The Ashes 2023: England v Australia, first Test, day one – dwell | Ashes 2023

thirtieth over: England 138-3 (Root 22, Brook 10) Here we go! Harry Brook saunters down the observe and plops Nathan Lyon for 4 over mid-off. Oozing confidence. Yeeesh! A thick edge from Brook flies previous slip off the following and it’s a spawny two. The scoreboard ticking.

twenty ninth over: England 127-3 (Root 22, Brook 3) As has been the way in which at present to this point, two extra singles milked off Scott Boland and all of it appears very simple till he beats Root with one that jags off the final ball. Complacency be damned.

twenty eighth over: England 127-3 (Root 21, Brook 2) Lyon will get down on one knee and implores Umpire Raza to lift his finger however there’s nowt doing – it was headed down leg Nath.

“That wicket just before lunch has tipped the balance in favour of the Aussies” writes Michael Galvin.

He’s not incorrect.

“Big responsibility on Root and Brook.” Do this facet really feel duty anymore, isn’t that previous hat Michael? Who is aware of. But sure, the Yorkshire pair want want an honest partnership right here or England would possibly begin to teeter. (Do they consider in teetering… and so forth and so forth)

twenty seventh over: England 125-3 (Root 20, Brook 1) Harry Brook will get off the mark with a glide into the hole at lunch. The younger tyke was delightfully punchy in his pre-game presser:

Nathan Lyon is coming onto bowl…

Thanks Rob, masterly stuff as per. Hello everybody, thrilling this isn’t it? Welcome to Edgbaston the place there’s a slight construct up of fuzzy cloud, the kind which may get Huw Swanborough musing on ball motion…

“Calling it now, this ball will start to reverse earlier than we expect (next 15 overs) and to quite a decent degree as the evening goes on.

I’d like to see a better look of the ball, but I suspect this pitch is scuffing it more than usual, and the Duke is prone to reverse…. I think we’re going to see batting get substantially harder.”

The Aussies can be pleased with a little bit of cloud or reverse swing this afternoon, saying that, they’ll be quietly happy with their morning’s work. This pitch appears FLAT and so they’ve prised out three of England’s high order.

The gamers are on their means out, Scott Boland has the ball in his mitts. What a flippin’ thrill that is.

Time at hand over to the sensible James Wallace, who’s making his Ashes OBO debut. Give him a superb hand – and, if you wish to get in contact, you’ll be able to e mail him or tweet @jimbo_cricket.

Thanks on your firm and emails, sorry I couldn’t spherical to all of them. I’ll go away you with this from Marcus Abdullahi.

“Laura Cooney writes that she used to watch cricket in the sixth form during lunch breaks and free periods,” writes Marcus. “They weren’t free periods; they were study periods. No wonder the country is going to hell in a handcart.”

And that was 18 years in the past.

“Sat doing admin in an empty physio office,” says James Brotherton. “My last three patients have not attended their appointments. Are they feet up following the OBO? No complaints from me, as this has allowed me to tune the radio towards the cricket.

“My only gripe is the constant mention of Bazball and it’s apparent synonyms. Every other word is Bazball-aggression-front-foot-taking-it-to-them look-at-all-the-fast-scoring-ness and intent we’re showing…

“Aussies protecting boundaries in the third over of a first Ashes Test is lovely and all, but all Bazball and Bazball Bazball makes Bazball a Bazball Bazball. Keep up the good work!”

It’s time the clown who coined such an egregious time period was dropped at justice. People have been cancelled for much less.

Some extra Ashes reminiscences

“I was 17 in the summer of 2005, and started my second year of sixth form that September,” writes Laura Cooney. “My A-level politics teacher was an avid cricket fan and when he wasn’t teaching would have the game on patchy signal on the TV in his classroom, so during lunch or free periods those of us students who were cricket fans would head up there to watch an hour or two and chat about the game.

“I bonded with another girl in the group whilst watching the final Test, and we would talk about the series (we’re also both from Preston so obviously Freddie Flintoff was a massive local hero then) and before long that quickly evolved into talking about everything else. Eighteen years later, she’s still my best friend and we’ve been through a ton of ups and downs together, but it was that Ashes series that brought us together and I’m immensely grateful to cricket for indirectly bringing her into my life.”

What I like about that is that it was pre-Twitter, so these comparatively area of interest shared pursuits had been much more treasured.

Lunchtime studying

And I like to recommend this with a heavy coronary heart, as a result of I’ve solely simply heard the information. Jeremy was a close to flawless sub-editor, one of these unsung heroes who save writers from typos (and from themselves) day after day after day. No ego, no byline, simply requirements, skilled satisfaction and love of language. And he didn’t have a cell phone, which made me admire him much more.

Lunch

WICKET! England 124-3 (Crawley c Carey b Boland 61)

Australia attraction for caught behind in opposition to Crawley! This appears like an easy nick – however Marais Erasmus didn’t give it on the sector.

twenty sixth over: England 121-2 (Crawley 61, Root 17) An intriguing transfer from Cummins, who brings Lyon again for a single over earlier than lunch. It’s a low-key over, from which Crawley and Root milk 5 low-risk runs.

twenty fifth over: England 116-2 (Crawley 58, Root 15) Boland received Root 4 instances within the Australia 18 months in the past, which I have to confess had handed me by. In my defence, the darts world championship was actually good that 12 months, and I’ve had a variety of remedy in regards to the 2021-22 Ashes

The fourth ball of Boland’s over is a bit too straight, which permits Root to work his first boundary behind sq. on the leg facet. He has 15 from 26 balls; Crawley has 58 from 70 Bazballs.

“I write to you from Oxford, where (little more than 12 hours after my final Final) I’m sitting in a pub garden with my mates, nursing a hangover — and a Stella — and jittering about Crawley’s tendency to waft merrily down the corridor of uncertainty,” writes Felix Kirkby. “Things couldn’t be any better.

“(Isn’t it funny, by the way, that Ashes series run like a thread through every cricket fan’s life? I still remember languishing in the garden with my mates, aged 13, as Broad plus Trent Bridge turned the Aussies inside out and wore them like one of Stokes’s bucket hats. Scenes.)”

You have no concept how fortunate you’re to be this age at this second in Ashes historical past. Savour each final Stella minute.

twenty fourth over: England 111-2 (Crawley 58, Root 10) Root is sporadically strolling down the wicket to Hazlewood, which often takes the LBW out of the equation. There is certainly some swing now, which is able to change the stability between bat and ball.

Five runs from Hazlewood’s over, together with a pull for 2 from Crawley.

“So the main story in the first session is that Australia didn’t appeal aggressively enough?” says Thomas Atkins. “I bet that wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card.”

twenty third over: England 106-2 (Crawley 56, Root 7) Okay, Tim de Lisle (seventeenth over) isn’t at Glastonbury, primarily as a result of the pageant isn’t until subsequent weekend.

Boland replaces Cummins; you’d count on him to bowl effectively to Root as effectively given his skill to nick the ball again from a size. Root, who has made a wholly orthodox begin to his innings, cuts a pair after which works a single behind sq. on the off facet.

Crawley is then overwhelmed on the within, driving extravagantly at an enormous inducker. There has been a touch of motion within the final couple of overs.

twenty second over: England 103-2 (Crawley 56, Root 4) Smith shrieks for LBW when Root, pushing ahead to Hazlewood, squeezes the ball between bat and pad. I’m fairly certain it was pad first, however he regarded outdoors the road. Nobody else appeared too , and replays affirm Root was certainly outdoors the road.

It was good bowling although, and that’s how Hazlewood will attempt to get Root, by working him throughout the crease after which nipping one again. Later within the over Root’s head falls over a contact and he will get a vanguard that lands safely on the off facet. For a person who has performed so little Test cricket in current instances, Hazlewood’s rhythm appears completely tremendous.

twenty first over: England 102-2 (Crawley 56, Root 3) A brief ball from Cummins is slugged to the midwicket boundary by Crawley. Doesn’t seem like there’s a lot worth within the brief ball on this pitch. Cummins has been fairly costly: 7-0-32-0. Only as soon as in his magnificent Test profession, at Dharamsala in 2016-17, has he had the next economic system fee. Long approach to go, I realise.

“Hi Rob, thanks for the reply, but I feel a bit of a seamer would be a real worry for some of our batsmen,” says Scott Campbell. “And I absolutely agree some of the pitches in Australia have not been a real bat/ball contest. (Hobart last ashes, Brisbane versus SA last season).”

I agree. But, because the final Ashes confirmed, they’d be a fair greater fear for the England batters! In 2015, gradual seamers made excellent sense and helped England win the Ashes. This 12 months it feels totally different; I’m undecided England can beat Australia on such pitches.

twentieth over: England 96-2 (Crawley 50, Root 2) Pat Cummins hooks Nathan Lyon, who took the wicket of Pope with the final ball of his earlier over. And with good cause. Josh Hazlewood, who together with Cummins has a tremendous document in opposition to Root, is again within the assault. Eventually he’ll attempt to entice Root LBW, however for now he’s working him throughout the crease. Root opens the face to steer one other single.

It’s an odd factor to say when the run fee is sort of 5 an over, however this has been a reasonably cagey morning session. Fascinatingly so, I have to stress.

“Glorious weather, exciting cricket, and I’m enjoying it parked in front of the telly in London,” writes Sarah Bacon. “Australia DO need a wicket right now — thanks, Tubs — but I’m just letting all this Bazball vs Aussie-tactics deliciously wash over me. I’m in for the long haul though! Sarah, Aussie in Ingerland. Still.”

nineteenth over: England 93-2 (Crawley 50, Root 1) Root is overwhelmed by his first ball from Cummins, nearly yorking himself as he walks down the pitch. Mark Taylor questioned if there was an edge however I don’t assume so. There was an identical incident initially of his innings on the first day within the 2015 Ashes, when he edged Starc and was dropped by Haddin, besides no one seen the sting.

I’m rambling. Root will get off the mark with a steer to 3rd man.

Fifty for Crawley!

18th over: England 92-2 (Crawley 49, Root 0) “Why has England served up an Australian pitch/road in England?” says Scott Campbell. “Us Aussie fans like to see conditions where batters are challenged by the moving ball not having the keeper stand up to a fast/medium bowler on the first morning of a much anticipated Test match!”

They assume it’s their finest probability of successful/entertaining. It’s notable that the pitches within the final two Ashes sequence have nearly been the incorrect means spherical – some very full of life seamers in 2021-22, and now a load of roads.

WICKET! England 92-2 (Pope LBW b Lyon 31)

Lyon received one to straighten sharply from around the wicket to Pope, who missed an tried work to leg. I can’t see a lot incorrect with this.

Australia assessment for LBW in opposition to Pope! This appears actually near me.

seventeenth over: England 84-1 (Crawley 46, Pope 26) Cummins replaces Boland, whose figures of 4-0-23-0 ought to have a one in them, and I’m not speaking a few maiden. The defensive fields proceed, and Crawley performs a few assured drives for 2 and one. The first was made doable by a misfield from the sub Josh Inglis (I feel).

Tim de Lisle, who will probably be a part of our protection later within the sequence (I feel he is likely to be at Glastonbury) factors out that that is already within the high 25 per cent of Crawley’s Test innings.

In different information, this pitch appears significantly flat.

sixteenth over: England 79-1 (Crawley 43, Pope 24) A number of extra low-risk singles off Lyon. It was price a glance from Cummins, however I’m undecided it’s working.

“Can I just say,” begins Romeo, “that Brian Withington is not only an old friend to the OBO, he is a very kind, generous and good person.”

You can certainly. That County Cricket Live! group you could have is at risk of giving the web a superb title.

Hang on, Crawley was caught behind however Australia didn’t attraction! UltraEdge reveals that he nicked that jaffa from Boland within the earlier over, however no one appealed. Crawley turned straight on his heels and smiled broadly.

fifteenth over: England 75-1 (Crawley 41, Pope 22) Carey stands again once more for Boland, so Pope prices him and carves the ball previous level for a single. Boland digs one in to Crawley, the first brief ball of the match from reminiscence, however Crawley has loads of time to sway out of the way in which.

It’s a flat pitch, I do know, however Zak Crawley is batting delightfully in the meanwhile. He slams a again lower for 4 extra to deliver up the fifty partnership, his first with Pope apparently, in 10.5 overs. But then he will get an enormous carried away, attempting to whip Boland to leg on the stroll and lacking fully. It was a cracking supply which bounced greater than anticipated. Funnily sufficient, that further bounce may need saved Crawley from getting a vanguard.

“On the subject of first days, in 2006 at the Gabba my wife and I had a great one,” writes Dan Johnson. “We managed to miss Harmy’s first ball due to the usual faffing around with getting through the turnstiles (so that was good) then heard about a local brew-your-own place doing free beer, which we spent the lunch break drinking (even better). Then, likely due to the free beer, we found ourselves in a sort of chant-based Barmy Army ceilidh in the car park at some point after the match, which ended up on local TV.

“We went back to the brewery for liquid lunch on days two and three, but then they asked us if we were actually going to BUY anything; we hadn’t realised it was only free to try if you committed to brewing 72 bottles of the stuff. Bit difficult to take back to our apartment in Sydney so we had to go and buy some beer after that, terrible.”

14th over: England 69-1 (Crawley 36, Pope 21) “It’s fantastic to see Australia so defensive,” says Kevin Pietersen, beginning his stint with the commentary equal of a slog-sweep for six. A Red Bull single would’ve sufficed Kev! In equity, his fellow commentator Mark Taylor concurs that Australia went on the defensive too early and that England have adjusted their strategy effectively. Three extra singles from Lyon’s over, together with a assured reverse-sweep from Pope.

“Knocking off singles against the spinner,” says Jonathan Wood. “I do hate these boring middle overs.”

thirteenth over: England 66-1 (Crawley 35, Pope 18) The first little bit of swing for Boland, although Crawley presents no stroke outdoors off stump.

Both sides have taken a backward step of types, which in some ways has made the first hour much more intriguing. England haven’t hit that many boundaries of late – three within the final 9 overs I feel – however they’re milking the bowlers effectively sufficient to nonetheless be going at 5 an over.

Hang on, make that 4 boundaries within the final 9 overs: Crawley has simply pushed Boland’s final ball magazinenificently by means of further cowl. That’s drinks.

twelfth over: England 59-1 (Crawley 30, Pope 17) Lovely bowling from Lyon, who will get one to show sharply into Crawley from across the wicket. Crawley inside-edges onto his pad, with the ball rebounding previous off stump and between Carey’s legs. He nearly caught it in his pads, however he had no probability of taking an orthodox catch.

“It’s all very well to call for off-the-wall discussions in the OBO,” says John Starbuck, “but if the A.N. Onymous Whimsy had had his/her name included, we wouldn’t have to debate the probity or otherwise of nameless contributors.”

Ach, it was our previous buddy Brian Withington. I’ve amended it now.

Apologies for the absent scoreboard, which has now been digitally erected. You could need to press F5 although.

eleventh over: England 55-1 (Crawley 28, Pope 15) Pope prices Boland however is unable to do a lot with the ball. A single to 3rd man brings up the fifty within the eleventh over. “Slow going for them…” deadpans Nasser Hussain on Sky.

Carey comes as much as the stumps for Boland to cease England’s batters strolling down the pitch. Crawley stands tall in his crease and bashes the following ball to the additional cowl boundary. He’s enjoying ever so effectively and has reached 28 from 31 balls.

At this stage in 2005, because you requested, England had been 50 for none.

tenth over: England 47-1 (Crawley 22, Pope 13) Nathan Lyon is approaching for a bowl. I actually like this transfer from Pat Cummins, as a result of Pope has had bother with offspin in his Test profession – particularly Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Lyon begins across the wicket to Pope, who does effectively to maintain out a grubber. “Just like Adelaide boysssss!” barks anyone behind the stumps. After a number of singles, two of them reverse swept, Crawley drives by means of further cowl for 4. That’s one other stunning shot from Crawley, who has began very fluently.

“John Dalby mentioned Edgbaston 97, and that brings back fond memories for me,” writes Steven Pye. “I was young, I was in love, I had hair, and the Ashes were coming home!”

ninth over: England 40-1 (Crawley 17, Pope 11) This is an enormous second: Scott Boland (Test common: 14.57; Ashes common: 9.55) replaces Pat Cummins. He doesn’t do looseners, so Crawley has no probability of hitting his first ball for 4 as he did in opposition to Cummins and Hazlewood.

Crawley does crash the fourth ball by means of further cowl, with the sweeper Head working around the boundaries to avoid wasting two runs. Boland responds with a textbook supply that straightens to beat the sting. He’d discover seam motion on the M4.

“Amongst all the analysis of the strengths and potential pitfalls of the Brave New World order, I have seen no recognition of one of the sadder casualties of unrelenting all-action Test cricket,” writes Brian Withington. “I refer of course to the demise of the occasionally heated OBO threads of yore on esoteric topics like number theory (and cricket-themed cocktail design). These helped to while away the quieter passages in play that were such a feature of cricket in the BB era.

“When again will we be able to discuss at length why 0.999… recurring and 1.0 are exactly the same number? Or explain that the range of potential cricket averages is countably infinite, whilst between any two such averages, however close together, there exists uncountably infinitely many other numbers that can never be expressed as an average? I ask you (for a friend).”

Can’t you save these emails for a extra sedate format? England begin their 50-over sequence in opposition to New Zealand on 8 September.