We’re going well so far, haven’t lost the toss – no wickets down.

Toss loss.

But hey, what about Bangladesh! 😀

But hey, what about Bangladesh! 😀

Thank god we’ll only have a 2 test series against them…

How long til England are relegated from 4 & 5 test series? We’re rubbish enough.

Argh, it’s that odd feeling again, hope.
Broad gets 5, the openers survive until close of play and suddenly I think we can get 500 runs and knock the Aussie’s over for 150.

Watched the test most of this afternoon and am heading to the SCG tomorrow morning!

Sarnies are made, my other half has even made pork pies. Looking forward to seeing my first ashes test, even if it’s likely to be humiliating as a Pom.

even if it’s likely to be humiliating as a Pom.

Although following on appears out of fashion, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you see our openers gracing the wicket for a second time tomorrow after tea.

We’ll that would be a bonus 🤡

There’s a good chance of rain tomorrow I believe, so it might be a slow day

This series is depressing, but more annoying is the TMS coverage. Too much Simon Mann and not enough Aggers. Finn is nothing on Vaughan. All a bit dumbed down, lacking the critical bonhomie which defined TMS previously. Maybe it’s just the crap England performance making me unduly grumpy…

Yes I’ve nothing against Mann I just don’t enjoy listening to him, don’t know why. I like Finn, a breath of fresh air (I like the podcast he does) I assumed Aggers wasn’t on due to covid (bear in mind I just dip in and out of the commentary as I wake up during the night).

@Houns Agree can’t describe why I don’t like Mann. Will check out Finn’s podcast 👍

heavy stuff at the moment.

Jesus wept .

I agree on Mann, and I’m also not sure why. I’d like more Aggers and Norcross ideally.
Finn I think is excellent, very knowledgeable, talks well and Much better than the overly negative Vaughan. I like Alex Hartley too, adds a different kind of voice to proceedings.

On the upside, cracking knock from Bairstow, Stokes and Wood chipping in as well.

Just seen on highlights Stokes ‘caught behind’ off the stumps, with Bairstow and Stokes just laughing while Australia moan.

What a day that was! We headed into Sydney on the train convinced that we’d be lucky to see a single ball played – it was thrashing down at 9am. Luckily it cleared up nicely.

The first session was killer – I was in the dumps at 36-4… but then Bairstow and Stokes actually started playing. After the lunch break some gobby Aussie blokes behind us were talking about having the first innings wrapped up in an hour. Hope they had money on it!

Headline on BBC Sport app is on an upward curve I see. “…England show fight…” 😀

Wood hooking sixes off Aussie quicks is the stuff of dreams!

NZ Bangladesh decider starts this evening also, really hope they can either win or draw and take the series.

Mann has grown on me over the years, he is very understated, just an old fashioned BBC man with good specialist knowledge, nothing fancy just straightforward commentary – a bit like CMJ in commentary terms. His interview with Ashley Giles was excellent. Not a huge fan of Norcross, rather like Ed Smith, he is obviously not a stupid bloke but a bit too keen to show off how clever he is. Finn has been great, I am fifty fifty on Vaughan. When talking cricket he can be incredibly incisive but his non cricket chat, which he seems incredibly proud of, is so so banal. Not sure about Hartley yet, althugh there was a very funny moment last night when she was talking about having a man’s ball in her hand, Jim Maxwell just about managed to hold it together.

Anyway good to see Bairstow in the runs, always liked him, but I must admit I had written him off. Maybe he should be given the gloves so Butler can be put out of his misery.

that clipping the stump decision was appalling, for an umpire to give that out basically caved to home team pressure. Should be handed his p45.

what kind of lead do we think ?

I reckon England could get it down to a 100 lead if Broad and Bairstow stick it out for a bit. Fair dues to Broad, he’s giving it a fair knock.

EDIT: and as I posted, Bairstow gets edged behind. So, maybe a lead of 100 a bit optimistic. Easy know I’m not an English-stickball man. 😀

soft

That’s that.

Oooh, Aggers back on, early wicket for England. 12-1

Smith gone – 86/4!

can england bat for a day?

😂

I’m hopeful that a little bit of bad weather and a bit of batting might get them over the line. No funky weather, no draw I fear.

Pope in for Buttler next test? Or Billings…

Pope in for Buttler next test? Or Billings…

I thought Pope looked OK behind the stumps, but I suspect they’ll play Billings who I actually quite highly rate.

Out of principle I’d like the proper keeper to play. Finger injuries permitting Bairstow will be in the side after a ton, I wonder if they’ll expect him to take the gloves too. Hopefully Buttler will create an issue later with a marauding match winning double ton at sr >120

Hopefully Buttler will create an issue later with a marauding match winning double ton at sr >120

half arsed chip to mid off for 2 more like.

98 overs to go

That’s all

46-1. There’s hope yet. Weather and avoiding a collapse. You never know…

Oh, FFS, it’s the hope that kills you….

I saw we had started well, so flicked on BT sports. Literally the first ball I see is a wicket!!

BBC sport app says “…deny…”

So Hameed has only 4 first class 100s his foot work is bad against medium pace and wowfull with fast stuff he gets pinned into the crease.
Definitely not an opener.

And Crawley has almost found some form
Only 326 to win

Half century for Crawley – nice!

2nd wicket down. Still optimistic. BBC app still using “hopeful.” Root needs to pit in a helluva knock.