Women’s Ashes Test match, day two: Australia v England – as it happened

Right, time for a cup of tea and a recalibration. Thanks so much to all those who messaged in through the night, I really appreciate the company. Do join us for a crucial day three later today/tomorrow - can England capitalise on Knight’s brilliance, or can Australia grab the initiative back? Sleep well/have a lovely day. Bye!

I’m not sure we’re going get any interviews at the close - so I’ll have to guess for you. Australia: frustrated, having had England on the rack, even though they still lead by more than a hundred. England: relieved. Looked as if they weren’t going to capitalise on the hard-work of Katherine Brunt (5-60) and at 169-8 the Ashes were swirling down the plug-hole. Enter Ecclestone, a fine foil to the brilliant Knight.

An amazing stat from Geoff Lemon - Knight has been on the field for all but 13 balls of the Test. She’s the queen of cool, technically very together, not afraid to sit tight for a while, but full of strokes when the ball deserves it.

87th over: England 225-8 (Knight 127, Ecclestone 27) An expensive last over from Sutherland, and last over it is, despite the Aussie fielders doing their best to sprint into position for another. A boundary to long-leg and three from a stylish straight drive by Ecclestone, then a flick off the pads for four more by Knight. The umpires pull out the stumps, and Knight removes her helmet and raises her bat as she strides off, as well she should, accepting Aussie handshakes from Healy, Mooney and Haynes en route.

86th over: England 223-8 (Knight 122, Ecclestone 20) As a rogue feather pricks into my back from the cushion, Knight drives Perry through the covers but can’t pick the boundary.

And confirmation that dogs are to cats like a toastie is to a dry bit of bread and cheese spread.

85th over: England 221-8 (Knight 121, Ecclestone 19) A full-toss from Sutherland (who has replaced Brown) is pinged back down the ground by Ecclestone and that’s the fifty partnership for the ninth wicket, as England’s deficit floats down towards two figures.

84th over: England 216-8 (Knight 120, Ecclestone 15) Sophie Ecclestone! Her first boundary of the innings comes with a shovel into the leg side off Perry. I’m almost as impressed with the behaviour of Ecclestone’s long pony-tail which always seems frizz-free and here it is again swishing along in neat perfection.

83rd over: England 210-8 (Knight 119, Ecclestone 11) No runs but a no ball from Brown’s over. And this partnership is now worth 41 in 100 deliveries and has taken England towards respectability. Some frustration I imagine for Australia at the moment.

“Dug-out, Tanya?” writes Bob Mills. “Are we talking canoe here or are we underground. Either way, a great innovation for cricket, I’d reckon. Can we have a pic please?”

Ok, so it isn’t exactly a dug-out. A shaded area for relaxation and preparation. You’re a pedantic lot you OBOers.

82nd over: England 209-8 (Knight 119, Ecclestone 11) Perry at the other end, uncharacteristically brunette. Perhaps this is a new image for a new era when the queen of Australian cricket can actually be dropped (though not from the Test team). She’s more accurate than Brown and beats Knight between inside edge and pad. Knight gives a nod of admiration and Perry smiles back. And again! This time one that keeps low.

81st over: England 208-8 (Knight 119, Ecclestone 10) Ten overs left in the day, as Australia take the new ball straight away in an attempt to finish off this plucky bit of sticking-around by England’s ninth-wicket partnership. Brown it is, and she’s expensive, as Knight digs away a yorker for four, then cuts a short one for another boundary.

“I never disagree with Ravi Nair who is always annoying but never actually wrong (annoyingly),” types Robert Wilson.

“Yes you can stroke cats’ bellies. Some like it fairly quickly, some after years of bribery and Cultural Revolution era brainwashing, and others will never, EVER accept it. Not as confusing as it seems, since if you make a mistake, it’s corrected with admirable promptness (and those interested in the structures of tendons and bones in their hands can gain fascinating insights.

“The only advantage that cats have over dogs is that you can wear them as an actual scarf.”

80th over: England 198-8 (Knight 111, Ecclestone 10) Australia ignore my advice and continue bowling King. And Ecclestone is duly nearly bowled/caught by one that spins like a roulette wheel.

79th over: England 195-8 (Knight 110, Ecclestone 8) Jonassen rattles through a tidy over.

78th over: England 194-8 (Knight 109, Ecclestone 8) The paper clatters through the letter box but no-one stirs. Maybe time for King to have a rest - this has been a long spell. England pick five, Knight sweeping with elan. Oh, and, I think I forgot to mention, but England have avoided the follow-on.

77th over: England 189-8 (Knight 106, Ecclestone 6) A not totally convincing throw of the bat from Knight against Jonassen, but she still picks up two. Ecclestone showing resolve.

76th over: England 186-8 (Knight 103, Ecclestone 6) Oooof, a leading-edge, from Knight, just falls short of King.

75th over: England 183-8 (Knight 101, Ecclestone 5) Gardner has two close enough to examine Eccleston’e split ends, and another to mutter sweet nothings. She still finds two off Gardner with a push, and the follow-on is now in touching distance.

This:

74th over: England 181-8 (Knight 101, Ecclestone 3) Australia lose another review, going for the lbw as Ecclestone misses King, but the ball pitches outside leg stump. King turns away, hands to the sky in supplication, grin on her face.

Now look at this belly waiting to be rubbed...(do cats like having their bellies rubbed?)

73rd over: England 180-8 (Knight 101, Ecclestone 2) A couple of singles from Gardner, and England’s next target is the eight runs needed to avoid the follow-on.

72nd over: England 178-8 (Knight 100, Ecclestone 1) And there it is! Knight’s second Test hundred comes with a push through the covers off King: she makes her way safely to the non-striker’s end, takes off her helmet, beams a huge smile, raises her bat with a staccato acknowledgement and gets a hug from Ecclestone. You can see how much work she’s put in, her hair heavy with sweat. What a super knock - she’s just always so calm no matter what happens. In the England dug-out they all stand and applaud.

71st over: England 175-8 (Knight 96, Ecclestone 1) A big lbw appeal against a wooden Ecclestone and Australia decide they fancy a review when the on-field ump says no. Hits above the knee and it is drifting away from leg stump. Australia duly lose the review.

69th over: England 174-8 (Knight 96, Ecclestone 1) A handy single off King, and Knight is just a shot away from three figures. Does she have Joe Root on speed dial I wonder?

69th over: England 173-8 (Knight 95, Ecclestone 1) Not sure if that counts as a chance - Knight bats the ball back and Jonassen leaps skyward, tipping the ball with the top of her fingertips but unable to hold on. And they take drinks, with England needing just 15 runs to avoid the follow-on. Not sure what Australia will do if they get a chance to enforce, might be influenced by an inclement forecast tomorrow.

68th over: England 170-8 (Knight 93, Ecclestone 0) Knight inches closer with a single off King’s last ball and just an over to go until drinks.

67th over: England 169-8 (Knight 92, Ecclestone 0) Jonassen, left-arm over, makes the break-through immediately when Shrubsole is tempted by a wide one. Nineteen needed for the follow on, eight for Knight’s century.

“Ma chère Tanya,” Bonjour Robert Wilson!

“Is your email action exclusively French this morning? C’est dingue! Can’t believe there’s been no pooch-pic. Not even a sketch or cartoon. I’ll send my cats if you do (they don’t care about cricket but they love the ext-mounted camera footage of the Apollo 11 landing - seriously).”

What intellectual cats! All I need to tell you is she’s the best dog . She’s shown no interest in space flight as yet, but is very keen on squirrels., her favourite spot either looking through the window or, if weather permits, (she doesn’t like rain), perched on the back step for the swish of a grey tail.

Just a dobble shot to extra cover where a diving McGrath picks it up and slots it in her apron pocket. Shrubsole pulls her helmet down over her eyes in disgust with herself/to avoid her captain’s steely glare.

66th over: England 168-7 (Knight 91, Shrubsole 3) England need 20 to avoid the follow-on, as King rattles through another super over, beating Shrubsole’s outside edge.

65th over: England 167-7 (Knight 90, Shrubsole 3) Gardner, neat, three from it.

64th over: England 164-7 (Knight 88, Shrubsole 2) I love Heather Knight’s sang-froid, approaching her century, not much support, but a loose ball from King and down she goes, sweeping away, tending the ball down to the rope

“Thank you for the OBO.” A pleasure Duncan Wood and I’m sorry you’re sleepless in Bedford.
“Re over 57, I like the idea of ‘maternity leaves’, but not sure how to define them: a particularly mumsy way of removing the bat from the path of the ball? Any better offers?”

Very droll. I think the gentleness of a maternity leave would depend very much on how much sleep the little darlings are permitting.

63rd over: England 158-7 (Knight 83, Shrubsole 1) These spinners whip through the overs far more quickly than is polite on a dark January morning. But Shrubsole survives and even gets a run. I’d say she’s more comfortable in have-a-go mode than stay-and- protect but let’s see.

62nd over: England 156-7 (Knight 83, Shrubsole 0) England should be able to make the follow on-target, which sits in the near-distance, just 32 runs away. Shouldn’t they? One is ticked off King’s over.

61st over: England 155-7 (Knight 82, Shrubsole 0) A flustered shot from Dean who had looked fairly composed in the face of fine bowling from Australia. The ball before she had turned the ball to short leg, straight into Haynes’ midrift, who couldn’t quite hold-on on the rebound. Knight reacts to the collapsing house of cards by reverse-sweeping Gardner for four. She is some cool cookie, and lives completely under the radar in the UK.