Cricket fred

[Digby]

is Thopre still the favourite to takeover from Bayliss based on the strong performance of the batting lineup these least few years?

[Banquo]

Get in get out they all need shaking about.

[Banquo]

About that tail...

[Banquo]

All bar Root was plain bad batting and even his was familiar

[Stom]

Awful.

[Banquo]

Making Marsh look like Waqar

[Galfon]

Over 200 - they may need more than Smith to get runs now..

[Digby]

Making Marsh look like Waqar

More ball tampering you say!

[Galfon]

He doesn't need to - just pitch it anywhere near the guy holding a bat at the other end, let nature take it's course.
Anything under 300 on this track will be a poor show.

[Banquo]

He doesn't need to - just pitch it anywhere near the guy holding a bat at the other end, let nature take it's course.
Anything under 300 on this track will be a poor show.

Yep, it’s 350 minimum by the look of it

[fivepointer]

Disappointing effort overall as we got into a good position and then lamely subsided after tea.
Buttler played well in the final session, well supported by Leach who seems better organised than a number of players ahead of him in the order..

[Banquo]

doh! Can't criticise Buttler too much, but that seemed an unnecessary slog given Leach is looking relatively secure . Maybe a bit unlucky, but equally a tad brain dead to go at the first ball. Then we don't even get to 300, and aus get the momentum back just like that.

[Banquo]

well done root.

[Digby]

I wonder how impressed Warner is with that, what a miserable series. Not one opener in this series looks up to playing test cricket

[Digby]

Yep, every opener is rubbish.

[Galfon]

agreed - (both of ye. )
Just need a crisp delivery or two from Archer to turn Smith into a Walker..

[WaspInWales]

I wonder how impressed Warner is with that, what a miserable series. Not one opener in this series looks up to playing test cricket

That has been one of the highlights of the series for me

[Digby]

Gadzooks, Smith isn't lining up Curran

[Banquo]

look totally flat after lunch. unlucky before to be fair

[Banquo]

I wonder how impressed Warner is with that, what a miserable series. Not one opener in this series looks up to playing test cricket

tad harsh on Burns, but yes

[Banquo]

oh and what dross from Woakes when the pressure was still on. Curran looks like he might have got a yard more pace, and looked much better for it.

[Banquo]

Broad looks shagged out. Long day beckons now, we've let them off the hook. Archer is pretty much alone today, in that he is conserving runs. Being overbowled again.

[Banquo]

Pretty heroic from Archer, hopefully starting to dispel the red ball and stamina sceptics.

[Banquo]

woakes has been a waste of space so far. If it aint swinging conventionally he's vanilla and worse when losing accuracy

[Banquo]

Fair play to Curran, he's looked like taking a wicket, even if not especially accurate. Fckin Smith still in; you really have to get at him early- he's sketchier than most top batsmen for 20 minutes, but once in, his hand to eye is phenomenal.