Time to wrap things up for today.Thanks for your company, see you in the morning.Don’t be late.Perth, first innings 132 runs, ten wickets, 2.91 runs per overSince then 581 runs, eight wickets, 5.

73 runs per over.Ali Martin’s report from the Gabba.More from Joe RootIt is slightly different to playing with a white ball.You still back yourself to [take catches].We did a lot of work before the game but unfortunately it’s one of those days didn’t quite stick.

We have to make sure we stay confident and take our chances later in the game.We have to come out tomorrow with a huge amount of energy and positivity.We know that our best cricket can turn a game really quickly.If we’re anywhere near our best, this game can turn in our favour.It could be very tricky batting last on their surface.

He arrived in the middle of Labuschagne’s interview and looked a bit sheepish.[On his century] It was clearly very enjoyable.But more than anything it was just good to get in that position by the end of the day after the start we had.I’ve tried not to approach it any differently to how I’ve done it in the past two years – I’ve got a plan to score my runs and if I do that for long enough, making good decisions, I’ll be successful.[On the fielding] It’s clear we weren’t at our best in phases of the game.

The way we dragged things back in the final session shows what this game can be like, especially with the pink ball.We’re got work to do tomorrow but we’re well and truly in this game.If we get things right in the morning and apply ourselves in our own manner, in the current fashion, we can put ourselves in a really strong position on a wicket that looks like it’s plating.It looks like there might be a few cracks to work with later on in the game.First and foremost we’ve got to get things right tomorrow morning.

That was an exciting day of cricket – jeez there was a lot happening! Awesome day.Getting out for 65 just as it was changing from day to night wasn’t ideal.But the boys handled it well, played with great intent and got us into a good position.If you’re bowling good balls in the channel at the Gabba, with the extra bounce, it’s tough to score.It was a nice wicket and that plays its part.

It’s a little bit crack-y here and there but the majority of the time, when the ball hits the wicket it’s really nice.The two guys at the top grabbed the momentum; Weathers [Jake Weatherald] played beautifully.When we came in off the back of that we were able to piggyback them and continue to put pressure on.I don’t think I’ve got the best catch of the day – Jacksy just pipped me there.The last word from Chris Paraskevas (see earlier emails)Hahahahahaha ther3 qare photos of me asleep in a hedge out there somewhere from my uni days (Not even kidding.

,,,)I’m never drinking again btw (rhis time it ended better last timenthe cops came around due to mutliple noise complaints and the time before that i got mugged in the park)ai am making such an effort to keep my words tight right now, so much editing,Also 9ne more time for the rec9rd;a) these are two games that were on a platter for any team with half a cricket brainb) noting my dehydration issues off 5-8 hours straight drinking how did all these cricketers in the 70s and 80s score centuries in India with 99% Blood Alcohol (presumably)England grassed five catches today, some of them straightforward.

Matt Prior, talking on TNT Sports, says the Joe Root drop in the 70th over was definitely Jamie Smith’s catch.He didn’t move.Nothing scrambles an England cricketer’s brain like an Ashes series away from home.A significant concern for England is that this will impact the batting of Smith and Ben Duckett (who dropped two of the five catches) in the second innings.Both were already in need of runs but this will increase the pressure.

A reminder that Josh Hazlewood has suffered an injury setback,“Hi Rob,” says Eamonn Maloney, “I’m sure relying on written correspondence about cricket and various opaque subjects as one of your key social interactions is perfectly normal,E Maloney, yes, also autistic,”And the award for the line of the day goes to…“No bowler born in England has taken a wicket in this series,” writes Tim de Lisle,“Thank God for immigration!”73rd over: Australia 378-6 (Carey 46, Neser 15) A quiet over from Jofra Archer brings an end to a scruffy but highly entertaining second day at the Gabba.

There were 75.2 overs, seven wickets, 387 runs – and five dropped catches that will haunt England’s dreams tonight.Australia have the match and the series in their grasp: they lead by 44 runs with four wickets remaining and the tantalising prospect of bowling with a newish ball under the lights tomorrow.Tellingly, given the nature of the first-innings scorecard, all of Australia’s top seven made important contributions.England’s effort was beyond reproach but at times they bowled far too short.

Their performance was decent at times, crap at others.There is still a way England can win this game.But after only four days of actual play in the 2025-26 Ashes, they have stumbled into the last-chance saloon.72nd over: Australia 377-6 (Carey 45, Neser 15) Carey drives Atkinson crisply for four, then takes a pair of twos and a single to move to 45 from 44 balls.Like all the best keeper-batters, he is so good at punishing tired bowlers – but unlike most he does it in an understated way and manages risk like a top-order batter.

He has matured into the most brilliant cricketer.England’s lack of a fifth bowler is hurting them.At least they haven’t lost their fourth: Brydon Carse is back on the field.“Didn’t click on the link for Atmosphere because I’m at work,” writes Charlie Tinsley, “but presume that was the Russ Abbot number? Seems a little ill fitting?”71st over: Australia 368-6 (Carey 36, Neser 15) Neser cuts Archer for four to extend the lead to 34.Archer rebukes him with successive bouncers past his nose, both followed by pointed if slightly weary stares.

Neser is batting sensibly and has added 39 precious runs with Carey.“When it comes to neurodivergence, I wonder how many OBO readers/contributers are affected?” writes John Starbuck.“I myself am neurodivergent, having an arithmetical ability of, at best, a seven year old.I was seven when the figures stopped making sense – Talking Heads reference – but I was entirely captivated by cricket from about the same age.The greatest thing about following cricket is that it rarely leads to criminality, even if you have to rely on experts (normal people) for the stats.

”I’ve thought about this, actually, and have come to the conclusion that 99.94 per cent of OBO readers are neurodivergent.70th over: Australia 363-6 (Carey 35, Neser 11) Make that five dropped catches.Carey charges Atkinson and edges a whisty wrip to the right of Root, who can only punch the ball for four.That was a tough diving chance; he probably saw it late because Carey was whirling across the line.

I reckon Root would take it six or seven times out of 10.On the TV coverage, Alastair Cook says it might have been Jamie Smith’s catch.Carey salts the wound by bashing a cut to the cover boundary, which makes it 11 from the first three balls of Atkinson’s over.The camera cuts to Ben Stokes, who is fighting really, really hard not to grit his teeth.If he does, in his current mood, he could do as much damage to his teeth as a Kitkat chunky did to Bob Mortimer’s.

69th over: Australia 349-6 (Carey 25, Neser 8) Neser cracks Archer towards wide mid-off, where Carse drops a simple chance.That’s England’s fourth dropped catch of the day, three of them relatively straightforward.Carse is normally such a good fielder; I guess that’s what a long day in the field does to you.To compound England’s misery, he’s damaged a finger and is running off the field.Not sure whether it’s on his bowling hand or not; if it is, England have another problem heading their way.

“I see Paul Griffin’s Broken Heart (10.15),” writes Peter Dymoke, “and raise him Joy Division’s She’s Lost Control (or anything else for that matter by that bunch of nihilist geniuses).”That’s far too upbeat.I’ll consider Atmosphere if England collapse to 50 for 9 tomorrow evening.68th over: Australia 346-6 (Carey 24, Neser 6) A double bowling change, with Atkinson replacing Stokes.

Carey, a specialist in playing match-shaping innings between around 40 and 70, moves closer to that statistical zone by guiding three runs through mid-on,67th over: Australia 342-6 (Carey 21, Neser 5) A weary Jofra Archer replaces a weary Brydon Carse and shows his weariness in a nothing over that is milked for six runs,Australia are still going at more than five an over,For all the excitement and drama, when you zoom out the quality of cricket today hasn’t been the best,“As we approach the end of the day’s play,” writes Romeo, “I just want to thank you (and all your colleagues) for the OBO.

That is all.”Oi! Romeo means you, Dony, and you, Wilson, and you, Starbuck, and you, Paraskevas, snoring in a hedge somewhere, and everyone else.While it’s important to recognise that the quality and popularity of the OBO is largely a result of my neurodivergent brilliance the actual cricket, you all enhance it – even, for reasons too difficult to explain after such a long day, those of you who never write in.66th over: Australia 336-6 (Carey 18, Neser 1) Stokes is grimacing between deliveries, occasionally feeling his left foot; it seems to be tiredness or cramp rather than anything vicious.He goes wide on the crease to hit Neser on the leg, turns to appeal for LBW, then stops to ouch his way through the pain before resuming the appeal.

It was too high anyway,“This last half-hour feels *Graham Smith voice* crucial,” writes James Male,“The Australia of my childhood would now put together a soul-crushing partnership of 250 for the seventh wicket and destroy whatever hope I had left,This bunch are really good but thankfully not Gilchrist level!”Hopefully, at least for England, they’re not Merv Hughes / Geoff Lawson level,65th over: Australia 335-6 (Carey 18, Neser 1) Carey backs away to slap the weary Carse down the ground for four.

What England would give not for a fifth bowler: a Potts, a Tongue, even a Cook or a Curran.Later in the over, Neser edges a single to take Australia into the lead.Realistically, and with a respectful nod to the wonderful precedent of Adelaide 1995, I’m not sure England can afford to concede a lead of more than 50.(If you don’t remember Phil DeFreitas’s assault at Adelaide in 1995, get on YouTube.Graham Thorpe had changed the mood with a blistering counter-attack; then Daffy took Craig McDermott to the cleaners and England, down to their last 12 fit players, won spectacularly.

)64th over: Australia 329-6 (Carey 13, Neser 0) That was the last ball of Stokes’ over.Neser’s selection ahead of Nathan Lyon made no sense… except in this scenario.He’s a very good No8, with five first-class centuries and a career-best of 176 not out, so England are nowhere near the Australian tail.Neser is not out! Never mind the height: there was an inside edge onto the pad and Neser survives.England review for LBW! Michael Neser pushes around his first ball and is hit on the pad.

England plead for LBW without success and then discuss a review.Stokes thinks it might be high, but somebody else shouts, “We’ve got three!” so he decides to give the third umpire something to do.Another dropped catch! Inglis tries to cut Stokes and edges low to the right of gully, where Duckett can’t hang on to a tough one-handed chance.Those two dropped catches will increase the pressure on Duckett when he bats in the second innings, especially as he’s already on a king pair.This’ll help his mood! Three balls later Inglis is bowled neck and crop by a beautiful nipbacker