[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

Gilchrist doesn’t hang around and smashes Stokes’s last ball for four.
Anderson runs one into Border’s pads and that’s glided down to fine leg for four. He gets across his stumps to repeat the shot but it holds the line and cannons into the pads – there’s a huge shout and umpire Bucknor raises the finger. Border immediately signals a review

The ball’s good, it’s in line, there’s no bat and it’s just hitting the stumps – umpire’s call so Border is on his way

Australia 475-6 Border lbw b Anderson 58

 

[Gwylan]

Miller’s in and gets off the mark with two through mid-wicket
Australia 477-6 (Gilchrist 4 Miller 2) overs 120

 

[Gwylan]

It’s fun and games now as Gilchrist decides to go after Stokes. He hoists the first ball into the stand by mid wicket, slashes the next over the slip area for four, has a swing and completely misses the ball, plays a lofted drive for four and wallops the ball off the bowler’s head for six. He finishes by blocking a yorker – 20 off the over.
Miller can’t match that but does bring up the 500 with a driven four and a single

502-6 (Gilchrist 24 Miller 7) overs 122

 

[Gwylan]

That’s the end of the Stokes experiment. There are only a few overs until tea and Hammond brings himself on. There’s no let-up from Australia though as Miller smashes him for six over mid-wicket and dances down the pitch for four more. He finishes the over with a two.
Gilchrist is more circumspect against Anderson and is content with a single.

515-6 (Gilchrist 25 Miller 19) overs 124

 

[Gwylan]

Gilchrist hits Hammond for two successive fours and then takes a single. Miller flicks the ball to long leg for another single.
Anderson strays onto Miller’s pads and that’s clipped away for two more, he runs the ball to third man for a single and Gilchrist takes another off the final ball of the over.

529-6 (Gilchrist 35 Miller 23) overs 126

 

[Gwylan]

It’s still Hammond but Gilchrist is playing for tea now. He runs the ball away for two and takes a single. There’s another single off Anderson and Miller follows suit – that’s tea

Tea score 534-6 (Gilchrist 39 Miller 24) overs 128

 

[jakarta]

Declaration on its way?

 

[Gwylan]

Declaration on its way?

Definitely. The way that these two are playing, we'll see a good hour of England batting tonight. This pitch is a belter, won't shock me to see England score 400+ on it

 

[Gwylan]

We have 11 more minutes to wait before Larwood can bowl. So England begin with Botham and Miller carries on where he left off by driving through the covers for four. He runs a single to third man and Gilchrist chips over mid-on’s head for another single.
It’s still Anderson and Gilchrist welcomes him by driving him off his legs for another four. That’s it for the over as Anderson is too tight

544-6 (Gilchrist 44 Miller 29) overs 130

 

[Gwylan]

Botham drops short and Gilchrist brings up his 50 in some style by depositing the ball in the stands. There’s a bit of delay when they fish it out and Botham wants the ball changed – the umpires look at it and decide it’s fine . Gilchrist runs the ball away for another single and it’s Miller’s turn to get on the charge – that’s four through mid-off. He ends with a single.
Miller hits Anderson into the deep, they run three. Gilchrist has a wild swing and it goes off the edge for another four. Gilchrist finishes the over with a single

564-6 (Gilchrist 56 Miller 37) overs 132

 

[Gwylan]

Larwood’s back and that’s very much a loosener that Gilchrist swings away for four. He blocks the next two but looks impatient and takes a swing at a shorter ball but it’s too quick for him, it gets an edge and Prior snatches the catch – Gilchrist walks without looking at the umpire

568-7 Gilchrist c Prior b Larwood 60

 

[Gwylan]

Warne’s first ball is gloved down to long leg – that could have gone anywhere and Miller keeps the strike with a single.
Underwood replaces Anderson and Miller comes down the pitch to smash him for four. He sweeps him, catches a top edge but safely – they take a single.
Warne pushes Underwood for two more.

577-7 (Miller 43 Warne 3) overs 134

 

[Gwylan]

Larwood to Miller and he doesn’t play that comfortably but does get one for it. Warne is even less comfortable as he gets an edge past Prior for four. He has no chance with the next one though – his middle stump is sent flying,

582-8 Warne b Larwood 7
And that’s it – Bradman is on the balcony calling them in

Miller’s on 44 not out.

 

[jakarta]

Nice easy situation for Hutton's first Innings of the Ashes then...

 

[Gwylan]

Sorry for the delay - it was the commentator's dinner time

There have been no fireworks from the outset. Australia opened with Lillee and Thomson, as expected but the bowlers got no help from the pitch. There have been no missed chances, only a couple of balls have passed the bat and both Hutton and Hobbs have looked very comfortable

England 41-0 (Hobbs 25 Hutton 16) overs 12

 

[Gwylan]

First bowling change of the day and it's not more seam, it's Warne from the Anderson end. Underwood got nothing out of the pitch will the wrist spinner get anything. The first ball is too short and Hobbs hammers it to the point fence for four. The next two balls are bang on the spot and then Warne slips in the googly - there's some turn here but it's slow and there's no bounce but that's the first sign that the pitch may have some life in it. Hobbs sees out the rest of the over.

And here's a big shock - there's another change of bowling but it's not Miller replacing Thomson but Border. Bradman really wants to see if there's any spin in the wicket but he's not off to a great start: the first ball is wide of leg stump and races to the boundary for four byes and Hutton drives the next for three - that's 50 up. Hobbs uses his feet and takes two past gully,

England 54-0 (Hobbs 31 Hutton 19) overs 14

 

[jakarta]

Have to be a long and hard dig but as you say the pitch isn't doing very much at present so bat out this session and get ready for a big day tomorrow.

 

[Gwylan]

Warne's first ball is wide, well wide, and doesn't really turn that much - Gilchrist gets gloves on it but it's two more byes.
And that's beautifully played by Hutton - it's launched past square leg for four more. He takes another single to end the over.

It's still Border but he's much tidier now. Hutton plays him with soft hands for a two past gully and that's it for the over.

England 63-0 (Hobbs 31 Hutton 26) overs 16

 

[Gwylan]

Oh Jack, what are you doing. He goes for an expansive drive against Warne and thick edges it past Chappell at slip - he gets four but that could have been curtains. Hammond has a face like thunder on the balcony. He plays the next few balls carefully and then jogs a single to third man. Warne gets some turn on a googly but, again, it's too slow and Hutton turns it to square leg for a single.

Border to bowl the last over of the day. Hutton watches carefully and blocks the first four balls. The fifth is over-pitched and Hutton sweetly drives in into the covers for two. He finishes by playing the last ball with a dead bat and that concludes the entertainment for the day

England 71-0 (Hobbs 36 Hutton 29) overs 18

 

[Gwylan]

Delayed start to the day as there's some rain about (in other words, I'm on some conference calls this morning)

There'll be less regular coverage today, I actually have some work to do