creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[thebish]

quite like this from the BBC ticker:

Big problem with this England side is a lack of impetus in the batting. Every innings begins as a metaphor for coastal erosion.

[TANGODANCER]

Dr Inksbreak strike again...

cook's gone for 25... he's not had his best series!

In comparison with what he's capable of he's been pretty poor. Mind you, Harris is one good bowler.

[thebish]

Dr Inksbreak strike again...

cook's gone for 25... he's not had his best series!

In comparison with what he's capable of he's been pretty poor. Mind you, Harris is one good bowler.

aye - if they can keep him fit - he's a great asset.. the ball cook was out to wasn't a pearler, though - it was a fiddle to a wide one outside off stump..

cook has averaged about 30 in the 9 ashes innings so far - which isn't disastrous - but his top score is 62 - and in nine innings, as an opener - he'd be expecting a couple of bigger scores than that.. maybe he'll zone back in on tour for Ashes pt 2...

[Bruce Rioja]

So, the first test of the next series is Nov 21-25 at The Gabba. Assuming the Aussies win the current test, who carries the momentum into the series? Tough call I think.

[TANGODANCER]

Dr Inksbreak strike again...

cook's gone for 25... he's not had his best series!

Always wary of any breaks when we're batting. Take the batsmens focus away and they have to get their eye-in again after them. Like em when theyr're the other way round of course. Hope this one doesn't affact our pair. Skysports gave me a start by wrongly showing 97-2 instead of one.

[thebish]

So, the first test of the next series is Nov 21-25 at The Gabba. Assuming the Aussies win the current test, who carries the momentum into the series? Tough call I think.

fairly big assumption... I think - despite our win - and whatever happens this test - people will reckon that the sides are roughly equal and expect a close series... England, however, are the ones who have shown that they can bowl the other side out twice... which is fairly crucial!

[thebish]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

[BWFC_Insane]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

Get some bloody runs though. We've started to score far too slowly. Watson was at one point going at a run a ball.

In 2005 we hit 400 in one day.

Not saying we go hell for leather and take silly risks but we just don't seem to get at bowlers very much now, in the same way Watson for example (a man well out of form prior to yesterday) did on a flat pitch.

[Montreal Wanderer]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

Get some bloody runs though. We've started to score far too slowly. Watson was at one point going at a run a ball.

In 2005 we hit 400 in one day.

Not saying we go hell for leather and take silly risks but we just don't seem to get at bowlers very much now, in the same way Watson for example (a man well out of form prior to yesterday) did on a flat pitch.

You can't have it both ways. You constantly complain we get out to silly shots trying to force the pace. See Root just now. I can't see a win for us (unless we get five full days and an Aussie 2nd inning collapse) so just bat out the day. The weather is bad tomorrow.

[thebish]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

Get some bloody runs though. We've started to score far too slowly. Watson was at one point going at a run a ball.

In 2005 we hit 400 in one day.

Not saying we go hell for leather and take silly risks but we just don't seem to get at bowlers very much now, in the same way Watson for example (a man well out of form prior to yesterday) did on a flat pitch.

I honestly don't care if cook, trott and root score slowly - especially in this situation - their job is to occupy the crease and grind the lifer out of the game... of course - there's the rub - if they do get out and haven't scored many it's a potential problem - BUT - the criticism would be about getting out, not about their scoring rate...

sometimes that's exactly what we need - grind the bowlers into the dust - then pieterson and bell and co. can come in and smash them all over the park...

[thebish]

ahhh - i see root's got himself out!

[Bruce Rioja]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

Get some bloody runs though. We've started to score far too slowly. Watson was at one point going at a run a ball.

In 2005 we hit 400 in one day.

Not saying we go hell for leather and take silly risks but we just don't seem to get at bowlers very much now, in the same way Watson for example (a man well out of form prior to yesterday) did on a flat pitch.

Nah. I don't care if we don't put another run on the board so long as we can occupy the crease for three days.

Why do you feel the need for us to score runs, and WTF has 2005 got to do with any of it?

[BWFC_Insane]

i'd be quite happy for trott and root to bat out the rest of the game! that'd demoralise the feckers!

Get some bloody runs though. We've started to score far too slowly. Watson was at one point going at a run a ball.

In 2005 we hit 400 in one day.

Not saying we go hell for leather and take silly risks but we just don't seem to get at bowlers very much now, in the same way Watson for example (a man well out of form prior to yesterday) did on a flat pitch.

You can't have it both ways. You constantly complain we get out to silly shots trying to force the pace. See Root just now. I can't see a win for us (unless we get five full days and an Aussie 2nd inning collapse) so just bat out the day. The weather is bad tomorrow.

You have to play the situation and conditions, I fully agree.

I don't think we've had very much success sitting and blocking and waiting to get out this series frankly. We've been better when we take it on, to a sensible, but positive extent.

Watson yesterday gave a masterclass in doing that. I cut Pietersen a lot more slack than others at times because he goes out to try and be positive and sometimes to dominate a particular bowler. When it doesn't work he can look foolish. But at least there is a mindset there.

Too often this summer some of our batsmen have gone nowhere for a long time, then got out with a stupid shot as the pressure built.

The Aussies have to be given credit for bowling good lines to our top order.

But Australia in their first innings went at 3.8 runs per over.

We are going at 2.1 runs per over. I agree we can't win, so if we bat out the time then fair enough. But the target is there to get close if not beyond their score and put a little pressure back onto them.

Weather forecast is awful apparently for tomorrow and not great for Sunday either so might be a moot point.

[thebish]

no need to be sweeping as an opener in this situation, surely?

[thebish]

But Australia in their first innings went at 3.8 runs per over.

We are going at 2.1 runs per over.

yeah - but what about net spend??

[BWFC_Insane]

But Australia in their first innings went at 3.8 runs per over.

We are going at 2.1 runs per over.

yeah - but what about net spend??

For me you can't just sit there and not score. We aren't going to bat out the remaining 3 days with our first innings.

So make runs, get past the follow on, close the gap, who knows?

Not in a silly way at all. But I do think for whatever reason our batsmen have gone into their shell a bit this series.

And I put the 2005 comparison up there to show that we as a team started finding success by being positive and aggressive, especially as a batting line up.

Just about balance really. Little bit more positivity, without throwing caution to the wind.

[thebish]

we're currently 209-3

I can think of a lot more reasons to whine before getting to that one!

[TANGODANCER]

Oz doing a great job in stopping us scoring, but Bell and Pierersen digging in well. 213-3 normally no bad score but they have a massive total.

[BWFC_Insane]

217-4. 100 overs of batting.

Australia made 492 in 128 overs

Debutant Woakes comes out to bat. If they rattle a few wickets now, then the follow on is a possibility. And England's go slow approach begins to look very misguided.

[thebish]

217-4. 100 overs of batting.

Australia made 492 in 128 overs

Debutant Woakes comes out to bat. If they rattle a few wickets now, then the follow on is a possibility. And England's go slow approach begins to look very misguided.

no it doesn't - get a grip!!

what does it matter how many overs the Oz made their runs in? They batted first and have to win... we're batting second and in a completely different situation. first target is to save the follow-on - that's still comfortably within our reach.

this is the glory of test cricket - maybe your diet has been too rich in T-20 and one-day slogs...