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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
James Wallace

The Ashes 2023: Australia beat England by 43 runs in second Test – as it happened

England Ben Duckett Mitchell Starc Australia Ben Stokes Nathan Lyon
Australia’s Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne celebrate after winning the Test.
Australia’s Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne celebrate after winning the Test. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Australia are 2-0 up with three to play

Thanks so much for all your correspondence today, apologies I couldn’t get through them all (I will). My inbox was groaning for most of the day – especially after Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal and during Ben Stokes’ incredible innings.

What a game. England made a great fist of it today but ultimately the game was lost earlier in the Test match. Anderson, Broad and and co were flat with the new ball in helpful conditions on day 1 and then failed to press home their advantage with the bat when they found themselves 188-1 in their own first innings.

Australia are such a fine side that you don’t need to give them a helping hand in any department yet that is what England have done during key passages of play at Edgbaston and again here at Lord’s. There’ll be lots of talk about their ‘process’ and the bones of this game will be picked over laboriously. It’ll be remembered for a long time too.

The facts speak for themselves – Australia hold the Ashes and are 2-0 up in this series. England need to win the three remaining matches in order to reclaim the urn. Difficult, Difficult, Lemon Difficult.

Time for me to depart. Ali’s report from Lord’s will be along shortly. We’ll be back to do it all over again in a few days. Phew.

Updated

An MCC spokesperson said: “The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special. After this morning’s play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of members.

We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes. It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and I am pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session.”

Simon Burnton has more on this breaking story here:

“I thought it was totally fair play” – Pat Cummins spoke after the game through a chorus of boos:

“It’s not over yet” is the title of Sam Drury’s email:

“Aware that the title of this email sounds like a line from a budget superhero film, apologies for that. Speaking of superheroes, absolutely gutted for Ben Stokes. I defy you to find me a better hundred in such impossible circumstances, and for longer than I thought possible I believed England could do it.

I still do, mind - this series has absolutely gripped me so far, and it wouldn’t have taken much for England to be the ones 2-0 up. My only concern is the impact on morale, which McCullum and the captain have worked so hard to build, after losing two contests this close. Stokes in particular I fear looked out of it up on the balcony by the end. Still - there’s a lot to do and it’s a long way back from here, but I think those lamenting the death of English cricket for the umpteenth time have given up much too soon.”

The debate will rumble…

Updated

Ben Stokes joins Mike Atherton:

Having experienced something like that (Headingley 2019) before, it was good to look back at that and have a game plan, unfortunately it wasn’t enough today.

It’s a tough one to swallow, to get so close. We’re 2-0 down but we’ve won 3-0 against New Zealand, 3-0 against Pakistan, so we know we can do it.”

Stokes is then asked about the controversial Bairstow dismissal:

There were quite a lot of factors. I asked the umpires if they had called ‘over’, they said no but they had started walking off. At the end of the day it’s out.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I’d have to have a think around spirit of the game. It’s happened, it’s out, we’ve got to move on.

He’s then asked about how the game unfolded:

When you win the toss and bowl you always want to restrict them. The lads got a bit of criticism but the amount of times we went past the bat was frustrating.

The efforts we put in, bowling short for hours on end (in the second innings), they can’t be faulted.

It’s tough when you have lost but there are a lot of positives. Reckless is an easy word to use. We’ve given everyone clarity about what they want to do. The dressing room backs people to play the way they want. We’ve got a quick turnaround but there are three games left so all we’re thinking about is 3-2.”

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Steve Smith is Player Of The Match for his first innings ton. Remember that? Feels about eight years ago.

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Ben Stokes has his say:

Here come the presentations. Prepare for boos.

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Only one side has ever come back from 2-0 down to win the Ashes - Don Bradman’s Australia side of 1936/37. Is this now a step too far for Stokes’ England side or does that bonkers match show that each Test in this series is firmly up for grabs?

“We are quite close to beating Australia” says Peter Gartner.

“Two mistakes cost us the two matches.

In the fist match, the declaration = minus 50 runs

In the second match, Bairstow wandering out of his crease = minus 50 runs.

Cut out the unnecessary mistakes, and we can beat them.

I think Peter might be English

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BazBall meets Bodyline

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Remarkable is one word for it.

AUSTRALIA WIN BY 43 RUNS!

Tongue finally has his leg pole torpedoed by Starc and Australia win the game and go 2-0 up in the series. What a day, what a game.

Josh Tongue of England is bowled by Mitchell Starc of Australia to end the match.
Josh Tongue of England is bowled by Mitchell Starc of Australia to end the match. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock
England’s James Anderson looks frustrated after seeing Australia win the match.
England’s James Anderson looks frustrated after seeing Australia win the match. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA

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81st over: England 324-9 (Tongue 17, Anderson 2) Good spirit shown here from Josh Tongue! He lifts Green over the keeper for four and then charges a length ball to pick up two down the ground. The deficit is now less than fifty… no you stop it.

80th over: England 316-9 (Tongue 10, Anderson 2) The new ball is available for Australia, Anderson and Tongue continue to make the visitors scrap for this victory.

Thoughts and Prayers to Will Unwin of this very parish “RE Peppa pig world. I’m waiting to get on the monorail to the car park after a day at CBeebies land…”

79th over: England 316-9 (Tongue 9, Anderson 2) A change of tack from Josh Tongue who decides that he’s bored of being peppered and is going to have a swing. A heave over mid-wicket brings him two runs before an audacious straight drive gets him a couple more. Is this it? Australia go upstairs for a ball they think might have brushed Anderson’s glove on the way to Alex Carey. They were right, but said hand was off the bat at the time. NOT OUT. “Where was DRS in 2005!” Laments Ricky Ponting with a chuckle.

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78th over: England 310-9 (Tongue 4, Anderson 2) Anderson looks a bit shaken but is ok to continue. Starc doesn’t take a backward step, whanging down three more short balls speared in at the armpit that Anderson looks very uncomfortable with. He survives the over, just about.

Ryan Borroff is at the Le Mans classic:

“Every time the cars come round the Porsche Curves, we’re like shhhhh guys we’re listening to the cricket!”

Updated

We’ve got a delay here whilst Jimmy Anderson is checked over, he charged into a Mitchell Starc bouncer and took a serious blow. He looks like he’s ok, I think they are stuggling to locate a spare helmet for him. There was a horrible thud as the ball clocked him and he hit the turf.

Meanwhile…

77th over: England 309-9 (Tongue 4, Anderson 2) Two more runs chipped off the total, Tongue and Anderson swishing and hopping about but no dice so far for Australia.

Just found this from Luke Fletcher:

“If ever evidence was needed of the non-existence of a benevolent God, I am at Peppa Pig World while Stokes is smoking it to all parts! Trying to keep up to date with ball-by-ball and a little TMS between visits to Windy Castle and Daddy Pig’s Car Ride. Feel my pain!”

Solidarity to you sir.

75th over: England 307-9 (Tongue 3, Anderson 2) Josh Tongue plinks Cummins down towards the now vacant boundary and the Aussie captain hurls after it to keep it to three. On we go. England need 63 more (ahem) and Australia a solitary wicket.

74th over: England 303-9 (Tongue 0, Anderson 1) Jimmy Anderson walks out wearily for (probably) the last time as a Test cricketer maybe ever..? at Lord’s.

He replaces fellow gnarled gunslinger Broad who was a great foil for Stokes. Australia need 1 wicket. Close! Josh Tongue nearly dollies a catch to the silly fielders but somehow the ball ploops safely to the floor between them all.

Updated

WICKET! Broad c Green b Hazlewood 11 (England 302-9)

Broad’s vigil comes to an end and Australia need just one more wicket to go 2-0 up in this Ashes series.

Stuart Broad of England leaves the field after being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood of Australia.
Stuart Broad of England leaves the field after being dismissed by Josh Hazlewood of Australia. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

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73rd over: England 302-8 (Broad 11, Tongue 0) Cummins pings Tongue on the helmet with a brute of a short ball. The doc comes out but he’s good to continue, much as he might not want to. A wicket maiden from Cummins.

WICKET! Robinson c Smith b Cummins 1 (England 302-8)

Robinson doesn’t last long – a top edge off Pat Cummins flew to Steve Smith who took a fine catch running in from the boundary. Australia just need two more now.

WICKET! Stokes c Carey b Hazlewood 155 (England 301-7)

The ball was there to hit, back of a length from Hazlewood and similar to so many that Stokes has slapped into the stands in this innings. Perhaps the ball climbed a little more than he expected, it took the splice and was grabbed by Alex Carey sprinting around square on the off-side. Lord’s rises to Ben Stokes. He looks truly gutted right now but will one day reflect on another mind-blowing Ashes innings.

72nd over: England 302-7 (Broad 11, Robinson 1)

Ben Stokes is consoled by Steve Smith after being dismissed for 155 runs.
Ben Stokes is consoled by Steve Smith after being dismissed for 155 runs. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

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BEN STOKES IS OUT!

An amazing innings comes to an end.

71st over: England 301-6 (Stokes 155, Broad 11) Back after drinks, both Stokes and Broad headed off the pitch for a few minutes before striding back onto the pitch in synchronised step. Stokes takes a single into the covers to bring up England’s 300 to guttural applause.

70th over: England 299-6 (Stokes 154, Broad 11) Another intriguing over as both sides grapple with this bonkers situation. Just a single off the over in the end and time for a drink. I look forward to reading about a power surge across the nation at precisely this time during this evening’s 10pm news. England need 72 runs, Australia 4 wickets.

70th over: England 298-6 (Stokes 153, Broad 11) Stokes takes a single as the win-predictor flashes up in England’s favour for the first time and the English majority in the crowd start chanting “Freed from Desire” with glee. Lord’s losing its mind.

“This is saving Test matches” says Dr Michael Abbot. I wonder what it is doing to the cardiac health of the nations of England and Australia doc?

Updated

69th over: England 297-6 (Stokes 152, Broad 11) Stokes opens the face to run Cameron Green away for a couple of runs to bring up a sensational 150. A single off the final ball down the ground means he will keep the strike for the next over. England need 74 more runs to win, Australia need 4 wickets.

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68th over: England 294-6 (Stokes 149, Broad 11) A single from Broad – an inside edge into his helmet – brings Stokes back on strike and also sees the 100 partnership come up between this pair. Stokes takes a single off the fifth ball to leave Broad with one ball and the field up. The sun beats down at Lord’s. My temperature is certainly rising. Dot ball. Breathe.

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“I have not laughed out loud so often and so loudly while watching sport IN MY WHOLE LIFE” writes Tim Finney in Wiltshire.

67th over: England 292-6 (Stokes 148, Broad 10) Cameron Green comes into the attack. Stokes blocks or leaves four balls. Cummins consults his leadership group, brings his men in and then sends them back again. Oh the okey-cokey! Stokes can’t get the single so now the field does come up. Dot ball. A maiden from Green and Starc will have six balls at Stuart Broad.

66th over: England 292-6 (Stokes 148, Broad 10) More carnage from the blade of Ben Stokes! Two ridiculously big hits sail into the stands, soaring way over the boundary rope. Starc put them on a plate and Stokes gobbled them up – the whipcrack sound off his bat almost carnal. 79 needed for England. Four wickets needed for Australia.

65th over: England 279-6 (Stokes 135, Broad 10) The scoring has slowed as Australia slam the middle of the pitch with almost every man on the boundary. Stokes takes a single to leave Broad two balls to face off Cummins. Ouchy. Broad takes one in the chest and then very nearly plops a catch to short-leg but, crucially, survives the over.

Are you not entertained!?

64th over: England 278-6 (Stokes 134, Broad 10) Careful! Stokes and Broad stutter mid-pitch then decide against a single. A run-out would be just the ticket right now to calm things down… not. Stokes takes a single off the fifth ball to leave Broad with one to face off Starc. A nasty ball into the grille of the helmet but he survives. “He’s shown a lot of ticker” says Nasser Hussain on commentary. Broad will be absolutely loving this contest, it is what he lives for.

England's Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad bump fists.
England's Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad bump fists. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

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63rd over: England 277-6 (Stokes 133, Broad 10) Cummins starts with a slower ball on the stumps that is well blocked by Stokes. A short ball is then crunched away to the man on the fence but Stokes doesn’t want the single just yet. An inside edge for a single does bring Broad on strike, he pops a short ball into the gap, could easily have gone to a fielder to be swallowed but it lands safe.

Mitchell Starc is coming on for bowl. This is now a crucial period of this game. Starc bowls serious wicket-taking balls, including his trademark scudding yorker, but he can also be expensive and lose his radar at times.

How is everyone feeling?

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62nd over: England 276-6 (Stokes 132, Broad 10) Stokes drives into the deep and runs back for two. A single to the mid-wicket fence leaves Broad with three to face off Hazlewood and a huge cheer greets the fact the target is now less than 100. 99 needed for England. Ricky Ponting is so insightful on the commentary and is despairing at Australia’s short ball tactics. Sure enough, Broad top edges a short one over Alex Carey for four.

61st over: England 269-6 (Stokes 129, Broad 6) Stokes glides to point and takes a single after blocking out a fast yorker from Cummins. Broad has three to face. Stokes is so clear headed that he seems to be happy to get what he can off Cummins and then go harder from the other end when the short boundary towards the Mound Stand is more of a factor. Broad survives the final three. On we go.

60th over: England 268-6 (Stokes 128, Broad 6) NAILED IT. Stokes smashes Hazlewood into the Mound Stand for SIX and then plays a one-handed pull that flies away fine for SIX more! A single brings Broad on strike for one ball. He clobbers it for four behind square. This is delirious stuff. Australia look shell-shocked. England need 103 runs and Australia need four more wickets. It’s all on Stokes still.

59th over: England 251-6 (Stokes 115, Broad 2) Nasser Hussain says he’s never seen Lord’s anything like this. It’s a febrile atmosphere. Replays show the Steve Smith drop and the crowd go bananas once more. Cummins bowls the second over post-lunch, he nearly strangles Stokes down the leg-side but Carey can’t quite get his glove round it and the ball runs away for four more. Broad lets a Cummins bouncer hit him and then theatrically puts his bat in his crease at the end of the over to huge sarcastic cheers from the crowd. The Aussie’s even crack a smile. Never change, Stuart.

58th over: England 249-6 (Stokes 114, Broad 2) IT IS NOT DULL. Stokes smashes Hazlewood miles down the ground for a massive six! Then he aims a pull shot into the stands but doesn’t connect fully… he’s DROPPED! Steve Smith fumbles an easy chance. The crowd erupts. Cripes.

Australia's Steve Smith drops the ball off England's Ben Stokes.
Australia's Steve Smith drops the ball off England's Ben Stokes. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

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Here we go. Strap yourselves in OBO.

The Australians head out onto the pitch to a huge chorus of boos. No amount of nocellara olives and champagne is going to placate this wild mob.

Stuart Broad: The Wallflower Years:

Our man Ali Martin has unearthed this:

I’m off for a quick lie-down to get my heartbeat back to normal. Back soon.

Updated

The OBO mailbag has exploded with reaction to Bairstow’s dismissal – safe to say people are split well and truly down the middle by it.

It was firmly in the rules of the game and Bairstow was no doubt dozy in his actions, wandering out of his crease assuming the ball to be dead. Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Strauss and Michael Atherton all think that the wicket is fine and good sharp thinking by Carey behind the stumps.

Now, I’m not a former England or Australia Test Captain (sorry if that comes as a shock) but my gut reaction is that i’m not sure how I feel about it and can safely say that if I saw England do that to an Australian batter then I’d feel the same.

In and amongst it all – this made me chuckle from Simon Dennis:

“Hmmm I like my Ashes spicy. Why didn’t Bairstow simply carry Carey to the boundary and toss him over the rope?”

Updated

Dramatic scenes in the Long Room. Ben Stokes is cheered to the rafters by the members and then when the Australian side enter they are booed and jeered at as they walk through to their changing rooms. Usman Khawaja and David Warner get into heated discussion with a few of the old duffers boys and have to be peeled away by teammates and the umpires. Eoin Morgan, who has been at Middlesex and around Lord’s since he was a teenager says he never seen anything like that before.

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57th over: England 243-6 (Stokes 108, Broad 1) Cummins to Stokes… who smashes his opposite number down the ground for four! Send for HELP – I’m running out of adjectives. Stokes is so clinical, a scampered two and then a single to keep the strike. Cummins is now delaying things to run down the clock, trying to get to the safe port of the lunch break. Scintillating. I’m going to say that this has been one of the most remarkable sessions of cricket you are ever likely to witness.

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Actually hard to type. Pulsating cricket.

Stokes smashes 23 runs off the over and goes to a century by hitting three consecutive sixes off Cameron Green! I cannot believe what I am seeing. The crowd is as raucous as a Lord’s crowd can ever have been. Stokes waves his bat almost bashfully. What a player he is.

55th over: England 236-6 (Stokes 101, Broad 1)

England's Ben Stokes hits the ball for four runs.
England's Ben Stokes hits the ball for four runs. Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
Lord’s crowd celebrate a Ben Stokes boundary.
Lord’s crowd celebrate a Ben Stokes boundary. Photograph: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock

Updated

54th over: England 212-6 (Stokes 78, Broad 1) Safe to say the OBO mailbag is absolutely brimming with reaction to that Bairstow dismissal. We’ll have some time at lunch to pick through it all.

54th over: England 210-6 (Stokes 77, Broad 1) My oh my. Stokes has gone into BEAST mode, maybe he’s ticking from the Bairstow dismissal or maybe the cool headed inner-shark in him has just decided that with Stuart Broad joining him and the tail to follow it is time to counter-punch. He smashes three full-blooded pulls to the leg-side fence to pick up three boundaries. 14 runs off the over. This is riveting to watch. Pure sporting drama.

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53rd over: England 196-6 (Stokes 64, Broad 1) It’s all gotten very heated out in the middle. Broad comes out to join Stokes with plenty to say to the Australians. He’s then smashed on the helmet by a Cummins short ball. The crowd are full of boos and jeers. The players in the middle are having plenty of words with each other. My word.

Updated

WICKET! Bairstow *stumped* by Alex Carey! (England 193-6)

Now then. We’ve got a flashpoint here. Boos ring out around Lord’s and there’s an element of confusion. Bairstow ducks a bouncer off Cameron Green and then, assuming the ball is dead, wanders out of his crease to have a word with Stokes or pat down a divot. Alex Carey underarms the ball from behind the stumps and Bairstow is run out stumped!

The Aussies are cock-a-hoop. Bairstow looks incredulous. Silently seething and puce faced he marches off. Umpire Marais Erasmus having given him out after seeing the replay. It’s daft from Bairstow and ruthless from Australia. The crowd are still booing. What to make of all this!

52nd over: England 193-6 (Stokes 62, Broad 0)

England’s Jonny Bairstow (centre) looks frustrated after being run out by Australia’s Alex Carey (not pictured) as players celebrate.
England’s Jonny Bairstow (centre) looks frustrated after being run out by Australia’s Alex Carey (not pictured) as players celebrate. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

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51st over: England 192-5 (Stokes 61, Bairstow 10) Just a single to Ben Stokes, a nudge into the leg-side. We’ve got some controversy coming right up for you…

50th over: England 191-5 (Stokes 60, Bairstow 10) Stokes is watchful, picking up a single to bring Bairstow on strike who duly middles three strokes in a row but all go straight to the fielder.

Our man Simon Burnton has the latest on Ollie Pope:

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49th over: England 190-5 (Stokes 59, Bairstow 10) Cummins drops short and Bairstow pounces, pulling through mid-wicket for four. That confident stroke is followed shortly after with an airy waft. You can’t take your eyes off this. England are just about halfway there and, well, you know the rest.

48th over: England 185-5 (Stokes 58, Bairstow 6) Crunch. Hazlewood serves up a full one that is clattered through cover for four by Bairstow.

The replays showing the Duckett dismissal highlight that Alex Carey took it upon himself to stand down the leg side for that particular delivery, apropos of nothing. There was no signal from Hazlewood that it was part of a plan. If he’d been stood in a regular position the catch would have more than likely been out of reach. Fantastic intuition from the Aussie keeper.

47th over: England 177-5 (Stokes 57, Bairstow 1) A nudge into the covers by Bairstow gets him off the mark. A watchful over with Australia on the prowl and England trying to dig in and survive this period after the loss of Duckett.

46th over: England 177-5 (Stokes 53, Bairstow 0) Jonny Bairstow joins Stokes in the middle and all English hopes now rest on their broad shoulders. Duckett had to drag himself from the field, a fine knock but another opportunity to get on the honours board in this Test gone begging. More importantly you feel he’s left his teammates too much to do. The wicket meant a lot to the Aussies, they celebrated feverishly.

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WICKET! Duckett c Carey b Hazlewood 83 (England 177-5)

Duckett perishes straight after drinks! A bouncer from Hazlewood is top-edged and taken very well by Alex Carey behind the stumps. Carey was hanging down the leg-side expecting it and Australia have the breakthrough.

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Ben Duckett (not pictured) for 83 runs.
Australia’s Josh Hazlewood celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Ben Duckett (not pictured) for 83 runs. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

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45th over: England 174-4 (Duckett 79, Stokes 53) England see out the first hour, nicking four runs off Cameron Green and getting safely through to drinks. The target is now 197 runs for England and still six wickets for Australia. How’s your morning tea/coffee going down?

Geoffrey Earp joins us from Genoa, Italy.

“Hi James. Dream Day 5 finish?

England take it down to the wire with a heroic, blustering BazBall recovery, but in the final over of the day they fall just four runs short: the very four runs that Nathan Lyons-heart heroically scored yesterday. Dreamers, dream on…”

44th over: England 170-4 (Duckett 79, Stokes 53) A couple to Stokes who walks down the pitch at Hazelwood and steers him out to deep point where Khawaja hoovers up.

Hello to Tom Ivers Down Under:

“Writing from Sydney to predictably bemoan the overturning of Starc’s catch late yesterday. Consensus seems to be that the law has been followed and so be it. I would suggest that if that’s the case then the law needs to be changed post haste.

On countless occasions we’ve seen fielders hurl the ball in the air in celebration following a catch a mere split second after completion. And yet we have a catch ruled not out yesterday after the fielder rubs the ball on the ground momentarily after securing the catch completely. Its a nonsense.

In any case, decisions go against you and you have to get on with it, I’m more just pointing out the absurdity of this rule. England looking good here it must be said.”

Agree with all of this, Tom.

43rd over: England 168-4 (Duckett 79, Stokes 51) Green sends down two bouncers and then tries his luck with another that is rightly called a wide by the umpire. You can only have two per over, big man. Shot! Another pull and another four to Duckett! The ball whistling to the fence behind square.

“Hi James

This time last year I wrote to you before England had to chase 378 against India at Edgbaston and smugly promised that if they were to succeed then I would officially change my name by deed poll to Brian B**B*** Withington. Astonishingly, wonderfully, they did, but (less surprisingly) I, shabbily, didn’t.

I don’t know what to promise if England were ludicrously, stupidly to win this game, but I can safely say that alcohol may be consumed alongside the helpings of humble pie.”

Suggestions for Brian’s inevitable visit to Deed Poll HQ later?

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42nd over: England 163-4 (Duckett 75, Stokes 51) Hello Gruesome. Hazlewood replaces Starc at the Nursery End and Duckett greets him with a powerful pull shot for four! A couple of singles keep England ticking.

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41st over: England 155-4 (Duckett 69, Stokes 50) A swivel-pull off his hip brings Ben Stokes his 29th Test Fifty. Warm applause at Lord’s. England still have hope whilst he is at the crease even if it’s still a sliver at the moment.

40th over: England 150-4 (Duckett 67, Stokes 47) England reach 150 and this partnership stretches over 100 runs. Starc goes short for an over and looks slightly less threatening. Cameron Green is coming on, he has looked the most potent with short ball in this game. Needs to keep his big size 14s behind the crease line, mind.

39th over: England 147-4 (Duckett 65, Stokes 46) Cat and mouse stuff. Stokes charges Cummins who sees him coming and bangs it in shorter, Stokes re-adjusts and gets a thick outside edge wide of the slips for four. The two men share a smile.

38th over: England 138-4 (Duckett 63, Stokes 40) STOKES IS PINNED BY STARC AND GIVEN LBW… he makes the T-sign straightaway suggesting he knows something the umpire doesn’t. Sure enough he clobbered the ball into his boot. NOT OUT. Starc is looking dangerous, swinging the ball both ways at high pace and the clouds have rolled into North-West London. It’s tense, thrilling Test cricket.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc smiles after England’s captain Ben Stokes appeals against his lbw.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc smiles after England’s captain Ben Stokes appeals against his lbw. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

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37th over: England 137-4 (Duckett 63, Stokes 39) Duckett continues to pick up runs with his short-armed paddle shot to leg. A couple off Cummins’ latest.

Dave Kelly is going through the emotions deep out in the Norwegian sea:

“Hi James, quietly reading every word, nervous and excited in equal measure - from the lovely Norwegian Sea – somewhat more water out of my window than the Bangkok hotel view!”

Looks a decent spot Dave, no comments about England’s batting being ‘all at sea’ either.

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For anyone in need of the overseas TMS link, Bill Hargreaves has got you covered – if you copy and paste the link below into your browser you should be set.

https://m.youtube.com/live/N-IOCFPWVd0?feature=share

36th over: England 135-4 (Duckett 61, Stokes 39) A maiden to Mitchell Starc and a searching one at that. A yorker pins Stokes on the ankle but the ball was just sliding past the leg-stump. Stokes then clouts a cover drive straight to the fielder before being beaten by one that nips away at the last. The ball moving both ways in that over. Tricky stuff.

“Hi Jim!”

Hello to you Olivia Roberts

“Maybe it’s heatstroke caused by the steamy 38 degrees in Damascus here today but I am still mostly signed up this England approach. As crackpot as some of it seems (cough, opening batsman style, cough), and definitely in need of some nuance, I’m kind-of digging their vibe. I also really don’t buy this ‘well, that’s a 5-0 whitewash in the bag’. First test was close, this one is definitely showing some flaws but but…..let’s just say I bet everyone is still fascinated enough to see what happens in the next Test? Fingers crossed everyone!”

Updated

35th over: England 135-4 (Duckett 61, Stokes 39) Cummins beats Duckett on the outside edge with a back of a length delivery that shapes away late. The diminutive Duckett then pounces on a shorter ball and pulls it powerfully for four. Decent start to the day this for England.

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Not a bad spot to follow the OBO from:

34th over: England 131-4 (Duckett 57, Stokes 39) Huge cheers ring out at Lord’s as Stokes clips Starc neatly off his pads for four and follows that up next ball with a textbook off drive for more of the same. Two lovely shots. Duckett plays two paddle pulls to pick up three more to make it a total of 13 runs off the over.

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33rd over: England 118-4 (Duckett 53, Stokes 30) Pat Cummins to start from t’other end (the pavilion). These two were so potent last evening for Australia. Three singles off the over, Stokes and Duckett happy to nudge into the gaps and scamper singles.

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32nd over: England 115-4 (Duckett 51, Stokes 29) A single to Ben Duckett to open England’s account for the day gets a slightly ironic cheer from those inside the ground. Stokes to face Starc. Oooh thats close. A leave to one that tailed back is a bit too close for comfort and next ball Starc spears one into his pads and the Aussies go up as one… NOT OUT – Stokes got an inside edge. That’s one over done – how was it for you?

Updated

Here come the players. “An enticing day in prospect” says Mike Atherton on the TV commentary. Mitchell Starc has the ball in hand and Ben Duckett will be on strike first up. Australia need six wickets and are 85% favourites to win according to WinViz. England need the tiny matter of 257 more runs.

“We’ll get em in… sixes?”

Updated

Kim Thonger isn’t so sure though:

“This series is becoming so bizarre that I feel the writing team behind Breaking Bad are scripting it. Seems to me it’s inevitable that in the first half hour today six sixes will come off one over from Travis Head, and that will be followed in the next over by a Cummings double hat trick to take the six wickets required to win the game.”

Updated

Good morning to Ben Heywood, I think.

“Morning James. Let’s just get one thing clear: England are not going to win this. Given Duckett, Stokes and Bairstow are also our most gung-ho trio of recognised batsmen not renowned (with one glorious exception) for digging in and that Anderson, Tongue and Broad can barely hit double figures and I can’t see anything but a resounding Aussie win as they roll us for about 170.

We would then have to win three on the spin to regain the urn. It’s a narrative we can cling to, but realistically, the Ashes could well be over by lunchtime, and that’s a lot of widdle on the Bazball parade. Miracle time, Ben. Again…”

Thanks for your emails, i’m delving in as we speak.

If you’d like to get in touch then do drop me a line on Email or tweet @Jimbo_Cricket. I was at Lord’s for the first few days of this Test before heading to the wedding of an old friend yesterday where it was a case of people sidling up throughout the day with whispered updates, the sort of occasion where the OBO is worth its weight in gold. Furtive glances at the live-text over the canapes and especially when the Best Man has gone rogue in his speech…

It’s always lovely to hear where people are tuning in from and what they are up to whilst following. Maybe, just maybe, today could be one of those memorable days?

Updated

Here’s Ali Martin on yesterday’s shenanigans:

Two types of citrus. Whilst I pad through to the kitchen briefly to sort some marmalade on toast and a caffeine hit you should definitely get stuck into m’colleague Geoff Lemon’s take on Nathan Lyon’s batting:

A statement from the MCC to have with your Kenco. The custodians of the Laws of Cricket have served to clarify matters in relation to that Starc/Duckett catch/non catch”

In relation to the below incident, Law 33.3 clearly states that a catch is only completed when the fielder has ‘complete control over the ball and his/her own movement, the ball cannot touch the ground before then. In this particular incident, Mitchell Starc was still sliding as the ball rubbed the ground, therefore he was not in control of his movement.”

Updated

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the final knockings of this second Ashes Test. Never a dull moment eh?

Yesterday saw a short pitched barrage from Ben Stokes’ England side that would have made Douglas Jardine proud. The mid-pitch blitzkrieg did the job in the end, not before a hobbling Nathan Lyon limped out to the middle to add a bizarre coda to the end of the Australian innings that was ultimately worth 15 more runs to their total.

Set 371 runs to win, England were swaying on the ropes at 41-4, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc ruthless with the new ball. The two Bens - Duckett and Stokes - managed to shore things up for England, the clearly hindered captain happy to play second fiddle to a pugilistic Duckett.

More drama arrived just before the close in the form of your friend and mine – the controversial catch. Duckett toe-edged a short ball to fine leg where Mitchell Starc took a fine diving catch. Or did he? Replays showed Starc dragged the ball along the turf after pouching the ball and third umpire Marais Erasmus was happy to chalk it off the wickets column. The Aussies were spewing and England were left still clinging on to the urn with about half a pinkie finger.

At 114-4 and still needing a further 257 runs to level the series 1-1 the odds are stacked against them. Exactly how they like it?

Jim here with the call for the end of this match. Are we about to witness more remarkable/controversial/scarcely believable scenes in this Test match? There’s only one way to find out.

Updated

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