Ashes 2021-22 4th Test, Day 4: Australia v England – LIVE!

Ollie Pope is taking gloves for this innings.

During this…

England were bright this morning, aiming to score as many runs before the second new ball. They nailed it, and now Australia will start with a lead of 122 and a question on their approach: do Warner et al come out and move the game aggressively with some rain expected? As for the “competition”, let’s hope. 294 is an exceptional result from the position of 4/36. I doubt the team will take it to heart – it could be an interesting short period.

Broad walks back to run but it catches the bat of his bat, it’s too high in the air, it hangs but Carey is comfortably under it and England does it. Always entertaining from Broad. Boland ends with four.

79th over: England 294-9 (Anderson 4, Broad 15)

Lyon to broad, short leg with a gully. He takes a single. Anderson leaves first. on the other he executes a Sensational reverse sweep that beats backward point and runs towards the limit! Brilliant. He tries again (!) but misses. that was fun.

78th over: England 289-9 (Anderson 0, Broad 14)

First ball, Broad back away and Boland makes four at mid off! Good length, Broad places himself and has a blast. The next follows him and Broad can’t make it away. Now only a few overs are left for the new ball to arrive. I think England wants to target as many people as possible before they come here. Boland zeroes in on the stumps, Broad gives himself more space and drives the inside edges to fine leg – Boland throws his head back. Bairstow returns to strike. There are six inside the ring, and three outside. Bairstow was caught behindA great knock comes to an end. The end of the innings is also near.

Boland gets Bairstow! It’s a pawn for Carey, he’s trying to drive it to third, but nicks it, a surprisingly conventional dismissal in the circumstances. He leaves the field for a standing ovation, he raises his bat all over the field. One hell of a knock, Johnny. Brilliant.

77th over: England 284-8 (Bairstow 113, Broad 9)

Bairstow almost found the boundary through another reverse off Lyon’s first ball. Boland had the wrong foot in the deep backward, and just reels it. It’s three. Broad then pats into the ring and catches a single and it will be extremely disappointing for Australia – not reading the game at all there. Bairstow sweeps for one. Wasn’t sure if he should take it, but does. Broad laps the second for a single. Smith works where he tries to run around by slip, but he’s nowhere near it.

76th over: England 278-8 (Bairstow 109, Broad 7)

Scott Boland is there now, so just two overs for Starc there. Broad is tight but hits an over square leg heavy for two runs. They are here for a good time, England. Broad tries to hit the same shot again but misses. Chris Rogers says Boland “looks a little cautious” in his action after yesterday’s injury. Broad then enacted an effective inside edge down to fine leg for two and the next over at mid on for two. Runs, runs, runs…

The anonymous text from a member of the press, apparently, read: “Kerry “hurts” so Tim Paine makes an emotional comeback at Tassy for a one-off test…heard it here first.” Hi!

75th over: England 272-8 (Bairstow 109, Broad 1)

Few things Carey must have injured a finger trying to pick up that ball in the last over. Meanwhile, there is a half-shout for LBW against Bairstow as he tries to move Lyon to the leg side, but it hits him from outside. Bairstow connects with the next but and it lands on the first bounce for Starc. He accepts the single. Broad is on strike with three balls to spare. England are looking for runs here. Broad also takes his first ball for a run. They needed to put him on strike. Australia is leaking. Lyon is flat out for Bairstow, he is not getting a run. Five overs till the second new ball.

74th over: England 270-8 (Bairstow 108, Broad 0)

Starc starts from very wide which Bairstow chases and misses. Starc wins after the delivery, probably because of the hollow crease line he is trying to land. The next is worked over long leg where Bairstow comes back for a quick two – he just makes his ground. It was close to the test. Bairstow later attempts a shovel-pulling very full delivery – it just missed the bail – and Carey can’t glove it. It rips through their hands and England are able to take a bye, bringing Bairstow back on strike for Lyon’s over.

73rd over: England 267-8 (Bairstow 106, Broad 0)

Lyon – with speed dealers – is in Bairstow. Second ball and Bairstow reverse sweeps him to the man on the boundary for one. England is bright here. Harris is retained at short leg for Leach, then moves to silly mid-off. As described, Leach then heads to Lyon and is destroyed. He looked great up to that point – but he didn’t have to try so hard. Why not Milk Lyon to bring Bairstow on strike?

From Paul, who emails: “Not wanting to be pessimistic, but Bairstow doesn’t last long the next morning, even though he’s 100% fit and scoring comfortably and smoothly the day before (though I have There is no statistics to back this up.) Broad tries to give his wicket cheap in the conditions with his fellow bowlers, while Anderson instills such confidence for the final wicket that 0 not out is probably his average score. I have been that England will not add more than 15 runs overnight.

Leach Sweep tries to stop Lyon, but only manages to hit the top edge. Cummins comes from mid on and takes it easy. Leach tries to pull it from outside the off-stump. too much too soon.

72nd over: England 265-7 (Bairstow 104, Leach 10)

It’s Stark from Paddington End. Bairstow knocks him into the point blank area – Australia have started there with a boundary rider. There’s a leg alley for Leach and Stark is aiming it right there or around it. There’s a dull and disjointed shout for one caught behind that Leach attempts to flick at fine leg, before Starc serves up a half-volley. Leach cracks for four through mid off. Another beautifully perfect drive. Inspiring start from leeches. Leach appears to play and miss in next and Cummins Review! Leach is nowhere near it. how strange.

71st over: England 260-7 (Bairstow 103, Leach 6)

Nathan Lyon’s first over, and he is bowling Leach. Harris is under the lid at short leg. Third Ball, and Leach Caught it beautifully at mid off, Brilliant technique, beautiful legs, elbows up! It plugs in, so it’s only two. Lyon is flattered to see the over again. Early enterprise from England as Jerusalem rings the bell. The accepted wisdom is that once it rains, we’re done for the day.

Via email from Max: “Hi Sam, I’ve just arrived at the Sixers Cricket Bar in Manchester and have only been out in the nets 3 times in 3 overs. Should I book my flight to Hobart now?”

Anyone else have experience with these cricket bars? I expect it to trigger tremendously.

As long as Bairstow is there, I’ll be awake, big time. I don’t know how “big time” elevates it in any way, and yet, it’s there.

England’s best day yesterday. They are still far behind.

Want more Bairstow & Stokes gear? Top piece from Andy Bull here

Hell of Jonny Bairstow’s knock tomorrow. Stokes also deserves a lot of praise. For Bairstow to reach 4/36 and end the day 103*, enduring that brutal blow to his thumb while the team scored 4.5 per over was mesmerizing stuff. How far can he extend this innings?

Weather: Play this morning, it’s not looking good this afternoon

I’ve given you the look from the ground up, here’s what the Bureau of Meteorology says:

Sydney area

partly cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of rain, most likely during this afternoon and evening. Thunderstorm likely, possibly severe. Heavy downpour is possible in the west. Winds blow north at a speed of 15 to 20 km/h in the afternoon and then become lighter in the evening.

The forecast is so incredible that here on SYN Radio, Whatley, Katich, and Atherton are having their conversation about the forecast. Tomorrow was supposed to be normal, and they got the whole day. Hope this helps!

My first on-the-ground report on all Sydney weather matters