Key occasions
67th over: India 282-8 (Thakur 41, Shami 10) Innovation from Shami! The forefront drive, to the off facet of straight. He’s aiming that by means of midwicket and finally ends up with 4 on the far facet of the bowler. Then will get an inside edge previous his off stump and previous Carey! Eight runs in two balls. Brendon McCullum have to be concerned on this, certainly. Boland shifts his sq. leg behind the road. Shami whips the ball in entrance of sq.! Makes that man run all the way in which round to maintain the scoring to 2. He’s abruptly in double figs and that’s a productive over for India. Deficit right down to 187.
66th over: India 271-8 (Thakur 40, Shami 0) Mohammed Shami comes out to bat. If Umesh is your No9, actually, you’re in a little bit of strife.
WICKET! Umesh Yadav b Cummins 5, India 271-8
Cummins a little bit quick at Thakur, who deflects a run to deep sq.. Wonder if that was deliberate from the bowler to show over the strike. Five balls at Umesh to return. Leg slip is available in, two common slips and Green within the wingspan zone. Cummins rips one previous the sting, prime drawer.
Then Umesh will get 4! Not textbook. Jumps within the air, and whereas mid-air reaches outdoors off stump, jabbing the bat at a large line, edging it between gully and level. Hit a six, champ.
No sixes coming. Because he’s bowled. Standard Cummins: on line, arduous size, decks in a bit, hits every little thing. Umesh’s six share drops to 31.37.
sixty fifth over: India 266-7 (Thakur 39, Umesh 1) Boland with one other tidy over however Thakur will get by means of it comfortably, taking a late single.
A query from OBO common Brian Withington.
“Idly wondering what sort of attention this game between the top Test-playing nations is getting back in Australia, compared with say the forthcoming Ashes series? In passing, do you think England could gainfully host more Test matches that don’t feature the host nation, especially given the potential enthusiastic support from the diaspora of various test playing (and aspiring) nations?”
Absolutely. I believe that Bangladesh or Pakistan matches may get good attendances right here, particularly in sure cities. There is a narrative effervescent away concerning the Melbourne Cricket Ground campaigning to host an India-Pakistan Test, given neither nation will tour the opposite. Diaspora crowds can fill out an India match in most nations nowadays, and a few non-diaspora followers will even journey for the novelty.
sixty fourth over: India 265-7 (Thakur 38, Umesh 1) Here’s a stat for you: of gamers to have hit greater than 5 Test sixes, Umesh Yadav has the second highest proportion of his profession runs from going over the rope. Just underneath 32 %, which is what Hasan Ali has because the ladder chief.
He survives most of an over from Cummins although, and even scores a single off the bat.
63rd over: India 263-7 (Thakur 37, Umesh 0) Shardul Thakur takes a single off Boland, leg bye in reality. Umesh Yadav on strike. This could not final lengthy. He is aware of a method, and it’s thoughts the home windows. But he too will get off strike because of a leg bye, into the thigh pad. The final partnership was 109.
62nd over: India 261-7 (Thakur 37) The wicket falls from the final ball of the over, and Cummins eventually will get his second.
WICKET! Rahane c Green b Cummins 89, India 261 for 7
What a catch that’s! The outdated basic: Green drops the straightfoward one after which takes the world-beater. Flying edge from Rahane’s drive, flying catch from Green away to his proper, one large arm snaking out like a sci-fi tentacle to achieve that ball. Rahane’s high quality innings involves an finish.
61st over: India 260-6 (Rahane 89, Thakur 36) Nip-backers deluxe from Boland to start out, Rahane blocking studiously from the crease. A maiden over.
The second session will start as did the primary, with Scott Boland from the Vauxhall End.
The gamers are returning after the luncheon interval. Ahem. Adjust your bow ties, please, and stand to consideration.
@GeoffLemonSport Afternoon, Geoff. I’m on the floor right this moment having a good time. The announcer is asking probably the most inane query: Who is the most effective ever Test batter? Kohli, Tendulkar, Smith or Bradman. You’d must be fairly one-eyed to not choose The Don. But #engagement, yeah?
— James Higgott (@jiggott) June 9, 2023
Painful, that stuff, innit?
Cue the outdated “How many IPL runs did Bradman make,” I suppose.
If you wish to see that ICC cable knit that Guy Hornsby wrote in about, feast your eyes.
Lunch – India 260 for six, trailing by 209 on the primary innings
That was fairly the session for individuals who like Australians dropping their bundle. And their catches. Two drops from Thakur, one drop from Rahane, and the no-ball lbw overturn in opposition to Thakur to go along with Rahane getting the identical reprieve yesterday. This has been a celestially blessed partnership for India, at the moment value 108 runs.
Rahane will come again after the break with one other abroad hundred in his sights, and Thakur will… nicely, who is aware of what Thakur is considering at any given time. He’s about motion, not contemplation.
KS Bharat was knocked over as quickly because the day started, bowled by a Boland magnificence, however the variety of wicket-taking deliveries to observe haven’t taken any wickets. Back with you in half an hour or so.
sixtieth over: India 260-6 (Rahane 89, Thakur 36) Talk about an eventful over earlier than lunch. India’s overview upheld, Australia’s overview rejected, and India stroll again with their seventh-wicket partnership intact.
Review struck down
Australia dropping composure. This time Thakur is plunging ahead at a ball outdoors off stump, the ball zipping previous his edge. Carey thinks there’s a nick, Cummins is talked into the overview, and there’s nothing on the soundwave.
WICKET! Overturned!
Goodness me. It’s one other overstep for Cummins, and one other wicket wiped away. Great tempo, nice line, some motion off the seam inward, Shardul Thakur is nowhere in opposition to this ball. Smashes his pad in entrance of center and leg. Given out on the sphere, so the overview solely wants it to clip the stumps. But the overview reveals the entrance foot is over, his sixth time this innings.
59th over: India 259-6 (Rahane 89, Thakur 36)
More e mail flattery is available in, from Guy Hornsby.
“Morning Geoff, absolutely loved your cable knit WTC cricket jumper on last night’s The Final Word Daily. Where fashion and sport collide in the best way. Not sure I could sport that in Sicily today, where it’s 31 degrees. This is a great fightback from this pair, and you’d hope this goes to five days of hard fought cricket, though they’d need another 100 at least to sway that. Australia’s excellent performance is doing nothing for my Ashes nerves either, despite the nature of causality and past performance and future performance and all that.”
They’re on the way in which, Guy, as Rahane jumps onto his again foot and punches Lyon away sublimely by means of backward level. Shot! And raises the hundred partnership. Then will get ahead two balls later and drives by means of cowl for a similar outcome. Behind by 210. This is a few innings from Ajinkya Rahane.
58th over: India 249-6 (Rahane 80, Thakur 35) Standing ovation from the JM Finn stand, as Thakur pings away a flick shot from Cummins for 4! It rockets to the fence down there behind sq. leg.
The partnership is as much as 97, the deficit is right down to 220.
57th over: India 244-6 (Rahane 79, Thakur 31) At final it’s time for Nathan Lyon to have a bowl. Doesn’t begin nicely, overpitches and Rahane drives him by means of cowl for 4. But Lyon doesn’t take lengthy to settle, squaring up Thakur first ball to him
56th over: India 239-6 (Rahane 74, Thakur 31) Cummins again on to bowl and there’s one other drop within the cordon! To quote Darren Lehmann, what the clean is occurring? Big drive from Rahane, thick edge, flies arduous and excessive to Warner’s left. Tough probability, has to throw his hand at it and solely has time to get one hand up. Like he was midway by means of the primary YMCA transfer. But if anybody was going to take that, it’s Warner, a freak at these sharp ones. Instead the ball ricochets away for a few runs. Wonder if that was Carey’s catch? He did twitch at it, and there was miscommunication between Carey and his slips earlier than.
fifty fifth over: India 234-6 (Rahane 71, Thakur 30) A canopy drive for three, and the Master of the Mumbai maidans raises 5000 Test runs for his profession. Nice to see him getting this opportunity to return to the crew, he’s been a champion performer for India particularly in more durable contests away from dwelling.
Jeremy Yapp additionally is aware of nail an introduction.
“Loving the commentary as always but most of all, thanks for the searching examination of Steve Smith’s technique. That article will be required reading in the England camp, I’m guessing. Now, given that this is unlikely to be the closest or toughest Test Australia plays this summer, should they treat this as the ultimate grand final and pinnacle, or is it a warm-up? Let’s say Australia takes a healthy lead into the second innings and the top three does well. Is it cynical to play Green at 4 (and even Carey at 5) given that Smith and Travball have already had a bat? The answer to that will tell us a lot about how seriously this team is taking the ICC Championship concept.”
I feel they might do each, in the event that they had been far sufficient forward, and altering the order wouldn’t imply the match didn’t matter. But they might almost certainly keep on with script to keep away from any disruption in method.
Still, one factor most of us do in cricket is get forward of ourselves. We take a look at the way in which issues have gone, and extrapolate that they need to proceed the identical method. But cricket trajectories should not even. They’re not predictable. A wicket will in all probability fall quickly and Australia will wrap issues up, however maybe these two will bat all day and alter the sport. That’s why we watch it, for the instances when the sudden occurs. And irrespective of what number of instances we’ve seen the sudden occur, we’re nonetheless stunned when it does.
54th over: India 229-6 (Rahane 68, Thakur 29) The Australians shall be more and more irritated by the truth that Shardul Thakur continues to be there. This is his knack. Gets a little bit nick (a nick knack?) that doesn’t carry to Carey. Windscreen-wipes at a ball outdoors off stump and misses. Then thrashes Starc for a minimize shot by means of level for 4.
53rd over: India 223-6 (Rahane 67, Thakur 24) Green bowling, one other nudge for Rahane by means of level for one. I puzzled what number of of his runs he has scored there. Then I remembered that I can lookup issues like that. It makes 27 of them, near half his rating, between level and deep third. Thakur will get him again on strike, and Rahane performs a uncommon leg look to diversify his portfolio.
The deficit is 246.
52nd over: India 220-6 (Rahane 65, Thakur 23) Starc on the lengthy lop to the center. Thakur likes to hit the ball unnecessarily arduous. Tries one other by means of cowl and misses it. Gets a run to high quality leg to observe. We’re down to 2 slips now. Starc smashes Rahane on the pad however through the within edge, and there’s a ricochet run to backward level.
“Morning Geoff, excellent article on the resurgent Smudge,” writes Theo Boardman-Pretty. A well mannered begin and a very good title, good work.
“Looking ahead to next week, my thoughts are at the other end of the wicket: what happens when the tight line of Scott Boland (Test economy 2.18) meets the unstoppable force of Bazball (run rate 4.76 before the Ireland game)? Wickets, I suspect…”
This is what I’m all in favour of. Sometimes, a really constant bowler may be lined up by an attacking crew. If they’re prepared to hit off the highest of the bounce. But that brings attendant danger. No doubt England will go for it, so it’s whether or not Boland will get sufficient from the pitch and might adapt. He was the most effective T20 loss of life bowler within the nation for just a few years, so he’s handled attacking batting earlier than.
51st over: India 217-6 (Rahane 64, Thakur 22) A uncommon quiet over from Green. Rahane pulls a single. Thakur squirts one alongside the ground. A bit like my housemate’s cat.
fiftieth over: India 215-6 (Rahane 63, Thakur 21) Starc comes around the wicket on the right-handers after drinks, searching for that angle in on the stumps. Strays down leg to Thakur after Rahane works a single. Once his line carries previous off stump, Thakur can’t assist reaching at it. But when Starc will get too full, Shardul nearly throws out his spinal alignment thrashing it by means of cowl.
Not shocking that a lot of our readers, like Sam, are seeing this as a three-way contest. Dean Kinsella is on the floor, I assume.
“Really enjoying the cricket in the blazing sun. I hope its not too anglocentric to describe it as a curtain raiser for the main event, but its really getting Ashes juices flowing. Great to have a chance to see the Aussies in action against high class opposition. I don’t know who benefits most – the Aussies to ‘warm up’ in a proper game, or England to have a good look at the opposition. I suspect that if India can somehow miraculously turn this game around the dent in Australian confidence might just swing it in England’s favour. Come on Jinx!”
Bring again the Test Triangular Series from 1912! Bring again Warren Bardsley!
Drinks for Jinks. And nicely, sure, the top agrees with this…
@GeoffLemonSport Good morning Geoff
There is No Rahul or Laxman to drag off a Houdini
The match is over 1 hour earlier than lunch tomorrow
The prolonged time is because of the truth that Australia is not going to implement the observe on— krish (@vkmagus) June 9, 2023
… however one other 55 minutes just like the earlier 55 would make issues enjoyable.
forty ninth over: India 209-6 (Rahane 62, Thakur 16) The luck is with India once more this morning. Cameron Green replaces Boland, fires one in quick on the pads that beats Rahane for tempo, and clobbers him in entrance. Umpire says the angle may be taking it down leg. Australia overview, and it reveals purple, purple, orange. Not fairly nailing the leg stump firmly sufficient to overturn the decision. Rahane celebrates by slashing a boundary off the highest edge over slip, streaky, then performs a no-follow-through gem of a canopy drive for 4 extra. Just steps into that and holds the pose. Steers a single to deep level. Eventful over! The weirdest half is Shardul Thakur providing a go away to the final ball.
forty eighth over: India 199-6 (Rahane 53, Thakur 15) Mitchell Starc on for a spell, changing Cummins. One six and the skipper takes himself off? (That’s a joke.) Still, a win for India to get by means of that interval, although it was the missed catch that did it. Starc slings them throughout the right-handers, provides up a few singles.
Richard O’Hagan writes in concerning the follow-on, or not. “How much do you think that the predicted heat over the weekend will play a part in that decision? I know it won’t be as much of an issue for either team as it is for we locals but surely it is still a factor when thinking about how much rest your bowlers might need? (On that note, I’m playing a club game tomorrow and looking forward to our new Aussie all-rounder finally going an entire match without whining about how cold it is).”
Australians in England in June have a constitutional proper to complain concerning the chilly, Richard. We will all the time defend that. The Met Office says a excessive of 29 over the weekend, which is nice early spring climate for both of those groups, so I doubt it’ll be an element. If issues go Australia’s method it’ll nonetheless be a Day 4 end. Or the present pair pile on one other 150 and make issues fascinating.
They path by 269 runs.
forty seventh over: India 196-6 (Rahane 52, Thakur 13) Boland carries on, Shardul Thakur displaying some self-discipline along with his blocking and leaving, then deflecting a ball to the high quality leg boundary off his pad, and gamely dropping a brief ball into the leg facet, once more imperilling his gloves. He’s been battered right this moment, undecided how his bowling will go after this.
Half century! Rahane 52 from 92 balls
forty sixth over: India 191-6 (Rahane 52, Thakur 12) A sudden flurry from Rahane! First he performs that very same form of shot, utilizing the tempo to deflect by means of level for 4. Then Cummins drops a contact shorter and Rahane will get underneath a hook shot for six! Uses the tempo and sends it over high quality leg. Fair probability that is Rahane’s final Test, and in that case he’s going out in model.
forty fifth over: India 178-6 (Rahane 41, Thakur 10) Rahane nicks one from Boland, however softly sufficient that it drops in need of Green this time. It’s tense on the market. Just earlier than that he drove a pair extra runs.
“Thinking about the best-case scenario for the teams,” writes Sam Jeffers. “For Australia: Enforce follow on, India cave, game over late today. For India: Aus enforce follow on, India bat well (and slowly). Australia still win, but have to bat twice.For England: See India. It’s strange to have three teams playing a game of cricket.”
I’m telling you, there shall be no follow-on.
forty fourth over: India 175-6 (Rahane 39, Thakur 9) Cummins in once more, and Thakur is dropped once more! Having some luck right here, in the event you can name it that, given it means he has to remain on the market and hold being peppered. Straightforward at gully for Green, the sting flies arduous however straight at his midriff, hits his palms and bounces again out. Can’t seize the rebound with Khawaja additionally sprawling in the direction of it from slip. More contact as Cummins hits Thakur within the abdomen. The batter swings wildly outdoors off, then lastly connects with one for a run. There was one other front-foot no ball in that over too, Cummins retains overstepping.
forty third over: India 173-6 (Rahane 39, Thakur 8) Meanwhile, Rahane is enjoying like a dream. Soft fingers, defending away. Boland from the Vauxhall End defused, then dabbed for a few runs. Beaten on the surface edge, then strides right into a Meg Lanning model shot, straight bat, no follow-through, simply locations the bat within the line of the ball to ship it by means of backward level for 4.
A message in from India, title withheld. Controversial.
“Well, the follow-on looks inevitable unless the Aussies are very confident in their bowling in the 4th innings. I am still holding out hope for a classic day-long Pujara spell in our next innings, whenever that may be, to at least drag us to a draw! Off topic, it is very refreshing to be able to hear commentary on the radio again. All India Radio has the irritating habit of not covering cricket matches live. I suspect it is a combination of lack of rights and lack of interest, this being a one-off series perhaps helping the former. Either way, it’s refreshing.”
I might say that the prospect of a follow-on is zero. Even if India are out shortly right here, Australia will nonetheless wish to give their gamers one other bat – given that is their solely deliberate match. Could be a a stunning centre-wicket internet in opposition to top-line bowlers, particularly for Warner, Khawaja, Green.
And sure, live cricket on the radio in India has been defunct for a few many years now, hasn’t it? Makes little sense given the curiosity in that market and the attain radio can have in regional areas, however TV is taken into account king by anybody in energy there.
forty second over: India 167-6 (Rahane 33, Thakur 8) Nasty from Cummins! The ball rears from a size and clatters Thakur on his again arm. The physio comes and offers him a verify, Thakur decides to bat on, and instantly will get hit once more. Same spot, proper forearm, on the fleshy bit nevertheless it’ll nonetheless harm loads. There’s an extended delay for extra physio remedy. Several folks on the market. They put an arm guard on him. Horse, meet steady door… oh, you may’t. Third ball on this prolonged sequence, in on the gloves! Smashes them. Punched away, actually. This could be very unfriendly bowling. Then Cummins rips one previous the surface edge! Thakur pulls the bat away too late, after stepping throughout. He was in all kinds. Breathes a sigh of reduction that the over has completed.
forty first over: India 166-6 (Rahane 32, Thakur 8) That ball goes wild! Pitches extra in the direction of a leg stump line nevertheless it careers off the seam method down leg facet for 4 byes. Some motion. Then Boland attracts a real edge from Thakur that flies away for 4 extra. Undeservedly costly over.
fortieth over: India 157-6 (Rahane 30, Thakur 4) Cummins from the Pavilion End, and he’s additionally hitting a size and getting the ball to jag in. Rahane squeezes out a single off the within edge. Thakur rides the bounce for 2, then flashes outdoors off and is fortunate to outlive.
thirty ninth over: India 154-6 (Rahane 30, Thakur 2) That is such a Boland over. Wicket second ball. Cuts it in and smashes the gloves and physique from the following couple. Then has a catch dropped at third slip! A tricky one, over Khawaja’s head. He goes up with the ball, will get fingertips to it however suggestions it over the bar. Two runs outcome.
WICKET! Bharat b Boland 5, India 152-6
Goodness me! What a supply. On the opposite hand, it’s commonplace Scott Boland. He’s so good at that. Rahane takes a single to the leg facet first ball, a contact too straight. That’s all you get from Boland when it comes to dangerous deliveries. The subsequent one hits that tough size outdoors off stump, jams again off the seam, cuts Bharat in half, straight by means of the gate, and hits center stump. Bharat finally ends up squared up, leaning over, making an attempt to determine how that obtained by means of him. Incisive.
Scott Boland with the ball in hand. Three slips and a gully for Rahane on strike. Cover is open. Deep backward level is out, curiously. Fine leg the opposite within the deep. Mid off, mid on, midwicket.
Here come the groups out to the center.
Another excellent day right here at The Oval, may be a contact hotter than yesterday, scandalously venturing in the direction of the mid 20s on the outdated Celcius scale. The curler is on the pitch getting ready it for India’s resumption.
Send me an e mail? Had some inbox issues yesterday, sorry, and couldn’t submit up messages. But fingers crossed we’re all good for right this moment.
I’m geoff.lemon@theguardian.com.
And in the event you’re the form of one who needs to find out about Steve Smith’s approach and what he’s modified with it, I’ll go there with you.
The headline assigned to this piece may be, simply the tiniest bit, overstating it.
For the element, get your self throughout the match report from The Burning One himself.
Preamble
Geoff Lemon
Hola amigos. Day three of El Championship Test Mundial, or related, is upon us. And allow us to be sincere, India = in strife. They misplaced 5 wickets yesterday for nowhere close to sufficient. And it’s not just like the Australians bowled the home down, however they bowled nicely sufficient on the proper spots to get some help from the floor every now and then, and that was sufficient. The 4 deliveries from the quicks that knocked over India’s most important batting crew all did heaps.
So it’s that outdated fighter Ajinkya Rahane resuming right this moment with wicketkeeper KS Bharat, a mere 318 runs behind Australia’s 469. But they’re just one 300-run partnership away from parity, and Australia nearly had a type of too, so it’s potential. Worth discovering out, hmmm?
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