[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

Cook is playing Lillee well, that’s clipped off his legs for two and that’s driven beautifully for four. He steers one down to long leg for a single.
He can’t get Thomson away though, he’s bowling back of a length and tying Cook up.
England 23-0 (Cook 15 Hobbs 8) overs 8

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Lillee from the Pavilion end. Hobbs is still playing him off the back foot and still looking comfortable – there’s a little dab to leg and that’s a single.
He’s handling Thomson equally well and there’s a half drive half push for two. He scores another single and Cook nicks the strike with a flick to leg.

England 28-0 (Cook 16 Hobbs 12) overs 10

 

[A1X]

England and Cook both need a score here, but I have faith in the one true saviour born on Christmas Day to come good

 

[Gwylan]

It’s the last over before tea. Lillee comes steaming in and beats Cook with a beauty, that’s the first ball that’s caused any problems . Oh, that one has too – it catches the edge and flies over the slips for four. Cook sees out the rest of the over with no worries

Tea score England 32-0 (Cook 20 Hobbs 12) overs 11

 

[jakarta]

So just the 240 to win, stroll in the park...

 

[Gwylan]

Sorry, the commentator was called away on home schooling duty - this never happened to Aggers.

England have now faced 25 overs and have scored 68 for no wickets

Cook is on 31 and Hobbs on 35. Warne and Miller are bowling.

There's only been one moment of anxiety for England - Hobbs mistiming a drive off Warne and seeing fall just short of Miller at mid-off

 

[Gwylan]

It's Miller to Hobbs and he plays a beautiful leg glance for four. And then follows it up with a drive through the covers for two

And that's the Cook specialist shot - that clip off the pads he plays so well - four runs all the way

England 78-0 (Hobbs 41 Cook 35) overs 26

 

[Gwylan]

Warne is beginning to get some turn now - Hobbs is playing him off the back foot and seems to be picking the googly - that's nicely steered backwards of square for two.

Miller has laboured in vain - Chappell is having his first bowl of the match. Cook's eyes light up and he drives through mid-off for four. He tries the same shot again but doesn't quite time it, but still gets three.

England 87-0 (Hobbs 43 Cook 42) overs 28

 

[Gwylan]

Cook comes forward to Warne, playing him comfortably. And that one is pitched outside off, Cook goes for the drive but it's a big leg break and nips in the gap between bat and pad. Oh, Chef.

England 87-1 (Cook b Warne 42)

 

[Gwylan]

That's a wicket falling on Australia's Nelson.

Gower comes in ... he's on a king pair, remember.

And he fences outside off-stump for the first ball and it's dropped by Smith - it's not been his day.

That was nearly two in two - what was Gower doing?

 

[Gwylan]

Gower decides to put his sensible head on and block the rest of Warne's over.

Hobbs continues in his sweet way and drives Chappell for two and then a single

England 90-1 (Hobbs 46 Gower 0) overs 30

 

[Gwylan]

That's more like it from Gower, a sweetly timed cover drive for four - he's off the mark

And that's a delicate late cut, he scampers three.

Hobbs is playing Warne pretty much off the back foot and he turns him away for two.

Chappell to Gower and the first few are blocked but Gower then drives handsomely through mid-off for two - 100 up for England.

He pinches the strike by nipping a single off the last ball.

England 102-1 (Hobbs 48 Gower 10) overs 32

 

[jakarta]

Must be getting close to Stumps?

 

[Gwylan]

Warne bowls the last over of the day to Gower who turns it off his hip for a single. Hobbs sees off the over

England 103-1 (Hobbs 48 Gower 11) overs 33

England need 170 to win

 

[Eeyore]

Are there still tickets available for tomorrow ?

 

[jakarta]

Would be be nice to have the Day's Scorecard?

Excellent knock from Hobbs, Hope Hammond buys him a large Scotch this evening.

Still think this is very much in the balance...

 

[jakarta]

So much batting left to come and just 170 runs to get, but the demon king lurking in the wings plus the fact that England never win these sorts of games at a canter. Has been (yet again) a great game no matter what.

 

[Gwylan]

Working out the scorecard tonight - I've had a bit of a full on day today with domestic duties, tomorrow should be easier

 

[jakarta]

Working out the scorecard tonight - I've had a bit of a full on day today with domestic duties, tomorrow should be easier

Cheers, presume you are your way to the Ground at present?

It's cool and cloudy down here in West, West Sussex, even felt a spot of rain when I did my pre breakfast jog around the block this morning, hope it's not the same bowler friendly weather up in Brum.

Which has brought me to the Dreadful Pun of the Day: It's Squeaky Brum Time

 

[Gwylan]

Australia
Trumper c and b Underwood 33
Hayden lbw b Underwood 52
Bradman b Larwood 72
Ponting c Prior b Larwood 35
Smith c Prior b Larwood 61
Chappell c Hammond b Botham 55
Gilchrist b Botham 37
Miller not out 22
Warne c Prior b Anderson 13
Lillee c Anderson b Underwood 0
Thomson c Anderson b Botham 1
Extras 2
Overs 119.2
Total 383

Bowling
Anderson 22 4 58 1
Larwood 20 3 72 3
Botham 28.2 96 3
Underwood 36 5 110 3
Stokes 121 45 0
Compton 1 0 4 0

England
Cook b Warne 42
Hobbs not out 48
Gower 11
extras 2
Overs 33
Total 103-1

Bowling
Lillee 5 1 15 0
Thomson 7 2 20 0
Miller 6 2 17 0
Warne 12 2 38 1

I made a mistake in writing down the Australia total when they were all out - I said 382 but it's 383. So England do need 273 to win (as I correctly said at the close of play)

It's a lovely morning here but a bit of mist in the ground - there may be a bit of swing for the bowlers early on but Warne's going to be key. He's finding some turn - the ball that got Cook out spun sharply - but there's plenty of batting in this England side and while there's some help for Warne, this is no bunsen
Chappell 3 0 12 0