mikey d

I bet the bowlers would have been begging for another days rest. They had been absolutely flogged only 3 days earlier. They would have loved to have been sitting in the cool watching the batsmen make hay. It should be the the skippers call, otherwise what's the point of having one. No one would have dared to question Chappelli or Alan Border's decision and that is how it should be. The skippa is the skippa is the skippa. No need for a committee or 6 vice-captains. I'm glad it's over. So freakin frustrating.

Nice Gaz

We're in big strife. Cummins & Hazelwood are buggered. Siddle's chuckin pies & Lyon's just snared the first wicket.

Warner has scored 21 centuries, 30 50's, average of 46 (dropping from nearly 50), 78 tests played. Gordon Greenidge 19 centuries, 34 50's average of 44.7, 108 tests played I considered Greenidge one of the great openers that I have watched. Cricket is a game of stats.

I wonder what hot-spot would have shown for the Warner dismissal?

Pleasantly surprised this morning. Expected England to be 4-350. Batting looked easy when I retired to bed. M. Marsh has always had nice late away swing & his inclusion was justified by being the most economical & effective Australian bowler. I'm afraid I wouldn't have given Siddle a game this series. No other team in the world would leave Starc out of the bowling attack. Expect M. Marsh to get a 5 fa & a big ton.

Just got home. What a lovely batting wicket. Looks like an adelaide pitch. Why aren't we batting? Since when did an Australian team insert the opposition? Its gunna be a long day in the field. I'm going to bed. Night gents

Never in doubt

Fast bowlers get injured. We have four guys that are world class flingers so that we can be flexible. Not the worst situation to be in

It's a shame that Anderson is injured. he is a master swing bowler & I always think of England as being a swing bowlers paradise. Yep, seam bowlers & banging it into the deck on line & length is what we get in Australia but a bowler that can swing it both ways at pace are my favourites to watch. Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram were pure genius. Terry Alderman owned a series in England with beautifully controlled swing. That's why I am partial to Starc. He gets driven because he pitches it up. If the ball's swinging, it's lovely to watch & almost unplayable. Broad's attitude has been outstanding & he has the skill to get front footed batsmen playing off the back foot. Bradman & Smith both back foot players. Says something really.

I only watched the 2nd session last night. Always fascinating. The quicks of both teams have bowled some really good spells. Glad other guys are enjoying it as much as I am.

The bowlers had to bowl 107 overs in the Poms first innings. I'm sure they are glad that they didn't have to turn around & bowl another 100+ overs again.

If we had a 5th bowler the follow on might have been an option. M Marsh would have been a very useful bowler on this pitch & he swings it. Broad & Archer had great energy in their opening spells but both bowled 9 overs straight & batting got so much easier after they were replaced. If Smith didn't have such great eyes & reflexes he may have succumbed too. A few good balls just missed his edge. It was tough going out there. Play won't last til tea. I'd wager my house on it.

Sir Ben's was a once in a career effort. The energy & stamina (and luck) required will be beyond him with that dicky shoulder & no support. Starc will get reverse with pace. The ball that trapped Warner should have bounced 1/2 yard higher from that length. The up & down nature of the pitch will help the seamers but unfortunately there will be no pace off the pitch to help Lyon & he will be easily played off the back foot. So long as the seamers pitch it up at the stumps & don't get sucked in to bowling too short the Poms will crack. You read it here

Australia wee never going to enforce the follow on. We've learned that lesson. It will be all over just after lunch. Starc will clean up with a five -fa.

Broad has been inspired in all his opening spells. Jofra has found his mojo. We need to appeal better and stop the stupid reviews. I think 300 will be a difficult chase. How long can Smith's golden run last? I'm missing Lee's@Luc erudite observations. I know you're watching [emoji102]

Just woke up. The lads are doing right. To quote Our PM, 'how good is Steve Smith'

Well played son.

Too many cacky-handers in our line up. This right arm around is doing them in. Lamburschagne looks organised.

Nerves. Both Warner and Archer not over the weight of expectation. The batting looks comfortable.

Indecisive. Needed a positive leave or a cracking shot through covers.

Here we go. Hope that the openers can see out the first hour. They will be nervous. If the pitch has anything init, it will be this morning. Might be a good wicket for the tweakers.

That's totally fcuked up man

Stokes was in full control. He was hitting the gaps, a few unorthodox shots and had a plan to farm the strike. He was almost impossible to bowl to. He rode his luck a bit but all batsmen trying to score quickly need to. It was the bowlers who didn't have a plan. No change of pace. No cutters. Just bang it in. They should have been trying to hit the stumps. Yep, the deck was flat for the quicks & held no great advantage for spin. We should have won if Lyons, (one of our best fielders) held the ball for the run out or if they didn't waste the review. Luck favours the brave.

It was really just a once in a career extraordinary effort by Stokes that got them across the line. 79 runs needed when the last bat came out. Too much short stuff on a lifeless wicket & not nearly enough yorkers attempted. I still maintain that Starc is the man for bowling out a stubborn tail. He was the highest wicket taker in the WC & his tailing in yorkers can be unplayable.