Any hopes that England might have entertained about wrapping up the innings quickly soon evaporated. Starc and Lyon weren’t going anywhere. Worse, while Lyon defended stoutly at one end, Starc indulged himself with his favourite plan on true wickets: standing outside leg and hitting considered shots through the off-side. By the time he was castled by the persevering Archer he had reached a meritorious 54. Even then Australia weren’t done. Boland struck three more boundaries before Archer trapped Lyon in front for 9. He had batted for an hour and made a crucial contribution. Australia’s 371 was more than anyone had bargained for. Of the bowlers, Archer’s 5/53 was an excellent effort. Stung by earlier criticisms, he kept up a good pace and attacked intelligently. Had his captain set a third man earlier, his figures would have been tighter. The rest were rather below par.
The stern resistance of the tail meant that the home side only had to bowl 14 overs before lunch. And what a drama unfolded therein. For once Starc went wicketless, and Duckett helped himself to a few boundaries. Crawley on the other hand succumbed to a Cummins special: late seam movement just enough to take the edge behind. The early arrival of Lyon at the bowling crease showed just what might be achieved on an apparently docile track. First he induced a loose waft off his pads from the hapless Pope, who was well caught by Inglis. Then Duckett, whose run-a-ball 29 had looked impressive, found himself castled by an off-spinner’s dream delivery. Round the wicket, no air to speak of, pitching on a fullish length and straightening enough to hit the off stump. He departed, apparently bewildered. But Lyon has been champing at the bit all series, waiting for his moment. Two wickets in his first over? It was well worth the wait.
It was left to the two Yorkshiremen Root and Brook to play out until lunch. Root was very lucky to survive a caught behind decision off Boland. It looked awfully out, but DRS said otherwise. Perhaps it was payback for Carey yesterday, who had feathered behind in the seventies and been inexplicably reprieved. With Australia now well in front, England will be made to fight.
The afternoon session was, for England’s army of Barmies, a thoroughly depressing experience. The plan seemed to be to wait for the rubbish balls and punish them. Australia’s bowlers’ response was Good Luck With That because there won’t be any. It was a tight, disciplined attack from Australia on a pitch which had flattened out into an autobahn. Boland led the way. His pitch map showed metronomic accuracy, pitching the ball from various places on the bowling crease into the shoebox. We will give you nothing to hit. Want to try your luck with shots that aren’t there? Fee free.
Only late in the day did Stokes and Archer show what was required. The latter really ought to be batting no lower than no.7. He showed not only skill, talent, and temperament. He also demonstrated the patience in which the allged batsmen were found wanting. With England’s hopes hanging by a thread, it was down to two lion-hearted seam bowlers to show what was indeed possible.