Fifth Ashes Test. The Oval.

[K]

Marnus nicks Curran through slips for 4.

The mystery commentator with a speech impediment is Andrew Strauss!!

[K]

Marnus is looking good. These two need to go on with it.
The partnership is only 35 but feels much bigger, because the batting on both sides is so pathetic.

[K]

Big appeal for LBW against Smith from Curran. Not out. No review.

And another LBW appeal next ball. Not out.

And hit on the pads again last ball. Curran is bothering Smith.

Strauss tells us Smith averages 29 against inswing. (Is that all inswing, or just left-arm inswing?)

[K]

Curran bowls the last over before lunch.

Smith gets off strike with a lb. (They appeal. Not out.)

Oz 2/55 (19). Lunch.

Healy says he thinks the Warner overrule was incorrect, i.e. it was not out.

Shane Warne is 50 today.

[K]

Botham praises Bancroft's county cricket captaincy.

Marnus slashes Broad in the air for 4 to bring up the 50 partnership. Warne thought the catch was going to cover!

Warne: "It's looking pretty flat out there, this pitch."

Healy earlier wanted them to score 400 to get the necessary lead in advance of batting last when it'll turn a lot.

[K]

Meanwhile, on cricinfo, they are talking & joking about whether Div. 2 County Cricket can take credit for international cricketers (i.e. Marnus).

I would turn that talk around: that someone averaging 38 and a bit in first-class cricket can be the most comfortable-looking batsman in this match gives a hint about the pathetic standard of international batsmanship.

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Broad bowls a horrible long hop and Smith gratefully accepts the gift of 4.

[K]

Appeal for LBW against Marnus from Archer's bowling. Not out.

Then a sharp bouncer.

Botham: "Tell you what, that was played pretty well."
He says the players say it's very hard to pick the Archer bouncer.

Warne points to the "late release", with the "snap of the wrist".

[K]

Warne: "England will feel if they can break this partnership they can get through."

Well, you've got the two best players in the side out there now, Botham says.

Warne talks about "match awareness", i.e. seeing Broad and Archer off.
Then it'll be easier against Leach & Curran.

But Curran & Leach have both bothered Smith the most in this series. Does Smith have a problem against left-arm bowling in general, not just left-arm orthodox?

Smith drives Broad for 4.

[K]

Denly is back on the field, after witnessing the birth of his daughter.
I'll try to hold my tongue.

Botham to Warne: "50 years old. Do you feel older?"

Warne thanks the Sky guys for the cake that Botham has presented to him.

Warne: "Life begins at 50, doesn't it?"

Botham: "60. ... 60 is the new 50."

[K]

Archer hits Marnus on the arm. He's in trouble.
The physio comes out. Hope it's not broken.

Athers shows Marnus's leaves and working on the legside to straight balls.
62% of runs through the legside, only 9% of the arc through cover.

Athers contrasts this with Denly.

Marnus gets ready to continue.

[Jezza]

2/77.

Labuschagne 42*, Smith 26*.

[K]

Nasser: "No one is taking Archer on." He means no runs have been scored off his short balls.

Marnus is approaching 50. It feels like he's the senior batsman in this partnership. At least, he's scoring more freely than Smith.

Meanwhile, Lloyd is being a bit mysterious in the box.

[K]

Marnus get 2 off the stumps.

Nasser: "Don't miss that..."

Now Marnus out LBW. No review. 48.
Archer has 3 wickets.

Oz 3/83 (29.2). Wade in.

Trouble now. The 400 target Healy set is a long way away.
This is a very thin batting line-up.

Ball tracking shows 3 reds.

[K]

Marsh has swung the ball the most this match, Woakes the least.
Nasser thinks it's not about Woakes but about the day.

There's a lot of chatter towards Wade, Lloyd says. The chatter is so inane, it's almost embarrassing. Cricketers are said not to be the brightest lot. Have a look in the ball tampering thread. In one article, it was claimed most don't know who the PM is, but can make all sorts of movie quotes, because all they do when they are not training is watch movies.

Meanwhile, Wade drives for 4.

[K]

Curran is on from the other end to his previous spell.

He almost gets Smith first ball! Inswinging yorker.

Nasser: "That was perfect."
Lloyd: "Done well to get bat on that."

Athers is showing Curran deliveries to Smith. Boult has had him 4 times. Athers says you wouldn't say he's got a weakness against left-arm swing... Well, we'd need the full stats to tell, I think.

Nasser: "Oh, my word."
Nass is having a near heart attack each time they play balls off the stumps.

Oz 3/100 (32). Drinks.

Taylor on Curran vs. Smith: "Good battle."