After a rain-interrupted first day of the second Ashes Test, Australia will look to build on their position against England who must take early wickets. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from the earlier start time of 2pm (AEDT).
Thanks to some frustrating weather around Adelaide, nine overs were lost on the first day of this historic day-night Ashes Test.
It means we make up half-an-hour at the start of Day 2 (eight overs) and the other over tomorrow. More rain is forecast though, so it could be another on-off type day.
Australia will be pleased with their position after Day 1. Having won the first match of the series in Brisbane, they went to stumps in Adelaide at 4 for 209.
It was a slow going day for Australia, who had to grind against some solid English bowling. At times, their length was too short and maybe Australia should have had more runs, but with the exception of a ran out Cameron Bancroft, each Australian proved runs could be made, making a start before falling to the tough conditions.
Interestingly though, things didn’t get that much tougher once the lights turned on, as they have done in previous years. The ball moved a little bit, but it was nothing extravagant and certainly not enough to get rid of Peter Handscomb or Shaun Marsh, who guided Australia to stumps
However, that can’t be judged until Mitchell Starc has had a go, which he is likely to do at the end of today’s play.
Working out a par score after the first day is difficult to do. 300 should be the aim for Australia, but certainly, they will want more than that, knowing the way these day-night matches can change in a session.
Though, the way England batted in Brisbane raises questions about what would be too many for them to chase. They were extremely negative in the first innings, which bit them, before batting poorly in the second. If Joe Root doesn’t make runs, then even 250 may be too many for England to be competitive, especially if Starc gets the ball going.
Regardless, the tourists need early wickets before they can worry about batting, and in daylight conditions, that could be easier said than done with Australia seemingly happy to grind the match into oblivion when needed.
Day 2 prediction
It’s hard to get a read on the match. Australia are in front after Day 1, but a couple of quick wickets will flip things on their head. You feel England needed a strong start to the match though, and it could be an uphill battle, particularly if the pitch improves for batting under daylight conditions.
If Australia can make the most of that and have a relatively new ball for the night session, they could cruise well ahead in this match.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Day 2 from 2pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Darren
Guest
At the Gabba 368 overs were bowled 30 wickets and 2nd test has been 157 overs for 9 wickets. I’d say both pitches have a lot more in them than the North Sydney pitch did. Run rates pretty similar. Batters are just valuing their wickets - which they should. Day 4 of the womens test slowed things down even further as England couldn’t win and just shut up shop for a draw. If there had been a day five it may have been a lot more interesting. The point is I felt Scott went early on day two calling into question the whole approach and potential of women’s test cricket based on those two days (of the only test played in 4 years). We can see that the men’s series is moving at a similar rate. The only reason we had a result in Brisbane is because there was a 5th day. Anyway I’ll stop as I’ve made my point (valid or not) and (despite everything above from me) I don’t think we should compare the men and women’s game anyway as they are different.
Mushi
Guest
I hear the price of pie crust in the middle nice pie is going to cripple the Christmas shopper due to 20m large servings of the ol' humble
dave
Guest
Marsh century gives us a good chance to win this game which gives us a good chance to win the series. So to the selectors I say I'm sorry you done good. That was hard but I console myself that Australia looking good to win the Ashes and I can admit to being wrong, something the Fonz could never do.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah, so basically, the scheduled start time is 2pm for each day. Half an hour was already used by making that scheduled start time 1:30pm and they still had half an hour up their sleeve after 9pm (i.e. 60 minutes of added time per day) for the scheduled finish time. 8.5hr starts from the time of when play was supposed to commence (1:30pm) regardless of the fact play didn't start till 1:40pm. The umpires at no stage could schedule play to go beyond 9:30pm. The only reason it's allowed to go until 10pm is if the minimum overs weren't completed, but they needed to be reduced in line with a 9:30pm scheduled finish, even knowing they could go until 10 due to slow over rates, hence the decision time being 9:10pm.
Simon
Guest
Yeah but they started at 1:40pm this arvo, 8.5 hrs makes it 10:10pm so having to be back on by 9:10pm seems a little odd to me. I’m probably interpreting it wrong, but yeah I reckon if you can play cricket play cricket
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Wasn’t it just?!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me here today on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017-18 Ashes. Day 3 is set up as one which could well decide whether England stay in the series. They must bat all day, and must do so convincingly if they are going to stay in this second Test and maybe get a draw out of it. Don't forget, we will be back half an hour earlier again. The first ball is scheduled for 2pm (AEDT), so be sure to join me about 15 minutes before then to get things underway. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It's basically to limit the time players have to spend at the ground from earliest start to earliest finish each day to 8 and a half hours, which, to be fair is still a long time. 6 hours of scheduled play, an hour of breaks, an hour of make up time and half an hour of added time for slow over rates.
Scott Pryde
Expert
ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS
TOTAL: 1/29 (9.1)
Simon
Guest
Mhmmm, seems look a poor quirk in the rules to be honest. It’s not like they can’t play because of bad light. Thanks for the explanation though
Scott Pryde
Expert
AUSTRALIA FIRST INNINGS
TOTAL: 8d/442 (149)
Scott Pryde
Expert
It's a quirk with the rules Simon. Basically, on Day 1, a full hour can be added to play on any given day, plus the half hour to get the overs in. With the finish time being scheduled for 9pm, that meant the latest scheduled finish was 10pm after an hour of rain. There would have been a similar thing where, if they were off at 9:40pm for example, it would have been called. Today, because half an hour was already added onto the day before it started, it meant the latest scheduled finish time was 9:30pm... Meaning, 9:10pm was the decision time.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, Cook survived that tricky little period. Vince survived a maiden from Starc and Australia got one breakthrough of Stoneman. Still, it's been their day. Australia dominating in Adelaide. Scorecards as they stand in a moment.
Simon
Guest
What? If we had to bat until 10:30 last night why do they have to be back on by 10 past 9?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Play has been abandoned for the day. The outfield is too wet, so that's going to do us for Day 2. We will be back half an hour early tomorrow, half an early on Day 4 and a little bit early on Day 5. We are currently 19 overs short for the entire match, losing 18 today plus the one we still needed to make up. England then, go to stumps at 1/29, chasing 8 for 442.
Andre Leslie
Roar Guru
As we wait to restart it's a good chance to get a squiz at the many and varied Cricket Australia support staff. I was wondering where all those old names had got to!
Scott Pryde
Expert
The Australian players are starting to appear around the boundary, but they are talking about the outfield being a bit of a problem. There's going to be an inspection pretty shortly. Apparently play must resume by 9:40pm (AEDT) if we are to get back underway.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Covers coming off again!
Swannies
Guest
Root doing a good rain dance in the pavilion.
Rellum
Roar Guru
On State cricket, SA are 8-328 against the mighty QLD who have probably the weakest bowling attack I have ever seen. It is no coincidence Swepson has 5 wickets and bowled twice as many overs as anyone else. It looks like it might be a spinners deck.