) No boundaries from the final over, but 11 runs nonetheless. They swing at everything, finding the outfielders on each occasion. But Jonassen is able to run two to backward square, then Shrusbsole bowls a wide where they run an extra as well, and finally from the last ball Kimmince is dropped in the deep. Really goes after it, hits hard and very high to deep midwicket, and Beaumont can’t handle the elevation and lets the ball drop through her hands, by which time they return for two more runs.
49th over: Australia 259-7 (Jonassen 19, Kimmince 15) Time to go, says Kimmince. After three singles she swats Ecclestone over cover, lofted, and there’s another mistimed dive out there on the rope. I’m marking a bit harshly on occasions, but England might be chasing 30 fewer runs if they had their outfield game honed. Against the best side you have to close the gap where you can. Kimmince thwacks straight down the ground next and runs well to return for two. Then walks cross and tries to scoop, nearly gets bowled, but gets glove on it past Taylor for four more. A flurry to end Ecclestone’s allotment, which returns 1-50 from 10.
48th over: Australia 246-7 (Jonassen 17, Kimmince 4) Singles continue. Kimmince aims a huge shot at Shrubsole and is nearly bowled, but managed to edge it into her pad. Then Jonassen nearly runs herself out at the non-striker’s end being too keen to back up. Five from the over, good from Shrubsole.
47th over: Australia 241-7 (Jonassen 14, Kimmince 2) It’s down to Jonassen to be the pace-setter now, and she whips a couple of runs through midwicket, saved on the rope, before shovelling a drive over long-on for four. Eight from the Cross over with a couple of singles.
46th over: Australia 233-7 (Jonassen 7, Kimmince 1) Second ball of the over Marsh thinks she has Jonassen caught at mid-off, but Shrubsole signals that she’s not sure if the ball carried, and the replays are as usual inconclusive. So JJ survives, but three balls later Gardner is bowled, and she’s a more prized wicket. Delissa Kimmince will have to bat, after narrowly escaping that duty in the previous match.
Straight through! Gardner goes for a big wipe across the line and doesn’t hit it. Cricket’s pretty simple sometimes.
45th over: Australia 231-6 (Gardner 29, Jonassen 7) Cross returns for Shrubsole, who still has two overs in the bank. The Australians are both swinging hard at Cross but can’t land one. Three singles from her over, from increasingly high-octane shots.
44th over: Australia 228-6 (Gardner 28, Jonassen 5) Ecclestone bowls and Jonassen is dropped! Sweep shot, hard hit, and Marsh at short fine has to lunge across to her left but gets hands to it. Can’t hold on. They’re through for a single, one of five for the over.
43rd over: Australia 223-6 (Gardner 26, Jonassen 2) Then Australia swing it the other way! Shrubsole starts her over and Gardner leans back towards leg and whacks this uppishly into the cover gap for four. Powerful shot. But not as powerful as her next, as she again leans away to make room but this time hauls her pull shot over wide long-on for six. First of the innings, and that’s what Gardner can do. The purest striker of the ball in this team. That wasn’t entirely there for the shot but she just muscled it, dragged it from a line on her ribs away in the air. Those are the only scoring shots from the over, but Shrubsole throws in a wide as well.
42nd over: Australia 212-6 (Gardner 16, Jonassen 2) Another quite one, two runs from Ecclestone. England edging back into this.
41st over: Australia 210-6 (Gardner 15, Jonassen 1) The Shrub to continue, branching out into her seventh over. Gardner makes good contact to steer a run behind point. Jonassen works her first through square. Two from the over. Good news for England.
40th over: Australia 2o8-6 (Gardner 14, Jonassen 0) Jess Jonassen in next, who conversely has been in great touch. An important 19 and then 31 not out in finishing off Australia’s two run chases at Leicester. She’s happy to block away the last three balls of Ecclestone’s seventh over.
Good bowling! Haynes never looked set, and hasn’t really looked it all series. Trying to force the pace she advances at Ecclestone, but gets more dip than expected. The attempted loft turns into a toe-end drag low back to the bowler, who takes it easily.
39th over: Australia 2o5-5 (Haynes 12, Gardner 11) Shrubsole back. I thought they might have tried this earlier to search for another wicket. She nearly gets one via Gardner’s nick, but beats the edge. Just two singles from the over.
38th over: Australia 2o3-5 (Haynes 11, Gardner 10) “Come on ladies, let’s go, six down!” I love English chat from this team. Their accents, they all sounds so polite. Where I’m from it’s a sign of friendship if you hit someone with a plate. Gardner can’t get loose. Marsh has become a quagmire. But from the last ball Gardner pulls free, thumping a short ball through square leg to raise the 200. Still a dozen overs to go, so a tall total is still on the cards.
37th over: Australia 197-5 (Haynes 10, Gardner 5) Ash Gardner can hit a long way, but she’s bit ropey starting against Cross. Three dots, finding the field. An outside edge that rolls for four. A pad to midwicket and she’s called through for a dashed leg bye. Just gets there. Keeps strike.
36th over: Australia 191-5 (Haynes 9, Gardner 1) A good opportunity to get through a quiet over, and Marsh does so for three singles.
35th over: Australia 188-5 (Haynes 7, Gardner 0) That’s huge for Cross. She’s battled to get back into this team for a couple of years and hasn’t blown the lights out since she got back. She did provide the bowling ammunition for Fran Wilson to take one of the best catches anyone has ever seen at point the other week against the West Indies, but she’ll feel happier with this wicket that she earned all on her own. HawkEye says it might have clipped the outside of leg. To be honest I’d rather umpires who are bit more willing to give decisions than ones who turn everything down.
Kate Cross breaks through! She’s had a tough day but angles a ball in towards Mooney from around the wicket, beats the shot across the ball and strikes pad. Mooney was a long way forward and that hit her leg side, but Martin Sagers has been very quick on the draw in this series and gives it. Mooney does not appear to agree as she departs.
34th over: Australia 187-4 (Haynes 6, Mooney 19) Very civilised cricket, as the bats gather four singles from Marsh.
33rd over: Australia 183-4 (Haynes 4, Mooney 17) Thanks Lee. My only hope is that the C++ assignment gets a better grade than a C++.
Kate Cross returns after drinks, having been spanked for 31 from her first five overs when Healy took a shine to her and a shine off the ball by bounding it into the fence. More of the same I’m afraid, as she follows two wides down leg with a ball wide enough outside off for Mooney to carve four behind point. A single off the hip to deep square. Two lefties at the crease, with Haynes taking strike. Short in stature but times the ball well. Defends the last ball watchfully.
While we have a drinks break, let’s have a dessert break with Lee Henderson.
“Morning evening Geoff. Tis Sunday night in Australia and in a room in this household we have the BBC on and Romans doing dastardly things to Caledonians and in another room an assignment on CC++ is being finalised (hopefully). Blissfully aware of this in a peripheral way as I sit in another room, and jam roly poly and warm(-ish) custard and cream are piled high in what would pass as a serving bowl if a less greedy soul had served it up. Overriding the whole thing is the 42”(mirrored) monitor serving up the OBO of the Women’s Ashes with a feed of the radio broadcast from the Beeb to compliment. In answer to your question: does it/can it get any better than this? No. It can’t.
32nd over: Australia 176-4 (Haynes 4, Mooney 12) Nap time is over. Beth Mooney is awake. She’s Australia’s T20 opener so she likes to get moving. Laura Marsh is back for Knight, so Mooney advances and pops the ball over mid-on with minimum fuss. Then cuts behind point and half-beats the field, enough for two more runs. Drinks.
31st over: Australia 170-4 (Haynes 4, Mooney 6) Quiet time continues, with four runs and a leg bye from Sciver’s over. No more wickets.
Speaking of technical improvements, here’s an observation. This is the third Women’s Ashes match I’ve attended this series, two at Leicester and this one at Canterbury. At none of those three matches has there been a working television set in the press box. Meaning there’s no way to watch a replay of any incident in the match that we’re reporting on, which makes the reporting part pretty tough. “It’s broken,” has been the response at two separate international grounds hosting three international matches. It’s a minor thing overall, sure, but it’s very indicative. There is no way on earth that the situation would be allowed to stand in a men’s match.
30th over: Australia 165-4 (Haynes 3, Mooney 2) Just the single from Knight’s over, as England try to turn at least a few screws. A good save from the last ball in the infield is important.
“Love the coverage,” says an email that I didn’t write. Thank you, John Box. “Can I propose that the scorecard should be available as a tab on the website feed as it is with men’s Tests and ODIs?”
29th over: Australia 164-4 (Haynes 3, Mooney 2) A new partnership then, with Haynes and Beth Mooney. Three singles to them to start, and Sciver has the idiosyncratic bowling figures of 7 overs, 3 for 47.
Hello! Nat Sciver is dragging her side back into it! Similar to Perry’s last dismissal, this is a very wide and short ball. The Australian plays a cut shot and only nicks it, for Sarah Taylor to take an excellent catch standing up to the stumps for the seamer.
28th over: Australia 160-3 (Perry 7, Haynes 1) Rachael Haynes, the left-hander, comes in and gets off the mark against Knight in quick time by belting a single. Knight then bowls three wides down the leg side, luckily bowling slowly enough that the ball can be saved before the rope.
27th over: Australia 155-3 (Perry 6) Lanning out last ball of the Sciver over, after Perry had faced the first five balls. Doesn’t look like the delivery did anything off the pitch, it was just mistimed.
Breakthrough! Sciver finding a way against the grain again. Back of a length, Lanning tries to turn it to the leg side but mistimes it. Gets a leading edge that pops up to point for a simple catch. Huge wicket the way she was batting.
26th over: Australia 151-2 (Lanning 69, Perry 3) Heather Knight will have a bowl. Off-breaks, just like Marsh who she’s replacing. Knight hasn’t bowled yet in the series, but with seamer Katherine Brunt out for keeper-bat Sarah Taylor today, Sciver becomes the fifth bowler and Knight the sixth. It doesn’t work out so well, as Lanning squeezes a couple to third man, then trades singles, before Perry drives behind square and beats Wyatt on the rope for four. Another over worth 10 runs.
England have been very poor in the outfield today. Half a dozen boundaries conceded that should have been singles. They’re not playing like a team that knows how to dive. They get close to the ball and then sort of fall over in its general direction and hope that works.
25th over: Australia 141-2 (Lanning 60, Perry 2) Things will settle down a bit with Perry at the crease, I think. Healy’s specialty the last couple of years has been breezing along at a run a ball even when no one else can get close. She attacks judiciously and is good enough to get away with it more often than not, and in doing so she rattles fielding sides and creates more opportunities for herself, whether with bad bowling or opening space in the field. Three singles from the Sciver over.
24th over: Australia 138-2 (Lanning 58, Perry 1) Not quite sure about the strategy of bowling an off-spinner without much turn around the wicket against a right-hander. Marsh leaves one outside leg stumps and Lanning sweeps it comfortably for four backward of square.
23rd over: Australia 131-2 (Lanning 52, Perry 0) Ten runs and a wicket from the over. You get rid of Healy, and Perry walks out. Would you like to know how many century stands she has with Meg Lanning? No? I’ll keep it to myself.
Somehow, Sciver finds a way to stem the bleeding. She’s clobbered for four behind square by Healy, then bowls five wides down the leg side. But when she dishes up a rank half-tracker for Healy to put anywhere she likes, the shot finds Wyatt in the deep at midwicket, who takes a good catch. England collapse on the floor heaving sighs of relief.
22nd over: Australia 121-1 (Healy 64, Lanning 51) Imposing when two players out there rack up fifty at a run a ball each. Lanning taps Marsh into the covers and darts the quick run. Healy returns the favour, then again. Healy mows to deep midwicket on the bounce but this time Jones can get around to field. A hundred partnership.
21st over: Australia 117-1 (Healy 62, Lanning 49) Ecclestone is the one they’re being careful against. Just the three singles, and she’s bowled six overs for 27.
20th over: Australia 114-1 (Healy 61, Lanning 47) Tee-off time is back. Lanning skips to Marsh again and drives over cover. It wasn’t completely clean, there was that kind of clunky tinny sound off the bat that suggests it was the outside half of the bat, but the field is up. A few singles follow, then Healy gets a short one and absolutely crushes it through square leg along the ground. Flat and bouncing into the boards.
19th over: Australia 102-1 (Healy 55, Lanning 41) Ecclestone bowling tight on the stumps to Healy in this over, trying not to give any room. Just a single from the fifth ball. There’s nearly a late Lanning edge for runs again but this time it’s saved.
For anyone following the men’s Ashes as well, here’s an update on Jimmy Anderson’s recent injury issue.
18th over: Australia 101-1 (Healy 54, Lanning 41) Spin from both ends now, with Laura Marsh’s off-breaks to partner Ecclestone’s left-arm orthos. Thing start well for her with three singles and a couple of dots, but Lanning closes the over by slashing a wide flighted ball off the top edge of her angled bat and fine of short third for four. The ton is up.
17th over: Australia 94-1 (Healy 52, Lanning 36) Sophie Ecclestone does the tough job of keeping Healy quiet for an over, as the Australians ease back into things after the break. Two singles. Such a good early run rate that there’s no need to rush.
16th over: Australia 92-1 (Healy 51, Lanning 35) Shot for shot now! Lanning is suddenly starting to look herself again. Width from Sciver so Lanning drives it square to perfection, the full Lara flourish of the bat through the line of the ball and then the follow-through. As so often happens Sciver goes a bit shorter and straighter, so Lanning pounds the pull shot behind square and once again beats a despairing dive. They’ve been able to find the fence relentlessly this morning. The last four overs have gone for 9, 10, 11 and 9. That’s drinks.
15th over: Australia 83-1 (Healy 51, Lanning 26) This is looking ominous, after England asked Australia to bat. Lanning punches Ecclestone through point for four, then skips down to drive a single to deep cover. Jones coming around finally gets one that gives her a better chance of saving it, and does so. But with one ball to come Ecclestone drags down badly, and Healy punishes it with a pull shot that splits the leg-side sweepers square of the wicket. That’s her fifty.
14th over: Australia 73-1 (Healy 46, Lanning 21) “She’s super straight, super straight, yeah, she’s super straight.” Healy drives yet another dead straight boundary, this time from Sciver. Music by Regurgitator, Brisbane’s finest.
13th over: Australia 62-1 (Healy 41, Lanning 16) Now it’s Lanning’s turn. She has the left-arm spinner bowling around the wicket with a deep cover point but the rest of the off-side field up. So Lanning skips down to a flighted ball and lofts it over cover for four! Easy done. Next ball is fuller, a smaller shuffle and this time it goes along the carpet the same way for the same result. Jones makes a hash of it again, leaning back and going legs first as she slides, guaranteeing she won’t reach the ball, rather than diving hands first to save it. I suppose wicketkeepers don’t do a lot of boundary riding. Bit unreasonable to ask her to do the gig, then?
12th over: Australia 53-1 (Healy 41, Lanning 7) Oh, stop it. Nat Sciver comes on for Cross but she doesn’t get treated any more kindly. First ball she bowls, Healy plays a gorgeous on-drive through midwicket, which gives you a sense of how well it was timed. Beat the sweeper along the ground into the fence. Healy, as she often has in the last couple of years, is batting on a different pitch.
11th over: Australia 47-1 (Healy 36, Lanning 6) Sophie Ecclestone on with left-arm spin as the fielding restrictions are relaxed. Lanning dobs to cover and rushes a single. Healy carves another. Two from the over.
10th over: Australia 45-1 (Healy 35, Lanning 5) Cross pitches up to Healy and is drive straight for four! Lovely shot, high elbow, right by the stumps and splitting the mid-off and mid-on fielders down to the sightscreen. Cross tries again, a foot shorter, same result, more of a whip-drive from Healy bringing her hands through the ball rather than her elbow, but dead straight again for four! Done yet? Not quite. Anticipating a shorter length in response, Healy goes back on her stumps and whips, lofted, across the line to deep midwicket. Jones is out there, but her one-handed parry at the bouncing ball doesn’t slap it back into play, but over the line for four. Get her back into slip, stat. Healy finishes off with a steer behind point for two more. Big over, she’s 35 from 31 now.
9th over: Australia 31-1 (Healy 21, Lanning 5) Another shout from Shrubsole from a ball angling down leg, but the right-handed Lanning gets more lenience from the umpire. A couple of balls later she has another chance at the whip off the pads and this time nails it for four.
8th over: Australia 27-1 (Healy 21, Lanning 1) Healy loves going square on the off side, and she does so again against Cross for four with a drive. Cross gets some serious swing against Lanning and takes her edge, but it reaches slip on the bounce. Amy Jones is standing there, not wicketkeeping today with Taylor back. Lanning plays a classic Lanning shot next, opening the face and striking with a nice clean sound off the bat down through backward point, where she has scored so, so many of her international runs.
7th over: Australia 21-1 (Healy 16, Lanning 0) A wicket maiden for Shrubsole as Lanning arrives and carefully negotiates a couple of swinging deliveries. No big scores for Lanning for a while, and averaging 30 since she came back from her long layoff with a shoulder injury. Has the chance today to bat long.
The HawkEye replay, which is not available to the umpires because there is still absurdly almost never DRS in women’s cricket, says that Bolton’s delivery was missing leg stump. Not by much, so I wouldn’t class the call as a shocker, but it looked marginally not out live.
First one for England! Bolton doesn’t like that. She’s struck on the pad and is wandering away to square leg casually, then hears the cheer from England and whips her head around to stare at the umpire in disbelief. That was going down leg, wasn’t it? On first glance. Bolton is walking off, but the replay tends to confirm that suspicion. Maybe it could have grazed leg stump? But there was a fair bit of angle from around the wicket, to the left-hander, and I don’t think it was straightening or swinging in.
6th over: Australia 21-0 (Healy 16, Bolton 4) Healy is playing more shots than Bolton but not getting many more runs for them. A couple of cuts, one mistimed, one saved by Wilson. A couple of runs skewed through cover, and eventually a single when Healy gets the cut shot angled back through short third rather than square to the field. Bolton takes off for a leg bye to close the over.
5th over: Australia 17-0 (Healy 13, Bolton 4) Thanks Mike! What a gent, holding the controls while I made the long trip from Manchester, where I was reporting on Australia-South Africa in the World Cup last night, to Canterbury this morning. Just the five and a half hours with the M1 closed, if you’re wondering. Bliss. Glad to be here at the end of it, as Nicole Bolton drives Shrubsole for four through mid-on, then plays out the rest of the over quite carefully, blocking on off stump as Shrubbers comes around the wicket and tries to angle the ball in.
4th over: Australia 13-0 (Healy 13, Bolton 0) Healy finds the boundary again with a chip over mid-wicket for four runs. A big shout comes at the end of the over as she gets a bit tucked up but the ball’s going down leg again. And with that, I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Geoff Lemon, who has got himself into the hot seat in Canterbury and will be here to guide you through the remainder of the Australia innings. Toodle pip.
3rd over: Australia 9-0(Healy 9, Bolton 0) Shrubsole is getting some decent movement in the air; Nicole Bolton watches the ball well but can’t get it away for any runs. An excellent over, the first maiden of the game.
2nd over: Australia 9-0(Healy 9, Bolton 0) Kate Cross opens from the other end. Healy is tempted by the first delivery, outside off, but doesn’t connect. But she does before too long as she finds the boundary with nothing more than a little flick off the legs that races away. Sciver gets to it, but can’t save the four runs.
1st over: Australia 5-0 (Healy 5, Bolton 0) Shrubsole opens the bowling and it takes just one sighter for Healy before she opens up and flashes a wide one away to the boundary to get Australia up and running. A ball later Shrubsle produces some huge swing to rap Healy on the pads, but it’s going down leg and despite the big shout, there’s nothing doing. Healy races through for a single and that’s the first over done.
England players run onto the pitch, and we’re nearly ready to go.
“Its a shame,” writes Tim from Bramhall, “that this series is so low profile, not helped by scheduling alongside the CWC. But I can’t help feeling that the location of these matches does not help, staged in mainly Southern or East Midlands small county grounds. Why does the ECB not take these matches to the cities, and why does the North not get a look in?”
Geoff Lemon touched on these very issues in the immediate aftermath of the first ODI in Leicester.
This will be the first of two meetings between these two great cricketing nations in the space of five days – they will clash again on Thursday in the men’s World Cup, after Australia failed to beat South Africa in their final round-robin game at Old Trafford 24 hours ago and as a result were leapfrogged by India into first place. Tanya Aldred’s match report from Old Trafford is pretty tremendous:
South Africa left the World Cup with a defiant raspberry, defeating Australia by 10 runs in another Old Trafford last-over thriller to set up a semi-final between England and Australia on Thursday. Tension had mounted after the result zipped across from Headingley, which meant Australia had to beat South Africa to finish top of the table – fail, and India would tuck into the freshly prepared New Zealand fattened calf, tender and soft, and send the reigning champions instead to Birmingham.
Team news. England are forced into making one change: Katherine Brunt is indeed out with that ankle knock, so Sarah Taylor comes in.
Australia are unchanged. Captain Lanning says she “wasn’t too bothered” about losing the toss. “It’s a good batting wicket and it won’t change too much throughout the day.” Ominously she says there’s still room for Australian improvement. “It’s a massive game,” she adds.
Meg Lanning calls heads... it’s tails and England captain Heather Knight says the hosts will put Australia into bat.
Weather update. Geoff will be able to give you a more accurate view from his position on the ground at Canterbury later on, but a quick internet search tells me it’s currently 17C and cloudy with a light breeze and a small chance of rain between 11am and 1pm local. And this appears to confirm the cloud cover:
Still, there have been words of caution after the opening game from Australia bowler and Guardian guest columnist, Megan Schutt:
Remember, they made it to the World T20 final last year missing two of their best players. They are scrappers, which is what makes these amazing games. It’s why I love this series more than any other: there’s no hiding. Winning against them is so satisfying because you have to earn it.
Injuries. Not helping the host nation’s cause has been the couple of concerns casting a shadow over today’s game; Sarah Taylor missed the second ODI after picking up an ankle knock while Katherine Brunt also injured her ankle – while celebrating the key dismissal of Lanning during that game. Both will undergo late fitness tests before play starts today.
How close are Australia to wrapping up the series? Another win in Kent today and Meg Lanning’s side will move onto six points, having picked up two for each preceding win. With just eight needed to retain the title, they’re close – a win (four points) or even a draw (two) in the Test at Taunton would be enough, or failing that, just one win from the three T20s (two each) would seal the deal. In short, England badly need to win today if they are going to retain any realistic hopes alive of winning the series.
So, from back-to-back 50-over games in Leicester to a final one in this format at the historic St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury, before the travelling roadshow heads to a one-off Test later this month, followed by three final Twenty20s. Competitive interest in the series may well be gone by the time it comes to the last part of this multi-format series though, with Australia already well positioned to retain the Ashes having won the opening two fixtures of this points-based series. More on the ins and outs of that in a moment, but for now, there’s just time for a bit of housekeeping – send an email (mike.hytner@theguardian.com) or tweet (@mike_hytner) if you’d like to get anything off your chest before Geoff Lemon steps in for the start of play in around an hour’s time.
Play will resume at 10.30am tomorrow morning. Resume? I realise I’m using the language of the Test match, simply because I’m not familiar with the vocabulary of the two-day ODI. Play will recommence at 10.30am tomorrow morning? Restart? Perk up? Stop hassling me, I don’t know!
Tomorrow morning it is. Same time, same place, same taking the pace off back of a length. Thanks for your company and emails; please join Simon in the morning. Bye!
Oh well, they did their best. New Zealand will resume in the morning on 211 for five from 46.1 overs. The forecast is better, at least until
10.30am around 2pm. DLS could still be the matchwinners.
There’s a lot of water on the outfield. I’ll be very surprised if this isn’t abandoned in the next few minutes.
No news yet on the 6.10 inspection. But as soon as somebody else reports what has happened, we’ll recycle the information like the crack second-hand news hounds we are.
If play is abandoned for the day, New Zealand will resume their innings. If it resumes tonight, India will start a 20-over runchase. Confused? Splendid. Now all I need is your sort code and the three digits on the back of the card.
It’s raining again. The covers are going back on, and it looks like the match will resume in the morning.
India won the 2013 Champions Trophy in a rain-affected T20 match, beating England in the final, but this is a little bit important. And there was no reserve day then, from memory.
Thanks Simon. Who knew a rain delay could be so intriguing? The consensus is that New Zealand would take their chances in a 20-over lottery tonight, whereas India will be desperate to come back for a full game tonight. We’ll soon find out which it is to be.
I’m overcome with excitement and going to step away for a short while. Rob Smyth is back in the interim. Bye for a bit!
It has stopped raining and the covers are coming off! There are large puddles in the outfield, though, and quite a bit of mopping up to do. Still, promising/disappointing signs, depending on your outlook.
“If matches continue to get rained off at such regularity, the future of England’s ability to host premier ICC tournaments will be called into question,” writes Mukundhan. “Don’t you think the commercial interests at play will arm-twist the ICC to hold such high-profile tournaments in countries with predictable weather patterns?”
I think in England everyone accepts that rain happens in summer, and that any summer sport that can’t be played when it’s raining will just have to deal with it. Those – and there are quite a few of them – saying that England shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup because it isn’t always dry are essentially ignoring centuries of sporting history, which strongly suggests that it is possible to play cricket here. Besides, the very great majority of games in this tournament have been entirely unaffected by inclement weather
There will, I’m told, be a pitch inspection at 6pm BST. If the umpires still need umbrellas at that point, it’s surely all over.
Sky say the ground staff will need a full hour to remove the covers and mop up the outfield. So if my maths is correct, rain must cease in the next 25 minutes or we’ll be back for more tomorrow. However Sky add that David Boon might be able to magic a little extra time from somewhere if the weather improves soon after that point.
An update from New Zealand’s official account confirms that play must resume in the next 90 minutes if this game is to end today. It’s still raining pretty hard.
“If this reduces to a 20-over chase by India, this batting line up would definitely fancy their chances to get 148,” writes Rohit Singh. “Of course a full 50 overs to each side would have been the best possible scenario, unfortunately the rain Gods decided to intervene.” That’s what I like to see, a bit of positivity! Of course, the first reaction to seeing those amended targets was of course that they look a bit toppish. But however unfair it seems, this India side would surely back themselves to score seven an over for 20 overs against these opponents.
Latest from Manchester: it’s still raining, and it’s got harder.
Guna hazard a guess and say there will be an announcement very shortly to say they’re done for the day. Rain is heavy again. We’ll be back tomorrow #INDvNZ#CWC19
“What happens if rain stops play altogether for the day?” asks Mark O’Brien. “Highest run rate, previous games played against etc? Topical debate in bar in Thailand at the moment.”
So if there’s no more play today, the game will resume tomorrow with (assuming there’s no rain in the morning) New Zealand completing their innings, before India bat their full 50 overs. If no play were possible tomorrow, India would go through to the final because they finished in a higher position in the group stage.
“Regarding the Commercial Considerations, the ICC might have its own agenda, but surely ensuring a fair game has to be a higher priority for the Match Referee?” writes Rohan. “Or does he consider anything dictated by DLS a ‘fair game’? Something to ponder for Mr. Boon!”
David Boon is, for clarity, today’s match referee. I’m not sure which team will go through from here, but I’m pessimistic about the prospect of sport being the winner.
Martin Sinclair, writing from south Manchester, says he has witnessed the sun. “Feel very sorry for India - their run chase feels unfairly difficult,” he adds. “I wonder if New Zealand choosing to bat first then playing within themselves to preserve wickets will prove to be master captaincy from Kane Williamson.” It’s starting to look either very clever or very lucky.
It’s still drizzling. My rain radar says it’ll continue to do so for perhaps another hour, and thus further play is unlikely until about 6pm BST. After that, though, it looks like there should be enough dry weather for a game to be completed. Albeit one that might make a lot of people quite angry.
“Surely there’s no greater Commercial Consideration than ensuring India reached the World Cup Final?” says Abhijato Sensarma.
It’s nearly not raining! With just a light drizzle now falling, a mop-up operation has begun (though the covers remain very much in place).
Rain stopped play at 2.01pm, and only when more than two hours have been lost to rain are overs taken out of the game. As of five minutes ago, that threshold has been reached.
Karan Singh Dogra is unhappy.“India bowled well and stopped scores,” he says. “It is not fair that India should score 148 in 20 overs. Same overs same runs should be applied. Play the game with the spirit of game.”
Clearly that would be the most sporting outcome, and it strikes me that it would be immeasurably better for India to bat 50 overs tomorrow than 20 overs today. However, there will I’m sure be the dreaded Commercial Considerations to take into account.
This just in from Andy Bull, our man at Old Trafford. It looks to me like good news for New Zealand, who stand to benefit from any resumption today:
“The ICC are very keen to get this game done today if they can. Play can go on as late as 10pm tonight, because they’ve added a two-hour extension to the playing hours for the semi-finals. They need to start play by 8ish, but he rain is supposed to stop around 6 or 7 so I think we’ll get a game in. If India’s innings is reduced to 20 overs, they’ll need to chase 148. The target’s high, because New Zealand kept so many wickets in hand.”
“As a NZ fan, this drawn-out defeat is tortuous - can we not just throw the towel in now? Won’t someone please think of the children?” pleads Giles. No Giles, no they will not. And no you can’t. You’re just going to have to live through it like the rest of us.
“Is there potential for this rain to totally ‘SouthAfrica’ India?” wonders Si Begley. “India are set 148 off 20 today, go for it, reach 140/7 after 15, heavens open, they have to come back tomorrow to chase 237? Would seem massively unfair. And incredibly funny.”
There is no potential for such lunacy, happily/sadly. As soon as a ball is bowled after an over reduction, those conditions are set and unchangeable. So if they try to play 20 overs today but play is stopped after two deliveries, they will play only 19.4 overs tomorrow.
They can if necessary play until 8pm today, but 10.30am tomorrow is starting to look an increasingly likely resumption time.
There’s standing water on the outfield, and much more coming from above. We’re not getting on anytime soon. #CWC19#IndVsNewZealand
Weather update: it is pouring in Manchester.
“This is insane,” wails Sreekanth Nandakumar. “So India have to score 6 runs or more if the match is reduced to 35 overs or less on a slow pitch? How is it fair?” Certainly the rain has come at a good time for New Zealand, though they only benefit if play resumes today with a reduced over count.
Reporters on the scene have turned a bit pessimistic about the prospects of more play today:
A decent chance there’ll be no more play today in Manchester, but the reserve day looks better.
Here’s a more complete run-down of potential India targets:
In case New Zealand doesn't bat again, India's target in 46 overs will be 237 40 overs will be 223 35 overs will be 209 30 overs will be 192 25 overs will be 172 20 overs will be 148#IndvNZ#NZvInd#CWC19#CWC2019
Assuming New Zealand’s innings ends here, India’s target in 46 overs would be 237. In 20 overs, which is the shortest it could be to qualify as a completed innings, their target would be 148. This is just over twice the total New Zealand had after 20 overs (which was 73-2).
World Cup regulations state that “every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day”. From which we learn that the ICC are not big fans of punctuation.
Hello everyone! Well, this is just great, is it not? The rain radar I’ve been looking at suggests that the weather is unlikely to significantly improve for at least a couple of hours, with around 6pm being a vaguely realistic amateur not-quite-total guess of a potential restart time. So settle in, we’re here for the long haul.
There won’t be any play for a while, so I’m going to take an unscheduled lunch break. Simon Burnton is waiting to watch the weather on your behalf. See you soon.
“NZ may have the game in the bag,” says Siraj Khan, “if they are able to play their entire 50 overs and hit 240.”
That would be a very useful total. I think India will make the new ball count, though, and control the chase after that. If they get off to a slow start – 27 for one off 10, say – it’ll be very tight.
There is scope for a reserve day, but the umpires will try to finish the game today if they can. So India could end up chasing a DLS target in a reduced game - 21 from 20 overs, something like that. You can read more about the reserve days here.
46.1 overs: New Zealand 211-5 (Taylor 65, Latham 5) A misfield from Chahal gives Latham a bonus run. That’s the last ball of the innings, for now at least. The rain is getting heavier and the umpires have decided to take the players off.
46th over: New Zealand 209-5 (Taylor 65, Latham 3) Latham gets two overthrows from the same delivery, one at each end. Virat Kohli’s face is a picture, and that picture will hurt you if you don’t stop looking at it. Seven from Bumrah’s antepenultimate over - five singles plus those two overthrows.
45th over: New Zealand 202-5 (Taylor 60, Latham 1) Despite everything, all the dot balls and mistimed strokes , New Zealand are inching towards a reasonable score.
Kumar ends a dangerous little partnership by dismissing Colin de Grandhomme. He produced a slower short ball which followed de Grandhomme, who tried to glide it to third man and got a little edge through to MS Dhoni. de Grandhomme made a useful 16 from 10 balls, adding 38 in 3.4 overs with Taylor.
Ross Taylor has an LBW decision overturned on review! He missed a premeditated sweep at a full ball from Kumar and was given out by Richard Kettleborough. It looked plumb, and I suspect Taylor reviewed in hope rather than expectation, but replays showed it hit him outside the line.
44th over: New Zealand 197-4 (Taylor 56, de Grandhomme 16) Good afternoon Mr Taylor, we’ve been expecting you. After struggling for so long, Ross Taylor comes alive and, with a little help from de Grandhomme, smashes 18 from Chahal’s final over. A vicious slog-sweep for six brings up a laboured, 73-ball fifty, and two balls later he crunches a drive for four. de Grandhomme cuts another boundary to complete a superb over. Chahal ends with figures of 10-0-63-1.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” says John Norris, “but I live 25 miles to the west of Old Trafford and it’s raining steadily here so seems unlikely to miss the cricket today which could have severe implications for NZ after their lethargic run rate...”
43rd over: New Zealand 179-4 (Taylor 44, de Grandhomme 12) The groundstaff are poised for action, which suggests rain is imminent. Pandya drops short to de Grandhomme, who steers the ball deftly to third man for four. Nine from the over, and the wounded Pandya finishes with figures of 10-0-55-1.
42nd over: New Zealand 170-4 (Taylor 42, de Grandhomme 5) It’ll be interesting to see what the new batsman, the big-hitting Colin de Grandhomme, makes of this pitch. He has a swipe at Chahal, inside-edging past leg stump for two, during a decent over for New Zealand. They’d accept 220 now, and they’d thank Mother Cricket for it.
41st over: New Zealand 162-4 (Taylor 40) Pandya must be a doubt for the final, should India get there. He’ll bowl his 10 overs and bat if necessary, but he’s still not right.
Andrew Hurley has a simple thought: “I miss Pakistan.” Seriously, though, imagine them today. You’d get two games for the price of one: India v Pakistan, and Pakistan v Pakistan.
Pandya strikes! Neesham tried to go over the leg side and mistimed the ball miles in the air towards long on, where Karthik took a comfortable catch. There have been many mistimed strokes in this innings, and every time somebody tries to go up a gear they get out.
40th over: New Zealand 155-3 (Taylor 38, Neesham 7) Taylor survives a possible run-our chance, with Kohli’s throw missing the stumps for the second time today. We haven’t seen a replay so I’ve no idea whether he would have been out with a direct hit.
Four singles from Bumrah’s over, and here’s more from Butch.
Uneven, two-paced, shit heaps MIGHT give you an exciting 5 overs at the end of a run chase, but you’ve scared everybody off in the previous 95. Crap.
39th over: New Zealand 151-3 (Taylor 36, Neesham 5) I don’t think New Zealand are out of this. But they will have to do exceedingly good business with the new ball and then squeeze the hopes and dreams out of India.
In other news, after six weeks of mutual backslapping about the pitches in this World Cup, Butch has gone rogue! (He’s right, though.)
Sorry, but pitches have been garbage this tournament.
38th over: New Zealand 145-3 (Taylor 31, Neesham 4) Neesham is dropped by Rohit at midwicket. It was a one-handed, slightly half-arsed effort after Neesham was duped by Pandya’s slower short ball. Rohit stretched to his left but it went through his fingers. New Zealand are struggling to middle anything at the back end of the innings. On reflection, perhaps they should have gone harder against the new ball. I appreciate this is easier said than done.
Ross Taylor not able to get runs. Ross Taylor not able to get out
37th over: New Zealand 140-3 (Taylor 29, Neesham 2) Taylor is beaten, swatting at a slower bouncer from the new bowler Kumar. His increasing frustration manifests itself in a loose shot that loops high over cover point for a couple. He got away with that.
A shot Williamson would not normally play at this stage, but Taylor's strike rate of 48 after facing 52 balls has caused his skippers calm composure to crack.#CWC19#INDvNZ
36th over: New Zealand 136-3 (Taylor 26, Neesham 1) Jimmy Neesham, who can give it some humpty, has been promoted above Tom Latham. New Zealand probably need a run a ball from the last 14 overs to have a realistic chance of victory.
Williamson was frantic after the drinks break, and now he’s gone. He flashed outside off stump at Chahal but could only slice a drive straight to Jadeja at short third man. Williamson shakes his head at something, possibly the pitch, before walking off the field. He made 67 from 95 balls. It was an accomplished innings; I’ll let you know at the end of the game how good it was.
That should be the match for India!
35th over: New Zealand 133-2 (Williamson 67, Taylor 24) Williamson drives Jadeja inside out over extra cover, with Pant acrobatically saving a run on the boundary. He slog-sweeps four more later in the over, which suggests he has decided to get a wriggle on, before surviving a precautionary stumping referral. An eventful over concludes when Williamson misses an unbecoming hack at a ball that just bounces over the stumps.
“ZZZZZ!!” says John Atwill. “One bored Kiwi here.”
34th over: New Zealand 125-2 (Williamson 60, Taylor 23) Bumrah continues after the drinks break. New Zealand have struggled to score anything off him apart from low-risk singles, and there are three more in that over.
“ANNOUNCEMENT,” writes Mac Millings. “If McMahon is corresponding in the third person now, it surely can’t be long before the Millingses are writing in the third person plural, about how they wish they had a shed, it’s all right for some isn’t it, but they only have a sort of plastic hut and they can’t even get into that because of all the rusty unused tools and venomous snakes.”
33rd over: New Zealand 122-2 (Williamson 58, Taylor 22) Pandya off, Jadeja on. New Zealand are trying to up the rate, Taylor in particular, but the pitch looks increasingly awkward for strokeplay. I think the pitches have been disappointing in this tournament - not because of the balance between bat and ball, which has been good, but because of their sluggishness. The Old Trafford pitch for Australia v South Africa was a beauty.
“You won’t know this as you weren’t around at the time,” begins Garry Sharp, “but Hip Flexor (20th over) were an early 70s one hit wonder with their disco dance floor sensation Rotate Me Baby (let me strike). There was a massive debate back then about whether the title referred to industrial unrest or Geoff Boycott’s batting.”
32nd over: New Zealand 121-2 (Williamson 57, Taylor 22) Jasprit Bumrah replaces Chahal - and Taylor is dropped by Dhoni! It was a very difficult low chance, which got to him almost on the half-volley. It was also a superb leg-cutter from Bumrah, who seems to be getting better with every game. He’s truly, madly, deeply unhittable.
31st over: New Zealand 120-2 (Williamson 57, Taylor 22) Williamson top-edges a pull from Pandya straight over the keeper’s head for four. Pandya seems to have a deceptively sharp bouncer to go with his slower one. Taylor also gets away with a top-edged pull later in the over, and the resulting single brings up the fifty partnership.
I feel like Sourav Ganguly's been on commentary for 90 per cent of this innings. Don't know what that says. (He's off now.)
30th over: New Zealand 113-2 (Williamson 50, Taylor 21) Williamson drives Chahal for a single to reach a soothing half-century from 79 balls. Too soothing, in the opinion of some.
“This Williamson false shot percentage should be viewed the other way,” says Andrew Hurley. “His is so low as he’s taking so few risks and his team are as a result on the way out...”
29th over: New Zealand 105-2 (Williamson 48, Taylor 16) Pandya is driven crisply through extra cover for a couple by the remarkably consistent Williamson. His only sub-40 score in this competition was against England, when he was freakishly run out.
“STOP PRESS,” writes Simon McMahon. “It was announced this morning that Simon McMahon and the garage have parted company by mutual consent. McMahon will join the shed on a 12-month rolling contract at the end of the cricket World Cup, and has also negotiated a release clause for this summer’s Ashes series. ‘It became clear that the garage and I had different ideas about how to take things to the next level going forward. The offer of a four-year deal from the attic was tempting, but not right for me at this time’, said McMahon. ‘I’m extremely excited to have joined the shed, and can’t wait to get started (eventually)’.”
28th over: New Zealand 99-2 (Williamson 44, Taylor 15) It feels like New Zealand are ambling towards certain defeat, whistling a happy tune, stopping to say hello to Mrs Dineen and ask how her pet rabbit, Greatbatch, is getting on. But we were all burned by Angelo Mathews’ “match-losing” innings against England, so I’m loath to jump to conclusions. Sourav Ganguly, who knows more about batting, says it’s “inexplicable batting as they say”.
Who are they?
27th over: New Zealand 89-2 (Williamson 39, Taylor 10) Pandya returns to the attack in place of Jadeja. He seems to be okay, and almost dismisses Williamson with a slower ball that is inside edged past leg stump. Four singles from the over.
26th over: New Zealand 85-2 (Williamson 37, Taylor 8) Taylor survives a big LBW appeal after playing outside a lovely delivery from Chahal that skids on to hit the pad. That looked very close, and I suspect India would have reviewed if they could. No matter - it would have been umpire’s call.
It feels like the net is closing around New Zealand. Williamson survives a run-out chance later in the over, with Kohli’s underarm throw from close range missing the stumps. He would been out with a direct hit.
25th over: New Zealand 83-2 (Williamson 36, Taylor 7) New Zealand haven’t played an attacking stroke since the wicket of Nicholls. Another quiet over from Jadeja means India have conceded 14 from the last overs. Taylor will surely go into one-day mode soon.
India have been excellent with the ball so far, and only Kane Williamson has been able to cope with it. He's played 8% false shots - Nicholls, Guptill, and Taylor have played 24%. #CWC19
24th over: New Zealand 82-2 (Williamson 36, Taylor 6) There have been only five fours in this innings, and there are just three singles from Chahal’s fourth over. It’s intriguing stuff, slightly reminiscent of the Waugh/Bevan partnership in the 1999 semi-final. At one stage they scored six runs in 8.4 overs, but they caught up later and put together a match-tieing partnership.
“No cricket-related productivity issues here in the Portuguese mountains,” says Geoff Wignall. “It was only necessary to let the morning mist clear before starting, though unfortunately it’s since been too hot for comfort so I’ll wait for it to cool a little - should be around 6 or shortly thereafter.”
23rd over: New Zealand 79-2 (Williamson 35, Taylor 4) Taylor is taking his time to get used to the conditions, which is understandable in the circumstances. But once you promise, you have to pay.
22nd over: New Zealand 77-2 (Williamson 34, Taylor 3) Williamson survives an LBW appeal after pushing outside the line at Chahal. It looked like it was sliding down. This is a difficult spell for New Zealand, with the ball turning more than expected for India’s spinners.
“Forget a national holiday,” says Kate Andrews-Day, “I’d settle for it actually being watchable in Canada. Right now I’m hacking into my parents-in-law’s cable to see if they have the premium sports package and even then, well. Wish me luck. In other news, Nova Scotia’s cricket team won the Maritimes Cup the other day!”
21st over: New Zealand 74-2 (Williamson 33, Taylor 2) Jadeja is putting the squeeze on New Zealand. He has conceded only nine runs from his last four overs, a spell that includes the wicket of Nicholls. New Zealand will have to start taking risks pretty soon, ideally once Taylor has his eye in.
20th over: New Zealand 73-2 (Williamson 32, Taylor 2) A gorgeous, drifting legbreak from Chahal beats Williamson’s forward defensive. There’s plenty in this pitch for the spinners. Pandya is back on the field, although he doesn’t look entirely comfortable. The problem is apparently with the hip flexor, not his groin.
“I suspect Williamson needs to aim higher than you suggest,” says Geoff Wignall. “If he chucks it away on 150, I can’t see NZ having much chance.”
19th over: New Zealand 70-2 (Williamson 31, Taylor 1) The new batsman is Ross Taylor, who until now has had a frustratingly modest tournament. I thought Nicholls was bowled through the gate, but replays suggest the ball deflected off his body and onto the stumps. The ball is starting to turn for Jadeja, who gets some more sharp spin to beat Williamson off the last delivery of the over.
“Those ICC reserve day rules (09:32) seem quite harsh regarding refunds,” says Smylers. “If there’s a reserve day and you can’t attend, you simply lose your money; you aren’t even allowed to sell your ticket to somebody who can go. Also, no refund for any game if at least 30 overs bowled, even though 40 are needed for any kind of result. Sometimes it seems like the ICC aren’t even trying to make us like them.”
That was such a good ball. Jadeja, bowling around the wicket to the left-hander, got one to turn back sharply through the gate to bowl Nicholls as he pushed forward defensively. It was a slightly lazy stroke from Nicholls, I suppose, but it was a lovely bit of bowling.
Henry Nicholls is bowled by a jaffa from Ravindra Jadeja!
18th over: New Zealand 69-1 (Nicholls 28, Williamson 31) Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Hardik Pandya. His first ball spins down the leg side for four wides, but it’s a tight over thereafter.
“Big call not to play Shami!” says Aditya Anchuri. “I know Bhuvi is steady and better at the death, and probably a better bat, but India need Shami’s firepower. It’s overcast conditions and I do not want us to chase anything over 200.”
17th over: New Zealand 61-1 (Nicholls 26, Williamson 30) Williamson threads Jadeja through extra cover for three. If Pandya is unable to bowl, India will have to find six overs from their batsmen, probably Virat Kohli. Maybe he’ll get that century after all!
“Here in India, my tuition teacher is mysteriously stuck in college and can’t come to teach me,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “My father’s colleagues (and he himself) are mysteriously sick and can’t go to office today; also, the taxi drivers are mysteriously on an extended lunch break, hence they can’t be on the road... While everyone is formally accepting the aforementioned reasons, one simply knows where everyone is - in front of the telly. Considering this stunning start from India, the Kiwis’ determination to play out the overs safely till lunch, and the comfort of my sofa, I reckon the nation isn’t going to be all that productive today...”
16th over: New Zealand 57-1 (Nicholls 25, Williamson 27) Pandya starts his over with consecutive wides, both on height. He is giving the middle of the pitch a thorough medical. But he might need some treatment himself - he is struggling with what looks like a groin problem, and at the end of the over he leaves the field to receive treatment. India don’t have a sixth bowler today.
#INDvNZ In an audacious move, New Zealand have decided to pay tribute to every era in their history – first boring us rigid, then moving on to careful accumulation. In about the 40th over, they'll be getting the party started
15th over: New Zealand 55-1 (Nicholls 25, Williamson 27) Three singles from Jadeja’s third over. He’s a pragmatic inclusion, but I can understand it as he’s a three-dimensional brawler. He’s less likely to take five-for than Kuldeep; he’s also less likely to be pumped repeatedly for six on a bad day.
“Given that I am finding such a difficulty in focussing on my work due to cricket, should they announce a national holiday to improve the viewership of cricket?” asks Balaji Mannu. “Of course I am concerned in increasing the cricket take-up in this country and no sneaky selfishness.”
14th over: New Zealand 52-1 (Nicholls 23, Williamson 26) Nicholls is beaten, trying to hook Pandya, and then Williamson gets four with the aid of a misfield from Chahal. India are on top but New Zealand will probably be happier, because it looked like they might be out of the game before drinks. Talking of which, that’s drinks.
“I think Kane Williamson has a John McClane look on his face today,” writes Emma John. “There’s definitely a grim hard-set expression I haven’t seen before. Probably from one of the sequels – one of those ‘oh god, I’ve got to save everyone all on my own AGAIN’ moments.”
13th over: New Zealand 43-1 (Nicholls 19, Williamson 21) Six from Jadeja’s over, all run. Not in one go, obviously: 2x2, 2x1.
“Morning, Rob,” says Smylers. “I see you’ve already referenced Neville Oliver and Neville Cardus, so am wondering whom you’re going to quote next. Neville Chamberlain? Neville Neville? Neville Longbottom?”
Premier league football Where 20 players dive and the goalkeepers don’t
12th over: New Zealand 38-1 (Nicholls 15, Williamson 20) Williamson scolds himself after being beaten by a lifter from Pandya. I was going to say he’s being a bit harsh on himself, as it looked like a fine delivery, until I grudgingly acknowledged that Kane Williamson’s knows a little more about his game, and batsmanship generally, than I do.
After three dot balls to start the over, Williamson drags a pull through midwicket for four. This looks a really good surface for batting.
11th over: New Zealand 34-1 (Nicholls 15, Williamson 16) Jadeja replaces Kumar, who bowled a fine opening spell of 5-1-13-0. Nicholls survives a pretty big LBW appeal - it was umpire’s call, and India have lost their review anyway - and then sweeps firmly round the corner for four. It almost hit the leg slip Rohit Sharma in the face. New Zealand have scored 24 from the last four overs; not exactly an orgy of runs, but it’s a start.
27/1 NZ v Ind Manchester * 28/1 Ind v Eng Birmingham 29/2 WI v Ind Manchester 30/2 NZ v WI Manchester 31/1 NZ v Aus Lord's#INDvNZ#TeamIndia#BackTheBlackCaps
10th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Nicholls 10, Williamson 14) Hardik Pandya replaces Bumrah (4-1-10-1). He has been pretty good with the ball in this tournament, although his best work has been with the old ball. New Zealand might target him in this spell. Williamson steals a second off his first delivery - he was almost one short - but that’s the summit of New Zealand’s ambition in Pandya’s first over.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Having been strangely motivated yesterday and even this morning, I came in from my summer project - ‘clearing out and painting the garage’ - at 10.30 for a tea break, and as yet, for some reason, I’ve not been able to motivate myself to resume. In fact, I’m now thinking that the garage does not share my ambitions. Maybe, like Rafa or José, I need a new ‘project’..?”
9th over: New Zealand 23-1 (Nicholls 10, Williamson 12) Now Williamson gets his first boundary, timing a push down the ground off boundary. That was a very pleasant stroke. After a very slow start, New Zealand will feel they are up and running It hasn’t been difficult for the batsmen to survive, with only a few deliveries moving off the pitch or in the air, but so far India’s bowlers have given them little to work with.
“It’s all about Kane, isn’t it, Rob?” says Guy Hornsby. “Isn’t it always? Imagine actually knowing the man.... India are a formidable cricket machine, but for every neutral out there (ok, Kiwi fan) I desperately want this to be a competitive game. The fact it’s 15 minutes’ walk from my office and I’m sat at my desk is utter torture.”
8th over: New Zealand 18-1 (Nicholls 10, Williamson 7) Nicholls cloths a pull stroke off Bumrah that just clears square leg. Batting is all about calculating risk; trouble is there are times when every attacking stroke off Bumrah feels too risky for comfort.
The penultimate ball of Bumrah’s fourth over, bowled from around the wicket, snaps dramatically off the seam to beat Nicholls. His response is impressive, a beautifully timed drive through extra cover for four. That’s the first boundary of the match.
7th over: New Zealand 10-1 (Nicholls 3, Williamson 6) The accuracy of India’s new-ball bowlers has been beyond reproach, and Kumar concedes only two from his seventh over. It’s been a near-perfect start.
In other news, Tanya Aldred is in charge of our county blog.
6th over: New Zealand 8-1 (Nicholls 3, Williamson 4) Kane Williamson has only one job: to score 150 not out. Although he would have liked to spend a bit longer in the dressing-room, his presence in the middle has given the New Zealand a strong dose of diazepam. The run-rate is still less than ideal, but I think they will settle for seeing off this first spell from Bumrah. His figures are 3-1-2-1.
“If anyone wants the perfect potted analysis of New Zealand at this World Cup, can I recommend Simon Doull on our latest Spin podcast?” writes the all-Spinning, all-dancing Emma John. “He absolutely nails their batting in 30 seconds. There’s a reason he’s my favourite Kiwi analyst! Skip to 31.24 to hear him… Or you could, y’know, listen to the whole thing and enjoy Andy Bull being very funny about his own World Cup predictions, and Raf Nicholson explaining why England Women have been so awful against Australia.”
5th over: New Zealand 7-1 (Nicholls 3, Williamson 3) Nicholls gets off the mark from his tenth delivery. I wonder if Kane Williamson regrets batting first. It was the safe option, certainly, and I’m not sure that suits New Zealand given their current mental state.
Here’s a statgasm to blow away the morning cobwebs. New Zealand are seven for one after five overs. At the same stage of the 2015 semi-final, they were 71 for none.
4th over: New Zealand 2-1 (Nicholls 0, Williamson 1) The new batsman is the New Zealand opener Kane Williamson. He is beaten outside off stump by his first delivery., which prompts Kohli to bring in an extra catcher.
“What’s the longest time in an ODI without a run being scored?” asks Danielle Tolson. “NZ on tenterhooks by the way...”
It was a brilliant catch from Virat Kohli at second slip. Guptill fished at a sharp lifter that flew off the edge towards second slip, where Kohli took a very smart catch in front of his face. He almost moved too far across, towards first slip, and had to reach in the opposite direction to grab it with both hands. He enjoyed that.
Jasprit Bumrah puts Martin Guptill out of his misery - certainly today, possibly in the tournament.
3rd over: New Zealand 1-0 (Guptill 1, Nicholls 0) Guptill has had a weird World Cup, with all kinds of unusual dismissals. But even though he is in dreadful form, India will fear him because he has the capacity to go huge. Getting off the mark would be a start - and he does, eventually, by scoring New Zealand’s first run off the 17th ball of the match.
“Sixteen out of last 20 wins for side batting first certainly sounds impressive, statistically speaking,” says Brian Withington. “But what about all the games in the tournament, and how often was the team batting first favourite to win anyway? I’d really love to do the research, but laptop and tablet are currently otherwise engaged in monthly timesheet activity for my Excel-dilettante cricket coaching son.”
2nd over: New Zealand 0-0 (Guptill 0, Nicholls 0) The extraordinary Jasprit Bumrah beats Henry Nicholls with his second delivery. His line and length are immaculate, right from the start, and he also starts with a maiden. It wasn’t the worst toss for India to lose, and they have started splendidly.
“I think it’s been a good tournament,” says Bill Hargreaves, “but that might be my bias towards Eoin Morgan, whom I think is massively admirable for attitude, leadership skills and leg-side blamming, and what I think might be the most exciting, balanced, ‘nice bunch of fellas’ England team for a while. Shine on Harvest Moon.”
1st over: New Zealand 0-0 (Guptill 0, Nicholls 0) The consensus is that this is an excellent batting pitch. There’s some swing for Kumar, however, and Guptill is beaten later in the over when he gropes at a wider outswinger. A maiden to start.
In fact it was missing leg stump, so Guptill survives and India lose their review. That would have been his third golden duck of the tournament.
Quite a start, this. Guptill pushed around his front pad at Bhuvneshwar Kumar and survived a huge LBW shout. Virat Kohli reviewed with three seconds remaining. It was close, perilously close, but I reckon this will umpire’s call at best for India.
#INDvNZ No Shami, no Yadav: uncharacteristic of Kohli, ditching two of his wicket-takers in favour of lesser bowlers who shorten the tail. NZ batsmen must be having a quiet chuckle. Just see off Bumrah...
The anthems are done, the India players are in their pre-match huddle. In the words of Neville Cardus, let’s get ready to rumble.
“Morning Rob,” says Nick Parish. “I present three of your own comments for your learned perusal. First, New Zealand are the only team to reach the semi-finals of the last four World Cups. Second, New Zealand have never won the World Cup. Third, New Zealand have spent decades showing the folly of underestimating them. I’d argue that given the first, the second refutes the third. Discuss.”
I’m not sure it refutes it, but I suppose it discredits it. But they are the most underrated/patronised team in world cricket.
“Whilst NZ’s slump in the past couple of weeks, the positive has to be that the players who looked to be struggling for form in the earlier weeks – Neesham, de Grandhomme and even Latham – seem to be hitting their straps now,” says Richard O’Hagan. “If Henry could just do the same they’ll be in with a real chance. And surely the fates won’t allow the CWC careers of Taylor and Guptill to end on a rainy Tuesday in Manchester? Or am I just grasping at straws here?”
You are, but just look at those straws! I don’t think this game is a foregone conclusion, though India are clear favourites. Everyone thinks they are going to lose, so New Zealand should treat it as a freebie – stop worrying and, this being Old Trafford, attack attack attack.
India prefer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal to Mohammad Shami and Kuldeep Yadav. Ravindra Jadeja also keeps his place. New Zealand’s team is as expected, with Lockie Ferguson returning from injury to replace Tim Southee..
Kane Williamson says he considered bowling because of the overhead conditions, but that it looks like a good surface. Runs on the board, etc, etc. Virat Kohli says he would have also have batted first.
“Good Morning Rob!” says Kevin Usher. “Long time listener, first time caller... Given that it occurs after both semi-finals are over (English weather notwithstanding), and two days before the final itself, what’s the significance of the draw on Friday?”
It’s an in-joke, with myself, based on the below from Vic Marks in the Observer in 1993.
On the field the Australians have humbled us; the Oval excepted, the cricket has been too one-sided to provoke prolonged excitement over the airwaves. Hence there have been more japes than usual and we can takr solace in at least one minor English victory. It took place at Edgbaston when Baxter passed a note to Neville Oliver on air, which he dutifully read out - “There will be full coverage of the NatWest semi-finals on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the draw for the final will be made live on Radio 5”.
The first email “It is good to start a knockout match as underdogs,” says Krishnamoorthy V. “An early loss of Rohit Sharma and some tight bowling will send India into a panic. NZ should try starting with a spinner (a la Dipak Patel in 1992).”
I wouldn’t do that today – these look like great swing-bowling conditions.
It’s been a bat-first tournament - 16 of the last 20 games have been won that way - but New Zealand must be tempted to bowl first if they win the toss. It’s overcast, which suits Trent Boult, and their best chance of winning the game is probably to put India in and take early wickets. That’s the only consideration, right?
The weather forecast isn’t the best: cloudy turning to light rain at lunchtime. There is a reserve day for both semi-finals, although they are a last resort. We could still have, for example, a 20-over match today or on Thursday. This explains it in a little more detail, although it doesn’t completely satisfy me that there is no potential for farce.
Good morning. The Cricket World Cup is the tournament that always leaves the audience wanting less. The group stages are a tough mudder for supporters – a draining test of endurance, nerve, commitment, caffeine levels and ability to understand how net run-rate works. They must be quite hard to play in as well.
The group stages were good to middling, saved by Sri Lanka’s win over England. But now, after 40 days and 41 matches, we’ve reached the really good bit: the knockout stages. India play New Zealand in the first semi-final at Old Trafford today. Then, on Thursday at Edgbaston, Australia and England will compare testosterone levels. The draw for the final will take place on Friday, with the two teams meeting at Lord’s on Sunday.
A devastating new-ball burst from Trent Boult and Matt Henry was ultimately decisive as New Zealand beat India by 18 runs in a nerve-shredding semi-final
The book will always say that New Zealand beat India by 18 runs in the first semi-final of the 2019 World Cup. But you’d need thousands and thousands of words to tell the full story of a marvellous, nuanced match. It placed unreasonable demands on the brain, gut, heart, nerves, eyes and soul - and that’s just for the neutral supporters.
At the end of it all, New Zealand are in the World Cup final again. It’s often said that you need to lose one to win one, and New Zealand will hope that’s the case. One thing’s for sure: anyone who thinks, consciously or otherwise, that tomorrow’s match between Australia and England is a de facto final needs to give their head a wobble.
“I have family spread throughout NZ and we all stayed up and communicated through WhatsApp,” writes Judy. “Well done Black Caps. Guppy you have redeemed yourself as even though your batting was off, your fielding was ON.”
Here’s Kane Williamson
“It’s a different feeling from four years ago – the surfaces, and the way we’ve had to try and skin it, has been quite different to the last World Cup. The guys have shown a lot of heart throughout the campaign. It was a tough match and a great semi-final. Batting was really tough – we had to assess the conditions, because at the start I think both sides thought it would be a much higher-scoring game. We spoke about trying to get 240-250. We thought if we did that we’d be right in the game.
Here’s the Indian captain Virat Kohli
“We were very, very good in the field – spot on. We thought we had restricted them to a total that was quite chaseable on any surface. But the way they bowled in that first half hour was the difference in the game. We felt like we had the momentum and the right mindset. The credit has to go to the New Zealand bowlers, because with the new ball they were outstanding. The skill level was clear to everyone and they made life very difficult for the batsman.
“The more I see that Guptill throw,” says Siddharth Singh, “the more it like a finishing move from Mortal Kombat.”
When you consider the context - of the match, and the tournament he’s had - I reckon that’s the champagne moment of the World Cup so far.
Happy birthday to Danielle Tolson, who sent this email after approximately 47.4 overs.
“In the course of this game I have aged at least a year. Literally, as overnight here in NZ it has ticked in to being my birthday. Before the game resumed, I said I’d be happy whoever won as long as it was a decent game. Instead I’m sitting in the middle of the night in the middle of winter with a face like a twisted jandal*. I think my birthday resolution this year might be giving up cricket.once & for all. Again.
Matt Henry is the Player of the Match
“We wanted to start off well with the ball and create as much pressure as we could. We had to ask a lot of questions – we knew it wasn’t the easiest wicket to bat on. We’ve always got belief. We knew we had to bowl really well. They’re very dangerous down the order so we knew that to win this game we’d have to get [Jadeja and Dhoni] out. It’s a pretty special moment and we’re looking forward to Lord’s.
That was the best World Cup semi-final since, well, 2015. But it was a bona fide classic - subtle as a Test match at times, unbearably dramatic at others - and you can read all about it here.
The New Zealand players almost look like they have lost the game. It must be emotional exhaustion, the same as Australia experienced after their semi-final against South Africa in 1999, and perhaps a bit of disbelief as well. It should sink in any second now.
The last wicket came when Chahal edged a loopy slower ball to Latham. He went upstairs, presumably on the might-as-well principle, but there was a spike and the decision was upheld. This is a sensational win for New Zealand. Nothing can top the emotion of the 2015 semi-final, at least not until Sunday, but right here, right now, you could argue this is their greatest ever World Cup victory.
WICKET! India 221 all out (Chahal c Latham b Neesham 5) New Zealand have beaten India by 18 runs in an immense semi-final, and Kane Williamson is still walking round with a resting heart rate!
This should be the game.
49.2 overs: India 221-9 (Chahal 5, Bumrah 0) Chahal edges Neesham’s slower ball this far short of Latham. It doesn’t matter for New Zealand.
49.1 overs: India 221-9 (Chahal 5, Bumrah 0) The first ball is filth, and Chahal tickles it fine. 19 from 5 for the mother of all miracles.
Ferguson cleaned Kumar up with a stunning slower ball that turned like a leg-break to hit the stumps. India need 23 from the final over - or, to put it another way, New Zealand are in the World Cup final.
Bowled him!
48.4 overs: India 216-8 (Kumar 0, Chahal 0) A dot ball! A magical dot ball for New Zealand. India need 24 from eight balls.
Dhoni shovelled the ball into a gap on the leg side and tried to steal a second. Guptill charged in from deep backward square, picked up and hit the stumps with a blistering throw. It went upstairs and replays showed Dhoni was just short. What a piece of fielding from Guptill. The man who has had an absolute dog of a tournament has just put New Zealand in the final!
He’s out! MS Dhoni is out!
I think this is out!
48.2 overs: India 215-7 (Dhoni 49, Kumar 0) Dhoni cuts Ferguson’s first ball for six! It just cleared the man on the rope, but it did clear him, and India are back in this. But the next one is a dot ball. This is pulsating stuff.
48 overs: India 209-7 (Dhoni 43, Kumar 0) Dhoni pulls Boult’s last ball for a single, turning down a second. India need 31 from 12 balls.
Jadeja clouted Boult a million miles in the air, literally, and for the second time today Williamson claimed a nerve-shredding catch with inhuman serenity. Jadeja played a staggering innings – 77 from 59 balls, with four fours and four sixes. India need 32 from 13 balls.
Gone!
47.4 overs: India 208-6 (Dhoni 43, Jadeja 76) Another single. Dhoni knows. Right?
47.3 overs: India 207-6 (Dhoni 42, Jadeja 76) A fantastic yorker from Boult is dug out for a single by Jadeja. 33 from 15.
47.2 overs: India 206-6 (Dhoni 41, Jadeja 76) Boult stops in his delivery stride, presumably because he lost his run-up. He runs in again, and Dhoni pats a single to mid-off. Dhoni is either a twisted genius or … not.
47.1 overs: India 205-6 (Dhoni 40, Jadeja 76) Williamson gambles by using Trent Boult’s final over right here, right now. Dhoni, strokeless for so long, pulls viciously for two. It would have been four but for a great stop by Santner.
47 overs: India 203-6 (Dhoni 38, Jadeja 76) And he does. Dhoni takes a single, which makes it five from the over. India need 37 from 18 balls. Henry finishes with 10-1-37-3.
46.5 overs: India 202-6 (Dhoni 37, Jadeja 76) Jadeja steers to short third man for a single. This will be a fine over from Henry, if he can get out unscathed.
46.4 overs: India 201-6 (Dhoni 37, Jadeja 75) Dhoni plays tip-and-run again. A single.
46.3 overs: India 200-6 (Dhoni 36, Jadeja 75) Jadeja flaps a slower bouncer for a single.
46.2 overs: India 199-6 (Dhoni 36, Jadeja 74) A swing and a miss from Jadeja. 41 from 22 needed. Yes, yes I know technically I should have typed ‘forty-one’ as it was the first word of a sentence, but now’s not the time!
46.1 overs: India 199-6 (Dhoni 36, Jadeja 74) Matt Henry, whose new-ball burst feels an age ago, comes on to bowl his final over. Dhoni takes a single to backward point to get Jadeja on strike. He’s not a finisher today; he’s a facilitator.
46th over: India 198-6 (Dhoni 35, Jadeja 74) New Zealand are desperate for a wicket from Boult. They don’t get it – and India pilfer 10 more invaluable runs! There was one boundary, an edge from Jadeja that raced past the keeper Latham. Jadeja has had a few bits of luck in the last 20 minutes. But it has been an immense innings. India need 42 from 24 balls - or 41 for a Super Over. There’s only one thing for it: the OBO is dead, long live the BBB.
Thanks Simon, hello everyone. Trent Boult is returning to the attack.
45th over: India 188-6 (Dhoni 33, Jadeja 66) Ferguson’s ninth over starts with a brilliant yorker, then a single, then two, and then Jadeja sees a slow ball coming, bides his time and then lifts one over long-off for six! “This is thrilling, see-saw cricket,” writes Guy Hornsby, “but it’s like this pair are batting totally different games. When will MSD play the situation? Unless he’s waiting to blast 50 off the last 5. That seems an immense gamble to take.” India need 52 from 30 balls.
At this point I’m going to hand over to Rob Smyth, who’s going to take you through the denouement and its aftermath. Emails to him here please, if you would.
44th over: India 178-6 (Dhoni 30, Jadeja 59) Ugh! Jadeja lifts the ball to Taylor at short fine leg, but it lands just short! And then he hits Henry’s slower delivery straight to Henry at long on, but again it drops just short! Incredible double-survival let-off madness! If he just wanted to dispirit his opposition at this key juncture, he couldn’t have placed those balls better. India need 10.33 an over.
43rd over: India 170-6 (Dhoni 29, Jadeja 53) That’s an excellent over from Ferguson, which yields three singles.
Reminder: Ravindra Jadeja has 3 triple-centuries in first-class cricket. Three 300s! #indiavsNewzealand
First ODI fifty for Ravindra Jadeja since 5 Sep 2014 when he made his career-best of 87 against England at Leeds - 31 innings ago & nearly five years ago.#INDvNZ#CWC19
42nd over: India 168-6 (Dhoni 28, Jadeja 52) Neesham and De Grandhomme have been the weakest of New Zealand’s bowlers, but with only five outstanding from Boult, Henry and Ferguson they need one or both of them to stand up here. Neesham gets his chance, and Jadeja pulls the ball viciously through midwicket; Ross Taylor was there to stop it inside the circle, but was undone by a nasty bounce. Two off the next takes Jadeja to his first ODI half-century for five years, and the crowd is buzzing again now as belief courses back through Indian veins.
41st over: India 159-6 (Dhoni 27, Jadeja 45) Jadeja attacks again, lifting the ball over cow corner for six! Then the last is chipped to midwicket, but drops just short! That’s the last we’ll see of Santner, who’s bowled out. His 10 overs have cost 34 runs and brought two wickets, and been generally excellent.
40th over: India 150-6 (Dhoni 24, Jadeja 39) Ferguson’s back, and Jadeja gloves his first delivery down the leg side. Latham dives to his right but can’t reach it, and it’s away for four! Another first-ball nearly moment for Ferguson, though the delivery wasn’t up to much. The growing feeling is that New Zealand need a wicket, with Jadeja so far judging his innings perfectly and Dhoni, well, Dhoni. Nine off the over, which is precisely what India need from here on in.
39th over: India 141-6 (Dhoni 23, Jadeja 32) Santner has conceded a boundary now, and it’s a massive six over long-on from Jadeja. India need precisely 99 runs now, off 11 overs, and the tension isn’t lifting any time soon.
38th over: India 131-6 (Dhoni 22, Jadeja 24) Matt Henry’s ninth over. Jadeja hoists one over midwicket for a one-bounce four. The bowler then goes slow and short, and then faster and full, and Jadeja can’t read either of them. A single off the last, though, and Jadeja had 24 at precisely a run a ball: no other Indian batsman has scored at a strike rate above 57, and after scoring 22 off 44 Dhoni’s is exactly 50.
37th over: India 126-6 (Dhoni 22, Jadeja 19) Santner’s eighth over, and nobody has scored a boundary off him yet. This over goes one-dot-one-dot-one-dot, like Long John Silver on his morning stroll.
36th over: India 123-6 (Dhoni 21, Jadeja 17) Oooof! Henry replaces Boult, and coaxes the ball through an invisible gap between Dhoni’s bat and body, the ball just clearing the stumps. Then there’s a little noise as the last delivery goes through to the keeper, but nobody’s very excited about it; presumably it was a pad. India need 8.35 an over from here.
35th over: India 119-6 (Dhoni 20, Jadeja 15) Santner returns, and Jadeja and Dhoni do some fine running, though a very slightly better throw to Santner might have had Jadeja in trouble after he was ordered to turn back by his team-mate, rather than go for a second. “So the ICC arrange an entire World Cup model, and eliminate many other countries from even playing for the benefit of India staying in as long as possible,” writes Darnel Harris, “and they ... do this?”
34th over: India 114-6 (Dhoni 19, Jadeja 11) Ye olde win predictor gives New Zealand a 94% chance of winning at the start of Boult’s eighth over. Dhoni drives down the ground for four. “After seeing Kohli’s scores in KO stages, it reminds me of North American Sports. In North American sports like NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB if you don’t deliver in the playoffs than you are not the GOAT or they say you don’t have the clutch gene. Or you can’t handle pressure etc,” writes Humming Bird. “What do you think of Kohli in this regard?” Obviously I think he’s brilliant, but those statistics are starting to look telling.
33rd over: India 106-6 (Dhoni 14, Jadeja 9) Six runs! Neesham replaced Santner, and Jadeja clobbers him down the ground. The over ends with a bonus run, as the fielder’s throw hits the wicket with the batsmen having settled for a single and deflects far enough away to let them scamper another.
32nd over: India 97-6 (Dhoni 12, Jadeja 2) Boult returns; the required run rate rises. They’re surely not going to meander out of the World Cup at three runs an over?
5 years back in Auckland, India were chasing 315 v NZ.
Jadeja arrived at No. 8 in 36th over when 131 runs were needed in 86 balls (Req RR: 9.14).
He scored 66* off 45 with Ashwin (65/46) and managed to tie the game.
India require something similar from him now. #IndvNZ
31st over: India 94-6 (Dhoni 10, Jadeja 1) Santner has pretty much delivered the same ball 36 times in his six overs. A couple of hours ago I read a suggestion on Twitter that Williamson might be refraining from bowling him for fear that he would be slogged around the ground. Now he’s taken two wickets for seven runs in six overs.
“What would happen if the scores are tied at 50 overs on 239 for 8?” asks Kim Thonger. “The match between the two sides in the group stage was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Would it be decided on the toss of a coin?” The head-to-head record isn’t used in any circumstances: I believe
India would go through because of their superior record in the group stages it would go to a super over (thanks Andrew Howard for clarification).
MS Dhoni's Batting Impact in this World Cup is -5.7. That means that, compared to what we'd expect the average batsman would have done, Dhoni has cost India 5.7 runs a match. No Indian batsman has a lower Impact in this tournament. #CWC19
Hardik Pandya top-edges a wild slog and Williamson runs back at midwicket to collect the ball as it comes down from orbit!
30th over: India 92-5 (Pandya 32, Dhoni 10) Pandya keeps rubbing the small of his back. He has already needed the physio on in this innings to hand over a pill, presumably a painkiller. So that doesn’t help. Seven off Neesham’s fourth over, the first in 10 overs to go for more than four (and they only did that once). And India do indeed need exactly 148 from 20 overs!
“Dhoni resembles more than anything else a tired old general fighting the last war,” writes Sankaran Krishna. “This tuk-tuk approach ratchets up the pressure on poor Hardik and any non-striker - followed by a headrush dismissal and then Dhoni’s inability to deliver in the final push. Sad.”
29th over: India 85-5 (Pandya 30, Dhoni 5) Dhoni has faced 20 deliveries for his five runs. He is spectacularly unflustered.
28th over: India 83-5 (Pandya 30, Dhoni 3) Pandya turns to Ferguson after ducking his way out of a bouncer, smiles and gives him a thumbs up. That’s good sport. The required run rate is now above 7 (7.13, to be precise). “Looks like India are trying to get to 91 after 30 overs, just so they can chase down 148 from 20 and prove a point,” says Samuel.
27th over: India 82-5 (Pandya 30, Dhoni 2) Santner has conceded three runs in four overs, but he’s on the slide: two maidens to start, but two runs off this one alone. He’s practically falling apart. “A friend outside the ground has been told despite them having thousands of tickets, they can’t sell them to walk-ups,” reports Tom Watkins. “Cricket doesn’t really help itself does it?”
26th over: India 80-5 (Pandya 29, Dhoni 1) The required run rate is approaching seven. India have scored 10 in the last seven overs. “Can we revert to chasing 148 from 20 overs? Asking on behalf of a friend,” writes Deepak Puri.
25th over: India 77-5 (Pandya 26, Dhoni 1) Santner’s third over sees him concede his first run. There’s also a leg bye. New Zealand currently at 80% on the win predictor.
24th over: India 75-5 (Pandya 25, Dhoni 1) Crikey, the tension. MS Dhoni can get this done. He can also go at three an over until it’s too late to change direction. Let’s see.
In the whole world of cricket @msdhoni would be my choice of man to walk to the crease now. This is amazing stuff to watch. #CWC
India needs 169 runs at the fall of Pant's wicket - there is one instance of the last five wickets scoring as many in a World Cup run chase - 218 by Ireland vs England, Bengaluru, 2011 (111/5 -> 329/7).#INDvNZ#CWC19#TeamIndia#BackTheBlackCaps
23rd over: India 71-5 (Pandya 22, Dhoni 0) India had scored one run from the 16 balls that preceded the wicket. Santner had bowled 10 successive dots. Finally Pant decided that drastic action had to be taken, and that was the last decision he’ll have to take today. Thus this becomes the third wicket maiden of the innings.
The partnership is broken! Pant tries to hoist Santner over midwicket but he doesn’t get enough on it, and De Grandhomme takes a straightforward catch!
22nd over: India 71-4 (Pant 32, Pandya 22) A single off Neesham, and the required run rate is above six for the first time today. I must say that an impressive number of yesterday’s ticket-holders have managed to wangle another free day in Manchester, with significant gaps visible only in the giant Foster’s Party Stand.
21st over: India 70-4 (Pant 31, Pandya 22) Had play started at 6.30pm last night, India would have had to score 148 in 20 overs. Now they’re at less than half that total after 21. Santner bowls for the first time, and it’s a maiden.
20th over: India 70-4 (Pant 31, Pandya 22) Pandya clips to Ferguson at long leg and goes for two. It would have been the end of him, had Ferguson’s throw been more accurate, or more flat of trajectory. Then Pant gets a thick edge on the last, which runs to the third man boundary.
19th over: India 62-4 (Pant 27, Pandya 19) Ferguson’s first balls are incredible. This time it rises sharply over Pant’s dangling bat. “This innings reminds me of when my brother beat the shit out of me when I was little, and I asked him to stop, but he didn’t,” writes Subhankar Pasalapudi (a couple of overs ago, to be fair, before this pair started making life look just a little less dismal for India).
18th over: India 60-4 (Pant 25, Pandya 19) De Grandhomme is milked like an old dairy cow. Nine off the over in ones and twos (plus a wide).
17th over: India 51-4 (Pant 24, Pandya 12) Having nearly got a wicket with the first ball of his first over, Ferguson nearly gets another with the first ball of his third. Pandya completely mistimes a pull shot and top-edges just over the head of the fielder at midwicket!
“I’d like to take issue with your publication of Asif Gil’s mails (overs 14 and 15),” writes Ant Pease. “Since when has the OBO been a home for poorly typed gibberish from the public?”
16th over: India 47-4 (Pant 23, Pandya 10) Colin de Grandhomme replaces Henry, and when Pandya cuts the ball firmly Martin Guptill dives high to his left to get his palm on the ball; he doesn’t hold it, but he does turn four runs into one.
15th over: India 43-4 (Pant 20, Pandya 9) One run from Ferguson’s second over. India need 5.6 an over from here on in. Asif Gil emails again. “rrrrrrr4 thee,” he says. I think his phone might be broken.
14th over: India 42-4 (Pant 19, Pandya 9) Pandya times one past cover, where the fielder dives but misjudges the bouncing ball and so can’t stop it going for four. “I am ga gyrrrrrrr4crtrtrrrweswrr rsseeeederregwvydseytt a rrrrrrr4crtrtrrrweswsseeeederregwvv,” writes Asif Gil. I know how you feel, Asif.
13th over: India 37-4 (Pant 19, Pandya 5) DROPPED! Lockie Ferguson’s first delivery is hit by Pant straight to Neesham, author of a world-class catch but minutes ago, at short midwicket. It comes at him fast, for sure, but that was a pretty ho-hum, run-of-the-mill catch, chest high, just to his right.
12th over: India 35-4 (Pant 18, Pandya 4) Rishabh Pant is playing a different game to everybody else, going at not far off a run a ball and looking pretty untroubled doing so. He pulls one for four, and then pushes through cover. Santner dives to his left to stop it, and returns the ball so quickly that what seemed a straightforward single ends the batsman desperately diving to make his ground.
11th over: India 30-4 (Pant 13, Pandya 4) Boult keeps going, this the sixth over of his spell, and it ends with a leg-side wide, and then another that is heading in a similar direction until Pandya tickles it away for four. The win predictor now gives New Zealand a 65% chance of victory.
24 - India were 24/4 at the end of the power play today, they found themselves 22/4 after 10 overs v NZ earlier this year in Wellington, batting first, but still went on to win that match. Tumbling. #cwc19#indvnzpic.twitter.com/yX7xWAqV8t
10th over: India 24-4 (Pant 12, Pandya 0) Another boundary, Pant hitting a lovely shot through the covers. There’s some encouragement here for India’s batsmen, but they’re not sticking around long enough to exploit it. The wicket falls from the last ball of the powerplay: prior to today India had lost four wickets in the opening 10 overs across the entire tournament; they’ve now equalled that total in less than an hour.
What a grab! Diving low to his left, with his arm fully extended, Jimmy Neesham plucks the ball out of the air about an inch from the ground, and then manages to pivot his hand so it protects the ball from the turf! Phenomenal!
9th over: India 19-3 (Pant 7, Karthik 6) Runs for Karthik! He finally gets off the mark, from his 21st delivery, as he works one between third slip - that’s right, three slips - and point and gets four for it. And then a couple off the last for good measure.
The English weather makes you wonder how we ever invented this game @Simon_Burnton - and then it makes you wonder how we couldn't #everyballachallenge
8th over: India 13-3 (Pant 7, Karthik 0) Karthik has faced 16 balls so far, for his zero. None, though, in this over. India now need 5.4 an over, and it’s rising fast. “I think someone should go and check in on the Win Predictor algorithm - I don’t think it’s very well,” says Harry Lang. “I just saw it suggest, obviously in the throws of malfunction, that India were still 70% favourites whilst seemingly leaning over a precipice wearing banana skin slippers. Surely someone needs to switch it off and on again?”
7th over: India 10-3 (Pant 5, Karthik 0) Another maiden from Boult, who has one wicket for three runs from four overs. It ends with a gorgeous inswinging yorker, which doesn’t quite inswing enough.
6th over: India 10-3 (Pant 5, Karthik 0) Four! India’s first boundary comes as Pant works the ball past point, and with almost every fielder in the circle once it’s through, it’s gone. India still have a 70% chance of victory according to the win predictor, down from 98% at the start of the innings. “Well, we always wondered what’d happen if a team managed to get through India’s top 3 early,” says Guy Hornsby, “and here we are. It’s happened to everyone else, but not with a spot in the final at stake. Can Pant play that innings? Game absolutely, vitally, on.”
5th over: India 6-3 (Pant 1, Karthik 0) Boult bowls a tempter across Karthik, similar to the delivery from Henry that did for Sharma, but this time the batsman leaves it. Then Pant raises his bat to a ball that comes back into him and, as he goes down on one knee, clips his chest on its way through. There’s a loud lbw appeal, but a shake of the head from the umpire, and no review. This is the first time in the entire history of ODI cricket that the top three batsmen have all been out for one run.
1 KL Rahul 1 Rohit Sharma 1 Virat Kohli
Trivia: First time in ODI history, the three top-order batsmen are out for 1. #IndvNZ
4th over: India 5-3 (Pant 0, Karthik 0) Another wicket maiden, as India falter in the face of Boult and Henry’s early-innings assault. “Everyone has talked about Boult in the build up to this morning, they seem to have forgotten Henry took 75 wickets at 15.48 in the CC last season, most of which were in very similar conditions to this,” notes Chris Parker.
India's top three: 111
Coincidentally, that's the number to dial in case of emergencies in New Zealand#CWC19#INDvNZ
All batsmen gone. It's upto the wicketkeepers, all-rounders and bowlers to take India through. #IndvNZ#CWC19
Another edge, and an easy catch for Latham! Scenes!
3rd over: India 5-2 (Rahul 1, Pant 0) Kohli goes after Boult’s first ball, but gets nothing on it as it whistles well wide of off stump. Two dots follow, and then another ball Kohli gets nothing on, and this one would have hit the stumps! Kohli’s average in three World Cup semi-finals is 3.66. Wicket maiden. What. A. Start.
#ViratKohli in World Cup knockouts 24(33) 9(21) 35(49) 3(8) 1(13) 1(6)
The ball would have clipped the bails on its way through, and India’s captain has gone!
It looked a very good shout to me. This is massive ...
2nd over: India 5-1 (Rahul 1, Kohli 1) Kohli edges his first ball, but it goes straight to ground. “Good morning and, weatherwise, we can say that with confidence,” writes John Starbuck. “Given that tomorrow’s forecasts are for thunderstorms, how ready are we for play on reserve-day Friday too? Got the cards ready?” The forecast for Birmingham tomorrow does look very poor indeed, and it looks at the moment like play on Friday is likely.
Beauty! After three successive World Cup centuries, Rohit Sharma has gone for one, pushing at the ball and feathering an edge to the keeper!
1st over: India 2-0 (Rahul 1, Sharma 1) The innings starts with a sharp single to mid-off, well run. But there’s just another single to follow, and the over ends with four dots.
The players are back out. 240 to get. Trent Boult has the ball in his hand, and New Zealand need some magic from him this morning. Game on.
So India need 4.8 an over from 50 overs to claim a place in the final. I imagine they’d have taken that 24 hours ago.
50th over: New Zealand 239-8 (Santner 9, Boult 3) A single for Santner off the first, then a bouncer beats Boult. He then bashes the next to midwicket for a couple, an ugly shot but it’ll do, and follows that with a single. Santner has the strike, with two to face. The first goes to mid-on, where it’s well fielded but they run a couple, and he gets nothing but pad on the last. They run a leg bye, and India’s target is 240!
49th over: New Zealand 232-8 (Santner 5, Boult 0) Mitch Santner gets the day’s first boundary, spearing through the covers for four. But then Henry tries to smack the last ball of the over over the long on boundary but gets nowhere near enough on it, and Kohli takes a straightforward catch!
Jadeja’s at it again! He takes an excellent high catch at deep midwicket, and he’s essentially taken two wickets in two balls!
48th over: New Zealand 225-5 (Latham 10) Bumrah starts his day with a full toss, which Taylor only converts into a single. With so many fielders in the deep, if they manage to get bat on ball a single is inevitable, and two likely. Eight off the over, despite that run-out off the last.
That’s an extraordinary bit of fielding from Jadeja! The batsmen come back for a second run and it seems straightforward, but Jadeja runs in from deep square leg and hits the stumps from side-on and a distance of 40 yards!
47th over: New Zealand 217-5 (Taylor 70, Latham 6) A single for Taylor, and then a yorker that’s too good for Latham. The next goes down to long leg, and the batsmen manage to run a fairly comfortable two thanks to some half-hearted fielding. Another one and a two makes six off the first five balls of the day, with Taylor on strike for the start of over 48.
“If New Zealand score 30 runs from their remaining overs, it’s a bad sign for them I think, because it means the pitch is good for batting and India are also likely get the required runs from their 50 overs,” writes Mark van Raaij. “If, on the contrary, NZ struggle to add to their total, they might be able to also put India in trouble.” So let me get this straight: the worse New Zealand do, the better New Zealand are doing?
The players are out now, so either way, we’re about to find out.
If you get tired of the glitz and glamour of World Cup cricket, here’s Tanya Aldred with the County blog:
“Trying to think of a less appealing challenge in world cricket than coming in cold this morning to try and hit sixes off Bhuvi and Bumrah yorkers,” says Lawrence White. “There can’t be much worse?” It’s a nasty assignment, to be sure, and there won’t be many worse. Perhaps defending 230 against Sharma and Kohli?
Apparently Bhuvi Kumar, who will start the day by bowling the final five deliveries of his ninth over, has been practising yorkers this morning.
Even further pre-play reading: here’s Andy Bull on the one great advantage Australia have over their World Cup rivals:
“A score of 240+ and an early wicket will mean New Zealand can book tickets to London,” suggests Krish. “Else the tag of eternal semi finalists can come to haunt them.” I think they’re a bit below par, and the fact that 12 of their last 23 balls will be bowled by Bumrah isn’t encouraging, but as you say if they can score another 30 runs and take a couple of early wickets they’re back in the game.
Further pre-play reading: ICC says outbreak of unusually slow pitches at this World Cup is just coincidence and nothing to do with them:
Important point of information: play will resume at 10.30am BST. There is, I’m told, a 20% chance of rain for an hour or so at lunchtime, but that aside we’re all good.
We’re back! There’s unfinished business to be done in Manchester after yesterday’s rain, which mercifully continued just long enough to prevent a potentially ludicrous 20-over Indian run chase being awkwardly squeezed into the evening.
That would certainly have improved New Zealand’s chances of prevailing; this outcome does the opposite. They have to click immediately and seamlessly into top gear this morning as they attempt to turn 211-5 into a defendable total in the space of only 23 balls. In particular Ross Taylor, who had finally started to score fairly freely after a slow start when the rain fell, has to go big from the off.
Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer and Jason Roy starred as England produced an awesome performance to thrash Australia by eight wickets with almost 18 overs to spare
That’s it for our semi-final blog. It’s quite hard to make sense of what we watched today. England have marmalised Australia in a World Cup semi-final. You have to feel for this Australian team, especially their admirable captain Aaron Finch. It’s no consolation, not to a country of serial winners, but they have come so far in the last year.
England have travelled even further in the last four years. They are one win away from immortality. Trouble is, so are New Zealand. It’s all quite emotional - especially if you’re a member of Generation FFS, that hardy, masochistic, downright odd group of England supporters who have followed every ODI their team has
lost played in the last 27 years.
“Sunday is the perfect chance for England to complete the circle, isn’t it?” says David Hopkins. “This New England ODI started in that terrific series against NZ and now they can top it off against them. If they do win, should Morgan’s first words to Kane be ‘thank you’?”
I suppose Brendon McCullum, who was NZ captain back then, was Morgan’s biggest inspiration. It’s not just that series in 2015, either; that astonishing shellacking at the World Cup a few months earlier was the moment Morgan decided enough was enough.
“Evening Rob,” says Tom Hopkins. “Following on from Geoff’s commitment to get Marina Hyde on the OBO, can I request that if Rachel Gray’s date isn’t already the subject of Saturday’s Blind Date column that it be made so as a matter of urgency?”
Andrew Strauss, who started all this with the appointment of Trevor Bayliss and the retention of Eoin Morgan, is chatting on Sky
“I found myself getting quite emotional today. All we wanted four years ago was for England to go out and play a different style – we didn’t know where it would lead us but we thought that was England’s best chance of winning a World Cup. One more hurdle to overcome, and the only thing I’d ask of that team is: please play the same way. I know they will, and the pot of gold is there at the end of the rainbow.”
“Hi Rob,” says Will. “So you want euphoric + OTT, how about this… Seriously, where do you think that performance stands in British sporting history? Taking the importance of the occasion and the quality of the opposition into account, it must be top 10? Scenes after the third consecutive six off Smith, the sound off the bat was ungodly.”
I suppose it depends on how broadly you define sport.
You should have seen Phil Taylor and Adie Lewis in the 2013 darts World Cup! It’s certainly one of the most brutal performances I’ve seen by an England team in a World Cup match.
“I have a date with an Australian this evening,” says Rachel Gray. “It was of course going to be following our victory over India, then I saw it as an opportunity to appear gracious after a close defeat, but I am utterly unequipped to deal with this. How do I get through the evening without being totally insufferable?”
You can’t, so the next best thing is to get so paggered on Victory Juice that you won’t rememberbeing insufferable, which means you weren’t.
Shane Warne is feeling funky He says that, if Bairstow is injured, England should open with Jos Buttler on Sunday. You know, he might be onto something. He usually is. He also wants Roy and Bairstow to open in the Test team, which, despite being an affront to 142 years of English opening batsmanship, is an increasingly persuasive idea.
“Re: the earlier query about big-screen options for Sunday,” says David Hopkins. “I believe there’s a Fanzone with a big screen in Trafalgar Square. Good old Sadiq!”
It’s Coming Home department
“I’m trying not to even think it, never mind type it, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “There’s so much to admire about both teams heading to Lord’s on Sunday, but you know the three little words to which I refer...”
“Despite England’s surge to ODI dominance over the past few years, this is the most excited I’ve ever been about England’s cricket prospects,” writes Bex. “Likeable players who dominate with their play, whatever happens in the final we’ve got the best damn side we could hope for. And WTF what that amazing Roy helicopter shot? Move aside, Maxwell, we have Royball now!”
I’m still high on that innings. Nothing will ever top watching Kevin Pietersen playing one of his JFK innings, but Roy produced a helluvan homage.
Jonny Bairstow may be doubtful for the final. He has a groin problem and will be assessed over the next couple of days. I suppose if he might be doubtful that means he is doubtful.
“Haha, amazing!” says Richard. “Assuming we don’t have tickets for Lord’s & fancy an experience, are there any official venues in London for enjoying the atmosphere on a big screen?”
There will be, although I’m not sure where. You’re welcome!
The best thing for our beautiful game, a 1st time winner! Congrats to the players and fans of England and New Zealand. #CWC19
“I remember listening to the last World Cup semi-final on my Walkman in my A level Geography class,” says Nick Errington. “Mrs Sansom asked me if I could stop listening during the lesson. I explained it was either I listen quietly or leave the lesson. We agreed I could keep one ear on her and one on TMS. It was the right choice. Sometimes sport is more important. Just like today.”
You must have been a very naughty boy – that game was on a Sunday. (I jest; you meant the final, right?)
“Is it too late,” says Adam Hirst, “to change the final venue to Edgbaston?”
Anyone out there? We’ll keep the blog going for a while, so feel free to email euphoric thoughts.
Jeez, England were good today. They are such merciless front-runners. “From ball two of the game,” says Joe Rooy on Sky, “we were outstanding.” That was their best display of the World Cup, by a mile, and you could argue it’s the finest performance in their ODI history. I’m probably getting carried away, but what the hell.
Jofra Archer is being interviewed on Sky
“I feel bad about Alex Carey. He’s coming to Sussex in a few weeks, so we’ll have something to talk about! It stopped swinging pretty early so I just went to the cross- and quarter-seam balls to get something off the wicket. It nipped more than it swung. Today was the best wicket to bowl a knuckle ball on; I’ve never had that much reaction off the pitch, ever. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be playing in a World Cup final.”
Channel 4 has signed a deal to show the World Cup final live on free-to-air television, with the broadcaster showing Sky’s coverage from 9am onwards.
However, because Channel 4 is already planning to show the Formula 1 British Grand Prix, the cricket coverage will shift to More4 from 1.15pm onwards - meaning most of the match will be tucked away on the more obscure channel.
Here’s Eoin Morgan
“I’d like to thank the fans – we’ve had unbelievable support. Edgbaston has always been very kind to us, but our support today has been exemplary. We took a lot of confidence from the last two group games. We set the tone from ball one, and when we got on top we made Australia pay a little bit.
The thoroughly likeable Aaron Finch speaks
“We were totally outplayed today. The way they set the tone with the ball in the first 10 overs was a huge part in the game. They bowled a great length, hitting the stumps a lot. Still a lot of positives to take out of the World Cup campaign from our point of view. We’ve come a long way from where we were this time last year in England.
What a staggering turnaround we have witnessed from England’s ODI side. No, not the last four years; I’m talking about the last two weeks. After they were hammered by Australia at Lord’s they were facing a career-defining humiliation; since then they have beaten their three biggest rivals through performances of ever-increasing majesty.
Chris Woakes is the Player of the Match
“I’m speechless. It was an incredible performance from the whole team. There were some nerves this morning but I think that’s natural. The way we produced the goods shows how good we are and where we’re at as a team. I don’t think it was a bad wicket by any means, but I think we found the right length and when they lost early wickets we were able to keep the pressure on. [How old were you when England last played in a World Cup final?] I was three years old! It hasn’t really sunk in that we’re in a World Cup final, but hopefully we can go all the way. To win this in the fashion we have, against a good Australian side – on the best ground in the world, may I say - means we’re really looking forward to Sunday.”
It is now pouring down at Edgbaston.
English TV department If you don’t have Sky, the highlights are on Channel 4 at 10pm tonight. And there were some serious highlights, especially when Jason Roy was batting. I hope his petulance doesn’t detract from an innings of Pietersenian genius and audacity.
Root ended with 49 from 46 balls, Morgan with 45 from 39. Mitchell Starc, who destroyed England at Lord’s along with Jason Behrendorff, ended with grisly figures of 9-0-70-1.
Australia’s players all congratulate Root and Morgan. They usually take defeat with a lot of class, and today is no exception. There’s such a great atmosphere around Edgbaston. England owe South Africa a big thank you for this, because playing Australia at this ground was perfect. The crowd have been wonderful. We didn’t come up with a name for the ground, but it has certainly been England’s Gabbatoir today.
32.1 overs: England 226-2 (Root 49, Morgan 45) Eoin Morgan clouts Behrendorff down the ground for four to complete a glorious victory. England will play New Zealand in the World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday!
32nd over: England 222-2 (Root 49, Morgan 41) Glenn Maxwell, a proud fielder to the last, takes the game into the 33rd over with a spectacular stop at backward point.
“Hi Rob,” says Anil Haji. “Sitting at my desk reading the OBO with a smile on my face, feeling calm and positive about the final we’re going to be in. What’s wrong with this picture? If I’d tried this back in the 90s, I’d have been laughed out of the England Cricket Supporters’ Union (Pray For Rain branch).”
31st over: England 216-2 (Root 44, Morgan 40) Root swats Behrendorff through midwicket for four more. I wondered about England’s ability to come from behind within a game; they haven’t had to do so, unless you count when Australia were 4-0 after one ball. It’s been an awesome performance, a surgical dismantling of a superb Australian side.
“I’m convinced,” says Damo, “that the umpire forgot England had used their review and took the safe (bottled it) option.”
30th over: England 210-2 (Root 39, Morgan 40) Morgan batters Lyon to the cover boundary to take England past 200, and then Root reverse sweeps cheekily for four more. This is a pasting for the ages. Lyon, a potential matchwinner, has figures of 5-0-49-0.
“So here we are,” whispers Harkarn Sumal. “Polishing off our drinks, undressing each other with our eyes; the deal is sealed. We’re in the Clooney/Lopez ‘Out of Sight’ zone, aren’t we? Grab your coat, Thomas Lord. You’ve pulled. See you Sunday.”
29th over: England 197-2 (Root 33, Morgan 33) A brilliant slower bounce from Behrendorff hoodwinks Morgan, who waits and waits and waits and still misses his attempted pull stroke. A maiden.
It’s only bloody time for a Powerade Hydration Break.
28th over: England 197-2 (Root 33, Morgan 33) Morgan gets down on one knee to drag Lyon round the corner for four, and makes room to bash the next delivery to the cover boundary. He has gone straight from first gear to fifth; six from his first 12 balls, 27 from the next 16.
“Required run rate less than two an over,” says Siraj Khan, who incidentally predicted a New Zealand victory over England at Lord’s before the semi-finals. “This can change radically if Steve Smith brings himself on.”
27th over: England 186-2 (Root 32, Morgan 23) A lucky escape for Morgan, who mistimes a drive off Behrendorff’s slower ball. It teases Finch at mid-off before dropping just out of reach. Morgan is keen to get this done, and later in the over he pulls witheringly behind square for four. This has been a savage performance from England. Easy to get carried away, but given the moment (given the batsman, etc), I doubt there has been a better performance in their one-day history.
“Could Umpire Dharmasena have sent his own decision to DRS with a soft ‘Out’ signal?” asks Rob Mildren.
26th over: England 178-2 (Root 31, Morgan 16) Lyon returns to the attack and is reverse swept jauntily over backward point for four by Morgan.
“I think the comparison of Roy to Pietersen is an unfair one,” says Chris Parker. “He’s much better than that.”
25th over: England 171-2 (Root 30, Morgan 10) This is Starc’s eighth over. Root, who has quietly played a lovely little innings, flicks a low full toss to fine leg for four. He has 30 from 29 balls, and England need 53 from 25 overs.
“It wasn’t ENGLAND’S fault, Rob (over 21),” says Tom Adam. “It was Bairstow’s fault – it was a ridiculous review since the only way he wasn’t out was if he’d hit it and he should have known he hadn’t. Bairstow has real form for this – he’s the Broad of batting reviews, but Broad’s manageable since he has to consult the committee of keeper and skipper. Bairstow has the power to do it himself. We should give a standing instruction to the umpires that no Bairstow signal for a review counts unless he gets the non-striker to sign it off in duplicate.”
24th over: England 166-2 (Root 25, Morgan 10) Australia are bombing Morgan, who grits his teeth and takes one on the glove from Cummins. He is struggling with the short ball when Australia get their line right; there have been a few poorly directed deliveries as well. When Cummins tries to sucker him with a fuller delivery, Morgan drives confidently over mid-off for four. Lovely shot.
“What are the chances Roy will miss the final?” says Dave Brown. “He really threw his toys out the pram when given out. Is that more than just a fine?”
23rd over: England 158-2 (Root 23, Morgan 5) With Starc bowling to Morgan, Finch has placed himself in a catching position ... at long stop. Imaginary CricViz stats show his field registers 9.9 on the funkfieldometer. Starc does bounce Morgan, but it’s a bit too wide and Morgan is able to slap it over point for a one-bounce four.
“Judging by the unbridled optimism of over 19,” says Ian Copestake, “I think the OBO has already been taken over by Marina Hyde.”
There’s some light rain at Edgbaston, and the groundstaff are poised. England are 75 or so runs ahead on DLS.
22nd over: England 153-2 (Root 22, Morgan 1) This is Australia’s last, last, last chance, which is why their best bowlers are on.If Cummins or Starc can bounce Morgan out, we might just have Mohali: The Sequel. With the required rate below three an over, Morgan is able to ignore a series of short balls. When Cummins gets his line a bit tighter, Morgan gloves the ball awkwardly at his feet. That was a beautiful delivery.
21st over: England 151-2 (Root 21, Morgan 0) Thanks Geoff. While Geoff was handing over the baton, Mitchell Starc bowled six balls to Joe Root, off which four runs were scored.
Now, Jason Roy. It was an unjust end to a stunning innings, but it’s England’s fault for an indulgent review earlier in the innings. They’ve done that a few times in the tournament. That innings, though. It touched the parts Kevin Pietersen used to reach, and there are few higher compliments, if any.
20th over: England 147-2 (Root 17, Morgan 0) I’m sure it’ll be fine, England fans. It will be fine. Morgan is in the middle. A good solid English name, Eoin Morgan.
But just in case, I’ll leave you in the hands of Rob Smyth from now on. Happy hunting.
Look, this really isn’t a big deal. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s just one wicket. It doesn’t mean anything.
Roy is out! But he’s not out. But he is. I’ll explain. Roy hooks at Cummins down the leg side. Cummins appeals, and appeals, and appeals. Finally, after that appeal has gone to the full bench of the Supreme Court, Umpire Dharmasena raises a shaky hesitant finger.
19th over: England 141-1 (Roy 84, Root 12) Roy pulls Stoinis, and Smith at midwicket gets a horrible bounce that leaves him partly unsighted and wrongfooted. The ball gets through for a boundary. This is England’s day alright, they’re romping into the World Cup final. Don’t get all self-deprecating with your nervous emails about jinxes from here. Kick back on the banana lounge and open up a piña colada.
Warwickshire telling us Roy's third six off Smith is the first to land in the top tier at the Pavilion End in a competitive match.
18th over: England 136-1 (Roy 79, Root 12) Starc gets the wicket second ball. Is this his moment? It absolutely is not. He bowls a snorter, a horrible delivery for a batsman, leaping at the ribs from a left-arm-over line, and somehow in a flailing fend Joe Root manages to shovel it through fine leg for four. Starc bowls fuller but too leg stump two balls later and Root glances that for four. Starc gets short and wide of off next, and Root cuts that for four. The sedate Test captain has 12 from 4 balls, strike rate of 300 thanks very much.
Finally something goes the way of the Australians, but surely this is too late. Starc has had two spells that haven’t worked out, but this third one does. Pace, into the pads, the old recipe. Bairstow nearly gets a nick on it but it beats his inside edge, and when Bairstow reviews it the technology proves as much. Bang in front.
17th over: England 124-0 (Roy 79, Bairstow 34) Stoinis nearly bowls a tidy over with his little mediums, but no one can manage it today. His sixth ball is a wide, and his seventh has Roy advancing and playing a swat-pull through midwicket for four.
16th over: England 116-0 (Roy 73, Bairstow 33) Steve Smith to bowl. This is gamble time. When Misbah-ul-Haq equalled the record for the fastest Test ton, half the runs came off two Steve Smith overs. Brace yourself.
Roy takes a single. Bairstow drills a straight drive, but Maxwell puts in an incredible diving save coming across from long-on. Keeps them to one. Smith is about to wish that it had gone for four.
15th over: England 95-0 (Roy 54, Bairstow 32) Finch knows he needs wickets yesterday. “The film Yesterday but I’m the only who remembers when Australia could take wickets.” So he brings back Starc. We mentioned not coming to the party. Starc is still doing laps on various freeway turn-offs and can’t work his GPS. Three times he bowls half-volleys, and each batsman gets a chance to belt off-drives for four. That’s drinks, while a truly awful rendition of I Am Australian is squeezed out by a couple of escapees from a ZZ Top cover band that got lost in deepest Alabama for 30 years.
@GeoffLemonSport I had hoped the Captain on my BA flight from Naples could have given at least one update on Aussie score. Still happy landings in baggage reclaim at Gatwick!
14th over: England 80-0 (Roy 45, Bairstow 27) Australia just haven’t shown up to the party today. Even Cummins, their best so far, has had his blemishes. Here’s another, a short(crust pie) down leg that Roy can easily pull for four. A leading edge nearly carries to mid-off but (spoiler) it doesn’t.
13th over: England 76-0 (Roy 41, Bairstow 27) Lyon nearly gets the breakthrough but Jonny gets the runs. A big swing, big edge, flying away for four.
Hypocaust has the best numbers on the web. This is a very basic one by his standards. Tells a story though, even if 25 of those sixes came in a day against Afghanistan.
@GeoffLemonSport England are the first side to hit 70 sixes at a single edition of the Men's Cricket World Cup:
70 ENG, 2019 68 WI, 2015 67 AUS, 2007 59 WI, 2019
12th over: England 71-0 (Roy 40, Bairstow 23) Cummins does the Starc trick, losing a ball down leg side to concede five wides in one fell swoop. A bouncer that ran free, it could not be tamed. Then Bairstow runs his double and has his massage break. He limps through the over thereafter.
A long delay in the 12th over while Jonny Bairstow gets treatment. Hamstring, groin, cramp? He seized up sprinting back for a second run and has been down on the ground since. He lost his footing a bit turning for a second, and things can break in these highly tuned athletes when that happens. After a long break with 14 medical staff, he’s back on his feet.
11th over: England 63-0 (Roy 39, Bairstow 21) “I will say emphatically,” says Reg Gorczynski emphatically, “thank God Vince isn’t (wasn’t) out there. Roy’s recovery unquestionably saved England’s World Cup, no matter what happens from now.”
I can verify from time stamps that he sent this before Roy casually smites Nathan Lyon’s first ball for six. Dead straight, front leg out of the way, a golf swing through the line of a full ball. Pow.
10th over: England 50-0 (Roy 27, Bairstow 20) They’re starting to work Behrendorff around a bit more comfortably now, with Roy driving a couple through the covers amongst some singles. If you think I’m wrong about Roy, look at this. The one on the right was that whip shot.
9th over: England 44-0 (Roy 23, Bairstow 18) Pat Cummins nearly bowls a maiden. Almost bowls a maiden. Deserves to bowl a maiden. Saws Roy in half at one stage. Pings a bouncer past his scone. Locks him up on the stumps. But from the final ball Roy somehow manages to flick it away square, and finds a gap for four. He’s going to take England to this total. I’m calling it now.
8th over: England 40-0 (Roy 19, Bairstow 18) Behrendorff is trying to sneak through onto the pads, and gives the appeal everything he has when it finally works. He throws his arms out wide and nearly blocks Roy from getting through for a leg bye. Not out. Bairstow responds with a fierce straight drive that scorches back past the bowler and under his attempt to field. Four.
“Bearing in mind that there’s been the possibility of some rain around 5pm are there any run marks or scenarios England have to be aware of if the game is curtailed or are we past that point now with a reserve day? Or are the mathematics just way too Zaltzman-esque to be bothered with? Yours anxiously, John Norris.”
7th over: England 33-0 (Roy 19, Bairstow 12) There’s a contrast. Cummins bowls his first over, tight on the stumps and giving no room to swing at anything. Throws in a good short ball as well that has Bairstow tap-dancing. The only runs come from the last ball, pushed through cover for two. Warner gets some pepper from the crowd as he fields back towards the rope.
6th over: England 31-0 (Roy 19, Bairstow 10) It... what... huh? I don’t know how to describe that. There isn’t exactly a shot that we know of that looks like it. Starc bowls outside leg stump. Roy reaches for it and whips it, but with a helicopter swish of the wrists, like taking Dhoni’s stroke but then rotating it 45 degrees past point rather than long-on. It’s entirely casual, barely seeming to connect. But the ball soars out over deep backward, and there’s no short boundary today, but it flies over the man in the deep and beyond the second row of fences.
That was... extraordinary.
5th over: England 19-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 5) England even warier against Behrendorff than against Starc. Both batsmen are very watchful for the inswinger, playing straight and just nudging him to leg where they can for a run or two.
“Personally I don’t think we should even try to get 224,” emails Kim Thonger. “Better to have a good solid unbeaten opening partnership of 150+ using the full allotted 50 overs as a statement of Ashes intent.”
4th over: England 16-0 (Roy 11, Bairstow 4) That’s more like it from Roy, though Starc fed him a full ball that was easily driven through the covers. Four runs to start the over is a big help though, and when Starc overcorrects Roy finds a couple more to midwicket. Starc gets it right thereafter, keeping the batsman guessing on off stump, mixing up the length. But it’s the last ball of the over where Roy really takes control. Not a bad ball at all, but he stands up on the back foot and punches through extra cover for four. That’s just asburd. Back of a length, 90 miles an hour, yet he’s timed it away with what seems complete ease. What a difference a Jason Roy makes.
3rd over: England 6-0 (Roy 1, Bairstow 4) Hmm, this is the bit I’m not sure about. It’s a good over by Behrendorff, and Bairstow is beaten once, but he also lets it pass by without really looking to score. Conceding maidens to the opening bowlers from the other team just gives them too much control. It’s a fine line, of course, but it feels like England’s best chance of avoiding any mishaps is for this pair to start in the confident manner that they’ve done so well in the past.
2nd over: England 6-0 (Roy 1, Bairstow 4) The Australians have been being mentored by Steve Waugh, and now Mitchell Starc has a red towel hanging out the back of his trousers. Coincidence? You decide.
Starc is the one for Australia, if they can rescue this match. He starts bang on target, left-arm over to Roy and in tight on the stumps for the first four balls. The fourth cuts Roy in half and bashes into his back thigh. The fifth slides down leg for a wide.It’s the only score from the over.
1st over: England 5-0 (Roy 1, Bairstow 4) And so, let the chase begin. Jason Behrendorff has the ball at the City End. He took five wickets against England only a couple of weeks ago, hooping one through James Vince to start his day. But Jason Roy is the opponent now, and after a couple of testing deliveries that move a fraction, Roy squeezes a run out to third man. Bairstow gets width and crashes it through cover. Bright start.
I don’t know what I’ve had more emails about today: that you want Marina Hyde to do an OBO, or that Liam Plunkett is Irish. Both have been a deluge. You wouldn’t have thought that the Irish could feel underrepresented in Eoin Morgan’s team, but there you go.
Look, fine – by the end of this summer we’ll have Marina do an OBO live in Cork, if that will keep you wolves from the door.
They’ve done the job, the home side. Half of it, any rate. It doesn’t look that difficult to bat out there, but they just got early wickets and put the squeeze on Australia, and despite a couple of excellent partnerships in defiance, the batting side were always coming from too far back.
Smith was the core of that resistance with 85, and built beautifully with Carey (46), entertainingly with Maxwell (22), and desperately with Starc (29).
49th over: Australia 223-10 (Lyon 1) It’s all over! Full, straight, good enough. Behrendorff plays about one third each of four different shots at that ball, and none of them were the shot required. Wood lights up the stumps like a celebratory cigar.
48th over: Australia 218-9 (Lyon 1, Behrendorff 0) Nearly another run out, as Lyon just hits and runs towards point, but Archer misses with the throw. That’s the only score from an over that also brought two wickets. Woakes has 3 for 20 from eight.
I’m being schooled in the emails by Ruairi O hEithir, who on name alone I would never dare disagree with on any matters Gaelic. “When the Normans came to Ireland in the 12th century some of them were named ‘Blanchet’ and ‘Plunkett’ was the best the Irish could do in pronouncing it. This means Cate Blanchett’s name is really Catriona Plunkett...”
Two in two balls! Is Buttler on a hat-trick? Starc took the strike during that run out. He aims another huge drive, but only tickles it as it angles across him. Both members of Australia’s resistance have gone.
Brilliant work from Buttler behind the stumps. Smith drops the ball away near his feet and starts running. Buttler tears in from behind the stumps, picks it up, and throws down the non-striker’s stumps with an inch to spare! No century for Australia’s former captain today. Fine fielding.
47th over: Australia 217-7 (Smith 85, Starc 29) Smart batting from Starc, knocking Wood out into the deep to leg a couple of times and getting back for two.
46th over: Australia 210-7 (Smith 83, Starc 24) Chris Woakes returns to try to close out the the innings. A few more singles and this partnership swells to 44. The last ball of the over hits Smith on the pad, close, zipping in from an angle outside off and beating the edge to hit him above the knee roll. England review the not out, and the reconstruction says that it’s umpire’s call, with the ball possibly grazing or going over the bails.
45th over: Australia 206-7 (Smith 82, Starc 22) A big wind-up from Starc, and he goes down the ground for six! That’s one way to start the over. Clean straight drive in the air from Plunkett. The batsmen trade singles, then Plunkett slips in a wide. Starc flicks square and bails out of the second run, but just as well because Smith goes back early, sets up for the slower ball, and pounds it through midwicket for four.
A lot of people are complaining in the emails that this bowler does not have an English name, he has an Irish one. I was thinking of the Plunkett bit rather than the Liam bit. I can’t hear it in anything but a Yorkshire accent. But anyway, we settler Australians can’t tell our Scots from our Welsh from our Dutch. It’s all part of the white colonial hodgepodge.
44th over: Australia 192-7 (Smith 77, Starc 14) There’s the boundary! Starc loves to drive straight, so when Wood pitches up he does exactly that. Mid-off is up, and the ball streaks inside his line and down to the fence. Starc hits an on-drive just as sweetly next ball, but this time it goes straight to midwicket inside the circle. There’s a wide, then a single as Starc digs out a full ball and Smith is live to the opportunity. This partnership worth 26 now.
43rd over: Australia 186-7 (Smith 77, Starc 9) Plunkett to Starc, who pulls for a run. Smith belts through for a scrappy single and could have been run out at the non-striker’s end, but Root’s throw from midwicket misses. Smith is trying to find a method against Plunkett’s slower balls, and eventually cocks his wrists to place a lovely back-cut past backward point. But England’s field is well set and the man in the deep gets around to stop it. The last boundary came from Maxwell in the 34th over.
42nd over: Australia 181-7 (Smith 74, Starc 7) Wood to Starc, and Smith is instant in calling for a run when the ball cannons off Starc’s thigh pad. Finally Smith has strike back. But he can only get a leg bye himself in similar fashion. The pair get a few singles going. Australia battling to make 200 at this rate.
41st over: Australia 176-7 (Smith 73, Starc 5) Liam Plunkett, such a solid English name and such a solid English over. Starc hits the field a couple of times, misses the swish a couple of times, and blocks one on his stumps. Finally skews an edge away for a run from the last ball.
“Speaking of crossover OBOs,” writes Abhinav Dutta, “this one goes beyond Guardian’s offices and into the territory of the sublime or the perverse, depending on what mood Zizek is in. It would be nice to read hairy bear Slavoj sniffling after every over while traipsing through Hegel, Lacan and Marx. Wonder when or what he would deem fit as pure negation in cricket. Glenn Maxwell’s breezy knocks straddle both the sublime and the perverse; which I hazard Zizek will turn into an exegesis on the cricket industry’s hype factory.”
40th over: Australia 175-7 (Smith 73, Starc 4) Here’s Mark Wood. He’s not as hard to hit as Archer has been, and Smith stands up tall to drive a couple off the back foot straight of sweeper cover, then tucks a single away. Starc guides a run to third man easily enough. The Australian No9 won’t hold back too much longer, I wouldn’t imagine.
39th over: Australia 171-7 (Smith 70, Starc 3) Smith is happy to give Starc plenty of strike against Archer, taking singles as they arise. Starc edges on his own, then later clips two runs square. Good shot. Can bat. Holds the record for the most sixes in a Test innings at the MCG, actually. Seven, I think it was?
Archer bowls out with 2 for 32 from his ten.
38th over: Australia 166-7 (Smith 68, Starc 0) Adil Rashid. He hasn’t had the best tournament, has looked uncomfortable at times with his shoulder, but has put together the most telling performance here today. With the number 95 on his back, one can only assume in tribute to Tino Best, he bowls to Starc, foxing him utterly with a googly that spins past edge and off stump. Then again, with the same result, the left-hander going right back on his stumps and trying to defend them.
There it goes! The extinguishing comes not from Archer, but Rashid! The leggie kicks another one out. Cummins backs away looking to cut, but only gets a little top edge straight to slip. Turn and bounce.
37th over: Australia 165-6 (Smith 67, Cummins 6) Morgan keeps Archer on, looking to extinguish this Australian innings now. Good captaincy. Don’t let them build a rearguard. But Cummins handles Archer pretty well, steering a couple of runs, glancing a couple, and playing softly enough that a leading edge doesn’t carry back to the bowler from a slower ball.
36th over: Australia 161-6 (Smith 67, Cummins 2) Right then. It’s Smith and Cummins. Remember, the pair that ground England into submission in the Brisbane Test not so long ago? Cummins won’t mind having a long time to bat, that’s more his style than crash-bang. They collect four singles from Rashid.
I’ll tell you what, the Marina Hyde OBO is getting wild support. My email inbox has gone into meltdown. Somebody ring Kath Viner and tell her what the people want. We can make a separate subset of the Guardian supporters’ model and launch when it reaches a target.
35th over: Australia 157-6 (Smith 65, Cummins 0) Archer got the chance to take that wicket because he bowled two very high bouncers in a row that were called wide. If that was setting up Maxwell to expect a full-pace ball, then it worked. Clever bowling. It’s been a frustrating World Cup for Maxwell and for those who love his work. Lots of glimpses, never a full picture, after his excellent few months leading into this tournament.
Archer 2 for 23 off eight.
Archer gets his man! Not in the way you might have expected. Back of a length, and Maxwell is trying to do the sensible thing with the over nearly gone, defending off the back foot. But Archer bowls a smart off-cutter, and it sticks in the pitch substantially, slowing up. Maxwell is through his shot early and the ball loops off the splice to cover. Oh, dear.
34th over: Australia 152-5 (Smith 63, Maxwell 21) Lovely shot from Maxwell! He’s got such bat speed when he goes at the ball. Smacks Rashid over midwicket, but a routinely sensational piece of boundary fielding from Bairstow saves two runs. Rashid though doesn’t meet the challenge well, dragging down and letting Maxwell pummel a more violent shot squarer for four! Then he cuts, hard, through cover but again the sweeper saves. Maxwell loving the spin, or taking the chance to get as many as he can while he can.
33rd over: Australia 144-5 (Smith 62, Maxwell 14) Archer resumes, and I don’t know if its deliberate but Smith takes up the first five balls of the over. Can’t beat the field a couple of times, and Archer beats the edge another time. Maxwell again plays sensibly and takes a single off his one delivery.
“Is it possible to get a Marina Hyde OBO?” asks Ravikiran Ramakrishnan. Or at least an MBM? Imagine her doing the MBM for that England Cameroon game, or even the USA semis...”
Can I just advise that during the drinks break, Test Match Special’s young and talented producer Henry Moeran has got himself a go on the cricket bat guitar by the sideline. It turns out he can play guitar as well, as he shreds a power solo before flipping his hair back into place and going back upstairs to keep the radio commentary on track. Talented people, hey?
32nd over: Australia 142-5 (Smith 61, Maxwell 13) Rashid to Smith. Teases him once. Teases him twice. Lots of loop. A googly. Smith eventually works a single fine. Maxwell on strike, and he goes downtown for six! Didn’t skip down to that one, just saw the length was full enough and got a big stride in, and with mid-on up in the circle, had no hesitation giving that ball everything he has. It soars over the fence. Then Maxwell proves his temperament by defending the last two balls. Drinks.
31st over: Australia 135-5 (Smith 60, Maxwell 7) Here we go, here we go. Immediately Morgan brings back Archer to bowl to Maxwell. They want to target him with the short ball once again. A couple of normal length, then the first shorter one. Maybe a slower ball? Maxwell picks it and nails it for four! Pulled through midwicket. Back goes Archer to bowl again. Wheels on that one! It sizzles through at helmet height, and Maxwell ducks early and ducks often. This is some game of cricket today.
30th over: Australia 130-5 (Smith 59, Maxwell 3) Rashid bowls and it’s edged! Suddenly the leg-spinner is whirring down pure terror. Maxwell’s edge goes low and grounded past slip for a couple, then there’s a similar shot for a single.
“An inspired piece of captaincy there, making that switch,” writes Robin Hazlehurst. “Rob was obviously flagging a little after that great start to the innings, but you get brought on and immediately a double breakthrough. Obviously makes sense to keep you on for now, but I wonder if the skipper should consider giving a couple of overs to someone from left field to break this partnership if it looks dangerous. Emma John, say? Any idea what the strategy will be in the second innings?”
29th over: Australia 127-5 (Smith 58, Maxwell 1) Smith takes a brace then a single. Hearts in mouths for Maxwell fans the world over, but he eases early fears by taking a sober and sensible single off his pads from Stokes. On strike, Steve Smith decides to up the tempo himself with a glorious cover drive for four.
28th over: Australia 118-5 (Smith 50) Smith brought up his half-century amongst all that chaos. Glenn Maxwell is coming to the middle after the last ball of the over. Rashid was battling, being hit, but suddenly he has 2 for 31 from five overs.
He’s been given! Huge appeal from Rashid, that was a performance like Les Miserables just before the intermission. He spun around, then ran towards the umpire and knelt down before Dharmasena, pleading. Marius to Cosette. A slider that skidded on and hit Stoinis bang in front. A touch high but the replay says yes on umpire’s call. Australia had no review to challenge it anyway.
Rashid gets the breakthrough! One that England were thirsting for. The worry was rising with each passing over at the ground. I was getting sotto voce complaints about [adjective] Australians from passing colleagues. But here it is. Carey advances to Rashid, and for reasons best known to himself, tries a big loft over the leg side with men out in the deep. Vince is substituting on the field and steadies himself under it at deep midwicket for a simple enough take.
27th over: Australia 118-3 (Smith 48, Carey 46) Stokes carries on from the city end for a quiet over. Smith glides a single to third man to raise the fifty partnership, then Carey pulls a couple of runs hard through the leg side. He’s played so well.
26th over: Australia 113-3 (Smith 47, Carey 44) That’s right folks, today it’s Rob and I with the old roshambo. In my mind that means a sort of dance where we take turns, but then I wasn’t sure and googled it and apparently it’s a game where two people take turns kicking each other in the crotch. I hope that the next 50 overs will be more enjoyable than that.
Poor Adil Rashid is rather roshamboed by Carey on the sweep shot out to deep midwicket for four. Throw in a single every other ball plus a wide from the first, and that’s a double-figure over for Rash.
25th over: Australia 103-3 (Smith 44, Carey 38) A wide from Plunkett takes Australia in to three figures. They have, almost by stealth, got themselves right back in this game. England are still on top, but only just.
That’s it from me. Geoff Lemon will be with you for the next few hours – please email him on Geoff.Lemon@theguardian.com or tweet @GeoffLemonSport. See you later for England’s squeaky run-chase.
#ENGvAUS According to @CricViz, which is good at this, England now have a 79pc chance of winning the match. I wonder if a single England fan would be that bullish
24th over: Australia 98-3 (Smith 42, Carey 37) I’m not sure about Rashid today. The ball isn’t turning, his confidence is low and so far he has been milked with ease. England have six bowlers so they aren’t as reliant on him as they might be. An overthrow from Stokes gives Smith an extra run. It’s not exactly unravelling for England, but a couple of loose threads have emerged in the last half an hour. That said, Australia’s response to a crisis - and, in Carey’s case, a mangled jaw - has been so impressive.
“I’m at the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice, the Jean ARP exhibition talks about how ‘the rhapsodic evocation of a creaturely art with a life of its own’,” says Tim Woollias. “It’s as if he knew the disappointment of a Smith/Carey rebuild after three early wickets.”
23rd over: Australia 92-3 (Smith 37, Carey 36) Carey laces Plunkett through extra cover for four, a glorious shot from a player who has been a revelation at this tournament. Smith then flashes Plunkett this far short of Stokes at backward point. It wasn’t a chance, although Stokes’s face suggests he’s annoyed at his inability to dive forward five yards, extend a telescopic arm and clutch it with his little finger.
“In 1984, the Demon of Frome, Colin Dredge, was Somerset’s leading wicket taker against Warwickshire in the Benson & Hedges’ Cup,” says Kim Thonger. “I’m fairly confident that Colin’s mum would have called it Dredgebaston that day, even though Somerset lost and his figures were 2 for 66 off 11.”
22nd over: Australia 87-3 (Smith 37, Carey 30) England’s success has been built on Rashid and Plunkett taking wickets in the middle overs, and they could use one now. Carey, who is an excellent player of spin, sweeps off middle stump for a couple, and a handful of singles make it a decent over for Australia. I wonder if Morgan is tempted to give Archer a two-over burst. It’s probably too early.
“The ground has filled up but still a good many empty seats,” says David Malcolm. “Poor for such a critical match. Ground only has a capacity of 24000. Would not happen in any other sport where stadiums are much larger. Goes to show how much the Indian fans have boosted attendances. I think it fair to say there has only been a lukewarm response to the tournament in UK. Just look at the very limited media coverage. A big problem for English cricket that this has failed to attract interest beyond existing fans.”
21st over: Australia 80-3 (Smith 35, Carey 26) Plunkett replaces Wood, who bowled a scruffy spell of 4-0-20-0. A misfield from Stokes gives Smith a single and Stokes a zap of self-loathing. Two singles from the over.
20th over: Australia 78-3 (Smith 34, Carey 25) Adil Rashid replaces Liam Plunkett, who is more of a 150 for three bowler than 50 for three. Rashid has had a poor tournament, but he has a good record on this ground – including a matchwinning four-for against Australia in the Champions Trophy two years ago. Carey drives uppishly but between mid-off and extra cover for four. It looked like a chance but I’d say he had the placement under control. Make no mistake, Australia are right back in this game.
Meanwhile, here’s our star columnist Max Rushden on the possible impact of a free-to-air World Cup final. If if if.
19th over: Australia 72-3 (Smith 33, Carey 20) Smith pulls Wood round the corner for four, another authoritative stroke. He has done the bulk of the scoring in the last few overs, with Carey – who has scored 12 from his last 31 balls - looking secure but strokeless. He’s got plenty in his locker when he decides it’s time.
“Very impressed by Carey, not just his courage, but his ability with the bat,” says John Jones. “Looks a top-class player to me and surely must play in the Ashes. As for Handscombe, was there anything more predictable than his embarrassing effort today? Was delighted when he was selected. Walking wicket.”
18th over: Australia 66-3 (Smith 28, Carey 19) Four from Plunkett’s over, which means Australia have scored 38 from the last six. They’re having a good spell, and a single from Smith brings up an excellent fifty partnership. I was going to say ‘clear-headed’ but I doubt Carey’s head feels too clear.
“Many reasons why England should win,” says Krishnamoorthy V.
17th over: Australia 62-3 (Smith 27, Carey 16) Wood has changed ends and replaces Stokes. Smith jumps across to work a short ball for two and then scythes a drive behind square for four. England are letting this drift a bit, although Australia with a lot of intelligence and mental strength – and, in Carey’s case, extraordinary courage.
16th over: Australia 55-3 (Smith 21, Carey 15) Liam Plunkett replaces Mark Wood. Smith, who looks much better after a jittery start, drives his first ball crisply whence it came for four. Carey does likewise later in the over, and a half-stop from Roy at mid-off saves one run. Australia have recovered impressively from that traumatic first 10 overs. The upside of such a bad start is that, if Australia do win, it will feel infinitely sweeter. The reverse is true for England.
15th over: Australia 47-3 (Smith 16, Carey 12) The commentator Mel Jones makes the point that Handscomb will probably keep wicket for Australia. Carey’s injury looks really nasty, with the swelling increasing by the over, and I’m slightly surprised he’s continuing. That’s drinks.
“If....and it’s a big if.....Archer and Woakes continue to bowl as they’ve done all tournament, then is the big loser poor Stuart Broad?” says Kevin Wilson. “Archer must play in the Ashes and Woakes will find nibble and contribute nicely with the bat. Assuming Mo is the sole spinner at eight, surely Broad is sweating on Anderson’s injury?”
14th over: Australia 45-3 (Smith 15, Carey 11) Carey received more treatment at the end of the previous over, and now he has a full wraparound bandage like Anil Kumble all those years ago. It looks like his jaw is swelling up, yet he could barely look more composed at the crease. He really has got something about him.
His partner, Smith, gets his first boundary by dragging a short ball from Stokes through midwicket. England’s intensity has dropped since the double bowling change, and they need to be a bit careful about allowing Australia to build a partnership.
13th over: Australia 36-3 (Smith 7, Carey 10) Mark Wood replaces the brilliant Chris Woakes (6-0-16-2). “He should really enjoy this surface,” says Ian Bishop, a millisecond before Wood spears a first-ball wide outside off stump. He beats Carey for pace later in the over, before brilliant fielding from Woakes at fine leg and then Stokes at backward point saves a total of five runs. Wood’s over, a mixed bag, includes three wides - but he finishes by zipping one past Smith’s outside edge.
Alex Carey showed a great presence of mind to avoid losing his wicket by catching his helmet after being struck by Jofra Archer.
Had his helmet hit the wicket, Carey would have been out under Law 29.1.1.4.
Read it in full ⬇️
12th over: Australia 28-3 (Smith 6, Carey 9) Ben Stokes replaces Jofra Archer, who bowled a majestic opening spell of 5-0-11-1. Smith drives a single through the covers, which gives Stokes three balls at Carey. This guy is a dangerous customer, and he has played beautifully since wearing that bouncer from Archer. For now he is happy to build an innings rather than counter-attack, and those three deliveries are all dots.
“England have home conditions, better players and now a dream start,” says Gary Naylor. “If they don’t get this over the line, we’ll never win this thing.”
11th over: Australia 28-3 (Smith 5, Carey 9) Woakes’ sixth over, probably the last of this spell, yields just a single to Smith. England will surely keep hunting wickets, having watched Australia recover from abysmal starts with the bat to beat both West Indies and New Zealand earlier in the tournament. Never give a sucker an even break.
10th over: Australia 27-3 (Smith 4, Carey 9) The game is starting to settle down after that eye-widening start. Smith works a short ball from Archer off the hip for a single, his fourth from 24 balls. That scoring rate is fine in the circumstances.
“Half empty ground for a World Cup semi-final,” says David Malcolm. “I know this is because Indian fans bought up most of the tickets thinking their side would play at Edgbaston but it does not look good.”
If you’re into the whole optimism/pessimism thing, Australia have also won a World Cup semi-final from 39 for six – and it was against England. But they were chasing a target of 94.
9th over: Australia 24-3 (Smith 2, Carey 8) Carey is fine to continue, and he crunches a cover-drive for four off Woakes. He has started really impressively.
“The narrative for this game,” says Alex Netherton, “has been thrown into stark disarray.”
8th over: Australia 19-3 (Smith 2, Carey 4) Carey punches Archer down the ground for three, an impressively assured stroke. He doesn’t look so assured when Archer draws blood with a brutal bouncer. It hit Carey on the grille, knocking his helmet off and cutting him just above the chin. There will be a break in play while he receives treatment
“There was near-unanimous agreement among cricket commentators that losing Khawaja mightn’t be such a bad thing,” says Joe Roberts. “How much are they missing him now? Seems like just the man for this job.”
7th over: Australia 15-3 (Smith 1, Carey 2) Alex Carey, who has quietly been one of the players of the tournament, has been promoted to No5. He edges his first ball on the bounce to second slip. Australia have won a World Cup semi-final from the depths of 15 for four, so they will know there’s a way out of this. But at the moment they are in oodles of trouble. Woakes and Archer have bowled with forensic skill.
That was lovely bowling from Woakes, especially to a creasebound player like Handscomb. It was full and shaped back in, and all Handscomb could do was inside-edge a drive onto the stumps.
Chris Woakes has knocked him over with a ripper!
6th over: Australia 14-2 (Smith 1, Handscomb 4) Archer beats Handscomb with a sensational delivery that seams past the outside edge. He is bowling outrageously well, and the next ball holds its line to beat the bat once more. Archer’s figures of 3-0-4-1.
“Typo?” asks Boris Starling. “I like ‘Jonny Bairstow took the match’ rather than ‘took the catch’..... (in fairness, you did say the first 10 overs might decide this either way.)”
5th over: Australia 13-2 (Smith 1, Handscomb 3) Handscomb survives another huge LBW appeal from Woakes. There might have been an inside-edge. Woakes wants to review but Morgan and Buttler overrule him. It’s the right decision, becuse replays show there was a late inside edge. Australia are hanging on for dear life. But if there’s one team that can win after such a torrid start, it’s them.
4th over: Australia 12-2 (Smith 1, Handscomb 2) Smith flashes and misses at Archer, who then sends down a blistering bouncer that Smith avoids. He has started very nervously, although he often does. If he gets through this opening spell, he won’t care how many false strokes he plays.
3rd over: Australia 11-2 (Smith 1, Handscomb 1) “Sure, Mr. Alt-J wrote in,” sniffs Mac Millings, “but I’ve written in many times, and you’ve *not once* mentioned that I was in Glistening Mother. We played two shows (in China - long story). The band collapsed after three of us (we were a five-piece) didn’t turn up to the second gig, and of the two who did, I was far too drunk to sing.”
I’m sensing the great lost Netflix documentary.
Blimey. This is extraordinary stuff. That would have been another golden duck for Australia. Replays showed it was just hitting the top of the stumps, which means England keep their review.
This looks incredibly close.
This is an awesome start for England. Warner had dumped the previous ball back over Woakes’s head, a shot of spectacular disdain. Woakes followed up with a sharp back-of-a-length delivery that Warner could only fence to first slip, where Warner’s mate Jonny Bairstow took the match with unashamed glee.
2nd over: Australia 6-1 (Warner 5, Smith 1) Steve Smith is the new batsman. It’s Warner and Smith v England, yet again. Archer greets Smith with a bouncer, and then induces an inside-edge into the leg side. This is a scorching start from Archer, who bowled so poorly against Australia at Lord’s. Smith gets off the mark with a quick single, and then Warner tucks a short ball off the hip for another.
That Finch review looks a poor one, because he missed the ball by a fair way, but Michael Clarke makes the point that his bat thumped into his pad and the combination of sound and sensation probably made him think he might have inside-edged it.
He’s out! Aaron Finch has gone for a golden duck! It was a beautiful inswinger from Jofra Archer, and it was hitting the top of middle. Australia lose their captain - and their review.
Oh my. It might have been bat then pad. If not, he’s in trouble.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Warner 4, Finch 0) Now that’s how you set a tone. David Warner leans into the first ball of the match, which is a bit too full from Woakes, and times it thrillingly through extra cover for four. Whatever you think of him as a man, he is the most magnificent cricketer. Woakes pulls his length back thereafter, and the remainder of the over - five dot balls - is excellent.
“How about the Bruminator?” says Brian Withington. Hmm, doesn’t that sound a bit like a groundbreaking toilet brush?
There have been two opening partnerships of note against England in this tournament, and they lost both games. There’s a credible scenario whereby this first 10 overs decides the game.
David Warner is heartily booed on the field, which is a bit tedious, and probably counter-productive. Chris Woakes will bowl the first over, and things are about to get exceedingly real.
Edgbaston nickname “Just ‘the Edge’,” says Jane Evans. “If it works for pretentious rock musicians ... As the game progresses, I will be on edge. Or at the edge of reason.”
A few of you have also suggested ‘Edgbastard’, which is kind of catchy, if slightly problematic for the host broadcaster.
The Million There has been a lot of talk about the visibility of this World Cup, but this is a nice story from our friends at the ECB:
Ahead of England’s World Cup semi-final clash against Australia, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC) celebrated the impact that the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup has had in inspiring young people – with over one million children aged five-12 connecting with the sport.
The milestone was celebrated at Yorkmead Primary School in Birmingham with ambassadors Jonathan Trott and Danielle Hazell in attendance alongside local schoolchildren who will join the players on the pitch for the national anthems at the hotly anticipated fixture at Edgbaston tomorrow.
Thanks for all your emails. I have approximately 0.00 per cent chance of reading them all during the game, but please keep them coming!
Also, I’m disappointed that none of you noticed that Mr Alt-J emailed this morning (or somebody with the same name).
The pitch is bald and dry, which suggests Nathan Lyon and Adil Rashid could play a big part in the game. But a lot of the pitches at this tournament have been bald-faced liars, so we shouldn’t assume too much.
Play starts in 15 minutes. I’m off to procure a dangerously strong coffee. And then it will be time for Australia v England, the World Cup semi-final.
“G’day Rob,” says Seb Prowse. “A shout out from my no. 19 tram in Melbourne to any Aussies supporting the opposition today. Of course, it’s hard to get behind the Poms with real enthusiasm. But the alternative — creaming NZ in the final to complete the rehabilitation of Warner, Smith and Cricket Australia — doesn’t bear thinking about. Carn the Kiwis.”
“Morning Rob,” says Nick Parish. “Defeat is unthinkable? Blimey. And there was me thinking you were a long-suffering England supporter. Defeat couldn’t be more thinkable. I’ve been thinking about it non-stop ever since Saturday evening.”
My point exactly.
Painful statgasm Seventeen of the last 21 matches at this tournament have been won the team batting first. England will point to the fact it’s a fresh pitch, and they loved chasing before the tournament. It’s an excellent toss for Australia to win, though, NQAT.
A shock move from England, who have recalled Sir Ian Botha- sorry, let’s try that again.
England are unchanged. Australia bring in Peter Handscomb for Usman Khawaja, which is surely a good thing, especially as it means Steve Smith will go up to No3. This is Handscomb’s World Cup debut. He’s got nothing on Ned Larkins, who made his international debut for England in the 1979 semi-final.
Well that was fun while it lasted. Eoin Morgan says he’s “not really bothered” but that he would have batted first.
The toss is a couple of minutes away. And it looks a pretty good one to win.
A few of you have suggested ‘Edgbastion’ as England’s answer to the Gabbatoir. “Not exactly fear-inducing,” says Richard Hart, “but I think it has a pleasing and understated Englishness about it.”
Why don’t we just call it the Melbourne Cricket Ground and make Australia feel even more comfortable?
Today’s soundtrack
“Hi from Singapore,” says Honor Harger. “So without wanting to tempt fate or anything: when was the last time Australia won a match at Edgbaston again?”
It was when Tim Henman was a Wimbledon semi-finalist. A while ago, then.
“Dear Rob,” writes Gus Unger-Hamilton. “Long time follower, first time emailer. I’m just thinking, seeing as England supposedly love playing at Edgbaston so much, don’t we need a fear-inducing nickname for it, à la the Gabbattoir? Perhaps people have some ideas better than Sledgbaston, which is terrible.”
There are infinite possibilities today, with so many matchwinners on both sides. It could come down to three things: the toss, the battle of the opening partnerships and how England respond to adversity. They are probably the better side, but Australia are probably the tougher side. They have won all seven World Cup semi-finals (if you’re into the whole pedantry thing, they’ve won six and tied one) and have fought back to win a few games in this tournament.
England got themselves out of a hole to quality for the semi-finals, and were enormously impressive in doing so. But they haven’t really come from behind to win a match at this tournament. They are formidable front-runners, and the ideal scenario is that they bat first, are 100 for nought after 15 overs and control the game throughout. It’s not going to be like that. If I had to pick the deciding factor in this game, it’s how England cope if they are 10 for two or Australia are 100 for nought.
The toss Guardian exclusive: whoever wins it will bat first.
Australia hammered England in the league match two weeks ago. The margin of victory – 64 runs – isn’t huge, but trust me, it was a doing. England have rationalised it as a hangover from the Sri Lanka fiasco, which is a clever move, if they genuinely believe it. I suspect they do. But I wouldn’t want to go fishing round their subconscious without a protective suit.
The weather It’s beautiful at Edgbaston this morning, although the Met Office are forecasting thunderstorms for early evening. That means DLS could be a factor in this match. There is a reserve day scheduled, but I think the match will finish today as long as 20 overs have been bowled in the second innings. There’s a strong whiff of potential farce and controversy there. But the playing conditions have a level of clarity usually reserved for mudheaps, so I might be wrong.
Hello again. Glad you’ve logged on – you’ve obviously heard there’s a cricket match today. It’s Australia v England, for the right to play New Zealand in the World Cup final on Sunday. This game is almost too big to function. It’s England most important since September 2005, Australia’s since March 2015. For both countries, defeat is so unthinkable that it hurts trying not to think about it.
There’s a rare old Royal Rumble of feeling and emotions this morning/evening: hope, fear, nervousness, anticipation, fear, curiosity, fear, fear, greed, nostalgia, pride - and I suppose, if I’m being brutally honest, there’s also a soupçon of fear. But most of all, as Eoin Morgan said yesterday, there is excitement about what might be achieved. In one hemisphere or another, a lot of grandchildren are going to hear about the events of 11 July 2019.
England have won the World Cup. It feels good to write those words and to soak in the outpouring of joy that comes with their thrilling victory over New Zealand. So let’s try to sum up:
Here’s another video to savour (or to endure if you’re watching in New Zealand) covering England’s slightly shaky route to the final.
Anyway, to borrow from Barry Davies, frankly who cares? It’s all about England today, so let’s just say, for the sake of argument, that this is the best game ever. (And of course, New Zealand played an amazing part and were bloody unlucky.)
The front pages look good.
Winner of the correct front-page headline after England's WC win is shared by: The Financial Times, Daily Mirror and Daily Star, all of whom went with 'Champagne Super Over'.
Guardian et al went earnestly informative. The Times have a Djokovic pic. WTF? pic.twitter.com/H00cuwslR6
I had a modest bet with myself that this would be the Sun back page headline. https://t.co/Lp2zD1QuYd
The claims for Sunday’s final to be the greatest game of one-day cricket ever played are stacking up. It’s hard to beat the super over format for drama but the game’s answer to the penalty shootout is always going to be quite rare.
The 1999 semi-final between Australia and South Africa was tied and has to be rank alongside this final. The two best teams in the competition were deadlocked, with the Australians going through because they had beaten the Proteas earlier in the tournament. The climax of the semi – like Sunday’s final – came with a run out, albeit one of the most comic in cricketing history.
Another way that Rees-Mogg might have looked at the England win was this run down of the multicultural mix of the team and concluded that it says a lot about what is great about Britain.
Who says sport and politics don’t mix? Just when you’re enjoying England’s historic win, Jacob Rees-Mogg pops up to spoil the fun by claiming it as a triumph for Brexit (or something like that). His tweet that England “don’t need Europe to win” misses the point on a number of levels, not least that England’s captain is Irish. And he’s not the backstop either.
Elliott Kime has written it up for your further reading.
Long live cricket! What a way to hand over the blog. Thanks Rob. This is Martin Farrer taking over in Sydney where the first full day of England’s reign as world champions is just beginning.
I had a traumatic night following the match, having fallen asleep towards the end of New Zealand’s innings, then going to bed and waking up again to read on the blog that Stokes was single-handedly trying to drag England over the line. I managed to get up and watch the last over and super overs. Suffice to say I couldn’t get back to sleep after that ...
And with that I’ll hand you over to the capable hands of Martin Farrer. Goodbye and thanks for sharing your thoughts. I can’t summarise better than this email from Abhijato Sensarma …
This was the most poetic final fixture in the history of cricket; the match had the most skilful cricket ever seen; we witnessed the most thrilling tie, twice; everyone experienced the most cathartic emotions at the end of it. Needless to say, this was the greatest ODI match of all time. Cheers to everyone involved in playing, covering and following this tournament. Long live cricket!
Our man in Nelson reckons the Kiwis are taking the defeat quite well …
Was this the greatest day of simultaneous live sport in the history of Britain? A few frazzled brains in Guardian towers would attest to that. “Today should go down as an absolutely historic, mental, mind-boggling day,” writes Kanishk Srinivasan. “Not just in cricket, but all sporting history. I was watching the Wimbledon finals on my phone and this insane game on my laptop simultaneously. And England needed two runs from that last ball EXACTLY AS DJOKOVIC AND FEDERER WERE TAKING IT IN TO A TIEBREAK. I couldn’t breathe, and I was pulling my hair out, and frantically deciding which one deserves my primary attention. At the end of the day, I had to go take a 20-minute walk just to settle my nerves. That being said, well played England, and New Zealand absolutely deserved it as much as England (if not that teeny tiny bit more).”
Amid all the euphoria, Simon Thomas has taken a moment to remember the late, great Dan Lucas. “Tell you what, Rob,” he writes. “Our much loved OBO guy, Dan Lucas would have loved this. And would have described it brilliantly. Miss you, Dan.” We all miss you Dan, and we’ll never forget you mate.
The Queen is on Twitter, and tweeting her congratulations to the glorious champions …
A message from Her Majesty The Queen:
“Prince Philip and I send our warmest congratulations to the England Men’s Cricket team after such a thrilling victory in today’s World Cup Final.” (1/2) #CricketWorldCuppic.twitter.com/FEKsFFe40s
“Myself, my three daughters and cricket mad hubby … all of us die-hard Pakistan fans …. are currently in Paris where everyone is obsessed with some tournament called Wimbledon,” writes Natasha Shoaib. “Walking around Le Marais on Bastille day we wandered into an English pub for a pit stop during the final 10 overs, put on data and followed ball by ball commentary online. As neutrals we were supporting the Kiwis and were on the edge of our seats for the last hour of the match. What an incredible match and fitting end to one of the most exciting cricket world cups ever. The Kiwis have won our hearts … I will still wear my Pak green team shirt … but am getting the name “Williamson” put on the back!”
Kane Williamson was given a standing ovation as he left his press conference after the final, his dignity in defeat a lesson to us all.“Just one of those things,” was his take on a loss as unfortunate as you can imagine. His reaction to learning he had been named player of the tournament summed him up …
The sun was out when England won the World Cup. It had just emerged from behind the freckles of white cloud and was shining low through the bright blue over the Grand Stand. The shadows stretched over the grass all the way to the wicket, the flags licked in the evening breeze, the pavilion glowed soft terracotta. The old place looked pretty as a picture, exactly how we see it in winter, when we are thinking back on the games we saw and the games we played in the long, warm days of summer. For the 11 men in this England team, the thousands in the ground, the millions watching on TV, that is how they will always see it in their minds in years to come when they talk about this match: the greatest World Cup final; heck, maybe even the greatest game of one-day cricket ever played.
Where better for England’s transgenerational trauma to end than the home of cricket, writes Andy Bull. Read his full story here.
Jason Roy has a simple take on the day’s proceedings …
That’s a game of cricket!
That’s the best game I’ve ever seen and the last hour was the worst and most nervous I’ve ever felt. WHAT A WIN!!!!! @englandcricket officially World Cup champions, I feel like crying/singing/dancing/hugging/screaming all at once!!!! ❤️
“What the bloody hell just happened?” writes Guy Hornsby. “I started the match in London, ended it up in Manchester, and I still can’t get my head around what went down. I don’t think I was even that tense when my daughter was born. I shed a tear – of relief – at the end, because I couldn’t take another ball. Then I forgot we actually won. And that’s first the first cricket game my two-year old daughter has ever watched. So tough on the Black Caps, but my god we DID IT. Thanks to all the OBOers and Guardian writers. It’s been magic because of all of you. I may need a week off work. These guys have the Ashes in a few weeks.”
Some of the emails from our loyal OBO community have been almost as good as the cricket today. The tales from far flung corners, the camaraderie and the pure love of the game have been quite something. Stephen Wilcox encapsulates the drama in three short sentences. “We left our B&B in Ravenna with England guaranteed losers,” he writes. “At the end of the street we passed someone in a restaurant saying 3 from 2. And getting back after eating – this is worthy of an epic.”
Great pub quiz question alert? What have Mark Wood and the Charlton brothers got in common? Guardian man Richard Jolly has the answer …
Ashington (population 27,000) has now produced three World Cup winners: Jack Charlton, Bobby Charlton & Mark Wood.
This was a match full of incredible moments, but for anyone who missed the greatest of all in the history of England cricket, here it is …
Brendon McCullum knows what it’s like to lose a World Cup final, and he reckons New Zealand will be just fine after this devastating defeat…
They’ve got a wonderful leader in Kane Williamson and a great squad around them but you know, our country is going to be so proud of these guys and what they’ve done.
Thanks Rob, and I join you just as Ian Botham is having his sayon a wonderful game…
What great finale. Both sides had a dip in the middle in the tournament but came back and picked themselves up for a final. You couldn’t have asked for a better final. Congratulations to England but spare a thought for those Kiwis 12,000 miles away. It’s a long journey home when you come that close buy ultimately it wasn’t their day.
We’ll keep the blog going for a while. Nobody leaves here until somebody explains what the hell just happened. Rob Bleaney is going to take over, because I am the personification of wibble. Thanks for your company and emails - not just today but throughout the tournament. Bye!
“On a flight from Boston to Tokyo - the flight attendant made me shut down my phone when England needed 3 from 2 balls,” says Mike Fowler. “Took 10 minutes to acquire flaky inflight Internet, by which time I assumed it would all be over. Lived the super overs with your text and texts from friends back home. I think they were lining up a sky marshall to deal with me when I started cheering....”
Trophy deserved to be shared and one of the best games in the history of cricket.congratulations to @ECB_cricket and @BLACKCAPS for providing an absolute brilliant game of cricket
“Yeah, okay,” says Geoff Wignall, “but The Hundred will soon put all this in the shade.”
I think if I could have picked a result it would have been precisely this. Nothing between the sides and a wonderful match. I'm going to find that Otago pinot.
If today doesn’t inspire the next generation nothing will, we should be proud to be English.
#CWC19 England won, for the record, by 26 boundaries in the day to 17. So extra credit to Jonny Bairstow (7), Ben Stokes (7) and Jos Buttler (6), who found the boundary enough times in the big match to make the difference in the little one
The England players are emotionally naked. Eoin Morgan has admitted to doubts that England would qualify, Joe Root has described the sheer misery he experienced in the dressing-room, Ben Stokes has just sworn on Sky. After four years, the masks have come off, and it’s quite touching to see.
“Even though I know what happens, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch the highlights of that,” says Samuel Honywill. “Ever. That was Edgbaston 2005 x 100. Feel awful for the Black Caps, who were just about the better team on the day. But England deserve that; for picking themselves up by the bootstraps after 2015, for being the most thrilling ODI side for the last four years, for salvaging their campaign in such confident fashion after those defeats to Australia and Sri Lanka left it on the rocks. Jofra, Jos, Ben, Eoin. Amazing.”
Here’s Jofra Archer “It’s an amazing feeling. They’re a great bunch of guys – I don’t think I’d like to share this with any other people right now. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen. Even last night, I couldn’t really get to sleep. When I got hit for six in the super over I thought it wasn’t coming home. We got there in the end, that’s all that matters.”
It’s an old question, but somebody should ask it of Ben Stokes: who writes your scripts?
England's men's and women's ODI teams are now world champions simultaneously. Only Australia (over four time periods) had ever previously accomplished that feat.
“I’m at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, Ireland,” says Lucy Openshaw. “Neil Young’s on stage, cricket’s on my phone. Sorry Neil.”
The crowd are singing ‘cricket’s coming home’. And it did – but bloody hell, it could have done with a better sat-nav.
Jason Roy speaks “Speechless, buddy. Speechless. We’re gonna party well tonight – but we’ll be in before 12, don’t worry.”
Here’s Eoin Morgan, the England captain
“Jeez. I’d like to offer commiserations to Kane and his team. I thought today was a hard-hard-fought game on a tough wicket. We find it hard to play on pitches like that, but it was all about getting over the line. Towards the end I was being cooled down by Liam Plunkett, which isn’t a good sign! We’re just delighted we’re lifting the trophy today.
Here’s Kane Williamson again, this time in his role as captain.
“We wanted to bat first if we won the toss. We felt runs on the board would be challenging. We may have liked another 10-20 but in a World Cup final, we thought 240-250 might be enough. It was a fantastic game of cricket. For it to go down to the last ball – and then the last ball of the next little match – is tough. But credit to England. There are a lot of positives for us.
The Player of the Tournament is Kane Williamson
“Congratulations to England. They’ve had a fantastic campaign and they deserved the victory. It’s been challenging; the pitches have been different to what we expected. There weren’t many 300+ scores. I’d like to thank our side for the fight and heart they showed to get us this far. It just wasn’t meant to be today. The guys are shattered; it’s devastating.”
Jofra Archer is yet to regain his cool.
I was pretty sure I was going to bowl [in the super over] but I had to check with Morgs…my heart is still racing. I would have been surprised if we didn’t win, especially with this man around [points to Stokes]
A clearly desolate Jimmy Neesham speaks but is sportsmanship embodied.
It stings, obviously. The ball didn’t bounce our way. Credit to the way Jos and Stokesey rode it out. Another day it might have fallen our way. In a few years we will look back and say it was a really good experience. We scrapped like hell for every 50-50 ball…I’d like to say I was happy for England but it would take a couple of hours to say that.
The Player of the Match is Ben Stokes
“On trail bikes in the Canadian Rockies,” says John Cameron, “stopping every over to check in. Our hearts were in our mouths. And we are a Kiwi/English husband and wife!” The true spirit of the OBO.
The player of the match is Ben Stokes, who was in bits about half an hour ago. As were millions of cricket lovers.
Ben Stokes, the hero of the hour, speaks.
I am pretty lost for words. All the hard work to get here and be world champions, it’s an amazing feeling. Playing against New Zealand is always a good event, they are good lads. I will be apologising to Kane for the rest of my life [re: the overthrow for the six]…It was written in the stars to happen for us.
“I love Ben Stokes,” says Tony Batt, “and Jofra is the name of the next-born in my family, male or female.” I like it, especially the female bit. “But you’ve gotta feel for the Kiwis. Taking it like men is probably not on the approved list but R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and big love for such a game. WOW!”
Joe Root speaks with that shy smile of his.
The pressure was on. It was almost written in the stars for Ben and his family, the pressure he’s been through.
What a day, what a finish. Hats off to the Kiwis boys. It’s not sunk in yet. I am over the moon. It felt like it was going to happen for us.
“I’m getting my T-Shirt ready,” says Neville Bourke. “Have you noticed how we only win the cricket World Cup under an IRISH captain?”
Jos Buttler speaks …
It’s unbelievable. I thought I’d seen everything in cricket but that game was just amazing. I don’t know what happened out there at the end. Just incredible.
What a spectacle, what an atmosphere. I’m just lost for words mate.
But the winners are– and I cannot believe I’m typing this – England. They have won their first World Cup in the wackiest of circumstances: always behind when they batted, at times paralysed by the slow pitch, yet dragged over the line by (primarily) three players. Jos Buttler, with his silky strokeplay and icy nerve. Ben Stokes, with his bloodymindedness and determination to atone for allowing a World Twenty20 final to end with four sixes. And Jofra Archer, with his preternatural calm in the Super Over: he’s gone from new boy to Atlas in three months.
But hang on – three is not enough. Let’s not forget Chris Woakes, superb with the new ball, or Liam Plunkett, who showed his usual mastery in the middle overs when Kane Williamson was threatening to take control. Or Mark Wood, who bowled at 95mph and had to run that last run with Stokes. Or Roy and Bairstow, who powered England to the final with all those hundred partnerships. Or Adil Rashid, who took crucial wickets in the semi against Australia. Or Joe Root, who was one of the batsmen of the tournament, if not on song today. Or Moeen Ali, who was in the first XI at the start of this World Cup and probably deserved to be at the end.
New Zealand would have been worthy winners. They certainly don’t deserve to be nearly men yet again, beaten finalists for the second time in a row, following all those semis down the decades. What they lack in charisma, they more than make up by being cool, calm and civilised. They kept their heads, they bounced back from three successive defeats, they were brave enough to bat first and canny enough to defend a modest total, yet again. They were even sporting enough to signal six, themselves, when Trent Boult fell over the sponge trying to catch Ben Stokes’s first big hit.
Thanks Rob (you played a blinder). What an ending. It hardly matters who won. That was an epic, a drama in God knows how many acts. It was the greatest cricket World Cup final there has been, by a mile.
That’s it. Ben Stokes, the biggest superhero of them all, is in tears. New Zealand have taken the defeat - if we can even call it that - with astonishing dignity.
I am an absolute mess, so I’m going to hand over to Tim de Lisle for the reaction. That last hour was the most excruciating privilege of my career. Thanks for your company and emails. England have won the World Cup. I think.
Archer is on his knees, almost in tears. I cannot begin to imagine what New Zealand are going through. They deserve to win, unquestionably, but were beaten in circumstances that would have been beyond Hunter S Thompson on acid, never mind your average scriptwriter.
And that, ladies, is goodnight. Cricket has nothing left to offer and will now cease to exist as a sport. That is the most amazing game I have ever seen in my life. Jos Buttler ran Martin Guptill out by inches and set off on a lap of honour.
ENGLAND HAVE WON THE WORLD CUP!
If New Zealand score one off the last ball, England win because they hit more boundaries in the match.
Super Over, ball 5: New Zealand 14-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) A single! New Zealand need two off the last ball. Martin Guptill needs two off the last ball. What sick, exhilarating hell is this?
Super Over, ball 4: New Zealand 13-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) Two more! New Zealand need three to win the World Cup!
Super Over, ball 3: New Zealand 11-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) Two more runs after a misfield! New Zealand are almost there.
Super Over, ball 2: New Zealand 9-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) Neesham has smacked Archer over midwicket for a huge six!!!
Super Over, ball 1: New Zealand 3-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) A brilliant yorker is crunched for two.
Super Over, ball 0: New Zealand 1-0 (need 16 to win the World Cup) Archer goes around the wicket to Neesham – and it’s an off-side wide!
“This,” says Carl Rosman, “had better not go to an underarm, eh?”
“Archer has never conceded 16 off an ODI over,” says my colleague Tim de Lisle, “but then he’s never had to do it under this pressure.”
The New Zealand batsmen are Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham. Guptill, who has had a dog of a tournament with the bat, could become the biggest hero in the history of the World Cup.
And that’s why he gets paid the big bucks
A moment ago, England needed 15 to win off the last over. Now New Zealand need 16 to win off the last over. Madness!
There are unconfirmed reports that Jofra Archer no longer has a resting heart rate.
If New Zealand score 15, England will win the World Cup. Imagine if they won the World Cup after a tie in a Super Over.
New Zealand deserve to win this game. For all the supersupersuperheroism of Ben Stokes, England have had all kinds of luck today. This, truly, has been a unique game of sport.
Super Over, ball 6: England 15-0 Buttler hammers Boult over midwicket for four! England have got 15 off the Super Over. New Zealand need 16 to win the World Cup. Please don’t ask me what happens if they score 15.
Super Over, ball 5: England 10-0 A superb yorker is pushed for two by Buttler.
“Can John Withington pls send me 6 numbers between 1 and 60?” says Matthew Parker.
#CWC19 After winning a one-day international spread over two days, New Zealand now have to play a one-day international over two innings
Super Over, ball 4: England 9-0 Jofra Archer is warming up. He’ll bowl the Super Over. Stokes gets a single into the covers.
Super Over, ball 3: England 8-0 Stokes drags Boult through midwicket for four!
Super Over, ball 2: England 4-0 Buttler crashes Boult into the leg side – but it’s only a single.
Super Over, ball 1: England 3-0 Stokes slices it to third man for three!
Trent Boult will bowl the Super Over
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are walking out for the Super Over. I’d imagine Jason Roy is the third batsman, but it’s probably unwise to assume too much after this bonkers final.
“It’s 5.21am in New Zealand,” says Rebecca Caroe, “and much of the country is awake and going to be late for work this Monday...”
It’s a national holiday, in nature if not name.
Anyone know if Costa Coffee are hiring? I can’t do this any more.
I have no idea why England are batting first, but they are. Those are the regulations. Each team has three batsmen, and if they lose two wickets that’s the end of the Super Over.
England will bat first in the Super Over.
Stokes is beyond exhausted. He played an amazing innings, 84 not out from 98 balls, and has been through dozens of emotions in the last 10 seconds alone. New Zealand’s fielding, under unimaginable pressure, was sensational. And Stokes’s accidental six was, in context, one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen.
Wood came back for a second, to win the World Cup, but Boult held his nerve to collect the throw and break the stumps. England got one, which means the scores are level. England 241 all out.
WICKET! England 241 all out (Wood run out 0) I do not believe this!
England need one for a Super Over, two to win, Stokes is on strike. What torture is this?
Stokes rests on his haunches, trying to summon the energy for one last boundary. He is spent, completely spent. New Zealand are taking an age to set the field. Here comes Boult, and Stokes drives it for one - but Rashid is run out!
The laws are non-negotiable, but that is astonishingly harsh on New Zealand.
49.4 overs: England 239-8 (need 3 from 2 balls to win) No way! No way! Stokes has got another six runs in amazing circumstances. He slid to make a second, and the throw hit his bat and went for four more! Astonishing! I have never seen anything like that in all my life. Stokes put his hands up to apologise straight away, but it’s six. That is unbelievably harsh on New Zealand.
49.3 overs: England 233-8 (need 9 from 3 balls to win) Stokes clouts it over midwicket for six!
49.2 overs: England 227-7 (need 15 from 4 balls to win) Stokes can only drive a wide yorker straight to the fielder. This is sensational bowling!
49.1 overs: England 227-7 (need 15 from 5 balls to win) Stokes turns down a single from the first ball. He’s entering Brathwaite territory.
49 overs: England 227-8 (need 15 from 6 balls to win)
Jimmy Neesham bowls Archer with a magnificent slower ball. England, or rather Ben Stokes, needs 15 from Trent Boult’s final over to win the World Cup. Is it too real for ya?
Cleaned him up!
48.5 overs: England 227-7 (need 15 from 7 balls to win) Stokes takes a single. Archer wanted two but Stokes sent him back.
48.4 overs: England 226-7 (need 16 from 8 balls to win) Oh my days! Stokes clouts a slower ball to cow corner, where Boult takes a great catch – and then steps on the rope! It’s six runs!
Plunkett boffs Neesham to long off, where Boult takes a calm catch. England need 22 from 9 balls. New Zealand are this close.
48.1 overs: England 219-6 (need 23 from 11 balls to win) Jimmy Neesham takes the penultimate over. Plunkett heaves him into the leg side for a single.
48 overs: England 218-6 (need 24 from 12 balls to win) A single. Plunkett keeps the strike, England need two a ball and Stokes looks utterly shattered.
47.5 overs: England 216-6 (need 25 from 13 balls to win) Plunkett hits an attempted yorker down the ground for two, with a shattered Stokes almost run out as he grimaces back for the second.
47.4 overs: England 215-6 (need 27 from 14 balls to win) Plunkett muscles Boult towards wide long on for a couple and then misses an attempted pull. I SAID DON’T PANIC.
47.2 overs: England 213-6 (Stokes 62, Plunkett 4) A single. England need 29 off 16. The rest of the country needs gin. I’ll be honest, right now I’d even consider having it without Fever Tree tonic.
47.1 overs: England 212-6 (Stokes 61, Plunkett 4) Trent Boult will bowl two of the last three overs, with Jimmy Neesham presumably taking the 49th. Stokes hammers Boult’s first ball through midwicket for four!
47 overs: England 208-6 (Stokes 57, Plunkett 4)Plunkett bashes Ferguson for four before being duped by a superb slower ball that bounces over the stumps. The outstanding Ferguson ends with figures of 10-0-50-3. England need 34 from 18 balls.
46.4 overs: England 204-6 (Stokes 57, Plunkett 0)Two dot balls from Ferguson to Plunkett! The net is closing around England. The New Zealand bowlers’s lack of clammyhandedness is staggering.
46.2 overs: England 204-6 (Stokes 57, Plunkett 0) The batsmen crossed while that ball was in outer space, and Stokes waves the next ball for a single. England need 38 from 22. Liam Plunkett has the highest strike rate in the whole tournament; boy do England need a 10-ball 17 now.
“The final act of the Great Stokes Redemption Arc?” begs Matt Dony. I mean, I know technically he put a question mark, but I can read between lines.
46.1 overs: Woakes tried to clout Ferguson over the leg side and top-edged it miles in the air. Tom Latham’s entire career flashed before him as he backpedalled, but eventually he took the catch. Lockie Ferguson might be the player of the match - he’s taken three wickets and a magnificent catch to get rid of Eoin Morgan.
Woakes is out!
46 overs: England 203-5 (Stokes 56, Woakes 2) Stokes plays a brilliant stroke, smacking Neesham wristily through midwicket for four!
45.4 overs: England 198-5 (Stokes 52, Woakes 1) A single to deep cover. England need 44 from 26 balls.
45.3 overs: England 197-5 (Stokes 51, Woakes 1) A dot ball from Neesham to Stokes. He is getting so frustrated with his inability to middle the ball, or in that case lay a bat on it.
45.2 overs: England 197-5 (Stokes 51, Woakes 1) Woakes drives Neesham for a single. England are in trouble here; they need 45 from 28.
45th over: England 196-5 (Stokes 51, Woakes 0) We always talk about the effect of scoreboard pressure on batsmen, as if bowling in a situation like this is the easiest thing in the world. As somebody who can barely feel his fingers - and I only have to describe the action - I’m in awe of how well New Zealand have bowled.
“Fancy a drink, Rob?” says Simon McMahon. “I’ve got three dozen cans of Relentless in the fridge, I’ve heard it’s good for the nerves.”
Jos Buttler has gone! He sliced Ferguson miles in the air towards the point boundary, where the substitute Tim Southee ran in to take a superb low catch. Buttler played gloriously for his 59, but I suspect he takes England’s chances through the Long Room with him.
Jos Buttler is out!
44th over: England 189-4 (Stokes 50, Buttler 53) Buttler drives Boult over extra-cover for four to bring up an immense half-century from 53 balls, and then Stokes drives a yorker for a single to reach an unyielding fifty of his own from 81 balls. Boult has got his yorker going now, and the last ball of the over is a gem that Buttler just manages to dig out. England need 53 from 36 balls.
“It’s not the despair, Bob,” says Alex Netherton. “It’s the crushing sense of inevitable defeat and self-hatred.”
43rd over: England 183-4 (Stokes 49, Buttler 48) Buttler premeditates a lap for two off Ferguson. That was an extraordinary shot, because it was a slower ball and he had to wait before guiding it past leg stump. Seven from the over - five singles and a two. England need 59 from 42 balls. That is a big ask on this pitch. It’s Buttler or bust, I think.
42nd over: England 177-4 (Stokes 47, Buttler 44) The Win Predictor has England at 69 per cent. But the Win Predictor hasn’t lived through the last 44 years. Nor have I, but let’s not split hairs. Neesham knocks Stokes off his feet with a superb yorker. Stokes just managed to get his bat down in time. But he’s struggling to find the middle of that bat, and there are only four runs from the over. Stokes has 47 from 77 balls, Buttler 44 from 48.
“I can’t deal with this any more,” says Shaun Bowler. “It’s 4 a.m. in the Solomon Islands. I’m going to go to sleep for the last 10 overs and wake up to a New Zealand victory.”
41st over: England 171-4 (Stokes 44, Buttler 43) Stokes has been nowhere near as fluent as Buttler, although he does look comfortable at the crease. For now he needs to give Buttler the strike at every opportunity. New Zealand need a wicket, by hook or by crook. Ferguson beats Buttler with a blistering bouncer; Buttler shaped to hook and then pulled out at the last minute. The run rate is becoming an issue for England: they need 69 from 54 balls.
England need 72 runs from 60 balls
40th over: England 170-4 (Stokes 43, Buttler 42) Matt Henry returns to bowl his final over. Both teams know one wicket will give the Win Predictor an existential crisis – and Henry almost gets it with a slower ball that lifts viciously to beat Stokes’ provisional cut stroke. After four singles, Buttler premeditates a brilliant ramp for four off Henry’s last delivery. Henry finishes with 10-2-40-1; there are lies, damned lies and bowling figures.
39th over: England 162-4 (Stokes 41, Buttler 36)Stokes drags a short ball from Ferguson through midwicket for four. He didn’t time it but it ran away to the boundary. These two have played ever so well, with a lot of intelligence, and they need 80 from the last 11 overs.
“My son has gone to work now,” says Adam Roberts. “Apparently, on Thursday a huge row broke out about what to have on in the staff canteen, cricket or tennis. Both are pretty tense right now.”
38th over: England 156-4 (Stokes 36, Buttler 35)Stokes, on the charge, inside edges Neesham just past his leg stump for a couple of runs. Win or lose, England have had the luck today. Buttler chips Neesham’s slower ball whence it came for four; it wasn’t far away from Neesham, who stretched to his right in his follow through, but it was ultimately safe. It’s a reflection of this tricky pitch that Stokes and Buttler have hit only five boundaries between them.
“Has anyone yet suggested the tie and Super Over?” asks John Withington. “The cricket equivalent of the penalty shootout. I wonder if teams have a ready-made plan. I’d presume Archer would bowl and Roy would bat with Buttler?”
37th over: England 149-4 (Stokes 33, Buttler 31) Ferguson returns to the attack. Buttler slaps a cut for four off the first ball, prompting huge cheers from a crowd who are really getting into
their alcohol this match now. Buttler is duped by a slower one next up, but it lands safely on the off side. Beautiful bowling from Ferguson, whose raw pace sometimes obscures a very smart cricket brain. Six from the over; England need 93 from 78 balls.
“Rob,” says Brian Withington. “TV pictures earlier made it look like Joe Root is watching forlornly on his own from the (very) naughty step ...”
Jos Buttler has played 16% false shots. No batsman in the match has played fewer. #CWC19
36th over: England 143-4 (Stokes 32, Buttler 26) “Hi Rob,” says Anthony, Paul and Rasputin. “We’re sitting out a sweltering Venetian evening in the attic. Panicked by a shout when I popped to the kitchen, but it was merely a gondolier signalling a left turn. We may have to seek solace in a Bastille Day bash. Vive la France.”
Henry angled a full delivery into Buttler, who fell over towards the off side as he flicked around his front pad. Kumar Dharmasena gave it not out so New Zealand went upstairs, but the angle from wide on the crease was taking it past leg stump.
It was missing leg stump.
This is closer than I thought.
This is huge. I reckon it’ll be umpire’s call, but it’s close.
35th over: England 141-4 (Stokes 31, Buttler 25) Stokes survives a run-out chance off the first ball after drinks. It was a poor throw from Neesham at backward point, with Stokes well short of his ground. That is one of four singles from Santner’s over. England are handling him with care, for now.
“It brings a tear to the eye,” says Phil Sawyer, “to think that across the country young children, perhaps seeing cricket for the first time, are currently listening to their elders explain, ‘This? This stomach clenching fear? This nauseating tension? This heartbreaking contemplation that once again we might be so near yet so far? This. This is what we’ve been talking about. This.... is watching the England cricket team. You’re welcome.’”
#CWC19 England's middle order have faced 123 balls so far today and hit three of them for four
34th over: England 137-4 (Stokes 29, Buttler 23) Matt Henry, who bowled a sensational seven-over spell at the start of the innings, replaces Trent Boult. Stokes hits his first three balls for two and then checks a slower ball in the air but wide of cover. That brings up a determined and composed fifty partnership from 65 balls. The over ends with Stokes getting a leading edge that falls just short of Henry, diving forward in his follow through. Sheesh it’s tense. England need 105 from 96 balls, and it’s time for the last Powerade Hydration Break. I wish it was a Highland Park Hydration break, at least in this office.
“Give the thinly veiled snide comments about NZ, the pitch (at age 6 we’re taught that it’s the same for both sides) etc. a rest pal,” writes Buck Satan II. “You can support England inside but report on a sporting event at least vaguely impartially, like a journalist rather than a fan blogger.”
33rd over: England 129-4 (Stokes 22, Buttler 22) “I feel you are letting Morgan off a little lightly,” says Jonathan McKinley. “‘Just picking the wrong option’ is not what you would hope for in a captain with his experience at this stage of a World Cup final.”
I can barely feel my fingers and I’m only typing about a World Cup final, so I’ve some sympathy for those who make mistakes while playing in one.
32nd over: England 126-4 (Stokes 21, Buttler 21) Buttler cuts Boult this far wide of the flying Guptill at backward point. That would have been the catch of the millennium. Instead the ball raced away for Buttler’s first boundary. Both batsmen have 21 – Buttler from 22 balls, Stokes from 43.
“Touch of the Brian McMillan in de Grandhomme’s bowling,” says Lee Calvert, “but he looks less likely to chin you over a late-night scotch than big Brian did.”
31st over: England 119-4 (Stokes 20, Buttler 15) The left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner comes into the attack for the first time, and goes straight round the wicket to Buttler. That’s how he dismissed him at Durham, from memory. Santner is a crafty, subtle spinner, against whom liberties are not always wise, so England settle for four low-risk singles.
“Hey Rob,” says Honor Harger. “Honor (usually from Singapore, currently at Lord’s). This is a really grand, but tense affair here. Lots of the Indian supporters have switched to Kiwi supporters (thankfully - we needed the help) and the English supporters are jovial but nervous. Cracking atmosphere. So, we are side on so a bit hard to tell. But what’s your verdict on the pitch?”
30th over: England 115-4 (Stokes 18, Buttler 13) Boult replaces Neesham. It’s quite simple: if he strikes in this spell, New Zealand will almost certainly win the World Cup. Stokes and especially Buttler are batting pretty well - but they are really struggling to hit boundaries. New Zealand’s mundane rotation of the strike looks like it could be decisive.
“Morning Rob,” says Phil Withall. “It’s two in the morning. I have red wine, I’m eating bananas and I have a young child taking my place in my bed. Worst of all this game is panning out just as I suspected it would. I had a feeling New Zealand had the capability to make things challenging for England and that seems to be the case. In a way I’m rather comfortable with the situation, not happy but comfortable.”
29th over: England 111-4 (Stokes 16, Buttler 11) Buttler almost falls to consecutive deliveries from de Grandhomme! The first went through the gate and bounced over the stumps; the second was sliced high in the air and landed just short of third man. de Grandhomme ends a remarkable, surreal spell with figures of 10-2-25-1.
28th over: England 106-4 (Stokes 16, Buttler 9) Buttler has started his innings with authority and intent. The problem is that, because he is rotating the strike so much better than Stokes, he is only facing one or two balls an over.Stokes has had enough of failing to pierce the field; he charges Neesham and smears the ball straight back down the ground for four. England need 136 from 132 balls.
“What was Morgan thinking?” says Spencer Francis. “And how was Root so flustered? Never expected that from Root.”
27th over: England 98-4 (Stokes 10, Buttler 7) The demon de Grandhomme almost grabs another wicket, with Stokes check-driving just short of mid-on. He bowls a maiden to Stokes, which gives him figures of 9-2-22-1. It’s like Dibbly, Dobbly and Wobbly, the three tortoises of the apocalypse from 1992, never went away. The pitch is not good enough but New Zealand - for the second time in the knockout stages - have used it admirably.
26th over: England 98-4 (Stokes 10, Buttler 7) Buttler has started busily, the first England player to rotate strike from the off, and has seven from five balls.. Stokes is playing more carefully, trying to take the game deep, and has 10 from 24. Five from Neesham’s over, during which the required rate sneaked above a run a ball for the first time.
Thanks Tim, hello everyone. So, who fancies a knighthood? If England are to win the World Cup, Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler will have to play a career-defining innings. At the moment, New Zealand – who have bowled exceptionally on a helpful pitch – are putting England to sleep.
Eoin Morgan’s team are peerless front-runners; they aren’t so good at coming from behind on awkward pitches, especially when there is no tomorrow. We’ve said it a few times in this tournament, but this, truly, is the real quiz. And the answer is not Fray Bentos.
25th over: England 93-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 5) Buttler, who is so adaptable, has decided to play with his wrists rather than his long handle, working the ball into the gaps. And at last, the win predictor has noticed that NZ are doing quite well here – it gives them 50pc, to England’s 48. I’d say 80-20. That’s the halfway stage, England still need 149 off 150 balls, they’ve got a longer tail than usual... Cometh the hour, cometh Rob Smyth. Thanks for your company.
24th over: England 89-4 (Stokes 5, Buttler 3) England’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Jos Buttler, who hasn’t batted much lately. He starts calmly, pushing to leg for two, and into the covers for one. As Morgan played that upper cut, he yelled “No!”, and not because he didn’t want to run.
“The England batting,” says Richard Graveling, “is defeating the object of transmitting the final on free-to-air. How can a nation be inspired if they’re watching it from behind the sofa?”
Morgan upper-cuts, the cover sweeper races in to take a diving catch, they’re checking it upstairs but that is out. Great play from NZ, and England are right on the ropes.
23rd over: England 86-3 (Morgan 9, Stokes 5) England keep on charging de Grandhomme, as if it will suddenly start to work. And, to be fair, it does, as Stokes plays a controlled pull for four. The keeper, Latham, responds by calling for a helmet and coming up to the stumps. Pinned to the crease, Stokes can only block. It’s cat-and-mouse and, as in all the best cartoons, the mouse is winning.
22nd over: England 82-3 (Morgan 9, Stokes 1) Kane Williamson comes across as a nice guy, but that won’t stop him going for the kill. He gives Ferguson a wide slip and a deep gully for Morgan, encouraging him to bang it in. Morgan ducks a bouncer and gets a graze on the helmet. Most of the scoring is now being done by extras: two leg byes, four wides as a bouncer sails over the keeper.
And here’s an email from Rob Smyth, of all people. “Death by de Grandhomme in a World Cup final. How miserable.”
21st over: England 75-3 (Morgan 9, Stokes 1) Stokes comes down the pitch to de Grandhomme and swishes at thin air. Then he stays in his crease and cuts at thin air. The second batch of ten overs brought only 34 runs for the loss of two big wickets.
20th over: England 73-3 (Morgan 8, Stokes 1) Bairstow had just emerged from a quiet spell with a handsome cover drive, played on the up. But this isn’t his sort of pitch and it got him in the end. So England have their two left-handers together, and they’ve got a rebuilding job to do.
Gone!!! That inside edge again – it’s third time unlucky as Bairstow’s Harrow squirt goes onto the stumps. Are England choking?
19th over: England 66-2 (Bairstow 32, Morgan 7) Morgan, typically, has a plan: get busy. He has seven off 11 balls, which is a silent reproach to poor old Root. The win predictor is still giving England 76 per cent, and I’m still saying you should cut that in half.
18th over: England 63-2 (Bairstow 32, Morgan 4) Morgan stays legside, in the manner Kevin Pietersen doesn’t approve of, and it gets him two as he pokes to third man and runs hard. When the going gets tough, the tough get running.
17th over: England 60-2 (Bairstow 32, Morgan 1) Well bowled de Grandhomme, who has 1-9 off four overs. Just when you thought the dibbly-dobbler had gone out of fashion... Root ended up with a double whammy, a low score off a load of balls (29). But Morgan deflects his first delivery for a neat single. That’s as good as it gets for England at the moment.
Mid-17th over: England 59-2 (Bairstow 32, Morgan 0) And that’s drinks, with Morgan yet to face a ball, and England exactly where the New Zealanders want them to be. This is tense as hell.
Another big one! Root was so frustrated that he charged de Grandhomme and missed, then slashed from the crease and got a nick. And Kane Williamson slips back into the driving seat.
16th over: England 59-1 (Bairstow 32, Root 7) Henry takes his sweater, and a bow, with the formidable figures of 7-2-22-1. Lockie Ferguson comes on and tests both batsmen with his signature mix of the full and the short. When Joe Root plays a pull, it’s well stopped by Martin Guptill, prowling at short fine leg.
And here’s Simon Mcmahon. “This is going to be incredibly tense, isn’t it? I suspect, deep down, England fans would not want it any other way. A finish similar to the dramatic France v Germany European Cricket Federation Nations Cup final in 1997 would not surprise me. Or else England will romp home by 7 wickets. Either way, it’s Bastille Day, so a glass of champagne later could be in order...”
15th over: England 56-1 (Bairstow 31, Root 6) More fluency, at least from the scoreboard operator, as the batsmen find ways of getting some singles and a two off de Bigman. But Root still has a strike rate of 24 today – six off 25 balls. England are not out of the woods yet.
14th over: England 51-1 (Bairstow 29, Root 3) Just when you are wondering if England plan on winning this match by Wednesday, Bairstow breaks the spell – and Henry’s sequence of 17 dots – with a whip through midwicket. And then he gets away with another Harrow drive, which brings another four, and that’s England’s fifty off 83 balls. Old school.
“Your past comes back to haunt you,” says the latest email subject line, darkly. It’s from Richard Rees Jones. “This World Cup final is all very well, but I still haven’t forgiven you for the scathing review you gave Gary Numan’s ‘Warriors’ album in Smash Hits in 1983.” I plead guilty.
13th over: England 42-1 (Bairstow 20, Root 3) The scoreboard operator awakes with a jerk as Bairstow tucks for a single and Root follows suit, making room by doing a little dance towards mid-off. The keeper, Latham, could put a stop to that by standing up to de Grandhomme.
12th over: England 39-1 (Bairstow 18, Root 2) England usually go dot-dash. Right now they’re going dot-dot-dot ad infinitum. That’s the third maiden in a row, and the second from Henry, who has the Test-match figures of 6-1-13-1. Root has faced 19 balls and managed two singles. But he’s still there.
11th over: England 39-1 (Bairstow 18, Root 2) Williamson makes his first bowling change, replacing Boult with the medium pace of Colin de Grandhomme – who bowls a maiden but drops Bairstow. That went straight into his midriff and seemed perfectly catchable. Can Bairstow make NZ pay for it?
10th over: England 39-1 (Bairstow 18, Root 2) Now even Root plays an air shot outside off, as Henry curls another one down the hill. That’s a maiden, so Henry has 5-1-13-1: no big-match nerves for him. The win predictor is giving England 84 per cent; I give them about 44.
An email arrives headed “6th over voodoo chickens”, which can only happen to an OBOer. “In old-school voodoo (voudoun),” says John Starbuck, “the chickens don’t come home to roost, they get their heads chopped off instead. If you’re making supernatural bargains, you have to get the details right, or it all goes demon-shaped.”
9th over: England 39-1 (Bairstow 18, Root 2) Bairstow isn’t fully himself yet, but he does manage a shovel-pull for four off Boult.
“Dear Mr d,” says Adam Roberts. “Can we have the Henry who bowled against the Windies back, please?”
8th over: England 34-1 (Bairstow 14, Root 1) Root is already being thoroughly Rootish: a good leave, a nice back-foot push under the eyes, and then, when the scoreboard needs a nudge, a quick-footed dab into the covers to get off the mark. If he can get twice as many as Williamson did, that should do the trick. But when Bairstow takes over, Henry beats him with a textbook outseamer.
Here’s Geoff Wignall, emailing before the wicket. “I’d like to dissent,” he says, “from the notion that the first ten overs will be necessarily crucial. Obviously, Roy and Bairstow could decide the outcome quite quickly, but might this be a day and a pitch for knocking the ball around and accumulating a nice steady five or six an over? In which case England do have the players for job in Root and the middle order - Stokes, Buttler and Woakes. No worries.” Geoff, I wish I was as cool as you.
7th over: England 33-1 (Bairstow 14, Root 0) Boult continues and Bairstow beats that bespoke legside field for the first time, by playing an on-drive that’s closer to the umpire than he would normally go. Boult now has 0-21 from four overs, when he could easily have 2-10.
6th over: England 28-1 (Bairstow 10, Root 0) So Henry strikes, keeping his nerve after Roy had driven him for four. England badly need Joe Root to get his usual solid start. Rob would like to see Stokes coming in next, and so would I, but I doubt Morgan will demote himself in case it looks too angsty.
In other news, I’d been wondering where Brian Withington had got to, and here he is. “Not sure my nerves can withstand much more of this,” he says. “I made a Faustian bargain earlier in the tournament for England to lose a classic nailbiter to NZ in the final as long as we beat India and NZ and then Australia in the semi-finals. Was later praying that Australia would win the group and render said bargain null and void, but I fear voodoo chickens may inevitably be coming home to roost now.”
The breakthrough! And it’s the wicket NZ most wanted. Henry runs one down the hill and Roy gets a regulation nick, well held low down by Latham.
5th over: England 240-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 10) Kane Williamson has a bespoke field for Bairstow, with three men at midwicket, the middle one deeper than the other two. This has stopped two boundaries so far, but now, at last, Bairstow finds his mojo, creaming Boult through the covers. He enjoys it so much, he does it again.
“Good morning everyone,” says Adam Roberts, “(still morning here in Cayman). ‘Who needs Federer and Djokovic?’ [3rd over] I’m trying to juggle the two.”
4th over: England 16-0 (Roy 13, Bairstow 2) More astringency from Henry, and Bairstow’s second run, like his first, comes off the edge – a more orthodox one, a low squirt to third man. Roy, who is in no mood to be dominated, gives Henry the charge, looking for a six, but only gets a chip for two. No wickets yet, but NZ are on top.
3rd over: England 12-0 (Roy 10, Bairstow 1) Boult puts a small blot on his copybook with a wide, but then tests Bairstow to the limits with his inswing. Going for a cover drive, Bairstow manages only an inside edge to get off the mark in the strealiest way known to man. Roy is then cut in half by an inswinger, before going for a dance and playing a superb cover push for four. This is riveting. Who needs Federer and Djokovic?
“Good afternoon Tim.” Good afternoon, Damian Clarke. “As an inveterate nailbiter at the best of times, I’m watching telly, and typing this wearing my welding gauntlets. They don’t taste very nice.”
2nd over: England 5-0 (Roy 5, Bairstow 0) Matt Henry is on the money too. Roy plays outside his nip-backer, then inside his leg-cutter. After nine balls that have been pretty much unplayable, Roy looks to assert himself by taking a step forward. He middles this one, and the next on the back foot, but both are dots. Finally he gets a half-volley and straight-drives for four. That’s great temperament from Roy, and mostly great bowling from Henry.
1st over: England 1-0 (Roy 1, Bairstow 0) Boult, watching the big screen, does the biggest eye-roll ever seen from someone who’s not a teenager. But he doesn’t lose his cool, or his line, or his length. That’s a fine first over, with the only run coming off a thick outside edge. The duel is on.
Umpire’s call! And a nation goes phew.
For LBW. Full, swinging yorker – a great ball, but Erasmus said no. Looks out.
Bairstow and Roy have reeled off four century partnerships in a row. They surely can’t do it again.
Thanks Rob and afternoon everyone. This game seems beautifully poised. Last time NZ were in a World Cup final, four years ago, they batted first and made only 183 all out, so 241 is a big step forward. Last time England were in one, 27 years ago, they batted second and made 227 all out. So those omens point to an NZ win. But England bowled well and will feel they can do this. So much rests on the first ten overs, the battle between the excellent Roy and Bairstow and the equally excellent Boult and Henry. Stand by for a dual duel.
“The good news, from a Kiwi perspective, is that there are fewer than 11 people in England that truly believe that England can chase 242 on a slowish pitch to win a World Cup final,” says Grant Marjoribanks. “The bad news is that six of them are in the English top order.”
That was a very solid performance in the field from England, with Liam Plunkett extremely good, but New Zealand scrapped admirably to post their usual competitive total. The first ten overs, when Trent Boult and Matt Henry take on Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow, are likely to decide whether New Zealand or England will the World Cup. Since you asked, I think England are favourites - but not by much.
Please join Tim de Lisle in 25 minutes for the start of the run chase. Bye!
50th over: New Zealand 241-8 (Santner 5, Boult 1) Archer’s last over is a gem, full of deception, and New Zealand can only grab three runs from it. England need 242 to win the World Cup.
Henry is cleaned up by a full toss from Archer, and there are three balls remaining.
England's first no-ball in this World Cup! Comes in their second last over of the tournament.
Only one team has played a World Cup without bowling a no-ball. It was Netherlands in 1996. #CWC19Final
49th over: New Zealand 238-7 (Santner 4, Henry 4) Woakes apologises after bowling an accidental beamer at Santner, which means a free hit for New Zealand. Santner can’t take advantage of that, missing a heave at a loopy slower ball, but Henry ends an excellent over for New Zealand - 13 from it - by launching his first ball to cow corner for a one-bouncer four. That’s a brilliant shot.
Latham clunks a low full toss straight to the substitute Vince at mid-off. No celebration from Woakes, who is still annoyed that the previous delivery turned past Buttler for four wides. That was an important innings from Latham, who scored 47 from 56 balls.
48th over: New Zealand 225-6 (Latham 47, Santner 2) This feels like a competitive score for New Zealand on a slightly sluggish pitch, though it’s contingent on Trent Boult and Matt Henry taking wickets with the new ball. Those first 10 overs of the England innings could redefine squeaky-bum time.
New Zealand are struggling to hit boundaries – just one since the 39th over – but they have been good at picking up singles off most deliveries. They take five more from Archer’s ninth over. New Zealand are on course for a New Zealand total.
47th over: New Zealand 220-6 (Latham 44, Santner 0) Vince is on the field because Mark Wood went off with what looks like a side strain.
Colin de Grandhomme is put of his misery by Chris Woakes. It was a slower ball that took a leading edge and spooned to the substitute James Vince at mid-off. de Grandhomme, such a dangerous hitter, goes for a miserable 28-ball 16.
46th over: New Zealand 214-5 (Latham 41, de Grandhomme 13) Latham found a bit of form against England at Chester-le-Street, even though the game had long gone, and he has taken that into today. de Grandhomme, meanwhile, is pinned for the umpteenth time by Archer. He is struggling to get bat on ball, never mind middle it, and Archer finishes the over with three consecutive dot balls. de Grandhomme has 13 from 25 balls. He might well be the difference between a target of 225 and 255 - but not in the way we expected.
“I haven’t picked up a bat in four years and foolishly agreed to play in a one-off, get-the-band-back-together match in deepest, darkest Kent (at an admittedly very picturesque ground),” says OIiver Smiddy. “So instead of watching the cricket I’m padded up, waiting to go in and scratch around horribly for a few overs before holing out to cover. Sad.”
45th over: New Zealand 211-5 (Latham 39, de Grandhomme 12) Latham misses a lusty swipe across the line at Wood - but he nails the next ball into the crowd at cow corner. That was a beautiful stroke, an almost nonchalant pick up for six. de Grandhomme then survives a run-out referral after a smart bit of work from Buttler. Wood finishes with 10-1-49-1. This is getting exquisitely tense, although don’t quote on me on the exquisite part.
“Very much enjoyed Mr. de Lisle’s terrific, heart-touching piece on attending the 1975 final,” says Mac Millings. “My first time attending an international cricket match was the ‘83 final. I was 11, and probably still have my scorecard tucked away somewhere. Chief memories: a West Indian fan behind me and my family, yelling, ‘Vivian Richards! Show ‘em you are the Master Blaster!’ every couple of minutes, until circumstances - and Madan Lal - dictated that he had to stop; and my mother (no aficionada) asking why both teams were wearing the same colour, and where the commentary was.”
44th over: New Zealand 204-5 (Latham 32, de Grandhomme 12) de Grandhomme has become a bit of a punchbag for the England bowlers. He is hit on the back twice by slower bouncers from Archer, and inbetween he mistimes a cut stroke just short of Stokes in the covers. But there are also three wides in Archer’s over, which takes New Zealand past 200. Although it feels like England have controlled the game since the 20th over, New Zealand are inching towards a really handy score. We’ve said it a few times at this tournament - almost every game - but the first 10 overs of the England innings will probably decide this match.
“Permission to profess my manly adoration for Liam Plunkett, Rob?” says Guy Hornsby. “This is the zenith of a late-blossoming career phase, doing the hard yards so we don’t have to. It seems like he’s been around for ever. He’s easing my nerves by at least 2.9%, down to the mid-nineties.”
43rd over: New Zealand 196-5 (Latham 29, de Grandhomme 12) A bouncer from Wood hits de Grandhomme on the back and flies away for four leg byes. Although de Grandhomme has started scratchily, he’s such a dangerous hitter that England will take nothing for granted. He could be the difference between a target of 225 and 255.
“I am spending the afternoon on duty at Cape Cornwall Coastwatch hut, on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Atlantic,” writes Constance Moore. “Can’t listen to TMS because I need to hear calls on the radio from shipping or coastguard, so will be depending on your updates when I have a moment to spare! Most glorious view in the world does make up for it...”
42nd over: New Zealand 186-5 (Latham 27, de Grandhomme 8) de Grandhomme is fine to continue. Five from Archer’s over - four singles and a wide.
41.3 overs: New Zealand 183-5 (Latham 26, de Grandhomme 7) Jofra Archer returns to the attack and hits de Grandhomme on the helmet with a fine bouncer. In fact, de Grandhomme top-edged an attempted hook onto his helmet, from where it looped just past backward point. There will be a break in play while de Grandhomme receives treatment.
“I am on a quest to become the first(?) family to appear on OBO during a tournament,” says Anand. “Is it a thing? Perhaps an OBO honours board? My son, Advaith, who has just turned 7 has been introduced to cricket during this tournament. A proud moment as a father happened when he decided that he would rather play yard cricket with me that go out to eat at his favourite restaurant. When he isn’t supporting his favourite team, India, he wants to save his favourite planet.”
41st over: New Zealand 181-5 (Latham 25, de Grandhomme 6) We’re into the last ten overs. A run a ball would take New Zealand to 239, and they know how to defend that. Plunkett, bowling his final over, slips a fine delivery past de Grandhomme’s outside edge. He ends a superb spell with figures of 10-0-42-3.
“Hey Rob,” says Ronan. “There’s a fair few of us in Cologne watching the game in Barney Vallely’s Irish pub in the Old Town. Should be a good atmosphere when we come into bat. You can let David Horn know.”
40th over: New Zealand 179-5 (Latham 24, de Grandhomme 5) “Bit closer to home, I’m sat in a pub In Uphall, nr Edinburgh,” says Marc Greenhalgh. “Three screens showing three different sports: golf to the left of me, horse racing and F1 to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you. It’s like the World Cup final isn’t even happening.”
In philosophical terms, I don’t think it is.
39th over: New Zealand 173-5 (Latham 23, de Grandhomme 0) If you have a problem in the middle overs, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Liam Plunkett.
That was an Andrex-soft dismissal from Neesham, who had been playing so well. He tried to drive Plunkett over mid-on but clodhopped it straight to Root. It might have been a slower ball, I’m not quite sure. Either way, Plunkett has three wickets.
Plunkett has done it again!
38th over: New Zealand 165-4 (Latham 22, Neesham 12) Neesham’s timing must be infectious. Latham has started to find the sweet spot, too, and he push-drives Wood beautifully through extra cover for four. New Zealand are moving doggedly towards a workable score.
“My daughter Daisy has decided enough is enough,” says Dave Childs, “and we are now watching Sooty instead of the most important cricket game in 14 years.”
37th over: New Zealand 159-4 (Latham 17, Neesham 11) Liam Plunkett replaces Ben Stokes. It was going to be Archer, but then he or Morgan changed their mind. Plunkett drops short to Latham, who picks him up sweetly towards long leg for a one-bounce for.
“Hi Rob, this is stupid,” says David Horn, cutting urgently to the chase. “I’ve decided to ditch the family for a day of our vacation and am now wandering around a foreign city that is mostly closed, looking for The Cricket. Any of your readers know Cologne better than me and can help me out?”
36th over: New Zealand 153-4 (Latham 12, Neesham 10) Neesham has timed the ball gloriously since coming to the crease, much better than anyone else today. He pings a drive off Wood that is stopped by Morgan at extra cover and then nails a pull that is superbly stopped by the diving Woakes on the midwicket boundary. That saved three runs, and the run that Neesham did get is the only one from the over. Wood, like Plunkett, has bowled a much better second spell after switching ends.
“Gary Naylor is right to acknowledge Sky’s investment but why is this topic still being discussed in binary all-or-nothing terms?” writes our own Ali Martin. “Most people surely accept the sport won’t return to terrestrial TV full time ... but that doesn’t mean a better balance can’t still be struck between revenue and reach. Even the ECB now acknowledge the need for this, if the next rights deal is anything to go by (collective revulsion/trepidation about The Hundred notwithstanding).”
35th over: New Zealand 152-4 (Latham 12, Neesham 9) Neesham gets off the mark with a superb shot, flicking Stokes wristily through midwicket for four. Even the deranged boundary-riding beast Bairstow couldn’t stop it. That’s the first boundary since the 20th over - and he pulls another through mid-on two balls later. That’s excellent, testicular batting from one of the more impressive characters at this World Cup.
Thanks for all your emails, which I’m trying to read between balls/overs/pangs of the purest fear. “Hello Rob!” says Georgina Stickels. “This Aussie is joining you from southern Senegal. They’re all football mad here (and Senegal is playing in the Afcon final later, so no wonder!) so no telly for me. SO pleased you chaps are online. Am gunning for NZ obviously: hoping they can regroup. Kia kaha, Aotearoa!”
34th over: New Zealand 141-4 (Latham 11, Neesham 0) Taylor and New Zealand were hard done by: replays show the ball from Wood was just bouncing over the stumps. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULDN’T PLAY SILLY BUGGERS WITH YOUR TEAM’S REVIEW, PART 4369123423523425310.
Wood, meanwhile, completes a wicket maiden by zipping one past Jimmy Neesham’s outside edge.
That looked slightly high, but Marais Erasmus gave it out. Taylor pushed around a sharp delivery from Wood that came back to hit him on the pad. The line was fine; we haven’t seen a replay that shows whether it was bouncing over the stumps. I suspect it was, just.
Mark Wood strikes with the first ball of a new spell - and New Zealand can’t review it!
33rd over: New Zealand 141-3 (Taylor 15, Latham 11) An outside edge from Latham flies safely to third man for a single. Both sides are jockeying for position ahead of the death overs, and despite losing Williamson I think New Zealand will be happy enough with their position.
32nd over: New Zealand 134-3 (Taylor 13, Latham 9) More low-risk milking of Rashid; four from the over. New Zealand have played Rashid pretty well, because although he has only conceded one boundary, he is still going at five an over.
“Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar,” says Emiel de Bont. “A friend whom I have been trying to take an interest in cricket, texts me to ask if Test matches are like qualifiers for the World Cup. Where to begin...”
31st over: New Zealand 130-3 (Taylor 11, Latham 7) Stokes replaces Plunkett, who has three overs up his sleeve. Latham is beaten, trying to cut a ball that trampolines from a length. New Zealand haven’t hit a boundary since the 20th over, although they do manage four singles off Stokes. Time for drinks.
“Rob,” says Mac Millings. “I have The Fear, Rob, expressed here in my all-time Fear XI:
30th over: New Zealand 126-3 (Taylor 9, Latham 5) A lucky escape for Taylor. He charged Rashid, got nowhere near the pitch but managed to get a bottom-edge that bounced over the keeper Buttler. Had it not done so, Buttler would have had a simple stumping chance.
“Afternoon Rob!” says Rob Wolf Petersen. “I hope you’re in fine fettle. This is only going to go one way, isn’t it? New Zealand 261-7, England 113 all out. During the presentation, Williamson will explain that the team’s analyses deduced that a score in the region of 260 wins 70 percent of matches. Then he’ll pull off his rubber face mask to reveal the cackling, maniacal visage of Peter Moores.”
29th over: New Zealand 123-3 (Taylor 8, Latham 3) Latham almost joins Nicholls in dragging Latham back onto the stumps. Thankfully for him it hit the pad and landed safely. But it’s another good over from Plunkett, with just a single from the last ball. Since he switched to the Nursery End, Plunkett has figures of 4-0-7-2. Pick those out!
“The emailers you have lauding the return of live cricket to free-to-air channels understand that those same channels do not want live cricket, will not invest the time and money to present the game properly in all formats around the world and are shamelessly cherry picking one of the few matches they do want today?” says Gary Naylor. “Anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s should thank Sky for what they do for the cricket fan. And as for kids being inspired by blanket free-to-air coverage, how’s that working out with the tennis these last few decades?”
28th over: New Zealand 122-3 (Taylor 8, Latham 2) Four singles from Rashid’s sixth over. It’s so hard to know what a good score is, because the pressure of a World Cup final runchase could scramble the Win Predictor, never mind the brains of the batsmen. I suspect New Zealand would be very happy with anything above 250.
“Afternoon Rob, afternoon everybody,” says John Withington. “I’m wondering if anybody out there has the data to confirm my suspicion that reviewing every decisions by umpire Dharmasena is statistically as sound a strategy as any other.”
27th over: New Zealand 118-3 (Taylor 6, Latham 0) Nicholls played an excellent innings and will feel a bit unfortunate, as that ball could easily have gone away for four.
“You think no-one cares in Berlin?” sniffs Kevin Rodgers. “I’m in the mountains of northern Vietnam getting OBO with a dodgiest Wi-fi imaginable. Surrounding indifference is total; regardless, nails are being destroyed.”
Liam Plunkett has done it again! Nicholls tried to drive a fullish delivery that straightened just enough to take the inside edge and fly back onto the stumps. Plunkett’s second spell - two for six from 2.5 overs - has dragged England right back into the game.
Arise Sir Liam.
26th over: New Zealand 114-2 (Nicholls 52, Taylor 5) Nicholls drives Rashid down the ground for a single to reach a fine, purposeful half-century from 71 balls. Both batsmen are using their feet against Rashid, although at this stage they are only looking to drive him down the ground for a single.
25th over: New Zealand 109-2 (Nicholls 49, Taylor 3) Taylor will take a few overs to get his eye in, knowing he can make up for lost time later in the innings. His one attacking stroke in that Plunkett over is a play-and-miss at a wide slower ball. Taylor is New Zealand’s second best batsman, with daylight either side, so England would love to pick him up early on.Plunkett is into his work now; his figures in this spell at 2-0-2-1.
“Morning Rob,” says James Lane, “or evening here in Australia. I wasn’t planning on watching this, but is it sneakily turning into the kind of game that, at 1am, you groan as you realise you just have to watch to the bitter end? Plus, if England go down, your patented brand of sadomasochism is exactly what’s required.”
24th over: New Zealand 108-2 (Nicholls 48, Taylor 3) Nicholls edges Rashid’s googly for a single. It was a safe shot, with no slip in place. Rashid (4-0-23-0) doesn’t look at his best, although I said that at the same stage of the semi-final, and then he took three lovely wickets.
“It’s been a wild ride, sir,” says Abhijato Sensarma. “We seek catharsis; we shall find it today. We seek a new name on the trophy; we shall find it today. We seek redemption; we shall find it today. Hearts have been broken and fairytales have come true along the way. A million emotions have been felt throughout this journey, but now that we’re at the end there’s nothing much left to say. Whoever wins the final will deserve to. And that, Mr Smyth, should be our greatest joy.”
23rd over: New Zealand 103-2 (Nicholls 46, Taylor 0) In this tournament, Liam Plunkett has dismissed, among others, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Chris Gayle, Quinton de Kock and Old Father Time.
“Good morning Rob,” says Shannon Campbell. “I’m here in Berlin following the final and this German metropolis oozes indifference at my nervous excitement. Friends want to go for walks, in forests! Have they no idea?! No they don’t. Do they understand? No they don’t! Would they willingly smash up their BMW for a ticket to a German World Cup football qualifier against Niue, yes they would! The OBO is a refuge in this hedonistic land, an oasis of sanity where hopefully the Black Caps can prevail and we can, in future, get more than a two-Test series every 12 years against one of the big three.”
With England in increasingly urgent need of a wicket, Morgan turned to his trusty middle-overs winkler. And he picked up the big wicket with his fourth ball. Williamson drove outside off stump at a cross-seam delivery and got the thinnest edge through to Buttler. Kumar Dharmasena gave it not out but England reviewed instantly, and Ultra-Edge backed them up. Kane Williamson is out!
Liam Plunkett. Liam bloody Plunkett has done it again!
England are certain this is out.
22nd over: New Zealand 101-1 (Nicholls 45, Williamson 30) Nicholls is looking to join the list of unlikely World Cup final matchwinners, which includes Collis King, Gautam Gambhir, Mike Veletta, Madan Lal and Steve Bucknor. He steals a single off Rashid to bring up the hundred, one of four from the over. This has been such a calm, mature partnership. England need to make something happen, which is usually a job for Ben Stokes.
@TimdeLisle Contact all your non-cricket-loving friends, work colleagues, neighbours, people walking by your window, tell them to run home and turn on Channel 4, leave it on all day, boost the figures to tens of millions. Guaranteed cricket would be free-to-air by Christmas!
21st over: New Zealand 97-1 (Nicholls 43, Williamson 28) Williamson drives Wood sweetly through extra cover, and Bairstow charges round the boundary as if world peace depends on him saving a solitary run. That’s precisely what he does with a typically zealous sprawl. New Zealand are controlling the game at the moment; the last eight overs have yielded 51 runs.
Thanks Tim, hello everyone. You thought it was going to be easy, didn’t you? Where have you been these last four decades? If England are going to win the World Cup, they will have to come from behind in the match for the first time at this tournament. New Zealand have moved stealthily into a good position, while England’s bowlers, Chris Woakes excepted, have been slightly flat. They need a wicket pretty soon, ideally Williamson.
20th over: New Zealand 91-1 (Nicholls 40, Williamson 24) This is getting ominous for England supporters. Williamson lofts the first ball of Rashid’s second over for four, picking his spot beautifully, and then sweeps for the first time to pick up two more. That’s it from me for the moment: over to the ever-excellent Rob Smyth.
19th over: New Zealand 84-1 (Nicholls 40, Williamson 17) After going for a cheap four as Nicholls glides to wide third man, Wood finds a good riposte with a bouncer that is fended uncertainly and a length ball that beats the outside edge. Wood is a much improved bowler. But NZ are still on top.
18th over: New Zealand 77-1 (Nicholls 35, Williamson 15) Here is Adil Rashid, who bowled so well against Australia. Nicholls is looking to sweep him, Williamson to drive – first on the ground to long-off, where Joe Root saves a second, then in the air over midwicket. Impressive intent from both batsmen.
A worrying tweet from Lord’s. “The atmosphere is a disaster,” says Richard Vale, “entirely because of the way tickets were allocated. Is anyone in the press going to comment on that?” Good observation, but it seems a little early to sniff a conspiracy of silence.
17th over: New Zealand 70-1 (Nicholls 33, Williamson 10) A better over from Wood, but Williamson dabs a single into the leg side to reach double figures off 32 balls.
“Hello from wet West London,” says Anna Durrance-Bagale. “I was trying to explain the rules of cricket to my husband - he just kept asking ‘ yes but who’s winning?’ (on a par with ‘why are they wearing pyjamas?’). Big sigh - I give up.” Love it.
16th over: New Zealand 68-1 (Nicholls 32, Williamson 9) Plunkett goes for another four, first ball, as Nicholls pulls one of those bang-it-in balls of his. More significantly, Stokes hurts himself trying to make a diving save on the square-leg boundary. Is that a strained calf or a touch of cramp? Plunkett shapes up for the rest of the over, but he has 3-0-19-0 and it’s surely time for Rashid or Stokes, assuming the calf’s OK.
15th over: New Zealand 63-1 (Nicholls 27, Williamson 9) Woakes finally takes his sweater, with the very Woakesian figures of 7-0-19-1. Mark Wood comes on and promptly beats Williamson outside off with his extra pace, but the over is patchy – there’s a wide, a juicy full toss which Williamson can only push back to the bowler, and a bouncer that’s too easy to glove away for four. That’s drinks, and although England started strongly, NZ are now in the driving seat.
14th over: New Zealand 55-1 (Nicholls 27, Williamson 4) A few singles off Plunkett, and then a four as Nicholls easily finds the gap with his tuck behind square. It’s great to have Plunkett here, this man whose first World Cup was in 2007 and who hasn’t been on the losing side yet in the World Cup of 2019, but I’m baffled as to why Morgan has him on now, when the ball is still moving for the pitch-it-up merchants.
13th over: New Zealand 47-1 (Nicholls 21, Williamson 2) Morgan decides to give a seventh over to Woakes, who has a shout for LBW against Williamson – too high, but a fine delivery, jagging back up the hill. Williamson has two runs from 21 balls, but that won’t worry him, nor should it. The man who batted No.3 in the first innings of the first World Cup final at Lord’s, Rohan Kanhai of West Indies, was scoreless for 11 overs, and still finished on the winning side.
An email from Mike Sansom. “Bombing along the road from General Santos to Cotabato in Mindanao Philippines,” says Mike Sansom, “although that is probably the wrong verb given recent conflicts and this is New People’s Army Country. Talking of New People’s Army, go Black Caps and Aotearoa.”
12th over: New Zealand 46-1 (Nicholls 21, Williamson 2) A bowling change at last, and just when you’re expecting Mark Wood or Ben Stokes – or even Adil Rashid, as Williamson is mortal against leg spin – on comes Liam Plunkett. Is Morgan a little too keen to get funky? Or feeling suddenly wary? No slips, and Nicholls visibly relaxes, taking three twos.
11th over: New Zealand 40-1 (Nicholls 15, Williamson 2) Three unusual things in this over: Woakes bowls a wide to Williamson, and a long hop to Nicholls, who cuts for four. And Williamson shows signs of impatience, cutting one that’s too close, and getting away with a single through the vacant third slip. Even after a poor over by his standards, Woakes has figures of 6-0-18-1. In the first Powerplay, there were 44 dots.
“Watching the game live on TV,” says Matt Sowrey, “but it would be wrong to desert the always free-to-air OBO that has given me so much pleasure (and heartache) over the years.” Pleasure and heartache, that’s our secret sauce.
10th over: New Zealand 33-1 (Nicholls 10, Williamson 1) Williamson is off the mark! With a dab to silly mid-on off Archer. And the Powerplay ends, with the power nicely balanced: England have bowled well and removed a man who can score 200 on his day, but NZ will be happy to have laid a foundation.
“I suspect if Williamson gets out to Archer now,” says Emma John on Twitter, “this is going to be a terrible game. I can’t believe I’m actually rooting for him to stay in right now. What is happening to me?”
9th over: New Zealand 31-1 (Nicholls 10, Williamson 0) Now that Guptill has gone, Nicholls is getting twitchy. He plays and misses with a carve at a wideish one from Woakes, then takes a run that’s too tight and would be out if Roy had hit from mid-off. Only ten runs off the past five overs: this is every bit as absorbing as a World Cup final should be.
8th over: New Zealand 30-1 (Nicholls 9, Williamson 0) Williamson plays and misses! At Archer, who isn’t going to let a mere slope stop him seaming it away towards those slips.
“Morning Tim!” Morning Ryan Dunne. “Man, Sunday mornings on Channel 4 haven’t been this exciting since the days when Dawson’s Creek was on.”
7th over: New Zealand 29-1 (Nicholls 7, Williamson 0) So Morgan attacks his opposite number, and leaves a great big gap on the leg side, but Williamson isn’t tempted. He leaves his first ball, calm as ever; leaves the second too; defends the third, with those soft hands of his; and decides at the last second to leave the last. We have a contest.
Three slips for Kane Williamson. This is a big moment.
“Is it cowardly to pray for rain?” asks Tony Batt, in an email from before the wicket fell. “Hi Tim, c’mon England. I’m combining a work-life balance that lets me stay in the studio all-day today mostly to avoid chores and gain brownie points. i may even open the presentation i’m supposed to be working on if this partnership goes on any longer.”
Got him! Just deserts for Woakes, a shame for Guptill who was blasting his way back to form, and a double blow for NZ, who lose their review.
Woakes again. This one looks out...
6th over: New Zealand 28-0 (Guptill 19, Nicholls 7) Nasser Hussain has spotted that there are two different kinds of opening going on here. Guptill is having a go; Nicholls (7 off 19) is looking to see off the new ball and cash in later. Modernism meets tradition.
5th over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 18, Nicholls 4) After that big over for the batsmen, Woakes restores order by conceding only two singles. A force by Nicholls is smartly stopped by Stokes, who has replaced Jason Roy at backward point.
The cameras are spotting famous faces in the crowd. Theresa May, with her husband Philip. Mike Gatting, with Mike Brearley behind him. Both Mikes captained England in a World Cup final. Gatt got out to a reverse sweep in 1987; Brears made a fifty but used up an awful lot of overs in 1979. Can another Middlesex batsman, Eoin Morgan, do any better?
4th over: New Zealand 22-0 (Guptill 17, Nicholls 3) Guptill has decided that if you’re in a bad trot, you might as well whack it. He upper-cuts Archer, flirting with disaster as Rashid lurks at third man, but getting a six. And then he comes down the track again and hits a drop-kick for four. Nothing wrong with his temperament.
3rd over: New Zealand 10-0 (Guptill 6, Nicholls 2) Nicholls does two things right, calling for that review and then getting off the mark with a regulation nudge. But the ball is moving around for both the bowlers. Good toss to lose.
“Watching, listening, reading,” says Peter Gibbs in Selsey, “but not necessarily in that order. Mum’s one pleasure is cricket, so we have to pay for it anyway but this is how I do things normally. I for one will not desert you Tim./fellow OBOers.” That’s the spirit. All the best to your mum.
It was a great ball, except that it was going over middle and off. What a good review.
To Woakes. Straight enough, back pad, maybe a touch high?
2nd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Guptill 6, Nicholls 0) Jofra Archer thinks he’s got Guptill! Caught behind. It looks out for all the world, but Marais Erasmus says no, and he’s spot on – the ball, a gorgeous lifter going up the slope, took the outside edge of the trousers.
“My first OBO email,” says Matthew Kentridge, “moved by your great (and poignant) piece in the Observer about going to the 1975 WC final. I went to the final in 1983. I was 19, a student in Johannesburg. Landed at Heathrow early on Saturday 25 June and went straight to Lord’s with my dad. It was only my second time at Lord’s - the first was on a freezing wet day in April a few years before, where I was one of about six people in the ground watching Middlesex eke out what felt like 100 runs in a full day’s play. This couldn’t have been more different: a hot day, ground absolutely packed, and the best team in the world about to win a third successive world cup. For a South African who had never before seen international cricket, it was absolutely sensational to be there, to see these impossible heroes, whom I’d only ever read about, in the flesh. I was as stunned as everyone else when Kapil Dev pulled off a miracle and propelled India to the title - I had thought West Indies absolutely invincible - a lesson in the fact that the best can lose. Since SA’s ignominious departure from this tournament, I’m backing England to win the damn cup already. Let’s hope Kane Williamson doesn’t do a Kapil Dev today.” Little-known fact about Matthew Kentridge: he’s my next-door neighbour.
1st over: New Zealand 5-0 (Guptill 4, Nicholls 0) Woakes finds his line after that one aberration. Guptill, an explosive player who has been a damp squib lately, tries going down the track, but mistimes his shot and gets no run. Next ball, staying in his crease, he fends uppishly and gets four to Ben Stokes’s left. “Is this the little bit of luck you need?” asks Brendon McCullum. There’s some swing for Woakes. He has a wonderful record at Lord’s, but bowled too short here against Australia the other day.
With a wide, from Chris Woakes, of all people – Mr Immaculate. Martin Guptill throws the kitchen sink at it and misses.
“England fan joining from Norway,” says Brendan Large. “Absolutely bricking it...we finally have the best team and that makes me more nervous about the outcome! Have to say that if we do have to lose the NZ team seem a nice bunch of chaps who deserve a bit more credit than they seem to get.
“Watching from local fire station in Tasmania,” says George Shufflebottom. “Weather as English as it gets, pouring with rain. Ironically, struggling to light a fire.”
The anthems are under way, NZ going first. The cameras find plenty of black shirts in the crowd, which is good to see.
“There’s a saying in cricket,” says Rob Eastaway, author of What Is a Googly?, on Twitter. “‘That was a good toss to lose.’ A nice bit of game theory. I reckon Eoin Morgan will be happy not to have had to make a decision in these cloudy conditions.” Agreed.
If there’s one thing we know about OBO readers, it’s that you’re a cosmpolitan bunch. “Kiwis (actually Scottish) tuning in,” says Jane MacDonald, “but from Croatia not Wellington.” I’m baffled already, but I like it. “Will be OBOing it all day as we would if we were at home. A bit torn between supporting a very entertaining exciting England or the Kiwi boys – just hoping for an exciting match. Keep up the good OBO work (Marina Hyde declined obviously) and loving The Spin pod.” Quite agree – I was a guest on Thursday evening and saw for myself how good Emma John and her producer Geoff Jein are at it. They’ve done something in weeks which often takes years, and established a distinctive tone of voice, all sharp-witted levity. Also, I got to witness the most Guardian thing ever. Emma and her guests sit round a table with some tiny plastic cricketers playing on a green baize pitch. The set, dug out of Geoff Jein’s attic, was missing a ball, so Emma made one, using a dried chickpea and some red nail varnish.
NZ readers in the house!“Tuning in from Wellington,” says Tom Middlemiss. “It may be a Sunday night but work tomorrow be damned! Now I’ll have to stay up way past midnight to see the first 6 Kiwi wickets - then set alarm for 0300 to hear Roy/Bairstow smash the total in the first 25 overs. We’ll see but excited all the same!!!!” So it’s not just England fans who are prone to reflex pessimism.
“Grant here,” says Grant Marjoribanks, “currently flying from Doha to Sydney, the only time I’ve ever been grateful for inflight wifi. Loved your piece on the first World Cup final, so poignant.” Ah, thanks. “I know today means a lot to you and I respect that, but to be honest I want NZ to win so badly it hurts.” Sports fans, eh. We’re all mad.
Both teams are unchanged, as Jonny Bairstow, who tweaked a groin muscle in the semi-final, has been passed fit. Spare a thought for Moeen Ali, an integral part of this England team for the past four years, now squeezed out by the rapid rise of Archer and the enduring efficiency of Plunkett.
England 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wkt), 7 Chris Woakes, 8 Liam Plunkett, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Mark Wood.
And they will bat, Kane Wiliamson says. Recent history is on their side, but the weather may well help the bowlers early on.
“Joining you from Australia,” says Dr Tim. “Supporting England. Don’t fret about the drop in traffic for the OBO. I’ve had Channel 9 on the telly, TMS special on the phone, via the ABC Listen app and the OBO. Aren’t we lucky in Oz, having all this UK content freely available!” It must be early evening there – are you staying up for the whole game? And I wonder if we have anyone tuning in from New Zealand, where it’s already 9.10pm.
“I’ll not desert Guardian OBO,” says Andrew Harrison, “just because there’s (miraculously) a live stream available here in Japan. Hoping neither Boult nor Henry will do a Gary Gilmour on us. Pitch looks a bit green.” Yes, let’s hope neither side starts with a collapse.
While we wait for this delayed toss– the drama! – let’s have some emails and tweets.
“I’ve been considering,” says Tom van der Gucht, “whether I ought to watch the cricket on Channel 4 rather than on Sky. Partially to relive the glory years of the 2005 Ashes in the hope that, somehow, where I watch it empowers the team due to the quantum interconnectivity of everything, or something... But also, if it gets mega viewing figures it might hasten a return for more cricket on terrestrial TV, apart from the bloody Hundred.”
And here’s Gary Naylor.“I expect England to win.” What? Are you mad, Gary? Not for thinking it, but for saying it. “For once, they have copied what other successful nations do in all sports and turned up for the final with the better players. No guarantees of course, but it does make a change.” Yes, England do have more firepower with the bat. But this NZ attack can win matches, especially under thick cloud.
More breaking news: the toss has been delayed by a quarter of an hour (to 10.15am), and so has the start (to 10.45). There was a sharp downpour this morning, and the groundstaff need a bit more time to dry the coin. Only in England.
If you’re on Instagram, there’s a memorable post by Brendon McCullum. He’s put the photo of the two captains up – the one currently sitting at the top of this page, with Kane Williamson looking suddenly camp. And he’s captioned it: “Two very fine gentlemen. Much love for them both.”
This is, in a small way, a lovely piece of writing. The first sentence expresses cricket’s traditional values, and could have been written at any time in the past century. The second could only have been written in the past decade or so, as men have belatedly got a bit better at showing their feelings. The two sentences together are strikingly even-handed, which reflects the fact that McCullum’s influence lies behind both captains. He was Williamson’s predecessor and mentor – though Williamson is his own man, with his own style, less gung-ho and more pragmatic. And he has also been Eoin Morgan’s inspiration. Morgan’s England, with their buccaneering irreverence, are more like McCullum’s New Zealand than Williamson’s New Zealand are. McCullum is the daddy – of both sides.
And the prize for the first email of the day– or the first not sent by Rob – goes to Simon McMahon. “Morning Tim.” Morning Simon. “A strange feeling of calm has descended over me this morning, at least compared to last Thursday before the semi-final. I don’t know whether this is a good or a bad thing. Probably bad. Anyway, whatever happens today I think both teams can be proud of their World Cup campaigns, and let’s hope cricket is the winner. Yeah, right. COME ON ENGLAND!!! BRING IT HOME, BOYS!!!” It’s the eternal struggle, isn’t it: between the kid in us and the grown-up, the desperate fan and the rueful spectator. At the risk of being too me-me-me, I’ve touched on this today in a piece for The Observer about going to the first World Cup final as a boy.
In the UK, the final will be shown not just on Sky Sports, as ever, but on Channel 4, as cricket returns to terrestrial television (albeit for one day only) for the first time since the famous summer of 2005. This is great news for the English game, which is in grave danger of becoming a middle-class ghetto. But it’s bloody awful news for the amalgamated union of live bloggers. There’s every chance that our UK traffic will plummet. So if you’re reading now, or planning to have two screens on in the modern manner, do send us an email saying where you are and what you think.
Rob Smyth will be along later, but is he putting his feet up in the meantime? He is not. “The last five ODIs at Lord’s, including four games in this tournament, have been won by the team batting first,” he writes. Do you sense a but coming? “But in the game before that run started, England were 20 for six v South Africa.”
Morning everyone. So, today’s the big day. It’s the men’s singles final at Wimbledon. It’s the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. It’s even, as I discovered driving home last night, the Dog Show in Rockingham. But then all those things happen every year. In St John’s Wood, London, just round the corner from the Beatles’ zebra crossing, something is happening that hasn’t happened for 27 years. ENGLAND ARE IN THE CRICKET WORLD CUP FINAL.
It was in 1992, in Melbourne, that England last appeared in this fixture. They bowled well enough against Imran Khan’s Pakistan, and had the game under control, until Wasim Akram destroyed them with two balls of the greatest reverse swing you will ever goggle at in disbelief. To find England in a World Cup final in England, you have to wind the videotape of life back even further, to 1979. Yes, it’s 40 years since these hosts last made it to their own party. To remember that day, you have to be middle-aged now; to have reported it, you have to be a pensioner.
Pre-preamble
Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Barney Ronay’s match preview.
Our full match report from Taunton will follow, but here’s a quick wires version until then:
Ellyse Perry was again England’s tormentor as Australia moved a step closer towards retaining the Women’s Ashes by closing on 265 for three in the only Test between the sides.
Right, I’m not sure England are going to chat right now - so I’ll leave you with Ellyse Perry. Last time she played a Test, she scored a double-century. She sleeps on 84 not out, and England, who need to win this Test to win the Ashes, have to get rid of her early tomorrow. Thanks for all the messages everyone. Good night!
England, who are waiting for X-ray news on Tammy Beaumont’s thumb, haven’t spoken yet.
Some Breaking News courtesy of both twitter and OBO’s very own twitter: Abhijato.
BREAKING: Zimbabwe have been suspended by the ICC with immediate effect. Their funding will be suspended, and representative teams from the country will be barred from participating at ICC events. Full report to follow on @ESPNcricinfo
A very happy Meg Lanning is talking: “We thought that the wicket would play as it did. England didn’t make it easy for us, they bowled straight lines and to still have two good batters in at the end of the day is crucial.
“It was nice to be able t0 build partnerships in the innings, England bowled well at times. We feel in a really strong position.
100th over: Australia 265-3 (Haynes 54, Perry 84) England indulge in a bit of time-wasting to ensure they don’t have to bowl another over. Anyway, this one from Ecclestone is smart and on the money. Australia scamper through for three and that’s stumps! The Aussies look happy, and England, who never gave up, look relieved. A slow run-rate - 2. 65 - but the Aussies, ever-patient, are building a dominant position. Rain though, is forecast.
99th over: Australia 262-3 (Haynes 52, Perry 83) .Marsh bowls. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. and somewhere within a cheeky little single to add a little dazzle to the afternoon.
I thought At-Ellyse-t you would understand that I love having a good Straw-Perry from the end of the garden!
98th over: Australia 261-3 (Haynes 51, Perry 83) And with a drive through the covers, Perry brings up the hundred partnership off 264 balls (including only one extra.) Ecclestone keeps it tight for the remainder of the over. And spectators’ minds turn to supper. We’re having spaghetti, though I could do with some inspiration to be honest.
A lovely tweet from Pakistan:
@tjaldred it's really great to see these women playing with their full spirit. Looking forward to see more real cricket of women more test cricket of women in the coming days . I am from Pakistan n we are a cricket loving nation
97th over: Australia 259-3 (Haynes 50, Perry 82) Another maiden from Laura Marsh. Just three overs to go in the day now. Can England make a late breakthrough?
96th over: Australia 259-3 (Haynes 50, Perry 82) Haynes considers a single, gets a third of the way down the pitch then changes her mind. She bats away four more balls before at last pulling Ecclestone for one. Well played! Off 145 balls, it started quickly but turned into a bit of a dirge. She’s delighted, a huge smile under the helmet.
Tuvic Tuslow writes:
95th over: Australia 258-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 82) A four, a four, a palpable four! A flick off the hips by Perry from Marsh. We see Tammy Beaumont looking through the dressing-room glass darkly - that injured thumb is the last thing England need. And Haynes sits once more on 49.
94th over: Australia 251-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 76) The tireless Ecclestone reels in, pony tail swinging. And Haynes is stranded on 49 once more!
OB has evidence of sandwich eating. If the players can eat sandwiches in the field Tanya, so can the umpires!
93rd over: Australia 251-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 76) Perry watches carefully through the bars of her helmet and turns Marsh off her hip for a single. Oh! And totally against the run of play, Perry is nearly run out as Haynes changes her mind mid-run after Brunt picks up and throws in the covers. If she’d hit, it would have been close.
92nd over: Australia 250-3 (Haynes 48, Perry 75) Knight calls it a day on the seamers from both ends - and calls up Ecclestone from the pavilion end. Haynes’ eyes light up and she tip-toes down the pitch and lofts her over mid wicket for four.
OB Jato knows what umpires carry in their pockets.
91st over: Australia 244-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 75) I didn’t see a ball of Marsh’s over I’m afraid. But four runs came from it. Australia - unleashed!
90th over: Australia 240-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 71) The Sky swingometer says that Shrubsole is getting more swing in this spell than she did in her last. Perhaps that is why Perry and Haynes are being so watchful. Perhaps it’s the rain that is forecast over the next two days. Perhaps England’s accuracy has dimmed their confidence for the bigger, more audacious strokes. Perry is getting close to the record number of runs scored in a Test before a dismissal
Tat Wood, stretches, and taps on the keyboard:
89th over: Australia 240-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 71) Haynes scores her first run for 25 balls as Brunt keeps on the money. Is it ungallant to wish they’d get on with it a bit?
88th over: Australia 239-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 71) Shrubsole has located her swing. The umpire cuts a bit of spare thread off the seam. I wonder what other tools an umpire carries in his back pocket?
JP adds to my inbox’s excitement. He has been thinking about the World Cup.
87th over: Australia 239-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 71) Brunt is cheesed off. Sarah Taylor enthuses from behind the stumps “Come on girls”- but it turns out Perry and Haynes, despite the lack of long-form cricket, have concentration to die for. Block. Block. Block. Block.
86th over: Australia 238-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 70) One run off Shrubsole’s over. I do admire her effort. That’s drinks.
And another email - two in ten minutes! Thanks Andrew!
85th over: Australia 237-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 69) Brunt bustles in, but though no runs come off the over, Australia’s batters are untroubled. England have nearly bowled their requisite overs but I’m afraid they’ve still got an hour left to play.
The ever faithful OBO reader Abhijato Sensarma writes:
84th over: Australia 237-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 69) The shackles have broken! Perry hits two consecutive boundaries: a cut then a charming cover drive. Shrubsole strays slightly off target. Knight is still very enthusiastic, extolling her fielders with hand claps and bounces at cover.
83rd over: Australia 229-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 61) Brunt is Shrubsole’s new ball partner the other end. Brunt is so fun to watch, every emotion she feels flashes across her face. And she has a wonderful fast bowler’s physique, all powerful shoulders and backside. Haynes has slowed down markedly at the crease - she now has 41 off 108 balls, and she started off in some style.
82nd over: Australia 228-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 60) And now we take the new ball! England have a slip and Shrubsole is on target. No runs, no wickets. And that’s the fifth maiden in the last seven over.
81st over: Australia 228-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 60) But England don’t take it... Knight preferring to keep the pressure building with Laura Marsh. Haynes breaks her run-less hiatus via a misfield.
The good news is that there are over 2000 at Taunton today! Hoping to get down there too before the end of the season, maybe (say it quietly) to see Somerset lift the Championship.
We are already at the stage where England are going to struggle to win this match, absent a generous / aggressive declaration; and the way Meg Lanning batted, it didn't look like she had those kinds of intentions on her mind.
80th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) Elwiss’ red heels flirt with the spectators as she starts her run-up. It’s another maiden but the drama, could be about to start as the new ball is now available.
79th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) The pitch, last used on June 8 during that very wet spell during the world Cup, is sloooow. Australia waiting to pounce on the loose balls, happy to watch the others go by.
78th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) Elswiss again. Hallelujah! A boundary! Perry pulls a short ball and it beats the chasing fielder. Australia building ominously, if slowly.
77th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 54) Marsh rolls her arm over. Perry looks calms but cautious. Textbook defensive shot to finish the over - and that’s another maiden. Time to go and make a cuppa if you can.
76th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 54) Elwiss gives Ecclestone a rest and we see a most gorgeous dog sitting on a bench in the sun. That’s the lovely thing about Women’s games - it is so relaxed you can bring your dog, your book, your toddler. A good over by Elwiss - a maiden.
75th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 37, Perry 53) Marsh replaces Gordon - four off the over. The new ball can be taken in five overs. I think Knight will bite the umpires’ hands off!
74th over: Australia 216-3 (Haynes 37, Perry 53) Ecclestone starts her 21st over of the game. Haynes finds the gap and they knock off four.
In other matters, has anyone read Rob Smyth’s biography of Robin Smith yet? I’ve read the first two chapters which are eye-opening to say the least about Smith’s relationship with his father, whose desire to see his son succeed turn him into a bit of a monster.
73rd over: Australia 212-3 (Haynes 33, Perry 53) A slight breeze ruffles the trousers of Gordon as she skips in from the River End. Plenty of air and the Aussies knock just two from the overs. Soporific scones anyone?
Brunt whirls her arms around, look at me Skip!
72nd over: Australia 210-3 (Haynes 32, Perry 52) Knight is still attacking, Ecclestone is bowling with a slip, a short leg and a backward short leg. And Australia watchfully play the ball back. Another maiden.
71st over: Australia 210-3 (Haynes 32, Perry 52) Haynes spots the chance of easy runs and totters down the pitch to thwack Gordon over mid-wicket for four. That eases the pressure.
70th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 512 Perry tips Ecclestone for the first runs of the session, Just two off the over including a bit of a misfield from Brunt who ends up flat on her belly.
Katravath, you sent me an email, but it was blank! Do write again if you had things to say.
69th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Gordon switches to over the wicket and Haynes swats a bit frustratedly, and then Gordon gets some turn out of the footholes that hits Haynes awkwardly on the pads. What powers of concentration do the Australians have, can they fight against the frustration of this stranglehold England are building? Two maidens in a row to start the evening session.
68th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) The first ball of the session produces an invigorated appeal from Ecclestone against Perry, but the umpire isn’t interested - the replay shows that it was umpires’s call. The cameras pan back and we see the hills of the Mendips rolling away behind. A maiden.
67th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Gordon’s action is quite distinctive. Her arm is high and wide, and she gives it a visible tweak. A maiden, and that’s tea! Australia’s session, with both Lanning and Perry reaching fifty and Haynes looking in no bother at all since she arrived. No great acceleration though... yet.
My son has just brought me a cuppa, I’m going to have a quick drink - see you all in twenty minutes.
66th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Shrubsole again, bowling quite wide of the crease. Perry swivels and pulls her to the boundary and that’s her fifty! She raises her bat, little white-blong ponytail poking out of the back of her helmet.
It’s her second fifty in her eighth Test. She’s converted one of those to a hundred. A fifty per cent conversion rate, if that makes England feel any better....
65th over: Australia 199-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 42) Knight gambles, and throws the ball to Gordon, on Test debut today. Her first ball is a full toss and Perry drives her through the covers for four to tip-toe on the edge of fifty.
64th over: Australia 194-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 42) The brains trust gather at the top of the over - England could do with another breakthrough if possible before tea. But Shrubsole’s first ball is a bit of a loosener and Haynes drives her for four. But the run-rate this session is only just over two and a half.
63rd over: Australia 190-3 (Haynes 22, Perry 42) I wonder if the ground will be deluged with school kids tomorrow afternoon when the state schools break up for summer? Not a bad crowd even today - at least as far as the TV cameras are showing. Marsh again - Perry and Marsh watch carefully, play defensively.
62nd over: Australia 189-3 (Haynes 21, Perry 42) Shrubsole again, a better over. Perry plays and misses as Shrubsole keeps on a good length. Good bowling. A maiden. We watch all the Australian coaching in their matching green and gold enjoying the Somerset sunshine.
61st over: Australia 189-3 (Haynes 21, Perry 42) Haynes spots a legside ball from Marsh, gets down one knee and sweeps her behind short leg. The next ball drifts again, this time the other way, and Haynes drives, for another four. Haynes not having to work too hard for her runs at the moment.
60th over: Australia 180-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 41) Knight and Shrubsole have a good chat at the top of her mark. She charges in, Taylor, lithe behind the stumps, helmet on, is standing close. A tidy over from Shrubsole, no dramas.
In case you were wondering the last time the first three wickets in a Women’s Test series were bowled was India v New Zealand in 1995!
59th over: Australia 179-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 40) They’ve just flashed up England’s bowling figures on the telly - Shrubsole has only bowled five overs today - perhaps time for her to come out of pasture - actually here she goes, half-heartedly rolling her arms over in the outfield. Just one run off Marsh’s over.
58th over: Australia 178-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 39) Ecclestone can’t quire work out what the weather’s doing. She’s in long sleeves, a sleeve-less sweater and sunglasses. Long ponytail flowing characteristically down her back. An uncharacteristic misfield there from Blunt off Perry. And then Haynes tucks in to a shorter ball from Ecclestone, pulling it, hard, to the boundary.
57th over: Australia 171-3 (Haynes 8, Perry 37) Haynes has a high backlift and her bat looks heavy, but it flows smoothly. Just one off Marsh’s over.
56th over: Australia 170-3 (Haynes 8, Perry 36) Haynes sweeps through an empty leg-side field for four, then as Knight rearranges her fielders, has another look around. Ecclestone causing trouble every over at the moment. Oooh, now we get a close-up of the pitch- all sorts of dips and ditches by left-handed Haynes’s feet.
55th over: Australia 165-3 (Haynes 4, Perry 35) The long legged Marsh again. Perry uses her feet, chassez, plie, to drive Marsh for one. That LBW decision last over? It was umpires’s call.
54th over: Australia 158-3 (Haynes 4, Perry 34) A vital wicket for England - Lanning had looked in lovely touch - and so deserved for Ecclestone who has caused lots of trouble since lunch, without reward. Haynes adds to the drama with a four off her first ball, and then Ecclestone roars an lbw appeal. The umpire shakes his head.
Lanning is furious, turning on her heel. Ecclestone delighted! Lanning misreads a ball which she tries to cut, misses and it clips the top of off-stump.
53rd over: Australia 158-2 (Lanning 56, Perry 33) The Taunton sky is cornflower blue with little fluffy clouds resting their heads temporarily above the ground. A careful over from Marsh - just two off it. Do drop me a line and tell me what you’re up to.
52nd over: Australia 158-2 (Lanning 56, Perry 33) And back to young Sophie Ecclestone, who doesn’t seem to be feeling too much pain from the shoulder injury that knocked her off the field this morning. Perry’s bat is lovely and straight, pushing, pushing, forward. A huge appeal for lbw off the last ball but it was outside the line.
51st over: Australia 156-2 (Lanning 55, Perry 32)Thank you Adam and welcome to the second half of the first day of the only Test of the Ashes. Laura Marsh pulls her hair into a bun and takes the ball. Lanning clocks the first, but pulls the second behind square just missing short leg. Eeek!
50th over: Australia 150-2 (Lanning 50, Perry 32) “Cakes” and “Shetland” seem to be Ecclestone’s nicknames, both making sense given her surname and pony tail. Perry cuts the spinner for one, breaking the run of dots that spread over four overs from her end. Lanning’s turn, taking one to cover to raise her half-century. 122 balls it has taken her to raise her bat for the first time in a Test Match. That dropped catch by Knight before lunch is going to hurt an awful lot, I suspect. Drinks!
Thanks for your company throughout the first half of this opening day. I’ll leave you with Tanya Aldred, who will take it from here. Bye for now!
49th over: Australia 147-2 (Lanning 48, Perry 30) Edge! Not to hand! Gordon does everything right but it flies wide of Taylor, moving Lanning to within a stroke of a half-century. She adds a couple around the corner before keeping out the rest.
48th over: Australia 141-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 30) “My word!” says Sarah Taylor from behind the stumps when Ecclestone, for the umpteenth time since lunch, nearly gets through the gate. It is Perry this time around playing out a maiden, the interrogation including another shout for leg before on the front foot. So close.
47th over: Australia 141-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 30) The 50 stand is raised between the Aussie engine room pair via a Perry single to deep point, the first run for 21 balls. But it’s another over where Gordon is asking all the right questions.
25 fours, in score of 140. Proper cricket.
46th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Ecclestone to Lanning, who has never looked comfortable against the spin of the left-armers. The taller of the two is looking the part again, completing another accurate maiden. That makes 17 dots in a row, the hosts finally starting building some pressure.A wicket must follow.
45th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Gordon is back in the game now too, finding Perry’s inside edge after she dances at her. Slipping through to Taylor, it isn’t far away from the wicketkeeeper with the fastest hands in the game. That’s her best over since lunch - a maiden.
44th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Australia are transferring the pressure back on now after absorbing plenty of dot balls in the 45 minutes since lunch. Dropping a fraction short, Lanning is deep in the crease cutting with perfect placement for four more. BIG SHOUT AGAIN for leg before in response! Oooooh, given out on the ground but techology shows it was hitting leg stump halfway up! No DRS in this series means no chance to review. Granted, there have been many leg before shouts today but that was the best of them and Lanning survives.
43rd over: Australia 136-2 (Lanning 38, Perry 29) “Whhhyyyy?” we can hear Kirstie Gordon lament through the stump mic when giving a full toss to Perry, duly put away. She’s bowled some lovely deliveries today but far too many of these.
42nd over: Australia 132-2 (Lanning 38, Perry 25) Top shot from Lanning, breaking up the string of Ecclestone dots with a compact cut shot into the gap just behind point for her sixth boundary. The left-arm spinner bounces straight back with her straighter one, inspiring another yet before shout. This time, though, it is hitting her front pad - with a big stride in - outside the line of the off stump.
41st over: Australia 128-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 25) As it was in the previous Gordon over, the only runs here when Perry has enough time to come down the track, this time grabbing a couple past mid-off. Just 21 taken from from the last ten overs.
Wondering what the little illustrations on the collars of the whites are?
40th over: Australia 126-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 23) Another top over from Ecclestone to Lanning, who is drawn onto the front foot in defence throughout. Another high-quality maiden. Lanning has faced 93 balls for her 34 but that won’t bother her. She’s been craving the chance to go big in a Test Match.
39th over: Australia 126-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 23) Gordon gives Perry enough flight to step down and clip her through midwicket on the full to move into the 20s. With those runs in the bank, she plays out the rest in watchful defence.
“Charlotte Edwards is essentially advocating giving Perry the classic “sh!t gets wickets” treatment with wide long-hops, which works wonders up and down the land for 3rd XI village sides every Saturday,” says Harkarn Sumal. “It’s the bowling equivalent of Boycott’s “play ‘em from the umpire’s end” suggestion for facing the best bowlers. Bit of a worry that that’s the only suggestion that anyone’s offered, given she smoked us for 200* last time out. Mind you, on that pitch at the North Sydney Oval, she would still likely be batting now, the best part of two years into her innings.”
38th over: Australia 122-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 19) Another appeal for lbw, Ecclestone this time slipping past Perry’s inside edge. It’s clearly going down the legside and assessed accordingly by the umpire. In at Lanning later in the over, the spinner finds her inside edge on the front foot before pinning her to the crease. Top over.
37th over: Australia 121-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 18) Spin twins, Gordon now getting a chance from the River End. She doesn’t quite find her length but the Australians don’t capitalise. They are helped by a misfield at backward point, Sciver not picking up the spin off one of the worn wickets on the edge of the square.
36th over: Australia 118-2 (Lanning 33, Perry 16) There is plenty going on from our pavilion end, Ecclestone generating enough movement to keep Lanning pushing and prodding. It’s the straight one again that causes the most trouble though, the captain beaten on the inside edge prompting another leg before appeal. It is turned down but the signs are good for England since the interval.
35th over: Australia 118-2 (Lanning 33, Perry 16) Shot! The pull shot has become a major feature of Perry’s game in the last couple of years, leaning back to wallop Brunt in front of the square leg umpire with supreme control. She’s back where she needs to be to finish, in the fourth-stump channel where she beat the Aussie all-rounder earlier in the set.
34th over: Australia 113-2 (Lanning 32, Perry 12) Interesting discussion from Charlotte Edwards on TV, observing how much pressure there must be on Ecclestone who was surely told told over and over that this would be a big turning pitch. To be fair, she’s handling it well so far, giving the ball a chance to bounce with overspin rather than trying to locate that ragging side-spin. That’ll come.
33rd over: Australia 112-2 (Lanning 31, Perry 12) Top start after lunch from Brunt, who I was surprised not to see before the break from that end to partner Kirstie Gordon while she was threatening Lanning. She’s giving Perry nothing. Maiden.
32nd over: Australia 112-2 (Lanning 31, Perry 12) Good news with Ecclestone coming back onto the field having left the field after her 14 ball this morning with an arm injury picked up diving at square leg. She begins this fresh spell with two yorkers at Perry before drifting one away from Perry. They’re up for an ambitious leg before shout on a pad/bat but well outside the line, Perry then taking one to cover. But the fine re-start is undone by a short ball to finish, Lanning leaning back and carving it through point into the gap for four. “England just can’t build that pressure at the moment,” Lottie Edwards laments on TV. That was true of Gordon before lunch as well: plenty of excellent deliveries but too many balls that the experienced Australians could put away.
31st over: Australia 107-2 (Lanning 27, Perry 11) Brunt is hitting the deck hard, Perry taking the first behind square, Lanning defending the rest. Nothing wrong with that set; the sun coming out for the first time today as sends down the final delivery.“She has one of the best pairs of hands in the team,” Charlotte Edwards says of Knight’s dropped catch before lunch. “It has to be due to concentration.”
The players are back on the field. Always start a session with your best bowlers, so Katherine Brunt it is from the River End. Bowling to Perry. PLAY!
“Afternoon Adam, afternoon everyone.” Hello Harkarn Sumal. “Is it okay that I’m frankly terrified by Jess Jonassen being listed to come in a number 9? The Australian batting order is monstrous. That power, the clean hitting, the uncomplicated, clean (but not slogging), simple techniques that they have all down their middle and lower-middle order, that’s where this game is likely to be set up and taken beyond England’s reach over two innings. It also probably gives the top order that confidence to go about their work positively without worrying that what’s to come behind them will fold. There seems so little in the Australian batting set-up, trigger movements and technique that can go awry. It clears the way for players to concentrate on judgement. I have a lot of fear. I can feel the fear. Also, it’s already ragging for our orthodox spinners – heaven knows what it’ll be doing by Sunday. At least Australia doesn’t have a leggie in this side (am I right in thinking the spin options are all orthodox?). I’m sure you try to be neutral when OBO-ing, but you must be so delighted to have this side represent Australia. As Rachael Haynes intimated recently when asked whether women should play more test cricket, the rest of the world has some catching up to do I fear. Yours with growing concern.”
You are right about the depth of Australia’s batting. Jonassen’s 99 on Test debut last time around four years ago was a bit of an outlier, in that, she struggled to make a run in the years since. However, during the ODIs of this comp she was outstanding. England agrees with her with both the ball and the bat. In terms of more Test cricket, take a look at Megan Schutt’s piece overnight.
Healy dominant; England hold their nerve. Striking 12 boundaries in her 58, Healy looked like she was on the cusp of doing something special. But England’s new spinner Kirstie Gordon found her range and after creating a couple of chances against Lanning, slipped by the opener’s front pad with a straight one. The Australian captain should have followed her but Knight put her down just before lunch at extra cover. That could be costly in the context of what will more than likely be a low-scoring affair. Brunt was into the action early as well, castling Bolton (6), who was the first to fall.
Between times, Ecclestone left the field in tears after landing heavily on her right shoulder, but the spinner is expected to bowl after lunch having returned following 20 minutes of treatment. I’ll also be back with you for that middle session in about half an hour. I’ll drop back in here after I’ve had a bite to eat. How are you enjoying this first day? Where are you watching from? Ping me a line.
30th over: Australia 106-2 (Lanning 27, Perry 10) Lanning gets off strike first ball, which is advisable in the final over before lunch. Perry enjoys the full toss that follows, smashing her over mid-off for another easy boundary before taking one to mid-off that gives Lanning three balls to negotiate. She does so well, getting forward to play out the final deliveries of a most eventful session.
29th over: Australia 100-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 5) Not a lot going on at Marsh’s end, Perry timing her behind in classic Perry fashion to bring up Australia’s 100. Back to Gordon. Can she create another chance before they break for lunch?
Lanning will boost her Test average of 17. Hasn't had the best time in the format. But this is only her 4th Test match in 9 years of international cricket. #WomensAshes
28th over: Australia 96-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 1) KNIGHT DROPS LANNING! Oh, she’ll be gutted with that. Gordon won the false stroke, the England skipper putting down her opposing number at cover. It’s not a tough chance, to her left at waist heigh. She has such a good pair of hands too. What a moment that might be.
27th over: Australia 95-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 1) Marsh races through at Lanning initially then Perry, who is off the mark with a push to midwicket. Back to the real quiz now, which is Kirstie Gordon vs Meg Lanning.
“As Steve Smith has shown us enough times in India,” writes Tuvic Tuslow, “the only way to stay ahead on a dustbowl is by being agressive. Yes, the opposition might need to drop you six times along the way to allow you to score one of the greatest centuries of all time, but the point remains: gather as many runs as you can, because soon enough you won’t have much time to get them on this pitch either ways.”
26th over: Australia 91-2 (Lanning 22, Perry 0) Perry gets forward to defend the one remaining delivery in the successful over. “A shout out to Cricket Scotland,” says Mel Jones on TV, “for developing Kirstie Gordon.” England should be able to get four more overs in before the lunch interval.
Gordon has her first Test wicket and what a massive one it is, bowling Healy around her front pad! Not the most conventional dismissal, the opener missing a ball on her leg stump when shuffling across. The end of a fine innings but one that could have gone on to define this match had she been there for two more hours.
25th over: Australia 91-1 (Healy 58, Lanning 22) With 25 minutes until lunch, veteran tweaker Laura Marsh gets her first chance, replacing Sciver at the River End. She wasn’t expected to play here but with the track so dry, the home side went with her as a third specialist spinning option. She’s too short to begin to the chagrin of Beaumont at short leg, Healy’s pull smashing into his hand. The opener keeps the strike with a rare single for her today, moving to 58 from 76 balls.
24th over: Australia 88-1 (Healy 56, Lanning 21) BIG SHOUT for lbw turned down! After twice going beyond Lanning’s outside edge in her previous over, Gordon beats her on the inside edge this time. Technology (which isn’t available to the players for review) confirms that it is another good decision, the ball sliding down the legside. There’s nearly a bat-pad from the next ball too; the ball could easily have landed with Beaumont at short leg. But Lanning is savvy enough to put away a lesser delivery later in the set to let the pressure off, carving it off the back foot through cover. She’s into the 20s but Gordon is now very much in the game.
23rd over: Australia 84-1 (Healy 56, Lanning 17) Sciver is following her pattern from the Canterbury ODI, finding her groove after some nervous early offerings, now making it tough to hit her off the square. Has an important role to play.
Word from the England camp on Ecclestone is that she landed on right shoulder in that dive - she is sore and bruised. Because it is an internal injury, she won’t be permitted to bowl for the time she was off the field, which was about 20 mintues. rwhen she dived. Sore and bruised. Internal injury so she can’t bowl for
22nd over: Australia 82-1 (Healy 55, Lanning 16) So close! Gordon sends down a beauty at Lanning, just beating her outside edge from around the wicket. There’s a loud noise so they are up in the appeal but it was bat on pad rather than ball. Good decision. The tweaker beats her again to finish with one that really turns off this first morning surface. In another piece of good news for England as the over comes to a close, SophieEcclestone is back on the field. They hosts need something.
“’That is Healy’s first Test half-century.’” says OB Jato. “This statement literally defines everything wrong with women’s Test cricket right now!”
21st over: Australia 81-1 (Healy 54, Lanning 16) Nice fightback from Sciver, who gives Lanning nothing and gets through a rare maiden. There’s a generous response for local Anya Shrubsole who makes a fine diving stop to her left at point.
Alyssa Healy brings up her maiden Test fifty (61 BF, 11x4).
Healy is the first Australian opener to make a half-century in a women's Test since Alex Blackwell v England at Worcester in 2009 (technically only six matches ago for AUS women).#ENGvAUS#Ashes
Alyssa Healy is on fire in this Ashes test. Brilliant to watch, scoring quickly.
20th over: Australia 81-1 (Healy 54, Lanning 16) You can’t give Healy a full toss in this mood and you definitely can’t give her two in an over. After a tidy start from Gordon the young spinner loses here way here. Healy moves to 50 from 61 deliveries from the first of those bas balls, lifting her over midwicket for her 11th fours. That makes just six runs in non-boundaries on the opening morning of a Test. Have that. She takes the second fully over mid-on to make it 12. Easy peasy.
19th over: Australia 73-1 (Healy 46, Lanning 16) Sciver has to get into the game after a poor first couple of overs. Lanning takes her down the ground for a couple but the all-rounder then finds her mark. She was very good at Canterbury picking up Healy, Perry and Lanning, which is easy to forget given the carnage that ensued there after the lunch break.
18th over: Australia 71-1 (Healy 46, Lanning 14) Good start this from Gordon, who bowls with a bit of extra pace than Ecclestone from her lower trajectory. She’s good enough to locate Lanning’s inside edge, spitting out behind square. If Ecclestone is in strife, the Scotish import will have loads of work to do today.
17th over: Australia 69-1 (Healy 45, Lanning 13) Sciver is struggling but isn’t helped by Healy’s class, deflecting her perfectly down to third man for yet another boundary. She doesn’t help herself to finish, though, a half volley given the treatment by Lanning. These two are motoring, striking 40 runs in the ten overs they’ve been out there together, dealing almost exclusively in boundaries.
16th over: Australia 60-1 (Healy 40, Lanning 9) Lanning helped an Ecclestone full toss on its way before she went off. How often has a bowler sent down their first over in Test cricket completing the set of another? That’s what Gordon is tasked with doing, getting out of it with a nerveless four dots to the Aussie skipper. I’m afraid to report that Brunt is also hobbling around between overs, looking to favour that right ankle she hurt when celebrating a wicket at Leicester. Uh oh.
Bowling through tears, Ecclestone is off the ground after two deliveries. The right arm is causing her an enormous amount of pain. Kirstie Gordon, on debut, will complete the over. Disastrous for England if they’ve lost their best spinner.
15th over: Australia 56-1 (Healy 40, Lanning 5) Good news: Ecclestone is staying out there. Four balls remaining in the Sciver over, on to replace Brunt, and she directs the first of those down the legside for four byes. Not good. Before the break, Healy already helped herself to a ninth boundary with that aforementioned clip past square leg. England have a real problem on their hands here.
Two balls into the 15th over, drinks are called with Ecclestone getting looked at by the medical staff after diving unsucessfully to stop a Healy clip through square leg. She hit the deck and reached for her shoulder. She looks okay. Let’s hope so.
14th over: Australia 47-1 (Healy 36, Lanning 4) Ecclestone has found her range immediately, forcing Healy forward from the get-go. She beats her on the inside edge half way through the over prompting a loud lbw shout but from the bowler only. But missing her length to finish, Healy rocks back to cut another four. They go upstairs to confirm that Marsh didn’t keep it in, the fielder’s leg on the sponge.
13th over: Australia 43-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 4) Shot! After watching 14 dot balls, Meg Lanning gets off the mark with a beautifully timed push off the back foot, racing down to the rope for four. Otherwise, Brunt is right where she needs to be, asking the right questions of the Australian captain.
12th over: Australia 39-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 0) Excellent first over from Ecclestone, spin for the first time in the Test in this 12th over. The tall left-arm tweaker, who was so impressive in her Test debut at Sydney two years ago, beats Healy first up with a full delivery that did plenty, nicely pouched by Taylor. She’s giving it plenty of air, Healy defending the 20-year-old with full respect. She tries to score from the final delivery, uppishly to cover, but doesn’t beat the field. I’ve been arguing that Ecclestone is already the best spinner in the world. With England needing a win in this to stay alive, this is a huge four days for her.
11th over: Australia 39-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 0) I tell you what, Healy is on century-in-a-session pace here, taking on Brunt given the slightest width, slapping her through backward point for seventh boundary. Ooooooh, Brunt bites back with a beauty later in the set, once again able to cut past the inside edge; just over the woodwork. Healy finishes getting a long way forward to defend. Fantastic contest.
10th over: Australia 34-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 0) Shrubsole to the rampaging Healy and she would have another boundary here if not for Gordon’s excellent diving stop at mid-off. The former Scotland international, on Test debut today, is a very impressive all-round cricketer. We’ll see her at the bowling crease very soon.
9th over: Australia 33-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 0) Brunt to Lanning is box office. It is quite remarkable that the Australian captain, the greatest batter of all time in the women’s 50-over format, averages 17 in her four Tests and has never reached 50. She’s leaving, leaving, leaving then defending here. When a ball arrives on leg stump to finish, she picks out midwicket. Maiden it is. England must get her early.
“Proposal off the top of my head,” writes Abhijato Sensarma. “Authorities want T20s and women cricketers want Tests, while purists are most comfortable with the best of both worlds - ODIs. But why can’t we have the best of three worlds by combining all three formats together to create a new one? In the true spirit of Men’s WC knockouts, including the part of revenue-generation, have ‘Two Day Cricket’ ... On the first day, play 20 overs each; return the next day, and play a further 20 overs each. Four innings, ten wickets per innings, and endless fun all long (until the ODI-esque limit of 80 overs is reached, of course)!”
8th over: Australia 33-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 0) It doesn’t bother Healy that she has lost her opening partner, lashing the first ball of Shrubsole’s new over through cover for her fifth boundary. Oh, make that six! A gorgeous square drive the best of the lot so far. She’s 26 from 28 balls half an hour into a Test. As you do!
The plan early on in any Test Match is to hit the top of off and that’s precisely what Brunt has done, shaping away just enough to evade the opener’s outside edge. Another single-digit return for the West Australian. And in walks Lanning.
6th over: Australia 19-0 (Healy 17, Bolton 1) This is an excellent start from Healy, slapping a wider Shrubsole delivery with perfect timing over backward point for four. To finish, an even better shot along the carpet the other side of point for another boundary.
5th over: Australia 11-0 (Healy 9, Bolton 1) Shot. Healy said that she wouldn’t be curtailing her natural instints in Test cricket and it shows when Brunt goes short, the Australian taking her on with a punishing pull over midwicket. I like this elevation. If she’s there at tea, for instance, she’ll be well beyond 100.
4th over: Australia 6-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 1) Shrubsole is getting some lovely hoop early on, Bolton playing her very carefully. The Australian opener isn’t in great nick but she four years ago, when making her Test debut, got through some very tough sessions against the new ball from these two.
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 1) Brunt is on top, giving Bolton little and winning an early play and miss. After getting off the mark with a single to cover it’s Healy’s turn, Brunt repeating the first ball of the match to finish, jagging back off the seam to again cut her in half. Dangerous start this from the Barnsley Express.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 0) Shrubsole running away from us at the pavilion end, Bolton defending and leaving studiously. Just as there was from the river end, the carry is there through to Sarah Taylor. The left-hander gets Australia off the mark via a leg bye, giving Healy one chance from the final ball of the over and she uses it well to drive a classy boundary through cover for four.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Healy 0, Bolton 0) Brunt cuts Healy in half with the first ball of the Test! A beauty, jagging back off the seam. The opener gets into her groove as the over continues, leaving and defending well. Nice carry from Brunt, which is encouraging. Two years ago, the two balls in Schutt’s first over didn’t make it through to the wicketkeeper the track was so dead. Fingers crossed.
First ball of the match, Brunt cuts Healy in half. Misses everything. This will almost certainly be the Barnsley Express’ final Test Match. Expect enthusiasm. #WomensAshespic.twitter.com/nY3xr4HMED
Oh, scrap that. Would you believe, there is a hole on the ground at backward point that the umpires want covered up by the groundsman. Odd. Try again: PLAY!
Katherine Brunt has the ball in her hand. This will almost certainly be her final Test Match for England. What a warrior she has been. Healy is on strike. PLAY!
Jerusalem is playing. The umpires are making their way to the middle, followed by Heather Knight and her team. The Australian openers, Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy, follow. The latter is at the top of the list for the first time in Test Match.
Australia go with an extra bat, leaving out the leggie Wareham. England are playing three specialistspinners, overlooking seamer Cross. Full XIs shortly.
Actually, read this before the toss. Megan Schutt has views and isn’t afraid to voice them. Her latest column spells out why it is plainly wrong that only Australian and English women get to play Tests and how it isn’t fair that they only get to do so every other year. Crucially, she also comes with ideas for the future.
Good morning from Taunton! We are roughly ten minutes from the toss and I come with news off the top. Three Australians are winning their baggy greens today: Ash Gardner, Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux. For England, Amy Jones and Kirstie Gordon are set to make their Test Match bows.
For the visitors, it was a brilliant touch having Dan Christian on deck to present Gardner with the famous cap. Of course, the two of them captained the teams that toured England last summer to mark 150 years since the trailblazing Indigenous Australians visited this country to play in 1868. Mitch Starc welcomed Vlaeminck, a fellow speedster, to the fold while Belinda Clark, the interim boss of high performance and former dominant skipper, gave the speech for Molineux.
Lovely touch with Dan Christian presenting Ash Gardner’s baggy green. Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux are also debuting, receiving their caps from Mitch Starc and Belinda Clark. Nicely done. #WomensAshespic.twitter.com/kAszvXimhy
Tim Murtagh produced a majestic spell of bowling on his home ground, taking five for 13 as Ireland skittled England before lunch on an extraordinary day at Lord’s
Our match report has arrived, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company on another ludicrous day of cricket-watching. Bye!
1st over: England 0-0 (Leach 0, Burns 0) Tim Murtagh ends the day as he started it, harassing the outside edge of an England batsman. Jack Leach is beaten twice but survives the over, so he will return with Rory Burns in the morning. Ireland lead by 122 after a crazy, joyful day of Test cricket
For the second time in his short Test career, Jack Leach will open the batting as a nightwatchman. Rory Burns is his opening partner, although I’m sure he won’t face a delivery until tomorrow morning.
Ireland lead by 122 runs. There’s an unspoken consensus that England will score 400 tomorrow and win comfortably. If they were wearing coloured clothing that would probably be the case, but it’s unwise to assume too much about the Test batting line-up. It’s possible that Ireland could beat England in a two-day Lord’s Test.
Boyd Rankin misses a slog and is bowled by Moeen Ali. That means England’s openers will have one over to survive tonight.
58th over: Ireland 207-9 (O’Brien 28, Rankin 7) Stone has an LBW appeal caught in the throat when O’Brien gets a late inside-edge, and then bangs in a short ball that balloons for four byes. Ireland lead by 122.
57th over: Ireland 203-9 (O’Brien 28, Rankin 7) Rankin squirts Broad to third man for four. It prompt one of the biggest cheers of the day, because those runs take Ireland past 200. It’s been the most extraordinary day of international cricket at Lord’s since the last one.
56th over: Ireland 195-9 (O’Brien 27, Rankin 0) Kevin O’Brien survives an England review for caught and bowled. He missed a pull and was hit on the top of the arm, with Stone taking the catch in his follow through. Aleem Dar said ‘not out’ so England went upstairs, thinking it had hit the glove first. Replays showed it was straight onto the arm. It was another excellent short ball from Stone, who has been impressively callous today.
Murtagh plays a blind swat off a short ball from Stone, and Rory Burns runs in from deep midwicket to take a low catch. Murtagh smashed four fours in a 10-ball 16. He may be on his home ground, but he has had a helluva day out. And it might not be finished.
55th over: Ireland 190-8 (O’Brien 26, Murtagh 12) Murtagh, taking guard near short leg, smears Broad through midwicket for four - once, twice, three times. All three shots were almost comically rustic. Ireland will not care about that, especially as the second boundary took their lead past 100.
54th over: Ireland 178-8 (O’Brien 26, Murtagh 0) Olly Stone returns to the attack, presumably with instructions to rough up the tail. O’Brien thwarts the plan by facing all six deliveries himself, although he is unable to retain the strike at the end of the over.
“I quite like John Starbuck’s methodology for choosing a captain,” says Phil Sawyer, “mainly because a brief scan of current English Division One captains suggests that the most obvious candidate is Trundling Death himself, Yorkshire’s Steve Patterson. I’m pretty sure FEC is a title not even his own mother has bestowed on him.”
53rd over: Ireland 174-8 (O’Brien 24, Murtagh 0) At first, Broad thought the bails hadn’t been dislodged. He looked around McBrine, with the startled expression of a teenage voyeur peering out of a wardrobe, to check whether he had actually bowled him. He had.
“I agree with you on Morgan,” says Andrew Hurley. “Or if not, Buttler. Root is not a good captain, and he is hindering the team by batting at No4 (England have plenty of options for 4,5,6,7), none at 3. As regards Smith and Kohli, well, first off Root isn’t in their league, and secondly Australia and India have other options, England don’t. I’ve rambled on too often about the nonsense of simply making your best player as captain in cricket, it makes no sense at all! I think, as well, it must be difficult for the ODI players going from Morgan to Root, and Root probably feels this.”
A short ball from Broad follows O’Brien, who gloves it onto his ribs and staggers away in pain. There’s an impromptu drinks break while he retrieves treatment. He’s fine to continue, and he’ll have a new partner now because Broad has bowled McBrine via inside edge and pad.
52nd over: Ireland 173-7 (O’Brien 23, McBrine 11) Moeen Ali replaces Sam Curran and bowls a maiden to McBrine. Ireland look content to bat until the close, which is just under an hour away, and take their chances in 38-degree weather tomorrow. I wonder if they will regret not giving Tim Murtagh five or six overs tonight.
51st over: Ireland 173-7 (O’Brien 23, McBrine 11) Broad replaces Woakes and is squirted through backward point for four by O’Brien, who then top-edges a hook that drops short of fine leg. Ireland lead by 88, which might even be enough for an innings victory.
“I think you’re right, Rob, on Stone,” says Gary Naylor, patting me on the back so hard it hurts. “I think he hits more batsmen than Archer and he makes set players twitch and jump. Having seen both of them live recently, I’d say Stone is quicker at his fastest too - though I’m not sure that he can summon it as effortlessly as Archer can. It just seems to happen.”
50th over: Ireland 167-7 (O’Brien 18, McBrine 10) Curran moves around the wicket to O’Brien, who continues to play with impressive restraint. He has 18 from 49 balls; it took him only 50 balls to smash a century against England at the 2011 World Cup.
“Afternoon, Rob,” says Phil Sawyer. “Is it too late to persuade Tim Murtagh to turn his arm over for England? Preferably in this match.”
49th over: Ireland 165-7 (O’Brien 17, McBrine 10) McBrine gloves an attempted pull off Woakes over the keeper’s head for four. Every little helps for Ireland, whose lead is now 80.
“So Olly Stone is a once-in-a-generation bowler,” says Matt Emerson. “Much like Jofra Archer, then. No, wait, hang on...”
48th over: Ireland 160-7 (O’Brien 17, McBrine 6) This is a tricky spell for Ireland, with both Woakes and Curran swinging the old ball. McBrine, who looks pretty organised for a No9, is content to defend the majority of the over.
“Great to see some stumps getting uprooted again,” says Parminder Khosa. “The ones in the World Cup were not budging even when Archer was hitting them flush. Still not up to the cartwheeling standard of my youth though.”
47th over: Ireland 158-7 (O’Brien 16, McBrine 6) Woakes beats McBrine with consecutive deliveries. He has been much better in this spell, and is unfortune to concede four when McBrine thick edges to third man. Ireland lead by 73.
“Outwith Morgan, who’s in a category by himself, the usual way to consider captain options (coptions?) is to go round the counties and see who does it well and is English,” says John Starbuck. “The figures are there for a reason.”
46th over: Ireland 153-7 (O’Brien 16, McBrine 2) “I agree with you that England’s best batsman should bat where he feels most comfortable,” says Andrew Cosgrove, “but I also agree that Root isn’t necessarily England’s best captain. It should be Lewis Gregory, of course, but in the meantime Jos Buttler seems like a good choice.”
It’ll all be up for discussion at the end of the summer should England lose the Ashes. Buttler will be an excellent captain, but – assuming Morgan retires from ODIs – I’d be wary about asking him to take over both the Test and ODI teams.
45th over: Ireland 150-7 (O’Brien 15, McBrine 0) O’Brien survives a big shout for a catch down the leg side off Woakes. I think it came off the pad, and Woakes wasn’t particularly interested in a review. O’Brien is then beaten by a big outswinger. With the ball suddenly doing plenty in the air, it might not be a bad thing for Ireland to be bowled out in the next 20 minutes. Tim Murtagh could do a lot of damage in the final hour.
44th over: Ireland 149-7 (O’Brien 14, McBrine 0) A wicket maiden for Curran. Ireland have lost their last five wickets for 17 runs in 12 overs.
That’ll do! Adair tries to pull Curran and drags the ball back onto the stumps. That’s Curran’s third wicket, two of which have been drag-ons. The boy’s a bit golden-armed.
43rd over: Ireland 149-6 (O’Brien 14, Adair 3) Chris Woakes replaces the impressive Olly Stone (9-2-22-2). O’Brien is playing with a clear head, which can’t be said of many batsmen today, and continues to build his innings with the occasional single. That’s drinks.
42nd over: Ireland 147-6 (O’Brien 13, Adair 2) Sam Curran replaces Stuart Broad (15-5-33-2). A textbook inswinger is jammed behind the flap of the pad by O’Brien, who then steers a single to third man. Curran got his inswinger going nicely in that spell.
41st over: Ireland 146-6 (O’Brien 12, Adair 2) We’re having a few technical problems I’m afraid. Kevin O’Brien has batted calmly amid the wreckage, and he is Ireland’s main hope of a big first-innings lead. It’s been a fine comeback from England: the last nine overs have brought 14 runs and four wickets.
40th over: Ireland 143-6 (O’Brien 9, Adair 2) “That is what excites me about Olly Stone,” says Gary Naylor. “He is, in English terms, a once-in-a-generation fast bowler. Maybe longer than that.”
Yes, I know what you mean. He’s not just a fast bowler, he’s a wildcard, and it’s a long time since we’ve had one of those. There are still loads of rough edges, not to mention injury worries, but he has huge potential.
Another one gone! Thompson shoulders arms and watches in horror as the ball comes down the slope to peg back the off stump. That was a poor stroke, or rather non-stroke, and Ireland have lost four wickets for nine runs.
39th over: Ireland 141-5 (O’Brien 9, Thompson 0)
38th over: Ireland 138-5 (O’Brien 6, Thompson 0) “I think a lot of England’s problems re: the Ashes come from Root,” says Andrew Hurley. “I can’t understand why he won’t bat at No3? Bayliss is right to say he’s as natural a No3 as there is, and right now his Test career not quite going as well as it should. Drop Denly (not good enough), Roy opens with Burns/someone else, and England select more middle order players as it’s where their strength is. I have doubts about Bairstow though, Starc to bowl him 4/5 times...”
Well, Kohli and Smith don’t bat No3, and I’ve always felt that a captain should bat where they feel comfortable. I suspect England would be a better team with Root as No3 and somebody else as captain. The problem is, I don’t know who that captain should be. I like the idea of Morgan and-for-my-next-tricking the Test team, but it’s probably not realistic.
37th over: Ireland 138-5 (O’Brien 6, Thompson 0) A double-wicket maiden from Stone, who is such an exciting prospect.
Two wickets in the over for Olly Stone! Wilson, softened up by a vicious bouncer first ball, fenced loosely outside off stump and was snaffled in the slips by Root. Textbook fast bowling from Stone, who has officially Got Something.
Now that’s how to take a first Test wicket. Olly Stone has cleaned up Andrew Balbirnie with a scintillating full-length outswinger. Balbirnie tried to whip to leg, missed and lost his middle stump. That was very similar to Dale Steyn’s magic ball to Michael Vaughan on his Test debut 15 years ago.
36th over: Ireland 138-3 (Balbirnie 55, O’Brien 6) Broad, who played in that match in Bangalore eight years ago, would love to get the dangerous O’Brien early on. If he does, England will be right back in the match. I assumed O’Brien was a beery slogger back then but it’s been clear for some time that he is a proper batsman: he follows some positive defensive strokes with a gorgeous drive to the extra cover boundary. That was one of the shots of the day.
35th over: Ireland 134-3 (Balbirnie 55, O’Brien 2) “Afternoon Rob,” says Alex Bramble. “Is there an answer to a three-
decade - year problem by next Thursday? On Jason Roy, the Warner/Sehwag comparisons are potentially justified (for me he’s in the same talent stratosphere), but as Butch said on Cricinfo the other day, wouldn’t it be better to open with someone else (Sibley?) and have Roy at three, where he’s potentially got a tad more protection from the hazards of hard hands trying to counter early nibble?”
I suspect England will muddle through for the summer, and then invest in young players (probably Sibley, perhaps Zak Crawley) come the winter. I agree on Roy at No3. The other thing to consider is that, if England are hammered in the Ashes, which is not beyond the realms, Root might not survive. If he isn’t captain, he could bat No3. Either way, I fear this could be a tumultuous few months. Sod it, who cares.
34th over: Ireland 133-3 (Balbirnie 55, O’Brien 1) That was a perky innings from Stirling on his home ground - 36 from 43 balls.The new batsman is Kevin O’Brien, scorer of Ireland’s first Test century - and that astonishing 50-ball hundred to beat England at the 2011 World Cup. He gets off the mark with an inside edge off his first ball.
“Let’s face it,” says Mike Daniels. “You can’t blame the England team for being out of sorts today - we’re all feeling the strain of seeing Johnson become PM.”
Stuart Broad, who has been England’s best bowler by a distance, finally gets his first wicket. Stirling played around a sharp nipbacker and was given out LBW by Aleem Dar. He reviewed, hoping the ball might be bouncing over the top of the stumps. It wasn’t.
33rd over: Ireland 132-2 (Balbirnie 55, Stirling 36) Olly Stone replaces Chris Woakes, who has had an exceedingly poor day. It’s hard to be too critical, although it may have implications for his Ashes chances. Balbirnie thick edges a good outswinger for four and is beaten by the next delivery.
“It’s probably too early/unbelievable for people to get too excited, hence the atmosphere,” says Oliver O’Callaghan. “Wait ‘til the main men arrive on Friday. If Ireland are still in the box seat then, I imagine we’ll be going buck mad.”
There are 42 overs remaining today, although we’ll probably only get around 35. Either way, this is such an important session. If Ireland are, say, 250 for three at the close, England will be in fifty shades of bother.
“Hi Rob,” writes Dan. “Was out on my postal delivery route this morning, checked my phone at half 12 expecting to see England well on top. Can’t believe it. I fell in love with cricket in the 2005 Ashes as a 10-year-old. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d see an Irish team playing like this at Lord’s. Absolutely brilliant.”
It really is – and imagine how many 10-year-olds will fall in love with cricket because of it.
32nd over: Ireland 127-2 (Balbirnie 51, Stirling 36) That’s tea, and England should be fed nothing but the gruellest gruel.
“As a cricket-loving Irishman I am very much enjoying this Test,” says Niall Mullen. “Can we say yet whether this is the equivalent of Tottenham going 3-0 against Manchester United in the early 2000s where you knew, with grim inevitability, that United would turn it around and then some or is it more Tottenham going 3-0 up against United nowadays?”
31st over: Ireland 123-2 (Balbirnie 50, Stirling 32) Balbirnie chases a very wide outswinger from Woakes and slices it to third man for four. He gets another boundary later in the over, flicking an inswinger wide of mid-on, and then completes a brilliant half-century from just 56 balls. This has been a quietly extraordinary partnership – they’ve added 78 at better than a run a ball, having come in when 12 wickets had gone down for 130.
30th over: Ireland 114-2 (Balbirnie 41, Stirling 32) Balbirnie edges a good delivery from Moeen wide of slip for three.England look more than a little devoid of purpose.
“Well, this is exciting isn’t it?” says Matt Emerson. “It certainly makes my trip to Lord’s tomorrow far more interesting than I was expecting it to be, even factoring in the utter Englandness of our current Test team. I know they won’t, but part of me wants Ireland to declare at about 5.30 this afternoon so they can have us 18-3 at stumps...”
29th over: Ireland 111-2 (Balbirnie 38, Stirling 32) Woakes replaces Leach and restores a bit of order by conceding only four runs from the over. Yes, I am aware of the ludicrousness of the preceding sentence.
It’s strange – we are watching what might become one of the biggest upsets in cricket history, yet the atmosphere is pretty low-key. It’s as if England are 111-2 in reply to Ireland’s 85 all out, rather than the other way round.
28th over: Ireland 107-2 (Balbirnie 35, Stirling 31) Moeen Ali comes into the attack and is milked for seven easy runs. The ball is doing very little, and Ireland have a great chance to bat England out of the match, already.
If they get a lead of 250 – and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t - I think they’ll add Lord’s 2019 to Stuttgart 1988, Bangalore 2011 and various rugby wins I know nothing about.
27th over: Ireland 100-2 (Balbirnie 32, Stirling 27) Ireland were 28/1 to win this morning. They’re now 7/4, which is still pretty generous. Bairstow screams for LBW when Stirling works Leach round the corner for a single; I think he thought the ball hit Stirling on the toe. I hope that’s what he thought, because otherwise the World Cup win really has impacted upon his noggin. Balbirnie laps the next ball for four and then takes a single to bring up an initiative-seizing fifty partnership from only 47 balls. Leach’s first three overs have gone for 26.
“Notwithstanding Ireland’s almost flawless Test match cricket, Root and Bairstow have played like two tired and jaded men - like the Indians (ex Rahul Dravid) did after their World Cup win in 2011,” says Gary Naylor. “To state the bleedin’ obvious, this is not a good sign.”
26th over: Ireland 89-2 (Balbirnie 23, Stirling 25) Broad is square-driven confidently for four by Balbirnie, a boundary that takes Ireland into the lead. Haha, this is wonderful stuff.
On the subject of bowling faces, have we had Daffy DeFreitas? I always thought he looked like he was in the middle of a peculiarly painful orgasm.
25th over: Ireland 85-2 (Balbirnie 19, Stirling 25) It’s been a day when the home players have excelled - the Middlesex players, not the England ones. Stirling continues his calculated attack by dragging Leach wide of mid-on for four. He has raced to 25 from 26 balls.
24th over: Ireland 79-2 (Balbirnie 19, Stirling 18) Stirling is dropped by Root at first slip! It was a relatively straightforward low chance off the bowling of Broad, but Root crouched almost absent-mindedly and the ball went through his hands. Root’s head is certainly at Lord’s – but I suspect it’s there on 14 July 2019, not 24 July. Balbirnie ends another frustrating over for Broad by lacing a fine extra cover drive for four.
“Afternoon Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “I think England’s best strategy now might be containment. Keep Ireland down to 600 for 3 when they declared at tea on Friday. Then send Stone and Leach out to dead bat the last four sessions to save the game.”
23rd over: Ireland 72-2 (Balbirnie 14, Stirling 17) Cheers Daniel, hello everyone. Jack Leach comes into the attack, replacing Sam Curran, and his first three balls are lap-swept for a total of eight runs by Stirling. All three shots were premeditated, with the second going to the boundary. Joe Root responds by moving short leg to leg slip, and Stirling puts the shot away for the time being.
22nd over: Ireland 63-2 (Balbirnie 14, Stirling 8) This match should be a goodun for young Stuart, grooving himself and such, but also working up requisite temper for the Australians. He’ll be brushing teeth with a blowtorch by this time next week, because have a look! Broad finds Balbirnie’s outside edge and Root dives left while Bairstow stands pondering the meaning of life! The ball rushes away for four, and that’s drinks; Rob Smyth will take you through to the close. You can email him on rob.smyth@theguardian.com, or tweet @UffMarone.
21st over: Ireland 59-2 (Balbirnie 10, Stirling 8) Balburnie has been in great nick of late, and his drives Curran’s first ball for four then, after a single and a dot, England try for a new ball; it passes through the ring so Broad suggests another go. Two dots follow, then Stirling absolutely humps a straight one through midwicket for four; is it time for Jack Leach?
20th over: Ireland 50-2 (Balbirnie 5, Stirling 4) Stirling semi-skips down to Broad and edges him for four in the region of third man; Broad shakes him warmly by the hand before collapsing with the hilarity of it all, then creases again when his final ball is edged short of Roy at two ... well short.
19th over: Ireland 46-2 (Balbirnie 5, Stirling 0) This angle is working well for Curran and he cracks Stirling on the pad, but the angle looked to be taking it down and though there’s an appeal, they run a leg bye.
In the absence of swing, Curran goes around and the angle tempts McCollum to drive; he edges and drags on! This boy is not normal!
“Aside from Curran, what are your top five bowling faces?” asks Mark Hooper. I always like Abdul Qadir’s tongue, and that he used to change it depending on the ball. Shoaib Akhtar is another, but that’s one on which to think; send in your favourites.
18th over: Ireland 45-1 (McCollum 19, Balbirnie 5) Broad returns, and from the Nursery End – his usual residence because Anderson takes the Pavilion. In commentary, Holding says that he’d have Archer with those two, and says he’d not be worried about the bowling ... before citing James Vince as someone he thinks has some talent! Surely that cover drive has flailed. Maiden from Broad, and not a bad one.
17th over: Ireland 45-1 (McCollum 19, Balbirnie 5) Balburnie knocks one to leg, then McCollum drives two down the ground before flicking four to fine leg. Curran is struggling to make an impression - it’s time for another half-tracker, I’d say.
“In years gone by when Australia have been prone to collapse, England have had a solid top order - guys like Cook, Strauss and Trott,” says Digvijay Yadav. “One cannot say that now though. Which means England winning the Ashes is not a foregone conclusion even though they start as favourites. Also Warner, Khawaja, Smith and whoever are a better top order than anything England can muster at the moment. Intriguing month or so ahead.”
16th over: Ireland 38-1 (McCollum 13, Balbirnie 4) McCollum is looking pretty solid here - Stone is bowling quickly, hitting 90mph, but yerman has everything in line to see him off.
15th over: Ireland 38-1 (McCollum 13, Balbirnie 4) Single to McCollum thenCurran offers Balbirnie some width, and is duly zetzed through point for four. That over was not spitting with menace.
14th over: Ireland 32-1 (McCollum 12, Balbirnie 0) I’ve got wicket withdrawal symptoms, but Stone is doing his best to assuage my jones, tempting McCollum to run uppishly, just past short leg ... where Burns dives and misses. They run one, all the scoring for the over.
13th over: Ireland 32-1 (McCollum 11, Balbirnie 0) Curran has one of my very favourite bowling faces, like an infant in a playfight with an adult trying to look fierce. He finds his length next up and maintains it for a wicket maiden, the wicket coming with his worst delivery.
There’s timing and there’s timing!
Botham Curran drags down an absolute dog and Porterfield muscles it straight to midwicket! You cannot teach that!
13th over: Ireland 32-0 (Porterfield 14, McCollum 11) Sam Curran into the attack...
12th over: Ireland 32-0 (Porterfield 14, McCollum 11) Eeesh! Stone wallops Porterfield on the helmet and the umpires decide to take drinks as per the new concussion protocol. And have a look! Porterfield climbs into a drive first ball back, clunking three through cover; Leach does well to chase and pull back.
“Is the England collapse on Johnson’s first day as skipper a metaphor for our future?” asks Peter Metcalfe. “All we need is optimism, of course, not technique.”
11th over: Ireland 29-0 (Porterfield 11, McCollum 11) Broad finds his line again, beating McCollum who eventually opts to go forward. A maiden doth ensue.
“Is this Dunkirk or the Blitz?” asks Geoff Wignall; I’m not sure, but the horror of both is essential to my misplaced national pride and therefore I hanker after my first-hand experience of both. “Any word yet from Rees-Mogg to illuminate England’s progress against one of the smaller EU nations?Also to whom would you award the most brainless dismissal rosette? I’m voting for Bairstow.”
10th over: Ireland 29-0 (Porterfield 11, McCollum 11) Stone, England’s new all-rounder, replaces Woakes – who might be bowling himself out of the Ashes team. His first ball in Test cricket, swinging away, is driven to cover for three. Nasser points out that Woakes was bowling his ODI length, when success on this pitch needs the ball to be fuller. Stone is looking for that, and and when he finds a bit of bounce, Porterfield looks to turn him to leg and instead squirts him through point for four. You’ve got to enjoy the humour here – this could not have gone worse for England, and if you’d been asked what “worse” meant, you’d never have come up with this.
9th over: Ireland 22-0 (Porterfield 7, McCollum 8) Porterfield flicks two around the corner; where have all the demons gone? Behind the eyes of England’s world cup heroes, I trust. I wonder if it’s time for Sam Curran, who might find the pitch to his liking and will attack the stumps. England certainly need something, because their hopes of securing a first-innings lead are nearly done.
More #OBOfamily gear from Brian Withington: “Inspired by your earlier exhortation to fair-weather OBOers, I discovered that I had once emailed you at 03:49 on January 7th 2018 at a rather low point in proceedings in Australia. I can’t remember whether you used it, but I do recall sending it as a response to your plaintive invitation of contributions in the wee small hours. Some of us really are in this for the long haul...”
8th over: Ireland 20-0 (Porterfield 5, McCollum 8) Neither bowler has settled into their line and length yet; Murtagh and Adair were so accurate and consistent, which is how they got their wickets. As I type that, Woakes does force McCollum to edge, but he does with the slow hands and the easy touch, so the ball drops shy of slip, then clips four around the corner! This reminds me of a post-Glastonbury week when my then flatmate came home from work to find me crying on the couch. It’s not always easy to handle the aftermath when you’ve achieved something significant.
7th over: Ireland 16-0 (Porterfield 5, McCollum 4) Broad is still coming to Porterfield from around, which I sort of get, but he’s really not causing him too much aggravation. Another maiden.
6th over: Ireland 16-0 (Porterfield 5, McCollum 4)Now Woakes is in the match beating McCollum outside off with a beauty. Four more dots follow, then a dog delivers two byes; extras now have more than eight of England’s batsmen.
5th over: Ireland 14-0 (Porterfield 5, McCollum 4) Broad finds his length to Porterfield, seaming away late and past the proffered outside edge ... and then again. So dull, Test cricket, where are all my rattling stumps? But we’re getting runs, Broad losing his radar to fling a ball down the leg side that Bairstow can’t stop. Four byes, and Ireland are nearly up with England.
4th over: Ireland 10-0 (Porterfield 5, McCollum 4) Porterfield spots early swing from Woakes so waits for the ball and then punches down the ground for four; that’ll do. He then adds a single to cover, and Woakes isn’t on this yet.
“I’ve just opened the OBO to see whatever TF that score is,” says Sarah O’Regan. “My theory which I’ll womansplain to you now without haven’t checked any of the other posts is that England are experiencing a severe form of what I call the ‘marathon blues’ - that flat, lost feeling of fatigue you get after achieving something massive which you’ve worked very hard towards for a long time, such as a marathon or a PhD. I think they’ve just worked so hard lately that they’re running on empty. Better get it out of their system before the Ashes.”
3rd over: Ireland 5-0 (Porterfield 0, McCollum 4) Broad finds some inswing from around and Porterfield wears it on the pad; there’s an appeal and they run one, then McCollum misses with a drive. Broad has a word, then two balls later McCollum spanks a square drive to the fence and says “Don’t just stand there, let’s get to it, strike a pose there’s nothing to it” before standing back up again. Ireland have 5.88% of England’s score.
2nd over: Ireland 0-0 (Porterfield 0, McCollum 0) This isn’t great from Woakes, who sends down six balls none of which force Porterfield to play. Another maiden, but a munter.
1st over: Ireland 0-0 (Porterfield 0, McCollum 0) Broad starts from around to the left Porterfield, which I don’t entirely get. Why not try over and see if it works and anyway how many Test wickets has he got? Exactly. His first ball is too straight and turned to leg, then five more dots follow.
“I’m sure the England dressing room will be ‘taking the positives’ out of their effort,” says Mike Waites. “It is after all a record high in Tests by England against Ireland.”
Right! Off we go again!
“Not sure whether anyone has provided the TMS overseas link yet,” offers Al Ferguson, “but it’s now appeared on the BBC website.”
Excellent, with Killing Eve and Fleabag done, Auntie needs a new dramedy.
“Just a wild thought based on no historical precedent whatsoever,” says Peter Norman, “but what are the chances England will bowl too short for about the first 12-15 overs of Ireland’s innings? And then get all huffy when questioned about it afterwards?”
I’m also well up for a few celebrappeals and wasted reviews. This is going to be great.
“Can someone tell Jacob Rees-Mogg that Europe have just bowled out England for 85 at Lord’s?” asks John Collins.
Three catches by the backstop too.
A correction: “Re your comment from the 18th over,” emails Russell Turner, “Boyd Rankin is actually the ninth cricketer to play in a Test both for and against England, though the first seven were all before the First World War.”
Apologies, I missed that detail in all the excitement, or Gower kept it under his Panama. Here’s the full list.
Never have I had so many emails, never have I had so little time to read and publish then, so let’s try and do a few – I’d best be seeing you fairweather wits while talking to myself at 3am, next time England go down-under: “In retrospect, Roy’s five not looking all that bad,” says Hubert O’Hearn.
Much as we all want more, I suppose we have to call that a morning. I’ll be back presently for Ireland’s response; in the meantime, here’s this week’s Spin on the particular joy of part0time bowlers snagging frontline batsmen.
Uff marone! How do we make sense of this? Here’s Tim Murtagh! He says it’s a dream to play here and he’s not really sure what’s happened, then thanks all the other bowlers for their work. He says everything felt really good, the ball came out nicely, and there was just a bit in the wicket. He should know how to bowl on this ground, the pitch offered a bit both ways and some swing, and he had some good support at the other end. “A walk through the long room and a Lord’s lunch,” says Nasser; “I might have some dessert as well,” says Murtagh. Glorious, wondrous, sensational stuff; Ireland have been amazing, and England are world champions!
And there it is! Adair slings down a fast, straight one, it cracks Stone on the elbow, careers into the stumps, and that’s three wickets on debut! England are the absolute height of England!
23rd over: England 85-9 (Stone 19, Leach 1) Adair returns – is he ginger? – is his nickname Red? He sends Stone a tempter, which he lashes to the fence making him England’s top-scorer ... I wonder what’s coming next....
“I believe that this is the second time a bowler at Lords has got his name on the honours board before lunch on the 1st day,” emails Dan Seppings. “Tom Richardson got 6-39 when England played Australia in 1896. Australia were all out for 53 by lunch. So there you go, it’s not that bad…”
23rd over: England 81-9 (Stone 15, Leach 1) And there’s your Cook replacement! Leach plays out a maiden from Rankin.
“I just can’t get over the sheer breath-taking arrogance of the esteemed Gary Naylor (10:30am)”, says Harkan Sumal. ‘75-5 at lunch’ indeed. What larks! Between this and the antics down in Southampton (Hick XII vs Haddin XII), it looks like 2-day tests might be the modern fashion by the time the Ashes are done and dusted.”
22nd over: England 81-9 (Stone 15, Leach 1) Oh yes! Stone drives Thompson four through point and Athers notes how well Ireland have dragged the batsmen forward; their lengths have been beautiful. But here Stone is again, watching the ball onto the bat and driving down the ground for four, then blocking a shorter one and crashing a drive to the extra cover fence! Is the search for an opening partner for Alastair Cook over?
21st over: England 69-9 (Stone 3, Leach 1) If England are bowled out before lunch it’ll be the fourth time they’ve been dismissed in a session in recent times – Dakar, Auckland and Trent Bridge are already on the roll of honour, with Bridgetown hosting a piddling nine wickets. Leach shoves a single into the leg side, then Stone eases behind for one.
And there’s that short leg! Curran leans forward and turns directly into his hands which reminds us of how brilliantly Ireland have executed this morning. My fingers are typing but my head is spinning; this is amazing.
20th over: England 67-8 (Curran 18, Stone 2) England have now blazed past their lowest ever total at Lord’s– 53 in 1888 – the beauty of central contracts. I guess it is hard for the players who won the world cup to relax into what’s happened and, more than that, to come to terms with the emotional peak while working out how to handle the comedown. The four who were in the squad made eight between them and, let’s be real, the other two dismissed so far aren’t necessarily Test-class. Six off the over.
19th over: England 61-8 (Curran 14 , Stone 1) Now this is the can-do spirit our glorious leader was invoking: just when you think you’ve seen every conceivable aspect of conceited incompetence, another stunning wrinkle is revealed! Stone goes tentatively at his first ball and edges behind for one, then Curran top-edges two over the keeper’s head.
Rankin comes around and bangs one in back of a length; Broad lifts his bad above stump-height, feathers an edge, and the Irish backstop does the rest. This is basically Brexit in cricketing form.
19th over: England 58-7 (Curran 12, Broad 3) Murtagh’s spell of 9-2-13-5 comes to an end, as I wonder whether anyone’s ever got themselves onto the honour’s board before lunch on day 1. Anyway, Boyd Rankin has the ball – he and Nawab of Pataudi Snr are now the only men to play Tests for and against England – and after two dots, he asks for a short leg. And then he beats Broad, reckons there’s an edge, and when the umpire thinks to the contrary, requests a review!
18th over: England 58-7 (Curran 12, Broad 3) Curran allows Thompson to charge through a maiden, though he does hammer two drives directly to cover. It’s 58-7!
“As your roving Paris-based Irish cricket nut,” says Robert Wilson, “may I appeal to other Irish fans not to crow too loudly about this morning’s work? It’s all too easy to revel in the crushing dismissal of Test minnows but it should be avoided. We need to be better than that. England are to be encouraged, nurtured and admired for their moxie and courage. I personally dislike these flagrant mismatches. It takes all the grandeur out of it. I think the English boys look very nice in their whites and they all appear to know the rules. That’s not nothing.”
17th over: England 58-7 (Curran 12, Broad 3) Murtagh takes one more as we try to calm down and wonder: what is it with these? The shots we see them playing suggests technical frailty, but the frequency with which this happens suggests mental fragility. Except we’ve seen some of them win matches against India, New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand again, all in a row row row, to win a world cup. I don’t know, but by next week they need to find an answer for a problem that’s been bothersome for three years. Anyway, two off the over and that’s drinks - England look like they’ve had a skinful already.
16th over: England 56-7 (Curran 12, Broad 1) It is six million degrees in London today, but sat on the balcony, Joe Root is wearing a long-sleeved top; that’s chilling he’s finding this, how cold he must be with great vengeance and furious anger. Luckily, he has Scurran, who clatters four through cover then glances four more through third man. This takes England to their half-century and beyond their lowest-ever Test score, a supremacy Scurran immediately presses home with three more down the ground. The runs are flowing now! And there’s another, Broad nudging to point.
15th over: England 43-7 (Curran 1, Broad 0) I feel bad for giving England’s comparatively prolific top order grief - that’s three middle-order ducks in a row, making it six wickets lost for seven runs scored. You’ve got to hand it to England, you’d think after decades of collapses we’d have seen it all, but they keep finding ways to reinvent themselves, like Bowie, Radiohead and Dylan all mixed. Murtagh hammers Broad on the pad, but this one pitched outside the line. Maiden, giving Murtagh figures of 8-2-11-5! Unbelievable and believable at the same time.
“Just wondering if four days may be too long,” says Kim Thonger. “This might be over in four hours.”
IT’S FIVE FOR MURTAGH! IT’S SEVEN FOR IRELAND! IT’S HUMILIATION FOR ENGLAND! IT’S WONDERFUL FOR CRICKET! Murtagh amazes Moeen by bowling a straight one, and Moeen amazes the world by studiously and deliberately edging it behind. Glorious! Sensational! Test cricket!
15th over: England 43-6 (Ali 0, Curran 1) This is better from England, we’ve not had a wicket for an entire seven balls.
14th over: England 42-6 (Ali 0, Curran 0) I said earlier that Curran has timing, and he dug England out of some pits last summer; let’s see what he’s got now. Can he bat at 1-6? This is a proper back to tha old skool from England, and I’m absolutely lapping it up. I feel like I’m 15 again, and as such am smoking a Regal out the window while guzzling an Irn Bru bar, straightening my curtains and listening to jungle. I strongly suggest that you do the same. A maiden for Adair, and how long can these two keep at it?
13th over: England 42-6 (Ali 0, Curran 0) What more can this game do to amaze us?!
Woakes was caught on the back pad by a wobbler, tight to the stumps, and the ball was trimming middle and leg! Oh yes!
Shut up! Shut - up! Woakes is done by a nip-backer, but reviews....
13th over: England 42-5 (Ali 0, Woakes 0) Here’s one for all those fancying Woakes as a three.
Ahahahahahahahahahah! You have got to laugh! You can only laugh! This is wonderful, amazing, disgraceful, hilarious, affirming, pathetic, inspiring, affirming and affirming! Murtagh bowls straight, Bairstow baristwos a ludicrously dunderheaded airy drive, and C-R-A-S-H!
13th over: England 42-4 (Bairstow 0, Ali 0) Well, at least Moeen can be trusted to bat sensibly. It’s funny really, when England were in trouble during the world cup, your Rob Smyths, Rob Bagchis and me were discussing how much of our distress, if it went wrong, was having invested in the goal while sitting through Vizag, Auckland and the rest. I wondered if that now they’re world champions, these collapses would be less nauseating, but can confirm that much as this is a joy to narrate because Ireland are fantastic and this is so, so good for the game, it remains as majestically nauseating as ever it did.
OH MY DAYS! OH MY ABSOLUTE DAYS! IRELAND ARE HAVING A DAY OUT, ENGLAND ARE HAVING AN ENGLAND! There were two noises: the ball hitting the front pad, then the ball hitting the back pad! As the whoops begin from the fielding side, the umpire is ordered to reverse his decision because the ball is cleansing the stumps, and this is astonishing! Ireland have bowled superbly! England still do not know how to bat in Test cricket!
12th over: England 42-3 (Root 2, Bairstow 0) This looking like a good toss to lose - Ireland were totally tempted to bowl, but I’d be amazed if they weren’t also worried about inserting England only to find the score 270-2 at tea. Adair charges in again and Root does his third man thing to the tune of two; he then crumps the pad and four byes follow, then again! This one is proper straight! But was there a little edge? When the umpire rejects and wild appeal - and what a joy that is - Adair reviews!
11th over: England 36-3 (Root 0, Bairstow 0) Well, at least we can rely on Bairstow to play the situation. Murtagh charges in, Bairstow pulls away because he’s too far down the track and the umpire notices, then the stumps go all over.
“I am following your coverage from the hospital library where I am reviewing x-rays,” says Chris Busby. The a/c is just about coping but I am dreading the operating list this afternoon. It’s going to be a sweaty one. I am in standard junior doctor attire: chinos and a blue shirt, no tie.”
HAVE A LOOK! Burns’ shonky technique gets him into all sorts here - his bat waves all over the show and his feet ramble to Camden and back before one gets the wrong side of the other, bat slanting to mid on, and he drives only to edge behind! This is brilliant!
11th over: England 36-2 (Burns 6, Root 0) These spells must be taking it right out of the bowlers - the weather in this country clearly understands irony, because it’s absolutely glorious.
10th over: England 36-2 (Burns 6, Root 0) Adair forces one past Root’s outside edge as he pretends to play inside the line. This is riveting stuff.
“I like Joe Denly,” says Matthew Potter, “but surely if we’re giving the Roy experience a go, he is better at 3 and Denly could miss out? If I were a selector (there’s an almost infinite list of reasons why not - particularly a burning desire to see James Hildreth get an England cap) I’d have opened with Sibley and Burns, with Roy at 3 and so on... I also think Gregory should have got a game with Woakes being rested, as this Test seems a great opportunity to blood players and he definitely deserves it.”
And doesn’t he deserve that! Adair again brings Denly forward, finds some movement back in, and clatters his man low on the pad! England just cannot find a top three, but hold tight these opening bowlers!
10th over: England 36-1 (Burns 6, Denly 23) Adair is loving this, and after a wide he brings Denly forward ... to inside-edge a drive! No harm done, then two turns semi-uppishly to midwicket, and and and!
9th over: England 33-1 (Burns 6, Denly 21) Murtagh has himself an over against Burns and he takes two to midwicket, then edges! The ball drops short of two, but Mitchell Starc will be watching this and rubbing his hands like Mirka Federer.
“Today,” says John O’Donnell, “as with every other working day, I will mostly be wearing a t-shirt, combat trousers, and steel toe capped boots. It is bloody hot out here.”
8th over: England 31-1 (Burns 4, Denly 21) Nasser shows us the difference between a one-day specialist and an experienced longer-form player. We see Roy going out to the ball, and playing it from well in front, then Denly starting outside the crease but playing late, under his eyes. I’m sure Roy can learn to alter his technique, and the point is made the Pietersen played well out, but also that he batted at four and five. If I was advising Roy, David Warner is the one I’d tell him to look at. Anyway, Adair gets one to swing in late and Denly edges through where fourth slip isn’t; that’s four. Adair, we’re told, is another who makes things happen, whether with bat or ball – like Curran – but his final delivery is into the pads, and Denly guides it down the hill for four. He’ll feel like he’s got a chance to cement his spot here.
7th over: England 23-1 (Burns 4, Denly 13) Another solid over from Murtagh – this is a bit like watching the world cup. Burns takes a single, then Denly does likewise, slips running off the cut strip, and just recovers his ground. Athers sees the funny side.
“At work in Co Mayo,” says Dean Kinsella. “Just switched on for a couple of overs during my break. Have to say seeing Ireland in the whites and Father Time looking down on them brought a little tear to the eye. Flying over for Friday’s play and I just can’t wait! Great start!”
6th over: England 21-1 (Burns 3, Denly 12) Adair gives Denly some width and he gets right out to the ball, crunching a drive to the fence ... then again next ball! That second shot was a little looser, risking the edge, but Denly will feel that he’s away now, as we learnt that Boyd Rankin is off the pitch for some reason or other.
5th over: England 13-1 (Burns 3, Denly 4) Murtagh beats Denly outside off - the Nursery End really agrees with him, allowing him to bring batsmen forward and then rinse them down the slope. And he nearly snags Denly, who comes forward, looks to remove the bat, and plays into the turf ... close, and they run one. This is an excellent spell.
“If only someone could have possibly foreseen that a batsman who has never opened in red ball cricket in his nine-year career, would then go on to struggle opening the batting in a test match,” emails Chris Parker. “If only.”
4th over: England 12-1 (Burns 3, Denly 3) Another mencacing over from Adair, his pace up to 85mph. Burns takes a single to deep square, then Denly runs down three.
“Very excited as an Irishman living in England and with tickets for tomorrow,” emails Karl Gibbons. “Re the sartorial choices, I am in the office today wearing smart pink shorts and a smart white shirt (looking good, even if I do say so myself) and was greeted by my boss thusly:
3rd over: England 8-1 (Burns 2, Denly 0) Denly survives a scuttler, but Ireland are so into this.
“Even the flies here in rural Northamptonshire are retreating inside to escape the heat,” says Kim Thonger. “I’ve resorted to fly papers in the living room, and I thought you’d be pleased to know they match your bacon and egg tie. The flies are resolutely ignoring them though. What does that say about the MCC?”
Adair is saved! Murtagh gets a little extra bounce and as it dives down the slope it magnetically takes Roy’s bat with it, and he guides an edge that lodges between Stirling’s wrists at one! That’s brilliant bowling, for both ends!
2nd over: England 7-0 (Burns 1, Roy 5) Adair tanks in and first delivery jags back and and hammers his fellow debutant on the pad. There’s a strangled appeal but the ball was going well down, and Roy absolutely hammers his next effort ... straight to the man at point. It’s so there for him here – his mind and technique may never be in such perfect sync ... ahahahahahaha! He goes to play at one, withdraws the bat but not enough, and nearly play on! Instead they run two, then Adair catches him on the back pad with a nip-backer, absolutely brown bread! That is smashing middle, but it’s a no ball! Even Roy’s luck is in form! Excellent over from Adair, as we see that he missed his mark by about an inch. That is mortifying, horrific, hilarious ... everything we want cricket to be.
1st over: England 4-0 (Burns 1, Roy 3) It’s Burns facing as Murtagh hustles in and he’s on the money right away. Burns shoves his fourth ball to cover to get on his bike, bringing Roy onto strike; his first Test ball is middled to the man at mid on and his second is driven through cover for three. He looks in some nick!
“And here is the over-squeezing-in calculation from the BBC,” offers Alastair Ferguson. “Each session will be two hours 15 minutes:
Ed Joyce rings the bell, and here we go! I am stupidly excited,
“After all the excitement of the previous couple of months,” emails George Browne, “is there a more timeless sound of summer than the TMS team passing comments on each other’s sartorial choices? We learn that Sir Alastair Cook is in shorts, Vic Marks of this parish is stoically be-jacketed, and that Aggers is in salmon - wonderful stuff. In the light of this, and your comments on Gower’s tifter, can we enquire how you have decided to combat the heat?”
Why, I thought you’d never ask! I am in Air Jordan shorts and bare feet. I shall shortly fasten my bacon and eggs around my neck nevertheless, a kind of cricketing Chippendale.
“Any word on how they’re going to squeeze 98 overs in per day,” asks Rob Turpin, “given we currently struggle with 90? Hours of play the same?”
I was just looking for the answer to that. It seems to be a secret.
Sanga tells us that Roy needs to get used to not being so involved in the play. In limited overs it’s his job to force the issue, but in Tests, he might spend a few overs at the non-striker’s and needs to keep the focus. Obviously there’s also the issue of the ball doing more, but on the other hand, if he’s seeing it and there’s a Test field, good luck covering the gaps down the ground.
Roy says that the reason he’s done so well lately is that his defence is better. He’s picking length much better he says – KP once told me that this, along with head movement, is the key to batting – and his performance against Mitch Starc in the World Cup semi encapsulated that, showing a brilliant bowler that his best ball would just be blocked back.
TMS: can anyone help Tim Kirwan out with a link, please? #OBOfamily
I’m watching tape of Ian Ward interviewing Jason Roy. He says he’s not sure about how to move on after the World Cup, we see the final delivery of the final, I’m gone again, in absolute bits, and Roy tells us that he saw the ball coming in slow motion, the seam spinning, he couldn’t hear anything, he knew he’d fumbled two balls previously, somehow got it there, and my eyeballs are sweating.
Kumar Sangakkara, wearing some terrifyingly pale chinos - he’ll have to go extremely carefully – tells us that Rory Burns has what it takes to play Tests. He says that he’s always telling his former Surrey team-mate that he has the ugliest style he’s ever seen, which tells me he doesn’t remember John Carr.
Ireland include Andy McBrine and give a debut to Mark Adair.
William Porterfield might’ve bowled – he doesn’t quite say, but thinks it’ll do something early on. He’s got the experience of Tim Murtagh to help him know what’s what at Lord’s, but will know that if his team don’t make early inroads they’re in a world of trouble.
Joe Root says it looks dry underneath, the pitch has deteriorated early lately, and England have two spinners.
“In a nice tribute to the visitors,” tweets Gary Naylor, “the Lord’s groundstaff have prepared a pitch that might be described as an emerald isle so green is its appearance. Still, it often looks like that at and plays well, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see 75-5 at lunch.”
I find Lord’s one of the hardest pitches to read, from my lounge. I’d bat, and I’d be surprised if whoever wins the toss doesn’t do likewise because getting it wrong, ouch.
David Gower is wearing the largest panama I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure what to say about that.
Email! “Could the Spin perhaps address the latest developments in wicketkeeping, please?” asks John Starbuck. “In particular, why doesn’t Sarah Taylor wear pads any more? Or perhaps she does, but only the smaller pads of a short leg, SMO etc.? You can see she would be free to move with more agility, and maybe the pace of the bowlers isn’t fast enough to warrant protection, but it does look odd.”
I think she binned them a fair while ago, to improve her mobility without really sacrificing her safety. She uses hockey ones I think.
Sky have just done a piece on Sam Curran, and it’s weird to think he’s unlikely to start the Ashes given how pivotal he was last summer. Like some of the very best cricketers, he has the gift of timing, the ability to impose his personality on a match. But if we assume that James Anderson is fit and Ben Stokes is a certainty, then England have to perm two from Curran, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer – before Mark Wood comes back. I can’t see them dropping Broad at this point, and given the location of the first two Tests, the selectors will be extremely tempted by Woakes. I imagine they’ll get Archer in because they have to – if the aim is not just to win the Ashes but to be the best side in the world, they don’t have a choice – which means that Curran needs to establish himself as a batsman whenever the opportunity presents itself.
I’ll level with you: I’m not really into four-day Tests. I’m into most things that protect our game, so I’d not bin them on principle, and I understand the desire to fit a match in over a weekend, and to have it finish in front of a full house. However matches that finish early do so partly because there’s the possibility of them extending into a fifth day, and though the majority batsmen are not currently building long innings, that will change. But it won’t if we don’t allow it to.
Morning everyone, and welcome to a Test match brought to you by sport’s amazing ability to renew itselfTM.
Just 10 days ago, it was hard to see how we could ever feel anything again, or at least stop feeling what we were feeling – but now we have everything to look forward to. First and foremost, this is Ireland’s first Test against England and England’s first Test against Ireland; it is also only four days long, with 98 overs scheduled for each day; during Jason Roy will make his long-awaited, long-overdue Test debut; so too will Olly Stone; England have picked two spinners; and then next week, we have ourselves some Ashes!
A chase of around 200 in the fourth innings isn’t easy, but Ireland will be batting on a third-day rather than a fifth-day pitch. It’s such a great opportunity - not just to beat England, but to pull off a maiden Test victory that would go straight into legend.
The covers are on, with thunderstorms forecast, so there will no more play today. England will resume tomorrow with a lead of 181; Ireland’s players will arrive at Lord’s knowing they have a great chance to beat England, in a Test match, at Lord’s. Good luck getting a good night’s sleep, chaps.
Don't think Ireland will be too bothered by that. Half an hour's batting tonight under lights could have been nasty.
“Hi there young Rob (I am pushing 60),” says Phil Keegan. “There is a lot chat and gossip about YJB getting his own way and picking himself etc, but is there any actual evidence for this? I think his place in the test side should be up for debate, I am just wondering where all this gossip comes from.”
It was inferred from comments made by him, Trevor Bayliss and possibly others during the winter tours. I have no idea whether it’s fair, which is why I’d be loath to rush to judgement on that. The thing that troubles me slightly is that he keeps missing straight ones on 0.
On the hottest day in the history of ... ever, Ireland’s bowlers did do well to drag their team back into the game either side of tea. When England were 171 for one, with Jack Leach apparently closing in on a Test hundred, almost everyone assumed they would go on to score 500 and win easily. But then Ireland took seven wickets for 77 through a combination of good bowling and lamentable batting to set up the tantalising prospect of a staggering victory.
England lead by 181. Almost a third of those (55, to be precise, or 30.39 per cent) have come since they lost their eighth wicket. I fear those runs will prove decisive tomorrow.
77.4 overs: England 303-9 (Broad 21, Stone 0) That will probably be it for the day, although play can theoretically resume at any point until 6.30pm.
77th over: England 302-9 (Broad 20, Stone 0) A maiden from Adair to Stone.There is nothing in the pitch to worry the Ireland batsmen during their runchase. I suspect the biggest danger will be a fear of an historic victory. We’ve seen that many times before.
76th over: England 302-9 (Broad 20, Stone 0) Broad is beaten twice by Thompson, but then he picks the bouncer and hooks for six!
“Afternoon Rob, here’s a teaser,” says David Horn. “At what point do we start questioning Root’s captaincy of this team? We’ve not been very good at Test cricket for quite some time and his personal form has been shonky of late (he hasn’t averaged over 40 in a series since we were last in Australia). Although it’s really hard to put a finger on it, something just doesn’t ‘feel right’ about the dressing room (the Bairstow ‘picking himself’ issue as someone pointed out earlier, is one example), and I just wonder if giving it to someone like Buttler might make more sense. I’d be prepared to wager up to 5 of my hard earned pounds that he won’t be captain for the winter tour. And perhaps push to 10 pounds to say that he shouldn’t be. What do you think?”
75th over: England 296-9 (Broad 14, Stone 0) Broad survives an appeal - and then a review - for LBW, having underedged a sweep onto the pad. England lead by 174. It’s going to be a helluva morning session at Lord’s tomorrow.
74th over: England 293-9 (Broad 11, Stone 0)
Curran’s counter-attack is over. He pulled the new bowler Thompson high to deep square leg, where James McCollum calmly took the catch. Curran made a useful 37 from 29 balls.
73rd over: England 291-8 (Curran 36, Broad 10) The offspinner Andy McBrine returns to the attack. Curran, on the charge, clouts his third ball back over his head for six. One of the most impressive things about Curran is the variety of counter-attacking innings he has played in his year as a Test player. The match situation has generally been the same but Curran’s approach has not. He is so intelligent for a 21-year-old batsman.
“I think I’ve heard this before - I must have - but can we have Morgan as Captain of Reviews?” says Nick Lezard. “He’d be better at that sitting in the pavilion than certain captains and players are in the field.”
72nd over: England 284-8 (Curran 29, Broad 10) Curran really is giving it some humpty. He drives Adair over mid-off for four before mistiming a swipe that lands just in front of Porterfield, running back from mid-off. These are good runs for England, and Broad adds four more with a flick off the pads. This pair have added 36 in 4.1 overs.
“Were you dropping in from Mars and watching England’s Test batting in this match (and over recent matches),” begins Gary Naylor, “you might assess the batsmen’s techniques and come up with an order that runs something like: Curran, Woakes, Leach, Root, Denly, Roy, Burns, Stone, Moeen, Bairstow, Broad.”
71st over: England 273-8 (Curran 22, Broad 6) DCI Curran has deduced that he needs to get some runs quicksmart, because Broad and Stone are unlikely to hang around for long. He flashes Rankin through extra cover for four, a brilliant shot, and then walks across the stumps to flip the next delivery over fine leg for six! Curran, who yet again has been stimulated by adversity, has 22 from 14 balls. That does impress me much.
“Your mention of Root padding his average reminded me of a conversation I had yesterday with a friend from Belfast,” says Hubert O’Hearn. “I heard an expression that was new to me that serves as a jinx warning: ‘Not the first Englishman to be caught with smug on his face.’”
70th over: England 260-8 (Curran 12, Broad 4) Broad drives Adair over cover point for four to get off the mark. England lead by 138.That surely isn’t enough, unless Ireland suffer a particularly acute dose of finishinglineitis.
“I think there’s more than an argument the Test team’s culture is rotten!” says Andrew Hurley. “Bairstow is at times a spoiled brat who wants his own way. Now his batting is awful (Starc can’t wait) he should be dropped. The culture stems from a weak captain, and from two bowlers who, even if great, are a law unto themselves. It’s not Archer who is needed from the ODI team, it’s Morgan to tell certain players to grow up!”
69th over: England 256-8 (Curran 12, Broad 0) Boyd Rankin returns to the attack ahead of schedule in an attempt to rough up the tail. His first ball, a stiff loosener, is dragged round the corner for four by Curran – and then Curran is dropped by Porterfield at mid-on! It was a very difficult one-handed chance as he leapt to his left, and he couldn’t hang on.
68th over: England 248-8 (Curran 4, Broad 0) England have lost their last seven wickets for 77.Many of them were frittered away, but there has been some fine bowling too, especially in the dismissals of Bairstow and Moeen Ali.
“I’d suggest that if Root did tell Bairstow to review that suggests that he’s overly keen to keep YJB (with a Y) onside, which is entirely consistent with most of their other interactions,” says Felix Wood. “And that’s more worrying. Root has never shaken the air of the young buck who is thrilled to be in the England team and wants to impress the bigger boys, which isn’t a good look for a captain.”
Adair has another one! Woakes drives loosely at a full, wide delivery and edges straight to Balbirnie at second slip. Ireland are so close - so darned close - to one of the greatest victories in Test history.
67th over: England 248-7 (Woakes 13, Curran 4) Woakes skids back in his crease to cut McBrine for four. I’d be tempted to bring on Thompson for McBrine, who looks relatively innocuous. I’ve done it again, haven’t I?
Meanwhile, on Sky SPorts, Nasser Hussain has lost his rag in majestic style. “Why is Joe Root charging an 82mph bowler? Why do England always try to hit their way out of their trouble? Who’s their top scorer today: it’s the nightwatchman, who played properly!” Nobody rants quite like Nasser.
66th over: England 243-7 (Woakes 8, Curran 4) It was a loose stroke from Root, whose wicket puts Ireland in a barely believable position. He made 31 runs, and none of them were cheap. Neil Bowles was right and I was wrong.
Sam Curran, England’s crisis-management specialist, drives his first ball crisply through extra cover for four - but then he edges Adair just short of second slip. This is great stuff.
Gone gone gone! Yep, gone! England are in serious trouble now. Root, on the walk, snicks a drive off the new bowler Adair, and Wilson flies in front of first slip to take an excellent catch.
65th over: England 239-6 (Root 31, Woakes 8) Root comes down the track and screws the ball back towards the bowler McBrine, who tries unsuccessfully to do the Roger Harper. I think Root would have been home anyway.
64th over: England 236-6 (Root 30, Woakes 8) Root is playing with discipline and patience, resisting a series of seductive deliveries outside off stump from Murtagh. Then when Murtagh goes straighter, Root is able to flick him to leg for a single. Every little helps.
“Since the Irish are doing their best to demonstrate the strength of the underrated and largely ignored minor cricket nations, can I plug the inaugural finals of the European Cricket League which starts on July 29th in La Manga, Spain,” says Guy Semmens. “It is run by an ex-pat Aussie based in Germany, and backed by some Dutch and Swiss guys involved in the football Champions League. If your readers happen to be anywhere near the vicinity it is free and ought to be a great three days. And if not, the whole thing is streamed online for free (take note ECB).”
63rd over: England 235-6 (Root 28, Woakes 8) Woakes gets off the mark with a very classy back-foot drive for four, and doubles his score by deliberately thick edging the next ball to third man. He has happy memories of batting on this ground - his two highest Test scores are at Lord’s, including his maiden century against India a year ago.
“Not for the first time in recent years, I find myself reflecting that if England had merely batted really, really poorly in their first innings, rather than absolutely abysmally, they’d be in a decent position in this game,” says Robert Ellson. “Think the art of cobbling together a dirty little score has been lost somewhere along the line.”
62nd over: England 226-6 (Root 26, Woakes 0) Root edges Murtagh this far short of Stirling at first slip and away for four. What a chance for Ireland! Stirling has been standing in an unusually narrow position, almost behind the wicketkeeper Wilson, and that’s probably why Root survived. Stirling did not see the ball until it was past the keeper Wilson; with the extra reaction time, he would surely have taken the catch.
“As an Irishman I have to agree that we have the weakest bowling attack in Test cricket,” says Billy Mills. “It’d be a very poor team that got bowled out for under 90 by us, that I can tell you with considerable confidence.”
61st over: England 219-6 (lead by 97; Root 19, Woakes 0) “I’m starting to worry that even Geoffrey Boycott may soon start to ‘hide behind patronising half-truths and insincere platitudes’,” says Kim Thonger. “Then we shall all be in the Corridor of Insincerity.”
Boyd Rankin has bounced Moeen Ali out! He fenced tamely at a lifter outside off stump and got a thin edge through to Wilson. That’s really good bowling from Rankin, although it was another soft dismissal for Moeen. His Test batting has also gone to seed. But never mind all that, because Ireland now have a serious chance of an astounding victory.
60th over: England 218-5 (Root 18, Ali 9) With Murtagh wobbling the ball at around 75mph, Joe Root is entitled to suffer flashbacks to the water torture inflicted on him by Colin de Grandhomme in the World Cup final. But there is no run-rate pressure today, which allows Root to manoeuvre the occasional single or boundary. He looks comfortable and determined, probably more so because of his part in Joe Denly’s run out.
“Hi Rob, I find it interesting that you think Bairstow’s place should be under scrutiny,” says Gareth Fitzgerald. “I agree, but it appears that the process for reviewing Bairstow’s place is to see what Bairstow thinks and go with his decision. I still think Ben Foakes was very unlucky to be dropped.”
59th over: England 217-5 (Root 17, Ali 9) Moeen hooks Rankin in the air but well short of the man at deep square leg. Moeen has fallen into the leg trap a few times before, and Ireland’s tactics are clear for all to see.
“After some years of baiting Jonny Bairstow, Smyth (with a ‘y’) has descended to the level of trolling,” says Ron Rose. “Give it up, Smyth (with a ‘y’) it’s deeply unpleasant, seriously nasty.”
58th over: England 213-5 (Root 16, Ali 7) Tim Murtagh returns after tea, with Ireland one wicket away from being in an unimaginably good position. The keeper Gary Wilson comes up to the stumps, to stop Root batting outside his crease, but it can’t stop him gliding a neat boundary to third man.
“On TMS the commentators said that Root immediately told Bairstow to review,” says Tom Paternoster-Howe, “so perhaps the blame doesn’t entirely lie with the out of form YJB.”
Teatime chit chat
“I love the OBO coverage, but the comment about Joe Root tucking in and compiling ‘cheapish runs’ is a bit disrespectful to the Ireland bowlers,” says Neil Bowles. “This game is in the balance - England are effectively 77-5 and Ireland would fancy a run chase around the 150 mark. This game is closer than many might imagine. Keep up the (otherwise!) great work.”
57th over: England 209-5 (Root 12, Ali 7) Moeen Ali has a bit of a torrid time in the last over before tea, with Rankin driving him onto the back foot. The last two balls of the session are popped just short of short leg - the first off the glove, the second off the face of the bat. England go into tea with a lead of 87.
56th over: England 205-5 (Root 9, Ali 6) Moeen will play his way – it’s the way he plays – and he steers Adair to third man for his first boundary. England lead by 83. They’ll want at least another 167 before they start to feel comfortable.
“I’ve just seen Geoffrey Boycott at Lord’s,” says Gary Naylor. “I’m afraid I refrained from giving him the news that Jack Leach enjoys a higher average than him at No1.”
55th over: England 200-5 (Root 9, Ali 1) Root gets his first boundary with a crisp back cut off Rankin. Moeen then gets off the mark, and off a pair, which takes England’s lead to a precarious 78. Without Jack Leach, they would be -14 ahead.
“As a 62-year-old distance runner, I take issue with your suggestion that age is a barrier to athletic performance, and I direct you to the extraordinary Carlos Lopes,” says Edward Collier. “At the age of 38, in the 1985 Rotterdam marathon, Lopes took 53 seconds off the world’s best marathon time, setting a new standard of 2:07.12, and becoming the first man to run 42.195 km in less than 2 h 8 min.”
54th over: England 194-5 (Root 4, Ali 0) Bairstow has made five ducks in his last seven Test innings at home. In some cultures, his place in the side might even be questioned!
Jonny Bairstow has bagged a pair! It was brilliant bowling from Adair, who beat him twice outside off stump and then nipped one back to beat Bairstow’s lunging push-drive and hit him on the flap of the pad. It was given out, and though Bairstow reviewed, replays showed it was umpire’s call on height. That was a pathetic, brattish review from Bairstow, whose Test batting has gone to seed. But it was sensationally good from Adair, a forensic interrogation of an out-of-form player.
53rd over: England 194-4 (Root 4, Bairstow 0) England lead by 72. One more quick wicket could make things pretty interesting.
Oh dear. Joe Root has dismissed Joe Denly with a dreadful run-out call. Denly was more than half way down the track when Root, who called for the run, changed his mind and sent him back. Kevin O’Brien did the rest with a sharp throw to the bowler McBrine, and Denly kept on running back to the pavilion. That was an egregious shemozzle.
52nd over: England 194-3 (Denly 10, Root 4) In Tests in Zimbabwe, Jacques Kallis averaged 503. In Tests against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, Steve Waugh averaged 273. But nobody puts an asterisk against their career averages because of it, and this a glorious chance for Joe Root to get some cheapish Test runs. A huge hundred, 163 or more I think, would also push his Test average back above 50.
51st over: England 191-3 (Denly 8, Root 3) The offspinner Andy McBrine replaces Thompson. England milk three singles, and life goes on.
“Thanks for the clip,” says the 48th over’s Peter Lovell. “This might be a bit more interesting than I imagined! I’m pretty sure that was Vic throwing in from the boundary as the pitch invasion happened (note so self…work on my throwing), and is that Dickie Bird wielding a stump at the crowd?”
50th over: England 188-3 (Denly 7, Root 1) The impressive Mark Adair returns in place of Tim Murtagh, who needs to bowl short spells given that his age (37) is the same as the temperature at Lord’s. He starts with a solid maiden to Denly.
“Donald Trump is US president,” says Sam Blackledge. “Boris Johnson is UK prime minister. Jack Leach has scored 92 opening the batting in a Test match. That’s enough sun for me.”
49th over: England 188-3 (Denly 7, Root 1) Root is beaten by a good delivery from Thompson, who has been much better in this spell. It helps that the ball is wobbling gently, which is what led to Jason Roy’s wicket. This is a very good spell for Ireland, who have taken two for 19 in the last nine overs.
“Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “With all due credit and plaudits to Leach, I’m still rather glad that the highest score by a nightwatchman for England remains a matchwinning 99 not out. It just feels right.”
48th over: England 186-3 (Denly 6, Root 1) “Can anyone out there explain the ‘Crumpled Bard’ nickname for Vic Marks?” asks Pete Lovell. “I happen to be playing him in the upcoming Bollywood film ’83 about the Indian World Cup victory of that year and it would be good to get some last-minute insight into him. Filming starts in two-week and I’m pretty sure all I’ll have to do is be bowled out by Kapil Dev and stand around in the field a bit but you never know.”
47th over: England 185-3 (Denly 5, Root 1) One way or another, this summer will probably define Joe Root’s time as England captain, so he’d love to go into the Ashes on the back of a score. It’s easy to forget he got a hundred in England’s last Test, which was against West Indies in February 2016. He’s been a second-innings specialist of late – in the last two years he averages 31 in the first innings and 54 in the second.
46th over: England 182-3 (Denly 3, Root 0)
Tim Murtagh, fairytale killer. He has dismissed Jack Leach for a memorable 92, caught at second slip as he tried to drive a good delivery. Leach was dropped by the same fielder, Mark Adair, earlier in the over. He walks off to a standing ovation from the crowd and his team-mates. In time he will remember that with fondness, but for now he looks thoroughly cheesed off at missing out on a Test hundred.
45th over: England 182-2 (Leach 92, Denly 3) Leach forces Thompson through the covers for a couple to move into the nineties. This is all a bit surreal. No nightwatchman has made a Test hundred for England, although a few were stuck in the nineties: Alex Tudor, Harold Larwood, Eddie Hemmings and Jack Russell.
44th over: England 178-2 (Leach 89, Denly 3) An uppish extra-cover drive from Joe Denly lands just short of Adair and races away for a couple of runs. There are a whole heap of runs on offer at Lord’s today, and those whose place is less secure will be desperate to take advantage.
“At least Jason Roy has now written himself into the Ashes team, even if he was outscored by Leach,” says John Starbuck. “You’d think Stuart Broad and Sam Curran are also on the list. Maybe Leach could be the official all-rounder?”
43rd over: England 176-2 (Leach 89, Denly 1) Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. One of these days, international cricket will be played at Lord’s without something absolute bonkers happening. England, bowled out for 85 yesterday, have been outscored in the second innings by their nightwatchman-opener Jack Leach. I’m sorry, what?
42nd over: England 175-2 (Leach 89, Denly 0) Jack Leach has now outscored England’s first innings total! With a cover drive and a misfield, he brings his boundary total to 16 in this magnificent bit of Somerset magic.
And thank you everyone - the crumpled bard it seems is Vic Marks!
41st over: England 171-2 (Leach 85 Denly 0) Roy was furious with himself for that reckless shot - ah we get the replay, he holds his position, gloves high together, for an amusingly long time. A flamboyant Roy-ish innings, which might well be remembered as the time he was outscored by his nightwatchman. A bit more of a spring now in the Irish step.
A full, straight ball from Thompson and Roy swings with thumping flair... and misses.
40th over: England 169-1 (Leach 85 Roy 70) Murtagh gets whistled back into the attack from the pavilion end and Leach drives uppishly over a leaping Boyd Rankin’s head for four more as he moves into the eighties. And then a whip through extra-cover, down the hill and over the boundary. The partnership is now 143 from 176 balls and the century is written in the stars.
Tom Fitzpatrick corroborates the story about Simon Coveney but reiterates that he is not one of the men in the photo.
39th over: England 161-1 (Leach 77, Roy 70) Jack Leach has a thwack over gully for four more off Rankin. And this is fascinating, Aleem Dar calls no ball as Ireland contrive to have three fielders behind square on the leg side.
I love this email from Charles Sheldrick: “Jack Leach is officially now the second best all-rounder from Somerset to play for England, overtaking The Crumpled Bard of the Mendips, only a little way to go before he is challenging ITB for the top spot....”
38th over: England 155-1 (Leach 72, Roy 70) Are we going to have to put Jason Rosy’s wrists in the archive alongside Boycott’s obstinance and Murali’s elbow? He cuts on the front foot, all wristy elegance, for four. Then another down through third man. Then he attempts to come forward to a short one from Adair and somehow loses his shoe in the process. He then tries to upper-cut the last ball and misses. He is an incredibly watchable cricketer. And that is drinks!
37th over: England 147-1 (Leach 72, Roy 62) A drop!! Easy! Leach pushes and the ball flies into Wilson’s gloves behind the stumps, and then out again. If anything, he dived a little too far and somehow in the depths of the huge gloves it all goes wrong. Next ball Leach nervously wafts at a short ball from the disgruntled Rankin with only one hand on the bat. But somehow, he survives the over.
36th over: England 146-1 (Leach 72, Roy 61) Leach square-drives a tasty drive for four off Adair. Easy pickings.
It is now 36 degrees out there and Michel Atherton mentions that a nightwatchman has never made a century for England. Four nineties from Alex Tudor, Harold Larwood, Eddie Hemmings and Jack Russell.
35th over: England 141-1 (Leach 68, Roy 60) Big Boyd Rankin, who is wearing an old-fashioned digital watch, wipes the sweat from his chin as Adair at leg slip gets just a finger to a flick from Leach and the ball bounces down to the boundary for four. Leach now has his highest first-class score!
34th over: England 135-1 (Leach 64, Roy 60) Adair throws down a couple of balls, and the umpires examine the scarlet globe again. Still no joy for Ireland and Roy nudges a couple down to third man. Then a cracking lbw shout from Adair, a booming inswinger that knocks Roy on the front pad. But it is swinging too far and the umpire shakes his head. An immaculate forward defensive is Roy’s reply.
33rd over: England 133-1 (Leach 64, Roy 58) Ireland have had enough of the innocuous looking Leach. They call for the helmet, and short leg creeps in. Leach, with a shrug, gets an inside edge past the keeper for another four.
32nd over: England 129-1 (Leach 60, Roy 58) Adair roars an lbw appeal against Roy - Ireland decide not to review because they think Roy got an edge onto his pads. Ultra-edge agrees.
One last mention of politics for now, from Karen in eastern Europe.
31st over: England 126-1 (Leach 60, Roy 56) Rankin, who I think is wearing a clean shirt, runs in over the wicket to Roy who fidgets and wriggles. England move into the lead with a whip off his legs - that’s the hundred partnership too. Roy is beaten by Rankin’s last ball, one that swerves away last minute.
The temperature moves up to 36.2 degrees.
Technical question: can anyone tell me how to copy and paste a link from the new-look Twitter?
And Leach and Roy, sensibly long-sleeved, walk out with scores level. The pavilion doesn’t look very full, but I think that is probably because members are hiding in the shade of the long room.
Just reading through all the tweets and messages over some olives and salad and a solid old-fashioned roll/barm-cake/butty. There seems to be an unbridgeable divide between those who want politics nowhere near the quiet relief that is cricket and others who like a bit of intrigue with their Jason Roy - we’ll call it 48:52.
From David Stanley: I’m no fan of Theresa May, but there’s something about the image (21 over) which made her go up in my estimations.
30th over: England 122-1 (Leach 60, Roy 52) Adair’s suncream has somehow survived the scorch of the morning, splodged over his face like two pantomime slapped cheeks. A well-earned maiden finishes off his spell and that really is lunch. Scores are level. And where ten wickets fell yesterday morning, only one has gone today. The England batsmen are applauded into the pavilion by shirt-sleeved members and a hot looking balcony of fellow players. England’s morning, with maiden Test fifties of differing styles for both Roy and Leach. Time for me to grab a quick glass of water, and the Irish bowlers to lie down in darkened room. See you in forty minutes!
29th over: England 122-1 (Leach 60, Roy 52) Roy drives sweetly for a couple , then wristily, powerfully, through point for a first Test fifty. He raises his bat to the dressing room. My helpful school-holiday side kick tells me that James Taylor mouthed to Ed Smith “47 balls.” Scores level.
28th over: England 115-1 (Leach 59, Roy 46) Jack Leach has impressive sang-froid. Not the most glamorous, nor the most stylish, and batting opposite one of the most destructive cricketers in the world, he chops McBrine for three without a care and the numbers build. At this rate, England will be evens by lunch. They currently trail by seven.
Ah, Matt Hill has the answer to Labour’s biggest cricket fan. “It was Clem Attlee (over 21). He is said to have refused to have a ticker-tape news machine in No. 10 until he was told it would contain live cricket scores. When it reported on the resignation of Nye Bevan, Attlee reportedly asked: “Why is my cricket machine leaking Cabinet secrets?”
27th over: England 109-1 (Leach 56, Roy 43) Thompson again, I’m feeling for the bowlers out there, it is hot enough sitting still with a lap top on my knee. Roy and Leach play carefully for lunch, nudge, nudge.
Thank you to Robert Wright for this fascinating bit of insider political knowledge: “This is a boring, political nerd point but one that strikes me because I’ve been working in parliament reporting on this week’s momentous events. The Theresa May picture could be of genuine political significance because of the other people in the picture. The person in the middle of the row behind is David Gauke, who was until yesterday justice secretary, and who has given his name to the “Gaukeward squad” of disaffected departed cabinet ministers who are expected to agitate against a no-deal Brexit. On the left of the picture is Greg Clark, another Remainer-ish MP who was forced out of the Cabinet yesterday. There has been speculation about whether Mrs May might join the Gaukeward squad. The picture suggests that, for cricket-watching purposes at least, she’s already in.”
26th over: England 106-1 (Leach 55, Roy 41) McBrine gets the honour of the last over before lunch. Roy dispatches a top-edged sweep for four and that isn’t lunch actually. England are suddenly only 16 runs behind and the pendulum has swung.
25th over: England 99-1 (Leach 55, Roy 34) Roy is hit on the back pad and there’s a huge appeal by Thompson. The Irish players look at each other, scratch their chins and run out of time. A sharp drive over the top of a leaping extra-cover for four follows, and Roy moves crisply on, out-scored by his nightwatchman but looking in ominously sharp form.
Simon McMahon has the right idea: “Morning Tanya. As the mercury pushes up towards 40 degrees in London, it’s a pleasant 24°C here on the east coast of Scotland, and I’m imagining being at Lord’s by opening a bottle of champagne in my garden and following the OBO. If I half close my eyes, it’s like I’m there, honest. Although I don’t think they have a washing line in the middle of the outfield at Lord’s, do they?”
24th over: England 94-1 (Leach 55, Roy 29) Leach charges down the wicket, twinkle-toed and lofts McBrine over midwicket for four. With a bounce it is over the rope. Glorious!
21st over: England 71-1 (Leach 43, Roy 18) Stuart Thompson gets the ball for the first time this morning and starts off on his long run. His Thursday wasn’t as good as some others, he left a juicy straight one and was bowled for a duck. But that was yesterday, and today starts with five dots then a shot of some glorious genius from Jack Leach for four.
Here is Theresa May at Lord’s . I’m pretty sure John Major headed to The Oval to watch Surrey after handing in his resignation to the Queen. But has any Labour former PM turned to cricket for immediate solace?
23rd over: England 89-1 (Leach 51, Roy 28) Many apologies, for some reason the last two overs of OBO have completely disappeared in a rather major technical hitch. Leach and Roy are still here - Roy has whalloped a six.
Leach’s goes to his maiden fifty with an edge off Thompson through second slip! And with it he becomes the first fifty for an England bespectacled batsman since Paul Allott
20th over: England 71-1 (Leach 43, Roy 18) A hot looking Murtagh rolls through the paces for his eighth over of this hot, hot day. Just a couple for Roy from a leg-side punch - though he would have had more had a hearty drive not charged straight into the non-striker’s stumps. We see James Taylor and Ed Smith in matching ironed blue shirts, in the shade, pondering their moves for next week. And that’s drinks.
But while we swelter, the rest of Europe swelters even more. David Harland is continental Europe where he smells a conspiracy theory in a heat haze.
19th over: England 69-1 (Leach 43, Roy 16) Jack Leach reaches up to his tip-toe height and plays a perfect high-elbowed defensive prod to Boyd Rankin. Geoffrey would be proud. He potters back down the pitch to prod again at whatever it is he prods at. A maiden. Half an hour to lunch.
18th over: England 68-1 (Leach 43, Roy 16) Just one from Murtagh’s over.
Paul Frangi is experiencing heat-induced time travel:”Good grief, Tom Stobbs has just given me horrible flashbacks from the 1993 Ashes series. Lathwell was like a rabbit in the headlights.”
17th over: England 67-1 (Leach 42, Roy 16) Rankin charges in in the broiling heat. Jack Leach, lumpy side (?) guard bulking out his whites like a hidden library book, drives the first ball and they come through for a quick two. Some welcome quiet then
Avitaj Mitra has been pondering results:
16th over: England 65-1 (Leach 40, Roy 16) Roy steps largely down the pitch, misses the ball and might have been stumped had Wilson been standing up. Then he is beaten by a Murtagh beauty with a wobble seam. But light relief off the last ball, an uppish cover-drive for four.
15th over: England 61-1 (Leach 40, Roy 12) Roy edges Rankin through the slips for four. An awkward shot, he tries to whallop through mid-wicket but ends up edging through third man. Breathe man, breathe! Rankin nips back through Leach’s defences and just over the stumps
Theresa May is apparently at Lord’s today, with selected members of her recently-culled cabinet. Ronald Grover writes: “Tanya, how about cabinets as international sides? Theresa May’s probably a mid-80s New Zealand? The current one a rebel tour to South Africa? It’s all too depressing, I know”
14th over: England 56-1 (Leach 40, Roy 8) Things are getting tricky, so Ireland go back to Murtagh and relentless accuracy. Leach hammers down on the pitch with his bat, tap, tap, but he just nurdles two off the over.
Tom Stobbs has been studying bats with a detailed eye: “Great to see Jack Leach has solved the opener dilemna, but even better to see a Millichamp & Hall bat in test cricket. Reminds me of Mark Lathwell.”
13th over: England 54-1 (Leach 38, Roy 8) Jack Leach hadn’t reached double figures in first-class cricket this season. But he hits Rankin for two successive fours - a little drive that just scampers away from the chasing fielders and bombastic drive through the covers. Ireland appeal to the umpires for a misshapen ball: they consider it, but no cigar. My my, and another, this time Leach tips Rankin off his hip for four more.
Mark White in Sydney says the secret words: “Can I be the 500th person to say England has found its ideal second opener - Leach! You’re welcome.”
12th over: England 41-1 (Leach 25, Roy 8) Adair continues from the pavilion end. Oh and that’s a beautiful shot through extra-cover from Jack Leach for four. And with a replica shot, though not quite as well-timed, he moves on to the highest England score in the match. Roy is off the mark with a click and a slightly off-centre off-drive for four. He has another throw of the bat next ball - this feels slightly too hasty. Having said that, he strokes a perfect, gorgeous cover drive off the last ball of the over. Fifteen from it.
Sam Collier writes from the Shetlands: “Re Tom’s comment at 10:52, I was going to email yesterday about how Ollie Stone’s picture on Cricinfo makes him look like three of the Inbetweeners, rolled disturbingly into one. I cannot now unsee it.”
11th over: England 26-1 (Leach 18, Roy 0) England had done the hard stuff, seen off Murtagh after forty minutes of disciplined, accurate 70-something mphers. Boyd Rankin replaced him at the nursery end, bounced Leach, was cut for four before suckering Burns into his trap. Roy walks out to two slips a gully and a short leg. Oh and they took drinks as the wicket fell.
The change of bowling works! Burns’s 26 ball mini marathon is finished when he pushes forward awkwardly, feathers an edge and is caught behind
10th over: England 21-0 (Leach 13, Burns 6) This is attritional . England are rightfully wary, and Ireland aren’t giving them anything to play with. Burns pushes and prods and is beaten outside off stump by a beauty of an Adair outswinger. Another maiden.
Shankar Mony is in mischievous mood. “Now that Leach has reached 11, is it right to point out that he has a better average as opener than Roy?”
9th over: England 21-0 (Leach 13, Burns 6) Murtagh wipes his forehead with his forearm as the mercury creeps up to 33 degrees. I spot parasols and fans in the crowd - a sign of this new climate reality. Leach wriggles and shuffles his way through five balls of the over much to the frustration of Ireland. Burns picks up three through square leg.
8th over: England 18-0 (Leach 13, Burns 3) As a long-time glasses wearer , I feel an immediate affinity with cricketers in specs. After Imam ul Haq in the World Cup, now Jack Leach. The urge to put his hand inside his helmet and readjust those specs must be so strong. Especially on a sweaty day. I’m in awe. Adair runs in with four slips. Leach grabs two with a drive and nearly gets yorked from the final ball of the over.
David Hopkins has a bone to pick: “ I can’t help but think Brian Withington is being a bit unfair on the honourable member for the 18th century. It’s not that he considers Ireland to be beyond the pale - I understand he’s perfectly happy to sequester his funds there ahead of the impending Brexit crash he’s happy to impose on the rest of us for example.”
7th over: England 15-0 (Leach 11, Burns 3) I’m guessing that the bowlers won’t have long spells today so Burns and Leach probably only have another 15 minutes max before Murtagh retires to pasture. Burns fiddles with his gloves as they flash up his stats - a Test average of 34, two fifties and a hundred. A first-class average of 42. He warily plays out a Murtagh maiden. Two in a row. Careful England.
6th over: England 15-0 (Leach 11, Burns 3) Adair runs in, and Leach prods, defends, avoids. A maiden.
Something is bothering Phil Whithall:
5th over: England 15-0 (Leach 11, Burns 3) Overthrows in England’s favour , again, gets the score jogging along. Leach and Burns go through for a quick single, there is a shy at the stumps, it hits, but the ball riccochets off and runs down to the boundary. Other than that, we have line and length, line and length from Murtagh.
4th over: England 9-0 (Leach 6, Burns 2) Adair finds some swing in the humid Lord’s air. He’s too good for Leach, who shuffles left to right to try to combat the movement.
Brian Withington writes: “Try as I might, I have been unable to unearth a tweet from Jacob Rees-Mogg linking yesterday’s cricket with Brexit developments. Perhaps he was otherwise engaged. Or maybe anything involving Ireland is just ‘beyond the pale’ for a politician who might have regarded the potato famine as a regrettable but unavoidable local difficulty?”
3rd over: England 6-0 (Leach 4, Burns 2) It’s the main man. Tim Murtagh rubs his chest and sighs the sigh of a man in the golden autumn of his career. Leach is watchful, glasses visible through the grill. He is beaten by a 71mph-er and then squeezes a four between third slip and gully in an utterly unconvincing way.
2nd over: England 2-0 (Leach 0, Burns 2) Rory Burns plays no stroke at the first ball of the day from Mark Adair, then goes down the pitch to prod a patch of unruly carpet. Adair’s face is blazed with suncream and the thermometer reads 32 degrees. I’m actually grateful to be in the shade of the house. Burns is off the mark with a nudge off the hip.
Mark Slater has a conspiracy theory. “Was [yesterday] part of a cunning plan to persuade Australia to open the bowling with their part time trundlers instead of the 90mph+ merchants...?”
And the players are on their way out. It’s boiling hot and the pitch looks much drier than yesterday. Can England still be there by sandwiches?
Ah Nasser - still my favourite ever England captain. He’s out on the pitch demonstrating in a crisp shirt where England’s batsmen went wrong yesterday.
“Technically England were very very poor against the moving ball. Many modern-day cricketers go too hard against the moving ball. Why would anyone listen to Nasser Hussain? An old has-been? I say listen to Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson who have learnt how to deal with it.”
Wondering if the magic will be with Tim Murtagh today? Tom vdGucht was, though he admits to being somewhat bewitched by Olly Stone.
Although it seems quite perverse to think about any other bowler other than Dial M for Murtagh, what did you make of Olly Stone on his debut?
Vic Lanser writes with news from THE OTHER PLACE. But as it is so good, I think we can quietly reprint it.
Tanya, I loved this comment on Cricinfo:
David Gower is wearing a panama! David Lloyd was not impressed by England yesterday. “England played in front of their bodies to a bowler who is deadly accurate and bowling at 78mph. The top three is still a huge problem.”
And thanks to James Hurle - here is the TMS link for overseas listeners.
I’m trying to work out if ICC have any specific guidelines on heat in Test matches -meanwhile, some reading on the heat effects of cricket helmets and a study on the effects of extreme heat on Elite Australian players.
With the mercury due to touch 39 degrees today at Lord’s - playing and watching is likely to be an extremely uncomfortable experience. The MCC have made contingency measures for spectators - air-conditioned rooms, plenty of water, no jackets for members. But for players, things are more unclear .
Joe Root was hospitalized during the last Ashes Test at Sydney, when the temperature reached 47.3C. Cricket Australia has strict guidelines on heat, and uses the Wet Bulb Global Temperature Index. The ECB do not, yet, as far as I can discover, but last year the MCC cricket committee agreed that umpires should be able to stop play because of heat.
Good morning everyone and welcome to the morning after the day before after the week before. Twenty wickets fell in yesterday’s ding-dong day - with England out before lunch and batting again just before the close.
What craziness! Were England caught napping? Were their heads in a fifty-over space? Were they just caught out by the relentless accuracy of Tim Murtagh on an emerald green carpet? We shall see as the morning develops.
There’s some discussion about whether Mazher Arshad’s stat is actually true, positing that Laker and Lock took all the wickets against Australia in 1956, and that when Devon Malcolm took nine against South Africa in 1994 somebody probably got the other (it was Darren Gough). But on none of those occasions did only two England bowlers bowl in the innings, you see.
Chris Woakes is chirpy:
It was always going to be a little bit trick defending that score but I always felt confident we could knock them over. Still you’ve got to do a professional job, and it’s fair to say we did that. The World Cup was long and quite gruelling at times, and mentally and physically you feel a little bit drained, but then you’ve got a Test match to get up for. You find something from somewhere, but then when you get 0 first innings and don’t bowl as well as you’d like, you’ve got to dig deep.
Joe Root is relieved:
I knew that was a lot of runs on that surface. We’ve been in this position before, against India at Edgbaston last year, so we knew we’d been able to manage a similar scenario. I thought it was very important that we stayed calm, in control of what we wanted to do and asked the right questions, and we did exactly that today.
It was very pleasing, especially with the ball and the way we managed certain pressure situations through the game. I thought we managed pretty well. It wasn’t by any stretch the perfect game for us but sometimes that can be a really important part of your learning for a team, and I certainly think we’ll take a lot from this game. Ultimately we found a way to win and that was very important. There was a lot of different pressures around this Test match and to come out in the way we did today and close it out was very impressive.
William Porterfield is disappointed:
That was one of those things. We knew things were going to be tough when the lights were on and theree was a bit of drizzle in the air, but we had to try to get through that and get to this stage, when the sun’s out and the ball is 15 or 20 overs old and gone a bit softer. But fair play to the two lads, how they bold. They made it difficult. We knew we were going to dig deep, but they just kept challenging everything.
In December last year we had the first Test where both captains made pairs (Du Plessis/Sarfraz Ahmed SA v Pak at Centurion). Now we have the first Test with both wicketkeepers making pairs.
Jack Leach is the player of the match:
I think bowling three overs for 26 and I’ve got man of the match, I didn’t ever see that happening. I’m very pleased, and glad we got the win. I found some form out there, I just took one ball at a time and tried to do a job for the team. I got into the 90s and I got nervous, and didn’t really know how to go about things from there. I tried to not think about it but probably didn’t stop thinking about it from there.
In four Tests at Lord’s, Chris Woakes has scored 274 runs at an average of 69 (career average 29) and taken 23 wickets at an average of 9.75 (career average 31). Rob Smyth’s statsmanship there.
The last time only two England bowlers bowled and shared 10 wickets in an innings of a Test was in 1924 when Arthur Gillian and Maurice Tate took ten against South Africa in Brimingham. Mazher Arshad’s stats this time.
This match will have produced a lot of stats. Here’s a few more:
Ireland were bowled out in 15.4 overs - which makes that the fourth shortest innings in terms of balls faced in the history of Test cricket. Their total of 38 runs is the seventh lowest in Test history, the lowest at Lord’s & the lowest since 1955. #ENGvIRE
@Simon_Burnton is it just me or does Chris Woakes look like the new secretary of state for education...
Hmmmmm, vaguely...
It’s over. The bowling was excellent, the slip catching immaculate, the batting a fair way below par.
And that’s it! Tim Murtagh exhibits his full range of wild heaves and makes contact only once, getting two for his troubles on that occasion. Woakes eventually aims at leg stump; Murtagh gives himself a bit of room and completely misses!
15th over: Ireland 36-7 (McBrine 0, Murtagh 0) How Boyd Rankin survived that over is beyond me. Stuart Broad, one wicket from his own five-for and clearly desperate to get it before Woakes steals it off him, wheels out a string of zingers (and one loose one that whipped down the leg side), but somehow the ball keeps missing the bat, or missing the stumps. A wicket maiden, but he wanted two.
The lowest Test total at Lord’s is 47, achieved by New Zealand in 1958.
Broad gets McBrine! Another classic of the genre, moving gently away, taking the edge and it’s another good, low catch for Root.
14th over: Ireland 36-8 (McBrine 0, Murtagh 0) Hello everyone! Woakes’ first ball is powered down the ground by Thompson; the only person on the field to move after the ball pinged off the bat was McBrine, who completed the run before turning and trudging back again. 59.5% of Ireland’s runs have come from boundaries, and there have only been five of them.
That’s a five-for for Woakes! Nicely caught by Root at slip, low to his right.
This is on course to be the 10th Test in which both sides have been bowled out for under 100. And only the 4th since 1907. https://t.co/zM0zk1ZyLX
13th over: Ireland 32-7 (Thompson 0, McBrine 0) That’s it from me, Simon Burnton is waiting to be tagged in. Please email him or tweet @simon_burnton. Bye!
Seven down, three to go. Adair becomes the latest man to be bowled through the gate while trying to drive. It was another superb seaming delivery from Broad, who had been pulled for six off the previous ball. Although it is ending in disappointment, Adair has had a fine Test debut.
12.3 overs: Ireland 26-6 (Thompson 0, Adair 2) Adair, beaten for pace as he tries to pull, is smacked in the grille by a Broad bumper. That means another break in play.
12th over: Ireland 26-6 (Thompson 0, Adair 2) Adair is beaten by three consecutive deliveries from Woakes. The ball is talking, and Ireland would rather it didn’t. One from the over: 6-2-11-4.
11th over: Ireland 25-6 (Thompson 0, Adair 1) To the wise, a word: it’s probably safe to make other plans for the fifth day of this summer’s Ashes Tests.
Jonny Bairstow 0 & 0 Gary Wilson 0 & 0
This is the first instance of both wicketkeepers getting dismissed for a pair in Test cricket.#ENGvIRE
Kevin O’Brien is the latest man to go, pinned in front by another superb nipbacker from Broad. Bah.
10th over: Ireland 24-5 (O’Brien 4, Thompson 0) A double-wicket maiden for Woakes, who has figures of 5-2-10-4. Another Woakes stat: he averages 22 in home Tests, 62 away from home.
Ach, this really is a shame. Ireland shouldn’t be too hard on themselves, because England have bowled immaculately in very helpful conditions - similar to those in which the world’s best team, India, made 107 and 130 a year ago.
In four Lord’s Tests, Chris Woakes has made his only Test century, his second highest Test score - and taken 21 wickets at an average of 10.80. Scratch that, he’s taken 22 wickets at 10.32! Gary Wilson has been given out LBW on review. He pushed outside the line of another beautiful delivery that hit him around the line of off stump. It was given not out but England reviewed instantly, and successfully. Both wicketkeepers, Wilson and Bairstow, have bagged a pair.
Stuart Broad has been blindsided by Chris Woakes, who is bowling masterfully in helpful conditions. He has his third wicket now, which McCollum snicking a drive to first slip. It was another lovely full-length delivery that moved away to take the edge; Root did the rest.
9th over: Ireland 24-4 (McCollum 9, O’Brien 4) O’Brien is okay to continue.
Nasser’s XI for the Ashes, with a dash of Dr Seuss. ‘If you’re pushing me,’ he says, ‘I’ll pick Vince and Denly.’ Mike Atherton picks Vince too. That’s how stumped England are pic.twitter.com/HOCTqt2jlk
8.4 overs: Ireland 24-3 (McCollum 9, O’Brien 4) O’Brien, lunging from the crease, thick edges Broad along the ground for four. The next ball is a beautiful bouncer that smacks into the helmet, which means an impromptu drinks break while O’Brien has a concussion test. He looks okay in the sense that he is walking and talking; I have no idea whether he is concussed.
Here’s more on the Australian Ashes squad. I see we’ve gone for the news angle.
8th over: Ireland 20-3 (McCollum 9, O’Brien 0) The weather may have saved England from humiliation. The lights are on, which means conditions are very tough for batting, and so far the challenge has been too great for Ireland. Woakes almost gets his third wicket when Kevin O’Brien edges this far short of Root at first slip.
“Woah there!” says Guy Hornsby. “I love an English cricket existentialist crisis as much as the next OBOer, but while there’s always infinite parallel universes of possibility (my favourite is the one where Mark Ealham led us to the 1999 World Cup final then invented T25 cricket) surely this is all way too close to the Ashes for anything meaningful. And while there’s a risk of a shellacking due to out of form and/or shattered players, we’re going to have to give it at least a couple of innings defeats before we get all 90s on it (NB. I don’t think we’ll get all 90s on it.)”
The dream is dying for Ireland. {ail Stirling has gone second ball, cleaned up by Woakes. He was unsettled by the previous delivery, which trampolined absurdly from a length. The next ball was fuller, tempting Stirling into the drive, and it seamed back through the gate to hit the stumps.
7th over: Ireland 18-2 (McCollum 9, Stirling 0) Broad has figures of 4-2-7-1. It’s been superb, aggressive stuff, which many on social media are calling the best spell of bowling in a Test match since Sir Curtly Ambrose at Trinidad in 1994.
Broad gets a deserved first wicket, and I’m pretty sure won’t be his last. He has been harassing both batsmen, bowling with ferocious intent, and Balbirnie could not take the heat. He pushed at a good-length delivery that moved away off the seam to find the edge, and Root crouched to take a comfortable catch at first slip.
6th over: Ireland 15-1 (McCollum 7, Balbirnie 4) Balbirnie push-drives his first ball stylishly down the ground for four. He’s the big wicket, I think, the man most likely to hit a matchwinning 91 not out. Later in the over he softens his hands to ensure an edge off Woakes falls well short of the cordon. Meanwhile, replays show that Broad LBW appeal would have been ‘umpire’s call’. Aleem Dar thought about it for a while, too.
“The Sky bods are picking their Ashes teams and see Vince and Malan as the solution to England being three down for nothing, and having a middle order of No7s,” says Kevin Wilson. “I don’t imagine an Ashes series is the time to experiment and you probably have to go with what you know (two guys who’ll average 27 and get a couple of fifties) but I don’t think I’ve gone into an Ashes series since the bad old days with this little confidence (and I include the away series we were thrashed in!).”
5th over: Ireland 11-1 (McCollum 7, Balbirnie 0) McCollum survives another big LBW shout from a Broad nipbacker. This was closer, and Aleem Dar thought about it for a while. It was probably going to be umpire’s call at best on height, and Root decides not review.
Broad is bowling with the kind of furious purpose that evokes Sir Curtly Ambrose’s rampage at Trinidad in 1994. No, I am not a giddy England fan comparing figures of 0-4 with those of 6-24; Broad’s are far better. But there is a similar intent and, I suspect, a similar disgust at the possibility of a shock defeat.
4th over: Ireland 11-1 (McCollum 7, Balbirnie 0) “I think the days of the specialist captain have long gone,” says Mark Gillespie. “The pressure on a captain averaging 25 would very quickly be massive, even for someone as good as Morgan (for example).”
Jonny Bairstow takes a marvellous one-handed catch to dismiss William Porterfield! He edged Woakes low between the keeper and first slip, and Bairstow plunged to his left to grab it just above the ground. That was similar to Alec Stewart’s famous grab to dismiss Brian Lara at Lord’s in 1995, although he didn’t have to go quite as far across. And it wasn’t Brian Lara.
3rd over: Ireland 11-0 (Porterfield 2, McCollum 7) Thanks for all your emails, which I’m trying to read between pleas for mercy from my brain and eyes. Broad starts his second over with another absurd jaffa that beats Porterfield, who then survives an appeal for a catch at second slip after being hit on the thigh. McCollum also survives a big LBW appeal later in the over. It looked like it was missing leg to me, and Joe Root decides not to review. Replays show England would have lost a review had they gone upstairs.
McCollum ends a difficult over for Ireland on a high note with a thumping cover drive for four. Eleven down, 171 to go.
2nd over: Ireland 6-0 (Porterfield 2, McCollum 3) A fine start for Ireland. The first ball of the mini-session, bowled by Woakes, is flicked confidently through midwicket for three by McCollum; the next is driven crisply for two more by Porterfield. It would have been four but for a spectacular sliding save from Denly. File under: ‘If England win by one run...’
“Andy Donald’s comment that ‘an Ireland win here will be met with little more than amused curiosity in Ireland’ is coming, as he says, from the perspective of a ‘long time Ireland fan’,” says John Mee. “I think myself that an Ireland win would have a big impact amongst those, like myself, who aren’t as knowledgeable as he is. Hard to see how it would fail to encourage youngsters to take an interest in playing the game.”
Enough! It’s time for some actual cricket.
“Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “I wouldn’t worry about being not very good at journalism; The Guardian has always shown a sympathetic and accommodating approach. On the question of captaincy, one obvious answer is to allow Bairstow to identify the best available Yorkshireman. Otherwise, though his lack of recent runs is an issue I’d like to borrow Livingstone’s cap to throw into the ring.”
Whenever they do pick a new captain, I can’t see them taking a flyer. It just doesn’t happen anymore. The more I think about it – and I’ve thought about little else these past 30 seconds – I’m sure Buttler will be the next Test captain if there’s a change this year.
“It seems to be implicit in this captaincy discussion that we’re going to get crushed in the Ashes,” says Peter McLeod. “What are the good reasons to think we will be? Or are we all just being tremendously English about the whole thing?”
Well, yes, that’s the thing – by tonight they may have won 10 of the last 12 Tests. But most of the team look shattered, out of form, not good enough or all of the above. For all that, it wouldn’t be a great surprise if England won the Ashes 4-1.
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Re Mr Wallace’s views on bowlers as captains: it usually happens that when a bowler is appointed England captain, he doesn’t bowl himself nearly as much as he used to play. This applies to those who might be considered all-rounders if their bowling is sufficiently effective, so It’s not either spinners or speed merchants. If it’s the latter, though, he’s usually the senior pro. There’s a case to be made for wicketkeepers as captains since he’s the one to allocate bowling workloads, but also crack down on inaccuracy. Bowlers often pull their socks up a bit more in these cases.”
“Who bats No5 and 6 for Australia from that squad?” says Andrew Hurley. “Can’t figure out Carey being omitted..”
I suspect the team for the first Test will be something like: Warner, Harris, Khawaja, Smith, Labuschgne or Bancroft, Head, Paine, Cummins, Lyon and then two from Starc, Hazlewood and Pattinson.
Play will resume at 12.30pm
Nathan Lyon is of course in the Australian squad. I missed him out, because I am not very good at journalism.
“I seem to recall Glamorgan’s Tony Lewis being selected to captain, as a new England player, an overseas tour,” says Nigel. “He came back having averaged around 25. I don’t think he played for England again. Was that a good move?”
Well, he averaged 38 and was left out after the first Test of the following summer. I’m not saying it’s a good move per se, just that I think it would be good for this particular team.
There’s no Alex Carey in the Australian squad, which will surprise a few people after his masterful batting during the World Cup.
Paine (c), Bancroft, Cummins, Harris, Hazlewood, Head, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Lyon, M Marsh, Neser, Pattinson, Siddle, Smith, Starc, Wade, Warner.
“Dear Rob,” says Robert Wilson. “There have been two main pleasures in this really delightful match. First, this generation of Irish players getting their day in the sun after pulling off the fairly Sisyphean task of getting Test status was deeply satisfying. Must have all felt worth it and more on the evening of that first day (plus it gave the County Heads a lot of top quality We-Told-You-So opportunities in re the indefatigable Murtagh).
“And then it was not unsucculent to see you getting a bit of sledging from the OBO slips cordon yesterday on the subject of Bairstow. There’s a lot of feeble lamenting of the moral damage that the perpetually outraged, witch-hunting mores of social media do to us all. But that is to neglect the worst of it - the shameful but undeniable frisson of pleasure when it happens to someone of whom we are rather fond (particularly when it’s richly unjust). I truly wish I didn’t find it funny but I do. Deeply.”
“What about Moeen Ali as captain?” says Pete Mackelworth. “I know there is the aspect of his ‘pick-ability’ and form, but he seems to be a thoughtful player and potentially someone who would bloom with the responsibility… on the other hand he may be just toooooo nice…”
He has captained Worcestershire really impressively. But he’s 32, and his form is too variable at the best of times. It’s a no from me.
The covers are coming off, though the umpires are yet to inspect. I think our Leather on Willow Predictor was a bit optimistic in suggesting play would resume at 12.15pm.
“Hi Rob,” says Luke Dealtry. “Mike Atherton wrote the other day in an article about the 2005 Ashes, Jonathan Trott’s burnout and the World Cup. ‘The more I watch the game, the more I am convinced that a player’s state of mind, the freshness of mind, is far more important that time in the middle, or overs under the belt.’ I do think there are issues with Bayliss’s approach to the longer game, but I’m inclined to agree with PEC Mike about proven, high quality players. I am not at all surprised that Root, Woakes, YJB and Moeen have struggled in this game. None of them will have that clarity that is so necessary. Joe Root - with his habit of tailing off in longer series - is, I think, particularly susceptible to this. I’d also wonder about Trevor Bayliss and the coaching staff, too - nobody gives much thought to their state of mind.”
We seem to have learned the square root of bugger all from the 2013-14 crash (the psychological impact of which is fascinatingly demonstrated in the new film, The Edge). On reflection, the schedule for this summer is on the sadistic side of negligent. That’s one of the reasons I think the Test team might unravel in the next two months. It’s a really important issue which hasn’t been addressed despite multiple warnings.
“Good morning Rob,” says Jonny Lewis. “We all know the pay-off for the World Cup is coming – possibly today, but definitely in The Ashes. I reckon there could be some significant Dwight Yorke-ing around with some of this bunch never being able to climb the mountain again. It is not a criticism – even for elite sportsmen, you need unusual hunger and temperament to keep going and going. It was a great trip four-year trip though. On Root, he may not be a great captain, but he is a great batsman and I reckon the sheer volume of cricket he plays is catching up with him.”
It does seem especially hard for English teams to climb the mountain again. Might do my dissertation on that.
“You say the captain is generally a batsman‘because they are much more secure in the team’,” says Simon Wallace. “I’m not sure that’s the case. Broad and Anderson are fixtures, irrespective of form (there have been several times in his career when Broad should have been sent back to his county to get some form back). Both Woakes and Curran are looking like shoo-ins (shoos-in?) for the foreseeable, so maybe it’s time England admitted that the Root experiment is a bust, and give someone with a degree of tactical nous a go. Nothing to lose.”
I’m not sure I agree with that – Broad has been dropped at least twice in the last 18 months, while Woakes and Curran are nowhere near regulars. (Curran is also nine years old.) I would say the only bowler who mightbe capable of playing every remaining Test this year is Jofra Archer. There is an argument you could be more flexible, and have a vice-captain like Jos Buttler who could step in when the captain is injured/rotated. But that’s a pretty big can of worms, and we’ve already got a few of those on our hands.
“If we were to try to formularise the productivity benefit (sounding like a consultant) of captaincy, I wonder what percentage it can account for?” says Bill Hargreaves. “I wonder if switching from Root (we love him but...) to Morgan would deliver 10%, on average, to the performance of the players - 10% to batting scores and 10% off bowlers runs per wicket? Would that be in the right ballpark? If so, it is surely the difference between a series lost and won? And they are the Ashes, we are thinking about! No brainer, to my mind.”
I’m not sure you can quantify it easily – for example, Mike Brearley’s captaincy had a spectacular impact on the performances of Sir Ian Botham, not so much on those of Phil Edmonds. You have to consider all sorts of things - Morgan’s age, mental fatigue, dodgy back, modest first-class record (what impact would it have on the team if Morgan averaged 12 and was being slaughtered by the media, etc) and so on.
This is a lovely story from Kyle McCallan, the former Ireland spinner, on Sky Sports
Do you want to be back delivering post on Monday? Do you want to be back in the classroom on Monday? Do you want to be back on the farm on Monday, Boyd Rankin? I don’t want to be a carpet salesman on Monday!
The covers are on, with no immediate prospect of a resumption. The Guardian’s exclusive Leather on Willow Predictor reckons the players will be back on at 12.15pm.
“I’ve always wondered why it has to be a batsman to captain the Test side,” says Robbie Chedburn. “I guess it would be tricky for a bowling captain to select themselves to bowl continuously. But if we could get over that, why not a Woakes or a Curran captain? England have to try something new! The last two captaincies have destroyed the form of our best two batsmen!”
One of the reasons is that batsmen are much more secure in the team. That was the case even before the schedule made rotation of bowlers essential. If England do change captain, there is no easy answer. I suspect the lesser evil would be Buttler as captain in Tests and ODIs, but that doesn’t sit comfortably.
1.1 overs: Ireland 0-0 (Porterfield 0, McCollum 0) After seven deliveries of the Ireland innings, the umpires takes the players off the field. That’s good news for Ireland, because batting looked very tough, and they will hope things are a bit easier when the weather improves after lunchtime.
1st over: Ireland 0-0 (Porterfield 0, McCollum 0) Broad starts around the wicket to the left-handed Porterfield, who is keen to leave as many deliveries as possible against the new ball. He has to play at one absolute jaffa that straightens spectacularly to beat the outside edge. A maiden to start the innings.
“Rather than picking someone who ‘looks like a captain’ (do we really know much about Jos Buttler’s tactical acumen) why not pick an actual captain?” sniffs Gary Naylor. “Somerset’s Tom Abell had leadership thrust upon him at an early age and his form suffered, but he got through it and now gets the most out of himself and his team. Which is the desired outcome and not what’s happening now.”
Stuart Broad will take the new ball. He has form for defending a lowish target in a Lord’s Test, and he’s surely England’s likeliest matchwinner. The lights are on and it feels like a seriously good time to bowl.
“Maybe worth a review from Stone?” says Simon McMahon. “There are probably one or two in the England dressing room who would have ...”
“As a long time Ireland fan, I genuinely appreciate the enthusiasm of your opening preamble,” says Andy Donald. “However, I don’t think that enthusiasm will be shared by the large majority in Ireland. Giving Ireland Test status was a huge step, but it sometimes feels like a token gesture for screwing with the ODI and T20 World Cups. I think so much more can be done for smaller cricket playing nations and until then, an Ireland win here will be met with little more than amused curiosity in Ireland than anything impactful in the long term.”
We’ve had a few emails along similar lines, which is surprising and a bit disappointing. Surely a win today would start to change that?
Haha, what a start. Stuart Thompson has bowled Olly Stone with the first ball of the day, a beautiful inswinger that swerved through the gate and sent the leg stump flying. Ireland need 182 to win!
The Ireland players stroll out to the middle. Tim Murtagh, as usual, is walking in that self-conscious, almost shifty manner, like somebody who thinks he’s being watched. And he bloody is being watched, because he’s been the star of the show.
Play will start at 11.10am. In other words, any minute now.
Thanks to Al Ferguson for providing the Test Match Special link.
Here’s Andrew Hurley, returning to a theme of yesterday’s OBO. “There is a huge culture issue in the team... and here Bayliss is hugely at fault. His laissez-faire attitude fine for the ODI team as they had a strong and respected captain, but it doesn’t work for the Test side. Their tendency to collapse is (from my expert psychological viewpoint!) linked to the culture. NZ rugby team have a ‘no dickheads’ policy - England Test cricket would do well to meditate on their culture with this in mind.”
Imagine if certain football teams adhered to that policy.
“I’m really keen on a fresh start (regardless of the Ashes result) with Bayliss going and a new captain,” says Neil Harris. “Root has to bat No3 and he has to get back to his best; relinquishing the captaincy can help this. Buttler captain, Stokes vice-captain. But who’s the coach? There seems to be very little chat about this in the press.”
It sounds like there may be an interim coach for the winter, perhaps Chris Silverwood. It will probably take a while to get the team Ashley Giles wants, with a head coach and three assistants.
The start will be delayed. The covers are on and there’s some light rain falling. I don’t think it will be too long before we receive the gift of Test cricket.
“In Ireland’s sporting history, maybe this will be seen as the realisation of ‘The Test Dream’,” says Ian Copestake. “But I remember watching the Sopranos episode of the same name and thinking that season five, episode 11 was when the shark was deliberately being tempted into open waters in front of a ramp with some guy in an Evel Knievel suit and a bike to match revving up his motor preparing for the off. I hope for Ireland’s sake this weird contrivance is more than a dream.”
“I agree with changing the captain,” says Patrick Brennan. “For some reason it just doesn’t seem to sit right with Joe Root. Results haven’t been awful overall, but the ridiculous collapses are just happening too often for comfort. I’d give serious consideration to making Stokes captain. Yes, he’d have a heavy workload, but he’s arguably turned into our most reliable (and sensible) batsman in the last six months. Buttler as ODI/T20 captain once Morgan wants to stop.”
I doubt Stokes will ever captain England after Bristol, except maybe in the odd tour match. Whether that’s correct is another discussion. In truth, I’m not sure I’d like him as captain anyway – his workload and commitment to every single delivery are already off the charts, and he is a brilliant unofficial leader.
“This match has demonstrated how disrespectful it was to only give Ireland a four-day Test,” says David Hopkins. “Suggesting that they would need any more than two and a half days to beat England was frankly insulting.”
David Hopkins is here all week. It’s a four-day week though.
“What’s the answer?” says Matt Turland. “Obviously I’ve not asked a question there, but this Test team… what’s the answer? For me, I’d definitely give Buttler the captaincy and bring Foakes back into the fold. Other than that, I don’t really know anymore. Ali probably needs a bit of time away, Bairstow should probably be rotated out for a little while and Root should be made to bat at No3 but I don’t really know anything, do I?”
Nobody does. Buttler as captain after the Ashes (if they lose) is a persuasive idea, but I worry about the workload as he is going to be the ODI captain sooner rather than later. I think England need to split the captaincy, but I’m not sure how they do that. I fear that, by the end of the summer, all options will be on the table, including a surprise return to the Test captaincy for Chris Cowdrey.
We may have a delayed start, as there has been heavy rain in St John’s Wood this morning. The forecast is better from around midday, with the temperature expected to be 24 degrees. A little brisk.
Hello. It’s really quite simple. Ireland could win a Test match for the first time today, by beating England, at Lord’s. Modern life is infected by hyperbole - I just had the tastiest dry toast of my entire life - but this, truly, would be one of the most unlikely victories in Test history. If Ireland pull it off, 26 July will join 24 February, 2 March and 12 June as a de facto St Patrick’s Day, burned into the memory as a cultural and religious celebration of stuffing the English.
This match has been so life-affirming, not to mention surreal, that it could have been directed by David Lynch. Given all that has happened, it’s easy to forget this is only the third day. England will resume on 303 for nine, a lead of 181, with Stuart Broad and Olly Stone aiming to slog the target past 200. There are no obvious demons in the pitch. If Ireland hold their nerve, they should win. But that, cliché fans, is easier said than done.
Never in doubt. Yes, Australia did lose three wickets early on but the moment the best two players in the world came together was the moment the contest came to a close. They are unstoppable, their stand unbeaten on 87 when the winning run was scored. Lanning’s side are now one win away from going through this tour undefeated. As for Knight’s team, they are absolutely nowhere at the moment.
Thanks for your company on the OBO today. We’ll be back in Bristol on Wednesday night for the final Women’s Ashes T20. Bye for now!
17.5 overs: Australia 122-3 (Lanning 43, Perry 47) Target 122. Brunt drifts onto Perry’s pads and she helps it on its way. Brunt roars with frustration. Perry becomes the first player in men or women’s T20 international cricket to collect 1000 runs and 100 wickets. Just brilliant. Brunt sprays a wide and Perry gets off strike with one, so there won’t be a fifty. Lanning has one run left to win it... and she does, with a single behind point. They’ve done it with ease.
17th over: Australia 113-3 (Lanning 41, Perry 41) Target 122. Ecclestone into her last over but it doesn’t matter now in terms of this’s result. Can she get another wicket? She won’t but it is a tough set to get away, three singles their lot. The spinner finishes with 1/18.
16th over: Australia 110-3 (Lanning 39, Perry 40) Target 122. Perry brings up the Australian 100 with style, dancing down the track at Marsh and clobbering her over the midwicket rope. Six of the best! Lanning fancies a half-century herself, dancing too before directing over mid-off with a no fuss at all for four more. Too easy. 12 off it.
15th over: Australia 98-3 (Lanning 34, Perry 33) Target 122. Sciver drops short to Lanning who wants all of it, carting her through backward square on the front foot into the gap - see you later. The all-rounder wins the edge to finish but Lanning is deep in the crease cutting, running away for another four. 11 off the over. Game over.
14th over: Australia 87-3 (Lanning 25, Perry 31) Target 122. Brunt is back now too and tries to bang it in short at Perry to start her fresh set but the superstar is having none of that, leaning back to cream her through midwicket for four. The 50-partnership comes up (from 43 balls) off the next ball. There is no way that England can contain the runs remaining from here - they need wickets, pronto.
13th over: Australia 80-3 (Lanning 24, Perry 25) Target 122. Ecclestone, who has 1/6 from her two overs, is back for her third. Another important over: England’s best bowler has to break this up. Perry is good enough to split the gap at backward point for a couple to begin, repeating the dose to the other side of point for two more. She saves a brilliant shot for later in the over, dancing and clipping over midwicket into the gap for a timely boundary. Ecclestone forces a miscued push to mid-off to finish but the over has gone for nine. Australia need 42 runs from 42 balls to wrap up the T20 mini-series.
12th over: Australia 71-3 (Lanning 23, Perry 17) Target 122. Sciver, who Isa Guha notes was England’s opening bowler in last year’s World T20, is now on. “You just want senior players saying to give them the new ball,” the former England international’s critique after that job was given to Elwiss in this innings. It is an accurate over from the strong all-rounder, going for just four singles.
11th over: Australia 67-3 (Lanning 21, Perry 15) Target 122. Big over this from Kate Cross, back for her third. Seven are added, which Australia will be happy with at this stage. It would have been nine if not for an excellent dive by Brunt on the backward square rope.
10th over: Australia 60-3 (Lanning 19, Perry 10) Target 122. The evergeeen Marsh goes again and is where she has to be but Lanning makes room to play a stroke we saw so often on Friday night, dancing and elevating inside-out over cover for her second boundary. “What a shot,” says Charlotte Edwards on TV. “Superb.”
9th over: Australia 52-3 (Lanning 13, Perry 8) Target 122. Elwiss is back for her second over and it goes a lot better than the first at the top of the innings but Perry is able to free her arms to cut one boundary along the way. Eight off it at a good time for the visitors.
8th over: Australia 44-3 (Lanning 11, Perry 2) Target 122. Marsh is on and there is some action to begin, Wyatt with a chance to running out Perry but the throw isn’t on the mark. Jones tries to deflect the ball onto the stumps rather than gloving it, too. That’s a huge opportunity gone begging for the hosts - 41/4 with Perry gone and this is on. Even so, it’s a handy over with just three coming from it.
7th over: Australia 41-3 (Lanning 9, Perry 1) Target 122. Lanning doesn’t make the same mistake as Gardner, getting four from another short and wide Cross offering, albeit off the toe end of the bat. She keeps the strike thanks to a Beaumont misfield at point.
Short and wide but perhaps a little bit of extra bounce is enough to force an error from Gardner, placing Cross to Marsh at short third! Australia should still win this easily but England have a pulse.
6th over: Australia 35-2 (Lanning 4, Gardner 1) Target 122.Lanning gets moving from Brunt with a couple to square leg then another to third. Gardner has walked out in front of Perry, as she did on Friday night. Brunt tries to bump her first up but it is way over head - wide ball. She gets off the mark from another shorter deliver, pulling out to deep midwicket for a single. England will have to bowl them out.
Ecclestone does Mooney with one that skids on! Lovely bowling from the classy left-armer. Better still after being hit for four down the ground for four earlier in the over. England have been rinsed in this series but the left-armer leaves with her reputation enhanced.
5th over: Australia 30-2 (Lanning 1) Target 122.
4th over: Australia 26-1 (Mooney 5, Lanning 1) Target 122. Lanning is nearly run out for a diamond duck! The throw from Cross was quick but not quite accurate enough - it needed to be perfect. Jones gets the bails but a dive from the Australian skipper gets her home. Mooney isn’t far away from losing her wicket too, miscuing a short-arm jab out to deep square leg, falling just metres in front of Wyatt. It is always eventful when Katherine Brunt is at the bowling crease.
Brunt gets Healy first ball! It was short but the extra pace did the damage, winning a top edge on the pull that Jones takes well.
3rd over: Australia 23-0 (Healy 20, Mooney 3) Target 122. Sure enough, Ecclestone is right on the money and doesn’t allow Mooney or Healy anything to hit. She’s without doubt England’s best bowler.
2nd over: Australia 21-0 (Healy 19, Mooney 2) Target 122. Cross gets the second over rather than the first. Mooney is off strike with one to square leg to begin. Healy gets another chance for easy runs off her pads, clipping four more when Cross misses her mark. Too easy. Elwiss hasn’t opened the bowling in any match since 2012, Lydia Greenway tells us on the television. What a strange decision.
1st over: Australia 14-0 (Healy 14, Mooney 0) Target 122. A rank full toss allows Healy to get busy from the second ball of the chase, smashing her over midwicket with ease for four. Next up, she overcorrects and allows the Australian opener to crunch four more over point. More width now, Healy cutting a couple more; well stopped by Ecclestone on the rope. A third boundary to finish, steering with ease to the third man rope. Starts don’t come much gentler than that. They could win this in a real hurry. As Mel Jones says on TV, why is Elwiss bowling the first over? Odd.
The players are back on the field! Elwiss is taking the new ball at Healy, who is opening with Mooney. PLAY!
Back in 15 for the chase. See you then.
20th over: England 121-8 (Ecclestone 17, Marsh 1) Ecclestone does the job at the death, making room to lift Schutt over long-off, just clearing Haynes’ fingertips. That six It gets England beyond a run a ball, which isn’t a bad effort considering how poorly they batted.
Ecclestone takes Schutt through the gap at midwicket for four to begin the over but there is a bad mix-up from the second delivery, Elwiss coming back for a second run out to backward square but the spinner wasn’t coming. Gardner’s throw and Healy’s backhanded effort with the gloves were enough to get Australia an eighth wicket.
19th over: England 108-7 (Elwiss 5, Ecclestone 6) Five singles to the sweepers but they can find the gaps against Jonassen. She finishes with 2/19 with nine dots along the way. She’s been excellent.
“Insofar as placement of fielders is concerned,” emails Sarah Bacon, “while England has managed to loft a few past the fingertips of the Aussie fielders, I think that Australia is proving better equiped in this area. Thoughts?”
18th over: England 103-7 (Elwiss 3, Ecclestone 3) England have raised their 100 with an Elwiss single to cover but there isn’t much to get excited about in another successful over. Brunt was actually given out caught before she was stumped, ala Brian Lara v Zoe Goss.
Brunt dances at Kimmince but she sees her coming, sending it out wide and beating the bat, Healy doing the rest after missing the bails to begin. But it doesn’t matter - the ‘keeper has loads of time.
17th over: England 98-6 (Brunt 6, Elwiss 1) The third ump takes their time to give Elwiss not out, her dive to Healy’s end over the line. She is then off the mark first ball in her first T20 since 2016.
Straight down backward square’s throat! Winfield had to go and hit it well but has picked out the boundary rider.
16th over: England 94-5 (Winfield 12, Brunt 3) Whoa, a SIX! The first of the innings. A fine one too, Winfield taking Wareham straight back over her head. The first boundary in six overs. By contrast, Australia struck 40 (nine sixes, 31 fours) on Friday night. A lot of work to do.
15th over: England 84-5 (Winfield 4, Brunt 1) Big appeal for lbw, Healy insisting that Kimmince had Winfield, but turned down. Must have been very close but without DRS, we’ll never know. Sigh. A wide and three singles isn’t going to be enough to get this tally up to anything credible so they’re going to have to bowl the house down.
14th over: England 80-5 (Winfield 2, Brunt 0) Brunt considered paddling the first ball of her afternoon but pulled out of it. She isn’t able to beat the field to get off the mark. One wicket and one run from the Wareham over, her figures now 2/12 from three. Tip top.
A gentle return catch, taken with ease by the leggie. The England captain danced at her but didn’t quite get to the pitch, checking a drive but only only managing to give catching practice.
13th over: England 79-4 (Knight 17, Winfield 1) Winfield is off the mark first ball to midwicket. She was good the other night after coming in for Sarah Taylor. Usually an opener, of course.
Nothing left to chance by Jonassen, bowling Beaumont. She misses a reverse sweep, nutmegged. The delivery was fuller and quicker; the spinner might have saw her coming. Fine bowling.
12th over: England 74-3 (Beaumont 42, Knight 14) Mooney drops another off Beaumont! It’s a tougher than the previous over, above her head on the circle at mid on, but she got both hands to it. Earlier in the set, Knight nearly did exactly the same thing, only just clearing the Queenslander in that position. Of course, she’s a wicketkeeper at domestic level but plays in the Australian team as a specialist bat. Eight from it, giving England something of a platform.
11th over: England 66-3 (Beaumont 37, Knight 11) DROPPED! Mooney took a fantastic snaffle earlier but has put down an easy one here, Beaumont the recipient of the life after chipping Kimmince to long-on at a very catchable height. The all-rounder had a good shout against Beaumont for leg before in her first over, too. But she survives. It’s still a good over for Lanning’s side, only four added.
10th over: England 62-3 (Beaumont 35, Knight 9) Beaumont is well enough set that she is happy to take on Molineux and does it really well twice in a row, dancing to punch the spinner over her head then flicking her just as effectively over midwicket for four more.
9th over: England 51-3 (Beaumont 25, Knight 8) Ooooh! Knight was run out on Friday and so nearly again here. Haynes has a great arm but the throw from short third isn’t on target at the non-strikers’ end. After the dicey moment to begin it is a prodcutive over, finished off with a well-timed cut by the captain for four. They need her here.
8th over: England 43-3 (Beaumont 23, Knight 2) After watching a couple to begin, Knight gets off the mark with a sweep to midwicket, two further singles exchanged on the posh side to finish the successful Wareham over. She’s a very good cricketer.
WICKET!
Natalie Sciver is bowled out by Georgia Wareham who gets her first wicket of the series.
Sciver bowled around her front pad! The legspinner Wareham gets a wicket first ball. The England all-rounder went across her stumps in an effort to paddle past fine leg but got cramped and missed the ball.
7th over: England 40-2 (Beaumont 22, Sciver 8) Schutt is so hard to get away with her natural movement and changes of pace. In turn, both Sciver and Beaumont are happy to focus on turning the strike over, collecting five risk-free singles. Better batting now.
WICKET!
A brilliant catch by Beth Mooney gets Danielle Wyatt's wicket
6th over: England 35-2 (Beaumont 20, Sciver 5) Good batting from Beaumont, middling Jonnasen over mid-on for a once-bounce four to end the power play on a positive note. Four singles along with that four makes eight from the over, England’s most convincing so far.
“Afternoon Adam.” Hello David Langlois. “Do you think Elysse Perry gets quite the credit she deserves?. Where is there a more versatile or effective sportsperson on the planet? They day she wins SPOTY overseas sports personality of the year I’ll begin believing her incredible achievements are recognised in England (it’s not going to happen, but it should).”
5th over: England 27-2 (Beaumont 14, Sciver 3) The squeeze is already on. Molineux is straight where she needs to be, just four runs taken out to the sweeper at cover but without threatening the rope.
Jonassen is into the book with the final ball of an excellent first over, getting rid of Wyatt. The punchy opener danced at her in an effort to plonk it over long-on but didn’t get much of it, wonderfully taken by Mooney running back with the flight of the ball. Perfect technique.
4th over: England 23-2 (Beaumont 13)
3rd over: England 22-1 (Wyatt 9, Beaumont 12) Buzzers! Did we call overthrows that before David Lloyd? Not to worry; England has four of them with Wareham taking a ping at Beaumont’s end from cover but it spills away to the rope. Australia won’t mind that - the young spinner did execute a fine run out in the World T20 final last year, Mel Jones reminds me on TV. Earlier in the Perry set, Beaumont played the shot of the day so far, crunching past point. This was the ground where the pocket rocket made the first of her three international centuries last summer, earning a Wisden gong.
2nd over: England 11-1 (Wyatt 8, Beaumont 2) Four more off the edge! This time Wyatt is trying to deflect behind point but it flies through second slip. An top first over from Australia’s swing master.
WICKET!
Ellyse Perry has picked up Amy Jones once again and England have lost another wicket in the first over.
1st over: England 6-1 (Wyatt 4, Beaumont 1) After a legside wide to begin before the wicket, Beaumont gets the board moving via the bat with one to long leg. Wyatt too with an edge that would have gone straight to first slip if Perry had one! Perfect outswinging delivery; deserved a second scalp not four runs. “Where’s the slip?” asks Mel Jones on television. With all that movement, it’s a good question.
The hold Perry has on Jones! She has her again. It is a dreadful shot too, gifting a limp catch to cover point. The fourth time she has picked her up in the series. No footwork. Horrible cricket.
The players are on the field. This series has been such a massive mismatch since the opening exchanges, England winning about five of the 50 hours played thereafter. Let’s hope that by batting first here at Hove today, the hosts get a big competitive total and we have ourselves an interesting afternoon. Wyatt and Jones are opening for England, Perry taking the first over with the ball. PLAY!
The restructure. There has been a lot of debate since England lost the Ashes about what women’s cricket is going to look like in this country as of next summer, when the new domestic plan kicks in.
The ECB’s women’s cricket supremo, Clare Connor, has been on TMS and Sky TV before play talking about this very topic. I’ll get those comments to you as soon as they appear on the wires, et al.
Let’s talk, by the way. Email, twitter - you know the drill.
Confirmation from the England camp that Shrubsole was left out, not injured. That’s a big call but she hasn’t been at her best.
Have a read of Megan Schutt’s column. She’s a gem.
It makes complete sense to me that we become a republic. In doing so, I hope Australia can move forward in a whole range of areas, especially the way we officially appreciate our Indigenous history. It’s just ridiculous to me that we have a union jack on our flag but no reference to our Aboriginal people, and the date of Australia Day has to change.
England: Danni Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Nat Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Georgia Elwiss, Lauren Winfield, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Marsh, Kate Cross.
That will be a relief for Heather Knight, the home skipper.
The big news from the middle is that England’s vice-captain, Anya Shrubsole, has been left out of the playing XI. Of course, she had 50 taken from her three overs during Lanning’s masterclass on Friday.
We’re in Brighton for the weekend! Well, strictly speaking we’re in Hove for Sunday afternoon but we’re happy all the same. It’s muggy and sticky and the track looks a road. After Australia’s utterly dominant 93-run triumph in the first rubber on Friday, they have an unbeatable 10-2 points lead but England can still win these T20s as they did in the corredponding series in November 2017.
I’ll be back with the toss and the teams in a tick. Good afternoon!
That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave with you some reading from Edgbaston. Please join us in the morning for what should be a pulsating second day’s play. Plotspoiler: there’s plenty of testosterone.
“It’s a little bit frustrating in the end. We bowled fantastically well this morning. Steve Smith played an exceptional innings. It’s very tough, isn’t it? We didn’t get enough balls at Nos 10 and 11 in one go. Do you put everyone back and suck it up? I think we’ve got to find a way of trying to keep a dismissal in the game as well. We’ll see what kind of score that is tomorrow.”
2nd over: England 10-0 (Burns 4, Roy 6) Whether it’s the first over of the day or the last, if Jason Roy receives a half-volley he will try to put it away. He drives Pattinson confidently through extra cover for four to get off the mark and plays out the remainder of the over. That’s the end of a spectacular day’s play. It’s the Ashes!
1st over: England 3-0 (Burns 3, Roy 0) Cummins goes around the wicket to Burns, who flicks his second ball confidently through midwicket for three. Roy starts with two very solid defensive strokes before missing an extravagant pull stroke. There should be time for one more over.
“Writing from Edgbaston about Smith,” says Ross. “Many still booing, yes, but also a lot of England fans on their feet clapping him off. From here it looked like he realised this just before he left the field, and raised the bat to the rest of the ground. A great (split second of a) moment to end a great performance, if so.”
Pat Cummins will bowl the first over, having taken a shortcut from first change to attack leader.
Rory Burns and Jason Roy stroll onto the field. Apparently there are only six minutes remaining, so a maximum of two overs.
Smith was booed off, which is pretty lamentable, but I doubt it registered. The zone is a noise-cancelling place. The timing of his dismissal means the England openers have a thoroughly nasty 15 minutes to survive before the close. Where’s Jack Leach when you need him.
Steve Smith misses a big heave and is bowled, which gives Broad a five-for and ends the most magnificent innings: 144 from 220 balls, with 16 fours and two sixes. The second of those sixes came earlier in the over, a mighty blow over midwicket. All things considered, Smith may never have played better.
80th over: Australia 278-9 (Smith 138, Lyon 12) Lyon drives Woakes crisply through mid-off for his third boundary. This is getting a little surreal - it’s barely three hours since Australia were up to their neck in bother.
79th over: Australia 273-9 (Smith 137, Lyon 8) Smith muscles Broad for his 17th four. This is up there with the great tone-setting innings of modern Ashes series - Sir Ian Botham in 1986-87, Michael Slater in 1994-95, Joe Root in 2015 and Steve Smith again in 2017-18.
“What a player Steve Smith is, best in the world by a country mile,” says Kevin Casserly. “You lot are great at moaning, the sandpaper incident, the Hand of God etc. Get over it, credit where it’s due, he turned a collapse into a reasonable score.”
78th over: Australia 268-9 (Smith 132, Lyon 8) As frustrating as this partnership has been for England and their supporters, it sets up a storming day’s play tomorrow. My instinct is that England are in trouble, but I said that last night and they won comfortably. That’s the beauty of cricket: it’s okay to know the square root of diddly squat.
“I think this form of fielding complicity - employed by almost everyone - makes absolutely no sense,” says Kristian Petterson. “Try and get the batsman at the crease out. That is all. Don’t overthink it, just try to get him out. Yes, I AM angry about this recovery and am irrationally thrashing out.”
77th over: Australia 267-9 (Smith 131, Lyon 8) Smith whirls Broad behind square for four to bring up the fifty partnership with Lyon. He has scored 22 from his last 11 deliveries, and Australia have more than doubled their score since the loss of the eighth wicket. Lyon joins in the fun by driving Broad down the ground for four more. England look in urgent need of rain and/or an ice bath. They are ragged.
76th over: Australia 258-9 (Smith 126, Lyon 4) Smith has gone straight past one-day mode and into T20 mode. He drags Woakes over mid-on for four and clouts another boundary to midwicket. The sheer certainty of his batting has broken England’s will yet again. This has to be one of his greatest innings.
“Not to be a pedant or a miser, but Steve Smith made no mistake,” says Elliot Carr-Barnsley. “He paid the (pretty gentle) price and we shouldn’t further punish him for it, but nor should we sugar coat deliberate cheating by one of the game’s most recognisable and influential figures as a mistake. Sandpaper didn’t magic its way onto the field, and it was cowardly to make Bancroft hold it instead of himself.”
75th over: Australia 248-9 (Smith 117, Lyon 4) Smith survives an LBW review off the new bowler Broad - it was missing leg by a mile - and hits the next two balls for four. The first was an inside-edge wide of leg stump, the second a lofted straight drive that doesn’t impress Broad one iota.
“He may or may not be a good man (I don’t know him at all) but I question the use of the word ‘awful’,” says Kristian Petterson. “He did something wrong and received punishment - that punishment wasn’t awful, it was punishment. Unless you think the punishment was unjust?”
74th over: Australia 240-9 (Smith 109, Lyon 4) Smith rocks back to cut Moeen emphatically for four. England don’t know where to bowl to him. Since the start of the 2017-18 Ashes, these are his Test scores against England: 141*, 40, 6, 239, 76, 102*, 83, 104*. That’s 796 runs at an average 0f 159.20.
“The bookies have England 1/2, Australia more than 2/1,” says Andrew Hurley. “Surely it’s closer than that? Par looks 240-250, and with Jimmy probably unable to bowl in the second innings...”
73rd over: Australia 235-9 (Smith 104, Lyon 4) Steve Smith makes a glorious, cathartic hundred on his return to Test cricket! He drives Stokes through the covers for four before waving his bat to the Australian balcony, who are all on their feet. Never mind the sandpaper; feel the grit. This has been an innings of immense character, not to mention intelligence, skill and sheer geeky love of batting. Smith looks very emotional as he embraces Lyon. This is spine-tingling stuff, a wonderful moment for a good man who made a mistake and paid an awful price. That, truly, is a great innings.
72nd over: Australia 229-9 (Smith 99, Lyon 4) Smith launches Moeen for a huge six to move to 98. He’s content to take a single off the fourth delivery of the over, which gives Lyon two balls to survive. And he does, to lusty cheers from the pocket of Australian fans. Steve Smith is one run away from a quite immense century.
71st over: Australia 222-9 (Smith 92, Lyon 4) Lyon squirts Stokes to the third-man boundary to get off the mark, and then survives the rest of the over. At this percise moment in time, Ben Stokes isn’t entirely high on life.
“I know this is only First Day, First Test, but given Jimmy’s injury, this pair are wrestling the game back and we don’t seem to have many ideas on what to do,” says Guy Hornsby. “Permission to get pretty moody and swig a beer on the way home, please. 122-8 and they could end the day 250-9. The Anger...”
70th over: Australia 218-9 (Smith 92, Lyon 0) Smith mangles a vile full toss from Moeen through midwicket for four before surviving a stumping referral after a smart bit of work from Bairstow.
“Following OBO from hospital ward in Zakynthos, Greece,” says Gavin McCarthy. “Teenage daughter, Lucy, admitted with collapsed lung after flight (ouch!). She’s been napping and every time she falls asleep, England take a wicket. She’s been awake for an hour or so now and shows no signs of drowsiness. Every time I try to sing her a lullaby, I’m met with an eye-rolling, ‘Shut up, Dad!’ Hope she falls asleep before end of play. PS daughter improving day by day and we hope to be out of hospital tomorrow.”
69th over: Australia 212-9 (Smith 86, Lyon 0) Smith, left with the No11 Lyon, turns down a single for the first time. Stokes tries to keep Smith on strike by ramming bouncers over his head; when he gets the line wrong, Joel Wilson calls wide. Smith takes a single off the penultimate delivery to keep the strike and increase Stokes’s agita.
“Jerry Rice’s record for receiving yards in the NFL (22,895) is almost 41% better than the second best (Larry Fitzgerald, 16,279),” says Tom Brain. “You’re welcome.”
68th over: Australia 210-9 (Smith 85, Lyon 0) “An obvious response to David Hindle would involve modern bats, protective equipment, shorter boundaries and (more subjectively) bowling standards, albeit Smith has higher quality fielding to contend with,” says Geoff Wignall. “I’d also suggest that Smith worries even the best bowlers but doesn’t frighten them as Viv could and that the best of Viv was a good way north of Smith’s best. Anyway, Smith just isn’t that cool. In a broader perspective anyone who considers Smith the best they’ve seen is clearly too young to have seen Sobers, even after an all-night session.”
You misspelt ‘especially’.
Boy did England need that. Moeen Ali comes into the attack and strikes with his second ball. Siddle inside-edged a lovely delivery, which turned and bounced from around the wicket, and Buttler took a really smart catch at short leg. Siddle gets a generous ovation for a superb, resourceful innings of 44 from 85 balls.
67th over: Australia 210-8 (Smith 85, Siddle 44) Bairstow appeals politely for caught behind against Siddle after swooping spectacularly to his left. The bowler Stokes wasn’t interested. England are miles behind the over rate, which will cost them Test Championship points should they win any in this match. That’s worth keeping an eye on, because teams will lose many more points in a five-Test series than if there are only two Tests. If I have understood the regulations - and there’s a minuscule chance of that - there is the potential for high farce.
“The largest earthquake ever recorded (Chile, 1961), was between two and three times as big as the next largest (varies between Sumatra, 2004, and Alaska 1964),” says David Hindle. “If you look at the magnitude scale, it doesn’t appear that way (M9.6 or 9.5 for Chile vs. M9.4 or 9.3 for the others, but a single unit of moment magnitude is equivalent to a 30-fold increase in released energy. But Bradman is still ridiculous for a human.”
66th over: Australia 208-8 (Smith 84, Siddle 43) Smith runs down the track to drive Denly down the ground for four. Edgbaston, and the England team, have gone very flat. I’m not sure which is the chicken and which is the egg.
Here’s our own Daniel Harris. “KP told me that when they went through the South Africa team to work out plans for them, the best they could do with Kallis was ‘run out candidate early in his innings’.”
65th over: Australia 201-8 (Smith 78, Siddle 42) Siddle works Stokes off the pads to bring up the 200. It’s been such an impressive effort from this pair, who have batted without ego or fanfare. That said, England are really missing Jimmy Anderson, which has effectively left them with a three-man attack.
“To earn a bit of beer money whilst a student a friend of mine set himself up in business as a cheesy DJ for hire,” says David Tant. “He called TNT Discos (Top Notch Tunes), and to our surprise he actually got hired a few times. One of them being for a Golf Club annual dinner. ‘Son of A Preacher Man’ was requested by a predominantly white-haired audience for a nice gentle dance. He only had the version on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Unfortunately he accidentally queued up the first track, which is a bit of dialogue from the film: ‘Any of you f***in’ pr**ks move and I’ll execute every mother*****g last one of you.’ He didn’t get paid, but personally I think if you book someone called Top Notch Tunes at a low price you get what you deserve.”
64th over: Australia 198-8 (Smith 76, Siddle 41) And now for something completely different: Joe Denly’s legspin. He starts with a maiden to Siddle, which was done and dusted in approximately 90 seconds.
“So, according to Steve Hudson, either you suffer because the team around you is rubbish, or you suffer because they’re too good - an essentially unfalsifiable hypothesis,” sniffs David Hindle. “Next it will be ‘English batsman average less because they play in the bowlers’ paradise of England more than the rest.’ So why don’t English bowlers top the bowling averages by light years then? And as to the late career decline. I give you Kumar Sangakkara. Some of them just don’t know when to stop. Smith is already, statistically, in a place no batsman has been since Bradman. In terms of number of runs, number of series, tours etc. versus current average, nothing in the modern game has come close.”
63rd over: Australia 198-8 (Smith 76, Siddle 41)
62nd over: Australia 193-8 (Smith 76, Siddle 36) “All this talk about Smith and averages has me musing for the millionth time about how remarkable Bradman’s average is,” says Pete Salmon. “Which got me thinking – I’m pretty sure, at approximately one third better than thousands of other players, he’s the greatest outlier in all of sport – no one runs the 100m in six seconds for instance. But that got me thinking – is he the greatest outlier, human or otherwise, in anything? No planet (I think) is one third bigger than every other etc... Obviously its limited to things that are quantifiable, so no poetry or sunsets, but do any of your science boffin followers have anything that comes close?”
61st over: Australia 190-8 (Smith 76, Siddle 33) Ben Stokes replaces Woakes. Smith walks across his stumps to pull carefully round the corner for four. There’s a lovely paragraph in Mike Atherton’s autobiography which I suspect may also apply to Smith. During the 2001 Ashes series, England listed detailed bowling plans for each Australian batsman in the dressing-room. One entry was shorter than the rest:
Gilchrist: ???
60th over: Australia 179-8 (Smith 71, Siddle 27) Siddle, lured onto the front foot by Broad, is beaten by a classic legcutter. Later in the over he gets a very thick edge through gully for a single. Broad has bowled jolly well today.
59th over: Australia 175-8 (Smith 70, Siddle 24) Smith steals a single after inside-edging a Woakes inducker onto the pad, and then Siddle drives jauntily through extra cover for a couple. He is playing superbly and has now scored as many as Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja and Wade combin ed.
“This first innings of the first Test of the series is the 2019 Ashes in miniature, no?” writes
Dr Emmett Brown Simon McMahon. “Regular clatter of wickets to the seamers, one decent contribution from the top/middle order, useful runs from the tail, cameos from the spinners/weather/crowd.”
58th over: Australia 172-8 (Smith 69, Siddle 22) Siddle works Broad for two to bring up a calm, intelligent fifty partnership. England don’t look like taking a wicket just now, and Broad and Woakes look slightly weary after bowling 17 overs apiece.
“This Smith fella might be all that but I can barely bring myself to watch him bat,” says Ian Copestake. “Some of his average should deducted for failing to make me meow.”
57th over: Australia 169-8 (Smith 68, Siddle 20) Woakes beats Siddle with a lovely slower ball. It’s hard to know what to make of this score. The pitch has done a bit, but I suspect a lot of the movement is due to the overhead conditions. My hunch is that this will be a low-scoring dogfight, but I’ll level with you, I haven’t really got a clue.
55.5 overs: Australia 168-8 (Smith 67, Siddle 20) It’s raining again, although play will continue for now. Smith cuts Broad for a single to move to 67 - and take his average in the last 10 Ashes Tests to 99.66. Not exactly Bradmanesque, is it?
After Siddle drives Broad for four, the umpires decide to take the players off. But by the time the covers reach the middle, the rain has relented sufficiently for the umpires to decide play can continue.
55th over: Australia 163-8 (Smith 66, Siddle 16) Siddle clips Woakes through midwicket for four, another sensible, efficient stroke. There are useful runs for Australia, who were in a heap at 122 for eight.
“David Hindle wonders why Viv R and Brian L didn’t average significantly more than 50 in their careers,” says Steve Hudson. “The answer is that Lara played for a WI team steadily going into reverse and often seemed to be scoring most of their runs for them, in losing causes. Viv had the opposite problem I think, that in a side that were steamrolling everyone else throughout the 80s, his runs were less and less important to a strong batting side, which translated into more cameo 60s and 70s, and a lack of daddy hundreds. We have no idea which way Smith’s average will go, but I’d be very impressed and surprised if he defies boredom, burnout and slowing reflexes to average 70.”
54th over: Australia 159-8 (Smith 66, Siddle 12) Stuart Broad returns to the attack after tea. Siddle edges a good delivery just short of third slip, where Stokes dives to his right to make a good half-stop and save a couple of runs.
“I see Dan Lucas’ iPad mishap and raise him an iPhone/hearing aid debacle,” boasts Kim Thonger. “Marrying my final and favourite wife almost four years ago, I inadvertently played the romantic wedding music in the registry office through my hearing aid, which is set up by default to covertly receive the streaming Test match commentary from my phone in ‘important meetings’, reimagining the silent disco but not in a helpful way.”
The players are back on the field. It looks a lot brighter, too.
And it looks like a very, very good time to bowl.
“Syd Barnes!” says Mike Daniels, referring to this list of successful England bowlers in home Tests. “The famously grumpy/cantankerous Staffordshire bowler. Imagine Bob Willis on a bad day x10. Played for donkey’s years in the Leagues. Was still pro-ing in his sixties.”
“Sir Viv averaged about 65 with a couple of thousand runs on the board, just after the massacre of England in 1976,” says David Hindle. “The one with two double hundreds in the same series. But it was all downhill from there. Smith is something else altogether. His trajectory, give or take a few blips (Sri Lanka a few winters ago for instance) is still upwards. He could be average 70 by the time he gets to 10,000 runs. You may ask why Viv (and Brian Lara) didn’t average 60 for their careers, and it would be an interesting discussion. But fact is, they didn’t, in fact they both averaged 10 less than Smith currently does, and what more can you say? Smith is in a class of his own, and may well remain there for the duration of his Test career.”
I take all your points, but … Victor Trumper averaged 39.
“I had virtually the same experience as Jack Jarvis in the 14th over,” says Dan Leach. “Friends of mine were getting married in Ireland in the grounds of Castle Ward (AKA Winterfell in Game of Thrones). I was entrusted with the iPad for the music. To this day, I don’t know how it happened, but instead of the classical music they had chosen as they walked down the tree-lined grove I managed to blast out ‘Murder She Wrote’ by Chaka Demus & Pliers.”
The start of the evening session has been delayed. The covers are on, the players aren’t. Pulitzer, please!
“Wotcha, Rob,” breathes Mac Millings. “I’ve had the odd wedding mishap, myself. The first wedding reception I ever went to that didn’t end in a fistfight was my own, although I did manage to drop my bride on the ground during our wedding dance. Also, back in 2011, I asked the OBO community for some jokes, ahead of giving a speech at my sister’s wedding later that evening. A certain Stuart Wilson suggested that I open my speech with ‘Fornication ... Oh sorry, I mean for an occasion...’ As my sister was heavily pregnant at the time, I decided to go for it. How did it go down? I’ll allow your readers to decide.”
Yep, we’ve finally gone interactive. Welcome to the OBO: Bantersnatch, a unique choose-your-own-misadventure story devised by and starring Mac Millings.
“Morning Rob,” says Phil Withall. “Seems like the umpires are on a hiding to nothing today and I feel it’s more than a little unfair. Most of us wouldn’t be able to tell if a car had drifted slightly out of its lane when traveling at 70 miles an hour on the motorway. Imagine trying to judge where a ball is going at 90? God help us when the outrage machine clicks into gear when VAR hits the Premier League. We all need to cut the officials a little slack and expect that mistakes are part of sport, on all sides.”
Aye. We should also remember that the standard is the highest it’s ever been. I’m not sure we can say that of the actual cricket, apart from fielding and range-hitting.
That Woakes over was the last of a fine session for England, who took five wickets for 23 in a giddy 12-over spell. We may have an extended tea break, because the lights are on and it may be about to hose it down at Edgbaston.
53rd over: Australia 154-8 (Smith 66, Siddle 7) Woakes replaces Moeen, who replaced Woakes for the previous over at this end. It’s Perth 1997 all over again!
Siddle, feeling tentatively for an outswinger, is well beaten outside off stump. He’s beaten again later in the over, this time by a snorter that lifts and straightens. A fine over from Woakes, who is such a threat in these conditions. In fact, of all the England bowlers to take at least 50 Test wickets at home, Woakes’ average is the best since Fred Trueman was knocking ‘em off out there.
52nd over: Australia 153-8 (Smith 66, Siddle 6) A short ball from Stokes is pulled through mid-on for four by Smith. As Nasser Hussain says on Sky, Smith’s stance means his hands are already high and in position for that shot. Stokes, who’s sick of the high hands, pitches it up thereafter.
“Smith averages 62 in Test cricket,” says Gary Naylor. “I think he’s the best I’ve ever seen.”
51st over: Australia 147-8 (Smith 60, Siddle 6) Moeen replaces Woakes and is swept nicely for four by Siddle. I doubt Root wants to use Moeen at this stage, but Broad and Woakes have bowled 14 overs each and need a breather.
“Tim Paine says he can name 15 more intimidating grounds, but the stats say something different,” says Matt Emerson. “If you aggregate across all three international formats, it’s his second least favourite ground (three innings, six runs), beaten only by the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (two innings, three runs)...”
50th over: Australia 142-8 (Smith 59, Siddle 2) Siddle has looked comfortable so far. He’s a very good No10, who has two Test fifties and one first-class century. The moment I type that, he is beaten by a spectacular delivery from Stokes that is angled in and then snaps away off the pitch.
“Perhaps,” says Ian Copestake, “the final two scheduled days of this Test could be donated to charity.”
49th over: Australia 141-8 (Smith 58, Siddle 2) This innings will give Smith a lot of satisfaction. In 2015, though he was the highest scorer in the series, most of his runs came when the going was good. He’s an even better player now, I’d say, perhaps even better than Virat Kohli in this form of the game.
48th over: Australia 136-8 (Smith 55, Siddle 0) Smith clearly trusts Siddle’s defence, as he’s playing normally - no big shots, no farming the strike. I suspect that will change if he’s left with Nathan Lyon.
“I’m wonder if there’s such a thing as being ‘in’ for an umpire,” says Chris Lingwood. “They certainly aren’t seeing it like a beachball today! Must be mortifying.”
47th over: Australia 131-8 (Smith 50, Siddle 1) Siddle steers a bump ball to gully - think Sanath Jayasuriya in Kandy - and the umpires go upstairs to make sure. That’s a sign of low confidence, I suppose. An eventful over continues when Siddle survives another LBW appeal; that looked like it might have been high and wide. Replays confirm it was.
Smith, alone on the burning deck as he was in the World Cup semi-final, works a single to reach a masterful half-century from 119 balls. For some reason the Edgbaston crowd respond to his achievement by singing Joe Root’s name.
Joel Wilson’s Day Off continues. He gives Peter Siddle out LBW to the new bowler Woakes despite an inside-edge that I could see from Orkney. Siddle reviews instantly and the decision is overturned. Poor Wilson is having a nightmare.
46th over: Australia 129-8 (Smith 49, Siddle 0) Smith survives a huge caught behind appeal from Stokes, who is making the ball talk like he did when he demolished Australia at Trent Bridge in 2015. No review from England, and replays show it was a brilliant decision from Aleem Dar. There was a noise, but it was bat on pad. Earlier in the over Smith flicked Stokes down the leg side for four, just wide of the diving Bairstow. It would have been a simple catch for leg slip.
45th over: Australia 123-8 (Smith 43, Siddle 0) You know what they say: you should never judge a pitch until both ropey batting sides have had a go on it. Australia bat deeper than usual today, with the inclusion of Pattinson and also Siddle, who plays out the last few deliveries of Moeen’s over.
“Following here in Greece with a Sri Lankan and about 35 hairy Scots,” boasts Benjie Goodhart. “Loving your work!”
44th over: Australia 122-8 (Smith 42, Siddle 0) “Let’s not get on the backs of the umpires,” says Mike Daniels. “Umpires are probably now making more out decisions after subsequently seeing how so many not outs would have been shaving the stumps and therefore being ‘out’, with the proviso that the review system is there for players to use if they ask for it. If the players don’t ask, don’t blame the umpires.”
Yes, you’re right – days like this stand out because they are usually so good. It’s incredible how few howlers they make. Minor mistakes, which all of today’s decisions have been, are unavoidable. I suspect that if any of us tried umpiring we’d be off to Specsavers, in floods of tears, before the first drinks break.
Stokes does come on - but it’s for Broad rather than Moeen. Not that it matters, because he has struck straight away! Cummins, set up by a few outswingers, offered no stroke to a huge inswinger and was trapped LBW. That was brilliant from Stokes.
43rd over: Australia 121-7 (Smith 41, Cummins 5) Smith drives Moeen through extra cover for three. Root retrieves the ball and then signals for the crowd to make more noise. I’d be tempted to get Stokes on at this end, with Moeen looking a little flat. Stokes bowled like a drain earlier but the ball has started to do a bit, and he can be deadly when it hoops.
“Tim Paine may think Edgbaston is not in the top 15 most intimidating grounds in the world,” says Gary Naylor, “but I’m not sure that the umpires would agree!”
42nd over: Australia 112-7 (Smith 37, Cummins 4) Broad usually does the biggest damage at the business end of a series against Australia. Nobody, not even Lord Beef, can match his three Man of the Match awards in Ashes-winning victories. But he has bowled with the same end-of-series intensity and precision today. Pat Cummins somehow survives a torrid over that includes a thick edge for four, another edge on the bounce to slip and two plays and misses.
This, meanwhile, is a sensational spot from the OBO’s own Tim de Lisle. Memo to Joe Root: If it is Broakes, don’t fix it.
#Ashes Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad have now taken England's last 17 wickets between them, for 98, at an average below 6
41st over: Australia 112-7 (Smith 37, Cummins 0) It turns out that Pattinson LBW was missing leg stump. He didn’t even discuss a review with Steve Smith, but replays showed it was sliding down from around the wicket. That also happened with David Warner’s wicket earlier in the day. The umpires, Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson, have had a bit of a beast.
Meanwhile, in the time it took me to type the above, Moeen Ali bowled a maiden to Steve Smith.
Thanks Adam, hello everyone. Yes, yes, enough of the pleasantries, it’s all going off out there!
SECOND BALL! Broad has picked up two in an over! Around the wicket to Pattinson, it is full and fast. He plays all around it. THE COLLAPSE IS ON. Broad has four. What an hour for England!
And with that crazy over dealt with... over to Rob! SCENES!
What. A. Shocking. Shot. In what is surely Broad’s last over of the spell, the Australian captain pops him straight down the throat of Burns at deep square. It got big on him, the contact was dreadful and Paine is walking off, desolate. Australia have lost three in an hour.
39th over: Australia 109-5 (Smith 36, Paine 3) Right, so Moeen is on from the Birmingham City End. He has a big job ahead of him now, having to hold up an end to let Woakes, Broad and Stokes rotate through the Pavilion End in the absence of Anderson. Smith takes one to midwicket but the name of the game is blunting the spin.
38th over: Australia 108-5 (Smith 35, Paine 3) Oh my, that is a ridiculous leg-cutter from Broad to Paine to start his fresh over, pitching middle and missing off, bypassing the outside edge by a centimetre between times. It’s another fantastic set, Broad giving the Australian captain absolutely nothing early on here. With it now very dark at Edgbaston, the ground staff gather to my left. Hmm.
“Great position for England,” says Steve Hudson. “Chris is so Woakes.” I assume we all saw the banner at Glastonbury?
37th over: Australia 108-5 (Smith 35, Paine 3) Warne is getting stuck into Paine already. He’ll be calling for his head at some stage this month, make no mistake. The captain is off the mark with a nice shot, pushing Woakes down the ground with a minimum of fuss, coming back for three. With Anderson out of the attack, they need to get through the rest of this spell and back into Stokes and Moeen.
36th over: Australia 105-5 (Smith 35, Paine 0) 2/22 from eight overs after lunch before this over and it’s ever so close to a third with Broad beating Smith with a delivery that straightens beautifully. A rare bumper follows, Smith getting in behind the rest. This is proper.
BRILLIANT review, Woakes talking Root into it, the captain backing his bowler. Pitching middle, shaping back, hitting in line with off-stump... striking off-stump. Edgbaston goes WILD once again.
35th over: Australia 105-5 (Smith 35)
ANOTHER REVIEW! Has Woakes trapped Wade? He thinks so, challenging the not out decision of Joel Wilson. Here we go again!
34th over: Australia 103-4 (Smith 34, Wade 0) Just when England needed to hold their nerve they have created chances in consecutive overs and Australia have to start again.
Pitching in-line Impact in-line Wickets hitting
It's a desperate review from Head who is trapped LBW by Woakes! ☝️
NOT OUT! Over the top! Just! “You’re going to cry in a minute!” roars the Hollies Stand but the technology supports the decision of the former captain to review. “Talk about knowing where your off-stump is,” says Kumar Sangakkara on telly. Too right. DRAMA!
HAS BROAD GOT SMITH LBW SHOULDERING ARMS? Aleem Dar has given it. Smith has sent it upstairs too! Here we go. Stand by.
33rd over: Australia 99-4 (Smith 29, Wade 0) So nearly two in three balls! Wade, the man who has forced his way into this side, edges his second ball to third slip on the bounce. It’s another super Woaes delivery, the Tasmanian saved by soft hands at the point of contact.
He sure has! Nothing wrong with that, coming back just a tad off the seam and catching the South Australian on the crease. Pitching and hitting in line, middle and off stump is the destination of the ball. A big breakthrough from the local lad, just when times looked tough.
HAS WOAKES TRAPPED HEAD? Joel Wilson says so! But Head is sending it upstairs, making the DRS sign with one second remaining. This is a big moment. Stand by!
32nd over: Australia 98-3 (Smith 29, Head 35) England are trying to get the ball changed, Broad suggesting to Aleem Dar it is out of shape. But he’s having none of that. The chat comes after Broad floats onto Smith’s pads, the main man taking a couple. The key point: this ball has stopped swinging around. “These field placings are suggesting to me,” says David Lloyd, “that England think this is a flat pitch.” Patience is everything, then. Who has more of it?
31st over: Australia 95-3 (Smith 26, Head 35) Very similar to Woakes’ previous set, giving both set men a chance to rotate the strike with balls on the line of their body. England have to keep their cool here.
“The idea of “getting funky” with the batting order recalls for me one classic example from one day cricket—a Benson and Hedges Cup match at Hobart in 1990,” says Edmund King. “Australia decided to reverse their batting order facing a seemingly substandard target from New Zealand. Let’s just say it did not go according to plan, producing this priceless final over from Chris Pringle with Australia needing 1 run to win (Kiwi cricketing folklore; how was that first ball not a wide?, etc. etc.): Good times.”
30th over: Australia 92-3 (Smith 25, Head 33) Broad beats Head outside the off stump and the crowd wake up to make some noise for the first time since the break, encouraged by Root at slip to make some noise ala Virat Kohli. But it his Head who reponds best, stroking Broad beautifully back past his boots for four.
We also have the Women’s British Open blog running today.
29th over: Australia 87-3 (Smith 24, Head 29) Head is defending well and calling loudly, well replaced to clip a couple away when Woakes angles into his pads. He’s now faced 50 deliveries. A big day for him.
28th over: Australia 85-3 (Smith 24, Head 27) A steady re-start for Broad, both batsmen collecting easy singles to long leg moving their partnership to 50. England, of course, have Stokes to help out and bowl plenty of overs with Anderson injured. But still, tough yards.
The players are back on the field! I’m going to commit to pulling the rest of these countries together when Rob takes over at the drinks break. For now, I’m back into the saddle with Stuart Broad, who is bowling to Steve Smith. PLAY!
This might be too much to do before we return, but here goes...
Ghana - Chris Holden
And it’s not good. From the England camp at lunch. “Jimmy Anderson has tightness to his right calf and will have a scan this afternoon. A further update will be given later today. He felt tightness at the end of his fourth over.”
Difficult to know whether that means he will be able to field in the middle session; he was out there before lunch. That certainly feels like he’s cooked for the day, doesn’t it?
27th over: Australia 83-3 (Smith 23, Head 26) Moeen to Head for the final over of this eventful session. He plays it out without concern. A maiden it is as they leave the field for lunch. Still England’s morning after three early wickets but an excellent little fightback from these two, putting on 48 in 76 balls through the second hour.
Broad was brilliant early on, pinning Warner (albeit from a delivery missing leg stump) then finding Bancroft’s edge. Woakes did his bit too, sending down a beauty to Khawaja who looked the part until that point. Smith and Head both took their time before settling then scoring freely in the lead up to the break. They look good.
26th over: Australia 83-3 (Smith 23, Head 26) It is Woakes to replace Stokes, in which will probably be the penultimate over of the session provided he can get it bowled inside four minutes. He’s straighter to Smith than Stokes, playing with a straight bat in response. A bit shorter, with the pentultimate ball, he nearly squares him up but the No4 successfully deflects from high on his blade to third man with soft hands. A bouncer to finish - we haven’t seen many of those.
25th over: Australia 81-3 (Smith 21, Head 26) Smith is solid and patient in defence, seeing off Moeen. Overpitching to finish, he strokes nicely through the gap at cover for three. Into the 20s from 51 deliveries. I can’t remember Smith’s exact average when reaching 50 balls in Test cricket but, if I recall correctly, it is 100-plus.
24th over: Australia 78-3 (Smith 18, Head 26) Five more runs off Stokes, who has been patchy in this spell. Smith plays a pull that we were so familiar with from his first stint in the Test team, holding his pose after completing the shot. After picking up anothersingle in that direction, Head flicks another misdirected delivery for two. Broad or Woakes for a quick one before lunch at this end?
“Why’s Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps for the tests rather than Jos Buttler?” asks Theo. “I know YJB wants the gloves, but is there no consensus on who is the better wicketkeeper?”
23rd over: Australia 73-3 (Smith 15, Head 24) Smith won’t be doing anything before lunch to risk his wicket against Moeen, getting on the front foot time and again to play him cautiously to fielders in front of the wicket. When the spinner drops his length back, the former captain responds by going deep to to clip one. Clever batting.
This morning’s events recommend the suggestion of @collinsadam that teams get funky with their batting order. Play No.8/9 at first drop if it’s seaming a lot early. Makes as much sense as throwing in a blocker at 5pm. Matches can be lost by drinks of the middle session on Day 1
22nd over: Australia 72-3 (Smith 14, Head 24) Another busy over, seven more added - Smith glancing Stokes then Head doing the same, albeit off his backside, for another batch of four leg byes. If it ends up being another low-scoring scrap, this counterattacking period won’t be for nothing. Smith will have a good handle on that.
A massive response to the country call out. I might have knocked off a quarter of the globe in the space of one stint. We’ll see at lunch.
21st over: Australia 65-3 (Smith 11, Head 24) Moeen Ali gets a chance with about 22 minutes remaining until they can grab a bite. He was so important in Australia’s first innings of the 2015 Ashes in Cardiff, ripping through the middle order that day. Head wants a piece of him early though, leaning back in the crease to punch through cover for another boundary - shot - then making it two in a row off the edge. Nothing convincing about that second stroke but the board keeps ticking. Isa Guha notes a bit of variable bounce. Hmm.
From the moment Paul Stirling was out on the first day at Lord's to Usman Khawaja's dismissal at Edgbaston this morning, England took 21 wickets for 148. Gotta hand it to the Aussies, they're doing slightly better than Ireland @collinsadam
20th over: Australia 57-3 (Smith 11, Head 16) Right, ignore what I said about Head having a good old look. Not so much here against Stokes, pulling him through midwicket for four then steering him through point for another. There is plenty of movement from the latter offering away from the bat but he watched it all the way onto his blade. He gets three more to finish, behind point off the edge but without risk because he has made contact with soft hands. And just like that, he has overtaken Steve Smith.
19th over: Australia 46-3 (Smith 11, Head 5) Head is off the mark after a solid half an hour at the crease, driving a couple off Woakes to mid-off then clipping three through midwicket from the delivery that follows. Once again missing his line, Smith’s pad deflects the final ball down to the fine leg rope for leg byes. Ian Botham is getting stuck into the Australian fans, saying they have one song: “Go Aussie Go.” Um, no. That’s not it. For your viewing pleasure at lunch.
18th over: Australia 37-3 (Smith 11, Head 0) Stokes to Smith is a tasty contest, the former beating the bat with the first of his fresh over as the clouds completely shut out the sun here at Edgbaston. It’s a much better set from the all-rounder, Smith leaving by default.
“This is great,” writes Yvonne Beddow. “Every time I come back to the OBO tab and refresh the page, England have taken a wicket!”
17th over: Australia 37-3 (Smith 11, Head 0) I’m going to compile the list of nations at the lunch break, as I’ve created a (lovely) monster with the aim of ticking off every UN nation. Every email is appreciated, trust me, but I best get back to the cricket. Woakes to Smith and the former captain is again off strike early in the over with one, this time to square leg. Head has started well, showing no signs of aggressive against balls that are designed to tempt him outside his off-stump. As James Vince knows, it is a blessing and a curse when you are known for punishing bowlers through extra cover.
16th over: Australia 36-3 (Smith 10, Head 0) Smith gets off strike from the first ball of Stokes’ new over, past mid-off. Head is leaving and evading but the all-rounder’s radar is off, so he can watch a few balls in a row drift down the legside to finish. Stay away from those.
15th over: Australia 35-3 (Smith 9, Head 0) England will know that Head was far from convincing combating during their last home summer, the South Australian routinely messed up by Bumrah and co. Woakes is asking the right questions, Head making contact a couple of times and leaving very close to his off-stump. Nothing wrong with that. A wicket maiden for Birmingham’s favourite son.
“No wedding day misshaps but this was the music we walked out of the long room at Trent Bridge too last year after we got married,” tweets @Berdo7. Speaking of twitter, @stalin_great (??) says he is in “the Soviet Socialist Republic of Bali, where Mrs Stalina has just understood the real reason why I have cried off from taking her out to eat tonight - OBO! Has any Leader of the Masses made a greater sacrifice for cricket?” More conventionally: @Markzip is in South West Ireland, Stephen Cooke in Spain, John Allen South Korea and @ehjchess is waiting his turn at the dentist. And Ibiza for @jw1789 - with wine.
A tiny outside edge! Given not out on the field but there was no way that England weren’t reviewing that. Technology quickly confirms the feather. There was just enough movement from a full length; perfect bowling in these conditions with the still new-ish ball.
14th over: Australia 35-2 (Khawaja 13, Smith 9) Stokes is into the attack and gives Khawaja something gentle on the pads, which he clips away with ease for four. Happy batting. A quicker ball follows, beating his blade and thumpsinginto his pad, but it has pitched outside leg so there is nothing to worry about. Going well, he is.
“Morning Collo, great to have you on the tools.” Nick Toovey! The loosest man on all the internet. “Now that that first hour’s nerves have settled, are you also noticing that ball isn’t carrying through very well? Could just be me (and I’m sneaking in a few balls here and there after an office move has situated the MD right behind my desk – the same MD who has begged me to do some work over the course of the next 6 weeks), but the catch to slip dropped low, the keeper and slips aren’t standing that far back, and balls are being taken at knee height. Could be a fourth-innings sponge?”
13th over: Australia 30-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 9) After nearly beating cover with a nice drive, Khawaja goes down the ground off Woakes for three along the carpet. Nice shot. He’s looked very tidy so far. Smith defends the rest, getting Australia to the end of the first hour.
“I’m sure you’re aware that TMS managed (by one means or another) to get a listener in every (UN) country in the world over the course of the World Cup,” says Graeme Thorn. “I wonder if you (that is, the Guardian) are planning onattempting something similar for the Ashes OBO this year?”
12th over: Australia 27-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 9) After causing Smith so much trouble in his previous over, Broad gives him another full ball to deal with, this time timing it behind point for four. That’ll help build the confidence. As will the fact that Broad must be nearly done for now. Perhaps Anderson will follow him from this end?
11th over: Australia 23-2 (Khawaja 5, Smith 5) That’s Smith at his most confident, getting across his stumps to whip Woakes through midwicket - off the mark with the stroke, racing down to the rope. He grabs another single around the corner to keep the strike, again after shuffling across his woodwork. You do you, Steve. You do you.
“Moved to New Zealand six years ago from the UK but currently on a tiny island off the coast of mainland Fiji with very dicey mobile reception so unfortunately no TMS for me but as ever enjoying the OBO and one of my brothers what’s apping the important bits to me in real time,” reports Ian Rinn. “Will be with you for another hour or so before sleep but keep up the great work and look forward to reading the full OBO over breakfast. Same to my brother Chris and it seems the England bowling attack!”
10th over: Australia 17-2 (Khawaja 4, Smith 0) Broad is up again! There’s a sound when the ball passes Smith but it is off the pad - they don’t go upstairs. A near carbon-copy of the first ball later on, again clipping Smith on the pad flap before ending up with Bairstow. The TV tells us that Broad has never bowled fuller in a spell than he has so far this morning, according to CricViz. He finishes by beating Smith with a beauty. Of course, he’s been at the bowling crease for the defining spell of the last three Ashes series in this county.
9th over: Australia 17-2 (Khawaja 4, Smith 0) Woakes is into the attack because Anderson left the field at the end of his previous over. We’re asking for an update from the England camp - stand by for that. Of course, this is Jimmy’s first game back after the calf injury that he picked a month ago. The Brummy Botham is right on the mark to Khawaja, who plays him very watchfully to begin.
Warner ✅ Bancroft ✅
What a start from Broad!
He finds the edge after a full delivery and Root clings on!
8th over: Australia 17-2 (Khawaja 4, Smith 0) There is a man at short point for Smith, a position they had for the former Australian captain in Brisbane 18 months ago when he went on to make one of the best tons of his career. And he immediately picks him out. It’s on the bounce; an old-fashioned crowd catch. This is fantastic stuff.
“As probably one of your younger OBOers at 17 entranced by ‘Is It Cowardly To Pray For Rain’ and ‘766 And All That’ I’m following from Napier, NZ on a rugby tour,” writes Bertie Heaver. “It’s nearly 10:30 here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Classic Stuart Broad dismissal! Bancroft hangs the bat at a delivery just short of a length, nipping away enough to collect the outside edge. Joe Root does the rest at slip. The crowd once again give it big with Bancroft leaving and Smith replacing him. England are flying.
7th over: Australia 13-1 (Bancroft 4, Khawaja 4) Bancroft is more at home against Anderson this time around, making good contact in defence then keeping the strike with the third leg bye so far.
Merv Hughes is in the crowd, Adam Hirst tells me. I had the great pleasure of spending a night in the pub with him before the World Cup semi-final. I worked out very quickly that the key was sitting back, strapping in and enjoying the ride.
6th over: Australia 12-1 (Bancroft 4, Khawaja 4) Nice. Bancroft is off the mark with a defensive stroke that’s timed so well that it runs away for four down to long-off. A leg-bye is added when Broad misses his line. One to finish and Khawaja is off the mark with a delightful clip through midwicket, making two fours from the over.
“Hi Adam.” Hi, Harry O’Brien. “During Edgbaston Ashes 2005, I was seated next to a huge swathe of Aussie fans, so the closest bar was a sea of yellow every day. The nearest loo was an Aussie stronghold too. During Australia’s 2nd innings when things were getting tense, Gilchrist came to the crease as I headed to the loo, keeping in touch with the goings on through my ear-piece and transistor radio. Surrounded by 30 or 40 Aussies and struggling to hear my radio over the noise of water hitting stainless steel, excited voices in my ear- piece said Gilchrist was out!! For one run!! My excited shout of ‘Gilly’s gone!!’ was greeted with sudden silence. The sound of water on steel had instantly stopped as the shock news interrupted 35 flows. It remains the most satisfying moment of my life. Thanks for your brilliant OBO.”
5th over: Australia 3-1 (Bancroft 0, Khawaja 0) Anderson’s turn, bowling with five slips from his favoured Birmingham City End. Bancroft gets out of the frying pan from the second ball of the set, acquring a leg bye from his thigh pad. Khawaja defends and leaves well until the final delivery, which evades his outside edge after doing plenty off the track. Jimmy turned 37 this week. So good.
“First impressions of seeing the names and numbers on the shirts are mixed,” writes Hugh Molloy. “I unexpectedly like being able to sport who’s where’s on the field and even the batsmen being highlighted. However, the numbers, which take up 80% of the real estate, are a pointless and useless abomination. Also, the font could be a bit more sympathetic. It looks like it was chosen by the chap who did Carpetright and SportsDirect’s signage.”
Broad strikes! ☝️
Warner is hit in front but DRS shows it's going down leg!
4th over: Australia 2-1 (Bancroft 0, Khawaja 0) IT WAS MISSING! Just going down the legside! What a HUGE early moment in this game. Khawaja defends the one delivery left in the successful Broad over.
I’ve been asked a lot about the handshakes. I can confirm, via the England camp, that they were not asked to participate by Australia.
He’s gone this time! Warner misses a far fuller deliver that is only going one place from around the wicket. Aleem Dar raises his finger and England are UP AND ABOUT. No review considered. Warner looks straight ahead as the Hollies Stand send him off - loudly.
BROAD THINKS HE HAS WARNER LBW! Root lets him go upstairs to challenge the Aleem Dar’s decision but it is shown to be going well over the top of leg stump. England give up a referral.
3rd over: Australia 2-0 (Bancroft 0, Warner 2) Anderson beats Warner to begin this time, angling away in that dreamy Jimmy fashion. Later in in the over, he finds an inside edge with one that goes the other way, deflecting back onto his pad. That gives Bancroft one ball to see out and he beats him again with a beauty. Great start.
“Did they handshake?” asks Damian Walsh from a meeting room in Madrid. Evidently not. Spicy.
2nd over: Australia 1-0 (Bancroft 0, Warner 1) Broad is down the legside to begin but both he and Bairstow are fairly interested in the caught behind down the legside? I tell you what, the the technology suggests it was... off the toe of the bat? Blimey. Imagine that went upstairs; Warner would have been out first ball! Instead, he’s off the mark later in the over with a push through cover. It gives Bancroft a couple of deliveries to negotiate and he’s beaten by the first, again in that channel just outside the off-stump. That’s his spot. Lovely.
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Bancroft 0, Warner 0) Jimmy Anderson: set and forget. He beats Bancroft with the third ball of the series, the first that the opener elected to play at. The swing, the shape, the oohs and aahs from the crowd. Delicious. The West Australian makes contact with the last couple, which will feel good. Welcome!
The players are on the field! Here we go! Anderson vs Bancroft. The crowd do their thing as the controversial pair make their way to the middle. PLAY!
Let’s get a few emails in here. My apologies in advance for missing many of these during this morning stint; it going to be that kind of OBO. But I’ll do my best to manage the inbox and the updates.
“I’ve just had my pre-series hair cut and beard trim so definitely ready for action now,” says Brian Withington. “Going along to watch tomorrow for my first Ashes expedition to Edgbaston in about 20 odd years. Can’t wait - like a kid on Christmas Eve who’s really not sure whether Santa will decide if I’ve been naughty or nice.”
“Going on a tangent here,” as is your right as an OBO emailer, Abhinav Dutta. “So I am sat at work, fuming at my bosses and squinting for some corner to catch the cricket in without unnecessary supervision. Anyway had to ask, how does one channel Mitchell Johnson like ferocity while retaining the easy going flow of Ice Cube? Would so love to give them bosses a Mitch Johnson death stare before hollering ‘Chickity-check yo self before you wreck yourself’ at their faces.”
Gosh, how I loved watching the Ashes when I shouldn’t have been as a kid at school then later when I had a proper job. Lovely memories.
That TMS link I put up was the non-UK one, to avoid any confusion. If you are in the UK, pick it up at the usual BBC places.
“Just wondering,” asks Peter da Silva. “Has the fusion of his spine changed his bowling style, would have thought it would have to? Vague memory of him being a bit of an all rounder in the 2013 series in England before getting injured.”
Shane Warne is happy with the attack. Not surprising, given his long-held views on Mitch Starc. Those teams as named.
England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
An easy decision, he says. “It looks better than we were expecting it. It looks hard and dry.” He then talks about having Nathan Lyon at his disposal later in the game. As for the team... Pete Siddle is IN!
Six changes from the last Test Australia played in. As expected, no Starc and Hazlewood; Cummins and Pattinson are the other two seamers. A big, bold call from the Australian camp. “We think Pete Siddle in this match complements the other two very nicely.”
Just quickly before I’m asked... the TMS link, thanks to Alastair Ferguson. Enjoy! Norcross is in fine form, I can assure you of that.
“Good morning.” Hello Tom Marlow. He then makes about 17 jokes about the Newslands saga. I’m going to publish them all, unedited, and that’ll be that in terms of today’s OBO, I reckon. Sound good?
“Australia look good on paper but with the suspended players all back can it still be called a scratch side? I wonder if their tactics will go with the grain or will they have some well-polished new drills? Roughly speaking it might be a grind playing five tests after the WC but I’m sure Smith is looking forward to getting his pads on, Warner will be buffed up for the contest and Bancroft will want a smooth transition back into the fold even if the reception might be abrasive. Anyway, I’m sure the only DIY cricket we’ll see is the kind of improvised not-in-the-manual brilliance all these Test players are capable of. Shine on you cricketing diamonds. I can’t wait.”
Steve Smith is on Sky Cricket with Nasser. He has him in the nets in a pre-filmed feature, going through his strange set-up and so on. If this were any other series, Smith and Warner’s return would be the only story - but this is no normal series. “I don’t particularly like watching that much,” Smith said in relation to his batting obsession. He’s now got Nas throwing balls at him! He can’t be stopped!
I saw a senior Barmy Army member in the lift in this morning who told me they have 500 members ready to roll this morning in the Hollies Stand. It’ll be fun to watch but I don’t think it’ll mean much.
#EdSmith likes to give #JoeRoot options for the final XI. For start of #Ashes, extra variety: Stone’s rough pace, Archer’s smooth pace, Curran’s left-arm swing. Root has shelved the lot for a vanilla seam attack, all right-arm, all mid-80s. Relying on ball & pitch @collinsadam
Steve Waugh is here with the Australian team. Just as it was during the World Cup when Justin Langer had Ricky Ponting in a tracksuit, the former captain is serving as a mentor. Here he was pre-Test.
Nice bit from Ian Ward on Sky Cricket then. “Athers, what would you do if you won the toss?” He replies: “Bat.” Ward again, looking at Nasser: “Actually, I’m not going to ask you.” Very good.
What do we think of the World Test Championship? It begins today as well, don’t you know. The main thing you will notice this morning is that there are numbers on the players’ shirts. But there is more to it than that. The WTC, in short:
Some highlights from Joe Root’s presser, too.
Speaking of Tim Paine. His press conference yesterday provided plenty of fresh meat. Is Edgbaston the most intimidating venue where he has played? Naaaah, not in the top 15, champ. The Churchill non-quote was good craic too. All fun and games.
Had a funny old time last night. From Birmingham to Bristol for the final Women’s Ashes T20 then back to where we started. I’m not entirely sure where Geoff Lemon ended up sleeping, but that’s the way these things go sometimes. On the park, Katherine Brunt turned the clock back (29 not out and 3/21) and England found a good’un, Mady Villiers, who combined with fellow 20-year-old tweaker Sophie Ecclestone for five matchwinning wickets between them.
But it was a consolation win, the trophy very much going back to Australia - retained at the earliest possible opportunity; finishing the multi-format series with a points triumph of 12 to 4. Ellyse Perry was magnificent throughout (finishing 60 not out in the failed chase last night), leading the tournament for both runs and wickets. Of course.
James Pattinson is speaking on Channel Nine in Australia. He is very excited, as you would expect. Acknowledges the nerves in the rooms but the positive vibes as well. Happy with the preparation down in Southampton last week. Day one is about setting the tone.
Have you see Patto bowl recently? If not, get your eyes on this from the Sheffield Shield final in March. It’s hard to believe that only this time last year, after having his spine fused together in an operation over in New Zealand, there was no guarantee he’d bowl in long-form cricket again. At last, at age 29, he is back in business. Big time.
Oh boy, here it is. Morning one. So much build up, so much phony war, so much Ashez Bantz. But it means not a jot when the clock strikes 11 here at Edgbaston this morning. You know it’s a Big Day on the cricket calendar when we fire up the OBO this far out from the first ball and days don’t come much bigger than this for us here.
The news from the ground is that the weather is a image directly from Jimmy Anderson’s dreams: muggy and cloudy. The track is brown, but I am told the grass that was there yesterday will still be present when the first ball is bowled. Surely this also means that Pete Siddle will win the final spot in the Australian side - a great story.
That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Vic’s match report and Geoff’s piece on Joe Root’s weird escape. Thanks for your company and emails - night!
“I haven’t faced Nathan Lyon before. I just wanted to see what his variations were and how he was gonna try to move me around the crease. I felt most comfortable staying a little bit leg side of the ball. You could almost see him go up and try to hit the shit… sorry, hit the rough a little bit, and then when he was trying to slide one on to hit the pad.
The centurion Rory Burns is chatting on Sky Sports
“Quite an enjoyable experience, that. It was awesome. The Hollies Stand was rocking and it was quite an experience. There’s been a lot of hard work from a lot of people – not just myself but also coaches, parents and other people. That’s for them.
England trail by 17 runs with six first-innings wickets remaining
That was an old-fashioned opener’s Test hundred from Burns, who showed a lot of mental clarity, never mind strength. Australia’s bowlers didn’t do much wrong, but there was little assistance apart from a short period after the old ball was changed. They had no luck, either - Root was bowled without the bails coming off, Burns survived an LBW appeal that would have been out had they reviewed, and the ball went past the edge at least 50 times.
90th over: England 267-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 38) That’s the end of a fine day for England, and especially Rory Burns. He batted throughout to make his maiden Test century, and a number of the Australian players congratulate him before he walks off to a standing ovation.
89th over: England 265-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 37) Siddle looks weary. It’s been extremely hard work for the Diet Coke men, Cummins and Pattinson, so it must be even tougher for a 34-year-old grimacer. He should be happy with his day’s work, though: he has figures of 21-5-43-1, and the one was Joe Root.
There are four overs remaining, but we won’t get them all because play will finish at 6.30pm. This over, from Peter Siddle, might be the last of the day.
88th over: England 265-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 36) Breaking news: Rory Burns will sleep well tonight. He must have expended so much mental energy. He is beaten by yet another jaffa from Lyon. According to the Sky Sports scorer Benedict Bermange, that’s the 34th time he’s played and missed today.
“Hope you’re enjoying this as much as I,” says Bill Hargreaves. “I can’t believe how little work I’ve got done today. The dogs are unwalled and the floors unhoovered, never mind very little actual work done. It is, however, only the bloody second day of a new Ashes series and the place is rocking.”
87th over: England 263-4 (Burns 123, Stokes 37) Siddle replaces Pattinson, who has figures of 17-2-54-2 on his return to Test cricket. Stokes, on the walk, works Siddle round the corner for four. It might be an illusion, because I can’t get the bloody World Cup out of my head, but it feels like Stokes is batting with greater assurance and authority than in recent Test series.
“The World Cup was incredible,” says Guy Hornsby, responding to my response in the 79th over. “Honestly still get my head around it - as you know - but I’m not sure I could handle one for at least another 47 months. And I can’t listen to that song again. For all sorts of reasons.”
86th over: England 259-4 (Burns 123, Stokes 32) With seven overs remaining,Nathan Lyon returns to the attack. Burns tries to cut a wide grubber and bottom-edges it between Paine’s legs for four. A few deliveries from Lyon have kept low, which is unusual on the second day of a game. England trail by 25 runs.
“Inspired by the story of Sarah O’Regan at 16:35, here’s one about cricket in Berlin,” says Milind Pania. “I fell back in love with cricket during the World Cup. Cricket fever was back and I taped up a couple of tennis balls and got together some friends to play cage cricket. A couple of Englishmen, an Aussie, an Italian and a German, the latter two having never played before.
85th over: England 254-4 (Burns 119, Stokes 31) The crowd are cheering every defensive stroke - or, to put it in layman’s terms, booze sales have been good today. England have generally looked comfortable against the second new ball, although Burns is beaten when he tries to drive Pattinson. Australia’s bowlers have been excellent today.
84th over: England 250-4 (Burns 117, Stokes 30) Stokes walks down the track to Cummins and is beaten by a monstrous seaming lifter. His response, later in the over, is a glorious, hold-the-pose straight drive for four. This is a superb contest between world cricket’s premier indefatigables.
83rd over: England 243-4 (Burns 117, Stokes 23) That was a relatively poor over from Pattinson, who didn’t make Burns play enough.
Here’s John Starbuck. “Presumably, if it isn’t already, Rory Burns’ new nickname must be Slow.”
It pitched well outside leg, so Australia lose a review. They have one left.
Australia review for LBW against Burns!
Burns survives a huge LBW appeal from Pattinson. I reckon this pitched outside leg - but Tim Paine goes for the review with two seconds remaining.
82nd over: England 242-4 (Burns 117, Stokes 22) Pat Cummins takes the new ball. Burns leaves on length a ball that hits the flap of the pad and flies to the boundary. Not that Englan get any runs: it’s a dead ball, as he wasn’t playing a shot. Burns has faced 258 balls in this innings. Not many England openers, Sir Alastair Cook aside, have done that since Andrew Strauss retired. Only three, in fact.
Here’s your friend and m- here’s Mac Millings. ““You will be pleased to know, Rob, that a review of ‘Kaiser!: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football’ has just been submitted to Amazon, describing you as ‘the Wodehouse de nos jours’.”
81st over: England 242-4 (Burns 117, Stokes 22) Burns survives a precautionary run-out referral after being sent back by Stokes. That’s the start of a tricky over for England. Burns, done in the flight, gets a leading edge short of cover before Stokes just jabs his bat down on a grubber. And I mean just. That was very close to another comedy LBW.
Meanwhile, here’s some news on England’s ever-depleting seam-bowling pool.
80th over: England 241-4 (Burns 116, Stokes 22) A maiden from Head. The new ball is available, but Lyon will continue with the old one for now.
“Hi Rob,” says Nico Bentley. “All this talk of Brendon McCullum reminds me of when I first saw him play back in 2004. I was a young student in Leeds with an already long history in club cricket and a Test match-obsessed father. Being the dutiful son I am, I purchased two tickets for the second day of the Headingley Test in my first year against New Zealand. What followed was one of the worst days of Test cricket I have ever seen with an absolute abomination of a hundred scored by a young Kiwi upstart. It was a truly awful knock. He didn’t middle one all day and both myself, and my father, walked away from the ground drunk hoping to never have to watch that poor excuse for a cricketer again. That cricketer was you-know-who and we still have the taste of humble pie in our mouths.”
79th over: England 241-4 (Burns 116, Stokes 22) Burns mistimes a slog-sweep off Lyon, but it clears mid-on and runs away for a couple. The second new ball will be available in one over’s time. There’s a storm a-comin.
“We all loved the outrageous, what-the-eff-just-happened adrenaline shot of the World Cup, but this is sipping a fine claret with a plentiful cheese selection great,” says Guy Hornsby. “It feels so absolutely right. And we’re only two days in, and it feels like about five matches in one. I guess the next one happens a few overs time, with Aussies desperate to get back into it. The best games are the ones you never really know if you’re ahead. Well, best unless you’re the captain.”
78th over: England 239-4 (Burns 114, Stokes 22) Wade is replaced by another part-timer, the offspinner Travis Head. Burns belts a piece of filth for four.
“Ah, really feeling like the Ashes now,” says Matt Dony. “Sunny Friday evening, a week’s work behind me, and an exciting Test match. Brilliant. The last series was slightly ruined for me by the fact that I started a new job, meaning I had many nights of trying to decide just how irresponsibly late I should stay up, trying to make sure I wasn’t leaving myself too exhausted to make a good impression on my new employers. (By now, of course, my feet are suitably under-the-desk enough that I can lock my office door, put on TMS, read the OBO, and plod through my work.) But now, I have a free weekend, and the Ashes shall be enjoyed. Happiest of happy days.”
77th over: England 232-4 (Burns 109, Stokes 20) Stokes, who is playing nicely, laps Lyon for four more. This game is beautifully poised. There are 15 overs remaining tonight, and if Australia pick up two wickets with the new ball I think they’ll be fairly happy.
“I too was intrigued by the Cremation promo flashing up opposite us earlier (Matt Bell over 58),” says Brian Withington. “I can second your observation that a funeral business can indeed screw up. Our West Midlands service provider went bust, retaining possession of my Dad’s ashes. After much fruitless pursuit we finally got a call from a friendly neighbourhood bailiff who had entered the premises on behalf of the landlord. He didn’t find much worth seizing but did discover half a dozen urns of which Dad’s was the easiest surname to locate locally.”
76th over: England 228-4 (Burns 109, Stokes 16) Matthew Wade, one-time wicketkeeper, comes on to bowl an over or two of medium pace. His first-class record is reasonable (eight wickets at 32). And although his first over is a bit of a mess, he almost bags a bonus wicket when Burns clunks a pull over mid-on for two. For a split-second that looked like it might go to hand.
75th over: England 221-4 (Burns 104, Stokes 15) Stokes sweeps Lyon firmly and authoritatively for four.It’ll be fascinating to see whether his Test batting, which hasn’t been great in the last couple of years, is empowered by all those superb innings he played during the World Cup.
“Absolutely chuffed to bits for Rory Burns,” says Phil Sawyer. “Also, according to TMS, that century means that Surrey now draw level with Yorkshire in terms of number of England test centurions (22, I think they said). Boycott didn’t sound too pleased at the prospect. As a Lancastrian, this makes me very happy.”
74th over: England 216-4 (Burns 103, Stokes 11) Burns is beaten, flashing very loosely at a wide tempter from Siddle. That was the shot of a man who’s just made his maiden Test hundred, and whose mind is playing Hall & Oates.
“How good is proper cricket?” asks Jason Ali. “Alongside Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, Wren’s St Paul’s, Guinness, and rhubarb crumble and custard it has to be one of mankind’s greatest creations.”
73rd over: England 215-4 (Burns 102, Stokes 11) Stokes, trying to cut Lyon, edges just over the head of Bancroft at gully and away for four. Bancroft responds by putting on a helmet.
“What’s the score,” says Paul Godfrey, “since they changed the ball?”
72nd over: England 210-4 (Burns 101, Stokes 7) Stokes gets his first boundary with a stylish, wristy back cut off Siddle. That’s drinks.
“Plenty of Australian players applauding Rory Burns which, given how much luck he has enjoyed, was pretty decent,” says Gary Naylor. “I suspect they recognise something of their own much vaunted ticker in that knock. I hope Chris Rogers, another left-handed opener who scored plenty of Ashes runs and didn’t care for Impostor Syndrome, had a wry smile too.”
71st over: England 205-4 (Burns 100, Stokes 3) There was a lovely roar from the crowd when Rory Burns made his hundred, while Jason Roy on the balcony could not have looked happier had he scored a century himself. Burns has achieved something that will make him happy for the rest of his days, because you are never a former Test centurion. That’s in the Wisden Almanack forever. Until they put it all online and get rid of the records section completely. Bloody progress.
“Hi Rob,” says Jessica Morgan. “Should Australia, or anyone, be allowed to change the ball when the new ball is soon due?”
As they say in the leafier parts of Surrey, ya dancer! Rory Burns works Lyon for a quick single to reach his first century in his eighth Test. It’s been a triumph of patience, self-awareness, mental strength and, yes, good fortune. It’s hard not to be utterly thrilled for a bloke who had to wait so long to play Test cricket, and who a week ago would have been dreading a call from Ed Smith.
There was actually a run-out referral when Burns reached his hundred, but he knew he was home and he celebrated long before the third umpire gave him not out.
70th over: England 203-4 (Burns 99, Stokes 2) Stokes works Siddle’s fourth ball for a single, but Burns can’t get a single off either of the last two deliveries.
“Hello Rob,” says Geoff Wignall. “Wasn’t that Amazon review referencing Barbara Wodehouse?”
69th over: England 202-4 (Burns 99, Stokes 1) Burns stays on 99 after a maiden from Lyon. He was beaten twice by delicious deliveries, both of which had the spinner’s hat-trick of drift, turn and bounce.
68th over: England 202-4 (Burns 99, Stokes 1) Cummins goes around the wicket to Burns, who touches a poor delivery off the pads for four. A single takes him to 99. Ninety-nine. Ninety-nine. We take sporting achievement for granted, but just imagine his internal monologue right now. He’s one away from a maiden Test century, on his Ashes debut, barely a week after many people said his Test career was over.
Here’s Savraj Grewal. “That sequence of events described by Sarah O’Regan in the 63rd over was pretty much the only thing missing from the last 20 minutes of the World Cup final.”
67th over: England 197-4 (Burns 94, Stokes 1) Nathan Lyon replaces Pattinson, which is a surprise given how much the replacement ball is doing. There are two left-handers at the crease, which must be the reason. His first ball is too short, which allows Burns to cut his first run in 19 deliveries. He gets it spot on later in the over, beating Burns with a seductive, dipping off-break. That was gorgeous bowling, though the rest of the over was pretty ordinary.
66th over: England 194-4 (Burns 92, Stokes 0) We’re into phase three of this fascinating match. Since the ball change, England are 9-2 from six overs. In that time, Cummins has figures of 3-3-0-1.
“Hello Rob,” says Dave Seare. “I like this new ICC initiative to spark the game into life with an extra new ball after 60 overs.”
This is magnificent stuff from Pat Cummins, who has gone up 5mph since the ball change. Buttler, squared up by some sharp movement, edges low towards gully and is beautifully caught by Cameron Bancroft. That was a classic fast-bowler’s dismissal - the line and length were immaculate as well - and Buttler was blameless.
65th over: England 194-3 (Burns 92, Buttler 5) Ah, apparently the replacement balls are also from this year’s batch. Either way, Australia have picked a good one. Pattinson continues to probe outside the off stump of Burns, who leaves as often as possible. He’s been stuck on 92 for 17 balls, though he doesn’t look particularly perturbed.
“You should NEVER trust online ‘reviews’,” says Martin Coult. “They are often ‘planted’ (often by robot) to boost the service/trader’s ratings OR They originate with the service/trader’s competitors who want to show them in a poor light.”
64th over: England 193-3 (Burns 92, Buttler 4) Burns, lunging forward optimistically, is beaten on the inside by Cummins, who then goes past the outside edge on a couple of occasions. That was a brilliant over. This ball is doing a lot more, in the air and off the pitch. Nasser Hussain reckons the replacement balls are from last year’s Duke batch, which moved a lot more; if that’s the case, both teams will be at the umpires throughout the series.
63rd over: England 193-3 (Burns 92, Buttler 4) I think it was seam movement rather than swing that did for Denly. Either way, Pattinson has got this replacement ball chatting. This is a dangerous time for England because he has the ability to take wickets in clusters. Whatever the match situation, however, a half-volley is a half-volley, and Buttler gets off the mark by lacing Pattinson to the cover boundary.
“Speaking of over rates, recently I played an innings of exactly one ball,” says Sarah O’Regan. “We were out in the back field under a blistering French sky. One bowler (boyfriend), one batsperson (me), two fielders (one Frenchman, one dog). Boyfriend bowls me a yorker which, being a tennis ball, bounces handily up. I give it a good smack across the field. Watson (dog, not Frenchman) goes sprinting after it - great fielding, we all thought - but then he snatches it up, crosses the boundary, runs into the house and gets straight into bed. The question is, did I score four runs or not?”
Joe Denly is on his way. He played around a superb, full-length nipbacker from Pattinson and was given out LBW by Joel Wilson. Denly was angling for a review but Burns persuaded him otherwise. It looked plumb.
62nd over: England 189-2 (Burns 92, Denly 18) No swing for Cummins in that over, and Burns defends solidly. A maiden.
“The ball is 62 overs old and the bowlers are tired,” says Hugh Molloy. “That’s when Jason Roy should be unleashed.”
61st over: England 189-2 (Burns 92, Denly 18) The Aussies have convinced the umpires to change the ball in the hope the replacement will swing. And it does, instantly, for Pattinson. Although Denly drives impressively through mid-off for four, that was a very encouraging over for Australia.
60th over: England 185-2 (Burns 92, Denly 14) Burns lunges at Cummins, his feet skittering around with the same elegance and purpose you’ll see on high streets up and down the land at 11.30 tonight, and is beaten. But he moves into the nineties - the nineties, against Australia - with a nice push drive through extra cover for four. That drum-and-bass track you can hear is Rory Burns’ heartbeat.
“Starc’s red ball form has declined since the middle of that series vs. South Africa,” says Marie Meyer. “Can’t think why...”
59th over: England 179-2 (Burns 86, Denly 14) “You brought a huge smile to my face with those Brendon McCullum stats,” says Ryan Price. “I used to spend hours on this site going through iconic players stats and making them as favourable or as bad as I could whether I liked them or not to justify my bias…”
Statsguru is great. You can prove anything, even that Bradman was rubbish. That said, those McCullum stats cover his career after the death of Phillip Hughes, which had a profound impact on the way he played.
58th over: England 178-2 (Burns 85, Denly 14) Burns drags Cummins into the leg side for a single, which makes this his highest Test score. For all the imperfections and idiosyncrasies, he has shown admirable mental strength. He went into this match with everybody assuming he would be the next cab back on the rank.
Denly is beaten on the inside by a good delivery from Cummins. This is his fourth spell and his pace is down to around 82-84mph, but he is still bowling some jaffas.
57th over: England 177-2 (Burns 84, Denly 14) Lyon starts after tea to Burns, who should be refreshed after a break and a nice cool glass of pleasemothercricketletmegetanother18runs. He works a couple of singles off Lyon, equalling his highest Test score in the process, before Denly thwacks a boundary through the covers. There are no guarantees - not in this world, not with this England team - but this is a great opportunity to put Australia away. I doubt conditions will be friendlier for batting throughout the series.
“Afternoon, Rob,” says the OBO’s resident bohemian, Phil Sawyer. “Have to agree on the inclusion of Pattinson and Siddle. Both have had lethal spells in the county championship; Pattinson took a bucket full of wickets for me in the fantasy cricket during his first spell with Notts. Also, if the Aussies had left either of them out and been looking at the same scoreline right now, you’d be being bombarded by emails from county cricket followers decrying the decision. So at least you’ve been saved that. PS. It’s Friday night in Penang and I’m in my hotel room drinking a warm beer and listening to TMS. I know.”
This is a hard game to appraise. We’ve already had two Tests in one: 122 for eight in helpful bowling conditions until around 3pm yesterday, 332 for four on a flat deck since. Australia will hope there is a third Test to come, in which the ball turns square and Nathan Lyon wins the match.
I’ll be back in 15 minutes for the extended evening session. In the meantime, why not say hello to the man who invented liveblogs, Scott Murray? Yeah, nice one, Scotty. Thanks, pal.
56th over: England 170-2 (Burns 82, Denly 9) Gorgeous batting from Denly, who drives Siddle classically between extra cover and mid-off for four. That’s the shot of the day so far. His defence has been less assured so far, however, and he survives an LBW appeal off the final ball of the session when Siddle gets one to nip back from outside off stump. It was going over the top. That’s tea.
55th over: England 164-2 (Burns 82, Denly 3) Burns cuts Lyon for another single, which takes him to within two of his highest Test score and 18 of you-know-what. Denly has a couple of hairy moments later in the over, bat-padding short of silly point and flicking wide of short leg.
“I agree with Pete,” says Graham O’Reilly. “Cummins ahead of Starc seems very weird. There’s not enough variety or aggression.”
54th over: England 162-2 (Burns 81, Denly 2) Burns, trying to leave Siddle at the last minute, unwittingly deflects the ball just wide of off stump. A single takes him to 81 before Denly is beaten by a beautiful outswinger, delivered from wide on the crease. Lovely bowling.
“Siddle going for 1.7 rpo, keeping a lid on it,” says Jack Jorgensen. “No problem with the selection, has Root’s wicket. Pattinson and Cummins going above 3, and Siddle provides control. Lyon can also attack from the other end with Siddle bowling.”
53rd over: England 161-2 (Burns 80, Denly 2) “I’ve been playing a fair bit of Cricket 19 recently,” writes Max Cornell. “I’m not very good at it so I just play it on easy, but it’s given me the false belief that batsmen should be swinging at absolutely everything and that an over with fewer than three boundaries is, quite simply, a failure. That probably also explains why my player has a strike rate of 300+ but an average of about 30.”
52nd over: England 160-2 (Burns 79, Denly 2) Joe Denly, making his Ashes debut at 33, gets off the mark by flicking Siddle through square leg for a couple. That’s your lot, although there were another couple of confident strokes for no run.
“I do think you should let up on Burns,” says Romeo. “He’s doing what no England opener for ages has been able to do: stick in there and grind it out, making ugly runs while riding his luck. (I wrote this before Sanga said much the same thing on commentary.) And please put up this link for poor Ravikiran.”
51st over: England 158-2 (Burns 79, Denly 0) Lyon beats Burns with a ripper that turns and bounces- but when he drops short later in the over, Burns slams it emphatically through the covers for four. This is a vital little spell before tea; Australia will fancy their chances of picking up one or even two more in the next 20 minutes.
50th over: England 154-2 (Burns 75, Denly 0) That’s the first time in the last 22 innings that Root has been dismissed between 50 and 100. His problem, in recent times, has been getting to fifty rather than converting.
Brilliant! Peter Siddle has dismissed Joe Root with a superb reaction catch off his bowling. Root played a lofted drive back towards Siddle, who thrust out his right hand to grab the ball in his follow through.
49th over: England 153-1 (Burns 75, Root 57) Nathan Lyon, Australia’s likeliest matchwinner, returns to the attack. He beats Burns with a beautiful off-break that just misses the off stump and bursts through Paine for a bye. England will want a big first-innings lead as Lyon insurance, as he’ll be a handful in the fourth innings.
“Wanting to get in first with this, but leaving out Starc and Hazlewood, wtf?” says Pete Salmon. “This has been sold as a terrific paradigm shift by Australia, but it seemed nuts at the toss, and even more nuts now. And do I remember rightly how cross they both were after Warner fingered them for sandpaper-gate? Kicked out of their WhatApp group etc. Will this be one of those things where when Aus lose the series 3-0 we find out how ugly it was in the dressing room? When it’s no longer useful for us to know?”
48th over: England 152-1 (Burns 75, Root 57) Root tucks Cummins to the fine-leg boundary to reach an important, controlled half-century from 110 balls. The Edgbaston crowd respond by booing Steve Smith, which is disappointing. He limps away in pain after inside-edging the next ball onto his knee. There was an LBW appeal too, as it was pad first, but it hit him well outside the line of off stump.
An eventful over continues when Burns survives a run-out chance. He had given up and was well short of his ground when Khawaja’s throw from backward point missed the stumps. That was a strange incident, in that it was a dreadful call and also a peculiarly tame throw from Khawaja.
#Ashes After watching Steve Smith make one of the all-time best Test hundreds, Rory Burns has set his heart on making one of the worst
47th over: England 144-1 (Burns 75, Root 49) Root thick edges Pattinson between second slip and gully for four. On reflection, he may have meant to steer it into the gap. He certainly softened his hands to ensure it would go along the floor
This is hard yakka for the Australian fast bowlers on a slow pitch, but Cummins and Pattinson are going about it with almost masochistic relish. It’s so good to see Pattinson playing Test cricket again. It’ll be even better to see him on a flyer.
46th over: England 137-1 (Burns 74, Root 44) Thanks Geoff, hello everyone. Cummins produces a very good ball that follows Root, takes the glove and flies between second and fourth slip for three runs. Burns is then beaten twice outside off stump. Australia have had no luck at all today.
45th over: England 134-1 (Burns 74, Root 41) Pattinson to Root, that pace and lift has Root hopping and dropping the ball away towards point. Bright sunshine has swept over the ground after a cloudy start to the day. Pattinson nearly sneaks through onto Burns’ pad, but the bat just gets down. Then Burns flirts with the line outside off stump but withdraws.
And it’s time for me to withdraw. Thanks for your company, it’s been a great time. I’m back on Day 4. I’ll leave you with a man who always has the TMS link, Rob Smyth.
44th over: England 133-1 (Burns 74, Root 40) Another streak from Burns, who swings at Cummins and edges four through the cordon again. Good grief. Finally he gets one out of the middle, driving straight and teasing Wade all the way into the fence.
“I believe Joe Root just surpassed Graham Thorpe on the all-time list. Ken Barrington is 59 runs away.” Thanks, Michael Meagher, from a couple of overs ago. It’s now Root 6757, Barrington 6806.
43rd over: England 124-1 (Burns 66, Root 39) Pattinson. Three slips, gully, point. Wastes a ball down the leg side. Moves the line across. Burns is thinking about it, watching, finally shuffling across to nudge a run through a midwicket misfield. Root takes a single before drinks.
42nd over: England 122-1 (Burns 65, Root 38) Cummins is indeed back at the other end, Australia champing for a wicket. Not this time! Root square drives four! Paine shifts his field, moving Lyon from point to more of a deep second gully, with Khawaja at a regulation gully and two slips.
Ravikiran Ramakrishnan writes in, disconsolate. “Why is Joe Root sporting the number 66? Everywhere I read about it it seems obvious to everyone why, but i can’t figure it out. It’s genuinely distressing.”
41st over: England 118-1 (Burns 65, Root 34) Pattinson is back, and he slips full to Root, who is up and purring now. Lovely shot through midwicket for four. Knocks away a single, and then it’s Burns doing Burns things. A skewed outside edge after being squared up, no control whatsoever, and two runs through gully. Then a proper outside edge pushing outside the line, and four!
“Ok, Mr Burns, where were you trying to hit the ball?”
40th over: England 107-1 (Burns 59, Root 29) Ohhhh, Good Lord! How is Rory Burns not out by now? He’s been out about 16 times. He’s played every bad shot in the book. But someone somewhere has left a cigarette for an obscure god at the right roadside shrine. Burns throws the bat at a wider ball from Siddle, gets a thick outside edge, and it flies between slip and gully for four.
39th over: England 103-1 (Burns 55, Root 29) The hundred comes up for England (and I don’t mean that in the ECB sense). Lyon strays onto leg stump and Root is quick to glance it away for four, very fine. Good control. Follows it up with a straight drive past the bowler, and Siddle has to chase back to save two.
Steve Smithset the standard in 2017-18 and Root wasn’t able to match it. England’s main man looks like he’s starting to take control today.
38th over: England 97-1 (Burns 55, Root 23) Four slips and point for Burns. Cover is open. Warner at mid-off. Cummins wide at mid-on. No midwicket. Deep square and long leg for the short ball. Acres ahoy in front of the wicket in either side, then. Siddle around the wicket to the left-hander, right arm and angling in and seaming away. Lovely bowling. Burns leaving. Four maidens for Siddle, 18 runs from 11 overs.
37th over: England 97-1 (Burns 55, Root 23) That bottom-handed whip across the line from Root can’t beat the field this time against Lyon, so he tries a gentler version and gets a single. Burns gets a stride in and defends. With his head bobbing about like that, he plays a forward defence like he’s trying to watch a movie on a plane over the seat of the person in front.
Dan Johnson has a lovely take on recent events. “The thing about that typo was the fact that the score was so perfectly placed in the sweet spot of England collapses. I left the room for 20 minutes and came back to discover 71-7, but my brain accepted it without question. It was a few seconds later, scanning down the page to review the carnage, that I discovered it didn’t actually happen (yet) and felt that euphoric relief, equivalent to 6 successful DRS reviews at once.”
36th over: England 94-1 (Burns 53, Root 22) One of the slips has come out for Root against Siddle. We’re down to three. Then a point and a cover. It’s not like Root is hitting out though. He stays at home for another maiden over. Time for Cummins or Pattinson to earn their keep?
35th over: England 94-1 (Burns 53, Root 22) Using his feet against Lyon is Joe Root. Good positive stuff. Probably not going to rebound a six off the fourth tier of the grandstand a la Jason Roy, but he can defend from down the pitch and also flick a boundary through midwicket.
34th over: England 89-1 (Burns 53, Root 17) Siddle seams the ball, strikes Root on the pad, but the wicket is overturned! Umpire Dar says out, Root reviews, and there’s a nick from the inside edge before the ball hit him plush in front of middle. The umpires are having a torrid time, Siddle has his joy taken away, the Hollies has its say. Booming cheers follow as Root drives a couple of runs behind point. Australia can’t find that breakthrough.
33rd over: England 84-1 (Burns 53, Root 12) A nice shot there against Lyon, with the ball straightening down the stumps but a bit short, so Burns hangs back and turns it away off his hip for four. He’s done exactly what his team needed from a player battling with form: he’s just found a way to stick around, and the runs have come as a by-product. A brave day’s work.
32nd over: England 80-1 (Burns 49, Root 12) Siddle probes away, and the batsmen only take a couple of singles, leaving and watching and blocking.
31st over: England 78-1 (Burns 48, Root 11) For a moment you think to yourself, maybe Burns has figured out this off-spin lark, as he skips back to carve a cut shot for four as Lyon drops short. Then Lyon beats him on the inside edge and only a nick saves him from being out leg before wicket.
30th over: England 74-1 (Burns 44, Root 11) And we’re back after lunch. I managed to find a chunk of honeycomb the size of my first, so I’m sorted. Siddle begins and finds the outside edge of Burns, but it runs along the ground and goes for three. Hot tip: if you ever want to detonate your inbox, typo the score at the lunch break of an Ashes Test. Several readers are recovering in hospital as we speak. Mea culpa.
And Vic Marks wrote the match report, in his usual lovely way.
There we are. England’s session, in that they’ve worn through Australia’s bowlers and lost only one wicket for their trouble. But not a dominant session because it was so low-scoring. Only 61 runs added in 27 overs, so if Australia get a couple of wickets they’ll be right back on top. England’s batsmen have to press home the advantage as the bowlers tire.
29th over: England 71-1 (Burns 41, Root 11) Cummins with the finale, but Burns gets off strike and Root sees out the final four balls, ducking a high bouncer and blocking on off stump. It’s lunch! They survive.
28th over: England 70-1 (Burns 40, Root 11) Lyon races through a maiden over so that Cummins can bowl one more before lunch. Root blocks, except the ball where he plays a massive sweep shot and misses completely, surviving the appeal because he was hit outside the line of off stump.
“Thank you, Geoff,” writes William Hargreaves. “I’m in a place where I can’t listen to what you can listen to, but I can listen to what you can’t, so just to confirm, I can hear it. Who’s on first base?”
27th over: England 70-1 (Burns 40, Root 11) Is this the day that Rory Burns comes good? He’s very comfortable against Cummins, who usually tests most batsmen. Burns plays a luscious on-drive for four as lunchtime nears.
“Now that replays can prove absolutely everything, how is it that removing the bails is still the only proof of being bowled?” writes Graham O’Reilly. “It’s an analogue solution in a digital age.”
26th over: England 66-1 (Burns 36, Root 11) Lyon to Root, a maiden technically. A couple of byes are scored as Paine misses a ball down leg.
25th over: England 64-1 (Burns 36, Root 11) Cummins returns exactly the way he started, serving up a half volley on the pads for Burns to clip for four. Start as you mean to go on doesn’t apply here.
Richard Harman has sent me the TMS link for today. Right, so this will be the daily strategy going forward. People overseas will email me asking for a link that they can listen to but I can’t. I will post the wrong one because I can’t hear it. Richard Harman will see the post and send me the link. I will post it without being able to check it, and you will all be able to hear it as long as you’re not where most of our readers are. It’s the most efficient way.
Updates, updates! From Ali Martin. Who is sitting five seats down and frankly could have just told me this rather than going the circuitous route of writing an article and posting it on the website that we both work for. Passive-aggressive housemate politics at their finest.
24th over: England 59-1 (Burns 32, Root 10) Burns is doing alright against Lyon now, leaving a couple and defending, before bunting a brace through midwicket.
I’ll especially send a greeting to Georgie Clay, who was far more polite than me when seeking out the TMS link. Is this it, or is it yesterday’s? I can’t listen to it because I’m in the UK.
23rd over: England 57-1 (Burns 30, Root 10) Pattinson keeps wearing away at Root as we trend towards lunch. Root watches everything keenly and remains circumspect, after Burns picked up a couple of leg byes and then a single.
We’ve had a lot of people emailing this morning to ask for the TMS link for overseas listeners. This is a phenomenon that its quite fascinating: when people clearly have internet access given they’re using it to communicate, but their choice of communication is to ask other people to send them things that are also on the internet.
22nd over: England 53-1 (Burns 29, Root 9) Siddle sends down another maiden to Burns, who has done his job here this morning and found a way through some tough bowling. Alex Smith makes the distressing observation that nobody as yet has suggested Travis Headphones. I’m not angry but I’m disappointed.
21st over: England 53-1 (Burns 29, Root 9) Last ball of the over, Joe Root survives. We saw this a lot in the World Cup, but it’s continued here with what I think are regulation wooden bails. Pattinson bowls an absolute peach. Some movement in towards Root’s pads, some seam away after pitch. Beats the groping outside edge, nearly clips the pad, then hits the outside of the stump. But the bails don’t fall. The umpire thinks it’s a nick, and fair enough, and gives Root out. The DRS review confirms that the off stump was hit right on the outside at the top, and moved substantially inward, then back again. The angle of movement meant that the bail spigot just slid along the groove. Pattinson can’t believe it, and inspects the bails for foul play. What can you say?
20th over: England 51-1 (Burns 29, Root 7) Burns brings up the first score milestone for England by opening the face and steering a full ball from Siddle square of third man. Burns knelt towards that ball as though offering it his sword.
Wrap it up folks, Mac Millings has won the game.
19th over: England 49-1 (Burns 27, Root 7) Pattinson is back, and he looks dangerous immediately. He’s switched to the City End. Threatens the outside edge, seams the ball. The batsmen each get a single but nothing looks comfortable.
18th over: England 47-1 (Burns 26, Root 6) Both batsman very happy to be watchful against Siddle. They don’t want to see that smile light up the cloudy Edgbaston noon. Why do they hate joy? A single from Root to backward point is all from the over.
Jonathan Oliver, who I assume is not the one who had that television program as he’s probably busy, writes in. “Am I stretching things too much to post the following scenario: England vs India 1974. Chris Old bowls to Mr Gavaskar who edges one but stays at the crease. Old, infuriated, bellows at him: “Sunny, walk man!”
17th over: England 46-1 (Burns 26, Root 5) The Rory Burns Firewalk against Nathan Lyon continues, this time nicking a ball away to the fence. I’m trying to remember the last time I’ve seen a top order player look this bad against a bowler and survive for so long. It’s perversely impressive.
16th over: England 42-1 (Burns 22, Root 5) Another maiden for Siddle, this time to Root. Good to see some more headphone enthusiasts popping into the correspondence. “Would you buy your speakers from Richer Sounds Richardson?” asks Boris Starling. “If I recall correctly Richie does know his music: he and Curtly Ambrose were once in a band called Big Bad Dread and the Bald Head.”
Having commentated on TMS alongside him this summer I can confirm that Curtly Ambrose is so large as to terrify neighbours into near silence. He’s very nice though.
15th over: England 42-1 (Burns 22, Root 5) Burns should be gone! But he’s still there. Lyon around the wicket, straightens it down the line, and struck in front. Joel Wilson says no and the Australians don’t review it. But the technology says it would have been gone. Burns celebrates by nearly getting bowled next ball.
I haven’t seen Burns bat live before, and... I knew in theory that his technique was weird, but it really is a chiropractor’s wet dream. What’s your head doing all the way over there, mate? Is it popping into the Hollies to jump in line at the bar?
14th over: England 38-1 (Burns 19, Root 4) A bit more comfortable against pace for Burns, driving Siddle hard on the bounce back past the bowler for three, with Wade doing some serious miles to stop the boundary. Last ball before drinks, Siddle goes up for a Siddle special appeal against Root, arms wide and backpedalling, but the ball had struck too high on the pad.
13th over: England 35-1 (Burns 16, Root 4) Nathan Lyon comes on early in the day. Burns can be a duck in a shooting gallery against off-spin at times. Root is facing first though, and he’s nearly bowled! Absolute beauty from Lyon, it pitches miles outside off, but turns in like Murali! Misses the off stump by an inch perhaps. Travis Head though messes up by allowing Root off strike with a fumble next ball. Though that brings Burns on strike, and his most memorable shot for the over involves charging down the wicket and then doing the splits in a desperate attempt to reach a ball that dips on him, and managing to squeeze it away so he’s not stumped.
12th over: England 33-1 (Burns 15, Root 3) Here we go. Peter Siddle, the beaming assassin. On to bowl to Burns and to produce the most Siddle over imaginable. Around the wicket to the lefty, angling in at him, and Siddle is bang on. Makes him play at every ball. Right on the off stump. Drawing a thick outside edge for two lucky runs, then a thin inside edge that saves Burns from leg before.
11th over: England 31-1 (Burns 13, Root 3) Now Cummins gets into the groove! Lovely ball outside off stump that draws Burns into a shot and then beats the edge by a micron. Then Burns is hit! Ducking, the bouncer doesn’t get up, and as he leans forward to get under it, the ball skims the back of his helmet and bounces up over Paine behind the stumps. Four leg byes, no damage to Burns, and that’s exactly the kind of blow that some readers are advocating Jimmy Anderson to seek out.
10th over: England 26-1 (Burns 12, Root 3) James Pattinson has been run through the hot wash, given a fresh coat of wax, and he’s absolutely gleaming. He zooms one past Root’s outside edge again. Then draws a skewed shot through midwicket that picks up two lucky runs for Root. Then a mistimed defence that nearly pops back a catch to the bowler. Root taps away a single and runs for it. This is some spell.
9th over: England 22-1 (Burns 12, Root 0) Burns blocks out another maiden from Cummins. His morning is going ok. He’s still there.
8th over: England 22-1 (Burns 12, Root 0) The sound around the ground is quite similar when Joe Root comes out to bat as it is for Steve Smith. Crowds are strange things. Pattinson is getting into his work now. Has a word to Root after beating the edge. Gets an ovation from the Australian fans as he goes back to field on the rope.
Apologies for the slow updates at times, the website is lagging pretty hard. Must be the millions of readers loading the page.
Welcome back to Test cricket, James Pattinson! It was starting to look like a matter of time against Roy, and the third is the charm. Back of a length, angled in at the batsman but perhaps moving a touch off the surface. Roy tries to defend with his weight back, and gets struck towards the shoulder of the bat from where it carries low to Smith.
7th over: England 22-0 (Burns 12, Roy 10) Cummins is not at his best today, and gives Burns another freebie on his pads that Burns duly cashes.
6th over: England 18-0 (Burns 8, Roy 10) This is fine stuff from Pattinson. Moves the ball enough to take Roy’s edge but it bounces on its way to Smith at slip. Then the other way, past the inside edge and leaving a juicy Dukes bruise on Roy’s thigh. He survives with wicket intact, a maiden over.
William Matthewman continues on the headphone theme: “I assume Skull Candy will be the name of the opening batsmen for the Kolkata Knight riders in 50 years’ time when T20 players are rock stars enough to have stage names.”
5th over: England 18-0 (Burns 8, Roy 10) There was only room for one Burns in this Ashes Test, and it was Rory. Lovely shot from the Surrey skipper as Cummins errs with a full wide ball, allowing a square drive behind point. Classy, on the grassy, rolled like it was on glassy. Burns banks his good fortune first ball and sees off the rest of the over.
“With the new concussion rules coming in allowing a like for like replacement, why not send Jimmy in to bat with the specific instructions of getting hit in the head? That way we can swap Jofra in for the second innings.”
4th over: England 14-0 (Burns 4, Roy 10) Swing, swing, edge! Four! Pattinson into the attack, and bowling very attractive outswingers at pace right away. Jason Roy flings his hands at one and his lucky number comes up, into the gap in the slip cordon before the gully. Pattinson beats him with another, then nails a yorker. The switch is flipped to ‘on’.
3rd over: England 10-0 (Burns 4, Roy 6) And we’re away. First of the day, third of the match. An uneventful first over after all the build-up, as the England fans sing Jerusalem and Rory Burns blocks out Pat Cummins around off stump. Uneventful will be a delight to Rory Burns.
“Your comment re concussion injury substitutes is spot on. Considering Test cricket has the longest playing time of any professional sport (probably!) surely at least one substitute should be allowed? If one tactical change could be made when would you use it?”
It’s an interesting one, Neil Bowen. There are lots of reasons why it doesn’t happen, which I’m sure readers can number off. The Supersub (remember that) failed in one-day cricket because it could be made useless depending whether teams batted second or first. Maybe if there was a bench to choose from. But the ramifications for the structure of the game could be immense.
Steve Hudson is taking care of the pessimist side. “I saw Roy bat at Lord’s when he made 50 and I really don’t think he has the game when the ball is moving and there isn’t much pace in the pitch. (I think we might lose a few early on too.)”
“Not sure about heaphones,” writes Richard Williams, “but I’m pretty sure Bang & Olufson were a great dual pace/spin attack in the 50s and 60s. Bowers & Wilkins probably the opening batsmen that handled them the best.”
@GeoffLemonSport if Anderson doesn't bowl another ball this test (or even series) where does the blame fall? Anderson or the selectors?
I don’t think there’s any blame anywhere. He thought he was fit; he could almost have played against Ireland. He went through his paces like any other time. You just don’t know if injuries are going to happen, and sometimes they do. Every team has these moments. It does raise the question of why you can now have substitutes for concussions when you can’t for any other kind of injury.
Hooley cheeses, I just noticed that the main pure for the blog had updated. That Ben Stokes mask montage is a truly haunted image. Someone please do an exorcism on whichever editor chose that.
“I may have forgotten to charge my wireless earphones overnight so I’m relying on you to keep me updated,” writes Max Cornell. “I just hope England are still batting at the end of the day.”
Surely the only cricket writer who could replace headphones would be... Mihir Bose?
England’s players are gathering out in the middle now, kicking the football around lackadaisically. Ben Stokes finishes his throwdowns and wanders over, his clean white socks pulled up nerd-high over his black compression tights. Now they’re all lying down on their backs doing Bertie Beetle impressions, waving their legs in the air. “Oh, I’ve been sprayed with insecticide, ohhhhh!” That’s how professionals do it.
The Australians are all throwing down practice stumps and doing their best to look purposeful and stern and imposing.
“Virender Sehwag for all his qualities could never make a smooth transition to the ODI side,” writes Amod Paranjape. “He was lethal in Tests but I think he thought he had to go even faster. Interesting to see what the reverse transition holds for Jason Roy.”
I’m watching Jason Roy taking some throwdowns out in the middle at the moment. The sun has burst through and all looks joyful. A big day for Roy and Burns, the England openers have to offer something. I’m not sure they will – my pointless prediction is that two or three cheap ones will fall, then there’ll be runs from the middle order. It’s a nice day for batting, and you’d think England will need 350 at least with Lyon to bowl last on this surface.
Moeen is having a trundle himself for now, and he’s literally landing the ball on a tea towel. They’ve spread out a small white cloth on a good length and he’s trying to hit it. Joe Denly has actually landed a couple more than Mo.
I don’t really need to encourage this, because my email inbox is bracing itself for the Ashes deluge, but you can get in touch using geoff.lemon@theguardian.com or you can join me in the sunlit uplands of Twitter using @GeoffLemonSport.
Good morning from Edgbaston. It’s a pleasant sort of day so far here in Birmingham, some cloud about but some blue sky as well. And what a day of Ashes cricket we have for us. You know those Test days that end at just the right time? We’re so evenly poised now. Some wins for England yesterday with Stuart Broad’s five-for and the first eight wickets, then that extraordinary batting fightback from Steve Smith and Australia’s two least likely, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon.
Smith’s hundred was one of the best the game has seen, given his personal circumstances mixed with those of the match, and Broad did what he has done against Australia so many times.