When it hits 250 let's lift the scoring rate

Good review! 

I thought the ball from Broad was too high for an LBW against Wade. 

New ball strikes. Smith out for a magnificent, probably winning century
Australia will want another 60 here

A cameo 25-30 from Paine or any of the tail would break England's hearts here

We want to bat for another 15 overs I think. 18 at most

One of the rare times two Tassie  batters are batting together.

They come from the same school, suburb and street!

Not sure Patto will have much gas in the tank in the second innings?

He has had plenty of rest and will only need to bowl 16 odd overs max

Given how aussie respect milestones we probably don't declare until Paine gets 50 and wade gets 100

So England can do us a favor and get Paine out for 40 

Run rate up over 4 now. 
Australia should go at 5 to 6 an over for 15 overs tops and declare or get bowled out

Excellent innings from Smith .

 Two centuries make it a very good match for him, with both played under pressure. 

Australia win 2 sessions and probably the match if rain or a miraculous batting performance doesn't save England

What a start to the ashes campaign for Australia!

Will we see t20 wade after he gets a ton (if he gets there)

Rivals Maxwell in his slogging abilities

Slogging is an ability and part of the full skill set of cricket. Not everyone can do it and its underrated by purists

But 60 off 30 early in the second session takes the draw out of the equation

I’ve always worried about Patto’s stamina, but he slowed down to 130-135kph at the end of the innings. 

At that pace I’d prefer Starc and to keep surprise packet, Siddle, who bowls at the same pace,  in the team. 

Patto was potent early, but faded. 

It has been a tremendous fight back. 

England are a pleasure to watch as they expend enormous amounts of energy chasing the six stitcher! 

Its a hard one to gauge. Pitch doing little but apparently day 4 is best place to bat on this ground. Approx 30 overs remaining I say bat 15 or them. If they can score around 5 thats a lead of over 330. Then give them 15 or so overs to face before stumps and hopefully get 2/3 wickets in that time. Egbaston is Englands Gabba. Them not winning is huge for the series and Id rather go a few too many and draw than go a few less and have them counter punch to a win. Theyve certainly got the batsman to just go for it. Some talk of showers though around so the above would have to factor that in and reduce it estimate.

We will have 3 specialist pacemen and Lyon

Head and Smith probably are as good as root and denly and they will only need to bowl a couple of overs. 330 would be unbelievable on this pitch

They took all the luck in the world to get it on a day 2 pitch

Paine's gone 6 and then 4 after the break

Husain has deconstructed Wade’s technique where his head falls to one side. 

Conversely, many pundits, including Alan Border, have lauded Paine’s good technique, yet Wade has achieved more success as a batter. 

Ironically the worst thing that can happen for England now is if they bowl Australia out in a collapse for 330.

Best thing is Australia try and bat to stumps so they might hope for that

Wade gets his 100!

Cracking ton!

Time for some t20 batting

Wade makes a ton! 

He has made a huge number of runs in domestic cricket,  but the Aus selectors refused to select him. 

These Tassie boys are really smacking England around the ground. 

Technique is only so much. Smith has one of the worst techniques in the game but also the best player in the world by some way. 

Wonder if Woakes is injured too. Only bowled 13 overs and had one 7 over spell today

We can get 40 off4 overs if we are aggressive enough
Then declare

Technique can mean 2 things

1. Playing textbook mcc style
2. Having a strategy, mcc or otherwise, that negates the bowlers assets and implementing it

Smith and bradman were poor at the first and outstanding at the second. I think the 2nd is how we should define technique

Poor match awareness from Paine allowing a maiden

Wade out chasing runs
Unselfish play
Australia probably want 30 as quickly as they can get here

No runs off the last 10 balls from stokes. Frustration for oz

Rain forecast tomorrow

Have for get out swinging in the next 3 to 4 overs