A high-speed Test match that gave us what every sporting contest needs

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This was published 4 years ago

A high-speed Test match that gave us what every sporting contest needs

By Malcolm Knox

On a day that was played under the shadow of an injured batsman, it was fitting that the high-speed grand prix that was the second Test match ended under a safety flag.

As if no more cricket could be packed into three days, Australia’s white-knuckled ride towards a dead-heat was spared two last overs from Jofra Archer, perhaps decisively, when the umpires decided that the floodlights were generating insufficient light against some low clouds blotting out the last of the sun. Travis Head and Patrick Cummins ensured the draw, but England drive to Leeds with the greater momentum.

Any interim review of the match and series would say that we already have a classic on our hands. The modern benchmark, the 2005 Ashes, had an ensemble cast, whereas this one has been a star vehicle for Steve Smith and now Jofra Archer. But what emerged on Sunday, when Smith was missing, was a competitive evenness between these two teams that is producing day after day and session after session of the most tense and beguiling cricket.

With Smith taken out of the game on Sunday morning, the mood was unsettled and unprecedented. Marnus Labuschagne became Test cricket’s first substitute under the concussion rule. Inevitably, given the drama continually weaving itself around the contest, Labuschagne became the centre of attention, playing the innings of his career to underpin Australia’s resistance.

Marnus Labuschagne acknowledges the crowd after reaching 50.

Marnus Labuschagne acknowledges the crowd after reaching 50.Credit: AP

That they were in this position was a story in itself. Smith’s absence had already upended the psychological balance between the teams. Ben Stokes led the English lower order through some midday plunder as they realised Australia might be vulnerable in the afternoon. Meanwhile Australia were blunt and luckless in the field, their minds perhaps already on the Smithless task ahead.

Joe Root left his bowlers with 48 overs to dismiss Australia, Stokes’ century having bought him the runs to stay out of the visitors’ reach. Normally that would not seem anywhere near enough, but this is far from a normal summer.

Jofra Archer celebrates taking the second innings wicket of Usman Khawaja.

Jofra Archer celebrates taking the second innings wicket of Usman Khawaja.Credit: AP

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In an instant, Australia were on the run. David Warner survived a first assault from his nemesis, Stuart Broad, only to fall to his first ball from Archer. The Warner subplot is now becoming a major theme, particularly if Smith’s diagnosis of concussion rules him out of the third Test match.

The unexpected was, predictably, around the next corner. Old heads Warner and Usman Khawaja could not do the job, leaving it to Cameron Bancroft, Labuschagne and Travis Head to manufacture the telling two and a half hours of resistance to save their team’s 1-0 series lead.

Cameron Bancroft is given out lbw off the bowling of Jack Leach.

Cameron Bancroft is given out lbw off the bowling of Jack Leach.Credit: AP

Archer had suddenly become the totality of England’s bowling as much as Smith had been of Australia’s batting. He was fast and furious all afternoon, and seemed to slump in despair whenever he did not take a wicket, so strong was his belief.

The young Australians batted in a style to make their names. Head might have been out four times in his first five minutes, but thereafter was controlled and mature. He ought to have been out when he steered a sitter to Jason Roy at second slip, but the young South Australian withstood arrow after arrow from Archer and demonstrated once more that he belongs at this level.

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Labuschagne, who wasn’t playing a day earlier, was a technical revelation, looking better organised against both Archer’s pace and Jack Leach’s probing tweakers than most other batsmen and raising a selection intrigue for Headingley if Smith should be fit. Smacked on the grille by his second ball from Archer, Labuschagne displayed great fortitude until he was out in circumstances that ticked over from unlucky to questionable, all in the one sequence of play.

Drama, as they say behind the paywall, never ends, and here it kept on cascading through Lord’s, with Matthew Wade and then Tim Paine quickly out, the latter to an acrobatic Joe Denly catch. Head, Cummins, the black clouds and the umpires finally snuffed it all out.

But we are only at the end of part one, with multiple storylines unfolding. In three days of chaos, the most untamed draw, this Test match has given the series what every sporting contest most needs: a sense that anything can happen next.

At Lord’s, just about everything did happen, other than one team winning. Moments after stumps, the rain came again, having allowed just enough time to disturb, entertain and tantalise. All roads now lead to Leeds.

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Player ratings

England

Jason Roy: Two batting failures, dropped a crucial sitter, but arrived on time each day. 1

Rory Burns: The surprise package of England’s top order, his batting improved from the first Test without the same result. 7

Joe Root: Showing signs of wear. 4

Joe Denly: An attractive cricketer, but his scores are blending into the background. Super catch late on Sunday. 6

Ben Stokes: Lucky early in his second innings but stuck around and smashed the highest score of the match, giving England their chance. 8

Jos Buttler: Still a query, but applied himself and regained some confidence in his second dig. 5

Jonny Bairstow: Back to his bubbly self with bat and gloves. 7

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Chris Woakes: Seems not to have his captain’s backing, and bowled without bite. 6

Jofra Archer: Five wickets won’t tell the story of his impact on the match and series. 8

Stuart Broad: England’s most accurate bowler again, but would have liked to cause more panic on Sunday. 7

Jack Leach: Worried the Australians on a wearing pitch. 6

Australia

David Warner: Bottomed out in this game. The only way from here is up, or out. 1

Cameron Bancroft: He fights so hard it hurts, but there is no doubting his heart. 4

Usman Khawaja: Senior man, just not yet producing the score to go with the responsibility. 4

Steve Smith: They could only stop him by hitting him. 9

Marnus Labuschagne: Like-for-like replacement for Smith, as measured by match-saving determination. 7

Travis Head: Suddenly lost his Edgbaston form, then suddenly found it again. 6

Matthew Wade: Nothing to report, did some good fielding for an unemployed keeper. 2

Tim Paine: Handy first innings, sound glovework, needs to do homework on his referrals. 5

Patrick Cummins: Lionhearted with ball and bat. 8

Peter Siddle: Always underestimated, usually overachieves. 6

Nathan Lyon: Couldn’t quite get it going when conditions favoured in the second innings. 5

Josh Hazlewood: Welcome return, Australia’s best bowler during the game’s vital first stanza. 6

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