The second Test of the Ashes at Lord’s began with an interruption by Just Stop Oil protesters and only got crazier from that point.
The members of the environmental activist group who somehow invaded the ground to release orange powder onto the wicket were swiftly countered by the orangest man in world cricket, Jonny Bairstow.
The England wicketkeeper responded to the invasion with typical pragmatism, simply picking up one of the protesters, lodging him beneath his arms and carrying him off the ground.
Disappointingly, however, Pat Cummins didn’t carry the protester immediately back on.
Bairstow then bookended the Test by being called upon to carry England home in a large fourth innings run chase. Did he succeed in that effort? Well, let’s see, shall we, via my report card for the second Ashes Test.
Grade: B+
The first session of the Test was obviously Bairstow’s. But it was also Australia’s, who had openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner survive almost until lunch.
This was despite dark, overhead clouds that twice saw players forced from the ground for a brief rain delay, much to the annoyance of those of us back in Australia, trying desperately to stay awake. In fact, I speak for all Australians and/or environmental protesters in saying: “Sort your climate out, England.”
Even when Khawaja (bowled not playing a shot) and Warner (bowled missing a shot) were dismissed either side of lunch to Josh Tongue, Steve Smith came out to score his 9000th Test run – the vast majority of those thrashed in a frenzied start to this innings – putting the heat back on England.
Despite losing Alex Carey early on the second day, Smith continued to purr along to his 32nd Test century. The purring, by the way, is yet another weird idiosyncrasy for Smith to add to his repertoire.
I’m not sure I’ll ever fully understand Smith’s transition from ‘youngster selected to crack jokes in the dressing room’ to ‘all-time batting great who embodies humourless destruction.’ To be frank, it’s very weird.
Grade: B+
At 7/393, though, Smith fell into one of Bazball’s more subtle traps. In the first Test, Ben Stokes had declared on 8/393, perhaps setting in Smith’s mind the idea that this was the new done thing.
As we all know by now, Bazball has changed the game so much forever and is saving Test cricket and is the only proper way to play the sport these days. So fair enough for Smith to assume if he got himself out, to make the score 8/393, Cummins would have no choice but to declare.
Cummins, however, is a stubborn traditionalist, who cares not one iota for the future of Test cricket and its Bazballian saviours. As far as he was concerned, the loss of Smith simply brought Nathan Lyon to the crease and the first Test also taught us that these are Australia’s two best batters.
Lyon would go on to prove that in the second innings, and Cummins proved it here, finishing the first innings not out and with a series batting average at that point of 104.
Grade: D
In reply to Australia’s 416 all out, England soon surged to a strong position of 1/188, especially considering Lyon had been ruled out of the Test with a calf injury. Technically, of course, with Lyon, it’s not a calf injury, it’s a kid injury.
England simply had to wait out the bouncer barrage, tire the Australian quicks and feast on their exhaustion to surge to a first innings (and probable match-winning) lead.
Instead, they gleefully threw their wickets away, like unruly infants in a high chair. Yes, on the third morning, Stokes fell to a sharp catch from Cameron Green – the kind of thing that can happen to any of us when we least expect it.
But Harry Brook celebrated his half-century by swatting a chance straight to Cummins, as did Bairstow, perhaps also wanting to get a glimpse of the Australian captain’s dazzling smile.
With just the tail remaining, Cummins called for some Travis Head filth.
Australia’s number one, vegan-endorsed, GOAT substitute cleaned up a pair of England’s number elevens, taking the wickets of Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson, who cunningly avoided the ignominy of being stumped by getting a feather on his wild waft instead.
It’s no wonder they call Head ‘the mop’. Although that’s mostly because of the moustache, to be fair.
Grade: D-
Australia’s second innings then soon developed into a battle of wills between England’s copycat interminable onslaught of bouncers and Australia’s interminable ducking and avoiding of bouncers.
It was gripping stuff. Assuming, that is, you enjoy being gripped by an overwhelming sense of deja vu, as ball after ball (after ball) followed the exact same path.
On the plus side, imagine how dull it would have been if England weren’t so devoted to saving Test cricket.
Nevertheless, despite the mindless repetition of it all, England’s tactics eventually bore wickets (quite literally). Khawaja got bored with batting sensibly and holed out. Smith got bored with playing tennis shots that saw him fall on his bottom where he could practise the shot once more and holed out.
Finally, Lyon restored insanity to the contest by hobbling to the crease to hang around with Mitchell Starc for the final wicket. Unable to take singles – to widespread booing from the knowledgeable Lord’s crowd – the pair swatted a few boundaries and fifteen vital runs to set England 371 to win.
Grade: D-
England’s chase was swiftly undone by a pair of blitzes from Starc and Cummins, who reduced the home side to 4/45. It left the home side desperately hoping that Stokes could pull off yet another Ashes miracle run chase on the final day.
Then, when Bairstow was dozily stumped by a clever Carey off the bowling of Green (!), the enraged crowd started chanting ‘same old Aussies! Always appealing for wickets that the umpires give out’.
Their fury transferred to Stokes who threatened to repeat the miracle of Headingley, exploding into action with a magnificent 155.
Here’s the thing about miracles, though. Almost by definition, you can’t rely on them happening. (No, not even if you have a Pope in your side.)
And so it proved, with Carey disgustingly holding onto a skied shot that Stokes didn’t even intend to hit there. Ugly stuff from the Aussies. Is this how you want to make your name, Alex? I’m surprised a keeper with so much talent resorts to hanging onto catches as well as completing stumpings.
You don’t see Bairstow stooping to such appalling depths.
Adhi_1005
Roar Rookie
With Ben Stokes saying if he was in Pat's position, he would've withdrawn the appeal, can we assume that the Aussie batters are in no danger of getting stumped for the remainder of the series and can simply walk down the pitch w/o a care in the world whether the ball is dead or not? Coz even if Bairstow hits the wickets, Ben has said he will withdraw the appeal
Adhi_1005
Roar Rookie
With Ben Stokes saying if he was in Pat's position, he would've withdrawn the appeal, can we assume that the Aussie batters are in no danger of getting stumped for the remainder of the series and can simply walk down the pitch w/o a care in the world whether the ball is dead or not? Coz even if Bairstow hits the wickets, Ben has said he will withdraw the appeal :laughing:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Nonsense! There's now footage of Bairstow trying to do the same thing with Labuschagne the other day! Except Labuschagne was more aware of the situation. Just pure hypocrisy from the English (& McCullum). You'd have to assume Bairstow won't be so careless in the future.
Married to an Aussie
Roar Rookie
That run out was not really comparable. The batsman had charged out of his crease seeking an advantage, as part of play. A closer analogy would be Trevor Chappel’s underarm.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Great satire Dan. :laughing:
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Very funny Dan. Especially Pat Cummins' inexplicably not carrying the climate change protester back on. And the enraged crowd booing appearing to be directed at their own team. The boo/cheering at lunch was hilarious.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
For sure. I reckon he'll do anything to stay with this squad
matth
Roar Guru
Love your last couple of sentences there Dan
badmanners
Roar Rookie
I reckon Nathan will hang around all tour just to give throw downs in the nets. :thumbup:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Great writing Dan, but I think you missed one. A+ - Nathan Lyon coming out to bat and showing us all just how much he wants to help his team win this game.
Handy
Roar Rookie
Agreed Andrew. While canonized by the Brits and Kiwis, McCullum's “beer sharing” comments raised some serious eyebrows in the Australian camp, after he (wait for it) ran players out multiple times through his New Zealand Test career as batsmen were celebrating milestones!! Not So Holy Kiwi Bloke.
Andrew
Roar Rookie
Doesn't make a lot of sense their protestations. Think they are feeling the pressure causing them to latch onto anything. Got the flat pitches they asked for. Have had the best of the conditions to bat. Us losing our premier spinner. And they are still 2-0 down.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
I wonder if we would even be having this conversation if Carey had been standing up to Lyon. The only difference really was Carey was back. YJB was careless...and was also "guilty" of trying to do the exact same thing to Warner in the first innings....
Andrew
Roar Rookie
At least this one bounced.
Rellum
Roar Guru
That last sentence gave me a laugh
Panthers
Roar Rookie
It was just another example of how the umpires in this series haven’t liked giving the English batsmen out.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The ball release was before the foot drag. Bairstow should've looked to the keeper for the ball being dead. He didn't. What else do you want to know?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Curmudgeon1961
Roar Rookie
I couldn't believe it either
marfu
Roar Rookie
Thanks Dan for your insightful analysis as usual and your prompt delivery is appreciated as I have been looking forward to it from ball one. Loved the Lyon's "kid injury" . The Bairstow controversy just makes the win even more delicious !