England won the toss and will bat.

Ian said:

England won the toss and will bat.

They are singing the anthems.

Ian said:

Looked like that here early on but all that’s gone east. Sky blue as blue and summery hot.

roughbarked said:

Ian said:

Looked like that here early on but all that’s gone east. Sky blue as blue and summery hot.

Yeah. Fine and steamy atm in Sydney.

Ian said:

England won the toss and will bat.

And elected to collapse first.

Beau Webster comes into the Australian team.

No specialty spinner.

Ben Duckett says fuckett.

3/114 Lunch

Lunch. ENG 3/114

quite a brisk scoring rate but the Aussies will be happy to have taken 3 wickets in that session.

!50 up for England, match is evenly poised.

Peak Warming Man said:

!50 up for England, match is evenly poised.

Root has 50.

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

!50 up for England, match is evenly poised.

Root has 50.

have you all noticed Joe Root’s number?

Woodie said:

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

!50 up for England, match is evenly poised.

Root has 50.

have you all noticed Joe Root’s number?

Is it 66?
200 up fo England.

Peak Warming Man said:

Woodie said:

roughbarked said:

Root has 50.

have you all noticed Joe Root’s number?

Is it 66?
200 up fo England.

Yes it is root 66.

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Woodie said:

have you all noticed Joe Root’s number?

Is it 66?
200 up fo England.

Yes it is root 66.

Just take my way that’s the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Off for bad light.. so that’s something different…

Ian said:

Off for bad light.. so that’s something different…

They’ll probably take tea?

Peak Warming Man said:

Woodie said:

roughbarked said:

Root has 50.

have you all noticed Joe Root’s number?

Is it 66?
200 up fo England.

Yes. it’s 66. And???????????

The Rev Dodgson said:

roughbarked said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Is it 66?
200 up fo England.

Yes it is root 66.

Just take my way that’s the highway that’s the best
Get your kicks on Route 66

Perzackerly. 😁😎

Ian said:

Off for bad light.. so that’s something different…

It’s gunna flashy flashy bang bang and piddle down.

Woodie said:

Ian said:

Off for bad light.. so that’s something different…

It’s gunna flashy flashy bang bang and piddle down.

After looking at the 256 km radar, I reckon they won’t get any more play today. Or if they do, it won’t be much.

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Ian said:

Off for bad light.. so that’s something different…

It’s gunna flashy flashy bang bang and piddle down.

After looking at the 256 km radar, I reckon they won’t get any more play today. Or if they do, it won’t be much.

Seems like there’s going to be a couple of waves of it. Just when the covers come off and the ground staff get the field ready again the next storm will hit.

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

It’s gunna flashy flashy bang bang and piddle down.

After looking at the 256 km radar, I reckon they won’t get any more play today. Or if they do, it won’t be much.

Seems like there’s going to be a couple of waves of it. Just when the covers come off and the ground staff get the field ready again the next storm will hit.

That’s what I reckon.

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

It’s gunna flashy flashy bang bang and piddle down.

After looking at the 256 km radar, I reckon they won’t get any more play today. Or if they do, it won’t be much.

Seems like there’s going to be a couple of waves of it. Just when the covers come off and the ground staff get the field ready again the next storm will hit.

and it is still coming.

It’s as black as the inside of a cat.

Peak Warming Man said:

It’s as black as the inside of a cat.

White, black or ginger-stripy?

Stumps have been called.
I’ll give day one to England on points.
But given England’s weakened bowling attack Aussie batsman might play merry hell on this wicket when it’s their turn to bat sometime tomorrow.
Over.

Peak Warming Man said:

Stumps have been called.
I’ll give day one to England on points.
But given England’s weakened bowling attack Aussie batsman might play merry hell on this wicket when it’s their turn to bat sometime tomorrow.
Over.

Do you think Root and Brook are going to gift us their wickets?

I very much doubt that.

Peak Warming Man said:

Stumps have been called.
I’ll give day one to England on points.
But given England’s weakened bowling attack Aussie batsman might play merry hell on this wicket when it’s their turn to bat sometime tomorrow.
Over.

3/211

Poms have done better than some of their previous innings. Whether it’s good enough we’ll know when both sides have batted.

Underway.

Brook has perished on 84.

Brook ct 84

4/226

Peak Warming Man said:

Brook has perished on 84.

Good. You may have been correct. Brook gifted Boland his wicket. Will Root 66 do the same?

Stoke gone for a duck!

Starc knocks over Stokes again.

Another ton for Root 66!

Michael V said:

Another ton for Root 66!

That’ll make him feel better.

Let’s have a drink chaps.

Bloody!

No-ball dismissal…

Labs gets Smith for 46.

Labs gets Smith 46

6/323

Time for some spotted dick chaps.

Peak Warming Man said:

Time for some spotted dick chaps.

I’d prefer something savoury for lunch.

Peak Warming Man said:

Time for some spotted dick chaps.

The chemist shop will have some ointment for that.

They are back batting and Smith edged Labs over the rope.

Let’s have a drink chaps.

Peak Warming Man said:

Let’s have a drink chaps.

Bloody good idea.

And afterwards, dismiss another batter.

Carse caught behind off Green for 1.

ENG: 8/382.

Root is fucked.

9fa!!

Root: c&b Neser for 160.

ENG 9/384

Now they’re all fucked.

All out for 384.

Tongue bowled Neser – duck.

All out 384.

Woodie said:

Now they’re all fucked.

All out for 384.

And they’re all gunna have a nice cuppa. 🍵

Michael V said:

Tongue bowled Neser – duck.

All out 384.

I don’t think they have enough.
The Aussies are going to play merry hell on this wicket but we’ll see.

Woodie said:

Woodie said:

Now they’re all fucked.

All out for 384.

And they’re all gunna have a nice cuppa. 🍵

And why not?

Labs out 48

Tonne

Onya Head

2/179

Ian said:

Tonne

Onya Head

2/179

Well done him.
Now is the time to cry havoc.

I hope Potts is soaking up the test atmosphere because it might be the last one he plays.

Will Jacks has been waiting………….waiting over after over for a catch that he knows might never come off the Australians blades……….and then it happens, Travis Head doesn’t quite middle one and pulls in the air, immediately Will’s training as an English fieldsman comes into play…………
more to come………

Let’s have a drink chaps.

Peak Warming Man said:

I hope Potts is soaking up the test atmosphere because it might be the last one he plays.

:)

Peak Warming Man said:

Will Jacks has been waiting………….waiting over after over for a catch that he knows might never come off the Australians blades……….and then it happens, Travis Head doesn’t quite middle one and pulls in the air, immediately Will’s training as an English fieldsman comes into play…………
more to come………

LOLOL

:)

Neser out for 24.

Well done Michael!

3/281 Lunch

Not much going the way of the tourists.

Ian said:

3/281 Lunch

Not much going the way of the tourists.

They’ve been using the same catching coach as Jacks does.

Head lbw 163

A ton for Spot.

Peak Warming Man said:

A ton for Spot.

Correction his nick name is Smudge.

Peak Warming Man said:

A ton for Spot.

See Spot run
Run Spot run

Stumps

Aust 7/518

A cricket score!

Ian said:

Stumps

Aust 7/518

A cricket score!

Great day for Aus with the bat. Lead of 134.

Try and press on a bit tomorrow and as close to a lead of 200 as possible. If they get 200 in front then think about declaring at an opportune moment – say 5 overs before lunch.

Smith gone for 138

Michael V said:

Smith gone for 138

AUS: 8/544

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

Smith gone for 138

AUS: 8/544

Let’s see if they can get 600.

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

Smith gone for 138

AUS: 8/544

Caught behind off the bowling of Tongue.

Starc on to replace Smith.

AUS leads by 160.

Out strides Scott Boland.

Peak Warming Man said:

Out strides Scott Boland.

After Stac bowled for 5 by Tongue.

Michael V said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Out strides Scott Boland.

After Stac bowled for 5 by Tongue.

and back in he strolls. Australia lead by 183. England will come out to bat.

Peak Warming Man said:

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

Smith gone for 138

AUS: 8/544

Let’s see if they can get 600.

587.

Michael V said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Out strides Scott Boland.

After Stac bowled for 5 by Tongue.

Boland gone for a duck.

AUS: 567, leads ENG by 183.

All out 567

Lead of 183 only

Slug Webster done ok

The ball is thrown to Will Jacks the demon spinner, the master of his black art strikes straight away

Ian said:

All out 567

Lead of 183 only

Slug Webster done ok

I’ll say.

Ian said:

All out 567

Lead of 183 only

Slug Webster done ok

ONLY, ONLY

Crawley gorn 1

Ian said:

Crawley gorn 1

Starc strikes again in the first over.

Peak Warming Man said:

Ian said:

All out 567

Lead of 183 only

Slug Webster done ok

ONLY, ONLY

Say what?

That’s lunch on the penultimate day, England 1/80
Over.

Peak Warming Man said:

That’s lunch on the penultimate day, England 1/80
Over.

Neser bowls Duckett for 42

ENG: 2/85

Duckett replaced by Root.

Michael V said:

Duckett replaced by Root.

Root’s out: LBW Boland for 6.

Brook replaces Root.

ENG 3/117

Young Bethell gets his first first-class tonne.

3/210

Brook out 42 on super close DRS

Bethell gets his first ton! Well done lad.

Brook out LBW Webster.

ENG: 4/219

Jacks gorn 2nd ball.

Jacks out for a duck.

Ian said:

Jacks gorn 2nd ball.

Dear oh dear

Peak Warming Man said:

Ian said:

Jacks gorn 2nd ball.

Dear oh dear

Jacks off.

Michael V said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Ian said:

Jacks gorn 2nd ball.

Dear oh dear

Jacks off.

:)

Michael V said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Ian said:

Jacks gorn 2nd ball.

Dear oh dear

Jacks off.

LOL

Smith gone. Run out Weatherald.

ENG: 6/264 (81 in front).

The injured Stokes is the next batter.

Michael V said:

Smith gone. Run out Weatherald.

ENG: 6/264 (81 in front).

The injured Stokes is the next batter.

shakes head

Peak Warming Man said:

Michael V said:

Smith gone. Run out Weatherald.

ENG: 6/264 (81 in front).

The injured Stokes is the next batter.

shakes head

Stokes gone for 1.

Carse gone for 16.

Eng: 8/297.

Stumps 8/203

Aussies will wrap it up after lunch tomoz.

Well done Jacob Bethel.

Stumps.

Eng: 8/302.

Bethell has contributed 142 of those runs.

roughbarked said:

Well done Jacob Bethel.

Aye

Bethell gets to 150.

Well done that lad!

I’m quite sure now that he’s England’s Next Big Thing in batting. We are definitely going to see a lot more of him.

Bethell gornn 154

About time!

Ian said:

Bethell gornn 154

About time!

…

All out for 342.

AUS need 160 to win.

Take that Tounge

Bit of argy-bargy mid field :)

Head ct 29

Weatherald ct 34

2/71

Lunch

Ian said:

Bethell gornn 154

About time!

It was a good knock though. From a sporting perspective.

Jacks bowled Smith.

Smudge bowled through the gate 12

Uzzy in

Ian said:

Smudge bowled through the gate 12

Uzzy in

Uzzie gone.

:(

Bye bye Ussy 6

Labs run out 37

Ian said:

Labs run out 37

Pharque.

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

If Green and Carey just chip away at the target and don’t do anything silly it will be fine.

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

13 runs

roughbarked said:

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

13 runs

12

roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

Michael V said:

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

13 runs

12

11, four!
7 runs needed.

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

How ‘bout a shoe in?

Woodie said:

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

How ‘bout a shoe in?

3

That’s it 4 – 1 Aus

A bit of silliness towards the end there.. great fun :)

4:1

Woodie said:

Michael V said:

Woodie said:

Is it evenly poised? or on a knife’s edge? or Could go either way?

Perhaps little room for movement?

Wot youse say?

It’s Australia’s to lose now. And they’d all have to be very stupid.

How ‘bout a shoe in?

Or Carse – a shoe-out.

Ian said:

That’s it 4 – 1 Aus

A bit of silliness towards the end there.. great fun :)

It was. Good to actually get a five day match. I enjoyed it.

The chaps at the England and Wales Cricket Board have met at Nigel’s London club and over a few gins and tonic and cucumber sandwiches have ordered a damn good review, no mucking around.