England v Australia: Ashes fifth Test, day two – live
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Lunch: Australia 115-2 (Khawaja 47, Smith 12)With that leg bye off Khawaja’s pad that trickles to the on side, the players head into lunch. Was that England’s session? They got rid of Labuschagne without the score moving along too much. Was it Australia’s session? They added 54 runs but still have plenty of wickets in hand. Interesting session. I enjoyed it. Hope you did too. Off to grab a bite. Catch you in a few.
No school like the old school.
“Lovely to watch a batter who sees a wicket as something to be valued, guarded, not thrown away.”
I agree Penelope C. Like listening to vinyl or churning your own butter. Nice to lean into tradition from time to time.
Mouthy Marn?
“Marn had a mouthful of words for the umpires on his way off which were for some reason beyond the tv commentators to infer but which were surely about the light. It looks darker than a particularly bleak Black Mirror out there. Why are the lightometers not out?”
That’s from Eamonn Maloney. It was dark. But now it is light. He’ll be fuming up there in the dressing room. There was something about Broad playing with the bails as well, but I can’t quite figure out what that was about.
50th over: Australia 109-2 (Khawaja 43, Smith 12) Anderson tries to tempt Khawaja into playing away from his body but nothin’ doin’. Solid work from the Aussie rock at the top of the order. He’s perfectly fine seeing out another maiden.
49th over: Australia 108-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 12) Wood catches Khawaja’s edge and it flights past the slips to the boundary. He played it with soft hands and an angled bat so it was safe even though it had the crowd oooing. A rare loose drive has the crowd aaahing straight after. Wood still bringing the heat but Khawaja steals a single to keep the strike off the last ball. Blue skies emerge though the floodlights are still on.
Some chat about our Bazball Dream XI. personally I’d try find space for Herschelle Gibbs and definitely include Chris Gayle instead of Slater. Some other suggestions:
Geoff Wignall: “My first thought looking at the suggested Bazball XI was that Malcolm Marshall was missing. Why not include the finest of all fast bowlers? I too first thought he should be swapped for Holding but why not for Botham instead? Might not get as many runs but also wouldn’t need as many. And Warne as captain.”
Ben Ilsley: “Would Botham really bat before Gilchrist?”
Andy Guy wants to include Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Which is fair enough given they’ve spearheaded this thing.
48th over: Australia 104-2 (Khawaja 38, Smith 12) Crash! Bang! Back-to-back straight drives for four from Smith who punishes Anderson’s fuller length. The former Aussie captain averages 92 on this ground that is always helpful to batters who get in. Ton up for the visitors as well.
47th over: Australia 96-2 (Khawaja 38, Smith 2) Two off that Wood over. Khawaj with a dab to the on-side and Smith with one of his own a little behind square.
Steve Turner asks, “Can’t we have Geoff Boycott in [our Bazball dream XI] for a bit of heavy relief?”
John Swan is taking this very trivial debate more seriously (as he should) and wants to swap out Holding for Marshall, “based on the latter’s one-handed buccaneering innings in 1984 on top of searing Exocet-missile pace bowling.”
A new Cold War?
“Only side (cricketing style) will win and the other will be completely destroyed and no long cease to exist. Pick your side and do not waiver or compromise in your views one iota”
That’s from Dechlan Brennan who was responding to Brendan’s tweet.
46th over: Australia 94-2 (Khawaja 37, Smith 3) Oooh, Smith is annoyed with himself as he pokes at a lifter from Anderson outside the off stump. Too close to cut and he’s lucky not to edge it. He picked up two runs earlier in the over with an edge, but he was in control with soft hands as he benefited from a misfield in the gully. Nothing edgy about the flowing cover drive that went straight to the fielder, though. The best shot of the day. In fact, the only shot of any authority in front of square today. Too bad it didn’t move the score along.
I’m a sucker for Dream XIs and M Berkley has suggest this Bazball all-time XI. What do you think?
Slater
Greenidge
Sehwag
Richards (IVA)
Pietersen
Sobers (c)
Botham
Gilchrist
Akram
Warne
Holding
45th over: Australia 92-2 (Khawaja 37, Smith) Smudge is off the mark with a nudge through the on-side. Khawaja is bounced but gets under it. He also sees out a full ball that’s angled in on the stumps. Wood looks good out there. Running and bowling with great rhythm.
It might have been Bairstow’s ball, but this is a stunning grab from Root:
44th over: Australia 91-2 (Khawaja 37, Smith 0) Anderson is back and he delivers a probing maiden. I should have that copied for pasting over and over, shouldn’t I? Khawaja neatly behind those medium pacers from a good length.
Can we have our entertaining cake and eat it in victory? Does that work? Comment below the line.
@danielgallan Has everyone forgotten the first thing Stokes said...we will entertain. Australia may well win this test and series but if everyone continues to play like this in Tests, Australia will be the very best at a sport that no longer exists.
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) July 28, 2023I mean, Dechlan Brennan’s not wrong:
“That’s a wonderful catch by root but lord, as Ian Healy said ‘should have been the keepers catch, but have to get used to that when Bairstow is in the form he is in”
43rd over: Australia 91-2 (Khawaja 37, Smith 0) Wood enters the scene and gets the breakthrough. Outstanding from the menacing quick. But this wasn’t intimidating stuff. A good length and zip off the seam from a probing line meant Labuschagne had to play at the one that got him. Earlier in the over he let one go that angled back into him and whacked his thigh pad. A top, top over from Wood.
WICKET! Labuschagne c Root b Wood 9 (Australia 91-2)Stunning grab from Joe Root! Wow! He’s plucked that with one hand as it went past him. Yes, definitely was behind him. Brilliant. That was Bairstow’s catch, no question. But the ‘keeper let it go and Root at first slip had to pluck out his left hand and held on. Extra pace from Wood once again the difference. That has woken the crowd up.
Joe Root takes a stunning diving catch in the slips to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne. England are up and running. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images/ReutersMax Bonnell wants to remind all you Bazball zealots that some things never change:
“People need to remember that, whatever else Bazball has done, it hasn’t changed the fact that Ashes cricket is played over five days. Wearing the bowlers down gradually is every bit as legitimate a tactic as slogging for 55 overs.”
42nd over: Australia 91-1 (Khawaja 37, Labuschagne 9) Khawaja creams a cut shot behind square but it’s well fielded at backward point. Woakes then adjusts his line but over-corrects and once again a diving Bairstow can’t get a glove on it as it speeds away fro four byes down the leg side. Marnus scampers a single as he continues his crawl to double figures.
Christopher Hedge has come off a long run-up and unleashed two blistering emails:
“Australia playing Test cricket. Aussie only need a draw. Test cricket is played with the brain too. Why would England fans care? They’ve already won the Moral Victory Ashes apparently.”
“This old-school Test cricket won’t look so silly late afternoon if Aussie are still there. The England seamers will be tired and Aussie can bat on and on. Let’s face it, the England seamers aren’t that terrifying when they’re fresh….”
Strong stuff, Chris. I like it!
41st over: Australia 86-1 (Khawaja 37, Labuschagne 8) Broad goes full and Khawaja leans into a tasty drive that is hauled in just before the rope by a chasing Stokes. They come through for three. Labuschagne dabs a single on the leg side. Broad wants to change the ball but the umpires are having none of it.
40th over: Australia 82-1 (Khawaja 34, Labuschagne 7) Woakes continues from the Vauxhall End. And, wouldn’t you know it, it’s another maiden. Three in a row. He ends the over with a bumper that is easily left alone by Labuschagne but I like the intent. England have to at least start doing something a little different. Or maybe not. Maybe they just need to keep plugging away. It’s not like Australia are running away from them.
“G’day Daniel,” howdy Jordan White. Thanks for getting in touch.
"Have been enjoying this series a lot - as an Australian I was simultaneously thankful for the rain in Manchester but also disappointed that it’s not 2-2 here.
“There’s been a lot of conjecture that what Stokes and McCullum are up to is all about wild slogging, when their key line is more about playing without fear. Similarly, I feel like the Australian approach isn’t about being boring or conservative, but sticking to your guns, trusting in your plans and skills and waiting for things to work rather than trying to force them. It hasn’t always come off but it is an approach that I can at least sympathise with - ignoring external pressure to match the Bazball arms race and instead playing the way you want to. I think criticism of the Australian team as struggling or scared etc. is missing the point, just as people who think England just want to have a whack are missing the wonders that Stokes has worked as captain.”
You’re right. It’s never as simple as it seems. England aren’t just sloggers and Australia aren’t just blockers. They’re playing to their strengths and according to their beliefs. Thanks for the nuance here, mate.
39th over: Australia 82-1 (Khawaja 34, Labuschagne 7) 36 RUNS OFF THE OVER! Jokes. It’s another maiden. Good bowling from Broad from round the wicket into Khawaja. One nipped away off the seam but the Aussie opener, who is once again the series’ top scorer, lets it go.
That’ll be drinks. We’ve had an hour’s play for 21 runs.
“Am I right in saying it’s taken Labuschagne almost an hour to get 4 runs?”
You’re bang on Lila Smith. Riveting, isn’t it?
38th over: Australia 82-1 (Khawaja 34, Labuschagne 7) A maiden for Woakes. Labuschagne meets him with a full bat face and a strong forward press. Do England keep plugging away or bring on Root’s spin for a bit of variety from one end?
What’s the view on this ‘anti-Bazball’ scorn from the Antipodes?
“Hi Daniel. I’m Australian, and I’ve got to say I’ve absolutely loved this grindy, possibly some may even say ‘stodgy’ Australian approach. I’m not sure if it’s just the contrast from Bazball or what, but I’m thoroughly enjoying a Friday on the couch watching these two play intelligent, orthodox, low-risk cricket.”
Rowan Sweeney from Down Under is a fan. And fair enough. Australia have no obligation to bat in any other way.
37th over: Australia 82-1 (Khawaja 34, Labuschagne 7) Good from Broad. He beats Labuschagne on the inside edge and thwacks his front pad. Half an appeal for one that was always going down leg. he then delivers a beauty that straightens from an angle and beats the outside edge. Duckett at leg slip is in the action but that flick doesn’t meet him on the full. It looked comfy for the Aussies but they’ve receded deeper in their shells and now it seems like England could be in business pretty soon.
Top work this:
36th over: Australia 81-1 (Khawaja 34, Labuschagne 6) Woakes strays twice in the over. Khawaja tucks one off his hips from the back foot and Labuschagne leanes forward and clips a fuller one down to long leg. Both batters going old school this morning.
Michael Vaughan has called this approach Snooze-Ball.
Kandukuru Nagarjun has offered ‘Tavball’ (after Chris Tavare) and ‘Boycsball’ after, well, you know who.
Timothy Beecroft suggests we call it ‘Llabzab’. “And what a splendidly euphonious word it is. Particularly when pronounced with a Welsh accent,” he adds.
Here’s an intersting question. What do you all reckon?
@danielgallan Minor one - Eng do double bowling changes, maybe to develop the bowling in pairs idea? This gives up the small but useful niggle of forcing a batter to recalibrate to new bowling. It's a mental tax, which the double change reduces. What does the OBO hive mind think?
— Jim Frayling (@JimFrayling) July 28, 202335th over: Australia 79-1 (Khawaja 33, Labuschagne 5) Movement for Broad, at least at the start of the over when he beat Marnus outside the off stump. One is sprayed down the leg side and Bairstow can’t reach it to prevent the four byes.
Stuart Broad is getting good movement off the seam under gloomy conditions. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
