Geoff Lemon's Blog, page 21
July 16, 2023
Never mind the data, David Warner is still doing his job for Australia | Geoff Lemon
He is no longer the dominant slayer of hundreds, but in this series the opener has delivered – no matter what his critics say
There was always a strong chance it would go like this. A bad Test, two bad innings, especially just before a long break with plenty of time to talk about it. Those discussions mounting as supporters fret. Pressure on a weak point, compounded by bad Tests and bad innings past. As Australia’s selectors mull over the fourth Ashes Test, they probably won’t drop David Warner from opening the batting – but it is a chance more genuine than at any other time in his career.
Even if selectors stay calm, much of the public is agitated. Combine Warner’s declining returns in general, a bad record in England specifically and his horror Ashes tour in 2019, and there is a statistical argument that he should not even have started the series, much less be in with a chance to finish it. Then add a personality that draws a lot of disapproval – such shortcomings can be outweighed by on-field success, but once success gets slimmer the scales tilt fast.
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England v Australia: Women’s Ashes second one-day international – live
Early blow for England! Lauren Bell bowls a wide, a leg-stump pie for Healy to flick for one, then a wide floaty delivery that Litchfield drives for four. But with those out of her system, she bowls one that comes the other way, back into the left-hander. Hits her in front!
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Healy 1, Litchfield 0) More accurate start for Kate Cross than when she opened the bowling in Bristol. Healy dabs a run behind point but Litchfield isn’t game to play shots against the next five balls, all in the channel across the left-hander.
Continue reading...July 12, 2023
England’s third straight win brings Ashes alive with Australia out of sorts | Geoff Lemon
The idea of hosts beating the brilliant tourists five times in a row seemed absurd – but now the series is truly up for grabs
After Australia won the lone Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in June, Alyssa Healy would have been keen to celebrate. She had spent her rare Test appearances across years playing out draws on surfaces that offered drudgery between thunderstorms: North Sydney in 2017, Taunton in 2019, hosting India on the Gold Coast in 2021, even the Canberra Ashes Test of 2022 where a close finish relied on Australia manufacturing a target.
Now she was unexpectedly captain, filling in for the absent Meg Lanning, and celebrating a bona fide Test win in a match that was given the full five days. Wicketkeepers are generally the life of the party, and Healy is the most outgoing of a publicly reserved bunch of teammates. Winning before lunch, they must have enjoyed their afternoon.
Continue reading...Women’s Ashes: England win first ODI to level series with Australia – as it happened
Heather Knight’s outstanding knock of 75 not out secured victory at Bristol and levelled the series at six points each
2nd over: Australia 14-1 (Litchfield 4, Perry 2) Lauren Bell to Litchfield, straying too wide third ball and the left-hander drives her through cover for four.
1st over: Australia 10-1 (Litchfield 0, Perry 2) Runs for Perry first ball, clipped for two through square leg. This is her format: average of just under 50, makes a half century or better every third innings across her long career.
Continue reading...Women’s Ashes first one-day international: England v Australia – live
2nd over: Australia 14-1 (Litchfield 4, Perry 2) Lauren Bell to Litchfield, straying too wide third ball and the left-hander drives her through cover for four.
1st over: Australia 10-1 (Litchfield 0, Perry 2) Runs for Perry first ball, clipped for two through square leg. This is her format: average of just under 50, makes a half century or better every third innings across her long career.
Continue reading...July 10, 2023
‘We’ve got a decision to make’: Australia mull changes before fourth Ashes Test
The Australia men’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, has said that all options are on the table when it comes to selection for the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester – but, with nine days’ break after an intense few weeks that began with winning the World Test Championship final, the first priority is giving his team a breather.
Australia’s players will scatter across the UK and Europe for a few days of rest and recreation: tennis enthusiast Steve Smith heads to Wimbledon, a group of golfers to Scotland, while other destinations include live-music hub Bristol, the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, and the continental lights of Paris, Amsterdam and Spain. They will return to camp from 14 to 16 July.
Continue reading...July 9, 2023
Starc magic not enough for muddled Australia who have work to do | Geoff Lemon
A combination of England’s aggression and odd bowling tactics allowed a winning position to slip away at Headingley
It was always going to need a lot of things to go right. Chases of 250 were often seen as mountainous in the early days of Test cricket, and on hazardous pitches they still can be. On a top-class Headingley surface that offered enough to both bat and ball, Australia needed to run the day perfectly in order to hold off an England team that had already bitten off 27 runs from the target the previous evening without losing a wicket.
From 171 for six, when Jonny Bairstow lost his stumps for the umpteenth time in Test cricket, the visitors had every chance. Another 80 runs to get. But Harry Brook was still at the crease, the new Yorkshire sensation coming up to join Bairstow and Joe Root, and there he stayed until 21 runs were needed, top-edging a catch on 75.
Continue reading...July 8, 2023
Travis Head takes advantage of England’s short stuff to keep Australia in fight | Geoff Lemon
In the most testing of circumstances and when his team needed it the most, Travis Head rescued Australia again
Two and a half Ashes Tests into the series, this was the real quiz. The third day at Headingley involved a lot of waiting, the covers coming on and off in a damp cold dance of the seven veils. An extra two sessions for England to leave Mark Wood floating in the plasma tank, soothing his mind with a tropical VR experience while infusing his fast-bowling muscles with restorative calf’s blood.
Then, it was on. Some distance after an early tea break, Australia got ordered out to bat, already four wickets down, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head to the middle. Throughout the contests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, England’s bowling has not quite done the deed. Here in Leeds, Wood rocketed through Australia in first-day sunshine, before this second-innings stanza under cloud.
Continue reading...July 7, 2023
The Ashes 2023: England v Australia, third Test, day two – as it happened
Ben Stokes smashed five sixes and Pat Cummins took six wickets before Australia finished another dramatic day on 116-4, a lead of 142
“Looking forward to today, any news on Ollie Robinson?” asks Shaun Holmes. He was on the field doing some stretches of his back just now, so looks like he’s trying to come good. He could do with not having to bowl until tomorrow, I’d say. Memo to England’s batting.
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Continue reading...Pat Cummins and Steve Smith dovetail beautifully as England falter | Geoff Lemon
As Australia’s captain and his right-hand man set about the hosts’ batters, a telling hush fell over the partisan home crowd
When Pat Cummins had Australia’s Test captaincy fall into his lap two weeks before a home Ashes, he was “absolutely determined” that he wanted Steve Smith as his second in command. Knowing the toll that fast bowling takes, Cummins wanted an undistracted eye to help get things right with the team while he was otherwise engaged.
“It’s going to be a real collaborative approach,” he said at the time. “There will be times on the field where I’ll throw to Steve and you’ll see Steve move fielders around, maybe doing bowling changes, taking a bit more of an elevated vice-captaincy role.
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