creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[Montreal Wanderer]

No team has ever score more than 406 in the last innings so 566 looks pretty safe to me - but will they go on grinding Oz into the ground?

There's always the possibility Oz can dig in, hang on and force a draw. That would be rather less than exciting, so yes, grind them down, soften them up and kiss em goodbye. It's an Ashes thing.

In tests the record 4th innings chase is 418. In first class cricket the record is 530 or something.

Of course you also have to look at 4th innings successful chases whereby less runs were achieved but wickets were in hand. There are examples of those. West Indies v England in 1984 for example, Windies chased down 344 with 9 wickets remaining.

I think they have more than enough. I would have stuck em in end of today. But I think England will bat on an hour in the morning as the weather is set fair.

Actually we were both wrong (or used inaccurate sources which in my case which stated India's 406 was the highest successful chase). The highest fourth innings score in test cricket was England's 654 for 5 against South Africa in 1939 chasing a total of 696. At the close of the tenth(!) day of play (they rested on two Sundays and had one day of no play) a draw was agreed to. England's second innings lasted four days. God, it must have been painful to watch.

That's the highest 4th innings total though. As it was drawn its not a successful run chase. Technically.

There may well be several high fourth innings scores in lost and drawn tests.

Australia got 406 not that long ago in a test they lost for example.

I was talking about the highest fourth innings total, not the highest successful one. No others over 452, win lose or draw.

[Worthy4England]

That was a bit of a collapse.

[BWFC_Insane]

That was a bit of a collapse.

Not quite sure what that was? We surely didn't go out purely to let Root get 200 did we? Cos if we did that is bollocks.

[Worthy4England]

That was a bit of a collapse.

Not quite sure what that was? We surely didn't go out purely to let Root get 200 did we? Cos if we did that is bollocks.

Can't think of any other reason. I'm not actually against that with a lead of nearly 600. The batsmen don't have the "luxury" of taking their time to pad-up, they get 10 mins yadda, yadda. If we can't bowl them out in 4 sessions, then it's probably our own fault.

[BWFC_Insane]

That was a bit of a collapse.

Not quite sure what that was? We surely didn't go out purely to let Root get 200 did we? Cos if we did that is bollocks.

Can't think of any other reason. I'm not actually against that with a lead of nearly 600. The batsmen don't have the "luxury" of taking their time to pad-up, they get 10 mins yadda, yadda. If we can't bowl them out in 4 sessions, then it's probably our own fault.

I wasn't against half an hours batting, but just seemed a bit silly purely for a personal milestone.

Anyhow, as you say, plenty of time.

[Prufrock]

If it was just for Root, I think it's a bit daft, but, the plan could have been bat on for a bit regardless to rub it in, but they saw the state of the pitch, the clouds, and two wickets and just thought 'balls to it, if we come in now we might get tomorrow off'.

[BWFC_Insane]

Watson gone. Pretty much inevitable. Not an opener in English conditios.

[Worthy4England]

Great leave.

[BWFC_Insane]

Great leave.

It's like watching us bat against Warne. They are shit scared of Swann.

[Worthy4England]

Great leave.

It's like watching us bat against Warne. They are shit scared of Swann.

True story - one of the blokes who was in the same team as me commented after I'd bagged a 50 that I didn't know where my off-stump was. Next week, just to prove the fecker wrong, I shouldered arms on about the third ball, it nipped back and took middle and leg. I could hear the fecker sniggering as I tramped back to the hut. Never bothered with it after that.

[thebish]

Given that the selectors clearly have Root pencilled in as opener for many years to come and want toi build him up - then I don't think it's all that outrageous to allow the chance of him achieving a confidence-boosting double hundred at Lords.

It wasn't going to affect the game timing - and it also kept the Aussies guessing a bit about when they might bat - instead of allowing them leisurely preparation time.

[TANGODANCER]

Dear, oh dear. What a test..three down already.

[bobo the clown]

I still think the real reason we didn't enforce the follow-on was to ensure TV, radio, press, ticket-buying public, advertisers, corporate hospitality, hotels, restaurants all got a 4th day out of it. This would have been over around 2pm yesterday otherwise.

[Lord Kangana]

Bobo you cynic.

I suspect cider sales will be up aswell, so you get my vote.

[bobo the clown]

Bobo you cynic.

I suspect cider sales will be up aswell, so you get my vote.

If they are fruit flavoured ones then I want a Parliamentary Enquiry.

[Lord Kangana]

Bobo for PM it is then.

[Worthy4England]

Bobo you cynic.

I suspect cider sales will be up aswell, so you get my vote.

If they are fruit flavoured ones then I want a Parliamentary Enquiry.

I'm guessing you're counting apple as fruit flavoured too?

[Lord Kangana]

I think half of them would benefit from apples, yes.

Anyway, to add meat to the bones of bobo's argument, its not so long ago that a last day ticket was free, or cheap on the day. You used to get it free if you bought a 5-day ticket, or if you bought a sunday ticket (usually the 4th day) of play. This year they are selling them in advance, for the first time as far as I'm aware.

[Harry Genshaw]

2 up - lovely.

If Pietersen & Cooke can sort their batting out for the 3rd test, we should be good for a 3-0 lead

[Bruce Rioja]

2 up - lovely.

If Pietersen & Cooke can sort their batting out for the 3rd test, we should be good for a 3-0 lead

Pietersen's place is under the spotlight for me. It's just that I've no idea who to bring in for him.