Ashes 2021/22 and other cricket through the winter of 2021 thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd start a new thread for the winter cricket of 2021 that we (covid depending) have ahead of us. Obviously the World T20, but that has it's own thread...

The main event being the Ashes, with the dates below

Men's Ashes schedule
First Test: 8-12 December - Gabba, Brisbane (00:00 GMT)
Second Test: 16-20 December - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (d/n - 04:00 GMT)
Third Test: 26-30 December - MCG, Melbourne (23:30 GMT, 25 December)
Fourth Test: 5-9 January - SCG, Sydney (23:30 GMT, 4 January)
Fifth Test: 14-18 January - Optus Stadium, Perth (02:30 GMT) (subject to change)

Women's Ashes schedule
Test: 27-30 January - Manuka Oval, Canberra (23:00 GMT, 26 January)
First T20: 4 February - North Sydney Oval, Sydney (08:10 GMT)
Second T20: 6 February - North Sydney Oval, Sydney (08:10 GMT)
Third T20: 10 February - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (08:10 GMT)
First ODl: 13 February - Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (23:05 GMT, 12 February)
Second ODl: 16 February - Junction Oval, Melbourne (23:05 GMT, 15 February)
Third ODI: 19 February - Junction Oval, Melbourne (23:05 GMT, 18 February)

India have a busy winter, with New Zealand touring in November/December and then India head to South Africa for the boxing day test/January.
There's an interesting test series between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Bangladesh in Nov/Dec, which should be an entertaining watch. Unfortunately I don't see much cricket on the schedule for Pakistan/Sri Lanka (unless I am missing something!)
A few others on the future tours programme, but not confirmed yet as far as I see...

[alfie]

Let's not pick the next team until at least the second innings here...

I do have some thoughts on what they might do but they can wait. I do , like Olly , fear there is no move they can make which will help much ; but presume changes will be made rather than just accepting disaster is inevitable.

As I say , after this game is finished...

[king_carlos]

Absolutely dire. Australia are missing their two best bowlers and it's a good batting surface. I'm past the point of frustration or anger and have arrived at the relative bliss of despondency.

[alfie]

Ten minutes to tea. Horror session this has been for England - but to be honest , not unexpected.

With Lyon bowling , Australia have bowled about 29 overs already (reminder: England don't have a Lyon. Or even a Titmus) and taken 4/57 ! Talk about complete reversal... And they'll have a new ball ten overs into the night session


I am off to the cricket club Xmas break up do after tea so will leave the rest of you to suffer/self-mutilate/enjoy a Stokes & Woakes century stand...cheers all.

[guildfordbat]

Ah now..Malan gives it away.

Short from Starc. Nothing special but too close to cut and another good innings ended far too early after being seemingly right on top.

80 not to be sneezed at. But the last thing England needed was to lose a second wicket so soon. Have to learn to bat and bat and bat - like Smith and Labuschagne.

Fear we are on a fast road to hell from now...bit like Brisbane.

Morning Alfie and all - just catching up now. Excellent updates and summaries through our night yet again.

Thought I would latch on to this post to comment about Starc. I feel he too often gets a lukewarm press including from some posters here . I like the guy as shown by my sticking with him since Joey's very first comp. I accept he can be wayward (Starc, not Joey) but think it was on the last tour of England that Boycott said of Starc, ''He goes for a few but he gets a few.''. As so often with Sir Geoffrey, that's not outstandingly original but it is on the money.

Whilst Starc is more expensive than his usual seam bowling colleagues Cummins and Hazlewood, his express pace accompanies extremely well with their control and threat. In their absence, I'm pleased for him - if not me and England - that in their absence he's leading the way with 3 wickets so far in this innings.

Just to add, I picked up and agreed with Carlos' comments about Green's bowling in the first Test. He largely went under the radar but bowled really well and showed clear signs of being a more than useful fourth seamer. I haven't seen it yet but note he's already got another under his belt today.

[Soul Requiem]

This is pathetic.

[guildfordbat]

Let's not pick the next team until at least the second innings here...

I do have some thoughts on what they might do but they can wait. I do , like Olly , fear there is no move they can make which will help much ; but presume changes will be made rather than just accepting disaster is inevitable.

As I say , after this game is finished...

Absolutely. Back in the day - and, Olly, I don't think ''John Benaud'' has been on the bingo card for some time - Australia used to name their side for the next Test whilst the current one was still being played. This approach came to an end when John Benaud (yep, brother of) learned mid Test from an announcement at the ground that he was to be dropped. Much to the embarrassment of the Australian selectors, he went on to score a second innings century!

[guildfordbat]

Root remains the last England bat to come into the side and not significantly regress. Pope was legitimately a better player in 2019 than he is now!

Definitely and in 2018 when Surrey won the County Championship. Whilst Morkel took the wickets, Burns and Pope built the platforms with circa 3,000 runs between them.

[Soul Requiem]

I tended to think we should persist with Pope as he'd eventually come good but it's clear now he's not got the mindset for test cricket. The less said about Buttler the better, that discussion is two or three years overdue.

[Gooseberry]

England just poor, making Australia look better than they are with bat and ball but the gulf is huge playing upside down.
The difference god genuine quicks make on these pitches with the kookaburra is stark. Senior bolwers just lack teeth in these conditions as has been the case for years. Selection wise England are in a rough spot only having Wood as an available premium quick (Mahmoods not even that fast really) and lacking a spinner they seem to have faith in. Left armer wise theres really on Sam Curran whos even more pedestrian than this lot and clearly pigeon holed as a white ball player away from England. I assume Overtons only in the squad because they were worried about Stokes' fitness but seems like a real spare part.

Batting is even worse than the bowling though, Roots carried them for a long time. Malans proved the selectors do have some sense but the rest are just hopeless and again its not like theres players banging the door down. Crawley and Sibley lost their spots fairly, although Hameeds rapid promotion was always a bit of wishful thinking especially in Australia. Stokes is desperately short of cricket so gets a pass, and has delivered more with the ball than the likes of Woakes. Pope is reaching that stage in his career when he cant keep getting a pass for being young/new to tests but not getting to bat in the warm ups and being chucked straight under the bus with line ups collapsing around him hasnt given him the best chance. Buttler looks like hes lost confidence in himself and doesnt want to be here which is really concerning.

Bairstow has done nothing to demand a spot since fairly losing his (again). Lawrence and Crawley havent batted in Australia so would struggle to jump straight in and make a difference.

Bit of fight fromStokes and Woakes as I type nice to see but fairly pointless other than hopefully allowing the bowlers a rest before getting creamed tomorrow morning (oh wait their goes Woakes)

Its really looking grim and needs some of these senior guys like Buttler to get their heads switched back on.

Greens made a huge difference for Australias balance but cant help feeling England have made him look a bit better than he is by playing in a constant state of panic.

[Gooseberry]

Root remains the last England bat to come into the side and not significantly regress. Pope was legitimately a better player in 2019 than he is now!

Definitely and in 2018 when Surrey won the County Championship. Whilst Morkel took the wickets, Burns and Pope built the platforms with circa 3,000 runs between them.

To be fair on Pope his last innings before the first test was a double hundred. Not getting to bat in the warm ups and coming in under severe pressure is less than ideal. First innings of the tour he nearly managed to steady the ship and made as many runs as the 5 batsmen who'd come in ahead of him.

[guildfordbat]

As in the first Test, dreadful footwork from Robinson. Green very unlucky not to get him in the last over.

[eirebilly]

Morning all, been a bit busy so have missed pretty much all of the Ashes so far, not a bad thing I guess.

This is an excellent showing from the Aussies, really dominating England in every aspect.

Cannot see anything other than an innings defeat from here.

[GSC]

Australia now into the tail of Broad, Anderson and Burns this evening

[eirebilly]

I guess Stokes is clear that he does not want a follow on. Big 6 but still a poop ton of work to do to avoid the follow on.

[Mind the windows Tino.]

We may as well send the ODI team out for T3. They would score as many runs, just at a quicker rate. They'd still lose but at least we'd have some semblance of fun not have to watch this painful nonsense for longer than necessary.

I grew up watching England through the 90's. This is like the worst kind of regression therapy.

[Mind the windows Tino.]

Australia now into the tail of Broad, Anderson and Burns this evening

Genius post. Absolute genius.

[king_carlos]

Root remains the last England bat to come into the side and not significantly regress. Pope was legitimately a better player in 2019 than he is now!

Definitely and in 2018 when Surrey won the County Championship. Whilst Morkel took the wickets, Burns and Pope built the platforms with circa 3,000 runs between them.

Pope has still been scoring runs when returning to Surrey to be fair. I'm not sure he's regressed. More stayed still. At his age, with that talent and so many opportunities stagnating is very poor in and of its self though.

He really has no game against spin and the step-up in quality of spinners from the CC to Test cricket is gigantic.

[guildfordbat]

Root remains the last England bat to come into the side and not significantly regress. Pope was legitimately a better player in 2019 than he is now!

Definitely and in 2018 when Surrey won the County Championship. Whilst Morkel took the wickets, Burns and Pope built the platforms with circa 3,000 runs between them.

To be fair on Pope his last innings before the first test was a double hundred. Not getting to bat in the warm ups and coming in under severe pressure is less than ideal. First innings of the tour he nearly managed to steady the ship and made as many runs as the 5 batsmen who'd come in ahead of him.

Fair play to Pope for taking full advantage but that was on a disgrace of an Oval motorway track in which almost 1,400 runs were scored for the loss of 10 wickets.

Agree with you about the inadequacy of warm ups as well rehearsed here. Less sympathetic about ''coming in under severe pressure''. If he's being selected as a number 6, that goes with the territory. He can't expect to be walking to the crease at 350/4 - and certainly not in this England side.

[eirebilly]

Stokes gone now.

Big question is whether or not the Aussies will enforce the follow on...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I’m usually a proponent of not enforcing the follow on but the Aussies would be mental to not send England back in here

[GSC]

Get it over and done with and get yourself a day off on Monday surely

[king_carlos]

I’m usually a proponent of not enforcing the follow on but the Aussies would be mental to not send England back in here

Yep, bowling under lights to start the second innings.

With it being a 5 Test series grinding England's bowlers into the dirt with more overs has merit but given the timing I'd enforce the follow on and keep attacking.

Lyon bowling so well means that they can just plug him in from one end as well.

[guildfordbat]

I usually favour enforcing and am no different here. I don't see that Australia can lose much from doing it. At worst for them, England will lose no wickets. Burns and Hameed are not going to motor at a run a ball and put many on the board before stumps. Take one or two England wickets and Australia are flying even higher.

If Australia decided not to enforce and lost a couple of early wickets, we wouldn't be back in the match (don't be ridiculous!) but would be feeling a lot better about ourselves. Australia don't need to give us that opportunity.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Looks like the Aussies are going to bat again - probably won’t make much difference to the end result, but surprised by that.

Can’t imagine Harris will be a huge fan of the decision either!

[VTR]

Aussies clearly fear what Burns might do to them second time out. Moral victory and might be the turning point!

[alfie]

Australia were never going to enforce the follow on. They haven't done so for years - since a certain game in India

Why would you though ? Ain't going to rain out a day: why not torment your opponents , grind their poor bowlers down further , and let your own bats fatten their averages before going for the kill ? Ruthless. Not at all exciting : but it works.

[alfie]

What ?! Warner run out ? Not watching right now but seeing on cricinfo... Did England get a bit of fielding right at last ?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sending in a nightwatchman is ludicrous at the best of times, sending one in when you have a lead of 300 runs should result in an automatic defeat

[Soul Requiem]

Batting again is the percentage play and ensures you won't lose the game. Scoring 400 batting third whilst a long shot is a possibility and then leaves a potentially tricky 170 to chase on a fifth day pitch.

[alfie]

So there we are at the end of another dispiriting day for England fans : all the hope of that excellent early session wiped out in what seemed like a flash...and then the late session just adding to the misery as Australia set themselves up for the usual ... bat half a day , lead by 450 , destroy their hapless opponents. But seriously , a night watchman ?!

Would be kind of funny if rain were to wipe out a day . But the forecast says just "morning showers " for tomorrow...

Going to be 2-0 ; just a question of when.

[VTR]

Woeful performance. This has got to be the worst England Test team I can remember, and I cut my teeth watching the 1993 Ashes. At least in those days it felt like we were getting trounced by a great side

[Pal Joey]

So there we are at the end of another dispiriting day for England fans : all the hope of that excellent early session wiped out in what seemed like a flash...and then the late session just adding to the misery as Australia set themselves up for the usual ... bat half a day , lead by 450 , destroy their hapless opponents. But seriously , a night watchman ?!

Would be kind of funny if rain were to wipe out a day . But the forecast says just "morning showers " for tomorrow...

Going to be 2-0 ; just a question of when.

That wouldn't be funny at all!

Have a feeling Neser likes batting under lights so they sent him in. No problem with keeping the powder dry (Labuschagne and Smith) and letting them rest up a little more. Something about doing them slowly and keeping them guessing does have a certain appeal from this side of the fence.

They can afford it surely!

[alfie]

So there we are at the end of another dispiriting day for England fans : all the hope of that excellent early session wiped out in what seemed like a flash...and then the late session just adding to the misery as Australia set themselves up for the usual ... bat half a day , lead by 450 , destroy their hapless opponents. But seriously , a night watchman ?!

Would be kind of funny if rain were to wipe out a day . But the forecast says just "morning showers " for tomorrow...

Going to be 2-0 ; just a question of when.

That wouldn't be funny at all!

Have a feeling Neser likes batting under lights so they sent him in. No problem with keeping the powder dry (Labuschagne and Smith) and letting them rest up a little more. Something about doing them slowly and keeping them guessing does have a certain appeal from this side of the fence.

They can afford it surely!

From the Paul Keating handbook

[Duty281]

Another dismal day. Root still can't convert in Australia and has been found out by Cameron Green, of all bowlers. Pope's confidence looks completely shot, like Crawley before he was dropped, and he is truly hopeless against spin. Buttler not remotely a test-standard player, we all know that, but he's been given so many chances it beggars belief. Stokes still hasn't got it with the bat, since his lay-off. He can defend alright, but scoring lots of runs is presently beyond him.

The collapse wasn't unexpected and Australia didn't have to work too hard for their wickets. According to Zaltzman, this is the fifth time in the last six Ashes tests in Australia that Australia have taken a 200+ run lead after the first innings. Not a contest. Oh yeah, and Australia were missing Cummins and Hazlewood.

Agree entirely with Australia not enforcing the follow-on and not surprised by it. The follow-on should only be enforced with rain on the horizon, or when the opposition have been dismissed for something around 50. Australia's bowlers have been in the field for most of the day, give them a short rest, and bat England out of the game. However unlikely it may seem you don't want to give England a chance of defending 150 under lights with the ball doing a bit.

Tomorrow will be a dull day as Australia will rack up the runs and declare with the lead around 480-530, giving them four sessions and two new balls (if needed) to take a 2-0 lead.

It's a very remote possibility, because of money mainly, but there needs to be a serious discussion about reducing the next series in Australia between these two teams to a three-test series. The gulf is so huge that there's no point or purpose to such a drawn out series. This is the one place where England struggle more than in the sub-continent and, indeed, anywhere else in the world - since the start of this century England have played 21 tests in India, winning 4 and losing 11; in the same time frame England have played 26 tests (not including this one) in Australia, winning 4 and losing 20.

[alfie]

It's the Ashes. It is worth millions. No way are they going to reduce it to three games.

Embarrassing , yes. But it is up to England to get their act together. Partly the players ; but also the board : no way should they consent to taking on a series in Australia without an adequate warm up. Three proper games , minimum.

And I know this (extra time away) might upset players/franchises/wives and girlfriends but tough. They are paid enough. And they don't have to wear a boat trip and six months away.

If you cheapen the oldest rivalry for lack of a contest , you really are on the way to killing five day cricket.

[kingraf]

We once had 10 Ashes in a 6 month period. They aren't cutting them down. Too much money to be made etc. I suggested this back in 2015, probably, but I think England would be well served sending players out to Australia to play some first class cricket there. Part of the reason they keep getting there playing like mugging victims on a street they've never been to... is because they literally are mugging victims on a street they've never been to. I know financially a winter in Australia might not seem worth it, but there's worse places to spend your winter. From the outside looking in, it seems England have tried nothing to stem the Ashes tide, and then folded their hands and said, we've done everything there is to do.

On a side note, I see Starc took 4/37. He really is a strange bowler to watch sometimes. Outside of his first wicket, it felt, like it often feels with him, all of his wickets were nothing deliveries. I wonder if his propensity to bowl garbage boundary balls is actually a strength of his, because batsmen seem like they're always looking for the boundary ball, and the difference between four runs and a nick to first slip is literally half a foot either way, as Malan found out. Especially when you have to make these decisions at 90mph

[KP_fan]

Lyon was turning it a mile when Smith strangely took the new ball...and took Lyon off
& Then very strangely...Smith did not enforce follow-on

However those oddities with his decision making ain't gonna change the outcome of game.
Eng must bowl tight, delay the Aussie declaration, and show fight with the bat in 2nd innings & hope weather intervenes and gives them a life-line

If they crumble again...THEN....5-0 in the offing

[GSC]

I'd settle for a lineup that doesn't crumble in at least one condition. We can set performing in Australia as a stretch target

[guildfordbat]

Another dismal day. Root still can't convert in Australia and has been found out by Cameron Green, of all bowlers. Pope's confidence looks completely shot, like Crawley before he was dropped, and he is truly hopeless against spin. Buttler not remotely a test-standard player, we all know that, but he's been given so many chances it beggars belief. Stokes still hasn't got it with the bat, since his lay-off. He can defend alright, but scoring lots of runs is presently beyond him.

The collapse wasn't unexpected and Australia didn't have to work too hard for their wickets. According to Zaltzman, this is the fifth time in the last six Ashes tests in Australia that Australia have taken a 200+ run lead after the first innings. Not a contest. Oh yeah, and Australia were missing Cummins and Hazlewood.

Agree entirely with Australia not enforcing the follow-on and not surprised by it. The follow-on should only be enforced with rain on the horizon, or when the opposition have been dismissed for something around 50. Australia's bowlers have been in the field for most of the day, give them a short rest, and bat England out of the game. However unlikely it may seem you don't want to give England a chance of defending 150 under lights with the ball doing a bit.

Tomorrow will be a dull day as Australia will rack up the runs and declare with the lead around 480-530, giving them four sessions and two new balls (if needed) to take a 2-0 lead.

It's a very remote possibility, because of money mainly, but there needs to be a serious discussion about reducing the next series in Australia between these two teams to a three-test series. The gulf is so huge that there's no point or purpose to such a drawn out series. This is the one place where England struggle more than in the sub-continent and, indeed, anywhere else in the world - since the start of this century England have played 21 tests in India, winning 4 and losing 11; in the same time frame England have played 26 tests (not including this one) in Australia, winning 4 and losing 20.

Although it wouldn't have been my decision as posted earlier, I also wasn't that surprised by Australia not enforcing the follow on. Giving their bowlers a breather is understandable; Richardson, in particular, looked a bit out of steam and was less troubling towards the end of our dig.

I do ask though - what would England have least liked to do? Pretty sure the answer would have been to bat again tonight and run the risk of losing a couple of wickets. You might quite reasonably say that the suffering has only been delayed and in fact prolonged. However, once our first innings was over, I felt the best we could possibly hope to get from this game was a draw. Even though still a remote possibility, our chances of achieving that are improved if we have to bat no more than four and a bit sessions.

Anyway, despite my chatter, it will most likely make not a jot of difference.

Btw, perhaps just due to me being a sad old git, but unlike Olly and others, I haven't found this Test boring or dull. I continue to admire the professionalism and ruthlessness of Australia as they go about their work.

[Duty281]

Another dismal day. Root still can't convert in Australia and has been found out by Cameron Green, of all bowlers. Pope's confidence looks completely shot, like Crawley before he was dropped, and he is truly hopeless against spin. Buttler not remotely a test-standard player, we all know that, but he's been given so many chances it beggars belief. Stokes still hasn't got it with the bat, since his lay-off. He can defend alright, but scoring lots of runs is presently beyond him.

The collapse wasn't unexpected and Australia didn't have to work too hard for their wickets. According to Zaltzman, this is the fifth time in the last six Ashes tests in Australia that Australia have taken a 200+ run lead after the first innings. Not a contest. Oh yeah, and Australia were missing Cummins and Hazlewood.

Agree entirely with Australia not enforcing the follow-on and not surprised by it. The follow-on should only be enforced with rain on the horizon, or when the opposition have been dismissed for something around 50. Australia's bowlers have been in the field for most of the day, give them a short rest, and bat England out of the game. However unlikely it may seem you don't want to give England a chance of defending 150 under lights with the ball doing a bit.

Tomorrow will be a dull day as Australia will rack up the runs and declare with the lead around 480-530, giving them four sessions and two new balls (if needed) to take a 2-0 lead.

It's a very remote possibility, because of money mainly, but there needs to be a serious discussion about reducing the next series in Australia between these two teams to a three-test series. The gulf is so huge that there's no point or purpose to such a drawn out series. This is the one place where England struggle more than in the sub-continent and, indeed, anywhere else in the world - since the start of this century England have played 21 tests in India, winning 4 and losing 11; in the same time frame England have played 26 tests (not including this one) in Australia, winning 4 and losing 20.

Although it wouldn't have been my decision as posted earlier, I also wasn't that surprised by Australia not enforcing the follow on. Giving their bowlers a breather is understandable; Richardson, in particular, looked a bit out of steam and was less troubling towards the end of our dig.

I do ask though - what would England have least liked to do? Pretty sure the answer would have been to bat again tonight and run the risk of losing a couple of wickets. You might quite reasonably say that the suffering has only been delayed and in fact prolonged. However, once our first innings was over, I felt the best we could possibly hope to get from this game was a draw. Even though still a remote possibility, our chances of achieving that are improved if we have to bat no more than four and a bit sessions.

Anyway, despite my chatter, it will most likely make not a jot of difference.

Btw, perhaps just due to me being a sad old git, but unlike Olly and others, I haven't found this Test boring or dull. I continue to admire the professionalism and ruthlessness of Australia as they go about their work.

I remember when England nearly lost the 2005 Ashes due to enforcing the follow-on at Trent Bridge. Another 50 or so runs and it may have been an Australian win.

If Australia had enforced the follow-on they would have opened the door to a possible, but very unlikely, England win. Batting on ensures it remains shut and a draw is the best scenario England can hope for.

I've also liked the professionalism and ruthlessness of Australia, but I'm finding the series a bit dull as there's an enormous gap between these two sides. Maybe if Australia 'A' were playing England it would be a tighter contest.

[Gooseberry]

The reason why 2005-7 was such a big deal is how hard the Ashes are for England to win, especially down under. That period arguably saved cricket as a front page sport in England. cant see anyone ditching it as the premier series for tests any time soon. Its not that long ago the same noises were being made about home ashes series being pointless because england always won ....didnt last long.

Its still more interesting for fans and players than yet another tour to Sri Lanka

[alfie]

Despite the one sided scoreline , this Test hasn't been boring - so far. Slow scoring but tightly contested on day one ; bit up and then sharply (!) down day two ; and then moving day when it turned over the lunch break from a strong England fightback to Aussie dominance...all good Test Cricket.
I do fear much of today will be a bit of a bore though : Australia relentlessly advancing their lead and a fair part of the afternoon highlighted by the comms arguing over the declaration timing.
Evening might be a different matter once England are again thrown to the wolves...

[Pal Joey]

It just gets worse.

Joe Root has suffered an abdomen injury during the warm up. Not sure if he will take the field or even bat later on.

[alfie]

It just gets worse.

Joe Root has suffered an abdomen injury during the warm up. Not sure if he will take the field or even bat later on.

One has to have a bit of a laugh ... whatever can go wrong , etc. Reckon if England were , by some miracle , ever to get on top in a game you could guarantee two days rain or a meteor strike or something ...

Really do admire the take no prisoners approach of Australia in this game. Got their foot on the English neck and are not disposed to ease off.

But I would love to see something unpredictable happen otherwise three more Tests are going to seem a bit less than compulsory viewing. And given the continued half life afforded by the virus watching Test Cricket is one of the few pleasures we can usually rely on...

On we go.

[alfie]

Bright start to the day with some excellent fielding from Hameed...direct hit from side on : but of course the batsman's dive had just got him to safety.

Another "nearly" moment.

But at least the night watchman is gone as Anderson cleans up his stumps...

[Pal Joey]

Neser gets cleaned up from Anderson. He didn't last long after batting under lights last night.

Still a long day ahead but agree, alfie. It would be nice to see something less predictable happen.

Like that... Harris well caught by Buttler from a classic Broad delivery. Here we go...

[alfie]

Blimey ! Harris gone too .

Broad finds the edge and Buttler actually held a good catch

48/3. But of course this means the Smith/Labuschagne show is on now...

[Pal Joey]

Not necessarily.

Smith dropped behind the stumps by Buttler. Should be 4 down.
Now another scare next ball but Smith barely survives the review.

Might go and have a lie down... there's too much happening.

[alfie]

Swings and roundabouts: Smith edges his first ball !!!

But Buttler drops it Not an absolute sitter ; but he didn't even get his gloves to it...hits his arm.

All happening. Now a review for lbw...Smith survives (barely) on umpire's call.

Really Smith could - probably should - have been out to his first two balls. Don't say that too often !

Great over from Broad

[alfie]

Extraordinary stuff , eh , PJ ?

Probably too late to change the outcome of this game anyway but the sort of thing we need to keep it worth watching.

Wonder how Australia would play if Smith were to get out immediately? But I reckon after surviving that over he's nailed on for a hundred now

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