The Ashes thread! (spoilers)

Not even this England team will steal defeat from this position
Even the weather does save the Aussies as England still get the Ashes back

Ahh pants. That might be Lyth back to the county for a while.

Lyth showing his class again.

Even the weather does save the Aussies as England still get the Ashes back

Not true; they currently hold the Urn so we need a win overall to get it back. If they escape from here it’s 2:1 with one to play so they can still retain with a win at The Oval and 2:2 overall.

Bell gone for one. Normal service resuming, it appears

I knew the rules it was my maths that let me down 😳

Ohh bloody heck.

Makes it a bit more interesting.

It was tough maths, granted. Almost needed both hands…..

Bells decision an interesting one. From the visual, I’m convinced that was swinging down leg, but Hawkeye seems not to show the swing.

😆

From the visual, I’m convinced that was swinging down leg, but Hawkeye seems not to show the swing.

This seems to be a pretty much universal opinion. The BCCI are probably feeling pretty smug.

Can a Test match be over in a day?

Our batsmen had better knuckle down and concentrate.

I still think it’s good, and better than nothing. IMO DRS is there to get the howlers, not judge the marginal ones. I don’t agree with 2 more reviews with the new ball.

What would be the lowest in the last 100 years?

edit: the lowest first innings score to win since 1908 is 152 http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;event=1;filter=advanced;innings_number=1;orderby=team_score;orderbyad=reverse;result=1;template=results;trophy=1;type=team;view=innings

(though England did escape with a draw after scoring 77 in 1997 in a match where they had a total of about 2 days play)

I’m not sure stats from 19th century tests are particularly relevant!

Aussies are taking it pretty well. This from the SMH site via BBC

And we’re in the lead 🙂

Well we’ve just about scraped a first innings lead. I reckon the tail might add on a few more.

I’m now wondering what the stats are on the most batsmen on a team to get more than the highest score on the other team – 3 out of 4 so far.

Aussies are taking it pretty well. This from the SMH site via BBC

Michael Slater certainly wasn’t during the lunch break 😀

tempting fate I know, but once the balls gone a bit soft this pitch has not a lot to offer.

@ESPNcricinfo Michael Clarkes resignation press conference on Saturday #gonein60runs

— Andy Connor (@Accconnor) August 6, 2015

😆

Been gardening all day listening to TMS so missed the TV pictures alongside, can’t wait for highlights later

Still not done yet. 39 lead at tea for 3 down is a very healthy position on paper, but if we don’t post the kind of total that makes an innings victory a distinct possibility we’ll feel like we’ve let them back in.

That said, if they bat they way they batted in the first dig, another 50-odd would make an innings victory a racing certainty 😉

Just flicking round the web and stumbled on the score on the BBC website – bloody hell!

I may even watch the highlights tonight!

Shouldn’t we be thinking about Declaring now?

50 for Roooooooooooooooooooooooooot

all the worries about england being a bowler short, aussies have 3 seamers (one of which can only be used for 3-4 overs at a time) and spinner on a pitch with no turn at the moment

Bowler short?

Who’s missing then?

Root now ahead of Australia

Bowler short?

Who’s missing then?

All of the Australian team, so far.

Bowler short?

aussies dropped Mitchell Marsh for Shaun Marsh (to beef up the batting 😆 ) so they are a seamer down

Boycott is calling england 250 at stumps

If they bat a session tomorrow as well they could have the weekend off…

But you said

all the worries about england being a bowler short

I haven’t noticed anyone missing from our side today?

Jimmy who? 😉

50 Bairstow lead now 150+

calm down blowers

century for rooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot

Brings up the 100 🙂