[Cricket] World Test XI

[Ooh it’s a corner]

Yes Barnes has an attitude problem, perhaps Deadly, Swann or Laker in for the next Test to let him cool down?

That would be harsh on the bowler with the best first innings bowling figures. I can see the wisdom of a spinner though. I still want to know if cakes have been sent in for the commentary team - no mention yet from Johnners

 

[Gwylan]

I think we can take it that there's plenty of cake

 

[Gwylan]

Wicket. It’s been coming but this has been a fine over from Lillee. Cook drove the first ball for four, but it wasn’t convincing – a bit uppish. The second ball was driven even less convincingly: he was aiming straight but it was a bit of an inside edge for a streaky two.
Lillee looks fired up now and delivers a nasty bouncer that just misses Cook. Then he had to dig out a vicious yorker and then play a back of a length delivery rather tentatively The final ball of the over was a beauty: a shade wider and swung late. Cook nibbled and saw it nestle in the safe hands of Border at first slip.

England 48-1 (Cook 25) 15 overs

 

[Gwylan]

McGrath bowls to Hobbs who flicks it away for a single, moving him into double figures. Hobbs normally likes to keep the scoreboard ticking it over but he’s been facing McGrath for most his deliveries and the seamer has been on the spot.
Gower’s first ball and he creams it through the covers for four – that shot was a work of art. And this is even better, a drive through mid-on. That really wasn’t a bad ball but Gower moved forward and turned it into a half-volley. McGrath looks less than pleased and looks even less pleased when Gower nicks a single off the last ball after a misfield by Miller.

England 58-1 16 overs

 

[Gwylan]

A bit of quiet period after that start from Gower. Hobbs is beginning to find some fluency though and has driven McGrath handsomely for three and, in the next over, clipped Lillee through mid-wicket for his first four. Gower is playing elegantly but is content with a couple of singles at the moment.

England 71-1 (Hobbs 20 Gower 12) 21 overs

 

[Gwylan]

This doesn’t look good. Lillee is holding his back and grimacing – he seems to be in a bit of pain. He’s in even more pain now as Gower half drives, half pushes between gully and cover for a sumptuous boundary. He follows that with a pleasant clip for two.
Now Hobbs gets in on the act, he comes down the track and executes a perfect on drive off McGrath. He’s played mainly off the back foot this morning but that’s a reminder that he has all the shots. He then demonstrates this by cover driving McGrath’s final ball for four more.

England 86-1 24 overs

 

[Gwylan]

The first change of the day, Miller replaces Lillee and Gower welcomes him by straight driving him for four, Miller drops a bit shorter and that’s helped round the corner for another one. The third delivery is stroked through the covers for four more. Gower looks in good nick here and only a brilliant stop by Waugh at mid-off prevents yet another boundary. Gower pinches the strike with a single off the last ball.
And it’s a double change, Warne replacing McGrath at the Radcliffe Road end. Gower plays him more carefully until the final ball which is late cut elegantly for another four. That shot was so exquisite it should have been a Rodin sculpture. A hundred up

England 103-1 (Hobbs 29 Gower 35) 26 overs

 

[Gwylan]

Miller hasn’t found his rhythm yet and Hobbs flicks him away for a four to fine leg. He then pushes a single past mid-off. Gower is looking to carry on where he left off and hammers Miller down the pitch but it’s a brilliant stop by the bowler.
The next ball is short and drifting down leg-stump, Gower flicks at it. Gilchrist claims the catch … and it’s been given out. Gower doesn’t even think of reviewing but walks straight off - the end of a brief but glorious innings. Compton sees off the rest of his old mate’s over.

England 108-2 (Gower c Gilchrist by Miller 35) 27 overs

 

[Gwylan]

Warne to Hobbs. Hobbs is using his feet to get down the track and kill the spin. He then pushes a slightly over-pitched ball wide of mid-on for two. That’s a wide one from Warne that Hobbs pads away.
He does the same to the last ball of the over but it’s not that wide and it’s the googly, Hobbs hasn’t picked it and there’s a big appeal. Umpire Bowden thinks long and hard and gives it out. Compton comes down the track and tells him to review it. So, we’re waiting for DRS.

 

[Gwylan]

It’s not a no-ball, there’s no bat, it’s outside the line but no shot’s been played … and it’s hitting! Hobbs is out and England have burned a review

England 110-3 (Hobbs lbw b Warne 36) 28 overs

 

[jakarta]

Miller hasn’t found his rhythm yet and Hobbs flicks him away for a four to fine leg. He then pushes a single past mid-off. Gower is looking to carry on where he left off and hammers Miller down the pitch but it’s a brilliant stop by the bowler.
The next ball is short and drifting down leg-stump, Gower flicks at it. Gilchrist claims the catch … and it’s been given out. Gower doesn’t even think of reviewing but walks straight off - the end of a brief but glorious innings. Compton sees off the rest of his old mate’s over.

England 108-2 (Gower c Gilchrist by Miller 35) 27 overs

A Goweresque Innings if there was ever one, full of promise but ending in disappointment.

 

[jakarta]

It’s not a no-ball, there’s no bat, it’s outside the line but no shot’s been played … and it’s hitting! Hobbs is out and England have burned a review

England 110-3 (Hobbs lbw b Warne 36) 28 overs

One brings two, need to restart the motor, who has come in at 5?

 

[Gwylan]

And that’s lunch. Compton and Hammond played the end of the session quietly. There was a glorious sweep shot off Warne by Compton for four but no real fireworks. After two wickets in successive overs, the batsmen wanted to ensure there were no further losses.
Honours just about even but England will be disappointed with that score. Cook got a peach of a delivery but the other two wickets were given away. Gower played the laziest of shots and Hobbs, who has built his career on pad play, couldn’t cope with the change of law on lbw.
Australia, however, will be concerned about Lillee’s back and disappointed that Warne has found no real turn yet, though there’s plenty of bounce in the pitch.

 

[Gwylan]

Lunch scorecard

England
Cook c Border b Lillee 25
Hobbs lbw b Warne 36
Gower c Gilchrist b Miller 35
Compton not out 11
Hammond not out 4
Extras (nb 3 b 5 lb 9) 15

Total 126-3 36 overs

Bowling

Lillee 12 1 41 1
McGrath 12 3 29 0
Miller 6 0 24 1
Warne 6 1 17 1

 

[jakarta]

Australia, however, will be concerned about Lillee’s back and disappointed that Warne has found no real turn yet, though there’s plenty of bounce in the pitch.

Thanks for the summary, Warnie will surely be much more of a threat in the second dig. Looking forward to seeing Wally Hammond after lunch, especially knowing that the two, shall we say eccentric, middle order batsmen are next up...

 

[Gwylan]

Thanks for the summary, Warnie will surely be much more of a threat in the second dig. Looking forward to seeing Wally Hammond after lunch, especially knowing that the two, shall we say eccentric, middle order batsmen are next up...

Think it's only you left following the game now ...


It’s been a quiet start after lunch. Miller’s been replaced by McGrath but Warne is continuing his spell
McGrath is like a metronome and the batsmen, even free-scoring ones like these find him hard to get away. There’s been more aggression from them against Warne with both batters using their feet to good effect. Hammond has hit one sparkling off drive and Compton is looking to sweep at every opportunity.

142-3 (Compton 17 Hammond 14) 42 overs

 

[jakarta]

Wonderful to watch two classic batsmen at their work. Hope they can set up a situation where Botham and Stokes can go apeshit.

 

[Gwylan]

Things are beginning to warm up now. Warne is finding no joy at all and Compton is now chancing his arm a bit more. He’s twice swept the spinner to the long leg boundary, beating a despairing dive by Hayden for the second.
Hammond is beginning to unveil his repertoire now too, including a trademark cover drive off McGrath for a glorious four.
And that’s even better from Compton, he uses his feet and launches a drive over mid-on. It’s neatly caught by a gentleman in a blue shirt – that’s the first six of the England innings.
166-3 (Compton 32 Hammond 23) 48 overs

 

[jakarta]

All gone a bit quiet, hope no wickets have fallen?

 

[Gwylan]

Disaster for Australia. Lillee has replaced McGrath and had been gingerly feeling his back. Hammond had walloped him for a four when Lillee squatted on all fours. The physio was on but to no avail and Lillee has had to go off to sympathetic applause – Compton went over for a quick word and a consoling pat on the shoulder.
Border came on to finish the last two balls of the over but they were treated with disdain by Hammond who drove them both for four.
At the other end, Miller has replaced Warne but he’s struggling to find rhythm and both Hammond and Compton have scored off him

190-3 (Compton 42 Hammond 39) 52 overs