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Romelu Lukaku got the “40,000 whistles” reception at Inter that Nerazzurri fans had promised, with ultras defying a ban on the handing out of gifts.

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Striker won league title at San SiroReturned on loan last seasonNow with Serie A rivalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The Belgium international striker was once a fan favourite to San Siro, with Serie A title glory savoured back in 2020-21. After enduring a forgettable second stint at Premier League giants Chelsea, Lukaku returned to Milan on loan last season.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

He was then linked with a move to Inter’s arch-rivals Juventus over the summer, before ending up back in Italy working under Jose Mourinho at Roma. Lukaku was never going to get a warm recerption from the home support when returning to familiar surroundings, with passionate supporters vowing to make his “life on the pitch hell”.

DID YOU KNOW?

Inter ultras were ordered not to hand out whistles prior to a meeting with Roma, but that advice was ignored and Lukaku was welcomed onto the pitch for his pre-match warm-up by a deafening noise.

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Lukaku knew what was coming and was able to see the funny side. He calmly applauded the Roma fans in attendance before going about his business with a smile on his face. Inter followers had, however, made it clear that they would whistle his every touch, with the 30-year-old forward unable to escape the most ear-splitting of sounds in the stands.

A "devastated" Thiago Silva apologised to Chelsea fans in an emotional message after an awful error gifted Newcastle a goal in a 4-1 defeat.

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Silva issues apology after silly errorChelsea convincingly beaten by NewcastleBlues drop to 10th spotWHAT HAPPENED?

The defender was at fault after a critical error led to Joelinton's goal that helped the Magpies to further extend their lead. Silva's sloppy pass was cut off by his compatriot and Joelinton made no mistake to score past a helpless Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

AdvertisementWHAT THIAGO SILVA SAID

Silva posted an emotional message after the defeat which read: "I'm devastated. It wasn't a good day for us. I would like to apologise to everyone for the defeat, especially to my teammates who believe in me and support me every day. I take full responsibility. Let's gather strength and come back stronger."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After coming out second-best to an injury-ravaged Newcastle, Mauricio Pochettino was naturally left "upset". Alexander Isak scored the opener but Raheem Sterlingensured that they were back on level terms soon after scoring a brilliant free kick. However, after the break, the Magpies upped the ante and Jamaal Lascelles made the most of the inspired start and put his team back in the lead. After Silva's howler, things went further south for Chelsea as Reece James was handed his marching orders. Ten minutes later, Anthony Gordon scored the fourth of the match for Newcastle to seal a memorable evening for the fans at St. James' Park.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THIAGO SILVA?

Silva is one of the leaders in the dressing room and became the oldest player to ever feature for the Blues at 39 years and 64 days when he was named in the starting XI against Newcastle. The centre-back will look to put this disappointment on the back burner and move ahead as Chelsea are set to host Brighton next on December 3.

Star midfielder Pedri capped a dominant display with the only goal of the game as the Liga leaders extended their advantage over Real Madrid.

Pedri was the star of the show as Barcelona beat Getafe 1-0 to move six points clear at the top of La Liga, for the time being at least.

The visitors proved as physical as expected, treating both Pedri and Gavi to a series of kicks and trips for the majority of the game.

The Blaugrana had few chances, as a result, but took their one gaping opportunity 35 minutes in, when Pedri converted a cross from Raphinha.

Barca also needed some help from Marc Andre ter Stegen, who made two crucial stops to keep Getafe out.

But there could have perhaps been an extra goal or two for Barca, had Franck Kessie and later Ansu Fati showed more composure inside the box.

Still, it was a mostly steady showing, with Pedri and Gavi ensuring that the Blaugrana maintained pole position in the title race…

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Pedri:

The young Spaniard gets better to watch with each passing game, and is becoming an increasingly versatile midfielder. Last week, as Barca won the Spanish Super Cup, he was a pure attacking midfielder, getting into advanced positions with a defensive duo behind him. This time out, he was a box-to-box no.8, winning tackles, breaking up play and holding everything together. In a contest that required composure, Pedri was the epitome of cool. It helped, of course, that the 20-year-old also grabbed the winner, meeting Raphinha's cross with a well-timed slide. But his impact here was bigger than the scoreline suggests.

Sergi Roberto:

Roberto is an odd fit in this Barca squad. At 30, he's a few years ahead of the young core steadily developing in front of him. He's also not as quick or agile as the kind of advanced full-back Xavi prefers. But he's experienced, reads the game with aplomb, and can always be counted on to put in a shift. With Ronald Araujo rested, and Jules Kounde shifted to centre-back, Roberto filled in at right-back wonderfully. There were one or two scary moments, highlighted by a misjudgment on a Getafe counter-attack that almost saw a goal go in. But it was otherwise a solid 77 minute showing, which is exactly what Barca needed from their veteran.

Sergio Busquets:

Seven hundred appearances and counting. Not bad. The captain has now been a first-team regular for over 10 years and he was as reliable as ever on his milestone appearance for the Blaugrana. Busquets touched the ball more than any Barca midfielder, completed 92 per cent of his passes, and made seven recoveries. He seldom dominates games and certainly doesn't have the legs he used to, but in scrappy, testy contests like these, the ageing Spanish midfielder is a real difference-maker. Busquets might not have too many more showings in a Barca kit; a summer exit seems likely. This game, then, was a reminder of what Barca might miss.

AdvertisementGettyThe Losers

Jordi Alba:

Is the left-back slowly being phased out? It certainly seems like it. Alba ceded his starting spot to Alejandro Balde for the second time in three games, and simply wasn't on the same level as his positional rival when he was brought on in the second half. This was by no means a terrible showing from Alba. He was steady in possession, eager to get forward, and lashed one shot on goal. But his athleticism is waning, while Balde looks to be rounding into a more complete full-back. There's something a bit sad about watching a club legend see his playing time reduced, but Alba's days as a guaranteed starter appear numbered.

Real Madrid:

There are relatively few home fixtures in which Barca might drop points, but this is usually one of them. Getafe are very difficult to beat. Furthermore, with Robert Lewandowski still suspended and the visitors set up with their usual defensive grit, this was undoubtedly a potential banana skin for the Blaugrana. But they found a way to win, which is a blow for Real Madrid, who will likely have hoped Getafe could have done them a favour ahead of their evening encounter with Athletic Club, particularly with a trip to the Club World Cup round the corner.

GettyBarcelona Ratings: Defence

Marc Andre ter Stegen (7/10):

Made one crucial save to hold on to a 1-0 lead late in the first half. Did it again in the second, and exercised some clever gamesmanship late on.

Sergi Roberto (7/10):

Has made it clear that he wants a new deal, but will likely be a squad player going forward. Still, did well enough here to suggest he can fill in whenever needed.

Jules Kounde (7/10):

Impressive in the air, reliable on the ball, and opened up his stride to make a few recovering tackles. One of the best in Europe when he's on it.

Andreas Christensen (6/10):

Not the most assured showing, and left Barca vulnerable on the counter once or twice. Removed after 45 minutes with a hamstring issue.

Alejandro Balde (7/10):

Preferred to Jordi Alba, a selection choice that may well become common as the season goes on. Relentlessly bombed down the left. Taken off at half-time after a good shift.

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GettyMidfield

Gavi (7/10):

Did all the dirty work in midfield, flying into tackles and causing a sort of controlled chaos. Was solid on the ball, too, and had some lovely moments of link-up play with the front three.

Sergio Busquets (7/10):

Celebrated his 700th Barca appearance with a satisfying win. Solid as ever.

Pedri (8/10):

Scored the winner, controlled the game, and kept his head despite getting kicked all over the place. The best player on the pitch.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara has been ruled out of the rest of the Bangladesh tour and the Asia Cup with an injury

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2014Sri Lanka seamer Nuwan Kulasekara has been ruled out of the rest of the Bangladesh tour and the Asia Cup with a groin injury. He will be replaced by another seamer, Dhammika Prasad, who is expected to join the squad on Wednesday.Kulasekara sustained the injury during the first ODI on Monday in Mirpur. He had bowled six overs for 38 runs in the match that Sri Lanka won by 13 runs. He is also in the World T20 squad, which will also be played in Bangladesh.Thirty-year-old Prasad has played 12 ODIs and taken 18 wickets. He last played an ODI nearly two years ago, in March 2012, during the tri-series in Australia which also involved India. He has been among the wickets off late in first-class matches and picked up six wickets against England Lions in Pallekele.

Mumbai Indians face another must-win match, this time against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, a team they have beaten earlier this season

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria20-May-20143:12

Prasad: Mumbai need to believe in turnaround

Match factsWednesday, May 21, 2014
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Hello, anybody home? Mohali has often worn the deserted look•ESPNcricinfo LtdBig PictureA month after they took this edition of the tournament by storm, Kings XI Punjab return home to Mohali, a ground notorious for its sparsely filled stands be it international cricket or the IPL, for the first of three home games. In the recent past, only an occasion as big as the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan saw Mohali choc-a-block with people. Now, they won’t have an excuse as Kings XI have been the team to watch in the tournament, their style of batting possibly the most exhilarating ever in seven editions of the IPL.Facing them will be Mumbai Indians, a team on the brink. The defending champions have had a disastrous campaign and need to win all their remaining matches to have any chance of making it to the playoffs. The Mohali test promises to be their toughest as they will be playing their last two matches against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils with the vociferous support of the Wankhede crowd behind them. That they are one of only two teams to beat Kings XI this season should boost their confidence.Form guideKings XI Punjab: WWLWW (completed games, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians: WLWLWWhere they standKings XI Punjab: Top of the table, with 18 points from 11 games
Mumbai Indians: Seventh, with 8 points from 11 gamesPrevious encounterHarbhajan Singh reined in the Glenn Maxwell storm just when it was threatening to explode in the teams’ previous meeting. George Bailey and David Miller failed to fire and Kings XI could only set a target of 169, which, considering the conditions in Mumbai, was slightly below par. Kieron Pollard, with a 12-ball 28, helped Mumbai Indians complete the chase in the last over.Watch out forKings XI retaining Manan Vohra, a 20-year-old batsman, ahead of the auctions seemed to be against conventional wisdom. They then kept him hidden for nine matches, raising more questions about that decision. But if you saw him hit that back-foot punch for six over cover off a quick Mohammed Shami delivery against Daredevils, you wondered why on earth was he out for so long. Vohra’s stats for his two matches this season read 89 runs off 39 balls, which is a strike rate of 228.20, a few notches above that of Maxwell.Michael Hussey’s return to the top of the order has lent solidity to a fragile Mumbai Indians batting. His half-century in his comeback match in Ahmedabad gave Mumbai Indians their best start this year. Maybe the team could have been patient with his form earlier. With three must-win games ahead of them, they now need Hussey to come good three more times.Stats and trivia Kieron Pollard’s strike-rate – 130.89 – is the best for Mumbai Indians this season. Kings XI have five batsmen with a better strike-rate than that In four matches against Mumbai Indians in Mohali, Kings XI have lost just once. They scored 168 batting first in that match, the same as in their loss against Mumbai Indians earlier this season Kings XI are nine short of becoming the fourth side to hit 500 sixes in the IPLQuotes”He is a genius and he has done it so many times before for the Chennai Super Kings in previous seasons and Australia as well.”

Apart from their first names and left-handedness, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson share something else in common – their own batsmen hate the thought of facing up to them in the nets

Daniel Brettig in Sydney05-Jan-20156:40

Bevan: Selectors got it a little wrong by rotating Starc

Apart from their first names and left-handedness, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson share something else in common – their own batsmen hate the thought of facing up to them in the nets.Johnson’s speed and awkward bounce are well known, but Starc’s attributes are exceedingly similar. He bowls at his very fastest in practice, curving the new ball late and into the stumps when he’s not banging in bouncers that threaten arms, gloves and heads at around 150kph. At the SCG the time around, one bending, piercing yorker spreadeagled Brad Haddin’s stumps in the most comprehensive manner imaginable, while a bumper left Shane Watson losing his footing as he lurched late underneath it.The difference between the two is that while Johnson has learned how to take this sort of terrifying stuff from the nets to the middle, Starc is still battling to find a way of doing so. His Test match appearances to date have been fleetingly brilliant but more commonly muted.A five-wicket haul against South Africa at the WACA Ground in November 2012 came at a cost – 6 for 154 from 28.5 overs, most of Starc’s wickets collected after Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla had rushed the game away from Australia by dominating him. As bowling analyses go, it was more Pyrrhic than perfect.As with all of Starc’s Test match appearances since Johnson re-emerged as a bowler reborn at the start of last summer, that WACA match was played alongside his more experienced fellow lefty. Without the new ball or a clear role as a strike bowler, Starc has given the appearance of a singer forgetting the words to a familiar tune. Not only has Starc’s bowling slipped from the standards glimpsed in the nets or limited overs formats, but his body language has also taken on the apologetic, slightly lost air of the late ring-in at a house party.”It’s interesting,” Chris Rogers said of a bowler he is happy to avoid in training. “He is a strike bowler, so hopefully he could take up that mantle that Johno has and maybe in previous games when they’ve played together it’s been a bit of a difficult thing for Starcy because he hasn’t quite known what his role has been. So if he does get that opportunity he will know exactly what he needs to do.”Mitchell Starc has a chance to stand out in the absence of Mitchell Johnson•Getty ImagesShane Warne’s words about Starc at the Gabba were harsh, but spoke of an issue that has not been anywhere near as prevalent when he has been able to lead an attack, new ball in hand. In ODIs Starc has often been irresistible, most notably on a warm day at the WACA later in the same summer as that South Africa Test. Bending the new ball treacherously late, he upended the West Indies in a manner that left plenty wondering who could possibly have kept him out that day.Steven Smith was very much a fringe dweller back then, not part of the squad and yet to make the leap from promise to fulfilment that has vaulted him into the Australian captaincy only a year after he did not make the initial list of Cricket Australia contracts. He has seen plenty of Starc, and reasons that a home Test and a strike bowler’s commission could yet bring out his best.”I’m sure he’s looking forward to playing out here in front of the SCG,” Smith said. “Having one left-hander is good for us. The way we’ve seen Mitch go back and play in the Big Bash he’s looked like he bowled exceptionally quick. We’re looking forward to hopefully some of the same that he’s produced in the BBL this week. I think if he sustains that for long periods, if he can keep that kind of pace up and sustain it for the long day he can be an extremely amazing bowler.”On match eve Smith had not yet decided whether he would grant Starc the chance to use the new ball. But it is reasonable to conclude that his best chance to succeed will be to take the shiny Kookaburra on a humid Sydney morning and charge into the wicket as fast as he can, his mind clear of questions about how he should work with other bowlers and how his action is grooved. That way he will be closer in mindset and attitude to the Starc seen in the nets, the BBL and the ODI team.Above all, it should not be forgotten that Starc’s current issues mirror those that were faced and beaten by Johnson himself. For some years, observers wondered why Johnson was persisted with when he looked about as sure of his bowling as doubtful spectators did. But time, and self-knowledge brought him to the realisation of enormous potential, helped by the belief of selectors and coaches who identified him. Starc is on that same journey, and this week will make another important step towards his destination from net bowling terror to Test match tormentor.

Left-arm pacer Usman Khan’s maiden five-wicket haul in Twenty20 matches, as well as a quickfire fifty from Haris Sohail, helped Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited thump Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited by 78 runs in Lahore and secure the Faysal Bank Departmen

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2013
ScorecardZTBL celebrate their crushing victory•PCBLeft-arm pacer Usman Khan’s maiden five-wicket haul in Twenty20 matches, as well as a quickfire fifty from Haris Sohail, helped Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited thump Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited by 78 runs in Lahore and secure the Faysal Bank Department T20 Cup. Usman, who finished with match-winning figures of 5 for 9, also ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker.Chasing a mammoth 185 in an electrifying atmosphere at the Gaddafi Stadium, SNGPL began their chase poorly, as Usman stunned them with a double strike in the opening over. Mohammad Rizwan was the first to depart after edging behind to the keeper Shakeel Ansar, and two deliveries later, Taufeeq Umar was bowled for a two-ball duck.Faysal Bank T20 Cup honours

Man of the Match – Usman Khan
Best Bowler – Usman Khan (11 wickets)
Best Batsman – Sarfraz Ahmed (250 runs)
Best Allrounder – Zohaib Ahmed (141 runs and 10 wickets)

With the pressure starting to mount on SNGPL, Usman struck again in his second over, dismissing Ali Waqas and Misbah-ul-Haq as the team slumped to 9 for 4- a point of no recovery. The pitch still looked good for runs, however, and Umar Akmal capitalized, smashing 16 runs off Mohammad Khalil in the fourth over, but his 19-run cameo ended when he carved a catch to Usman at third man.Bilalawal Bhatti, who made his Pakistan debut last month, was the only form of resistance for SNGPL. He made 38 off 20 balls with two sixes and five fours, but eventually slashed a top edge back to Ansar in the 12th over. Medium-pacer Imran Khan chipped in with three wickets, as SNGPL were bundled out for 106 in 16.1 overs.Earlier, ZTBL, put in to bat, made a flying start as Imran Nazir and Sharjeel Khan opened the inning with a blitzing 85-run stand, but they were both trapped lbw by Imran Ali in the 10th over.The team’s run rate began to fall as Yasir Hameed and Sohail took some time to settle, but once they found their feet, they anchored the innings with a 54-run third-wicket stand. Hameed was removed for 32, but Sohail added a late surge to the innings. His 32-ball 58 which included five fours and three sixes, eventually helped the team to 184 for 3.

Tottenham Hotspur have been widely linked with a move for Adrien Rabiot in recent days, but the 23-year-old’s problematic history should force Mauricio Pochettino to focus his efforts on signing another reported target, Youri Tielemans. 

According to a recent report from Metro, Rabiot has already rejected a move to Spurs in favour of Liverpool. Various reports have all pointed towards a different conclusion to the ongoing Rabiot saga, but a report from TEAMtalk suggests that Daniel Levy and Pochettino have their eye on another midfield target.

According to the report, Spurs are in the hunt for Monaco’s Youri Tielemans, with Leicester City boss Claude Puel appearing to rule out a potential move following a string of reports linking his side with a January bid.

On paper, both Tielemans and Rabiot would be excellent additions to Tottenham’s squad. That Barcelona have been consistently linked with a move for the PSG misfit vindicates Rabiot’s reputation as one of the best young midfielders in Europe, but his attitude problem is a notable concern.

Rabiot’s most public display of petulance arrived shortly before the World Cup after he was omitted from Didier Deschamps’ France squad. He was selected for the standby list but he declined the opportunity to wait in the wings, a decision which was presumably born out of anger in the wake of his omission from the 23-man squad.

The presence of a player of Rabiot’s temperament would be detrimental to the harmonious environment Pochettino has created in north London, so the Argentine should target Tielemans instead.

The 21-year-old Belgium international signed for Monaco in a deal worth £21.63 million in 2017, and he has been a regular for the struggling Ligue 1 outfit this season, scoring five goals from 20 appearances.

While Spurs will undoubtedly be looking for much more than just goals in a potential midfield recruit, his tendency to find the back of the net is a factor which will naturally capture their attention.

Tielemans is best known for his playmaking qualities and his desire to influence the game in the final-third, and the fact he scored 35 goals and provided 31 assists from 185 appearances at Anderlecht proves that reputation is thoroughly justified.

The Monaco man may be two years younger than Rabiot but he already has 13 more caps at international level, and the fact his history is yet to be blighted by acrimonious displays of unprofessional behaviour suggests he would be the far wiser addition of the two Tottenham-linked midfielders.

And, if Tielemans makes the switch to Tottenham, he could yet represent the club’s long-term replacement for Mousa Dembele.

Tottenham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

Sean Willis’ unbeaten century led Australia to a 144-run victory over Papua New Guinea

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-201319 ) beat -19
ScorecardSean Willis’ unbeaten century led Australia to a 144-run victory over Papua New Guinea in their exhibition match in Darwin. Australia, whose batsmen suffered a collapse in Tuesday’s defeat to India U-19, got off to a bad start again as their top order struggled to make a platform, leaving them at 71 for 4This brought Willis to the crease, and along with Alex Gregory, helped consolidate Australia’s indifferent start by putting on 51 runs for the fifth wicket. Once Gregory fell, Jack Doran came in next and the pair put on a sixth-wicket stand of 112. This helped Australia recover to a respectable 234 for 6, with some late hitting helping the team reach 256 for 6. Willis finished unbeaten on 110, a knock which included 12 fours and 6 sixes. Kabua Morea was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 27.PNG began their chase cautiously. Openers Kiplin Doriga and Anthony Vare struggled to settle in and were dismissed off consecutive deliveries in the seventh over by medium-pacer Matthew Kelly. Wickets continued to fall regularly for PNG, as the efforts of Kelly, Riley Ayre and Matthew Short ensured Australia were able to defend their total. PNG were ultimately dismissed for 112 in 39 overs, with Kelly finishing with best figures of 4 for 18 in his 8 overs.The result of this friendly match has no bearing on the current standings of the ongoing U-19 tri-series, where an unbeaten India remain on top. Australia are second, with one win and one loss. New Zealand, who are yet to register a victory, are third. Australia next play New Zealand at Marrara Oval on July 6.

Australia’s batsmen demonstrated familiar frailty as they batted second for the first time in the series and lurched to 9 for 164, still 91 behind

The Report by Daniel Brettig27-Dec-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details0:00

Jarrod Kimber’s Ashes Report: England’s Best Day

Belatedly, England drew Australian blood at the MCG. The claret was literal in the case of Chris Rogers, stunned by a blow to the side of the helmet from Stuart Broad, and figurative for all Australia’s batsmen, who demonstrated familiar frailty as they batted second for the first time in the four Tests and lurched to 9 for 164, still 91 behind, at the close.The tourists’ success in cornering Australia intrigued a crowd of 78, 346, who were earlier thrilled by another burst of terrifying pace from Mitchell Johnson. His incisions have usually been followed by staunch batting, but on the sort of hard-fought day not glimpsed since the very first day of the series in Brisbane, Australia faltered in a manner to warm the hearts of the South Africa team due to host them in February and March, while also leaving the selectors with a few inconvenient worries that cannot be obscured by the glow of Ashes success.Rogers was a lonely beacon of defiance for much of the day, his 61 occupying 222 minutes and absorbing the aforementioned blow to the head. The early wickets of David Warner and Shane Watson, each man out trying to force the pace, had a constricting effect on Australia, and it was not until Brad Haddin intervened with his familiar mix of bold strokes and good fortune that runs flowed with any sort of freedom.Wickets did too, however, as James Anderson and Broad enjoyed a new flowering of their prolific pace-bowling partnership, taking advantage of a slow pitch that offered up tricky variations in pace and bounce and rendered driving particularly risky.Smart Stats

Mitchell Johnson has taken 28 wickets from seven innings at a strike rate of 32.3, which is at present the third-best by a bowler in the Ashes.

Johnson’s 28 wickets in this series are now the highest by an Australia left-arm fast bowler in the Ashes, beating Bruce Reid’s 27 wickets in the 1990-91 Ashes. Only Frank Foster’s 32 wickets in 1911-12 are more than Johnson’s tally in this series.

Johnson also has the most wickets in a Test series by a left-arm fast bowler against England, beating the 27 wickets by South Africa’s Alf Hall against them in 1922-23.

This was the third time in four Tests in this Ashes that Australia lost half their side for less than 150 runs, Adelaide being the only exception. However, on both the previous occasions Australia recovered to post totals of 385 and 295 at the WACA and the Gabba, respectively.

Brad Haddin has now scored 368 runs in this Ashes – the most by an Australia wicketkeeper in an Ashes series, beating his own record of 360 runs in the 2010-11 Ashes in Australia. In the Ashes, only Alec Stewart, with 378 runs in 1993, is ahead of Haddin.

Michael Clarke was bowled by James Anderson today just three runs short of completing 8000 Test runs. Clarke’s been bowled by England bowlers on eight of 15 occasions he’s got out to them this year. Overall Clarke’s been bowled ten times this year, the most times any batsman has got out in this fashion in 2013.

Haddin’s six off Ben Stokes was his ninth of the series, the most hit by an Australia batsman in an Ashes series, beating the eight hit by George Bailey in this series. Kevin Pietersen’s 14 sixes in 2005 are the most by a batsman in an Ashes series. The 37 sixes hit by Australia in this Ashes equals the 37 hit by Pakistan against India in a Test series in 2005-06, which is the record for the most hit by a team in a Test series.

Warner had fallen to a presumptuous pull shot at Anderson and Watson edged an attempted drive off Ben Stokes to leave the hosts in wobbly territory. Runs were hard to come by while the odd ball did not bounce as expected. One such delivery from Broad clattered into the side of Rogers’ helmet after not rising above his evasive action, causing a delay as the shaken batsman’s cut face was treated by medical staff.Soon afterwards, Michael Clarke shouldered arms to Anderson and had his off stump knocked back. Steven Smith resisted for a time before skewering a slips catch held well at an awkward height by Ian Bell and Rogers’ rearguard was ended when he finally lost patience and spooned a lofted drive attempt into the ring field on the off side.Even in a summer where he has made a lot of his own luck, Haddin was fortunate to escape an lbw verdict when his speculative referral of a Monty Panesar shout had the ball sliding past leg stump by a millimetre, according to Hawkeye.George Bailey continued a series that veers from the handy to the indifferent, given out on DRS review for what Real-Time Snicko suggested to be a thin edge. Johnson was dropped by Anderson at cover then held by him at midwicket, before Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle were each caught in front of the wicket as the shadows grew long. Haddin will require a spectacular batting shift from the No. 11, Nathan Lyon, to get Australia close.Such thoughts had seemed outlandish in the morning while Johnson tormented England’s lower order in what has become a familiar and grisly ritual to round them up for another mediocre first-innings total. Starting off with two wickets in his first over, including that of a panicked Kevin Pietersen, Johnson then crashed through Broad for figures of 5 for 63, all those wickets taken at a cost of 18 runs in nine overs after Clarke handed him the second new ball with England a relatively well-placed 4 for 201 late on Boxing Day.Pietersen had slapped the first ball of the morning from Harris to the boundary over point, suggesting entertainment was in the offing. Johnson had other ideas however, and his first delivery lifted sharply on a hapless Tim Bresnan, looping off the shoulder of a bat raised in self preservation and being well held by Bailey running back from square leg.James Anderson took three key wickets as England fought back with the ball•Getty ImagesAfter Broad took a leg bye, Johnson went after Pietersen, who seemed intent on destruction one way or another. A short ball had him pulling out of a swing to leg at the last minute, before a fuller, faster delivery, perhaps with a hint of inswing, rushed through Pietersen’s brazen attempt to mow over midwicket. Two wickets in the over had the MCG in morning tumult.Broad took two boundaries from Harris’ next over, a flirty outside edge and a more assured glide through the covers, before the same bowler dropped a difficult return chance from a leading edge, having made excellent ground to reach it. Johnson then intervened once more, pinning Broad lbw with a yorker that struck the same foot he had badly bruised with another lbw verdict in Perth. Broad’s consideration of a review brought mirth but little else.Anderson and Monty Panesar then held up the Australians briefly, the latter’s determination putting some of his better batting counterparts to some shame. He was struck an eye-watering blow to the groin by Siddle before being bowled by Lyon when offering no shot. Australia had wrapped up the innings in less than an hour, but their batsmen would not find the going to be anywhere near as easy.