Ashes 2021-22 fourth Test, day four: Australia v England – as it happened

Stand-in coach Graham Thorpe is talking but the house is waking up and I can’t catch much but he’s optimistic and kind of bullish I think, like a man putting out a job CV should be “I want the guys to enjoy the contest tomorrow because sure the Australians will come hard but the guys showed good temperament tonight.”

“The two at the top they’ve experienced some tough moments and they’re having to dig deep, so you’ve got to manage yourself against some good quick bowlers and Nathan Lyon. I’m looking forward to coming out of the game with a draw.”

Bold! We’d like to see it too Graham - especially with Buttler and Bairstow and Stokes injured. They’ll be batting tomorrow too though, it is confirmed. Anyway, that’s about it from me on the red-eye: thanks for all the messages and sorry I didn’t get to all the correspondence. Join us here tomorrow for the denouement - have a lovely day.

A cracking day at the SCG that will always be remembered for Usman Khawaja’s second century: dreams are not usually written so sweetly A joy in itself, but at the age of 35, he’s also played himself into the next Test at Hobart as well as the forthcoming tour. Runs too for Cameron Green, who has belted himself into form.

For England, it was another long, weary, day at the office. Their innings subsided in a stretch and a sneeze; then a promising start with the ball - Wood grabbing Warner and Labuschagne and Leach, Harris and Smith (and later Green and Carey) - subsided once Labuschagne got started and strode on... and on. Fantastic to see Leach bowling with confidence again though - even if Cummins denied him a possible hat-trick and fiver-fer by declaring. And should we be celebrating an England opening partnership that survived eleven overs and made it to 30? A throaty 7am roar of yes, as the dog turns in her sleep and shows her belly to the morning.

10th over: England 27-0 (Crawley 22; Hameed 5) Crawley is surprised by one that fires up from Boland, jumping like a fire-cracker, hits the shoulder of the bat and hollers over the slips and down to the boundary. Crawley then slowly examines his boots for debris but Boland is his match, running back to his mark.A nervy over and Australia sprint into position to catch one more. This is now the highest England opening partnership of the series. One over to come.

9th over: England 23-0 (Crawley 18; Hameed 5) Cummins switches to the Paddington end, and they pocket a single each. Five minutes left.

8th over: England 21-0 (Crawley 17; Hameed 4) The first real scare as bustling Boland takes Hameed’s edge as he pulls the bottom hand away, but the ball falls short of Smith at slip. Then a most unusual slight as Cummins misfields awkwardly as Hameed calls for a quick single. And on they truck.

“As far as I am concerned Australia [could have kept] on batting because I want to put off hearing what a great opportunity English batsmen have/ have wasted.

“Given the good pitch, good weather and good length of time English batsmen will have to bat, how often will we hear: “This is a really good opportunity for Hameed/Crawley/Bairstow/Buttler/. Followed by: “That was a really good opportunity for Hameed/Crawley/Bairstow/Buttler.” Spare me such agony someone.”

Maybe, maybe, Alisdair Gould, tonight they will.

7th over: England 20-0 (Crawley 17; Hameed 3) Starc throws himself to the crease. Hameed is content to defend, even a full toss. He dabs the fifth into the off-side and they take a quick single - nicely done. And that’s stylish from Crawley, as Starc sprays onto his legs and he eases the ball on its way past square leg for four. A quarter of a damned hour left.

And a surprise email pings in from Fiona Staples, my husband’s lovely cousin over in Australia! “G’day Tanya from steamy Sydney. Very much enjoying your blog. Can say from experience that it takes stamina to do the nightshift. Hope your boys can hang in there for a while and not make it too easy for the Aussies.” So great to hear from you - hope the cats are doing well and a big shout out to your dad too.

6th over: England 15-0 (Crawley 13; Hameed 2) Boland gets the nod with Cummins and Starc getting through five overs without the customary results. Crawley though, is his equal. It’s raining in Sydney, if not yet at the SCG.

5th over: England 15-0 (Crawley 13; Hameed 2) The shadow of the floodlights stretches onto the field like a huge traffic light. Starc sprints through another and Hameed gets off the mark at last with a reach at a wide one and square drive for two.

4th over: England 12-0 (Crawley 12; Hameed 0) Oh, and that is sweet by Crawley, an off-drive, nothing more than a push, but it glides away, speeding to the boundary. Eau de elegance. He picks up five more off Cummins and, dare I say it, looks untroubled. Nine from the over

“Just woken up and I see that Australia managed to get 151 of the last ball of their innings - must have been running for a very long time!” OMG, thank you for that Steve Ditchburn - I will go back and correct but just to be clear Australia scored 265-6 in their second innings NOT 416!

3rd over: England 3-0 (Crawley 3; Hameed 0) Ah yes, we get a panorama of the sky and the clouds definitely are banking in the inky-blue sky. Crawley flicks a single off Starc, and that, glory be, is a third over stoutly survived.

“Here I am a Brit in Los Angeles - listening to England being roasted again via the geo-restriction-defying website of Melbourne radio station “1116 SEN”

“Noticing the very peculiar Oz radio announcer habit of giving the score as if the batting side’s position should be determined by how many wickets it has lost rather than by how many runs it has scored.

“So when the score is 253 runs scored with 4 wickets down we expect that that should be described as “253 for 4”. But for reasons unknown Oz radio folks always announce it as the batting team being “4 for 253”. Surely that is a description of the bowling side’s position - not the batting side’s score?”

Hi Martin Lewis! Yes, that’s the Australian way for reasons that escape me right now.

2nd over: England 2-0 (Crawley 2; Hameed 0) Crawley plays the same trick again, escaping the strike first ball by turning Cummins off his pads. Hameed survives with a series of leaves and defence, and Cummins stifles an lbw appeal off the last ball. A storm, apparently, is brewing behind the back of the stand.

“Bloody hell,” taps Robert Wilson. “That’s truly crushing. I hope Khawaja’s mum is a good enough mother to take him aside afterward and gently remind him that having fun is all very fine and good but it’s never an excuse for being unkind to the other boys.”

68th over: Australia 259-4 (Khawaja 101, Green 68) Wood again - surely he’s earned a rest, unless Root is hoping he gets a well-earned wicket. My telly has switched off for reasons of inexplicable modern technology but I can tell you Australia haven’t declared.

67th over: Australia 258-4 (Khawaja 101, Green 67) Khawaja’s wife, holding their daughter, smiles from the stands and Khawaja gets a huge hug from Green, who towers over him. What a joyous performance. Nice to see Root and England applauding too.

Khawaja’s the third man to make double hundred in a Test at Sydney after Walters and Ponting; and the sixth to make two hundreds in Ashes Tests.

66th over: Australia 250-4 (Khawaja 98, Green 62) Back leg raised, Green hollers Wood through covers for four. Wood sprays two balls wide and Khawaja can’t reach them. The crowd boo a leg-bye off the last ball, then England go for REVIEW...not out. On the baggy-green balcony, Australia are waiting.

65th over: Australia 244-4 (Khawaja 98, Green 57) Much applause as Green gets off strike from Malan’s second ball; but Khawaja just picks up a single to give it back and they continue to play ping-pong - finishing with a gently booed single to give Green back the strike at the end of the over.

“Remember that tiny smidgen of hope that filled English hearts at the close of yesterday’s play, as Bairstow and Leach walked off ?” I do Sankaran Krishna. “The Khawaja-Green partnership today is a reminder that entertaining such hopes and thoughts will be mercilessly punished -immediately and wholesomely. Sorry guys, the worst is yet to come - I cannot imagine Eng getting to close of play today without losing about 3 wickets at minimum.”

It will be time to duck down behind the sofa.

64th over: Australia 239-4 (Khawaja 96, Green 54) Someone lay out a cooled towel in readiness for Mark Wood, just a couple off his over, as he hurtles in, touching 90mph still, even pulling out a bouncer.

63rd over: Australia 236-4 (Khawaja 95, Green 53) And into the 90s with the most laid-back slog sweep for six you’ll ever see. Root hides his feeling behind his sunglasses.

“On getting up at 5.30 in the morning,” writes Robert Wilson, “ I’m reading the OBO chronologically from the bottom up as I and others always (a unique way of following the day’s chronology and a matchless delight) until it gets to Khawaja and starts bugging. He comes in to bat. But then he’s got thirty odd. Fifty slips by and now he’s in the eighties. I keep having to go back and check I haven’t skipped half an hour’s play. But it seems to be real. How big is he actually seeing it?”

Like a full moon on a cloudless night.

61st over: Australia 222-4 (Khawaja 87, Green 46) Root, bowling in sunglasses, doing the donkey work. Khawaja eyes up a fat wide one and reverse sweeps him for four. A half-hearted lbw appeal sticks in Root’s throat, but there’s an inside edge.

60th over: Australia 216-4 (Khawaja 82, Green 45) Mark Wood gets the short straw in an attempt to slow the over-rate if not the run-rate. His first ball is pancaked to the square leg boundary by Green. and he knocks four more through the covers and mid-on. The lead streches to 338 and the sun bakes down on England’s morale.

59th over: Australia 208-4 (Khawaja 82, Green 37) Oh my, Khawaja is playing beach cricket here, through the covers for four, then swept for three more. Root twirls on, in necessity rather than hope.

58th over: Australia 200-4 (Khawaja 75, Green 36) No boundaries but still six glide off Leach’s over.

57th over: Australia 194-4 (Khawaja 71, Green 35) Runs, runs, as Khawaja pulls a short one from Root with a dismissive crack. And then a chance - a demi-chance - as the ball skims the outside edge in-and out of Pope’s gloves and past the diving Crawley at slip.

“Hello Tanya! “Good morning Abhi Saxena! “For entirely selfish reasons, I am hoping Khawaja plays next week. He is so good to watch, surely they will not drop him now? He has made the last few rainy winter nights in the American northwest a lot more bearable for this one.”

I don’t think they can drop him. Can they? Especially as this second hundred looks nailed on...

56th over: Australia 178-4 (Khawaja 66, Green 34) Khawaja slog-sweeps Leach for six, just because he can. And the cameras pan to a pensive Pat Cummins on the balcony, what a ridiculously Hollywood-handsome man he is.

55th over: Australia 178-4 (Khawaja 59, Green 31) A couple from Root’s arm-over exercise.

I’ve thought this too, just from the TV pictures. Not as many as in New Zealand where they can just play on the grass all day, but definitely more than at home. I would love to see a space carved out for kids to play at a Test but the concourses are always so crowded.

54th over: Australia 176-4 (Khawaja 58, Green 30) Leach again, from the other end,, the sky just a beautiful cornflower blue that I wish I could bottle up and throw into the January gloom. A nifty reverse-sweep by Khawaja is stopped at the rope by Overton. Apparently, England have bowled on 12 of the 16 days of this series - one for the bowlers’ union.

53rd over: Australia 173-4 (Khawaja 55, Green 30) Root takes off Leach, and brings on himself. The last ball is a “mystery” dumped on the leg side that neither Root or anyone else can read.

51st over: Australia 163-4 (Khawaja 46, Green 29) Khawaja, dainty and dancing, lofts Leach over midwicket for four.

“Good morning Tanya.” Hello Brian!

“I’m finally at breaking point, having watched most of the preceding Tests including every ball yesterday, and then stayed up until 4am today in the ludicrous hope of a proper Australian collapse (or just a spectacular thunderstorm).

“Not even the lure of waiting up to see if this email gets used can keep me going any longer. Forgive me and good night.”

You’ve earned your sleep. See you for the denouement.

50th over: Australia 157-4 (Khawaja 41, Green 28) Khawaja, in perfect touch, nips Broad off his pads for four. But what is this? England score a direct hit! The first I’ve seen of the entire series. A nifty pick up and throw from Malan atcover but Cameron Green’s loping legs eat up the ground too quickly and he’s home.

Green leads Khawaja back out and we go again.

In case you haven’t heard, Sam Billings is currently driving from Queensland to Sydney after being called up by England after the injuries to Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes. Billings, Kent’s captain who has been playing in the Big Bash, was supposed to fly home on Friday, ahead of England’s T20 tour of the Caribbean. He’ll need to rock up with a negative PCR and then isolate before being allowed in the bubble and presumably playing at Hobart.

47th over: Australia 148-4 (Khawaja 35, Green 25) Green and Khawaja pick up three from Leach, Green looking increasingly at ease.

46th over: Australia 145-4 (Khawaja 36, Green 23) We’ve reached the empire building stage of the innings now -as Khawaja picks up a couple through point. The Barmy Army are singing to themselves, and the rest of the ground - not packed - are waiting for the final act. The lead 268.

45th over: Australia 143-4 (Khawaja 32, Green 23) “With Leach bowling so nicely,” says Gower... and he is. Everything just has more of a spring to it, from the rhythm of his run-up, to the way he twirls the ball in his hands. Australia pick up three.

44th over: Australia 140-4 (Khawaja 29, Green 23) Anderson replaces Wood, who busted 90mph throughout that quick burst. And, most uncharacteristically, Anderson leaks runs as Green dispatches him for two successive boundaries, one straight back ticking his toes, and another lofted over midwicket.

43rd over: Australia 132-4 (Khawaja 29, Green 15) Overton sprints round the boundary and stops a Green boundary with a launch and a dive. Good 12th man action as Leach wheels through another over.

42nd over: Australia 128-4 (Khawaja 28, Green 12)Wood pounds one into the pitch and it rises up, up, and the diminutive Pope, deputising for Buttler, has no chance of reaching it.The next fizzes past Green’s outside edge, and the next, but still no reward. Even the effervescent Wood looks a little doleful. Australia’s lead reaches 250 which, realistically, is already too much for this England to chase, especially carrying injuries to Buttler and Bairstow. But might they see a day and a bit of batting out? If it rains a bit? I wonder how much longer Cummins will bat for.

41st over: Australia 122-4 (Khawaja 26, Green 12) More Leach control.

40th over: Australia 121-4 (Khawaja 26, Green 12) Khawaja swivels and pulls handsomely as Wood takes over from Broad, away to the rope. Then the ball flies off Green’s glove (?) to and then past Stokes at third slip who either can’t reach the ball because of his injury, or clutches his side afterwards because the attempt has hurt him. England starting to resemble a field hospital.

39th over: Australia 112-4 (Khawaja 21, Green 8) Leach again, mojo bubbling, floats the ball and Green defends.

38th over: Australia 110-4 (Khawaja 21, Green 6)From the balcony, Bairstow in bearded glory, arms folded, watches. Earlier pictures showed him with a huge splint on his thumb. Khawaja picks up a couple with a punchy push.

An email from yesterday that the guys didn’t have time to put up, from Kathy Phillips. “I had the joy of spending yesterday at the SCG with my English friend. We had plenty of time during the rain delays to discuss the current state of English cricket and he had some interesting observations...since he moved to Sydney he’s noticed that many of the local parks have cricket nets that are in constant use all year by the local school kids. He seemed to think access to cricket was easier here and played by more people. He also noted that everywhere he goes, the cricket is either on the TV or radio and most people follow it, whereas back home it’s not on free to air TV and less visible. He felt there needed to be more done to build back from the grassroots. Food for thought.

“Then Broad started taking wickets and Usman got his century so we just went back to watching the cricket. It was a good day.”

37th over: Australia 108-4 (Khawaja 19, Green 6) Leach turns the screw, a maiden, Green has a dart but only edges onto his own leg.

36th over: Australia 108-4 (Khawaja 19, Green 6) The sun bounces off the lovely green pavilion roof as Broad, wearing the air of a man whose been toiling in the pasture, bounds in. Dab, dab.

This is so true:

35th over: Australia 105-4 (Khawaja 19, Green 3) Thanks Sam, great stuff! Well well, and I’m going to say this while I can, but things have looked worse for England. Ben Stokes is breathing down Green’s throat at silly point as Leach wheels in. Khawaja reverse-sweeps the last ball down for four.

34th over: Australia 99-4 (Khawaja 15, Green 1)

We think this is the last one before drinks, and Anderson gets the first one to jump markedly, as Green now takes one on the glove. Some “up and down” as the commentators would say now - Green is uncertain in coming forward to Anderson here. Green then digs a yorker out to midwicket, leaving Khawaja to negotiate the remainder. He makes the most of it, driving one past mid off that really should have been fielded. Wood again. Usman picks up another single behind square. That’s drinks and that’s me done, Tanya Aldred will take over now. Cheers for your company!

33rd over: Australia 95-4 (Khawaja 12, Green 1)

Khawaja reverses Leach for two to begin the over, and is happy to hang out defending on the front foot thereafter. He’s getting well outside off stump to do so.

32nd over: Australia 93-4 (Khawaja 10, Green 1)

Anderson continues, he strikes Khawaja on the ribs with one that collects his glove on the way through. So he’s short again and Khawaja pulls him for one into the onside, albeit mistimed. Green’s on strike and immediately there’s a funky short mid-on next to the non-striker. Everything else is defended on the front foot.

31st over: Australia 92-4 (Khawaja 9, Green 1)

Leach is bowling to Green and Green is ever-tentative in his forward defence. Every movement exaggerated, the hands seem hard. There’s two men in close, and a slip. Green comes down the wicket and pushes for one to mid-off, he makes it. They needed him on strike there. Khawaja finds one with a thick outside edge through gully, which is vacant.

30th over: Australia 90-4 (Khawaja 8, Green 0)

It’s Anderson, and after some defence Khawaja then plays one of those classic pull shots through mid-wicket for four. Could watch that all day. The rest are let go.

29th over: Australia 86-4 (Khawaja 4, Green 0)

Leach replaces Broad, and Smith flicks the first to deep mid-wicket. Khawaja does the same. Leach is employing the attacking angle of coming around the wicket. Feels like he is finally in the series. He then bowls Smith! Well! England creeping into the game here, Australia will not feel as though their lead is adequate enough to throw caution to the wind. England are only a wicket or two from being right back in it.

28th over: Australia 84-3 (Smith 22, Khawaja 3)

Wood is in rapidly and wide of the crease and bounces Khawaja straight away, but it flies well over his head. Don’t get me wrong, it’d still be very scary. Wood is then full and Khawaja is caught on the crease, defending, perhaps anticipating more short stuff. The next is full and Khawaja leans on it, doing enough to gain two down the ground. Wood cranks it up, and Khawaja is back just in time to defend. Khawaja looks uncomfortable there.

27th over: Australia 82-3 (Smith 22, Khawaja 1)

Broad hits Smith on the pad in the same manner he did in the first innings (where he offered no shot). The appeal is not serious but it looked close! There’s another half shout for caught behind with one that flicked Smith’s pad on the way through. Safe to say Broad is bowling very straight to Smith. He tries something wider and Smith cracks him through extra cover for four. As textbook as Smith can look. That finishes the over.

26th over: Australia 78-3 (Smith 18, Khawaja 1)

Smith is back and across to Wood and pushing him past mid wicket for an easy two. Wood falls over in the process. He hooks the next thunderously behind square for six! It pierced square leg and deep backward. Wow. A punter with liquor in hand offered his left hand to catch it, instead it slammed into his wrist. Not a drop spilled. Smith then finds another single behind square. Khawaja is happy to defend the rest. Australia now lead by 200.

25th over: Australia 69-3 (Smith 9, Khawaja 1)

Khawaja is watchful here, leaving Broad outside off before tentatively ducking a bouncer. Broad returns to the dry line, Khawaja leaves. Little bit of a new complexion here - Cameron Green is next ... can England make inroads? Australia won’t want to make another mistake. Khawaja’s approach reflects it. It’s a maiden.

24th over: Australia 69-3 (Smith 9, Khawaja 1)

Wood screams one past Khawaja’s bat first up. Pope goes up, more out of happiness than real appeal. Wood could be “on” here. He’s 2/17 from 5, every batter looks rushed. Khawaja is late on a pull shot that beats him underneath his bat. He eventually squeezes one past leg gully to long leg.

23rd over: Australia 68-3 (Smith 8, Khawaja 0)

It’s Broad to accompany Wood from the Randwick End - Smith drives to drive him past mid on straight away, but it’s well stopped. There’s a leg gully and one slip, and plenty of space otherwise. Broad pulls his length back and Smith defends accordingly.

22nd over: Australia 68-3 (Smith 8, Khawaja 0)

Wood starts, and Marnus tucks him around the corner for one. Can England strike? Can England hold Australia? Smith nudges a single of his own to the onside. Wood then removes Labuschagne, bringing Khawaja to the wicket. The first one leaps at him and Khawaja does well to ride it into the ground. Welcome. The next carries high to Pope - a great start to the session for England.

Here’s the BOM weather description for tomorrow: Cloudy. High (70%) chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the late evening.

Both teams are about to resume

Sydney’s apparently bathed in sunshine, but there are storms on the way. Australia will have an hour or two here where they’ll be looking for a hundred or so runs. If they’re expecting to be rained off this afternoon, how many will they want before it comes?

Has Marcus Harris found his ceiling, and is it high enough?

Moeen doing Moeen things over on BT Sport apparently...

21st over: Australia 66-2 (Labuschagne 28, Smith 8)

Marnus gets a single, then Smith demonstrates minimal interest in waiting this one out, he’s down the pitch, lofting Leach expansively over his head, one bounce four. Leach is obviously flatter thereafter. Marnus then plays an uppish, flat-batted swipe through cover - it was loose. He gets three in the end.

That’s lunch.

20th over: Australia 57-2 (Labuschagne 24, Smith 3)

We’re probably two overs from lunch, 12.30pm local time, and Anderson continues. Again, he hangs it outside off-stump, no doubt aiming to stem any potential tide of runs. One before lunch would be extremely handy for the visitors. Last ball of the over sees Anderson attack the stumps, and Marnus clips it confidently out to square leg for one. There’s one left before the break.

From Max: “Have we left out one of our best batsmen out, only to the realise he’s one of our best keeper-gloveman?”

19th over: Australia 56-2 (Labuschagne 23, Smith 3)

So Smith picks up where Harris departed. He’s busy early, whipping Leach through mid wicket for two, punching one to deep cover for one. Marnus returns the favour with one, and Smith defends the rest.

18th over: Australia 52-1 (Harris 27, Labuschagne 22)

Anderson is dry, and so is Australia. Harris gets one to fine leg.

17th over: Australia 51-1 (Harris 26, Labuschagne 22)

Root is at slip, Hameed is at short leg, and there are few others nearby for Leach’s bowling. It’s an in-out configuration in the extreme. They are mitigating a risk that Harris has never posed. Why not see if he’s prepared to hit over the top? And now Harris is away with one. That’s the over.

16th over: Australia 50-1 (Harris 25, Labuschagne 22)

Anderson is hanging it outside off, Marnus is initially happy to leave it. Eventually he strokes him from the back foot through point for two. Labuschagne content to play from the back foot here, and late. These will be 20 of the easiest Test runs he’s scored.

From Colum: “England have to attack but the field is so conservative. Too many men in the deep when we have to take wickets. Even the first ball of the Australia innings flew through a vacant second slip. Jack Leach has to step up and help the quicks rotate. At least he’s bowling over the wicket to the left-handers which shows more intent.”

Indeed.

15th over: Australia 47-1 (Harris 24, Labuschagne 20)

Leach is encouragingly giving it some air to begin here, and Marnus eventually gets one down to deep mid wicket for one. Harris waits in his crease and there’s a mini leading edge as a result. Harris corrects, uses his feet and finds another single to long on. Marnus then rocks back and punches to the vacant off-side for two. Four off the over. Zero pressure here. The definition of milking.

14th over: Australia 43-1 (Harris 23, Labuschagne 17)

Wood appears to have left the field - will try and get to the bottom of it. Let’s face it, I’ll check Twitter, just as you may do. So Anderson replaces him, and the field’s much the same, albeit with one extra slip. A miserly start from Anderson here - what’s new? Lots of defending, lots of leaving. The pitch, to these eyes, feels docile. Harris drives Anderson down the ground and gets two to finish the over. We’re in a new phase of the match here.

13th over: Australia 41-1 (Harris 21, Labuschagne 17)

Leach to Marnus. One. Leach to Harris. One. It’s curious that Root has been keen to prevent boundaries before Australia looked to be hitting them. Marnus then goes to back cut one, it takes the outside edge and flies past Root for four. It wasn’t catchable. Labuschagne then cuts hard and only Hameeds strong left hand prevents another boundary. One. Leach to Harris. One to long on. Eight from it.

12th over: Australia 33-1 (Harris 19, Labuschagne 11)

Wood continues, and Harris works another to deep square for one. Labuschagne swivels a pull around the corner for two next up. He hits the third even better - also a pull - but it’s straight to Hameed on the boundary, so just one. Harris then takes another to deep square. So we can now see that the field has spread, Root has assumed a defensive posture, and there are singles aplenty. Marnus gets another. This over has gone 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, with one to go. I feel England should’ve gone for more wickets before this approach. Harris defends the last.

11th over: Australia 27-1 (Harris 17, Labuschagne 7)

Root introduces Leach, who starts with the altogether more aggressive left arm around orientation. Leach on in the 11th over is interesting. Marnus gets a single and Leach is over the wicket to Harris. Hameed is under the lid at short leg. Otherwise there are four men out. A hedge-betting field of ever there was one. Harris gets a single himself to deep mid-wicket. His last to Marnus catches him on the crease but his bat is down quickly enough. Two from the over, Leach is away.

10th over: Australia 25-1 (Harris 16, Labuschagne 6)

Wood storms in to Labuschagne, he leaves on the back foot, owing to Wood’s pace. He’s back and across and punching the next but he can’t middle it. Wood’s pace seems to have him caught back on the crease at present. Nevertheless Root takes gully out and places a mid wicket...who fields the next ball. I - an internet civilian - would have kept two slips. Marnus takes a single through square leg. Harris then helps himself to a boundary as Wood offers him an over-the-wicket half-volley on leg stump. Thanks, and drinks.

9th over: Australia 20-1 (Harris 12, Labuschagne 5)

Labuschagne punches his first down the ground, straight to mid off, but he hit it crisply. The next is flicked excellently through mid-wicket for three. Too full from Broad, no doubt he’ll pull the length back now. He does so as Harris defends to square leg. Broad is now over the wicket to Harris, and the opener is driving down the ground for two - full again from Broad. It should’ve been fielded by Wood, fresh from a 40m sprint to save the last shot. He’ll need a breather. Harris is solid in defence to finish the over. Australia lead by 142 runs.

8th over: Australia 15-1 (Harris 10, Labuschagne 2)

So it’s Wood to Labuschagne. Wood’s managed to remove him cheaply at last few starts, and well he should - Wood’s deserved wickets for his enterprise this series. The ball is slapping into Pope’s gloves, there’s great carry. Labuschagne tucks the next off his hip and it bounces just short of leg gully. There’s the plan. Wood goes higher and Labuschagne pulls, controlled enough, out to the man at deep backward square. He gets one.

7th over: Australia 14-1 (Harris 10, Labuschagne 1)

Harris is doing his jump-hop and defending Broad early. A thick outside edge squirts past Hameed at backward point, who should have stopped it cleanly at first opportunity. Labuschagne is on strike now. He pushes a single forward of point straight away, easy as you like. Harris leaves the last, which takes off a little after it pitches.

6th over: Australia 12-1 (Harris 9, Labuschagne 0)

Wood replaces Broad - will we see fireworks? To this author’s eye Warner has struggled with Wood’s pace, regularly shifting his back foot away upon delivery. The first hits high on Harris’ bat, the second worked around the corner for one. It brings Warner on strike. His back foot doesn’t move, but he does punch Wood correctly and squarely through point for two. Wood might crank it up now. Warner’s high on his toes and defending. The next, he nicks! And that’s the end of that.

Email from John: “Going by commentators’ view of Ollie Pope’s prowess as a keeper, have we perhaps seen the last test of Buttler’s career? Injury has done for a lot of players lately.” I’d call that an early crow! Will be interesting to see what happens with Buttler’s red ball career from here.

5th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 8, Warner 1)

Anderson attacks the channel accurately, who is looking for runs but can’t succeed. Anderson stays there, and so does Warner. Maiden. A circumspect start from Australia, so far.

4th over: Australia 9-0 (Harris 8, Warner 1)

Warner’s off the mark with a drive down the ground that Broad gets a hand to, preventing more runs. Half shout for one down the leg side, Broad isn’t interested and hotspot shows it flicked the thigh pad. He elicits a leading edge from Harris to finish the over, but it runs safely to backward point.

3rd over: Australia 8-0 (Harris 8, Warner 0)

Harris rocks back and hammers Anderson’s first with a brutal pull shot through square leg. Wasn’t far from Craig Overton at square leg but one of those so heavily hit we’re not seriously calling that a chance. Harris then defends one and it evidently breaks his bat. Josh Inglis runs three or four blades on, and Harris now has a new one. A few balls later and Anderson gets one to nip back. There’s a big shout but it’s eventually turned down by DRS.

2nd over: Australia 4-0 (Harris 4, Warner 0)

Broad - around the wicket - is full and inviting the drive and Warner accepts immediately, he strikes his cover drive nicely and it’s well saved in the ring, preventing any runs. Broad gets one to tail in, well left from “Davey”, and the next angles away and beats Warner - the 13464th time we’ve seen it. Make that 13465! Warner sees out the rest.

Mine too.

1st over: Australia 4-0 (Harris 4, Warner 0)

First ball and Harris wafts at one outside off stump, it floats past a vacant third slip and rolls away for four! Wow. Warner half-heartedly threw his hands at it, the ball found the edge but no one was there. The rest is altogether more peaceful.

Ollie Pope is taking the gloves for this innings.

Meanwhile...

79th over: England 294-9 (Anderson 4, Broad 15)

It’s Lyon to Broad, with a short leg gully in. He takes a single. Anderson leaves the first. On the second he executes a sensational reverse sweep which beats backward point and races to the boundary! Brilliant. He tries again(!) but misses. That was fun.

78th over: England 289-9 (Anderson 0, Broad 14)

First ball, Broad backs away and swats Boland over mid off for four! Good length, Broad gave himself room, and bang. The next follows him and Broad can’t get it away. Only a few over until the new ball now. England aiming for as many here before it arrives, I guess. Boland zeroes in on the stumps, Broad gives himself more room and inside edges down to fine leg - Boland throws his head back. Bairstow’s back on strike. There are six inside the ring, and three out. Bairstow is then caught behind, a fantastic knock coming to an end. The innings’ end is also nigh.

77th over: England 284-8 (Bairstow 113, Broad 9)

Bairstow almost finds the boundary with Lyon’s first ball via another reverse. Boland was wrong-footed at deep backward square, and just reels it in. It’s three. Broad then grabs a single with a dab into the ring and that will be immensely frustrating for Australia - not reading the game at all there. Bairstow sweeps for one. Wasn’t sure whether he should take it, but does. Broad laps another for a single. Smith does that thing where he tries to run around from slip, but he’s nowhere near it.

76th over: England 278-8 (Bairstow 109, Broad 7)

Scott Boland’s on now, so only two overs for Starc there. Broad is cramped but heaves one over square leg for two runs. They’re here for a good time, England. Broad attempts the same shot again but misses altogether. Chris Rogers says Boland “looks a little cautious” in his action, following his injury yesterday. Broad then enacts an effective inside edge down to fine leg for two, and the next over mid on for two. Runs, runs, runs...

Anonymous text from a member of the press, facetiously, reads: “Carey “injury” is so Tim Paine makes an emotional comeback for a one-off Test in Tassie ... heard it here first.” Hello!

75th over: England 272-8 (Bairstow 109, Broad 1)

Some talk Carey may have injured a finger trying to take that ball in the last over. Meantime, there’s a half shout for LBW against Bairstow as he tries to heave Lyon to the leg side, but it’s hit him outside off. Bairstow connects with the next but and it lands on the first bounce to Starc. He accepts the single. Broad is on strike with three balls left. England are looking for runs here. Broad delicately laps his first ball for a single, too. They needed to keep him on strike. Australia is leaky. Lyon is flat to Bairstow, he can’t find a run. Five overs until the second new ball.

74th over: England 270-8 (Bairstow 108, Broad 0)

Starc starts with a very wide one that Bairstow chases and misses. Starc winces after the delivery, possibly due to the hollowed out crease line he’s attempting to land in. The next is worked to long leg where Bairstow scampers back for a brisk two - he just makes his ground. It was close enough to check. Later on Bairstow attempts to shovel-pull a very full delivery - it just misses off bail - and Carey can’t glove it. It bursts through his hands and England is able to take a bye, bringing Bairstow back on strike for Lyon’s over.

73rd over: England 267-8 (Bairstow 106, Broad 0)

Lyon - with speed dealers on - is in to Bairstow. Second ball and Bairstow reverse sweeps him to the man on the boundary for one. England are bright here. Harris is retained at short leg for Leach, before switching to silly mid off. As described, Leach then top edges Lyon and he perishes. He looked great until that point - but he didn’t need to go so hard. Why not milk Lyon to bring Bairstow on strike?

From Paul, who emails: “Not wishing to be pessimistic, but Bairstow doesn’t tend to last long the next morning, even when he is 100% fit and looked comfortable and scoring easily the day before (although I don’t have the stats to back this up). Broad tends to give his wicket away cheaply in circumstances when he accompanies his fellow bowlers, while Anderson inspires such confidence for the final wicket that 0 not out is probably his modal average score. I’m saying England will add no more than 15 runs to the overnight total.”

72nd over: England 265-7 (Bairstow 104, Leach 10)

It’s Starc from the Paddington end. Bairstow knocks him into the vacant point region - Australia has started with a boundary rider there. There’s a leg gully for Leach and Starc is aiming it there or thereabouts. There’s a lethargic and unconvincing shout for caught behind for one that Leach attempted to flick to fine leg, before Starc serves up a half volley that Leach cracks for four through mid off. Another beautifully correct drive. Inspiring start from Leach. Leach appears to play and miss at the next and Cummins reviews! Leach is nowhere near it. How strange.

71st over: England 260-7 (Bairstow 103, Leach 6)

Nathan Lyon has the first over, and he’s bowling to Leach. Harris is under the lid at short leg. Third ball, and Leach lofts him over mid off handsomely, sumptious technique, beautiful feet, with elbow up! It plugs, so it’s only two. Lyon is then flatter to see out the over. Early enterprise from England as Jerusalem rings out. The accepted wisdom is that once the rain hits, we’re done for the day.

From Max via email: “Hi Sam, I’ve just been at the sixes cricket bar in Manchester and only nicked off 3 times in 3 overs in the net. Should I book my flight to Hobart now?”

Does anyone else have experience of these cricket bars? I’d expect to find it tremendously triggering.

I’d be staying up while Bairstow is there, big time. I don’t know how “big time” amplifies it in any way, and yet, there it is.

England’s best day yesterday. They are still a long way behind.

England injury update

More pics of the SCG, all in readiness...

Want more Bairstow and Stokes gear? Top piece from Andy Bull here

Hell of a knock from Jonny Bairstow yesterday. Stokes deserves great praise too. For for Bairstow to arrive at 4/36 and finish the day 103*, enduring that brutal blow to his thumb, while the team scored at 4.5 an over, was mesmeric stuff. How much further can he push it this innings?

Here’s a visual

Weather: play this morning, not looking great this afternoon

I’ve given you the view from on the ground, here’s what the Bureau of Meteorology says:

Sydney area

Partly cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers, most likely during this afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe. Heavy falls possible in the west. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h tending northeasterly in the early afternoon then becoming light in the evening.

The forecast is so untrustworthy that on SEN Radio here, Whateley, Katich and Atherton are conducting their own conversation about the forecast. Yesterday was meant to be ordinary, and they got a full day in. Hope that helps!

My first on the ground report concerning all matters Sydney weather