Key events
Ah, my favourite part of England OBOs – people asking for the TMS overseas link. A tradition that soothes my soul and gives me a sense of stability in a changing world, in much the same way that retaining a monarchy seems to do for others.
Here it is, for Damien and company.
Tim Gilkison is concerned. “Hello Geoff, we’re off to meet my dad for an early pre Father’s Day Father’s Day lunch. Your OBO will be my lifeline (you’re more important than you could ever imagine). I hope someone lends you a nice warm cardie, one that doesn’t cramp your undoubted sartorial style.”
You’re more important than you could ever imagine. Lines that a smiling narcissist might hear in their sleep. Thankfully my colleague Bharat Sundaresan has ferried some layers to the ground. Mine, not his, though borrowing from his wardrobe would make for a vibrant day.
“Amongst all the hoopla, do you think we’ve been underestimating Cummball? The Aussie skipper seems to be quietly confident.”
I’m not having this terminology, Patrick O’Brien. Not having it.
But yes, that’s the general thesis of my article below. The thing that Cummins shares with Stokes is removing the weight placed on results. He seems to genuinely believe it when he says that you want to win, you try as hard as you can, and you also accept that it doesn’t ultimately matter. If you lose, you smile and go on with your life. Enjoyment of a game is the thing.
Robert’s email, I should add, had the subject line “Nobody knows anything.” Which I like as a summary of the didactic efforts of humanity.
Blue ribbon stuff from Robert Ellson to start the day’s mail.
“‘England scored fast enough to win a game yesterday, but they also scored fast enough to lose one, and the delirium surrounding their exhilarating slogathon obscures the fact that, at best, [407] is a par score.’
“Which ‘philosopher’ said that? Some OBO guy at Edgbaston in 2005. Feels a bit like that, doesn’t it? If Josh Hazlewood gloves one down the leg side on Monday morning with one hand off the bat and Australia two runs short, let’s hope they’ve used up all their reviews…”
You might like to know that when we add Australia’s 14 for 0, there were exactly 407 runs scored at Edgbaston yesterday too.
Drop me a line
You know the deal. If you have something to share that other people might enjoy reading hit the email via [email protected], or the creaking and spluttering tweet machine @GeoffLemonSport.
Lastly, there’ll be this over-by-over report, with me now and Tanya Aldred for the second half of the day. You can’t say we’re not giving Ashes value.
… and ended with the more powerful intoxicant of another artist’s chanceless day.
Then there’s Barney Ronay, whose day started like this…
Classic Ashes scenes as disbelieving man discovers you can’t buy 12 cans of Stella at Euston M&S self scan because “it’s not yet 7am sir”
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) June 16, 2023
… funny that he’s writing in the third person, but you know how creative types can be…
I was tasked with the Australian angle, for some reason. And from that perspective, as entertaining as England’s day was, I reckon the Australians will be very happy with bowling first and ending up conceding less than 400. They have they opportunity to control the match from here if they’re good enough with the bat.
I’m also doing a daily wrap podcast, if you’re audio inclined.
Yesterday, though, Andy knew what he was writing about after the first ball of the day.
And Simon also had the day’s Ashes Diary. Andy Bull will be doing that one today.
Simon Burnton meanwhile was on quotes duty.
Catch-up time! Given we have an entire squadron of Guardian writers at this match, let’s work through it bit by bit. To begin, Birmingham’s own Ali Martin with the match report.
Preamble
Geoff Lemon
Hello all, from the aficionado to the dilettante. It’s that time, it’s Ashes time, when anyone and everyone can plough through the turnstiles and get involved in The Great Game of Cricket™. We’ve had Test cricket for 146 years now, and it has thrown up plenty of twists and variations along the way. Yesterday’s exhibition, with all of the breeziness of England’s new don’t-worry-be-happy style was a lot of fun.
Joe Root played beautifully, Moeen Ali gave some reason for hometown cheers, Harry Brook gave us an immensely replayable moment, and amid all of the claims that Test cricket had been totally reinvented, a humble off-spinner whirled away at one end for most of the day in a display of one of the oldest crafts of all.
England declared shortly before the close last night on 393 for 8, and Australia got through four overs unscathed.
Today, it dawns cool and cloudy. Unexpectedly cool, for those of us on autopilot who arrived at the ground in our shirtsleeves and then had to send out an SOS for more garments. And here’s an early exclusive, given that the press box is mostly empty this long before the scheduled start: a sprinkling of rain out there. The covers are coming on. Presumably they’ll be gone by 11am.
