Ashes 2017-18: Australia v England first Test, day five – live!

Well, we’re close to getting underway. The teams are heading out to scattered applause. The Barmies are here, bless them. And a reasonable turnout at the pool deck. And quite a few random spectators, given it’s a gold-coin donation to charity for entry. Pretty decent Day 5 crowd, all things considered. I guess seeing your team win an Ashes Test remains a lure.

In more sombre news, today is also the anniversary of Philip Hughes’ death. Someone who should have been out in the middle today. Plenty of reflection and tributes will come over the course of the day.

In case you’re wondering what the Bairstow business is about, here we go. Obviously Australian media would quite like this to be a story, and English media is rather more keen for it not to be. It doesn’t really sound like much of a story. But we’ll find out eventually.

Not that we’re in any way pre-judging what happened, but…

Brendan Garry is asking the big questions, about the point of it all. “I’m wondering about the psychology here. Both sides know that the result is in. Australia might lose 2 wickets but will bat for around 90 minutes. How does this work? In American Football they take the knee when the result is inevitable, should there be a cricket equivalent?”

I suppose cricket is about individual achievements, and there is still room for that. Some wickets for a bowler, a brilliant catch, a memorable shot. Whatever it may be. You assume nothing, and you play till the close. And there’s always the chance of a surprise. Many a dramatic finish might never have been if everyone had assumed the result an hour earlier.

So what does all this mean for England? This will be the big question out of the day, I suppose. Have they got the right side? Does their competitiveness through much of this match augur well, or is the greater problem the weak points that have been uncovered? Can their lower order combat the short stuff in any meaningful way? A massive difference in the way Cummins was able to contribute with the bat, versus the way England’s 9, 10, 11 weren’t.

“Hello Geoff,” writes philosopher-scribe Ashwin. “Am writing to you from Germany (moved in here for my Masters’ this year from India), and as a lifelong Aussie fan can’t wait to see Warner and Bancroft wrap things up. Do you think this will hold them (and Khawaja) in good stead come the second Test? I surely don’t want Smith to execute a rescue operation and burn out as the series progresses; not that he doesn’t look the part but surely he’s human….”

“Also as I was just finishing a paper on a certain Mr. Thomas Hobbes. His infamous words, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” ring a bell, don’t they? The first two aptly describe the loneliness of the English tail and ability while facing Starc and Cummins, banging in balls wonderfully captured by the last three words. Who would’ve thought Hobbes was describing cricket?”

Some fundamental truths in there. I’m sure Bancroft will be much the better for his fifty, even if it was made in far simpler circumstances than other Test innings he might play. If Khawaja gets a hit today, it would probably help him too. So does that mean the team thing is for Warner to get himself out? Doubt we’ll see that.

If you’ve had your fill of Katter, you can read about another iconic Australian, this time without a head. Every time Nathan Lyon bowls, I just worry about his poor, poor head. So naked and vulnerable. I hope he bathes that bonce in sunscreen at every session break. Here’s Adam Collins on the GOAT.

Now, I told you yesterday a bit about Queensland politics. I shouldn’t have neglected to include this man. Bob Katter is the most famous hat-wearer from North Queensland, he runs his own rural-focused party named after his good self, and his ability to still surprise people after years in Parliament rather sets him apart. This is him just after Australians voted to legalise marriage equality.

“Evening Geoff,” writes Ross from Glasgow. “I was at Murrayfield yesterday and was delighted with that sporting offering from Australia. It probably won’t cross sports as I don’t think it possible for some moment of Oz recklessness to torpedo the chances of the rest of the team, but you never know.”

Hello, fellow knell-watchers. Or listeners, I suppose, but on the OBO you can listen by reading. It’s a veritable feast of the senses, an information-glut. It is only fitting that in a series called the Ashes there should be times when we gather for the last rites.

That’s what we’re doing today, as Australia resume needing only 56 runs for victory with 10 wickets in hand. It was a procession yesterday, as a deflated England side let the openers piles on 114 without loss. Hard not to be deflated after England stayed in the game for three days, then gave it all away in a session. A potentially challenging lead was undermined, first by Joe Root’s dismissal straight after reaching 50, then Moeen Ali’s line-ball stumping, Jonny Bairstow feeling isolated, and the tail being unable to withstand the short ball attack. Stand by, because this will be a theme.

We’ll be quietly limbering up here for the next 90 minutes, so feel free to tweet or email me any thoughts, observations, or conversation-starters.

Geoff will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Vic Marks with his take on day four’s play at the Gabba, which saw Australia move into a match-winning position.