Cricket fred

[WaspInWales]

Just chinned him, nasty.

He's a hell of a bowler in full flight. Red ball game seems to suit him.

Where did it hit him?

It's one way to get rid of him, that's sure!

Neck I think- could have been really bad- Hughes type area.

Just seen it....jeez! That was horrid.

Fair play to him though, back out and hits consecutive boundaries and looks set to get his ton. He is kinda incredible tbh.

[WaspInWales]

Oh well, no ton for Smith but without that knock, he probably would've batted till close. Didn't seem to have his usual slow motion vision for the ball that caught him out. Dunno why he reviewed, as he seemed to walk off straight away knowing it was plumb.

Kinda gutted for him tbh, but we're in a good position now.

[Banquo]

Bit worried now- not sure we can possibly win it, but we sure could lose it!

[WaspInWales]

And here comes the collapse.

[WaspInWales]

You have to be shitting me!

[WaspInWales]

Our top order is just so fragile.

[WaspInWales]

Hat-trick?

[WaspInWales]

Phew...survived the hat-trick ball.

Now, can we, as a team get into double figures?

[Galfon]

One decent partnership & Eng are safe, with chance of staining Aussie pants before the end of D5.
Where this may come from is anyone's guess.
With 3 gone already Aus.too will be eyeing more Eng panic.
Plenty left in this truncated trial..

[Stom]

One decent partnership & Eng are safe, with chance of staining Aussie pants before the end of D5.
Where this may come from is anyone's guess.
With 3 gone already Aus.too will be eyeing more Eng panic.
Plenty left in this truncated trial..

I think it all depends if Smith is fit to play...

If England can survive to close without losing another, this pair can accelerate.

If Smith can play... Aus will win.

[fivepointer]

104 ahead with 6 wickets left. Another 100-120 and we have one helluva game in prospect. Could be a fabulous day of cricket tomorrow.

[Galfon]

Agreed, it looks like Lords will serve up another day of high drama.Great for the series if Eng. pull it off.

[WaspInWales]

104 ahead with 6 wickets left. Another 100-120 and we have one helluva game in prospect. Could be a fabulous day of cricket tomorrow.

120 sounds about right.

Lets just hope Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow put their one day heads on and smash the fuck out of the ball and Archer can bowl the Aussies out for 8 runs for a comprehensive, and morale boosting victory.

In fact, why don't we treat the remaining tests as ODIs?

We may actually score some runs!

[Banquo]

104 ahead with 6 wickets left. Another 100-120 and we have one helluva game in prospect. Could be a fabulous day of cricket tomorrow.

120 sounds about right.

Lets just hope Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow put their one day heads on and smash the fuck out of the ball and Archer can bowl the Aussies out for 8 runs for a comprehensive, and morale boosting victory.

In fact, why don't we treat the remaining tests as ODIs?

We may actually score some runs!

There are worse ideas- 350 all out in 50 overs would be better than many of our recent batting displays

[Banquo]

rain fcks it up.

[Banquo]

Or not

Next hour will be fascinating

[Galfon]

ideal start for Eng...Smith out for Test.
Buttler finally finding some form with the red.

[WaspInWales]

...and Stokes getting his 50.

What now though? Try to accelerate for an hour then declare?

[Galfon]

Lead of 165 with 2 sessions left (60 ov.).
Declare now, Aus win.Leave 'till tea, Eng. won't win.
Buttokes are good for quick spank, so an hour's steady thrash will give JR a ponderable.

[Galfon]

5 wickets needed from last 9 overs - probs. out of reach now but newbies Archer & Leach have done well today.

[fivepointer]

Fabulous test match. England will be encouraged by their performance and by finishing well on top. Archer already looks quite special.

[Stom]

Quite telling how many overs Archer bowled!

Easily our most dangerous bowler.

[WaspInWales]

Fabulous test match. England will be encouraged by their performance and by finishing well on top. Archer already looks quite special.

Was a good match. Plenty of talking points and excitement along the way, but I can't help feel we let this one slip by.

Gotta credit the Aussies though. Facing that kinda bowling from Archer must've been testing to say the least.

Huge applause to Smith too...yes I know, cheating cunt but what a player and to come back out after taking a hit like that showed real balls.

Perhaps the Barmy Army could get behind him as that may have more chance to unsettle him than the boos?

As for Archer...fucking hell. He is the real deal! England have a proper weapon there. Be interesting to see if the Aussies find a way to deal with him.

Kinda nice to have the shoe on the other foot Not saying we haven't got, or had decent bowlers but you know what I mean

[Which Tyler]

Huge applause to Smith too...yes I know, cheating cunt but what a player and to come back out after taking a hit like that showed real balls.

Brave, and a simply incredible player - but... shows that cricket probably needs to sharpen up its HIA protocols, given that he wasn't able to play a part in the second innings.

I'm not going to applaud a rugby player who insists on returning after a failed HIA; so I'm not sure I should for a cricketer

[Stom]

Huge applause to Smith too...yes I know, cheating cunt but what a player and to come back out after taking a hit like that showed real balls.

Brave, and a simply incredible player - but... shows that cricket probably needs to sharpen up its HIA protocols, given that he wasn't able to play a part in the second innings.

I'm not going to applaud a rugby player who insists on returning after a failed HIA; so I'm not sure I should for a cricketer

Well indeed. Shouldn't have been out there.