The first Ashes Test match between England and Australia is left on a knife edge after four days of play at Edgbaston. Resuming overnight Joe Root signalled his intent to score from the very first ball of the day when trying to ramp Pat Cummins over third man for six.
Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes all got starts as England tried to set a strong total in as quick a fashion as possible. The hosts’ second innings ended at 274 all out with Australia needing 281 runs to win.
They got off to a perfect start with David Warner and Usman Khawaja seeing off England’s early onslaught with a partnership worth 61. Ollie Robinson get the breakthrough by nicking Warner off to Jonny Bairstow to start England’s revival.
Stuart Broad got the legs pumping for a spell late in the day that saw Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both dismissed. The hosts need seven wickets on day five but Australia only require a further 174 runs after ending the day 107-3.
Follow the score and latest updates from Edgbaston below.
England vs Australia: Ashes first Test, day four
-
England set Australia 281 for victory
-
Usman Khawaja and David Warner lead the chase for Australia
-
The Pat Cummins delivery that symbolised Australia captain’s importance
-
STUMPS: Australia 107/3, they need 174 runs to win, England require seven wickets
-
OUT! Smith ct. Bairstow b. Broad 6 (13) – Broad dismisses Australia’s dangerman
-
OUT! Labuschagne ct. Bairstow b. Broad 13 (15) – Broad nicks off Labuschagne again!
-
OUT! Warner ct. Bairstow b. Robinson 36 (57) – Australia lose first wicket with 61 on the board
Stuart Broad ignites England’s first Test victory hopes with key double strike
Monday 19 June 2023 19:58 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad lit the fuse on England’s victory push with two huge wickets as a compelling Ashes opener built towards a thrilling conclusion at Edgbaston.
Broad got England’s ‘fortress’ rocking in the evening session as he had Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith – numbers one and two in the Test batting rankings – caught behind during an electric spell.
With adrenaline coursing through his veins Broad would have loved nothing more than a crack at the man who occupies third place on that list, but Australia opted to shield Travis Head from the late pressure and sent out Scott Boland as nightwatchman.
Australia ended a gripping fourth day on 107 for three chasing 281, with all results on the table heading into what is set up to be a classic finale.
Stuart Broad ignites England’s first Test victory hopes with key double strike
Stumps: Australia 107/3, they need 174 runs to win, England require seven wickets
Monday 19 June 2023 19:23 , Mike Jones
Australia are chasing 281 to win this match, eerily close to the 282 they eventually fell short of chasing at the same venue in 2005.
Stumps: Australia 107/3, they need 174 runs to win, England require seven wickets
Monday 19 June 2023 19:17 , Mike Jones
The scheduled hours of play for tomorrow, the fifth and final day are as follows:
Morning session: 1100-1315 Afternoon session: 1355-1610Evening session: 1630-1830
Lunch will be at 1315 and tea at 1610.
Stumps: Australia 107/3, they need 174 runs to win, England require seven wickets
Monday 19 June 2023 19:08 , Mike Jones
STUMPS: Australia 107/3 (30), Scott Boland 13, Usman Khawaja 34, Stuart Broad 2-28 (9), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 19:04 , Mike Jones
Scott Boland survives! He stands up to Stuart Broad and plays it well with soft hands. There’s an outside edge which flies through the slips for four but left England interested.
The close of play sees Australia on 107 and still needing 174 runs to win. England need seven wickets tomorrow.
Australia 103/3 (29), Scott Boland 9, Usman Khawaja 34, Stuart Broad 2-24 (8), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 19:00 , Mike Jones
Broad will get another over in. Can he get another wicket? Scott Boland is on strike.
Australia 103/3 (29), Scott Boland 9, Usman Khawaja 34, Moeen Ali 0-24 (7), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:59 , Mike Jones
Moeen Ali is asked to get through a quick over so that Stuart Broad can have one final go at the Australian batters tonight. Play finishes at 7pm and Moeen is quickly through his over at Khawaja who blocks him out.
Australia 103/3 (28), Scott Boland 9, Usman Khawaja 34, Stuart Broad 2-24 (8), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:56 , Mike Jones
Broad angles an inswinger into Khawaja who delicately works him to the fine leg boundary for four runs before prodding one into the offside for one.
Boland brings up the 100 for Australia with a guided push to fine leg but that won’t bother England. They want to bowl to him.
It’s a similar result as Broad targets the pads, Boland turns it away and collects two more.
Australia 94/3 (27), Scott Boland 5, Usman Khawaja 29, James Anderson 0-32 (7), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:52 , Mike Jones
James Anderson has the field in close for Scott Boland. He mixes it up with a couple of short balls and some full ones but the nightwatchman manages to cut one away for four!
He can’t get off strike though and Usman Khawaja will have to face up to a pumped up Stuart Broad.
Australia 90/3 (26), Scott Boland 1, Usman Khawaja 29, Stuart Broad 2-14 (7), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:48 , Mike Jones
Scott Boland has come out for the Aussies to try and spare Travis Head a late ordeal today. He takes the rest of the over with men surrounding the bat and the Edgbaston crowd in full voice.
A single off the final over keeps him on strike.
Wicket! Steve Smith ct. Jonny Bairstow b. Stuart Broad 6 (13), Australia 89/3 (25.3)
Monday 19 June 2023 18:45 , Mike Jones
That’s massive! There’s an lbw appeal earlier in the over against Steve Smith as Stuart Broad wraps him on the pads. He survives then plays at a wide one which catches the edge and gives Stuart Broad another wicket!
Australia 89/2 (25), Steve Smith 6, Usman Khawaja 29, James Anderson 0-28 (6), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:42 , Mike Jones
There’s something not quite right with Jimmy Anderson out there. He’s looking at the pitch, shaking his head and has that look of anger that appears when he’s not bowling at his best.
Three runs come from the over.
Australia 84/2 (24), Steve Smith 4, Usman Khawaja 27, James Anderson 0-23 (5), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:35 , Mike Jones
Ricky Ponting has just summed it up well on Sky Sports commentary, ‘what a game of cricket’ he said.
Jimmy Anderson is brought back another one over from Joe Root. Play is due to finish at 7pm so Stokes wants a burst from his premier bowlers right now.
Australia 84/2 (24), Steve Smith 4, Usman Khawaja 27, Stuart Broad 1-14 (6), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:33 , Mike Jones
Usman Khawaja seems to be bedded in for the day. He’s playing within himself and looking for singles in the gaps.
Steve Smith comes on strike and meets a slowish bounced from Broad with a hook shot that earns him four runs. That’s a nice way to get off the mark.
Australia 79/2 (23), Steve Smith 0, Usman Khawaja 26, Joe Root 0-1 (1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:29 , Mike Jones
Joe Root is introduced into the attack by Ben Stokes as Moeen Ali went off the pitch for some treatment on his finger. A decent over brings Australia just one run as Usman Khawaja works a full toss away for a single.
Australia 78/2 (22), Steve Smith 0, Usman Khawaja 25, Stuart Broad 1-9 (5), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:25 , Mike Jones
The crowd are fully behind Stuart Broad as Steve Smith strides to the crease. This is a massive wicket for England now. If they can get him out before the close of play they’ll feel as though they’re well in the game.
Smith sees out the over though.
Wicket! Marnus Labuschagne ct. Jonny Bairstow b. Stuart Broad 13 (15), Australia 78/2 (21.3)
Monday 19 June 2023 18:24 , Mike Jones
Got him! Stuart Broad holds his nerve and sticks to the line outside off stump. There’s a slight bit of movement and Marnus Labuschagne hangs his bat out there.
The ball catches the edge and sails through to Jonny Bairstow!
Australia 78/1 (21.2), Marnus Labuschagne 13, Usman Khawaja 25, Stuart Broad 0-9 (4.2), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:22 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad is brought back on. He got Marnus Labuschagne out in the innings and almost gets him straight away here. Rolling his fingers across the seam the ball squirts past the outside edge and draws an ackowledgement from the batter.
A no-ball from Broad follows.
Australia 77/1 (21), Marnus Labuschagne 13, Usman Khawaja 25, Moeen Ali 0-24 (6), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:18 , Mike Jones
Moeen Ali has been all over the place in this over. A full toss, a short ball and another short ball only yields four runs as Marnus Labuschagne can only pull one of the three long hops away to the boundary.
There’s just another single off the rest of the over but that may be the end of Moeen’s spell.
Australia 72/1 (20), Marnus Labuschagne 8, Usman Khawaja 25, Ollie Robinson 1-22 (6), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:14 , Mike Jones
Usman Khawaja guides Ollie Robinson away for a couple to third man and continues to slowly notch up runs. According to WinViz Australia’s chances of winning the game is now 68% compared to 31% for England.
Australia 70/1 (19), Marnus Labuschagne 8, Usman Khawaja 23, Moeen Ali 0-19 (5), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:09 , Mike Jones
Marnus Labuschagne still seems a bit erratic as he tries to line up Moeen Ali. Usman Khawaja takes one to bring the Australian no. 3 on strike.
He awkwardly blocks the first delivery before drilling a reverse sweep for four! That’ll do.
A second reverse sweep brings another boundary and all of a sudden Labuschagne is into his innings.
Australia 61/1 (18), Marnus Labuschagne 0, Usman Khawaja 22, Ollie Robinson 1-20 (5), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 18:03 , Mike Jones
Marnus Labuschagne is the new batter and he’s on a king pair having got a golden duck in the first innings.
Robinson targets the stumps but Labuschagne is too good to be beaten first up again. He strides forward and blocks it confidently despite Ben Stokes bringing the field in close.
Wicket! David Warner ct. Jonny Bairstow b. Ollie Robinson 36 (57), Australia 61-1 (17.4)
Monday 19 June 2023 17:59 , Mike Jones
England have the breakthrough!
Ollie Robinson gets one to nip back at David Warner who feathers one through to Jonny Bairstow. The England wicketkeeper needs to move to his left but he clings onto the catch and England are back in the game.
Australia 61/0 (17.1), David Warner 36, Usman Khawaja 22, Ollie Robinson 0-20 (4.1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:58 , Mike Jones
Short. Four.
Warner has been brilliant in this innings. Robinson was only slightly off target with his length and the Aussie opener latches onto another pull and smokes it away to the boundary.
Australia 57/0 (17), David Warner 32, Usman Khawaja 22, Moeen Ali 0-10 (4), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:54 , Mike Jones
A watchfull Usman Khawaja sees out another over from Moeen Ali. There are a couple of aggressive shots but none that beat the field and Moeen sends down a maiden.
Australia 57/0 (16), David Warner 32, Usman Khawaja 22, Ollie Robinson 0-16 (4), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:50 , Mike Jones
Ollie Robinson has decided to come over the wicket to David Warner and try to take the ball across the left-hander. A shortish delivery is smoked away to the midwicket boundary for four as Australia continue to pile on the runs.
Robinson’s change of angle is quickly switched back as he comes round the wicket but Warner can’t split the close fielders on the offside.
A loose one from Robinson is then cut away but Warner doesn’t get enough power on the stroke to take it to the boundary.
Australia 50/0 (15), David Warner 26, Usman Khawaja 22, Moeen Ali 0-10 (3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:46 , Mike Jones
50 up for Australia!
Warner takes one with a push into the offside against Moeen Ali. Usman Khawaja then skips down the pitch and belts the spinner over mid-on for four runs to bring up the Aussies half-century.
Australia 45/0 (14), David Warner 25, Usman Khawaja 18, Ollie Robinson 0-9 (3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:42 , Mike Jones
Robinson’s first delivery to Warner is short and wide and it gets slapped to the backward point boundary for four runs. That’s a potentially ominous sign for England as Warner looks to have gotten his eye in.
He takes a single off the next delivery to get off strike.
Khawaja’s run of dot balls comes to an end with a lovely square drive that dissects the field and brings him four more.
Australia 36/0 (13), David Warner 20, Usman Khawaja 14, Moeen Ali 0-5 (2), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:38 , Mike Jones
Usman Khawaja seems to want to feel bat on ball and occassionally chases a wide one. Once or twice Moeen Ali gets the ball to rip past the outside edge of the opener’s bat.
A single for Warner is the only run to come from the over.
Australia 35/0 (12), David Warner 19, Usman Khawaja 14, Ollie Robinson 0-0 (2), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:35 , Mike Jones
Ollie Robinson is mixing things up with cutters and varying his lengths but his line is consistently targeting the off stump and Usman Khawaja has no interest in playing anything expansive.
Another maiden goes by.
Australia 35/0 (11), David Warner 19, Usman Khawaja 14, Moeen Ali 0-4 (1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:31 , Mike Jones
Based on that first over Moeen’s finger doesn’t seem to be causing him too many troubles. England need a wicket though as these two batters are becoming comfortable at the crease.
Warner picks up four runs from the over.
Australia 33/0 (10.3), David Warner 17, Usman Khawaja 14, Moeen Ali 0-2 (0.3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:29 , Mike Jones
Moeen Ali could be the key for England on this pitch. It’s dusty and there’s turn out there. Australia also have a bunch of left-handed batters that Moeen likes to bowl at.
He’ll need to bowl well to keep England in this game though and with his injured finger it could be a tough ask for him.
David Warner rocks back and cuts Moeen away for a couple.
Australia 31/0 (10), David Warner 15, Usman Khawaja 14, Ollie Robinson 0-0 (1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:27 , Mike Jones
Ollie Robinson starts with a maiden as Usman Khawaja is content to block and leave the ball. Australia need another 250 runs to win.
Australia 31/0 (9), David Warner 15, Usman Khawaja 14, Ollie Robinson 0-0 (0), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:24 , Mike Jones
Oh no, it’s Stuart Broad who’s being taken off. Ollie Robinson replaces him with Ben Stokes setting the same umbrella field that worked for him against Usman Khawaja in the first innings.
Australia 31/0 (9), David Warner 15, Usman Khawaja 14, James Anderson 0-23 (5), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:23 , Mike Jones
Short from Anderson, four for Warner! He nails his pull shot and Moeen Ali has no chance on the deep square leg boundary to keep it in play.
Four more from the over and that will probably be it for Anderson. Ben Stokes may think about making a change with Moeen and Ollie Robinson at his disposal.
Australia 27/0 (8), David Warner 11, Usman Khawaja 14, Stuart Broad 0-8 (4), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:18 , Mike Jones
Ben Stokes has already changed the field. He’s left two slips in and has a couple of men on the drive for catching. Warner isn’t biting though and wants to target the legside when Broad strides off line.
As this partnership progresses so to does Australia’s chances of winning the match.
Appeal! Broad rolls his wrists over the ball and gets it to nip back towards Warner. It beats the left-hander all ends up and flicks the back pocket on the way through to Jonny Bairstow. England go up in unison to appeal but the umpire is unmoved and Stokes decides against a review.
Warner smartly gets off strike and Khawaja sees out the over.
Australia 26/0 (7), David Warner 10, Usman Khawaja 14, James Anderson 0-19 (4), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:13 , Mike Jones
The Edgbaston crowd is right behind him with chorus after chorus of ‘Oh Jimmy, Jimmy’ but Jimmy Anderson isn’t having the best time out there.
He’s not been as consistent as he’d like and David Warner has been able to turn him into the gaps to accummulate a few runs. Three come from the over.
Australia 23/0 (6), David Warner 7, Usman Khawaja 14, Stuart Broad 0-7 (3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:09 , Mike Jones
There’s no joy outside the off stump for Stuart Broad who tries to change up the angle and plays into Daivd Warner’s hands. Warner shuffles across his stumps and flicks the ball away for three runs.
This has been a composed start from the Aussies. England’s target of 280 doesn’t seem all that far away.
Australia 20/0 (5), David Warner 4, Usman Khawaja 14, James Anderson 0-16 (3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:05 , Mike Jones
Close! A loose shot from Usman Khawaja sees him hang his bat away from his body and he’s late on the shot, an attempted drive. The ball flies past the edge and there’s an audible sigh of relief from the opener as it misses the bat.
He makes up for it with the next delivery though, jumping onto a swivel pull quickly to spank James Anderson away to the square boundary for four runs.
Anderson looks in disbelief as the final ball of the over jags away off the pitch and misses the edge again. Khawaja is just bemused but he survives.
Australia 16/0 (4), David Warner 4, Usman Khawaja 10, Stuart Broad 0-4 (2), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 17:01 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad was bowled a couple of no balls already in this innings and is just having a few words with the umpire to determine how far over the line he’s landing so that he can adjust.
Khawaja takes one and leaves Warner with three balls to tackle in this over. He seems quite watchful but gets solidly in behind his defence to keep Broad at bay.
So far so good for the tourists.
Australia 14/0 (3), David Warner 4, Usman Khawaja 9, James Anderson 0-12 (2), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:57 , Mike Jones
Warner is looking to be positive. He nails a couple of wide deliveries into the covers with powerful drives but can’t pick the gap.
Anderson tightens his line and length before overpitching one on leg stump and allowing Warner to whip the ball through wide mid-on for two runs.
The Pat Cummins delivery that symbolised Australia captain’s importance
Monday 19 June 2023 16:56 , Jack Rathborn
Pat Cummins had come under criticism for his tactics on the first day of the Ashes series, but he put in a captain’s performance with ball in hand on the fourth day.
It is a rare thing in cricket to see a fast bowler handed the captaincy, and even more of a baptism of fire to take charge ahead of the Ashes, but that is exactly what Cummins was tasked with in November 2021.
Australia went on to win the series 4-0, with England offering little resistance as the urn went back into the hands of the team Down Under after just 12 days of cricket.
The Pat Cummins ball that symbolised Australia captain’s importance
Australia 12/0 (2), David Warner 2, Usman Khawaja 9, Stuart Broad 0-2 (1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:53 , Mike Jones
Stuart Broad receives a loud roar from the Edgbaston crowd as his name is annouced to take the second over. David Warner is on strike but rises above a short ball and turns Broad into the gap at square leg for one.
Broad, coming around the wicket, focuses on a slightly wider line to Khawaja but the opener is watchful outside his off stump and leaves well.
Australia 10/0 (1), David Warner 1, Usman Khawaja 9, James Anderson 0-10 (1), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:49 , Mike Jones
It’s all happening out there!
Usman Khawaja, fresh off his century in the first innings, turns Jimmy Anderson away to fine leg for the first boundary of the innings.
Anderson corrects his line and catches Khawaja’s outside edge but neither Jonny Bairstow nor Joe Root goes for the ball and it flies through the slip cordon for four more!
It’s a good chance for England but they didn’t take it. 10 runs come from the first over.
Australia 2/0 (0.3), David Warner 1, Usman Khawaja 1, James Anderson 0-2 (0.3), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:47 , Mike Jones
Usman Khawaja takes the first ball of the innings and prods Jimmy Anderson into the offside for an easy single.
There’s more discussions between the bowler and captain before Anderson fizzes one down the legside with a slight hint of swing in the air.
Anderson continues to target Warner’s hip region and the batter seems a little troubled. He swivels on an attempted pull and flicks the ball into the gap at square leg for one more.
Australia 0/0 (0), David Warner 0, Usman Khawaja 0, James Anderson 0-0 (0), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:44 , Mike Jones
As the Australian batters stride out to the middle, James Anderson is preparing to open up for England.
Ben Stokes decided to open the bowling with Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson in the first innings but is reverting back to the tried and tested firepower of England’s leading wicket taker.
There’s a slight issue as England have been given the wrong ball but that’s quickly rectified and Australia’s run chase is about to begin.
Memories of 2005?
Monday 19 June 2023 16:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It really is a strikingly similar target to 2005. Of course, with DRS, Michael Kasprowicz would have survived and surely put Australia 2-0 up in the series – sliding doors, eh?
Anyway, this year’s protagonists are back out there, James Anderson and Stuart Broad warming up their calves with a couple of little power bounces. It’s again beautifully poised as they make their way out into gorgeous evening Edgbaston sunshine.
Tea: Australia 0/0 (0), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
For what it is worth, the WinViz predictor has Australia as favourites, with a 56% chance of victory. There have only been two higher fourth innings chases at Edgbaston, including England’s bonkers reeling in of 378 against India last summer. I fancy this will be more of a grind than that gallop to victory – there are 42 more overs scheduled tonight.
Tea: Australia 0/0 (0), target 281
Monday 19 June 2023 16:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Moeen Ali is out in the middle, practicing a few off-breaks and testing out that blistered index finger. If he can’t bowl at full intensity, or starts to struggle as the innings wears on, England’s chances will take a hit – there’s still not that much there for the seamers, and Ben Stokes could do with having his lead spinner available. I think we will see a fair bit of Joe Root over the next four sessions, regardless.
Tea: Australia require 281 for victory
Monday 19 June 2023 16:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Here’s the England batting card – it’s the highest Ashes total without a half centurion. Useful runs for the tail, too, which could prove vital given how Australia’s last three batters were so swiftly blasted out yesterday.
TEA! Australia require 281 for victory
Monday 19 June 2023 16:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Four for captain Pat, four for Nathan Lyon – Cummins’s men will be reasonably happy with that. Another session ends with this match on a knife edge – Australia’s openers are off for a brew and to strap their pads on before embarking on their chase this evening.
OUT! James Anderson c †Carey b Cummins 12 (14b 2×4 0x6) SR: 85.71, England 273 all out
Monday 19 June 2023 16:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Edged and taken! That’s that for England’s resistance – Australia will require 281 for first Test victory.
Short and coming in on the angle, and James Anderson can only push a half-hearted punch at it. Alex Carey takes a fine catch to his left. 282 in 2005; 281 in 2023 – we might just have another Edgbaston humdinger on our hands.
England 273-9 (66), James Anderson 12, Stuart Broad 10, Nathan Lyon 4-80 (24) (lead by 280)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s around this stage where sides can just sometimes let things drift, as the top order start preparing for the new ball burst and just release a bit of pressure and energy in the field. There are a few vacant faces dotted around the outfield as England’s old reliables concentrate on the job at hand, adding a couple more singles to the total.
England 271-9 (65), James Anderson 11, Stuart Broad 9, Scott Boland 1-61 (12) (lead by 278)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Cr-runch! Oof, that’s a lovely shot from James Anderson, tonking a Scott Boland short ball to the cover fence.
England lead further grows. Dare they dream of 300?
England 264-9 (64), James Anderson 6, Stuart Broad 7, Nathan Lyon 4-78 (23) (lead by 271)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We are technically due for tea at any moment, but you suspect the umpires will leave them out there for the permitted extra half-hour with the end nigh for this England innings. Nathan Lyon can’t draw a fatal error out of England’s last pair, as James Anderson’s last-ball cue-ender squirts safely into the offside.
England 263-9 (63), James Anderson 6, Stuart Broad 6, Scott Boland 1-54 (11) (lead by 270)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
If you were wondering, Australia needed 282 at Edgbaston in 2005.
It’s a slightly strange field for Scott Boland as he rumbles in to James Anderson, with the absence of a slip particularly disliked by Ricky Ponting on commentary. You can see why the ex-Australia skipper is irked, too, as Boland twice nips the ball past Anderson’s outside edge.
England 260-9 (62), James Anderson 4, Stuart Broad 5, Nathan Lyon 4-77 (22) (lead by 267)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Reverse swept for four! It’s a favourite shot of James Anderson’s and that is deftly played, the stride long, the hands swift, the connection sweet.
OUT! Ollie Robinson c Green b Lyon 27 (44b 2×4 0x6) SR: 61.36, England 256-9 (61.5)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Down long-on’s throat! Ollie Robinson twice chances his arm in consecutive deliveries, connecting firmly with the first and forcing Cameron Green into some handy work on the boundary to save four.
But he underclubs the second, sending it floating down to the Green giant, who gobbles it up.
England 256-8 (61.4), Ollie Robinson 27, Stuart Broad 5, Nathan Lyon 3-73 (21.4) (lead by 263)
Monday 19 June 2023 16:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ollie Robinson’s comfort at the crease has forced Australia to do some thinking – Pat Cummins installs a short mid-on and catching midwicket for the start of Nathan Lyon’s next over.
England 254-8 (61), Ollie Robinson 25, Stuart Broad 5, Scott Boland 1-51 (10) (lead by 261)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Boland isn’t going to continue the bumper barrage, bouncers not really his preferred mode of attack, as he shows with a bit of a wayward drag down with the fifth ball of his return. Ollie Robinson lets it fly down the legside and then knocks the last ball of the over to third man for a single.
England 253-8 (60), Ollie Robinson 24, Stuart Broad 5, Nathan Lyon 3-71 (21) (lead by 260)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lyon limps around to his mark and hustles through his next over. Ollie Robinson chances a charge, upright with locked limbs like a ballroom dancer, but wisely checks his stroke to ensure it lands ten yards short of Cameron Green on the long-on boundary.
Josh Hazlewood’s exertions are finished for now; Scott Boland replaces him.
England 251-8 (59), Ollie Robinson 23, Stuart Broad 4, Josh Hazlewood 1-48 (10) (lead by 258)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The two batters work out a method of combatting Josh Hazlewood’s bouncer barrage, each backing away in turn to chop down to the third man fielder.
Hazlewood and Ollie Robinson have a little bit of history together, with the England man crediting the Australia seamer with helping him further develop after playing a game in combination while playing grade cricket in Sydney back in 2017. He twice employs the same tactic of giving himself room to take six from the last two balls of Hazlewood’s over, forcing Nathan Lyon to put some effort in on the third man fence. Lyon is a little slow to get up after fielding the second shot, much to the Edgbaston crowd’s delight.
This is turning into a very useful hand from Robinson.
England 243-8 (59), Ollie Robinson 16, Stuart Broad 3, Nathan Lyon 3-69 (20) (lead by 250)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Provided one of England’s three seamers doesn’t have a day out, this will be the highest Ashes total without a half-century. Ollie Robinson is the only one of the three without a Test 50 but is starting to find the sort of batting touch that saw him make a ton on Sussex debut, lifting England’s lead to 250 with a slap to deep midwicket for a single.
England 240/8 (57), Ollie Robinson 14, Stuart Broad 2, Josh Hazlewood 1-40 (9) (lead by 247)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Stuart Broad is just about still out there, swinging at everything and connecting with little. A top edge brings him a single to long leg.
Shot! Ollie Robinson puts himself in the mix for a Wimbledon wildcard with a forehand slap down the line that gallops into the boundary back beyond the bowler.
England 232/8 (56), Ollie Robinson 8, Stuart Broad 1, Nathan Lyon 3-66 (19) (lead by 239)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ben Stokes has his whites on in the England dressing room – a suggestsion of his lack of confidence in the tail or a hint another surprise declaration may be inbound?
It may well be the former – Stuart Broad is GIVEN LBW after missing a reverse sweep. He reviews…and there’s a clear spike on ultraedge! A fine nick of the bottom edge and Broad survives.
England 229/8 (55), Ollie Robinson 6, Stuart Broad 0, Josh Hazlewood 1-32 (8) (lead by 236)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Put down! An outstanding effort from Steve Smith at leg slip, scurrying across as Stuart Broad flaps one away. He just about gets there with an outstretched right mitt, and can’t gather cleanly.
OUT! Moeen Ali c †Carey b Hazlewood 19 (31b 2×4 1×6) SR: 61.29, England 229/8 (54.4)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s no doubt about that one – Mo goes!
Dug in again by Josh Hazlewood, cramping Moeen Ali as it climbs towards his armpit. He has a heave, as is his wont, but a thin snick is comfortably claimed by Alex Carey.
Hazlewood has his first, Australia their eighth, and Stuart Broad strides out ready to sway with the chin music.
Not out! England 228/7 (53.2), Ollie Robinson 5, Moeen Ali 19, Josh Hazlewood 0-31 (7.2) (lead by 235)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Not out! To be fair to Labuschagne, he didn’t seem entirely certain as he got back to his feet after intially tossing the ball away gleefully in celebration. But one replay is all that’s required to show the ball scrubbing the floor, with Labuschagne unable to curl his fingers beneath it before it comes down. Robinson’s awkward fend does not cost him his wicket but you fancy he’ll have a fair bit more short stuff to contend with.
England 228/7 (53.2), Ollie Robinson 5, Moeen Ali 19, Josh Hazlewood 0-31 (7.2) (lead by 235)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Aha – as if by magic, here is Josh Hazlewood, and with a short leg in tow. Marnus Labuschagne it is under the lid in tight at Ollie Robinson’s hip.
And has Labuschagne snaffled a stunner?
Six! England 228/7 (53), Ollie Robinson 5, Moeen Ali 19, Nathan Lyon 3-63 (18) (lead by 235)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A maximum! That’s the shot that Moeen has been seeking, down on one knee and slog sweeping into vacant space at deep midwicket in front of the Hollies Stand.
England 221/7 (53), Ollie Robinson 4, Moeen Ali 13, Pat Cummins 3-63 (18) (lead by 228)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That’s slightly uppish, too, though the slice drive is nicely enough played by Moeen as he slashes away his second boundary. Pat Cummins is into the sixth over of his spell, and there’s a slight grimace as he prowls back to the top of his mark. That’s over 18 of the day for Cummins – Josh Hazlewood, surprisingly, has bowled just seven having been off the field during the morning session. Remember that Hazlewood has been short of overs after some injury issues this year.
England 217/7 (52), Ollie Robinson 4, Moeen Ali 9, Nathan Lyon 3-56 (17) (lead by 224)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Moeen doesn’t look hugely comfortable out there, a bit shot by numbers as he tries to remind himself how to structure a red ball innings. He has a great heave across the line at a Nathan Lyon ball that jumps over his top edge.
England 215/7 (51), Ollie Robinson 3, Moeen Ali 8, Pat Cummins 3-59 (17) (lead by 222)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ollie Robinson ducks away from a Pat Cummins short ball – Australia are convinced there is a noise as he turns away, eyes shut, and Cummins makes the signal. Nope, there’s nothing there – an apologetic hand raised by the Australia skipper, who has now burned through all three reviews.
Oh, Australia scent blood here. Cummins nips one back as Moeen opens a rather inviting gate with a loose limbed drive.
That’s drinks.
England 214/7 (50), Ollie Robinson 2, Moeen Ali 8, Nathan Lyon 3-53 (16) (lead by 221)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Out of reach for Scott Boland! England are living dangerously here. Moeen has a greast swing as Lyon lands one in the rough, and is a little fortunate his thick outside edge loops into open pasture.
England 210/7 (49), Ollie Robinson 0, Moeen Ali 6, Pat Cummins 3-58 (16) (lead by 217)
Monday 19 June 2023 15:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There have only been two higher fourth innings chases at Edgbaston than England’s current lead of 217, but this still looks a good enough pitch for batting that Australia will be confident enough going after anything short of 280. Ollie Robinson’s promotion ahead of Stuart Broad is intriguing – I thought the Sussex seamer looked very comfortable alongside Joe Root in the first innings before Ben Stokes’s surprise declaration, and he might be the man to support Moeen as the home side look to just steady themselves.
Or not! Robinson has a massive hoick at a shorter ball and gets it off the cue end. It falls out at silly point without a fielder nearby, but that doesn’t suggest he’s there to calm things down.
OUT! Ben Stokes lbw b Cummins 43 (66b 5×4 0x6) SR: 65.15, England 210/7 (48.2)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Captain gets captain! Ben Stokes reviews but that looked plumb!
It’s closer than it looked at first but umpire’s call on leg stump and Stokes will have to go. It was a lovely ball from Pat Cummins, in on the angle and nipping back even further as Stokes played on the wrong line. The England skipper’s look as he sent it upstairs reflected his lack of confidence, and a third England batter falls between 40 and 50.
Australia in the ascendancy as Ollie Robinson, chirpy yesterday, strides out. I suspect he’ll be greeted with a word or two.
England 209/6 (48), Ben Stokes 43, Moeen Ali 5, Nathan Lyon 3-50 (15) (lead by 216)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yep, there’s a little bit there for Nathan Lyon, again getting one to spit. Ben Stokes responds well, recognising a chance to score by smothering the turn of a straighter ball with a hard sweep to the backward square leg fence.
England 201/6 (47), Ben Stokes 35, Moeen Ali 5, Pat Cummins 2-57 (15) (lead by 208)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
An in-between field for Moeen, Pat Cummins keeping his options open with a couple of fielders deep on the hook but a slip and a gully also waiting with eager hands.
Just out of reach! An awkward help off the hip from Moeen, pushed back by the pace of Cummins, and a foot or so from a leaping Alex Carey’s right paw as the wicketkeeper scrambles down the legside. Runs given.
This was Test wicket 494 for Nathan Lyon.
England 197/6 (46), Ben Stokes 35, Moeen Ali 1, Nathan Lyon 3-42 (14) (lead by 204)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just a bit of bite out of the surface for Nathan Lyon’s last ball, the Australian generating some bounce out of the rough outside Ben Stokes’s off stump. A good decision to shoulder arms by the England captain, whose ability to convert this start into something significant now seems absolutely paramount to his team’s chances.
OUT! Jonny Bairstow lbw b Lyon 20 (39b 3×4 0x6) SR: 51.28, England 196/6 (45.3)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s no bat…three reds – it’s stone dead! England lose their sixth, Jonny Bairstow reverse sweeping over the top of a Nathan Lyon off-break that slams into the front pad.
It looked pretty adjacent first up, with Bairstow’s review perhaps prompted only by the deep contemplation Marais Erasmus seemed to require before raising the finger. Lyon’s around the wicket plan of attack bears fruit and he now has two left handers to get after as Moeen Ali and his injured finger arrive.
OUT! Bairstow is given LBW but sends it upstairs…
Monday 19 June 2023 14:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Big appeal…and given! Marais Erasmus took his time but eventually the finger went up.
Jonny Bairstow has had one reprieve on review – and wants to check this one, too…
England 196/5 (45.1), Ben Stokes 35, Jonny Bairstow 20, Nathan Lyon 2-41 (13.1) (lead by 203)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Also about to be confiscated is the ball, with another change required – there were two when England bowled on Saturday and I think this is the second today. Dukes were much more confident in this summer’s batch than the problematic 2022 vintage that caused all manner of problems in the County Championship last year.
Nathan Lyon to continue with a slightly less oblong ball retrieved from the box of spares.
England 196/5 (45), Ben Stokes 35, Jonny Bairstow 20, Pat Cummins 2-54 (14) (lead by 203)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The field spreads for the start of Pat Cummins’s next over, two catching covers the Australian captain’s sole extravagance in an otherwise defensive setting that allows Stokes an easy poke to third man for one.
Four! And again! A front foot drive and a back foot guide and Jonny Bairstow is beginning to get moving, the second shot slightly closer to the single slip than he’d have liked but still out reaching distance as Steve Smith clutches.
England’s lead grows beyond 200 as the Edgbaston crowd begin to lift the noise, cheering every toss of an inflatable unicorn that you suspect will soon be confiscated by the stewards.
NOT OUT! England 186/5 (44), Ben Stokes 34, Jonny Bairstow 11, Nathan Lyon 2-41 (13) (lead by 193)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Forget if the catch carried – it’s a bump ball! No wonder Ben Stokes was unmoved, immediately scratching at his guard after drilling the reverse sweep straight into the floor.
Out? Has that carried to Scott Boland?
Monday 19 June 2023 14:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ben Stokes picks out the man waiting on the reverse sweep – is the England skipper gone?…
England 184/5 (43), Ben Stokes 33, Jonny Bairstow 10, Pat Cummins 2-43 (13) (lead by 190)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Bish bash bosh – back-to-back boundaries from a boisterous Ben Stokes, bashing Pat Cummins through midwicket and then flaying over the gully as the bowler gives him some width.
England 174/5 (42), Ben Stokes 24, Jonny Bairstow 9, Nathan Lyon 2-39 (12) (lead by 181)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Tidy again from Nathan Lyon, who will have to bear a heavy workload in this session.
The rotation, you’d think, will come at the other end – Pat Cummins replaces Scott Boland.
England 173/5 (41), Ben Stokes 23, Jonny Bairstow 9, Scott Boland 1-50 (9) (lead by 180)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That’s nice from Jonny Bairstow, guiding a ball in the channel from Scott Boland through the gully. Even Cameron Green’s sticky mitts can’t stop it – four runs.
England 167/5 (40), Ben Stokes 22, Jonny Bairstow 3, Nathan Lyon 2-38 (11) (lead by 174)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s just a little bit of variable bounce now, a couple shooters causing problems for the England batters as they go back to try and play to leg. Of course, a deteriorating pitch won’t necessarily cause them too much stress, knowing that Australia will have to bat last on it.
England 163/5 (39), Ben Stokes 20, Jonny Bairstow 2, Scott Boland 1-44 (8) (lead by 170)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Scott Boland will have first go from the other end, Alex Carey up to the stumps to try and keep Jonny Bairstow in his box.
Lucky! Stokes is in an adventurous mood, charging down with arms ready to swing, but slices his hoick. Cover can’t quite back in time.
That’s more convincing – crashed on the up through the covers.
England 155/5 (38), Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1, Nathan Lyon 2-34 (10) (lead by 162)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s the first sighting of the Ben Stokes reverse sweep, struck nicely enough but within reaching distance for Scott Boland on the lunge at backward point. A maiden to start as the stands begin to fill again after lunch.
LUNCH: England 155/5 (37), Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1, (lead by 162)
Monday 19 June 2023 14:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Righty ho – five England wickets left. You’d have thought they may want a good crack at Australia with the ball tonight, which might leave this session to set up a suitable target. It’s another long session – we’ll go until about 4.15pm BST. Strap yourselves in – this should be fun.
Nathan Lyon to start after the interval, around the wicket to the left-handed Ben Stokes with a slip in place.
Ashes 2023: Kevin Pietersen lauds Joe Root’s ‘masterclass’
Monday 19 June 2023 13:50 , Jack Rathborn
Kevin Pietersen tells Sky Sports: “I still can’t get my head around the declaration on day one. How many are you going to get? 400 in 60 overs? Joe Root, he ran the game, he owned that space. This lot were just scratching their heads.
“Having spoken to Joe, I say, ‘you’re making us look like clowns’, when you can get yourself into a rhythm. I know, because I played some of those shots, you get confidence, you think you’ll never miss them.
“He made the Australians do everything he wanted them to do. It was a masterclass on how to change everything to how you want it.”
Ashes 2023: Ricky Ponting lauds Joe Root and Bazball
Monday 19 June 2023 13:40 , Jack Rathborn
“We know that England are going to keep coming hard. By tea time, we’ll have some game of cricket on our hands,” Ponting tells Sky Sports.
“We saw it, all he’s trying to do is get rid of that backward point man. Two balls in a row, then there was an easy single. The average attacking shot has been 46 percent under Bazball, it was 58 percent this morning.”
LUNCH: England 155/5, leading by 162 (Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1)
Monday 19 June 2023 13:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Well well well. Another thoroughly absorbing session, that began with a few Joe Root pyrotechnics and ended with Jonny Bairstow narrowly avoiding being England’s fourth victim of the morning. As has been the case after pretty much every session of this Test, you’d say things are just about even, though this partnership will be crucial – a quick 100 after the lunch and the hosts will be firmly back in the driving seat. That Jonny Bairstow review might be a key moment – it looked very, very good for Scott Boland, but ball tracking disagreed.
Sonia Twigg at Edgbaston
Monday 19 June 2023 13:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lunch: On the balance of it it’s probably what Australia would have wanted, they’ve made inroads into the England batting line up and have claimed the key wicket of Root.
Root was stumped for the first time in his career coming down the pitch to Lyon, with Carey doing the work behind the stumps.
From an England perspective it looked an unnecessary shot to play or risk to take but that can be said for so much under ‘Bazball’ that it has almost become meaningless. This team are encouraged to be risk-takers.
Brook, who had looked uncomfortable against Cummins at the start of the morning, was out reaching for a pull shot and was caught at midwicket by Labuschagne.
England have Stokes and Bairstow at the crease, but one more wicket and Australia will be into the bowlers.
Bairstow survived a review in the over before lunch, on 1 from 9, given out lbw on field but successfully overturned, with DRS showing the ball going down leg.
England through to lunch 155 for 5, 162 runs ahead.
LUNCH: England 155/5 (37), Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1, Scott Boland 1-36 (7) (lead by 162)
Monday 19 June 2023 13:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
NOT OUT! England 155/5 (36.3), Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1, Scott Boland 1-36 (6.3) (lead by 162)
Monday 19 June 2023 13:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
MIssing! Steve Smith at slip can’t believe it, having fallen in not dissimilar manner earlier in the Test, but a bit of extra lift from Scott Boland has saved Jonny Bairstow as ball-tracking shows it flying a couple of centimetres over the top of leg peg.
GIVEN! But Jonny Bairstow reviews…
Monday 19 June 2023 13:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nip back, struck on the pad – Scott Boland gets Jonny Bairstow!
It’s a classic Bairstow dismissal – but he wants another look. Height might be the only concern…
England 155/5 (36), Ben Stokes 13, Jonny Bairstow 1, Nathan Lyon 2-34 (9) (lead by 162)
Monday 19 June 2023 13:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This will be the penultimate over before lunch, with neither batter minded to take any undue risks. There’s a brief delay as Ben Stokes shakes something from his helmet, before blocking into the offside to close the over.
Scott Boland will see the session through.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website
Article courtesy of
Source link
