BUMBLE: Khawaja the real deal, Root goes old school to dismiss Carey

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Usman Khawaja is the real deal, Joe Root turns to tactics from yesteryear to dismiss Alex Carey – and £16 for a gin and tonic?!

• Australia ended day two of the fifth Ashes Test with a narrow first innings lead
• Khawaja has been excellent throughout the series and made a measured 47
• Root, meanwhile, used one of the oldest tricks in the book to dismiss Carey

Australia ended day two of the final Ashes Test with a slender first innings lead of 12 after being bowled out for 295 at the Oval.

Steve Smith led the way with a classy 71, although he survived a run out scare on 43 when sub fielder George Ealham appeared to have run him out.

The former captain was saved by the third umpire, although later analysis showed the tight call could have been given.

Pat Cummins and Todd Murphy combined brilliantly later in the day to leave Australia fractionally ahead, before Joe Root dismissed the tourists’ skipper for 36 through a superb Ben Stokes catch to end the day’s play. 

After another tense day at the Oval,  David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd runs through his talking points from South London.

The fifth Ashes Test is evenly poised after Todd Murphy and Pat Cummins gave Australia a slender first innings lead on day two

Usman Khawaja has looked real deal as he made a measured 47 before falling to Stuart Broad

WRISTBAND NIGHTMARE

It  was nice of the ECB to invite us to drinks after play but to get in, you had to be tagged with one of them wristbands that are a pain to get off. I woke up with it on and mine had to be surgically removed by one of the cameramen. I wasn’t the only one. There was a queue on the gantry.

OW MUCH?

On my way back to the hotel, I called into a piano bar. A man was tickling the ivories, playing a brilliant selection of Elton John, Billy Joel and Ed Sheeran. He was good. So I thought let me get myself a Gin and Tonic and sit and listen for a while. 

I have to stress that I now live in Yorkshire. When it came to payment, I was told it would be sixteen pounds fifty! The only phrase that came into my mind was: OW MUCH? £16.50 for a Gin and Tonic! Though it did come with a slice of cucumber.

KHAWAJA THE REAL DEAL

I have been so impressed with Usman Khawaja, who is the leading run scorer in the series. I was there in Sydney in 2011 when he made his debut and he was a dasher – playing every shot in the book. 

You can see how he’s reined his game in now, as a very watchful and accomplished opener. Since his recall last year after getting dropped in 2019, he averages 60 in Test cricket. A proper batter.

CLEAN UP AT THE PRESS BOX

An update on the bird-splattered window in the press box. A window cleaner arrived before play with his Squeegee to save the day. He was supervised by the distinguished Associated French Press correspondent Julian Guyer, who I have been informed has his own window-cleaning round and does a passable impression of George Formby.

Joe Root turned to tactics from yesteryear as he prised out Alex Carey with a flighted off break

Steve Smith put together a high-class 71 to hold the Australian innings together

ROOT GOES OLD SCHOOL

Bowling from yesteryear by Joe Root to get rid of Alex Carey. Ask the question. Toss it up. Carey hits it for six. So he tosses it up again and Carey’s aerial drive is snaffled by Ben Stokes at short cover. As the late Bob Willis would say: ‘The cheese is in the trap, the mouse approaches… and off with his head!’

BOWIE TAKES THE LONDON MUSIC CROWN

Our final music battle moves to London and here’s what the survey says… In third place were The Kinks. In second place were Queen and winning by one point was David Bowie. Sex Pistols didn’t get a vote and Chas & Dave did not get off the mark either.

CLASSY KNOCK FROM SMITH

Notwithstanding the run-out, Steve Smith held Australia’s innings together with a knock of high-class concentration, when the momentum was all with England. In all English terms, he got stuck in and found a useful partner in Pat Cummins. They drew on all of their experience to get Australia out of a tricky situation.

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