[Cricket] World Test XI

[jakarta]

Morning of a Test Match, always feel excited, got a ticket for the the Raglan Stand, well away from the Oiks in the Hollies.

 

[A1X]

Morning everyone from Edgbaston, your TMS commentary team for Day 1 of this next test match of this epic series. Some new additions to the line-up for this test to keep things fresh.

10.00 - 11.00 - Mann, Maxwell & Holding (from the middle)

11.00 - 11.30 - Martin-Jenkins & Atherton
11.30 - 12.00 - Benaud & Trueman
12.00 - 12.30 - Johnston & Hussein
12.30 - 13.00 - Maxwell & Holding

13.00 - 13.40 - "The 1990s" - a review of where it all went right for Australia and all went wrong for England with Jonathan Agnew, Richie Benaud, Michael Atherton and Alec Stewart

13.40 - 14.10 - Martin-Jenkins & Rainford-Brent
14.10 - 14.40 - Norcross & Hussein
14.40 - 15.10 - Johnston & Trueman
15.10 - 15.40 - Maxwell & Atherton

15.40 - 16.00 - Tea (Simon Mann interviews WG Grace)

16.00 - 16.30 - Johnston & Hussein
16.30 - 17.00 - Benaud & Trueman
17.00 - 17.30 - Mann & Rainford-Brent
17.30 - 18.00 - Martin-Jenkins & Holding

18.00 - Close - Agnew, Maxwell & Atherton review the day's play

 

[jakarta]

Will be interested to hear Holding's opinion of the Pitch...

 

[Gwylan]

Morning from Edgbaston, where it’s a cloudy morning. But it’s not only the weather that has had the captains rubbing their chins. To say it looks a bit green is an understatement, it looks greener than a pea processing factory on St Patrick’s day. Local wisdom says that this is a good pitch once the green has been worn down a bit so, I’d expect the captain who wins the toss to put the opposition in.

The news is that both sides are unchanged from Lord’s – although I understand that the selectors looked closely at bringing back Barnes but decided to stick with the team that won at headquarters.

 

[Gwylan]

The news is that Hammond has won the toss and has inserted Australia – this could backfire if Australia get off to a good start, the pitch should be a good batting track on the second and third day.

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson has the ball in his mitt and is going to open the bowling from the Pavilion End. Umpire Dave Orchard gives Hayden his guard and we’re under way. That’s very much a loosener from Anderson, short and outside leg and clipped away by Hayden for four. The bowler settles down after that is just back of a length outside off. Fifth ball is steered down to long leg for a single and it’s Trumper to face the last ball. And that’s a magnificent shot – not over-pitched but driven straight through mid-off for three – Compton giving chase.

 

[Gwylan]

This is a surprise: Larwood hasn’t been given the new ball, Hammond obviously looking for Botham to swing it a bit. That’s a bit wide though and Trumper gives it the treatment, four through the covers. And that’s a good shot, he steps forward and helps through mid-on for two. Botham’s on the spot for the rest of the over though.

Australia 14-0 (Hayden 5 Trumper 9) overs 2

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson in again and this is very much Jimmy at his best. Hayden can do nothing with these, he’s bang on the spot and the last ball beats him all ends up – that moved off the seam.

Botham to Trumper, who’s also tied down for the first couple of balls but then helps it down to long leg for a single. Hayden tries to drive but it’s not there and only just misses the bat. He blocks the next one but drives the last ball of the over – but it swings late and catches the edge and that’s sharply taken by Cook at second slip.

Australia 15-1 (Hayden c Cook b Botham 5) overs 4

 

[jakarta]

Hayden isn't having a very good series is he?

 

[Gwylan]

Things are happening. Trumper’s beaten by a ball that suddenly took off and the next one catches the edge but falls just short of Stokes at third slip. And that’s another beauty from Anderson that swings late and just misses the stumps. And that’s another edge – an inside one that finds the fine leg boundary. Anderson finishes the over with a yorker that Trumper only just keeps out.

 

[Gwylan]

Hayden isn't having a very good series is he?

Yeah, his place may be in danger. Morris is waiting in the wings

 

[Gwylan]

Botham is in equally fine form. Bradman is the wicket they want and he tries to assert his dominance early on, he’s down the pitch but Botham varies his length and he digs out a yorker. The next one fizzes past his bat, the next starts wide and swings wider. He tries to middle the next one but he doesn’t get hold of it and it’s stopped by Underwood at mid-wicket – Bradman looks frustrated.
And he’s let his frustration get the better of him: he tries to drive through mid-off, the ball jags back, takes an inside edge and takes out off-stump. Bradman is out for a duck – the English fielders go berserk.

Australia 19-2 (Bradman b Botham 0) overs 6

 

[Gwylan]

The noise from the crowd is intense now and they’re really getting behind Anderson as he bowls another beauty to Trumper, it whistles past the bat. Not the next couple of balls though, he can leave them alone and that’s a cracking shot – he takes one step down the pitch and thrashes it through the covers. And he’s on top of that one too, steered wide of mid-on for two.
Botham right away has Ponting in trouble, beating him with a big outswinger and that’s another jaffa, it catches the edge and goes over Hammond’s head at first slip – a streaky four for Ponting, his luck must be in. Oh no, it’s not; the next ball also catches the edge but this time nestles in Prior’s hands. England are cock-a-hoop now

Australia 29-3 (Ponting c Prior b Botham 4) overs 7.3

 

[Gwylan]

Smith is in now and immediately Botham has him in difficulty, pinning him in front. There’s a big appeal and umpire Dar says ‘not out’. I think they’re going upstairs for this.

 

[Gwylan]

The ball’s good. They look closely at the bat, there could be a faint edge, but third umpire Bowden is happy that there’s no touch. The ball strikes in line and tracker says …. missing. It was just drifting down leg. England lose a review and to make matters worse, Smith smacks the last ball of the over for four through mid-on. Still Botham won’t mind too much – he has three wickets under his belt.

Australia 33-3 (Trumper 20 Smith 4) overs 8

 

[Gwylan]

Trumper blocks a couple of Anderson and then flicks to long leg for a single. Smith’s immediately in trouble with a ball that lifts and leaves him, there’s a repeat off the next ball and he blocks the final ball of the over.
Botham is swinging the ball as if it’s on a string right now but that’s too short and Trumper plays a glorious back foot cover drive for four. He beats him next time but Trumper sees out the over.

Australia 38-3 (Trumper 25 Smith 4) overs 10

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson jags one back into Smith – that must have hurt. But Smith is in control of this and flicks it wide of mid-on for two. He does even better with the next one, that’s massaged through mid-wicket for four and steals the strike with a single.
He tries to drive Botham and is beaten by a beauty … and again. He catches that one though, a superb drive through the covers for four. He tries to drive again and mistimes it, but he’s going to get three for it.

Australia 52-3 (Trumper 25 Smith 18) overs 12

 

[Gwylan]

Larwood replaces Anderson – Smith may be susceptible to pace, particularly early on. He doesn’t handle this one well and it’s flying off the shoulder of his bat over Prior’s head for four. He doesn’t handle that well though and it catches his shoulder – that must have stung. He takes the next ball on his thigh – Larwood building up some pace now – the next one flies up off a length and Smith can’t keep it down – it’s pouched by Stokes at leg gully.

Australia 56-4 Smith c Stokes b Larwood 22

 

[Gwylan]

A good ball that, it cramped Smith up and it was a smart catch. Chappell in now and gets off the mark with a streaky single.
Botham is still on and beats him with a class outswinger. That’s the inswinger though, it hits his pad and there’s a massive appeal, this time Aleem Dar’s finger goes up. Chappell immediately reviews

 

[Gwylan]

It’s not a no ball and there’s no edge, it just about strikes in-line and it’s hitting off stump. The decision stands, Chappell’s on his way and Australia lose a review.

Australia 57-5 Chappell lbw b Botham 1