The Ashes: 1st Test, Brisbane

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1st Test Brisbane, November 23-27, 2017

Australia:
Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith *, Handscomb, S Marsh, Paine †, Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Ali, Bairstow †, Woakes, Ball, Broad, Anderson

Sweet delivery. Good catch.

Promising partnership ends.

Lyon is the key, the quicks look tame so far. Although the off spinners always a threat to left handlers. Swann made a very good career out of it

malan Ali broad our remaining left hand batters?

Yep.

Root tried to gift his wicket twice during that Cummings over.

So England are 64 for 3 at drinks. The lead at 38. England could do with this pair batting through to lunch. They are allowing Lyon to settle into those long spells again.

England effectively 44 for 3 (70 for 3). Root 31 Malan 3.

Stoneman's wicket gives a very different view on how the first hour went. Root and Stoneman were playing patiently and well. However, the same can be said for Australia's bowlers - they haven't given much away and now have an important reward. Lyon looking as if he'll be incredibly valuable here - not only keeping it tight so the three seamers can be comfortably rotated but also causing problems and threatening to take further wickets.

I agree with Boycs that we need to still be batting at the end of the day. If (and it looks a big if) we can achieve that, runs will come. So important we don't chuck any wickets away.

Lyon again strikes. Malan caught in slip.England 74 for 4 leading by a meagre 48.

Ah, Lyon has given Malan a good going over there. A raw examination of the batsman's technique.

England in trouble, now, with Root more crucial than ever.

Agree with Boycott about his Lyon/Moeen comparison; but then, Moeen isn't a frontline spinner. Though he is expected to perform like one.

Moeen nearly gone first ball! Such a challenging spell.

I'd have brought Bairstow in ahead of Modern here with the way Lyon is bowling to left handers.

Root needs someone/anyone to stay with him for a couple of hours. England 75 for 4. Lead by 49.

I think these situations is where England miss Stokes. I think he'd be looking to attack Lyon.

James100 wrote:I'd have brought Bairstow in ahead of Modern here with the way Lyon is bowling to left handers.

Hi James - that's an interesting suggestion. I find it slightly odd that we pride ourselves on adapting to the match situation and thinking on our feet with the ball and in the field but seem to regard our approach to batting as set in stone.

PS Doubt we'll see much of Rocky in Surrey colours next summer. He must be odds on for a central contract.

guildfordbat wrote:

James100 wrote:I'd have brought Bairstow in ahead of Modern here with the way Lyon is bowling to left handers.

Hi James - that's an interesting suggestion. I find it slightly odd that we pride ourselves on adapting to the match situation and thinking on our feet with the ball and in the field but seem to regard our approach to batting as set in stone.

PS Doubt we'll see much of Rocky in Surrey colours next summer. He must be odds on for a central contract.

So long as Stoneman doesn't get into the one-day sides (or Roy into Tests). I doubt we'll win many games if they're both gone at the same time!

Root sticking to the task and beginning to score quicker. He moves onto 48. England 98 for 4 and lead by 72.

Runs coming more freely in this partnership.

England still need at least another 130, I reckon.

Half century for Root and then next ball is caught plum lbw by Hazlewood. England 113 for 5 and lead just 87. That is critical for me.

If Root and Ali had reached kunch it was their session but that now makes it Australia's.

And there's the (probable) match-winning wicket.

Good ball by Hazlewood with just the right amount of movement. Astonished that Root didn't review, given the importance of his innings in the context of the match.

Ball found one of the cracks on the pitch. Sensible in hindsight it wasn't reviewed. England desperate for lunch now to regroup.119 for 5 with the lead on 93.

And that is lunch. England go in on a downer you feel. 119 for 5. Needs a 50 partnership or two now you feel.

Duty281 wrote:Runs coming more freely in this partnership.

England still need at least another 130, I reckon.

Vaughan was suggesting at the start of the day that 180 might be sufficient.

Maybe it's the England pessimist in me but I feel we're going to need more than that and more than (what I take to be) Duty's 200. The track seems to demand care and patience but is not misbehaving. Add to that, Moeen isn't at the same level as Lyon, Ball and Woakes need to up their game and Australia have Smith. That's also assuming Anderson is ok.

To increase my pessimism, Root is now back in the hutch - another 50 but my views on the net effect of those in Tests are well rehearsed . I'll leave Craig to confirm our exact lead but, with 5 down now, a target of even 180 still seems some way off as the players go in for lunch and I head up to bed. Go well all.

Think Root was unlucky, did the ball hit a crack?
Either way, gotta fancy Aus now to win fairly comfortably.

I think a 200 target would give England a fighting chance, and (at the moment) it is probably the summit of their ambitions.

The tourists would need a 250+ lead to be considered favourites.

Anderson isn't in good shape. Woakes and Ball haven't made a mark, yet. England will be heavily reliant on the services of Broad and (on a helpful track) Ali to bail them out of this one.

But there's still some batting to be done. I don't think Ali or Bairstow will hang around. They'll want to counter-punch and propel their side past the 150 lead mark.

The Gabba is famed for not having huge totals being chased down in a 4th innings. The record for highest total chased down is 247 so it is not a massive target needed. Ali attacks immediately after lunch. England move on to 127 for 5. Ali 34 Bairstow 1. England lead by 101.

England 138 for 5 and lead by 112. Ali and Bairstow looking to be more attacking.Ali 35 Bairstow 11

Bairstow dances down the pitch to hit Lyon for 6. England building a handy partnership here. 149 for 5 and lead by 123.

Partnership moves onto 40. England 153 for 5 and lead by 127.

Impressive effort from these two so far.

Australia just straining to find that next breakthrough.

Ali gone! Stumped. Hammer blow.

That is a painful wicket to lose. Ali stumped and given out on review. What a way to go. Partnership ends on 42. England 155 for 6. Ali goes for 40.

Woakes you feel needs a big score here or else he could lose his place for the next test.

England desperate for a 50 partnership somewhere in these last four wickets.

Woakes dropped by short leg then scurries a single next ball to avoid a pair. 158 for 6. The lead is 132.

Not happy with that decision. Reckon it wasn't possible to be certain there was nothing behind the line : harsh to call that out.

Crucial moment in the game too...England will feel they're not getting much in the way of luck on this tour , what with all the injuries : important they don't let it affect them.

Australia must think they've nearly got this one now. Last proper batsman in and the lead still short of 150 - might be fancying a four day finish ...

This is a real struggle for Woakes. Looks nervous and flustered. 158 for 6.

Not a chance of it being over in four days in my opinion. Only half a day's play left to get say 150. Cannot see that.

Drinks and England clinging on at 158 for 6. The lead is 132. You feel the tail must add a minimum of 50 runs here to give England a glimmer of a chance.

England 163 for 6. The lead is 137. Bairstow 26 Woakes 5

CaledonianCraig wrote:Not a chance of it being over in four days in my opinion. Only half a day's play left to get say 150. Cannot see that.

No , I'm not really suggesting that is likely , Craig. But the Aussies will feel if they can break these two quickly they might run through the tail...and with a small target Warner tends to come out smoking...

I am still hoping England can push this lead out to something just about defendable...though I don't think there will be enough in the pitch to make a fourth innings collapse likely : Moeen is no Lyon.

I see a few comments about doubts on Anderson : but as he came back and bowled another spell after the supposed injury scare I can't think there could be much to it. More worried about him - and Broad - being forced back to the bowling crease with grossly inadequate rest. It was that happening repeatedly in 2013/14 , due to Johnson and Harris regularly demolishing England's bats , that took away any real chance of staying in the contest. Don't want that happening again...

Lead up to 142. That would be the 8th highest total chased down in fourth innings at The Gabba.

Yes worry for England will be that the pitch isn't really misbehaving at present. England need this pitch to show signs of deteriorating.

Ponting suggesting the Aussies will begin worrying if the lead gets up to 200. At present the lead is 143.

Smith brings himself on to bowl.

Really gripping stuff this. Great test match. England 172 for 6. Lead is 146.

174 for 6. Partnership moves on to 19.

England lead passes the 150 mark. England 177 for 6

Stark looks like he is being troubled with an ankle injury here. England 182 for 6. The lead is 156. The partnership moves on to 27.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes worry for England will be that the pitch isn't really misbehaving at present. England need this pitch to show signs of deteriorating.

That is why I am pessimistic , Craig. Not your normal Gabba pitch - though a lot of Australian pitches are a bit bland these days , and don't seem to "go" the way they used to on day five.
Of course this might be partly because Shane Warne isn't bowling on them any more

Recent last day run chases have tended to founder more on scoreboard pressure than any malice in the pitch.

And England don't have nearly enough scoreboard to press with...

Woakes gone ! Hopes fading rapidly

It doesn't stop Starc putting in a bouncing ball that Woakes can only guide to slips and is out. Another big wicket just short of an interval. Partnership of 30 comes to an end. England 185 for 7. The lead is 159 as Broad is booed to the crease.

Just not getting the big partnerships , England. Lots of starts , none going big.

Mind you , apart from Smith , you could say the same for Australia. He really has owned this match.