just need to tire the bowlers out

they haven't had a rest from the first innings and there is so long in the game

head out now 4 down with a lead of 204

need another 100 at least. Come on boys!

226 getting closer to a good score here

phew looked plumb but dodgy physics saves the day

I hate the drs but happy right now haha

I don't mind drs for snicks I must say

I just don't trust ball tracking at all as a theoretical physicist

4-236 australia

250 is probably an even game so lets hope we can pile on a few more

England with a bit of a sniff at 6-280 odd

If Australia are still batting an hour into tomorrow its probably all over you would think

a 30 run cameo from any of the tail would break Englands heart here and win the ashes

Gripping test so far but we are in with a big shot!

One never knows with the inconsistent batting line ups!

Root could fire in the next innings.

Let us hope .

Gday all,
jaszyjim - have not seen much of the match so far, hence little comment.
Interested to hear thoughts, of who is going to be left out when Smith comes back in next match?
Labuschagne surely has to stay.
Have Head & Wade done enough?
Is Khawaja safe? as has not really carried on from starts.

My thoughts are, that for whatever reason Khawaja is a selectors favourite and would stay.
If it is between Head & Wade will probably be Wade.

Personally I would like to see both Khawaja & Wade dropped.
So my preferred team as follows in batting order, but unlikely.
Warner, Harris, Labuschange, Smith, Head, M. Marsh, Paine
Cummins, Pattinson, Starc & Lyon.

6 is a bit of a ? if Wade is dropped, as you all know I do like an allrounder

Absolutely superb day for Australia overall. Would be idea to get another 100 or so runs and get the lead to 400 but Ill take a 350 lead. 

Like your side but I don't think there is any need for Marsh, not with the incompetent batting England has. That's what happens when a team concentrates on winning a home ODI world cup. I can't remember a worse performance in my life and pure stupidity by England. They've lost all ability to bat sensibly.

Over 1  Roy edges Cummins for 4 through gully
Over 4  Roy smashes Hazlewood for 4, not satisfied with that launches another big drive with no foot work at another wide delivery and out edging to slip... Stupid!
Over 6  Root got a good delivery from Hazlewood but he is so out of form averaging 23 from last 18 months he gets the edge.
Over 6-9 England played sensibly nudging singles.
Over 10 Lyon replaces Hazlewood, but nothing happening a few singles.
Over 11 Cummins finally gets Burns after a testing him a few times with short deliveries. Goes for the big hook to one wide down leg side out caught behind...Dumb!
Over 12 With Burns out Hazlewood comes back on, Denly smashes him for 4.
Over 14 Stokes smashes Pattinson for 4, the next delivery chased a delivery so wide if he left it would have been called wide, gets the edge...Moronic!
Over 15-19 England play sensibly against Pattinson and Hazlewood nudging singles and 2's
Over 20 England back to playing stupidly, Bairstow smashes Hazlewood for 4 last ball of the over
Over 21 1st ball Denly goes for the big drive at a wide delivery from Pattinson edges it......Foolish!
Over 22 1st delivery Bairstow faces after smashing Hazlewood the previous over plays at another wide one edges to slip....Dim-witted!
Still Over 22  Woakes comes out smashes Hazlewood for 4 off the 3rd delivery he faces.
Over 23 Buttler smashes Pattinson for 4.
Over 25 Cummins comes back on 1st delivery Woakes flicks at one heading wide down leg, out caught behind.......Dense!
Over 26 1st delivery Buttler maybe thinking the tail are in play some shots? Hits a lollipop to Khawaja at short cover......Feebleminded!
Still Over 26. Broad comes out smashes Hazlewood for 4
Over 27 Archer smashes Cummins for 4, 3 balls later ducks a bouncer leaving the periscope up, gets the toe.........Can't blame him he's a bowler
Over 28 Leach walks across stumps ball hits leg stump, stayed where he was it hits the pad and the ball pitched outside leg.....Can't blame him he's a bowler.

England just threw the bat and not a single one thought "We're 3/20 or 4/34, maybe we should just play safe for a few overs" No England played it's all or nothing, and they got nothing.

4th time in last 18 month England has scored less than 100 in tests – 85 v Ireland (last month), 77 v West Indies (Jan 2019) and 58 v New Zealand (in March 2018). Hardly a great bowling performance, everyone's doing it even Ireland. But in all those tests they did push 300 in the 2nd dig, so we need Labuschagne to stay a bit longer and push past 350 lead.

Great to see Warner's back to form with his 2nd ball duck, the 61 was just an apparition, what is it now an average of 13 for the Ashes? That's including his 61. Here's our Openers in the last 18 months performances

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?batting_positionmax1=2;batting_positionmin1=1;batting_positionval1=batting_position;class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=batting_average;spanmin1=1+feb+2018;spanval1=span;team=2;template=results;type=batting

Questions on Khawaja's performance this series, maybe he should open he technically is anyway. Ist test Warner out in 4th over and 3rd over, 2nd test Warner out 5th over and 4th over and last innings Warner out in 2nd over. 5 out of 6 innings Warner first to go with 18 runs from those 5 innings, yet Bancroft gets the shaft?  OMG PMLOL at his "calibre of batting" that's an average of 3.5 from those 5 innings. HE"S WORSE THAN FINCH and has played more tests than Finch in the last 18 months. And Finch had to play Pakistan away and the No 1 test side in India. Amazing how a 61 will keep Warner in the side, yet a 180 couldn't get Burns selection in the touring side. We could do with him opening. No bias in selection I can see, how many players can get away with assault on Root, Telling India to speak English, Threatening South African players caught on camera and Ball tampering and still gets selected. What do you have to do not to get selected for being an embarrassment. Put Michael Clarke in a choke hold? Unseen by anyone but team members? Only reason we found out is Clarke went dobbing and sooking to CA. 

Gday MikeR,
jaszyjim - great post

as i said the other day 174 looked a collapse but was heroic

even today when it was easier commentators have some new tech that measures the seam movement and bounce and both were greater than either of the first tests!

Would love burns in the side to partner Warner

I guess its khawaja to open next test with Harris dropped for Smith? Labu at 3?

not the speed that gets you in Leeds its the movement.. that why half his overs he's doing 80mph 

Labuschagne has been superb - I’ve never thought he was a test quality batsmen, but if we win this match he deserves a ton of plaudits. Need some cameos from the lower order to break hearts and hopefully Marnus can push on. We need to bat through the first session, and further if possible - if we do we’ll be part of the way there.

Our batting is still a major concern overall though - luckily our bowling attack is world class.

Lol so Archer said. But after a 4 day turn around, and now going off with cramp, I think Joffra is more than a lil sore in the body right now. He has not had a workload like this all season. And unlike Woakes, is not used to it. 

But he will. The dietitians and physios will sort him out.

Aus are 295 in front after that Labu 4. 

Labu dropped by Bairstow off a Broad inswinger. 

Aus now with psychological 300 in front. 

Too late for this game, Paddles. 

He looks knackered! 

Labu has been remarkable as a replacement batter for Smith. 

Really unlucky for Labuschagne. Deserved a 100

I agree. 

Poms now need to make over 350 to win on this pitch. They have never scored more than 332 to win a game in a run chase. 

Good start by Pom openers. 

359 looks like a tough ask for England.

It is pretty amazing how well he has done as an injury replacement.

Good day, JJ.

Mike posts more about the composition of the Aus test team than the team playing the cricket live in the game!

There is a lot of content in his posts.