It’s been another engrossing day of Ashes cricket. Australia reach stumps at 8/299 with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins the unbeaten batters.
Australia will feel as if they have let an opportunity slip to bat themselves into a strong position. Seven of Australia’s top eight got starts but failed to kick on to agenda-setting hundreds.
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For me, the big dismissal today was Marnus Labuschagne out lbw to Moeen Ali after a lapse in concentration. He missed an off-break from Ali while attempting to turn it square on the on-side.
Chris Woakes was the pick of the England bowlers, taking four wickets - including two in the one over when he removed Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh.
Australia will be looking to push as close to 350 as they can tomorrow. The forecast is in their favour with conditions sunny early before the clouds roll in when you expect England to be batting.
That’s all from me. We’ll have all the news and views from Old Trafford in a little while.
Thanks for joining me tonight. I’ll be back Thursday night from 730 pm (AEST) for the second day of this game.
Have a great day.
3.23am on Jul 20, 2023
WICKET - Carey out shouldering arms
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England land a massive breakthrough with the second new ball. It sums up Australia’s day.
Alex Carey is gone for 20 attempting to leave a ball from Chris Woakes. That would be a frustrating way to go for the Australia wicketkeeper.
With Carey there, I thought 350 was a realistic aim for Australia. If they can get to 320 now would be a good effort. Australia 8/294 with two overs left today.
3.18am on Jul 20, 2023
New ball taken
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No surprises, England have taken the second new ball immediately as they strive to wrap up Australia’s tail.
There’s about 10 minutes left today, so perhaps we’ll get three more overs.
Chris Woakes, England’s best bowler today, will take the first over with the new rock.
He almost strikes first-up. Mitchell Starc has mistimed one but it doesn’t carry to Woakes in his follow-through.
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3.12am on Jul 20, 2023
Carey hit
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That’s a nasty blow from Mark Wood on Alex Carey. He’s been struck around the elbow. At that pace, I can understand why Carey is feeling discomfort.
3.05am on Jul 20, 2023
Is there a wicket looming?
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Australia are fighting back through Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. This can only mean one thing - a wicket is due.
We have a bowling change. It’s Mark Wood into the attack for Chris Woakes. Alex Carey gave up the singles in Wood’s last spell to protect Starc. He’s doing so again this time.
2.49am on Jul 20, 2023
Bleak forecast
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We’ve had an unusually sunny day in Manchester today. I’ve had a look at the forecast for the next few days. It does not look promising.
Tomorrow should be ok, but if the forecast is correct we will not see much play on Friday and Saturday. Will just over three days of play be enough for either side to win the game? Probably not, without a daring declaration or two.
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2.36am on Jul 20, 2023
Wasteful Australia or a tough pitch to bat on?
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Six of Australia’s top seven have reached double figures, but no player has kicked on to an agenda-setting century.
The scorecard suggests a wasteful day for Australia. Former captain Mark Taylor takes a different view that it shows how difficult the pitch is to bat on.
Michael Atherton, who played for Lancashire, said a few overs earlier he believed the pitch was not as fast as usual due to extra grass coverage.
2.32am on Jul 20, 2023
Trash or treasure from Anderson
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A trash or treasure over from James Anderson. He found Mitchell Starc’s outside edge but the ball did not carry to third slip, then finishes the over with two half-volleys on leg stump, which Starc clips through mid-wicket for four.
These are vital runs for Australia, who are 7/272.
2.20am on Jul 20, 2023
Marsh brought undone by ‘unplayable’ delivery
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In the form Mitch Marsh is in, it needed a delivery of this quality to get him out.