England's Summer Of Cricket against New Zealand and AUSTRALIA!

[EwarWoo]

We have all the time in the world left and Roots having a good practice session out there. This lead is beyond reason so can only guess that's why we haven't declared.

If root goes he'll declare, if not I could see us going to lunch tomorrow. Lol.

[Aj34]

Oh well shows what I know

[Shaggy]

Joe Root

Compton my arse

Gotta laugh at how relentlessly cautious Cook is. Not remotely surprised cos we are uber cautious but I wouldn've put them in for a tricky half hour tonight. Cookie not certain 550+ is quite enough

If we'd have enforced the follow on we would've won by now.

[EwarWoo]

It's not just about the total but it's also about the mind games.

We have a batsman new to opening in tests and new to ashes completely hitting some marvelous form, building confidence.

We have back to back series and we're demoralising the opposition.

And importantly, we have 2 days left. So why rush it?

[Aj34]

Good point

[ChesterDave]

Got to be batting on tomorrow too. Give it till 30 mins before lunch then declare. New ball and a nervy 30 mins they will probably lose two wickets before lunch

[Shaggy]

There's obviously no rush but as I've said I would always take the most direct route to victory. Bob Willis agrees with me

We are rubbing their noses in it now, sure. I get why we do this, I just wouldn't. I bet we carry on batting in the morning

[EwarWoo]

I bet we carry on batting in the morning

No question. He's 22 runs short of a double century, he'll be given a chance to finish it.

[Shaggy]

To me that's not important at all, there's no value in sentimentality or concerning ourselves with stats. We are 566 ahead ...they are categorically not going to chase it down. All we'd be doing is wasting our own time, giving ourselves less time to bowl them out and less time for them to have to bat.

[Gingawaria]

No question. He's 22 runs short of a double century, he'll be given a chance to finish it.

They'll give him a chance to get his double century and then declare. Massive knock for Root this, his confidence must be soaring.

[EwarWoo]

To me that's not important at all, there's no value in sentimentality or concerning ourselves with stats.

It's not about sentimentality or stats. It's about mentality. A double century will give him a massive boost, and will also make the Aussies fear him. The milestones do mean something to the players otherwise you wouldn't see so many make silly shots on 99.

All we'd be doing is wasting our own time, giving ourselves less time to bowl them out and less time for them to have to bat.

See above. And we have more than enough time. They're completely shot, they'll drop like skittles. We've crushed them physically and emotionally.

Now we're just grinding the heal to make sure they remember it.

[Shaggy]

Don't buy it. He's 178 not out, another 22 runs isn't going to have a seismic effect on either Root's or the Aussies' mindset. He's done the damage, and the 'massive boost' is long since in the bag. Milestones are nice at best. Just eating into the time. We will obviously win either way so it's nitpicking. I suppose we have enough time for a sentimental bat-on but it doesn't do it for me.

[ChesterDave]

In 2 days we were bowled out, bowled them out, and lost 3 more wickets. We don't need 6 sessions to bowl them out. We probably dont need 4 sessions but we will give them 5. We wi be 650 ahead by lunch tomorrow if we take the full session. They can't chasr and they can't defend for that long. Why not make their whole team suffer in the heat and let out lot relax in the cpol shaded mo doubt air conditioned balcony and pavilion?

[Shaggy]

Haha. I get it, I just don't agree. Cricket

[Chazza]

I would have had them in tonight but plenty of time to go and we can really grind them down and put down a marker.

Beating the aussies is great absolutely destroying them is ****ing amazing