Simon Burnton's day one report
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Travis Head goes straight into an interview with Alison Mitchell. “Losing the toss this morning, we’ve done an exceptionally good job day one,” he says. “There’s still plenty there, as we’ve seen with the second new ball.”
What’s been the key to his attacking success in recent times – mindset, or a technical thing? “Bit of all of the above,” Head reckons. “Making sure I’m in really good positions. I felt like today I was tested with that, there were moments when they were going to come with plans. Trying to be adjustable on the job and navigate through those periods, stay really relaxed at the same time. It’s nice when you have a bloke at the other end playing as well as [Steve Smith] is. I’ve always loved batting with Steve, I feel like I go under the radar because there are so many plans that have to go into bowling to him because he’s so unique.” He gives a good interview, and he’s played a very good innings.
That’s it from me. Thanks for your company and correspondence. A match report will be along soon and we’ll be back tomorrow, ready for the early start – 10.30am local time.
Close of play! And the 250 partnership! Australia in charge
85th over: Australia 327-3 (Smith 95, Head 146) Head, facing Shami, continues on his merry way, working the ball square for three with crisp timing. Smith joins in the fun from the last ball as so often, waiting for one in his arc and just easing it through the covers for four. That takes the partnership to 251, and crowds a day that has belonged to Australia ever since just after lunch, when they were 76-3. Travis Head has played the overseas innings of his life, and Steve Smith has just been Steve Smith. India started well but faded fast, taking far too long to come up with any plans.
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84th over: Australia 320-3 (Smith 91, Head 143) One of the Aussie commentators, Matthew Hayden I think, has been coaching Head, urging him on to stay in for a few more minutes and be there to add yet more runs tomorrow. He seems not to have spotted that Head is representing the Bazball party. Spying an attempted yorker from Siraj, Head squeezes it square for four. Then he gets a length ball on middle and plays a majestic on-drive. It’s not just the moustache that he has nicked from Greg Chappell.
83rd over: Australia 311-3 (Smith 91, Head 134) This is such a good over from Shami. He beats Head outside off, beats him again, then finds the edge – but it’s a thick one that dribbles away for four. Shami now has one for 70 when he could easily have four for 55.
82nd over: Australia 306-3 (Smith 91, Head 129) Siraj shares the new ball, as he did this morning, which may feel like several years ago. He starts well but Smith is biding his time, waiting for that bad ball – and along comes a half-volley, so that’s four more through the covers. If Smith fancies a ton tonight, he has about ten minutes.
81st over: Australia 301-3 (Smith 87, Head 128) Ricky Ponting, one of the better ones in a mixed bunch of commentators here, has been saying that India shouldn’t take the new ball – better to wait till the morning, when the bowlers will be refreshed. Rohit, understandably, thinks otherwise, and calls for the new ball after two looseners from Shami. It looks magnificent, glowing in the evening sun. Smith treats it with due respect and keeps out the last four deliveries.
80th over: Australia 301-3 (Smith 87, Head 128) Siraj takes over from Jadeja. Head misses a pull, or bottom-edges it, and picks up a leg bye, or run, which brings up the 300. Then he definitely bottom-edges a pull, and the ball just misses the bails! He’s had more than his share of luck. And now he may have a new ball to face…
79th over: Australia 299-3 (Smith 86, Head 127) Jadeja concedes his customary three singles – and a then a four, as Smith dances down the track, fails to reach the pitch of the ball, and still somehow shovels it past mid-off.
78th over: Australia 292-3 (Smith 81, Head 125) A maiden from Thakur to Smith, a good effort in the circs.
77th over: Australia 292-3 (Smith 81, Head 125) Groundhog over: three singles again off Jadeja.
“Is there any chance,” says Neal Brasier, “you could highlight the monumental bottle jobs that the India cricket team appear to be (they NEVER deliver when it actually matters) or will you continue to ignore that fact as it might threaten your traffic numbers from the subcontinent?”
Steady on! OK, India may not have won an ICC tournament for a decade – but they’ve beaten Australia in four series running, home and away. And we see enough of their players in all cricket, especially the IPL, to know that they handle pressure rather well.
Also, for what it’s worth, I don’t look at the traffic numbers, and have never heard anyone on the Guardian sports desk talk about how they are split between different parts of the world.
76th over: Australia 289-3 (Smith 79, Head 124) Head gets a full ball from Thakur, so he lofts it over cover with his head back, like a bad striker blasting the ball over the bar. The he gets a short one, so he pops it over the slips for four more. Too easy – but Head also plays and misses at two balls that keep low.
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75th over: Australia 280-3 (Smith 78, Head 116) Three singles off the over from Jadeja.
74th over: Australia 277-3 (Smith 76, Head 115) Thakur finishes a tidy over by trying a yorker, which again finds the inside edge of Smith’s bat. In a parable universe, facing the same bowling, Australia are 240-7.
73rd over: Australia 276-3 (Smith 75, Head 115) Good as he was in his first spell, Jadeja is still empty-handed, like so many spinners on the first day of Tests in England. His figures are 11-0-35-0.
The 200 partnership between Smith and Head!
Head cuts Jadeja for four to bring up the 200 partnership, off 48.2 overs. It’s been a spectacular turnaround, and quite possibly a matchwinner.
72nd over: Australia 271-3 (Smith 74, Head 111) Thakur starts his over badly, with a gift on the pads, whipped away for four by Head. After that he does well and he has Head in some pain with a ball that hits him on the thigh, not on the thigh pad.
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71st over: Australia 267-3 (Smith 74, Head 107) Jadeja gets the plug back in, allowing Smith just one scoring shot, a clip for two.
70th over: Australia 265-3 (Smith 72, Head 107) Smith hasn’t been flawless, and now, facing Thakur, he gets way with another of those edges that fall short of slip.
An email comes in from my friend and colleague Rob Smyth, bearing a typically telling stat.
“Travis Head 1.0 (2018-2020): 19 Tests, 1153 runs at 39.65, s/r 50.
“Travis Head 2.0 (2021-23): 18 Tests, 1313 at 57.08, s/r 82.”
“In that second period, only Brook, Duckett and Pant have a higher strike-rate (min: 10 innings).” And, as Rob adds, Head did that off his own bat, not as part of a team policy.
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69th over: Australia 263-3 (Smith 71, Head 106) Rohit opts for a double change, bringing back Jadeja. He was the thriftiest of the bowlers in his first spell, but now Smith is in the groove, advancing to drive him for two fours. A caption shows that Smith has seven fours from 69 balls since tea, after hitting only four off 95 in the whole afternoon session.
68th over: Australia 254-3 (Smith 63, Head 105) Siraj, whose chin music nearly worked, gives way to Thakur. His line of attack to Smith is the half-volley, which doesn’t go so well, bringing clips to leg for four and two. When Thakur gets his length right, Smith gets lucky with a Harrow drive.
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Drinks: Aussies on top
67th over: Australia 247-3 (Smith 57, Head 105) Head, facing Shami, plays an off drive off the back foot, on the up. That’s the best stroke he’s played for ages, and a bit of a worry if you’re expecting England to regain the Ashes. Mind you, he follows up with another of his false shots, a strange bat-pad prod that doesn’t quite carry the ball back to the bowler. And that’s drinks, with Australia laughing all the way to the mace. They’ve helped themselves to 77 off 16 overs in the past hour and a quarter.
66th over: Australia 243-3 (Smith 57, Head 101) Siraj goes round the wicket to Smith with a leg gully, which may be a sign of India waking up. Not that Smith is bothered: he just takes guard outside leg, waits for the bad ball as usual, and when it comes, clips it off his toes for four.
65th over: Australia 238-3 (Smith 53, Head 100) Shami had just rattled Head with a superb bouncer, forcing him to jag out of the way. But Head was not for turning. The partnership, by the way, has ballooned to 162.
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A hundred to Travis Head!
His first in a Test outside Australia! And it’s taken just 106 balls! A great moment for Travis Head, who takes off his helmet and shows the crowd his 70s-style moustache. The shot was an uncomfortable one, a mistimed pull, but he gets full credit for maintaining his aggression. He has spent the whole of this innings with Steve Smith, probably the best batter in the world, and has outscored him by nearly three to one.
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64th over: Australia 232-3 (Smith 53, Head 99) Siraj continues to bang it in. The first ball is a bouncer that beats Head. The second is a bouncer that takes the edge – the inside edge, looping away to backward square leg, where Rohit doesn’t have anyone. You can’t have fielders everywhere, but a short fine leg would make sense to both these batters. I seem to remember Smith being caught there last time he played at the Oval, against England in 2019. It is, of course, an easy game from here.
63rd over: Australia 225-3 (Smith 53, Head 98) Shami is still going and he beats Smith with one that jags away off the seam.
Fifty to Steve Smith!
62nd over: Australia 225-3 (Smith 50, Head 97) Ladies and gentlemen, we have a change of bowling! Yadav gets a hard-earned breather as Siraj returns. Hell, we even have a change of policy, as Rohit decides it’s time for some chin music. The first ball is a bouncer that lands Head on his arse. The second is a bouncer that he pulls to the legside sweeper for two. The third is a bouncer that bangs him on the helmet – he has the checks but seems fine, happily. Later in the over Smith takes a quick single to mid-on to reach fifty off 144 balls. He’s been playing old-school Test cricket, while Head has decided “when in Rome, do as Ben Stokes does”.
Here’s something to read about one Ali by another, who knows him better than most.
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61st over: Australia 222-3 (Smith 49, Head 94) Better from Shami, who bounces back from a battering in the previous over by drawing a nick from Head followed by five dots in a row from Smith.
60th over: Australia 221-3 (Smith 49, Head 93) Yadav continues, as he may well do forever. Smith waits for the bad ball and gets two of them: both straight half-volleys, one stroked back past a weary bowler, the other worked through midwicket. That’s 51 off 54 balls since tea: “the run rate these first nine overs,” says Alison Mitchell with a smile in her voice, “almost England-esque.”
Ben Stokes and Heather Knight are projected side-by-side on London’s iconic Tower Bridge in prep for the men’s and women’s Ashes competitions… pic.twitter.com/zq1HSDsKkZ
— Women's Sport Trust (@WomenSportTrust) June 7, 2023
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59th over: Australia 212-3 (Smith 41, Head 92) Shami tries the bouncer again to Head, but it’s too wide and he just pats it over the slips for four. And again! For six this time. Thirteen off the over. If only they had the players wired up for interviews on the field, and the director could ask Virat Kohli what he makes of all this.
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57th over: Australia 199-3 (Smith 40, Head 80) Is Rohit going for the record for the fewest bowling changes in one day? He keeps Yadav on for a seventh over and the batters say “Thanks mate”. Head works the ball away to leg for a two and a single; Smith creams it past cover for four.
“On over rates,” says Andrew Moore, “I think I’ve bored enough people on this website over the years, but I reckon in June it gets too dark for cricket at about 8:30pm. Why can’t they just carry on until the overs are bowled? That is what happens on day 5, why not every other day?”
57th over: Australia 192-3 (Smith 36, Head 77) Suddenly, in the second over of Shami’s spell, it’s all happening. A bouncer, which Head, hooking, bottom-edges into the crease. A back-of-a-length ball outside off, which Head blazes through the hands of Rahane at third slip. An inswinger, which Smith outside-edges short of slip – saved by his soft hands. So Shami has three moral victories in the over, and the scorebook, which can be a right bastard, shows seven runs and no wickets.
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56th over: Australia 185-3 (Smith 35, Head 71) Jadeja wasn’t changing ends – it’s Yadav, yet again. He keeps it tight but doesn’t offer a threat.
“Greetings,” an unusual email begins. “This is Nigam Nuggehalli from India. Our daily lives are full of aggravations. On most days I have come to believe that three cancellations are built into the cab-hailing algorithm. The vegetable seller who delivers to my building chooses to play hooky on only those days that I have run out of vegetables. My TV connection succumbs to the weather only when Kohli nears his hundred. My online property tax payments to the local municipality crash on or about the last date for receiving an early payment discount. Most of us search for at least one avenue to make our lives more bearable.
“Test cricket. Test cricket is what make our lives more bearable. Today, after a long hiatus during which we pursued commerce (IPL, cough cough) instead of civility, we have come back to the comfortable embrace of white clothes. Two proud teams are going to be locked into a contest over five days where it’s not merely fortune but fortitutude that will be tested once again.
“I am not too worried about the result. In these benighted days of franchise cricket, the fact that we can spend some time in mutual communion over the next five days discussing the pinnacle of sport is a blessing I will hang on to for dear life.”
55th over: Australia 184-3 (Smith 35, Head 70) Rohit finally gets the memo, giving Jadeja a rest (or perhaps a change of ends) and summoning Mohammed Shami, the leader of the pack. He’s on the spot straight away, testing Smith with his swing.
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54th over: Australia 184-3 (Smith 35, Head 70) It’s still Yadav, and Head, who hasn’t faced him for aged, knows the first ball will be line and length – so he batters it on the up for four. Very Bazball! A slower delivery defeats Smith, keeping low and taking his inside edge, but he survives. Come on Rohit, make something happen.
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Hundred partnership between Smith and Head
53rd over: Australia 178-3 (Smith 34, Head 66) No change at the other end either, as Jadeja continues – and this doesn’t go so well. He starts with a rank loosener, a half-volley that Head slaps away for four. A single then brings up the hundred partnership off 28.1 overs. These two have done very well in their contrasting ways. Two more singles as they set off in search of 200.
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52nd over: Australia 171-3 (Smith 33, Head 60) Did Rohit spend the tea break coming up with a bold new plan? He did not. Yadav continues, but to be fair, it goes well as he goes back to bowling maidens to Smith.
Time for some contrarianism. “I understand all the debates about over rates,” says Simon Thomas, “but personally, I’ve been going to Test matches in England for 30 years and I don’t ever recall being short-changed with the amount of play I saw. I don’t usually remember much by the end of play, true, but why always the wailing about it? It’s not as if the games are always petering out into draws, is it? There are more sixes, more total collapses and more positive results than ever before. If they also bowled another 15/20 overs a day more games would be over inside two days and who wants that?”
Great day of cricket @TimdeLisle. I just don't really get why India won't play Ashwin. He's one of the most skilful bowlers on any surface, he's a bowler Aussie's would be happier not facing. On the display so far surely you don't need Yadav and Thakur. Baffling.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) June 7, 2023
A slow over rate is often cast as a value for money issue, but it's also about the balance of the game @TimdeLisle. All sides do it, but it makes it much easier to pick four seamers and bowl first if you can leave half a dozen or so not bowled and have a new ball in the morning
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) June 7, 2023
Tea! Australia win the afternoon
51st over: Australia 170-3 (Smith 33, Head 60) One more of those tidy overs from Jadeja and it’s time for tea. The Aussies lost Marnus Labuschagne just after lunch, but since then they haven’t looked back. These two have added 94 with Travis Head leading the charge and Steve Smith booking in for bed and breakfast.
For India, Ravi Jadeja has been good, but the over rate has still been feeble, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy has been on the passive side and he may have made a big mistake by leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin. See you shortly.
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50th over: Australia 169-3 (Smith 33, Head 59) Yadav finally concedes a run in this spell – in fact five of them, as Head finds enough width to play a cracking cut shot and then follows up with a single. Yadav then does well to turn Smith around and induce a nick to second slip, but it’s on the bounce.
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49th over: Australia 164-3 (Smith 33, Head 54) Jadeja switches to over the wicket for Head and immediately beats him – on the inside edge, as the ball jags in from wide of off. Either there’s some first-day turn in this very interesting pitch, or there’s some rough out wide.
48th over: Australia 163-3 (Smith 33, Head 53) Yadav, taking his cue from Jadeja, keeps Smith quiet again. Meanwhile a caption informs us that this is already Head’s highest Test score in England. Be warned, Ben and Baz.
47th over: Australia 163-3 (Smith 33, Head 53) Jadeja hasn’t bowled a maiden yet, but he has brought control: his five overs have gone for only 10.
46th over: Australia 161-3 (Smith 32, Head 52) Thakur takes his sweater at last. On comes Umesh Yadav, and he starts with a maiden to Smith.
45th over: Australia 161-3 (Smith 32, Head 52) Jadeja calms things down. If only they had Ashwin to join him on the tandem.
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Fifty to Travis Head!
44th over: Australia 160-3 (Smith 31, Head 52) Sharma gives Thakur a seventh over in a row and perhaps regrets it when he sees a tired long hop. Head helps himself to a punch for four to reach a hard-hitting fifty. He played Bazball for half an hour, then struggled as the Indian seamers pulled their length back, but he’s still there and he may be halfway to a match-winning hundred.
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43rd over: Australia 153-3 (Smith 29, Head 47) Jadeja vs Head is shaping as a good contest within a good contest. Head is beaten again, by the arm ball coming in from around the wicket, but he hangs in there and hits back with an off drive for four.
Time for a history lesson. “When the road from Vauxhall to Camberwell was being planned,” says Ray Wells, “it required purchase of ‘a piece of the land known as The Oval’ (or something like that). That was in 1818. I don’t have the reference to hand but if anyone argues I will find it later.” Peak OBO.
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42nd over: Australia 149-3 (Smith 29, Head 42) Rohit sticks with Thakur again and is rewarded with a tight over that goes for just a single.
41st over: Australia 148-3 (Smith 29, Head 42) Jadeja is asking questions. He lures Head into no-man’s-land and the ball pops up, possibly off bat and pad, but falls short of the man at short leg.
“Why,” asks Ruth Purdue, “is there a win predictor in the 1st innings of the match?” Good question. And I saw it saying Australia had a 64 per cent chance. It’s far too early to say!
40th over: Australia 147-3 (Smith 29, Head 41) Rohit shows some faith in Thakur, keeping him on for a fifth over in this spell. Thakur thanks him by beating Head with a length ball outside off that elicits a limp push with no foot movement. But Head bounces back to take a couple of singles, either side of one by Smith, and the partnership races to 71 off 16 overs. On a pitch this lively, that could be worth 140.
39th over: Australia 144-3 (Smith 28, Head 39) Rohit Sharma turns to spin. If he was Ben Stokes, he would have tried this about two hours ago. On comes Ravi Jadeja, the greatest allrounder to be routinely forgotten when people are discussing who is the world’s greatest allrounder. Smith, pumped up now, gives him the charge but Jadeja sees him coming and fires it in short, so the result is just a highly sprung forward defensive.
38th over: Australia 141-3 (Smith 28, Head 37) Thanks Dan and hello everyone. What an absorbing contest we’ve got here. Travis Head has suddenly gone from living it large to living dangerously. After wafting at one just now, he gets a nick over the slips for four. It was a no-ball anyway from Thakur, but Head is beginning to show why his average plummets when he leaves Australia. Smith, meanwhile, is moving smoothly through the gears: he plays a cover-drive for four, then moves across to flick for four more. Sixteen off the over.
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37th over: Australia 125-3 (Smith 19, Head 32) Siraj pelts Head in the stomach and then digs one in which prompts an ugly cross bat swipe at the ball. An appeal from behind the stumps, led by Kohli, gets everyone interested, but the bat is miles from the rising ball. Maiden over.
With that, I’ll sign off and hand over to the excellent Tim de Lisle. Thanks for keeping me company. Catch you soon.
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“Hi Daniel,” Hi Jon Harris.
“It is just me - or is Smith’s bat so far away from his pads…. it’s like he is reaching for the ball instead of getting his foot to the pitch of the ball.”
I’m not going to be overly critical of one of the best batters that’s ever played the game, but you’re right. He does play away from his body. But it clearly works. Watch his head position and focus on his weight transfer instead. His hands might be coming from an odd angle but doing so with his body in a solid position.
That’ll be drink. Good fight back from Australia with Head leading the charge. He’s raced to 32 off 28 balls.
36th over: Australia 125-3 (Smith 19, Head 32) A wonderful clip through midwicket for four from Smith eases some of the pressure that was building. The Indian bowlers had done well to restrict the batters but this one, from Thakur, is too full and straight and Smith is too good to miss out.
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Got a couple of readers helping out those who are keen to listen to some commentary:
Harry Chapman has this: “As an Englishmen in the US I’m using the SEN NZ link: SEN link https://www.sen.com.au/listen-live-nz/
“Unfortunately the students I’m teaching English and History too keep interrupting with questions and needing help with assignments. Who would be a high school teacher during the summer eh?”
And P Robson has kindly sent in this: “Scrolling down the comments I see that TMS is hard to find. Download the Australian ABC app go to ABC Sport and bob’s your uncle. It may be zone limited (the app in general is not) but it is out there – listening to Aggers as I write.”
Good luck folks.
35th over: Australia 120-3 (Smith 15, Head 31) Siraj to Smith is shaping up nicely. Neither dominating. Both respecting each other. Smith gets two with a tuck off his hips. Siraj holding his line well.
34th over: Australia 117-3 (Smith 13, Head 30) Better length from Thakur. He’s targeting the stumps and getting it up. The movement through the air is preventing the batters from unleashing full bloodied drives and there’s an appeal for lbw to Smith, but a massive inside edge quietens them down soon enough. Head ticks along with another single to deep sqaure.
This from David Warner (Guessing it’s not the same one..):
“Greetings Dan from a wintry Melbourne. Been a brilliant first few hours, punch and counter punch. For the criticisms and dismay about test cricket and this concept let’s just enjoy this for the brilliant entertainment it is. Now the bargaining about how little sleep I can have before work begins.”
Thanks for joining me Dave. Hope work goes OK on little sleep.
33rd over: Australia 116-3 (Smith 13, Head 29) A maiden from Siraj to Smith who has absorbed the pressure. Settled on a good length but could be slightly fuller. The ball is starting to tail in and out quite late. Get it up a touch and he might be in business.
TMS overseas update: Someone has just been in touch to say that these are only available for England Tests, not WTC events. Sorry folks. Please do let me know if that information is incorrect.
32nd over: 116-3 (Smith 13, Head 29) Thakur back on and he’s troubling Head with a lifting ball from a tricky length. That catches the outside edge and loops just wide of gully. Now it’s Smith who looks uncomfortable but he manages to navigate a leg cutter and then some extra bounce before punching a single between point and cover to close the set.
A very good point raised by Greg Morris on the WTC final venue question. Hard to argue against this. Back to the drawing board.
“In this era of climate crisis, cricket could start to reduce its environmental impact by choosing a (preferably neutral) venue which involves the least travel for teams and fans once the finalists are known. It’s mitigated this time by Australia being here for the ashes, but otherwise the idea of Australia and India playing a one-off game in England is utterly ludicrous viewed through that lens.”
31st over: Australia 113-3 (Smith 12, Head 28) Bang! Bang! Head is on the march. Back to back boundaries – first a wristy flick away to deep square leg and then a dismissive swat behind square on the off side – means he’s striking at 147.36. He closes out the Shami over by stealing a single down the leg side. Wonderful counterattacking from the Aussie.
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Both Samuel Fiddian and Heather Wymer have been in touch to inform me that Melbourne has a sports stadium called “The Melbourne Rectangular Stadium” (when not being referred to by the sponsor’s title).
“I’d like to believe there was a sense of humour and irony involved, but I’ve always thought it was simply a massive failure of imagination,” says Sam.
“Every other big stadium in the city is oval to cater for the AFL,” adds Heather.
30th over: Australia 104-3 (Smith 12, Head 19) NO RUN! Smith closes the over with a trademark call and a shuffle down the pitch after bunting the ball to mid on. It started with a cracking shot from Head who picked up the length early and whipped Siraj towards the midwicket fence. It was a poor ball but the shot was wonderful. He’s flying now.
29th over: Australia 99-3 (Smith 12, Head 14) Another good one from Shami as he sticks with that full length. Just a single for Head and a leg bye off it. Smith being asked questions and he’s answering them with a soft bat and shouldered arms.
This is the best suggestion I’ve come across:
For selecting the WTC final venue, neither “always 🏴” nor “top qualifier hosts” is a good idea.
— Michael Appleton (@michelappleton) June 7, 2023
Instead:
1) Rotate between the following three regions:
🏴/ ☘️ / 🏝️
🇮🇳/ 🇱🇰/ 🇧🇩 / 🇵🇰 / 🇦🇫
🇦🇺/ 🇳🇿/ 🇿🇦/ 🇿🇼
2) Once the finalists have qualified, ensure it’s a neutral venue. https://t.co/sLLQW09AYx
Hey, Ian Sargeant, you’ve got a guardian angel in the shape of John Foster.
“Re Ian Sargeant in Prague - a) I’m jealous and b) the place to watch cricket was the much missed Bob’s Bar off Old Town Square (managed to drag a companion there to watch a typically rubbish England match in the 2007 World Cup - if an Eastern European can put up with that, you know she loves you). Maybe it’s been resurrected. The Dubliners in Prague 1 is the only other place. They’ll have it on, they have everything on. But it’s not exactly cosy.
”Personally, I’d just stump up for the data roaming and settle in for a long afternoon session at U Cerneho Vola with my phone and a never ending flow of beers and sausages.
”Naz dravi!”
28th over: Australia 97-3 (Smith 12, Head 13) Two slips and a gully for Head as he punches, and only narrowly misses a rising ball from Siraj. He then gets down the other end with a little push towards point. Smith looks more assured as he climbs with the bounce and opens the face to collect three past cover. Head is then gifted four runs as Siraj closes the over with a leg side half volley that is given the treatment it deserves.
“I have only been to the Oval once for the Concert for Bangladesh organised by Pete Townsend in August 1971. The Who, in their pomp after the release of “Who’s Next, were top of the bill and tore the place down – in my top 5 concerts of all time. Other acts included Rod and the Faces, Mott the Hoople and America (awful), Linda Lewis and Atomic Rooster. It took us two days to hitchhike home to Glasgow.”
Well, P Robson, if you’re reading this and writing in I’m guessing you’re a cricket fan. In that case I can’t recommend the Oval enough. It’s a terrific ground. Probably my favourite in England. Though Edgbaston and Old Trafford run it close.
27th over: Australia 89-3 (Smith 9, Head 8) A lively set from Shami. Smith gets four down to fine leg but it’s not far from Bharat diving to his left. That prompts a change in the field as the man at fourth slip moves across to leg slip. That in turn encourages Shami to dig in a bumper and there’s an appeal for a glove behind as Smith takes a swipe at it. India on top now. Definite shift in the energy after that wicket.
Sending out an SOS to our OBO readers. Has anyone got a link to the TMS overseas link? I’m having trouble locating it. You’d be doing us all a massive favour!
26th over: Australia 85-3 (Smith 5, Head 8) Travis Head ain’t messing about. He picks up another boundary as he opens the face from a forward press and squeezes one past point. All time, no risk. Lovely shot. Smith adds a single as Australia look to rebuild.
25th over: Australia 80-3 (Smith 4, Head 4) That was the fullest ball Shami bowled to Labuschagne and it did the trick. It was a poor drive from a player who is usually so proficient on the front foot. His head was nowhere near the line of the ball and his hands were well away from his pads. But that’s what happens when you get your length right. The new man Travis head is off the mark with a steer down to a wide deep third off the back foot. Shami won’t mind. He’s got the breakthrough right after lunch.
WICKET! Labuschagne b Shami 26 (Australia 76-3)
Got him! Full and angled in and Marnus has been castled. The chat at lunch focussed on India’s length. They were definitely too short at times and their senior bowler has rectified that immediately. Invites the drive and moves it just enough to find the gap between bat and pad. Labuschagne will be annoyed with his shot selection but credit to the bowler.
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24th over: Australia 76-2 (Labuschagne 26, Smith 4) Siraj steams in and starts with a wild wide down the leg side. Bharat did well to grab on there. Smith tucks on fine down off his ankles and Shami prevent the boundary with a big boot.
Right then. We’re back at it. Siraj has the ball again. Smith and his understudy, Labuschagne at the crease. Big hour coming up.
“Greetings from Prague,” a delight to have you, Ian Sargeant.
“We (me - elder statesman of West End Esher cc - and Matt - captain of Shepperton cc) have just landed to witness another sporting event today. Thanks for keeping us posted via MBM. Strangely we can’t find a bar with the cricket on. We are trying a few........”
Ah yes, just a small event going on in the Golden City this evening? Good luck. Hope you manage to source a screen with the cricket on.
Got some bits here on the Oval chat:
Ewan Glenton points out that, “There are of course other cricket grounds called ‘oval’, but this doesn’t seem to be used in other sports; I’ve never heard of a football stadium called ‘The Rectangle’, for example.”
Meanwhile, Tom Paternoster-Howe, says, “Regarding the Oval, Richard O’Hagan is half right. It’s currently called the Kia Oval ‘cos of sponsorship, innit? Also, there was a band called The Band. They were Bob Dylan’s backing band from ’65 to ’67 when he went electric. Scorsese directed the film of their final concert in 1976, called The Last Waltz. It’s dead good.”
I quite The Band, actually. Haven’t heard of that film before. Will check it out. But will have to weight for my shift to end. (sorry)
“23 overs in the first 2 hours ? You’re kidding me. And how much are the tickets?”
I’m paying £80 for my ticket on Friday, but I’m on your page Xcskidog (I’m guessing that’s not your real name). Pretty frustrating. It was good cricket, mind.
“Hello Daniel,” hi Geoff Wignall. All good your side?
“Given their form of recent times, isn’t Khawaja’s the bigger scalp for India? Or did you simply mean (12:33) that Warner is big headed?”
Ha! As a fully paid up member of the large head club, I’ll never take aim at anyone’s cranium. Unless you mean he’s full of himself.
Reason I said he was the big scalp is because he was just starting to click. A strong pull shot, 16 off one over and then a gorgeous cover drive just before he got out. Felt like the Warner of old.
Everyone well fed? Do share what you had for lunch. 10 points for most creative meal or if it was better than my Goan chicken curry (I doubt it).
Let’s dig into the correspondence now…
While you’re nibbling on your lunch, why not sink your teeth into the meaty piece from James Wallace on the delectable Dukes ball.
This one first appeared in the latest Wisden Almanack but for those of you who missed it, it really is worth your time:
Lunch: Australia 73-2 (Labuschagne 26, Smith 2)
With the final ball of the 23rd over bowled, the umpires call a close to the opening session of the first day at The Oval. Hard to call a clear winner after the early exchanges. India won the toss and chose to bowl so perhaps they were banking on at least one more wicket but the big scalp of David Warner a short while ago means they’re maybe just ahead.
Siraj and Shami were excellent with the new ball before Warner and Labuschagne fought back against the change bowlers.
The two most fidgety batters in the game are there and if they can bed in after lunch Australia will gain a strong foothold in the contest.
I’m off for a quick nibble. See you in a bit.
“Hi Daniel, Why not go all the way and have a biannual 8 team WTC knockout rotated round the world. If a draw then 1st inns runs are the decider.”
It’s a decent idea, Chris Walker, but I actually like the way the WTC is set out. I think it works and I believe we’ve got the two best teams competing in the final. Id’d (idealistically) like to see the event travel around the world. What you do get, though, with England is a guaranteed crowd and a friendly time zone for most of the world.
22nd over: Australia 72-2 (Labuschagne 26, Smith 1) Warner unfurled what was the shot of the day – a sumptuous cover drive that was a clear sign he was finding his groove. But then a shortish ball that was barely a bouncer undid all his hard graft. India won’t care. They’re back in the fight. Smith gets going with a nudge off his hips to close the over.
WICKET! Warner c Bharat b Thakur 43 (Australia 71-2)
Oh no, Davey, what have you done? He looks sick. It’s a nothing ball, short and angled down the leg side. Warner looks to help it on its way but can only glove it. Bharat dives to his right and holds on well but that is a soft dismissal of a batter who was starting to climb through the gears.
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21st over: Australia 67-1 (Warner 39, Labuschagne 26) What was a decent over for India becomes another good one for Australia as the last ball from Yadav is tickled down to the fine leg boundary by Labuschagne. The partnership is now worth 65.
I need to create a little jar that I fill with money for a charity every time Richard O’Hagan sets me straight. Here’s another moment where I stand corrected:
“It isn’t really ‘The Oval’ though, is it? It’s the Kennington Oval. The name is more of a shorthand than anything else. I’m not sure there’s any arrogance about it.”
That’s me told twice!
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20th over: Australia 62-1 (Warner 39, Labuschagne 22) Two from that one thanks to an inside edge for a couple from Labuschagne’s bat. He’s more circumspect once Bharat stands up to the wicket. Thakur sticking with a tight line around the fourth stump.
Bharat has donned the helmet and is now standing up to the stumps for Thakur. This is to prevent Labuschagne from standing outside his crease. If this is the first post you’re reading, the Aussie No. 3 has survived two lbw reviews as a consequence of him standing so far in front of the wickets.
You know, I’ve never thought of it that way. Now I can’t think about anything else!
I love The Oval, it's a great ground. Bit of an arrogant name though. It's like calling your band The Band. There are others you know.
— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) June 7, 2023
19th over: Australia 60-1 (Warner 39, Labuschagne 20) Another maiden from Yadav who has brushed off the rust from his first over. He’s got Warner playing and missing at one and almost brings another back onto the off stump after Warner shouldered arms. Tidy set.
18th over: Australia 60-1 (Warner 39, Labuschagne 20) Australia gaining the upper hand now. Labuschagne moves into the 20s with a tasty steer off the front foot that motors past point. Too much width. In fact, both the change bowlers have been guilty of straying too far away from the stumps. The sun is coming out too. Ominous for the Indians.
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Marnus survives a second time! My goodness, this man has more lives than a bag of cats! He’s so far out of his crease that what looked like it might be close was actually comfortably safe. That one was missing by a distance.
Another review. Could be tight again.
17th over: Australia 55-1 (Warner 38, Labuschagne 16) Better from Yadav. He gets one to climb and crunches Marnus’ finger. He’s OK. That’s what can happen when you hit a probing length. Warner gets a single earlier in the piece with another sweetly struck shot off the back foot to a short and wide one, but this time there’s cover out there.
16th over: Australia 54-1 (Warner 37, Labuschagne 16) A maiden from Thakur which is exactly what Sharma would have wanted after the carnage in the previous set. Better lines and, more importantly, lengths from Thakur. Almost had his man.
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Oooooh! Umpire’s call! The review suggests it was clipping the top of leg stump. Labuschagne getting out of his crease saves him. Good nut from Thakur.
India review! Looks close. I think Thakur might have pinned Labuschagne here. Only question is height.
Here’s a good ‘un from Liam Stanley:
“For all of contemporary cricket’s faults, it is genuinely amazing that a World Test Championship is currently being played in London. Who would have thought 20 years ago that India and Australia would be playing a Test match at the Oval (for positive reasons). The neutrality of the venue is an unexpected intrigue to the whole thing. With that in mind, I’d love to see England vs Australia played in India. Imagine how cool that would be. I’d be interested to know what you or other readers would consider interesting neutral-venue Test match fixtures.”
Since you’re asking, Liam, I think it’s a shame that the second WTC final is being played in England after the first was staged in Southampton.
It’s a global event. It’s been billed as the pinnacle of the format and I’m not a fan of it staying in the same country for two consecutive cycles. Why isn’t this game being played in South Africa, Sri Lanka or New Zealand?
The answers are obvious, and grim, and comes down to cold, hard economics. Still, we can lament the inequities in our game and enjoy what is evidently a brilliant spectacle.
15th over: Australia 54-1 (Warner 37, Labuschagne 16) That’s the David Warner we know and love. First, a belligerent punch off the back foot that sends it screaming to the cover-point fence. Then a cracked cut shot backward of square. Then a flashing scythe that catches the top edge but flies away to deep third. Then a cute dab that brings up the fourth boundary of the over. 16 runs from it. Too short and wide from Yadav.
14th over: Australia 38-1 (Warner 21, Labuschagne 16) Another bowling change. Shardul Thakur enters the scene. Australia will be delighted to have the change bowlers on (though to be fair them, they’re pretty good change bowlers).
Labuschagne drives down the ground with aplomb! Aplomb, I say. Barely a follow through as he bunts to the long on boundary. A peach of a delivery in there as well that beats the outside edge with an away swinger. Captivating stuff.
“Hi Dan. Do you think Australia will come in better prepared for the Ashes having played India vs. England, who almost bowled Ireland out before they reached England’s 1st innings score and only really managed to get 4 batters out into the middle, plus Harry Brook who only faced 7 balls in the 1st innings. Sorry if that’s harsh to Ireland! I do want them to succeed in Test Cricket but I can’t help but think a more challenging warm-up game would’ve benefited England before facing the likes of Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Labuschagne & Smith. Thoughts?”
I know we should focus on this WTC final, but I’ll take the Ashes bait, Leonard D’Crus. I think it’s obvious, isn’t it? No question Australia will have had the better prep.
We’ve also got some news from James Walsh who says, “Morning Dan! Bright sunshine here in Brighton, expect that overhead cloud to burn off in south London within the hour.”
India won’t be happy to hear that. Need another wicket stat!
13th over: Australia 34-1 (Warner 21, Labuschagne 12) Yadav starts well by finding the edge of Labuschagne’s bat but it squirts away for a single. He then over pitches and gets spanked through the covers by Warner. Wasn’t textbook from the Aussie but it cannoned off the middle. Yadav eventually finds his range and produces a beauty that almost kisses Warner’s outside edge from over the wicket. Five off that hodgepodge set.
After a refreshing cuppa, we have a bowling change. Umesh Yadav revving up. Averages 23.5 in England btw.
So, after an hour’s play, which camp will be happier? I suppose the early wicket means India are leading on points but this has been a handy fight back from the Aussie batters who have started to play some shots.
12th over: Australia 29-1 (Warner 17, Labuschagne 11) That’s a sweet clip off the pads from Labuschagne. Reminded me the Brian Lara Cricket game on PlayStation. Know what I mean? Picture the quintessential flick through the on side in front of square and you’ve got it. That brings him three and that’ll be drinks.
Richard O’Hagan has steered me straight on the question around the Wednesday start:
“I assumed that the Wednesday start was because this Test has a reserve day, which means that Monday has to be kept clear for that. If the game went into Tuesday instead Australia would only have two clear days before the first Ashes test, one of which would be spent travelling up to Birmingham.”
Thanks Rich!
11th over: Australia 26-1 (Warner 17, Labuschagne 8) BANG! Best shot of the day. Shami drops one short to Warner and he jumps all over it, pulling it in front of square off the middle of his bat.
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10th over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 8) Outstanding from Siraj. He’s found his area here. Back of a length to Labuschagne with a hint of away seam. Labuschagne is dangling his bat out. He obviously wants to feel the ball, and he does on occasion, but that seems like a risk to me. He’s then pushing it full and beating the half-forward press to thud the pads with a wobble seam that ducks in off the pitch. A maiden of the highest order.
“Hi Dan - writing from a slow day at work here in Delhi. Don’t know why they have scheduled this fixture from Wed to Sun, considering tests (especially those involving India) rarely go the full length - Thu to Mon was the better option. What do you and other OBOers think?”
Thanks for that, Mittu Choudhary. More than happy to distract you from your work.
It’s a good question. My guess is that it’s already such a packed summer with The Hundred squeezing the Ashes. So, if they wanted to get this one in, they had to start it on a Wednesday.
9th over: Australia 22-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 8) I started by writing that Shami is like a metronome and then had to quickly edit my thoughts as he follows five perfect balls around a fourth stump line with a splayed delivery onto Labuschagne’s pads. The Aussie batter flicks with a flourish but there’s a man down in the deep so it’s worth just a single.
“Hi Dan. Sorry if I’ve missed this but can you clarify whether a Dukes or Kookaburra ball being used for this test? Unsure of the rules for the WTC final being played in England?”
No need to apologise, Martin Fisher, it’s a good question.
It’s a Dukes. Which is great news in my opinion. I know they had their problems last year but I’d love to see all cricket everywhere in the world played with the pronounced seam of the English ball.
8th over: Australia 21-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 7) Labuschagne is such a captivating batter to watch. He was smashed on his finger and then edged the very next ball to third slip. He was playing with soft hands so no danger but it was a sign that Siraj was winning the battle. But as soon as the bowler misdirects Marnus pounces and clips a three through the on side.
“Good Morning Daniel, Good Morning All,”
Hey Em Jackson. All good your side?
”These two sides are doing pretty good so far it must be said, but the question for me with Marnus Labuschange in at the moment is this: Glamorgan or Old South Wales? “
It’s gloomy, Em, if that’s what you mean.
Marnus is cracked on the glove! Wow that exploded off a tricky length and he immediately hurled his glove off his hand. Thumb on his bottom hand by the looks of it. The physio is out taking a look.
7th over: Australia 18-1 (Warner 13, Labuschagne 4) Shami must be such a nightmare for left handers. Because he’s able to get an angle ball to hold its line he can beat you on either edge. One that goes on with the arm catches Warner’s inside edge and flies down to fine leg for a single. Labuschagne also has his work cut out for him. Shami brings one back from a distance which bamboozles Marnus who shoulders arms before admonishing himself. He’ll need to switch back on as he’s facing the next over thanks to a quickly taken single in the covers.
6th over: Australia 16-1 (Warner 12, Labuschagne 3) Siraj is a touch too straight so Marnus can nudge a scampered single off his hips. Warner then slashes at a bit of width and it flies down to the deep third fence. Strange one, that. Not sure Siraj will mind too much as it seemed too close to play with a horizontal bat. The very next ball is marginally straighter but Warner is still chopping down on it with an angled blade and that almost takes the edge. Warner bags another three with a biff through mid-on. Lively over.
5th over: Australia 8-1 (Warner 5, Labuschagne 2) The first real shot of authority comes from Warner who gets a good stride in and punches down the ground. He doesn’t get all of it but will come back for a third. Earlier in the piece he was thwacked on his pad and Shami went up with confidence. Too high though. There’s a bye in the mix as well which means Labuschagne will face up to Siraj next over.
“Hello Daniel. A halfway decent County attack would have the Aussies all out by now!”
I’m with you, Matthew Doherty, Chris Rushworth would be tearing things up!
4th over: Australia 4-1 (Warner 2, Labuschagne 2) Marnus is off the mark with a flick down to fine leg that brings him a couple. But other than that stray onto the pads it’s a brilliant set from Siraj who gets the breakthrough with a gem that left Khawaja poking at the ball from his crease.
WICKET! Khawaja c Bharat b Siraj 0 (Australia 2-1)
Beauty! Angled across Khawaja, the opener has to play at it and feathers a catch behind. It was the length that did him there. He couldn’t get all the way forward and was left prodding from his crease with little footwork. Sometimes you’ve just got to take your hat off to the bowler.
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3rd over: Australia 2-0 (Warner 2, Khawaja 0) Very good from Shami. When he gets it right it’s almost unplayable. His fourth ball is a jaffa that explodes off a length and leaves Warner jabbing like a punch drunk boxer. One delivery is too straight though and the Aussie can deftly nudge the first runs of the morning through a vacant midwicket.
2nd over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0) It’s Mohammad Siraj from the other end. He’s getting some lift from over the wicket to Khawaja who is standing fractionally out of his crease. A firm(ish) nudge off the pads is well fielded at square leg. Khawaja has a little poke at one that angled across him but otherwise looks comfortable enough.
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1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0) Shami from round the wicket into the left handed Warner is on the money straight away. He’s found a great length and is troubling the Aussie. His third ball jags back a long way and isn’t far away from Warner’s off stump.
The pitch is greeeeeeeeen! This will be a spicy opening session. Shami with the new rock in his hand. Warner will face up first.
“Morning Dan”
Morning Krishna Moorthy. Good to hear from you.
“Test cricket is the only version worth talking about (for purists at least). ODIs (earlier) and T20s (now) have destroyed the game. It is only Bham Bham Bham now. Hoping it is a cracker
“I have a hunch that it will be a wake up call to the much-hyped Indian team.”
We’re blessed to have multiple formats and I hope they all thrive. Enjoy it pal.
The players are wearing black armbands and are currently observing a minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in a horrific train crash in India this past weekend.
It means everything. And nothing. Everywhere and nowhere. It’s a conundrum, isn’t it?
Silliness aside, it just shows how brutal cricket is. Any other team sport would simply place their maverick on the bench and bring him on later. Of course that’s not possible here and I think India were spooked by their decision to not play the extra seamer two years ago against New Zealand. That ultimately cost them. Sharma wasn’t going to make the same mistake against the Aussies.
Ashwin being the #1 Test bowler and not playing…. again… sums it up doesn’t it? #1 where? Who’s good? Who is good where? What does any of this mean? This isn’t even Devon Conway’s favourite thing
— Ian Higgins (@1an_Higgins) June 7, 2023
While we wait for the openers to pad up, why don’t you get stuck in to Geoff’s delicious preview:
I did say it was a good toss to lose.
Australia will be very happy losing the toss and batting first. No 2nd spinner also for india later on day 3 and rest of the match. If Aus can get a score around 324 - 336 in the first innings , they will have a huge advantage.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara) June 7, 2023
“Hi Dan,”
Hi Ben Morris. Thanks for being my first correspondent for the day. What’s on your mind?
“You will likely be a better informed observer than myself, so I bow to your opinion, but is it really right to say that Australia and India have been the best teams over the last 2 years? Considering England’s form?”
If we’re talking just the last 12 months then yes, I’d have England right up there. But most league tables don’t lie and I don’t think this one does.
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India pick four seamers on seaming deck
It has to be a pretty strong side to leave out the best Test bowler in the world and that’s what India have unfurled here.
India: Sharma (c), Gill, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Bharat (wk), Jadeja, Thakur, Yadav, Shami, Siraj.
🚨 A look at #TeamIndia's Playing XI 🔽
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 7, 2023
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/0nYl21pwaw #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/hwieFxazre
Australia banking on Warner to come good
Matthew Hayden says the Aussie opener is “on thin ice” coming into this one. A strong start here will be vital.
Australia: Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Green, Carey (wk), Starc, Cummins (c), Lyon, Boland.
India win the toss, bowl first
Rohit Sharma has the coin flip go his way and cites “conditions” as the reason for his decision.
Ravi Aswhin, the No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world, is left out. They go for four seamers instead.
Pat Cummins says he would have bowled first too but doesn’t think it will make much a difference. No Josh Hazlewood remember. Still a handy bowling line-up.
No doubt you’ve seen the news, but just in case, MOEEN ALI WILL PLAY IN THE ASHES!
It’s kind of a big deal. Before we turn our full attention to the WTC final, have a go on this:
It’s gloomy in south London. If the captains have their heads in the clouds they’ll want to have a bowl. But conventional wisdom in these parts tell you that batting first is the right option. England, though, have been going well at home bowling first regardless of the weather.
A good toss to lose I reckon.
Preamble
On the surface, this promises to be a cracking game of cricket. They’re unquestionably the two best red ball teams over the last two years with superstar batters up and down the line and bowlers to match them. Chuck them all together on a lively pitch in south London and you’ve got all the ingredients of a contest for the ages.
Take a step back, though, and a far more complex narrative forms into view.
This is not simply a Test match. In many ways the future of cricket’s most antiquated but beloved iteration is at stake here. The game is struggling on its frontiers. Young players are turning their backs on it for more glitzy and lucrative codes. A dud over the next five days could be catastrophic.
Perhaps I’m being hyperbolic but this is fuelled by hyperbole. It matters because enough of us believe that it matters and history shows us that success for India in an ICC event can galvanise a format.
Their 50-over triumph in 1983 catapulted Test cricket’s rival into a new stratosphere and their victory in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup set the wheels in motion for the Indian Premier League. Perhaps success over the next five days could do something similar?
Well, not if Pat Cummins and his Aussies have anything to say about it. The men in baggy green will start as favourites. But only just. This really could go either way as we undulate over spells and sessions and days.
Test cricket. Don’t you just love it?
My name is Daniel, but feel free to call me Dan. Drop an email or send a tweet. I promise I check them all.
Play starts at 10:30 BST, 3pm IST & 7:30pm AEST. Toss and team news to follow.
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