“Morning/evening Rob, from a sunny Melbourne Zoo,” writes OBO royalty Guy Hornsby. “I was at the G for yesterday’s chaos, a perfect example of England hope dashed by its own frailty. Despite all the afternoon gloom, it was a stirring day, ticking off a bucket list experience in the cauldron of cricket with my brother and daughter, and a host of English and local nerds. That’s what it’s all about after all, eh?
“What a time to be an England bowler, though. Putting the shifts in, only to be slowly broken by our batters’ profligacy. I’m not sure this pitch will be remembered fondly, whatever the result (who am I kidding!). It’s not an even contest between bat and ball, whatever your metric, which is a huge shame.”
Lunchtime reading
25th over: Australia 98-6 (Smith 16, Green 2) After clipping Carse for two to get off the mark, Green ducks into a nasty delivery that hits him on the left arm. A thick edge for four is the last incident of another manic session, in which six wickets fell for 94 runs in 24 overs and England lost Gus Atkinson – possibly for the rest of the series – to a hamstring injury.
24th over: Australia 92-6 (Smith 16, Green 0) Amid the clatter of wickets, this is an important knock for Cameron Green. He’s averaging 19 with the bat in this series and has found some weird and wonderful ways to get out.
