Captivating Cook and Banterous Bird - Powelly's MCG Diary Day 3

    
            Cook was in vintage form as England all but confirmed they will avoid a whitewash (Credit: ABC Aus)


Fourth Magellan Ashes Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground (day three of five)
Australia 327: Warner 103, Smith 76
England 491-9: Cook 244*, Root 61, Broad 56
England lead by 164 runs
After the best day of test cricket England have had in the Trevor Bayliss era, Cook would restart on 104 and Root on 49. On paper, this didn’t quite match it, but in terms of entertainment and the sheer chat of the crowd, it far surpassed it. 

As Root quickly reached his half century, England’s support gave him a warm applause. Unfortunately though, as has happened so often, Root was soon back in the pavilion after being ‘stitched up like a kipper’, as one of the fans around us said.

He fell straight into the improved Pat Cummins’ short ball trap. After top edging it to Nathan Lyon as he attempted a pull shot, Root started walking before ‘Gary’ caught it.

Next in was Malan, and an unconvincing start soon led to his dismissal. But, for the second time in two days, Hazlewood has benefitted from a lot of good fortune.

Like Vince the day before, Malan had a massive inside edge before the ball hit the pad but, as with yesterday, opted against reviewing it after consultation with Cook.

The overriding feeling was, why on earth didn’t he review it, surely he felt something on his bat?!


BT Sport summed it up on twitter

That dominated the lunchtime conversation and the loss of Bairstow meant England’s grip on the game was loosening. 

Moeen Ali’s counter-attacking 20 was entertaining to say the least, but when he was eventually caught after a fine catch by Shaun Marsh.

But with Alastair Cook still firing, England went into the lead in an Australian Ashes test for only the second time since the 2010/11 series the to the roar of the English crowd.

Still, England found themselves 373/8 following the loss of Woakes and Curran before undoubtedly the best session of the entire test match. 

Stuart Broad looked incredibly vulnerable as he started, but after somehow seeing off the first 20 balls he teed off. Combined with Cook they made an incredible 100 partnership from 107 deliveries. 


Broad chipped in with a brilliant 56 to steer England back in control (Credit: BBC Sport)

This was made better by Jackson Bird appearing in front of the Barmy Army. As he arrived, just after conceding his 100th run. He had abuse hurled in his direction. 

But after initially just clapping the song against him (that was initially sung to Johnson 7 years ago), Bird became even more involved. 


On a painful day for Bird, he took the abuse that came his way like a trooper. If anyone is going to take the last wicket, let it be him. (Credit: BBC Sport)

Firstly joining in with the actions of the song, then telling the crowd ‘No’ as we called for his captain to bring him back on him to on, then encouraging the crowd to warm up with him as he eventually prepared to come back, and waving when the crowd when we asked him to.

That is what sport is about. Moments like that. Bird had struggled, but actually not bowled that badly, yet the way he responded to the abuse directed his way couldn’t have been funnier.

It was great to see and undoubtedly the funniest interaction between players and fans I’ve ever seen in sport, let alone seen live. He is officially my favourite international sportsman.

And Alastair Cook. Not worrying about taking the strike, Cook poked and prodded his way to 200. When he finally got there, I was buying pints (sums me up really).

But the picture on the bar’s screen and roar of the crowd were enough to make me feel like I was present and I did manage to see him reach the highest mark by a non Aussie batsman at the MCG too.

And with that, incredibly, Cook became England’s leading run scorer for the series. He had been written off.

Not now.


Cook moved to 6th in the all-time test scoring list and 44 runs off 12,000 (Credit: BBC Sport)

What a day, England headed into the pavilion having added 299, with 141 off the bat of Cook, now in on 245, and lead by 164, England responded to Anderson’s calls to back the day up with their best two days Ashes Cricket in Australia since they had won 3-1 back in 2010/11.


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