The Ashes: 5th Test, Sydney

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5th Test Sydney, January 4-8, 2017 (23:30 GMT Jan 3)

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

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Bairstow †, Ali, Curran, Broad, Crane, Anderson

After two overs, including a play and a miss from Stoneman, England 2 for 0.

Key for England's innings you feel is this opening psir digging in, taking the shine off the new ball and plsy will become more comfortable you think. A play and miss from Cook and after 4 overs England are 5 for 0.

Stoneman looks nervy so far to me

England 11 for 0 after 5 overs.Stoneman 7 Cook 3.

After 7 overs England 18 for 0. A play and a miss from Cook. Cook 3 Stoneman 14.

It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Hazlewood on and a play and a miss from Cook first ball and second ball.

Stoneman feathers one to Paine from Cummins. England 28 for 1 and Stoneman exits for 24.

By my reckoning, to be competitive, the England top order need to put on 300 runs before you get to the all-rounders. Average first innings score on this pitch is 350.

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

Woakes is a far more capable batsman than Mason Crane. Crane is a true tail-ender by all accounts. Crane has a first class average with the bat of a fraction over 12 whilst Woakes' average is a fraction over 35.

England 37 for 1.

At drinks England are 39 for 1. Cook 11 Vince 2.

Nathan Lyon into the attack after 15 overs.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

Woakes is a far more capable batsman than Mason Crane. Crane is a true tail-ender by all accounts. Crane has a first class average with the bat of a fraction over 12 whilst Woakes' average is a fraction over 35.

Fair enough, would still argue that despite previous form the likes of Ali and Woakes have looked like out and out tailenders on this tour

Don’t think the extended tail will make that much difference

England 43 for 1. Cook 13 Vince 4.

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

Woakes is a far more capable batsman than Mason Crane. Crane is a true tail-ender by all accounts. Crane has a first class average with the bat of a fraction over 12 whilst Woakes' average is a fraction over 35.

Fair enough, would still argue that despite previous form the likes of Ali and Woakes have looked like out and out tailenders on this tour

Don’t think the extended tail will make that much difference

No just saying it is imperative the top order score big as from Ali downwards I don't expect there will be any msjor contributions.

Lyon gets one to beat Cook's outside edge. That will please Crane seeing there is a bit of turn so early in the match.

Fifty up for England. 52 for 1. Cook 18 Vince 8.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

Woakes is a far more capable batsman than Mason Crane. Crane is a true tail-ender by all accounts. Crane has a first class average with the bat of a fraction over 12 whilst Woakes' average is a fraction over 35.

Fair enough, would still argue that despite previous form the likes of Ali and Woakes have looked like out and out tailenders on this tour

Don’t think the extended tail will make that much difference

No just saying it is imperative the top order score big as from Ali downwards I don't expect there will be any msjor contributions.

Oh I agree, but that’s been the case in nearly every innings bar broads swish

England move onto 64 for 1. Cook 22 Vince 16.

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:It is vitally important the batsmen all contribute for England bearing in mind the elongated tail they have in this match. England 24 for 0.

Not seen much of crane but haven’t been overly impressed with Woakes ability to deal with the aussie quicks

Woakes is a far more capable batsman than Mason Crane. Crane is a true tail-ender by all accounts. Crane has a first class average with the bat of a fraction over 12 whilst Woakes' average is a fraction over 35.

Fair enough, would still argue that despite previous form the likes of Ali and Woakes have looked like out and out tailenders on this tour

Don’t think the extended tail will make that much difference

No just saying it is imperative the top order score big as from Ali downwards I don't expect there will be any msjor contributions.

Oh I agree, but that’s been the case in nearly every innings bar broads swish

Yes but Woakes has weighed in with 20+ scores in the series and Overton with 44. Their replacements don't have those sort of scores in them.

Vince looks a little less comfortable facing Lyon.

Partnership beginning to build as it reaches 43. England 71 for 1.

Get the feeling Vince wants to take Lyon on.

Yes I reckon he is concious of getting tied down by Lyon and is trying to make things happen.

The 50 partnership up. England 78 for 1. Cook 28 Vince 24.

Cook unleashes back-to-back boundaries off Lyon and at drinks England reach 86 for 1. Cook just 8 runs short of 12,000 runs in test cricket.

Sloppy slopoy sloppy. Vince wafts at a wide Cummins delivery and caught by Paine. Vince goes for 25. Kamikaze shot. England 88 for 2.

Awful way to get out by Vince again

That was a typical Vince innings and dismissal. A carbon copy of his other innings.

England 95 for 2. Cook 39 Root 5.

Big shout for lbw against Cook. Reviewed.

Looks plumb to me.

And out. Hazlewood srikes. Cook exits for 39. England on the ropes now on 95 for 3.

Another really tight drs goes against England again. Really haven’t had much luck with them this series

Hundred up for England. 100 for 3. England need a big partnership here.

At tea England are 122 for 3. Australia's session. England would have wanted one less wicket perhaps two falling in that session to feel happy about it.

For England to get back on an even keel they need to reach close on around 240 for 4 (no worse than that).

England need this pair to tough it out. 128 for 3. The partnership is 33. Root 22 Malan 16.

Partnership now up to 60. England 155 for 3 Root 41 Malan 24.

Khawaja has just done a Simon Jones. Sliding to stop a boundary but knee got stuck in the turf and looked mighty painful. He is hobbling and drinks are taken with England 160 for 3. Root 42 Malan 28

Khawaja fit to continue.

Good to see him walking off unaided... it could have been much, much worse.

England 168 for 3. Fifty up for Root. Can he covert this into a century?

The Loaded Dog wrote:Good to see him walking off unaided... it could have been much, much worse.

Indeed. It looked very nasty.

Missed run out chance. Not the greatest of relay throws from Paine back to the bowler's end.

The Loaded Dog wrote:Missed run out chance. Not the greatest of relay throws from Paine back to the bowler's end.

Or a throw direct to the other end would have done.

Malan dropped on 34 by Steve Smith off Lyon's bowling.

Now Smith misses one... quite late and low off his right foot.

Think Paine must have called for it, Craig but you're right - wrong end.