Nice fightback from England. Hazlewood was superb with two early scalps but the track was true, Denly and Burns growing in confidence towards the break. The latter was dropped by Khawaja at gully but they remained calm, earning their fancy Lord’s lunch. I’m off to grab a marginally less posh feed from the back of the press box – I’ll be back with you in about 20 minutes for some chit-chat.
LUNCH: England 76-2
27th over: England 76-2 (Burns 34, Denly 27) Cummins to bowl the final over before lunch, banging into Burns’ thigh pad to begin – an area he targets to soften up players. But Burns is made of tough stuff, the opener leaning into a beautiful square drive that motors away towards Father Time. His best shot this morning. That’s the 50 partnership too, put on in 105 balls. Cummins has two more opportunities before the break, beating Burns with a beauty with the penultimate delivery. A great comeback after the boundary. Burns then finishes as he has played the majority of the session: in defence.
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26th over: England 72-2 (Burns 30, Denly 27) Huuuuge shout for lbw, Hazlewood again darting by the inside edge as he has so cannily from this end this morning. Denly is struck on the back leg, albeit just above the knee, which is why they elect not to refer it. The technology on TV shows that to be a good call from Paine, the ball going just above the bails – it would have been a second review blown. Hazlewood then goes the other way, Denly electing to throw his hands at a ball that seams away, beating his bat. “Sometimes your strength can be your weakness,” observes Mikey Holding. Another top over from Hazlewood, who has been the pick of the bowlers.
25th over: England 72-2 (Burns 30, Denly 27) Cummins is rushing in and giving it his all at Burns. Twice he beats the outside edge along the way with deliveries that seam down the slope. But the opener keeps his cool, getting his bat out of the way of the tempter to finish.
Here are the details for Ruth Strauss Day. They’ve done a great job.
24th over: England 72-2 (Burns 30, Denly 27) Hazlewood returns, now from the Nursery End where he picked up both of the wickets so far. Burns defends and watches carefully, grabbing the one on offer to cover. Denly does the same. Good batting as we near lunch.
23rd over: England 71-2 (Burns 29, Denly 27) Cummins’ turn for a quick blast before the break but Denly is seeing it well, watching a bouncer then deflecting off the outside part of his part with soft hands through the cordon for four. Nothing wrong with that.
“Is it just me,” begins Jack Jorgensen, “or has the word ‘kidology’ been in use about 1000x more than normal over the past two weeks of the Ashes? Michael Vaughan has just used it on TMS, and I’m sure I’ve seen it in the cricket press at least 4 or 5 times in writings about the test (not yours mind…). Maybe it’s just an example of recency bias on my behalf (having not seen the word used for a long while beforehand.”
I haven’t, but you can be sure that now you’ve raised it, I will a dozen times before stumps and I’ll accidentally use it in my copy.
“On the topic of the actual cricket, I have a creeping dread that Tim Paine has made an error based more on a perceived weakness (batting) rather than perceived strength (bowling) here.”
It’s certainly a fantastic batting track. It was interesting at Langer’s press conference last night that he asked during the rain delays whether it would be allowable for Paine to win the toss and get Root to decide what England what to do first. He was told no.
22nd over: England 67-2 (Burns 29, Denly 23) Exchanging singles forward of square to begin the Lyon over, Burns makes amends for the short/wide ball he missed out on a few minutes earlier, carving the off-spinner away behind point for his fourth boundary. If England get to the interval two down, they’ve nearly broken even.
21st over: England 61-2 (Burns 24, Denly 22) Shot, Joe. That’s the second cover drive that Denly has played this morning that suggests he has the skillz to pay the billz at this level. He deals nicely with the rest of the Hazlewood set too, ducking a bouncer to finish.
“Sorry to cast a cloud on Ian Forth’s recollection,” says John Starbuck, “but surely David Steele was the bank clerk who went to war, in the famous phrase? Mind you, in those days bank managers were well trained in refusals, a highly suitable temperament for a cautious defensive batsman.”
Am I right in remembering that he released a book last year, documenting the summer of his life and the career either side?
More on SPOTY Steele/Denly from David Seare: “From what I remember, he was promised a steak per run by a local Northants butcher. To my knowledge Denly doesn’t have the same incentive and that might be the difference in the end.”
20th over: England 57-2 (Burns 24, Denly 18) Burns misses out on hammering a poor Lyon delivery early in the over – they don’t come around too often. Sure enough, the next is right on the money and finds his inside edge. In an effort to transfer some pressure back the other way, the opener jumps down the track at Lyon, flicking a couple. Nice work. His sweep to finish was struck well but stopped.
“Surprised that Robin Hazlehurst is interested in using Hazlewood’s ancestry to ‘get Smith out’, when Smudge already had the ancestral goods to play for England (his mum was a Pom!),” notes Sarah Bacon. “But he only ever wanted to wear the Baggy Green. While many Aussies say they ‘wanna be a Wallaby’, Smith’s efforts playing English county cricket and working his way into the team, was a dream come true for Australia, despite his recent fall from grace. He’s in at number four today, isn’t he? Can’t wait.”
19th over: England 55-2 (Burns 22, Denly 18) Hazlewood is back from the pavilion end, a change from his earlier outstanding efforts running away from us at the nursery. Denly watches carefully to begin before pushing confidently through backward point for a couple. Good batting. More of it too, the right-hander grabbing a quick single to cover then Burns tucking one to backward square.
“Happy birthday!” says Peter Salmon. Thanks kindly for all the emails on this topic. I’ll reply at lunch! “Just in and have just watched the Joe Root dismissal. Apart from a stump cartwheeling, is there any more satisfying dismissal than an LBW where the batsman ends up jumping and landing with both feet facing down the pitch, bang to rights? Always feels like they have just finished a dance number and should walk off whistling and goose stepping with their bat over their shoulder, while lifting their hat on and off. Why didn’t Root do that, the joyless bastard?”
Oooh yes. As an opener bowler who can’t bowl anymore (any shoulder experts?), that’s the stuff occupying my dreams too often.
18th over: England 51-2 (Burns 21, Denly 15) “That’s interesting,” says David Gower as Burns sweeps Lyon just over midwicket, running away to the Mound Stand for four. The 50 is up with the shot. Earlier in the set, Lyon also found his inside edge. He isn’t far away here.
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17th over: England 47-2 (Burns 17, Denly 15) Another edge won by Siddle but nothing coming from it other than four runs to Denly through about fourth slip. The 34-year-old has bounced back well.
“Joe Denly as a late blossoming 33 year old emulating David Steele of 40 years ago?” hopes Ian Forth. “The bank manager who went to war. After England got trashed in the 1st test in 1975 he held off Lillee and Thomson for the remainder of the series for England to emerge with some pride intact. Parallels, one hopes, somewhat optimistically.”
And Sports Personality of the Year. I don’t quite see it, I’m afraid.
NOT OUT! Turning too much! Leg stump is visible when the contact is made with the front pad but Lyon has ragged it beyond the woodwork, so says the ball-tracker. That much spin? Review lost!
16th over: England 42-2 (Burns 16, Denly 11)
15th over: England 40-2 (Burns 16, Denly 9) DROPPED CATCH! Burns gets a life, Khawaja putting him down in the gully. It’s not a difficult chance as far as those go, moving quick but straight into his chest. Was he too close in there? Siddle the unlucky man… isn’t he always? He created the chance after five high-quality dots. “As a gully fielder,” says David Gower, “that’s as easy as it gets.” Enough said.
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14th over: England 40-2 (Burns 16, Denly 9) Lyon is on, replacing Hazlewood who has 2/5 to his name after six overs this morning. He beat Burns 32 times (by his count) on day two at Edgbaston before finding his outside edge on the third morning at an important time. He does again here with his fourth ball of the morning but it falls just in front of Smith at first slip. He’s found his range straight away.
“I’m with Warne,” says Jack Baker-Merry of Paine’s decision at the toss. “The conditions today are objectively good for bowling, but they are still probably the best conditions the batsmen will have over the four remaining days. I would have batted first and looked to get a total big enough that you would only have to bat once.”
13th over: England 39-2 (Burns 15, Denly 9) Another expensive over, Siddle taken for three by Denly through midwicket to begin, then driven lavishly through cover by the same man to finish. Between times the seamer was on the money but that he’s gone for 22 in three overs won’t be pleasing anyone on the balcony of Team Australia.
“Morning Adam and a very Happy Birthday to ya.” Thank you, Brian Withington. “My brother can’t be seen to be communicating with OBO whilst at work, but has telepathically volunteered the thought that England’s best chance of victory is to be bundled out for 200+ inside the day and then to win a one innings race.” I’m not quite sure how you’ve worked this out, but I’ll trust your judgment.
A note in from Dean Kinsella, too. Probably not the same Dean Kinsella who was the scariest cricketer I ever shared a dressing room with. “I’m struggling to come up with a strong argument for Buttler to come in ahead of Stokes in this first innings,” he says. “Not that either of them will be required any time soon.” Buttler looks… very tired? Might have needed a longer break after the World Cup?
12th over: England 31-2 (Burns 14, Denly 2) Burns has one ball to deal with after the drinks/delay. Two men are out for the hook but he doesn’t go upstairs, aiming at the stumps. He defends well. I saw CricViz’s stat yesterday that Hazlewood’s full-ball percentage in 2015 was higher than in any series he has played as a Test cricketer. He certainly has every right to fancy himself in England. Excellent spell.
Denly hit, drinks taken
11.5 overs: England 31-2 (Burns 14, Denly 2) Ouch! A 90mph Hazlewood bouncer has whacked Denly’s helmet. He was attemping to help it down to fine leg but it got big on him. He appears okay, the leg bye taken before the medical staff race out. With a concussion test now mandatory in these situations, they take drinks.
“In terms of getting Smith out,” writes Robin Hazlehurst, “what are the odds of Hazlewood suddenly discovering some English ancestry? Is swapping sides mid-Test allowed, or is that a bit frowned on?”
James Pattinson might be your best bet there given his parentage and the fact that his brother, you know, played for England.
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11th over: England 29-2 (Burns 13, Denly 2) Better from Siddle, who needs to be back into his groove from Birmingham quickly here or it will get ugly for him in a hurry. Warne has already sacked him, for instance. It’s a very good end to the over, almost going underneath Denly’s blade before jagging the final delivery back a long way. Nice.
“Good to hear Mitchell Johnson on TMS,” says David Seare. “To come back from his form and confidence issues the way he did and take 37 wickets in that series was an admirable turnaround.”
Geoff Lemon and I had Mitch talking at our live pod show the other night at Hampstead CC and he was in outstanding form. Not just with the gags, but talking about anxiety and confidence. Lovely fella.
10th over: England 28-2 (Burns 12, Denly 2) Hazlewood did that so well four years ago, getting the ball to go up the slope. He’s born to bowl here. Denly’s turn, replacing his skipper. Oooh, first ball it’s another off-cutter again, the No4 saved only by his inside edge. Later in the over he’s off the mark, with a couple through midwicket. Nice clip off the middle of the bat. He has a massive job ahead of him.
WICKET! Root lbw b Hazlewood 14 (England 26-2)
Brilliant again from Hazlewood, going down the slope past Root’s inside edge, striking him on the front knee. No need to review that. The change of ends works a t
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9th over: England 26-1 (Burns 12, Root 14) Siddle is on to replace Cummins, which is an over or two early for mine. Alas, his first delivery is a genuine loosener, cut away with ease by Root behind point for four. Burns’ turn, who takes four even easier runs off his pads down to fine leg. A third four follows, Burns this time hammering Siddle from well outside the off-stump. Poor start.
8th over: England 13-1 (Burns 4, Root 9) Shout for leg before! Turned down. Hazlewood brought it back to the left-hander past his inside edge to prompt the appeal but it was a fraction high. Other than that, Burns is looking a lot more comfortable now.
7th over: England 13-1 (Burns 4, Root 9) Burns gives Root a chance to take a look at Cummins early in the over and he makes the most of it, stroking him up the hill twice in a row with two picture-perfect cover drives. “That’s why he should be batting three,” says Nasser Hussain on the telly. “Soaking up these high-pressure situations.” Warne adds that he would have batted first had he won the toss. He’ll be calling for Paine’s head by the end of the series, nothing more certain.
6th over: England 4-1 (Burns 3, Root 1) Root’s turn again, who is taking the approach that the ball is going to find his edge plenty, so he may as well play every delivery with soft hands. On three occasions this is the result, falling well short of the five catchers behind the wicket. Excellent cricket from both. Another maiden.
Here is the TMS overseas link for the great many people asking for it.
5th over: England 4-1 (Burns 3, Root 1) Burns can’t be flirting well outside the off-stump, even with Cummins angling from around the wicket. He’s beaten. The bumper follows – a rapid one – but he does well to get his head and gloves underneath. Cummins remains on top to the end, twice winning the edge on the bounce to the cordon then beating Burns with a ball he did have to play at with genuine away movement. The Australian quicks couldn’t have started better.
“Good morning.” And to you, John Starbuck. He wants to get Smith out. “Steve Waugh, on his first Ashes tour, at one point had an average of infinity, yet that didn’t last. One way of getting Smith out is the old chestnut of ‘tempting him to have a slash outside off stump’ which would perhaps break his concentration.”
Root said something similar in the build up, noting that they need to be more patient with the traditional forms of breaking Smith’s concentration before digging around for Plan B, C, D, etc.
4th over: England 4-1 (Burns 3, Root 1) Sheeeesh! Hazlewood is hooping this new Dukes ball around expertly, nearly going between Root’s bat and pad with the inducker then beating the outside edge with a gorgeous outswinger. He finishes with the full ball, kept out again via the inside portion the captain’s blade. Outstanding.
3rd over: England 4-1 (Burns 3, Root 1) Cummins is hammering away at Burns, already hitting the radar at 90mph. The opener handles the early part of the over well but full ball that follows the bouncer goes very close to locating his outside edge. The left-hander does well to finish, clipping one out to the grandstand.
“Michael Holding saying ‘Joe Root, earlier than he would have expected to be at the crease’” emails Elliot Carr-Barnsley. “Nah.”
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2nd over: England 2-1 (Burns 1, Root 1) Root is off the mark first ball, keeping out a full delivery with soft hands and scampering down to the non-strikers’ end. Burns does likewise, pushing a quick single to cover to end the outstanding Hazlewood over. A very good selection decision – he did dominate here four years ago up the slope. Fair to say Mikey Holding and Ian Botham are not happy with Jason Roy.
That’s a delightful gift from JP in his sign off. Of course, it was Jason Dunstall’s 55th birthday yesterday. Growing up, I took great pride in the fact that we’re born one day (and 20 years) apart.
WICKET! Roy c Paine b Hazlewood 0 (England 0-1)
A truly perfect start from Hazlewood! He beats Roy twice then finds his outside edge, the opener gone for a three-ball blob.
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1st over: England 0-0 (Burns 0, Roy 0) Cummins with four slips, racing down the slope at the left-handed Burns who defends with a nice straight bat to begin the Test Match. It’s a wonderful sight looking out from the media centre, red in every corner of this grand old ground for Ruth Strauss Day. They did a fantastic job before play, the cap presentation with Andrew Strauss really well done. Burns maintains his defensive disposition throughout this first over, defending, leaving then defending again. A tidy start from both.
Adam Collins
The players are on the field! Thank you, JP. We are ready to roll here at Lord’s. Roy and Burns to the middle, followed by Paine and his men. Cummins will take the first over, from the pavilion end. PLAY!
Jonathan Howcroft
Right, with play about to get underway it’s time to hand over to Adam Collins. It’s Adam’s birthday, by the way. Happy birthday!
And here come the players, both teams in red caps that will be auctioned off after the Test has concluded.
Emotional scenes at Lord’s with Andrew Strauss being applauded onto the field before the umpires and players.
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