Guerilla Cricket Live Blog
This page will update live with the latest relevant news, no need to refresh the page!
The willow-wielders would hope and wish and pray for some respite on the second day of the Perth Test after an opening act that felt like a gut in the punch to their ilk, with 19 batters biting the dust. Mitchell Starc and Ben Stokes were the standout performers with the ball, while Harry Brook and Ollie Pope were the only ones to have managed a score of note.
Mind-boggling comeback by Australia, who have lived up to their moniker of fighters. Once they marvelously claimed three important wickets in the space of six deliveries, the doors flung open and they never looked back, notwithstanding the frustration caused by England’s capable lower-order. Head was unstoppable – racing to a 36-ball fifty – before shattering the records with the accomplishment of three figures. Labuschagne played the perfect foil and their dovetailing took Australia home on the second day itself in what was supposed to be a tricky chase.
The partnership between Labuschagne and Head has crossed the century milestone as Australia speed ahead. England are devoid of any ideas about how to apply the brakes to this juggernaut, with both Labuschagne and Head finding the fence at will. It’s too easy for the Australians, as things stand, as the writing is on the wall for the tourists in what has been an incredibly fast-moving Test.
A short leg in place for Labuschagne. Apart from that, the field is spread out as Head is going bonkers, having raised the second fastest ton in Ashes Tests, off just 69 balls. His effort is also the joint-fastest by an opening batter in all Tests, and the fastest ever in 4th innings chases.
Nathan Lyon is padded up. He will serve as the nightwatchman in case a wicket falls. Although his surviving skills may not be required after all with the way these two are thriving.
Travis Head becomes the first opener to hit four or more sixes in an innings in Ashes Tests. England are being subjected to an absolute leather hunt and the hosts are cruising towards victory. Runs are coming thick and fast, boundaries are being cudgeled in all directions, and the bowling unit feels hapless at the moment as a result.
Head continues to find the gaps at will, and the England captain is at the receiving end of his no-holds-barred assault. He rises on one leg and nails the pull in flamingo style in front of square to cap off a series of boundaries that make it a 17-run over.
England would have thought that they are in with a real shout at winning this game after setting a target of 205 but the aggressive approach from Head has completely taken them aback.
Whoever came up with the brainwave to send the southpaw up the order needs to be given credit. The Perth Stadium stands up and applauds. Head acknowledges with a bat raise. This has been a top knock in conditions that are not too kind to batters. Angled into middle and leg, Head waits for the ball and clips it backward of square. Till he’s out there smacking stuff, Australia will be the favourites in this encounter even though they have lost their other opener to Carse.
Ramped over the slip cordon and carved over cover-point: Travis Head looks in the zone. He is severe on width, staying leg-side of the ball to allow his hands to flourish through the shot when exploring the off-side.
There have been a couple of nervy moments, like the streaky outside-edged four that brought a wry smile on Jofra Archer’s face and the overturned lbw decision, but in general Australia have made a good fist of things in the first five overs. Weatherald is, in particular, focusing intensely; often mouthing watch the ball as the bowler chimes in.
9/105 in that madcap session of Test cricket. This fixture continues to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. England were in pole position at one stage but it all changed as Boland got his act together while Starc continued to excel. Handy knocks from the lower-order have left England with a lead of 204 runs, and considering the pattern of this game chasing this target can be a tough ask. Australia have to get the highest score of the game to win.
Australia can finally heave a sigh of relief as the half-century partnership between Atkinson and Carse has come to an end, but not before the man of the moment, Starc, was pummeled for a couple of sixes ny the former. Australia’s persistence with the short-ball trap has eventually worked but this pair has contributed handsomely with the bat.
The last ten overs have produced 60 runs at the output is largely thanks to the lower-order duo. Australia are now looking to elbow these two out with the short ball, with the field set back deep. In a low-scoring contest, this could well prove to be a defining stand. Atkinson even has a Test century, if you didn’t know.
This is a dismissal similar to Doggett’s maiden Test wicket. Short and down leg, Jamie Smith pulls and there seems to be daylight between bat and ball, with the murmur showing up on snicko after the ball passes the bat. Pretty sure this call will be debated, but as of now the keeper-bat is on his way.
Whoa, England have had a mini-collapse there! Australia have retaliated ferociously by dismissing the well-set Pope, Brook and Root in short order. Three wickets in this session for Boland who has reverted to type after being all at sea earlier. Meanwhile, Root was snaffled by Starc again. England have a lead of 117 runs, having lost half their side.
Australia are celebrating a wicket. Back of a length delivery, angled across and rears up more than Duckett anticipated, whiffs the shoulder of the bat and travels low to second slip. Duckett checks with Smith if he grabbed the ball cleanly and thus stands his ground.
The umpires have referred it upstairs. The fingers seem to be underneath. That’s the start Australia aspired for at the start of this session. Also, the first wicket for Boland who has not been his natural self in the series opener hitherto but seems to be hitting his straps now.
England have put themselves into a healthy position in this Test. They didn’t take long to prise out the final Aussie wicket with the overnight pair adding next to nothing. As a result, they gained a decent 40-run lead on a surface which has tested batters on both the front foot and the back foot. Starc worked his magic once again upfront as he dismissed Crawley for another duck with an amazing reflex catch off his own bowling.
Boland though couldn’t complement him with the new ball as he was all around the place yet again. Pope and Duckett have shown intent and purpose as usual to keep the runs flowing. The surface seems to have relaxed a bit but there’s still enough demons in it to make life difficult for the batters.
Scott Boland was guilty of overpitching too often in the first innings as England drove merrily. He seems to be giving a better account of himself, more in accordance with his reputation of an economical workhorse, in the second innings.
The left-right combination has been busy at the crease and cashed in on the opportunities to keep the scoreboard moving. The early departure of Crawley didn’t put England into a box, as expected, with their trademark sprightly style of play kicking into action.
Ollie Pope is powerful square of the wicket and Brendan Doggett has found that out in his first over that reaped 8 runs. It was a gift of a delivery and Pope was all over it like a rash. Didn’t bother keeping it down. The first-change bowler needs to have a better command over his line and length so as to maintain the pressure created by Starc.
The on-air commentators mention that Lyon is off the field. He copped a few blows on his body while batting this morning. He won’t be able to bowl immediately once he returns to the field.
Risky shot but that’s how England roll in the BazBall era. Duckett charges down and spots a bit of width, flays his bat and slices it off the outside edge over backward point. Not all that convincing but certainly effective as England lead by 61 runs.
The edge is found as Duckett pushes at the ball half-heartedly but Starc will have to wait for his ninth wicket of the contest as it bisects the cordon for a boundary. The Australian pace spearhead is revved up and creating chances.
England openers bagging a pair in Ashes Tests
Trevor Bailey Melbourne 1959
Dennis Amiss Adelaide 1975
Michael Atherton Melbourne 1998
Zak Crawley Perth 2025
Starc has consigned Crawley to a pair with a stupendous catch in his follow through. The England opener bunted the ball back to the pacer, who dived against the momentum to his left to complete an elastic one-handed catch. Great job at keeping the cherry from making contact with the ground.
It took England 6.2 overs today to hammer the final nail in Australia’s coffin. Not many runs were added to the total, just 9 to be precise. Stokes started with Wood and Atkinson, both banged the ball in and didn’t pose any kind of noticeable threat to the two batters. Carse then came on and pitched one up, immediately found the edge and snuffed out the innings. The lead is 40 and that will come handy on such a ferocious track.
Gully has been pushed back to third man and short leg has moved to silly point as Wood endeavours to topple the final domino. Stokes is renowned for making an excessive number of fielding changes, sometimes after each delivery, to play tricks with the mind of the batter.
