- England romp to emphatic victory in Brisbane
- England swat aside world champions India with impressive win
- Martin Crowe: David Warner’s thuggish behaviour has gone too far
Right, that’s it from me. England’s next appointment is with Australia in Hobart on Friday. See you then. But, for now, cheerio!
So a thunkingly good win for England. India were, admittedly, dismal but it says here in my Big Book O’ Sporting Cliches that You Can Only Beat What’s In Front Of You. And beat them they did, in some style. The full-strength bowling attack was superb, then Bell and Taylor knocked them off with aplomb.
England 156-1 (Bell 88, Taylor 56) Taylor shovel-sweeps to end England’s stroll to this target. That was every bit as comprehensive as their defeat to Australia last week. Bonus point sealed.
27th over: England 151-1 (Bell 87, Taylor 52) After a frankly pointless drinks break Shami continues. Four singles off the over as this pair look to ensure that they’re the men who get England over the line.
26th over: England 147-1 (Bell 85, Taylor 50) Taylor inside-edges Patel into the leg side and brings up his half century, this third in ODIs. It’s taken him 58 balls and it’s taken England to the verge of victory. Seven more needed.
25th over: England 145-1 (Bell 85, Taylor 49) England fans should enjoy these words because they don’t come along very often: this has been a demolition job from Eoin Morgan’s side. They bowled brilliantly, they’ve batted just about perfectly. They’ve outplayed India in every facet. Shami’s latest goes for four.
24th over: England 141-1 (Bell 82, Taylor 48) With just 20 more required it’s Suresh Raina’s turn to wander into the firing line. Four singles from the first five balls then a cut that is stopped just inside the boundary. Seven from the over.
23rd over: England 134-1 (Bell 77, Taylor 46) The underused Shami returns. Bell drives sweetly for three. Seven effortlessly from the over.
“OK I’ll admit it: it looks as though England might actually win this one,” writes Ravi Nair. “Quite a baffling result, of course, for an England fan like me. I might have to have a teetotal day to ensure I am not simply imagining this.”
22nd over: England 127-1 (Bell 73, Taylor 44) This is brilliant from Bell, using Patel’s pace (he’s very quick for a spinner, up in the 90kph range) against him and late-cutting for four to third man. He tries the trick again a couple of balls later but this time Raina at slip is too quick.
This could be done and dusted in 10 minutes or so. The only cloud on the horizon is the easy ride that I’ve had here putting me in a weaker negotiating position the next time Tom Bryant are in the “So, whose alarm is going off at 2.30am then?” situation.
21st over: England 121-1 (Bell 68, Taylor 43) Yadav’s line deserts him here and Taylor is able to glance away for two then drive for a couple more. Another wide one is whacked straight at the deep fielder, but Bell is then able to guide another away for three. Taylor tickles the next to third man for a couple more. Ten off the first five balls without a boundary being struck. And the last is almost pulled straight into the hands of midwicket by Taylor, who is relieved to see the ball land just short.
20th over: England 111-1 (Bell 65, Taylor 36) Patel continues and at last he loses his accuracy, dragging one down and watching helplessly as Bell carts him down to cow corner for four. And a couple of balls later a hint of width is all Bell needs to chops away backward of point for four more. Ten from the over.
19th over: England 101-1 (Bell 55, Taylor 36) Taylor brings the first boundary since the 13th over with a thunking drive off Yadav. A single, courtesy of another misfield, off the next brings up the England 100. And Taylor has a bit of a flap at the last, a bouncer. England need 53 more in 21 overs for a bonus point.
18th over: England 95-1 (Bell 54, Taylor 31) This pair have decided there’s absolutely no point in taking any liberties with Patel and his spin. The odd nudge and nurdle is all they’re interested in. Two from the over. Patel has figures of 4-0-9-0, which say just about everything about his spell.
17th over: England 93-1 (Bell 53, Taylor 30) Yadav bangs one in and Taylor is on to it in a flash – he’s still not quite quick enough, though, and it’s a three rather than a four bunted over midwicket. Bell brings up his 50 (from 50 balls) with a tickle fine for two. It’s been a really solid knock, one that has underpinned the innings but also one with plenty of sparkle – a disco ball being used as an anchor.
16th over: England 85-1 (Bell 48, Taylor 27) Patel once more. Four fuss-free singles from the over.
15th over: England 81-1 (Bell 46, Taylor 25) The ineffectual Binny finally gets a rest and Yadav returns. Bell is just hurried by one and feather-edges onto his own shoulder. Yadav follows it up with a smart slower ball. England have slowed a touch themselves, but they’re so far ahead it really doesn’t matter.
14th over: England 78-1 (Bell 44, Taylor 24) One of the pleasures of Channel Nine’s commentary in Australia is the obvious joy those in the box take when watching highlights of their colleagues’ misfortune. Highlights of a VVS Laxman ton at the Gabba have just been shown, with Brett Lee taking much of the tap. “Don’t ball short Binga! Oh, Binga! You were getting smashed!” chirps Mark Taylor. “I was. Absolute pump,” comes the reply. Just a single from Patel’s over.
13th over: England 77-1 (Bell 43, Taylor 24) Binny keeps it tight again then strays full and leggish, prompting a sweeping-swat from Taylor that disappears to the fine leg boundary.
12th over: England 70-1 (Bell 41, Taylor 19) Axar Patel and his left-arm spin come into the attack. A nudge and a hurdle bring a couple of singles but all in all it’s a neat amnd tidy over from the spinner, if not one that offers any hint of match-saving threat*.
*Cue match-saving spell of 7-18.
11th over: England 68-1 (Bell 40, Taylor 18) England are 67-1 after 10 overs; India were 69-5 after 20. Taylor takes a smart single to Kohli, who pretty brainlessly throws at the stumps. The ball pings off and slaps into umpire Dharmasena’s knee which a) saves India an overthrow or two and b) was probably quite painful. It’s the only run from a tidy Binny over.
10th over: England 67-1 (Bell 40, Taylor 17) Mohammed Shami enters the fray for the first time. He bowled very well against England back in the sepia-tinged British summer of 2014, when all this were fields and a Mars bar cost 20p. He pitches the first four up nicely, but drags down the next and Taylor is able to pull away past the square leg umpire’s shins. And from the last some dismal fielding by Kumar at mid on turns a dot ball into a three for England.
9th over: England 59-1 (Bell 39, Taylor 10) Binny floats down a ball wide and short as Eric Cartman; Bell crashes it away with a cut out of the middle of the middle for four.
And here’s my antipodean colleague Russell Jackson: “I’m sitting here at Rod Laver Arena for the Lleyton Hewitt match but find myself checking in on the OBO for an essentially meaningless ODI,” writes our Russell. “What is wrong with me? Do I need to develop some new hobbies? But what would they be? Secondary question - is there a better ‘completely rubbish’ (their words, not mine) one-day batsman than Bell?”
8th over: England 54-1 (Bell 34, Taylor 10) Kohli has left the field for a little treatment. It doesn’t look too serious, but it’s worth being careful this close to a World Cup. Taylor baseball-bats not-entirely-sweetly over the top of midwicket for a couple more that bring up the England 50 off just 44 balls. He’s not quite striking the ball clean at the moment, but he’s doing enough to beat the infield. Three twos in total for him off the over.
7th over: England 48-1 (Bell 34, Taylor 4) Mid-ODI innings strangeness completed, off we go again. The real target here for England is a bonus-point-earning 112 runs in 33 overs. Bell, starting where he left off, thunks Binny brilliantly through the covers for four more. In attempting to make a sliding save on the rope Kohli’s knee plugs in the turf and there’s a grimace on his face when he stands up.
A very handy session for England then. They’ll enjoy their sandwiches after that. It should – should– be something of a formality after the break. And they should – should – do it within the 40 overs required for the bonus point. See you in half an hour or so.
6th over: England 41-1 (Bell 28, Taylor 3) Yadav strays too full and Bell whips over midwicket for four. He’s playing beautifully. From the next there’s another light-footed punch through the offside for three more. Taylor gets off the mark with a neatly-timed push for another three. Ten from the over.
5th over: England 31-1 (Bell 21, Taylor 0) Bell clips Binny away as he strays to leg. It’s been a lively and confident start from the England opener. He’s rattled along to 21 from 14 balls without breaking sweat. At the other end James Taylor isn’t looking quite so comfortable. He watchfully plays our four dots.
4th over: England 30-1 (Bell 20, Taylor 0) Yadav enters the fray. Bell is able to work him to leg for a two twos and a single.
3rd over: England 25-1 (Bell 15, Taylor 0) Ali should be disappointed with that. It was, in the professional cricketing vernacular, Pretty Average. And that’s over
Binny overpitches and Bell leans into it and drives sweetly back past the bowler (a tad uppishly) for four more. Bell clearly fancies a bit of Binny – a chip over extra cover brings two, then another tippy-toed punch adds three more. England are cruising but then – outta nowhere – Ali mistimes an attempted club over the top and holes out to Kohli at mid off.
2nd over: England 16-0 (Bell 6, Ali 8) Another India bowler begins with a loosener – Kumar this time with a wide. From Kumar’s first legal delivery Bell gets up on his tip-toes and punches wide of point for the first boundary of the innings. The last is some mid-track filth and Ali cracks him down to wide long on for four more.
1st over: England 4-0 (Bell 1, Ali 2) Binny immediately oversteps and Moeen Ali’s first ball will be a free hit. He shovels it over the covers and picks up a couple but Binny finds a decent line and length with the rest, tucking Ali just a touch. It’s a strange old mini-session this – six or seven overs before they go and sit down for a sandwich and a cup of tea for 40 minutes. Do this England pair just opt to survive, or bat in standard ODI style?
It’s coming home, it’s coming home, it’s coming, cricket’s coming home. This World Cup malarky should be a doddle after that.
Right, a bit of weirdness now. After a 10-minute turnaround England have to bat for 25 minutes before the innings break. No, me neither.
That was very impressive by England, particularly from Finn, Anderson and Ali. But it was also deeply unimpressive from India who were unable to cope with the bounce at the Gabba. That doesn’t bode well for them for the World Cup.
England will be encouraged, however, that they can take 10 wickets inside 40 overs. The question is, though, whether they can bat. To find out, I’ll hand you over to Jinking John Ashdown who tells me that, not only is he ready to rock, but he might chuck in some roll as well. Bye, I’m off for a biscuit binge! Send your emails to john.ashdown@theguardian.com
WHAT A CATCH! WHAT A CATCH!! Shami slogs the ball to midwicket, the sound suggesting the ball is going deep into the stands. But Ali is underneath it and plucks the ball from the air right on the rope, just stopping himself from tumbling over. Two wickets in two balls for Anderson now, just like Finn! And India are all out for 153, setting a target of 154
Binny looks to slog Anderson down to mid off but skies it. Morgan gets underneath it as the ball swirls about, sets himself, then takes an excellent catch!
39th over: India 153-8 (Binny 44, Shami 1) Take that! Binny’s going down fighting - he takes one step down the wicket to Finn and simply launches him into the stands for a huge six. Finn responds with a couple of short ones, the last of which the batsman late prod-cuts over point and down to Ali at third man for the 150 to come up. Then Buttler and Finn go up for what should be the last ball of the over - it looks very much like the ball feathered Binny’s glove (though hotspot disagrees) but the umpire gives a wide. Finn responds by shelling Binny on his helmet and the ball pings up in the air and is caught by the keeper. He appeals but, rightly this time, nothing doing.
38th over: India 143-8 (Binny 37, Shami 0) A fine over from Anderson, and very smart to the tail end. Rather than attempt to intimidate Kumar or Shami, he pitches up and has them guessing, eventually getting Kumar. When he does drop short to Shami, he attempts to cut but is cramped for room and nearly edges behind.
Kumar’s going to play his shots, he drives Anderson fluently down the ground for two but then misses a straight one, which clumps into his off peg. India in all sorts of trouble here.
37th over: India 141-7 (Binny 37, Kumar 3)Morgan has a long chat with Finn and the pair of them install a leg gully, gully and two slips. Kumar leaves the ball well alone as it wafts harmlessly past him well outside off. He clubs his next ball for three uppishly through point … and then: uh-oh. Finn does his old trick of clipping the non-striker’s stumps with his knee and bowls a no ball. Still, what a fantastic over.
Five-fer for Finn! He’s on a hat-trick! He aims one unerringly at off stump and the left hander nicks it onto his bails.
Got him! Finn strikes again. Dhoni attempts to pull a short ball and edges behind to Buttler (who has now been involved in five wickets)
36th over: India 137-5 (Dhoni 34, Binny 37) Ah, so Ali won’t bowl out. Jimmy Anderson is back on and very nearly takes Dhoni with his first delivery! The batsman simply prods the ball straight back at him. Anderson thrusts out his left paw, and the ball bounces back out! That’s the sort of chance that normally you’d bet everything on Anderson claiming but which, for lesser mortals, was actually quite tricky. One off the over - which is Powerplay, by the way.
35th over: India 136-5 (Dhoni 33, Binny 37) A quick word on Morgan’s captaincy - so far, it’s been very impressive. There was obviously a plan, but he appears not to be too worried about diverting from it as the situation demands. “This is the proactive captaincy we’ve lacked,” emailed Dean Kinsella a moment ago (before Woakes got carted) but his point still stands that Morgan is much more inclined to shake things up than his predecessor. He perhaps could have had a slip in a bit longer for Woakes, mind.
Finn returns and has Dhoni playing and missing outside the off stump. Another good over from him. Meanwhile, Australia have dropped David Warner for the match against England in Hobart, while Steve Smith will captain in Goerge Bailey’s enforced absence. Wonder if Warner has been rested, punished or kept out of the limelight?
34th over: India 135-5 (Dhoni 32, Binny 37) More hot stuff from Ali, keeping things tight enough … until Binny dances a two step down the wicket and lofts him directly into the fourth row for six.
“I yield to none in my admiration of Ian Ronald Bell - his cover drive should somehow be preserved at the British Museum as a national treasure,” emails Ravi Nair. “But saying “had Bell not been an idiot” is to prove you know nothing about the man - behaviour like that has to happen at least twice an innings from Bell or you want your money back.” Fair point
33rd over: India 126-5 (Dhoni 30, Binny 30) This time, Buttler is convinced there is an edge. He goes up after Binny misses a cut but the umpire says no and snicko shows absolutely nothing. A few balls later, Dhoni swings a full blooded hook square of the wicket. It would have gone for four but for square leg getting half a hand to it. He’s enjoying Woakes this over, working him about the place and taking five off him.
32nd over: India 120-5 (Dhoni 25, Binny 29) A big shout goes up off the last ball of Ali’s over! Dhoni was attempting to cut against the spin and Root at slip was convinced he heard an edge, going up confidently. Buttler was less confident behind the stumps and was right to be - the noise was bat against pad.
31st over: India 115-5 (Dhoni 23, Binny 26) An over that just reinforces how silly Bell was two overs ago. Dhoni can’t get Woakes away and who’s to say he wouldn’t have been able to in the 29th over either? Instead, Bell threw needlessly at the stumps, Dhoni got off strike and Binny plundered 14 off him.
30th over: India 113-5 (Dhoni 22, Binny 25) Again, Ali is tight and though Dhoni wants to get after him, he can’t. I suspect Morgan is going to bowl his spinner out here, especially if he keeps on going at two or three an over.
29th over: India 110-5 (Dhoni 20, Binny 24) Woakes is back, and he’ll be narked that Bel gives away a ridiculous run by taking a shy at the stumps. The ball ricochets off and Dhoni calls a single. Bell was just bored there and hurled. He looks as sheepish as he ought. Binny then clubs Woakes back over his head for the first four in what feels like an age. The bowler’s comeback is to have Binny nicking the ball through the vacant first slip area. Bah! Then Binny goes again, hooking a good ball from Woakes to fine leg. Piqued, he fires in a bouncer which is called a wide. Fourteen from what was actually a good over from Woakes. But had Bell not been an idiot, Binny would not have got on strike and not had the opportunity to hit/edge three boundaries.
28th over: India 96-5 (Dhoni 19, Binny 12) Ali is keeping things very tight. He knows he’s got turn here, and he’s also bowling a tricky line the Indian batsmen are struggling to get away. Two from the over and Ali’s going at 2.22/over and has figures of one for 14 off six.
27th over: India 94-5 (Dhoni 18, Binny 11) The TV points out that, at six an over from here on in, India would make 235. And, well, this is England so that might be enough. They’re going at 3.51 at the moment, though. Broad digs in a surprise bouncer at Dhoni and he swings a massive hook - so massive, in fact, it takes both his feet off the ground - and fluffs it. A ludicrous shot and he’s fortunate not to hit it in the air, hit his own stumps or simply fall on his backside.
26th over: India 91-5 (Dhoni 17, Binny 9) Dhoni is beginning to settle and find the pace of this wicket. England have a slip and leg slip in to him with Ali keeping things tight.
25th over: India 89-5 (Dhoni 16, Binny 8) Broad gives Dhoni something to think about, pitching the ball up just outside off. A beautiful length that has Dhoni reaching and missing. Buttler is left thinking of what might have been behind the stumps. The Indian captain learns his lesson, ignoring a similar delivery two balls later, before cutting the bowler almost all the way to the boundary for three. Can’t remember the last time India hit the rope. Binny charges Broad and gets a short ball whistling over his head for his troubles, then pushes the bowler for two.
24th over: India 84-5 (Dhoni 13, Binny 6) Ali is still wheeling away while India seek to lay down some foundations to stop the rot. Dhoni’s looking to play himself in and ensure he’s still there at the end to give it some biff. Must seem a long way off at this point … but if anyone can do it, it’s him. Three off the over.
23rd over: India 81-5 (Dhoni 11, Binny 5) Broad is back on to replace Finn and Dhoni nicks a single off a misfield from the bowler, with Binny scampering to get into his ground at the striker’s end. The rest of the over is exemplary from Broad, Binny content to get in line and block.
22nd over: India 80-5 (Dhoni 10, Binny 5) Ali continues to find turn, so Binny comes down the wicket to negate it and twice wafts him to long on for one. Dhoni works the ball into a couple of spaces too for two singles.
21st over: India 76-5 (Dhoni 8, Binny 3) Dhoni gets down on one knee and swishes Finn regally through the covers for four. Full flight Dhoni there, and it’s lovely to watch. Finn gives away a few runs this over - as he’s wont to - but you take that when he gets wickets. He’s currently got 3-19
“I am enjoying the irony (if that’s the word) that this day-night match is, for you, a night-day one instead. I am in India right now so have just settled in to work and plan to enjoy this match all day long,” emailed Ravi Nair several overs ago but, every time I try to publish it, a wicket goes down. “While we England fans might bemoan our lack of truly fast tearaway bowlers, ought we not to feel pity for India who would probably give anything to have our seam bowling options?
20th over: India 69-5 (Dhoni 3, Binny 1) It’s all down to Dhoni now, with India in real deep stuff. He spoke about how he was looking forward to playing England on a bouncy wicket, saying his batsmen needed practice on one. You can say that again - Finn’s bounce has had them in all sort of trouble. Ali continues for the 20th over and is unlucky when Binny awkwardly tucks one around off his legs, with the ball just evading Bell at leg slip.
Finn continues, keeping Rayudu becalmed in the crease. The batsman has to try something, so he waftily cuts at a short one from Finn after blocking four on the trot. He gets a feather to it and Buttler claims!
18th over: India 66-4 (Rayudu 23, Dhoni 1) Dhoni won’t have wanted to be in already and he faces Moeen Ali, who is getting good turn and who has a lot of confidence against the Indian batsmen after his summer form. India in a spot of bother here.
Moeen Ali comes on to turn his arm over, Morgan in that stick or twist position - continue with the quicks and get wickets or risk some spin. And what a gamble! Raina comes down the wicket, walks straight past the ball and Buttler whips the bails off!
17th over: India 65-3 (Rayudu 23, Raina 1) Finn had Kohli tucked up nicely in that over, the batsman struggling to get him away. Finally the pressure told. Great bowling from the big man. Again the India top order has failed, but Finn takes a lot of credit - he’s got 2-11.
A huge wicket! Finn fires one in and Kohli attempts to make room for himself, trying to cut a straight one. He nicks behind and India are 64-3.
16th over: India 64-2 (Rayudu 23, Kohli 4) Have run out of biscuits now. Things look bleak. Send help. Woakes takes over from Broad and Rayudu charges again, mistimes again, and gets one from a waft to mid off. The ball thwacks him as it is returned by the fielder and he’ll need a bit of treatment which prompts a slight delay while drinks are taken mid over. When they start playing again, Woakes tempts Kohli into a pokey kind of a cut with a wide one he should have left. The ball loops over point and he would have been worried for a minute.
Ajinkya Rahane's nemeses in ODIs 5 Steve Finn 2 by 9 different bowlers #IndvEng
15th over: India 58-2 (Rayudu 21, Kohli 0) Finn tucked Rahane up with a little extra bounce there, the batsman attempting to swing through the ball but not having the room to do so. Perhaps he felt under pressure because Rayudu isn’t scoring, but he shouldn’t really have been playing that shot. Two runs and a wicket from a good over.
Finn digs one in from back of a length and Rahane swings. The ball pops up in the air and loops to Taylor at mid on for a regulation catch.
14th over: India 56-1 (Rahane 33, Rayudu 19) The India run rate has crept up a little - but is still under four at 3.92. Broad keeps it tight, giving away two sharp singles and then a bunt to third man for a less sharp single.
13th over: India 53-1 (Rahane 32, Rayudu 17) Yes it is. Finn comes on - a bowler who could have genuine searing pace and whose action has been meddled with to his considerable detriment. You’d love to see him just giving it full beans and hang the consequences. He bowls a bit straight, and both Rahane and Rayudu glance him for singles. Finally Rayudu gets one away - he trots down the wicket and throws his hands through a wide one for four through the covers. Eight from the over.
12th over: India 45-1 (Rahane 30, Rayudu 11) Broad continues and Rahane works him for two then a single. Rayudu, trying to follow suit, is swinging away like an Essex housewife. He’s not having much luck though, the ball hitting every part of his bat but the middle. He wanders outside his off stump and hoicks a hook to square leg for three, where Root fields. Rahane finishes the over with a flash outside off. Wonder if it’s time to take Anderson off at the other end?
“Re. English quicks. Might it be a little bit that the conditions favour swing, with a little self-preservation built into the equation?” reckons Mark Armitage, making more sense than he has any right to at 4am. “Our current medium quicks have all had their issues with injuries and mechanics. Is the additional effort required for those few extra MPH likely to produce even more aches, strains and breaks? Plus, the coaching has seemed, on occasions, to be determined to rebuild actions. One can only hope, giving that a favourable reading, that it was as much about protecting the bowlers as producing reliable, repeatable actions. Of course, it’s 0400hrs. So, I could well be sleep-typing.”
11th over: India 40-1 (Rahane 27, Rayudu 9) Rayudu angles a deliberate edge past the slips for a couple before taking a single. Rahane is still looking to be positive and England have withdrawn their slips as a consequence. He pulls for one, before Rayudu charges Anderson again and the bowler, spotting him coming, fires one in short.
10th over: India 36-1 (Rahane 26, Rayudu 6) Shot:Rahane swats Broad across the line for a big six over midwicket, but then nicks one through the vacant third slip area for four. Cue rueful glance from the bowler.
Go the alcohol option @TomBry. We've started with bubbles to toast the match and will be moving onto the hard stuff presently #ENGvIND
9th over: India 25-1 (Rahane 16, Rayudu 6) Rayudu is trying to get things going, he walks down the wicket and swings his bat with all his strength. He misses, then miscues a drive as Anderson gets back in charge. Morgan still has three slips in place and Rayudu late cuts safely to the captain, who is at the end of the cordon. One quick single from the over.
8th over: India 24-1 (Rahane 16, Rayudu 5) Broad takes over from Woakes at the other end and Rahane miscues a lofted drive, the ball looping over mid off for two. He’s lucky when a Chinese Cut misses his stumps two balls later, then he mistimes another drive - possibly off a slower ball from Broad. Rahane is looking to inject some momentum and is taking the odd risk.
Re. James Baker’s query - it mystifies me too. When I was a kid, everyone wanted to bowl as fast as possible. At some stage does that get knocked out of kids as they’re coached? Or is it simply that you’re more likely to get wickets in England if you master swing?
7th over: India 18-1 (Rahane 10, Rayudu 5) Rahane tries to grasp the wasp by its sting and charges Anderson, aiming an ugly old hoick over cow corner. He misses completely, the ball dings off his pad and rolls to slip who threatens to run him out - to no avail. He’s attempting to knock Anderson off his immaculate length and it works. A club through leg brings him a couple before Anderson offers him some width. He takes full advantage and cuts hard for three. Rayudu joins in and a full-blooded hook earns him four off the last ball of the over.
“Wondering why England cannot produce tear-away fast bowlers who could lead us to victories abroad? Has it got to do with food, weather, mindset or conditioning-I still live in hope,” emails insomniac James Baker
6th over: India 9-1 (Rahane 5, Rayudu 1) Rahane edges one between gully and the slips. Would have been regulation for a fourth or fifth slip and the pair of batsmen look like they’re finding it tough. Rahane is five off 16, Rayudu one off 15, with the run rate 1.59. A good over from Woakes.
@TomBry one of them had the cheek to complain that one of his biscuits had a chocolate chip in it. #hewasanarsenalfan
5th over: India 8-1 (Rahane 4, Rayudu 1) Anderson tests the bounce out this over, whipping one in short then watching on with dismay as the ball tennis-balls right over Rayudu’s head for a wide. He pitches up at pace for the rest of the over, keeping it very tight, before tempting Rayudu into the airiest of back foot slash-wafts outside off. A leg bye and a wide off the over.
4th over: India 6-1 (Rahane 4, Rayudu 1) Rahane gets off the mark with a thud down the ground and then a neat clip off his pads. Rayudu gets a score against his name, before Woakes tucks Rahane up with a shortish ball into the ribs. Decent bounce but nothing the batsmen can’t handle yet.
3rd over: India 1-1 (Rahane 0, Rayudu 0) There was just a nibble of away movement from Anderson to dismiss Dhawan, the seam angled towards first slip and the nick absolutely regulation. England have missed Anderson, haven’t they? Rayudu is cautious, then wafts a back foot bat uncertainly as Morgan bring a third slip in.
@TomBry Carpetfitters just left. They fitted the carpet and consumed 3 coffees, 2 teas and an entire box of shortbread biscuits
A beautiful piece of swing bowling from Anderson, pushed it up there, tempted Dhawan into a front foot prod and then a regulation nick went behind.
2nd over: India 1-0 (Rahane 0, Dhawan 1) Chris Woakes will have a whirl from the other end and Dhawan plays a faultless forward defensive to his first ball, then nearly gets off the mark with a back foot prod. Would have been a tight run and Rahane sends him back. An awkward push to leg off the back foot gets the scorer working a couple of balls later, before Woakes finds a little movement to Dhawan.
1st over: India 0-0 (Rahane 0, Dhawan 0) Jimmy Anderson opens the bowling and is extremely tidy as Rahane plays him watchfully. The ball is zipping through, hitting Buttler’s glove with a reassuring thud. A maiden.
“Tom - must just check, were they Jaffa Cakes?” asks Dave King. No, saving the Jaffa Cakes for the slow middle overs. Might need them. Afraid they were a disappointing supermarket own-brand rich tea.
Food news: the Bryant breakfast has so far consisted of two cups of tea and whole packet of biscuits. Just thought you’d like to know.
Bad news: the weather looks dismal. There’s heavy rain forecast which, in Brisbane, is usually pretty fatal as far as playing a game of cricket is concerned. It does mean that it will be humid at first though, which may well help Jimmy swing it.
MS Dhoni reasons that it might be a bit tricky for the first few overs at The Gabba but that it should ease up from then on. He’s expecting early bounce and seems reasonably confident that India will sew this up against England without too much trouble.
Eoin Morgan says he would have had a bat too, but that he doesn’t really care either way. He doesn’t think the wicket will change all that much. He reckons Jimmy Anderson will swing it too.
India have won the toss at The Gabba and they will have a bat. It’s fair to say it’s not terribly full at the ground yet. Perhaps everyone’s having a bacon sandwich outside. The match will start at 3.20am UK time.
Looks as if England have made one change - Anderson in for Jordan, which is more or less what everyone expected. Jordan is out through illness.
For India, Binny comes in for Ashwin, while Rohit Sharma has done a hamstring, so Rayudu comes in for him.
Morning everyone, welcome to coverage of the third ODI in the Tri-Series from The Gabba. Where I’m sat, it’s cold. It’s wet. It’s 2.20 in the morning! With all those things comes that peculiar pleasure of being the only person awake, with just the luscious greens, deep blues and golden rays of cricket in another country to keep you company. Unless, of course, you are in Australia. Or India. Or more or less anywhere but Europe or Africa. But I’m in England, on my tod, with nothing and nobody but Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Rohit Sharma and MS Dohni for company.
Like sport beamed in from another world, there is nothing as deeply comforting, yet oddly unsettling about listening, watching or reading about cricket on the other side of the world. Football fans rarely, if ever, are allowed to experience this joy – the closest they get are early morning intrusions from the Far East, or late evening sunshine blasts from South America. Rugby fans occasionally experience it, when Test sides head down under, and boxing fans sort of get it alongside the hoopla and bombast of a Vegas show.
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