Third Ashes Test. Headingly.

[Donny]

Patto in for Sids ?

Thought it was Cummins' turn for a rest.

[K]

Rain has delayed the toss.

Brettig says: "Pattinson in for Siddle, who has not been involved in warm-ups. New slips cordon is Marnus 1st, Harris 2nd, Wade 3rd."

[Donny]

Probable.

Warner
Harris
Khawaja
Labushagne
Head
Wade
Paine
Pattinson
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

[K]

Root wins toss, bowls.

They could come to regret that decision. Paine would have chosen to bat, he says.

Roy passed the concussion test. (Good for Oz. He's not Test standard.)

Cofirmed: Harris in, Pattinson in.

Radio suggests Buttler will bat at 7.

[Donny]

Damn. Raining again.

[K]

It's better for Oz, now they're batting, for it either to rain or to be sunny, not for it to be overcast.

In county games, left-arm spin (Smith's "tormenter") has taken many wickets here, so batting second and fourth is a risk, as it was at Lord's.

Marnus was handy with his legspin in UAE.

I thought Wade's second innings at Lord's was poor. His first day of his first innings (23 balls without getting off the mark) looked okay. His century in the first Test was in easy batting conditions.

[K]

Mel: "Look up, not down?"
Langer: "It just looks so dry."

...

Langer: "Of any nation in the world, we're the best suited to facing fast bowling."

Langer: "Facing Jofra Archer, you know you're alive... and it's good to be alive, isn't it?"

[K]

I'm trying to work out what relation Ian Ward had to playing cricket and why he's a Sky commentator.

Hmm... Test debut 17 May 2001; Test finale 2 Aug 2001.

I don't remember his contributions...

[K]

Broad to bowl to Warner from around the wicket.

Ponting: "... some surface cracks in it already..."

Third ball, Broad beats Warner.

Ponting: "You can see the seam position pointed towards slips cordon. ... I don't mind seeing him being beaten on the outside."

Nasser: "Needs to be full, Broad. Needs to get Warner coming forward."

Oz 0/0 (1).

[K]

Archer to Harris.

Harris shoulders arms to the first ball. The second too.

Ponting: "He's quite a naturally aggressive sort of batsman."

Beaten third ball.

Ponting: "Once again it's that length we've been talking about."

And the fourth ball too.

Nasser: "He's got to tell himself to leave it..."

Three slips & a gully.

Nasser thinks a short leg should come in.

Down leg. Harris glances for 4.

Oz 0/4 (2).

[K]

Now Broad strays down leg with the scrambled seam, and Oz get 4 byes.

Third ball, Warner is beaten. Broad does his usual hands-to-face routine. I find it very annoying.

Warner flirts and misses.

Nasser: "That was a nothing shot."

Fifth ball, Warner is beaten again.

Ponting: "High class fast bowling."

And again, last ball.

Oz 0/8 (3).

[K]

Archer is bowling from around the wicket to Harris now.

Harris uses a Kookaburra bat.

Harris edges through slips for 4. It was Stokes at third slip.

Ponting: "Might have just carried... No, on the half-volley."

Ponting: "Someone of Archer's pace, you'd think the edges would fly finer.

Ponting says he'd consider moving the square leg...

[K]

Archer gets Harris caught behind.

Oz 1/12 (4).

And the rain comes...

Nasser: "That's your worst feeling as a batsman. ... Root will be a happy man. ... Good seam position."

It's like exchanging one bowling pin for another.


Healy: "Our footwork is no good though."

Healy: "I'd like to see Marcus Harris come to the ball. ... Don't get squared up."

[K]

Early lunch. I can't see a menu...

[K]

Healy: "For some reason, we're not pushing forward."

Taylor says they should be leaving on length on the new pitch.
He says Harris, having grown up batting on the WACA, should be used to it.