Fifth Ashes Test. The Oval.

[K]

Lyon getting a lot of spin.

Athers: "You have to think that Leach should be a major threat."

[K]

Appeal for strangulation of Archer down leg. Not out. They appeal.

Looks like glove! A faint spike but it's totally lined up with the ball on glove. Even without Ultra Edge, on the replay it looked very clear.

Out! Cummins gets a second wicket.

England 9/317 (92.3). Broad in.

Athers: "Finally, he's got one right!"

Taylor: "I reckon it could be our day."

Athers: "Just have a swing, Stuart."

[K]

Athers: "I think umpire is going to have a word with Jack Leach."
He was running straight down the middle of the pitch.

Second maiden in a row from Oz.

[K]

But Broad slogs Cummins square for 6.
It cleared Siddle on the rope. Very premeditated movements from Broad.

Next ball, Broad backs away , swings and misses.

The field is adjusted.

Another swing and miss.
They think Erasmus has called two bouncers.

Broad slogs a second 6.

Athers: "It's just a bit predictable, isn't it?"

Another swing and miss. It misses the stumps.

And again.

[K]

Leach holes out to Hazlewood off Lyon. A good catch.

England 329 all out.
The target is below 400!!

Athers says England's second innings suggests it's still a reasonable pitch, but it'll be hard work.

Lloyd: "Lyon 4/69 and the heavy roller is on its way out."

Taylor: "The only concern is that turn."


There has not been any real running this morning. A four, two sixes, and two wickets. That's it.

[K]

Harris & Warner are waiting to come out.

Healy: "It's got to be done at the top of the order..."
...

Healy: "Worry about the ball... Not even the bowler."

Healy: "These two batters have to be there at lunch. ... 17 overs. ... You can do that."

[K]

Bye down leg first up, so Warner gets on strike to Broad.

Lloyd: "There's a lot of rattle out there from England."

Warner leaves.

Broad beats Warner.

But he's away with a leg side tuck for 2.

Warner drives and misses.

[K]

Archer from the other end.

Warne: "There's no real demons in the pitch. ... It's a beautiful seeing day."
He says the start is the key. And Jack Leach. He talks about the spin "plus footmarks".

Warne: "He should rip through Australia today."

Warner is beaten by Archer this time. This is painful to watch.

[K]

Broad beats Harris.

But next ball Harris drives straight back past Broad for 4.

----------------------

Nasser shows three pics of Warner with different guards.
Nasser: "Now he's on middle and leg."
He says the constant changes make it hard for him.

And Warner swishes at Archer and is beaten yet again.

Nasser: "The thing you forget to do is watch the ball."

Warne says singles are really important.

Warner cuts a welcome 4.

They take a quick single. Harris looked a little stretched, but it's all okay.

[K]

Warner half dabs, half withdraws at Broad yet again.

Warne repeats that the opening partnership is key to a big run chase, to give the dressing room some "calmness".

Warne has a gut feeling that Warner will have one big innings in him.
Warne: "Like a big hundred."

Harris is beaten.

They show replays of the two attempted leaves that got Warner out previously in this series.

Harris clips through mid on for 4.

They are getting beaten regularly, but also scoring much more fluently.

[K]

Broad bowls Harris.

Oz 1/18 (5).

Todd W: "It's our highest opening stand for the series."

Taylor: "Marcus Harris is going to have to do a lot of work. ... Gets very front on."

Lisa thinks it kept a bit low, which is a worry for Oz.

The off stump went cartwheeling.

[K]

Warner thick edges Archer for 4.
...

Appeal for LBW. Not out.
Nasser says it stayed low.

Holding and Nasser say Warner is going out hard in front of his pads.

[K]

Labuschagne drives and beats mid off for 4.

Warne: "Should have been stopped."

And then 3.

Warne says the field should be straighter on the on side, so that Marnus will play squarer.

[K]

Broad gets Warner, nicking off to slip.

Oz 2/29 (6.4). Smith in.

This is shameful from Oz.

Shameful, because they ignored common sense and still picked Warner, when it was obvious he'd never survive Broad. Disgraceful, really. Of course, the media are not the selectors, but they probably were expressing selector sentiment when they said baloney like, "The retention of the Ashes should mean that Warner is given another chance." That's dangerously close to saying the Test does not matter.

[K]

Ponting is surprised by the deep square fielder for Marnus.

Smith gets on strike and marks a leg-stump guard.

4lb. They all count.

Gower: "I'd much rather have the men closer until they're set."


Smith drives off the back foot through cover for 4.

Gower: "It's more Caribbean than Australian."

Ponting: "You look at it there and there's not much right about it."
But he adds: "His balance is perfect and he plays it late."

Gower is sounding like the TV umpire, asking them to run the Smith video forward.