Ashes cricket 2023: Australia, England set up epic final day of seesawing first Test
Australia and England have set up an epic finish to the first Ashes Test, after a rollercoaster day four in which momentum swung wildly from the first ball to the last.
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Stuart Broad ran amok as Australia lost 3-28 to leave the first Test hanging on a knife’s edge with a day to play.
Broad removed Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in quick succession late on day four, with the Aussies 3-107 at stumps chasing 281 at Edgbaston for what would be Australia’s highest successful fourth innings chase since 2011. Forecast rain in Birmingham on Tuesday threatens to shape the result.
Australia’s target is one run short of what Ricky Ponting’s team was chasing in the iconic Birmingham Test of 2005, which England won by two runs.
First innings hero Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on 34, while nightwatcher Scott Boland survived a 20-minute stint to get to 13.
Khawaja received a life in the first over of the chase after he edged one from Jimmy Anderson between England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root at first slip. It was arguably Bairstow’s catch, and followed several errors from the returning gloveman in Australia’s first innings.
David Warner finally withstood old nemesis Broad to make an attacking 36 before nicking off to first-change bowler Ollie Robinson.
But Broad could be eyeing a new bunny after removing Marnus Labuschagne (13) for the second time for the match, with Labuschagne once more poking needlessly outside off-stump.
A perennial Ashes star, Broad then added the world’s second-ranked batter’s scalp to his trophy cabinet, with Steve Smith finely shaving the veteran for six, ending a miserable match for Smith, who had again been on the end of taunts from England fans.
England again opted for creative fields, at one point positioning a man at straight hit to Khawaja.
Frontline England spinner Moeen Ali was bowling in discomfort as he dealt with a finger issue but Broad said he expected Ali to be able to continue on day five.
“Yeah I think he’s fine…he’s doing as much as he can to try and heal that and deal with the pain,” Broad said.
The hosts’ tail had earlier wagged to help them to 273. Pat Cummins (4-63) and Nathan Lyon (4-80) had done the brunt of the damage, with no England batter reaching 50 but only Zak Crawley failing to reach double figures.
The Scott plot
Former England captain Michael Vaughan forecast ahead of the series that the hosts would target Boland by treating him like a spinner and he hasn’t been wrong. The Victorian has only a modest one-day record and it showed, with his accuracy also proving his downfall as England’s batters, in particular Joe Root, and even Anderson, took to him. His best has been unplayable but Boland looks shaky for Lord’s.
Low blow
For a minute or so, it looked like Australia might be staring at yet another low catch controversy.
Ben Stokes was 33, batting in the middle session with Baristow, when he reverse swept Lyon to Boland at backward point. Boland looked like he’d taken it low to the ground, but Stokes stood his ground. Was this going to be another stink after the issue with Cameron Green in the World Test Championship final? It turned out to be a false alarm. Stokes’ shot had been hit straight into the pitch before lobbing to Boland.
But that wasn’t the last of it. Robinson wore a vicious short ball from Josh Hazlewood, which Labuschagne lunged after at short-leg. It was sent to the third umpire, and it was clear Labuschagne hadn’t controlled the ball before it hit the ground.
Razor to Raza?
Ashes series have a way of separating the wheat from the chaff, and that doesn’t just apply to players. The officials are also in the spotlight, and it hasn’t been a great start to the series for Pakistani umpire Ahsan Raza. The lbw call successfully reviewed by Bairstow off Boland’s bowling just before lunch was the third time for the match that Raza had been corrected by the technology.
Duke of York
Cummins delivered a brutal yorker to upend Ollie Pope’s off-stump and it wouldn’t be the last time for the innings he rolled it out. While England’s batters managed to keep out the delivery from there, it was nice for the Aussies to have another exponent of the ball in Mitchell Starc’s absence. However, Starc would have been useful as England’s tail frustrated the Aussies.
Review the reviews
Cummins didn’t make every post a winner. His reviewing during this Test was mixed at best, and Australia exhausted its quota when appealing for a caught behind off Robinson that flew well past his bat.
Hoff to it
Hazlewood repeatedly had issues with an uneven surface on the Edgbaston deck. Several times during the match the Aussie quick called groundstaff into the middle to ensure the landing area was safe.
AS IT HAPPENED
STUMPS: STAGE SET FOR EPIC FINAL DAY
This Test match has been an absolute rollercoaster.
Through four days it has been mostly breathless momentum swings, with the Edgbaston crowd riding every second of it.
If you can hear them, it generally means bad things for Australia. But for much of today’s play, the tourists had found a way to silence England.
Firstly, through Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who took four wickets each in restricting England to 273 in their second innings – which left a target of 281 for victory, which would be an Ashes record at Edgbaston if Australia are to chase it down.
David Warner and Usman Khawaja then cemented Australia’s status, ever so briefly, as firm favourites when they put on 61 for the first wicket.
But when Ollie Robinson knocked over Warner, all hell broke loose – with Stuart Broad dismissing the world’s top-two-ranked batsmen, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith.
Where to from here? Anything is possible, after Khawaja and nightwatchman Scott Boland steered Australia to stumps without any further damage.
Australia needs a further 174 runs. England needs seven wickets. And cricket fans around the world need the rain to stay away.
3.42AM: WICKET! BROAD TEARS AUSTRALIA APART
And another! Stuart Broad has two, and they’re the big two: Steve Smith joins Marnus Labuschagne in the Australian dressing room.
What a hammer blow that is for Australia, with stumps 15 minutes away.
Smith had just narrowly survived an LBW shout earlier in the over, but there was no debating this. A delightful outswinger takes a thin edge and Smith throws the bat under his arm and trudges off for 6.
Twin failures for Smith here, in stark contrast to his twin centuries four years ago.
Australia suddenly in a world of hurt at 3-89 chasing 281.
3.25AM: WICKET! BROAD KNOCKS OVER MARNUS
It’s Stuart Broad – it’s ALWAYS Stuart Broad.
He gets Marnus Labuschagne in exactly the same fashion as in the first innings, a wide outswinger has the Australian feeling outside his off-stump and nicking off.
Two wickets in quick time for England has changed the feeling of this game in a big way.
Labuschagne adds just 13, completing a poor start to the Ashes for the world’s No.1-ranked Test batsman.
His exit brings the arrival of Steve Smith. What Australia would give for a vintage Smith knock right now. Or at least one that sees them through to stumps without any further damage.
3.20AM: MOEEN FORCED OFF WITH FINGER ISSUE
Moeen Ali is officially struggling.
He’s been in pain, with the open blister on his spinning finger, since before bowling his first delivery today, but his sixth over has been downright ugly.
A rank full toss was followed up with two half-trackers, one dispatched to the boundary by Marnus Labuschagne.
And with that, Moeen immediately comes from the field to have his finger checked out, and perhaps have more treatment applied.
“This over is showing Moeen Ali has an issue, and this is a huge issue for England,” says Kevin Pietersen.
3.15AM: WINVIZ PREDICTS AUSSIE VICTORY
It feels a long way off, but Australia is currently in their strongest position of the match according to WinViz, the match predicting tool from statisticians CricViz.
With Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne at the crease, and Australia 1-72 – still 209 runs from victory in what would be a record Ashes chase at Edgbaston – Australia are considered a 68 per cent chance of victory.
England, who need nine wickets, have slipped to a 31 per cent chance, while a draw is considered unlikely at just one per cent.
I’d say that draw prediction isn’t factoring in the weather forecast, which suggests there’s a high likelihood of rain throughout the morning – and, to be honest, it’s expected to hang around all day.
3.00AM: WICKET! WARNER DEPARTS AFTER STRONG START
A big one for England! It’s David Warner, gone for 36 just before drinks. Australia are 1-61, needing a further 220 for victory.
It was all looking a little too comfortable for Australia, who had found a good rhythm as they ate into this chase.
But Ollie Robinson gets one to nibble away from the left-hander, and Warner feathers a chance to Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow has had a rough week behind the stumps, but he has no troubles pouching this one.
England needed that, badly. Australia had taken the crowd out of the contest, but this will bring them back. Fast.
In comes Marnus Labuschagne, on a King Pair.
2.45AM: FIRST HURDLE CLEARED: AUSSIES PASS 50
When dealing with a tricky target like the 281 Australia are chasing, it’s not uncommon to set yourselves little targets along the way.
Well, Australia have just passed the first minor milestone along the way with Usman Khawaja’s straight drive for four, off Moeen Ali, bringing up the 50-run opening stand between he and David Warner.
There’s a long way to go, 231 more runs to be precise, but this has been a confident start between two of Australia’s most senior players.
Moeen, meanwhile, is looking less and less confident in his injured bowling hand. There’s a lot of discussion with Ben Stokes and a lot of headshaking after he completes his over.
2.35AM: MOEEN FIGHTS THROUGH PAIN
One of the most important questions for England over the next four sessions of this Test: what impact can Moeen Ali have?
England’s frontline spinner should play a decisive role, given the impact of Nathan Lyon in England’s second innings, but he’s far from 100 per cent having opened up a wound on his spinning finger in the first dig.
But he’s brought in to bowl early here.
And it doesn’t look comfortable, Moeen with a grimace on his face as he rips his first few warm-up deliveries.
He is clearly in pain, but struts through the first over without too much concern. But that wound is only going to get worse, not better, as he grips the new Dukes ball with his hard seam.
2.25AM: UZ V ROBINSON, ROUND 2
Australia has made a bright start, and Ollie Robinson has been called into the attack after nine overs.
With Robinson’s introduction, we also see the return of the umbrella field that emerged when Khawaja was dismissed, bowled, in the first innings.
That wicket led to Robinson’s foul-mouthed send-off of Khawaja, which dominated headlines yesterday.
There’s no nastiness so far today. Just a promising start for Australia, who are 0-31 after 10 overs.
2.05AM: POSITIVE START FROM AUSTRALIA
Five overs down, and Australia have started in the right fashion.
Usman Khawaja, fresh from his first innings century, is playing the aggressor role and already has three boundaries to his name to lead Australia to 0-20.
David Warner, meanwhile, will be keen to see off this initial spell from Stuart Broad and go from there.
He looks comfortable and confident at the minute, however.
Meanwhile, a reminder that because of yesterday’s lost overs due to rain, today’s scheduled finish is 3.30am AEST – but with the potential to go through until 4am, to make up for slow over rates during the day.
So there is a LOT of cricket still to come today.
1.45AM: KHAWAJA RIDES LUCK, ENORMITY OF CHASE EMERGES
One over down, and it’s already been eventful.
Australia take ten from Jimmy Anderson’s first over, but it wasn’t smooth sailing – with Usman Khawaja edging a clear chance that splits keeper Jonny Bairstow, and Joe Root at first slip.
Whose catch was that? It’s a matter for debate. But neither player moved.
Australia may need a touch of luck in this chase, and they’ve had a decent slice of it already.
To put into context how big the next four sessions are, it is worth noting that this is England’s 14th game of the Bazball era – they’ve played in no draws, and lost just two Tests.
They have complete confidence in the way they play Test cricket now, and should Australia pull off a first Test robbery, it will be a big marker laid down for the series.
And England’s tail may have made the wicket look placid, as it has for much of this Test, but it would be unwise to underestimate the size of this target.
Australia’s 4th innings Test targets since November 2011:
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) June 19, 2023
-250: Won 16, lost 1.
+250: Drawn 2, lost 20#Ashes
INNINGS BREAK: ENGLAND SET AUSTRALIA 281 FOR VICTORY
Pat Cummins ends England’s innings, and he has bowled incredibly well today.
He brings himself back into the attack, and wastes no time sending down a short-ball to Jimmy Anderson who edges a chance to Alex Carey.
He finishes with four wickets, and has been Australia’s best today.
Now the attention turns to Australia. They have four sessions – possibly less, when you factor in rain – to chase 281 on a wicket that has had few gremlins in it since the first delivery.
A successful chase would make it the biggest in Ashes history at this ground, and the third highest in the history at Edgbaston – bested only by England’s 3-378 v India last year, and South Africa’s 5-283 against England in 2008.
David Warner has a point to prove after his first innings failing, as do Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, the latter who will arrive at the crease on king pair after his first innings golden duck.
There’s plenty of play left today, and the mood among the Australian team seems buoyant after a successful day in the field. But there are more twists to come, you can bank on that.
1.05PM: WICKET! THE END IS NIGH FOR ENGLAND
Nathan Lyon is closing in on a five-wicket haul, and Australia is close to getting ready to bat.
Ollie Robinson contributes a fine 27, and has pushed England into an area that is very much defendable, but he went to the well one too many times.
He chips Lyon to long-on, where the giant hands of Cameron Green are waiting, and he makes no mistake.
For the Australians, that ends a frustrating 27-run partnership which has helped England’s lead close in on 270, and brings Jimmy Anderson to the crease alongside his old bowling partner Stuart Broad.
12.45PM: WARNER TAUNTS CROWD, ENGLAND CRAWL ALONG
David Warner has been moved in front of the Hollies Stand – which houses the drunkest, and loudest, human beings in all of Birmingham.
And he’s copping it deluxe as a result, but returning serve as well.
He’s cupped his ear to the crowd, whipping them into a frenzy.
“That’s not fair, Pat Cummins. You can’t put David Warner out there,” jokes Ricky Ponting in commentary.
Meanwhile, this partnership is starting to frustrate Australia. It’s nudged out to 22 runs, and England’s lead has pushed past 250.
A number of the Aussie players were serenaded by the Hollies Stand but no surprises that David Warner got the loudest response. And he was the only one to then cross the rope, face the partisan crowd with hands on hip like he was asking them to give him their best #Ashespic.twitter.com/KxLNdOdgZo
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 19, 2023
12.30PM: WICKET! HAZLEWOOD RETURNS WITH IMMEDIATE IMPACT
Where has Josh Hazlewood been all day?
He comes back for just his eighth over of the innings, and strikes in his first over, with Moeen Ali gloving down the legside for 19.
It’s been a hell of an over, after a long break for the big quick. His second ball was a pinpoint bouncer that had Ollie Robinson fearing for his life, and Marnus Labuschagne reaching for a screamer.
He claimed a spectacular catch, but on review it is ruled not out as the ball takes a decent chunk of grass.
“He couldn’t get those two smaller fingers underneath the ball. I’ve got not out for that,” says Mark Taylor.
No such luck for Moeen, however. He’s gone, and England lead by 236.
Two balls later and Stuart Broad is in all sorts, with Steve Smith dropping a half-chance after Broad protects himself from another bouncer.
Hazlewood has absolutely nailed the brief, here.
12.10PM: DRINKS! AUSSIES ROAR BACK INTO THE CONTEST
This match is in a very tense spot, with England leading by 222 – a reasonable chase as it is, especially with rain to come tomorrow – and with the tail at the crease.
The runrate has slowed since Ben Stokes’ dismissal, as you might expect with the recognised batsmen back in the grandstand.
Australia are up and about after a solid half-session after lunch so far, but they can’t let the tail wag at all.
To that end, it’s quite surprising how much leeway they’re giving Ollie Robinson with the defensive fields he’s facing.
11.55PM: WICKET! STOKES STUMBLES TO OPEN DOOR FOR AUSSIES
That’s the wicket the Australians wanted!
Ben Stokes has been in a mood since lunch, but Pat Cummins has got him dead to rights there.
Trapped in front, Stokes reluctantly reviews but you suspect he knows it’s a foregone conclusion – as ball-tracker confirms, although it’s umpire’s call on clipping the leg stump.
It’s an important 43 from Stokes, but his wicket leaves the door ajar for Australia.
He leaves with England holding a lead of just 217, and Australia are into the tail.
Because here comes the man of the moment: Ollie Robinson. Will the Australians give him a warm welcome to the crease, after his send-off of Usman Khawaja yesterday?
11.40PM: WICKET! LYON WITH THE BREAKTHROUGH
Well, it’s been coming. After a series of near-misses, and overturned decisions, Australia has their breakthrough.
Nathan Lyon has a third wicket of the day, and it’s Jonny Bairstow who falls just after England’s lead pushes past 200.
Bairstow, given out LBW, attempted for a review – and why not? DRS has been kind to England today – but this one has missed the glove, and is crashing into leg stump.
That is wicket number 494 for Lyon, with the incredible 500-mark rapidly approaching.
Bairstow is gone for 20, and there’s another twist in this contest.
Out comes Moeen Ali, he of the blistered finger. And after this partnership, Australia will get a look at England’s tail.
Does Stokes dial it up another notch?
11.30PM: ENGLAND PUSH LEAD INTO DANGEROUS TERRITORY
A rough 10 minute stretch there for Australia.
Once again, they thought they had Stokes again – seemingly caught by Scott Boland at gully off a reverse sweep, but replays show it’s a bump ball.
The fans love that one. Their favourite chant of the Test, “Same old Aussies, always cheating”, gets another run.
Soon after, a thick edge from Jonny Bairstow evades the clutches of Steve Smith at first slip – and travels for four, stretching England’s lead past 200.
This is a very dangerous period for Australia. Stokes and Bairstow are in a mood, they’re scoring quickly, and before long this lead could be reaching areas that might remove an Australian victory from the likely results.
11.15PM: STOKES ON THE CHARGE
We’re seeing a different Ben Stokes after lunch.
He’s taking a far more aggressive approach at the crease, charging Scott Boland and attempting reverse sweeps to disrupt Australia’s bowling plans.
It’s not 2019 Headingley Stokes (yet, I suppose), but there’s a bit more fluidity to how he’s playing now compared to before lunch.
He also appears to be favouring the knee which has caused him such trouble over the past 18 months, after being caught on the crease by a Lyon delivery which kept low in the first over after lunch.
He’s moving freely between the wickets, but there’s a noticeable wince on some strokes.
However he’s also really pushing hard and it is bordering on reckless. Australia will look at this and think there’s an opportunity for a wicket. But if it comes, how much damage will have been done?
11.00PM: SECOND SESSION UNDERWAY
We go again. Another lengthened session, to go for two hours and 15 minutes, and another huge opportunity for one of these teams to impose themselves on this game.
It’ll be Nathan Lyon to Ben Stokes to start.
LUNCH: LATE WICKETS LIFT AUSTRALIA
An elongated session, but does anyone really know who is in front here?
England dodged a massive bullet in the final over before lunch, with Jonny Bairstow given out LBW to Scott Boland before having the decision overturned on review.
Ball-tracker shows the ball nipping over the top of the leg-stump, much to the dismay of Steve Smith who was out to a similar delivery in the first innings.
Just as it looked like England were about to really take Australia out of the game, through Joe Root and Harry Brook, both have fallen to Nathan Lyon before lunch.
Australia took three wickets, while England added 127 runs, to once again share honours in a desperately tight contest.
Lyon also thought he’d trapped Ben Stokes LBW, but didn’t get any luck with the third umpire – with DRS finding an edge that didn’t seem to exist, and ball-tracker later appearing to have a mind of its own.
But as it stands, England lead by 162 – warm favourites at this point, given the ability of the two men at the crease, Stokes and Jonny Bairstow, as well as a tail that has shown it can wag.
There’s plenty of rain forecast tomorrow, so who knows if a result will even be possible. But what would Australia feel comfortable chasing on this wicket, if the weather Gods play their part?
10.00PM: LYON STRIKES BEFORE LUNCH!
We’re nearly at the lunch break of this extended session – and Australia have grabbed a crucial scalp before the major break.
Harry Brook, who has hammered away at roughly a run-a-ball all day, falls just short of his half-century as Marnus Labuschagne takes an excellent low catch at mid-wicket.
He falls to Nathan Lyon for the second time this Test, and becomes Lyon’s second victim of the day.
It wasn’t a vintage Lyon delivery, short and looked like it was there to be hit really, but it drags him closer to the incredible mark of 500 Test wickets.
He’s up to 493 now. How many more to come today?
9.40PM: LYON DENIED BY CONTROVERSIAL DRS CALL
Huge appeal from Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey, who think they have Ben Stokes trapped LBW.
Their pleas fall on deaf ears with umpire Marais Erasmus, but they have convinced Pat Cummins to take a review.
After a lengthy process while the third umpire waits for Ultra-Edge footage to appear, the Australians are denied with replays indicating there was an under-edge before it hit Stokes’ pad.
But former Australian captain Mark Taylor believes there’s been a misstep by the DRS.
“That one’s confused me, to be honest. There’s a noise, but it’s not a sharp noise. It’s not a flick on the bat. I think Ben Stokes might’ve said that he didn’t hit it,” Taylor said.
“He’s been given not out. (And) I think there was a gap between the ball and the bat. There certainly wasn’t a spike.
“You can see daylight between ball and bat. There was a noise, but it could’ve been the shuffling of his feet. He hasn’t hit it.”
You sure ump? pic.twitter.com/t5WVLKsFKS
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) June 19, 2023
It all amounts to nothing, because HawkEye, soon after, shows that the ball wouldn’t have gone on to hit the stumps anyway – although that, too, has raised some eyebrows.
Australia are down to one review.
I reckon he might have got something on that.
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) June 19, 2023
But there’s no way that was missing the stumps 😂#Ashes
9.20PM: WICKET! JOE ROOT FALLS IN GAME-CHANGER
That’s a huge wicket for Australia, with Joe Root well and truly taking the game away from the tourists.
He falls just short of his half-century, and it is Nathan Lyon who takes the wicket – a man whose confidence can rise and fall rapidly.
An early wicket for Lyon could mean great things for Australia.
Root has been aggressive all morning, but he might regret charging down the wicket there – beaten by turn as he looks to thump Lyon through mid-wicket, and Alex Carey’s tidy work behind the stumps does the rest.
England are four down, with a lead of 136. Big partnership, this, between Harry Brook and Ben Stokes.
9.10PM: DO AUSTRALIA NEED A TACTICAL MAKEOVER?
It’s been England’s session this morning, with their lead ballooning out to 128 after the hour (and a bit) of play as Joe Root continues has first Test masterclass.
Australia have the wicket of Ollie Pope to show for their efforts, but since his dismissal Root and Harry Brook have added nearly 50 at more than six runs an over.
And again questions are being asked about their tactics. Are they too passive? Steve O’Keefe would like to see Australia’s quicks force England’s batsmen onto the back foot with some short-pitched bowling, but there’s been almost none of that in the opening hour of play.
Australia's first 21 overs were bowled by pace bowlers and only two balls were bouncers #Ashes
— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) June 19, 2023
After the drinks break, it’s Josh Hazlewood to bowl his first spell of the morning. Perhaps he’ll have some different plans.
8.50PM: BROOK DEMOLISHES LYON IN PAYBACK MISSION
Nathan Lyon is into the attack, and Harry Brook greets him with a cutshot for four, and backs it up with a sweep for the same result.
This will be an intriguing battle.
Lyon won the fight on day one when Brook was removed via one of the more freakish dismissals you’ll see in cricket – the ball rolling up the thigh pad, nearly landing on the batsman and then spinning back into the stumps.
But Brook has arguably been Bazball’s finest product, bursting onto the scene and immediately becoming one of cricket’s most prolific batsman.
He’s signalled his intent by taking 13 runs off Lyon’s first over this morning.
8.35PM: WICKET! CUMMINS CASTLES POPE
Pat Cummins has delivered an absolute peach of a delivery there!
Full, and angling in, Ollie Pope stood no chance as Cummins breaches his defence with a thunderbolt.
It’s the first wicket of the day, and Australia badly needed that – because England had started to get going in a big way, through Joe Root primarily.
Pope is gone for 14 and he looks rather miffed at that one. England three down, with an 84 run lead.
And in comes Harry Brook, as Cameron Green joins the attack for the first time this innings.
8.25PM: HOW LONG UNTIL AUSTRALIA UNLEASH LYON?
England’s lead has grown rapidly this morning, with Joe Root taking the game to Australia with a combination of the sublime (glorious cover drives) and the ridiculous (equally glorious revere ramp shots for six).
And he’s on the verge of hitting Scott Boland out of the attack. Boland had a rough opening day in Edgbaston, before briefly looking like his normal self under cloudy skies last night.
But on a warm day, he looks vulnerable once again and Root is on the attack – with Boland’s first two overs going for 26 runs.
How long until Nathan Lyon is called on by captain Pat Cummins? There’s no question Lyon will shoulder a huge workload today, and on a wicket that has taken turn from Moeen Ali and Joe Root, he looms as the key for Australia.
It won’t be long before he’s asked to warm the fingers up.
8.05PM: ROOT’S OUTRAGEOUS WARNING SHOT
If there was ever any doubt about what England’s approach was going to be today, Joe Root has removed it after just one delivery.
On the first ball of the fourth day, Root attempted a reverse ramp shot off Pat Cummins – a remarkable, inventive stroke which delivered two sixes in his first-innings century.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that in Test cricket…” offers England great Kevin Pietersen.
It’s certainly a bold strategy. But that’s the Bazball way. The English entertainers are not going to let this game meander.
The following over, Root goes again – and ramps Scott Boland over the fence for six, and then for a boundary the very next ball.
Extraordinary.
8.00PM: DAY FOUR IS UPON US!
A monster day of Ashes cricket awaits.
With yesterday’s rain, we’ll have elongated sessions and a whole lot of cricket to get through, with 98 overs scheduled.
And we’re ready to ride the rollercoaster again. No team has truly been able to get on top in this match – even when England scored nearly 400 on day one, it didn’t feel like Australia was out of the contest on a flat wicket, and the days which followed have delivered more of the same.
England will start with Joe Root and Ollie Pope at the crease, both yet to score, and with a 35-run lead in their pocket.
They’ll be aiming to push the tempo and apply the blowtorch to Australia’s bowlers, who in turn will be hunting early wickets to cash in on their hard work from last night
7.30PM: ASHES GREAT’S REVENGE THREAT FOR ENGLAND VILLAIN
Australian Ashes great Brad Haddin has given England villain Ollie Robinson fair warning: there will be retribution for his ugly day three antics.
Robinson hit the headlines for his expletive-laden send-off of first-innings hero Usman Khawaja, where he sceamed ‘f**k off you f**king pr**k’ after ending the Australian’s innings on 141.
Robinson also employed England’s short-ball tactics against Australia’s tailenders, a strategy which Haddin warned could come back to bite him and England’s fellow fast bowlers when it’s time for Pat Cummins and his pace allies to have a crack at the host’s lower order.
“I think it’s stupid (Robinson’s send-off). I thought England and the way they were going to play their cricket, this wasn’t going to be part of the game,” Haddin told the Willow Talk radio show.
“But it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed in the changeroom. Ollie went after the Australians with short-pitched bowling at 123kms.
“It’s going to be an interesting… because Australia get a right of reply. Ollie Robinson, yes he let emotions get the better of him here but it wouldn’t have gone unnoticed from the Australian bowling cartel.”
Short-ball barrages have been effectively deployed in Ashes battles in recent years, with Mitchell Johnson famously rattling England with pace and aggression in a career-defining series in 2013-14.
And with speedsters Cummins, Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood, Australia have the artillery to return fire at Robinson and the rest of England’s tail.
“I don’t think Usman would’ve really noticed what happened,” Haddin added.
“But there would’ve been a little word (in the changerooms), ‘just hold that in the back of your mind, we’ll get a right of reply and an opportunity to use our short-pitched ball’.
“They’ll remember it. They won’t say too much about it but just watch when Ollie comes in to bat. The game will just lift in energy.”
6.45PM: WEATHER UPDATE: HUMID, BUT NO RAIN
We’re a little over an hour away from the first ball of day four, so it’s time for your all-important weather update.
After yesterday’s showers, and twin rain delays, fans will be excited to hear that the rain should stay away today – but Pat Cummins and his fast bowling allies will be pleased that the air is thick with humidity.
Bright and humid in Birmingham this morning. Shouldn’t rain. Belter in store.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) June 19, 2023
That should be encouraging for Australia’s quicks, after Cummins and Boland did made the most of yesterday’s overcast conditions with a brutal 20-minute onslaught that delivered the wickets of both English openers.
The loss of nearly two sessions of play on day three will extend play by an extra half-hour today and tomorrow, meaning the scheduled finish time is 3.30AM AEST – before the additional half-hour allowed for slow overs during the day. So a 4am finish looks likely tonight, for those wanting to go the distance.
6.00PM: FIERY SLEDGE REVEALS ENGLAND’S BRUTAL PLAN
Australia’s tail-end batsmen are fastening their seat belts for a rib-rattling summer.
For generations Australia have been renowned as the cricket team who would mercilessly snip your tail … suddenly they are watching their own.
A pointed throwaway line from feisty English seam bowler Ollie Robinson has spotlighted the one area where England may have an advantage over Australia this series and will mercilessly target.
Robinson cheekily commented: “We said once we get past (Pat) Cummins (at No 8) we feel like they have three No 11s. It’s something we can target through the series and try and wrap up their innings quite quick and give us that momentum into our batting innings.’’
He was commenting after Australia lost 4-14 at the end of the first innings of the first Test.
Nathan Lyon (one), Scott Boland (0) and Cummins (38) fell to short balls which will surely become standard fare for them for the rest of the series.
Over the generations Australian bowlers such as Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jeff Thomson and Mitchell Johnson were known as great tail-spinners but now Australia will face its own challenges.
Australia’s long tail was one reason why it was such a major decision to omit Mitchell Starc who has a batting average of 27 in England.
Australia matches up well against England in most areas. It’s bowlers are younger and faster. Nathan Lyon is a superior spinner to Moeen Ali. Alex Carey has Jonny Bairstow covered as a gloveman and is not as far short as a batsman as many think.
Australia’s batsmen dominate the world rankings and Cameron Green’s numbers may outshine Ben Stokes’ at the end of the series.
But with Moeen coming in at number eight with a Test batting average which floats around 28 England have a stronger tail on paper. – ROBERT CRADDOCK
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