The Ashes

[Alex]

Yep. Moeen, Cook, Bairstow and to a degree Root need to step up with something. Moeen is doing nothing with the ball, so he needs runs to justify his place at the moment. Not that Id drop him.

Stoneman looked good though.

[ChesterDave]

****e performance

[Buzzo]

FWIW I think the fight we showed to get back to the position we did in the end was a positive. The bowlers got their tails up and ripped through the top order of the Aussies.

I dont think we have much chance of anything in this series, but I hope at least we make a game of the final 3 matches. Looking forward to Perth.

The merest crumb of comfort for England is that they showed some fight for the last couple of days.

Australia still took all the big moments in the match though.

It was so important for England that Cook had a confident Ashes, and he's had a shocker.

Be interesting to see the response in the third test, but...its at the WACA and England have had a sniff there, lost every match since 86, not won since 78...

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/bbctms/status/939471082351837184[/ame]

[Hollowman]

Seems harsh. I heard he was just trying to do belly button shots with Anderson.

[Les Zeffelin]

The merest crumb of comfort for England is that they showed some fight for the last couple of days.

Australia still took all the big moments in the match though.

It was so important for England that Cook had a confident Ashes, and he's had a shocker.

Be interesting to see the response in the third test, but...its at the WACA and England have had a sniff there, lost every match since 86, not won since 78...

Cheer up fella it's the last time your lot have to play a test at the WACA, but I 'spose that doesn't really help this time around. Ok, cheer up, but only in moderation.

[Alex]

Next test starts tonight at 2.30 I think. So similar sort of timings to the last. Im a big fan of that as it means I can start listening when I get up after the Lunch break and keep going.

Expecting a loss, but still. Its fun to hope.

[Alex]

Its easy to dig England out, but 290-4 is good going today so far.

Lets see this thought today for no more than 2 more wickets and turn the screw.

[Shaggy]

[RichC]

Good day for us. Cracking partnership from Malan & Bairstow.

[Zapater]

Catching costing Australia. Malan and Bairstow were quality though, particularly the latter.

[Alex]

305-4 after day one is brilliant work.

[Buzzo]

Especially from 130-4. Massive innings under pressure from Malan and Bairdtow.

[Les Zeffelin]

Only caught the last session because of work. Well deserved ton from Malan, he looks very composed, easily the pick of England's batsmen to date in the series. Bairstow finally batting where he should be in the absence of Stokes.

Having said that the pitch looks to be an absolute ****ing road & even at this early stage this has draw written all over it as the most likely result. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing cause at least it means I get to go to Boxing Day with the series still alive.

[RichC]

Good Over from Overton got rid of that little weasel Warner and had a tough C&B for Khawaja on 0