1st over: England 8-0 (Salt 8, Duckett 0) Starc goes full with his first ball, a booming in-swinger beats Salt and flies narrowly past the off stump!

Shot! Salt then uses the 90mph pace of Starc, leaning on a full ball that races through cover for four. Same again! Salt gets bat on a full and fast ball and angles it in the gap wide of point for four more. Australia can’t afford for England to get away to a flier.

Right then, here come the English openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. The returning Mitchell Starc prowls at the top of his mark as late summer sun the beats down at Headingley. Let’s play!

I'll be back for England’s run chase. They’ll have Starc, Hazlewood and Zampa to contend with and 271 runs to make.

44th over: Australia 262-9 (Carey 59, Hazlewood 4) Crrrunch! Carey hangs back and launches Matthew Potts over extra cover for SIX! A single off the fifth ball leaves Hazlewood needing to survive one ball… which he does. If Carey can do this for the next six overs then he’ll haul his side up to near 300 which will feel like a real gut punch for England.

43rd over: Australia 255-9 (Carey 59, Hazlewood 4) Alex Carey is playing a gem of a knock for Australia. He whacks Olly Stone for SIX down the ground and then scampers a single to keep strike for the next over. This last wicket partnership is up to 34 off 39 balls.

42nd over: Australia 248-9 (Carey 52, Hazlewood 4) Brydon Carse finishes his day’s work with the ball, a mixed bag sees him pick up three wickets but for the cost of 75 runs.

41st over: Australia 246-9 (Carey 51, Hazlewood 4) Shot! Carey goes to his fifty with an beautifully timed SIX down the ground off Will Jacks. This last wicket stand is annoying England but not yet dangerously so, Australia close on on 250 which looked out of reach a few overs back when wickets were tumbling apace.

40th over: Australia 238-9 (Carey 44, Hazlewood 4) Carey takes five balls from Carse before running a single off the fitth to leave Hazlewood with one ball to face in the over. What were you worried about? A delightful uppercut from a short ball sees Hazlewood pick up a boundary. Australia still ticking.

39th over: Australia 232-9 (Carey 43, Hazlewood 0) Well played Josh Carey, the keeper-batter picks up back-to-back boundaries off Adil Rashid. Depositing a full ball down the ground and sweeping one past Olly Stone on the leg-side fence. On we go.

38th over: Australia 223-9 (Carey 34, Hazlewood 0) Just a single off Carse’s latest improves his figures further still.

37th over: Australia 222-9 (Carey 32, Hazlewood 0) Josh Hazlewood defends three balls from Rashid. Carey is still there for Australia, I’d wager he’ll try and farm the strike and plunder some boundaries.

36th over: Australia 219-8 (Carey 32, Zampa 2) A decent hat-trick ball from Carse is well negotiated by Zampa. Mitchell Starc fell rather tamely to Carse the ball before leaving Australia in strife once more and staring down the barrel of a sub 250 run score on a decent Headingley deck.

Carse looks dangerous all of a sudden – Zampa fends off a short ball from his throat wide of the slip. The crowd appreciate the over, Carse was having a torrid time before popping up to take a brace in his seventh over.

Adam Zampa arrives at the crease with Headingley a-buzz…

35th over: Australia 216-6 (Carey 31, Hardie 23) Livingstone has been expensive so far, Hardie slaps him away past point for four and Carey rocks back and slams a short ball for another four through extra cover to bring up the fifty partnership for this pair and thirty runs off the last three overs.

34th over: Australia 205-6 (Carey 25, Hardie 18) Will Jacks replaces Rashid. England lose a bit of their intensity as the Surrey man spears five wides down the leg side and is then lofted for four over mid-wicket by Carey. The 200 comes up for Australia.

33rd over: Australia 194-6 (Carey 17, Hardie 20) Liam Livinsgtone, who passed a fitness test on a dodgy knee before the match began is called into the attack. Carey reverse-sweeps for four with aplomb and then plays a conventional sweep for a couple more. Aaron Hardie then gets in on the act, an under edge on another reverse-sweep sees the ball trickle past the fielder at point for a second boundary off the over. Expensive start for Livingstone who emits a loud groan as he takes his cap back from the umpire.

32nd over: Australia 182-6 (Carey 13, Hardie 12) Another wonderful over from Adil Rashid. Just a single off it. He has 1-30 from eight overs today. Sun out at Headingley and time for the players to have a slurp.

31st over: Australia 181-6 (Carey 13, Hardie 11) Bethell drops short and Carey hacks a four through Phil Salt on the leg side boundary.

Gary Naylor is coming to a regional theatre near you…

“I’m expecting Aaron Hardie to get Australia up to 222 and then be given out, once on the field and then on review. Yes, a case of “Kismet Hardie”

30th over: Australia 173-6 (Carey 7, Hardie 9) Rashid into his seventh over, Carey and Hardie are watchful as they try to rebuild the innings for Australia. They have to look to bat out their overs at the very least, there are twenty still to bowl!

29th over: Australia 168-6 (Carey 6, Hardie 5) Bethell is getting decent grip off the wicket and nearly picks up Carey off the leading edge. Aaron Hardie is the new batter and he plays a lovely late cut to a ball outside off stump to pick up four runs.

28th over: Australia 162-6 (Carey 4, Hardie 1) Congratulations to Adil Rashid who brings up his 200th ODI wicket with that Maxwell scalp. He’s been England’s quiet genius in white ball cricket for the past decade and his 200th was a suitably big wicket. With Maxwell back in the hutch England are well and truly on top in Headingley as the Aussies lose three wickets for just twenty runs.

27th over: Australia 161-5 (Carey 4, Maxwell 7) Glenn Maxwell is the new man and he wastes no time at all in announcing himself, clearing his front leg and hoicking a short delivery from Bethell into the crowd for SIX off his very first ball!

26th over: Australia 150-4 (Marsh 51, Carey 1) Important passage of play here, England would dearly love another wicket. Four runs off Rashid. Carey works a googly to mid on to bring up the 150 for Australia.

25th over: Australia 146-4 (Marsh 51, Carey 1) Alex Carey is the new batter and he laps a sweep away fine for a single to get off the mark. England buoyed by the wicket, Rashid brought back in to replace the beleaguered Brydon Carse.

24th over: Australia 143-3 (Marsh 58, Labuschagne 18) Shot! Mitch Marsh pulls a Carse short ball high and long into the Western Terrace to bring up his fifty. You simply can’t bowl there to ‘The Bison’. Poor Carse is having a bit of a shocker here, his second front foot no ball gives away another Free Hit and Marsh capitalises – smearing away into the leg side for SIX more. Big test of character here for Carse, he’s been carted for 63 runs off his six overs so far.

23rd over: Australia 128-3 (Marsh 45, Labuschagne 17) A key passage of play incoming as Jacob Bethell is tossed the ball. Australia will look to put some pressure on the youngster. Bethell, bleached mullet and high arm, darts the ball in but strays onto a leg stump line allowing Marsh to sweep powerfully for four. “I don’t mind that, Beth” chirps Jamie Smith from behind the stumps.

22nd over: Australia 123-3 (Marsh 40, Labuschagne 17) Carse replaces Stone, he’s been the most expensive of England’s bowlers today, going at nearly ten an over albeit he did pick up the wicket of Travis Head. Australia rotate strike with four singles before Marnus gets on the front foot and drives handsomely for four through the covers. “A soft half volley” admonishes Ricky Ponting on the TV commentary.

21st over: Australia 115-3 (Marsh 38, Labuschagne 11) Adil Rashid will be angry with himself as he serves up a full bunger to allow the first boundary to be struck in some time, Marsh catching the ball on the full and beating the man at square leg. Four singles follow as Marsh and Labuschagne work the ball into the gaps and take eight from the over.

20th over: Australia 107-3 (Marsh 32, Labuschagne 9) Olly Stone bustles in and keeps Marsh honest, four dots in a row to the hulking Aussie skipper. Something’s gotta give… make that five dots in a row as Marsh leaves a ball on a good length. A single off the last delivery denies Stone the maiden but England are applying the thumbscrews in Headingley.

19th over: Australia 106-3 (Marsh 31, Labuschagne 9) Rashid keeps the pressure on, he’s operating with both a slip and a leg slip in place and only gives up three runs off the over. England keeping the squeeze on for the time being, the boundaries have dried up.

18th over: Australia 103-3 (Marsh 30, Labuschagne 8) Stone replaces Potts and is right on the money, pummelling a channel outside off stump with a hint of inward movement. Hundred up for Australia.

17th over: Australia 99-3 (Marsh 29, Labuschagne 5) Rashid spins his web. Another ripper spits past the edge of Marnus’s bat. Flight and grip. Four runs off the over.

16th over: Australia 95-3 (Marsh 28, Labuschagne 2) Potts continues with his dander well and truly up after pocketing Steve Smith. A single each to Marsh and Labuschagne as they look to settle in for a long partnership.

15th over: Australia 93-3 (Marsh 27, Labuschagne 1) Adil Rashid comes into the attack and rips two big leg-breaks past the edge of Marnus’s groping blade. Pure class from the bearded wizard. Labuschagne wisely gets up the other end with a single off his pads. Rashid very nearly bowls Marsh around his legs next ball! A tickle off the under edge saves Australia’s captain and the ball races away past Jamie Smith for four. England on top at the moment.

13th over: Australia 84-2 (Marsh 19, Smith 4) Fetch that! Marsh rocks back and marmalises a short ball from Carse out of the ground and down the Otley Road. A Leeds University fresher may well have a souvenir to accompany their Saturday pub crawl.

Replacement ball chosen Carse tries again. Gah. A front foot no-ball gifts a free-hit that Marsh duly drives for four down the ground. And repeat! Marsh drives through long-on for four and drops a single into the covers to bring Smith on strike. Guess what- he drives down the ground for the fourth boundary of the over, 20 runs off it. England licking their wounds in Headingley.

11th over: Australia 64-1 (Short 29, Marsh 4) Marsh drives a Carse half volley down the ground to open his account.

“Morning Jim, following the Headingley action from a grey Euston. Great to have some cricket to soothe my brain, and hopefully a better performance than Thursday. We still feel a batter short, and it’s a truly stacked Aussie team today too.

I’m nursing a sore head after a hell of a day in the capital yesterday at the annual Final Word XI game with the titans of this parish, Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon and a host of wonderful cricket nerds. We may have lost our unbeaten record to the Oval Dream Boys (what a name, what a team) but cricket was the winner, as was an indie disco until the small hours. I need a lie down.”

Lovely stuff. It’s only 11:51 am, but still – here’s one for you and your hangover Guy.

10th over: Australia 59-1 (Short 28, Marsh 0) Matthew Short picks up the baton and plunders three fours off the over including a straight drive and a back foot punch that Ricky Ponting calls shot of the day. Imagine making Punter purr. PowerPlay done, I’d say Australia just in front despite losing danger man Travis Head.

9th over: Australia 46-1 (Short 15, Marsh 0) Mitch Marsh strides to the middle.

Matthew Short is showing his class too, plopping Carse over his head for four BUT HANG ON A MINUTE…

Travis Head in full flow. Take a look at this:

8th over: Australia 41-0 (Short 10, Head 29) Stone continues with England searching for a breakthrough. Nowt doing, Head drives a full ball powerfully back past the bowler for four.

7th over: Australia 36-0 (Short 9, Head 25) Head it ticking now. Brydon Carse comes into the attack and serves up a half tracker with his first ball, Head does not miss out, shovelling the ball square for four. SIX! A full ball is then given the treatment over midwicket by Head. Dangerous times for England.

6th over: Australia 26-0 (Short 9, Head 15) Blimey. Matthew Short dispatches Olly Stone into the stands with serious disdain, a fast and full ball smeared into the leg side for SIX. Australia have had a look and are seemingly now opening the shoulders. HUGE APPEAL! Stone retorts by scudding one into the pads with Short opting to play no shot. Brook is reticent to go for the review with the umpire saying not out on the field. The captain thinks it is too high… “The height is great” comes the reply from the bowler. It isn’t. England lose a review as the DRS shows the ball bouncing over the bails. TRUST NO ONE.

5th over: Australia 20-0 (Short 3, Head 15) Here we go! Head breaks the shackles by monstering Potts back over the bowler’s bonce for SIX. A more agricultural heave at the end of the over sees a top edge fly away for four.

4th over: Australia 10-0 (Short 3, Head 4) Another probing over from Stone, just a leg bye and Head tickle for one off it.

“Jim, on TMS they’re saying there’s some sun about, but I live a few miles away and it’s entirely grey here. Still. we’re probably going to avoid the southern thunderstorms.”

I can confirm the sun is indeed peeping through at Headingley. The southern storms yesterday were crackers, I got caught in one with my 3yo daughter down in Sussex. “I’d like a peppermint” she said completely unperturbed as huge hailstorms richoched off the Skoda.

3rd over: Australia 8-0 (Short 3, Head 4) Potts gets some movement off the seam, nearly hooping one into Short’s off stump and then squaring the opener up and taking his edge but it flew straight down and into the gap wide of slip for the only single off the over. England have been on it so far this morning.

“Hi James”

Hello Tim Woolias.

“Driving up to Leeds for a university drop, OBO will be my primary source for today’s match. Harry Brook says if they get caught on the boundary or on the pitch who cares? I care, particularly when two of these are caught and bowled by Marnus and the batters didn’t get it off the square. Please can we have some better batting today despite the attack being considerably improved by the Aussie changes.”

Good luck with the University drop off Tim, emotional times.

2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Short 2, Head 4) Ollie Stone is bending his back and extracting some bounce from the pitch, causing problems for both batters. Short is nearly caught in the slips, an edge off the shoulder of his bat dies just before reaching Brook in the slips. Head then throws his arms at a few but the ball zips past his blade on each occasion. Just a single off the over.

1st over: Australia 6-0 (Short 1, Head 4) Matt Short hangs back and plays a short ball away for a single to open the scoring and bring Head on strike. England will desperately want to see the back of him early. And just like that… Head leans on a full ball gets off the mark with a four clipped through the leg side. Gulp.

Good Morning James, here is my mantra for England’s success. “Pray that Australia lose their Head and England do not lose theirs.”

Buddumchhhhh for Krishnamoorthy on email.

Righto, with sun peaking out over Headingley it is time to get going. Head and Matthew Short stroll out to the middle and Brook marshals his troops in light blue. Matthew Potts, complete with Baldrick esque hair cut, has the new ball in hand. Let’s play!

As ever – do get in touch and keep me company for the next few hours. The OBO mailbag is open for correspondence.

On Sky there is a brilliant chat with a bobble hatted and head cold-y sounding Travis Head conducted by Mike Atherton and Ricky Ponting.

Head has been in blistering form across all formats for the past few years and has delivered on the biggest occasions – last year’s World Cup Final in India and the World Test Championship final at the Oval spring immediately to mind. He’s also so darn likeable.

Interestingly, he says he finds it harder the shorter the format, citing the pressure of strike rates in T20 cricket as something that plays on his mind whereas in Test cricket “If I’m not feeling great I can dig in for a bit and If I am feeling great I can go as fast as I like”.

He makes it all sound so simple eh?

He’s a rippah:

Pre match reading: Here’s Barney Ronay’s take on the English summer of cricket just gone and Harry Brook as ODI captain: