Essex v Australia, Chelmsford, 3-4 September 2005
Stumps Day OneEssex First innings Runs Balls 4s 6s WI Jefferson b MS Kasprowicz 64 73 10 1 AN Cook c JN Gillespie b MS Kasprowicz 214 238 33 1 RS Bopara b SW Tait 135 220 17 2 ML Pettini c ML Hayden b SW Tait 8 16 1 0 +JS Foster not out 38 61 0 0 JD Middlebrook not out 26 30 0 0 Extras (b 4, lb 5, nb 8, w 0) 17 Total for 4 wkt (105 overs) 502 Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Extras B Lee 13 0 69 0 - JN Gillespie 22 3 80 0 - SW Tait 15 1 72 2 - SCG MacGill 24 0 128 0 - MS Kasprowicz 19 2 85 2 - BJ Hodge 12 1 59 0
Unfortunately for Alistair Cook and Ravi Bopara, this is not a first-class match. It’s not quite the 721 that the Aussies (except for Keith Miller) plundered at Southend in 1948, but in those days they got through 129 overs in a day…
If I understand the playing conditions of this weekend’s game, Essex have to close their innings overnight, and Australia have all day to score 503 to win. On the other hand, being a two-day game, Australia needs 404 to avoid the follow-on.