creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Worthy4England]

Good partnership from Woakes and Broad there.. I'd be happy with 100 lead from here, but I'm not unhappy with 81.

[BWFC_Insane]

Good partnership from Woakes and Broad there.. I'd be happy with 100 lead from here, but I'm not unhappy with 81.

Another twist that partnership. Great game. Aussies let us off this time.

[Worthy4England]

So 90 lead. Not 150, but still not bad at all.

[TANGODANCER]

So 90 lead. Not 150, but still not bad at all.

Thought the same. That 60 partnership of Broad and Woakes was critical, Come the hour etc....

[Worthy4England]

Warner gone.

[TANGODANCER]

In lack of a match commentary, jumping about between here and the Wickham game on a duplicate Wanderer site. Come on both....

[Worthy4England]

Bancroft gone too... Would be great to see Smith heading the other way..

[TANGODANCER]

Bancroft gone too... Would be great to see Smith heading the other way..

33-2 sure raises the hopes.....

[Worthy4England]

And Khawaja goes. Needed one, there.

[TANGODANCER]

And Khawaja goes. Needed one, there.

Yup. 75-3 and Big Ben strikes again.....

[Worthy4England]

Smith is just operating in a different universe at the moment.

[TANGODANCER]

Smith is just operating in a different universe at the moment.

Tis the truth, but they're only 34 ahead and three wickets down, the rest is immaterial. Smith has his eye in so the bad-light stop could be a blessing in disguise. Our bowlers get a night's rest and get at him fresh in the morning. Another day of drama promises....

[Worthy4England]

It's certainly well set up. With us being a bowler short (and a very good one at that) Smith could take this away from us.

[TANGODANCER]

It's certainly well set up. With us being a bowler short (and a very good one at that) Smith could take this away from us.

No man is an island, not even Gilligan...

[Worthy4England]

It's certainly well set up. With us being a bowler short (and a very good one at that) Smith could take this away from us.

No man is an island, not even Gilligan...

You're up against a significant volume of evidence. He's statistically so far ahead of any other batsman at the moment, it's untrue. Over a fairly lenghty recent period, he's averaging over 100.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think on balance Australia are just slight slight favourites now. Anything above 150 lead gives them a chance on this pitch and 3 down doesn’t mean much because as Worthy says Smith could do this alone.

They score at a far faster rate than England which I think is telling of not only Englands new found desire to occupy the crease but also I think their bowlers went to restrict more than take wickets.

First hour tomorrow critical. Get a couple out and England right on top. If not then by early afternoon the Aussies might already have ‘enough’ to pose some serious questions batting last on this track.

[TANGODANCER]

It's certainly well set up. With us being a bowler short (and a very good one at that) Smith could take this away from us.

No man is an island, not even Gilligan...

You're up against a significant volume of evidence. He's statistically so far ahead of any other batsman at the moment, it's untrue. Over a fairly lenghty recent period, he's averaging over 100.

Well, we'll just have to get all the others out then...

[jimbo]

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.

[Enoch]

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.

[jimbo]

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?