Follow on avoided.

Wood is having a cracker right now! consecutive 6s off cummins!

How many times we said, play like a one day or t20

That’s a disgraceful decision by the 3rd umpire.

Never looked out in a million years.

Well done Jonny Bairstow.

Looked like a gap between bat and ball at the time of the spike to me. Surely the spike can come from a different sound nearby or is it an extremely precise science?

Yes he played very well and a well deserved century. Maybe Crawley can learn how to score runs from him :)

There wasn’t enough evidence to overturn.
If nothing else he needs more than 2 looks at the spike to change it.

I just read we lost 3 wickets for 0 runs in 70 balls either side of lunch.

I mean, that's almost impossible to do. Bravo lads, bravo

Outstanding

Whereas the ECB clearly prioritised white ball in the lead up to the 2019 ODI WC & continues to do by putting on The Hundred at the height of the English summer, shuffling the pesky red ball CC to April, May & September.

And how those chickens have come home to roost.

Well played JB.

I see Kent's finest Sam Billings has been added to the squad with potential injuries to Buttler and Bairstow. Could do worse in the ridiculous absence of Foakes.

Assuming England aren't going to bowl Aus out for c.100, England are extremely unlikely to get even a sniff of winning this game from here.

As such, a draw is the best outcome, so time is key. With the follow-on avoided, Aus. will bat again, so what lead they want vs time for England to bat last seems key from here.

Six sessions to go. If we can somehow eek out our first innings to around lunch tomorrow, that's one session down and maybe 40-50 runs. That leaves Aus. with a lead of say 120 and five sessions to go. If they bat two sessions for a 320 lead that's the end of day four, making day five interesting...320 runs for England or 10 wickets for Aus.

If we get bowled out in 20 minutes tomorrow, still 150 behind, Aus. will need slightly fewer second innings runs and probably give themselves an extra hour or so at the end of tomorrow, to probably nick one or two, and we'll probably struggle from there on day five.

Big first hour in the morning, albeit for some pride and the chance of a draw.

Pride?

Wow. When I read it had hit his stumps I assumed it had rolled along the ground and come to rest against them. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that sort of connection that hasn’t managed to dislodge the bails.

What would happen if the bail had flown up and dropped back onto the stumps? Is that out?

There was a similar one in the Aus innings where it brushed Cummins's glove on the way through and the spike on snicko was off-centre on the frame after the contact.
You can even check it out on BBC website.

Which looks very similar to what happened with Wood on BT sports twitter

I think that would be out as the bails would have left the stumps, or as they say "dislodged".

No as they have to be totally dislodged.

Oh, maybe I am wrong then.

Scrap this, the bails have to actually fall from the stumps to be out. So if they landed back intact it wouldn't be out.

Bairstow's carrying quite a bit of timber.

Apparently the bails have to actually fall from the stumps to be out. :moo:

I'm sure there's an incident when the the stumps are hit, the bails go up into the air & fall back in their places.... :p

EDIT : Ahh, I see Baffled Bob mentioned that very scenario. Yes, it's definitely happened. NOT OUT.

That is what I thought until you put doubt in my mind :)

Yeah, he has been for a while. I was going to mention it but I thought it would be somewhat churlish seeing as he's an English batsman who just scored an Ashes ton Down Under :p

A spectator told him as much as he walked off for tea (and cake probably).

Bairstow wasn't having it.

I did wonder what that was about

Are they not deemed to be dislodged if they leave the stumps, and therefore out, even if they land back in place? Certainly are for run outs I think?

Yeah, there have been similar situations where they've used Zing bails, where the bail has been temporarily dislodged, causing it to light up, and then settled back in in the groove again. It was correctly adjudicated not out.

All part of the fun. I remember Stuart McGill getting an almighty shallacking before the 4th day at TB in 2005, while they were warming up. Can’t remember which one of his team mates - I seem to recall Langer or the other opener at the time - properly lost his shit. Tremendous start to a fabulous day that was :D

And to settle any arguments:
29.1.1 The wicket is put down if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground,
...
29.1.2 The disturbance of a bail, whether temporary or not, shall not constitute its complete removal from the top of the stumps, but if a bail in falling lodges between two of the stumps this shall be regarded as complete removal.

Not if they land back on the stumps.

You are getting confused with when the bail is dislodged prior to it being completely removed.

He is also still absolutely ******* rapid!

Has cricket picked up in the US at all?

There was a cracking series of legends games played, must have been about 5 years ago.

They used a baseball pitch, I'm guessing Chicago, but I know bugger all, I only remember as they had a train inside the ground.

Bairstow to open next game for Habeeb? If fit..

They beat Ireland last month in a limited over game (can't remember if it was 20 or 50 overs). I haven't checked how ex-patty their team is these days to tell if this is down to player development or not.

I think they may have to draw lots among the fit players to see who opens (after they've told Hameed and Crawley to eff off first).

OK, to avoid the ignomy of a 5-0 defeat!

It’s probably moving him about the order that contributed to his rank bad run in red ball cricket.

Well done to YJB but it can’t hide what has been another colostomy bag of an innings from England.

Very underrated player McGill who was unlucky to be playing for Australia with such good competition.

Yep, poor bloke was up against Warnie all his career. Shame as he would walk into any other team, he was very good.

I've got a proper stiff shoulder but a really good hot shower in the morning & I'll be good to go... :p

I will back you any day with a bad shoulder or not

Why is it we have struggled to find such decent openers for a good few years now. Is it simply that young lads don't really want to be slow and steady Innings builders and would rather come in as the sort of number 3 / 4 / 5 KP types and that has left us with a lack of talent at the opening two positions? :confused:

Just seen Wood’s dismissal. Ridiculous from the third umpire. Clattenburg eat your heart out.

No. It’s simply the wickets in county cricket are dreadful result orientated Green seamers so a quick 40 is the best most can hope for.

Which is why it’s nuts to have jettisoned Burns.

Partly that. The rewards are in the short games too.

Practical issues as well. In the County game, so many of the matvhes are now played in damp gloomy months either end of the summer. Or what counts as one in England. How do you practice amd develop the art in those conditions?

Academies are not helping. Less on technique more on range of shots. The counties understand that money is made from short form of Cricket and coaching youngsters accordingly

Hameed, Crawley and Buttler are three in particular that just aren't up to it. Unless some second innings miracle happens it should be the end of Buttler permanently and Hameed/Crawley for at least the foreseable. I know he had a bad run of form to say the least, but Sibley is the most like a test opener I've seen from England since Cook. Just think he's the one that i'd stick with as imo the biggest issue with him is a mental one not technical, and if he can get the proper psychological support imo he could make an excellent opening bat.

Lol that’s got to be the worst review in test cricket. Since the last bad one anyway

Leach. Fvck me

Leach out for 10.

They never learn, just horrid

Sibley ? Are you serious ?

How bad has Broad become with the bat when he’s behind Leach in the order.

Embarrassing

Never. Jesus wept. Another hopelessly out of his depth opener at this level. Zero technique. I’d rather have Burns. That’s how bad he is :)

Goodness me, Bairstow really does look chunky doesn't he

Looks like he’s swallowed Neil Shipperley

That’s what I thought. Ridiculous comment. The bloke was terrible.

I’ve said countless times, I’ve a lot of sympathy for a lot of our batters. You can’t go accusing Burns and Hameed of chasing white ball cricket.

Most of our batsmen haven’t had any batting time in 3 months. No practise in Australia at all.
No one could point to any form at all.
And even then a lot of our players just aren’t given the chance to bat for time because of the state of the county game and how it’s treated.

Yep. Still super quick though but no chance is he going to be keeping.

I’m still angry now about it.

Hopefully neither ever get selected again.

Indeed

England have a few number tens in the team. Some of them are quite high up the batting order

Therein lies the problem

was wondering that. and he started as an opening bat ...

Nice bit of catching practice for the keeper

lol - they do everything to avoid a fifth day, don’t they.

Bit of golf planned for tomorrow

3 more pathetic dismissals

We nearly made 300...

lol - I made the assumption we’d batted twice as there was almost 300 on the board

Its faitly similar here in terms of scheduling but Test Cricket is still the pinnacle. Playing high level limited overs cricket is seen as an opportunity to hone your skills against the best in the world, in preparation for the longer form.

Good cricketers can adapt their game.

Just seen an England wicket keeper take a catch.

Where is Buttler?

Looks like he broke a couple of fingers early on day 2.

Exactly the same thing happened with Cummins, so at least he is consistent.

Ollie Pope showing how to catch standing up.

Yep

Shame Tim Paine’s missing this series though. He’d have held his own.

Khawaja on 98

Magnificent ton by Khawaja, I can see a declaration coming soon maybe a 400 to chase

Never thought Khawaja had what it takes to be a top Test batter, but maybe he does, possibly as an opener going forward. Great effort :p .

Looking forward to our resident racist moron to post their congratulations.

He batted brilliantly and proved a very good point so to speak and I hope he gets his chance now to bat consistently in that team and I do hope he does well just to spite Bungsy :)

Crawley need 78 more for a ton.......did survive the mission impossible today

lol

I will be doing my rain dance at 11 tonight......

Is rain forecast?

Hope so as it still gives my 3-1 a chance. Albeit a small one.

If not you can predict the scenario. We get to 120 odd for 1 before the inevitable collapse to 160-7, manage to hold them to 200-7 before they finish us off for 218

I predicted 5-0 and regretting it, rain is being forecasted and apparently there may be no play tomorrow

Yeah, England were never gonna win 5-0 mate

:D

I have 3-0 & 3-1. More chance of the former than the latter.

lol, England to loose 5-0 was my prediction haha

Edit: I just checked my post, I said 3-1 loss is better than a 5-0 loss

Usman Khawaja has scored more runs in this Test than Marcus Harris has in seven innings.

Marcus Harris has scored more runs in seven innings than Englands openers have in 14.

Wow, that is some stat

Goodness

Apparently there is 1% chance of England winning, 41% chance of Australia winning and 58% chance of a draw

I like the 58%

30 for the opening stand already. Crawley on course for his century. Get ready to eat your stats.

Or it may fall apart in the first hour. Difficult to guess.

So, the dilemma. Plan A: Play for the draw and hope for rain or Plan B: Go for it, one-day style, and go down in a blaze of glory?

We can't bat properly, so if we are going to have to last at least 60 overs, it is Plan B for me. Only drawback is a 'test' field has 3 slips and a gully, all of who can catch....

It's been embarrassing sadly
Australia aren't really very good

Absolute nonsense.

The draw is on !

And so it begins.