Australia 8/326 (Khawaja 82, Carey 106, Archer 3/29; 83 overs)
The day began solemnly in recognition of the appalling radical Islamist massacre of Jews at Bondi Beach. A minute’s silence was followed by John Williamson subtly tweaking his song ‘True Blue’ for the occasion, then the crowd joined in heartfelt renditions of both national anthems. Flags on the grandstand and scoreboard remained at half mast all day.
With everything going on, I have to confess that play was well under way before I realised that Steve Smith was a very late withdrawal from the Australian line-up, due to a recurrence of his vertigo issue. Usman Khawaja is playing after all.
In the opening spells, Archer was quick and tidy but with little apparent sideways movement. Carse was persisted with despite several no balls and boundaries from Weatherald. Both openers looked comfortable, so it was a surprise when both fell with the score on 33.
Labuschagne and Khawaja then proceeded at least as comfortably through to lunch, Khawaja in particular batting as fluently as I’ve seen him do in years.
Marnus and Cam Green apparently shared something soporific for lunch, as both hit slow motion catching practice bunts to mid wicket for Carse to catch both within three balls from Archer. I was imagining a quizzical expression on Beau Webster’s face at this point. This eventful first over of the afternoon session continued with a beautiful square cut four by the incoming Carey.
This was somewhat of a microcosm of the day – the Australians untroubled except by carelessness, and otherwise scoring at a fair clip. The English assisted with 2 dropped 2 catches plus a couple of half chances also missed.
Nevertheless they battled manfully, though Archer distinctly wilted in the evening session as the temperature peaked over 35. Khawaja eventually fell within sight of a hundred to cement his reprieve, top edging a sweep off Jacks to the mid-wicket boundary.
After reverse sweeping Jacks to productive effect, Inglis fell to a good short ball from Tongue that jagged nastily back in towards his throat, from where he could only fend it onto his stumps.
Carey opened up after Inglis’ departure, charging Tongue for a thick edged 4 to third man then clobbering Jacks for 6 over cow corner. Cummins assisted for a short period but had to go after Snicko showed a spike coincident with bat and ball en route to short leg via his thigh pad.
Carey cantered on to a terrific century on his home ground, in front of what I believe to be a record crowd of 56,298, followed shortly thereafter by Jacks bringing up the less desirable bowling version.
Carey eventually fell to a tired-looking top edged slog-sweep for 106. Archer and Stokes looked even tireder in their few overs with the new ball before stumps. But at least, assuming they can take the last two Australian wickets quickly tomorrow morning, the Englishmen shouldn’t have to spend too long fielding in the 39C forecast for tomorrow.
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About Mark Duffett
Expatriate Croweater in Tasmania, still following Centrals in the SANFL. You can take the boy out of Salisbury, but...
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Good to hear from you again Mark.
Will the ‘Christmas Test’ slogan get some, as we used to say, traction?
Did you finish the day thinking that Australia lost the day on points? Will they need your help to recalibrate Snicko overnight?
G’day Swish, I for one would like to see Adelaide carve out a ‘Christmas Test’ niche alongside the “traditional” MCG Boxing Day and SCG New Year slots. Especially since the days of Adelaide owning the Australia Day long weekend are very long gone. It certainly suits me down to the ground, so to speak, as I can subsequently hang around for family Christmas. Certainly Cricket Australia now have 56,298 reasons to repeat it. Unfortunately however I can report I completely failed to set a fashion trend with the giveaway Santa hat, so a bit of a branding fail there.
I was a bit surprised by other takes I’ve seen giving the day to England – it never felt like they were in control even with Australia 4/94. All the wickets seemed to be against the run of play, if that makes sense (probably not). That more wickets fell than balls beat the bat (in my memory) sums up what I’m getting at. I can see how under 350 batting first in Adelaide could be seen as sub-par though.
I would like to see the Snicko sound/video synchronisation looked at, maybe with extra frame rate on at least one of the cameras. The ball travels a fair way between frames.
Thanks Mark I will include in my book if that is OK? Thoroughly enjoyed the day myself.
Absolutely, Citrus Bob. I very much enjoyed it too.
Well played M Duffett.
To my eye nearly all batsmen got themselves out, rather than being beaten. But then, what role pressure or individual demons or opposition field placings, butterflies in the Amazon?
I would have thought after winning the toss and choosing to bat – you’d look to be 6/300 or so and bat well into Day 2, alas.
That’s a good call E. regnans re the intangible quality of field placings etc. in building pressure. It did seem that the English were operating with specific plans to different batters at various stages, so maybe I haven’t given them enough credit for bringing about dismissals. This is the quintessential mental element of Test cricket, I guess.
Welcome home, Mark. It was a day of engaging contest in which each side had moments of ascendency but, I reckon, all three sessions were probably draws.
Late in the day, we saw a boy of about six following his parents down the stairs and he was carrying a stack of about two dozen Christmas Test hats! Although these will be discarded in his bedroom and then quietly disposed before NYE, he’s helped the marketers to claim a victory.
I might see you there tomorrow.
I’d have to get lucky to see you, Mickey – the Riverbank Stand looks as packed as it was yesterday.