The Ashes - official thread

[Soul Requiem]

I don't understand why Buttler isn't hogging the strike here.

[Duty281]

Paine really is crap at reviews isn’t he?

Yep, they should have kept that review and overturned the howler that just happened. Will he ever learn?

[guildfordbat]

Totally disagree with Warne's suggestion that the onfield umpire should be influenced by how many reviews are left when making a decision. He is there to give it as he see it at the time - nothing more, nothing less.

[GSC]

Still difficult to force a result on this patch for australia with the time left in the game.

Imagine they have to bat into the morning session then bowl England out in 2.5 sessions on a fairly dull pitch

[Duty281]

All wrapped up with England short by 196. Think Buttler should have attempted to occupy the crease, rather than slog away for a cheap few runs - time is ever so important.

So now I think Australia will bat the rest of the day and probably look to declare overnight or very early tomorrow. They won't want to offer England even the slightest chance, and Headingley has probably spooked Paine to a certain degree. Vital England get some control and don't let the Aussies cruise at 3.5-4 runs an over.

Aussies still favourites by my reckoning, but they'll be hoping Lyon turns up tomorrow.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Totally disagree with Warne's suggestion that the onfield umpire should be influenced by how many reviews are left when making a decision. He is there to give it as he see it at the time - nothing more, nothing less.

Yeah this was absolutely barmy commentary from warne, especially when umpires call carries such weight!

[Soul Requiem]

That's a really poor effort considering how many players got starts, six players got starts but no one really went on.

[LondonTiger]

End of the line for Warner?

[Soul Requiem]

I genuinely feel a bit sorry for Warner, quite sad to see such a quality player reduced to this.

[Duty281]

I don't think I've ever seen more one-sided domination between a bowler and a specialist batsman.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I genuinely feel a bit sorry for Warner, quite sad to see such a quality player reduced to this.

I could not be more delighted to see him like this

[LondonTiger]

That's a really poor effort considering how many players got starts, six players got starts but no one really went on.

Not sure I agree. Disappointing neither Burns nor Root could get a big score, but pretty much all the batters went out and scrapped. There was no capitulation, we batted time and have a chance of a draw.

[guildfordbat]

I genuinely feel a bit sorry for Warner, quite sad to see such a quality player reduced to this.

I could not be more delighted to see him like this

There are certainly a lot ahead of Warner in my ''people to feel a bit sorry for'' list.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

He’d surely make a good number five. I suspect he’ll get a chance to reassert himself in conditions more suited to his game

[sirfredperry]

Feeling sorry for Warner? This guy represents pretty much everything that's wrong in the sport. He's loud-mouthed, foul-mouthed and a cheat.

After sandpapergate, he should have never been allowed back into the Aussie side. It's been one of the great delights of the summer to see him fail so comprehensively.

[Duty281]

Pointless review from Harris - twas plumb all day. We're at the expected situation of not very much for two. If England can get Smith early (haha) they might start to entertain the idea of a fantasy comeback win.

[Soul Requiem]

Broad is on it here.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Broad is bowling as well as I can ever remember him doing

[No name Bertie]

I suppose a good predictor for the 1st innings score of England is going to be "Australian first innings score" minus "Steve Smith's first innings score".

England 1st innings: 301 all out.
Austrialia 1st innings - Smiths Score: 497 - 211 = 286.

I think most people agree that the difference between the two teams is Steve Smith - the English bowlers just can't get him out.

[Soul Requiem]

Broad is bowling as well as I can ever remember him doing

He's snuck up to 19 wickets for the series for not a lot, he always steps up when there's no Anderson. More than Smith doing well, the absence of Jimmy is huge, the control he brings is really missed and I get the feeling he'd like bowling to Labuschagne.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Imagine if Roy had caught Paine and Leach hadn’t bowled a ridiculous no ball when he got Smith - we’d be right in this

[Duty281]

That's a big wicket. Aussies actually teetering.

[Soul Requiem]

If I was Joe Root, i'd be having a word with the umpires about 12th constantly coming on with some new gloves, do anything to try and disrupt him.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

As gorgeous as that ball is, as great as it is to see them tumble, it shows that batting a day isn’t an easy plan!

[Duty281]

Nice of Travis Head to do his finest Roy/Bairstow impression. This is actually raising the chances of an Aussie win, if we're honest.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Nice of Travis Head to do his finest Roy/Bairstow impression. This is actually raising the chances of an Aussie win, if we're honest.

Pretty much - pitch looks like it’s really gone now, movement off the seam and a little bit of inconsistent bounce.

[Guest]

Damage already done. England won’t get anywhere near 200 on this pitch now.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

79mph Craig. Rip em

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

79mph Craig. Rip em

Quite the step down from Broad/Jofra isn’t it

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I’d guess the workouts on Stokes haven’t been successful? Time for Overton and Leach

[Gooseberry]

Turns on the cricket ...Smith's in ....its like that bloody Brian Adam's song at number one

[KP_fan]

Eng's quality of bowling drops significantly after their opening two are taken off.

While there might be a perceptional flutter in commentary box to see Aus 4 down for 30 odd....its actually makes little diffrence to match situation.

On the contrary If aus get bowled out tonight...they have a better chance of winning as they will not bat overly long.

Aus on the contrarary burnt by Stokes in last game will not declare too soon on their own.

In my view though...Aus should bat 30 more overs....get another 100 and give Eng 10 overs sto bat today....If Eng still chase down unlikely 360......hats off to them.

[KP_fan]

and after tea intent is clear..."go after 3rd and 4th bowler.....they aren't so penetrative and we can't get bowled out in 30 overs......and no problems even if we do as long as we are scoring in those 30 overs"

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Overton and Leach looking decidedly county level here

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Hussain and Atherton asking why Broad and Archer aren’t bowling - disagree with them, already had a 9 over spell each, and England aren’t winning this game, the others have to bowl at some point. England’s only positive result now is the draw

[Duty281]

We're all just waiting for the inevitable Smith ton and Aussie declaration. Still two hours of play tonight - how 'brave' will Australia be? 380 brave? Or will it have to be beyond 400?

[Guest]

I think the Aussies will aim for 350. England will barely reach 250 though on this pitch, especially given the form of the Aussie attack. 296 highest ever chase at OT? Doubtful England break another record here, given how poor this side is.

[robbo277]

Paine shouldn't be spooked by Headingley. There's less time and England will sit in for the draw, they wont try and chase 350 in 3.5 sessions. But the pressure will play on him so who knows. Maybe 400 and declare?

Certain players will play aggressively and if the had ball is there you hope we hit it to the fence to push the close fielders away.

For now we just have to slow the scoring rate as much as possible and slow down their charge for 350/400 whatever they're going to set.

If they're batting tomorrow they've messed up.

[Duty281]

Nine consecutive fifties for Smith against England - a dizzying statistic. Also brilliant is that he always bats for the team, not for himself. Strike rate of 86 in this innings so far.

Light starting to fade. Can England get a reprieve?

[KP_fan]

Once Broad and Archer are out of their second spell,,,,Aus should go flat out in next 10 overs like these were last 10 of a T20
and get Starc in next

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Without that blow to the head at Lords, Smith might’ve broken Bradman’s 974 from 1930. Smith 661 in 5 innings

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Without that blow to the head at Lords, Smith might’ve broken Bradman’s 974 from 1930. Smith 661 in 5 innings

He still might!

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Without that blow to the head at Lords, Smith might’ve broken Bradman’s 974 from 1930. Smith 661 in 5 innings

He still might!

I’d much rather we demand a raging green top for the Oval. If we lose we need to roll the dice. 2-1 or 3-1 no real difference

[Duty281]

Over rate incredibly slow from both teams, which isn't too bad from England's viewpoint.

Smith currently averaging 165 in this series...good chance of a not-out here to help that.

[guildfordbat]

Feel Australia will be looking to get their lead north of 380 and then have 4 or 5 overs at us tonight before play ends at 7 o'clock, assuming the light allows.

As Craig would say, then blow Denly away and get Overton in as nightwatchman to despatch early in the morning.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Steve Smith's lowest score of the Ashes (82) is more runs than David Warner has got in the whole series (79).

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Leach hasn’t half bowled some pies this innings

[Guest]

Lead of 379. Aussies wasting time now. Should put England in ASAP

[Duty281]

382 and declared. No way England are saving this one! It's been about six and a half years since England battled through the final day of a test to rescue a draw.

[Guest]

Burns has gone

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