In a series that might well mark the nadir of England’s Ashes history it has been difficult to pinpoint the actual lowest point, such is the glut of choice.
The second day of the Sydney Test, with the series already long since lost, threw up a variety of contenders all on its own.
Maybe the moment when Joe Root, the tormented touring captain, shelled a simple chance to catch Usman Khawaja at slip off the similarly afflicted spin-bowler Jack Leach. Or when, moments later, the wearying allrounder Ben Stokes went off the field to nurse a side injury.
Or perhaps, with England’s players now fully wilted, tailender Nathan Lyon launched Stuart Broad for six way back into the members’ seats and promptly scurried off in the same direction. Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, had declared his side – with 416 for eight – had plenty enough in the bank.
Yet maybe none of those summed up the mess England are in quite so acutely as when Khawaja had been within a single of a stirring century on his comeback to the Australia side.
It was at that point at which Root deigned it time for Dawid Malan to have a bowl. Malan, a part-time leg-spinner with two Test wickets to his name, and a mere 63 in total across a 15-year first-class career.
This in a week when Bangladesh turned Test cricket upside down by toppling world champions New Zealand in their own backyard for the first time.
And while, simultaneously, India and South Africa are playing out a compelling Test at the “Bullring” in Johannesburg.
Then in the series that supposedly means the most, between the format’s oldest rivals, there was a bit-part spinner doling down some friendly lobs while a player – who was, it should be pointed out, at the non-striker’s end - was within reach of a ton.
Imagine if the roles were reversed. Cummins would have had the ball in the hand himself rather than tossing it to Steve Smith or David Warner, and tried to bomb the batter out.
As it was, Khawaja did not get on strike against Malan, but he did make it to three figures shortly after. It was the ninth time he has done so in Tests.
Those who witnessed his brilliant 141 for Australia to save the Dubai Test against Pakistan in 2018 must be wondering where he has been for much of the time since. This is his first Test since the 2019 Ashes.
As emotional as his century was on his return to the side, he will score far more taxing runs. For much of it, it appeared as though England had all but given up.
The Ashes claims to the pinnacle of Test cricket. At the moment it feels like an apology.
It is supposedly the only bilateral encounter with enough interest to regularly sustain a five-match series in the format. And, true, there were 25,000 in attendance for the second day running. But the way things are going, they would be better served dropping the fixture altogether, such is the mismatch.
At least Broad proved a point. The seam-bowler, who has cut a frustrated figure after being omitted twice in this series on pitches which would surely have suited him, took five for 101. It was his eighth Ashes five-wicket haul, which is the most by an Englishman in over 100 years. And yet he was overlooked twice in the series. Sigh.
Australia’s first innings tally was not a mammoth one by Test standards. Given what has gone before in this series, though, they probably feel capable of bowling out their opposition twice, or perhaps even three times, given the chance, before they have to bat again.
At least England were afforded at least one morsel of mercy late on when Zak Crawley was spared being dismissed for a duck. He was caught at slip off the bowling of Mitchell Starc, but the TV cameras picked up the fact the fast bowler had faintly overstepped.
Between Crawley and Haseeb Hameed, England made it through to stumps on 13 for no loss after five overs.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow.
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes).
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More on Quran memorisation:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
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Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
