[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

It’s Botham replacing Anderson at the James Anderson end and that’s loose for a first ball – Hayden sends it crashing to the cover boundary. He’s beaten by the second though – that’s a loose shot that just misses the edge. The third ball jags back and strikes Hayden on the pad – there’s a big appeal but umpire Orchard shakes his head. They think about a review but eventually decide against it – it may have been drifting down leg and there possibly was some bat on it. Botham beats Hayden again and the batsman eventually sees off the over.
It’s a double change with Underwood on at the Statham End. And he’s in the groove straight away, Bradman can’t get him away. We’ve just seen the replay of the possible LBW in the previous over – there was no bat and it would have been umpire’s call – if Orchard had given it, that would have been out. Ouch.
Anyway, Underwood finishes his over with no dramas.

Australia 70-1 (Hayden 27 Bradman 16) overs 18

 

[Gwylan]

Botham in again to Hayden and this time it’s played comfortably to long leg for one. Bradman is down the wicket to the next ball and crashes it through mid-off. That didn’t look over-pitched but Bradman’s footwork is so good. There a few spots of rain around now and Botham is wiping the ball with the towel. That ball is loose though and Bradman smashes it through mid-wicket and he pushes at the next one, past the bowler. The outfield is not fast and they take three. The rain’s a bit harder now and Hayden looks concerned he plays out the over and I think they’re coming in.
There are only 10 minutes till lunch so they’re breaking a bit early

Lunch score: Australia 82-1 (Hayden 28 Bradman 27) overs 19

 

[jakarta]

Don't like the speed at which the Convicts are scoring...

In another Cricketing Universe some news from Sussex CCC:

https://sussexcricket.co.uk/news/relive-our-2006-cg-trophy-triumph-week

I was there!

 

[Gwylan]

The rain lasted through the lunch interval but the good news is that the sky is blue and the forecast for the rest of the day is for fair weather. They’ve had an early tea and play can continue until 7.00

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Underwood to continue from the Statham End and he’s looking in line for a second successive maiden until Bradman turns him square for two runs.
Botham continues from the Anderson End and he starts off with two shockers: a long hop down the leg side that Hayden helps round the corner for four and a half volley outside off that’s walloped through extra cover for another one. He’s on the spot for the rest of the over though and beats Hayden with an absolute jaffa off the final ball.
Bradman helps himself to a single off the first ball of Underwood’s over and Hayden continues where he left off, stroking it through the covers for two.

Australia 95-1 (Hayden 38 Bradman 30) overs 22

 

[Gwylan]

Botham has found his line and length and troubles Bradman with an off-cutter that he inside edges down to long leg. He then beats Hayden outside the off stump and with one coming back into him. A fine over that.
Underwood is bang on target with the next over. Bradman is using his feet to hit him off his length but that’s a good maiden – kept Bradman on his toes.

Australia 96-1 (Hayden 38 Bradman 31) overs 24

 

[Gwylan]

Hayden’s decided to play Botham sensibly and leaves the first three balls of the over: the fourth strikes his pad, there’s a half-hearted shout for leg-before but that was swinging down the leg side. And that’s too loose, it’s punched away by Hayden, Compton gives chase from mid-off but they run three.

Underwood continues to hit the spot. It’s Hayden this time who struggles to get him away but he does clip a single past square leg.
Australia 100-1 (Hayden 42 Bradman 31) overs 26

 

[jakarta]

This is looking ominous...

 

[Gwylan]

There’s been nothing of note for the past few overs. Underwood has been tight and has bowled a couple of maidens. Botham mixes up the occasional loose ball with an absolute jaffa.

Australia 119-1 (Hayden 49 Bradman 40) overs 34

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Anderson back, from the, er, Anderson end. His first ball is outside the line of leg stump and Hayden helps himself to four through square leg – that was buffet bowling. That brings up Hayden’s 50 and helps him answer his critics. Anderson strikes his pad with the next delivery but that was missing leg and the bowler stifles his appeal.
He doesn’t stifle this one though. That shapes moves sharply away and strikes him full on the pad. There’s a loud shout and Orchard says no … but they’re going upstairs for this.

 

[Gwylan]

The delivery’s good and there’s no bat but, it strikes him just outside leg stump. It was going on to hit too but it’s not out and England lose a review. Hayden celebrates by driving the next ball through the off for three.
Underwood continues to be as miserly as ever, Hayden squeezes a run through point and Bradman runs one down to third man and keeps the strike.

Australia 128-1 (Hayden 57 Bradman 40) overs 36

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman fancies Anderson a bit more than he does Underwood – he dances down the wicket and crashes the ball through mid-off for four. Anderson keeps him tied down off the next few but that’s a glorious square drive off the back foot for another four – even Stokes can’t stop that one.
And, finally, Underwood is hit for a boundary. That’s loose outside the leg stump and it’s swept fine by Hayden. That’s the 100 partnership. There are no other runs off the over though.

Australia 140-1 (Hayden 61 Bradman 48) overs 38

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson continues and that’s another 50 for Bradman, effortlessly played through the covers for two. He runs a single down to third man and Hayden clips another two.
Runs are beginning to come now as Bradman comes down the pitch to Underwood and cracks him for four. He comes down the pitch again but it goes between bat and pad and Prior misses – that was a clear stumping opportunity – two byes too. That brings up the 150.

Australia 151-1 (Hayden 63 Bradman 55) overs 40

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson continues to get some movement. Hayden completely mistimes one, edges it and it flies over Hammond’s head for four. Underwood has got some control back and Bradman plays him carefully – that was a bit of a scare in the last over.

Australia 155-1 (Hayden 67 Bradman 55) overs 42

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Anderson but he could be tiring a bit, that’s loose and Hayden flicks him away for four. They also run a single and Bradman clips the last ball of the over for another boundary.
Hayden can’t get Underwood away though and they take just a single.

Australia 165-1 (Hayden 73 Bradman 59) overs 44

 

[jakarta]

Not looking good at the moment - perhaps a bit of Stokes to mix things up a bit?

 

[Gwylan]

There’s a bowling change and it’s Stokes coming on. What can he make happen. Well, that’s not a good ball, it’s short with no great pace outside the leg stump and Hayden absolutely wallops it – that’s the first six of the innings. That’s better though, Hayden plays and misses and then just about keeps a yorker out. And that’s a peach, catches the edge and would have been a comfortable catch to third slip. As it is, it just flies down to Underwood and third man.
Bradman scores two on the onside to complete the over.
Underwood plugs away and Hayden can just score a two, wide of mid-on

Australia 176-1 (Hayden 82 Bradman 61) overs 46

 

[Gwylan]

Stokes again and Bradman cover drives superbly for three. The rest of the over is much tighter, Hayden scores two off the last ball thanks to mistimed on drive.
Bradman is feeling skittish again and comes down the wicket to drive Underwood through mid-on for four and takes a single off the last ball.

Australia 186-1 (Hayden 84 Bradman 69) overs 48

 

[jakarta]

Clearly the Convicts day, at least they haven't run away with it.

 

[Gwylan]

That’s much tighter by Stokes and Hayden can only score a single off it – that’s the 150 partnership. He takes a single off the first ball of Underwood’s over and then it’s cat and mouse as Bradman looks to use his feet to come down the track and then step back – Underwood’s wise to it and pushes it through a bit quicker. He scores a single down to fine leg to complete the over.

Australia 189-1 (Hayden 86 Bradman 70) overs 50