SAM MORSHEAD AT EDGBASTON: This was a flash back to the Broad of old. The Broad who hung around, solid in defence and committed to helping his partner through a tough situation
It took the best part of an hour for Australia to realise that bowling short to Stuart Broad was more than likely to give them a chance of a wicket.
When they did eventually start to pump the ball into Broad’s chest, it was not long before he flicked it straight down the throat of fine leg.
Yet by then he had made 29, shared in a partnership of 65 for the ninth wicket with Chris Woakes and give England a healthy, if not formidable lead.
The Aussies’ curious strategy should not detract from what was an excellent knock from Broad, however.
This was a flash back to the Broad of old. The Broad who hung around, solid in defence and committed to helping his partner through a tough situation.
He stayed at the wicket for 67 balls and two minutes shy of two hours all told - his longest innings for England in six years. The previous best just so happened to be another rearguard against Australia. He doesn’t half like the challenge of a big occasion.
There were signs during the second innings of the Ireland Test that Broad was working his way back into form with the bat at the end of a long barren spell. England will welcome it gladly if that happens to be case.
England are sweating on Anderson's fitness
There were a few confused faces outside Edgbaston at lunch when Jimmy Anderson jogged out of the media entrance in his whites and into a waiting 4x4, its engine running.
Thankfully, however, there was nothing to worry about. Anderson was neither taking part in a TV gameshow nor shooting off for another medical appointment. Instead he was being driven 100 long yards down the road to the practice ground nets.
Anderson bowled through the interval, just as he had prior to the start of play, and was made available to bat. England at this point had still not issued an update on his fitness.
But when he joined Chris Woakes at the wicket, something evidently was not right. The veteran seamer ruled out any quick singles, or opportunities to run two, and when he was dismissed shuffled back to the pavilion rather than jogging off to get into his bowling boots.
It was therefore not a surprise when he did not emerge at the start of Australia’s second innings.
England are expected to give a formal update on their star player’s condition later. Fans will wait with baited breath, as will Anderson’s teammates, who are having to get through additional workload as a result.
VISIT THE ASHES HUB
Midway through the afternoon session, with Australia toiling for a wicket as Chris Woakes and Stuart Broad resisted manfully, it was hard to identify the skipper of the touring side.
Nominally, of course, it is Tim Paine. But judging by hand movements and body language, that did not appear to be the case.
Steve Smith is banned from a leadership role from another eight months - another curious quirk of Cricket Australia’s draconian punishment - but it is perfectly possible to take on the role of the captain without ‘wearing the armband’.
There he was, stood at slip, arms pointing left and right and back again like a New York traffic cop on a busy intersection. Fielders’ eyes flicked between Smith and Paine. Captain and his predecessor. Which. One. Do. I. Take. Orders. From.
It must be a tricky environment for the Australians, and particularly for Smith and Paine in their current roles, but it cannot be ideal for the team to have more than one chief.
Warner is greeted by the Hollies
It was something of a surprise to find David Warner boundary-riding during England’s innings, especially given some of the vitriol directed his way in recent days and weeks.
However, Edgbaston was not quite as openly hostile on Saturday as it had been earlier in the match, and certainly not as hostile as some of the grounds on which Australia have played this summer.
Gone was the incessant, empty, self-righteous booing and in its place a more good-natured, witty back-and-forth between fancily dressed fans and their antagonist-in-chief.
“He’s got sandpaper in his hands,” the Hollies sang, louder than any other chant on the day.
Warner winked and smiled, waving at the battalion of Flashmen, foxes, Flintstones and footballers seated in the aisles.
“He’s got sandpaper in his hands.”
Louder still.
Warner blew a kiss and grinned, happy to indulge the crowd.
This was good-natured, and lacking in some of the personal abuse the Australian had received earlier in the summer.
“He’s got sandpaper in his hands.”
Out come the pockets, as if to say ‘look, nothing there, promise’.
It added to the entertainment, rather than ruined it. And a point was still made.
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