[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

Bradman, who looks like he wants to win this game tonight, is giving Botham some tap and drives through mid-off for another boundary, he then takes a single to leg. Hayden has been quiet and pushes straight for two.
Underwood’s a bit tighter this over and Bradman can just get the single off it.

Australia 81-1 (Hayden 25 Bradman 18, overs 18)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham has found a bit more accuracy and is keeping Bradman quiet for a bit. He spoils the effect by over-pitching the last ball and that’s four through midwicket.
Underwood is tight against Hayden, there’s an edge for two but he blocks everything else.

Australia 87-1 (Hayden 27 Bradman 22, overs 20

 

[Gwylan]

Botham has really got into his groove and Bradman is finding it impossible to get away. He moves across to drive and that’s a booming in-swinger. The entire English field goes up but Billy Bowden says no. Botham wants this reviewed.
We go upstairs, there are two questions: was the impact in line, it could have been outside off? And did it do too much?

This could be the crucial moment of the test match

 

[Gwylan]

Here we go. The ball’s good, there’s no bat. Impact … IN LINE! And ball tracker says… HITTING.
Bowden has to reverse his decision and Bradman has to go. That’s massive for England

Australia 87-2 Bradman lbw b Botham 22, Hayden 27 Lillee 0, overs 21

 

[Gwylan]

Lillee’s the night watchman but he doesn’t face as Hayden faces Underwood. He gets a single off third ball and Lillee blocks out the rest.
Last over of the day, Botham to Hayden. He’s taking no chances and finishes with a maiden

Close: Australia 88-2 (Hayden 28 Lillee 0, overs 23)

 

[jakarta]

And breathe...

 

[Gwylan]

I'm out this morning, so there'll only be sporadic reports before lunch

 

[jakarta]

I'm out this morning, so there'll only be sporadic reports before lunch

Hopefully another two wickets down by then...

 

[Gwylan]

It was stirring stuff this morning, Hayden desperately trying to shield Lillee from the strike, particularly against Larwood, he succeeded for a while Larwood eventually uprooted his off stump.

Australia 99-3 Lillee b Larwood 5 overs 28

 

[Gwylan]

It's now steady as she goes from Hayden and Pointing. They've seen the 100 up.

Australia 114-3 Hayden 40 Ponting 7 overs 34

 

[Gwylan]

It's a drinks break. Australia have increased the pace a bit; Ponting has struck Underwood and Botham for fours, and Hayden clobbered one off Botham
Australia 132-3 Hayden 49 Ponting 20, overs 38

 

[Gwylan]

Botham to Hayden after drinks, that's short and helped around the corner for a single, that's Hayden's 50. Ponting cracks Botham through the covers for another boundary. Hayden plays a quiet over from Underwood, just the one from it.
Australia 138-3 Hayden 51 Ponting 24

 

[Gwylan]

Bowling change at the Pavilion End, Anderson is back and that's a loose one that Hayden clips to the square leg boundary. And that's too short from Jimmy and it's swung away for four more.
Underwood to Ponting and that's pushed for a sing. Hayden looks to get after Underwood and looks to clip him through mid wicket but gets a leading edge. That's an easy catch for the bowler.
Australia 147-4 Hayden c and b Underwood 59

 

[Gwylan]

After the fall of Hayden's wicket, there were no further wickets.

Smith came in and made his intentions clear by hitting three fours in five balls - one off Anderson and two off Underwood.
Ponting played an uppish cover drive that bounced just in front of Hobbs at cover.

Lunch score

Australia 182-4 Ponting 33 Smith 22 overs 52

 

[Gwylan]

It's been steady since lunch. Australia have put the 200 up.

Australia 214-4 Ponting 47 Smith 41 overs 62

 

[jakarta]

As Bon Jovi would say Their half way there, living on a prayer...

 

[Gwylan]

We're back live now after the commentator had been called away on door hanging duty.
England desperately looking for a breakthrough here - these two look well established and with Chappell, Gilchrist and Miller to come, the Aussies could have this wrapped up by 5.00

It's Botham to continue from the Pavilion end and that's Ponting's 50 as he cracks to the point boundary. Smith helps himself to two.

Underwood has been bowling steadily from the Nursery End but he's not looking threatening. Hammond turns to Stokes, whose first ball is a shocker, a looping wide outswinger that Ponting smashes to the boundary. Oh, that's the ball! It's another outswinger but this is much straighter and it swings much later, Ponting is in good nick now and he gets a touch, feathering a catch to Prior. That's the breakthrough England wanted

Australia 225-5 Ponting c Prior b Stokes 56 Smith not out 43

 

[Gwylan]

Chappell's in and sees out the rest of Stoke's over.

But Smith's not slowing up and hits three down to long off of Botham.
Chappell gets off the mark with a flick down to long leg.

Stokes in again and that's four more to Smith, a trademark drive wide of mid on - that's his 50, he then helps himself to a single

Australia 234-5 Smith 51 Chappell 1 overs 66

 

[Gwylan]

Botham's have a blow and it's time for Underwood again - from the Pavilion end this time
It's bang on target but Smith is seeing the ball like a football now and scores a tidy one
And that's over-pitched by Underwood and Chappell drives sweetly through mid-off for four.

Still Stokes at the other end and Smith continues to play with him, moving forward and backwards in the crease to keep the bowler confused, there's a two and a one

Australia 242-5 Smith 55 Chappell 5, overs 68

 

[Gwylan]

Underwood has managed to put a bit of a halt on a spate of runs and there's a single that Smith has helped down to long leg.
Stokes in again and, well, as Geoffrey Boycott has just muttered "That's brainless bowling" - this isn't the wicket and Stokes hasn't the pace to bowl a sharp bouncer to one of the best legside players in the world - the ball is nestling in the arms of a security guard under the scoreboard - Smith's first six.

Australia 249-5 Smith 62 Chappell 5, overs 70