"Why is there so much sport on TV?"

As we sat down after dinner, child in the shower, me a bit dazed from having one ginger beer with the mandatory Voltaren after a game of baseball (that's the American version of Bazball), this question came to me from the other side of the couch. On offer, just after the Giants had upset the Dogs in the AFL, was the Swans vs Bombers; the heavyweights of France vs Brazil in the Women's World Cup; the guaranteed one-sided affair of the Bledisloe Cup from Melbourne (seriously, how does one side win a two horse competition 22 years in a row - it baffles me! And they wonder why Rugby is the fourth football code in this country); and of course the Ashes. My reply was "You can pick whatever you want to watch", knowing that the red wine and turkey I slipped into dinner would cause a premature bedtime, and allow me to watch the cricket earlier.

The first part of the England innings was viewed via the written commentary option on the Cricket Australia app. It was quite disconcerting to see Spider and Du#$%t blaze away at over 5 per over with regular boundaries - the first ball of the innings finding its way to the boundary, just like the first ball of the series. The English pair hit Starc for 22 off his first two overs (0/25). Then it seemed the bowling attack changed its line (in other words started bowling at a 5th stump line instead of at middle; where they should have been bowling from ball friggin' one). The runs started to dry and low and behold, Du#$%t fell to Starc for 42. Duckett's role cannot be underestimated in this series. While Crawley will receive the accolades as he's scored the most runs in this series to date, it has been Duckett's ultra aggressive stance that has allowed Crawley to ease into the innings each time. With Moeen a lame duck, Captain Spoke strode out to the crease to a rapturous applause at Number 3. Postman brought Dan Murphy on instantly and it seemed like we were going to see Bazball in full swing - there was going to be no easing into the innings. But with Stokes starting watchfully, Spider elevated his game - 9 boundaries in total and a 76 ball 73 to add to his now series total of 480. His driving in particular was good to watch. When he departed at 2/140 in the 27th over just after Starc spilled a hard chance over the boundary from Bent spoke, Dud Root came racing to the crease like he was in a BBL game and about to timed out. His first shot was a very good pull shot for 4, but then on the same total there was a serious LBW appeal from Hazelnuts:

It's sometimes said that sport can be a game of inches. Aussies would see that contact well in line with the stumps - OUT. While the English would see the converse - NOT OUT. And given the review went England's way, that's all that counts. From there, Root went ballistic. Reverse sweeps, ramps, the full monty! All the way to a very quick 50 and an overall lead of 200. With Dan Murphy back into the attack, Bent tried to him out of the South London ground, but only got as far as Postman Pat at mid on - 3/213. Brook entered looking for impact, and did so with a six off his second ball. But then Josh H produced a lovely little cutter to take the edge of his bat and send him back as the fourth wicket for the score of double Nelson.

Australian fans felt the tide turning, but like a rock fisherman who has misread tide times and is stuck out on a platform under crashing waves, Dud and Weasley swung the bat with great success. The two put on 110 in no time whatsoever. Orthodox and plenty of unorthodox shots followed in an attempt to bat Australia out of the test. Then Junior Vettori entered the fray yet again, and success with him squeezing one through Root's defences. He batted exceptionally and was unlucky to fall in the 90's. But Weasley continued to flail away, adding to Australia's pain. 

For 80 overs, Bazball was on show, accumulating at almost 5 runs per over. Australia did their best to negate its impact. The English still have a wicket in hand (though it's Draco or Anderson) with a lead of 377. Starc has toiled all day for his 4 wickets to match his four in the first innings, Murphy has 3 as the next best bowler; however, 29 wickets in 3 days thus far could mean that tomorrow is the last day, unless that pesky English mist intervenes...

JT