Australia vs England, 1st Test, Day 2: Marsh takes the single off the first ball of Overton's over, post which Cummins plays the suicidal upper cut to third man. Marsh crossed over and edged a boundary over the slips, after he earned two runs via a cut short. Australia have made their intentions clear. They want to get as many as they can before their quicks can have a crack at the England batsmen.
Day 1 report: Craig Overton's first Test wicket was a big one, dismissing Australia captain Steve Smith for the first time in the series and backing England skipper Joe Root's decision to bowl first in the first day-night Test ever in the Ashes.
Smith's unbeaten 141 in the series-opener in Brisbane last week turned the first Test in Australia's favour, setting up a 10-wicket victory.
Australia skipper Steve Smith (L) and England captain Joe Root pose at a media opportunity in Brisbane ahead of the first Ashes Test. AFP
But he was out for 40 on Saturday and at stumps on a rain-interrupted Day 1 in the second Test, Australia was 209/4 from 81 overs after being sent in to bat. Peter Handscomb was unbeaten on 36 and Shaun Marsh was 20 not out.
Root was the first Test captain since 1982 to decide to bowl first in Adelaide after winning the toss. Then, it was England's Bob Willis, and the visitors lost by eight wickets.
Australia have won both previous day-night Tests at the Adelaide Oval — beating New Zealand in 2015 and South Africa last year — but in both Tests the Australians batted second after losing the toss.
It was slow going in the rain-reduced first session, with only 33 runs scored without loss in 13 overs. England struck twice in each of the next two sessions to keep the Australians in check.
Chris Woakes had David Warner (47) caught behind to go with his run out of Cameron Bancroft (10) in the middle session, and he almost picked up another wicket but Mark Stoneman couldn't hold a catch at deep backward square after Usman Khawaja top-edged a pull shot when on 44.
Khawaja went on to post his ninth Test half-century and reached the dinner interval at 53, but didn't add another run before James Anderson broke through four balls into the night session.
Khawaja chased a swinging ball and was well caught at gully by James Vince as Australia slipped to 139/3.
Smith seemed to be in control, facing 90 balls and engaging in an ongoing verbal joust with Anderson until he chopped on to his stumps against Overton, who was playing his first Test after coming into the England line-up at the expense of Jake Ball, to make the total 161/4.
The banter was flowing in Adelaide, after England accused the Australian captain of disrespecting them in the post-match news conference in Brisbane.
"One went through him a bit quicker — beat him for pace," Overton explained. Smith "was saying I was slow, so it was nice to beat him for pace".
Khawaja said the Australians were in a reasonable position after being sent in, and losing most of a day-time opening session because of rain.
"We're pretty happy with 4/200 but it's going to be important how we bat tomorrow," Khawaja said. "It was good old-fashioned Ashes cricket, it was entertaining."
England needed one more breakthrough to get into the lower-order, but was unable to exploit the extra movement of the night-time conditions in front of more than 55,000 spectators in Adelaide.
The England players wore black arm bands in honour of first-class umpire Russell Evans, who died on Friday aged 52.
With AP inputs
HIGHLIGHTS
Australia have declared for 442/8. Smith thinks they have had enough. Calls the boys back in. This has been a superb effoert from Marsh who remains unbeaten and walks off to deservedly standing ovation.
OUT! That's right! Cummins who weathered most of the 2nd session falls for an extravagant upper cut to thrird man. Dawid Malan gobbles up an easy catch.
Pat Cummins 44 c Malan b Overton
Hundred! Gets to his 5th test ton with his favourite pull shot. This has been an innings that defines determination and hard work and defying a lot of criticism over his selection for the Ashes. Superlative effort to get to the landmark.
OUT! Mitchell Starc miscues a pull giving an easy catch to Anderson who runs forward from mid on. Broad has his second wicket.
Starc c Anderson b Broad 6
FIFTY! Shaun Marsh clips it to deep mid wicket for a couple off the first ball after Tea to bring up his 9th Test half-century.
OUT! England worked out a plan and Overton has executed it. Moeen Ali completes it with a safe catch in the deep. The fielder was stationed at the deep for the pull as Paine likes going after the short ball, he has hit it straight down Ali' throat.
T Paine c Ali b Overton 57
FIFTY! Instrumental knock this by Australia's wicket-keeper batsman. He brings up his 3rd Test half-century, he has repaid the faith in his selection. Australia in a commanding position
OUT! Handscomb survived the third session yesterday by playing late, going deep into the crease and he tries to do that. Broad gets some movement straightaway and the inward deviation off the pitch traps him right in front. Not reviewed. Handscomb doesn't add to his overnight score.
Handscomb lbw Broad 36
After 1 overs,England 2/0 ( Alastair Cook 1 , Mark Stoneman 1)
Starc clocks regularly over 145+, finishes with 150 Kmph. No swing as of now has been raw pace, Stoneman and Cook get off to mark with confident looking strokes.
Cook and Stoneman walk out for England. Starc has the Pink ball the floodlights are on, plenty of action awaits.
Australia have declared for 442/8. Smith thinks they have had enough. Calls the boys back in. This has been a superb effoert from Marsh who remains unbeaten and walks off to deservedly standing ovation.
After 149 overs,Australia 442/8 ( Shaun Marsh 126 , Nathan Lyon 10)
Marsh makes full use of the one over that Smith promised. He has smashed it for 4, 4, 6 and 1 off the last ball. Swings one on the onside to collect a boundary. Manages to squeeze out a 140Kmph+ yorker between his legs for a boundary. Hit the shot of the innings for six straight down the ground.
Smith has raised his finger, not to appeal, not to point at anything just to suggest Marsh he has one over before the declaration.
After 148 overs,Australia 427/8 ( Shaun Marsh 111 , Nathan Lyon 10)
Marsh was lining for a big shot but Overton has not provided him with any pace, he has to adjust at the very end, he manages to clear the cover fielder only for one though and he takes it this time. Goes round the wicket to Lyon, it is the same ploy but Lyon has got a piece of that and he has got off the mark with a six over fine leg. This is on! Lyon gets a top edge over the keeper for two and finally when Overton switches to over the wicket and bowls a full ball, he manages to squeeze out two more to cover.
After 147 overs,Australia 416/8 ( Shaun Marsh 110 , Nathan Lyon 0)
Expectedly, Broad tests Lyon with the short stuff, Lyon is not holding back as he looks to pull everything out of the park but plays and misses five times untill he gets a connection on one, but it is off the last ball and Marsh denies the single. Some sembalance still left there.
Broad to bowl round the wicket with leg gully in position
After 146 overs,Australia 416/8 ( Shaun Marsh 110 , Nathan Lyon 0)
Marsh takes the single off the first ball of Overton's over, post which Cummins plays the suicidal upper cut to third man. Marsh crossed over and edged a boundary over the slips, after he earned two runs via a cut short. Australia have made their intentions clear. They want to get as many as they can before their quicks can have a crack at the England batsmen.
OUT! That's right! Cummins who weathered most of the 2nd session falls for an extravagant upper cut to thrird man. Dawid Malan gobbles up an easy catch.
Pat Cummins 44 c Malan b Overton
Overton to start the proceedings for the final session
Players take field for the final session of 2nd Day's play. Will be very interesting to see how Marsh and Cummins approach this session. Smith will surely look to unleash Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins at some point, especially after floodlights take full effect.
How long will they bat for is the question? Doesn't seem like England bowlers are penetrative enough to take the three wickets unless Australia want to throw it away!
Such a nice record to have, will Mitchell Marsh get his turn too, someday?
Another session that belonged to the home side they are doing it nicely here. Joe Root and his men are on the ropes and will take a helluva effort to comeback in this match.
After 145 overs,Australia 409/7 ( Shaun Marsh 103 , Pat Cummins 44)
Cummins cuts well to steer it past gully and they run two more. Marsh gives a chance but two England fielders converage for the catch and collide into one another. Its Cook and Vince who ran from first slip and gully respectively who went for the catch which came off Marsh's bat's shoulder, difficult to say whose catch it was but for Australia Marsh is still out there and so is Pat Cummins, who too has played very well for his 44, as players walk off for dinner.
After 144 overs,Australia 405/7 ( Shaun Marsh 102 , Pat Cummins 42)
Overton runs in to bowl what seems to be the penultimate over of the session. They run a leg bye off the second ball and Marsh gets an inside edge that almost went back onto his stumps but instead he gets add two to his name.
After 143 overs,Australia 402/7 ( Shaun Marsh 100 , Pat Cummins 41)
Australia have breached 400 and this pair seems relentless in their approach. England need some sort of inspiration from somewhere, right now it seems to be fading away.
Hundred! Gets to his 5th test ton with his favourite pull shot. This has been an innings that defines determination and hard work and defying a lot of criticism over his selection for the Ashes. Superlative effort to get to the landmark.
Well...
After 142 overs,Australia 396/7 ( Shaun Marsh 95 , Pat Cummins 40)
Cummins unfurls a big heave off the first ball to get the boundary tp deep mid wicket. Turns the strike the next ball. Marsh uses his feet beautifully to play it through the covers for another boundary, plays it with the spin. Cummins finishes the over with a one bounce boundary to wide long on. 14 runs come off it. Nearing 400.
After 141 overs,Australia 382/7 ( Shaun Marsh 90 , Pat Cummins 31)
Two singles off Woakes' over. Marsh into the 90s now, Cummins will take strike of the first ball of the next over with a single off the last ball.
After 140 overs,Australia 380/7 ( Shaun Marsh 89 , Pat Cummins 30)
Marsh uses his feet to Ali to pierce the gap through offside but Root does well to prevent four runs, takes the single off the final ball for a single to deep mid on and retains strike. Earlier Cummins turned one around forward short leg for a single.
Ali is back on to bowl his off spin. Round the wicket.
After 139 overs,Australia 378/7 ( Shaun Marsh 88 , Pat Cummins 29)
Woakes maintains his line outside the off stump and what does Marsh do? Not chase it, that has been key to his success, he has been selecting his shots very smartly. No run off the over.
After 138 overs,Australia 378/7 ( Shaun Marsh 88 , Pat Cummins 29)
Lovely shot by Cummins over Joe Root's head for another boundary. Shouts of catch of the final ball, forward short leg threw himself but not sure weather there was any bat involved. Cummins is not fiddling with anything that is not the stumps.
After 137 overs,Australia 372/7 ( Shaun Marsh 88 , Pat Cummins 23)
Australia continue to chip away, Woakes off cutter is met with the scything blade of Marsh to collect anoter boundary over point. That was the only scoring shot of the over.
After 136 overs,Australia 368/7 ( Shaun Marsh 84 , Pat Cummins 23)
Short by Root and Cummins swivels to hammer it to long leg boundary for another boundary. These two are taking the scored towards 400. This is very mature from both the players.
After 135 overs,Australia 361/7 ( Shaun Marsh 83 , Pat Cummins 17)
Cummins smashes one through point for a superb boundary. Brings the 50-runs stand for the 8th wicket. Good show by these two, Marsh has continued to plug away and Cummins is happy to stick around.
After 134 overs,Australia 357/7 ( Shaun Marsh 83 , Pat Cummins 13)
Marsh is in no hurry here. He blocks the first few deliveries as Root gets some turn going for himself. They take couple of singles in the last two balls off the over.
Can Root break the stand? It has surely frustrated the English.
After 133 overs,Australia 355/7 ( Shaun Marsh 82 , Pat Cummins 12)
Woakes bowling slightly back of the length, hits Marsh over the pads and halfhearted shouts of 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' but only a run off the over.
Chris Woakes has been brought back.
After 132 overs,Australia 354/7 ( Shaun Marsh 81 , Pat Cummins 12)
Cummins goes after a half-tracker from Moeen but he didn't seem to have hit that well, fortunately for him, as there were couple of men positioned for the shot in the deep, they take the single. Marsh looking very comfortable out there, he sweeps the last ball that has been pushed through for three.
Ali continues after the break.
After 131 overs,Australia 350/7 ( Shaun Marsh 78 , Pat Cummins 11)
Marsh plays the pull to great effect. The ball races off the turf rapidly. This is really good cricket from the Aussies. England bowlers have toiled hard for wickets. Despite some good spells, they have not got the breaks that they would have liked. Players take drinks.
After 130 overs,Australia 340/7 ( Shaun Marsh 71 , Pat Cummins 8)
The plan is simple with Marsh taking the odd single and Cummins playing out the rest of the over with an occassional boundary, but after seeing off three deliveries, Moeen flighted the last ball slightly, Cummins gets to the pitch of the full ball and smacks it down long on along the turf for a boundary. His second scoring shot, moves to 8.
After 129 overs,Australia 335/7 ( Shaun Marsh 70 , Pat Cummins 4)
Marsh takes a single off the first ball to long leg and Cummins blocks the rest. Isn't it nice to have Cummins at number 9. Resilience in defence, does want to stay out there and contribute with bat. Bends his back when he bowls, has the pace, delivers long spells and can bowl the heavy ball. Agile enough in the field too, complete utility player.
After 128 overs,Australia 334/7 ( Shaun Marsh 69 , Pat Cummins 4)
Marsh displays all his class in that boundary that he picked off his legs and flicked it beautifully to beat the deep mid-wicket fielder. Marsh will retain strike with a single to mid on, the fielder is slightly deep allowing an easy single.
Moeen Ali comes into the attack.
After 127 overs,Australia 329/7 ( Shaun Marsh 64 , Pat Cummins 4)
Crowds absolutely loved it, when Cummins got that boundary through square gully. It was played in the air but in the gap too. Australia slowly moving towards 350.
Craig Overton comes onto bowl his first over in the second session
After 126 overs,Australia 324/7 ( Shaun Marsh 63 , Pat Cummins 0)
Anderson continuing his spell. Cummins plays a nice looking shot to point for ... no run. Yet to open his account after 31 balls. Anderson induces a mistake for Cummins, he nicked it behind but fell just short of Johnny Bairstow. Defends the last ball as well.
After 125 overs,Australia 323/7 ( Shaun Marsh 62 , Pat Cummins 0)
Shouts of lbw off the first ball of Broad's over as well and it has been turned down again allowing Marsh to get to the other end. Cummins is still not of the mark, he doesn't really look frustrated by it as he gets solidly behind the ball. One leg-bye off the over.
After 124 overs,Australia 322/7 ( Shaun Marsh 62 , Pat Cummins 0)
Shouts of lbw on the first ball of the 124th over, Anderson hasn't had the rub of the green with reviews, the on field decision is not out but Root has send it upstairs for another look and the ball tracking tells us the ball was pitching down the leg side meaning England lose their review. Marsh and Cummins run a leg bye. Cummins tries work out a single a couple of times in the over but is unable to, he is still not off the blocks and has been out there for 24 balls.
55 overs left in day's play.
After 123 overs,Australia 321/7 ( Shaun Marsh 62 , Pat Cummins 0)
Cummins leaves the first ball off the over, ducks under the second ball, blocks the third, gets right behind the fourth one, bobs the fifth almost back to Broad but falls short and after all that, tries an expansive ramp/periscope over the slip cordon.
After 122 overs,Australia 321/7 ( Shaun Marsh 62 , Pat Cummins 0)
Marsh finds the gap through cover-point for a boundary off the last ball of the over. A diving Ali cannot save four runs. Pleasing sight when Marsh gets the flowing drives. Showing a lot of patience here, only going after the deliveries are a scoring opportunity.