Ashes 2013/14

[aj2k77]

The last 9 overs have gone for 7 runs and we've lost 2 wickets. Please England don't shit yourselves now and crumble. Show some intelligent fucking attacking intent.

[Proposition Joe]

The last 9 overs have gone for 7 runs and we've lost 2 wickets. Please England don't shit yourselves now and crumble. Show some intelligent fucking attacking intent.

Cook forgot the "intelligent" part.  Stupid uppish cut caught by a player who got out to a stupid uppish cut in their innings.

Oh well.  With our batting to come, 3 down is really more like 8 down.  Doesn't look so clever really.

[Proposition Joe]

Oh, KP you div. 

9 down.

[Villafirst]

Such slow scoring against an old soft ball....what happens when they take the new ball? England should be getting runs now against an average bowling attack.

[eastie]

Kp rarely succeeds when he plays these defensive innings .

[PaulWinch again]

Well I didn't see the early part of the day, but at least we knocked them over for under 400 even if apparently they should have gone for less. Frustrating to see Cook, Carberry and Pietersen all get starts and not go on. I felt we went into our bunker a bit, but Stokes has done nicely. One thing I will say, this is pretty much the first time that we haven't been out of the game after the second day. We still have a chance, we need to put more pressure on the bowlers now and start scoring quicker and get up near the Aussie total.

[eastie]

Run rate is still a big problem for England - the Aussies score quickly where as we get bogged down too easily.

[Proposition Joe]

I like the look of Carberry I have to say.  Even though he finds the silliest ways to get out, we seem to score more freely when he is there and he has scoring shots all round the wicket.  He looks like he has a big, destructive innings in him.

[PaulWinch again]

Carberry has been a positive of this tour. What today showed as I suspected it's not about pace, look at Johnson's figures. It's about bowling well, England managed it this morning and Australia managed it this evening. If you bowl on the right length you'll do alright on this pitch.

[PaulWinch again]

Stokes impresses me as a cricketer, his bowling is sharp and will only get better with experience. He also has a great temperament and he showed character with the bat towards the end of the day. We need him and Bell to get towards centuries and then Prior and the tail to contribute.

[Meanwood Villa]

Kp rarely succeeds when he plays these defensive innings .

KP rarely succeeds at all these days

[Meanwood Villa]

If we can get to within under 50 of their total we give ourselves a fighting chance.

[eastie]

If we can get to within under 50 of their total we give ourselves a fighting chance.

Providing we score at a decent rate that is - then we need to bowl the Aussies out cheaply and chase down a target .

[PaulWinch again]

Cook showed the way even though he batted a bit to slow. He is clearly out of form, but he managed to get some runs which is important. If we're still batting come 9 o'clock tomorrow morning, we'll be well in the game. We have a glimmer of a chance and we have to take it.

[Meanwood Villa]

If we can get to within under 50 of their total we give ourselves a fighting chance.

Providing we score at a decent rate that is - then we need to bowl the Aussies out cheaply and chase down a target .

It's going to be tough but I'd say a deficit of 50 or less is the minimum if we're going to have any chance. What I think will happen is a limp surrender and waking up on Monday morning to learn the Ashes have gone.