When have England ever been really sharp in the field?
I’m guessing never.
No ball.
Fuck
13 of them now, far too many. Poor discipline from the English bowlers.
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Double tonne incoming…
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One of yous has already jinxed Labuschange and Smith, playing with fire here aren’t you?
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Neither of them got a reprieve…
It’s written in the stars.
Full disclosure though, I just want a great match.
Not my fault England are the Tottenham of test cricket.
BBC HYS going on about the wicket NB. No, its not unlucky, or close to being a wicket, or England being ‘denied’ of a wicket. He bowled a ball outside of the rules of the game. If Broad had run in and pegged the ball overarm and knocked over the stumps, it would be as worthy of being a wicket as being bowled by overstepping.
The only thing anyone should feel is anger at Broad being so costly for what should be such a simple part of bowling: Staying behind the fucking line! We saw Cummins similarly have a caught behind off a NB in the ICC Test Final. That was all on Cummings.
Honestly though, Aussies need Khawaja to go on here and try to help Aus take a lead. He’s just the type of player that could do it.
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Aussies looking at 500+
Everything drearily predictable. England’s bowling not good enough as expected by everyone.
This match is showing some the things that are great about test cricket.
A period a few hours ago the BBC was insistent, probably incorrectly, that Aus were comofrtably on top. Head went shortly after, and then with Green going soon after that the tide was back in England’s favour. A little while later the Aussies are nudging themselves back towards a favourable position. But again, it only takes one wicket to change the dynamic completely.
The Baristow dilemma is fascinating as well. A really important knock was followed by a great catch the get the innings off to a great start, but the calls for Foakes will keep coming now after those two missed opportunities later in the day. Getting the balance right in a side is so difficult, and so who do you drop to accommodate Foakes coming in?
That’s easy.
Getting wickets is a bigger challenge for this team than getting runs, so a top class specialist wicketkeeper is a must. Foakes’ batting really isn’t too shabby either (ave 32, Crowley’s is 28).
An even bigger problem is the bowling. Without Wood and Archer it looks samey and toothless unless it’s a cloudy day at Trent Bridge.
I think that’s particularly the case knowing that Carey is the last recognised batsman, which is particularly telling with Starc not playing. England bat 1 extra player deeper. So I think the trajectory of the match is finely balanced depending on whether these two can stick around for a while.
Yeah exactly. They are marginally ahead of england were in their innings, but are unlikely to be able to get the late innings runs england did. So whether they are ahead or not will depend on how long this partnership can go
As I have already said, with my skillful predictions and support, I am jumping on Team England for the next 4 tests 
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Quite and he does it far too often.
Declaration looking more and more dodgy. Winning test cricket is about firstly being able to take 20 wickets. We’re not so hard pundit runs if we swap Foames for Bairstow but wicketkeeping quality goes up significantly.
Ugh!
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Conceding a first innings lead of 50 or so isn’t the end of the world. Pitch on the fourth day will start to crack.
Problem is they will probably be 28-3.
Still advantage Poms.
1 early wicket and it’s a problem for the Aussies with a long tail. And then having to bat last.
Either way this is real cricket and a brilliant contest.
And it’s testing the marriage. Bad luck I’m watching the cricket with a glass of red. Feel free to join me.
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