The Cricket Thread 2016

[paul_e]

Think there's a few harsh opinions on here, this is still good conditions for bowling, there's late swing and Starc is bowling a great spell, rather than worrying about a 'collapse' we should be thinking about the damage we're going to do to them in the 3rd innings if it stays like this.

Agree Paul and if someone before the game had offered us a 300 lead (or close to it) after the first innings, we would have snapped their hands off.  I just think a lead of 300 may just give the Aussies a little hope (albeit a very small amount), which is frustrating as we could have killed the game today. 

Obviously i'm over the moon with the match position, and the fact we are about to win back the ashes. I'd have just loved us to bat all day today, and get a lead of over 500. I want us to completely humiliate them. We had more than our fair share of it during the 90's, and even in the last series down under.

I'm just a bit greedy!

To me all out for 60 in a must win game with extras top scoring is as humiliating as anything the aussies have done to us in my time watching.

[PGW]

I think that is brilliant from Cook, 2or 3 overs before lunch to have a go at em.

Warner and Rogers would have been thinking about their upcoming lunch stood there in the field, this will have caught em
off guard. They aint getting anywhere near 500 which is what they need to have any chance.

I can't see how they'll come close to making us bat again. Pitch is still offering more than enough

Agree 110%

[Risso]

We're Villa fans, looking on the gloomy side is what we do!

[taylorsworkrate]

Pathetic from the umpires, letting Rodgers get away with that

[taylorsworkrate]

obscene luck Warner having this over!

[Villan For Life]

Marvellous over from Broad

[Villan For Life]

Aggers made an interesting point on TMS about Cook and captaincy. As we look set to regain the Ashes it means that Cook will probably stay on for another couple of years. If we'd have lost the series then Cook would have gone and Root made captain. I think that it's inevitable that Root will captain England, but another couple of years as vice captain will help his development both as a player and more importantly as a future captain.

[tomd2103]

I do think Moeen should be ahead of Buttler in the order at the moment.

Looking ahead to the next series in UAE (bit premature I know!), there might be the possibility of Buttler going out of the side, Bairstow keeping wicket, Moeen moving up to 7 and Rashid or another spinner coming in.   

[tomd2103]

If we were all out now, with a lead of 319, even if they scored 500 we'd only need 180 to win.

The fact that they scored 500 would show the pitch was pretty flat.

I don't think we should have any worries here!

I'm not sure I would be putting my mortgage on this England side chasing down 180 and it would be a horribly nervy finish.  The Aussies are going to have do something very special to even get near that position though. 

[taylorsworkrate]

poor review I think

[taylorsworkrate]

yep. very poor review

[aev]

I'd take Wood off and bring Finn on.

I am getting a bit twitchy.

[bertlambshank]

Cook drops a dolly.

[OzVilla]

Poor drop their from Cook.

[Villan For Life]

I'd take Wood off and bring Finn on.

I am getting a bit twitchy.

Patience will win out. We won't have another day like yesterday but will still comfortably win the test.