Day One wrap: Aussie commentator Mel Jones ruins England villain Ollie Robinson at Lord’s

Ollie Robinson copped it from a host of Aussie cricket legends this week - but the most savage clip of all came from Mel Jones at Lord’s.

A near-perfect day of cricket for Australia needed a perfect sledge - and Aussie commentary queen Mel Jones delivered to rub England’s nose in it at Lord’s.

Australia (5/339) dominated the day from start to finish to take command of the contest, putting Bazball on the brink of disaster after a famous two-wicket win at Edgbaston.

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England won the toss and again put Australia in as it looked to capitalise on a green pitch and overcast conditions.

But wickets were hard to come by as David Warner (66) got the visitors away to a great start before Steve Smith (85 not out) combined for 100-run stands with Marnus Labuschagne (47) and Travis Head (77).

England’s bowlers were slammed for bowling too slow and being too friendly by Kevin Pietersen, but it was Jones who delivered the line of the day

Late in the second session, Joe Root was bowling for England when he surprised everyone at the ground with a head-high bouncer and prompted a funny exchange between Jones and co-commentator Michael Atherton.

“There you go. With the stare to follow as well,” Jones said.

“(Root is a) spin bowler with a fast bowler’s temperament,” Atherton replied.

“To those wondering (that was) just a couple of miles short of what Ollie Robinson has been bowling today (at) 75 miles an hour,” Jones said.

It was savagely accurate and left Atherton with no defence.

“(You’re) the latest to have a dig at Ollie Robinson,” Atherton said. “Every Australian or former Australian player is at the moment.”

3.20am - Green fluffs one to hand Root a second

Australia has tarnished a near-perfect day at Lord’s with two late wickets that have brought England back into the game.

After Travis Head danced down the pitch and missed a turning Joe Root delivery, Cameron Green departed later in the same over.

Green stepped back and looked to heave the third ball he faced over midwicket but it caught him high on the bat and ballooned up for an easy catch to Jimmy Anderson at mid-off.

Australia went from 3/316 to 5/316 in the space of four deliveries.

3.15am - Travis Head plays another special innings

England wasn’t given a moment of respite after claiming Marnus Labuschagne’s wicket as Travis Head played in typically free-flowing fashion.

The Aussie No. 5 found the boundary with ease as he blasted 77 from 73 balls before going for one too many and getting stumped off the bowling of Joe Root.

Head contributed the majority of a 118-run stand with Steve Smith that took Australia past 300 and in a dominant position late on day one.

1.40am - Robinson claims Labuschagne after commentary roasting

Marnus Labuschagne has scored just two fifties in his past 10 Test matches and again fell short of a half century after Ollie Robinson found the edge of his bat.

Labuschagne departed for 47 from 93 balls and it was far from his most convincing innings as he remains slightly out of sorts on this tour.

12.50am - Danger signs for England as KP lashes bowlers

After removing the Australian openers it was tough going for the home side as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked to right the wrongs of Edgbaston.

The star duo barely contributed to the Aussies’ win but quickly put together a 50-run partnership at better than a run-a-ball as the run rate climbed past four an over.

Josh Tongue could hold his head high after knocking over both Usman Khawaja (17) and David Warner (66) but it was grim for the rest of the all-pace attack, which came under heavy criticism from Kevin Pietersen.

“It’s just not good enough, it really isn’t,” Pietersen said in commentary.

“These guys are expected to bowl Australia out today and it’s just getting sloppy. Not enough balls in the right area. And the speeds haven’t been up.

“(Ollie) Robinson, in his first couple of spells, was bowling at 78 miles an hour and David Warner was sweeping him. It all just looks a little bit too easy here for Australia.”

Very positive batting by the Aussies at Lords but geeze it’s been a friendly 40 odd overs by England. Hardly a short ball and too many half volleys.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) June 28, 2023

“The speeds have got to improve,” Pietersen added. “You can’t bowl at 80 miles an hour. At 80 miles an hour, when the ball deviates you can recover and you can manage the deviation.

“When Josh Tongue was bowling earlier at 85, 86, 87 miles an hour it is a completely different game. The English have to bowl with more power and nip and bowl in better areas.

“Anderson has averaged 81 this morning and Broad has averaged 81. Robinson 79. Stokes 79. Josh Tongue has been up at 86. Those are the bowlers. Those are the averages. That tells a story in itself.”

Smith played with controlled aggression from ball one as he passed 9000 Test runs, reaching the milestone in fewer innings (174) than anyone apart from Kumar Sangakkara (172).

Labuschagne wasn’t as smooth and survived several LBW reviews, but steadily built an innings as England was forced to turn to the spin of Joe Root.

Labuschagne was 43 from 71 and Smith 37 from 64 as Australia reached 2/190 at tea.

11.19pm — ‘That's a peach’: Warner gone

David Warner’s excellent innings is over, bowled for 66 by Josh Tongue.

In just his second Test, Tongue has been the best of England’s bowlers, having now dismissed both of Australia’s openers.

Warner raced to 66 off 88 balls and was batting brilliantly.

But Tongue found a bit of swing to Warner, bowling one ball that cut Warner in half but only just cleared the stump.

Tongue was happy with that one. Photo by Ian Kington / AFP

He then bowled an almost identical ball that was slightly-more pitched up that knocked Warner over.

“That is a peach,” Ricky Ponting said. “That is a great delivery from Tongue. Too good the ball before, beat everyone.

“This occasion it thumps into the stumps. Too good.

“He knew halfway down he was beat, David Warner. At 87 miles an hour, you haven’t got the time to adjust.”

Aaron Finch said the wicket also seemed to have started to move after the break.

It could be an interesting afternoon.

11pm — And we’re back

Seriously umps, can we stay out there if it’s sprinkling?

On Nine, Aaron Finch said: “Maybe the umpires are calling it a touch too quick. If you are coming back after two or three minutes, maybe be prepared to play a little longer.

“Umpires are getting so concerned with player safety which, if it is raining, it is difficult to play. There are times when things happen a little too quick. Tough it out a bit.”

10.55pm — C’mon England...

The drizzle is back and the players are off the field again.

Having just come back from lunch, it’s not what we wanted to see.

England are starting to get the ball to talk with Josh Tongue looking dangerous.

Australia at 1/79.

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10pm — Khawaja bowled off last ball before lunch

Australia’s perfect first session caught its first blemish with the last ball of the first session after Usman Khawaja left a ball that decked back sharply off Josh Tongue for 17.

But it was still Australia’s session, going to lunch at 1/73 with David Warner still not out for 53.

It was a win for the Aussies after both openers had a strong start and a life after both surviving edges into the slips.

Khawaja was dropped in a tough chance to Joe Root, while Warner’s life came when Ollie Pope dropped a catch he should have taken every day of the week.

Warner was on 20 at the time but has raced to a half-century.

Playing under overcast skies and on what was believed to be a green top, it was expected to be a batters nightmare but there have been few worries for the Aussies in the first session.

England were lulled into a false sense of security by the green wicket, sending Australia into bat.

David Warner has hit his eighth 50 in England. Photo: Getty Images

Before the day started, Mark Taylor said England had already changed its tactics, having reportedly asked for “flat, fast” wickets to help their Bazball style of batting before the series.

But in just the second match of the series, England were eager to make first use of the ball.

“The pitch is fairly green, which is a change of tactics for me for England,” Taylor said.

“They said they wanted flat, even pitches. This one is even, but it’s even with plenty of grass on it.

“All of a sudden they’re now thinking about more aggressive bowling than they were about aggressive batting so a slight change in the England tactics but I don’t mind seeing that.”

9.50pm — Warner gets a 50

David Warner has flown to 52 off 66 balls as Australia get off to a belter of a start.

At the end of the 22nd over, Australia are 0/71 having brought up his 50 with a six.

It’s Warner’s eighth in England and, even better for Australia, it was done after the visitors were sent in to bat.

9.15pm — ‘Got to take those’: Warner gets a life

Last series, David Warner got nothing going his way.

This Ashes, the Aussie opener has received a much needed life, having been dropped by Ollie Pope at third slip.

The edge went at a good height to Pope off Stuart Broad with former England star Andrew Strauss claiming Pope snatched at the ball.

“You’ve got to take those,” Strauss said. “It hit Ollie Pope very hard. But he should take those. That is as simple as it gets at third slip. Massive moment for David Warner. Massive moment for Australia.”

Warner was on 20 at the time.

8.56pm — And we’re back

Not too long a break thankfully.

While it’s very dark at the ground, it’s not expected to rain for the rest of the day.

8.46pm — The rains are here

It’d been a great morning so far by Australia’s standards moving to 0/20 off nine overs.

David Warner is 14 not out, while Usman Khawaja is on six not out.

But it’s not what the cricket world wants to see after an absorbing first Test.

While Australia isn’t scoring too quickly, the green wicket and overcast conditions haven’t been too tricky for the Aussies to handle despite a bit of lateral movement.

Khawaja was lucky that an edge didn’t go to hand but otherwise there have been few worries for the Aussies, which is great after being sent into bat.

8.11pm — Wild scenes as star manhandles pitch invader

Bairstow stopped the protester in his tracks. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Bairstow had to go get changed after the run in. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Just one over into the Lord’s Test match, protesters have stopped the game, running onto the field with orange flares.

But England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow hasn’t stood idly by, carrying one off the field.

The commentators said it was Andrew Symonds-esque, after the late Australian allrounder who shoulder charged a pitch invader back in 2008.

Good start to the 2nd test.
Bairstow has done some heavy lifting already😂😂 #Ashes2023pic.twitter.com/f0JcZnCvEr

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 28, 2023

Aaron Finch said on Nine that it was something “You never want to see”.

Nine host Roz Kelly called it an “extraordinary” start.

After Bairstow got changed and the groundstaff got the leaf blower out for the orange powder, the game got back underway.

7.30pm — Pat Cummins loses another toss

And England will bowl first.

This is scary on the green monster with the overhead conditions being overcast.

But closer to game time, it’s less and less green — will that change how it plays?

Cummins also confirmed Scott Boland was out with Mitchell Starc coming in.

“We were happy with how Scott Boland has been going, but unfortunately he misses out this week,” Cummins said. “Excited to have some of Mitchell Starc’s class back in.”

Nathan Lyon has also become the first specialist bowler to have played 100 straight Tests.

He’ll join Alastair Cook (159 Tests), Allan Border (153), Mark Waugh (107), Sunil Gavaskar (106) and Brendan McCullum (101) in the elite club.

The don’t call him the ‘GOAT’ for nothing. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“Incredible,” Cummins said. “Not only in terms of fitness and form but getting picked in all conditions around the world for 100 Test matches, phenomenal. So he’s a special player and I’m very lucky to have him as a captain.”

Lyon could also become the eighth man in history to claim 500 Test wickets if he can claim five scalps.

AUS XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

ENG XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joes Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Jimmy Anderson.

7pm — Sight no one in cricket wants to see

Rain rain, go away, come again in five days.

The English weather is already having a say with the drizzle around London forcing the hovercraft covers onto the pitch.

LIVE: Hovercraft covers have just swallowed up the pitch with a bit of drizzle around London #Ashespic.twitter.com/HdbLsHckEZ

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 28, 2023

With the weather reports pointing to play on day two being doubtful, it’s not what the cricket world wants to see.

We want as much time as possible to ensure a result - even though the green strip is mouthwatering for both teams’ bowling stocks.

6.30pm — Aussie’s shock axing as Lord’s roasted

Starc in for Boland. Photo: Getty Images

Australia have left the cricket world hanging again as Pat Cummins prepares to name his side at the toss again.

At 6pm on Wednesday News Corp reported Mitchell Starc was in for Scott Boland for the match, although it will be officially announced at the toss.

Yesterday captain Pat Cummins said the 12 men had been picked with Starc joining the 11 from the first Test, but he wouldn’t be pressed further on who would play.

While Edgbaston as slow and lifeless for the most part, Lord’s appears to be a green monster with overcast conditions predicted for the match.

So much so the official Twitter page of the Icelandic Cricket Association couldn’t help itself.

Somebody needs to tell the Lord's groundstaff that Wimbledon begins on Monday, not tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/xo5Q7k1kEY

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) June 27, 2023

But the green pitch has continued to drive the speculation on who Australia will pick for the match.

Starc was left out of the first Test but if the ball is moving, his inswinging yorker could be lethal on a greentop.

Boland impressed in the World Test Championship Final was but the most expensive bowler for Australia in the first Test, while Josh Hazlewood is only one Test back from an Achilles injury that kept him out of the WTC.

England have gone all out pace for the match with 25-year-old quick Josh Tongue coming in for his second Test after Moeen Ali made way.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan told the Fox Cricket Ashes Preview that a cloudy day and a green wicket would be a potent combination.

“Lord’s is all about the overheads,” Vaughan said.

“If the clouds are around, the ball might move around a bit. A dry week and blue sky, it’ll be pretty flat. You’ve just got to be able to use the slope.

“If it’s flat, I can’t see them (Australia) not getting 600 runs in the Test match.

“If I was England, I’d be trying to make it into a 500-run Test match where the ball’s nipping around and you might get 350 in one innings but you might get them for 150 in the other.”

Originally published as Day One wrap: Aussie commentator Mel Jones ruins England villain Ollie Robinson at Lord’s