[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

It’s a good job that Cook didn’t appeal, that was pretty plumb. Gower in next and he always looks to get off the mark quickly – that’s fast and wide and Gower flicks at it. Poor shot and that’s a straightforward catch to Gilchrist

England 8-2 Gower c Gilchrist b Lillee 0

 

[Gwylan]

Hat trick ball. Compton also likes to get off the mark quickly but he can’t do much with that – it’s a fast inswinging yorker that takes out his middle stump – that’s Lillee’s hat-trick and England are in a bit of a mess

What a start for Australia - the first Ashes hat trick at Edgbaston.

England 8-3 Compton b Lillee 0

 

[jakarta]

When I said I liked low scoring matches I wasn't thinking of this!

 

[Gwylan]

Hammond comes in and puts a stop to the nonsense.
But the bowlers have got their tails up now. Thomson is hurtling balls down at Hobbs. He’s forced to take emergency evasive action as one climbs on him, the next ball hits in the shoulder and he’s then smacked in the chest, he finally plays at one that lifts off the shoulder of the bat and just, only just evades Hayden at short leg, Hobbs pleased to get away from that end runs the single

England 9-3 (Hobbs 3 Hammond 0) overs 4

 

[Gwylan]

Lillee in to Hobbs and he’s in some discomfort here as he’s beaten by successive balls. Hobbs leaves a couple but can’t leave this, he has to play but it’s the leg cutter and catches the edge … and is dropped by Warne at third slip. That wasn’t a gimme but it wasn’t that difficult either – England are on thin ice here.
There’s no respite at the other end as Thomson beats Hammond with an absolute gem – 95mph, with bounce and movement. Hammond is now hit and the physio is no – I think it struck his shoulder and he’s getting a bit of spray. He resumes gingerly and that’s an another beauty, it catches the edge and sails through the slips

England 13-3 (Hobbs 3 Hammond 4) overs 6

 

[jakarta]

Dig In Boys...

 

[Gwylan]

Forget what I said about the wicket being easier, the ball’s doing everything but talk right now. Hobbs is now playing exclusively on the back foot and playing later and later. He was beaten by another superb delivery there but he plays the last ball late enough to score two to deep point.
Thomson continues to have Hammond in difficulties, beating him three times in one over but it’s a maiden.

England 15-3 (Hobbs 5 Hammond 4) overs 8

 

[Gwylan]

Hammond continues to play Lillee late and is beginning to see the ball well now. He steers one past square leg for two and pushes a single. Hammond is having no such luck and is beaten by a screamer that just misses the bat.
Thomson is cramping Hobbs up a bit and he plays and misses at a couple but that’s too short and Hobbs smacks it away for four.

England 22-3 (Hobbs 12 Hammond 4) overs 10

 

[Gwylan]

Lillee is still causing Hammond some bother – that one falls just short of Ponting in the gully and he’s rapped on the pad just outside off, there’s a stifled appeal from Lillee. And now it’s an inside edge to the fine leg boundary.
Thomson is firing into Hobbs, who’s been struck on the hand – time for the magic spray. He’s in some discomfort as he edges the next ball but it bounces on the way to Smith in the slips. And that’s not a convincing shot, but he gets two as he flaps it away.

England 28-3 (Hobbs 14 Hammond 8) overs 12

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Lillee and that’s not timed by Hammond but he gets a single as it’s squirted away for a single. He then beats Hobbs again and the next ball is dropped by Gilchrist – was that a chance? Judging by the reaction of the keeper and the slips, I think it was. And how often does this happen? The next ball is cracked for four through the covers. And then runs a single down to long leg.
Just seen the replay and that was a chance – Gilchrist will be kicking himself. First change of bowling and it’s Miller from the Birmingham end. That’s a bit of a loosener and Hobbs creams it for four through cover. He tries to do the same on backfoot on the next ball but it’s full and swinging in – there’s a big shout and Aleem Dar gives it. Hobbs walks off, no thought of a review - England still in deep trouble.

England 38-4 Hobbs lbw b Miller 23 Hammond 9 Stokes 0 overs 14

 

[Gwylan]

It’s a bowling change at the Pavilion End too: Warne coming on. Not sure there’s much in this wicket for him yet but he’s not the bloke you want to be facing when you’ve just come in. It’s Hammond first though and he plays out a safe maiden.
Miller to Stokes. He watches him carefully and blocks the first few balls, that’s a gem though, it flies off the edge, just evades the diving Smith and Thomson running around from third man, pulls off a great stop – just the two to Stokes, who’s beaten off the final ball of the over

England 40-4 (Hammond 9 Stokes 2) overs 16

 

[Gwylan]

That’s a good ball from Warne and it’s missed by Gilchrist and finds its way to the boundary. The keeper’s not having a good time – although Dave Orchard signals leg byes rather than byes. That’s better from Hammond, it’s over-pitched and belted through cover point for four. A single completes the over.
There’s no fireworks from Miller, just a two pushed through square leg – that’s 50 up.

England 51-4 (Hammond 16 Stokes 2) overs 18

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Warne to Stokes and he’s beaten by this one – it’s the googly that he doesn’t pick. But he gets on top of the next ball and steers it for two through mid-wicket and it’s the googly again, again Stokes doesn’t pick it, but it’s slashed past Chappell at slip for four. He’s then beaten by top spinner but he edges it onto his pad – fortunate that, he was plumb in front.
Miller to Hammond who’s seeing him comfortably and paddles that away for two. He blocks everything else and looks to be in control now.

England 59-4 (Hammond 18 Stokes 8) overs 20

 

[Gwylan]

Stokes comes down the wicket to have a go at Warne and he doesn’t time that at all, it’s skied in the air but fortunately for Stokes, it falls between Trumper and Hayden and they run three. Hammond takes no risks against Warne and blocks the rest of the over.
Miller to Stokes and the batsman has decided that now is not the time to play rash shots and sees out the maiden.

England 62-4 (Hammond 18 Stokes 11) overs 22

 

[jakarta]

Do you think the Warwicks CCC Committee will be having words with the Groundsman this evening as we could be on our way to a two day Test Match?

 

[Gwylan]

Oh, that’s a rare bad ball from Warne – it’s over-pitched and Hammond wallops it through mid-off for four. And that’s flicked through mid-wicket for two. He finishes the over with a single.
Miller again and Hammond has his eyes on tea now – he scores a single. Stokes is gets a beauty though and it’s edged – just through where second slip would be – the ball evades Thomson’s frantic dive and it’s four.

England 74-4 (Hammond 26 Stokes 15) overs 24

 

[Gwylan]

Do you think the Warwicks CCC Committee will be having words with the Groundsman this evening as we could be on our way to a two day Test Match?

I was there in 1995 when West Indies bowled England out for 144 on the first day - that was a lively wicket (England were bowled out for 89 in the second innings)

This pitch isn't that bad - it's flattening out already

 

[Gwylan]

Warne to bowl the last over before tea and Hammond is taking no chances. It’s a maiden and it’s time for a cuppa.

Tea score England 74-4

 

[Gwylan]

Tea Scoreboard

England
Cook lbw b Lillee 6
Hobbs lbw b Miller 23
Gower c Gilchrist b Lillee 0
Compton b Lillee 0
Hammond not out 26
Stokes not out 15
Extras 4
Total 74-4

Bowling
Lillee 7 2 16 3
Thomson 6 1 18 0
Miller 6 1 16 1
Warne 6 1 20 0

 

[jakarta]

A good job we have some batting to come but this surely isn't going to go past Thursday Lunchtime? The TV Companies must be furious.