Key events
Let’s start our correspondence on an upbeat note.
“Difficult to argue with Mark Ramprakesh’s impression of an England team unravelling without any plan for the future. I’m reminded of the way my company went through an evangelical period of major ‘business process re-engineering’ back in the day. The guru of this change was inspired by a number of companies, especially an emergent transformative giant in the energy sector.
“I confess to having been rather cynical about the process, which seemed to consist of discarding and ridiculing old ways and activities (like planning), and embracing new ways and a comprehensive change of culture. Ironically, I was just getting on board with some aspects when the boss got fired and the rug was pulled on the whole episode. It may have ended in tears but it was a wild ride while it lasted. Hopefully England’s inspiration will bear longer term fruit and won’t turn out to have been based on the transformative premise of a business called Enron.”
You can see why Brian Withington has a suburb in Manchester named after him.
For those radio heads outside England and Australia, the TMS overseas link.
Teams
Australia
David Warner
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Mitchell Marsh
Cameron Green
Alex Carey +
Mitchell Starc
Pat Cummins *
Josh Hazlewood
England
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Moeen Ali
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes *
Jonny Bairstow +
Chris Woakes
Mark Wood
Stuart Broad
James Anderson
“Looks like a good wicket, we’re not too unhappy about that,” says Cummins.
England win the toss and bowl
Interesting call! That’s been their method in this new era. Know what you’re chasing. Overheads can help, says Stokes, but he would have bowled even if the sun was out.
And there’s Megan Maurice on the broader significance of this remarkable series.
Meanwhile, in Taunton last night, it was another stunner for England’s women, putting some serious holes in the Australian juggernaut.
I want to recap this truly unbelievable stat.
There have been 27 centuries – total – made against Australia in women’s ODIs.
Nat Sciver-Brunt has made four of those in her last five innings.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) July 18, 2023
Here is Raf Nicholson’s report.
For those incensed by David Warner’s retention, there is a practical case for it, which is what I’ve tried to explain here.
And the Final Word preview podcast, with a lot of insider net-session intel and an explanatory guide to unexpected Aussie Rules footballers showing up at Australian cricket training.
Now for Australia, and unusually their team news came out the day before the match. They have been waiting until the toss in the previous matches.
And here is Ali Martin with the overarching preview compiled yesterday.
Our columnist Mark Ramprakash has his say on the makeup of England’s team and the balance of the series.
There will be a lot of chat about the pitch over the next few days, maybe as much as there is about the weather. Fascinating folk, us cricket types, aren’t we? Manchester local Tanya Aldred is our grassroots correspondent.
Moeen Ali at No3 is a contentious one. Doing it as a surprise tactic in the second innings at Headingley was one thing, starting a Test match with that as your plan is another.
Let’s catch up on everything that has been going on. First to Simon Burnton, who was at Ben Stokes’ press conference yesterday. Full steam ahead, is the short version.
Preamble
Geoff Lemon
Hello to you, as before and hopefully as again. One question burns through the Manchester mist. Are we ready to do it all again?
It has been a non-stop cricket summer. The women’s Ashes came to a dramatic end last night, the men’s series rolls on today. There have been no quiet periods, no normal matches, no box-ticking exercises.
Instead we have a Test series at 1-2 in favour of the visitors, two matches to play, and a need for England to get a win here by whatever means necessary.
The weather might play a big part. It was tipping down rain here in Manchester yesterday, and I’m told it has been for weeks. But today is clear so far and the forecast says we might be alright until the weekend.
Hope springs eternal.
