Match report and analysis
STUMPS! And it's Australia's day
25th over: Australia 61-1 (Khawaja 26, Labuschagne 2) The last over, like the first of the innings, is entrusted to Stuart Broad. It’s good, but not good enough. Australia pick up four leg byes and get through to the close unscathed. Khawaja is threatening to finish the series the way he started it, and Labuschagne seems to have booked in for bed and breakfast too by leaving nearly everything and making two off 23 balls. For a team that dropped about five catches, Australia have had a very good day.
For England, Harry Brook was superb with the bat, making 85 in no time, and Chris Woakes carried on his fine form in both departments. The problem was that the force wasn’t with any of the other seamers, least of all poor old Jimmy Anderson. It looks as if Moeen Ali will be unable to bowl, with his groin strain, and he may even not be seen again in Test cricket after making a typically elegant 34.
England are still 222 runs ahead. In the morning, they have to strike early to stop Khawaja, Labuschagne and Steve Smith stamping on their hopes of the draw that this series surely deserves. Brook, popping up on Sky, says, “I think we’ve had a good day in the end,” but that may be the Bazball bravado speaking.
Thanks for your company and correspondence, and we’ll see you in the morning.
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24th over: Australia 57-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 2) A better over from Anderson, who twice raps Khawaja on the pad.
“This ain’t gonna be a draw, is it Tim?” says Simon McMahon. Only if the rain takes charge again. “What are the percentages now, according to TimViz..?” Thank you for being the first person, other than me, to show an interest in that somewhat obscure instrument. TimViz tends to spring into action only when WinViz is taking the piss. Let’s see … WinViz says England 46pc, Australia 50. TimViz reckons that, as so often this summer, that’s a bit too kind to England. In my book it’s England 36, Australia 54, with 10 for the draw. But I don’t know any more than you.
23rd over: Australia 57-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 2) A single to each batter off Broad, who gets some nice lift with the last ball to Labuschagne, left on length. With five minutes to go, the crowd have gone quiet again. Bring Wood on! Or Brook!
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22nd over: Australia 55-1 (Khawaja 26, Labuschagne 1) We have now reached the point, in this series of a thousand surprises, where Australia can’t score off anyone except Anderson. He gets Labuschagne off the mark with a ball on the hip, then floats one up outside off which Khawaja eases away, almost apologetically, for four.
“With Woakes getting that wicket of Warner,” says Dechlan Brennan, “Atherton being dismissed by McGrath will remain the most dismissals for one batsman by one bowler. Broad needed Warner in both innings to equal it with 19.” Are you saying Warner won’t reverse his retirement? If it’s good enough for Moeen …
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21st over: Australia 50-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 0) Woakes, the new Anderson at least when playing in this country, gets a breather now and Broad returns. He produces one jaffa, a yorker-length outswinger that lures Khawaja into a waft at thin air. Off the last five overs, Australia have scored one for one.
20th over: Australia 50-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 0) And here is Jimmy, so it’s swing from both ends, or would be if the ball was swinging. The sun comes creeping out as Anderson bowls to Labuschagne. Leave, block, leave, leave, leave, leave. Only the last ball was a good one, left on length by Labuschagne.
Dear Jimmy, We know you’re having a hard time at the moment, but your mate Stuart says the key to bowling at the Oval is to make the batter play. Would that be too much to ask? Love, Your many fans.
Evening @TimdeLisle, on a slightly becalmed start to Australia's innings after a bewildering England innings. We got dropped off the good balls and out from some very sketchy shots. I'm theoretically going on Days 4&5, but given our fast-forward style I'm not feeling confident.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) July 27, 2023
19th over: Australia 50-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 0) Another maiden from Woakes, who has the sort of figures Jimmy used to get in his sleep: 5-3-8-1. The weather, which was on England’s side for the first half of the series, is now supporting the Aussies. It’s just got brighter, Nasser Hussain reports. England try for the second time to get the ball changed, and again it defies them by slipping through the white handcuffs.
18th over: Australia 50-1 (Khawaja 22, Labuschagne 0) Stokes keeps Wood on for a fifth over, possibly in honour of Labuschagne. He returned to form at Old Trafford – you could argue that he saved the match singlehandedly, given that the weather doesn’t have hands – and England need to nab him early. Knowing Wood won’t be on for much longer, he plays out four dot balls.
“Bazball has made a mockery of the usual order of things,” says Peter Gibbs, “and it occurs to me: why not throw some, if not all the bowlers into bat first? We’re flashing away anyway and the likes of Woakes etc might take enough of a shine off the ball that the ‘batsmen’ would have a better time of it a few overs in. As it stands, some of our bowlers are in for as long a period and then have to get straight into the attack at the changeover. Woakes opening with Crawley? Then send in another of whoever gets out.”
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17th over: Australia 49-1 (Khawaja 21, Labuschagne 0) Woakes got his length just right there, and Warner went back when he might have come forward. That’s Crawley’s sixth catch of the series, and Woakes’s 13th wicket. Together they have given England hope after a wobbly hour.
WICKET! Warner c Crawley b Woakes 24 (Australia 49-1)
Got him! The only surprise is that it’s not Broad. Woakes lures Warner into a nick and Crawley takes a smart catch, diving to his right at second slip.
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16th over: Australia 49-0 (Khawaja 21, Warner 24) The crowd, who may have had a pint or two, start roaring Wood to the crease. He still hasn’t quite found his rhythm – this over is all 88-89mph after the first ball, up at 92 – but Warner looks relieved to nudge the ball past that leg slip and get up the other end.
Here’s Colum Fordham with a mournful summary. “The England attack is looking sadly toothless,” he reckons, “the lack of pace becoming a telling factor., compared to the venomous pace and bounce of their adversaries. Anderson looks completely out of sorts and should have been replaced by the livelier, younger Josh Tongue. The conditions are eminently suited to our seamers but none of them appear to pose a threeat to the watchful Aussie openers. Add Moeen’s groin injury and Stokes’ knee issues and the risk of a big total looms large.”
15th over: Australia 48-0 (Khawaja 21, Warner 23) Khawaja hangs back and plays out three dots from Woakes, waiting for the ball to hit – which duly arrives as Woakes goes fuller, searching for swing, and gets pushed back for the gentlest four you will ever see.
14th over: Australia 44-0 (Khawaja 17, Warner 23) Wood is warming to the task. He bowls an armpit ball that gets Warner jumping and popping what would be a dolly catch to short leg, if only Stokes had taken my advice and posted one. (There is a leg slip, but no one in the batters’ back pocket.) Then Wood bowls a fast bouncer, clocked at 90mph but feeling more like 95. And then he draws the edge! With a wobble-seam ball that dies before it gets through to Jonny Bairstow.
13th over: Australia 42-0 (Khawaja 17, Warner 21) Woakes continues and does something nobody else has managed in this innings: he bowls a maiden. Still no alarms, though, for Khawaja.
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Drinks: Aussies on top
12th over: Australia 42-0 (Khawaja 17, Warner 21) Facing Wood for the first time today, Warner keeps on bustling. A stab into the covers for two and then a dab in the same direction for a single. He’s not dreaming of a hundred in his final Test in England, is he?
That’s drinks, with Australia definitely on top now.
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11th over: Australia 37-0 (Khawaja 15, Warner 18) Here is Woakes. Warner wants to dominate him too and greets him with a shove past cover for four, ungainly but effective. Woakes keeps him honest after that with five dots.
“Good morning, team,” says Jeremy Gordon Walker, “and greetings from Northern California. This has so far been an accordion game. Quite stressful for the old ticker. But so much fun! Thanks, chaps.”
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10th over: Australia 33-0 (Khawaja 15, Warner 14) Woakes was warming up a few minutes ago, but the first change turns out to be his buddy Wood. He starts at 82mph, then settles at 88-89. Khawaja is a little more ruffled than usual but manages a push for two.
“Warner as a middle-aged man sniffing his neighbour’s roses?” says John Starbuck. “That’s a novel phrase, but can only have been composed by someone fully aware of the situation. Do any of your relatives fit the bill?” Ha. My subconscious will have to get back to you.
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9th over: Australia 31-0 (Khawaja 13, Warner 14) Broad serves up a slice of temptation and Khawaja very nearly swallows it, pulling out of an airy waft at the last moment.
An email comes in from Tim Sanders. “Children’s author and illustrator Jane Simmons has beaten us to the characterisation of Ebb and Flo.” he says. “Her charming books, set in Cornwall, have been made into animations narrated by Fiona Shaw. An altogether sunnier and gentler kind of undulation than the umbrella-gnawing, rain-affected drama of Ashes cricket.”
8th over: Australia 30-0 (Khawaja 12, Warner 14) Alas, poor Jimmy. He can’t get his line right to Khawaja, who helps himself to a glance for four. And he is traded as a medium-pacer by Warner, who stands outside his crease. Both captains have been strangely tolerant of that habit in this series. Put a short leg in!
7th over: Australia 25-0 (Khawaja 7, Warner 14) Broad beats Warner for the first time today with a snorter. It flicks something on the way through, Bairstow collects it and England review, rather half-heartedly. But Joel Wilson was right – it brushed the sleeve, not the glove.
6th over: Australia 23-0 (Khawaja 7, Warner 12) Warner faces Anderson for the first time today and treats him differently from Broad – going back and on the attack, punching for four. Anderson makes a face, half surprised, half rueful. His strike rate for the series is now 175: in other words, he’s taking one wicket every 29 overs.
5th over: Australia 18-0 (Khawaja 7, Warner 7) Warner is getting forward on off stump and crouching awkwardly, like a middle-aged man who feels obliged to sniff his neighbour’s roses. It’s working so far: he picks up a tuck for two and a poke to cover for a single.
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4th over: Australia 15-0 (Khawaja 7, Warner 4) Anderson, so mysteriously anodyne in this series, is threatening to come to life. He beats Khawaja outside off, then beats him again, but when he goes fuller, Khawaja has plenty of time to play a straight push for four. Mel Jones reminds us that Anderson’s last Test win against Australia came eight years ago. For me, it makes little sense to pick him alongside Woakes, who is very similar but four years younger and in far better form. Just hoping he still has it in him to make that view look stupid.
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3rd over: Australia 11-0 (Khawaja 3, Warner 4) Broad was taking before the start about the importance of making the batter play at the Oval. He makes Warner play at the first two balls, with defensive prods. Then there’s a leave, then two balls down leg – one going for four leg byes, the other the finest of glances for four. I suspect the second was a cunning plan to bowl Warner round his legs.
Moeen, by the way, is watching from the England balcony. His groin injury has been confirmed by the management, who say he will “continue to be assessed” and won’t be fielding for the rest of the day.
@TimdeLisle Hi from Norway Tim. Can I be the first to suggest Wood as the next number 3 assuming Moeen can't manage it after that injury? Imagine him with a new, hard ball.
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) July 27, 2023
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Khawaja 3, Warner 0) At the other end Stokes sticks with Jimmy Anderson, who has been picked on reputation, not on form. He gets good carry, sprays one ball way down the leg side, and finds Khawaja pushing another down the ground for two. Broad vs. Warner coming up!
“It’ll be interesting,” says Steve Jones, “to see if Stokes enforces the follow-on tonight or decides to bat Australia out of the game before bowling them out before lunch tomorrow.” Ha. “The weather looks good for a couple of rounds of golf over the weekend, it’d be a shame to waste it.”
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1st over: Australia 1-0 (Khawaja 1, Warner 0) It is Broad to bowl the first over, but it’s Khawaja to face. And there’s an LBW shout first ball! But not even Broad wants a review – perhaps a sign that there was an inside edge or that the ball, angled in, was going down.
The players are out there and the ball is in the hands of Stuart Broad, who should soon be greeting David Warner for the last time in the first innings of a Test.
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There’s hardly been time to open a email, but here’s one from Brian Withington. “Talk of Messrs Ebb & Flow (over 39) has me reflexively recalling old friends like Major Maurice ‘Mo’ Mentum, Count Manny Fest de Stiny, and the (still) inscrutable Sir Fick le Fate …” Love it.
The Aussie bowlers generated chance after chance – about 15 of them at a rough count. Starc led the way as usual with four for 82. Cummins was excellent in his first spell and expensive later, but he did nab Zak Crawley, who usually plays him with aplomb. Hazlewood recovered from a hammering at Headingley to take two wickets, Todd Murphy picked up a couple too off only six overs, and Mitch Marsh managed one. For England, some of the strokeplay was sensationally good, but as so often, nobody lasted very long – only Brook (91) stuck around for even 50 balls, and the Woakes-Wood double act was needed to cheer up the crowd.
England all out for 283! (Woakes c Head b Starc 36 )
Starc goes full to Woakes, as he did to Jimmy, but the result is slightly different: a straight drive for six! And then there’s an uppercut that bisects the two men on the cover boundary, very classy. But the next big shot id England’s last, as Woakes top-edges a pull into the safe hands of Head. So that’s the end of a lovely cameo from Woakes, but he may find Stokes dismayed that he has missed the chance for a funky declaration.
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54th over: England 273-9 (Woakes 26, Anderson 0) Yet another catch goes down as Woakes chips the ball back to Murphy, who seems surprised by the lack of pace on it. Anderson then plays two sweeps, one orthodox, the other reverse, both well-struck, and both going straight to a fielder.
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53rd over: England 270-9 (Woakes 23, Anderson 0) Woakes was taking singles freely, showing some faith in Broad, which was briefly repaid by a flash for four and a mow for two. Jimmy Anderson comes in and immediately survives a review for LBW –, saved by umpire’s call as Joel Wilson decided a full ball from Starc, swung into the left-hander, was just going down.
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Wicket! Broad c Head b Starc 7 (England 270-9)
Up, up and away! Broad manages a slash and a slog, but then sends a top edge into the stratosphere. It takes so long to come down that the crowd have time to go “AaaaahhhhHHH!” but Travis Head, quite unruffled, takes the catch. That will annoy Broad, because it puts Starc level with him as the leading wicket-taker, on 18, with every chance of adding a 19th…
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52nd over: England 263-8 (Woakes 22, Broad 1) Wood had just bludgeoned his fifth four, going two better than anybody else today bar Harry Brook (11 fours and two sixes). Wood retains top spot in the batting strike-rate chart but has to hand the bowling one to Todd Murphy, who now has a wicket every 28 balls in the series, to Wood’s 31.
WICKET! Wood b Murphy 28 (England 261-8)
Wood goes for one heave-ho too many, strikes thin air and finds the ball, which turned a touch, hitting the top of middle. Murphy’s law.
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51st over: England 257-7 (Woakes 21, Wood 24) Starc returns, goes round the wicket and wide on the crease, and pins Woakes in front. It’s given! Woakes reviews while shaking his head as if he thinks there’s no hope, but snicko says he got an inside edge. So the Harrow drive, which has cost England two wickets today, begins to pay them back. The crowd love that and they’re even happier when a classic thick edge bursts though the hands of Mitch Marsh at gully. I reckon the Aussies now have a full house: a dropped catch today at every spot in the cordon.
Tea! Australia on top (probably)
50th over: England 250-7 (Woakes 15, Wood 23) Cummins gives Todd Murphy one more over, perhaps hoping to tempt Wood into an indiscretion. It doesn’t come and the players troop off for tea. Once again, we’ve had a hundred runs in the session – 119 if I’ve got the sums right. Once again, we’ve had an England collapse – four wickets falling for 28 in the middle of the session. But Woakes and Wood have mounted a counter-attack, adding 38 off 45 balls, so England may yet make it to 300 after being put in to bat.
Between the two collapses there was a gorgeous partnership of 111 in 18 overs between Moeen Ali and Harry Brook, who had never batted together in a Test before. Brook played an innings that was more like a highlights reel. Moeen was mostly a spectator until he picked up a groin injury and started hitting out. Just another day in this astonishing series.
49th over: England 248-7 (Woakes 14, Wood 22) Cummins, in one of his better ideas as a field-setter, has a fly gully for Wood, who does tend to flash hard. But he’s smart enough to adjust and aim his next big shot over cover. Even though it goes high, he’s got enough on it to pick up four more. He has 68 runs off just 46 balls in the series and is top of the strike-rate chart by miles, about 60 ahead of the next man (Zak Crawley).
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48th over: England 242-7 (Woakes 13, Wood 17) Never mind the union, Woakes feels like going down the track to Marsh and walloping him for six! Except that it’s given as four … not sure what happened there. The crowd boo, but they’re soon back in party mode as Woakes plays a dreamy clip for three that gets the commentators drooling about his timing. The Birmingham Greg Chappell.
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47th over: England 234-7 (Woakes 6, Wood 16) Cummins makes a double change, replacing Starc with himself. That’s fine by Wood, who crashes a drive to the cover boundary, then sends a top-edged hook flying one bounce into the crowd. After that, he could have been run out, but Marnus Labuschagne in the covers was spoilt for choice as Woakes was in trouble too. Sorry David Horn – it’s all happening.
46th over: England 226-7 (Woakes 6, Wood 8) Seeing how the ball is swinging, Cummins summons Mitch Marsh. As a fellow member of the Swingers’ Union, Woakes is wary, playing out four dots before taking a single.
The carnage has left me playing catch-up with the mailbag, but the first email I open is an interesting one. “Afternoon Tim, thanks as ever for your service,” says David Horn. Our pleasure. “Today I had a clear run of driving ahead of me ... 2 hours in the morning, 2 back in the afternoon – perfect conditions for a bit of TMS. But one of the consequences of – God, I’m going to say it – Bazball, is that it has made it really hard for me to listen when England are batting.
”It feels like something is going to happen every ball – because often, something happens every ball. The commentators are often hyped / stressed (except the wonderfully soothing Isa Guha), and every delivery faced is supercharged with potential. I can’t bear the stress of it. So. I’m switching off and will catch the BBC highlights this evening instead!”
45th over: England 224-7 (Woakes 5, Wood 7) Starc delivers a a massive wide outside off, a Steve Harmison special but not even bouncing, and then follows it with a classic back-of-a-length ball that beats Wood, possibly because he was still laughing at the one before.
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44th over: England 222-7 (Woakes 4, Wood 6) Hazlewood got short to Wood and gets pulled for four, straight back past him. Then he goes fuller to Woakes and gets driven for four more, through the covers.
WinViz gives England a 50pc chance of winning the match, Australia 46. On TimViz it’s more like 30-60.
43rd over: England 213-7 (Woakes 0, Wood 1) So Wood and Woakes, the car-sharing mates who steered England home at Headingley, have to go into the body shop and try to make this innings look respectable. England have contrived to collapse twice today, either side of a fabulous hundred partnership. They lost three for 11 in the middle of the morning, and then four for 28 in the middle of the afternoon. I want whatever the Aussies are having for drinks – even if it’s only some info from the analysts.
WICKET!!! Brook c Smith b Starc 85 (England 212-7)
Nooooooo! Brook flashes to second slip, where Steve Smith makes up for an early fumble by holding on safely. The end of a glorious innings.
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42nd over: England 208-6 (Brook 81) So Harry Brook is left with the tail – although he has the fun of batting with Woakes and Wood.
WICKET!!! Bairstow b Hazlewood 4 (England 208-6)
Played on! Attacking shot, crooked bat – not Bairstow’s finest moment.
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41st over: England 204-5 (Brook 80, Bairstow 4) Starc continues and Bairstow gets a thick inside edge to fine leg. This is a chopped-on sort of surface, as Joe Root showed. The alarm was sounded even earlier, when Ben Duckett nearly played on three times in about five minutes, but maybe Jonny was buried in his Sudoku book at the time. Harry Brook, who’s been quiet by his blazing standards for the past 20 minutes, flirts with trouble by driving uppishly but gets two for it. These two are not going to die wondering.
This year there is a £500 prize for the winner of the Cricketer's Greenest Ground competition! Do enter, however far along you are on your journey.And pls retweet-let's reach as many clubs as possible! Entry form⬇️@danmusson1978 @RogerMGwriter @MarkCocker2 @BASIS_org @maddyjorr https://t.co/PSa7BtUlKJ
— TheNextTest (@TheNextTest) July 27, 2023
40th over: England 198-5 (Brook 76, Bairstow 3) After getting a wicket out of Todd Murphy, Cummins sends him back to the deep and brings on Hazlewood. Bairstow, who should be still in nick from Friday, eases him past extra-cover for two. Hazlewood bites back with a big inswinger, doing too much to get an LBW, which may have Jimmy Anderson licking his lips.
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39th over: England 195-5 (Brook 75, Bairstow 1) And with that one ball, Starc puts Australia back on top. This match has barely begun and it’s already been a treat for fans of Messrs Ebb & Flow. The first hour was all England, the second nearly all Australia, the third nearly all England, and now Australia have struck in the fourth. The sky is grey, the air is dank, the lights are on, and the Aussies sniff more blood.
WICKET!! Stokes b Starc 3 (England 193-5)
Massive moment. Stokes plays across the line, misses and hears a rather loud death rattle.
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Afternoon everyone and thanks Jim. As Richie used to say.
38th over: England 194-4 (Brook 74, Stokes 3) A defensive field set for Murphy with men protecting on each side of the wicket. England rotate the strike to take five off the over.
Time for a drink. As the players slurp on something luminous it is time for me to slope off for an Earl G and let Tim de Lisle take you through the rest of the day. Thanks for your correspondence – It’s been great fun and Baz willing I’ll be back at the weekend. Ta-ra!
37th over: England 188-4 (Brook 71, Stokes 1) Good stuff from Starc, he keeps Brook honest with three fast deliveries back of a length. A single off the fourth ball brings Stokes on strike – England’s skipper still on nowt. Not any more, a clip for one gets him going.
All gone quiet for the time being. This was Moeen’s six a bit earlier. Crumbs.
Huge from Moeen Ali 💥#Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/QNlOYWirUb
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 27, 2023
36th over: England 186-4 (Brook 70, Stokes 0) A calmer few overs since Mo’s brief blitzkrieg ended. Brook pulls Murphy to leg for a single and Stokes is happy to see out the rest of the over.
“England have tested the ‘fortune favours the brave’ theorem to breaking point today.” Writes Will Ellen. “Plays and misses, risky runs, constantly driving on the up in bowler friendly conditions: Cummins could have a five-fer. In a parralel universe the nighthawk would be in afternoon flight. But there is brilliance amidst the madness. And Carey’s drop of Brook could take on monumental proportions here...”
It has cost Australia 65 runs and counting.
35th over: England 185-4 (Brook 69, Stokes 0) Brook nudges a single and then Stokes gets clanged in the knackers for about the 12th time this series. Deep breaths.
34th over: England 184-4 (Brook 68, Stokes 0) Respect - as Ali G might have said*. More of an Aretha man myself. Either way, Stokes pats back three dots to Murphy.
(*Remember him? He was big the last time Australia won a series in England. Sorry don’t know what came over me there.)
WICKET! Moeen Ali b Murphy 34 (England 184-4)
Murphy gets the breakthrough and stops the bleeding for Australia*. Moeen carted him for four but then missed a straight one with a big old yahoo across the line. An innings of two halves, England will be praying he is fit enough to bowl when it comes to it.
*For the time being, here comes Ben Stokes.
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33rd over: England 179-3 (Ali 30, Brook 67) Six more to Moeen! A bit of a top edge on a full blooded pull shot flies into the stands to my left. Australia are getting this wrong for mine, Moeen is injured but he can still waddle singles. They set the field right back and England tick over easily. Upper cut/ramp for four! Audacious from Moeen, leans back and glides a short ball away off the face of the bat for a one bounce four! The crowd love it. Here comes Todd Murphy. 100 partnership and then some for Moeen and Brook. England looking rampant.
32nd over: England 165-3 (Ali 18, Brook 65) An over to draw breath. Brook takes a single and Moeen limps a leg bye. The ‘momentum’ today has been swinging between the sides like Austin Powers on a see-saw… in the sixties.
31st over: England 163-3 (Ali 17, Brook 65) Incredible batting from both men. Brook drives Cummins away for consecutive fours, both down the ground and both inspiring a purr of satisfaction from the crowd.
Moeen looks troubled by that leg injury and as a result seems to have decided to tee off! He clubs a six off Cummins that was in danger of plopping into the Archbishop Tenison school playground. An amazing stroke. Four more! Moeen is nearly cleaned up swiping at the next ball but a clip on the pad sees it race past Carey to the fence. NINETEEN runs off the over. Cummins runs his hands through his hair, ruefully.
30th over: England 144-3 (Ali 11, Brook 56) Swiss clock timing from Brook as he rocks back and cuts Hazlewood for four. The seamer responds with two dots before Brook takes a better judged single off the last. Moeen Ali pulls up stricken as a result though, this might be a bit of a Gordon Groinidge. (Sorry Mo. Sorry everyone)
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29th over: England 139-3 (Ali 11, Brook 51) Cummins is radiating intent here at the Oval. He scythes one through Harry Brook at 90mph. Harry Brook then very nearly cooks his own goose! A poorly judged quick single and he was miles out of his ground had Cummins’ gather and throw off his own bowling hit the stumps.
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28th over: England 138-3 (Ali 11, Brook 50) Fifty for Harry Brook! Hazlewood is picked off for singles, the third of which takes Brook to a rapid half-ton. He couldn’t, could he?
"He's coming for you... he's coming for you..... Gilbert Jessop...." #Ashes pic.twitter.com/b3bk29LnaM
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 27, 2023
27th over: England 135-3 (Ali 10, Brook 48) Pat Cummins with the first over after the lunch break, he was magnificent this morning. Moeen sways inside a short ball to see it swing prodigiously after passing him by, past Carey and away for four byes.
Here come the players, another session of mayhem awaits?
Forgive me, for I have shamelessly plugged:
Did my bit of community service in writing this for @guardian_sport
— Jim Wallace (@Jimbo_Cricket) July 26, 2023
The little known #Ashes story behind the 39 word 'obituary' that started it all 🔽🪦🔥 https://t.co/C2pNLNfTx1 pic.twitter.com/DhD57LeSil
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“Nice to see Harry Brook playing for lunch…” says a beaming mate in the lunch queue:
4️⃣ 4️⃣ 6️⃣
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
Harry Brook is on FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XSJfmftSL1
Tim is so good at these pearly stats:
#HarryBrook now in England's all-time top 20 six-hitters with 22 in 12 Tests. This is off the charts, even for a strokeplayer. @MichaelVaughan hit 22 sixes in 82 Tests, @David215Gower and Alec Stewart 20 between them in 250 Tests#Ashes
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) July 27, 2023
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Lunch: England 131-3
What a nutty session. Australia were put to the sword for the first hour before roaring back with three quick wickets. There have been three dropped catches and SEVENTEEN boundaries. Won’t somebody think of the OBOers!
26th over: England 131-3 (Ali 10, Brook 48)
Time for a bite to eat and then it’ll be a case of sleeves up and a delve into the emails.
25th over: England 126-3 (Ali 9, Brook 45) Crikey Mikey and Jeez Louise. Harry Brook! Two crunched fours in a row from Brook through the off-side sees Starc hanf his length back a touch… no mither for Brook who pivots and spanks the ball for SIX! 14 runs off the over, England heading into lunch with a bang. The Australian’s dropped Brook on 5. One to keep an eye on.
24th over: England 112-3 (Ali 9, Brook 31) We’ve got about ten minutes to lunch. Moeen ticks along at his own pace, tickling a single off Marsh. Brook squirts a full ball to fine-leg for another.
“You may not be aware of this” usually very safe to assume this John Starbruck…
“…but ‘tight lines’ used to be a goodbye wish amongst anglers. Very appropriate for batters going fishing.”
I was actually humming it along to this, John.
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23rd over: England 110-3 (Ali 8, Brook 30) A calmer over after the pyrotekkers of the last. Starc beats a wafty drive by Moeen who gets off strike next ball with a push to point. Argh. Brook rides a short ball that thunks into his middle. That’ll bruise that.
Morning so far #Ashes pic.twitter.com/V2S5GIkFrw
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) July 27, 2023
22nd over: England 109-3 (Ali 7, Brook 30) Shot of the morning from Harry Brook! A short-armed pull off Marsh flies into the stands for SIX! That was dismissive from Brook, like he was swatting a midge away whilst trying to read a novel.
The ball before he whelped Marsh on the up through the covers for four too. Two more collected to deep point makes it ten off the over and the hundred up for England. Punch and counterpunch.
The flick of the wrist 🤌
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
Harry Brook smashes smashes it for six! 6️⃣💥 pic.twitter.com/u6hfYZKyMo
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21st over: England 97-3 (Ali 7, Brook 18) Starc replaces Cummins who takes a breather with 1-21 from his six overs including two drops and TWENTY FOUR play and misses. He could have had two sides out with a bit more luck. Great spell to come back with after being carted at Old Trafford.
Moeen drives languidly and Khawaja slides over the ball on the fence to gift him a boundary. The crowd let off a bit of steam as Brook edges in the gap for four more!
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20th over: England 87-3 (Ali 3, Brook 13) Five dots from Hazlewood and the pressure cooker starts to hiss after the Cummins maiden last over… What pressure? Brook smashes the last ball for four through the covers. Cat and mouse. Josh and Harry. Don’t go anywhere.
19th over: England 83-3 (Ali 3, Brook 9) Tight lines from Cummins, he’s working up good pace and keeps Moeen honest. A maiden.
After probably his worst outing with the ball in Test cricket last week, Pat Cummins has run in and bowled this morning with the better rhythm than we’ve seen all tour long #Ashes
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 27, 2023
18th over: England 83-3 (Ali 3, Brook 9) Streaky! Brook plays an airy drive that just evades a diving Khawaja at slip. The Aussies smell blood, if they’d hung onto their catches then England would be in all sorts by now.
17th over: England 78-3 (Ali 3, Brook 5) Harry Brook looks completely unruffled by the situation, he may as well be chewing gum and texting his mates. A well timed poke outside off brings him his first boundary. WOW! Another DROP! Carey spills a diving chance that flew off a sonic-booming drive by Brook. Time to get ruffled Harry, lad.
What a bonkers morning this has been already.
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16th over: England 74-3 (Ali 2, Brook 1) Harry Brook is the new man. Hazlewood probes away, two length balls keep the young tyke honest before an inside edge trickles to leg to get him off the mark. The crowd now a restless burble.
WICKET! Root b Hazlewood 5 (England 73-3)
Gone! England are now in a bit of strife. Root tried to guide a ball into the off side that was way too close for comfort and chopped onto his stumps. He’s livid. Punching his bat as he stomps off. Australia on top now.
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15th over: England 73-2 (Ali 2, Root 5) Cummins bowls to Root. We’ll miss this eh? The next Test match in England after this one is eleven and a half months away. Soak it up while you can folks.
Root glides wonderfully for four to open his account. Cummins hits back by beating the edge. Root collects a single off the next. Proper cricket.
“Morning Jim.”
Morning to Simon McMahon who is doing a very good job as our Scottish cricket correspondent. What’s your day rate Simon?
“Not quite the rollercoaster, or indeed paternoster, ride of the Ashes summer here at the Grange in Edinburgh where, after a delayed start due to a wet outfield - flashbacks ahoy! - Scotland continue their seemingly serene progress towards next year’s T20 World Cup against Denmark. A win today would guarantee their place irrespective of the result against Ireland tomorrow. Denmark have started impressively in the field though, with Scotland currently 37-2 after 7 overs. So scoring at roughly the same rate as the England Test side.”
14th over: England 68-2 (Ali 2, Root 0) Two new batters at the crease for Australia, they’ve got themselves back into the session after a chastening first hour. Moeen is watchful, four dots before a clip to leg brings him two runs. The atmosphere here at the Oval now at a nervous simmer.
WICKET! Crawley c Smith b Cummins 22 (England 66-2)
One brings two! Crawley slapped Cummins through cover for four but next ball he edges high to Smith in the slips and this time the catch sticks. Crawley had played and missed five times in his last eleven deliveries. It’s the way he plays.
Steve Smith’s 55 catch in Ashes cricket – a new record. Pipping Botham on 54. Top grabbers.
13th over: England 66-2 (Ali 0, Root 0)
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WICKET! Duckett c Carey b Marsh 41 (England 62-1_
A tiny tickle on the glove to a relatively innocuous short ball from Marsh and Duckett has to drag himself off! It was the most delicate of pecks on the styrofoam, the umpire didn’t spot it but the Aussies reviewed confidently.
Earlier in the over Crawley played a beautiful straight drive for four which took him to 400 runs for the series. The first on either side to get there. Hat tip to m’esteemed colleague Tim de Lisle who spotted that one and kindly sent my way.
12th over: England 62-0 (Crawley 18, Ali 0)
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11th over: England 55-0 (Crawley 13, Duckett 40) Duckett charges once more! Wonder what he had for his breakfast? He’s been electric this morning. Three runs to the total. Well bowled Pat Cummins – he beats Crawley once twice thrice in a row and is unlucky not to have found the edge.
John Withington wades in:
“I’ve been struck by the derision in the Aussie media for England’s approach and the rush of old pros to dismiss it as care free and lacking the “hardness” that Australian cricket seems to demand. Meanwhile, within 6 overs of the first day of a series deciding Ashes match Australia are on the back foot, acquiescing to England’s confident start, pushing the field back and allowing England to dictate.
And I think this “passive” approach as they seemingly just wait for something to happen can leach into the fielding as there’s a serious reduction in the usual expectation of early chances. See Warner’s lame reaction to the one chance so far.”
10th over: England 52-0 (Crawley 13, Duckett 37) Mitch Marsh replaces Hazlewood, Duckett hacks into the off-side, trying to force too hard and losing his shape. A cut through cover brings him two and a quick single to leg brings Crawley on strike. Close! Steve Smith nearly pulls off (another) horizontal diving catch in the slips as Crawley gets a meaty edge off Marsh. Just a tip of the finger but a fine effort. Cameron Green would have stood still and caught it. Fifty up for England, they are cruising along at over five an over.
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9th over: England 46-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 34) Cummins to Duckett… DROP! A wild swipe by the batter flies to Warner in the slips, head hight and very catchable but he spills it! The crowd get stuck into Warner when the replay goes up on the big screen. He’s usually like a venus flytrap in there and it was a bit of a sitter. Cummins is accurate, probing outside off stump and inducing two play and misses in the over. Still went for five runs, mind.
"It's just BURST through those hands!"
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
A HUGE chance for Australia to get their first wicket but David Warner can't get a hold of it pic.twitter.com/KyxpVVCNJX
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8th over: England 41-0 (Crawley 10, Duckett 30) Just a couple off Hazlewood’s over. Duckett advances once more and crunches a pull to mid-on (you read that right) but it stings the fingers of the fielder and there’s no run. Pat Cummins is bringing himself on.
Quite the bolshy start from England here @Jimbo_Cricket. Ben Duckett in particular looking like he's batting with the carefree vibes of an 18 year old about to leave on a gap year. Ben F*ckett, if you will. We're definitely not going to die wondering. Which is fine with me.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) July 27, 2023
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7th over: England 39-0 (Crawley 10, Duckett 29) We’ve had 15 scoring shots in a row according to Andy Zaltzman on TMS. The field is set back and England collect singles off every ball. England are so good at this. “200 by lunch then” chirps m’colleague John Windmill.
6th over: England 33-0 (Crawley 7, Duckett 26) My days. That is an incredible stroke! Duckett charges Hazlewood and absolutely marmalises a drive on the up back down the ground! You have to laugh, that was reeedonkulous. Duckett is middling everything, Cummins has boundary riders on each side of the wicket and they are kept very busy. About those maidens…
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5th over: England 24-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 19) Duckett slices Starc behind point for four! A perky start this for the little’un (Crawley is the large’un) Shot – a leg-stump half volley is flicked away nonchalantly for four more. England beginning to purr into top gear, ominous signs for Australia.
4th over: England 13-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 8) Five off Hazlewood’s over with little fuss. Bazball Manifest.
3rd over: England 9-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 4) HUGE APPEAL! Starc almost bends over onto the turf behind him as he implores Joel Wilson to do the honourable thing. Crawley left a ball that scudded back into his pad, it looked close – perhaps just missing? The Aussies review with enthusiasm but it is NOT OUT! The ball was missing off stump. Phew. On we go.
*About that asterisk on maidens from earlier. I just heard that England have sent down 100 more maidens in the series than Australia (might be 99 now). That is a cortex boggling stat.
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The TMS overseas link can be found at the top of the BBC’s main cricket coverage page, for those asking.
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2nd over: England 7-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 3) A big cheer rings around the Oval as Duckett opens England’s account with a clip for three off Hazlewood. Close! Hazlewood cuts Duckett in two with a nip-backer and then finds his edge with the next ball but it flies down into the slips. A single to leg brings Crawley on strike for the last ball… which he smashes for four through the covers!
1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett) A lesser spotted maiden*! Hard lines to that boundary expectant gambler. Starc spears a few down the leg side and Crawley lets a few fizz past the off stump. The pitch looks to have decent pace and carry. Nice.
A rousing reception for both anthems, which were signed too. Marnus was really getting into it, swaying along as he sang with eyes clamped shut.
The players run out onto the field to huge applause which goes up a notch when Crawley and Duckett stride to the middle to take guard. Mitchell Starc will take the first over. Have you heard about the guy who has put a bet on there being a boundary off every first over of each Test? Oh to be in his shoes right now. Let’s play!
@Jimbo_Cricket I saw a bucket hat in Paris yesterday. Not on a Brit but on an actual Parisian women -otherwise très chic (I was tempted to ask her where she stood on Bairstow keeping wicket but thought better of it). So it's official. Bucket hats are in.
— Robert McL Wilson (@Parisbob2001) July 27, 2023
Tres chic?
Alive and singing – here come the players for some anthem action.
"RUBBISH! This series is alive." 😤
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
Michael Atherton says there is a lot still to play for in the final Ashes Test and it is not a dead rubber! pic.twitter.com/R45gXLD3LY
OF COURSE Australia will bowl!
Crows Jeremy Boyce of err France.
“If only to not allow England to go on another T20 4th innings batting spree. The mind games have begun before they’re even on the pitch.”
Do you know what Jeremy? The sun is starting to come out here at the Oval. Pat Cummins will be looking out of the changing room window and cursing his luck. For the time being…
Robbie Chedburn thinks the Aussie’s might be loosened up a little after their retention.
“Morning James, this is the big one, the one we’ve all been waiting for. Although saying that it’s not as big as it might have been. But still feels like a huge match.”
Yep, the atmosphere is bubbling up here at the Oval. A dead rubber this is NOT.
"I wonder if Australia having retained the ashes may loosen them up a bit and allow them to play with a bit more gusto!”
Does gusto mean having England 20-5 under cloudy skies this morning Robbie?
“Morning James”
G’Morning to you Steff B.
“Which team has more to play for here? Also, are we witnessing the end of James Anderson’s reign as a top class bowler?”
Hmm, on the first point I reckon both teams will be absolutely desperate to win. Australia want to claim the urn outright and as Geoff and Ali’s piece mention – it could be last chance saloon for some of their more distinguished squad members to bag a series in England.
There’s no two ways about it from the other side either – England will be hell bent on winning here.
On Anderson – I think he’s been pout of luck in this series and looked a bit flat at times. But he’s still incredibly skilful and his pace has been decent. All the talk is that he will carry on into India and perhaps beyond.
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Australia win the toss and will bowl!
Bit of cloud around, it’s muggy here in south London. Will it move around? Ben Stokes confirms he would have had a bowl too.
England are unchanged, we knew that, and for Australia Todd Murphy comes in for Cameron Green.
For the first time since February, Ben Stokes has lost a toss
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) July 27, 2023
Geoff Lemon on Pat Cummins’ unfinished business:
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Time to catch up on things. First up – here’s Ali Martin on the long goodbyes:
Preamble
Welcome to the internet Oval for the last Ashes Test match of the summer. We’ve had more ups and downs than the members of Chumbawamba pogoing on a paternoster.
After the rain kiboshed the end of the Old Trafford Test last week Australia have retained the Ashes… but they really want to win them. They fluffed their lines when they arrived at the Oval in a similar position four years ago, Pat Cummins’ side will be desperate to chalk up a win here and take the series emphatically 3-1. If they manage that then it’ll be the Aussies’ first series win in England since 2001.
Ben Stokes’ side dominated proceedings in Manchester and whilst the atmosphere at the Oval isn’t quite crackling yet I reckon it might be once play begins. As Stokes alluded to himself yesterday, 3-1 feels very different to 2-2.
The Aussie players are doing keepy uppies on the outfield (David Warner looks a bit out of his depth, bless him) and the punters are filing in from Oval station and down the Harleyford Road from Vauxhall.
You all up for this? Reckon so. For one last time then…
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