I’ll be back in 35 or so – don’t you go changing.
24th over: Australia 94-2 (Labuschagne 19, Khawaja 41) I doubt the batters go hard at Jacks in this over, and his first three deliveries yield singles, but then Khawaja can’t help himself, which tells us how secure he feels; he’s down on one knee, a big stretch, and he monsters four through midwicket. So Jacks goes wider, there’s a bit of turn, and it’s edged … but drops short of slip, It’s been a pretty evening morning, Australia ending it in the ascendancy, but another couple of wickets and things chance. Amazingly, the next hour is crucial.
23rd over: Australia 87-2 (Labuschagne 17, Khawaja 36) I wonder if Khawaja had a word with himself after the drop. Reprieved by Smith’s illness, he started nervously, then was reprieved again by the drop; in my ignoramus’ imagination of what elite sportsfolk say to themselves, at that point, you tell yourself to accept gifts and enjoy the moment. Anyroad up, Labuschagne takes a single to square leg, raising the fifty partnership in the meantime, then Khawaja again yanks Stokes from outside off through the leg side – this time to deep backward – and this is decent batting now. we’ll have one, maybe two more overs before lunch.
