Aaaaaand we’re back. Just quickly at the back end of the early bird dinner break, Mark Wood was on Channel Seven in his knee brace and in good spirits.
Tellingly though, he sounded like he was already writing off a return for the next Test in Adelaide, even with the lengthy turnaround time. Boxing Day in Melbourne seems a more realistic comeback for England’s fastest quick from his knee injury.
Mark Wood is laid up for the moment.Credit: Getty Images
Here and now, Australia needs wickets. If England can keep them out for another hour Crawley will be nearing a century and what looms as an imposing first-innings total.
Brendan Doggett with the ball – just 24 overs in that first session mind you. Joe Root on strike. Leg-side field to start with three men out in the deep. Some short stuff perhaps?
First ball: Yep, short to start. 132.4km/hr first off, Root swivels with a pull shot for a single. Doggett does get bounce, can he get up enough to trouble the tall Zak Crawley?
Joe Root on the back foot.Credit: Getty Images
Second ball: He went for it, and almost went early as Doggett’s dug-in effort only get up to his hip. Flicked inside edge and dribbles through to the keeper.
Third ball: Tad fuller and outside off. Crawley leaves.
Fourth ball: Shortish and onto Crawley’s hip. Whipped backward of square for a boundary.
Fifth ball: Same length, outside off and left alone. Ball might be too soft for this short-ball tactic. Doggett hasn’t got above hip height this over.
Sixth ball: Full and thumped. He has an exquisite cover drive when he’s in form and Crawley moves to 69. Just hitting through the line for four more.
Michael Neser takes the ball at the other end and by his third ball Alex Carey is up to the stumps trying to keep Crawley in his crease. Crawley smacks the first ball back with a fine on-drive. He’s motoring now. Can he keep his head after three boundaries in five minutes?
England 2-113: Crawley 74*, Root 34*, leads by 113 runs