creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[TANGODANCER]

Patience and focus needed now. The Oz have made a decent start but we need to keep the pressure on.

[BWFC_Insane]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

[2399]

Bugger!

High Chair is in the way, but I just saw the Umpires finger raised!

[Bruce Rioja]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

I still think we shouldn't have batted first but all hypothetical now I suppose.

[Worthy4England]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

I still think we shouldn't have batted first but all hypothetical now I suppose.

I suggested that in the office on Wednesday to utter disbelief from some tw@t that plays tennis.

I couldn't see the logic in not putting the "best bowling attack in the world" to try and get into them on the first morning.

I guess the logic was that batting 4th might have been a problem - that seems to have been wrong - as we've seen 90 more runs (or so) scored in every innings compared to the last. Batting has got easier.

[BWFC_Insane]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

I still think we shouldn't have batted first but all hypothetical now I suppose.

I suggested that in the office on Wednesday to utter disbelief from some tw@t that plays tennis.

I couldn't see the logic in not putting the "best bowling attack in the world" to try and get into them on the first morning.

I guess the logic was that batting 4th might have been a problem - that seems to have been wrong - as we've seen 90 more runs (or so) scored in every innings compared to the last. Batting has got easier.

Cloud on the first day, swing and Jimmy. Yep putting em in looked a good option.

Easy in hindsight I guess.

And on a slow turner, usually you'd not want to bat last if you can avoid it in general at least.

Edit: But all that aside having gone in to bat first day we should have scored plenty more than we did. That's what's caused the issues in the main.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

I still think we shouldn't have batted first but all hypothetical now I suppose.

I suggested that in the office on Wednesday to utter disbelief from some tw@t that plays tennis.

I couldn't see the logic in not putting the "best bowling attack in the world" to try and get into them on the first morning.

I guess the logic was that batting 4th might have been a problem - that seems to have been wrong - as we've seen 90 more runs (or so) scored in every innings compared to the last. Batting has got easier.

Cloud on the first day, swing and Jimmy. Yep putting em in looked a good option.

Easy in hindsight I guess.

And on a slow turner, usually you'd not want to bat last if you can avoid it in general at least.

Edit: But all that aside having gone in to bat first day we should have scored plenty more than we did. That's what's caused the issues in the main.

I'd say it was a failure to get number 11 out for any reasonable score.

[BWFC_Insane]

Scoring looks a bit too easy right now. Pitch looks deadened.

I still think we shouldn't have batted first but all hypothetical now I suppose.

I suggested that in the office on Wednesday to utter disbelief from some tw@t that plays tennis.

I couldn't see the logic in not putting the "best bowling attack in the world" to try and get into them on the first morning.

I guess the logic was that batting 4th might have been a problem - that seems to have been wrong - as we've seen 90 more runs (or so) scored in every innings compared to the last. Batting has got easier.

Cloud on the first day, swing and Jimmy. Yep putting em in looked a good option.

Easy in hindsight I guess.

And on a slow turner, usually you'd not want to bat last if you can avoid it in general at least.

Edit: But all that aside having gone in to bat first day we should have scored plenty more than we did. That's what's caused the issues in the main.

I'd say it was a failure to get number 11 out for any reasonable score.

Stuff happens. We still bowled em out for under 300. Bat first on a decent pitch you should be getting 350 at least. Poor batting put us behind the curve.

Shame that Swann is bowling too short so far, as I think he's key to this if he can fire.

[Bruce Rioja]

Edit: But all that aside having gone in to bat first day we should have scored plenty more than we did. That's what's caused the issues in the main.

I disagree. I reckon we'd have had them all out for 150 had we put them in first.

The opening day was a day to bowl, not a day to bat.

[BWFC_Insane]

Despite the commentators on the TV reckoning England are in the driving seat, if Australia see this out without losing any more wickets today, and it looks like they might, then tomorrow is 50-50. If Australia counter punch and get some quick runs England will be right under pressure.

Agar and Haddin and Siddle can all knock it round a bit if they get the chance.

[Bruce Rioja]

A great day's play. Was worried earlier, less so now. However, agree with Insaney that this is still in the balance as the Aussies have always been able to bat down the order.

[2399]

Can I have the Aussie Scores, and how much is needed please from someone?

Thanks, Gonna have my own news time at 5am

[bobo the clown]

Can I have the Aussie Scores, and how much is needed please from someone?

Thanks, Gonna have my own news time at 5am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23302830" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

First Test, Trent Bridge (day four, close)

England 215 & 375 v Australia 280 & 174-6

Match scorecard


England took three late Australia wickets to assume a commanding position going into the final day of an enthralling opening Ashes Test.

Chasing a target of 311, a record score to win a Trent Bridge Test, Australia were going well on 161-3.

But in a potentially decisive twist in the final hour, England removed captain Michael Clarke, Steven Smith and Phil Hughes in the space of 18 balls to reduce the tourists to 174-6 at the close, still 137 runs adrift of the finish line.

England v Australia in 2005
In the famous Edgbaston Ashes Test match in 2005, Australia closed overnight needing 107 runs to win with two wickets in hand. But England completed a thrilling two-run triumph.

England had earlier added 49 runs to their overnight total to post 375 all out, with Ian Bell completing his 18th Test century and Stuart Broad scoring 65.

Broad, the subject of a major controversy over his decision not to walk on Friday, followed up with an impressive display with the ball, breaking Australia's 84-run opening partnership and removing Clarke for 23 in the closing stages of a sweltering day in which England had toiled for long stretches without reward.

Pitching the ball up to Clarke, Broad drew a faint edge from the Australia captain and wheeled away in celebration as Matt Prior took the catch.

The festivities were put on hold as the umpires verified that the ball had carried into Prior's gloves and were delayed still further when Clarke called for a review. But when Hot Spot showed the smallest of marks on his bat, the skipper had to go.

The dismissal of Australia's leading batsman marked a total shift in the momentum of the match as Smith was trapped right in front of his stumps by Graeme Swann, who had previously bowled 22 wicketless overs.

Two overs later, Australia were six wickets down as Hughes - who scored an unbeaten 81 in the first innings - was struck on the back pad after missing a spinning delivery from Swann and given out on review.

Analysis
Image of Geoffrey Boycott Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman & Test Match Special summariser
"England should win, it's going to take a miracle for Australia. Ashton Agar has to play even better than he did in the first innings and I don't think it's going to happen. England have put a lot into it, they were tired at the end. There was a point in the afternoon where they were worried. I don't think they bowled badly - the pitch is just so slow that if you wait for it, you can get runs."

The experienced Brad Haddin and debutant Ashton Agar - promoted to number eight after his first-innings 98 at the foot of the order - survived until the close, but with so many runs still required England must be firm favourites to go 1-0 up in the series when play resumes on Sunday.

Australia, who have only once - in 1948 - successfully chased more than 250 to win in England, made the ideal start with the bat as openers Shane Watson and Chris Rogers put on 84 in 24 overs either side of lunch.

On a sluggish pitch, they deployed the method that had worked so well for Bell, refusing to force the issue but instead playing very late, scoring lots of runs through third man and taking singles wherever possible.

Watson always looked the more likely to lose his wicket and so it turned out as he was lbw to Broad for 46 after playing across his front pad.

Ed Cowan walked out on a king pair and took 16 balls to get off the mark before cutting Steven Finn - who was not introduced until the 29th over of the innings - for four.

But England made another breakthrough on the stroke of tea as Cowan attempted an expansive drive at part-time off-spinner Joe Root and got a thick edge to slip.

Fine margins
Ten runs or less have proved the difference in an Ashes Test on 10 occasions. England have triumphed in eight of these matches, with Australia taking the other two. Both of the Baggy Greens' wins came over a century ago.

Rogers, who successfully overturned an lbw dismissal on 38, had just completed his first Test fifty when he clipped James Anderson straight to Bell at midwicket.

A delighted England bowling coach David Saker ran out to the team balcony to applaud the dismissal and was given a thumbs up by Anderson, suggesting Rogers had fallen for a plan hatched in the England dressing-room over tea.

With the in-form Smith joining Clarke at the crease to add 37 runs for the fourth wicket, the game remained firmly in the balance, only for Broad and Swann to turn the tide England's way.

Earlier, Broad advanced to his highest Ashes score before James Pattinson located the edge of his bat and Bell collected the five runs needed to bring up his first hundred against Australia in England, a landmark celebrated with a leap and purposeful punch at the air.

He made nine more runs before feathering a ball shaping away from him from Mitchell Starc through to the keeper as England lost their last three wickets for the addition of just four runs.

Listen to clips of the key moments on the BBC Ashes page

[2399]

Thanks Bobo

[TANGODANCER]

Again, great entertainment and poised enticingly on the scales. Who'd have the Ashes any other way? Might go to the wire but I think we're fired up enough to do it. Hope so anyway.
Area around the River Trent looked beautiful today.

[Dujon]

Maybe the storms predicted for yesterday were just being lazy and will turn up today. It's the only way that Australia can salvage a draw. A win is pretty much out of the question. Don't forget that England boasts a jolly good bowling platoon. Anderson, Broad, Finn combined with Swann is a group few batsmen would relish facing.

Haddin can belt the ball all over the park if given free rein but as a holding batsman I doubt he has the patience. Agar? Well we don't know but a repetition of his first innings heroics with Hughes at the other end is not going to happen. On their day the remaining batsmen can indeed knock up a few runs between them but that will probably mean all of them contributing this time. Unlikely.

Dan, to answer your question:
I have no more idea than you as to the dressing room politics. Every Australian captain seems to have his detractors and Clarke is not immune from that. Overall though I feel that he has public support. Incidentally I read a few weeks ago that his batting average since being accorded the captaincy is significantly better than before, when he was playing under the captaincy of Ricky Ponting. I haven't checked the veracity of that statement but nor do I doubt it.

When it comes to Warner and Co I assume you are referring to the incident where they were the recipients of the displeasure of the manager of the day for not acceding to a request to put their thoughts in writing and to then present them to the next scheduled meeting. That action would not have been Clarke's decision - although he might well have had some influence (either way). There was much of wailing and beating of chests by sports journalist in this country at the time; complaints of treating grown men as children and so on. Those comments were downright stupid. Dan, I have been part of so many meetings as a member of a team and as the Chair that I've lost count. I can assure you, sir, that had something like that event happened under my remit then the guilty would most assuredly have felt my wrath!

Extenuating circumstances? Perhaps, but only if they had fallen under a 'bus whilst wearing dirty underpants.

[bwfcdan94]

Out of interest what has happened to Finchy, I would have thought he would of been included in the ashes squad but clearly not.

[Sponge]

Does anyone know where I can watch the cricket online?

[BWFC_Insane]

Australia look far too comfortable here. Not a sniff yet for England.

[TANGODANCER]

Australia look far too comfortable here. Not a sniff yet for England.

It is the Ashes, it is the Aussies. Never going to be a walkover. Stay focussed and keep at it is all our lads can do. Nothing certain right now. Twitchy time.