Winter ashes...

[bobo the clown]

anyway - we've had our half decent day.... that's your lot!

I predict Oz being 467 all out and us being 37 for 4 at the end of day two!

Optimists. I can't abide optimists.

[thebish]

anyway - we've had our half decent day.... that's your lot!

I predict Oz being 467 all out and us being 37 for 4 at the end of day two!

Optimists. I can't abide optimists.

proven to be optimistic on their score - but pessimistic about ours!

[Worthy4England]

Fcking hat's going in the bin.

[TANGODANCER]

Some Fridays you look forward to weekend......some you don't.

[Dujon]

That was a terrific recovery by Australia. Lots of 'if only' moments for England, most of them of their own doing. It seems that Australia has already had one of those with the captain declining an LBW DRS chance which in retrospect would have been a reversal of the umpire's 'not out' decision. There are still three days to go, folks, so don't leave the stands just yet.

As an aside: One of the local commentators here mentioned that a plastic cup of beer was costing AUD 9.50 at the concession stands! Dick Turpin and Captain Starlight would have been embarrassed by their own inefficiency. ............ We return you to the cricket.

Although the early departure of captain Cooke must have been a bit unsettling, Carberry and Root seem to have settled in. Still 'n all I'm not too sure about the England attitude. With still nearly twenty overs to face it seemed to be a 'back to wall' strategy. I could understand that if it were a situation of five or six overs until stumps but, with an hour and a half of batting in front of them, I cannot believe the adoption of such a defensive stance. Surely England have not decided on a path to destruction by opting to play for time rather than at least showing some sort of attacking flair? Come on, chaps, if you go that way then it's three days of torture awaiting you. You're better than that - look to your batsmen - after all you have a wealth of talent in the squad.

Right, it's but a few minutes before the start of day three. I'm off to recharge my wine glass.

[Prufrock]

We are letting ourselves get bullied by an average Australian team. It sucks balls. Bat well and hope for a magical Broad spell seems to be the only bet.

[Dujon]

Oh dear! Three wickets in the first session. Root, KP and Carberry all gone. What's the plan now? It's still a long haul to avoid the follow-on. Surely it has to be a plan of attack? 116 for 4 is not a good situation. Can Bell and Stokes hold on and build a match winning partnership? Can miracles in this day and age still happen?

I sense a draw if the England team can survive to the end of today's play. Perhaps.

Whoops!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Oh dear! Three wickets in the first session. Root, KP and Carberry all gone. What's the plan now? It's still a long haul to avoid the follow-on. Surely it has to be a plan of attack? 116 for 4 is not a good situation. Can Bell and Stokes hold on and build a match winning partnership? Can miracles in this day and age still happen?

I sense a draw if the England team can survive to the end of today's play. Perhaps.

Whoops!

117 for 5 is worse.

[Dujon]

Whoops again. Oh deary deary me.

[Dujon]

Bloody norah!

117 for 7

[Dujon]

Such is life. This one seems to have been pretty ordinary. To bat or not to bat that is the question.

[Annoyed Grunt]

Looks like the Ashes are heading to Australia...

[thebish]

urghhh

[jaffka]

England looking like a tired team past their sell buy date.

[Bruce Rioja]

Looks like the Ashes are heading to Australia...

Nonsense, man. Where's your stiff upper lip?

[Annoyed Grunt]

Looks like the Ashes are heading to Australia...

Nonsense, man. Where's your stiff upper lip?

Bowled off by Mitchell Johnson

[Prufrock]

How does it KEEP getting worse?!

[thebish]

oh - you are a young 'un!! raised in an era when English cricket experienced occasional success against the Oz!

[TANGODANCER]

Remember Botham and keep battling.

[Bruce Rioja]

I seem to recall that a few Ashes series' ago Mitchell Johnson was a laughing stock.