Men’s Ashes Third Test Report Card, Day Two

Featuring the People's Prince and pain threshold debate

The People’s Prince
Grade: B-

Pat Cummins dismissed Joe Root from the second ball of the day to turn the Test emphatically back Australia’s way. When Jonny Bairstow also fell shortly after to Mitchell Starc, Australia were like a starving seafood lover at an all-the-lobster-you-can-eat restaurant, greedily eyeing off the tail.

It was the perfect time to bring on The People’s Prince, Todd Murphy, in his Ashes debut. Allow him to settle into the series now that he’d made the step up from Nathan Lyon’s understudy to Australia’s front line spinner.

For his first five overs, he did a fine job. That’s the great thing about Todd Murphy. He’s a spinner who will skilfully hold up one end with smart bowling and later file your tax returns.

(Explanation: because he wears glasses that make him look a bit like an accountant.)