Key events
Then there was Jonathan Liew, who has joined us in the City of a Thousand Trades. And what was not to enjoy about Moeen Ali bowling absolute pearls of deliveries in between being thumped for sixes.
My contribution yesterday was, unsurprisingly, about Usman Khawaja. It would have been anyway, but his century celebration was perhaps the most extraordinary I’ve seen of the genre.
For anyone who likes their daily wrap in podcast form, I’ve got you covered.
The opening session of the day was all about Stuart Broad, and Barney Ronay turned his thoughts to the England evergreen.
The Women’s Ashes will start with the standalone Test at Trent Bridge two days after this match ends. Tanya Aldred caught up with England’s best bowler, the left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
Andy Bull had the colour and movement and silliness and meaning of the day, through our Guardian Ashes Diary.
Ali also had time to hit the press conference and get Stuart Broad’s unimpressed reaction to the pitch, and Khawaja’s response to his ton.
If you’re catching up on yesterday, you should obviously start with our friend Ali Martin and his match report.
Preamble
Geoff Lemon
Hello pals. Ready for day three? We’ve had a lot happening over the first couple of days, and now we have a very juicy setup ahead of us. Usman Khawaja, 126 not out overnight, resuming this morning with Alex Carey on 52. Australia trailing by 82 runs on the first innings. A lot riding on this current partnership.
England had Australia 67 for 3 before lunch yesterday, but couldn’t fully press home the advantage. They did manage to snuff out each subsequent partnership, but not before it had added runs. First Travis Head, then Cameron Green, now Carey.
Early wickets and England can still take a lead and command the match, but if the current pair get set again then they could change that dynamic.
Could it be… set up the klaxon… a crucial first hour?
