11:36 AM BST
OVER 53: AUS 154/2 (Khawaja 64 Smith 23)
First change of the day as Tongue replaces Anderson. The lively bowler comes round the wicket to Khawaja, he’s banging it in but the Australian isn’t tempted to do a decent impression of Pope or Duckett as he leans out of the way of the barrage of short stuff as if to say half-heartedly ‘anything you want?’
11:32 AM BST
OVER 52: AUS 154/2 (Khawaja 64 Smith 23)
For all the talk of Bazball etc etc, yawn, yawn…the leading run scorer this series so far has been the most defensive and watchful batsman out here, Khawaja (make of that what you will, and I know many will indeed use it with which to try and hang England’s attacking approach…). He will not be deviated from his method and a single from his studious straight bat is the only run from this Robinson over.
11:28 AM BST
OVER 51: AUS 153/2 (Khawaja 63 Smith 23)
Early days, I know, but Smith is on top in his battle against Anderson. He leans into a full delivery from the England man driving imperiously for four. Two balls later he treats a half-volley with absolute disdain – he drives down the ground and as soon as ball left bat he turned around as if to say: ‘you cannot bowl that tosh at me, Jimmy.’ The very next ball also races away for four as Smith then angles a wideish one to the cover boundary.
Twelve from the over and Australia, and Smith in particular, are well on top.
11:23 AM BST
OVER 50: AUS 141/2 (Khawaja 63 Smith 11)
Just a Smith single from that Robinson over. Not shots played in anger yet, the Australians are seemingly digging in to bat for a wee while.
11:19 AM BST
OVER 49: AUS 140/2 (Khawaja 63 Smith 10)
The first boundary from the bat of Khawaja comes thanks to a delicious drive off Anderson. The elegance of the Australian was on full show as he eased into that shot. Another bad sign for England is that there is now bright sunshine at Lord’s, could say these are the best conditions the tourists have had to bat so far this Test, not what Stokes and Co want.
11:16 AM BST
Village from Duckett
Ollie Robinson runs in for the first ball of day four, Steve Smith glances 4, Ben Duckett dives in vain then trots after the ball beyond the boundary, picks it up and underarms it towards Jonny Bairstow but well short of him, and wide of him, so it dribbles past him and he is furious, rightly. So Village. The drizzle has just cleared and you keep a ball 45 overs old as dry as possible. Would Australia have ever done that to the ball?
11:15 AM BST
OVER 48: AUS 136/2 (Khawaja 59 Smith 10)
Robinson to Khawaja three dot balls are followed by two more before Robinson gets one to swing into the lefty who is able to tuck it away around the corner for one. It’s been a watchful start from the tourists.
11:11 AM BST
OVER 47: AUS 135/2 (Khawaja 58 Smith 10)
It’s Jimmy Anderson with the first over of the day from the Nursery End. He’s going round the wicket and angling the ball into Khawaja who is able to work the ball off his pads for a single, which is actually signalled a leg bye.
That means it’s now Jimmy vs Smithy – one great up against another. Popcorn at the ready…there’s a leg slip as Jimmy, who is in needs of a wicket or two, targets the stumps, before trying to tempt the Australian with a wide one. Smith will not be lead unto temptation and it’s just the one from the over.
11:07 AM BST
OVER 46: AUS 134/2 (Khawaja 58 Smith 10)
Huge day ahead in the context of the series – you hope that’s something not lost on Ben Stokes and Co.
There are two balls of the 46th over to be bowled and Robinson targets Smith’s stumps first ball. the Australian shuffles across and glances it for four down to the fine-leg boundary (leg slip looked interested, but it wasn’t a chance…). A dot ball follows and we’re under way.
11:01 AM BST
Good signs for England
Ben Stokes is bowling on the outfield with Josh Tongue. Not full run up yet but decent pace from Stokes and a good follow-through…
11:00 AM BST
Aussie legend Mary Taylor
Aka Tubbs, has rung the bell and we’re not far from the start of day four.
10:58 AM BST
Finally, a LinkedIn post that isn’t cringe-inducing!
10:52 AM BST
Updates from the doctor’s waiting room with Nick Hoult…
Injury update from Ward 7 aka the England dressing room: Stuart Broad had a scan on his jaw last night after clocking one in the chops from Cameron Green. He has been given the all clear. Ollie Pope has a very sore right shoulder. He has not had a scan yet but could be a doubt for Headingley. Ben Stokes has a swollen hand after he was hit batting. But none of those injuries come close to what Australia are dealing with. Nathan Lyon is still on crutches.
10:50 AM BST
Don’t panic!
The covers are coming off, and play will start five minutes late, at 11.05.
10:47 AM BST
He’s at the crease and once again has made history
10:45 AM BST
From Will Macpherson at Lord’s
Annoyingly, the covers are on at Lord’s now. Not just the hover but the bigger ones, too. Warm ups have ceased and the umpires have their brollies up. I suspect we are in for a delayed start.
10:44 AM BST
There’s a bit of drizzle in north London at the moment
10:41 AM BST
Justin Langer: England need the wicket of Khawaja early on
Usman Khawaja’s incredible run of form continues and he will be determined to see his way through this first session and up onto the Lord’s honour board. Under heavy skies he looked comfortable again yesterday and will need to be at his nonchalant, but steely, best this morning. If he continues down this path, he will be instrumental in setting up his team for a red hot dip and going two nil up in this Ashes series.
10:37 AM BST
Here’s a match up to get excited about
Jimmy Anderson vs Steve Smith. Two all-time greats who love playing at Lord’s. Anderson has taken 119 Test wickets at 24.96 at the Home of Cricket, while in four Tests Smith has two tons and a 92 at an average of 80.
If the Australian gets in and stays at the crease for a few hours then the chances of victory for England will wither away.
10:26 AM BST
Pitch report
It’s still a good pitch, but there will be signs of uneven bounce. That’s not according to me (alas, I am not allowed anywhere near the hollowed middle of the Home of Cricket, sob sob…) that’s according to Nasser Hussain who is having a gander at the wicket for Sky Sports.
10:17 AM BST
Boycott’s Briefing: England have no room for error
This time yesterday the England legend backed the hosts to get close to parity with Australia’s first-innings score. That didn’t exactly happen. So, 24 hours on here’s what Geoffrey Boycott has to say ahead of day four at Lord’s.
10:07 AM BST
Bazball once again under the microscope
With every day of this series, which has numbered eight so far, there has seemingly been a national debate about the rights and wrongs of Bazball. Another culture war when, if we are to be honest, there are way too many of them.
The start of today’s play, the fourth day of the second Test which is going the way of the Australians, is, once again, dominated by debate regarding England’s approach to the game and whether they are giving themselves the best shot at a much-needed victory.
The hosts begin Saturday’s action on the back foot, with Australia 130 for two, a lead of 221 runs after England’s first innings ended fairly meekly in the first session on Friday.
What should not be lost in the debate about Ben Stokes’ side’s approach, however, is that it concerned the happy hooking of Thursday, when, starting with Ollie Pope, the England batsmen threw caution to the wind with the same abandon as they threw bat at ball, taking on the short-ball tactics Australia employed. The wickets that fell yesterday morning, however, were, bar Harry Brooks’ bit of baseball madness, not the fault of reckless taking on of the short ball, rather down to fine Australian bowling and a reverting to type from Jonny Bairstow, who slapped the ball to mid-on.
The point is that while the ‘reckless’ taking on of the short ball did gift wickets to Australia and was understandably criticised, the fact of the matter is England were still on top at the start of yesterday’s play.
Bazball has got them into some great positions (Rawalpindi) and also got them out of some seemingly forlorn ones as well (Edgbaston against India last year). And what is not in doubt is that (i) Stokes and Co will not back away from their attacking approach, and, (ii) they will need the perfect execution of Bazball, both with the ball and bat, if they are to have a chance of victory here.
Please stay with us for all the action on yet another day that promises to be both entertaining and revealing.
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