The Ashes

[Pedenj]

Lyon bowled well and Johnson bowled a great first spell today, but overall no, not really. Thought we batted pretty poorly. Not as poorly as Australia batted though

I think Finn deserves credit for his bowling - and not just his wickets. He had a spell yesterday where you just knew wickets were coming.

Really good bit of captaincy from Cook to switch his end after that first horror over as well.

[Shaggy]

Sake

James Anderson has been ruled out of remainder of the current Investec Ashes Test with a side strain.

Anderson will be unavailable for the 4th Test beginning on Thursday 6 August at Trent Bridge and his availability for the final Test in the series will be determined in due course.

[Buzzo]

Anderson ruled out of at least the 4th test. A huge boost for the Aussies for the remainder of the series.

[Buzzo]

FWIW I would prefer a longer 5 day game, with a good bit of test batting and digging in with the conditions. Dont think any batsmen has done that in this game. There did look like there was runs for players like Rodgers, Smith and Cook if they were watchful.

I actually think Nevill's innings were as close to a traditional test batting performance as we've seen, very patient and watchful. Warner seemed to blast them one day style.

[captainfog]

We will have this tied up by later this afternoon. Its been a decent performance to do that. Especially given how dominant they were in the last test.

You just seem negative on all things England at the moment, and unwilling to give credit. Which is fair enough. But I think a player like Finn has done fantastically.

So what if we batted poorly, its no different to winning ugly in football. A win is a win, and it doesnt really matter how it comes in my book.

FWIW I would prefer a longer 5 day game, with a good bit of test batting and digging in with the conditions. Dont think any batsmen has done that in this game. There did look like there was runs for players like Rodgers, Smith and Cook if they were watchful.

That's not true, I've been singing our bowlers praises over on ST. But we did bat poorly, lots of soft dismissals and really should have scored 400 relatively easily. There are no great demons in the pitch and at times the Australians were bowling pretty poorly. You're right a win is a win, but we almost let them back into the game when we were in a position to humiliate them.

By the way, this test isn't won yet. If the Aussies can scrape together another 80/90 runs they'll feel that the way this match has gone they will have a chance and I wouldn't be surprised at losing a few early wickets and it suddenly becoming very nerve wracking.

[Buzzo]

Other than Johnson and Lyon the Aussie bowling was terrible. Starc in particular. Joe Root Gifted Starc his wicket.

[captainfog]

Other than Johnson and Lyon the Aussie bowling was terrible. Starc in particular. Joe Root Gifted Starc his wicket.

And Johnson was only really great in one spell.

[Alex]

By the way, this test isn't won yet. If the Aussies can scrape together another 80/90 runs they'll feel that the way this match has gone they will have a chance and I wouldn't be surprised at losing a few early wickets and it suddenly becoming very nerve wracking.

Well yes, its obviously true that the test isn't won. But its the equivalent of being 3-0 up with 5 minutes to go. Its possible to turn it round, but its pretty unlikely.

[Norbs]

[Buzzo]

And Johnson was only really great in one spell.

it was strange that he found an effective tactic and bowling line, and then seemed massively reluctant to use it again. Those 2 balls were unplayable.

[captainfog]

Well yes, its obviously true that the test isn't won. But its the equivalent of being 3-0 up with 5 minutes to go. Its possible to turn it round, but its pretty unlikely.

It would be a mad turn of events for that to happen.

[captainfog]

Nice little lead building here.

[Norbs]

63?

[captainfog]

63?

100 will be tough.

[captainfog]

Finn has got the knack of getting wickets with rubbish balls lol