It kicks off tomorrow, with - between the Botham 10-0 to England and Merv Hughes 10-0 to Australia - most pundits predicting a comfortable win for England.

But here my pessimism, honed by decades of sporting disappointment, kicks in. I'm not used to this "We're British and we're winners" thing.

One thing is for sure, Australia will fight hard for every hour of every session. They will look for any weakness in England (and the England side are very good at complacency) and they will sink their teeth in and hold on for grim death.

The Aussies are not the best team and they have had problems on and off the pitch; but they will love being the underdogs - it gives them carte blanche to play with daring and freedom. England will be torn apart by the media if they lose and barely congratulated if they win effectively but unattractively. Added pressure.

I really hope that England win, but more than that (no wait, almost as much) I hope that the cricket is skilful and tough, that the games are close and that both sides emerge with honour: I hope it's a proper, worthy Ashes.

Then let's see what the winter in Australia holds...

Come on Cook and Root - can't miss this. The TRUE start of an English sporting summer........

England's morning - if they can bat the rest of the day and post over 300 they will be in the box seat. Swann must be licking his lips (and his fingers) at the look of the pitch and all the Aussie left-handed batsmen (six in total).

It's been reasonably well-balanced. I'm glad Root got a few - if he'd failed totally it might have put a seed of doubt in his mind for the Aussies to nurture. However, despite the fact that he appears to be 12, I think he's an incredibly tough character.

The run rate isn't bad either for the first morning of such a big series.

Pietersen. Meh. I think the Aussies rate him higher than me.

>wobble<!

Wow, Siddle is on fire!!

>WOBBLE<!

He is on fire!

Well, well, well...

What was I saying about underestimating the Aussies and England being terrible when favourites?

I feel more comfortable now, knowing that we will still have to come back from a difficult position.

I hope the England attack can get as much from the conditions...

Oh, that's nice!

Oh, I say!

And great to see Bell come in and make a decisive score. To think he stays in and Compton was dropped

If Australia had won the toss and batted they wouldn't have got 150 against Anderson and co. Poor bowling in very helpful bowling conditions and some poor shot selection by the batsmen.

What a ball from Jimmy to remove Clarke?!? Chris Rogers is showing why he has been an overseas player of choice for a decade.... great technique on a poor pitch reminiscent of Chennai. With Broad off the pitch Swanny will be on VERY soon....

If the conditions are favorable in the first hour I'd like to think England will have bowl the convicts out before lunch. But if it's sunny and we're still a bowler down, it could be a long day....

Broad has passed a fitness test, just remains to be seen if it's wicket-taking Broad or useless Broad that shows up.
Apparently it's a cloudless sky in Nottingham. Calling Graeme Swann...

I predict that the Aussies will stick around and be in until tea with a lead of 150-ish. Frustrated England will then lose 2 before stumps.

Looks like Broad is not happy; doubt he'll bowl.

Hmmm...! 2 in quick succession, that'll hopefully unsettle the Aussies.

Make that 4...

Jimmy Anderson.... another five-for. Wonderful bowling

I hope the last pair don't linger too long. We don't need frustration creeping in.

Still, doesn't look like we'll miss Broad too much in this innings...

I knew this would happen. England cannot take 10th wickets!

I do hope the Aussies don't take a psychologically damaging 1st innings lead, but the signs are all there!

D'Oh!

Holy crap! Now I feel sorry that Agar didn't get the century he doubtless deserved!

Nonetheless, it ought to be an anomaly and England should just dig in on what ought to be a batting wicket.

Cue collapse to 43-4...

I don't think young Mr Agar will bat at number 11 again.... good luck to the young man. Although I wanted him out I wouldn't have begrudged him two more runs. A beautiful innings, although I still thought he was out stumped on 6.

Game on... no swing and no seam, so England just need to go out and bat (and bat and bat, etc).

Twenty wickets down with one and a bit sessions left on day 2. England will have to get a lead of at least 300 to make a game of it. That said, I do think that last partnership was an anomaly (well, it was), so England should focus on what went before. We should be able to bowl the Australians out more evenly in future, even if the total score is higher (if that makes sense).
Anyway, we need a captain's innings, but what will we get?

Ah.

Where was the side-on hot spot? From front on it looked like Trott got a huge inside edge on his lbw.

Just heard that the side-on hot spot had technical problems.....

Doesn't matter now; look in the score-book!

Well, hopefully England won't completely forget how to bat on a reasonably friendly wicket and we will at least have a game tomorrow. Would be looking for alternative weekend entertainment if I had a ticket though...

Looks like it's just you and me Jim

What a day...! Some proper old-fashioned Test match cricket in the last hour. All square I guess.

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!

I was hearing that the wicket at Lords tends to get more benign as the game goes on (i know they're hoping the current weather will cause it to crack up).

I do worry that if the Aussies skittle England out cheaply, there will be some "mental integration" - giving the Aussies hope and resolve with plenty of time to make a score.

You and me both. It's hard to believe the Aussies are as bad as they seem; surely they will pull it together at some point...

I have been listening on the radio whilst at work not a dedicated cricket fan but love the ashes just gutted its not on normal tv anymore.
Still got some of the rules to get to grips with follow on etc. and a few terms square leg short leg but I don't mind i will get it one day! we are doing well compared to the Aussies and that's all that matters
Its funny how the Aussies go a bit quiet when they are playing so badly!
we have some friends in Caloundra and Beerwah Queensland and I have not heard a peek out if them yet! Hopefully it will stay that way.

It would be nice for Joe Root to make a few runs this morning. I'm sure that Proccy will get to see some cricket tomorrow, and hopefully he will get to see the finish!

Truly woeful batting performance by Australia yesterday, although I'm not surprised given how weak our top order is. Hopefully our bowlers can do the job today and give our batsmen a second chance to pull off an unlikely victory. If England go 2-0 up then it's curtains for Aus in this series.

So now we have 230-4 Who was worried?


Aussies out for the count and Ian Bell is at last, showing the promise and faith others have had in him. Chapeau Sir for sticking one to me. Question is when do we declare? I rekon they will wait to see if Bell gets a ton.

Well, what do the next 8 tests hold for the Australians? I can't believe they will have such a combination of ineptitude and bad luck in every game. Test Cricket lasts 5 days (in theory), but a match can turn on any incident at any moment.
It does seem that when things are against you, everything goes against you, as the Aussies got on the wrong end of most of the poor decisions this game.

England would probably still have won handsomely, but it can't help the tourists' will to make a fight of it.

Joe Root; just imagine if he fulfils all his potential...

Another bonus in this game was that we didn't have to overbowl Anderson; I don't think Finn will be getting back in the side too soon. Also, as Pietersen is injured (and has hardly been on fire), we might get to blood Compton...

Result all round!

Tables turned from all those occasions England were walloped by Windies and Aussie. Tough that the latter are going through such a bad patch but, things come round and Warne/McGrath plus a number of decent batters couldn't last for ever. If Oz hadn't burnt their boats with Katich he could have been pulled in as a fighter and as someone who played spin.

No chance of that though and neither will Compton get a recall as they're not going to shift Root from opening. At 2-0 up England could afford to blood a new player as an alternative to recalling Morgan for example. Bopara is unlikely IMO, a better one-dayer than test player temperamentally. Then there was a wee guy tried out a couple of years ago - Taylor was it?....

Bresnan did well and will likely keep Finn out.

Aussie needs to give Watson a stern talking to

What a great day at Lords yesterday, even a non-cricket fanatic like me enjoyed a spectacular day's sport in stunning surroundings with good mates and great beer!!! The cricket was ok too.......

Met some old timers wandering around the grounds, like Tuffers,Glenn McGrath, Merv Hughes (ignorant git)and a few faces i recognised but couldn't name....i guess 16 pints of stout does that to you

If KP is not fit I agree with the Honourable Member from Edinburgh - James Taylor should be the next cab off the rank as he is a fine young player making runs in county cricket. If the answer is Morgan I think we are asking the wrong question. Although he is not a spring chicken Michael Carberry is in the form of his life and also another left-hander. He batted beautifully at Canterbury last week although the pitch was an absolute road.

Lehmann ought to make Shane Watson bat without pads which might concentrate his mind on his technique..... If the pitch at Old Trafford lives up to expectations maybe Lyon will get a game. Agar and Smith are promising but not Test class. I might wander down to Hove on Friday to watch the Aussies suffer some more....

The stats on yesterdays match were amazing, in reality England need only have scored 4 runs in the 2nd innings and still have won. Good decision to not enforce the follow on IMHO. The weather was going to hold and it gave the batsmen a chance to perform, and Root and Bell did not disappoint. To win the game in the last over was fantastic too.

The analysis on thee Aussie team seems to have them written off, I won't be happy till we have another win.

Can't think what might have pi55ed off the ultra-combative, pom-hating Merv Hughes. Maybe the beer was warm...? I'm quite surprised he wasn't charging round taking a swing at anyone not wearing gold and green!

I suppose you're right about Compton, Edinburgh, but it's a shame. Not that I would necessarily shift Root - he does seem to be reasonably good at opening after all...

Proccy.... Lords Cricket Ground..... never thought I'd see these words in the same sentence. You must be loaded mate at £5 a pint (unless you weren't paying). Nice to know there was an old convict reunion.

Pleased you had a good day!

Tim

^
^
Jealous

Takes one to know.....

Jim, the only circs I could see Compton being recalled are if Trott gets run over by one of Blower's buses. He is as obdurate and would be a stamina man for the rest of the batters. Shame really as he seems to have the calibre but is unlucky with his timing.

As for the DRS it was getting to be a PITA throughout this match and in its present state I can't see it getting any better. The players should be thinking more about the game than when to challenge or not. Whilst I agree with Tuffers that it's been introduced to make the decisions more accurate and to "eliminate" the howler, after all reviews have been exhausted that possibility still exists!

So? One review only may make each team be more circumspect but doesn't cover two or more howlers:-
six reviews would be a nightmare
And the on-field umpires days could well be numbered.

I think you're right about Compton; not an obvious way to slot him into the middle order. As you say, shame about the timing. Wait, maybe one of his ancestors once got, er, relocated to Australia. Possibly he could play in the Ashes after all...!

The DRS has played too large a part in the series so far. It is still new technology and - as with T20 - it is taking time for teams and umpires to work out how best to use it.

I think the on-field umpires are never going to be replaced, although as the technology improves, the basis for their decisions may be biased further away from their own senses. Surely the third umpire should automatically intervene to prevent the "howler" rather than allowing a team with no reviews remaining to suffer an injustice that is plain for all to see. I'm looking at you, Stuart.

On the other hand, once all the teams lose their naivety about allowing passion and emotion to vote to review, it should all calm down. You will obviously get more spaculative reviews at the death of a match if a team has them remaining, but I don't think that really makes too much of a dent in the match overall.

Maybe there should only be 1 review, but if a decision is so close that it remains the on-field umpire's call, even though the review is technically correct, then the reviewing side should not lose their review, just not get the decision.

.... and on to Manchester. Unless Pietersen is unfit and Taylor plays I expect England to keep the same side. Personally I would leave out Bresnan and play Tremlett, but I don't think it will happen. The Aussies will meet up in a Manchester pub tomorrow night (Joe Root keep away as Warner is back) and draw straws....

The weather forecast is rubbish after the first two days, so the draw at 9/4 looks a pretty decent bet

I think that pretty much sums it up. I'd be inclined to play Taylor for Pietersen; KP has failed to perform in this series and how many times have we seen him get picked when carrying an injury and underwhelm?
If the forecast was better I'd pick Monty for Bresnan, but if not, I think I'd stick with Brezza. He's got the big match temperament. Not that I don't like Tremlett - how could he fail to be intimidating, it's like being bowled at by a bungalow at motorway speeds.
With Cook's captaincy, I don't think England will attempt to force a win in limited time, they'll just try to squeeze the Aussies into making mistakes - after all they have to chase every game.

Good toss to lose or bat first whatever?

Agreed on Monty - his favourite Test hunting ground, although the preponderance of lefties in the Aussie batting order would render him less effective. It will be a good toss to win and bat - if it does stay dry it will turn and bounce from day one (and I will lose some money )...

I think the scenario England will hope to avoid will be the Aussies batting first and going after the bowlers. If it comes off, they could post a difficult total (maybe even as little as 250) and then put England under pressure on a degrading pitch.

Should be entertaining when it's not raining...!

I can't see an Aussie total of 250 putting England under pressure. Cook and Trott (and Pieterson if he plays) owe England a few runs and I think they will deliver this time round. With Pattinson missing Harris provides the only real threat and Lyon (who really ought to play) will only do a holding role.

Oh well, let's see in a couple of days time....

We'll see as you say. I know 250 doesn't sound daunting, but in a rain-affected game and with a rapidly deteriorating pitch it could be enough to sow seeds of doubt in England's mind.

Mind you, all the talk on the subject of poor Aussie batting centres on them being too T20 in their approach and trying to take on the bowlers, so perhaps they will change their approach and grind out a total. Not ideal for them when it's a must-win.

So Australia win the toss and elect to bat, which given Headingleys reputation is a good decision. All rests on them getting a good first innings score and then watching England struggle on a deteriorating pitch.

Three changes to the Aussie team and an England side unchanged from the last test. Peterson now fit it appears.

Old Trafford too, it seems...!

Aussie getting a good start (which they are due), so maybe we will see a different kind of match.

It would be good if England's top order could perform as well, especially Pietersen, who I'm beginning to think is only getting picked because the Australians claim to think he's useful...

I'd rather have blooded Taylor, but there you go. If Pietersen fails with the bat again, I really think we should drop him.

Could be significant that Australia won the toss.

Fairly equal first session, I'd say. Australia will feel aggrieved at Khawaja's wicket - why have a review system if it doesn't correct mistakes. There was no apparent edge, so he should not have been given out. For him to be then given out again seems to defy logic.

The problem is that DRS overall works pretty well, so to have so many failures of common sense by the operators will just add grist to its opponents' mill. England seem to have worked out how to use DRS, so surely the third umpire can as well...

Looks like a good batting wicket (today), so Australia will want to set a decent total. England will be encouraged to get 2 wickets.

Bring on session 2!

The draw is now odds-on. Hate to say this but Bresnan was by far the best bowler today. Anderson and Broad looked utterly shot when they took the new ball; thankfully not for long.

The umpires and DRS were shown again to be very poor. Hot Spot looks to be rubbish - the sooner that Snicko can be used (evidently in Oz this winter) the better. Khawaja was not out and Smith appeared to edge his ball comfortably just on the evidence of the noise. The decision not to give Smith out lbw by Broad was inexplicable.

Just pleased I got on the draw at 5/2!!

Well, it's more or less the situation I described above, although Australia are set pretty fair to post a daunting score.

Knowing they have to win and will face both England and the weather, I imagine they will go all out to add another 150 before lunch then try to get stuck into England, who will have to dig in.

If England can hold their nerve and not throw away their wickets then the draw is favourite (with the aid of some rain). Otherwise, Australia are in with a very good shout of a win.

Superb captain's innings from Clarke. Maybe they can make a series of it...?

Some were saying Aus would bat all day and go for 650-700 and hope to only bat once, but it looks like they are going for the slog now. Hopefully England can get the rest out for under 500.

Then we'll find out a bit more about our top order's ability under pressure. On current form, it may come down - once again - to Mister Bell!

Right, here we go...

527-7 dec. England need 328 to avoid the follow-on and will face a good 25 overs tonight.

Still confident about that draw, Tim...?!

Why on earth did Bresnan walk off when he missed the ball by three inches? Maybe he thought he was given out lbw.....

Still quietly confident about my draw, but a bet is always a bet! The current odds are 4-6

The draw is 30-100, but if England don't get the 34 runs needed to avoid the follow-on the Aussies look a good bet at 3-1.

Wonderful innings by Bell and a real surprise when he got out. A very responsible knock by Pietersen. Let's hope that Prior, Broad and Swann can knock off a few more runs (hopefully 200) and make the Aussies sweat. The weather forecast on BBC gives about another 4 hours play possible over the next two days so I hope my bet is safe. I'm now looking at long range forecasts for Durham....

England in real trouble and doubtful if they would last the nominal 98 overs - oh look it's raining again and they'll possibly be saved

What mystifies me about hotspot is how it either isn't visible on some screens or simply doesn't show. On ch5 highlights yesterday a glow appeared on one of Aussie's horizontal bat shots and yet it was given not out; KP's dismissal today had "clear audio" but not hotspot

Snicko to me looks much more precise.

Then there is the case of referrals and "umpire's call" - one of the TMS team suggested it was harsh for a team to lose an lbw referral if the replay clearly showed that quite a lot of the ball would have hit a stump, even though it wasn't 50% of it.

Fair point well made IMO, but filling the game with yet more caveats and fiddly detail.

It would help if the match official could see the hot spot footage on a screen bigger than 10 inches Some serious work needed on how they use the technology. I disagree with them not losing a referal if it goes with umpires call.

The whole system was to prevent howlers and not marginal decisions. The captains would do well to remember that.

Loving rain, my garden needs watering.

You won your bet, Tim, and England retained the Ashes. Some would say it's a disappointing way to do so, which is true and others would argue that Australia coulda, woulda, shoulda won this game.

All very well and I'm sure England would rather have won on the field, but if Australia had performed like this from the first test, their hopes of regaining the urn wouldn't have gurgled down a Manchester plughole.

Yep, and looking at the long-range forecast for Durham I might be tempted to reinvest....

The hot-spot technology is really not very good; nothing showed on Pieterson's dismissal, and the only slight confirmation came with a mini spike on snicko. The chat on TMS is that the third umpire position should be taken by a techo geek; knowledge of cricket is not essential but knowledge of the equipment is. I would have to agree. The on-field umpiring has been of a poor standard... the best eight umpires in the world are either Australian or English and the next best is retired (Billy the finger Bowden). Let's have an Aussie and an English umpire sorted for the next match - both captains would accept this.

England really need to concentrate at the top; we have been 30-3 far too often and Bell has really held the side together. No change in personnel but a change in performance required, although I would still play Tremlett or Onions (on his home ground) instead of Bresnan. The Aussies will be drawing straws again in a pub on Thursday night (while the rain pours down).

Well what an anti climax that was! I was looking forward to a thrilling day's play with the Aussies fighting back to keep the series alive. Alas the English weather conspired against us. Still, we brought this on ourselves after a woeful performance at Lord's.

Also, I must say the umpiring has been pretty dreadful so far in this series. Ending play yesterday due to bad light was ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the DRS and third umpire decisions...

Love the cartoon....

Regarding Durham I can see Onions and Tremlett playing for England instead of Broad and Bresnan, and for Oz I would play Jackson Bird instead of Starc. The pitch at Durham will reward line and length rather than outright pace - Bird has bowled beautifully when I have seen him and won't give away too many four-balls. Onions is a similar bowler going wicket to wicket, and although Tremlett is a bit of a blaster I feel that Broad could do with a break before he breaks himself.

Warner should open and Watson should bat six where he can express himself (assuming he's not going in at 50-4) without putting his team in jeopardy. His bowling will be valuable at Durham, as will his catching at slip.

Oh well, it is bound to rain in the North-East anyway, so I might have a little punt on a draw.... currently 2-1

Truly disgusted that Onions has not been given a chance. Cannot understand why! England seem attack could do with a change and we have retained the Ashes. If he does not play this game when will they play him. Blinkered outlook from England and I hope we struggle as a result. Poor poor poor and bloody boring.

I'm just amazed. Surely if ever there was a game to give Onions a chance to shine it was this one.
I'm sure England are glad to be able to show consistency, but there is a very strong case for Onions to play and - whisper it - Anderson to be rested.

I'd also have been looking at Compton and James Taylor - we should now be preparing for the series down under as well as trying to win this one. Give these lads a taste of Ashes cricket.

Still, it's Flowers and Cook that have got England to this fortunate position, so perhaps they have a right to do things their way...!

Agree.

But as you say their tactics have worked so far. It just seems a little too conservative given the position we are in and the opportunity as you say to gain strength in depth.

Well, it's been attritional and rather disappointing.
I know Pietersen saved England's bacon at Old Trafford, but he's had so many unconverted starts or poor scores in the last couple of years that I really don't think he can justify his place for a lot longer.

People also saying that - excepting the big knock at Lords - Joe Root has not kicked on as an opener. I'm a big fan of Root, but he should be worth more runs, especially as an opener and against such a modest attack. Drop him down to KP's slot and bring in Compton? Drop Root for Compton and substitute Taylor for KP?

Not going to happen is it? Not if they haven't picked Onions for a test on his home turf...

Are we finally going to see a big score from Cook? None of the top order has looked in good nick, so it would be refreshing if he could get another of his "daddy hundreds".

The bowlers looked knackered at Old Trafford, so I hope we don't need to rely on the usual suspects here.

Well, I proper did for Cook there, didn't I?

Talking of players that need to do something special to justify their place, here's that nice Mr Bairstow...

England horlics today as fa as i am concerened. We won the toss and should have put the Aussies in. Onions should be playing and Peterson could have been rested.

Let's hope Bells form continues (OMG did I just type that )

Win-win for you, surely!

Then again...

Oh dear..... the odds on a draw are now 5-1.

Root - if he had been caught on 8 at Lords his average would be 11 for the series.

Cook - just not in nick

Trott - in far too much good form; come back the scratchy Trotty

Pietersen - what can we do about Kevin? Nothing!

Bell - Oh dear.......

Bairstow - having ground it out why slog across the Lyon?

Prior - see Cook

Broad - unspeakable shot

If the answer is Bresnan and Swann batting the question might need revising. Oh, and the odds on a draw are now 6-1

and to think I took 5-2

After my bad tempered rant yesterday I was reminded, by Jonathan Trott, not to judge any 1st innings score till bothe teams have had a bat. And how right he was.

Amazing match - proper test match cricket with momentum swinging one way then the other. It's too close to call; Australia almost have too much time to score the runs.

Unless the weather goes mental, tim's lost his bet on the draw!

and queue the rain. Fantastic game, I think scoring over 250 given the now erratic bounce on the wicket could be quite a challenge.

Hmmm, well the Aussies (as you would expect) look up for a challenge...!

Simply stunning game!

Amazing result. Sat in Pizza Express this evening (Hughie's birthday) constantly refreshing my phone for the result! Fantastic!

At tea the consensus was that the Aussies would win, but Bresnan picked up a couple and tied an end up and Broad was simply on fire. A fantastic spell, especially as the wicket wasn't really helping and the ball was old. An ancient formula - aim at the stumps and bowl fast.

A great result considering that England's batting is still suspect. Root is a novice who should still become great, and Cook, Trott and Pieterson still didn't really contribute as they should have. Prior has barely made a run. I will doff my cap to Bresnan who bowled steadily and batted excitingly this morning - still don't think he is the 3rd best seam bowler in the country though, and any runs should be scored by the top six/seven.

What odds Tremlett playing at the Oval? Zero! I would bring Carberry in to open, put Root back down at six and get Bairstow to make some runs for Yorkshire as apart from the Test matches he hasn't played a first class game since April.

Still reeling from that final 2 hours...

A superb result from England and I think Shane Warne made a good point: England had to stare defeat in the face before they awoke from their complacency - they may be better than Australia (I think they are, by a bigger margin than they have demonstrated), but they will still have to work hard to win.

Australia must be demoralised after that - I hope they can put up some sort of fight for The Oval.

Similarly, England must be desperate for a better display from the batsmen: Cook, Root, Trott, Bairstow and Prior all need to make a bigger contribution. They know this and with any luck the pressure will be off and they will be able perform.

Bresnan is now out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture, so I would expect Tremlett to have a trundle at the Oval.

Tough luck on Bresnan, a player who has always been rather underrated (a bit like Collingwood). Even tougher luck on poor Graham Onions; an opportunity finally comes up (though the selectors were MAD not to play him in Durham) and the poor sod picks up an injury a few days before.
I doubt they would have picked him (Tremlett is probably the more suitable bowler for the Oval), but it is still a bit gutting.

They could go with 2 spinners at the Oval. I wonder if they will rest Peterson, i think he could do with it. Maybe rest Anderson too ? Really want us to win this and take a 4-0 drubbing into the winter series

I agree with this, Pietersen could probably do his knee being treated cautiously if he is to appear in the 1-day series. Anderson too looks as he might do with recovery time but how likely is he to play in the above? Not very, I reckon.

Rotten luck indeed for Onions, so i imagine Finn and Tremlett would play alongside Broad who seems to have got into his stride again - and how

If KP is rested it does leave the door open for a tweak of the order - Compton to open and Root to drop down as iirc has been mentioned above.

Younger and alternative players ought to be given some test match practice if they are suddenly required to step up, and with the series and ashes done and dusted what better time to do it.

I agree with much of what you say, Edinburgh, but I doubt it is part of the "if it ain't broke, stick to the plan" philosophy of Flowers and Cook.

Woakes? I'm surprised, at least after his disappointing show in the one-dayers. The selectors perhaps see in him a new Bopara (who promised so much at the highest level but didn't hit the highs). This is to replace Bresnan clearly so maybe he the only option.

Kerrigan I know nothing about but since Monty P is going through a rough time at home right now he's going to be off the horizon - lucky if he keeps his job at Sussex Two spinners can work well at the Oval historically.

So the new players may be being blooded after all, but hey, will they ever listen to us?

Well the final Ashes test is upon us and if you'd have given me 3 up with 1 to play at the start of the summer, I'd have snapped your hand off.

I've just read a piece by Ian Healy where he says he doesn't think there's a huge difference between the 2 teams. Can't say I agree with him entirely but agree the difference isn't 3-0. Still I think England have been a lot better under pressure with Bockers best buddy being the difference in the batting line ups.

As for today, Can't see us going with 2 spinners and I think Woakes is only in the squad for the experience (I think he'll go to OZ this winter). So it'll be Tremlett in for Bresilad and Finn sent back to Middlesex.

Roll on 11am!