[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

Miller plays carefully against Botham: he blocks a couple, leaves a couple and scores a single through the covers. Gilchrist also blocks the last ball.
Underwood replaces Anderson and Miller’s taking no chances, he plays out the maiden

Australia 334-6 (Gilchrist 22 Miller 2) overs 98

 

[Gwylan]

You can tell that Gilchrist is itching to get after Botham. He comes down the wicket a couple of times but is not quite there. He cracks one to mid-off but that’s a brilliant diving stop by Stokes. He finally gets one away off the last ball and hoists it to cow-corner, first bounce for four.
Miller is only dealing with singles at the moment, he scores another off Underwood and Gilchrist decides he’s had enough and comes down the wicket to smack the spinner for four. He takes a single off the last ball.

Australia 344-6 (Gilchrist 31 Miller 3) overs 100

 

[Gwylan]

Gilchrist has had enough of the restraint and slog-sweeps Botham into the crowd – where’s well caught by a fella in a blue shirt. He tries to repeat the shot but it doesn’t bounce as high as he was expecting and he bottom edges on to the stumps.

Australia 350-7 (Gilchrist b Botham 37)

 

[Gwylan]

Warne comes in and Botham tempts him with some slow in-swingers but the spinner resists.

Miller is the senior partner now and clips a two off Underwood and then steals the strike with a single.

Australia 353-7 (Miller 6 Warne 0) overs 102

 

[Gwylan]

But there’s no fireworks off a Botham over – Miller is content to see it out.
Warne is firm against Underwood too – although when the bowler sends it wide, Warne helps it on its way for a couple.

Australia 355-7 (Miller 6 Warne 2) overs 104

 

[Gwylan]

There’s a bit of aggression off Botham as Miller finds a gap on the on-side, they run the two. And takes a single off the last ball.
He’s content to play out Underwood, there’s a glide to long leg for one and Warne blocks the rest.

Australia 359-7 (Miller 10 Warne 2) overs 106

 

[Gwylan]

Here’s a shock. It’s the last over before lunch and it’s Denis Compton to bowl his chinamen. Hammond hoping to tempt Miller out of his shell. He does – he over-pitches and Miller smacks it away for four. He doesn’t touch the next couple of balls and then scores a single.
And that’s scoff time.

Lunch score: Australia 364-7 (Miller 15 Warne 2) overs 107

 

[jakarta]

Will the Bearded Wonder tell us what is the biggest total chased down at Edgbaston?

I seem to remember the Aussies trying to chase an England total a few years back, from memory Billy Bowden gave a dubious decision then as well...

 

[Gwylan]

Will the Bearded Wonder tell us what is the biggest total chased down at Edgbaston?

I seem to remember the Aussies trying to chase an England total a few years back, from memory Billy Bowden gave a dubious decision then as well...

The biggest total to win is 283 (by SA). The highest total in an Ashes test is 279 by Australia in 2005 (but famously lost it)

I can't find the highest total to win an Ashes test

 

[jakarta]

The biggest total to win is 283 (by SA). The highest total in an Ashes test is 279 by Australia in 2005 (but famously lost it)

I can't find the highest total to win an Ashes test

So essentially already 253 ahead, possibly a 300 plus chase and Shane Warne on a 4th Innings Wicket...

Hoo bloody rah...

 

[Gwylan]

The chances of this being over today have pretty much receded: England already need 254 to win – they’ll want to keep it to under 300.
However, it’s a good pitch and although Warne in a fourth innings may be a handful, I don’t think England will be terrified of this wicket.
I’d say if they could finish them off in a few overs after lunch and chase 260 or 270, England would be content. Any score significantly over 300, an England may be worried. Anything in the middle – who knows?

 

[Gwylan]

It’s as we were after lunch. Underwood’s bowling, he’s on the spot and Miller plays out a maiden.

It’s Anderson back at the Pavilion end and Warne drives him for four. But it’s steady as she goes for the rest of the over.
Miller blocks Underwood and then clips him for a single. Warne tries to get the Kent man away, but can’t pierce the field.

Australia 369-7 (Miller 16 Warne 6) overs 110

 

[Gwylan]

The batsmen are aware they have plenty of time on their hands and are taking no risks. A single here, a two there, a few maidens.

Australia 377-7 (Miller 21 Warne 9) overs 116

 

[Gwylan]

Warne, for one, seems to have had enough and drives Anderson through the covers for four. He blocks the next one and tries to drive again, the ball does just enough, there’s a loud nick and Prior throws the ball aloft – no argument about that one

Australia 381-8 (Warne c Prior b Anderson 13)

 

[Gwylan]

Lillee plays out the rest of the over. Miller looks to get the strike off Underwood and takes a single

Australia 382-8 (Miller 22 Lillee 0) overs 118

 

[Gwylan]

Miller’s still taking no risks off Anderson he tries to get off the strike but there’s some smart fielding by Gower first and then Hobbs and he can’t get away.

Lillee finds Underwood harder to handle and plays and misses a couple of times – he decides to chance his arm but loft him over the top but just skies it to Anderson and mid-on.

Australia 382-9 Lillee c Anderson b Underwood 0

 

[Gwylan]

Thomson does manage to get away from Underwood and squirts a single to third man. Botham replaces Anderson at the Pavilion end. Thomson goes for the old heave-ho and it’s skied in the air and gobbled up by Anderson – again – at long leg
Australia 382 all out (Thomson c Anderson b Botham 1, Miller not out 22)

England need 272 to win

 

[Gwylan]

Despite Edgbaston’s reputation, this still looks a decent wicket and there are no demons in Lillee’s first over – Cook can let several go and is firmly forward to block the rest.
Thomson looks similarly unthreatening, there’s no sign of any uneven bounce and Hobbs, playing everything off the back foot looks comfortable. There’s a nicely played square drive for two and England are on their way

 

[Gwylan]

Lillee is in a groove nicely and moves that away from Cook, he’s groping a bit for that. Ah, that’s better from Chef, he leans into a full delivery and that’s four all the way. He leaves the next few and takes a single off the last ball.

Cook is not troubled by Thomson’s extra pace, he gets well behind the ball, pushes a two off his hip and sees off the over.
England 9-0 (Cook 8 Hobbs 1) overs 4

 

[Gwylan]

Hobbs plays Lillee comfortably – he gets forward to him and steers him through mid-on for two and a flick to long leg steals the strike.
And that’s a good shot – it’s short from Thomson and hammered away for four.

England 16-0 (Cook 8 Hobbs 8) overs 6