Key events
We’ve got about ten minutes to the first ball. Conditions seem good for bowling, it’s a bit muggy and overcast, though the clouds are quite high. This morning session will go on til 13:15pm to make up for those lost overs yesterday.
“Hello from a blazing hot Naples.”
It’s 17 degrees and patchy white cloud in Leeds, Colum Fordham, stick that on your Pizza!
“This fourth day seems set fair for a successful run-chase by the ultra-aggressive England batting line-up. The expectancy and hope is almost too much to bear. I am so looking foward to a session which could see England claw back a vital victory in a series where they have thrown caution to the wind. I somewhat fear the threat of Starc, Cummins and co but if Crawley and Duckett put on at least fifty more runs, we could be (finally) celebrating a victory rather than rueing missed opportunities.”
Anne Inserra is in Nairobi and there’s no offence taken, none at all…
“Not that the OBO is inadequate but could you ask if anybody out there knows of a sports bar or hotel in Nairobi that’s showing this on TV?” You’ve come to the right place Anne. Anyone? Double-screening in this instance is of course fine.
Mesnil Man has Today’s TMS overseas link:
A Tender missive from Ian Rodin:
“Hello Jim. As I read your preamble, and felt a familiar nervous anticipation, The Universal by Blur was playing on Radio 6: “It really really really could happen”. Here’s hoping.”
Blur played Wembley stadium last night, I think Tanya was in attendance, BritPop pogoer that she is. I saw them play Glastonbury in 2009 and it remains one of the greatest gigs of my life. If England fail to make these runs they will have ‘No Distance Left to Run’ and Australia will be ‘feeling heavy-metal’.
I’m not sure what Brendan Jones in Sydney is up to but I’m not sure I like it:
“G’day, Brendan from Sydney here. Just want to congratulate England for winning the Third Test. Well played. The Aussies will rue throwing a few too many of their wickets away and not setting a big enough target, but England did bowl very well. It’s all set up for Old Trafford next week!”
You’re getting into our heads Brendan.
@Jimbo_Cricket morning jim
Feeling quitely confident i think they’ll be bumps in the road but im going England hour or so after tea, just don’t need to rush this.
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) July 9, 2023
“So nervous!” writes Vanessa Edwards in Eastbourne.
“Morning Jim, I’ve hardly slept. I can just see us (England) losing at least one wicket, probably two, in the first over. I don’t know what this sport is, it’s not Test cricket as I recall dozing contentedly through it 50 years ago, but it is gripping stuff. Enjoy your day, come what may…” God speed Vanessa.
The players are out on the pitch going through their warm-ups. There is a real buzz at Headingley, the turnstiles positively chocka this morning and flocks of people heading down past the SkyRack pub to the ground, a few stopping en route to purchase an England crested bucket hat.
Don McRae speaks to Nick Compton:
Thanks @thecompdog Nick Compton for talking so openly & honestly about mental health & the struggles he went through as a Test cricketer. Despite so much he did so well. He sheds light on depression, the Ashes, Ben Stokes & the need for more understanding https://t.co/AzMQf4z8Fl
— Donald McRae (@donaldgmcrae) July 9, 2023
Morning reading, catch up on yesterday’s short but scintillating day three action right here:
Preamble
James Wallace
Good morning and welcome to a pivotal day in this men’s Ashes series. Today could be the day that Australia reclaim the urn, ten Sunday English wickets at Headingley will see the visitors win their first Ashes series in England since 2001.
England? Well they need to score 224 runs in order to keep the series and their Ashes hopes alive. Only a win will do for Ben Stokes’ side. They’ve spurned opportunities at key moments in the series so far, can they take this one?
Heading to Old Trafford in a week or so with a 2-1 scoreline would be great for the series, the sporting spectacle and my life the English summer. The Aussies don’t care about that though.
The weather is fine in Leeds this morning, hazy sunshine and high cloud. The forecast is fine until at least 4pm so we should see a result either way.
Jim here to take you through the morning session and early part of afternoon before Tanya Aldred tags in for what should be the business end. I’m off to make my way down the Otley Road to Headingley stadium with butterflies in my tummy and a heart full of hope*.
Test cricket doesn’t half put us through it eh?
Play gets underway at 11am BST (9pm AEDT)
Tuning in? Feeling nervous/confident/hungover/ – you can send us an Email here or tweet @Jimbo_Cricket.
*Whilst remaining firmly impartial you understand, I’m nothing without my journalistic integrity…
