Australia v England: fifth Ashes test, day four – live!

183rd over: Australia 578-5 (S Marsh 145, Paine 14) Moeen to send down the final over before lunch. Paine takes another single off his pads. Marsh defends the rest to get himself through to the break. That’s the way. 99 added for one wicket in the session.

Shaun Marsh got himself to three figures from the fourth ball of the morning via a gorgeous cover drive. He really enjoyed that with his brother Mitch. There was a period with the third new ball just after that where the visitors deserved a breakthrough via Jimmy Anderson, who bowled a beautiful four over spell. He found the left-handers’ edge, but sure enough, it went between Cook and Root in the slips.

Mitch Marsh up the other end raced through the 80s thanks to a poor Stuart Broad spell, bringing up the ton from Tom Curran’s first ball. A moment of madness, where the brothers embraced for a hug and nearly ended up with one of them run out. But they got back in time before having another cuddle. Lovely, amusing moment.

Next ball, Mitch lost his off-stump when Curran slipped under his bat with one that jagged back nicely. But that was the only moment of joy for England. Leading into the break, Shaun Marsh drove as well as he has at any stage in his beautiful innings. There’s no reason a maiden double ton isn’t around the corner after lunch. I’ll be back for that in about half an hour. For now, I’m jumping into a plate of lunch and an ice bath.

If you are after something to listen to, check out Geoff and my chat with Jason Gillespie. As mentioned earlier in the OBO, he’s a wonderful fella. In this interview, he speaks about everything from masculinity to veganism to leadership. Superb. (Subscribe! Review! Thanks)

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182nd over: Australia 577-5 (S Marsh 145, Paine 13) Curran to Paine. He clips square for one. He keeps Marsh quiet for the rest of the set. He’s been alright, you know.

“If I were captain of Australia (unlikely as I’m 57 and English/Canadian) with the series won, I’d just go for the ultimate humiliation, keep batting, and try and reach four figures.” You’re a cruel man, David Marriott. At the very least, I think they should bat until very late today. Taking that slightly longer-term view, there is absolutely nothing in it for them bowling with it like this. Maybe a stint in the final hour. That’ll do. As Chris Stocks notes here, it might be hurting their chances of a win. But still.

181st over: Australia 576-5 (S Marsh 145, Paine 12) Moeen Ali returns from the Paddington End. Nothing changes. To be fair, he has won a false stroke out of Paine, who nearly gives a catch back to the spinner, much as Smith did a hundred years ago when he was dismissed. But when he’s short, Marsh thrashes him through cover with a minimum of fuss. Three boundaries in the last three overs. Should have 150 by lunch.

Another email from St Albans as the temperature here in Sydney reaches 41.7 degrees, the ABC reports. “The Rural Fire Service crew are on standby duty in the fire shed watching the cricket,” says Halifax Brown. Let’s hope they are able to do that all day and nothing flares up. Fingers crossed.

By contrast. “There’s a government advisory against playing or anything outside here at -14C,” emails Michael Inglis in New York. “Thanks for the warming OBO I’m snug inside.” Lovely to have your company.

180th over: Australia 571-5 (S Marsh 141, Paine 11) Shoooooooot. Best of the morning from Shaun Marsh, who is into the 140s bisecting the posh-side ring with a lavish square drive off Curran. No reason Smith won’t let him keep batting, a double ton well within reach.

179th over: Australia 566-5 (S Marsh 137, Paine 10) Crane gets some big spin early on, but Marsh works with it to get off strike. Paine then takes one from a full toss. But the best bit comes last, Shaun Marsh down the track and crunching an inside-out cover drive on the up. That’s a lovely shot to the rope. With that, Mason Crane has now conceded the most runs by an England bowler on debut, Ric Finlay informs on ABC.

178th over: Australia 560-5 (S Marsh 132, Paine 9) Curran going steadily enough here as we lead into lunch. Paine keeps it ticking with a clip but he finds the outside half of Marsh’s big bat. Nearly an edge, in other words. Gives his back of the hand Ian Harvey Slower Ball a go, but misses. At least he’s having a crack. Marsh turns one fine to keep the strike.

This is very good. Smith’s response to the Mitch Marsh ton/near run out. Okay stattos, I need to know: has anyone made their century and been run out from the same delivery?

177th over: Australia 558-5 (S Marsh 131, Paine 8) Crane to Paine. Nice. Runs everywhere here, four balls scored off. Singles exchanged through the leg side before Marsh strokes through cover the way he does so well. For three. Paine keeps the strike, driving down the ground for one. “Knowing Darren Lehmann’s mentality,” Chris Rogers says on ABC, “he will be loving keeping England out there.”

And on the email. “It’s already 40 in St Albans (NSW – not Herts!),” writes Jonathan Nolan. How about that, one of my best mates is a Jonathan Nolan. This isn’t him. “We are predicted to hit at least 45 (but I expect 50) – how long do you keep the English in the field in 40 degree heat?!” I overheard someone say in the press box that there has been a government advisory about being outside playing sport today. I.e. not to do it.

176th over: Australia 552-5 (S Marsh 127, Paine 6) Well bowled Tom Curran. Sends down a decent maiden to Paine. Gets considerable movement back towards the wicketkeeper, unlucky not to hit his stumps as well. Very handy delivery. This is probably Curran’s last chance to influence selectors to get a gig for the New Zealand tour in March, so not a bad time to get it moving around a bit.

175th over: Australia 552-5 (S Marsh 127, Paine 6) Mason Crane gets on again from the Paddington End. Not surprised. No point persisting with Moeen with so little going on. Oh, ignore that. He’s given Paine a half-volley to climb into and the Tasmanian is happy to do just that. The only way this could get better for Australia is for Paine to race to a maiden ton before they board the plane to South Africa. They won’t be declaring in this heat, that much is certain.

“I see you have been victim of a lot of international chuntering about disappointing all-rounder, D. Trump,” emails Robert Wilson. Hi mate. “Can I just say that, a little like Mark Ealham or Martin McCague, Donald isn’t really the problem. It’s the selectors, dammit. Democracy’s a funny old game (and more fun as a spectacle if the general IQ is maintained at a decent level). Given the GOP’s long and passionate romance with stupid, the real problem with Trump is the same problem with Bush. What if the next one is worse?” A brilliant article from March 2016 argued that Trump didn’t want to be President, rather, he longs to be King. With that in mind, will he attempt to replace himself with an heir? Don Jr? Best we don’t think too much about that either.

174th over: Australia 545-5 (S Marsh 125, Paine 1) Paine off the mark behind square. “Do you reckon Smith will declare before the fourth new ball is taken?” asks John Starbuck. Every time that phrase is used Dirk Nannes bobs up to talk about the Sheffield Shield Final where they had 900 put on against them.

“Is Jason Gillespie the nicest bloke ever to play Test cricket?” asks Gervase Greene. “I live just near the SCG and took the dog for a dawdle around the park yesterday morning. Saw Gillespie about to do a ‘stand-up’ TV interview outside the Members. “Morning Diz,” I said, not having known him my whole life. Or met him, even. He put down the mike, sauntered over, said nice things about me and my dog (not in order) and then showed off his proudest possession: The pair of thongs (for Brits, read flip-flops) he was wearing, the instep emblazoned with a huge colour pic of him in full flight, overlaid with “DIZZY 201!” I reckon if I’d taken 250+ Test wickets I’d skite about that, but no – he prefers to enjoy and dine out on his bizarre top Test score. “Bought then in Yorkshire too (where he coached, with great success). How good is that?” he asked, before sauntering back to the patient TV crew. Very, say I. A genuine legend.”

As a Guardian columnist he’s probably reading this (Hi, Diz) so I don’t want to carry on too much, but your assessment is spot on. After the Adelaide Test, we sat down with him for a long chat about everything on the Final Word podcast. The best interview we’ve ever done for it. Have a listen at lunch. (Also, please subscribe/review, etc!)

Next ball! Off stump flying after Marsh misses one that cuts back a bit and goes under his bat. But what a wonderful innings. Job done. Bowled, Tom.

First ball of the Curran over, Mitch Marsh whacks him past point and assumes he has got it to the rope so they start hugging half way through the second run! But it hasn’t, so they have to scamper back. Bizarre scenes, but they love it. Another top moment from these maligned brothers. “That is going to be shown at Christmas time at the Marsh household for many years to come,” laughs Simon Katich on radio about the near run out. Has anyone been ran out after completing their 100th run? Doesn’t matter.

173rd over: Australia 542-4 (S Marsh 125, M Marsh 99) Moeen to Shaun Marsh. A sedate maiden. Happy enough to leave the strike to his brother first up next over, by the looks. “Too many Marshes make a morass,” emails Jonny Starbuck. “Or should that be a Slough of Despond for England?”

172nd over: Australia 542-4 (S Marsh 125, M Marsh 99) Mitch Marsh moves to 99 in a real hurry here! Flogs another Broad short ball through midwicket. No venom about the man with 399 wickets this morning. Then gets onto the front foot with a punishing drive down the ground. Like we’ve been transported back to Perth. Wonderful shot to think about as they go for a drink with the younger Marsh a run away from a ton.

171st over: Australia 532-4 (S Marsh 125, M Marsh 89) Moeen to Shaun Marsh. Cutting to the sweeper. His younger brother is too, more powerfully, for a couple. Too easy.

My editor on the Australian desk, Pádraig Collins, is into 90s kit chat. Who isn’t? “This Socceroos jersey from the same era is the worst Australian kit.” Strongly disagree. One of my all-time faves. It’s the blue one they transitoned to a couple of years after that I couldn’t handle. But I fear we’re down a wormhole here. Best I put it to a stop.

170th over: Australia 528-4 (S Marsh 124, M Marsh 86) Okay, Broad does get a go now. Ali Mitchell on ABC says she had a chat to him in the lift this morning. Encouraged him to take his 400th wicket. In response, said we might be waiting until March. Joking, of course. But maybe he’s right on the evidence of this first set. A gift to Mitch Marsh early in the over, floating down outside the off-stump. He absolutely lashes it past point for four. Into the 80s. He’s short again, on Mitch’s body, so he pulls this time and the result is the same. Back to back boundaries. Awful way to start Broad’s day. These two have now put on 150.

169th over: Australia 519-4 (S Marsh 123, M Marsh 78) Nearly a run out! Shaun turns just behind the keeper to leg slip or thereabouts, YJB is right on it and throws to the non-strikers’ end. A direct hit would have got him. Alas, not. Mitch happy enough to defend. He’s from Perth, of course, so he will know how it works batting in this sort of heat. Make them hurt then properly cash in.

168th over: Australia 518-4 (S Marsh 122, M Marsh 78) Jimmy so good. Three maidens in four overs of this spell. The only runs conceded came from the missed catch at slip. This time around, he’s denied a pair of leg before shouts. Joel Wilson is right on both occasions as they are sliding down. Just. He cannot win.

167th over: Australia 518-4 (S Marsh 122, M Marsh 78) Moeen to replace Mason. So, still no Broad with the new-ish ball. Jimmy has got it moving about a bit. Why not get Disco Stu with him too? Dreadful long hop to Mitch Marsh early in the over, which he punishes. Finds his range later in the over to Shaun. Meh.

166th over: Australia 513-4 (S Marsh 122, M Marsh 73) DROPPED CATCH! Shaun Marsh’s outside edge is found but it has bisected Cook and Root at first and second slip respectively. Oh dear. Someone has got to snaffle that. Probably Cook, who moved late. Poor Jimmy. Next ball be beats Marsh the elder with a beauty. Cannot do any more than this.

Sorry about the delay. Just got some bad news from an eBay auction I was emotionally involved in. You lot understand, I’m sure.

165th over: Australia 509-4 (S Marsh 118, M Marsh 73) Singles exchanged before Shaun Marsh leans into a crisp clip through midwicket after coming down the track. He’s batting beautifully this morning. But more than runs, he’ll want to be out there if/when his brother reaches 100.

164th over: Australia 502-4 (S Marsh 112, M Marsh 72) Back to back Anderson maidens. This time to Mitch Marsh. Ample respect here, defending each delivery.

Have a fantastic email from late yesterday that is quite relevant now. From Blair Trewin, who works in climate monitoring at the Bureau of Meteorology. This is great stuff.

“Spotted the discussion on the OBO about extremely hot Tests. The Sharjah Test of 2002 often comes up in this context; a thermometer in the sun may well have registered 50 but the actual temperature (measured under standard conditions) peaked at 38.0 – the thing which made the conditions particularly extreme for that match was the high humidity. (That’s also the case for the 1986-87 tied Test in Madras, where the highest temperature was 36.5).

The highest known temperature for a Test match day is 43.1 in Adelaide in January 1908 and for an ODI 44.1 in Melbourne in January 2003, both for Australia-England matches. (I don’t have complete records for the subcontinent, but India and Pakistan have had the good sense not to play internationals in the places/times of year (mid-April to June) when such temperatures might occur, so I think it’s unlikely higher values have occurred there).”

There’s always that debate between the actual temperature and player comfort, as Tony Greig measured for years. I note that David Warner said at the time that day two in Chittagong back in September was the hottest day of cricket he had been involved in. It was on 31 degrees, but the humidity was over 80%.

163rd over: Australia 502-4 (S Marsh 112, M Marsh 72) Taking the third new ball from the Paddington End is not Stuart Broad, but Mason Crane. How about that? “If it was Shane Warne,” says Jim Maxwell on ABC, “but… hmmm.” Fair play to him though, he’s beaten Mitch Marsh outside the off-stump with one that skids, then locates an inside edge that could have deflected onto a leg stump on another day. Two runs instead, bringing up the Australian 500. Mitch into the 70s.

“Writing to you from Göttingen, Germany” says Ashwin V.S. on the email. “Thanks for the coverage, it’s been brilliant while the same cannot be said for the Ashes, Mr. Smith apart. Was watching the South Africa vs India game earlier in the day and while it’s a pity Steyn’s injured again, the trio of Morkel, Rabada and Philander look excellent and it should be interesting to see Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood compete against them.”

Cannot wait for this. Shaping up as a proper, proper Test series.
“Any chance Maxi may get a look in for the SA tour? I’d get Khawaja and Warner to open, play either Smith or Marsh senior at first drop and slot Maxi in the middle order. I’m still not convinced with Marsh junior though, sure his batting’s improved but he is not the ideal fifth bowling option to have on those lively SA decks.”

I’d have Maxwell in every Australian XI in every format in every country on every day. I’d also have him in my bridal party and will probably leave everything I have to him in a will. So I’m the wrong guy to ask.

162nd over: Australia 499-4 (S Marsh 112, M Marsh 69) Okay, Jimmy does get the third new ball. That’s better. To Shaun Marsh. He’s defending then leaving to begin. Bit of shape away from the left-hander. Can’t question his radar or persistence.

161st over: Australia 499-4 (S Marsh 112, M Marsh 69) Instead of the third new ball, they are keeping their old one with Crane. What? Five singles milked from the brothers, the first three down the ground. The leggie did locate Mitch’s edge, but wide of slip. Shaun cuts, keeping the strike.

160th over: Australia 494-4 (S Marsh 109, M Marsh 67) Moeen finds Shaun Marsh’s edge, but to ground. Couple there for him. Takes another single in that direction off the back foot. Very little going on here. But the third new ball is now due. The worst three words in the cricket language.

As you can see, I’ve taken to photographing petrol signs and attributing the prices to bowlers in kph. Yet another reason why I was so popular in high school.

159th over: Australia 491-4 (S Marsh 106, M Marsh 67) Mitch’s turn, smacking a full toss through cover for his first boundary of the day. I worry for Mason Crane today. He’s been very impressive at times over the last couple of days. But it is hard to overstate how awful the conditions are today.

A note in from another great mate, Chris Barrett. Not the cricket writer, but Australia’s former ambassador to the OECD. “Late night in Berlin. Thank God you’re kicking off the OBO. I need something to distract me from those Trump tweets! Hoping for some stable genius from the Aussies today.” Bit of a theme emerging with the messages this morning, isn’t there?

Meanwhile, we’ve all been given baggy greens in the press box from the SCG Trust. Our man Vic Marks straight into it.

Driving through cover fourth ball, he’s done it! His second of the series. Races out towards his teammates in the Members Stand with arms aloft. His brother Mitch’s reaction at the non-strikers end is just as enthusiastic. They are very close. What a lovely moment. His second ton of the series. A glorious shot to get there too, a textbook cover drive. And he likes it so much he does it again! Past point for another boundary, punishing a long hop. The perfect start for Australia. Well played Shaun Marsh.

158th over: Australia 487-4 (S Marsh 106, M Marsh 63)

The players are out on the field. Moeen to Shaun Marsh, who resumes on 98. A ton in the first over? Let’s do this.

Opening the day on the email. Niall Connolly, good day to you. “I have added ‘stable genius’ to the profile on my resume,” he writes. “I expect my phone will be ringing off the (erstwhile) hook tomorrow morning with prospective employers in a bidding war for my like, very smart, legal services.” I don’t really know how to come at this topic. I’m just grateful that we’re at the cricket avoiding reality.

Adam Hirst has something for us as well, in response to Felix’s earlier offering. “The Leicester song starts off sounding similar to this, although obviously can’t reach its untouchable magnificence. Maybe it will one day be the song the players run out to at the Crisp Bowl though.”

Peter Rowntree, too, with a note titled ‘Just When You Thought Things Couldn’t Get Worse.’ He writes: “I was thinking the same thought this afternoon, that was before my Mrs used the same spoon to make my coffee that she had used to make her Chai Tea. Yuk!!” I’m not your marriage counsellor, but you have to set some boundaries. This is one of them.

And my dear friend Tommy Cameron, to finish us off for now. “Does Steve Smith’s error to Moeen yesterday mean we can’t yet conclude he is a stable genius? And how hot does it need to get in the 2018 White House for officials to stop play?” Something, something, CIA, something.

Jimmy. Bloody hell. What a journey he’s had over the last few weeks. And he’s now bowled more balls than ever before in a series, as Ali Martin documented last night.

By the way, I neglected to do the bit where I tell you how to contact me. You already know that of course, because you can read the headline at the top. But in the least patronising tone possible, flick me a long take here and a hot take there.

Righto, I’m upstairs and ready to go. Not many people in yet, so if you are in Sydney and like watching bowlers get driven into the ground (you freaks), then get on down.

A bit of reading before we get going. When listening to Usman Khawaja speak after play last night it reminded me a lot of how Mark Waugh would respond to his lazy critics.

It is brutal outside. “There is no way out,” says Felix White who is in the uber with me to the ground now. Have done a lot of OBOing from the back of ubers through this series. Once sitting on a bus tyre in Brisbane. A few gutters waiting for them. Glitz, glam. Anyway, we’re staying in an old bank vault remade as an AirBnB. He gifted me this song to start the day. And now me to you.

Nice things, nice things! A lot of time for us to deal in the turdig state of the contest, but let’s start positive. Last night, we had our annual Australian cricket media dinner. It’s a nice thing that the SCG Trust puts on for us. The formalities include an award to the emerging international player of the year. Until 2016, this gong went to a bloke, but not a woman. In 2017, we fixed that up and issued one prize for each national side.

Anyway, Pat Cummins won the men’s category. An obvious selection, if about six years too late. Melinda Farrell from ESPN did the induction, reflecting on where she was when Pat hit the winning runs on debut in South Africa after claiming six second innings wickets. It really was one of those “where were you?” moments, wasn’t it? (A pub in Bethnal Green, me). Pat spoke equally well in reply. Such a good fella.

I was asked to talk about Amanda-Jade Wellington, who was selected as the emerging woman. A fantastic young legspinner, who keeps grabbing headlines for all the right reasons. For instance, the ball she bowled to topple Tammy Beaumont in the Women’s Ashes earlier this summer. Nice things.

Adam will be here shortly.