Ashes 2017-18: Australia v England second Test, day one – live!
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7th over: Australia 14-0 (Bancroft 7, Warner 7) Anderson still failing to hit the right spot but he’s at least over-pitching occasionally now, inviting the drive.
Amy Bennett (@NeutronGirl)
I suggest the MCG takes note of the wind protection here I’m a baby rocked in a sweet pocket of stillness and warmth. pic.twitter.com/S1NfFkgg0I
6th over: Australia 12-0 (Bancroft 6, Warner 6) Broad now readjusting to a fuller length, inviting the drive, but there’s still not much doing for England, all the while putting Root’s decision to field first under the microscope. Australia have started smartly, taking no risks at the crease and running at every opportunity to accentuate the right-hand / left-hand partnership.
“Good morning from India. It’s 9 am here, a lovely time to watch cricket,” writes Aditi. “On Root’s decision, isn’t it taken in advance with the management pitching in with their suggestions. Why then are captains alone blamed for wrong decisions. It’s not like Root sauntered in and then made the decision on the spur of the moment. Or not like Root committed to one decision and then pulled a number at the toss.”
It’s a fair point, but as the words come out of Root’s mouth, the decision by definition is attributed to the skipper. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown…
5th over: Australia 9-0 (Bancroft 5, Warner 4) As is disappointingly customary England have been too short again to start proceedings. Australia’s openers are looking to leave on length but Anderson and Broad have yet to adjust. It’s emphasised by the odd one that moves off the pitch but from such a short length that it’s no threat to the edge.
4th over: Australia 8-0 (Bancroft 4, Warner 4) Broadwith the thankless task of running into this stiff breeze and he’s yet to hit his straps, failing to find a consistent line or length. Bancroft does well to work a couple to the legside and then rotate the strike with a single into the covers. Broad sends down his best two deliveries of the match so far to Warner, but the Aussie opener leaves both, the first after a hint of away-swing, the second on length on this true-bouncing surface.
Sarah Bacon has some thoughts on the BT Sport commentary offering. “G’day, Jonathan, from chilly Warwick. Yes, I am awake, it is freezing, but for this Aussie so far from home, it’s worth it. The First Test demonstrated a few teething problems in the commentary squad, but their hearts are in the right place. Great to see Ali Mitchell there too; she really knows her stuff, and it shows. But seriously! The suited pastels on the boys are one thing, but did they have to put her in a cocktail dress?! Come on!! This is cricket!”
3rd over: Australia 5-0 (Bancroft 1, Warner 4) The strong breeze is coming from over Anderson’s left shoulder, ideal for the away-swinger to the left-handed Warner. That’s the delivery Anderson is aiming for, trying to set up some straight ones before offering up the sucker ball full and outside off. Warner is wise to it though, defending solidly, leaving smartly, and cutting a loose shorter one with force behind square for the game’s opening boundary.
England are fielding wearing black armbands in honour of Russell Evans, the former First-class umpire who died yesterday.
2nd over: Australia 1-0 (Bancroft 1, Warner 0) Broad starts reasonably well with a maiden to Bancroft although KP takes issue with England’s new-ball bowler not aiming to present a proud seam so early in the day. However, the delivery Pietersen remarked upon gripped on the surface, nipped back and struck Bancroft in the box.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Bancroft 1, Warner 0) Here we go then, what can Anderson do with this pink pill? Nothing first up as Bancroft dabs a single into the covers to release any tension (there wasn’t really any tension). Anderson’s a touch short to begin with against Warner who’s batting a few inches outside his crease to negate any swing that might be on offer. There’s a touch of movement late in the over, first out of the hand and away down the leg-side, then wobbling the other way and beating the outside edge of a swooshy drive. Plenty of carry too, the ball reaching Bairstow with ease.
By the way, it’s more than breezy out there, it’s blustery.
Players and umpires making their way out into the middle. It’s a scene Adelaide Oval, such a gorgeous sporting arena.
Andrew Benton (@thangnangman)
@JPHowcroft I think England are rattled…..and when England get rattled, they lose.
“Well, Peter Bowler fails, because he was a batsman,” writes Quebecer. “P.S. We should have batted.”
A lot has been made about Australia’s insatiable thirst for speed, but as Andy Bull writes, it was Nathan Lyon who turned the game his country’s way in Brisbane.
Robin Hughes joins in with Ian Forth (13.56) on the issue of Steve Smith’s sense of humour. “Hi Jonathan, Ian Forth raises a good point. Sure, Steve Smith may be the best batsman in the world, but he (and Joe Root for that matter) has wasted nowhere near enough of his youth to contribute to an OBO riff, has he? Speaking as someone who is settling down on the sofa at 3am, whisky in hand, compiling a playlist for a 30th birthday party tomorrow, I’m secure that I’ve made good life choices… (Also I really hope this Root decision doesn’t end the series today!)“
Robin, if you’ve yet to encounter The Grade Cricketer, Google it, you’re in for a treat.
Australia led out for the anthems by a local hero, Nugget.
Matthew Doherty asks: “Is it fair to think of Trent Bridge 2015?”
The answer of course is it’s always fair to think of Trent Bridge 2015 if you’re an Englishman in an argument with an Australian. In reference to today’s action, I would be surprised if this pitch did anywhere near as much, nor that Australia’s attack is so brittle as to collapse in such an ugly heap. I think it’s more a case of England looking to gain the ascendancy with their strongest weapons (Anderson and Broad) and avoid more torment at the hands of Australia’s quicks.
David Branch (@dbranch9)
@JPHowcroft I thought the rule of winning tosses was to think about bowling first then bat
Also, Sean Boiling (a nominative determinist in the making) has shared one of the Hall of Fame sporting examples. “I can’t give you any nominative determinism in cricket but baseball is close enough isn’t it? That’s where we’ll find Prince Fielder. Formerly played first base for the Brewers, Tigers and Rangers.”
Today’s session times:
Play begins 2pm Adelaide, 2.30pm AET, 3.30am UK
Tea 4pm Adelaide, 4.30pm AET, 5.30am UK
Dinner 6.20pm Adelaide, 6.50pm AET, 7.50am UK
Close 9pm Adelaide, 9.30pm AET, 10.30am UK
The weather forecast is more England in spring than Adelaide in summer with the temperature hovering in the teens and a southerly breeze adding to the chill-factor. The threat of showers will be ever-present but if any arrive they shouldn’t last long.
Australia’s pacemen will be happy if Adelaide Oval does offer some spice. Aussie quicks have long prospered by peppering Englishmen with bouncers and Geoff Lemon has taken a closer look at their love-affair with chin music.
Further analysis of the pitch indicates it’s very dry with a thick coverage of thatchy grass (14mm in length) that’s been rolled into the surface so that it’s down to 6mm. The TV heatmap of the pitch reveals it’s considerably drier than last year’s surface.
What does that mean? That the new ball should come through with pace and bounce but thereafter it should emerge as a track full of runs.
High-risk toss decision from Root.
Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali)
England have won the toss in Australia and bowled first 16 times: 3 wins, 13 defeats. At Adelaide 3 times: 3 defeats…
Confirmation that Craig Overton becomes the 681st player to represent England in Test cricket.
Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale)
It’s remarkable how many more Test cricketers England have used than Australia. Australia’s next debutant will be No.452; England’s No.452 was Tony Greig #Ashes
Australia unchanged: Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith (c), Marsh, Handscomb, Paine (wk), Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, Lyon.
Joe Root likes the overcast, cool conditions, and he wants first go with the pink ball. Bold call.
Steve Smith would have batted. He thinks “it’s a pretty good wicket” that looks “more like an old-fashioned Adelaide Oval” pitch.
Speaking of nominative determinism, Ben Stokes is a headline writer’s dream at the moment.
Ian Forth gets the nominative determinism chat off to a brilliantly off-key start. I’m reminded of a Barry Davies football commentary from many years ago. ‘Hoddle by name, Hoddle by nature’. The more you think about it, the better it gets.”
Ian also chimes in on the issue of that Smith/Bancroft press conference. “Steve Smith, very fine cricketer, but I can’t help thinking it’s come at a cost. When Cameron Bancroft essayed some very light deadpan humour, he reacted as if Aristophanes, Rabelais and Congreve had been reanimated in the shape of a mildly adventurous opening batsman. I’m guessing that while the other kids were watching The Office and Seinfeld, Smith was doing the extra nets which got him to where he is now. There’s always a trade off.”
In my opinion the sniping between players in the media, egged on by columnists, reporters and former players, is tedious and unnecessary. Does that put me in the minority? Is it all part of the fun?
Some early team news about half-an-hour before the toss.
Will Macpherson (@willis_macp)
And it sounds like John Emburey will give him his cap.
The current coach of Australia (Darren Lehmann) sat down with a future coach of Australia (Jason Gillespie) for a good old-fashioned Q&A.
“There is no better seeing ground anywhere in the world” than Adelaide Oval, which makes it an ironic venue for day-night cricket, according to Andy Bull.
And Steve Smith is getting well-acquainted with the surface.
Nice to see the correspondence entering my box like a well-timed Paul Scholes run in the late 90s.
Speaking of Manchester United, Peter Rowntree relates his football team to Jonny Bairstow’s curious greeting that’s caused such a stir this week. “Here outside of Bogota it is still a civilised 9.21 pm. Would love to see what YJBs Bradford Bump looks like. I once experienced what the locals called a Liverpool Kiss, a brick through my car back window, which I had parked at Anfield with the number plate which contained MUFC. The Bradford Bump sounds a bit more benign.”
Meanwhile, Raimond Skrupskis has seen enough after one Test. “Just logged on to check out. I’ve been following England since 1964. After the latest pathetic batting collapse and abject surrender I am giving up. I will concentrate on club level sports – Leicester City and Leicester Tigers. That is all.”
In case you missed this update during the week, the news isn’t great for Moeen Ali and his injured finger. However, he will be selected as a batsman irrespective of whether he is able to bowl .
Chris Woakes is a charming young man and he played a straight bat to the goings-on of an awkward week.
Jason Gillespie knows Adelaide Oval like the back of his hand and the new Sussex coach has some advice for England on how avoid distractions and focus on the task in hand.
Where shall we head first? How about Vic Marks’ take on Adelaide Oval, England’s opportunity under lights and some insight from James Anderson.
Greetings intrepid OBOers, wherever you are, whenever it happens to be. If this Ashes series wasn’t already wreaking havoc with your circadian rhythm the first day-night contest in a men’s series between England and Australia will surely nudge it out of kilter.
Yes, that’s right, a day-night Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval (mental note, sure fire way to enrage a local is calling the spectacular arena THE Adelaide Oval). That means pink balls, floodlights, and God only knows what in the stands as patrons are given a four-hour warm-up on the turps.
Australia arrive on the crest of a wave after eventually breaking free from the three-day long arm-wrestle that opened proceedings in Brisbane. Steve Smith’s brilliance allowed his bowlers and opening batsmen to then give England an unceremonious touch up, all rounded off with a press conference equivalent of the hosts holding thumbs to their noses, wiggling their fingers and shouting ‘ner ner na ner ner’.
The presser featuring Cameron Bancroft’s deadpan comic timing and Smith’s uncontrollable giggles precipitated one of those weeks that makes me want to crawl into a cave and hide until the inevitable tit-for-tat responses have blown through. We can now look forward to the the remaining four Tests being played with unnecessary rancour.
Regarding the cricket itself there is plenty of speculation but little certainty about what to expect. Australia’s XI looks likely to be unchanged while England are considering swapping Jake Ball for Craig Overton.
The day-night experience remains an experiment in its early stages so the nature of the pitch, the behaviour of the balls and the general unfolding of the contest remains a mystery. The prevailing wisdom is that this will be England’s best chance of victory all tour and failure would extinguish any hope of the Ashes remaining a contest.
Play begins at 2pm in Adelaide, 2.30pm AET, which is 3.30am in the UK. That leaves plenty of time to catch up with all the news and views of recent days before the first ball is bowled.
This is of course your platform to send in comments, observations, or hip-hop battle rhymes. Feel free to get in touch via the details at the top of the page.
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Stay tuned for this Day ‘N’ Nite history-maker at Adelaide Oval.
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Geoff Lemon on the location for this Test match, the magnificent Adelaide Oval:
Adam Collins
