[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

It’s just the one off Underwood’s over but Hammond’s a bit tidier this time around. Bradman gets a slightly lucky single to long leg – that’s the 300 - and Chappell scores two with a slightly uppish drive past mid-on.

Australia 302-3 (Bradman 125 Chappell 21) overs 78

 

[Gwylan]

Underwood continues to hit the spot: there’s one cover drive for two from Bradman but can only block the rest.
Chappell flicks Hammond for a single and Bradman sees out the next few balls until Hammond drops short and it’s crashed to the point boundary.

Australia 309-3 (Bradman 131 Chappell 22) overs 80

 

[Gwylan]

It’s new ball time and Hammond takes it right away. Anderson has it in his mitt and he comes steaming in from the Anderson end. Chappell helps it away for the single and then Bradman plays the sweetest of cover drives for four, bringing up the 50 partnership
It’s Botham for this first time this morning and he starts with a gentle outswinger – only just above medium pace, Chappell hammers that past Compton at mid-off. His next ball is short and Chappell cuts it away to point. Underwood runs round from third man and looks like he’ll stop it but it squirms under his body – Botham looks less than happy.
He’s looks even unhappier now, that’s edged by Chappell, wide of Hutton at slip and once again Underwood can’t reach that.

Australia 326-3 (Bradman 135 Chappell 35) overs 82

 

[Gwylan]

That’s more like it from Anderson: a tight maiden, Bradman can only block and is beaten by one outside the off stump. And Botham is tighter too – singles for Chappell and Bradman but batsmen are playing carefully

Australia 328-3 (Bradman 136 Chappell 36) overs 84

 

[Gwylan]

It’s been quiet for a few overs now. Anderson has got into his groove and Botham has settled down – there was one half volley that Bradman drove for four but that’s been it

Australia 345-3 (Bradman 147 Chappell 42) overs 90

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Anderson bounding in but there are signs of tiredness now and Chappell lofts him away for a four wide of mid-on and then a push to vacant long-off for three – that’s the 350 up. Bradman completes the over with a single.
Bradman flicks it to long leg for a single and then Chappell brings up his fifty with an elegant on-drive for two. He turns it to square leg for another single.

Australia 357-3 (Bradman 149 Chappell 52) overs 92

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Underwood back on from the Anderson end and Chappell welcomes him with a fierce off-driven four and then a single to square leg. Bradman hits the ball to extra cover for two – that’s his 150 and the 100 partnership.
Botham is in again and Chappell drives him through the covers for another four – that was a fine shot. He tries to repeat it but that swings late and Chappell feathers it through to Prior. Bucknor raises the finger and Chappell’s on his way

Australia 368-4 Chappell c Prior b Botham 61

Border’s the new man and he sees out the next ball and gets off the mark with a push past cover.

Australia 369-4 (Bradman 151 Border 1) overs 94

 

[Gwylan]

The batsmen may be thinking of lunch now as Border plays out a maiden from Underwood and Bradman is content with just a single off Botham’s over.

Australia 370-4 (Bradman 152 Border 1) overs 96

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman lazily drives Underwood for two and blocks out the over. It’s the last over before lunch and it’s going to be delivered by Compton - maybe his chinamen will cause a brain freeze. But he bowls too short and Border wallops him over square leg. That’s too short again and it’s cut through point for another boundary. Border helps himself to a single and that’s a less than effective experiment by Hammond.

Lunch score: Australia 381-4 (Bradman 154 Border 10) overs 98

 

[jakarta]

Much to think about at Lunch...

 

[Gwylan]

It’s been quiet since lunch. Anderson and Botham have been bowling and the two batsmen have been playing steadily. There have been no boundaries but no major scares either. The big news, however, is that Larwood is off the field. He hasn’t bowled much today and he’s having some problems with his left foot – he’s seeing the physio and hopes to be back later.

Australia 398-4 (Bradman 164 Border 17) overs 104

 

[Gwylan]

Anderson drops that one short and Border pulls it to the square leg boundary. He glides the next one down to third man. Bradman plays the next couple of balls carefully and then flicks a single to leg.
Botham also drops short and Bradman cuts to point for four. He tries again and it’s brilliantly stopped by Stokes in the gully

Australia 408-4 (Bradman 169 Border 22) overs 106

 

[jakarta]

Talking of Stokes, about time he had a pop?

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Underwood again from the Anderson end and Border plays him carefully for a maiden. Botham into Bradman who helps himself to two at square leg and a single through the covers.

Australia 411-4 (Bradman 172 Border 22) overs 108

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman punches Underwood through midwicket for single and then Border mistimes a drive, it flies off the edge and is pulled up by Anderson on the boundary: three to Border.
Border is more circumspect against Botham but he does get a run to third man and then Bradman gets one to long off

Australia 417-4 (Bradman 174 Border 26) overs 110

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman’s dancing feet to the fore as he comes down the wicket to crash the ball through mid-off – that’s the 50 partnership. He then steers Underwood to long leg for a single. He takes a single off the first ball of Botham’s over and Border has an ungainly heave but it sails over to cow corner for another four. A single completes the over

Australia 428-4 (Bradman 180 Border 31) overs 112

 

[Gwylan]

Border’s had enough. He blocks the first couple of balls of Underwood and then launches a massive slog sweep that disappears into the stands – the second six of the match. He sweeps again, catches a bottom edge and it flies past Prior for another boundary.
The two batsmen chat in the middle: it looks like they’re talking about getting a move on – this is a good batting wicket and they probably want England in tonight.
Bradman certainly looks like getting a move on, he smashes the first two balls of Botham’s over for fours and takes a single to mid-wicket. Border joins in the fun with an uppish drive through mid-off for four – that’s the 450 and then takes a single too. Larwood rejoins the field but can’t bowl until after tea.

Australia 452-4 (Bradman 189 Border 46) overs 114

 

[Gwylan]

There’s a break in the mayhem as Border can’t get Underwood away – he’s unveiled the sweep a couple of times and not connected but he does get a single to point. It’s Anderson back – from the Statham end this time – Border runs it to third man for a single and Bradman enters the nervous 190s with a repeat of the shot.

Australia 455-4 (Bradman 190 Border 48) overs 116

 

[Gwylan]

Underwood is still bowling and Bradman can only score a single off him. Anderson in again and once more Bradman glides to third man for a single, But Anderson then over-pitches and Border gleefully accepts the gift, driving flamboyantly for four – that’s his fifty. And another single completes the over.

Australia 462-4 (Bradman 192 Border 53) overs 118

 

[Gwylan]

Underwood is finally relieved and it’s Stokes having a go. Border’s on his toes playing that down to long leg. And that’s a poor ball that Bradman smashes for four – one more blow to the 200. And he repeats the shot but there’s a bit more bounce and he can’t keep it down – it’s superbly held by Hobbs low down at square leg – no double ton for the Don.

Australia 467-5 Bradman c Hobbs b Stokes 196