Updates from the opening day of play at Old TraffordStokes’s next challenge? Matching Botham’s 1981 follow-upAny thoughts? Feel free to email Rob 4.36pm BST 32nd over: Australia 120-2 (Labuschagne 52, Smith 43) Both Broad and Archer are struggling for rhythm. It’s so windy, and England’s bowlers can’t settle. Broad aborts his run-up when a crisp packet blows across the pitch. Then it happens again. The look on Broad’s coupon! He’s absolutely fuming. Now the bails have blown off, and here comes a third crisp packet!The umpires have taken the bails off so that play can continue. England look distracted and hacked off, and the next three hours are a great opportunity for Australia to take complete control of the match. 4.29pm BST 31st over: Australia 118-2 (Labuschagne 51, Smith 42) A poor delivery from Archer, short and wide, is clattered through backward point for four by Smith. He’s winning their contest hands down at the moment, and playing the bouncer with ease as well. That said, Archer has been well short of his best.“A query from Queretaro, Mexico,” says Stephen Douglas. “With all the controversy surrounding the Stokes LBW shout, what do the laws say when the ball deflects from the front pad (in a not out position) onto the back pad (plumb)?” Continue reading...
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/sep/04/ashes-2019-england-v-australia-fourth-test-day-one-live-cricket">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2019/sep/04/ashes-2019-england-v-australia-fourth-test-day-one-live-cricket</a>