Australia vs England, 1st Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
J Ball 1-77(18 ov)
126.6
J Ball to Smith, FOUR, gets a four to cap off the over. Fuller and too straight - just where Smith wanted it to be. Was waiting on the back foot and drove it between mid-off and mid-on
126.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, slanted in on the stumps. Smith defends to mid-on
126.4
J Ball to Lyon, 1 run, short of a good length ball. Tucked around the corner for a single
126.3
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, on the middle and leg. Smith clips to fine leg and takes the single
126.2
J Ball to Lyon, 3 runs, gets his front foot across the line of this length ball and clips through mid-wicket. In the gap and that fetches him three runs, off the mark as well. More importantly, gets Smith back on strike
126.1
J Ball to Lyon, no run, Lyon gets nicely on the front foot and defends back to Ball
124.6
J Ball to Lyon, no run, now Smith refuses a single. If that's an indication of what his plans are now. Was back of a length and tucked into Lyon, who worked towards deep backward square leg
124.5
J Ball to Lyon, no run, too wide outside off to get Lyon interested in it
124.4
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, short ball. Smith gets across and pulls to deep backward square leg
124.3
J Ball to Smith, FOUR, AUSTRALIA ARE IN THE LEAD NOW. Where were you all yesterday? Did you see it coming? I did not! Shortish again, Smith moves across and whips over short fine leg
124.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, makes room and tries to scythe this short ball. More of a walloping attempt, did not come off. Had it come off, it would have caught mid-off off guard
124.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, short ball. Smith lets it go over his left-shoulder. He seems to have so much time on the back foot
92.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, and he decides to throw it wide of off. Smith lets it go
92.5
J Ball to Smith, FOUR, stays on the back foot to a fuller ball and drives from there. Hard to find that shot in any manual. Keeps his bat straight on it and leaves mid-on redundant. Timing pretty sweet on that
92.4
J Ball to Pat Cummins, 5 runs, lucky runs for Pat Cummins. Tapped to the right of gully and set off. The fielder fancied a chance at the bowler's end and threw, hit the bat of Cummins, who was on the move, and deflected away to the fence. Cummins says sorry but there's much he can do about that
92.3
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, does not quite rise much and could have had Pat Cummins in trouble. Directed the bouncer well with the angle bringing it into Cummins who ducked under and it was lucky that it evaded his helmet by a few inches
92.2
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, well wide of off. Pat Cummins lifts his bat and lets it go
92.1
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, Smith is confident of his partner and it is evidenced by the fact that he has taken a single off the first ball. Opened the bat-face a bit to tap to the right of the man at gully to get to the other end
90.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, bit of width on offer and Smith shapes back to punch. Does so but is not able to find the gap through cover
90.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, nips back in off the deck. But the length is not there to trouble Smith, easily defended
90.4
J Ball to Smith, no run, in the channel. And Smith leaves
90.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, similar delivery again. Does not warrant a change of plans from Smith, gets across and defends
90.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, how easy he is on the back foot. So much time in hands, decides to get across this back of a length and defends back to the bowler
90.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, short of a length ball. Smith stays on the back foot and defends to short cover
88.6
J Ball to Pat Cummins, FOUR, now he does it well. Took into account the natural angle from Ball and went for the on-drive. With mid-on being slightly wider than the conventional position, all he needed was to put bat on it. Did so and it raced along the turf to the fence
88.5
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, plays away from the body this time. Sort of a drive expecting the ball to go straight, but it jagged back in a bit, beating the inside edge
88.4
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, nips back in but well wide of off. Pat Cummins is aware of his off-stump, decides to leave
88.3
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, shortens the length this time. Pat Cummins stands back in the crease and defends
88.2
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, Broad makes a good stop at mid-off. Smith got across and drove this fuller ball to the right of Broad, who did well to get down in time to save three runs. For someone as big as him, that's some effort
88.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, angles it from wide of the crease. Smith, as is his wont, gets across and nudges to mid-wicket
86.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, short of length and defended
86.5
J Ball to Pat Cummins, 1 run, good stop by Ball on his followthrough, certainly saved at least two. That was a firm drive by Pat Cummins as the bowler pitched it up, Ball stuck his left-hand out and took all the pace off it
86.4
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, good ball. Lifting short one, around the shoulder of Pat Cummins, who tried to defend awkwardly, did well not to edge that. Was close to the glove and the splice of the bat
86.3
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, full on off, Pat Cummins gets forward and drives to mid-off
86.2
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, pitched up outside off, Pat Cummins drives it back to Ball
86.1
J Ball to Pat Cummins, no run, full and on off, Pat Cummins defends forward
76.6
J Ball to Smith, FOUR, can't bowl there, with fine leg square. Easy for Smith to get inside the line of that and glance this leg-sidish delivery to the fine leg fence. There was a backward short leg before this ball but the fielder was moved to silly point and the vacant gap was well exploited by Smith
76.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, that's well played. Short at his chest; Smith didn't fend hard, let the ball hit the glove and the impact was soft, so it went down
76.4
J Ball to Smith, no run, short of length on the stumps, turned to mid-wicket
76.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, back of a length outside off, Smith drops it to point and shouts "no run"
76.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, back of a length and on the stumps, turned to the close-in backward short leg fielder under the helmet
76.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, this leg-theory tactic continues, down leg, left alone
76.1
J Ball to Smith, wide, down leg and well over the head of the batsman, called a wide and rightly so
74.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, short and on the stumps, Smith sits down to leave
74.5
J Ball to Paine, 1 run, pitched up and a hint of angle back in, Paine defends to the vacant short mid-wicket region. Easy run
74.4
J Ball to Paine, no run, full outside off, Paine gets forward and defends to cover
74.3
J Ball to Paine, no run, pitched up outside off, left alone
74.2
J Ball to Paine, no run, drifts down leg, Paine can't connect with the flick. Going down, so no real appeal
74.1
J Ball to Paine, no run, full and on the stumps, Paine defends it back to J Ball
72.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, short of length outside off, Smith shuffles across and defends to cover. There's no chance of a quick single
72.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, more of the same. Smith very patient at the moment
72.4
J Ball to Smith, no run, leaves this high bouncer all alone
72.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, misses the upper cut. Short and angling back in, Smith knows that he can get runs with that particular shot, just that it bounced more and beat his top edge
72.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, another block off the back foot as Ball keeps banging it in short
72.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, dug in short on the stumps, Smith hops a little and blocks it down
70.6
J Ball to Paine, no run, full and angled in on the stumps, Paine is on the walk as he defends to mid-on with a full face of the bat
70.5
J Ball to Paine, no run, short of length on off, defended
70.4
J Ball to Paine, FOUR, good shot and four. Slightly short outside off, Paine back-cuts and cuts late, wide of backward point and the ball just raced away
70.3
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, drop and run to cover. Smith doing well to get off strike
70.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, in the airrrr and into no-man's land. A good short ball by Ball and almost had Smith. Dug into the pitch, rears up on Smith's fending defensive stroke, hits the bat near the handle and lands well in front of gully. Out of nowhere, Ball got that one to climb steeply
70.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, this time the bouncer isn't at a great height, but Smith lets it go over his head
70.1
J Ball to Smith, wide, starts with a loopy bouncer, called a wide for height
53.6
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, short ball, Marsh thought about the pull, pulls out last moment. Aah! There comes the bumper finally
53.5
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, full and outside off stump, Marsh drives to cover
53.4
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, slight tail back in on this good length delivery, Smith works it to mid-on
53.3
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, 3 runs, that's a freebie ball way outside off stump, cut through point
53.2
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, another easy leave for the batsman
53.1
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, fullish and outside off stump, Marsh lets it go
51.6
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, FOUR, brilliant on-drive, Broad dives to his right this time, but the ball escapes. Ball overpitches this ball and Marsh creams a drive
51.5
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, fullish and on the stumps, driven towards mid-on
51.4
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, great commitment from Broad at mid-off. Dived full length to his left to save three runs as Smith drove this very well from the middle of the bat
51.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, excellent straight drive but Ball sticks his right hand out in his followthrough and saves four runs
51.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, jumps across and blocks this good length delivery to mid-on
51.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, fullish and outside off stump, Smith shoulders arms
49.6
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, 1 run, oh almost the yorker on the off stump, Marsh squeezes it out through square leg
49.5
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, oh Marsh was squared up by the short of length delivery outside off stump, maybe it left him late
49.4
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, defended to point with an angled point
49.3
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, back of a length and outside off stump, Marsh defends into the off-side
49.2
J Ball to Shaun Marsh, no run, length ball outside off stump from round the wicket, Marsh shoulders arms
49.1
J Ball to Smith, 3 runs, short and outside off stump, back foot punch from Smith, beats the diving cover-point fielder, good enough to three runs
47.6
J Ball to Smith, 2 runs, Ball won't be happy with that ball. Short and wide outside off stump, Smith cuts through cover-point
47.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, short and wide outside off stump, Smith lets it pass
47.4
J Ball to Smith, no run, short of length delivery outside off stump, probably left the right-hander late, Smith is opened up late but defends well
47.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, shortish and climbing, Smith manages to adjust and defend
47.2
J Ball to Smith, no run, back-foot driven by Smith, looked good for a run as Broad had to dive to his left at mid-off to stop that ball, but they don't risk their wickets
47.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, that's a loosener full and wide outside off stump, Smith doesn't bother playing at it
23.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, short delivery on the leg stump, Smith ducks under it
23.5
J Ball to Handscomb, 3 runs, another shortish ball from Ball and Handscomb is very comfortable on the back foot, punched nicely through cover-point, this time it's three
23.4
J Ball to Handscomb, 4 runs, that's a really poor short ball, short and way outside off stump, Handscomb cuts through point, looks the like ball doesn't have enough legs to reach the fence, slows down and the fielder flicks it back with a dive, but the big boundary means they have managed to run four runs
23.3
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, 143.5kph full ball on the off stump, Handscomb drives it to the left of the bowler
23.2
J Ball to Handscomb, FOUR, edged but in the gap between gully and third slip. Handscomb tries to defend this good length delivery outside off stump, plays with soft hands and gets a thick edge that rolls past the diving fielder
23.1
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, short of length delivery outside off stump, Handscomb defends off the back foot
21.6
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, inswinging full ball on the off stump, Handscomb manages to keep it out
21.5
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, oh no feet on the cut shot and Handscomb almost chops it onto the sticks. Short and wide outside off stump, Handscomb wasn't in a great shape to meet that delivery
21.4
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, he goes for another incoming yorker, not quite full as the previous nut, dug out to mid-on. Handscomb is standing right back in the crease
21.3
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, oh lovely yorker, 143.1kph, right at the base of off stump, Handscomb jams it out. How about a steepler now?
21.2
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, length ball very close to the off stump, Handscomb defends into the off-side off the outer half of the bat
21.1
J Ball to Handscomb, no run, short of length delivery angled in, Handscomb defends towards mid-wicket
19.6
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, shortish and on the off stump, Smith hops and flicks it to mid-wicket
19.5
J Ball to Handscomb, 3 runs, oh what a way to get off the mark! Brilliant back foot punch square through point, the length was short and Handscomb was perfectly in position to middle the ball
19.4
J Ball to Warner, out Caught by Malan!! Oh my, oh my! What on earth has Warner done? Look at Ball roar and it's an absolutely shocking dismissal. Warner walks back hiding his face. Harmless short of length delivery on the stumps, Warner was sort of playing a short-arm jab flick shot, there was no real intent behind the shot and he ended up chipping it straight to mid-wicket. In fact, the fielder juggled and then caught it on the rebound. Massive, massive wicket for England. Well, well, it's 59/3 and Australia are under pressure. Warner c Malan b J Ball 26(43) [4s-2]
19.3
J Ball to Warner, 2 runs, clever batting from the busy Davey Warner! Ball bowls back of a length and outside off stump, Warner plays with soft hands and places it through point, rushes back for two. Round the wicket stuff from the bowler
19.2
J Ball to Smith, 1 run, short in length and Smith pulls to deep mid-wicket
19.1
J Ball to Smith, no run, full and outside off stump, Smith lets it pass
17.6
J Ball to Smith, no run, much closer to the off stump and much fuller in length than the previous ball, Smith offers a compact forward block
17.5
J Ball to Smith, no run, that's a tight leave. Length ball angled in, Smith covers the sticks and lets it pass. Wasn't too far away from the sticks
17.4
J Ball to Smith, no run, back of a length for the first time and it seems to have climbed on the batsman, Smith adjusts and fends towards point
17.3
J Ball to Smith, no run, 141kph from Ball, impressive speed-wise. At the moment he's looking to bowl full, Smith drives nicely from the middle of the bat but finds the man at cover
17.2
J Ball to Warner, 1 run, this is driven in the gap at extra-cover
17.2
J Ball to Warner, no ball, oh that's a big no ball from Ball. Overstepped trying to bowl a full ball, Warner drives to mid-off
17.1
J Ball to Warner, no run, full ball and Warner forward-defends the ball
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