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

[Mind the windows Tino.]

First topic message reminder :

James Bracey? Admittedly looked painfully bad vs NZ in the summer, but if we are wanting to give guys a chance then he shouldn’t be forgotten about so quickly. Especially as he was batting out of position. Better FC record than Hameed and made a half century for the Lions in Aus in 2020 and a ton this time. But he was flown home because English scoring runs just isn’t on!

Fair. Had forgotten about him actually and he was thrown a suicide pass in the summer against the best test team in the world. He probably does deserve another shot in the near future.

[Duty281]

Or if they really really think Pope is going to be the next after Root, then they should pick him as the keeper, and for the medium run, keep picking Bairstow as a batter. He has his technical issues, but while getting bowled day in and out, he'll give you 32- 35 on an average, which is 10 more than what Pope and co can do. If they think Pope is the best of that lot, the only way his selection can really be viable for a top test side is if he adds value in some other way with the ball or gloves. As a keeper, actually, he seemed pretty good.

Bairstow won't give England that - in his last 20 tests he averages 24, and that of course includes his unusual recent century. In Pope's first 22 tests, he's averaging 30 (well 29.79!), which is also more than Lawrence.

Pope has had a disappointing start to his test career, underlined by his chronic issues v spin, but he still has greater potential than Bairstow or Lawrence.

[VTR]

I think Pope will take the Ian Bell route to success, which is apt as they are similar in so many ways. Let's not forget Pope has already had what looked like a breakthrough series, where he was one of the main contributors to a very good series result for England. So it's not like he has been rubbish all the time and is still only 24 I think. Comparing to Ramprkash is going back to pre central contracts era and ridiculous messing around of players

[Gooseberry]

CBA to fact check but I think it was mentioned Pope has 6 first class starts as a keeper? He hasnt been playing the position regularly in any format, and until he is its hard to make a case for him to be the future there off the back of a good cameo. Sure it proved handy to have a third keeper in the squad (not for the first time!) Burns already covers that. If hes going to use keeping as a way to justify a spot in the side he needs to be getting regular starts their for his non international teams, and that isnt likely to be the case unless theres a certain other far better qualified keeper busy with England.

Both he and Bairstow need to score runs more consistently at test level, its pretty simple really. It would help if Crawley can keep up his act of staying in more than 10 balls too so they arent coming in against the new ball with England 4 down for peanuts.

Other point with Bairstow is he wont be available for every test series due to being a mainstay of the white ball formats and a big earner in IPL, and probable 100 player. His schedules chockablock, so even if hes put himself ahead of Pope its not like opportunities wont come for his holiness or another young mid order bat.

That 30ish average isn't glorious but in context of players England have produced post Root. It wont take much to get him up to the rarefied company of Hick who was a mainstay players the last time England where this bad.

Pity "Kevin" Keegan Petersen doesnt have an English parent.

[alfie]

Selection for Hobart is mostly down to who is fit enough to take the field so hardly means anything for the future. With Buttler gone home and Hameed surely unselectable two have to come in at least - presumably Burns and Billings , neither of whom would be considered otherwise. Then they have to see if Stokes and Bairstow are sufficiently healthy to play : and if only one needs to be replaced it is a simple choice between Pope and Lawrence. Normally I would say Lawrence at least deserves a chance (and if it were my choice I'd play him) - but he hasn't played at all for the last six weeks so I imagine it will be Pope despite his ropey form. Not a good idea I fear as after seeing him in Adelaide I doubt another pink ball ordeal will be doing him any favours ; but there just isn't anyone else.
It looks a pretty sick batting list (with Malan's early tour form apparently heading fast downhill and even Root looking tired) : just their luck that the couple of bats in any sort of shape get injured !

It is what it is. No "good" solution.

As for the bowling it will probably be Woakes Overton Broad and Robinson as it seems Jimmy and Wood are both done for the time being.

Don't think this XI bears any resemblance to what will line up in the Caribbean in March so not that bothered. Going to be plenty of time to discuss options twixt now and then so all I will say for now is that fussing over the middle order is actually not all that helpful : until England can produce a serviceable top three they are always going to struggle against the best teams.

[Gooseberry]

West Indies games are really odd with the T20s following straight on after this test then a long gap to the tests, although thats going to be a very second string squad. Id expect the likes of Stokes and Buttler to be in line for a rest for that too, and quite possible Bairstow as well regardless of how well they have recovered from injuries. Its an ideal opportunity for the fringe players like Lawrence to get a go, and the likes of Pope to play their way back to form/confidence. And yeah maybe try out a keeper if both Buttler and Bairstow are rested and give the opportunity to actually drop Buttler who's never quite cut it consistently with bat or gloves if that comes off. Cant hurt England to be forced into some squad rotation this time around.


Andersons comments that they might've done better with 3 proper warm up games have some merit but given most of them cant actually play 3 games in a row without needing a rest and many are complaining about the pressures of long tours and constant bubbles isnt something easily solved. The wider issue of scheduling and player management needs to be addressed to enable that, easier for the test specialists like Anderson but Stokes is just as key a part of Englands first team. Crawleys comments that the pitches in county cricket don't cut I'd argue is something more easily addressed, county cricket simply isnt the same game most of the rest of the world plays which is why their aren't Darren Stevens clones playing tests. Playing first class cricket abroad got mentioned by someone in an earlier post, but thats not easily arranged due to the scheduling demands/covid restrictions and money on offer ..... but it does feel a missed opportunity that no players got a spot in the shield this autumn, although I suspect the covid situation and demands on families put paid to that this year.


As for this game in some respect the pressure is off England. They've already avoided a whitewash and it is a piecemeal side now with low expectations. We did seem to see a bit of that in the last game with Aus taking their foot off the throttle a touch and some England players finding some confidence. Im assuming its going to be a bit of a hodge podge Aus too, Harris apparently dropped, Starc due to be rested and Boland facing a fitness test.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I haven't read that Wood will be out Alfie, have you seen this somewhere I might've missed? Dobell seemed to indicate he pulled up ok and would be fit to play a few days ago.

Hameed is probably a case in point for Silverwood's muddled thinking/prep for this tour over the last year...brought back in, in the summer (rightly or wrongly in the summer is pretty 50/50 I think), but pretty much all pundits/fans were aware he'd struggle here due to his low hands and the bouncy nature of the Aussie wickets, whereas despite their form a Sibley/Crawley would likely do better. But, Hameed has played and now we may have broken him again just as he was on the rise back up...playing him in unsuitable conditions with little to no actual preparation time on this tour, or any previous tours to similar conditions under his belt (Sibley/Crawley have done England Lions tours here, and played in SA/NZ etc).

On a separate note...I can't believe they're going to risk Stokes in this game. He is injured, he has a side strain! It isn't easy to just "bat and field" with such an injury. I appreciate he will want to play himself, but it seems mental to me to risk it in a dead rubber, with a test series in WI on the horizon soon.

[Duty281]

Yes, I think Wood is starting as well. Cricinfo have the possible team down as:

1 Rory Burns, 2 Zak Crawley, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Ollie Pope/Jonny Bairstow, 7 Sam Billings (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Ollie Robinson, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Stuart Broad.

Bit of guesswork involved, and I agree it's madness to play Stokes when he's injured and not in the best form. He's only just come back and has been played into the ground in a losing effort! Player management? What's that. This is likely to be Billings' only test and the opener situation is the usual confused mess.

Australia have got ten confirmed starters:

1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Jhye Richardson/Scott Boland, 11 Nathan Lyon.

The last spot depends on whether Boland is fit to play, otherwise Richardson comes in. Khawaja opening, Harris finally axed after a tough series (though he has averaged 30, which is better than any English player bar Bairstow and Root, the latter of which is only averaging 34 this series). Still no Hazlewood, amusing to think England have been absolutely smashed and Hazlewood only played one test!

Some showers around, but a positive result doesn't look in doubt. Will be nice to see cricket played at a less heralded ground. Australia big favourites, of course, but can England make 300 for the first time?

[Gooseberry]

I haven't read that Wood will be out Alfie, have you seen this somewhere I might've missed? Dobell seemed to indicate he pulled up ok and would be fit to play a few days ago.

Hameed is probably a case in point for Silverwood's muddled thinking/prep for this tour over the last year...brought back in, in the summer (rightly or wrongly in the summer is pretty 50/50 I think), but pretty much all pundits/fans were aware he'd struggle here due to his low hands and the bouncy nature of the Aussie wickets, whereas despite their form a Sibley/Crawley would likely do better. But, Hameed has played and now we may have broken him again just as he was on the rise back up...playing him in unsuitable conditions with little to no actual preparation time on this tour, or any previous tours to similar conditions under his belt (Sibley/Crawley have done England Lions tours here, and played in SA/NZ etc).

On a separate note...I can't believe they're going to risk Stokes in this game. He is injured, he has a side strain! It isn't easy to just "bat and field" with such an injury. I appreciate he will want to play himself, but it seems mental to me to risk it in a dead rubber, with a test series in WI on the horizon soon.

You can put Bess into that mix too. Dropped for the summer because he'd struggled with tour bubbles then sent on a long tour where off spinners were practically assured to be next to useless. Meanwhile Parkinsons been left carrying drinks around hotels as a reserve squad member for a couple of years.

Hameed was a real desperation punt though, but I guess that was also true of Crawleys debut in SA and he exceeded expectations. Does smack of a mixture of desperation and wanting to appear to be making an impact. This did come after Silverwood had sacked off Smith (who shouldered some of the blame for the handling of Broad /Anderson last summer, only for them both to be left but of the first test of this series....) so its hard to pass the buck even if similar things went on under Bayliss; the Roy fiasco mentioned above being his coup de grace.

Selections are much easier when you're winning of course, and to be in Australias position of deciding which player who deserves a spot (yes Harris deserves a spot in an actual test side!) gets left out. As it is at least Silverwood can declare himself a genius for recalling Crawley who stood up last test even if its slightly embarrassing to go back to Burns a test after dropping him to retain a player noone else really expected to thrive here.

Hard to know how much input Roots had on some of this too of course, and he has come out backing Silverwood. which suggests at least that he isnt over distraught with the decisions made.

Stokes decision you'd hope is his, and something he wants to do to for his own mental health. But yeah does seem a needless risk. Id rather see him rested for the west indies too, although theres a fair argument hes hardly played any cricket in the past year. The odd scheduling means he'll miss the T20s whatever, and then there is a break after the tests before the summer season starts so I guess its not a great bruden but just seems an ideal time to be giving these key three format players extended breaks ...especially given how frequently Stokes isnt getting injured. Theres not much to gain from maing short term decisions for the west indies tour, aside from Silverwood saving his job, its surely the time to be giving young hungry fringe players a low pressure run.

[alfie]

Hi Olly

Melbourne newspaper reported that Wood - like Anderson - didn't bowl at training and suggested he was under an injury cloud. That may be supposition on the reporter's part , I guess : they may have just wanted to rest him another day. But he has bowled a lot of overs lately and we know how easily he breaks so I don't think we can assume he is a definite starter ... may be a last minute decision.

Stokes is going to play I think ; whether this is wise or not I am less sure. I certainly don't want him rested for West Indies though ! He's only just come back to cricket after all. As long as he's not injury impaired he's on the plane I reckon : I don't hold with treating a series against a "lesser" team as just a training exercise. And England are in no position to mess around sending "not full strength" teams anywhere at the moment. But that question can wait...

Australia still have to decide on the exact make up of their pace attack. Think it will probably be the same ; but Boland still has to pass fit ,and Richardson is reported to be not totally certain either so it could even be another chance for Neser. Think they have rather less problems than England

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hi Olly

Melbourne newspaper reported that Wood - like Anderson - didn't bowl at training and suggested he was under an injury cloud. That may be supposition on the reporter's part , I guess : they may have just wanted to rest him another day. But he has bowled a lot of overs lately and we know how easily he breaks so I don't think we can assume he is a definite starter ... may be a last minute decision.

Stokes is going to play I think ; whether this is wise or not I am less sure. I certainly don't want him rested for West Indies though ! He's only just come back to cricket after all. As long as he's not injury impaired he's on the plane I reckon : I don't hold with treating a series against a "lesser" team as just a training exercise. And England are in no position to mess around sending "not full strength" teams anywhere at the moment. But that question can wait...

Australia still have to decide on the exact make up of their pace attack. Think it will probably be the same ; but Boland still has to pass fit ,and Richardson is reported to be not totally certain either so it could even be another chance for Neser. Think they have rather less problems than England

Thanks Alfie - would be a shame to have no Wood, while I am hardly his biggest fan, he has bowled well this series overall.

I definitely wasn't suggesting to rest Stokes for the WI series! Meant rest him in this game, so he can be fit for that series. Last thing we want is for him to aggravate any side strain to something more serious and be out until the English summer.

[alfie]

No - it was Goose suggesting Stokes miss the West Indies trip , not you , Olly. I was sort of replying to both comments

Like you , I'd like Wood to play if he is OK - he just might get the haul of wickets he has sometimes looked likely to collect in this series. We will see.

Have to trust the medical chaps I suppose : all these players want to play - and credit to them for that. But you don't want to cause more damage by playing 3/4 fit. Goes for Stokes and Bairstow tomorrow : they will obviously both want to follow up their good form from Sydney but won't help anyone if they can't perform at or near their best. If it were 2-2 rather than 0-3 judgement might be a little different...

[Gooseberry]

Hi Olly

Melbourne newspaper reported that Wood - like Anderson - didn't bowl at training and suggested he was under an injury cloud. That may be supposition on the reporter's part , I guess : they may have just wanted to rest him another day. But he has bowled a lot of overs lately and we know how easily he breaks so I don't think we can assume he is a definite starter ... may be a last minute decision.

Stokes is going to play I think ; whether this is wise or not I am less sure. I certainly don't want him rested for West Indies though ! He's only just come back to cricket after all. As long as he's not injury impaired he's on the plane I reckon : I don't hold with treating a series against a "lesser" team as just a training exercise. And England are in no position to mess around sending "not full strength" teams anywhere at the moment. But that question can wait...

Australia still have to decide on the exact make up of their pace attack. Think it will probably be the same ; but Boland still has to pass fit ,and Richardson is reported to be not totally certain either so it could even be another chance for Neser. Think they have rather less problems than England

Thanks Alfie - would be a shame to have no Wood, while I am hardly his biggest fan, he has bowled well this series overall.

I definitely wasn't suggesting to rest Stokes for the WI series! Meant rest him in this game, so he can be fit for that series. Last thing we want is for him to aggravate any side strain to something more serious and be out until the English summer.

it was me suggesting it would be as good a time as any. Hes going to have a very heavy workload starting next summer, unless they leave him out for one of those series which seems unlikely. IPL starts straight after West Indies and overlaps with the start of the domestic tests. Theres only one break in the summer international series longer than a week. He could sit out one of the white balls, but he's already missing this winters entire schedule this summer is a year out from the next world cup. Hes only played 6 ODIs since 2019, so arguably needs the practise there more even if hes less vital to getting a competitive England side on the field.

Do take the point about not needlessly fielding weakened sides, but they are happy to do that for the T20s with whats really a lions team. England also need to bring up players more than they need to keep desperately making short term choices (as above you could apply that to Stokes playing through injury here too). Its not something Id die on my sword for but Stokes is a player whos struggled with recurrent overwork injuries and mental heath issues from being on tour and under pressure constantly. He has to get breaks somewhere, and giving him time out the line now means he's fresher for the summer when England have tough opponents in all formats.

[Afro]

Some showers around, but a positive result doesn't look in doubt. Will be nice to see cricket played at a less heralded ground. Australia big favourites, of course, but can England make 300 for the first time?

The forecast I saw had thunder storms on Saturday

[Gooseberry]

Yeah forecast seems to suggest there might be some time lost to rain day one and then cloud day 2, getting sunnier after that. Another one of those bad tosses to win?

Im weirdly optimistic for this one, coming from a point of expectations being so low. Partly depends of how much Aus are forced to mess about with their bowlers and how switched on they still are as a squad. The bookie odds massively favour aus, maybe a touch generously which isnt to say I expect England to win, just give them a bigger shot than at any point since the first hour of the first test had played out. The reaction after another bad start in the last test is something to build on.

As Duty says it would be fantastic to see them make 300 first innings, and its pretty clear from what broad openly said that England arent blind to their biggest failing amongst the many has been the lack of first innings top order runs, so I'm sure they share that as a minimum target for the game. Pity they could well be batting under cloud and lights.

[king_carlos]

On a separate note...I can't believe they're going to risk Stokes in this game. He is injured, he has a side strain! It isn't easy to just "bat and field" with such an injury. I appreciate he will want to play himself, but it seems mental to me to risk it in a dead rubber, with a test series in WI on the horizon soon.

Stokes has shades of latter years Botham to him at the moment. Everything he does just seems below his best and looks like it hurts either mentally, physically or both.

If Ben Stokes hits a four and doesn't grimace afterwards is it even a boundary...

It's one of the reasons I find suggestions of Stokes getting the captaincy so frustrating. The bloke just needs to get back to his physical and mental best. To do that he really doesn't need the anchor of leading, hence shouldering the blame for failures of, a side with one batter.

[king_carlos]

You can put Bess into that mix too. Dropped for the summer because he'd struggled with tour bubbles then sent on a long tour where off spinners were practically assured to be next to useless. Meanwhile Parkinsons been left carrying drinks around hotels as a reserve squad member for a couple of years.

Hameed was a real desperation punt though, but I guess that was also true of Crawleys debut in SA and he exceeded expectations. Does smack of a mixture of desperation and wanting to appear to be making an impact. This did come after Silverwood had sacked off Smith (who shouldered some of the blame for the handling of Broad /Anderson last summer, only for them both to be left but of the first test of this series....) so its hard to pass the buck even if similar things went on under Bayliss; the Roy fiasco mentioned above being his coup de grace.

I may be alone here but I actually agreed with not playing Broad and Anderson in T1 as it felt like a huge risk after already limited preparations were decimated by the rain. Both have had more frequent injury issues in recent years and now need managing like most tearaway pace bowlers do rather than fast-medium seamers.

I absolutely believe they still have a place in this sides plans if they wish to continue but it is an area where I stick up for the R & R stuff more than others as Jimmy and Broad do now need 'managing' more carefully than any fast-medium England bowler since maybe Angus Fraser? We've had a few faster bowlers that needed similar management since then but I can't remember a seam bowler since Fraser that needed quite the same looking after. Understandable given their age and miles on the clock.

Roy was a disaster waiting to happen and incredibly frustrating to watch in progress. He actually had a decent F-C record pre Test disaster. When I fleetingly saw him for Surrey in red ball cricket I often felt he was a county player who just saw off the opening bowlers then frequently decimated the change bowlers on decent Oval tracks. Those type of F-C players rarely translate to Test cricket where the change bowlers are usually better than CC opening seamers.

I hope Parkinson gets a shot at some point. I share doubts others have due to the pace he bowls to be honest. Slow spinners at international level do tend to get targeted by batters that use their feet better and pick length faster than their domestic counterparts. I think Parkinson has had enough success domestically to get to test his methods at the next level though.

[Jetty]

Hi Olly

Melbourne newspaper reported that Wood - like Anderson - didn't bowl at training and suggested he was under an injury cloud. That may be supposition on the reporter's part , I guess : they may have just wanted to rest him another day. But he has bowled a lot of overs lately and we know how easily he breaks so I don't think we can assume he is a definite starter ... may be a last minute decision.

Wood is fine - Anderson is not injured, as such, but the team management believe he would be unable to perform at his best after playing 3 Tests in succession. He did bowl 4 Test in a row last year against India and was ready for the 5th before it was cancelled.

In 2021 Anderson bowled the most overs by anyone 399.5, Ashwin 387.1. He is used to bowling a lot even at 39. I remember in 2010/11 they had 3 warm up f/c games and then the Ashes, altogether 271.0 overs in two months.

[alfie]

Covers on with 55 minutes to go... Weather doesn't look too awful ; but certainly a bit of rain around. Probably going to be a bit on-off today.

[alfie]

Toss in 15. Might actually start on time !

Wood definitely playing as he's just collected a "milestone" cap for his 25th appearance.

Oh , and Billings is official too - though I think that was already assumed.

[alfie]

But no ... toss now delayed...although covers are coming off so maybe not long. And players busy in warm ups.

Looks as if Bairstow isn't going to be risked as he seems to be kitted out for bench sitting rather than play. A bit of a blow to the batting after the way he took the fight to Australia in Sydney , although hardly unexpected. Hope one or two others can stand up this week. I think Stokes appears to be OK and playing.

[alfie]

Root winning the toss and choosing to field. Cummins also fancied bowling he says.

[alfie]

Aussies just Head back for Harris so Khawaja gets a chance to continue feasting on England's bowlers very soon

England forced into several changes. Burns for Hameed redresses their mistake after Adelaide , I think ; though it might not be a huge gain. Pope gets a lucky break via Bairstow's thumb - but then again batting against the pink ball might not be so lucky : hopefully he can show better form this week as another bad Test might set him back seriously . And Billings as WK : possibly auditioning for West Indies ? Don't want to put too much pressure on him but he must have a decent chance of doing no worse than Buttler with the bat at least...

Bowling as expected with Woakes (who might just be the biggest gain with the bat !) hoping to do something with the ball in Australia for a change ; and Robinson fresh after a rest , in for Jimmy and Jack Leach. Four man pace attack looks OK ; though they will miss Anderson's control factor if they can't get significant early success so need to be on the money from the off.

Hope Stokes doesn't suffer any further damage.

[alfie]

I don't suppose anyone is awake in England yet so will babble on with occasional bulletins for anyone interested to peruse later .

Ready to go now once the anthems are done...

[alfie]

Broad and Robinson bowling nice and full - which ought to keep the armchair experts happy - and a couple have gone past the bat ; Warner a bit fortunate with one that he nearly nudged on to his stumps , just bounced over. Only two runs off the bat in six overs so far. Warner scoreless off 20 balls.

And Gone ! Edged the last ball of Robinson's third over and Crawley made no mistake ...

Duck for Warner and 3/1 ; what England wanted

[alfie]

Wonder how soon Wood will be on with Marnus at the crease ?

Broad has been threatening the stumps , and Robinson getting good movement across the left handers. But I think they might want to present Labuschagne with more pace to start his innings...Robinson is only bowling mid 120s , though he is surely continuing after that wicket. Reckon we will see Wood at the other end shortly.

[alfie]

Nearly !  Labuschagne edges Robinson and what would have been an easy catch for Root at first is dropped by a diving Crawley !  Can't really blame Crawley for going for it ; if he holds on it is all good.

Marnus' lucky charm working again it seems as the next ball beats him again...

7/1 after 8 overs. And Now Khawaja is squared up by Broad and nibbles one , but safely into the ground.

But now he's gone ! Broad draws the edge and Root does the rest... Khawaja a little down on his Sydney exploits , gone for 6.

Nine overs , 7/2... Wonder how significant that drop will be ?

[alfie]

Smith gone for a two ball duck !  Robinson again , bit shorter , Smith back and an awkward attempt to play it results in another catch for Crawley...

12/3.  England-esque

[kingraf]

James Anderson probably feels like he didn't put in his share the week the work group hit the lottery. He'd have cleaned up on this track

[alfie]

James Anderson probably feels like he didn't put in his share the week the work group hit the lottery. He'd have cleaned up on this track

Yes I think he'd have fancied bowling on this ! I understand he was nursing a bit of a niggle though , and after three matches in a row I suppose he was due a rest. Still annoys me , watching this , that Broad didn't play in Brisbane. If he'd been in the XI then , would they have sent Australia in ? Ah well , history now.

Marnus has a great knack of getting dropped early on - and also playing and missing rather a lot. Working for him again this morning...and here's his mate Mark Wood...

[alfie]

A few shots played now either side of drinks...Labuschagne making the most of hie escape picking off a few loose deliveries and Head with a couple of nice strokes .
Wood hasn't really got it right and gone for 16 off two overs. Not what Root would have wanted.

41/3 from 15. Time for Woakes...

[alfie]

If ever Woakes wanted "English " conditions he has them here. But he starts with a loose ball which goes for four...and then nearly has Head with his second ! Total mishit , fell safely wide of mid off...

Lots of action. Going the batsmen's way at the moment as the change bowlers haven't been able to maintain the pressure.

50/3

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Someone tell Mark Wood these aren’t English-esque conditions - he’s rubbish on them!

[alfie]

Fifty partnership off just seven overs ! Terrific response from Head and Labuschagne. Have had some luck with a couple of miscues...but have really turned the momentum around quickly.

Root looks unhappy. Not what he wanted from his change bowlers , who just haven't hit the right spots at all. Perhaps a bit too excited after the early wickets and have tried too hard ; but I suspect Joe is ruing the absence of Anderson.

[alfie]

Someone tell Mark Wood these aren’t English-esque conditions - he’s rubbish on them!

Good morning , Olly : hope you aren't responsible for the bowling going off like this

[alfie]

Marnus hitting it everywhere...41 at run a ball. Crawley might be feeling a bit low about this.

England really need to strike again before the interval or they are going to feel they've wasted a really good start...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Someone tell Mark Wood these aren’t English-esque conditions - he’s rubbish on them!

Good morning , Olly : hope you aren't responsible for the bowling going off like this

I can’t control Mark Wood being unable to move the ball off the straight and narrow I am afraid Alfie!

What a test for Jimmy to not be 100% for

[alfie]

Someone tell Mark Wood these aren’t English-esque conditions - he’s rubbish on them!

Good morning , Olly : hope you aren't responsible for the bowling going off like this

I can’t control Mark Wood being unable to move the ball off the straight and narrow I am afraid Alfie!

What a test for Jimmy to not be 100% for

Well no - but you coach Chris Woakes don't you ?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Someone tell Mark Wood these aren’t English-esque conditions - he’s rubbish on them!

Good morning , Olly : hope you aren't responsible for the bowling going off like this

I can’t control Mark Wood being unable to move the ball off the straight and narrow I am afraid Alfie!

What a test for Jimmy to not be 100% for

Well no - but you coach Chris Woakes don't you ?  

I disown him once he leaves this green and graceful land

[alfie]

Stuart Broad ! Needed that... Marnus trips over as he's bowled for 44 more than he might have got...

That was a wonderful counterattacking stand ; but England get a crack at a new batsman just before the break...83/4

[alfie]

85/4. Was a really good fightback from Head and Labuschagne ; but still England's session , to justify the decision to bowl first. Could have been much better if Marnus hadn't been dropped on 0 !

Will need to follow up after the break though : don't want to let another partnership develop. Hope that promised rain stays away...

[alfie]

Batting looks easier after the break..

Robinson one - under 116k - over and walked off. Not a good sign. Wood perhaps back to his more natural length now which I think is sensible ...he is not a pitch up and swing it man. Shouldn't be getting driven. Not having much luck though with edges that just run away for four.

Green on 17 already. And Head going rapidly still. 111/4 off 29.

[alfie]

Robinson still off the field which looks a bit ominous...

Wood going for seven per over and Woakes at over four : not a maiden between them. The Australian bats have played really positively and well done them... But this is really disappointing from England. All that early effort being wasted. Not good enough.

Head to fifty Top batting. Making Woakes look like a net bowler.

If Jimmy was anywhere near fit they've made another dreadful decision in not including him.

127/4. But at least Robinson is walking back out...

Root to bowl now.

[alfie]

Root and Broad have managed to slow the scoring a bit. But at 145/4 at better than 4 per over I think Australia are taking a real grip on this.
Wood and Woakes were a disaster ; and with Robinson back on the field but moving around like an old man there is nowhere to go... Can see this turning into a seriously over par score - again. Every Test we've seen England simply unable to maintain pressure long enough : always at least two bowlers either crocked or bowling rubbish . Contrast Australia who have had a solid five man attack with very few poor spells. The biggest difference between the two teams ?

[VTR]

The prophecy was written a long time ago that we would award Cam Green a 150+ score to really get him up and running as a Test cricketer. Could well happen on the final chance!

[alfie]

Head and Green now totally on top...scoring at will.  Hasn't been a maiden since that first nine overs - in which there were seven !

I struggle to think of a game in which there has been such a contrast between 12/3 and every ball a hand grenade ... And then this casual slaughter of the bowling.

As the hundred stand comes up from just 117 balls.

Excellent batting

[alfie]

Head has been driving anything even slightly over pitched ...and doing so absolutely beautifully . On to 89 from just 95 balls.

Took it on from the start. Couple of strokes of luck early ; but he basically took the game right away from a bowling team which was massively on top before he came in. Fantastic innings...

[alfie]

Root actually bowling rather economically...even managed a maiden ! But the seamers are getting slathered. And of course no Stokes to provide something different today...

I actually expected Overton to play today - as I thought three in a row might be too much for Wood. Rather wish he had now.

What I didn't count on was Robinson getting crocked !

Head on to 99...but he will have to wait as Root finishes with a dot...

[alfie]

Hundred for Head...

Brilliant innings .

And...out next ball

Pops it straight to mid on . Even the injured Robinson able to hobble in and catch it ...

Well that was all fun ! 204/5

[JDizzle]

If you’d told me Smith and Labu would only get one ton between them, I would have said England had a shot this series. But if you’d told me Travis Head would have two run a ball hundreds I would have said it’s 5-0. What a weird series.

[alfie]

If you’d told me Smith and Labu would only get one ton between them, I would have said England had a shot this series. But if you’d told me Travis Head would have two run a ball hundreds I would have said it’s 5-0. What a weird series.

Not just Head - Khawaja two in one match ! Smith Warner and Labuschagne were the ones I was concerned about : getting ambushed by those two was a bit of a blow.

Not to mention Boland

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