Cricket

[ChesterDave]

Less so now.

[RichC]

Need a couple of early wickets in the morning.

[Buzzo]

Smith gone now

Decision to declare looking better by the moment

You always take the runs on day 1 imo. There’s no need to try and finish the test in three days.

[BobTheCharmer]

You always take the runs on day 1 imo. There’s no need to try and finish the test in three days.

I tend to agree. It's almost like they feel everything they do must be off the cuff and different. You're playing the best team in the world.

I'm not sure why this pitch has been so slow and flat. It's awful. Watching Anderson toil away is hard to watch. There's zero in it for him.

I think Lyon will have a big part to play as the guy takes a lot of wickets.

Australia to bat and get 450 plus?

[Buzzo]

I think this accurately sums it up Khawaja has been batting ever since.

[ame]https://twitter.com/bbcsport/status/1669771145317613569[/ame]

[spud_gun]

In fairness from what I've seen of Tufnell he's perpetually perplexed

[Buzzo]

Also, it may have made sense of it was the tail batting (still wouldn’t have - but marginally more understandable) but Root was on 118 n/o when Stokes declared.

[BobTheCharmer]

Nice finish before lunch there. Let's hope we can put on another 300.

[Irishnev]

9 down with a lead of 260 odd….. doesn’t look enough tbh

[Irishnev]

9 down with a lead of 260 odd….. doesn’t look enough tbh

281 with an extended evening session plus a full day tomorrow…… will be tight but Aus are the favorites. Need to break partnerships from building and get their big players out early!

[Buzzo]

Cracking start to the series. Win, lose or draw as ever England know how to set up exciting test matches.

[Shaggy]

Looks like rain til around 1 ish. Should still be enough time to finish it.

[Irishnev]

Looks like rain til around 1 ish. Should still be enough time to finish it.

On which side though….

[Buzzo]

Set for an absolute classic. Weather conditions have to favour England.

[spud_gun]

Aussies are 5 down.

England are going to win this.