Cricket fred

[Banquo]

Should've been all out for 300, only for the last wicket to be called back for another no ball. Our third wicket lost to nb this series - shocking for something that's eminently fixable.

Puja

Too much carelessness from us all series.

[Banquo]

17 runs and 30 mins

[Puja]

Cost us 17 runs, but more upsettingly 30 minutes. Thank the gods for that.

England need a massive morning. The openers need to pile on runs relatively quickly - don't need to be reckless and try to get 6 per over, but need to score quickly and big to give latitude for the likes of Brooks and Bairstow to kick on later. That no doubt means that we'll be 110-5 by lunch.

Puja

[Banquo]

Fark. Needed a big opening stand

[Puja]

And so it begins.

Puja

[Puja]

Just seen the Duckett wicket - it's a good ball from Starc. I don't know whether that's better or worse than him getting out doing something stupid.

Puja

[Banquo]

Just seen the Duckett wicket - it's a good ball from Starc. I don't know whether that's better or worse than him getting out doing something stupid.

Puja

It was a good un, can’t blame Duckett tbh

[Puja]

We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

[Banquo]

We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

[Puja]

We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

[Banquo]

We appear to be playing very cautiously so far, which is slightly worrying. I don't know we've got the skills to be defending and seeing off the bowlers before accumulating (especially with Australia's breadth of bowling options this test). We've already edged a few that could've gone to hand with a bit worse luck. The point of Bazball is to knock the stuffing out of the bowlers, or at least to get a quick 30 before getting a ball that's too good for you.

I am concerned that we'll end up with Moeen taking 50 deliveries to get 11 and then getting out anyway, when a more swashbuckling approach might see some of the pressure taken off.

Puja

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Think they've been smart trying to see off three of the best pace bowlers of the era- we do forget how good that trio are.

[Puja]

Hmm still scoring at nearly 4 an over despite losing a very early wicket

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Think they've been smart trying to see off three of the best pace bowlers of the era- we do forget how good that trio are.

It's the problem when there's three of them though - if there's one or two, then you can see them off, but when there's three they can just rotate on and off and there's very little respite. We're lucky they lost Lyon to injury - if they had him able to hold down an end, then they could just be rotating their dangermen the other end and barely even need to touch their all-rounder(s).

Puja

[Banquo]

And Moeen looks to have very much got his eye in (although no doubt he'll get out if I take too long writing this comment). I reserve the right to be wrong at all times and it looks like I'm going to have to use it here.

Puja

Think they've been smart trying to see off three of the best pace bowlers of the era- we do forget how good that trio are.

It's the problem when there's three of them though - if there's one or two, then you can see them off, but when there's three they can just rotate on and off and there's very little respite. We're lucky they lost Lyon to injury - if they had him able to hold down an end, then they could just be rotating their dangermen the other end and barely even need to touch their all-rounder(s).

Puja

even with three they'll be getting tired. But they are a three with better test figures/strike rates than even Broad and Anderson! Lyon is a big loss, but so is Stokes as a bowler and even Leach.

[Puja]

Heh. Crawley trying to make Australia regret not picking a real spinner by smacking Head for 11 off his first three balls. He's been very good this summer (and I'll admit to being wrong for calling for his head at the start of the summer) - you'd like him to make more big scores, but he has been very consistent in providing a start at the top of the order and this is his chance to put in a very important big innings.

Puja

[Puja]

Well done Crawley. He's come through some massive pressure and grown into Test cricket a bit at a time to turn into a very useful player. Huge innings today - he's ridden his luck on a few occasions, but he's been scoring at over a run a ball and has put England in a tremendous position to get a result in this match.

Now, come on lad - go for 150!

Puja

[Banquo]

Moeen did a grand job, shame about how he got out having done the hard work.

Pleased for Crawley- always sets the tone even if he doesn’t kick on enough

[Banquo]

Bazball schmazball . Great batting, mainly risk free....now keep at it.

[Banquo]

great knock from Crawley. Shame he didn't get 200 but hey.

[Puja]

Tailor made for Brook here. Get his eye and and start weltering the ball to all corners. You almost don't mind if he gets 24 in 12 balls and gets out - we've still got Stokes and Bairstow to come. If we can get 150+ lead in quick time, that'll be just what we need to get a result.

Puja

[Banquo]

bad luck for root, deserved a ton

[fivepointer]

Great days cricket from England. great knock from Crawley, ably assisted by Mo and Root. Tomorrow morning could be fun.

[Puja]

Great days cricket from England. great knock from Crawley, ably assisted by Mo and Root. Tomorrow morning could be fun.

Brook, Stokes, Bairstow, Woakes, Wood, Broad, given the challenge to make 100 in the quickest time possible. Could be carnage, although I'm not sure in which direction!

Puja

[Donny osmond]

Great days cricket from England. great knock from Crawley, ably assisted by Mo and Root. Tomorrow morning could be fun.

Brook, Stokes, Bairstow, Woakes, Wood, Broad, given the challenge to make 100 in the quickest time possible. Could be carnage, although I'm not sure in which direction!

Puja

It's going to be an absolute riot!

[Banquo]

Great days cricket from England. great knock from Crawley, ably assisted by Mo and Root. Tomorrow morning could be fun.

Brook, Stokes, Bairstow, Woakes, Wood, Broad, given the challenge to make 100 in the quickest time possible. Could be carnage, although I'm not sure in which direction!

Puja

It's going to be an absolute riot!

Kaiser Chiefs are lunchtime entertainment

[Which Tyler]

Great days cricket from England. great knock from Crawley, ably assisted by Mo and Root. Tomorrow morning could be fun.

Brook, Stokes, Bairstow, Woakes, Wood, Broad, given the challenge to make 100 in the quickest time possible. Could be carnage, although I'm not sure in which direction!

Puja

With the forecast, I can't see the score particularly making a difference to the intended declaration (obviously, as high as possible, but...)
Declare with enough time for 5 overs before lunch. If that means 140 up, then so be it; if it's 220 up, great.

We need to get as deep into the Aussie batsmen as possible today