[Cricket] World Test XI

[jakarta]

Still in arrears thankfully but as stated the best two Aussie batsmen at the crease so this could be a difficult final session.

Damage control rather than outright aggression, hope that they are forced into an error?

 

[LlcoolJ]

A bit of tea break viewing....

https://youtu.be/_91BtaYDwwc

 

[Gwylan]

Nothing much happening after tea. Bradman andSmith have their heads down and play out a couple of maidens

 

[jakarta]

Nothing much happening after tea. Bradman andSmith have their heads down and play out a couple of maidens

Who do we have bowling?

 

[LlcoolJ]

A bit of tea break viewing....

https://youtu.be/_91BtaYDwwc

As an aside, I just tried watching this again (never gets old) and it said "not available for viewing in your country".

Was slightly nonplussed until I remembered I'd set my VPN to Australia.

This is not a joke btw.

 

[Gwylan]

Barnes and Tate continue. They're very steady but not causing many problems, Barnes had Smith groping outside the off stump and mistiming an on drive but no real alarms.
Tate is getting a bit of bounce and got Bradman edging to third man but has done nothing of note.
120-2 overs 40

Edit Bradman 31 Smith 10

 

[jakarta]

Don't like the thought of Bradman settling in, mind you Smith settling in isn't a great prospect either...

 

[Gwylan]

Australia have cleared the deficit, Tate dropped shirt and Bradman pulled him to the boundary.

That's 131-2

 

[jakarta]

Bowling change required? Botham hasn't done much as yet?

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

A bit of tea break viewing....

https://youtu.be/_91BtaYDwwc

What a fantastic clip that is thank you. Brilliant from Broad, some regulation slip catches, some very good ones and then there’s Ben Stokes!!!

 

[Gwylan]

(normal service now resumed)

Australia are beginning to loosen up now. Smith creamed his first boundary through extra cover and followed up with a less than stylish - but effective - on drive for another. Bradman is really using his feet, coming down the wicket to Barnes and stepping back to Tate, trying to counteract the steeper bounce.

Australia have passed 150 now.

159-2 (Bradman 49 Smith 30) Overs 48

 

[LlcoolJ]

What a fantastic clip that is thank you. Brilliant from Broad, some regulation slip catches, some very good ones and then there’s Ben Stokes!!!

The only problem with it is that once I start, I can't stop watching it. The constant stream of "trudging to the hutch" Aussies is just a beautiful thing.

 

[Gwylan]

And that's 50 for Bradman.

Botham has replaced Tate and it's a bit of a loosener that Bradman wallops through square leg, beating a diving Anderson.
Bradman helps himself to a couple more and he's looking at home now.

It's a double change: Stokes is on for Barnes - he got a wicket in his first over in the first innings and he nearly does it again. It lifts sharply, catches the edge of Smith's bat and flies over Knott's despairing glove for another boundary. And the next ball squares Smith up,

Smith is not looking comfortable this over and there's a big shout off the final ball. It's given as not out but Stokes wants to review this - DRS time

 

[Gwylan]

It's a good delivery, no bat, hitting in line and ....

Going over the top! Bowden sticks to his decision and England lose a review

169-2 (Bradman 55 Smith 34) Overs 50

 

[Gwylan]

Botham and Stokes are continuing. Botham is starting to get some reverse swing and he traps Bradman bang in front, unfortuately there's a faint inside edge. Stokes is trying hard and has got a couple past the bat but Smith isn't tempted.

174-2 (Bradman 58 Smith 36) Overs 54

 

[Gwylan]

Smith takes a single off Botham's first ball, Bradman looks fully secure and pushes him for two.

But what's this? Some reverse swing and the ball flies between bat and body. England are convinced this is out. Umpire Bucknor says no and England review. There's no sign of bat: it flicked the top of the pad - that was the noise they heard. England have lost their final review

177-2 (Bradman 60 Smith 37) Overs 55

 

[jakarta]

Keep calm time, lead is only 60 or so...

 

[Gwylan]

Stokes again to Smith who defends stoutly. That's a maiden.

Botham's beginning to move it now and whips it past Bradman. The batsman now scores two but it's less than convincing.

Stokes to Smith - oh, that's loose, flicked down to fine leg for four and then a single past mid-off.

Botham to Smith this time, and Smith is playing across the line. There's a big appeal but it looks like it was going down leg. There's another two and that's the end of the over.

186-2 (Bradman 62 Smith 44) Overs 58

 

[jakarta]

As I said frustrating but its a 5 day game so need to keep it tight...

 

[Gwylan]

A bit of excitement before stumps when Bradman swung Botham away for two fours in a row and in the next over cut Stokes for another boundary.
But he and Smith played out the last few overs calmly, seeing the 200 up along the way

Close 203-2 (Bradman 77 Smith 46) Overs 65 Australia lead by 73