What on earth are you lot doing? This is the tensest, most fascinating sport taking place in the UK right now.

As attritional as yesderday was spectacular, but the momentum is... with neither side! It may have tipped slightly back towards England, but the Aussies will fancy chasing anything up to 300 (whatever they say).

This next hour or so is crucial. If England are still batting it could mean they almost have enough of a lead; if they are all out, Australia will fancy it, but have a nasty short session to bat through.

God, I love test cricket, and the Ashes is the best of all!

My (Aussie) boss is down there today.
Looks relatively boring compared with the first 2 days.

Boring? That's subtle to you, Squire!

Ah I see.
I'm following it on the BBC website while trying to do some work (not easy when it's so hot outside).

You're doing better than me; I'm trying not to follow it on Cricinfo whilst working. And failing.

I'm multi-tasking, reading a 10 page job spec, pretending to work and checking the cricket.

Oh, and looking at cars on Autotrader plus being on here

Chapeau Mr Bell, credit where it is due. He could make his first UK ashes century, not before time though.

No smilie for Dead Faint.

Oh dear.... the Aussies getting upset with someone that doesn't walk. After Root and Trott yesterday they can hardly whinge too much.

Personally, I will always walk if I know that I'm out as a) any runs I get afterwards I feel I haven't earned, and b) the umpires are complete amateurs doing the job because they love the game - half the time they are team-mates, and they do not need the embarrassment/abuse if they get a decision wrong.

At the Test Match level though you are playing for your livelihood, the umpires are being well paid, and the review system should iron out the howlers. If the Aussies had a review left then Broad would have walked, but they cocked up by wasting their DRS on two speculative appeals - the review on Bairstow was just awful.

If England can rattle up a further 50 or so runs then game over - I think we have enough already, but a few more will give England the opportunity to post a few more close catchers, especially when Swann bowls.

Boycott wasn't to be drawn on this issue and imho made a fair case for Broad not walking. Yes I agree in an ideal world he should have gone but each occasion is tempered by the circumstances. Aussies are trained not to walk unless the umpire says so therefore it's fair to treat the opposing side similarly.

What is more than likely necessary I would say is that the game needs these reminders from time to time to keep the game in check.

Must admit I was concentrating harder on picturing the agony on Bockers' face as Bell acquired more and more runs and compliments than I was on the commentary

But I'll give you your due John, you acknowledged the potentially matchwinning innings

All good stuff this, to keep the contest fully on the boil!

Whilst the "Spirit of the Game" argument is admirable, and I would hope I would walk, you can't blame professional cricketers at this level for asking the umpire to decide.

I liked Boycott's comment that you don't see too many bowlers inviting a walking batsman back if they think there's been a mistake...

Huge day today; I'm hoping there's a bit of cloud cover for a couple of hours at least. In my view the Australians could win this easily - and so could England. Bet you'd get decent odds on a draw!

The draw? 100-1 on bet365.

Not really worth a punt!

1 wicket to go!

Oh my giddy aunt...

+1 Jim...

What a game, and the next test starts on Thursday!

One worry for England is the ineffectiveness of the pace attack, Jimmy being the exception of course. Finn may be replaced with onions for a new dimension.

The Aussies need to sort out the batting order too.

Wow what a finish and what a series in prospect!!!

I'm at Lords next Sunday for the second installment, can't wait.....oh and it's a free ticket courtesy of Marston's hospitality so could be a good day.........

Not a bad day for British sport:


******SPORT SPOILER ALERT******






England in the cricket
Froome in the TdF
Cal Crutlchow 2nd in the MotoGP

Fancy a curry after the game? I might travel up and try and get a dodgy ticket. Must see at least one day of this series.

Lucky sod!! Seeing as it's a Thursday start like t'old days there's every chance (if the weather holds) of it being a deciding day

I'm with the Onions camp as the potential for swing at Lord's is optimal and that's not factoring in the slope.

Imagine: Wimbledon and Ashes in straight sets.

Today - the irony, oh the irony of the result hinging on the electronic gadgetry....

I would have loved to Bockers but the guys i'm with are heading straight back

Nobody watching?

If you thought England's batting underperformed yesterday...

Following it on the Beeb website.
My Aussie boss - who was going on about Pommie Poofs this morning - has decided to take the afternoon off

The only question is: how far ahead do England need to be for Cook to enforce the follow-on?

Too busy watching this and the tour to post, oh and drinking a few beer

Fantastic days play, I would love to see them force the follow on but can't see it. Finn not being missed.

Not sure why they didn't enforce the follow-on? Anybody?

Pitch is deteriorating and Aussie will have to cope with batting last on it.

Also in the heat 9/11ths of the England team can put their feet up for a bit.

I'm supposed to be there Sunday, might be over by then at this rate

I don't know that the decision is looking too clever right now.

Sunday, Proccy? No chance

Cook is notoriously conservative in his captaincy; if England enforced the follow on and Australia whacked 500 on a decent batting wicket then England would be batting last on a worn pitch trying to save the match.
The other argument is what fearsome Aussie captain Steve Waugh called "mental disintegration" - AKA grinding the opposition's noses into the dust to demoralise them. If England add another 250 to the lead, they will have 2 days to humiliate Australia and crush them psychologically. Not looking likely at this stage, I admit!