There was a curiously tentative attitude from England this afternoon. Matters began well for them when Neser wafted outside off and was caught behind. It was a poor stroke unworthy of a capable batsman. Carey and Starc survived until the new ball; but Atkinson received a belated reward when Carey also flashed outside off. At eight down the end appeared to be nigh. And yet. We all sensed that something different was in the air. When Mitchell Starc plays with an upright front elbow he means business. The Australian plan was self-evident. Keep them out in the broiling sunshine for as long as we possibly can. We want to be bowling with a shiny hard new ball tonight. Preferably not with a soggy tomato. Stasis suits us just fine. The longer we keep you out here the happier we shall be.
The curious incident was that England seemed to be in no hurry to wrap up the innings. Carey was happy to take every run on offer, trusting in Starc to survive anything cast at him. When Boland came out at number ten Starc began to farm the strike. And once Starc reached twenty-odd the field went out to the boundaries. Starc gave his customary saturnine smile and applied himself to the team plan. Boland’s adhesive nature is well-known locally. Like Australia’s last First Nations seamer Jason Gillespie, Boland loves being the nightwatchman. Given free range to block as much as he pleases, he did just that. Eventually he even played a shot or two. And little by little, Starc allowed him to take more of the bowling.
England’s plan appeared to be that of Vladimir and Estragon. They were waiting for some extraneous happening which might give meaning to their endless struggle. Yes, Neser and Carey had got themselves out. What to do when neither of the incumbents show the slightest sign of batting suicide? There did not appear to be a Plan B. England largely wasted the second new ball, either over-pitching, or under. Every now and then a delivery would come along pitched on a perfect length, seaming either way, at a good pace, and beating the bat with ease. And spectators might well applaud and say Great bowling mate! Why don’t you do it more often?
For 27 overs numbers nine and ten defied everything thrown at them. Yes, Starc has exceptional talent as a lower-order bat. Boland has great endurance and spirit. But there was no urgency. A spread field often merely encourages the batting side. So you don’t want to get us out? Well OK then. We’ll settle in for the summer. Their stand was worth 75 before Starc finally lost patience. Like many a bowler before him, reaching seventy-odd not out has the same effect as high-altitude mountaineering. By the time Doggett succumbed to Jacks Australia had reached 511. It was a notable scorecard, in which all eleven players reached double figures. Yet Starc’s 77 was the top score.
A bare six overs remained until the dinner break. Crawley and Duckett made the most of them, clubbing 45 useful runs. Thereafter, as the shades of evening fell, so too did the English batting. Neser picked up both Crawley and Pope caught-and-bowled. England has not yet fathomed his subtle changes of pace. Boland began to seam the ball around off a fullish length, and despatched both Duckett and Brook. The latter’s dismissal was an awful lapse in judgement. Surely some coach back in Yorkshire must have told him that playing either forward or back was desirable. Being caught on the crease is asking for trouble.
And Starc? His opening salvo was erratic, as one might have expected from a man who’d batted two-and-a-half hours in the baking sun. After a short refresh he was back to his menacing and ebullient best, and had both Root and Smith caught behind by Carey. England will resume tomorrow with six wickets down, and still with 43 runs to make the home side bat again. Stokes has pulled off many a miracle in his time. If he can get England out of this one, it will be the greatest escape since Harry Houdini.