The Ashes – Fifth Test, Sydney Day 2: Root and Head show their class
SYDNEY DAY 2
ROOT AND HEAD SHOW THEIR CLASS
An overcast morning but no sign of rain. Ahh (says he), maybe the Australian selectors will think they are right.
Amazing how early people line-up to charge in to get their respective seats. I arrived at 7.30am to find thousands, yes thousands, wanting to get their share of Test cricket. A CA spokesman I spoke to said he arrived at 6.15am “to get things underway”. Underway at 6.15am?
Should be an interesting first hour with the ball moving about a bit despite being 45 overs old.
A full house again and it should be a great day of cricket.
A great start by ‘Mr Melbourne’ as Brook on 84 plays a nothing shot and SPD does the rest, as he usually does. Three runs later Stokes goes via DRS to Starc. It must have taken at least five minutes for a final decision to be made.
A great start by the home side.
Smudge is at it again, trying to buy wickets. Smith clouts him for four. I am not so sure about whether these tactics pay-off. A lot of effort by Starc in bowling short, Australia’s main strike bowler, think Archer.
Old Joe Root reaches his second century of the tour. Once again showing why he has been one of the star batters over the last dozen years. His compatriots as a star – Kane Williamson, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and SPD Smith and no one else within cooee.
Green takes a wicket!! No he doesn’t it is a no ball. As much as I have called for Green’s elimination from the team he has bent his back in this test and has beaten the bat on many occasions. I think he had a message from the selectors at last.
Meanwhile Old Joe and Smith the younger continue on their merry way with little problems from the all pace attack now that the day is warmer.
At 12.10 on day two on Australia’s famous spinning wicket a spinner comes into the attack, Travis Head. As he is only a secondary tweaker the batters have no problems.
‘Ullo, ‘ullo Labuschange’s turn but not turn. Slow medium bouncers but he takes a wicket. On 46 Smith miscues and hits it straight to Boland. Oz needed that wicket 6/323.
In the meantime ‘ol man river keeps rolling along. Now 131 and continuing to show his class.
An even first session but Australia will need to get rid of both Root and Jacks quickly after lunch to get back into the game. Jacks has shown a lot of G & D during the series much more than his supposedly more accomplished team mates. he doesn’t like giving his wicket away easily.
Have been watching SPD ‘Smudge’ Smith throughout the test. He would make a marvellous traffic cop. Hands and arms flaying in every direction. No doubt he has learnt much from his time in New York.
Jacks (27) and Carse (1) go quickly after another good stand, this time between Root and Jacks. Root keeps on rollin’ now 159. Marvellous innings by Root and greatly appreciated by the crowd who are probably seeing him for the last time as a batter.
He gets a brute of a ball from Neser that kicks and he fends it back towards the bowler who takes a wonderful caught and bowled. An ovation worthy of a champion as he walks of with 160 to his name.
Tongue goes and Neser finishes with4/60 and England all out for 384. Starc and Boland took 2 wickets a piece , Labuschagne and Green the other two.
Head goes after Potts right from the start and in Potty’s second over he takes 14. He means business today. WHACK! as his next ball, from Carse gets the same treatment.
They talk about wasting time in cricket, here is a perfect example. Stokes fields at mid-off throws the ball to the keeper who throws the ball to Stokes who hands it to the bowler Carse!
The Northern Territorian loves to cut and he executes it beautifully from Potts then he is dropped next ball by Brook. Weatherald does not look like a test player and then dropped again this time by Duckett. We may be wrong.
Australia’s fifty comes up from 52 balls.No mucking around from these boys as the lights come on (3.50pm).
Stokes breaks through when he has Weatherald leg before. The Territorian’s 21 was far from impressive. He has one more chance later in the match to impress selectors for future tours.
What about those Richie’s? There must be at least 400 of them today and they have taken up one whole bay of seats. I question how were they able to book one whole bay of seats?
Head and Labuschange local in charge and they put on over 100 until Marnus on 48 mistimes a drive and dollies a catch to the gully. He battled hard in this innings and did not really try to emulate the flamboyant Head.
Head stayed until stumps and is 91 not out and heading for his third ton of the series. Australia 2/166 still trailing by 218 runs.
We have seen two fine days play dominated by the batting of Joe Root and Travis Head and we can look forward to a great Pink Day tomorrow.
Read more reports on the Ashes series HERE.
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
a great day at the SCG – good point about the Richie’s – there were many!!
& they are (apparently) calling stumps??!! – Daphne Benaud said they have been marvelous
here’s to a great day three
RITV