[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

England will be happy enough with that total but they were 288-3 at one point (with Australia a bowler down). They may have hoped for something a bit higher. The first six batsmen all got 25 at least, but only one made a ton.

But Stokes and Tate did well to push it along in the end

 

[jakarta]

Tate carries his bat, couple of overs for the Convicts to survive before Lunch?

 

[Gwylan]

It’s a short spell till lunch. Hayden and Trumper will want to see this out – they’re going to take no risks here.
There’s nothing in it for the pace bowlers: Anderson and Botham have taken the new ball and there have been few alarms – Botham has swung a couple past Trumper and Anderson had an optimistic lbw shout against Hayden – which, correctly, wasn’t reviewed. Trumper has pleasantly driven Botham for a couple and Hayden clipped Anderson for four through mid-wicket but it’s all been sedate.

Lunch: Australia 13-0 (Hayden 8 Trumper 5) 5 overs. Australia trail by 117

 

[jakarta]

Looking forward to the Post Lunch Session, hopefully Barnes will get fired up once more and we get the Don early.

 

[Gwylan]

I've actually got some work to finish so match reports will be less regular than usual

 

[jakarta]

I've actually got some work to finish so match reports will be less regular than usual

That is outrageous - can't I just announce a magnificent Tate Hat Trick straight after Lunch?

 

[A1X]

A shame "View from the boundary" ended with that spectacularly foul-mouthed rant by Charles Darwin about 9/11 being an inside job, that's the last we'll be hearing from him on live BBC radio that's for sure

 

[Gwylan]

A shame "View from the boundary" ended with that spectacularly foul-mouthed rant by Charles Darwin about 9/11 being an inside job, that's the last we'll be hearing from him on live BBC radio that's for sure

Is it on iPlayer?

 

[Gwylan]

It’s been steady progress since lunch. Botham and Anderson continuing their spells – Botham is getting a bit of swing (one swung a bit too much and was called a wide) and he induced an edge through slips from Trumper and a leading edge from Hayden, which fell tantalisingly short of Compton at mid-off.

Australia 31-0 (Hayden 18 Trumper 12) 12 overs

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson is beginning to tire a bit now. He’s lost his length a bit in his ninth over on the trot (albeit with lunch in between) and Hayden has driven him for two successive fours. Trumper’s been looking a bit skittish since lunch, coming down the wicket to both bowlers and looking for some sharp singles. Botham beats him all ends up with an absolute jaffa however.

Australia 53-0 (Hayden 30 Trumper 22) 18 overs

 

[jakarta]

Get Barnes and Tate on.

 

[Gwylan]

Barnes is now on for Anderson and, he won’t like this, Trumper eases him through the covers for four. And that’s the easiest of singles to long leg. A brisk yorker ties up Hayden, he’s looking to push the score along now. He drives hard at Barnes but that ball does a bit, there’s some bounce and away movement and it’s in Knott’s hands. There’s an appeal and it’s given – Hayden doesn’t review this, there seemed to be a definite edge

Australia 58-1 (Hayden c Knott b Barnes 30)

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman doesn’t hang about, he cuts the last ball of Barnes’ over for four. Trumper against Botham again – there’s a big shout here but umpire Bowden say not out. Botham and Hammond have a quick word but decide not to review. In celebration, Trumper hits it the next ball to long-off for three. Bradman wants to get on with things and turns the ball through mid-wicket for two and runs the ball to third man for a single.

Australia 68-1 (Trumper 30 Bradman 7) 20 overs

 

[Gwylan]

BRADMAN IS DROPPED. England players are holding their heads in their hands. The Australian number 3 was tied down by some accurate bowling from Barnes and eventually drove at a ball he should have left alone. It flew to Cook at slip but it went in his hands and out again. It was travelling a bit that wasn’t really difficult. Barnes is having a few words with Bradman now and Billy Bowden has to calm things down. Hammond is leading Barnes away and is having a few words. And, isn’t that the ice on the caking, Bradman smacks the last ball over the over for four through mid-on. Barnes having a few more words with Bradman – he’ll have improved his vocabulary this session if nothing else.

Australia 72-1 (Trumper 30 Bradman 11) 21 overs

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Botham and he manages to tie Trumper up a bit here, however the ball goes off some part of his body- let’s just say he won’t be sitting too easily tonight – four four leg byes. But that’s too short and Trumper clatters it away before taking a single off the last ball.
Barnes to Trumper this time and he can’t get anything away, playing out a maiden.
Botham has been replaced by Tate but Bradman is quickly on to him when drops short and that’s played off the backfoot to the extra cover boundary, three runs and Trumper than pushes a two through midwicket.

Australia 86-1 (Trumper 37 Bradman 14) Overs 23

 

[Gwylan]

Barnes is still very steady but completely bamboozles Bradman with a ball that breaks into him – that was like a fast off-break. Bradman and Trumper can only pick singles off him.
Trumper looks more confident against Tate and pushes two past mid-off before taking a single to long leg.
But Barnes is a different prospect and Trumper mistimes a ball to mid-on and plays and misses a couple of times. Oh, that’s close, a thick outside edge just misses the stumps, speeds past Knott – technically a chance, but Knott is standing up and that was travelling a bit – for four.
However, the penultimate ball does for him, looks like it’s drifting down leg but this time it’s like a fast leg-break and Trumper’s off-stump is pegged back. Smith comes in and blocks the final ball.

Australia 95-2 (Trumper b Barnes 45 Bradman 15) Overs 26

 

[jakarta]

Barnes clearly the pick of our bowlers, perhaps I was a bit hasty in thinking of resting him for the next Test?

 

[Gwylan]

After his first-baller in the first innings,Smith is taking no chances and Bradman is playing a bit more defensively now – they’re aware that another wicket now could be curtains for Australia. They’re probably the best two batsmen in the side and although there are two dogged ones to come next, one (or both) of them has to make a big score.
There are successive maidens from Tate and Barnes before Bradman clips a single off Tate and a two off Barnes’s next over.
Smith is finally off the mark with a single off Tate and Bradman hits a half-volley through the covers to bring up the hundred. Smith flips the ball down to long-leg to take just a single off Barnes’ over.

Australia 104-2 (Bradman 22 Smith 2) Overs 32

 

[LlcoolJ]

Smith and Bradman at the crease is the stuff of nightmares.......

 

[Gwylan]

And that's tea. Nothing eventful off the last two overs as they quietly shut shop

Tea score Australia 105-2 (Bradman 22 Smith 3) Overs 34