Sunset at the Adelaide Oval, Day 4 of the Second Test

Source: Cameron Spencer, Getty Images.

Smith's Wicket Falls

The captain is bowled for 40 in the second test.

After a tense first day, Australia find themselves 209/4 at stumps.

Steve Smith 141*

Brilliant innings from the Australian captain.

Joe Root: 184*

"Win first toss: check. Score first hundred as captain: check. Bat through to the close: check. Joe Root stepped into the breach with England in a familiar spot of bother on the first day of the series and produced an equally familiar response to repel South Africa at Lord's. If Root might have preferred his scriptwriters to provide a more solid base from which to begin his work in charge of the Test side, he could have barely a quibble with how his own day progressed."

-England seize day as Root launches captaincy with 184*

Highlights of day one (Root's innings)


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Edit: Joe Root's wicket has fallen for 190 early in the proceedings of day two.  A valiant effort from the new England captain.

Thank you, Captain

"If just a few words were used to describe Alastair Cook in his role as England's captain, "honesty", "integrity" and "resolve" might lead the way. In this age of unflagging self-promotion, he has remained private and discreet, whispering not a word of his own journey or, more particularly, of the hurdles that have made it more difficult and emotionally draining than anyone on the outside could possibly imagine.

On a personal level, he keeps clear of social media, but the general noise is unavoidable and he has frequently been aghast at the vitriol pumped his way. During the early part of the summer of 2014, when his team was losing matches it should not have, the freewheeling and generally irresponsible criticism all but finished him off. Somehow he found the strength to carry on, displaying perhaps the most impressive of his abilities - where he rolls up his sleeves and gets on with the job."

-Mark Nicholas on Alastair Cook's legacy as England Captain

Cook might not have been the most successful skipper, however with him, you always felt like the club had a strong stoic leader who would perform his duties even in the face of great adversity.   

The Home of Cricket

A beautiful short video on my favorite cricket ground, Lord's.  There are many wonderful honors in the world of sport but I cannot think of anything more supreme than playing test cricket at Lord's for England.

Can you think of all the men who are part of the mystic of this ground?  Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Brian Lara, Sachin, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Andrew Strauss...

Mitchell Johnson 7/40, 2013 Ashes

I still remember this like it was yesterday.  Two quick notes.

• Johnson's ball to Cook was an absolute peach.  Swinging in and then deviates out off the seam.  Might be the best ball I have ever seen in my life. 
• The atmosphere inside the Adelaide Oval was absolutely brilliant when Broad's leg stump was demolished by Johnson's delivery.  Might have been the loneliest walk in his career.

Are You Watching England?