The Ashes – Fifth Test, Sydney Day 1: Root and Brooke dominate day

Root and Brook dominate day

 

The fifth and finally the last test of what has been, in my opinion, an ordinary series of test cricket.

 

Bathed in sunshine, the ground and the historic buildings, the Ladies Stand  and members were chockers. Whatever is written about test cricket and it dying is always thrown out the window when an Ashes match takes place.

 

A very sober opening to the day with a very hearty welcome to the heroes of Bondi. Indeed a rousing welcome . Unfortunately, and it was not their fault, they all had their backs to the welcome from country and the national anthems.  Someone will get hold of that and play merry hell I am sure.

 

No-one could tell me if this was the first ever Ashes test to commence on a Sunday. I will have to ask Ric Finlay, he of the golden voice.

 

Checked with Google (oh,oh) and they say it is the first offical Ashes test ever commenced on a Sunday. I will still check with Ric!

 

I know it is very important to some people (SW) but there was not a woman on the ground staff as they prepared the wicket this morning.

 

England win the toss and bat Potts comes in for the injured Atkinson and at last Beau Webster gets his chance for Australia at the expense of Jhye Richardson.

 

OK it is the Pink test and all praise for it but did NSWC and/or CA realise that a scoreboard with a pink background is very hard to read?

 

A pity that the crowds have not seen the best of Duckett as he plays some glorious strokes on both sides of the wicket. His 27 was a little gem but unfortunately he does love the tickle.

 

Here we go again Crawley (16) lbw to Victoria’s champion and Bethell (10) caught behind of Neser doing a Duckett tickle.

 

Joe to the rescue?  Must be good for young Prince Harry to be batting with the former monarch. He will learn much as long as he does not go and live in the good old US of A.

 

At lunch the heir apparent and former king had been playing sound cricket which continued on after the interval.  Rather strange as the ‘lunch interval’ has taken many wickets this series.

 

Some superb stroke making from the two batters in the middle session and they don’t look to be in any sort of trouble. O’Reilly, Benaud and Warne would be crying out from above for a spinner.  There is little variety in the attack except for Green’s bouncers. Perhaps Webster?

 

A false shot from Brook nearly sees him undone. Three Aussies charge at the ball from the boundary and didn’t even touch it.

 

SPD has put the brakes on with four men on the boundary for Starc.

 

Webster on but bowling medium pace. Joe’s fifty comes up with seven fours. A lovely knock. Brook’s comes up next over with six fours.

 

Looking fairly ominous for the Australians as the weather starts to close in.  There has only been one slight chance since lunch as the royal duo continue their dominance.

 

Smudge looking for a catch has five on the leg side boundary. Both batters hook but safely. Australia ultra-defensive now at 3/184.

2.30pm and the lights are on and England are 3/200. Certainly a bright day for the visitors 150 run partnership comes up with both batters sharing the limelight and frustrating the attack which is looking very pedestrian except when they are trying to ‘buy’ a catch.

 

Must congratulate the Weather Bureau as they have been spot-on today. They said it would rain and it has just started to drizzle (3.45pm) so that could be it for the day.

 

The Albion have set a great pace and have dicated they way the game has gone. An outstanding partnership from Root 72 and Brook 78 has set the scene for an English victory . Already both sides would be ruing the non-selection of a spinner.

 

Is this the first time that two players with ‘double 00’ in the middle of their surnames have put on 150 in an Ashes Test?  Must give this one to Ric too!

 

A spinner in Sydney should be compulsory in my book. In fact in all Tests. Unfortunately it is becoming a dying art in the men’s game.

 

The one good thing about the rain is that I have been able to find the legendary Yabba on the fence where the Doug Walters Hill used to be. I have been telling an English colleague about Yabba and we both have been scanning all day to no avail. And yet there he is, once all the people have gone.  Standing there on his lonesome. I can now sleep tonight.

 

This is where cricket gets really frustrating. Half the crowd are still here waiting, waiting, waiting. The sky is clear, the lights are on and the pitch is covered. How silly of me – its all about TV isn’t ? The longer we wait the more TV advertisements there could be. Mind you the commentators would be happy as they will be able to talk more about themselves.

 

4.50pm and we still sit here. Joe Sixty Six is standing at the door raring to go. So he should be, he has been in fine form today.

 

At 5.00pm we are told that play has been abandoned for the day as the sun shines brightly.

 

Good night and good luck.

 

 

ESPN Cricinfo Scorecard

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

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