creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

Smith must be one of the most infuriating players to play against. His technique looks so full of flaws every bowler in the world must start out optimistic that they have the game plan to get him out. (Personally I reckon set him up with some wide of off stump, then go full, quick and straight and he’s a prime LBW candidate). The problem is whatever is tried, somehow he manages to deal with it unbelievably comfortably (with my example without fail he’ll whip that full straight one through mid wicket). Never have I seen anyone look so ungainly yet seem to have so much time at the crease. His records speak for themselves - he’s been incredibly prolific for a long long time. The best for generations.

I don't think Alastair Cook was generations ago.

Are you saying Cook is better or as good as Smith?

I don't doubt that Root and Cook are world class cricketers. Cook in Ashes series averaged over 50, on a few occasions and was over 40, all told. Root averages a commendable 43.

Then we come to Smith averaging 60 in Ashes and nearly 62 overall. Higher than Lara, Richards, Tendulkar, Kallis etc. Etc. Probably needs it's own category.

[TANGODANCER]

I 'm convinced (to an audience of one) that Steve Smith can be got at with a bit of guile. Cricket is as devious as any other sport and the pitch, weather and a dozen other factor involve. Lyons ( a master of twirly) used a dead straight ball to dismiss Ali yesterday. That's guile, let's show something other than speed which Smith will make mincemeat of with anything off line. Use the spinn ers on this pitch and let the pace men send down a bit of a mystery ball occasionally. Come on....

[Worthy4England]

Lyons got Ali to one of the worst leaves I've seen in test cricket, man not in form with the bat. Trying yo compare the scenario with Ali to Smith's batting capability makes little sense. Of course, as good as he is, Smith can get out. As they've just mentioned he has over 1000 runs in his last 10 Ashes innings, so you're just hoping it's for under 100. He gets 100 in this innings and it's all uphill for England.

[nicholaldo]

Smith must be one of the most infuriating players to play against. His technique looks so full of flaws every bowler in the world must start out optimistic that they have the game plan to get him out. (Personally I reckon set him up with some wide of off stump, then go full, quick and straight and he’s a prime LBW candidate). The problem is whatever is tried, somehow he manages to deal with it unbelievably comfortably (with my example without fail he’ll whip that full straight one through mid wicket). Never have I seen anyone look so ungainly yet seem to have so much time at the crease. His records speak for themselves - he’s been incredibly prolific for a long long time. The best for generations.

I think the only thing we can do is stick to a perennial fourth stump line. Force him into making a decision as to whether he has to play at it or not and hope he makes a mistake.

[Worthy4England]

Did we ever need that.

[Prufrock]

Thank feck for that!

Stokes gets Head with the same shot he got out playing yesterday.

Needed that.

[Worthy4England]

Aussie's morning. Thought too much seen of Ali, never looked likely. Not sure this is the time to be shielding 3rd quick. We need wickets.

Plan to bowl other end to Smith working great as he sits on 98...

[Worthy4England]

I'm watching Denly do the sort of thing Ali should've been doing. Think England's premier spinner has a huge confidence problem at the moment. We're effectively two bowlers down.

[BWFC_Insane]

Moeen Ali needs dropping. Awful with bat and ball.

Needs a re think this. Curran and Archer in for Anderson and Denly. Leach in for Ali.

Aussies realised wickets were hard to come by and bowled line and length outside off stump and made scoring very difficult. Lyon then looked a threat. England have bowled like a pub team today.

[Worthy4England]

Think poor captaincy from Joe, too, in respect of Ali. There's a time to show you have confidence in a bowler by giving them the ball, then there's watching them go a 5 an over, bowling really poorly with the test match ebbing away...

[Prufrock]

Saw his spell before lunch summed up by the "lob" that Smith tried to forehand smash in the full and Bairstow took at face height.

Think we're playing for the draw here, gents.

[Worthy4England]

I'm doing the rain dance.

[Enoch]

I'm doing the rain dance.

Can you upload the video?

[Prufrock]

It's all well and good keep getting in to the 140s but he really needs to start converting from there.

[TANGODANCER]

"Right" said Joe, "Both of you together, one each end and really have a go!"
Tried to shift him, couldn't even lift him' we were getting nowhere and so..
We had a cup of tea and..

"Right" said Joe, "Change of plan, have to bowl some jaffas right on Smithy's toe!
Smithy didn't worry, wasn't in a hurry made another century and so...
We had a cup of tea and...

"Right" said Joe,
Get down in a hustle, Jimmy's torn a muscle, won't bowl anything today,
Try an under-armer, try to keep it calmer, didn't work on Smithy, and so,
Half-past three we'd better have our tea ...and off we all go.

Right said Joe, One last silly-un, chance in a million , wait a bit that's out and Smith will go"
Woaksy bowled a wide one Smithy got outside one, we all cheered and so,
Charlie and me we had a cup o tea and we said, right oh!"

[Worthy4England]

I'm doing the rain dance.

Can you upload the video?

It'd have to be in the fecked up fetish section on pornhub or something...

[TANGODANCER]

Not sure I'll be able to watch the highlights on 5 tonight without being sick. We sure got a tonking today. Oz have batted well and bowled well and Smith has been a one man demolition squad.

[Worthy4England]

We're going to need to bat well to come out with a draw. If we get too bogged down it'll be all one way pressure. Whilst the pitch is pretty benign, Stoke has managed to bend his back a bit and got 3, we've seen a bit for Broad... Could look like day 1 track, tonight/tomorrow...

[Worthy4England]

Good one to win from here...

[TANGODANCER]

398 needed and fortune to smile brightly. Sometimes, optimism is a trifle hard work.... ,