Cricket fred

[Galfon]

2 wee targets met..innings lead & arfa for Stokes..but the dam has breached.Stokes back in the hutch.

[Puja]

Burns has done very well to last and break the back of the new ball, but that's still a bit of a disappointing return to only add 8 to his overnight. We need both Bairstow and Ali to do at least half a job or else I could see us crumbling pretty quickly.

Aaaaaand then Ali gets bowled, leaving the ball. Great.

Puja

ETA. Jesus fuck.

[Stom]

Why not replace Moeen and one of the wks with Leach and Curran?

[Galfon]

Need a waggy-tail now.
Moeen needs to bowl well or he's toast.

[Puja]

Why not replace Moeen and one of the wks with Leach and Curran?

Moeen's living on reputation right now. Is Leach significantly a better test bowler though?

I'd be in favour of replacing Denly with either Archer (if Anderson is fit) or Curran. He's contributing sod all else right now.

Puja

[Big D]

Moeen as specialist bowler is fine. But Woakes should bat higher.

14 of last 20 innings of YJB have seem scores of less than 21 with several (8) single digit scores

[Puja]

Very finely balanced now. 60 runs ahead, which I think is absolute minimum requirement for us to have a chance in this match. Broad and Woakes are going very well indeed, just taking singles here and there to build it, bit by bit. Next target is 80, which will give us a much better chance, but quite apart from anything else, I don't know we want to be bowling right now. The pitch doesn't look like it's doing a huge amount for the fast bowlers and I'd rather we kept batting through it while conditions don't suit.

Puja

[Puja]

I'm loving the crowd here. The Australians are trying consistently to get the ball changed (after doing so earlier in the innings and getting one that moved significantly more) and the crowd are heckling, singing and getting on their back. Massive cheer when the umpires told Australia they'd have to keep using the same ball. Then the rest of the over, Pattinson getting a "Whooooooooah" on every run up, followed by a ground-shaking cheer as Broad or Woakes got a touch of bat on it.

And now a standing ovation for the 50 partnership! It's annoying the piss out of the Australians and helping us along no end. Will look pretty stupid if a wicket falls, but it's a great atmosphere.

Puja

[WaspInWales]

Stellar effort from Broad and Woakes.

They've put us in such a great position.

[Galfon]

374 a lead of 90. - saved by Broakes at the end.
lost 10 runs or so maybe at the end due to hop-along not being able to take runs on offer - do they not still allow runners ?.

[Mellsblue]

saved by Broakes at the end.

They were certainly going for it.

[Digby]

He’s not exactly overbowling him. Mind he’s not bowling that well.

I think you need to open your mind to the concept that you don’t have to hit a bowler out of the attack- you can render him impotent and get him out of it, which you must agree would be a serious pain for Paine.

Change of ball made a big difference

if England could have knocked another 15-20 runs of those Lyons overs without coughing up 1-2 wickets I'd be very happy, but I don't much trust our batsman. Spin takes longer to pick up wickets, 1st innings especially, so the more overs at 3 run an over the better

so it’s our batsmen you don’t trust, rather than the principle being wrong?

I'd want a big advantage to justify taking on the chance of doing so, advantage in terms of batting being so much stronger than the bowler, else just milk the slower bowler. If you stay in long enough you'll tire all the bowlers anyway.

[Banquo]

if England could have knocked another 15-20 runs of those Lyons overs without coughing up 1-2 wickets I'd be very happy, but I don't much trust our batsman. Spin takes longer to pick up wickets, 1st innings especially, so the more overs at 3 run an over the better

so it’s our batsmen you don’t trust, rather than the principle being wrong?

I'd want a big advantage to justify taking on the chance of doing so, advantage in terms of batting being so much stronger than the bowler, else just milk the slower bowler. If you stay in long enough you'll tire all the bowlers anyway.

Well we will have to disagree- interesting what’s happened with Ali and how that plays out

[Digby]

so it’s our batsmen you don’t trust, rather than the principle being wrong?

I'd want a big advantage to justify taking on the chance of doing so, advantage in terms of batting being so much stronger than the bowler, else just milk the slower bowler. If you stay in long enough you'll tire all the bowlers anyway.

Well we will have to disagree- interesting what’s happened with Ali and how that plays out

Having previously criticised his lack of defensive ability with the bat he at least turned that around today

[Banquo]

I'd want a big advantage to justify taking on the chance of doing so, advantage in terms of batting being so much stronger than the bowler, else just milk the slower bowler. If you stay in long enough you'll tire all the bowlers anyway.

Well we will have to disagree- interesting what’s happened with Ali and how that plays out

Having previously criticised his lack of defensive ability with the bat he at least turned that around today

....que?

[Galfon]

Aus win final session - 34 lead, 7 wkts. left, Smiff there again..Early wickets essential for Eng win now as D5 probs. washout.
Lyon is getting real turn so don't want to be chasing much in innings 4.
Intriguing contest.so far.

[Banquo]

Aus win final session - 34 lead, 7 wkts. left, Smiff there again..Early wickets essential for Eng win now as D5 probs. washout.
Lyon is getting real turn so don't want to be chasing much in innings 4.
Intriguing contest.so far.

wouldn't fancy any more than 150 in a chase

[Puja]

Aus win final session - 34 lead, 7 wkts. left, Smiff there again..Early wickets essential for Eng win now as D5 probs. washout.
Lyon is getting real turn so don't want to be chasing much in innings 4.
Intriguing contest.so far.

I don't know I'd call that a win for Australia - having the top 3 down is a big fillip for England. If we can get Smith early doors (big if), then they don't bat as far down as we do and we're almost into the tail.

Puja

[Stom]

Aus win final session - 34 lead, 7 wkts. left, Smiff there again..Early wickets essential for Eng win now as D5 probs. washout.
Lyon is getting real turn so don't want to be chasing much in innings 4.
Intriguing contest.so far.

I don't know I'd call that a win for Australia - having the top 3 down is a big fillip for England. If we can get Smith early doors (big if), then they don't bat as far down as we do and we're almost into the tail.

Puja

All depends if Anderson can bowl, I feel...

Without him, we might struggle to take the wickets. And if Moeen gets turn and wickets, Lyon is going to get turn and wickets...

Stokes hasn't shown his ability to bowl economically.

[WaspInWales]

Without Smith, we'd have won this series 5-0 by now.

Get to feel he will be the difference.

What a player though. Just seems to see things in a different dimension of time than most others.

[fivepointer]

Smith's stats are extraordinary. He defies all convention. He looks all wrong, yet his timing is immaculate and seldom plays a rash or ill judged shot. He is the key to the series.
The game is very tightly poised, I think. An early wicket or two and England will be strong favourites.

[Banquo]

ballsy choice opening up with Ali who duly dishes up some dross

[Banquo]

Ali seems to have found something, huzza; though being milked.

Broad bowling an excellent spell with no luck.

[Banquo]

looking ominous, bit easy for Oz. Looking a bit sloppy. Ali bowling us out of the game

[Big D]

Apparently over his career Smith has his worst average against left arm spin. Leach has to come in even if there's not much in it.