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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Australia beat England by three-wickets in Tri-Series – as it happened | Australia beat England by three-wickets in Tri-Series – as it happened |
| (18 days later) | |
| 11.35am GMT | |
| 11:35 | |
| Strange one, that. | Strange one, that. |
| England batted very well for most of it – Bell superb, Root good, Moeen smart – and then fell apart in the last 10 overs, in which they were 59 for six, and hit only one boundary in the last six. The bowling, too, was pretty good without being spectacular. Steven Finn hurried and Moeen contained. | England batted very well for most of it – Bell superb, Root good, Moeen smart – and then fell apart in the last 10 overs, in which they were 59 for six, and hit only one boundary in the last six. The bowling, too, was pretty good without being spectacular. Steven Finn hurried and Moeen contained. |
| But Steve Smith, as in 2014, was could not be dislodged. Boo. To be honest, the small margin of victory flattered England. | But Steve Smith, as in 2014, was could not be dislodged. Boo. To be honest, the small margin of victory flattered England. |
| India can trump England and leave them with the wooden spoon if they win their remaining two games. They’re up against Australia next, who may choose to rest more of their big guns. It probably won’t matter - they look unstoppable. | India can trump England and leave them with the wooden spoon if they win their remaining two games. They’re up against Australia next, who may choose to rest more of their big guns. It probably won’t matter - they look unstoppable. |
| That’s it from me - enjoy your respective Fridays! | That’s it from me - enjoy your respective Fridays! |
| 11.16am GMT | |
| 11:16 | |
| AUSTRALIA WIN BY THREE WICKETS! | AUSTRALIA WIN BY THREE WICKETS! |
| Ah well. | Ah well. |
| Starc hits the ball into the ground in front of cover, which bounces above the off side-heavy ring-field for that precious single, with a ball to spare. | Starc hits the ball into the ground in front of cover, which bounces above the off side-heavy ring-field for that precious single, with a ball to spare. |
| Australia are guaranteed a spot in this Tri Series final. | Australia are guaranteed a spot in this Tri Series final. |
| 6 - S. Smith is the 6th Aussie captain to hit a ton in a successful ODI run chase - Ponting x6, G Chappell, S Waugh, Gilchrist, Clarke. Led. | 6 - S. Smith is the 6th Aussie captain to hit a ton in a successful ODI run chase - Ponting x6, G Chappell, S Waugh, Gilchrist, Clarke. Led. |
| Updated | |
| at 11.17am GMT | |
| 11.12am GMT | |
| 11:12 | |
| Single - Mitchell Starc on strike with 1 needed from 2... | Single - Mitchell Starc on strike with 1 needed from 2... |
| Buttler’s going to stand up to the stumps. | Buttler’s going to stand up to the stumps. |
| 11.11am GMT | |
| 11:11 | |
| WICKET! Henriques RO Morgan 4 (Australia 302-7) | WICKET! Henriques RO Morgan 4 (Australia 302-7) |
| Fine death bowling from Woakes sees Henriques try to steal a single that isn’t there and is run out at the nonstriker’s end. Still, Smith’s on strike... | Fine death bowling from Woakes sees Henriques try to steal a single that isn’t there and is run out at the nonstriker’s end. Still, Smith’s on strike... |
| 11.08am GMT | |
| 11:08 | |
| 49th over: Australia 302-6 (Smith 101, Henriques 4) | 49th over: Australia 302-6 (Smith 101, Henriques 4) |
| Good stuff from Anderson, but too little too late. Still, we’re into the last over, with two needed... | Good stuff from Anderson, but too little too late. Still, we’re into the last over, with two needed... |
| 11.05am GMT | |
| 11:05 | |
| 48th over: Australia 299-6 (Smith 101, Henriques 1) | 48th over: Australia 299-6 (Smith 101, Henriques 1) |
| Smith gets to his ton and Haddin (42 off 29) makes way. Both have played fine hands in this Australia win. Smith’s manipulation of the field has been superb - a bit of a throwback to the one day cricket of old. Moises Henriques is in for a bit of glory. | Smith gets to his ton and Haddin (42 off 29) makes way. Both have played fine hands in this Australia win. Smith’s manipulation of the field has been superb - a bit of a throwback to the one day cricket of old. Moises Henriques is in for a bit of glory. |
| Updated | |
| at 11.06am GMT | |
| 11.02am GMT | |
| 11:02 | |
| WICKET! Haddin c Bell b Woakes 42 (Australia 297-6) | WICKET! Haddin c Bell b Woakes 42 (Australia 297-6) |
| Slower ball, out the back of the hand, is up and under-ed to Bell, who takes a high yet simple catch at point. | Slower ball, out the back of the hand, is up and under-ed to Bell, who takes a high yet simple catch at point. |
| 11.01am GMT | |
| 11:01 | |
| CENTURY! Steven Smith 100* off 93 balls (6 x 4s; 1 x 6) | CENTURY! Steven Smith 100* off 93 balls (6 x 4s; 1 x 6) |
| Cracking knock, seeing his side home from 92-2. He’s in some pretty incredible form. | Cracking knock, seeing his side home from 92-2. He’s in some pretty incredible form. |
| Steve Smith first player in cricket history to score a century on his Test and ODI captaincy debut. absolute star | Steve Smith first player in cricket history to score a century on his Test and ODI captaincy debut. absolute star |
| Updated | |
| at 11.20am GMT | |
| 10.58am GMT | |
| 10:58 | |
| 47th over: Australia 295-5 (Smith 99, Haddin 42) | 47th over: Australia 295-5 (Smith 99, Haddin 42) |
| Haddin mistimes a lofted drive, but gets away with it, as Finn, running back, is unable to catch up with the flight of the ball. It plugs for two. Anderson takes pace off the ball and Haddin waits before forcing it through midwicket for a single. And then Smith hits a HUGE SIX - clearing his front leg and sending Anderson over mid-on! | Haddin mistimes a lofted drive, but gets away with it, as Finn, running back, is unable to catch up with the flight of the ball. It plugs for two. Anderson takes pace off the ball and Haddin waits before forcing it through midwicket for a single. And then Smith hits a HUGE SIX - clearing his front leg and sending Anderson over mid-on! |
| Australia need 9 from 18. | Australia need 9 from 18. |
| 10.54am GMT | |
| 10:54 | |
| 46th over: Australia 283-5 (Smith 90. Haddin 39) | 46th over: Australia 283-5 (Smith 90. Haddin 39) |
| Broad strays onto Haddin’s pads and it’s whipped over the fielder at square leg, for four! He makes some room and hits a nice shot through the covers, as Joe Root makes another fine stop, to keep it to three. | Broad strays onto Haddin’s pads and it’s whipped over the fielder at square leg, for four! He makes some room and hits a nice shot through the covers, as Joe Root makes another fine stop, to keep it to three. |
| Great end to the Cricket in Aus https://t.co/x9CSLc1pcF | Great end to the Cricket in Aus https://t.co/x9CSLc1pcF |
| In case you missed it... | In case you missed it... |
| 10.48am GMT | |
| 10:48 | |
| 45th over: Australia 272-5 (Smith 88, Haddin 30) | 45th over: Australia 272-5 (Smith 88, Haddin 30) |
| First sign of proper aggression from Smith as he slaps the ball to the boundary rider on the off side. He gets a single and brings Haddin on strike, who hits right through the line of the next ball and sends it straight, for six! He goes down the ground again, this time wider, for four! Finn bowls one in his half and wraps the fingers of Haddin, who scampers to the safety of the nonstriker’s end. | First sign of proper aggression from Smith as he slaps the ball to the boundary rider on the off side. He gets a single and brings Haddin on strike, who hits right through the line of the next ball and sends it straight, for six! He goes down the ground again, this time wider, for four! Finn bowls one in his half and wraps the fingers of Haddin, who scampers to the safety of the nonstriker’s end. |
| Australia require 32 from 30. | Australia require 32 from 30. |
| 10.44am GMT | |
| 10:44 | |
| 44th over: Australia 259-5 (Smith 87, Haddin 18) | 44th over: Australia 259-5 (Smith 87, Haddin 18) |
| Much better from Haddin: he still backs away, but he guides the ball past third man, who’s up in the circle, for four. He’s backing away again but Broad follows him and puts one on his toes. More finesses, this squarer, as Broad over-pitches (full toss, actually) as a fat bloke falls over the advertising hoardings and Channel Nine cackle. | Much better from Haddin: he still backs away, but he guides the ball past third man, who’s up in the circle, for four. He’s backing away again but Broad follows him and puts one on his toes. More finesses, this squarer, as Broad over-pitches (full toss, actually) as a fat bloke falls over the advertising hoardings and Channel Nine cackle. |
| Million dollar question, Chris. | Million dollar question, Chris. |
| @Vitu_E Smith makes this inevitable; looks like ENG's biggest WC issue will be the bowling.. how will they restrict any quality side to 300? | @Vitu_E Smith makes this inevitable; looks like ENG's biggest WC issue will be the bowling.. how will they restrict any quality side to 300? |
| 10.39am GMT | |
| 10:39 | |
| 43rd over: Australia 250-5 (Smith 87, Haddin 9) | 43rd over: Australia 250-5 (Smith 87, Haddin 9) |
| Another toe from Haddin, this time over midwicket - Root runs around and drags the ball away from the boundary as the batsmen settle for three. Smith has a rare play and a miss before he throws himself at the next ball - short and wide - which is stopped brilliantly by Bell at backward point. Another good ball and Smith has to make do with his one run from that over. | Another toe from Haddin, this time over midwicket - Root runs around and drags the ball away from the boundary as the batsmen settle for three. Smith has a rare play and a miss before he throws himself at the next ball - short and wide - which is stopped brilliantly by Bell at backward point. Another good ball and Smith has to make do with his one run from that over. |
| 10.35am GMT | |
| 10:35 | |
| 42nd over: Australia 246-5 (Smith 86, Haddin 6) | 42nd over: Australia 246-5 (Smith 86, Haddin 6) |
| Short and wide from Broad and Smith reaches for it and manages to get enough to squirt it off the toe through third man for four. Another two to the Aussie skipper as he shuffles across the umpteenth time and plays behind square leg. Haddin tries to smite Broad down the ground, but the newly bald seamer gets down very well to stop any runs. | Short and wide from Broad and Smith reaches for it and manages to get enough to squirt it off the toe through third man for four. Another two to the Aussie skipper as he shuffles across the umpteenth time and plays behind square leg. Haddin tries to smite Broad down the ground, but the newly bald seamer gets down very well to stop any runs. |
| 10.30am GMT | |
| 10:30 | |
| 41st over: Australia 239-5 (Smith 79, Haddin 6) | 41st over: Australia 239-5 (Smith 79, Haddin 6) |
| Steven Finn into the attack and Haddin, once he gets the strike, toes high and over mid-off and some slack running sees him almost run out as he comes back for the third. England put a man back on the straight fence as Haddin comes back on strike for the fifth ball. Smith finishes with a fine dab around the corner which is saved well by Broad. They run three. | Steven Finn into the attack and Haddin, once he gets the strike, toes high and over mid-off and some slack running sees him almost run out as he comes back for the third. England put a man back on the straight fence as Haddin comes back on strike for the fifth ball. Smith finishes with a fine dab around the corner which is saved well by Broad. They run three. |
| Steve Smith is like some video game character that just keeps levelling up and up. #AUSvENG | Steve Smith is like some video game character that just keeps levelling up and up. #AUSvENG |
| 10.25am GMT | |
| 10:25 | |
| 40th over: Australia 230-5 (Smith 74, Haddin 2) | 40th over: Australia 230-5 (Smith 74, Haddin 2) |
| Smith finds his cover fielder again before Haddin plays his trademark “step away and edge to third man” for another. The run rate has climbed to 7.40, which shouldn’t really be a problem. | Smith finds his cover fielder again before Haddin plays his trademark “step away and edge to third man” for another. The run rate has climbed to 7.40, which shouldn’t really be a problem. |
| 10.21am GMT | |
| 10:21 | |
| 39th over: Australia 227-5 (Smith 72, Haddin 1) | 39th over: Australia 227-5 (Smith 72, Haddin 1) |
| Sumptuous from Smith. as he punches off the back foot through cover-point for four. Two calls of “no, not now” sandwich a push through the covers for two. He’s annoyingly good. | Sumptuous from Smith. as he punches off the back foot through cover-point for four. Two calls of “no, not now” sandwich a push through the covers for two. He’s annoyingly good. |
| 10.16am GMT | |
| 10:16 | |
| 38th over: Australia 220-5 (Smith 65, Haddin 1) | 38th over: Australia 220-5 (Smith 65, Haddin 1) |
| Brad Haddin comes to the crease after Faulkner’s demise and he’s able to run one away to third man to get off the mark. Woakes ends a good over poorly but is only punished for three thanks to some brilliant work from Jimmy Anderson. Running around from square leg, Jimmy dives and uses the boundary sponge as a guide to push the ball back into play. | Brad Haddin comes to the crease after Faulkner’s demise and he’s able to run one away to third man to get off the mark. Woakes ends a good over poorly but is only punished for three thanks to some brilliant work from Jimmy Anderson. Running around from square leg, Jimmy dives and uses the boundary sponge as a guide to push the ball back into play. |
| 10.11am GMT | |
| 10:11 | |
| WICKET! Faulkner c Bell b Woakes 35 (Australia 216-5) | WICKET! Faulkner c Bell b Woakes 35 (Australia 216-5) |
| Big moment as Woakes gets the ball to straighten, as Faulkner looks to play inside-out through cover. Bell, diving forward, takes a smart catch. | Big moment as Woakes gets the ball to straighten, as Faulkner looks to play inside-out through cover. Bell, diving forward, takes a smart catch. |
| Updated | |
| at 10.13am GMT | |
| 10.09am GMT | |
| 10:09 | |
| 37th over: Australia 216-4 (Smith 62, Faulkner 35) | 37th over: Australia 216-4 (Smith 62, Faulkner 35) |
| The fifty partnership comes up in 59 deliveries and this over is a microcosm of it. A good forward defence, some singles slightly out of reach of the fielders and then a flick to the boundary for four, as Anderson pushes one into Smith’s pad. | The fifty partnership comes up in 59 deliveries and this over is a microcosm of it. A good forward defence, some singles slightly out of reach of the fielders and then a flick to the boundary for four, as Anderson pushes one into Smith’s pad. |
| 10.05am GMT | |
| 10:05 | |
| 36th over: Australia 209-4 (Smith 57, Faulkner 33) | 36th over: Australia 209-4 (Smith 57, Faulkner 33) |
| Woakes sharing PP duties with Anderson, starts well before drifting onto Faulkner’s pads, who gets the slight contact needed to get it past Buttler’s despairing dive for four. | Woakes sharing PP duties with Anderson, starts well before drifting onto Faulkner’s pads, who gets the slight contact needed to get it past Buttler’s despairing dive for four. |
| 10.00am GMT | |
| 10:00 | |
| 35th over: Australia 201-4 (Smith 55, Faulkner 27) | 35th over: Australia 201-4 (Smith 55, Faulkner 27) |
| Anderson’s getting the ball into Faulkner and Smith, but they’re able to find gaps at will. Morgan should probably be employing a slip or another catcher just to give these two something to think about. Too easy at the minute. | Anderson’s getting the ball into Faulkner and Smith, but they’re able to find gaps at will. Morgan should probably be employing a slip or another catcher just to give these two something to think about. Too easy at the minute. |
| 15 overs to go - 103 runs to get. | 15 overs to go - 103 runs to get. |
| 9.55am GMT | |
| 09:55 | |
| 34th over: Australia 197-4 (Smith 54, Faulkner 24) | 34th over: Australia 197-4 (Smith 54, Faulkner 24) |
| Pretty simple for Australia, with a run down to third man after a dab to backward point, before Faulkner gives himself room and tries to cart Finn through the off side, to no avail. Sticks to the tried and tested dab and gets another. | Pretty simple for Australia, with a run down to third man after a dab to backward point, before Faulkner gives himself room and tries to cart Finn through the off side, to no avail. Sticks to the tried and tested dab and gets another. |
| They’ve now decided to take the Power Play. Jimmy Anderson into the attack... | They’ve now decided to take the Power Play. Jimmy Anderson into the attack... |
| 9.50am GMT | |
| 09:50 | |
| 33rd over: Australia 191-4 (Smith 50, Faulkner 22) | 33rd over: Australia 191-4 (Smith 50, Faulkner 22) |
| Smith brings up a fine 50 from 51 balls. Only 12 of those runs have come in boundaries and he’s looked totally unflustered. Ali’s 10 overs come to an end with figures of two for 50. | Smith brings up a fine 50 from 51 balls. Only 12 of those runs have come in boundaries and he’s looked totally unflustered. Ali’s 10 overs come to an end with figures of two for 50. |
| 9.47am GMT | |
| 09:47 | |
| 32nd over: Australia 186-4 (Smith 46, Faulkner 21) | 32nd over: Australia 186-4 (Smith 46, Faulkner 21) |
| Finn reintroduced and immediately has one kicking off the pitch and into the top of Faulkner’s bat. The allrounder has a bit more conviction for a full ball which he pushes down the ground for three. A thick inside-edge has Smith looking over his shoulder, as Finn brings his hands to his head. Crunching drive for four from Jimmy finishes the over... | Finn reintroduced and immediately has one kicking off the pitch and into the top of Faulkner’s bat. The allrounder has a bit more conviction for a full ball which he pushes down the ground for three. A thick inside-edge has Smith looking over his shoulder, as Finn brings his hands to his head. Crunching drive for four from Jimmy finishes the over... |
| I know Faulkner is going to win this for Australia, but I just can't look away. Horrible. | I know Faulkner is going to win this for Australia, but I just can't look away. Horrible. |
| 9.42am GMT | |
| 09:42 | |
| 31st over: Australia 176-4 (Smith 44, Faulkner 13) | 31st over: Australia 176-4 (Smith 44, Faulkner 13) |
| Moeen drops his length and Faulkner is jumping back and flat-batting that through the leg side for four. Mo finishes well though, with a few deliveries that hold in the pitch. | Moeen drops his length and Faulkner is jumping back and flat-batting that through the leg side for four. Mo finishes well though, with a few deliveries that hold in the pitch. |
| 9.39am GMT | |
| 09:39 | |
| 30th over: Australia 171-4 (Smith 44, Faulkner 8) | 30th over: Australia 171-4 (Smith 44, Faulkner 8) |
| An in-swinging yorker from Broad is dabbed away, expertly, by Smith, who has done a fair bit of shuffling across in his innings to work some leg-side scoring options. Big chance on the fifth ball when a miscommunication sees Faulkner sent back to his crease. Taylor, who picks up well, has a go at the stumps but just misses with Faulkner out of shot. | An in-swinging yorker from Broad is dabbed away, expertly, by Smith, who has done a fair bit of shuffling across in his innings to work some leg-side scoring options. Big chance on the fifth ball when a miscommunication sees Faulkner sent back to his crease. Taylor, who picks up well, has a go at the stumps but just misses with Faulkner out of shot. |
| Another fantastic sky as the sun sets in Hobart. Game on. pic.twitter.com/QucL7tQUu1 | Another fantastic sky as the sun sets in Hobart. Game on. pic.twitter.com/QucL7tQUu1 |
| 9.35am GMT | |
| 09:35 | |
| 29th over: Australia 169-4 (Smith 43, Faulkner 7) | 29th over: Australia 169-4 (Smith 43, Faulkner 7) |
| Better from Mo, who is ripping the ball a bit more and giving the right-handers no width or pace on the ball. Just the two from that over. | Better from Mo, who is ripping the ball a bit more and giving the right-handers no width or pace on the ball. Just the two from that over. |
| Australia require 135 from the remaining 21 overs | Australia require 135 from the remaining 21 overs |
| 9.33am GMT | |
| 09:33 | |
| 28th over: Australia 167-4 (Smith 42, Faulkner 6) | 28th over: Australia 167-4 (Smith 42, Faulkner 6) |
| Good build-up of pressure from Broad is relieved smartly by Faulkner, who times a full ball through cover for four. | Good build-up of pressure from Broad is relieved smartly by Faulkner, who times a full ball through cover for four. |
| 9.31am GMT | |
| 09:31 | |
| 27th over: Australia 162-4 (Smith 42, Faulkner 1) | 27th over: Australia 162-4 (Smith 42, Faulkner 1) |
| There are fewer certainties in life than Glenn Maxwell going comfortably and throwing it away. Channel Nine riff on the fine line between pleasure and pain. Someone said something similar about genius and insanity. | There are fewer certainties in life than Glenn Maxwell going comfortably and throwing it away. Channel Nine riff on the fine line between pleasure and pain. Someone said something similar about genius and insanity. |
| 9.27am GMT | |
| 09:27 | |
| WICKET! Maxwell c Root b Ali 37 | WICKET! Maxwell c Root b Ali 37 |
| Form is temporary - Glenn Maxwell is permanent. | Form is temporary - Glenn Maxwell is permanent. |
| 9.24am GMT | |
| 09:24 | |
| 26th over: Australia 158-3 (Smith 39, Maxwell 37) | 26th over: Australia 158-3 (Smith 39, Maxwell 37) |
| No reverse anymore, meaning Woakes has to dig a bit deeper to get something out of the pitch. A handful of singles to full balls is followed by a shorter one which is worked through square leg for four. | No reverse anymore, meaning Woakes has to dig a bit deeper to get something out of the pitch. A handful of singles to full balls is followed by a shorter one which is worked through square leg for four. |
| 9.20am GMT | |
| 09:20 | |
| 25th over: Australia 149-3 (Smith 36, Maxwell 31) | 25th over: Australia 149-3 (Smith 36, Maxwell 31) |
| Moeen replaces Finn, who finishes a fine first spell with two for 23 off five. Half-chance for a run out, but Morgan’s throw from mid wicket required Buttler to take the ball high and wide of the stumps, meaning there was no chance he’d have been able to take the bails off had Maxwell been struggling. | Moeen replaces Finn, who finishes a fine first spell with two for 23 off five. Half-chance for a run out, but Morgan’s throw from mid wicket required Buttler to take the ball high and wide of the stumps, meaning there was no chance he’d have been able to take the bails off had Maxwell been struggling. |
| 9.17am GMT | |
| 09:17 | |
| 24th over: Australia 144-3 (Smith 33, Maxwell 29) | 24th over: Australia 144-3 (Smith 33, Maxwell 29) |
| Woakes is brought back into the attack - he’s 0-24 off his first three overs - and Maxwell immediately pierces the ring for a single. Smith does the same, twice, as these two continue to make hay. | Woakes is brought back into the attack - he’s 0-24 off his first three overs - and Maxwell immediately pierces the ring for a single. Smith does the same, twice, as these two continue to make hay. |
| 9.12am GMT | |
| 09:12 | |
| 23rd over: Australia 140-3 (Smith 31, Maxwell 27) | 23rd over: Australia 140-3 (Smith 31, Maxwell 27) |
| Good from Finn, that, pushing Maxwell back with some good length balls on off stump. Full on off-stump for the last ball which is driven and stop smartly by Eoin Morgan at cover, as they scamper for a single. Tidy. | Good from Finn, that, pushing Maxwell back with some good length balls on off stump. Full on off-stump for the last ball which is driven and stop smartly by Eoin Morgan at cover, as they scamper for a single. Tidy. |
| 9.09am GMT | |
| 09:09 | |
| 22nd over: Australia 139-3 (Smith 31, Maxwell 26) | 22nd over: Australia 139-3 (Smith 31, Maxwell 26) |
| Ravi Bopara into the attack for some nibbly stuff, the first ball of which is guided quite nicely for four. At first, it looked like an edge, but it was a very deliberate late opening of the face. A quick exchange of the strike with Smith brings Maxi back on strike, as he tickles Bops around the corner for another four. | Ravi Bopara into the attack for some nibbly stuff, the first ball of which is guided quite nicely for four. At first, it looked like an edge, but it was a very deliberate late opening of the face. A quick exchange of the strike with Smith brings Maxi back on strike, as he tickles Bops around the corner for another four. |
| A good morning to Ravi Nair: | A good morning to Ravi Nair: |
| “Here’s my prediction for when England, inevitably, lose this one: BTL on the match report you will get at least one person saying ‘It woz Bell wot dun it; a selfish century that took too long and just when he should have been moving things along he got out, leaving the other batsmen with no time to settle before having to blast. Another century in a wasted cause.’“Just you wait, Enry Iggins, it is going to happen.” | “Here’s my prediction for when England, inevitably, lose this one: BTL on the match report you will get at least one person saying ‘It woz Bell wot dun it; a selfish century that took too long and just when he should have been moving things along he got out, leaving the other batsmen with no time to settle before having to blast. Another century in a wasted cause.’“Just you wait, Enry Iggins, it is going to happen.” |
| 9.05am GMT | |
| 09:05 | |
| 21st over: Australia 128-3 (Smith 30, Maxwell 16) | 21st over: Australia 128-3 (Smith 30, Maxwell 16) |
| Smith has got his octopus arms working well, with some more easy runs into the leg-side. Maxwell does the same, leading to a mid-over chat between Morgan and Finn, who looks to have lost a bit of intensity. As have England, to be fair. | Smith has got his octopus arms working well, with some more easy runs into the leg-side. Maxwell does the same, leading to a mid-over chat between Morgan and Finn, who looks to have lost a bit of intensity. As have England, to be fair. |
| 9.00am GMT | |
| 09:00 | |
| 20th over: Australia 120-3 (Smith 24, Maxwell 14) | 20th over: Australia 120-3 (Smith 24, Maxwell 14) |
| Ali’s straying a bit, which is a shame as England were doing well to choke Australia. Single a ball up until the fifth. which is hammered through point by Smith. The over finishes with a well-tucked single to the mid-wicket boundary. | Ali’s straying a bit, which is a shame as England were doing well to choke Australia. Single a ball up until the fifth. which is hammered through point by Smith. The over finishes with a well-tucked single to the mid-wicket boundary. |
| 8.56am GMT | |
| 08:56 | |
| 19th over: Australia 111-3 (Smith 17, Maxwell 12) | 19th over: Australia 111-3 (Smith 17, Maxwell 12) |
| Maxwell throws his hands at a wide ball from Finn and gets four through cover. Good shot, well played. Finn responds with a straighter ball, which Maxwell mistimes for another couple. The umpires have had a look at the ball - not for the first time this innings - but they’re happy with it. | Maxwell throws his hands at a wide ball from Finn and gets four through cover. Good shot, well played. Finn responds with a straighter ball, which Maxwell mistimes for another couple. The umpires have had a look at the ball - not for the first time this innings - but they’re happy with it. |
| 8.53am GMT | |
| 08:53 | |
| 18th over: Australia 105-3 (Smith 17, Maxwell 6) | 18th over: Australia 105-3 (Smith 17, Maxwell 6) |
| Good riposte from Smith, who keeps things sensible with some singles before hanging back on a short ball from Ali and cutting nicely through point. | Good riposte from Smith, who keeps things sensible with some singles before hanging back on a short ball from Ali and cutting nicely through point. |
| On e-mails, Kevin Wilson’s giddy and a tad wary: | On e-mails, Kevin Wilson’s giddy and a tad wary: |
| “Not only is this possibly England’s best one day bowling attack (sorry Tredwell), it’s their best Test bowling attack even more so. It’s fantastic that Finn looks like he’s coming back but how will England manage them all with their punishing schedule ahead?” | “Not only is this possibly England’s best one day bowling attack (sorry Tredwell), it’s their best Test bowling attack even more so. It’s fantastic that Finn looks like he’s coming back but how will England manage them all with their punishing schedule ahead?” |
| 8.49am GMT | |
| 08:49 | |
| 17th over: Australia 95-3 (Smith 11, Maxwell 3) | 17th over: Australia 95-3 (Smith 11, Maxwell 3) |
| A mis-timed drive from Marsh gives Finn a wicket and brings Cameron White to the crease. He’s immediately beaten on the outside edge, before Finn nails a glorious in-swinging yorker to see him off. Glenn Maxwell’s the new man in and he chips over mid-wicket to get off the mark. He doesn’t get high enough later, as Anderson dives but can’t hold on to a difficult chance. | A mis-timed drive from Marsh gives Finn a wicket and brings Cameron White to the crease. He’s immediately beaten on the outside edge, before Finn nails a glorious in-swinging yorker to see him off. Glenn Maxwell’s the new man in and he chips over mid-wicket to get off the mark. He doesn’t get high enough later, as Anderson dives but can’t hold on to a difficult chance. |
| 8.47am GMT | |
| 08:47 | |
| WICKET! White lbw Finn 0 | WICKET! White lbw Finn 0 |
| Epic yorker from Steven Finn - quick, swinging in, with White’s feet moving little and his head moving a lot. Brilliant. | Epic yorker from Steven Finn - quick, swinging in, with White’s feet moving little and his head moving a lot. Brilliant. |
| Updated | |
| at 10.53am GMT | |
| 8.43am GMT | |
| 08:43 | |
| WICKET! Marsh 45 c Bell b Finn (Australia 92-2) | WICKET! Marsh 45 c Bell b Finn (Australia 92-2) |
| The pressure’s built up and Marsh succumbs, driving loosely at a ball that wasn’t that full. Squirts in the air to Ding Dong at point. | The pressure’s built up and Marsh succumbs, driving loosely at a ball that wasn’t that full. Squirts in the air to Ding Dong at point. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.43am GMT | |
| 8.41am GMT | |
| 08:41 | |
| 16th over: Australia 92-1 (Marsh 45, Smith 11) | 16th over: Australia 92-1 (Marsh 45, Smith 11) |
| Excellent from Moeen, as he throws in a couple of arm balls to have Smith thinking twice about working the ball into the leg-side. Around the wicket, he finds the outside half of Marsh’s bat. Two off the over - not bad. | Excellent from Moeen, as he throws in a couple of arm balls to have Smith thinking twice about working the ball into the leg-side. Around the wicket, he finds the outside half of Marsh’s bat. Two off the over - not bad. |
| 8.38am GMT | |
| 08:38 | |
| 15th over: Australia 90-1 (Marsh 44, Smith 10) | 15th over: Australia 90-1 (Marsh 44, Smith 10) |
| England need wickets and thus turn to Steven Finn. Second ball, Smith times a fine on-drive for four. A few balls are tailing into the right-hander, and Smith works one to mid-wicket for a single. | England need wickets and thus turn to Steven Finn. Second ball, Smith times a fine on-drive for four. A few balls are tailing into the right-hander, and Smith works one to mid-wicket for a single. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.39am GMT | |
| 8.35am GMT | |
| 08:35 | |
| 14th over: Australia 85-1 (Marsh 44, Smith 5) | 14th over: Australia 85-1 (Marsh 44, Smith 5) |
| Some slight variations in length from Moeen keeps Marsh and Smith guessing. But still, singles are taken and Australia move along. Good dip in scoring rate for England, mind. | Some slight variations in length from Moeen keeps Marsh and Smith guessing. But still, singles are taken and Australia move along. Good dip in scoring rate for England, mind. |
| 8.31am GMT | |
| 08:31 | |
| 13th over: Australia 79-1 (Marsh 42, Smith 2) | 13th over: Australia 79-1 (Marsh 42, Smith 2) |
| He’s only faced a couple of balls, but Smith already looks in good touch. Morgan puts in a man at gully, to compliment backward point. Queensland have been reintroduced to the modern world, as Broad finishes as decent over. | He’s only faced a couple of balls, but Smith already looks in good touch. Morgan puts in a man at gully, to compliment backward point. Queensland have been reintroduced to the modern world, as Broad finishes as decent over. |
| 8.27am GMT | |
| 08:27 | |
| 12th over: Australia 76-1 (Marsh 41, Smith 1) | 12th over: Australia 76-1 (Marsh 41, Smith 1) |
| A change, now, as Moeen Ali comes into the attack. The first ball drifts in to Finch, who plays is late and straight, for one. He’s around the wicket to Marsh, who fends into the leg side, eliciting a “Get it, Mo!” from Buttler. A louder, more desperate cry from Buttler sees Moeen diving through Finch, to his left, but he can do little to stop the single. But success for Ali, as he draws a false shot from Finch, who can’t adapt to the drift, swiping and missing a ball that goes on to hit his leg stump. | A change, now, as Moeen Ali comes into the attack. The first ball drifts in to Finch, who plays is late and straight, for one. He’s around the wicket to Marsh, who fends into the leg side, eliciting a “Get it, Mo!” from Buttler. A louder, more desperate cry from Buttler sees Moeen diving through Finch, to his left, but he can do little to stop the single. But success for Ali, as he draws a false shot from Finch, who can’t adapt to the drift, swiping and missing a ball that goes on to hit his leg stump. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.28am GMT | |
| 8.25am GMT | |
| 08:25 | |
| WICKET! Finch b Ali 32 (Australia 76-1) | WICKET! Finch b Ali 32 (Australia 76-1) |
| Great work from Moeen Ali, who gets good drift in his first over. This delivery comes into Finch late, as the Aussie biffer throws his hands at the ball and misses completely. Hits leg stump. Much needed, that. | Great work from Moeen Ali, who gets good drift in his first over. This delivery comes into Finch late, as the Aussie biffer throws his hands at the ball and misses completely. Hits leg stump. Much needed, that. |
| Updated | |
| at 8.28am GMT | |
| 8.21am GMT | |
| 08:21 | |
| 11th over: Australia 74-0 (Finch 31, Marsh 40) | 11th over: Australia 74-0 (Finch 31, Marsh 40) |
| Finch latches onto a wide-ish ball from Broad, as Root does some boundary riding to limit it to two. Bit of movement back into Finch is worked away to square leg for another couple. Broad then squares up Marsh, who looks to work the ball to mid-wicket but the ball goes through second slip. Broad appeals for, erm, something. | Finch latches onto a wide-ish ball from Broad, as Root does some boundary riding to limit it to two. Bit of movement back into Finch is worked away to square leg for another couple. Broad then squares up Marsh, who looks to work the ball to mid-wicket but the ball goes through second slip. Broad appeals for, erm, something. |
| 8.17am GMT | |
| 08:17 | |
| 10th over: Australia 67-0 (Finch 25, Marsh 39) | 10th over: Australia 67-0 (Finch 25, Marsh 39) |
| Smart over from Anderson, even if he does give up a naff single to Marsh, early on. Joy Division blares out as he finishes his 5th over on the bounce, for just two. | Smart over from Anderson, even if he does give up a naff single to Marsh, early on. Joy Division blares out as he finishes his 5th over on the bounce, for just two. |
| 8.12am GMT | |
| 08:12 | |
| 9th over: Australia 65-0 (Finch 24, Marsh 38) | 9th over: Australia 65-0 (Finch 24, Marsh 38) |
| Too much on Marsh’s pads, as he takes a single off a Broad delivery, which is cross seam. Finch then flicks one around the corner which falls just short of Steven Finn at short fine-leg. They take a single and, yet again, Marsh rotates with a flick off his legs. Finch muscles one high over cover, which plugs and elicits a synchronised slide from James Taylor and Woakes (three runs). Leg side again from Broad to Marsh, this time a bit shorter and Marsh gets a thin edge just past Buttler, for four. A chance? Hmmm... not so sure. Another ruddy leg-stump single... | Too much on Marsh’s pads, as he takes a single off a Broad delivery, which is cross seam. Finch then flicks one around the corner which falls just short of Steven Finn at short fine-leg. They take a single and, yet again, Marsh rotates with a flick off his legs. Finch muscles one high over cover, which plugs and elicits a synchronised slide from James Taylor and Woakes (three runs). Leg side again from Broad to Marsh, this time a bit shorter and Marsh gets a thin edge just past Buttler, for four. A chance? Hmmm... not so sure. Another ruddy leg-stump single... |
| 8.07am GMT | |
| 08:07 | |
| 8th over: Australia 54-0 (Finch 20, Marsh 31) | 8th over: Australia 54-0 (Finch 20, Marsh 31) |
| Even in defence, Marsh is looking very good. Full-face of the bat, perfectly timed footwork to compliment is eerie stillness at the crease. A tuck off his pad for a single brings up the 50 off 44 balls. Finch faces the rest of the over, scoring a couple of twos. Change of pace needed here - either Finn or Ali. | Even in defence, Marsh is looking very good. Full-face of the bat, perfectly timed footwork to compliment is eerie stillness at the crease. A tuck off his pad for a single brings up the 50 off 44 balls. Finch faces the rest of the over, scoring a couple of twos. Change of pace needed here - either Finn or Ali. |
| 8.02am GMT | |
| 08:02 | |
| 7th over: Australia 49-0 (Finch 16, Marsh 30) | 7th over: Australia 49-0 (Finch 16, Marsh 30) |
| Stuart Broad replaces Woakes and hits the deck first up - literally - as he fields a Marsh push. Another two to square leg, as Michael Slater says goodbye to Queensland, who have used up their daily quota of “live” sport, just as Finch goes dot, dot, four. | Stuart Broad replaces Woakes and hits the deck first up - literally - as he fields a Marsh push. Another two to square leg, as Michael Slater says goodbye to Queensland, who have used up their daily quota of “live” sport, just as Finch goes dot, dot, four. |
| 7.58am GMT | |
| 07:58 | |
| 6th over: Australia 42-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 27) | 6th over: Australia 42-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 27) |
| Anderson starts around the wicket to Marsh and reins him in by cramping him for room. Naturally, with the angle, a straighter ball is tucked to the square leg boundary, for two. Fine shot from Marsh soon after - a crisp on-drive - is brilliantly saved from Finn at mid-on, for a single instead of four. | Anderson starts around the wicket to Marsh and reins him in by cramping him for room. Naturally, with the angle, a straighter ball is tucked to the square leg boundary, for two. Fine shot from Marsh soon after - a crisp on-drive - is brilliantly saved from Finn at mid-on, for a single instead of four. |
| 7.53am GMT | |
| 07:53 | |
| 5th over: Australia 39-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 24) | 5th over: Australia 39-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 24) |
| Sharp fielding off his own bowling sees Woakes smartly stop a booming straight drive from Marsh. Sadly, neither Bopara at cover or Broad at mid on are able to prevent him from threading a four through the infield. | Sharp fielding off his own bowling sees Woakes smartly stop a booming straight drive from Marsh. Sadly, neither Bopara at cover or Broad at mid on are able to prevent him from threading a four through the infield. |
| Ian Healy asking James Brayshaw what transgender is. Things I didn't expect to hear on Channel Nine's commentary this year. #ausveng | Ian Healy asking James Brayshaw what transgender is. Things I didn't expect to hear on Channel Nine's commentary this year. #ausveng |
| 7.51am GMT | |
| 07:51 | |
| 4th over: Australia 32-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 17) | 4th over: Australia 32-0 (Finch 12, Marsh 17) |
| Finch pumps another through cover, as Anderson goes a bit too full. Good finish to the over sees only two from the five remaining deliveries. | Finch pumps another through cover, as Anderson goes a bit too full. Good finish to the over sees only two from the five remaining deliveries. |
| My first e-mail of the morning/evening comes from Nick in Saudi: | My first e-mail of the morning/evening comes from Nick in Saudi: |
| “Well I am back from playing.It was less cold as the day went on. I had one pretty good innings (21 off 5) and a very ordinary one (11 off 5) as well, but with three catches I feel I acquitted myself rather well. Looks like England did a pretty good job as well. Shame they couldn’t push on for a big score I feel the same about my own day.” | “Well I am back from playing.It was less cold as the day went on. I had one pretty good innings (21 off 5) and a very ordinary one (11 off 5) as well, but with three catches I feel I acquitted myself rather well. Looks like England did a pretty good job as well. Shame they couldn’t push on for a big score I feel the same about my own day.” |
| Still, that’s a healthy strike-rate Nick. #GetHimOnThePlane | Still, that’s a healthy strike-rate Nick. #GetHimOnThePlane |
| 7.46am GMT | |
| 07:46 | |
| 3rd over: Australia 26-0 (Finch 7, Marsh 16) | 3rd over: Australia 26-0 (Finch 7, Marsh 16) |
| Bit of swing, but little sign of anything else for the bowlers. Woakes could do with a little bit of something off the pitch, as Marsh drives a ball on middle and off through wide mid-on for four. Twice. Standard over-correction sees Woakes bowl wider and shorter and Marsh thumps it off the back foot through cover. The last ball is left alone, for a laugh. | Bit of swing, but little sign of anything else for the bowlers. Woakes could do with a little bit of something off the pitch, as Marsh drives a ball on middle and off through wide mid-on for four. Twice. Standard over-correction sees Woakes bowl wider and shorter and Marsh thumps it off the back foot through cover. The last ball is left alone, for a laugh. |
| 7.42am GMT | |
| 07:42 | |
| 2nd over: Australia 13-0 (Finch 6, Marsh 4) | 2nd over: Australia 13-0 (Finch 6, Marsh 4) |
| James Anderson from the other end. An outswinger finds the edge to third man and brings the leftie Marsh on strike. Starts with a wide and then back in that area a ball later, allowing Marsh to get off the mark with a four to fine leg. Another on leg-stump brings Finch on strike and Anderson is much better to him. The chunky wombat steals a single off the last ball. | James Anderson from the other end. An outswinger finds the edge to third man and brings the leftie Marsh on strike. Starts with a wide and then back in that area a ball later, allowing Marsh to get off the mark with a four to fine leg. Another on leg-stump brings Finch on strike and Anderson is much better to him. The chunky wombat steals a single off the last ball. |
| 7.38am GMT | |
| 07:38 | |
| 1st over: Australia 5-0 (Finch 5, Marsh 0) | 1st over: Australia 5-0 (Finch 5, Marsh 0) |
| Christopher Woakes with the new ball, Aaron Finch with the first four, as he punches the opening ball of Australia’s reply through the covers. Woakes is tighter and straight for the next two, before Finch gets one on his pads and takes the single. Shaun Marsh, fresh from 51-ball 79, dots out the last two balls, finding point and then cover with a couple of drives. | Christopher Woakes with the new ball, Aaron Finch with the first four, as he punches the opening ball of Australia’s reply through the covers. Woakes is tighter and straight for the next two, before Finch gets one on his pads and takes the single. Shaun Marsh, fresh from 51-ball 79, dots out the last two balls, finding point and then cover with a couple of drives. |
| 7.27am GMT | |
| 07:27 | |
| Thanks Geoff. | Thanks Geoff. |
| As it happens, there have been three scores higher than England’s 303 at Hobart. The highest? A 344 from Australia against a Heath Streak-lead XI (Zimbabwe). The second and third were India’s successful chase of Sri Lanka’s 320 in February 2012. | As it happens, there have been three scores higher than England’s 303 at Hobart. The highest? A 344 from Australia against a Heath Streak-lead XI (Zimbabwe). The second and third were India’s successful chase of Sri Lanka’s 320 in February 2012. |
| Obviously a lot’s changed since then. OK, not that much, but since the new ODI rules were introduced, there’s only been one other ODI at the Bellerive Oval, and that was when Australia defended 247 against Sri Lanka. | Obviously a lot’s changed since then. OK, not that much, but since the new ODI rules were introduced, there’s only been one other ODI at the Bellerive Oval, and that was when Australia defended 247 against Sri Lanka. |
| So yeah. That. | So yeah. That. |
| 7.05am GMT | |
| 07:05 | |
| England set Australia 304 to win | England set Australia 304 to win |
| A sense of disappointment for England that they couldn’t get the final overs going. They added only 59 in the final 10, and lost six wickets in the process. That said, a score of over 300 is going to make you favourite any day of the week, and I’m sure we can pull up various stats to tell you what the biggest chases are in Hobart and perhaps what the average chase is as well. | A sense of disappointment for England that they couldn’t get the final overs going. They added only 59 in the final 10, and lost six wickets in the process. That said, a score of over 300 is going to make you favourite any day of the week, and I’m sure we can pull up various stats to tell you what the biggest chases are in Hobart and perhaps what the average chase is as well. |
| I’ll dob in Vithushan Ehantharajah to do that number-crunching, as he takes over for the chase. Geoff Lemon out, thanks for your company this fine Australian afternoon. | I’ll dob in Vithushan Ehantharajah to do that number-crunching, as he takes over for the chase. Geoff Lemon out, thanks for your company this fine Australian afternoon. |
| 7.00am GMT | |
| 07:00 | |
| 50th over: England 303-8 (Broad 0) | 50th over: England 303-8 (Broad 0) |
| Bopara couldn’t find anything today. Started the over with another dot ball, then a desperation run where Smith could have run him out, then he was bowled and the wickets fell. Two singles and three wickets from that final over. | Bopara couldn’t find anything today. Started the over with another dot ball, then a desperation run where Smith could have run him out, then he was bowled and the wickets fell. Two singles and three wickets from that final over. |
| 6.59am GMT | |
| 06:59 | |
| WICKET! Woakes 0 (0 balls), run out (Haddin) | WICKET! Woakes 0 (0 balls), run out (Haddin) |
| That’s a team hat-trick for Australia to close England’s innings. Broad missed the final ball, Woakes ran regardless, and once again wasn’t sharp enough to beat Haddin’s underarm throw. That’s some top ten-pin bowling from the Aussie keeper. | That’s a team hat-trick for Australia to close England’s innings. Broad missed the final ball, Woakes ran regardless, and once again wasn’t sharp enough to beat Haddin’s underarm throw. That’s some top ten-pin bowling from the Aussie keeper. |
| Updated | |
| at 10.55am GMT | |
| 6.57am GMT | |
| 06:57 | |
| WICKET! Buttler 25 (24 balls), run out (Haddin) | WICKET! Buttler 25 (24 balls), run out (Haddin) |
| Two in two balls, as Woakes played and missed at Starc, tried for a run anyway, and Brad Haddin was sharp to the chance, throwing down the striker’s stumps to beat Buttler’s dive. One ball left. | Two in two balls, as Woakes played and missed at Starc, tried for a run anyway, and Brad Haddin was sharp to the chance, throwing down the striker’s stumps to beat Buttler’s dive. One ball left. |
| 6.56am GMT | |
| 06:56 | |
| WICKET! Bopara 7 (16 balls), b Starc | WICKET! Bopara 7 (16 balls), b Starc |
| Bopara getting desperate after being unable to hit anything, goes way outside off stump to confuse Starc, starc bowls on leg stump, Bopara tries to glance it and misses. May even have got a slight touch on that to direct it back onto his stumps. | Bopara getting desperate after being unable to hit anything, goes way outside off stump to confuse Starc, starc bowls on leg stump, Bopara tries to glance it and misses. May even have got a slight touch on that to direct it back onto his stumps. |
| 6.52am GMT | |
| 06:52 | |
| 49th over: England 301-5 (Buttler 24, Bopara 6) | 49th over: England 301-5 (Buttler 24, Bopara 6) |
| Buttler getting desperate, tries a reverse swat against him and misses. Then advances, Faulkner sees him coming and drops short and Buttler can only drag one to mid on. Bopara pulls a single, Buttler only gets one from a full toss. Another tight wide is called as Bopara drives and misses, then another Bopara single to mid-on. | Buttler getting desperate, tries a reverse swat against him and misses. Then advances, Faulkner sees him coming and drops short and Buttler can only drag one to mid on. Bopara pulls a single, Buttler only gets one from a full toss. Another tight wide is called as Bopara drives and misses, then another Bopara single to mid-on. |
| Finally, from the last ball, some relief for England, as Buttler slaps a fullish ball straight down the ground for four. | Finally, from the last ball, some relief for England, as Buttler slaps a fullish ball straight down the ground for four. |
| There’s that 300. Ambrosia. | There’s that 300. Ambrosia. |
| 6.48am GMT | |
| 06:48 | |
| 48th over: England 292-5 (Buttler 18, Bopara 4) | 48th over: England 292-5 (Buttler 18, Bopara 4) |
| Dot ball to Bopara, edges Starc into his body and away toward mid off. Then a marginal wide outside off that Bopara tried to hit and missed. Then a single. He’s faced 11 balls for 4 runs. Buttler is beaten outside off and it’s another dot. Then he pulls two though square. My kingdom for a boundary. Nope. A leg bye to point, as Starc spears into Buttler’s pads. This is tight stuff at the death, Australia’s bowlers have improved late and capitalised on the indecision. | Dot ball to Bopara, edges Starc into his body and away toward mid off. Then a marginal wide outside off that Bopara tried to hit and missed. Then a single. He’s faced 11 balls for 4 runs. Buttler is beaten outside off and it’s another dot. Then he pulls two though square. My kingdom for a boundary. Nope. A leg bye to point, as Starc spears into Buttler’s pads. This is tight stuff at the death, Australia’s bowlers have improved late and capitalised on the indecision. |
| Which raises the question, was this pitch actually good to bat on, or did Bell just make it look good? This pair are struggling to read the pace. | Which raises the question, was this pitch actually good to bat on, or did Bell just make it look good? This pair are struggling to read the pace. |
| 6.44am GMT | |
| 06:44 | |
| 47th over: England 285-5 (Buttler 14, Bopara 3) | 47th over: England 285-5 (Buttler 14, Bopara 3) |
| Faulkner bowling a lot of slower balls, and this is frustrating for these two batsmen. Skied wickets to come, surely. Single, leg bye, dot, dot. They get a wide as one of Faulkner’s leg-spinning faster balls skews wide of off, then Buttler gets a couple of twos through midwicket, but they can’t land a blow. Two overs left, even the 300 will require some smiting. | Faulkner bowling a lot of slower balls, and this is frustrating for these two batsmen. Skied wickets to come, surely. Single, leg bye, dot, dot. They get a wide as one of Faulkner’s leg-spinning faster balls skews wide of off, then Buttler gets a couple of twos through midwicket, but they can’t land a blow. Two overs left, even the 300 will require some smiting. |
| 6.41am GMT | |
| 06:41 | |
| 46th over: England 278-5 (Buttler 9, Bopara 3) | 46th over: England 278-5 (Buttler 9, Bopara 3) |
| So England haven’t been able to launch in these last few overs. Buttler and Bopara haven’t yet got the pace of the pitch. Hard when you’re walking in right at the end. Starc works Bopara over - he gets two runs from an airy leg glance, but can’t score from the other five deliveries, Starc mixing up good yorkers with short balls that Bopara can’t hit. The batsman is moving around a lot and the bowler used that to his advantage. | So England haven’t been able to launch in these last few overs. Buttler and Bopara haven’t yet got the pace of the pitch. Hard when you’re walking in right at the end. Starc works Bopara over - he gets two runs from an airy leg glance, but can’t score from the other five deliveries, Starc mixing up good yorkers with short balls that Bopara can’t hit. The batsman is moving around a lot and the bowler used that to his advantage. |
| 6.35am GMT | |
| 06:35 | |
| 45th over: England 276-5 (Buttler 9, Bopara 1) | 45th over: England 276-5 (Buttler 9, Bopara 1) |
| Five from his last over, including a wide, but Cummins has shown what can happen when the conditions aren’t in his favour. He’s gone for 74 from his 10 overs, with that consolation wicket at the end to slightly burnish his figures. Copped some stick today. | Five from his last over, including a wide, but Cummins has shown what can happen when the conditions aren’t in his favour. He’s gone for 74 from his 10 overs, with that consolation wicket at the end to slightly burnish his figures. Copped some stick today. |
| 6.31am GMT | |
| 06:31 | |
| WICKET! Root 69 (70 balls), c Finch b Cummins | WICKET! Root 69 (70 balls), c Finch b Cummins |
| He’s been going well but it’s over... Root tries a big lofted drive against Cummins and can only drag it to mid-on, where Finch takes a straightforward catch. | He’s been going well but it’s over... Root tries a big lofted drive against Cummins and can only drag it to mid-on, where Finch takes a straightforward catch. |
| 6.29am GMT | |
| 06:29 | |
| 44th over: England 271-4 (Root 68, Buttler 7) | 44th over: England 271-4 (Root 68, Buttler 7) |
| They still can’t get the tonk going against Sandhu. Single, dot, single... but then it comes. Buttler gets a big nick through third man - four - then Root plays the reverse ramp. Having already hit one through fine leg, this one has the bat face angled further around and goes through third man. That’s outrageously good. | They still can’t get the tonk going against Sandhu. Single, dot, single... but then it comes. Buttler gets a big nick through third man - four - then Root plays the reverse ramp. Having already hit one through fine leg, this one has the bat face angled further around and goes through third man. That’s outrageously good. |
| 11 from the over, though Sandhu still manages to finish his allotted overs with 2/49. | 11 from the over, though Sandhu still manages to finish his allotted overs with 2/49. |
| John Culley is “not sure Mark Webb is being all English about this. True Englishness will be to read too much into a couple of results or individual performances in what is a Warm Up competition and then imagine we might be any good or even on course to win the World Cup. The delicious taste of anticipation will be cruelly ripped away by Australia on Feb 14.” | John Culley is “not sure Mark Webb is being all English about this. True Englishness will be to read too much into a couple of results or individual performances in what is a Warm Up competition and then imagine we might be any good or even on course to win the World Cup. The delicious taste of anticipation will be cruelly ripped away by Australia on Feb 14.” |
| 6.25am GMT | |
| 06:25 | |
| 43rd over: England 260-4 (Root 63, Buttler 1) | 43rd over: England 260-4 (Root 63, Buttler 1) |
| If you don’t mind, umpire... Root comes across outside off, kneels down and ramps Cummins to the fine leg fence. Audacious, but easier from a full toss. Perhaps Root was getting anxious, after just a couple of singles from the first four balls. Buttler needs a few sighters before he starts dishing out crowd catches. | If you don’t mind, umpire... Root comes across outside off, kneels down and ramps Cummins to the fine leg fence. Audacious, but easier from a full toss. Perhaps Root was getting anxious, after just a couple of singles from the first four balls. Buttler needs a few sighters before he starts dishing out crowd catches. |
| 6.21am GMT | |
| 06:21 | |
| 42nd over: England 254-4 (Root 58, Buttler 0) | 42nd over: England 254-4 (Root 58, Buttler 0) |
| “Good little over there” is the radio’s assessment of an over that yielded 2/2. | “Good little over there” is the radio’s assessment of an over that yielded 2/2. |
| Sandhu has 2/39 from nine overall. Buttler is at the crease. | Sandhu has 2/39 from nine overall. Buttler is at the crease. |
| 6.19am GMT | |
| 06:19 | |
| WICKET! Morgan 0 (1 ball), c Haddin b Sandhu | WICKET! Morgan 0 (1 ball), c Haddin b Sandhu |
| Captain’s gone, a first-baller! Two in the over. Sandhu has hammered the ball into the pitch all day and got some movement - he did that again, a bit of a finger-roll across the seam, hung it back at that shortish length, Morgan tried to run the ball away to third man and only got a little nick through to Haddin as it angled across him. Good bowling. | Captain’s gone, a first-baller! Two in the over. Sandhu has hammered the ball into the pitch all day and got some movement - he did that again, a bit of a finger-roll across the seam, hung it back at that shortish length, Morgan tried to run the ball away to third man and only got a little nick through to Haddin as it angled across him. Good bowling. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.32am GMT | |
| 6.16am GMT | |
| 06:16 | |
| WICKET! Bell 141 (125 balls), c Starc b Sandhu | WICKET! Bell 141 (125 balls), c Starc b Sandhu |
| It’s all over! Sandhu gets the wicket, his length proved hard to hit most of the day but Bell tried, he knew it was time to press the pedal down and either score or get England’s big hitters in. Tried a big off-drive, didn’t get it, and the ball went high in the air where Starc made up ground well and took a very good sprawling catch running wide of mid-off. | It’s all over! Sandhu gets the wicket, his length proved hard to hit most of the day but Bell tried, he knew it was time to press the pedal down and either score or get England’s big hitters in. Tried a big off-drive, didn’t get it, and the ball went high in the air where Starc made up ground well and took a very good sprawling catch running wide of mid-off. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.33am GMT | |
| 6.13am GMT | |
| 06:13 | |
| 41st over: England 252-2 (Bell 142, Root 56) | 41st over: England 252-2 (Bell 142, Root 56) |
| Six! Pat Cummins back, bangs his first ball in short and fast, and Bell hooks. He gets it toward the top edge and the ball goes high, but it soars over the square leg fence on this small Bellerive ground. The calm Bell happily glides a single from the next ball, no need for an Ali series for him. | Six! Pat Cummins back, bangs his first ball in short and fast, and Bell hooks. He gets it toward the top edge and the ball goes high, but it soars over the square leg fence on this small Bellerive ground. The calm Bell happily glides a single from the next ball, no need for an Ali series for him. |
| One to Root, then the bounce beats Bell on his attempted short-arm pull. Bell, incidentally, has long passed his previous ODI high score of 126, which he’d previously made twice. Starts the over with a six, ends it with three dots. | One to Root, then the bounce beats Bell on his attempted short-arm pull. Bell, incidentally, has long passed his previous ODI high score of 126, which he’d previously made twice. Starts the over with a six, ends it with three dots. |
| There goes the 250. | There goes the 250. |
| 6.09am GMT | |
| 06:09 | |
| 40th over: England 244-2 (Bell 135, Root 55) | 40th over: England 244-2 (Bell 135, Root 55) |
| They’re going either side of the wicket with ease, which tells you the bowling lines are moving around a lot too. Bell to cover, Root to midwicket, single, single, then Bell cuts three in the air over point, well saved at the rope. Root drives two through midwicket. Faulkner goes for seven, and we’re into the last 10 overs. | They’re going either side of the wicket with ease, which tells you the bowling lines are moving around a lot too. Bell to cover, Root to midwicket, single, single, then Bell cuts three in the air over point, well saved at the rope. Root drives two through midwicket. Faulkner goes for seven, and we’re into the last 10 overs. |
| 6.07am GMT | |
| 06:07 | |
| 39th over: England 237-2 (Bell 131, Root 52) | 39th over: England 237-2 (Bell 131, Root 52) |
| Four! Slap. Bell advances to Pat Cummins and smacks him over mid-off for four. Plenty on that. That raises the 100 partnership in 16 overs, Bell’s second such partnership this innings. | Four! Slap. Bell advances to Pat Cummins and smacks him over mid-off for four. Plenty on that. That raises the 100 partnership in 16 overs, Bell’s second such partnership this innings. |
| Then a half-century as Root works two runs off his pads. 51 from 56 balls, only four boundaries, so he’s done most of it in bits and pieces. They end with 10 from the over, the run rate still above 6. | Then a half-century as Root works two runs off his pads. 51 from 56 balls, only four boundaries, so he’s done most of it in bits and pieces. They end with 10 from the over, the run rate still above 6. |
| 6.01am GMT | |
| 06:01 | |
| 38th over: England 227-2 (Bell 125, Root 48) | 38th over: England 227-2 (Bell 125, Root 48) |
| Bell is getting a bit antsy, feels compelled to land a big shot somewhere. He aims one at Faulkner’s slower ball, the one that spins out of the back of the hand. Bell missed, but the ball was just wide of the stumps. Then a stifled lbw appeal against Root after a ball pitched outside leg stump. It was all going well until the last ball, when Bell plays another risky shot by backing outside leg stump and cutting the ball off his stumps. | Bell is getting a bit antsy, feels compelled to land a big shot somewhere. He aims one at Faulkner’s slower ball, the one that spins out of the back of the hand. Bell missed, but the ball was just wide of the stumps. Then a stifled lbw appeal against Root after a ball pitched outside leg stump. It was all going well until the last ball, when Bell plays another risky shot by backing outside leg stump and cutting the ball off his stumps. |
| He gets four through third man. | He gets four through third man. |
| 5.57am GMT | |
| 05:57 | |
| 37th over: England 219-2 (Bell 119, Root 47) | 37th over: England 219-2 (Bell 119, Root 47) |
| Bell still finding the boundary: Sandhu drops short and Bell swats him away through midwicket. Add that to four more singles, most on the pull shot. | Bell still finding the boundary: Sandhu drops short and Bell swats him away through midwicket. Add that to four more singles, most on the pull shot. |
| 5.53am GMT | |
| 05:53 | |
| 36th over: England 212-2 (Bell 113, Root 45) | 36th over: England 212-2 (Bell 113, Root 45) |
| This is excellent restrained one-day batting from Bell and Root. Draw back and work the ball square, step forward and drive through cover, drive to long-on. Single, two, single, two. | This is excellent restrained one-day batting from Bell and Root. Draw back and work the ball square, step forward and drive through cover, drive to long-on. Single, two, single, two. |
| “I hate to be all ‘English’ about this,” says Mark Webb, starting a sentence in the most English possible fashion, “but this fantastic start is just going to make the inevitable collapse and humiliating defeat that much worse when it inevitably happens.” | “I hate to be all ‘English’ about this,” says Mark Webb, starting a sentence in the most English possible fashion, “but this fantastic start is just going to make the inevitable collapse and humiliating defeat that much worse when it inevitably happens.” |
| SKY. LIMIT. | SKY. LIMIT. |
| 5.48am GMT | |
| 05:48 | |
| 35th over: England 205-2 (Bell 109, Root 42) | 35th over: England 205-2 (Bell 109, Root 42) |
| Just finished the drinks break, and the big Gurinder Sandhu will resume the contest. No outrageous slogs yet in this Powerplay, perhaps England don’t want to let themselves in for trouble by treating it any differently to normal. Single, single, Sandhu hanging back of a length and they’re just knocking him off. He’s mixing in some slower balls at the end of the over, one leaps up and goes for a leg bye off the thigh pad, the other is a juicy full toss but Root can only hit it to the midwicket fieldsman. | Just finished the drinks break, and the big Gurinder Sandhu will resume the contest. No outrageous slogs yet in this Powerplay, perhaps England don’t want to let themselves in for trouble by treating it any differently to normal. Single, single, Sandhu hanging back of a length and they’re just knocking him off. He’s mixing in some slower balls at the end of the over, one leaps up and goes for a leg bye off the thigh pad, the other is a juicy full toss but Root can only hit it to the midwicket fieldsman. |
| 5.42am GMT | |
| 05:42 | |
| 34th over: England 201-2 (Bell 108, Root 40) | 34th over: England 201-2 (Bell 108, Root 40) |
| Starc back, and he has Root nicking but getting four! A big drive to a wide ball, big nick and it went in no time. Single, single, then Root waits back and flicks Starc off his pads for four more through deep square. | Starc back, and he has Root nicking but getting four! A big drive to a wide ball, big nick and it went in no time. Single, single, then Root waits back and flicks Starc off his pads for four more through deep square. |
| That raises the England 200, they’re in the second over of the Powerplay (meaning there are only three fieldsmen on the boundary), and they have 96 further deliveries from which to score. 300 should be a formality, but how far can they go. | That raises the England 200, they’re in the second over of the Powerplay (meaning there are only three fieldsmen on the boundary), and they have 96 further deliveries from which to score. 300 should be a formality, but how far can they go. |
| The sky is the limit - which is, as far as I’m aware, the motto of all England cricket fans. | The sky is the limit - which is, as far as I’m aware, the motto of all England cricket fans. |
| 5.37am GMT | |
| 05:37 | |
| 33rd over: England 190-2 (Bell 107, Root 30) | 33rd over: England 190-2 (Bell 107, Root 30) |
| Four, as Bell cuts Cummins square. Nice shot. Root manages a couple of singles too, he’s running the channel to third man with success. | Four, as Bell cuts Cummins square. Nice shot. Root manages a couple of singles too, he’s running the channel to third man with success. |
| Robert Wilson is up and doing in France. “This is shaping up to be ‘very interesting’ (Bond villain voice) but i’m playing fast and loose with the feeds and I have a question. What on EARTH is going on with the Kiwis? Bloody hell. Eng and Ind are doing their prep thing comme il faut and Aus are looking good but if the Saffers and New Zealanders go on like this, it’s not even going to be fair.” | Robert Wilson is up and doing in France. “This is shaping up to be ‘very interesting’ (Bond villain voice) but i’m playing fast and loose with the feeds and I have a question. What on EARTH is going on with the Kiwis? Bloody hell. Eng and Ind are doing their prep thing comme il faut and Aus are looking good but if the Saffers and New Zealanders go on like this, it’s not even going to be fair.” |
| Especially considering the Kiwis will play most of their games at home, up to and including the semi-final if they can top the group. Small grounds, familiar conditions, a mighty line-up - I think this might be the year they do it. I’m relying on the South Africans to cock it up somehow. | Especially considering the Kiwis will play most of their games at home, up to and including the semi-final if they can top the group. Small grounds, familiar conditions, a mighty line-up - I think this might be the year they do it. I’m relying on the South Africans to cock it up somehow. |
| 5.32am GMT | |
| 05:32 | |
| 32nd over: England 183-2 (Bell 102, Root 28) | 32nd over: England 183-2 (Bell 102, Root 28) |
| Now that he’s got the milestone Bell wants to go after Henriques. Tried a booming drive over cover to a full ball, but mis-hit it completely. Six runs from the over, singles and a two to Root through backward square. Mighty Joe has moved on briskly and barely noticeably. | Now that he’s got the milestone Bell wants to go after Henriques. Tried a booming drive over cover to a full ball, but mis-hit it completely. Six runs from the over, singles and a two to Root through backward square. Mighty Joe has moved on briskly and barely noticeably. |
| Richard Stanton is singing the Expat’s Song in Sydney. “Bell is playing an absolute blinder out there. I’m sorry to say that my colleagues have now rendered your services on the OBO redundant as they give me a load of stick when Aus are winning and go quiet when England are playing well. The office is almost entirely silent.” | Richard Stanton is singing the Expat’s Song in Sydney. “Bell is playing an absolute blinder out there. I’m sorry to say that my colleagues have now rendered your services on the OBO redundant as they give me a load of stick when Aus are winning and go quiet when England are playing well. The office is almost entirely silent.” |
| Ah, sweet solitude. | Ah, sweet solitude. |
| 5.28am GMT | |
| 05:28 | |
| CENTURY! Bell 100 (92 balls, 11 fours) | CENTURY! Bell 100 (92 balls, 11 fours) |
| 31st over: England 177-2 (Bell 100, Root 24) | 31st over: England 177-2 (Bell 100, Root 24) |
| Root flicks a run through square, Bell goes the same way using the pull, and he raises his hundred. His fourth overall, and a suitable way to celebrate becoming his country’s highest run-scorer in the format. Those are the only runs from the Cummins over, but Bell is happy nonetheless. Some timely settling of England’s order. | Root flicks a run through square, Bell goes the same way using the pull, and he raises his hundred. His fourth overall, and a suitable way to celebrate becoming his country’s highest run-scorer in the format. Those are the only runs from the Cummins over, but Bell is happy nonetheless. Some timely settling of England’s order. |
| 5.24am GMT | |
| 05:24 | |
| 30th over: England 175-2 (Bell 99, Root 23) | 30th over: England 175-2 (Bell 99, Root 23) |
| Root takes two from Henriques through midwicket on the turn, then a single to hand Bell the strike. Bell is getting cautious now that the century is in reach. He bats out three dot balls to close the over. Still on 99... | Root takes two from Henriques through midwicket on the turn, then a single to hand Bell the strike. Bell is getting cautious now that the century is in reach. He bats out three dot balls to close the over. Still on 99... |
| Ian Bell became good at ODI cricket literally only last week and he's now England's leading ever run-scorer. #AusvEng | Ian Bell became good at ODI cricket literally only last week and he's now England's leading ever run-scorer. #AusvEng |
| 5.21am GMT | |
| 05:21 | |
| 29th over: England 172-2 (Bell 99, Root 20) | 29th over: England 172-2 (Bell 99, Root 20) |
| Sandhu is bowling very sensibly, just good length balls, not trying anything too fancy. They get four singles from the over and avoid taking any chances. | Sandhu is bowling very sensibly, just good length balls, not trying anything too fancy. They get four singles from the over and avoid taking any chances. |
| 5.19am GMT | |
| 05:19 | |
| 28th over: England 169-2 (Bell 98, Root 18) | 28th over: England 169-2 (Bell 98, Root 18) |
| Four singles from Starc, plus a leg glance by Root for four. He’s looking good. More importantly though, in that over Ian Bell became England’s highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, passing Paul Collingwood. | Four singles from Starc, plus a leg glance by Root for four. He’s looking good. More importantly though, in that over Ian Bell became England’s highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, passing Paul Collingwood. |
| This from a man who wasn’t even England’s first-choice opener at times this last year. | This from a man who wasn’t even England’s first-choice opener at times this last year. |
| He now has 5094 ODI runs. | He now has 5094 ODI runs. |
| 5.16am GMT | |
| 05:16 | |
| 27th over: England 161-2 (Bell 96, Root 12) | 27th over: England 161-2 (Bell 96, Root 12) |
| A clever improvised late cut from Root, dropping his knees and diverting the ball to third man, gets him four. Then he cover drives for nothing. “A touch of Michael Vaughan” says Daggers on the radio, which sounds like a really gross thing to have happen to you. He takes a single, then Bell gets three on the pull, and is within one shot of a century. Sandhu concedes eight. | A clever improvised late cut from Root, dropping his knees and diverting the ball to third man, gets him four. Then he cover drives for nothing. “A touch of Michael Vaughan” says Daggers on the radio, which sounds like a really gross thing to have happen to you. He takes a single, then Bell gets three on the pull, and is within one shot of a century. Sandhu concedes eight. |
| 5.07am GMT | |
| 05:07 | |
| 26th over: England 153-2 (Bell 93, Root 7) | 26th over: England 153-2 (Bell 93, Root 7) |
| Starc is back, Smith wants wickets. Starc’s working an off-channel line to these two right-handers. They get three singles. There’s a long delay as the physio comes out and... appears to be trimming Joe Root’s chin? Something with a small pair of scissors. Someone tell him that’s redundant. | Starc is back, Smith wants wickets. Starc’s working an off-channel line to these two right-handers. They get three singles. There’s a long delay as the physio comes out and... appears to be trimming Joe Root’s chin? Something with a small pair of scissors. Someone tell him that’s redundant. |
| 5.02am GMT | |
| 05:02 | |
| 25th over: England 150-2 (Bell 92, Root 5) | 25th over: England 150-2 (Bell 92, Root 5) |
| Henriques’ time in the sun is clouded over, as Bell drives him hard over cover for four, then glances him fine for four more. Into the 90s and Ian Bell is cruising. England look such a good batting side with him in form at the top. | Henriques’ time in the sun is clouded over, as Bell drives him hard over cover for four, then glances him fine for four more. Into the 90s and Ian Bell is cruising. England look such a good batting side with him in form at the top. |
| The 150 is up. | The 150 is up. |
| 5.01am GMT | |
| 05:01 | |
| 24th over: England 142-2 (Bell 84, Root 5) | 24th over: England 142-2 (Bell 84, Root 5) |
| Faulkner continues, known as a death bowler, but in these middle overs they’re milking him like a Sherpa yak. Singles, twos, and he throws in a wide as they get seven from his over. A near-miss though, as Bell toes a cut shot in Haddin’s direction, and the diving keeper can’t quite get to it. | Faulkner continues, known as a death bowler, but in these middle overs they’re milking him like a Sherpa yak. Singles, twos, and he throws in a wide as they get seven from his over. A near-miss though, as Bell toes a cut shot in Haddin’s direction, and the diving keeper can’t quite get to it. |
| DROP! Haddin grasses a tough chance, Bell survives! England 2/137, Bell 81*, Root 4* http://t.co/QKEJKf76o5 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/L1BpNVj8ez | DROP! Haddin grasses a tough chance, Bell survives! England 2/137, Bell 81*, Root 4* http://t.co/QKEJKf76o5 #AUSvENG pic.twitter.com/L1BpNVj8ez |
| Updated | |
| at 5.05am GMT | |
| 4.59am GMT | |
| 04:59 | |
| 23rd over: England 135-2 (Bell 80, Root 3) | 23rd over: England 135-2 (Bell 80, Root 3) |
| Root off the mark with a one and a two, but Henriques takes the chocolates from that over. | Root off the mark with a one and a two, but Henriques takes the chocolates from that over. |
| 4.50am GMT | |
| 04:50 | |
| WICKET! Taylor 5 (14 balls), c Faulkner b Henriques | WICKET! Taylor 5 (14 balls), c Faulkner b Henriques |
| Another one down. Taylor tries the big drive over cover, doesn’t get all of it, and skies it to mid off. Simple catch. | Another one down. Taylor tries the big drive over cover, doesn’t get all of it, and skies it to mid off. Simple catch. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.33am GMT | |
| 4.49am GMT | |
| 04:49 | |
| 22nd over: England 131-1 (Bell 79, Taylor 3) | 22nd over: England 131-1 (Bell 79, Taylor 3) |
| As soon as I say “accumulation phase” Bell has had enough. Faulkner gives him a half-volley and he lifts four down the ground. Minimum of fuss. We’ve barely noticed but we’re already on Ton Watch for Bell. | As soon as I say “accumulation phase” Bell has had enough. Faulkner gives him a half-volley and he lifts four down the ground. Minimum of fuss. We’ve barely noticed but we’re already on Ton Watch for Bell. |
| He only has three ODI centuries, so he’d love to grow that number. Together with four singles we have eight from the over. | He only has three ODI centuries, so he’d love to grow that number. Together with four singles we have eight from the over. |
| 4.45am GMT | |
| 04:45 | |
| 21st over: England 123-1 (Bell 73, Taylor 3) | 21st over: England 123-1 (Bell 73, Taylor 3) |
| Henriques continues, this English pair settling into an accumulation phase while the new batsman gets settled. Four singles nudged hither and yon. | Henriques continues, this English pair settling into an accumulation phase while the new batsman gets settled. Four singles nudged hither and yon. |
| Adam Hirst is busy: “This must be a first. I have three live sporting events from Australia on around me at the moment. Cricket takes precedence for now, the Tour Down Under (couldn’t find the upside down font) for the finish and after a little wait, Murray in Melbourne. This is going to take some concentration.” | Adam Hirst is busy: “This must be a first. I have three live sporting events from Australia on around me at the moment. Cricket takes precedence for now, the Tour Down Under (couldn’t find the upside down font) for the finish and after a little wait, Murray in Melbourne. This is going to take some concentration.” |
| 4.40am GMT | |
| 04:40 | |
| 20th over: England 119-1 (Bell 71, Taylor 1) | 20th over: England 119-1 (Bell 71, Taylor 1) |
| Who’s a Taylor freak out there? I want to know your Taylor stories. Here about Taylor fandom. Eight dot balls now, after Bell’s single from Faulkner hands him the strike. He’s off the mark from his ninth ball with a slash to third man. Bell does it more stylishly, uppercutting the ball away. | Who’s a Taylor freak out there? I want to know your Taylor stories. Here about Taylor fandom. Eight dot balls now, after Bell’s single from Faulkner hands him the strike. He’s off the mark from his ninth ball with a slash to third man. Bell does it more stylishly, uppercutting the ball away. |
| 4.38am GMT | |
| 04:38 | |
| 19th over: England 116-1 (Bell 69, Taylor 0) | 19th over: England 116-1 (Bell 69, Taylor 0) |
| Henriques to Taylor, probably not the worst way to be welcomed to the crease. Taylor made 50-odd against India after falling in that first over against Starc in Sydney. He dots out his half of that over after Bell had worked a two and a single. Taylor would still be nervous, he really wants to consolidate his spot and feel confident that he owns it before the big dance gets underway. | Henriques to Taylor, probably not the worst way to be welcomed to the crease. Taylor made 50-odd against India after falling in that first over against Starc in Sydney. He dots out his half of that over after Bell had worked a two and a single. Taylor would still be nervous, he really wants to consolidate his spot and feel confident that he owns it before the big dance gets underway. |
| 4.36am GMT | |
| 04:36 | |
| 18th over: England 113-1 (Bell 66, Taylor 0) | 18th over: England 113-1 (Bell 66, Taylor 0) |
| Just the couple of runs from Faulkner’s over, and the breakthrough wicket. The small but powerful James Taylor comes to the crease. Is this reminiscent? | Just the couple of runs from Faulkner’s over, and the breakthrough wicket. The small but powerful James Taylor comes to the crease. Is this reminiscent? |
| Perhaps I shouldn't stand next to jockeys 😕 pic.twitter.com/c3Ah9c9Pca | Perhaps I shouldn't stand next to jockeys 😕 pic.twitter.com/c3Ah9c9Pca |
| 4.30am GMT | |
| 04:30 | |
| WICKET! Ali 46 (48 balls), c sub (Doherty) b Faulkner | WICKET! Ali 46 (48 balls), c sub (Doherty) b Faulkner |
| There it is at last. Ali hasn’t looked completely settled thus far and he was trying to force the pace again. Awkward shot, he was expecting a length ball from Faulkner and was walking down the wicket to clobber it, but it was a tiny bit shorter. Ali tried to go through with the booming drive, hit high on the splice and skewed way up in the air over cover, where Doherty took a tough swirling chance over his own shoulder turning backwards. | There it is at last. Ali hasn’t looked completely settled thus far and he was trying to force the pace again. Awkward shot, he was expecting a length ball from Faulkner and was walking down the wicket to clobber it, but it was a tiny bit shorter. Ali tried to go through with the booming drive, hit high on the splice and skewed way up in the air over cover, where Doherty took a tough swirling chance over his own shoulder turning backwards. |
| Updated | |
| at 6.33am GMT | |
| 4.28am GMT | |
| 04:28 | |
| 17th over: England 111-0 (Ali 45, Bell 65) | 17th over: England 111-0 (Ali 45, Bell 65) |
| It’s time for the burly Moises Henriques to part the Red Sea of England’s resistance, and bring the spell of Ten Co-maidens down from Mount Wellington. | It’s time for the burly Moises Henriques to part the Red Sea of England’s resistance, and bring the spell of Ten Co-maidens down from Mount Wellington. |
| Nope, it’s not that time. Bell is using his feet, driving cleanly, and fetching ones and twos with ease. Six from that over. | Nope, it’s not that time. Bell is using his feet, driving cleanly, and fetching ones and twos with ease. Six from that over. |
| 4.24am GMT | |
| 04:24 | |
| 16th over: England 105-0 (Ali 44, Bell 60) | 16th over: England 105-0 (Ali 44, Bell 60) |
| Bell is getting very cheeky, repeatedly chipping Faulkner in the air, down the ground, wide of mid-off, and taking two runs at a time. He collects seven from the over and raises England’s century opening stand. | Bell is getting very cheeky, repeatedly chipping Faulkner in the air, down the ground, wide of mid-off, and taking two runs at a time. He collects seven from the over and raises England’s century opening stand. |
| 4.22am GMT | |
| 04:22 | |
| 15th over: England 98-0 (Ali 44, Bell 53) | 15th over: England 98-0 (Ali 44, Bell 53) |
| England can’t go wrong here today. A few singles traded, then Ali sweeps Maxwell through fine leg for four, and follows up with a clout over midwicket for four more, thus evening up his disgraceful six-to-four ratio. The second shot wasn’t at all convincing, but like McGarnagle, it got results. | England can’t go wrong here today. A few singles traded, then Ali sweeps Maxwell through fine leg for four, and follows up with a clout over midwicket for four more, thus evening up his disgraceful six-to-four ratio. The second shot wasn’t at all convincing, but like McGarnagle, it got results. |
| 11 from the over. | 11 from the over. |
| 4.15am GMT | |
| 04:15 | |
| 14th over: England 87-0 (Ali 35, Bell 51) | 14th over: England 87-0 (Ali 35, Bell 51) |
| Half-century! 50 from 42 balls for Bell, it’s looking easier and easier after an iffy first couple of overs. Eight fours. Ali, interestingly, only has one, but he’s his three sixes. | Half-century! 50 from 42 balls for Bell, it’s looking easier and easier after an iffy first couple of overs. Eight fours. Ali, interestingly, only has one, but he’s his three sixes. |
| James Faulkner has taken over the bowling. Only three singles from his first over. | James Faulkner has taken over the bowling. Only three singles from his first over. |
| 4.13am GMT | |
| 04:13 | |
| 13th over: England 84-0 (Ali 34, Bell 49) | 13th over: England 84-0 (Ali 34, Bell 49) |
| There’s the counter-argument for playing the reverse sweep. Bell is very nearly bowled as he swaps his feet, swaps his hands and tries another reverse against Maxwell. He misses the ball, the ball misses his off stump by an inch and bounces off the keeper for a bye. Four singles also come from the over. | There’s the counter-argument for playing the reverse sweep. Bell is very nearly bowled as he swaps his feet, swaps his hands and tries another reverse against Maxwell. He misses the ball, the ball misses his off stump by an inch and bounces off the keeper for a bye. Four singles also come from the over. |
| Sorry England fans but this game is an elaborate hoax. England are really 23/0 after 10. Ali on 19, Cook with a determined 2 off 42 #AUSvENG | Sorry England fans but this game is an elaborate hoax. England are really 23/0 after 10. Ali on 19, Cook with a determined 2 off 42 #AUSvENG |
| 4.08am GMT | |
| 04:08 | |
| 12th over: England 79-0 (Ali 32, Bell 47) | 12th over: England 79-0 (Ali 32, Bell 47) |
| Sandhu again, he’s the only one stringing tight overs together today. The English openers are watchful against him. Bell takes one to third man, Ali one through midwicket, Bell one behind square. That’s it. Sandhu’s four overs for 14 so far. | Sandhu again, he’s the only one stringing tight overs together today. The English openers are watchful against him. Bell takes one to third man, Ali one through midwicket, Bell one behind square. That’s it. Sandhu’s four overs for 14 so far. |
| 4.05am GMT | |
| 04:05 | |
| 11th over: England 76-0 (Ali 31, Bell 45) | 11th over: England 76-0 (Ali 31, Bell 45) |
| Smith decides to change things up with spin, and goes for Glenn Maxwell. Ali doesn’t look comfortable here, missing a big sweep shot that nearly bowls him and mistiming a drive. But when Bell gets on strike he calmly reverse-sweeps Maxwell for four. He even made that look like an elegant shot. | Smith decides to change things up with spin, and goes for Glenn Maxwell. Ali doesn’t look comfortable here, missing a big sweep shot that nearly bowls him and mistiming a drive. But when Bell gets on strike he calmly reverse-sweeps Maxwell for four. He even made that look like an elegant shot. |
| 4.02am GMT | |
| 04:02 | |
| 10th over: England 69-0 (Ali 30, Bell 39) | 10th over: England 69-0 (Ali 30, Bell 39) |
| Sandhu, in contrast, goes for just three singles from his over. England flying nonetheless, a good return from the first 10 and not a wicket down. Just looking at Shaun Marsh on that replay, he would have caught the ball if he’d just waited right back on the rope. Instead he was about two metres in and so he had to jump back for the catch. That’s a lapse, when the bloke on strike has just nailed two sixes out your way. | Sandhu, in contrast, goes for just three singles from his over. England flying nonetheless, a good return from the first 10 and not a wicket down. Just looking at Shaun Marsh on that replay, he would have caught the ball if he’d just waited right back on the rope. Instead he was about two metres in and so he had to jump back for the catch. That’s a lapse, when the bloke on strike has just nailed two sixes out your way. |
| 3.59am GMT | |
| 03:59 | |
| 9th over: England 66-0 (Ali 29, Bell 37) | 9th over: England 66-0 (Ali 29, Bell 37) |
| Six! Moeen Ali has had enough of scratching around like an old chook, and tries to hit out of trouble. Doesn’t entirely nail that Cummins short ball but slices enough bat on the pull shot to hang the ball just over the rope at deep midwicket. | Six! Moeen Ali has had enough of scratching around like an old chook, and tries to hit out of trouble. Doesn’t entirely nail that Cummins short ball but slices enough bat on the pull shot to hang the ball just over the rope at deep midwicket. |
| Six! No trouble with that one! Got every piece of it, another short one, a proper hook and it landed right up on the grass bank. | Six! No trouble with that one! Got every piece of it, another short one, a proper hook and it landed right up on the grass bank. |
| Six! Three in a row for Ali, that wasn’t short but he flicked it off his pads with a half-flick, half-pull. It was caught by Shaun Marsh at deep square leg but he was leaning too far backwards, and even though he tried to throw it back into the field of play his momentum took it over the rope. | Six! Three in a row for Ali, that wasn’t short but he flicked it off his pads with a half-flick, half-pull. It was caught by Shaun Marsh at deep square leg but he was leaning too far backwards, and even though he tried to throw it back into the field of play his momentum took it over the rope. |
| Defends the last ball. | Defends the last ball. |
| Hitting his way out of trouble has definitely worked. | Hitting his way out of trouble has definitely worked. |
| 3.52am GMT | |
| 03:52 | |
| 8th over: England 48-0 (Ali 11, Bell 37) | 8th over: England 48-0 (Ali 11, Bell 37) |
| Sandhu is looking good here. He’s a right-armer angling the ball just across Ali, and he’s getting some jag from the seam. Tall bowler, bangs it in hard. Ali plays and misses at one... two... edges the third for a single... Sandhu is more at the stumps for Bell, and in the end they only get three singles from his over. | Sandhu is looking good here. He’s a right-armer angling the ball just across Ali, and he’s getting some jag from the seam. Tall bowler, bangs it in hard. Ali plays and misses at one... two... edges the third for a single... Sandhu is more at the stumps for Bell, and in the end they only get three singles from his over. |
| 3.50am GMT | |
| 03:50 | |
| 7th over: England 45-0 (Ali 9, Bell 36) | 7th over: England 45-0 (Ali 9, Bell 36) |
| Cummins arrives from the other end now as Starc’s spell finishes. Bell drives three from the first ball, then they potter a few singles. No dramas as yet, apart from Ali playing and missing a bit. | Cummins arrives from the other end now as Starc’s spell finishes. Bell drives three from the first ball, then they potter a few singles. No dramas as yet, apart from Ali playing and missing a bit. |
| 3.45am GMT | |
| 03:45 | |
| 6th over: England 39-0 (Ali 7, Bell 32) | 6th over: England 39-0 (Ali 7, Bell 32) |
| Sandhu is on for his first over - haven’t seen much of him, he’s a big broad-shouldered fellow with a muscular style of delivery rather than a hugely fluid one. He’s tight on off stump and pitching up for the entire over, and after getting the pace from the first four balls, Bell drives a boundary and a single down the ground. Moeen Ali’s score has barely moved. | Sandhu is on for his first over - haven’t seen much of him, he’s a big broad-shouldered fellow with a muscular style of delivery rather than a hugely fluid one. He’s tight on off stump and pitching up for the entire over, and after getting the pace from the first four balls, Bell drives a boundary and a single down the ground. Moeen Ali’s score has barely moved. |
| “Ian Bell not having much fun?” says an incredulous Mark Armitage. “88 from 91 against India? After Cook (A) at the top of the one-day order, I’ll happily take that kind of torpor.” More thinking of series-opening ducks against Australia, Mark, but he’s enjoying himself now. | “Ian Bell not having much fun?” says an incredulous Mark Armitage. “88 from 91 against India? After Cook (A) at the top of the one-day order, I’ll happily take that kind of torpor.” More thinking of series-opening ducks against Australia, Mark, but he’s enjoying himself now. |
| 3.39am GMT | |
| 03:39 | |
| 5th over: England 34-0 (Ali 7, Bell 27) | 5th over: England 34-0 (Ali 7, Bell 27) |
| Wonder what Steve Smith is thinking of his decision to bowl first? The pitch is playing very truly, it’s a sunny day, there hasn’t been a millimetre of swing, and Starc is smacked for another four through cover by Bell. Six from the over. | Wonder what Steve Smith is thinking of his decision to bowl first? The pitch is playing very truly, it’s a sunny day, there hasn’t been a millimetre of swing, and Starc is smacked for another four through cover by Bell. Six from the over. |
| An amusing message in from Nick: “Looking forward to hearing how things go today. But I am off to play cricket this morning with a hardy bunch of lads here in Saudi Arabia at the ungodly hour of seven thirty in the am. It is absolutely freezing. I am not confident that the English element of our group, me, is going to do very well today. And have THE FEAR that England will probably be in the same boat.” | An amusing message in from Nick: “Looking forward to hearing how things go today. But I am off to play cricket this morning with a hardy bunch of lads here in Saudi Arabia at the ungodly hour of seven thirty in the am. It is absolutely freezing. I am not confident that the English element of our group, me, is going to do very well today. And have THE FEAR that England will probably be in the same boat.” |
| 3.36am GMT | |
| 03:36 | |
| 4th over: England 28-0 (Ali 6, Bell 22) | 4th over: England 28-0 (Ali 6, Bell 22) |
| Ian Bell! Well, he’s zooming along now. Cummins gives him a pie on his pads, then another short outside off stump. Leg flick, square cut, eight runs, Bell has 22 from 12 balls. That turnaround didn’t take long. | Ian Bell! Well, he’s zooming along now. Cummins gives him a pie on his pads, then another short outside off stump. Leg flick, square cut, eight runs, Bell has 22 from 12 balls. That turnaround didn’t take long. |
| 3.34am GMT | |
| 03:34 | |
| 3rd over: England 19-0 (Ali 5, Bell 14) | 3rd over: England 19-0 (Ali 5, Bell 14) |
| In the air again from Bell, this time off the full face but the square drive could have been caught had the field been slightly different. He gratefully takes the four runs. He’s slowly working his way into touch, and he’s much closer with the next boundary, a shortish ball that sees him stand up straight and time it very nicely off the back foot push through cover. Then he’s back to fortunate rubbish as he nicks the last ball wide of second slip for four more. | In the air again from Bell, this time off the full face but the square drive could have been caught had the field been slightly different. He gratefully takes the four runs. He’s slowly working his way into touch, and he’s much closer with the next boundary, a shortish ball that sees him stand up straight and time it very nicely off the back foot push through cover. Then he’s back to fortunate rubbish as he nicks the last ball wide of second slip for four more. |
| 12 from the over. | 12 from the over. |
| 3.27am GMT | |
| 03:27 | |
| 2nd over: England 7-0 (Ali 5, Bell 2) | 2nd over: England 7-0 (Ali 5, Bell 2) |
| Very ungainly shot from Bell, he gets a ball to cut but he’s through the shot way to early, dragging it away near mid-off but it lands safely. Later he tries a big square drive and edges it on the bounce to third man. Ali also got a single, but with much less drama. Bell hasn’t had much fun since that 180-odd in the tour game. | Very ungainly shot from Bell, he gets a ball to cut but he’s through the shot way to early, dragging it away near mid-off but it lands safely. Later he tries a big square drive and edges it on the bounce to third man. Ali also got a single, but with much less drama. Bell hasn’t had much fun since that 180-odd in the tour game. |
| 3.22am GMT | |
| 03:22 | |
| 1st over: England 4-0 (Ali 4, Bell 0) | 1st over: England 4-0 (Ali 4, Bell 0) |
| Mitchell Starc takes the new ball - he’s sure done some damage with it in this series so far, and curiously Ian Bell elects not to face the first delivery. He was out first ball of the match in Sydney, so he’s preferring to put Ali into the firing line this time. | Mitchell Starc takes the new ball - he’s sure done some damage with it in this series so far, and curiously Ian Bell elects not to face the first delivery. He was out first ball of the match in Sydney, so he’s preferring to put Ali into the firing line this time. |
| The pitch is a strange rich clay colour, halfway to terracotta, and it looks pretty hard and pure, though the captains at the toss thought it might be a bit tacky. Ali isn’t having too much trouble timing on it, whipping Starc’s fourth ball through midwicket for four. The rest he safely negotiates, getting behind, pushing around, not scoring runs. | The pitch is a strange rich clay colour, halfway to terracotta, and it looks pretty hard and pure, though the captains at the toss thought it might be a bit tacky. Ali isn’t having too much trouble timing on it, whipping Starc’s fourth ball through midwicket for four. The rest he safely negotiates, getting behind, pushing around, not scoring runs. |
| 3.18am GMT | |
| 03:18 | |
| Australia wins the toss and will bowl | Australia wins the toss and will bowl |
| Temporary skipper Steve Smith sending the visitors in. George Bailey is suspended for a slow over rate. David Warner and Shane Watson are resting with slight hamstring worries. That has required plenty of reshuffling, with Cameron White, Shaun Marsh and Moises Henriques into the side, and a batting promotion for Brad Haddin. Gurinder Sandhu keeps his spot for his second ODI. | Temporary skipper Steve Smith sending the visitors in. George Bailey is suspended for a slow over rate. David Warner and Shane Watson are resting with slight hamstring worries. That has required plenty of reshuffling, with Cameron White, Shaun Marsh and Moises Henriques into the side, and a batting promotion for Brad Haddin. Gurinder Sandhu keeps his spot for his second ODI. |
| England are unchanged from their last match unless I’m missing something. | England are unchanged from their last match unless I’m missing something. |
| AustraliaWhiteFinchMarshSmith*MaxwellHaddin†HenriquesFaulknerStarcCumminsSandhu | AustraliaWhiteFinchMarshSmith*MaxwellHaddin†HenriquesFaulknerStarcCumminsSandhu |
| EnglandBellAliTaylorRootMorgan*BoparaButtler†WoakesBroadAndersonFinn | EnglandBellAliTaylorRootMorgan*BoparaButtler†WoakesBroadAndersonFinn |
| 3.13am GMT | |
| 03:13 | |
| Hello champs, chumps and champignons. How are things travelling in your corners of the globe? Geoff Lemon with you for the first innings of this adjective-free ODI contest - I don’t think it particularly big or small, it doesn’t deserve much of a descriptor. | Hello champs, chumps and champignons. How are things travelling in your corners of the globe? Geoff Lemon with you for the first innings of this adjective-free ODI contest - I don’t think it particularly big or small, it doesn’t deserve much of a descriptor. |
| That’s how you talk things up in Hobart. | That’s how you talk things up in Hobart. |
| New Zealand are handing out another Sri Spanking on the other side of the ditch, with ex-Australian Luke Ronchi making a lazy 170 from 99 balls, and all-rounder Grant Elliot making a ton. They were two of the controversial inclusions in the World Cup squad, so everything’s looking rosy for the Black Caps. | New Zealand are handing out another Sri Spanking on the other side of the ditch, with ex-Australian Luke Ronchi making a lazy 170 from 99 balls, and all-rounder Grant Elliot making a ton. They were two of the controversial inclusions in the World Cup squad, so everything’s looking rosy for the Black Caps. |
| Meanwhile, down our way, Australia have pretty much qualified for the finals of this short series already and are playing a B-Team batting line-up, while England can qualify for the finals by beating them. | Meanwhile, down our way, Australia have pretty much qualified for the finals of this short series already and are playing a B-Team batting line-up, while England can qualify for the finals by beating them. |
| 6.59am GMT | |
| 06:59 | |
| Australia meet England for the second time this Tri-Series in the pleasant surrounds of Bellerive Oval in Hobart and, would you believe it, the host nation are in pretty fine fettle heading into this one. Two played, two won, including the opener against England. The tourists, however, bounced back from that defeat with a thumping win over India and with Australia depleted by injury, suspension and tiredness, this one promises to be an intriguing encounter. Geoff Lemon isn’t in Tassie, he’s holed up somewhere in Melbourne, but he’s the man charged with bringing you all the latest from Hobart. He’ll be along soon enough, so why not read this in the meantime? | Australia meet England for the second time this Tri-Series in the pleasant surrounds of Bellerive Oval in Hobart and, would you believe it, the host nation are in pretty fine fettle heading into this one. Two played, two won, including the opener against England. The tourists, however, bounced back from that defeat with a thumping win over India and with Australia depleted by injury, suspension and tiredness, this one promises to be an intriguing encounter. Geoff Lemon isn’t in Tassie, he’s holed up somewhere in Melbourne, but he’s the man charged with bringing you all the latest from Hobart. He’ll be along soon enough, so why not read this in the meantime? |
| I think it is good for the game to have a bit of niggle but there is a line you can’t cross and you’ve just got to do it with a bit of intelligence. | I think it is good for the game to have a bit of niggle but there is a line you can’t cross and you’ve just got to do it with a bit of intelligence. |
| That’s England brainbox Jimmy Anderson, in case you hadn’t realised. Read more here. | That’s England brainbox Jimmy Anderson, in case you hadn’t realised. Read more here. |