Stokes wins battle with Labuschagne but England are losing the war again

4 days ago 2

It was a small win on a day when familiar cracks re-emerged for England. It is hard to know whether Ben Stokes’s sweary tirade at Marnus Labuschagne was just him unloading on one of the game’s more irritating opponents or if it was a coded message to his team.

Either way it seemed to fire up Stokes, who moments later dismissed Labuschagne for 48 to lift a woeful England bowling performance that threatened to undo all the hard work of Joe Root’s 41st Test century.

Once again it is Root and Stokes dragging this team along, lifting them out of the mire with bat and ball. Root’s 160 was a masterpiece of concentration and risk assessment in difficult batting conditions – a lesson in game management lost on younger colleagues.

Root gave England a chance to raise a match-shaping first-innings total in the region of 450 but Test cricket requires more than one player to stand up and they ended with a middling score of 384. Then Travis Head’s 91 helped Australia seize the initiative against some woeful bowling. Sound familiar?

On the field, Stokes has generally been very level on this tour despite the performances of his side and the pressure he has been under. This was a flick of the other side of his character, the menace that lurks under the surface.

After seeing the England bowlers travel at more than five an over and Labuschagne and Head motor along at around a run a ball for a century stand for the second wicket, Stokes snapped. He had just been struck for two fours by Head to end his sixth over when it appeared Labuschagne said something he did not like. Stokes put his arm round Labuschagne, which may land him in trouble, before walking away, turning around and shouting “shut the f--- up”.

The next ball Stokes bowled to Labuchagne, in his following over, was full, shaped away to off and was driven at hard only to fly off the edge straight to Jacob Bethell at gully. Stokes appeared to stop himself giving Labuschagne a send off.

It was the breakthrough England needed but at 166 for two from just 34 overs, Australia are heading for a decent lead before the second new ball and dominating an attack that cannot apply any pressure.

07:46am

The view of Scott Boland

“I was not overly disappointed [not to be the nightwatchman] because it is hard work for a few overs! We were not disappointed on day one. The wicket felt flat yesterday. Today it felt like it quickened up a little bit. The margin for error is small however. As soon as you get fuller, it feels like a nice wicket.”

On taking the new ball:

“The game changed then and the same thing happened for England. There was some really nice carry as a fast bowler.”

07:44am

Jonathan Agnew on BBC TMS

“Jamie Smith’s wicket encapsulates what is wrong with the mentality of this team. It was utterly brainless. Totally unnecessary. It was irresponsible. Marnus Labuschagne was bowling bouncers! Marnus Labuschagne! It was a trap. You cannot play Test cricket like that; you will not win. This culture has not been good for a list of players; Ollie Pope, Harry Brook. They are not playing to their full talent.”

07:42am

More from Joe Root, talking to the BBC

“A strange day really. It felt like we got a reasonable score but we just could not get it right with the ball. There is a bit in the wicket but the challenge ahead is to build pressure on it.

On his century:

“I do not look at it in numbers. Hopefully it has a positive impact on the outcome of the game. We felt like we made the most of that first innings but this pitch could warm up and crack. To get near to 400 is a good effort. Hopefully we can back things up tomorrow.”

On Jamie Smith’s dismissal:

“We wanted to maximise the lead with the new ball. You can soak up that pressure or you can try and put pressure back on the bowlers. The most important thing is driving the game in the right direction which is what Jamie was trying to do; that is how I viewed it in the middle. Sometimes you make the odd mistake and you have to live with it. The wicket felt like, if you asked good questions you got good rewards.”

07:35am

Phil Tufnell on BBC TMS

“There was no fingertip control from England’s bowlers today. They should be able to go and hold a line and a length; they have been picked for their country. There has been no consistency from this bowling attack from the moment they stepped foot on this shore.”

07:33am

Sir Geoffrey’s review of day two

07:26am

Jonathan Agnew on BBC TMS

“This series has been a huge disappointment for Harry Brook, who came here with great expectations. I hope he watched Joe Root out there and thought ‘that should have been me and what can I do to get there’. He just gives his wicket away all the time. He has rarely got out, it is always an unforced error.”

07:23am

Get your views in

Our very own Scyld Berry is in the comments section answering your questions and responding to your opinions so have your say.

07:21am

Joe Root, despite a bad back, stopping by to talk to TNT Sports

“I am ok actually, it was a bit embarrassing really. I just started cramping in my back and thank god there are no cameras in the dressing room! It was just precautionary and should be absolutely fine for tomorrow. It was satisfying. The pitch felt good yesterday but felt quite a bit different today as it sped up. There could be a lot of uneven bounce as the Test match goes on and could deteriorate quite quickly at some point. The game is set interestingly. I do not think we got things quite right tonight and it is important to bounce back well tomorrow. Most importantly for us is not panicking or not dwell to much on tonight.”

Advice for young batsmen:

“Watch the ball for long periods of time, have a good indication of what your strengths are and look to maximise them as long as possible.”

07:15am

“Speechless”

Justin Langer has joined the TNT crew after the day’s play and that is the way he has described Jamie Smith’s dismissal against Marnus Labuschagne bowling seam up. “I don’t get it, that was rubbish” Langer said. Graeme Swann says “it gets worse every time you watch it”. Here it is in case you missed it, but you may want to look away now:

07:06am

Fiery exchange

07:01am

Australia close day two on 166/2

Stokes will send down what will be the final over of the day and his first ball strikes Neser on the arm. Neser immediately drops his bat and is in some pain. What that also means is this will definitely be the last over as Neser is now receiving some treatment.

Michael Neser receives treatment after being hit on the arm

How farcical! That treatment delay has now caused the umpires to take the players off to due to rain so Stokes will not get those final five balls at Neser. Not that much rain I may add!

Australia finish the day on 166/2, 218 runs behind. As has been the case a number of times in this series, Head has proven problematic for England.

06:57am

OVER 34: AUS 166/2 (Head 91 Neser 1)

Just a matter of minutes remain on day two. Will England get two or three more overs in? If they hurry, they could get three but more likely two.

Neser gets a single from the final ball and it appears there will be just one more over left in the day. Neser doing his job as he keeps strike.

06:52am

OVER 33: AUS 164/2 (Head 90 Neser 0)

England are probing, trying to dismiss the nightwatchman before the close, but so far Neser is doing his job.

If anyone had been told Ben Stokes would take 15 wickets at 20 this series, most would have assumed England would be regaining the urn.

06:48am

OVER 32: AUS 163/2 (Head 89 Neser 0)

Australia deploy a nightwatchman late in the day as Michael Neser joins Head in the middle. Considering the light situation, is it particularly wise of Tongue to be banging it in short, which could encourage the umpires to take them off?

Neser’s job now is to face as many deliveries until the close of play to protect Head.

06:42am Key moments • Video • Wickets

Wicket

Labuschagne c Bethell b Stokes 48 Stokes gets a crucial breakthrough, as he so often does. These two exchanged some words at the end of Stokes’ previous over and the England captain has the last laugh. Labuschagne drives at the ball and this time the ball goes straight to an England fielder. Bethell, unlike Duckett and Root earlier, keeps hold of the grab. FOW 162/2

I keep a keen eye on these things and think that was Marnus Labuschagne’s slowest walk off of the series. Especially galling for him to get out to Ben Stokes, who had just told him to “shut the f--- up”.

06:37am

OVER 30: AUS 157/1 (Head 83 Labuschagne 48)

Head may be into the 80s but has flirted with some danger today as he goes after a wider delivery from Tongue that just misses the outside edge.

A single for Head brings up the 100 partnership off just 104 balls.

06:33am

OVER 29: AUS 155/1 (Head 82 Labuschagne 48)

Captain Stokes is bringing himself back on and, like he did in his first spell, England need him to make a breakthrough. Head’s drive through the covers races away for four to bring up Australia’s 150.

Stokes’ final delivery of the over strays down the legside and Head flicks it away fine for four more.

At the conclusion of the over, there are some words exchanged between Stokes and Labuschagne. That exchange did not look entirely friendly.

Ben Stokes and Marnus Labuschagne exchange words in the middle

06:28am

OVER 28: AUS 145/1 (Head 73 Labuschagne 47)

Labuschagne pulls in front of square and comes back for a couple.

06:23am

OVER 27: AUS 142/1 (Head 72 Labuschagne 45)

That is too easy. Potts is too short, allowing Head to cut away and Pope is unable to cut it off at deep backward point. The line was not bad at all but the length just allowed Head to rock back.

Head then fantastically finds a gap between cover and mid-off, coming back for three. That was a decent enough delivery but somehow Head found the gap.

Four more as Labuschagne hits on the up through the covers four the boundary, which shows just how well this pitch is playing.

A theme of this series has been that England have had a decent first day, and a poor second. The first half of today was ok, but not much more. Since they got the ball in their hand, they’ve been grim.

06:18am

OVER 26: AUS 131/1 (Head 65 Labuschagne 41)

Oh dear! The dreaded light meters are out! But play continues as Tongue returns. Even though these are favourable conditions for bowling, would England actually not mind too much going off? The bowling has been consistently on point from England in this session and the runs are flowing for Australia, who themselves did not mind going off yesterday due to bad light.

06:18am

OVER 26: AUS 131/1 (Head 65 Labuschagne 41)

06:13am

OVER 25: AUS 129/1 (Head 64 Labuschagne 40)

That is too easy for Labuschagne as Potts offers too much width and Australia’s number three tucks into it, driving effortlessly for four.

A finale today for ‘the Richies’, the traditional second-day homage at the SCG to the late, great Richie Benaud. At 2.22pm, they dutifully waved their replica Channel Nine microphones en masse, in a nod to the 222 for two scoreline that Benaud would once playfully intone. But the tradition is being retired, with the founders feeling, more than a decade after Benaud’s death, that it has run its natural course. Speaking to Benaud’s widow Daphne earlier this summer, it seemed she was delighted he was still remembered with such affection. A detour over to their section of the stands earlier suggested they were going out in style, with most biblically drunk and forced by the rules of this curious club to wear their bone-white jackets until the end of play.

06:09am

OVER 24: AUS 123/1 (Head 63 Labuschagne 35)

Labuschagne did receive some treatment on his thumb during that drinks break.

A single for Head to deep point takes him to 500 runs at an average of 62, over 100 runs more than anyone else. Only three Australian left-handers have scored more runs in an Ashes series since 1965.

Carse is too full, which allows Labuschagne to lean on a drive through the covers for two. Carse then beats Labuschagne with a beauty that just evades the outside edge. Labuschagne finishes the over with a cover drive for four.

06:01am

OVER 23: AUS 116/1 (Head 62 Labuschagne 29)

Potts gets one to rise up at Labuschagne from a length and strikes the Australian number three on the glove. It hit Labuschagne right on the thumb and a few words of the expletive type come through on the stump mic.

Marnus Labuschagne reacts after being struck on the thumb

Four dot balls on the trot before Labuschagne pulls away for four.

Time for drinks.

Wonder how worried we should be about Joe Root’s back. He’s been off the field for a fair while now after appearing to suffer spasms, early in Australia’s innings, having carried England’s batting effort again.

And on that, ECB say he is “unlikely” to return to the field today.

05:56am

OVER 22: AUS 112/1 (Head 62 Labuschagne 25)

Carse drops too short and Labuschagne rolls his wrists over the top of the ball to get two through square leg. That brings up the 50 partnership between this pair off just 55 balls.

Is that out? Labuschagne has come across his stumps a number of times and this time he misses. It looks a great shout for LBW but the umpire shakes his head. England review and this will be close. It is just missing the leg stump so England lose their review. It looked a good shout and even though it was missing, I would not say it was a bad review as live it looked like it had a chance.

Head then upper cuts over the slip cordon for four.

05:50am

OVER 21: AUS 105/1 (Head 58 Labuschagne 23)

Change of bowling as Potts is brought back on. The umpires are starting to look at a little fidgety. Considering we went off for bad light yesterday, that will determine the required light to play for the rest of the game. It would not be a major shock if the umpires took the players off soon and, if they did, that would likely bring the day to a close.

Potts is welcomed back into the attack with an emphatic Head drive up the ground for four. Head then drives the covers for a couple more.

A single out to deep cover point brings up the Australia 100.

Potts is too full and Labuschagne leans into a drive through wide mid-off for four. England will be disappointed that they have only taken the one wicket in these conditions.

05:45am

OVER 20: AUS 93/1 (Head 51 Labuschagne 18)

Labuschagne nearly chips it straight back to Carse but it comes up just short. Stokes has brought a lot of fielders up in catching positions to Labuschagne, including himself at short mid-on and a few fielders in close on the offside as well as the slip cordon.

A maiden from Carse. Root is still off the field.

05:40am

OVER 19: AUS 93/1 (Head 51 Labuschagne 18)

England are not fully capitalising on these more bowler-friendly conditions because you can guarantee the conditions will be much more in the batsmen’s favour tomorrow in sunnier weather.

05:36am

OVER 18: AUS 92/1 (Head 51 Labuschagne 17)

Tongue is out of the attack and Carse is back on. He is too full and Labuschagne drives through mid-off for three. Potts makes an athletic dive to stop the boundary but that was a gift of a delivery from Carse.

Tha is unlucky for Carse and extremely fortunate for Head, who flashes at one that goes agonisingly wide of a diving Bethell at gully. That is a far more convincing shot though from Head, who drills one through the covers to bring up his 21st Test fifty.

Travis Head raises his bat after reaching his half century

05:30am

OVER 17: AUS 80/1 (Head 42 Labuschagne 14)

Labuschagne gets a leading edge but it squeezes through the covers for a couple. Labuschagne is trying to be proactive in the early stages of his innings and is on he front foot.

Later in the over Head drives elegantly on the up through the covers for four. A glorious shot as it was not quite a half volley. Head gets another through wide mid-off and comes back for three.

05:25am

OVER 16: AUS 69/1 (Head 35 Labuschagne 11)

Labuschagne rocks onto the back foot and pulls away behind square for four. Carse was at deep backward square leg, not fine leg, so the ball raced away for the boundary. Labuschagne has a good Test record on this ground.

Labuschagne goes for a quick single into the offside and Head was not expecting it/ slow to react. It is a good effort in the field from Potts, whose throw at the stumps just misses. Would have been tight had Potts hit.

05:21am

OVER 15: AUS 64/1 (Head 35 Labuschagne 6)

This is a probing spell from Stokes as he sends down another maiden. You cannot help but notice those dark clouds approaching and you imagine that bad weather is going to hit before the day is out.

05:15am

OVER 14: AUS 64/1 (Head 35 Labuschagne 6)

Labuschagne is off the mark with a boundary. He comes across his stumps and flicks through square leg for four. Tongue though does get some applause from his captain, knowing that ball was in a good area and Labuschagne took a risk. Labuschagne then gets a couple squirting one behind square.

Root has made his way off the field. Not sure exactly what it was that Root has hurt but could it be his troublesome back? It is his back but he did have a smile/ grimace as he went off so you hope it is not too serious. It could well be cramp, let’s hope it is nothing more serious than that.

Joe Root has just gone off clutching his back. He has been troubled by it for most of his career but has never missed a Test match with injury, remarkable really considering his 12 years in the game.

Joe Root goes off the field clutching his back

05:10am

OVER 13: AUS 57/1 (Head 34 Labuschagne 0)

Marnus Labuschagne is in at number three and will perhaps be wondering where the sunshine of an hour ago has gone. It is amazing how quickly conditions have changed from when this innings started after the tea break. These are not the easiest of conditions to start your innings.

A wicket maiden from Stokes.

Jake Weatherald’s 21 almost exactly matches his batting average this series. So of the seven players to bat in the top three more than once this series, Zak Crawley has the second best average, with 30.8. This underlines how difficult facing the new ball has been - and the brilliance of Travis Head.

05:07am Video

Wicket

Weatherald LBW Stokes 21 England needed that! Captain Stokes strikes again as he pins Weatherald on the crease with a very full delivery. The finger goes up but Weatherald reviews. It does end up being umpire’s call on leg stump and it did end up being closer than it first looked but Weatherald is gone. How often does it feel like England lose a wicket straight after a drinks break but on this occasion it is Australia. FOW 57/1

05:01am

OVER 12: AUS 57/0 (Head 34 Weatherald 21)

The minute England’s bowler slightly err in line or length, Head pounces. Tongue is too short and wide and Head flashes aerially through the cover region for four. An emphatic shot from the Australian opener.

Time for drinks.

Pretty grim start from England this. It would probably be fair to say that, while Tongue has massively impressed on this tour and Carse has had his moments, the three frontline seamers on show are numbers 4-6 from the original squad. Atkinson, Archer, and Wood were probably their dream attack, but all have fallen by the wayside.

The opening bowlers here, Potts and Carse, both have better records against right-handers, but Australia open with two lefties. And it’s also fair to say that England’s two best bowlers, Tongue and Stokes, are the change men, coming on after the Aussies are off to a flyer. Worrying, and the dropped catches make things so much worse.

04:56am

OVER 11: AUS 53/0 (Head 30 Weatherald 21)

I hate to say it but it is looking all too similar to yesterday. The bad weather in the distance looks like it is on its way.

Change of bowling as captain Stokes is bringing himself into the attack, replacing Carse.

If those storms do come in earlier than thought, England need to capitalise on these good conditions now.

04:51am

OVER 10: AUS 50/0 (Head 29 Weatherald 20)

Head is so, so lucky! He is inches away from chopping onto his own stumps but instead the single brings up Australia’s 50. England do not help themselves at times with dropped catches but have not had the fortune at times in this series.

The lights are now on at the SCG and this does feel similar to what happened yesterday, just an hour or so later. These are good bowling conditions and England need to take advantage.

04:47am

OVER 9: AUS 48/0 (Head 28 Weatherald 19)

Some clouds have rolled in, which should aid England’s bowlers. We hope that the storms that might be on the cards today in Sydney will roll in much later than they did yesterday and does not affect today’s play.

Carse thinks he will get out of the over with a maiden but he drops too short, allowing Head to upper cut for four over backward point. A poor end to a good over.

Travis Head batting on day two in Sydney

04:43am

OVER 8: AUS 44/0 (Head 24 Weatherald 19)

Ben Stokes is making a bowling change as Josh Tongue is brought on to replace Potts. Tongue immediately strikes Head on the pads but from the angle around the wicket, that is going down leg. There were some appeals but captain Stokes never looked convinced of a review and a good job.

Weatherald is on the front foot and manages to squeeze one away behind point for two. But will it be four? Jacks was sliding to flick it back but is still touching the ball when he hits the boundary rope. Sloppy from Jacks and England’s fielding has not been the best in the opening stages of this Australian innings.

I’ve said it before, but this game has distinct Gabba vibes for me. England get a good score, but not an excellent one. Then they bowl loosely and Australia grind them into the dust. The early dropped catch is another little reminder of that game.

04:38am

OVER 7: AUS 39/0 (Head 24 Weatherald 15)

A second dropped catch in a matter of moments. This one though is a fair bit simpler. Weatherald pulls straight at Duckett but the chance is spilt at mid-wicket. It was low down but that was pretty simple. Hopeless from England really; they do not help themselves do they! Weatherald has now had two lives in about two minutes.

That is sublime from Head although it does not go for four. Carse does not send down that bad a ball but Head just pushes the ball up for ground. He may have thought when he hit it that it would roll all the way for four but Potts shows great commitment to chase it down and flicks it back in. His captain will massively appreciate that effort from one of his opening bowlers.

04:33am

OVER 6: AUS 35/0 (Head 21 Weatherald 14)

As well as the obvious of getting an early wicket, the other big reason to secure the wicket of Head quickly is to stem the flow of runs. Head is the one Australian batsman who can score runs at a fair old lick.

Weatherald is not looking entirely convincing here and England need to capitalise.

Potts bowls a few testing deliveries at Weatherald but then offers just slightly too much width, allowing Weatherald to rock back onto the cut shot and get four.

Dropped catch and it is the man who scored 160 for England who is the guilty man. Weatherald flashes on another cut shot but this time it flies off the outside edge. It is quite high as Root, at first slips, goes high to his right but cannot grab. The ball ends up racing away for four. Should Root have caught that? Not an easy chance at all but as seems to be the case quite often England cannot take the opportunity.

04:28am

OVER 5: AUS 26/0 (Head 21 Weatherald 5)

That is a very poor delivery from Carse, who drops way too wide and Head is so grateful for that gift, smashing that away in front of square for four. That ball was met with the respect it deserved; none.

England need to be careful here as Head is already looking in good touch, motoring along at faster than a run a ball.

04:24am

OVER 4: AUS 21/0 (Head 17 Weatherald 4)

Potts drops too short and Head says thank you, whipping it away on the pull for four. He lifted his front leg and played that pull shot with a real authority. Potts will know not to bowl there again to Head.

Potts bangs it again, this time shorter, and Head is not as convincing this time, this pull being more aerial and not clearing Duckett at mid-wicket by that much. Head though is still able tome back for two.

This time Potts gives Head too much width outside the off stump and Head rocks onto the back foot to hit in front of square through the offside for four.

Potts finishes the over by dropping too short and Head pulls away for the third boundary of the over.

04:19am

OVER 3: AUS 7/0 (Head 3 Weatherald 4)

Weatherald is off the mark with a boundary, Australia’s first of the innings, as he cuts behind point for four. It was quite tight to Weatherald but he used the slight angle of Carse coming over the wicket, pushing it away from Weatherald, to get it away.

Carse then strikes Weatherland twice in successive balls. Carse is getting the ball to lift off a length and this pitch has a bit more zip than it did yesterday.

04:15am

OVER 2: AUS 3/0 (Head 3 Weatherald 0)

It will be Durham seamers at both ends as Matthew Potts will share the new ball. It is Potts’ Ashes debut and by definition his first match of the series. Potts averages around 36 to left-handers, which both Australian openers are, and 26 to right-handers.

Head flicks one unconvincingly over Duckett’s head for a couple. That was not in Head’s control and could so easily have ended up in Duckett’s hands at mid-wicket.

A tight start from Potts.

04:11am

OVER 1: AUS 1/0 (Head 1 Weatherald 0)

Thanks Rob! Brydon Carse will open the bowling; he has dismissed Travis Head four times so far in this series. Head is off the mark third ball with a single down to fine leg and Australia are away.

The Barmy Army belt out Jersualem as they always do and the England players appreciate it.

A bit of chaos as Weatherald looks to get off the mark. There is an appeal for LBW but it pitched outside leg stump. Weatherald then looks for a single despite not being entirely sure where it went and is nearly run out. A few plays and misses from Weatherald in that over and he is looking nervy early.

04:07am

The evening session

The players are back on the field and ready to go. Thanks for your company - I’m going to hand over to Kieran Crichard for the extended evening session.

03:55am

Root exorcises his Sydney demons

Tea is taken early after England lose their last four in a hurry. Really, from Jamie Smith’s kamikaze dismissal, they have had a frustrating collapse of five for 61. With Root and Smith cruising, the target should have been 450, but they have to settle for 384. That’s their highest score in Australia since the 2017 Test at Melbourne, 12 matches ago. But it’s not what could have been.

A masterful innings from Root, chanceless after an ugly swish at his first ball. His much-discussed average in Australia briefly ticked over 40, but sits at 38.96 with possibly only one innings to go on these shores.

That is probably the best he’s ever batted in Australia, and is a vital innings for his team, but also an important one personally given this is the ground where he was dropped in 2014 and fell ill in 2018. He got a magnificent ovation from the crowd, both when he reached the hundred and when he walked off with 160 to his name. It’s the first hundred by a visiting batsman here since Jonny Bairstow in 2021-22.

Joe Root will have happier memories of the SCG after making a high-class 160.

03:49am

Tea

The timing of that last wicket means an early tea will be taken. England’s total, which feels useful but not necessarily decisive, was built on 160 from Joe Root, 84 from Harry Brook and 46 from Jamie Smith - although the less said about his dismissal to Marnus Labuschagne, the better.

03:48am

Wicket!

Tongue b Neser 0 Josh Tongue lasts two balls before playing around a good delivery that trims the leg bail. Neser ends with terrific figures of 4/60 and England have lost their last four wickets for just nine runs. FOW: 384 all out

03:45am

Wicket!

Root ct and b Neser 160 The stalemate is over, as is Joe Root’s marvellous innings. He walked down the track at Neser, was surprised by a bit of extra bounce and popped the ball up in the air. Neser ran to his right and dived forward to take a fine catch. Root walks off to a standing ovation after a masterful performance. FOW: 384/9

03:43am

OVER 97: ENG 384/8 (Root 160 Potts 1)

There’s a slight feeling of stalemate at the moment, with Root generally taking a single off the first ball and Potts surviving the rest of the over.

03:39am

OVER 96: ENG 383/8 (Root 159 Potts 1)

Potts pads up to a big off-cutter from Neser that keeps a bit low and comes this close to clipping the off stump. The bowler in Potts won’t mind seeing the ball do that - or going the other way to beat the edge, as it does later in the over. A maiden.

03:34am

OVER 95: ENG 383/8 (Root 159 Potts 1)

Matthew Potts can bat a bit - he has a highest first-class score of 149 not out - but this is a whole new ball game.

03:32am

A gutsy innings from Jacks

That was a gutsy innings from Will Jacks, who was clearly finding it tough against the second new ball but hung in there until Neser squared him up. Jacks may not have put big scores on the board but he has shown enough to be given an opportunity again in easier circumstances than an Ashes tour. Suspect he will start the summer as England’s no 1 spinner.

03:31am

Wicket!

Carse c Carey b Green 1 Carse falls cheaply, edging a good delivery from Green to the keeper. He was playing defensively but was undone by a bit of extra bounce. FOW: 382/8

03:30am

OVER 94: ENG 382/7 (Root 159 Carse 1)

Brydon Carse is prone to the occasional rush of blood when he bats, but for now he is playing a sensible supporting role to Joe Root. For now.

03:26am

OVER 93: ENG 378/7 (Root 156 Carse 0)

Much excitement as “the Richies”, who are apparently retiring after this Test, make a lot of noise at 2.22, a nod to Richie Benaud’s legendary pronunciation.

The Richies pay tribute to the greatest commentator of them all.

03:21am

OVER 92: ENG 375/7 (Root 153 Carse 0)

Brydon Carse, demoted to No9, is the new batsman.

03:21am

Wicket!

Jacks c Green b Neser 27 Having battled so hard to see off Scott Boland, Will Jacks falls to his replacement Michael Neser. No real blame attaced to Jacks: he was squared up by an excellent delivery that took the edge and was smartly caught by Cameron Green in the gully. FOW: 375/7

03:12am

OVER 91: ENG 374/6 (Root 151 Jacks 27)

Cam Green comes on for Starc, who bowled a masterful spell of 5-0-16-0 with the second new ball. Jacks, perhaps relaxing subconsciously, chases a wider delivery and is beaten.

Jacks has done a lot of hard work against Starc and Boland; don’t throw it away now lad. Green appeals for caught behind when Jacks plays and misses at a beauty. Nobody else is interested.

03:09am

OVER 90: ENG 371/6 (Root 151 Jacks 27)

Jacks offers no stroke to a huge nipbacker from Boland that bounces over the stumps and is very well stopped down the leg side by Carey. Boland is all over Jacks, moving the ball both ways off the seam and getting plenty of awkward bounce. Jacks has done well to hang in there.

03:04am

OVER 89: ENG 370/6 (Root 150 Jacks 25)

Root makes it a daddy, waving Starc for a single to reach his 17th 150+ score in Test cricket. It’s been a masterful performance: 226 balls, 15 fours. There’s very little left to say about one of the greatest cricketers England have ever produced.

02:58am

OVER 88: ENG 367/6 (Root 148 Jacks 24)

That’s an almost perfect delivery from Boland. fractionally back of a length and snarling off the seam to beat Jacks’ defensive push. Jacks nods respectfully down the pitch and then nicks the last ball of the over onto his body. This is a forensic interrogation from Boland.

02:54am

OVER 87: ENG 365/6 (Root 147 Jacks 23)

There are times, when the ball trampolines from a length, that you feel like England have an imposing score. Then you remember that we said something similar at Brisbane before Australia racked up 511 in reply to England’s 334.

02:49am

OVER 86: ENG 363/6 (Root 146 Jacks 22)

Starc and Boland have been a constant threat with the second new ball. Boland beats Root, hits Jacks in the stomach and has an LBW appeal against the same man turned down on height.

02:48am

OVER 85: ENG 362/6 (Root 145 Jacks 22)

Another fabulous over from Starc, who beats Root twice and Jacks once before hitting Jacks in the stomach with a short ball.

02:39am

OVER 84: ENG 361/6 (Root 144 Jacks 22)

Jacks times Boland nicely through point for four more. Boland responds with a series of superb nipbackers, the last of which hits Jacks in the vicinity of his you-know-what.

02:34am

OVER 83: ENG 357/6 (Root 144 Jacks 18)

Starc beats both Root and Jacks during an excellent over, although it’s tarnished slightly when Jacks tucks a boundary off the hip.

Jacks hasn’t made loads of runs in this series - 136 at an average of 27 - but he has batted with patience and common sense. This will probably be his last Test appearance for a while, perhaps until the Bangladesh tour in a year’s time, so he’d love to make a maiden half-century.

02:29am

A familiar tale of wickets tossed away

Just change the name from Pope to Smith. This was Sir Geoffrey’s column after the Adelaide Test:

“My Yorkshire captain Brian Close would have been stood at the top of the Pavilion steps with steam coming out of his ears waiting to give you a ‘knuckle sandwich’. Doug Padgett once got out to a bad shot and as he walked back to the Pavilion he saw Closey waiting for him so he went around the back of the Pavilion, cadged a cigarette and sat with his pads on and had a smoke until he thought our Brian had calmed down.”

02:27am

OVER 82: ENG 351/6 (Root 143 Jacks 13)

Boland takes the new ball ahead of Neser, a slight surprise given how well he has bowled as first change in this series. He’s straight into his work, though, and beats Jacks with a beauty outside off stump. A maiden.

02:24am

OVER 81: ENG 351/6 (Root 143 Jacks 13)

Mitchell Starc, looking for his 29th wicket of the series, charges in with the second new ball. Root does well to dig out a textbook inswinging yorker before guiding a deliberate boundary to third man. He’s playing quite superbly.

02:19am

OVER 80: ENG 347/6 (Root 139 Jacks 13)

Beau Webster replaces Travis Head and will bowl off-spin for the first time in the match. His over is milked for four low-risk runs, and now it’s time for the second new ball.

02:17am

OVER 79: ENG 343/6 (Root 138 Jacks 10)

Marnus ‘The Demon’ Labuschagne continues after the break. He almost strikes again - I’m not even joking - when Jacks tries to help the ball round the corner and top-edges it over fine leg for six.

02:12am

The afternoon session

Joe Root and Will Jacks skip out to the middle. It’s a gorgeous afternoon in Sydney so there should be uninterrupted play. And with only two overs remaining until the second new ball, an important mini-session is coming up.

01:55am

Oliver Brown’s audio verdict

01:52am

Lunch verdict

A champion at one end, and two young chumps at the other for England. Joe Root’s absolute masterclass was lost on his less experienced team-mates Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. Root, overnight 72, gauged the day two pitch conditions, and apart from a couple of edges that landed safely, eased his way to his second hundred of the series and is 138 not out at lunch with the power to add.

Brook, by contrast, had a dart straightaway. He added just four to his overnight 78 before steering a catch to slip off Scott Boland. It was a ball he did not have to play at. Ben Stokes received a snorter from Starc but no excuses for Smith who played the worst shot of the series. He had a life on 22 when he was caught off a no ball and had added 94 with Root when Australia put on Marnus Labuschagne to eat up overs to the second new ball.

With ten minutes left before lunch, Smith slapped Labuschagne’s lame, slow bouncer to mid off for 46. It has been a poor series for Smith and there has to be consequences for giving it away so lazily at a crucial point in the first innings of an Ashes Test. It cannot be a slap on the back and go harder next time.

01:49am

Most Test centuries in the 2020s

24 Joe Root
12 Kane Williamson
10 Harry Brook, Shubman Gill, Steve Smith
9 Travis Head, Ollie Pope
8 Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Najmul Hussain Shanto

01:35am

In the face of some hot competition...

I think, all told, that is the worst dismissal of the series. England are in a strong position, but not an impregnable one, and will need to box clever against the new ball after lunch.

01:35am

The morning session in numbers

33 overs
125 runs
3 wickets
41 Test centuries for Joe Root

01:34am

OVER 78: ENG 336/6 (Root 138 Jacks 3)

Root sweeps Head firmly for four, the tries to reverse sweep the last ball before lunch and doesn’t connect properly. The ball ends up in the hands of Carey and, though it was almost certainly a bump ball, Smith wants the umpires to check with the third umpire just in case. Shades of Hansie Cronje at Cape Town in 1995-96 - but on this occasion there’s no controversy because Root clearly gloved the ball into the ground.

That’s lunch. Root will resume on 138 not out, the same score he made in the second Test at Brisbane.

01:31am

OVER 77: ENG 330/6 (Root 133 Jacks 2)

Labuschagne is running back to his mark between deliveries - partly out of enthusiasm, partly to improve Australia’s over-rate. Root pulls away just as Labuschagne is about to bowl the ball, then waves his hands at something behind the bowler’s arm. A little ado about nothing.

01:28am

OVER 76: ENG 326/6 (Root 131 Jacks 1)

Travis Head rushes thorugh an over of spin so that the dangerman Labuschagne can get another crack at England.

01:26am

Marnus can’t believe his luck

Unbelievable. Jamie Smith has been living on the edge, and now he’s got out to Marnus Labuschagne. Australia were counting down the minutes until lunch and the new ball, probably trying to get their awful over-rate back on track, and he’s picked out one of the eight men in the deep. Marnus cannot believe his luck.

Marnus Labuschagne can't believe he has dismissed Jamie Smith.

01:24am

OVER 75: ENG 323/6 (Root 129 Jacks 0)

The usually restrained Steven Finn has just called Smith’s dismissal “one of the worst shots I’ve ever seen in Test cricket.”

01:21am Wickets

Wicket!

Smith c Boland b Labuschagne 46 Unbelievable. Jamie Smith has been suckered into the softest of dismissals by Marnus Labuschagne.

Labuschagne, bowling his enthusiastic but largely harmless seamers, rammed in a short ball that Smith, backing away, hacked to Boland at deep extra cover. Labuschagne charges off in celebration, quite right too, but that was a horrible way for Smith to get out - especially with lunch and the second new ball both imminent. FOW: 323/6

01:18am

OVER 74: ENG 320/5 (Root 128 Smith 45)

A poor ball from Head, bowling around the wicket, is pulled for four by Root. He looks in complete control right now.

If you’d told Root before the series that he would make two centuries and average 50 (his series average is currently 50.71), he’d surely have taken it. Yet it has still been a disappointing series for him, with a lot of low scores when the Ashes were still at stake.

One frustration is that we’ll never know how many he might have made at the Gabba had he not run out of partners; he was batting beautifully in that innings.

01:17am

OVER 73: ENG 314/5 (Root 122 Smith 43)

Three from Boland’s over as well. He’s been the unsung hero of this series for Australia, bowling some crucial spells - most notably on day two at Perth - and taking 18 wickets at 25 overall.

01:11am

OVER 72: ENG 309/5 (Root 120 Smith 42)

Breaking news: a spin bowler is coming on. After 71 overs of seam, seam and more seam, Travis Head comes on to bowl his occasional offspin. This could be fun because Jamie Smith will surely go after him at some stage. But not yet, with three runs coming from a quiet first over.

Twenty minutes to go until lunch.

01:07am

OVER 71: ENG 306/5 (Root 118 Smith 41)

Green off, Boland on. He doesn’t take the new ball so can help out on the graveyard shift before the second new ball becomes available. After Root clips three off the pads, Boland targets Smith with a few nipbackers. That ball has troubled Smith all series but he defends it solidly in that over.

01:04am

OVER 70: ENG 303/5 (Root 115 Smith 41)

Smith brings up the England 300 by walking down the pitch to flick Webster imperiously through midwicket for four. That’s the Jamie Smith we know and love.

12:59am

OVER 69: ENG 299/5 (Root 115 Smith 37)

More luck for Smith, who mispulls Green over mid-on before thick-edging a drive wide of the slip cordon. I wonder if the pitch is slightly two-paced because Smith has mistimed an unusual number of his attacking strokes.

12:55am

OVER 68: ENG 295/5 (Root 114 Smith 34)

Beau Webster replaces Neser and will do a bit of dirty work with the old ball. He’s bowling seam-up, though he may turn to spin at some stage.

Webster’s pace is around 75 mph and Smith has timed to wave an on-drive that is very well stopped by Khawaja at mid-on.

12:51am

OVER 67: ENG 294/5 (Root 113 Smith 34)

Three from Green’s over.

12:50am

OVER 66: ENG 291/5 (Root 110 Smith 34)

At the other end Root is batting with serene authority. When Neser is a touch too straight, Root clips through midwicket for his 12th boundary.

Root’s cheat code is his ability to score at a healthy strike rate (65 in this innings) while managing risk like an old-fashioned blocker. It’s an extraordinary skill.

Joe Root kisses the England badge after making his 41st Test century.

12:48am

OVER 65: ENG 286/5 (Root 105 Smith 34)

A bit of width from Green allows Smith to clatter a cut stroke for two runs. He didn’t really get hold of that - or the next attempt, which flies straight over the slips for four runs. Smith is riding his luck.

12:35am

OVER 64: ENG 280/5 (Root 105 Smith 28)

Hideous passage of cricket there. Cameron Green – the most divisive cricketer in Australia right now – oversteps when Smith drills to cover. Then the very next ball, Smith swishes between keeper and slip. Smith, after a tour like this, is right to play his shots. But keep your head, man. Anyway, he’s blazed his way to 27, and needs to make it count.

12:32am

OVER 63: ENG 279/5 (Root 106 Smith 27)

Jamie Smith is caught off a no-ball! He drove Green straight to Labuschagne at cover, a pretty poor shot, and was walking off when the umpires told him to come back.

Smith has another escape next ball when a big edge flashes between keeper and first slip for four. Both Alex Carey and Beau Webster were motionless; they must have lost sight of the ball.

A single for Smith brings up the fifty partnership in 12 eventful overs.

12:29am

OVER 62: ENG 273/5 (Root 105 Smith 22)

A maiden from Neser to Root includes another play and miss when the ball zips from a length. Neser has bowled well to Root in this series.

12:29am

OVER 61: ENG 273/5 (Root 105 Smith 22)

Green almost snares Smith with the surprise pitch-up delivery. Smith had a huge drive - a windy woof, as Richie Benaud used to say - and was beaten.

12:23am

Root could be back for more in 2029-30

Joe Root has deflected when asked if he will be in the England side on the next Ashes tour but those close to him are convinced he will come back in four years’ time. Not many players improve on their fourth tour to Australia but Root has done just that with his second hundred of the series and it will mean so much to him to have done it at the SCG, a place where he was dropped on his first Ashes tour 12 years ago.

12:20am

Most Test centuries

51 Sachin Tendulkar (Ind)
45 Jacques Kallis (SA)
41 Ricky Ponting (Aus), Joe Root (Eng)
38 Kumar Sangakkara (SL)
36 Rahul Dravid (Ind), Steve Smith (Aus)

12:18am

OVER 60: ENG 272/5 (Root 104 Smith 22)

Joe Root’s 41st Test century! That’ll do. Root drives Neser for two to reach three figures for the 41st time in the Tests and the second time in Australia. Nobody will ever call him ‘Average Joe’ again. Root’s century brings to mind a quote from Brian Clough when Nottingham Forest won their second European Cup in as many years.

“You win something once and people say it is all down to luck. You win it twice and it shuts the buggers up.”

It’s been a classic Root innings, full of subtle placement and expert risk-management. Like his mentor Graham Thorpe, he has become such a clinical batsman in the second half of his career. He celebrates his century by unfurling a pristine cover drive for three; then Smith plays a gorgeous on-drive for four to move into the twenties. He’s looking very dangerous.

12:13am

OVER 59: ENG 263/5 (Root 99 Smith 18)

Cameron Green replaces Mitchell Starc. With his height he should enjoy the extra bounce, and Smith pulls his glove away from the bat handle after defending the first delivery.

Smith edges a back-foot drive in the air but safely for a single. Root drives to mid-off for another to move to 99. He’ll have strike at the start of Neser’s next over.

12:07am

Piechucker attends SCG Test

John Howard, Australia’s second longest-serving prime minister and an incorrigible cricket die-hard, is a prominent guest at this Sydney Test. Unfortunately, his best-known association with the game is his unforgettable bowling fail on a 2005 visit to war-ravaged Pakistan, where he sent down three rank pies to the country’s religious minister. For sheer ineptitude by a political figure in the sporting realm, it is rivalled only by Boris Johnson’s attempt at playing rugby in Japan in 2015 while still mayor of London, with his over-exuberance leading to him flattening a 10-year-old boy.

12:07am

OVER 58: ENG 261/5 (Root 98 Smith 17)

Root moves to 98 with a slightly streaky dab over the slips off Michael Neser’s first delivery. He has another escape later in the over when he edges on the bounce to first slip. That shot looked very safe yesterday, but the extra bounce today makes it more risky.

A terrific over from Neser ends with Root playing and missing at a legcutter that keeps a bit low.

12:04am

OVER 57: ENG 257/5 (Root 94 Smith 17)

Woof! A length delivery from Starc is muscled brusquely over mid-on for four by Smith, who is starting to put pressure back on the Australian bowlers.

At the other end Root has pottered, almost unnoticed, into the nineties. After pulling Starc through mid-on for three, he needs six runs to join Ricky Ponting on 41 Test centuries. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis have more.

12:00am

OVER 56: ENG 246/5 (Root 89 Smith 11)

Smith moves into double figures by lifting Boland over midwicket for four. While the pitch is livelier than on day one, there are still plenty of runs out there.

11:54pm

OVER 55: ENG 241/5 (Root 88 Smith 7)

A shortish delivery from Starc is flick-pulled over long leg for a big six by Smith. Shot! Smith tries a more conventional pull later in the over and is struck just below the neck. This could be a fun contest in the next 10 or 20 minutes.

11:49pm

OVER 54: ENG 235/5 (Root 88 Smith 1)

Sheesh! Root shapes to play a delivery from Boland, then aborts his shot as it bounces dramatically from a length. Definitely more in this pitch today.

Smith edges Boland just short of his namesake in the slips. The ball bounces through for a single to get Smith up and running. Boland then strays onto the pads of Root, who puts him away to the midwicket boundary. File under ‘meat and drink’.

An eventful over finishes with Boland producing a beauty to beat Root, who looks at the pitch and breaks into that infectious boyish smile. Oh, Joe, what joy you’ve given us these last 13 years.

Joe Root is surprised by some extra bounce.

11:44pm

OVER 53: ENG 229/5 (Root 83 Smith 0)

Starc has three men out on the hook for Smith, who ignores the first short ball he receives. Plenty more where that came from, though for the time being it’s being used as the surprise delivery.

A maiden from Starc to Smith. Australia have started superbly, taking two for 18 in eight overs this morning.

11:38pm

Snicko not fit for purpose

I think Stokes has hit that one, but it really isn’t good enough that Test cricket is being played with a system that includes this ‘within one frame’ nonsense. There is no way the host broadcaster or Fox can continue with Snicko in future summers.

11:37pm

OVER 52: ENG 229/5 (Root 83 Smith 0)

Root pulls his head away after being surprised by some extra bounce from Boland. There’s definitely a bit more life in this pitch today.

Boland will be desperate to have a crack at Jamie Smith, who has had problems dealing with the nipbacker throughout this series.

11:33pm

OVER 51: ENG 229/5 (Root 83 Smith 0)

I fear that this game will be a bit like the Gabba. England get a reasonable score, but when they need two blokes to go massive, only one does, which keeps Australia in the game.

11:32pm Wickets

Wicket!

Stokes c Carey b Starc 0 Mitchell Starc has dismissed Ben Stokes again! There was a small spike on Snicko, one frame after the ball passed the bat, and the third umpire was happy to give it out based on that. It was a helluva delivery from Starc, which burst from a length and moved away off the seam. FOW: 229/5

11:31pm

Australia review for caught behind

Stokes is surprised by a snorter from Starc that whizzes through to Alex Carey. He thinks it’s out, Starc isn’t sure, so Steve Smith goes upstairs.

11:27pm

OVER 50: ENG 228/4 (Root 82 Stokes 0)

A quiet over from Boland, one from it. As always, Stokes is taking the time to get his eye in.

11:21pm

OVER 49: ENG 227/4 (Root 81 Stokes 0)

Replays show that the ball to dismiss Brook seamed a far away, though it was still a nothing shot to a ball he could either have left or attacked with more conviction. Steven Finn, commentating on TNT Sports, thinks the old ball is doing slightly more this morning than it did yesterday.

Stokes is turned round by a good ball from Starc and gets a leading edge to point. He’ll be desperate not only to get runs but also to survive this spell from Starc, who has become his nemesis in Test cricket.

11:17pm

OVER 48: ENG 226/4 (Root 80 Stokes 0)

That’s a shocker for Harry Brook, with a maiden Ashes hundred in his grasp. Careless.

11:15pm Wickets

Wicket!

Brook c Smith b Boland 84 Harry Brook won’t be making his first Ashes century today. He has fallen 16 short after edging Scott Boland to slip. It was a nothing shot to a wide ball, a lazy dab that was smartly caught to his left by Steve Smith. Brook snaps his head back in disappointment as he walks from the field. FOW: 226/4

11:11pm

OVER 47: ENG 223/3 (Root 78 Brook 83)

There’s a whipcrack of the bat as Harry Brook pulls Mitchell Starc’s first ball through square leg. He only gets one run because of a fine stop from Beau Webster but it was a sweet stroke. Brook looks in the mood dominate; later in the over he launches Starc over mid-off for three.

11:04pm

OVER 46: ENG 217/3 (Root 77 Brook 79)

Scott Boland opens the bowling with the keeper Alex Carey up to the stumps when Joe Root is batting. Root thick edges the first ball of the day for four before the two batsmen trade singles.

Joe Root runs onto the field at the start of day two.

10:54pm

A hot and humid day in Sydney

Good morning from the SCG, where we are starting early because of yesterday’s delays. It’s hot and humid today, and you can never quite trust Sydney’s weather at this time of year. It’s record for washed out days is as bad as Manchester’s, which is saying something. Anyway, we will start on time and have 98 overs to get through.

10:46pm

A sad indictment of modern Test cricket

This has been an underwhelming Ashes series. England have operated far below their ability and been bad enough for Australia to sweep them aside, despite plenty of injuries and struggling batsmen. Two two-day Tests? That is good for no-one.

Amid the disappointments, the walk-on role played by spin bowling has been among the most depressing.

Nathan Lyon, Australia’s spin-bowling champion, was left out in Brisbane. He has had a meaningful impact on just one Test, Adelaide, where he got injured. Since then, Australia have played without a spinner, and word was that captain Steve Smith wanted to leave Lyon out in Perth for the series opener, too.

England have played without their notional first-choice spinner, Shoaib Bashir, throughout the series, preferring pace, and to pack their batting with all-rounder Will Jacks. England have bowled just 59 overs of spin, and Australia 73. Thin gruel.

Early start on day two

Play will start 30 minutes early, at 11pm GMT, to make up some of the time lost on day one.

Jacob Bethell plays football as part of England's warm-up for day two at the SCG.

10:30pm

Day one report

Brendon McCullum was caught on camera with his head buried in a crossword puzzle while it rained at the SCG, and solving those clues must have seemed easier than the problems with England’s batting.

No 1 is what to do about Harry Brook? No 2 is working out why England’s top three has collapsed so badly, with even the one usually consistent figure, Ben Duckett, badly misfiring.

Brook is undoubtedly a world-class talent, who has scored 3,130 runs in 35 Tests with 10 hundreds, including the first triple century by an Englishman for 30 years.

Alongside Joe Root he combined for England’s highest stand of the series, an unbeaten 154, before bad light and rain curtailed play just before tea on day one of this final Test. Brook’s unbeaten 78 and Root’s 72 repaired England from 57 for three – losing three for 22 – to a respectable 211 for three at the close, and a chance to build something meaningful, both personally and collectively, on day two.

Good evening

Hello and welcome to live, over-by-over coverage of day two at the SCG, where England will resume in an almost disconcertingly good positions. They reached 211/3 in just 45 overs on a truncated first day, with Joe Root (72*) and Harry Brook (78*) adding 154 largely untroubled runs on a flat Sydney pitch. The weather forecast is fine so we should get a full day - which probably means around 80 overs given the lack of a specialist spinner on either side.

Brook played a few risky strokes, particularly when Australia set the field for short-pitched bowling, but for the most part he collected runs with ease and is now just 22 short of his first Ashes century.

“It’s obviously a ploy which has been used against me in my whole career,” said Brook of Australia’s tactics “I’ve experienced it a lot so far and I’m expecting to experience it a lot in the future.

“I could have played it better at times. It didn’t feel amazing today but on another day it’ll feel a hell of a lot better, so I’m happy that I got through it and can take that momentum forward. I’ve got to be a little bit patient at times, whether that’s taking my ones instead of trying to hit boundaries, then so be it. It’s obviously not worked this series because I haven’t scored as many runs as I’d have liked.”

Brook could still end the series as England’s leading runscorer. He is currently on 310, four ahead of Root, and both will hope to add plenty more if they get through the initial burst from Australia’s seamers. It’s eight years since England scored 400 in a Test in Australia; they will kick themselves if they don’t change that in the next few hours.

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