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danwebster37 · 6 years

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Melbourne

The MCG, day three

It would be simpler to copy and paste yesterday’s words about Alastair Cook.

In ten hours at the crease, he has not only achieved a significant personal milestone that dispelled calls for his head, but he’s gone a long way to moving England into what might be (and whisper it quietly) a winning position...

Cook batted the entire day. His constant presence meant that the bits and pieces innings of others did not combine to form an all-too familiar batting collapse. Instead, he accumulated steadily, struck the ball to the boundary confidently, and ground Australia into the dirt mercilessly.

Dismissing these runs as meaningless is folly. England averting another 5-0 series whitewash from the position they were in would represent some achievement. If they can go as far as winning this match, that’s even better.

Once again he struck the ball firmly, particularly straight. Drives through the covers, plenty of cuts when bowling strayed off-line, and clips off his hips. The shots from day two were all deployed again on day three.

As his deputies departed, he risked being stranded short of his double hundred. No matter. From nowhere, he danced down the pitch to Nathan Lyon and timed a beautiful aerial shot over mid-on for four. His faith in Broad was rewarded, as he withstood a bouncer barrage and held up an end with solid defence and a few elaborate wafts that landed safely.

Cook brought up the landmark with another sweetly timed straight drive. A yelp of delight from yours truly, slightly ahead of the roar from the far end as the Barmy Army saw it had beaten the infield. Broad jumped in celebration, more enthused than the double centurion himself. Broad showed his class by keeping himself out of the spotlight as Cook removed his helmet and raised it and his bat to the crowd.

You can only dream of those moments when planning a trip to the Ashes. It’s hard to adequately describe the happiness felt when witnessing it.

The subsequent passage of play turned that warm happiness into malevolent delight. Broad made a vibrant half-century, batting Australia out of the game and pissing off many locals at the same time - you could hardly ask for more. A group of Aussies departed before he approached the landmark. “I’m not watching a shit bloke and a coward make fifty.” Some Australians had walked, for once.

The “shit bloke” and “coward” unfurled a number of extravagant shots to short balls which brought him boundaries. Over the slips, over the covers, through the leg side - plenty of enjoyment. The highlight came in one Cummins over, where Broad took on the short ball and split the deep fielders to reach his fifty. He looked almost sheepish, but got a great cheer when he raised his bat. The following ball, he pulled again. High into the air, Lyon moved in to take the catch. But he’d misjudged the flight! It sailed over his head, bounced, and went over the rope. Four more. Hundred partnership.

Things ended swiftly. Broad upper cut the ball to third man, where Khawaja appeared to take a superb tumbling catch. Soft signal out, but it was sent upstairs. Eventually they decided they’d stick with the out decision, and the locals who’d been starved of something to cheer for a great length of time gave Broad a loud send-off. It didn’t matter that the game had slipped from their grasp in the course of that effervescent innings - the shit bloke was out!

Cook’s final act was to block four deliveries, protecting Anderson from the strike, and then carving boundaries when the field came up. At least four of these took him to 244* at the close of play. This innings is now the highest score at the MCG made an overseas batsman, and has been a masterpiece of defiance and self-belief. He’s carried England into a fantastic position, and proven his appetite for big runs is as strong as ever.

It was an privilege to watch.

—

‘But it’s a dead rubber’

If it’s a dead rubber, and a meaningless game, why are they still playing it? Why bother turning up? The Australians, keen to dismiss England doing well because it’s a dead game, would never admit irrelevance if the home side were dominating again and were well on their way to making it 4-0...

It’s still a major sporting contest. The quality remains high. People are still attending in their tens of thousands every day. International sporting skills are being tested and examined. Personal demons are being battled. It clearly still matters.

England obviously regret the 3-0 scoreline, but the past cannot be changed. It would be easy to give up and take the whitewash that many expect. But they’ve continued to fight hard, put in hours of hard work, and been rewarded for their endeavours thus far.

Pitch conditions and Australian bowling changes have helped, with the reduced pace affording English batsmen time they haven’t had in previous matches. But since lunch on day one they have been solidly better than Australia, with ball and then bat.

Anderson, Broad and Cook have all stood tall in this game. It has warmed the heart of the sentimental spectator, seeing greats of the English game fight the dying of the light and underline their inherent quality for all to see.

A draw remains most likely on this slow, uninspiring surface. It’s hard to see Australia being so generous with their dismissals second time round. However, with a lead of over 150, and plenty of energy after two days of batting, there remains tangible hope that England might not just avoid defeat, but win a game. It would be thoroughly deserved, but still has to be earned.

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