Cricket fred

[Donny osmond]

When Australia lift that famous little urn in celebration this will be remembered as a series that England threw away. Mostly, not entirely but mostly, through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

[Banquo]

When Australia lift that famous little urn in celebration this will be remembered as a series that England threw away. Mostly, not entirely but mostly, through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

yarp. Hope he's ok though, to turn a phrase....he's quite an emotional chap, and the family history is a bit of a concern.

[Puja]

When Australia lift that famous little urn in celebration this will be remembered as a series that England threw away. Mostly, not entirely but mostly, through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

It's not just Bairstow though - Root's dropped two easy chances today, Anderson dropped two straight-forward ones at Lords. I don't know what's going on - are we just not preparing ourselves properly?

Puja

[Banquo]

When Australia lift that famous little urn in celebration this will be remembered as a series that England threw away. Mostly, not entirely but mostly, through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

It's not just Bairstow though - Root's dropped two easy chances today, Anderson dropped two straight-forward ones at Lords. I don't know what's going on - are we just not preparing ourselves properly?

Puja

concentration I'd say, plus lack of prep for Bairstow, who maybe has lost mobility post leg break. As Mrs B says, he shouldn't be keeping.

13 drops, one missed stumping and a ton of extras. Cazball

[Banquo]

5 an over dabbing singles. Oz go one day field again...lets not give it away this time. Take the singles.

[Banquo]

well done me

[Puja]

"He's played well, until he nicked one. That sentence really sums up Crawley's test career, doesn't it?"

TMS bang on the money.

Puja

[Banquo]

Starc's a handful

[Banquo]

"He's played well, until he nicked one. That sentence really sums up Crawley's test career, doesn't it?"

TMS bang on the money.

Puja

Its a shame- such a good stroke player, but a very poor man's gower.

[Donny osmond]

When Australia lift that famous little urn in celebration this will be remembered as a series that England threw away. Mostly, not entirely but mostly, through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow.

It's not just Bairstow though - Root's dropped two easy chances today, Anderson dropped two straight-forward ones at Lords. I don't know what's going on - are we just not preparing ourselves properly?

Puja

concentration I'd say, plus lack of prep for Bairstow, who maybe has lost mobility post leg break. As Mrs B says, he shouldn't be keeping.

13 drops, one missed stumping and a ton of extras. Cazball

Puja, yr absolutely right, it's not just Bairstow, but he's a big part of it. Hence "Mostly, not entirely but mostly through the gloves of Jonny Bairstow". I would say, imo the bowlers have been unfairly stigmatized. To keep a batting line up as good as Aus to the totals they have, the bowlers have been pretty fwcin good. Not perfect, but pretty good.

I like bazball, I like the idea of trying to entertain, but there has to be a recognition that sometimes entertain means play smart, not play exuberant. We see it in rugby all the time with teams that specialise in mauling it in; not pretty but it is effective. I just want England cricket to 'maul it in' sometimes. They are capable, and I don't think that would be asking anyone to play an unnatural game, just don't go for the box office hit. For me, the maddening inconsistency if the batting line up has been the worst part of this series

[Banquo]

Oops. Root somewhat in runs owed deficit now. This game could be over in 3 days

[Puja]

Oops. Root somewhat in runs owed deficit now. This game could be over in 3 days

And Bairstow joins him in both the pavilion and runs owed. Terrible technique on that shot.

Really need this tail to wag now - Ali, Woakes, and Broad are all capable of getting decent scores, but they're also capable of getting a quick 8 and out to leave us all out on 120.

Puja

[Puja]

This is how Bazball can be good. Wood's just hit his first three balls for 6, 4, 6. Better that than wait for Starc's best ball to clean him up.

18 off the over and it's made a difference to the scoreboard already. I suspect Stokes is going to go for it this afternoon as well.

Puja

[Puja]

Stoke has taken a single to put Wood on strike and he's just hit another 6! This is a delightful cameo.

Puja

[Puja]

Our top 5 scored just 69 runs. Our 6-11 scored 147. Great effort from the tail to change the momentum and support Stokes all the way to the end. The top order need to have a look at themselves, cause none of them really got anything particularly unplayable (looking at Bairstow and Duckett especially). They looked caught betwixt and between - neither attacking the ball to demoralise the bowlers, nor particularly defending well to get their eye in.

Hopefully we can hold some catches this afternoon and keep the Australians to a lowish total.

Puja

[Puja]

Surely Bairstow can't survive this - third dropped catch of the game. He's bailed out by Labuschagne holing out in the next over, but it's still not acceptable from an international wicketkeeper. I understand that Bazball is about keeping the faith and giving players every chance to come good, and that it has worked with several batsmen, but wicketkeeper is too crucial a position to keep saying, "He'll come right," especially when there has not been any evidence from his past that he can.

Puja

[Banquo]

great series

[fivepointer]

It is a great series. The cricket is highly watchable.

The game's in the balance. A good morning from either team today could be decisive.

[Big D]

When you consider the 15 drops and 1 missed stumping or whatever it is, the England bowlers deserve credit. That's nearly two extra innings of wickets v a line up with 4 of the top 10 in the world at the start of the series. Especially considering Jimmy was off colour.

[Big D]

Broad should get to 600 in the next match.

[Banquo]

When you consider the 15 drops and 1 missed stumping or whatever it is, the England bowlers deserve credit. That's nearly two extra innings of wickets v a line up with 4 of the top 10 in the world at the start of the series. Especially considering Jimmy was off colour.

exactly. frustrating 9th wicket stand, but great fun for the crowd.

[Banquo]

Broad should get to 600 in the next match.

amazing late career reboot

[Banquo]

another brilliant last session. Today will be nerve wracking....

[Puja]

Moeen Ali coming out at 3. That's interesting. Presumably the plan is that he gives it a swing and tries to damage the total quickly. Hopefully won't result in a second quick wicket.

Puja

[Puja]

Even more interesting - he's playing sensibly. Looks like it's just an acknowledgement that Brook at 3 didn't look comfortable and Moeen's volunteered to take his place. If so, does that mean Root at 4 and Brook back to 5? Is this how we'll be lining up for the next Test as well?

Puja