Ashes 2013/14

[OzVilla]

I know, it's so predictable I don't get excited anymore until we get then down to the ninth wicket.

Even then it never ends quickly.

Part time leg spinner on (after Swann ran away) and a part time wicket keeper fumbles.

Haddin gets another 50.

[Bald Eagle]

Haddin looks like Brian Lara against us. It has to be a mental thing.

[Bald Eagle]

We are desperate at trying to get rid of the lower order. Some very poor bowling.

[OzVilla]

Let's have another big shout out to Greame Swann - who cowardly ran away from the series when the personal going got too tough for him and his precious reputation, leaving England to have to throw the like of Borthwick and Rankin like lambs to the slaughter.

We really miss the likes of Swann today, a bit of experience and presence in the attack. But no. Not Greame.

He wasn't bowling well and the batting was getting dangerous so despite signing a new 12 month central contract only 3 months ago, he ran away MON style and left his team mates exposing the youngsters along the way.

Today was a day where we needed players like Swann out there, no doubt hell be giving some slightly immature slant on it in The Sun, whilst praising Borthwicks 'ticker' and 'raw talent'.

I feel a little sorry for the boys out there today, at least they've stuck in out when all is going wrong.

Wonder if Swanny will say the same?

[OzVilla]

Rumour has it Rankin needed a fitness test before the start of play today.

[Bald Eagle]

Ozvilla. Completely agree with you about Swann. Must see this 25 minute spell out now.

[OzVilla]

Not a cloud an the sky an hour ago.

Suddenly England come in to bat and it's gone overcast and muggy.

It'd be a real confidence boost if we could see this through non down to stumps.

[Bald Eagle]

Here we go. 1 down for 6.

[eastie]

Yet again! We have them at 97-5 on the ropes and fail to take the chance allowing them to reach 326 .
Carberry out for 0 and we are up against it again - add in rankin being injured and out of the game and we have 3 bowlers plus borthwick - a sad tour shows every sign of ending in whitewash.

[Villan For Life]

Yet again! We have them at 97-5 on the ropes and fail to take the chance allowing them to reach 326 .
Carberry out for 0 and we are up against it again - add in rankin being injured and out of the game and we have 3 bowlers plus borthwick - a sad tour shows every sign of ending in whitewash.

5 Live reporting that Rankin went off with cramp and that he will bowl in the second innings.

The more embarrassing this tour gets the more I find myself agreeing with Boycott. He talks an awful lot of sense or am I just getting old?

[PaulWinch again]

This selection looks to have gone wrong again. Borthwick isn't ready to be a first choice spinner, Rankin wasn't fit. It's all a bit muddled sadly, but at least Stokes stepped up.

[eastie]

Yet again! We have them at 97-5 on the ropes and fail to take the chance allowing them to reach 326 .
Carberry out for 0 and we are up against it again - add in rankin being injured and out of the game and we have 3 bowlers plus borthwick - a sad tour shows every sign of ending in whitewash.

5 Live reporting that Rankin went off with cramp and that he will bowl in the second innings.

The more embarrassing this tour gets the more I find myself agreeing with Boycott. He talks an awful lot of sense or am I just getting old?

Cramp- he only bowled one ball before going off again?  Looked more like a hamstring but if true maybe there's hope in the 2nd innings - if he only passed a late fitness test it seems a bit odd .

[Chris Jameson]

The more embarrassing this tour gets the more I find myself agreeing with Boycott. He talks an awful lot of sense or am I just getting old?

I cannot stand Boycott as a person but he's very rarely wrong when it comes to the cricket.

Hadn't realised Swann had used the pages of The Sun to announce his retirement, even less respect for him now.

[PaulWinch again]

I just hope this game doesn't damage Borthwick too badly. I still believe Finn is the man they should be building their attack around, I just do see it with Rankin in the long term.

[OzVilla]

In this series, Australia's last 5 wickets are averaging more than their first 5 with all their top 6 batsmen ave between 14 and 34 runs for the first dig

Just shows how important the performances of both Haddin and Johnson have been for them.

Taking nothing away from Australia as they've completely outplayed England in every facet but its also true to say that without either Haddin or Johnson they simply wouldn't be in this position.