The Ashes 2019!!!!!!!

The good news is that the forecast has improved massively, with a decent chance of uninterrupted play tomorrow and maybe just the odd shower on Sunday.

In usual circumstances this morning’s session would be seen as a triumph for England but one can’t help feeling they needed more. Still, early wickets tomorrow and they will fancy their chances. As is predictable, so much comes down to that man, Steve Smith, and his journey of redemption by the means of just scoring ridiculous amounts of runs.

If the weather holds, then we have room for ten sessions of play in the match, which is more than enough time for a positive result given the strength of bowling on both sides. If Australia can win the morning session then I struggle to see how they lose the match and they set themselves up for building towards a victory. If England win the morning session then they will have the equaliser in their grasp.

I have to feel a draw is still likely, especially if the showers disrupt play on Sunday. More importantly, a match that looked like it might die a death thanks to the English August rains now offers a glimmer of hope that it might come down to a barnstorming finish, with either side in contention.

Smith doesn't look entirely comfortable today.

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Originally Posted by Northernhibee

Smith doesn't look entirely comfortable today.

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He’s just been whacked on the arm, he looks like he’s struggling to continue.

Unbelievable that Smith has come back to bat after that hit on the neck.

I'm following on my phone at the game and thought I'd read it wrong. It was a sickener.

If you were looking for a reason the England and Wales cricket board changed the rules so Archer could play for them sooner than 2021 then today was one (the WC being another!) As potent a weapon as you’ll find at the games highest level. Accurate, aggressive, probing and in possession of extreme pace at consistent and regular intervals.

The blow Smith took to the neck was awful, scarily reminiscent of the hit poor Phil Hughes took. I was genuinely fearful for him and was relieved when he got back to his feet.

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Originally Posted by Higgo

If you were looking for a reason the England and Wales cricket board changed the rules so Archer could play for them sooner than 2021 then today was one (the WC being another!) As potent a weapon as you’ll find at the games highest level. Accurate, aggressive, probing and in possession of extreme pace at consistent and regular intervals.

The blow Smith took to the neck was awful, scarily reminiscent of the hit poor Phil Hughes took. I was genuinely fearful for him and was relieved when he got back to his feet.

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It hit him exactly like Phil Hughes and the way he went down straight away was heart-in-the-mouth stuff. Just a relief to see he started moving not long after he hit the ground. When the doc was telling him he had to come off, he looked a million miles away.

An intriguing and compelling day’s play at Lord’s today. We are pushing on for being through a third of the series play by the end of this Test (more, were it not for the rain) and it has been utterly enthralling so far.

Obviously today was dominated by a certain half-hour or so, that saw Steve Smith take a potential arm-breaking delivery from Archer that could easily have led to him retiring hurt. The pain on Smith’s face was obvious in the aftermath, and for no short time.

That paled into insignificance when he was hit on the neck as he sought to duck down. The delivery floored him almost instantly and for anyone who witnessed or has seen Philip Hughes’ death it was horribly similar. Palpable relief when Smith reacted on the ground and moved himself and took off his helmet, though it was clear he was still very hurt. It took a long time in the middle to get him off but he didn’t look like he was able to debate or argue with the Aussie medics, so the right decision was made.

To see him come back out after Siddle went was incredible. He had the all-clear from the Aussie staff and hit a few boundaries without ever looking quite right. His dismissal was of the kind that Steve Smith doesn’t suffer, so I think it is fair to say he was still suffering some consequences of what had happened before.

As to today’s play in general, it was classic Test cricket for me. Test cricket is a team game ultimately, but it can still be shaped by individuals as per Smith at Edgbaston. But it also offers the scintillating, spectacular and spicy offer of the battle between a bowler and a batsman.

Notwithstanding the two balls that caused serious harm to Smith, we saw that with the tussle between him and Jofra. Archer bowled a huge amount of overs for his country yet still had the reserves to keep firing it in at 90mph plus, with a great line. England have got a good ‘un there and will be able to build a replacement attack for Anderson and Broad around him, though one has to worry about wear and tear if he is consistently trying to bowl at that speed.

The cat and mouse between him and Smith was as good as it gets in Test match cricket, thoroughly enjoyable. We got a slighter shade of it with Nathan Lyon bowling to Ben Stokes. A very good batsman having to deal reactively with a bowler on great form and a great pitch. Lovely stuff.

Australia did well today but will rue dropped catches (David Warner please stand up) and a couple of spurned reviews that would have seen the umpire’s “Not Out” overturned.

If the weather holds tomorrow - potential early morning showers but dry for play - then there are certainly enough overs for a positive result. As it was ever, the morning session is crucial. If Australia can wrap it up by lunch then they should be able to knock up the runs for a victory. Yet England still have some dynamite in their batting and if they were to go all out for it in the morning, it could offer an adventurous decision to put the Aussies in at lunch or shortly after and try and bowl them out.

I suspect pragmatism will rule, which indicates a draw. But a victory in this Test feels more likely for Australia than England at this stage. Notably, if it is a draw tomorrow, Australia only need to win one of the three remaining Tests to retain the Ashes.

It is curious and you can never really tell until you see teams play the Tests for real but Australia do feel stronger, though that is very much due to the bowling attack and the ubermensch that is Steve Smith. England’s pre-start strengths were the batting in the middle order, which Australia have negated, and their bowling attack which was weakened as soon as Jimmy Anderson got injured and as soon as it turned out Moeen wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Jofra has certainly stepped up to the plate though and Woakes is a very good bowler too.

It's currently raining in North London :brickwall

England lead by 165 at lunch. Smith is out of the game, will England go for the win and declare around 220?

Stokes on 85, I think they’ll let him get a 100 and declare.

Warner out, the crowd right behind England. Fascinating test cricket.

Aus 19-2!

Labusagne fails to duck a bouncer. Looks in a spot of bother.

Well, such drama!

Two Tests in and both, for different reasons have provided so much entertainment!

Today was fantastic cricket, a pleasure to watch.

England went for the draw, fair enough. Australia bowled well but were never going to win.

As far as the Ashes go, it is surely advantage Australia now

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Well, such drama!

Two Tests in and both, for different reasons have provided so much entertainment!

Today was fantastic cricket, a pleasure to watch.

England went for the draw, fair enough. Australia bowled well but were never going to win.

As far as the Ashes go, it is surely advantage Australia now

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It’s definitely advantage Australia now I’d say, one win in the final three tests is enough to retain the Ashes. One thing I would say though is that spell Archer bowled on Saturday to Smith and Cummings was a real game changer for England. I can’t ever recall seeing anyone in an English shirt bowl like that, it was absolutely brutal stuff. The Aussie batsmen won’t be looking forward to facing that sort bowling.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Well, such drama!

Two Tests in and both, for different reasons have provided so much entertainment!

Today was fantastic cricket, a pleasure to watch.

England went for the draw, fair enough. Australia bowled well but were never going to win.

As far as the Ashes go, it is surely advantage Australia now

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England will have derived some confidence from the way the momentum was with them towards the close yesterday - and with Smith potentially missing for Australia they'll fancy their chances of making a contest of the series. However, with just three Tests left it's surely too tall an order for England to win at least two of them.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Well, such drama!

Two Tests in and both, for different reasons have provided so much entertainment!

Today was fantastic cricket, a pleasure to watch.

England went for the draw, fair enough. Australia bowled well but were never going to win.

As far as the Ashes go, it is surely advantage Australia now

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I think it's a tad unfair to say England "went for the draw". It's a difficult balance, you couldn't say they had nothing to lose. 1-0 is difficult, but 2-0 would've been practically impossible to overturn. If they hadn't lost that 10 overs in the morning it would've been mighty close.

There's been a wee bit of momentum shift. If Smith is out for Headingley and Archer can bowl as well again (tall order for his second test!), and then Jimmy makes it back for Old Trafford. Lots of "ifs" but we could be in for a hell of a finale.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

I think it's a tad unfair to say England "went for the draw". It's a difficult balance, you couldn't say they had nothing to lose. 1-0 is difficult, but 2-0 would've been practically impossible to overturn. If they hadn't lost that 10 overs in the morning it would've been mighty close.

There's been a wee bit of momentum shift. If Smith is out for Headingley and Archer can bowl as well again (tall order for his second test!), and then Jimmy makes it back for Old Trafford. Lots of "ifs" but we could be in for a hell of a finale.

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Yeah, I should have been clearer. I don’t think they set out from the start for a draw but I thought they batted too long in the third innings and essentially were accepting a draw with the outside chance of a win. They lost bowling time as a consequence and a slightly lower total might have been more enticing for the Australians and given England a victory.

As it stands Australia only need to win one from three to retain the Ashes now. Bowlers win matches and Australia have so much depth that Mitchell Starc hasn’t even been used yet, while England are really light in that department.

Re Smiths injury, his replacement certainly seized his opportunity! Warner and Bancroft have both been very disappointing so far but are obviously very talented players and it seems inconceivable that they won’t come good soon.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Yeah, I should have been clearer. I don’t think they set out from the start for a draw but I thought they batted too long in the third innings and essentially were accepting a draw with the outside chance of a win. They lost bowling time as a consequence and a slightly lower total might have been more enticing for the Australians and given England a victory.

As it stands Australia only need to win one from three to retain the Ashes now. Bowlers win matches and Australia have so much depth that Mitchell Starc hasn’t even been used yet, while England are really light in that department.

Re Smiths injury, his replacement certainly seized his opportunity! Warner and Bancroft have both been very disappointing so far but are obviously very talented players and it seems inconceivable that they won’t come good soon.

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Aussies definitely favourites but if England can level at Headingley, they've still got a chance.

Not sure about Bancroft but Warner must be due a score soon.

Smith out for the third test. Huge boost for England.

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

Smith out for the third test. Huge boost for England.

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It is, but it's a shame.

It seems a bit bizarre in this day and age that cricket still has rules that allow deliberate targeting of the head area. Especially after the awareness that Phillip Hughes' death brought to the issue.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

It is, but it's a shame.

It seems a bit bizarre in this day and age that cricket still has rules that allow deliberate targeting of the head area. Especially after the awareness that Phillip Hughes' death brought to the issue.

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Other than completely banning the bouncer there’s not much they can do really. They would probably have to ban fielders standing at short leg and silly point as well. I think most cricketers accept the risk and helmets are much safer these days.

Overcast and a threat of rain here in Leeds. Fingers crossed!

Australia are 25/2 a wicket each for Broad and Archer. Warner is hanging on grimly.

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Originally Posted by lord bunberry

Australia are 25/2 a wicket each for Broad and Archer. Warner is hanging on grimly.

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He’s had about 20 play-and-misses! Just finding his touch before the rain came back. :-(

Take a bow Jofra Archer. Superb stuff.

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Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

Take a bow Jofra Archer. Superb stuff.

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What a summer the young lad is having.

Great day’s play from Jofra Archer today.

I think what is interesting is that he can bowl with real pace but with accuracy too. Steve Harmison and Mark Wood have bowled just as fast for England, but for me Archer keeps a better line and length.

It is also interesting that any Australian batsman used to be relatively comfortable with pace, having regular Sheffield Shield games (Aussie version of the County Championship) at the WACA in Perth. The WACA was basically a fast bowling alley, which also took a bit of swing from the coastal atmosphere and winds. You had to quickly learn to play deliveries in the low nineties or be skittled out. The current crop of Australian batsmen don’t play a lot of Shield cricket, they play international matches in the various formats and look for the vastly rewarding T20 contracts in the various leagues. They simply don’t have the experience of hostile, very fast bowling in the way their predecessors did.

Of course, a number of the Australian squad took what seemed the eminently sensible decision of playing County Championship cricket this summer to acclimatise with England conditions. That didn’t seem like a bad call but....... because of the World Cup and the Ashes, the Championship season started earlier than usual, suiting pitches that were all about a bit of swing in moist conditions. They certainly weren’t about furious pace and aggressive balls at chest and head height.

My only fear for Archer is that he is over-bowled by his captain. It must be impossible not to ask him to front up again and again but fast bowling is a big ask on the body and while his efforts have been outstanding he is only human. England are already depleted in the pace department and they can’t afford to lose this guy.

For Australia, a difficult day and a bit of a collapse to say the least. On the plus side, Warner finally got a knock that might boost his confidence. And Labuschagne had a splendid innings, safe and full of technique but putting on runs. If Smith is able to return for the next Test then it raises questions for Australia. Much like England had to push Root up, Australia might find themselves pushing Smith up to accommodate Labuschagne and dropping the ineffectual Khawaja.

Not checked the weather forecast for tomorrow yet. Hopefully there will be a full day’s play. It is a low total from Australia but they have three fantastic quicks and the absolutely reliable Nathan Lyon and have every chance of making inroads. As ever, morning session feels crucial :greengrin

Another great "This us how it feels" report MA. Summing up in a few sentences all the toing and froing of yet another great day for the game of cricket.

I'm probably out of order with this but I can't stop feeling irked at the way ECB changed the residency rules to allow Archer to qualify this year, a coincidence of course. Having said that, it's a delight watching him bowl though time will tell how his body stands up to the stresses a la Mark Wood

Roy out for 9, such a talented player but, never going to have a career as an opening batsman in the Test side.

Root gone for a duck, 10-2.

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

Roy out for 9, such a talented player but, never going to have a career as an opening batsman in the Test side.

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I think you’re right. Root gone second ball for a duck.

What was Roy thinking? As tempting as that shot may have been surely that early you just leave it.

I think Root will be moving back to number 4 soon. It won’t make much difference if the openers can’t hang around a bit. Denly also out for a duck.

edit he appeals it and it’s going over the top.

20-3, what a mess.

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

20-3, what a mess.

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They’re a shambles.

Some of these shots that the batsmen are trying to play are ridiculous, 34-4.

This is painful. England have lost the plot.

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

Some of these shots that the batsmen are trying to play are ridiculous, 34-4.

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Stokes has had a mare there.

5 down now. They're going to be about 100 behind.

45 for 5. Only Root out to a great ball the rest should have been left alone

And the 6th wicket goes down, insert shaking the head smiley here.

There will be a full inquest/review of English first class cricket from top to bottom once the Urn has gone back to Australia. How they cannot come up with a top/middle order that can play in the manner required in this format needs seriously looked into. Absolute shambles.

Feel for Archer, yesterdays heroics counting for nothing now.

Looks like another one gone first ball after lunch!

What a farce!

And first ball after lunch sees Woakes gone. What a mess.

8 down!

Archer the 9th man to go. They're finding amazingly daft ways to give their wicket away

67 All Out.

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Originally Posted by Higgo

There will be a full inquest/review of English first class cricket from top to bottom once the Urn has gone back to Australia. How they cannot come up with a top/middle order that can play in the manner required in this format needs seriously looked into. Absolute shambles.

Feel for Archer, yesterdays heroics counting for nothing now.

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Shouldn't take long. Money talks so the focus is on one day and T20, county championship financially irrelevant

That’s really pathetic

Ouch. Down to the bowlers to save this game. If not the series is probably gone. Root might be looking at the end of his Captaincy as well. The responsibility seems to be weighing his own game down.

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Originally Posted by marinello59

Ouch. Down to the bowlers to save this game. If not the series is probably gone. Root might be looking at the end of his Captaincy as well. The responsibility seems to be weighing his own game down.

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The game is done now, they should have sorted the batting order out before this game. Root has been out to the crease basically right away in every innings.

Aussies 10-1

67 AO? That's proper embarrassing.

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Originally Posted by Haymaker

67 AO? That's proper embarrassing.

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Their lowest Ashes score since 1948. The sports headlines should be interesting tomorrow. :greengrin

52-3

The australians aren't exactly knocking up high scores here either.

Whats the deal? Rubbish batting or excessively good bowling?

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Originally Posted by Onceinawhile

The australians aren't exactly knocking up high scores here either.

Whats the deal? Rubbish batting or excessively good bowling?

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There's been an awful lot of movement off the pitch for the bowlers. Some shocking strokes being played too.

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Originally Posted by Onceinawhile

The australians aren't exactly knocking up high scores here either.

Whats the deal? Rubbish batting or excessively good bowling?

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It’s arguably the beauty of cricket. There are no bad players out there, they don’t get to where they are other than by being exceptionally talented. The batsmen aren’t collectively having a bad day or the bowlers all having a good one.

But there are so many variables - the state of the pitch, the state of the ball, cloud cover and humidity, the pressure applied by different fielding formations, and the whole issue of confidence and momentum both in relation to individuals and teams, leading to bad shot selection and unforced errors. Some of those factors are combining to the advantage of the bowlers.

For me I tend to prefer an innings where the bowlers have slightly the upper hand, I think it makes for more intriguing and satisfying cricket. Especially the duels between certain batsmen and bowlers, there have been some excellent battles.

I'm old enough to remember when one-day cricket was rather frowned upon as fun but not to be overindulged in for fear of encouraging poor batting technique and loss of concentration at the crease.
It seems the old boys were right. The proper game has suffered.

164-6. Tremendous couple of days entertainment so far.

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Originally Posted by HUTCHYHIBBY

164-6. Tremendous couple of days entertainment so far.

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It certainly is!

As it is third innings and Australia have a lead, then it is essentially 277-6, with England having one bat. If the bowlers can support Labuschagne then Australia should edge past 300 at least and that looks a tall order for England to match.

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Originally Posted by Haymaker

67 AO? That's proper embarrassing.

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I was wondering why my English colleague who is an avid cricket fan was completely silent these days... what's that word?....

Oh aye...


PLEASING :greengrin

Well, well. The euphoric Headingley crowd of last night weren’t expecting this! Incredible really. We only got 52 overs yesterday, but plenty of excitement in them.

Super Jofra was the most popular man in Yorkshire. He’s so languid, a couple of brisk strides, then a short jog but boy is he dangerous. For the Aussies, Warner hung in despite being all at sea then made the most of a poor spell from Stokes’n’Woakes. Labuschagne was magnificent, patient, superb judgement and whacked it when it was there to be whacked. He just looked so untroubled compared to everyone else.

England have totally blown it today though. Their current tendency to collapse en masse is quite something.

Best crowd sledge yesterday: He’s got sandpaper in his pants to the tune of whole world in his hands.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

Best crowd sledge yesterday: He’s got sandpaper in his pants to the tune of whole world in his hands.

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They've sung it in every test of the series so far.

Some effort from Stokes to bowl so many overs at the end of the day there, deserved much more reward too. The guy is fit as a fiddle (whatever that means)!

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Originally Posted by ACLeith

Shouldn't take long. Money talks so the focus is on one day and T20, county championship financially irrelevant

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Well that attitude needs to change otherwise it’ll be a long time before the Ashes are won by England again.

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Originally Posted by Higgo

Well that attitude needs to change otherwise it’ll be a long time before the Ashes are won by England again.

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Agreed

What a difference a day makes!

Play ended on the opening day with Australia all out for 179 and England must have fancied the opportunity of a win at Headingley to give them a chance of winning back the Ashes.

Yet by lunch on day two, the hosts were 54-6, the tourists driven by the excellent Josh Hazlewood who had taken 3-26 from 11 overs, with some peerless line and length bowling with just a hint of movement both in and out.

It wasn’t long after that England were all out for 67, a score that ranks amongst their worst in Test and Ashes history and will be painful for obvious reasons in hindsight.

The Australians made somewhat heavy weather of compiling their 171-6, more of that later, but in the end they have a lead of 283 with four wickets remaining at the end of day two. It takes a brave person to predict any outcome in the Ashes, let alone this one, but Australia look like they will be retaining the urn with two matches left leading into the potential of a first series victory on English soil since 2001!

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

What a difference a day makes!

Play ended on the opening day with Australia all out for 179 and England must have fancied the opportunity of a win at Headingley to give them a chance of winning back the Ashes.

Yet by lunch on day two, the hosts were 54-6, the tourists driven by the excellent Josh Hazlewood who had taken 3-26 from 11 overs, with some peerless line and length bowling with just a hint of movement both in and out.

It wasn’t long after that England were all out for 67, a score that ranks amongst their worst in Test and Ashes history and will be painful for obvious reasons in hindsight.

The Australians made somewhat heavy weather of compiling their 171-6, more of that later, but in the end they have a lead of 283 with four wickets remaining at the end of day two. It takes a brave person to predict any outcome in the Ashes, let alone this one, but Australia look like they will be retaining the urn with two matches left leading into the potential of a first series victory on English soil since 2001!

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Battery died on my iPad just as I was ending that post so these are the further thoughts I had from today's play.

In the England innings, the collective failure of nerve shouldn't overshadow what was a tremendous, I mean really tremendous, bowling performance by the Aussie quicks. Nathan Lyon wasn't troubled today, he could have played with the cigar in one hand, the brandy in the other and a pair of fleece-lined slippers on his feet.

Josh Hazlewood was fantastic, ending up with 5-30 from 12.5 overs. I think what impresses me most about Hazlewood isn't the wickets but the balls that batters either can't play or have to leave. He is disciplined and remorseless and England are having to adapt given he missed out at the start. I think I have mentioned before that he is the closest I have seen to McGrath in an Australian shirt and while no one is ever likely to match Glenn, Josh is bloody good!

Part of me also wonders whether Mitchell Starc will finally get a game in the next Test, meaning the English will have been adapting to a changing set of world-class pacemen in every game. If that is intentional then Justin Langer, the Australian coach, has out-thought England massively. Credit too, to Pat Cummins who snagged 3-23 from nine overs and the returning Pattinson who took a couple of wickets. Intriguingly this is the first Test match that Hazlewood, Cummins and Pattinson have all played in at the same time. I can't imagine they can hope to retain this potency all the time but what a blistering effort.

Kudos too, to David Warner. He has had a rough time on tour, effectively a bunny for Stuart Broad, but he highlighted the team aspect of cricket with some outstanding fielding in the slips taking four catches I believe. It shows his reactions are fine and maybe he can bud from here with the batting.

As for the England batting, well, yes, everybody has a bad day at the office but unfortunately there are some fundamental issues that will severely damage the team if not arrested. I've long been a stickler that England need to decide on an opening pair and give them time regardless if they bump into bad form, otherwise they will always be using this rotating door for selecting one and two. Jason Roy is a massively talented ODI and T20 player but simply doesn't have the technique for opening in Test matches, I think that is evident to all. While the temptation is to say he could play Test cricket at four or five, it doesn't resolve the fundamental problem of England being weak at the top, meaning four or five aren't rich pickings to slog a tired ball of tired bowlers - you can be in there before halfway through the first morning!

There has been talk about Root continuing at three, after another failure. I don't think he likes three and I actually don't think he likes captaincy (just IMO) but at the end of the day, England have tried everyone and their auntie at three while their very best player sat lower down the order. He has to swallow it and do what's right. I heard Boycott on TMS or Sky today saying he should drop down and put Stokes up to three but that is nonsensical. It is just creating another sacrificial lamb.

It is funny contrasting that with Australia. By my logic Smith should bat at three. Yet their selectors have made a fetish of staying loyal to Khawaja. He does have a decent record at home but travels poorly IIRC and I don't think he is good enough to hold the position of first in. I wonder whether Labuschagne's heroics will see him retaining his place for the next Test and Smith moving up. That would seem fairer than dropping Wade or Head, and in the latter's case I think that's an impossibility.

As for the Australian third innings, we saw some tired, tired bowlers out there. Credit to them for putting it all out there, but let down again by some bad review decisions. Labuschagne can maybe challenge Jofra for the breakout star of this series with a much-needed and much-pain inflicting half century off 139 balls. I am curious about why the Aussies put Pattinson in before Cummins in the batting order. I think Cummins has more stickability which is what you want from a tail-ender.

Just picking up on comments earlier in the thread, there was mention of the impact of ODIs and T20 on the Test game. I believe that 100% and you see it in Tests with how much more easily batsmen give their wickets away. Curiously, because this has been a rain-soaked Ashes, Sky has had to resort to a lot of filler, including in-depth interviews with Ashes captains (Atherton, Ponting, Hussein etc). They have been really good, quite honest and revealing. One of the questions that the interviewer, Charles Colville always asks, is whether it is harder to captain Test, ODI or T20 and I think the majority said the shorter the game, the harder it was!

Two quick (honest) final points.

Someone earlier in the thread was talking about the shambolic nature of the England top order. I agree and have said so a few times. Curiously, the Australian top three have been pretty awful on tour too. I guess everyone knows Warner is world-class but is out of form, Bancroft and Harris are relatively young and can potentially develop into world-class openers. Pound for pound the teams probably aren't too far apart but England do seem more worrying.

Second point, my pick of today and likely the whole series. This Test is at Headingley, which along with Edgbaston is what could euphemistically be called an 'atmospheric' stadium, or at least each has a stand that is 'special'.

Having had the pleasure of being in the Headingley Western Terrace during a weekend against the Windies, i can confidently say it is a febrile pit of drunkenness, shenanigans, other dubious behaviours and fancy dress. And it doesn't improve after lunchtime.

A regular occurrence is the inflating of beach balls which get punted around the stand, with cheers when they hit someone on the back of the head just as he is lifting his pint to his mouth and boos when the balls stray out of the stand onto the pitch. This is because the stewards grab the beach balls, take them back to their stools and deflate them, much to the chagrin of the fans.

Anyway, late on and a huge watermelon-style beach ball is doing the rounds and inevitably ends up encroaching on the pitch. The steward gathers it up and starts walking to his station to deflate it to the anger of the crowd. But it is between deliveries and Jofra Archer is fielding in the deep just in front of the Western Terrace. He strides over to the steward, has a quick word and seizes the beach ball and throws it back into the Terrace, cue mass adulation.

I'm guessing, freeman of Leeds, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, knighthood, Papal Nuncio, before the year is out.

The lead now 338, Australia are 226/8. Labuschagne still there on 78 having taken a ball on the face guard.

Labuschagne run out for 80.

Australia all out for 246, England need 359 to save the Ashes.

England need a Boycottesque innings from one of the openers to have any chance. If at least one of them doesn’t hang around they’ve got no chance.

Burns goes for 7. I suspect this might be over by the time I get back from the game.

No wicket alerts on my phone for the entire 1st half. Seems Root and Denly have steadied the ship a bit.

On the Western Terrace - these boys (and girls) can properly drink. I expected some barmy army stuff but practically everyone was on it from entering the ground before 11 to leaving at half 7!

At one point a couple of inflatable sheep came bouncing around the terrace followed 10 minutes later by a 6’2” Bo Peep with a beard :greengrin

If they can keep this partnership together can they do it?

The ball seems to have died.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

On the Western Terrace - these boys (and girls) can properly drink. I expected some barmy army stuff but practically everyone was on it from entering the ground before 11 to leaving at half 7!

At one point a couple of inflatable sheep came bouncing around the terrace followed 10 minutes later by a 6’2” Bo Peep with a beard :greengrin

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Are you there JMS? It’s some place at the best of times but the evening session on a Saturday is usually rampant!

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Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

If they can keep this partnership together can they do it?

The ball seems to have died.

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They get a new ball after 80 overs. I’d say it’s gone from nearly impossible at the start of England’s second innings to very unlikely now.

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Are you there JMS? It’s some place at the best of times but the evening session on a Saturday is usually rampant!

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No, we were just there for the Super Jofra show on Thursday.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

No, we were just there for the Super Jofra show on Thursday.

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Ah ok, sounds like you would have had an exciting day’s play though, which is great. Hope you had a good time.

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Originally Posted by JeMeSouviens

They get a new ball after 80 overs. I’d say it’s gone from nearly impossible at the start of England’s second innings to very unlikely now.

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:agree:

I will probably post a bit later, but not a massive post I promise! But yes, refreshed Australian quicks with a new ball and the ever reliable Nathan Lyon holding down an end means this should be beyond England by a long chalk. As Boycott is fond of pointing out, wickets come in twos very often and a couple of quick wickets for Australia opens things up a bit. If either of the putative keepers go, then it is into the tailenders.

Cmon joe root make history

What a fine stand from Root and Denly!

There is a lot of talk about how T20 and ODI and the coming 100 series will affect things in Test cricket. Batsmen not having the patience, bowlers losing the sense of working out a batsman. I think that’s true and something that needs worked out.

Today was lovely cricket. The Australian bowlers nagged and pulled but didn’t quite get what they were seeking. England , Root in particular, played good Test cricket, patient but positive when it was available.

Tomorrow the Australian quicks will be rested and fresh and have the new ball quickly. Lyon will have a turning pitch that still offers bounce. It should be done before tea, but if England are strong then game on!....

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Originally Posted by Mibbes Aye

Ah ok, sounds like you would have had an exciting day’s play though, which is great. Hope you had a good time.

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Great day out, we’ll definitely be back.

Alright, own up... who’s the hibby distracting stokes?

It must (almost) be on now. 121 needed.

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Originally Posted by Pretty Boy

It must (almost) be on now. 121 needed.

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It’s certainly on a knife edge. Bairstow has gone now they need 114 to win.

That’s the last thing they needed to be doing. Butler run out after a mix up with Stokes.

The target now under 100, 98 runs to win. Stokes on 51.

2 extremely avoidable wickets today that have undone all the hard work I’m afraid... only a matter of time now.

Fat lady clearing her throat. Bit of a collapse after lunch.

What came over Archer to start batting like that? Ridiculous.

Some innings this from Stokes, whatever happens.

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Originally Posted by bawheid

Some innings this from Stokes, whatever happens.

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If he pulls this off, and it's a huge IF, coupled with the WC he'd be a shoo in for SPOTY.

This is class from Stokes. Why when living in Yorkshire did I not get a ticket for this!

Test cricket is so boring.:greengrin