Key occasions
thirtieth over: England 144-3 (Ali 11, Brook 56) Swiss clock timing from Brook as he rocks again and cuts Hazlewood for 4. The seamer responds with two dots earlier than Brook takes a greater judged single off the final. Moeen Ali pulls up stricken because of this although, this could be a little bit of a Gordon Groinidge. (Sorry Mo. Sorry everybody)
twenty ninth over: England 139-3 (Ali 11, Brook 51) Cummins is radiating intent right here on the Oval. He scythes one by way of Harry Brook at 90mph. Harry Brook then very almost cooks his personal goose! A poorly judged fast single and he was miles out of his floor had Cummins’ collect and throw off his personal bowling hit the stumps.
twenty eighth over: England 138-3 (Ali 11, Brook 50) Fifty for Harry Brook! Hazlewood is picked off for singles, the third of which takes Brook to a fast half-ton. He couldn’t, might he?
twenty seventh over: England 135-3 (Ali 10, Brook 48) Pat Cummins with the primary over after the lunch break, he was magnificent this morning. Moeen sways inside a brief ball to see it swing prodigiously after passing him by, previous Carey and away for 4 byes.
Here come the gamers, one other session of mayhem awaits?
Forgive me, for I’ve shamelessly plugged:
“Nice to see Harry Brook playing for lunch…” says a beaming mate within the lunch queue:
Tim is so good at these pearly stats:
Lunch: England 131-3
What a nutty session. Australia had been put to the sword for the primary hour earlier than roaring again with three fast wickets. There have been three dropped catches and SEVENTEEN boundaries. Won’t any individual consider the OBOers!
twenty sixth over: England 131-3 (Ali 10, Brook 48)
Time for a chew to eat after which it’ll be a case of sleeves up and a delve into the emails.
twenty fifth over: England 126-3 (Ali 9, Brook 45) Crikey Mikey and Jeez Louise. Harry Brook! Two crunched fours in a row from Brook by way of the off-side sees Starc hanf his size again a contact… no mither for Brook who pivots and spanks the ball for SIX! 14 runs off the over, England heading into lunch with a bang. The Australian’s dropped Brook on 5. One to regulate.
twenty fourth over: England 112-3 (Ali 9, Brook 31) We’ve received about ten minutes to lunch. Moeen ticks alongside at his personal tempo, tickling a single off Marsh. Brook squirts a full ball to fine-leg for an additional.
“You may not be aware of this” often very secure to imagine this John Starbruck…
“…but ‘tight lines’ used to be a goodbye wish amongst anglers. Very appropriate for batters going fishing.”
I used to be truly buzzing it alongside to this, John.
twenty third over: England 110-3 (Ali 8, Brook 30) A calmer over after the pyrotekkers of the final. Starc beats a wafty drive by Moeen who will get off strike subsequent ball with a push to level. Argh. Brook rides a brief ball that thunks into his center. That’ll bruise that.
twenty second over: England 109-3 (Ali 7, Brook 30) Shot of the morning from Harry Brook! A brief-armed pull off Marsh flies into the stands for SIX! That was dismissive from Brook, like he was swatting a midge away while attempting to learn a novel.
The ball earlier than he whelped Marsh on the up by way of the covers for 4 too. Two extra collected to deep level makes it ten off the over and the hundred up for England. Punch and counterpunch.
twenty first over: England 97-3 (Ali 7, Brook 18) Starc replaces Cummins who takes a breather with 1-21 from his six overs together with two drops and TWENTY FOUR play and misses. He might have had two sides out with a bit extra luck. Great spell to return again with after being carted at Old Trafford.
Moeen drives languidly and Khawaja slides over the ball on the fence to present him a boundary. The crowd let off a little bit of steam as Brook edges within the hole for 4 extra!
twentieth over: England 87-3 (Ali 3, Brook 13) Five dots from Hazlewood and the strain cooker begins to hiss after the Cummins maiden final over… What strain? Brook smashes the final ball for 4 by way of the covers. Cat and mouse. Josh and Harry. Don’t go wherever.
nineteenth over: England 83-3 (Ali 3, Brook 9) Tight strains from Cummins, he’s working up good tempo and retains Moeen sincere. A maiden.
After most likely his worst outing with the ball in Test cricket final week, Pat Cummins has run in and bowled this morning with the higher rhythm than we’ve seen all tour lengthy #Ashes
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 27, 2023
18th over: England 83-3 (Ali 3, Brook 9) Streaky! Brook performs an ethereal drive that simply evades a diving Khawaja at slip. The Aussies scent blood, in the event that they’d hung onto their catches then England could be in all kinds by now.
seventeenth over: England 78-3 (Ali 3, Brook 5) Harry Brook seems to be utterly unruffled by the scenario, he could as effectively be chewing gum and texting his mates. A effectively timed poke outdoors off brings him his first boundary. WOW! Another DROP! Carey spills a diving likelihood that flew off a sonic-booming drive by Brook. Time to get ruffled Harry, lad.
What a bonkers morning this has been already.
sixteenth over: England 74-3 (Ali 2, Brook 1) Harry Brook is the brand new man. Hazlewood probes away, two size balls maintain the younger tyke sincere earlier than an inside edge trickles to leg to get him off the mark. The crowd now a stressed burble.
WICKET! Root b Hazlewood 5 (England 73-3)
Gone! England are actually in a little bit of strife. Root tried to information a ball into the off facet that was means too shut for consolation and chopped onto his stumps. He’s furious. Punching his bat as he stomps off. Australia on prime now.
fifteenth over: England 73-2 (Ali 2, Root 5) Cummins bowls to Root. We’ll miss this eh? The subsequent Test match in England after this one is eleven and a half months away. Soak it up whilst you can people.
Root glides splendidly for 4 to open his account. Cummins hits again by beating the sting. Root collects a single off the following. Proper cricket.
“Morning Jim.”
Morning to Simon McMahon who’s doing an excellent job as our Scottish cricket correspondent. What’s your day charge Simon?
“Not quite the rollercoaster, or indeed paternoster, ride of the Ashes summer here at the Grange in Edinburgh where, after a delayed start due to a wet outfield – flashbacks ahoy! – Scotland continue their seemingly serene progress towards next year’s T20 World Cup against Denmark. A win today would guarantee their place irrespective of the result against Ireland tomorrow. Denmark have started impressively in the field though, with Scotland currently 37-2 after 7 overs. So scoring at roughly the same rate as the England Test side.”
14th over: England 68-2 (Ali 2, Root 0) Two new batters on the crease for Australia, they’ve received themselves again into the session after a chastening first hour. Moeen is watchful, 4 dots earlier than a clip to leg brings him two runs. The environment right here on the Oval now at a nervous simmer.
WICKET! Crawley c Smith b Cummins 22 (England 66-2)
One brings two! Crawley slapped Cummins by way of cowl for 4 however subsequent ball he edges excessive to Smith within the slips and this time the catch sticks. Crawley had performed and missed 5 occasions in his final eleven deliveries. It’s the way in which he performs.
Steve Smith’s 55 catch in Ashes cricket – a brand new report. Pipping Botham on 54. Top grabbers.
thirteenth over: England 66-2 (Ali 0, Root 0)
WICKET! Duckett c Carey b Marsh 41 (England 62-1_
A tiny tickle on the glove to a comparatively innocuous quick ball from Marsh and Duckett has to tug himself off! It was essentially the most delicate of pecks on the styrofoam, the umpire didn’t spot it however the Aussies reviewed confidently.
Earlier within the over Crawley performed an attractive straight drive for 4 which took him to 400 runs for the collection. The first on both facet to get there. Hat tip to m’esteemed colleague Tim de Lisle who noticed that one and kindly despatched my means.
twelfth over: England 62-0 (Crawley 18, Ali 0)
eleventh over: England 55-0 (Crawley 13, Duckett 40) Duckett prices as soon as extra! Wonder what he had for his breakfast? He’s been electrical this morning. Three runs to the full. Well bowled Pat Cummins – he beats Crawley as soon as twice thrice in a row and is unfortunate to not have discovered the sting.
John Withington wades in:
“I’ve been struck by the derision in the Aussie media for England’s approach and the rush of old pros to dismiss it as care free and lacking the “hardness” that Australian cricket appears to demand. Meanwhile, inside 6 overs of the primary day of a collection deciding Ashes match Australia are on the again foot, acquiescing to England’s assured begin, pushing the sector again and permitting England to dictate.
And I feel this “passive” strategy as they seemingly simply look ahead to one thing to occur can leach into the fielding as there’s a critical discount within the standard expectation of early possibilities. See Warner’s lame response to the one likelihood to date.”
tenth over: England 52-0 (Crawley 13, Duckett 37) Mitch Marsh replaces Hazlewood, Duckett hacks into the off-side, attempting to pressure too exhausting and shedding his form. A reduce by way of cowl brings him two and a fast single to leg brings Crawley on strike. Close! Steve Smith almost pulls of (one other) horizontal diving catch within the slips as Crawley will get a meaty edge off Marsh. Just a tip of the finger however a nice effort. Cameron Green would have stood nonetheless and caught it. Fifty up for England, they’re cruising alongside at over 5 an over.
ninth over: England 46-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 34) Cummins to Duckett… DROP! A wild swipe by the batter flies to Warner within the slips, head hight and really catchable however he spills it! The crowd get caught into Warner when the replay goes up on the massive display screen. He’s often like a venus flytrap in there and it was a little bit of a sitter. Cummins is correct, probing outdoors off stump and inducing two play and misses within the over. Still went for 5 runs, thoughts.
“It’s just BURST through those hands!”
A HUGE likelihood for Australia to get their first wicket however David Warner cannot come up with it pic.twitter.com/KyxpVVCNJX
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
eighth over: England 41-0 (Crawley 10, Duckett 30) Just a pair off Hazlewood’s over. Duckett advances as soon as extra and crunches a pull to mid-on (you learn that proper) however it stings the fingers of the fielder and there’s no run. Pat Cummins is bringing himself on.
Quite the bolshy begin from England right here @Jimbo_Cricket. Ben Duckett particularly wanting like he is batting with the carefree vibes of an 18 12 months previous about to depart on a niche 12 months. Ben F*ckett, if you’ll. We’re positively not going to die questioning. Which is okay with me.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) July 27, 2023
seventh over: England 39-0 (Crawley 10, Duckett 29) We’ve had 15 scoring pictures in a row in accordance with Andy Zaltzman on TMS. The area is about again and England accumulate singles off each ball. England are so good at this. “200 by lunch then” chirps m’colleague John Windmill.
sixth over: England 33-0 (Crawley 7, Duckett 26) My days. That is an unimaginable stroke! Duckett prices Hazlewood and completely marmalises a drive on the up again down the bottom! You need to chortle, that was reeedonkulous. Duckett is middling the whole lot, Cummins has boundary riders on both sides of the wicket and they’re saved very busy. About these maidens…
fifth over: England 24-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 19) Duckett slices Starc behind level for 4! A perky begin this for the little’un (Crawley is the big’un) Shot – a leg-stump half volley is flicked away nonchalantly for 4 extra. England starting to purr into prime gear, ominous indicators for Australia.
4th over: England 13-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 8) Five off Hazlewood’s over with little fuss. Bazball Manifest.
third over: England 9-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 4) HUGE APPEAL! Starc nearly bends over onto the turf behind him as he implores Joel Wilson to do the honourable factor. Crawley left a ball that scudded again into his pad, it regarded shut – maybe simply lacking? The Aussies assessment with enthusiasm however it’s NOT OUT! The ball was lacking off stump. Phew. On we go.
*About that asterisk on maidens from earlier. I simply heard that England have despatched down 100 extra maidens within the collection than Australia (could be 99 now). That is a cortex boggling stat.
The TMS abroad hyperlink could be discovered on the prime of the BBC’s primary cricket protection web page, for these asking.
2nd over: England 7-0 (Crawley 4, Duckett 3) An enormous cheer rings across the Oval as Duckett opens England’s account with a clip for 3 off Hazlewood. Close! Hazlewood cuts Duckett in two with a nip-backer after which finds his edge with the following ball however it flies down into the slips. A single to leg brings Crawley on strike for the final ball… which he smashes for 4 by way of the covers!
1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett) A lesser noticed maiden*! Hard strains to that boundary expectant gambler. Starc spears just a few down the leg facet and Crawley lets just a few fizz previous the off stump. The pitch seems to be to have respectable tempo and carry. Nice.
A rousing reception for each anthems, which had been signed too. Marnus was actually entering into it, swaying alongside as he sang with eyes clamped shut.
The gamers run out onto the sector to very large applause which fits up a notch when Crawley and Duckett stride to the center to take guard. Mitchell Starc will take the primary over. Have you heard concerning the man who has put a guess on there being a boundary off each first over of every Test? Oh to be in his sneakers proper now. Let’s play!
@Jimbo_Cricket I noticed a bucket hat in Paris yesterday. Not on a Brit however on an precise Parisian ladies -otherwise très stylish (I used to be tempted to ask her the place she stood on Bairstow protecting wicket however thought higher of it). So it is official. Bucket hats are in.
— Robert McL Wilson (@Parisbob2001) July 27, 2023
Tres stylish?
Alive and singing – right here come the gamers for some anthem motion.
“RUBBISH! This series is alive.” 😤
Michael Atherton says there’s a lot nonetheless to play for within the remaining Ashes Test and it isn’t a useless rubber! pic.twitter.com/R45gXLD3LY
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 27, 2023
OF COURSE Australia will bowl!
Crows Jeremy Boyce of err France.
“If only to not allow England to go on another T20 4th innings batting spree. The mind games have begun before they’re even on the pitch.”
Do you recognize what Jeremy? The solar is beginning to come out right here on the Oval. Pat Cummins shall be looking of the altering room window and cursing his luck. For the time being…
Robbie Chedburn thinks the Aussie’s could be loosened up a bit after their retention.
“Morning James, this is the big one, the one we’ve all been waiting for. Although saying that it’s not as big as it might have been. But still feels like a huge match.”
Yep, the environment is effervescent up right here on the Oval. A useless rubber that is NOT.
“I wonder if Australia having retained the ashes may loosen them up a bit and allow them to play with a bit more gusto!”
Does gusto mean having England 20-5 under cloudy skies this morning Robbie?
“Morning James”
G’Morning to you Steff B.
“Which team has more to play for here? Also, are we witnessing the end of James Anderson’s reign as a top class bowler?”
Hmm, on the first point I reckon both teams will be absolutely desperate to win. Australia want to claim the urn outright and as Geoff and Ali’s piece mention – it could be last chance saloon for some of their more distinguished squad members to bag a series in England.
There’s no two ways about it from the other side either – England will be hell bent on winning here.
On Anderson – I think he’s been pout of luck in this series and looked a bit flat at times. But he’s still incredibly skilful and his pace has been decent. All the talk is that he will carry on into India and perhaps beyond.
Australia win the toss and will bowl!
Bit of cloud around, it’s muggy here in south London. Will it move around? Ben Stokes confirms he would have had a bowl too.
England are unchanged, we knew that, and for Australia Todd Murphy is available in for Cameron Green.
For the first time since February, Ben Stokes has lost a toss
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) July 27, 2023
Geoff Lemon on Pat Cummins’ unfinished enterprise:
Time to compensate for issues. First up – right here’s Ali Martin on the lengthy goodbyes:
Preamble
James Wallace
Welcome to the web Oval for the final Ashes Test match of the summer season. We’ve had extra ups and downs than the members of Chumbawamba pogoing on a paternoster.
After the rain kiboshed the tip of a the Old Trafford Test final week Australia have retained the Ashes… however they actually need to win them. They fluffed their strains once they arrived on the Oval in an analogous place 4 years in the past, Pat Cummins’ facet shall be determined to chalk up a win right here and take the collection emphatically 3-1. If they handle that then it’ll be the Aussies’ first collection win in England since 2001.
Ben Stokes’ facet dominated proceedings in Manchester and while the environment on the Oval isn’t fairly crackling but I reckon it could be as soon as play begins. As Stokes alluded to himself yesterday, 3-1 feels very completely different to 2-2.
The Aussie gamers are doing keepy uppies on the outfield (David Warner seems to be a bit out of his depth, bless him) and the punters are submitting in from Oval station and down the Harleyford Road from Vauxhall.
You all up for this? Reckon so. For one final time then…
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