- Updates from the opening day at the Gabba
- Any thoughts? Email or tweet @collinsadam
5th over: Sri Lanka 17-0 (Karunaratne 3, Thirimanne 6) Half a chance! Lyon, on for one over before the close, finds a legitimate outside edge off Thirimanne’s blade, Khawaja unable to get his left hand down. The replay doesn’t serve the slipper well, moving too late to realistically make it down. Lyon is a man in complete control so far in this Test Match, getting so much bounce and turn.
“Good morning from Spain.” As you do, Dave Langlois. “If SL could somehow bluff their way to 350 this would be a really juicy match. Both of today’s test matches, I reckon, are showing the value of a good battery of quick, consistently 140k+ bowlers who know where they’re putting it. England just hasn’t got them, only the foxy, endearingly cunning Anderson. Lakmal has done really well here but the Aussie bunch are up with SA’s or India’s or, on their day, even better. They win matches.”
4th over: Sri Lanka 12-0 (Karunaratne 2, Thirimanne 2) Singles for both to finish another probing over, Thirimanne’s off an inside edge that wasn’t far away from causing him major problems. Richardson’s the man most likely right now.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 10-0 (Karunaratne 1, Thirimanne 1) Starc spraying it about again, four byes from a ball well down the legside. Really should have been wides. As usual, he backs it up with a good’un. This isn’t the most popular view at the moment, but I reckon Starc’s volatility is an asset more often than not.
Some big news in from the ECB, veteran spinner Danielle Hazell has retired from international cricket. “I feel 100 per cent happy with my decision to move on from playing international cricket and I’m really excited to find out what the next chapter holds in store for me. I owe a lot to the game and I would now love to give some of my time and energy back into the sport. There have been some amazing highlights – some really special moments – but the memory that stands out the most to me is the back-to-back Ashes victories across 2013 and 2014.Playing international cricket for nine years can have an effect on you both mentally and physically and my body is telling me that it’s time to move on.”
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Thirimanne 0) It is a full body experience when Richardson bowls, really throwing himself at the batsmen with every delivery. It’s wonderful to watch. Last night at the press conference I asked him who he modelled his game on growing up, he said Dale Steyn. I can definitely see that. Karunaratne is playing him with utmost respect here, defending and leaving on that off and fourth stump line. Four overs to go.
1st over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Karunaratne 1, Thirimanne 0) Starc is wayward to begin, his first ball clipping Karunaratne’s pad on the way to the rope for four leg byes, the opener then getting off strike to midwicket. Thirimanne’s turn, who watches one three feet outside the off stump, defending off a length then playing and missing at the final delivery. Gradual improvement, then. What life is all about.
The players are back on the field. Six overs to come, can the visitors get through without loss? That would be quite the achievement. Starc v Karunaratne. PLAY!
“Evening Adam.” Gervase Greene, good evening to you. “It seems to be my turn to offer one of those plaintive/pathetic appeals to the OBO universe, asking if there is anywhere in Hanoi where the cricket might be on?”
I’m invested in this, visiting Hanoi in March. The last time I mentioned that, I received the most magnificent must-do email from the OBO fam. Love you, guys.
Richardson tried to get in the act but top edged Perera into the air, Karunaratne doing the rest with the catch before racing off to pad up. Sri Lanka will have to face six overs tonight before the close, their first innings deficit 179.
106th over: Australia 323-9 (Starc 26, Richardson 1) BIG! Starc loads up and plonks Lakmal over long-on and into the members! He’s hit that perfectly. It was taken in the crowd by a bloke in a pink polo shirt, living in his best life with the celebration. Starc goes again next ball, clipping four past square leg. Easy peasy!
BANG. @mstarc56 hits Lakmal over his head for 6 #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/BGkmUcRyzy
105th over: Australia 312-9 (Starc 16, Richardson 0) Clever batting! Starc gets down low to sweep Perera hard into the gap for four then does the exactly same thing from the next ball too. Chandimal’s field is set for cow corner slogs but the big quick has a few more tricks than that. Australia’s lead is now 168 with ten overs remaining, so they should still get a handful in tonight with the pink ball.
WICKET: Patterson goes for 30.
Watch LIVE on Fox Cricket & join our match centre: https://t.co/WJDnHBlfXe#AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/rZrhadj1VG
104th over: Australia 304-9 (Starc 8, Richardson 0) Richardson is a very handy No11. He defends his first couple of balls in Test cricket to deny Lakmal a sixth.
Oh, how Suranga Lakmal has deserved this bag of five! That’s another lovely delivery too, hooping in from over the wicket at the man on debut. Patterson uses the review but there little doubt where that is going - straight into the leg stump.
103rd over: Australia 302-8 (Patterson 29, Starc 7) On telly, they are backing in a declaration. Or maybe they just want Mitch Starc to drop some bombs? He doesn’t. Back to back maidens. Actually, three on the trot. 15,603 is the final attendance, I can report from CA. Most of those who are left now are getting full.
Was lucky enough to work with Kurtis Patterson on my first ever cricket tour in 2012 - U19WC in Townsville, along with Head, Bancroft . So pleased to see him debut, he was a bloody great kid then and a wonderful man now. Deserves his chance.
102nd over: Australia 302-8 (Patterson 29, Starc 7) We’re seeing a back and forth below us, some scallywags trying to engage the members in a verbal stoush. In response? The chap dunked his rum and coke. Where else but Queensland? To level with you, this is where my attention is rather than on Lakman’s maiden to Patterson. But I’m happy he’s back on the field and straight into the attack.
Day /night test cricket ✔️
101st over: Australia 302-8 (Patterson 29, Starc 7) Maiden? Sure. A maiden. Starc plays out Perera, preferring to block than bludgeon. Kurt’s turn.
100th over: Australia 302-8 (Patterson 29, Starc 7) Bang, bang! Batting for 67 balls without a boundary, Patterson has struck two in two balls off Chameera, pulling with power through midwicket then flogging a cut shot past point for another. Getting his chance later in the over, Starc got a bouncer down to his feet for a quick single, Patterson making it three fours in the over from the final offering with a cross-bat wallop through point! 15 from it, the 300 up as well.
“Down at the Australian Open arena,” Abhijato Sensarma says, trying to make us jealous. “Djokovic is serving an utterly moral-draining pounding to the talented French tennis player Lucas Pouille, taking the first set 6-0. As it happens to be, David Warner is in the crowd with a cast on his hand. He sits next to Ricky Ponting. The former has a smile on his face, with the on-air commentators mentioning the ‘pain’ he has caused the country. ‘Just for a while,’ the man adds, with a tone which leads me to not believed him easily.” Keep a close eye on that.
99th over: Australia 287-8 (Patterson 16, Starc 6) Runs around the field off Perera, Patterson a couple to point then another to cover. Starc then takes two to midwicket to finish. Yep, I think they’re preparing themselves for happy hour.
I neglected to post the Head and Paine wickets from Lakmal’s earlier spell.
OUT. Travis Head trapped LBW for 84, and a review can't save him #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/qP6sKnJ8ib
Two in two balls for Sri Lanka!
Paine goes first ball... #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/XU8xSx94As
98th over: Australia 282-8 (Patterson 13, Starc 4) After the drinks break, Starc has one ball to face to finish the successful Chameera over and he’s off the mark with a lavish cover-driven boundary. It makes sense for them to put the foot down here with 17 overs left tonight and a healthy lead already in the bank.
OUT. Cummins the latest to fall - for a 21-ball duck - and Australia is eight down #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/A39clT0qid
A 21-ball duck for Cummins, Chameera earning his edge with another ball that tails away delightfully. I’ll say it again: beware the injured fast bowler! Fantastic cricket from the Sri Lankans, doing the best with what they have after dark.
97th over: Australia 277-7 (Patterson 12, Cummins 0) Perera’s radar is a touch off this time, a leg bye from Patterson then a bye down the legside. To finish, the more recognised batsman gets one to midwicket to keep the strike. As soon as the set is done, Perera runs down to the rooms. “Is there a nightclub down there?” asks Michael Vaughan. “Love Island,” replies Kerry O’Keefe. That kicks off a conversation about what the villa would be like if Shane Warne went in. Huss wants none of it.
96th over: Australia 274-7 (Patterson 11, Cummins 0) If Chameera is going as badly as his body language between overs suggests, this is a brave spell from him, charging in and bending his back well enough to jag back into Cummins’ pad with arms raised. He then capped the over with one that went the other way, beating the right hander outside the off stump. On Fox, Kerry O’Keefe is comparing Lakmal to Terry Alderman. The attack leader is standing on the boundary, ready to come back on shortly. It should be fun when he does. This is why day-night Tests are superb.
95th over: Australia 274-7 (Patterson 11, Cummins 0) Before Perera started the new over, Chameera again looked to be battling with a hobble to long leg. Can they keep him on long enough for Lakmal to recover and go again? Bowling at Patterson, the off-spinner nearly beat the dancing left-hander to begin, which meant that he stayed home in defence for the rest.
94th over: Australia 273-7 (Patterson 11, Cummins 0) Chameera looked a spent force half an hour ago but now he’s back on the field and beating the bat of Cummins with a lovely little away swinger. There is no pace about but with the pink ball at this time of night it is all about accuracy.
93rd over: Australia 273-7 (Patterson 10, Cummins 0) Perera was through that set in about 90 seconds, doing Lakmal no favours. Patterson made it to double figures along the way, from the inside portion of his blade to square leg. Cummins also inside edged near the bat pad but not near the hand of the catcher. With that over bowled, Lakmal leaves the field, which means his fine spell is complete.
92nd over: Australia 272-7 (Patterson 9, Cummins 0) Not to be! The hat-trick ball was his worst of the set, waaaay outside the off stump. Chandimal retains the five slips (!) for Cummins throughout the over, beating him with a pair of beauts. The second of those prompted an enthusiastic appeal from the posse behind the wicket but Umpire Illingworth wanted none of it. What a wonderful spell. How many more can he get through?
Convince that I’m never going to see a Test hat-trick. #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/esDCea5WsG
91st over: Australia 272-7 (Patterson 9, Cummins 0) Perera is getting plenty of movement and ample bounce from round the wicket but Patterson is up to the task. Suddenly, his job is a very important one. Stand by for the hat trick ball!
90th over: Australia 272-7 (Patterson 9, Cummins 0) We will have to wait for the hat-trick ball, Lakmal’s pair of wickets from the final two deliveries. What a superb over from the Sri Lankan attack leader, at the very moment that they looked set to be batted out of this Test with their two other quicks off the field injured. That’s leadership.
Lakmal is on a hat-trick! He has squared up the Australian captain first ball, finding the edge, just making the journey to Mendis at second slip. That’s a gorgeous piece of bowling and an equally fantastic catch coming forward.
Well, it may have been a nice time to bat but Head has not made the most of it. It came back a long way from Lakmal, shaping back into the left-hander from over the wicket, clipping the top of the stumps. Sorry for saying in the previous post that it was Patterson facing, the man on debut was watching that safely from the other end.
IS HEAD OUT LBW TO LAKMAL? Umpire Illingworth says so! But he’s sent it upstairs. Stand by.
89th over: Australia 269-5 (Head 82, Patterson 9) Patterson gets off strike first ball in the same way he got off the mark, to mid-on with a firm push off Perera. Head is content playing conservatively until the final delivery, cutting a couple into the gap. Test cricket is never easy, but this truly is the time to cash in.
88th over: Australia 266-5 (Head 80, Patterson 8) Lakmal again, who might have to bowl for the entirety of this long final session. There isn’t a lot going on, Head defending the accurate deliveries and leaving the wide alone, including one down leg. Super shot to finish, leaning back to crunch a slightly shorter ball through point for four from the balls of his feet, ala Joe Root at his best.
87th over: Australia 262-5 (Head 76, Patterson 8) It is back to Perera for the injured Chameera, the offie who sent down a lovely set to begin this session. He’s now coming from the Stanley Street End, the sun slowly setting over his left shoulder. Coming round the wicket to Head, he takes one to square leg. Patterson’s turn, the new man leaning into a drive but only as far as the man at cover. “Patterson has just got to be careful,” notes Michael Vaughan on TV after miscuing a defensive push. “He’s just leaning over too far.”
86th over: Australia 261-5 (Head 75, Patterson 8) Lakmal gives Head enough room to free his arms and punch down the ground off the back foot for three to begin, taking him three quarters of the way to a ton. This is the third time that the South Australian has made it into the 70s in Tests but he simply has to convert this time around. With bowlers down everywhere, he won’t get a better chance.
85th over: Australia 258-5 (Head 72, Patterson 8) Yup, Chameera is in more trouble than the early settlers, chatting to Chandimal between balls, limping back to his mark. But, of course, beware of the injured bowler. Sure enough, he beats the blade of Patterson before the over is done then leaving the field.
We have an answer to the Jim Maxwell poser! From Carl Jepson: “The aforementioned gentlemen commenced their test careers at No. 7?”
84th over: Australia 256-5 (Head 71, Patterson 7) Lakmal does replace Perera, which is a bit disappointing for those of us who enjoy watching finger spinners do their thing with the new ball.For that, you can thank Dipak Patel. As it was in the previous over, the only scoring shot is a three to Patterson, this time leaning on a full ball, placing it through cover. With Chameera all-but cooked and Kumara off the field, there’s a lot riding on Lakmal’s spell right now.
“Evening Adam.” G’day, Phil Withall. “With regard to the banner. The whole thing has been badly dealt with from the beginning. Cricket Australia seemed to think it would just blow over and no harm would come of it. That is the most disappointing aspect (the content of the banner is obviously abhorrent beyond belief). The soft handling of things like this only empowers the idiots to repeat such things and escalate them. The less punishment the more ennobled they become. Prejudice has no place in sport or society as a whole and those that display it need to understand this.”
83rd over: Australia 253-5 (Head 71, Patterson 4) Patterson gets three more now, tucking Chameera off his pads easily enough. The quick gets through the over with his pace dropping. As they note on TV, he looks spent at just the wrong time.
Here’s this week’s cartoon for Guardian Australia #SaveHakeemhttps://t.co/KETYtiYffX
82nd over: Australia 250-5 (Head 71, Patterson 1) The new man is playing with soft hands until Perera gets one to drift and turn beautifully, beyond his outside edge. He’s getting considerable bounce with the second new ball, too. Another excellent delivery follows, going on with the arm. The expectation was that the offie was on now to help change ends of the quicks but they should keep him going on the evidence of this set. To finish, Patterson dances down the track to take his first run in Test cricket, down to mid-on. It took 14 balls and included a 40-minute wait. But he’s away now and what a relief that must be.
“They (CA) won’t do anything about this unless the cops do?” asks Laura Caughey, our favourite Irish umpire. “And they banned three players for a year for ball tampering after the ICC already issued their sanctions?” Nice pick up.
The players are back on the field. Perera has the ball at the Vulture Street end, bowling at Patterson who is yet to score with Australia resuming at 249/5. PLAY!
An update on the disgraceful nonsense from last night. I’m pleased that WA Police are investigating as that is the only real way that CA will ban the idiots for three years, as they have the capacity to do. I know that I don’t need to explain the origins of that particular slogan to OBO readers. To that end, it’s a disgrace that they could just stroll into, say, the WBBL final tomorrow. They’re not welcome.
Related: Police investigating after men unfurl 'It's OK to be white' banner at BBL cricket match
This will mean nothing to those in the non-footy states, but Luke Hodge is on Channel Seven at the break with Damien Fleming. I can’t wait to eat that right up.
What do these men have in common? As Jim Maxwell entered the dinner room here behind our position here in the press, this is what he put to me. In turn, I said I would begin by asking the OBO if they can work it out in less time than I did. McCartney, Noble, Kippax, Bradman, GS Chappell, and now, Kurtis Patterson. Go!
Hello, by the way. How about a debut ton for the new southpaw with all the runs coming in the final session against the pink ball? Dare to dream. For now, keep me company with a formal note or a searing hot take. I’m open for business.
Australia’s session, Australia’s match, but still that defining innings remains elusive for Australia’s batsmen. Marnus Labuschagne got close with his 81 - the top score of the summer for Australia in Tests - but his composed knock ended when he handed his wicket away out of the blue shortly before Dinner.
Travis Head may yet pile on the runs to become Australia’s first centurion of 2019 but his innings has not been without good fortune. He should have been caught two hours ago but Niroshan Dickwella and the slip cordon made a meal of a routine edge behind the wicket.
81st over: Australia 249-5 (Head 71, Patterson 0) Patterson’s dot ball debut extends to eight but he does rotate the strike courtesy of a leg-bye. It’s an innocuous opening over with the new ball by Lakmal, his pace in the mid to high 120s kph which is far from threatening at this level without prodigious sideways movement. Head is happy to stand his ground and stride off for the Dinner interval.
The second new ball has been taken immediately. Lakmal will have one over with it before the Dinner break.
80th over: Australia 248-5 (Head 71, Patterson 0) Head dabs out a maiden with the end of the session fast approaching. Not only that but the second new ball is also now a consideration.
Labuschagne achieves a century in Base 9 and decides that's close enough. Classic Marnus move. #MarnusMove
79th over: Australia 248-5 (Head 71, Patterson 0) The left-handed Patterson begins his Test career with five dot balls.
Out of absolutely nowhere.
Labuschagne chips it straight to the short mid-wicket #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/hduGe03ADs
Oh no! Such a shame for Marnus Labuschagne. He’s been chanceless all session but in the shadow of the Dinner break he chips Dananjaya harmlessly to short midwicket and he has to go. There was a century and more for the taking but a summer’s summit of 81 will have to do.
78th over: Australia 248-4 (Labuschagne 81 Head 71) Dickwella is adamant he has Head caught behind off the bowling of Perera but Richard Illingworth is unmoved and Sri Lanka have no reviews remaining. Short and wide from the bowler and not the smartest shot from the batsman. We await the DRS replays.
77th over: Australia 247-4 (Labuschagne 80 Head 71) Dananjaya’s back into the attack after that light relief from Karunaratne but it’s an inauspicious start, a full toss followed by a long hop. Among this Labuschagne sprints an all-run four and dabs a single into the offside to reach 80, Australia’s highest individual score of this Test summer.
76th over: Australia 240-4 (Labuschagne 74 Head 70) *Milestone Klaxon*: this is now Australia’s highest fifth-wicket partnership versus Sri Lanka.
In further good news for Australian sport, Sam Stosur has just won a grand slam.
Best mates winning a Grand Slam title together.
What a moment @bambamsam30@zhangshuai121#AusOpenpic.twitter.com/Hib62wi062
75th over: Australia 238-4 (Labuschagne 74 Head 68) Karunaratne gets a third over and he justifies it with a beautiful opening delivery that kissed the deck and gambolled beyond Labuschagne’s outside edge. There’s an appeal for LBW soon afterwards but umpire Erasmus is wise to a faint inside edge.
Dilruwan Perera in his Test career averages 22.0 against left-handers compared to 46.6 against the right-handers. In this match so far, against left-handers 1-17 (at 1.96 rpo) & 0-42 (at 4.94 rpo) against the right-handers. #AUSvSL
74th over: Australia 234-4 (Labuschagne 71 Head 67) Sri Lanka’s fielding so far has been dreadful, missing catches, chaperoning boundaries and gifting singles. The latest aberration allows Head to jog through for a run but it almost works in the tourists’ favour. With Labuschagne on strike Perera beats the bat for the first time in a long time and appeals heartily for LBW. It’s declined on field but SRI LANKA REVIEW! The ball spun past the inside edge of Labuschagne’s bat from a delivery sent down from over the wicket. DRS confirms it was missing leg stump and Sri Lanka burn their second and final review.
This Head-Labuschagne stand of 145* is now Australia's biggest since Tim Paine took over the Test captaincy #AUSvSL
73rd over: Australia 231-4 (Labuschagne 69 Head 66) More right-arm reputation destroyers from Karunaratne, but this time he loses his line to Head and invites a delicate glance to the fine-leg fence for the first boundary in yonks. There’s a much shorter wait for the next four, Karunaratne offering too much width and Head slashing confidently through the offside ring.
72nd over: Australia 223-4 (Labuschagne 69 Head 58) This match is happening, I am absorbing it, but I’m damned if I can pick out much to report. One leg-bye from the latest unremarkable over.
Travis Head is nerve-wracking every ball. Labuschagne is calming. Classic good cop / bad cop. #AusvSL
71st over: Australia 222-4 (Labuschagne 69 Head 58) Sri Lanka turn to the part-time medium pace of Karunaratne. I love this. Proper old school net bowling medium pace junk. Keeper’s stood up, pace is a smidgen over 100kph, and the batsmen are terrified of getting out. A couple of singles keep the game moving.
In this session Labuschagne has scored at a strike rate of 64.0 with 34% attacking shots compared to a strike rate of 45.0 with 11% attacking shots in the first session, and has played in the same secure fashion with similar number of false shots (12% v 10%) #AUSvSL
70th over: Australia 220-4 (Labuschagne 67 Head 58) Head does his best to keep the scoreboard ticking over but he finds Dananjaya difficult to get away. This match is in a bit of a holding pattern until the second new ball. When that arrives, along with the floodlights, we should move into a more exhilarating phase of play.
Ray Murphy has emailed in a tempting question. It would be helpful if anyone out there could answer it. “When Patterson comes out to bat Australia will have a first innings lead. When was last Australian batsman to debut in such a ‘comfortable’ scenario?”
69th over: Australia 219-4 (Labuschagne 66 Head 58) Head pushing his partner close in the race to become the first Australian centurion of the summer. He moves four runs closer the milestone with a handsome pull from a Dananjaya long hop.
68th over: Australia 214-4 (Labuschagne 65 Head 54) Labuschagne looks as though he could bat out there with a popsicle and still nudge the scoreboard forward every over. Not to be outdone in the making it look effortless stakes, Head has dispensed with the helmet and is batting in a baggy green. Very Tugga areas, but still not Shimron Hetmyer walloping England about in a white floppy.
67th over: Australia 211-4 (Labuschagne 63 Head 53) The next milestone for this pair is one of them reaching 80 and in so doing registering the highest individual score for Australia this Test summer. Labuschagne gets nearer the mark with the 11th three of this partnership. The 12th isn’t far behind after Head’s clubbed drive is hauled in just before the long-on rope.
66th over: Australia 204-4 (Labuschagne 59 Head 50) Perera makes it spin from both ends but Sri Lanka’s offies haven’t found much turn or bounce so far. Their task has been made more difficult by this Australian partnership batting with great discipline.
65th over: Australia 201-4 (Labuschagne 56 Head 50) *Milestone Klaxon*: 50 for Travis Head, 200 for Australia. This pair are cruising.
One of those TV pieces in the outer has just revealed Kurtis Patterson is known as ‘spoon’ to his mates. Something to do with the shape of his head and his skinny body. It reminded me that everybody looks like Pete Townshend from The Who in the back of a spoon.
64th over: Australia 199-4 (Labuschagne 55 Head 49) A run, a run, my kingdom for a run! And there it is, kinda, a leg-bye, but one off the bat isn’t far behind courtesy of some tip and run from Labuschagne.
@JPHowcroft Am I right in thinking Labuschagne has increased his top score in Tests in every innings. Needs to be careful in this one not to set the bar too high for his next innings.
63rd over: Australia 195-4 (Labuschagne 54 Head 47) Third maiden in a row! Labuschagne is eager to get the scoreboard moving again but Dananjaya is wise to it, mixing up his pace and flight, and bowling to his field.
Australian partnerships of 100 or more in Australian season:
2014-15 10
2015-16 11
2016-17 9
2017-18 9
2018-19 2*#AusvSL
62nd over: Australia 195-4 (Labuschagne 54 Head 47) First jaffa for a while and it comes out of the hand of Chameera, defeating Labuschagne with a cross-seamer that wobbles away and beyond the outside edge of the bat like a drunk failing to reassure an officer of his sobriety. Another maiden.
61st over: Australia 195-4 (Labuschagne 54 Head 47) Dananjaya into the attack and his offies from around the wicket to Head force Australia’s latest vice captain onto the defensive. A maiden for the first over after drinks.
Labuschagne has scored 66% (35 out of 53) of his runs against Perera at more than run a ball scoring at 7.24 rpo with 45% attacking shots. #AUSvSL
60th over: Australia 195-4 (Labuschagne 54 Head 47) The first uncontrolled shot from Labushcagne for some time, but his top-edgey pull from Chameera was never in any danger of finding a fielder. Another one for all you milestone fans, this is now Australia’s biggest partnership of the summer.
59th over: Australia 193-4 (Labuschagne 53, Head 46) Milestones coming thick and fast here, the latest involves Labuschagne reaching 50 for the first time in Tests. Again it’s his ability to use the depth of his crease to Perera, creating the room to free his arms and force the ball through the covers off the back foot.
58th over: Australia 187-4 (Labuschagne 48, Head 45) Century partnership! Just the second of this difficult Test summer for Australia and it’s brought up by a controlled square cut. The returning Chameera offers Head width again later in the over but this time his attacking stroke is off the front foot and earns him three following some superb work on the boundary by Kumara. Much greater intent from both batsmen now against a Sri Lankan attack beginning to wilt in the Brisbane heat.
57th over: Australia 180-4 (Labuschagne 48, Head 38) More calm accumulation against Perera, the kind of easy run-scoring that could be accompanied by some smooth jazz flute while the afternoon sunlight drifts through the conservatory glass and coaxes you into a gentle slumber.
@JPHowcroft After a series of Herbie Hancock batting from the Aussies surely a more Don Burrows era is to be welcomed?
56th over: Australia 176-4 (Labuschagne 45, Head 37) Lovely by Head, punching an off drive with exquisite timing to send Lakmal’s delivery skipping to the boundary. This is really Australia’s time to make hay. Two set batsman against the old ball on a flat pitch in clear skies. We saw yesterday runs can dry up under lights so both batsman will be keen to fill their boots.
Labuschagne's shot selection has been exceptional so far. His 12% attacking shots have come when the bowlers have bowled full or wide, left alone most deliveries out his off stump, defended the ones in line with the stumps, rotated the ones on leg stump & down the leg. #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/5B2wo6WuFX
55th over: Australia 171-4 (Labuschagne 44, Head 33) Even in my curmudgeonly state it is possible to appreciate Labuschagne’s developing innings. He picks up his second three since Tea by rocking back into his crease and driving forcefully through the covers. Head matches the score a couple of balls later, meeting Perera at the pitch and timing him sweetly through long on. In his fourth Test match, Labushcagne has set a new highest score. There’s no reason he shouldn’t go on to turn it into a total sufficient to guarantee an Ashes tour spot.
54th over: Australia 164-4 (Labuschagne 40, Head 30) Labuschagne enters the 40s with some tip and run, the highlight of a Lakmal over containing little in the way of highlights.
53rd over: Australia 163-4 (Labuschagne 39, Head 30) Head gathers his thoughts by playing out a Perera maiden.
More on the crowd issue at the BBL yesterday:
Have clarified that CA does have the ability to issue a cricket ban (across the country, lasting three years) without WA Police. But the decision has been taken by CA not to enact that in this instance unless WA Police take it further.
52nd over: Australia 163-4 (Labuschagne 39, Head 30) It takes Labuschagne just two balls after the Tea interval to suggest this session may be a different beast, guiding an effortless cover drive to within a whisker of the boundary. Then Travis Head should be gorrrrrn but he is gifted a life! Lakmal provokes a backfoot prod from around the wicket and the edge flies to the left of the diving keeper but still to the right of the preposterously wide first slip. The outcome is a sloppy gloved chance that leaves the bowler shaking his head and Head thanking his lucky stars.
BIG let off for Travis Head as a chance goes down behind the wicket #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/ApkBTTnt4Q
Anyway, back to the cricket. We’ve had two hours of it already today and four more are to follow. I’d like to be more enthusiastic in my description of events but it feels rather like a mundane weekday afternoon in the office out there; both sets of players punching their cards, going through the motions, living for the weekend
Nothing on display has been particularly eye-catching. The bowling is fine, the batting is now ok after being pretty ordinary for an hour or so. It’s certainly not the Herbie Hancock freestyle Test cricket going on over in the Caribbean. More’s the pity.
The wealth of material in McIlvanney’s archive will stand the test of time, especially his reporting and feature writing about boxing. McIlvanney had the good fortune of working during a golden age of the sport and pieces such as this with Muhammad Ali in the afterglow of the rumble in the jungle will no doubt be revisited for decades to come.
Related: From the Vault: Hugh McIlvanney meets Muhammad Ali, hours after the Rumble in the Jungle
Thank you very much Geoff, one of my favourite sporting wordsmiths since Hugh McIlvanney. It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of McIlvanney earlier today. He was one of the very best, perhaps even the greatest, sportswriter of his time, and he will be sorely missed.
Related: Hugh McIlvanney, veteran sports reporter, dies aged 84
A decent session for Australia in the end, after the early wobble was stabilised. Harris and Lyon fell early, Head and Labuschagne looked as ropey as ship’s rigging for an hour, but they settled and were much more composed by the end of the session. Big opportunity for them after tea to take their scores on from useful to imposing. Australia have a lead of 15 so far and should be able to make that an insurmountable one by the end of the day, but the spectre of the collapse is never quite absent. Kumara put in a heroic shift in that session and the other bowlers have had their moments.
I’ve got through that whole session without mercilessly mocking England’s overnight total of 77, largely because an excellent West Indies bowling attack was excellent in provoking it. And that’s a lovely thing to be able to write about Test cricket.
51st over: Australia 159-4 (Labuschagne 36, Head 29) The break doesn’t deter Labuschagne from going after a few more runs. Another sweep shot against Dilruwan, another boundary. Then mixes it up by pushing on the off side for two. And working a single to keep the post-tea strike. They’re home!
50th over: Australia 152-4 (Labuschagne 29, Head 29) Dual spin. Dhananjaya de Silva, who also bowls off-spin, comes on for an exploratory over. It almost produces results, too, as he hits Marnus on the pad before beating Head’s outside edge. But fruit is not quite borne.
49th over: Australia 151-4 (Labuschagne 28, Head 29) Marnus using his feet now against the spinner to drive a single. Good signs. Head sweeps a couple of runs fine. The break is minutes away. Though I suppose anything is minutes away, it’s just a matter of how many minutes. Things in the past are minutes away in the other direction. I need to stop overthinking this.
48th over: Australia 148-4 (Labuschagne 27, Head 27) Jeepers, another no-ball. Xavier Tras continues dominating the scorecard. It’s Lakmal bowling as Kumara finally gets a break. It doesn’t work out, Lakmal bowling too straight and both batsmen able to flick three to the leg side. Australia passes Sri Lanka’s total at four wickets down.
47th over: Australia 140-4 (Labuschagne 23, Head 24) Two singles from Perera’s over, as he gets things back under control.
Abhijato Sensarma emails in. “England picked Curran, and got bundled out for 77. The Aussies have passed that score, but look just as weary against what has been a similar bowling effort. The dismal Sri Lankan batting means the Australians will move into the lead, but this is not the greatest line-up one can produce for the Ashes. Yet, there is some hope in the form of a (comparatively) late-blooming Curran-esque player.
46th over: Australia 138-4 (Labuschagne 22, Head 23) Another over for Kumara, his ninth this morning. Just the two singles from it. I hope he gets a Homer Simpson sized sandwich at the break.
Decent team. The WBBL final is tomorrow.
"To have had the opportunity to experience the growth of this competition has been a true career highlight,” @EllysePerry .
The players have voted for the 2018-19 @WBBL ACA All*Star Team of the Year.
More - https://t.co/NQP5K0TMfGpic.twitter.com/stHeL1ELss
45th over: Australia 136-4 (Labuschagne 21, Head 22) Too short and Head cuts three runs to turn over the strike. Perera around the wicket with his off-breaks to the right-hander. Labuschagne lap-sweeps nicely for two to fine leg, then plays a meatier sweep to hit the square leg boundary. Growing in confidence. The over costs 10.
Marnus Labuschagne is playing 8.6% false shots in this Test. No batsman has been more secure. #AUSvSL
44th over: Australia 126-4 (Labuschagne 14, Head 19) Another maiden for Kumara, who just keeps putting in. He nails Marnus on the pad again but the impact is too high and the appeal turned down.
43rd over: Australia 126-4 (Labuschagne 14, Head 19) They’re starting to work Dilruwan Perera quite nicely now. A few singles, a three for Labuschagne. This surface looks pretty nice to bat on.
42nd over: Australia 120-4 (Labuschagne 10, Head 18) Kumara is revving up the speedo, but getting more erratic in accuracy. Wided for a bouncer, which is an achievement in first-class cricket.
Jonathan Wallis has the answers I’m looking for. “Hello Geoff. Your ‘learning lessons is for chumps’ brings us right back to your query about the shared etymology of discipline and disciple. Both words ultimately derive from the Latin verb discere … ‘to learn’. So disciple = pupil, discipline = system to aid or encourage learning. ‘Travis’ presumably derives from something else.”
Now, this. Another spectacular PR stumble for Cricket Australia. A white supremacist banner at a Big Bash game does not meet with the sort of response one might imagine it should.
A warning??! It was a $6000 fine for “disorderly or offensive conduct” at the same ground during the Test. If this doesn’t meet that criteria, then what does??? https://t.co/DovNr1TMVw
41st over: Australia 117-4 (Labuschagne 9, Head 17) Dilruwan Perera at last, the offie who had his right thumb tenderised by Pat Cummins yesterday. He seems to be gripping the ball alright though. Marnus blocks a few, then drives three runs. Head gets an outside edge into the ground. Had some struggles against Bilal Asif in the UAE with the ball turning away from the left-hander. Drinks.
40th over: Australia 114-4 (Labuschagne 6, Head 17) The players gonna play, play, play. head is one of those. Belts Chameera through point for four, then again through cover to close the over.
39th over: Australia 105-4 (Labuschagne 5, Head 9) Kumara to Head, off the pads to midwicket for a quick single. Labuschagne was alive to that one. He’s impossible not to like, a whole-hearted cricketer even though his returns have been predictably modest so far. Gets a nice opportunity from Kumara via a straight ball that’s a bit too short, and easily clipped away. The batsmen run back for a third. They’re working: 9 to 5.
38th over: Australia 101-4 (Labuschagne 2, Head 8) Chameera is long and lean, coming in off a long and long-striding run-up from the Vulture Street end. Very picturesque from side on. Nice action at the crease. Keeps targeting that off stump or just outside against Travis Head, until the end of the over when one slips down leg and Dickwella fumbles. Add that bye to a no-ball that Chameera bowled, and extras are by far the biggest contributors of runs on the day. The partnership is 19 and the batsmen between them have 10.
“If only we had the reassuring presence of a Marsh striding out to right the ship,” emails David Shepherd, not the late umpire.
Yesterday, Australia's quicks found an average of 0.79° seam movement. That's the most they've found in any innings since Adelaide last year - their last day-night Test. For all the talk about the pink ball moving through the air, it's done absolutely tons off the pitch. #AUSvSL
37th over: Australia 99-4 (Labuschagne 2, Head 8) Not to be outdone for creativity, Marnus Labuschagne stands up on his toes and plays a defensive cross-bat slog to mid-on. Yep, just what I said. Kumara is the bowler, coming on for Lakmal and changing ends. What a workhorse.
36th over: Australia 99-4 (Labuschagne 2, Head 8) Security guards stopped a bunch of spectators from bringing wooden spoons into the ground yesterday. A shame, because Travis head might benefit from some old-fashioned discipline. Sri Lanka bring in third man, knowing he was caught there twice in a Test against India. So what does Travis do? Throws his hands at a wide ball, gets a thick edge, and watches it whisper past the hands of second slip and fine for four. Does he learn his lesson? Naahhhhhh, learning lessons is for chumps. Instead he doubles down with another wild slap outside off and misses the ball completely, luckily for him. Retract my earlier suggestion: in this case the spoon would be wasted.
Play your natural game, runs the mantra. Just a shame for your teammates if your natural game is ‘park slogger with a Guy Pearce memory problem’.
35th over: Australia 95-4 (Labuschagne 2, Head 4) Lakmal draws a stuttering defensive shot from Labuschagne, and nearly draws the edge. Footwork hesitant. Very upright bat in the backlift, Labuschagne, and next he plays the pleave, off the full face by accident, running down into the gully on the bounce. Swipes across his front pad next to repel a ball to midwicket. Battling hard but yet to look convincing. Nerves, heat, warring emotions. Stabs down on a ball and it skews to gully again. Survives.
Grant Moss emails in. “Sadly Harris again shows he doesn’t yet have the temperament at the top of the order. The ball before he needlessly went out his footwork was largely absent, his front foot being about 1/2 metre from where his bat hit the ball. Top order batting still a problem - the bowlers must be quite disheartened.”
Drinks break, and Kumara has a rest. He’s been working hard, as the CricViz analysts can affirm.
Lahiru Kumara has bowled at an average speed of 141.8 kph in Test so far with only Starc & Cummins bowling quicker. Of the seam bowlers to have bowled 100+ overs in Tests in 2018 - he was the fifth fastest bowler. #AUSvSLpic.twitter.com/yR38nmJcm8
34th over: Australia 95-4 (Labuschagne 2, Head 4) Chameera takes up the attack, and Labuschagne finally opens his account with two runs flicked square. Then there’s a brain-fade from Mendis, after the ball comes off the batsman’s thigh pad to slip. Despite having never left his crease, Mendis at slip decides to throw down Labuschagne’s stumps. And misses. And concedes three more extras down the ground.
33rd over: Australia 90-4 (Labuschagne 0, Head 4) Lakmal keeps easing them down outside Head’s off stump, trying to get him to play. But eventually the length slips back too far. Head has played any number of bad cut shots this summer, but that was a perfect one. There was enough width, just. And he went at it circumspectly, placing it down and into the gap behind point to race for four.
32nd over: Australia 86-4 (Labuschagne 0, Head 0) Sensible occupation stuff from Labuschagne, who covers his stumps and watchfully sees out Kumara’s over.
Just got another email, and this one’s close to my heart. Sending a hello and a huge hug out to Warren Smith, an old friend I haven’t seen in far too long. He’s been in the wars the last few years with a bad motorbike crash and then a cancer diagnosis, and has been doing it very tough. But he says it’s been cheering him up to read the OBO the last few months, and for that I’m glad. Lots of love your way, Waz.
31st over: Australia 86-4 (Labuschagne 0, Head 0)“Discipline, discipline, discipline,” Head is muttering to himself, in my imagination. He sees out an over from Lakmal without trying to score. I just realised that ‘discipline’ and ‘disciple’ share the same root: something about adherence to a cause, I’d guess. Anyone got any insights on that etymology?
30th over: Australia 86-4 (Labuschagne 0, Head 0) Kumara is getting feisty. A chunky, barrel-chested type, he follows through all the way up to Labuschagne after a close leave. Kumara nails Marnus on the front pad and launches into a huge appeal but the umpire says no. And that’s what happens when you make stupid reviews: you get gun-shy about reviewing closer ones. Chandimal keeps his card in his pocket. Marnus was lunging at the ball and it struck him just below the knee roll, probably just outside the line. Replays confirm that was the case. Might have been clipping the bails but impact was outside.
29th over: Australia 86-4 (Labuschagne 0, Head 0) Extras continue to dominate the scoring, as Lakmal follows the wicket of Lyon with a bouncer at Head that evades the wicketkeeper. Both batsmen are on nought.
“Glad you’ve managed to enjoy our delightful ferries getting to the Gabba,” emails Murray Henman. “Was at the game yesterday and was disappointed to see the rather small crowd. Any thoughts as to why such a low attendance? Because it’s not the first test of the summer?”
Thanks for proving my point, Sri Lanka. A few balls after burning that review, Lyon spars at a wide ball that required no sparring, and gives a low catch to slip. The third umpire has 24 looks at it for some reason, but the ball is going clearly into the hands of Kusal Mendis. Four down.
28th over: Australia 82-3 (Lyon 1, Labuschagne 0) Sri Lanka use a review, but it’s a shocker: Kumara’s full swinging ball absolutely beat Lyon’s bat and pinned him on the ankle, but it had swung so far that the impact was outside the line of the right-hander’s leg stump, never mind his off stump. Excited, Sri Lanka. This after another ball had hit his leg and ricocheted for four leg byes. I mean, it was a bad review to begin with, but why would you use a review against the nightwatchman?
27th over: Australia 77-3 (Lyon 1, Labuschagne 0) The nightwatchman has outlasted his senior partner. Well well. Marnus Labuschagne is the next to the crease. Lyon opens his account with a simple press into the covers, after having a few sighters against Suranga Lakmal. That takes Australia to 77, meaning they’ve at least matched England’s overnight score.
26th over: Australia 76-3 (Lyon 0) Marcus Harris, what have you done. That’s the ugliest dismissal of a career that has already involved too many surrenders to opposing bowlers. Right after driving four through cover, Harris gets a horrible miscued delivery from Kumara, way outside off stump and very wide. Harris can’t help throwing his hands at it, and meets it shoulder-high but only with the toe of the bat. It wobbles to backward point like a car with four slashed tyres.
But what I’m really interested in is Nathan Lyon – with the bat. Australia’s greatest off-spinner is also Australia’s most improved batsman in the last year or so, for my money. He’s played some gems down the order, both entertaining and adding important runs. Now his nightwatchman work has scored him a job in the top order, for today. Who knows, he could ton up and make No4 his own.
Also Marcus Harris is there, who has hit the 70s a couple of times in his short Test career but never gone on. Big chance today.
It was a cheerful sort of day for Australia on day one, with Jhye Richardson making an excellent start to Test cricket. He took 3 for 26 from 14 overs, but more importantly he looked the goods in terms of bowling a length that would have hit the top of the stumps, challenging the batsmen, and knocking them over with good balls rather than lucky ones. It was impressive.
Pat Cummins was also very consistent with an attacking length in his 4 for 39, while Mitchell Starc brought up his 200th and 201st wickets with 2 for 51, and Nathan Lyon looked great on a first-day pitch for 1 for 38.
If you’re wondering, it’s still approximately one millionty degrees everywhere around Australia except Brisbane where it’s 32 and Darwin where it’s 26. Go figure.
Swan Hill, not the place to be. Today, anyway. A lazy 45.2 degrees. Pitch at the Showgrounds getting a good bake. pic.twitter.com/1FulK0rL4v
It’s official. Fairly warm at Melbourne Park. pic.twitter.com/fBbDL3vhQM
The only times I'm nostalgic for working in talkback is on days like this when you get that first call from out near Geelong where some bloke is standing on his verandah and yelling into the phone 'I CAN FEEL THE COOL CHANGE IT'S STARTED' and we'd play Little River Band
I’m on a boat! I’m on a boat! Everybody look at me cos I’m sailing on a boat.
Probably the best thing about Brisbane is that you can take a boat to work. Not everyone loves everything about this city but the boat thing is a win. You can jump on the river ferry from way upstream or downstream and cruise into the city, with no traffic jams or fumes or sudden braking or near misses, watching the riverbanks go by. One end of the trip especially is on some real Jurassic Park tip, all kinds of cliffs and vines and sources of prehistoric DNA.
Also, hello! Geoff Lemon with you to start the day, Jonathan Pleasantries Howcroft for the middle session, then Adam Collins to drive the beast home. As always, you can get in touch with us via our respective email addresses and Twitter handles which should be visible and linked somewhere near the byline box depending on what sort of device and program you’re using to access our wares.
For me, those contact details are geoff.lemon@theguardian.com, or @GeoffLemonSport.
Today is: Australia’s day. Not Australia Day, which a few nongs who are very short of ideas are trying to make a political wedge issue ahead of our election. Australia’s day, to try to make the Test runs that have so far eluded them this summer. They won’t get many better chances. A modest Sri Lankan attack, a pitch that will probably be at its best for batting on days two and three, a pink ball that is no longer new after its exertions last night, and a fairly clear and very bright, warm, sunny Brisbane day. Make hay while the proverbial.
Australia reached stumps at 72 for 2, exactly halfway to Sri Lanka’s paltry first innings of 144. And now comes the chance for the home side’s green middle order to bank some scores and give themselves some confidence and sense of belonging ahead of Australia’s next Test assignment, which just happens to be the Ashes in August.