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England gather on the boundary edge, the sun is beating down here in Brisbane, it is 29 degrees and quite humid. Hot enough for the pitch-side broadcasters to be sheltering under parasols.
Ben Stokes and Joe Root share a giggle as they wait to enter the field of play. They look pretty relaxed but they’ll know deep down this is it.
Pantomime boos ring out from the Gabbatroopers as England take the field, followed by throaty chears for Carey and Neser.
Right here we go. Buckle up. Ben Stokes is going to start with the ball from the Stanley Street End. BIG FIRST HOUR. Let’s play!
These guys are sat right beneath us. No chance they’ll put me off my OBO-ing stride. (Gulp)
“Call that a pithy update Wallooooo, you SUCK!”
The new ball is seven overs away for England, the huge question is how long and how many for Australia with the bat. The lead stands at 44, which already feels seismic given how England – bar Joe Root – batted in the first innings. A lead of over 100 could be terminal for England.
There’s talk in the press box from the more misty eyed English journos of today being the day for a Harry Brook special. That’d make things interesting wouldn’t it?
We’ve got ten minutes until day three gets underway. Did I mention – BIG FIRST HOUR!
We interrupt this broadcast…
“Hi Jim, over in New Zealand, West Indies are 415 for 6 needing 116 more for a ridiculous victory in the final session. It is simply glorious.”
Thanks Yacine Semmar. Down to 106 now… are the West Indies going to break their own World Record?
We’re about 35 minutes away from that BIG FIRST HOUR. Time for me to tap up the media centre barista here at the Gabba and for you to delve into Ali Martin’s roundup of day two.
If you are tuning in then please do whang me down an email like a Brydon Carse short ball, all of your thoughts, theories, lamentations and gleeful crowings are welcome.
(Sort of)
Simon Burnton had the misfortune to have to write about one of England’s worst performances with the ball in recent memory.
Steve Smith looked ominously good for Australia yesterday before falling to an all-timer grab from Will Jacks.
Not before he notched up his 80th Test match fifty and his 26th against the old enemy.
Only two players have more in all of Ashes history — Jack Hobbs and Don Bradman. Smith is now level with Allan Border.
Geoff Lemon was watching on:
England had a shocker yesterday, five catches spilt, the cost of a couple – Alex Carey and Michael Neser – are yet to be fully told. Carey was on nought when Ben Duckett shelled him. The pint sized opener is having a match to forget, so far…
Preamble
James Wallace
The anticipation of death is worse than death itself ?
Death smiles at us all, all we can do is smile back.
For you are in Elysium and you are already dead.
We could go on. Here we are, three and a half years in the making and four days into the series and the Ashes are already on the line. Are we about to witness the Death of Bazball? The great unravelling of the great experiment? Or are Ben Stokes’ England side going to roar back into the series with one of their great days to follow directly on from one of their worst? Sat here at the Gabba, I know which one feels more likely.
Australia are 378-6 with Alex Carey and Michael Neser well set, a lead of 44 runs on first innings. The sun is beating down and to say this first hour of day three is crucial for the rest of the series is, for once, under playing it.
Hello and welcome to the OBO of day three of the second Ashes Test from Brisbane.
It looks like we might’ve made it to the end?
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