Ashes 2010/11

[bertlambshank]

You've jinxed it bigad!

Sorry all.

[Dave Cooper please]

Meh, the pitch will only get better for a while, we'll stick 500 on the board, job done.

[Monty]

Not great that. Could be the difference between a lead of a hundred or of twenty - assuming we end up with a lead, of course.

[taylorsworkrate]

Really good from Strauss and Cook,

Great response to their tail wagging.

[KevinGage]

That little knock by Johnson and Gentle Ben could be crucial.

Not sure what happened then, bowled some absolute filth.

England should be about on par at the moment, looking to stretch away tomorrow.
As it is, tomorrow morning will be decisive as to how this test goes, and the Aussies will fell they're in with a shout now. They should be well out of it at this stage.

Dig in and grind it for a bit, a 40 from Jimmy might cushion the blow of those cheap runs conceded today (we can but dream). After that, bat for time, hopefully the pitch will flatten out and the weather improves.

[PaulWinch again]

That 9th wicket partnership was incredibly frustrating, I just hope we don't pay for it later in the game.

[Chris Smith]

This game is nicely balanced, key session in the morning with Cook needing to pull out another big score.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

That 9th wicket partnership was incredibly frustrating, I just hope we don't pay for it later in the game.

I think if we'd have played 5 bowlers, it wouldn't have happened.

Let's hope Collingwood justifies his selection tomorrow.

[KevinGage]

There was a bit of an opening there to skittle them out for under 200 and build a big first innings lead, possibly not having to bat again if we'd posted 400-450 and got Swann to nail them.

As it is, England will have to almost certainly bat last. Not ideal on a wicket that could turn. As well as the soft runs conceded, you'd feel any chance of getting a really big innings lead depended on Trott and KP playing a decent first innings knock.

In most Test matches you'd still class this as a good position, but it never pays to let the opposition off the hook when you have them down.

Big effort required from Cook, Collingwood and Bell tomorrow. Shouldn't really expect more from Cook. he's played his part throughout the series and then some. Collingwood looked woefully out of knick in Melbourne, when he's poor he's very, very poor. Bell - much as he's improved in the past 12-18 months- is still not someone you'd bet the house on if you're up against it.

That said, if he walks to the crease with England about par or better than Australia's 280, he has enough dash to take the game away from them.

[Chris Smith]

That 9th wicket partnership was incredibly frustrating, I just hope we don't pay for it later in the game.

I think if we'd have played 5 bowlers, it wouldn't have happened.

Let's hope Collingwood justifies his selection tomorrow.

Bowling Hussey has already gone a long way towards doing that.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

That 9th wicket partnership was incredibly frustrating, I just hope we don't pay for it later in the game.

I think if we'd have played 5 bowlers, it wouldn't have happened.

Let's hope Collingwood justifies his selection tomorrow.

Bowling Hussey has already gone a long way towards doing that.

Finn would have provided more.

No matter, as long as they do the job, be a shame to have got this far only to fuck it up.

[Chris Smith]

There was a bit of an opening there to skittle them out for under 200 and build a big first innings lead, possibly not having to bat again if we'd posted 400-450 and got Swann to nail them.

As it is, England will have to almost certainly bat last. Not ideal on a wicket that could turn. As well as the soft runs conceded, you'd feel any chance of getting a really big innings lead depended on Trott and KP playing a decent first innings knock.

In most Test matches you'd still class this as a good position, but it never pays to let the opposition off the hook when you have them down.

Big effort required from Cook, Collingwood and Bell tomorrow. Shouldn't really expect more from Cook. he's played his part throughout the series and then some. Collingwood looked woefully out of knick in Melbourne, when he's poor he's very, very poor. Bell - much as he's improved in the past 12-18 months- is still not someone you'd bet the house on if you're up against it.

That said, if he walks to the crease with England about par or better than Australia's 280, he has enough dash to take the game away from them.

Not sure of the logic that says because a batsmen is in form we shouldn't expect  much from him. Cook and Bell have both played extremely well on this tour and I see no reason to expect that to change. I agree that Collingwood is out of touch but Prior, Bresnan and Swann are all capable of chipping in with useful runs so we're still handily placed.

[Chris Smith]

That 9th wicket partnership was incredibly frustrating, I just hope we don't pay for it later in the game.

I think if we'd have played 5 bowlers, it wouldn't have happened.

Let's hope Collingwood justifies his selection tomorrow.

Bowling Hussey has already gone a long way towards doing that.

Finn would have provided more.

No matter, as long as they do the job, be a shame to have got this far only to fuck it up.

Finn gives away too many runs, he needs to learn a bit more control. Their tail wagged a bit but it was more by luck than judgement and our bowlers once again suffocated the life out of their top order.

[Dave Cooper please]

Sometimes you get stands like that at the end no matter what you bowl, and I don't think England bowled that badly. In a few cases they bowled too well if that makes sense, the Aussie tail-enders weren't good enough to get a nick!

It's in the balance now, but if we can eke out a lead of 100+ I reckon we'll win.

[cheltenhamlion]

I am anticipating a 150 lead and a need to chase down no more than 170 to win it.