I'm going to keep bumping this, because raw stats make for interesting reading in terms of evaluating  performance. Paine is batting far better than the impression some pundits ( usually not pro cricketers), journos and  fans have proffered to date.

If we win this Ashes, Paine will go down as a hero, being the first captain since Steve Waugh to win an Ashes series in England since 2001. 

A bit like it always amazes me  that Joe Burns has already scored 4 tons in only 15 Tests! Given Burns is a right handed batter too.

Head  has the highest average in this Ashes series of about 30 runs per innings  of all the left handed specialist batters in the Aussie team. Our specialist lefties have really struggled against Broad. Then again so did Bancroft. He struggled against all bowlers  and he is is a right hander.

In hindsight Archer did Australia a favour felling Smith. Labu came in and performed as the best specialist  batter after Smith.

Paine's knock of 58 was classy, with controlled shots all around the ground.  His partnership with Smith was worth well over 100 ( was it 150?), with Paine scoring more quickly in the earlier part of the partnership.

Gday Paddles,
jaszyjim - but insn't this the problem, they have picked out of form batsmen, that due to the bowling of broad
become even more suspect as they happen to be left handers.

grazor being generous to  Lyon. He was getting good turn and bounce.. so conditions in his favor. Still he went wicketless when we need him to take us vital wickets. The deck has slowed and there is little for the quicks.  He may have bowled with some more penetration after I hit the sack tho. Australia can no longer afford to persevere with Starc. There are better bowlers here at home waiting their chance.

What an Ashes Mike's punching bag.. Josh Hazlewood is having. When I hit the sack Root and Burns were in their comfort zone. I wake and Josh has taken 3/17 in his last 5over spell. Gone are those two and the sadly out of his depth Jason Roy. and the Pommies are now in deep doo doo. With some decent weather predicted for last two days.. Baggies are now in the box seat but England still have some big hitters to come and this deck has little life left for the quicks.

Good points DC. Agree 100% on Paine. He is another that cops a bagging but he delivers for us when we need him. I like his captaincy this match, his 50 was vital and his keeping looks back to his immaculate best.

Yeah, Lasagne is the Aussie find this Ashes. I already Smith as the best batsman in test cricket playing right now, the only question for him is where he finishes up all time. Its too early to say second, but he is well on his way to 2nd. 

Paine is not going down as an Aussie hero. No way. He will be applauded. You will be grateful. But he won't rank as highly as Gilly (one series in India) Taylor, let alone Border, Waugh, or even daire I say CLarke as a captain (for those huge hundreds he scored as captain vs SA attacks).

Paine has reviewed woefully, and batted terribly. He will retire if he wins, better than Kim Hughes. But that's about it. 

He is going to get should tapped sooner rather than later. I think you will need to accept this fact Dec. If he is still home captain this summer, its his final home season as captain. Unless he starts scoring some serious runs.

You obviously didn't read my previous post, Paddles.

Only Gilchrist with  an average over 40, and Haddin, with an average of 32.9, one run more than Paine's current batting average,  are keepers with higher batting averages  of  all Aussie keepers in Test history.

Marsh and Healy are next best with averages of 28.

It will be whether Paine can maintain his current form with the gloves which will be the paramount issue at 34 years of age.

I'm not sure how many keepers kept or are still playing Test cricket who are older than Paine currently is?

Dhoni still keeps for India in limited overs.

Paine was identified a long time ago as a potential Test captain, like his fellow Tasmanian former skipper, George Bailey. George wasn't a good enough  player though. 

Unlike the Kiwis, often amongst our best cricketers, Australia have often had a shortage of suitable leaders. Finch seems to be a good ODI skipper, but ins't a good enough player for Test cricket.

Also, apart from  Cummins, Smith and Lyon ATM, his wicket keeping skills over the last two years are probably  superior to any other Aussie's  specialist skill set who are in the Test team.

Hazlewood was overlooked for the first two Tests. No specialist batter, apart from Smith, is more established on the team sheet - particularly in Tests played on foreign soil.

Unlike batting and bowling, it is harder to statistically verify any  keeper's performance.

ATM I'm not sure Carey is a better keeper than either NSW incumbent, Nevill, or the young keeper whose name you know as his replacement,  in the NSW Shield team.

What one gets with Paine, is the best leader, best keeper and an accomplished batter, in a complete package - albeit his form with the bat wavering  at times. Moreover, Sangakarra proved frame  by frame analysis as to how Paine is a better keeper than Bairstow in terms of wicketkeeping technique.

By the sound of it England should select Foakes.

Good day, JJ.

I'm not sure who can be mooted as a more in form batter than the ones we currently have?

Look forward to Grazor's opinions as he watches the late sessions from the other side of the world when we are asleep. GOAT probably bowled well without luck. It happens. 

Haven't seen much of Mike lately with Hazlewood on fire! He must feel embarrassed!

 LOL!

Pom big hitters might be a threat yet. 

 I wake and Haze has taken 3/17 in a late 5over spell. 

I just took a look at that trio of wickets. Two unplayable in duckers to remove Root and Roy and a beautiful line to send Burns packing. There looked a hint of reverse in those two that sent Root and Roy back to the sheds. Hazlewood now has 16 @16 from his three matches. Seems the boost his career needed was that kick in the backside by being omitted from the First Test. The decks and the Dukes have also helped lift his confidence.

Here here KW. He is conspicuous by his absence. Enjoying the match mate?

Perhaps a touch harsh on Starc. He did bowl more accurately than usual tho a touch short..spoilt only by two overs that leaked some 25 runs. He was also quicker than even Cummins. Hazlewood surprised with his pace too. Hit (90mph and averaged 87 all while maintaining his impeccable accuracy. Ricky Ponting said Cummins bowled without luck immediately after tea. He said he gave Burns and especially Root a real examination.

Loving it.

Poor Mike though. He is on record saying Labuschagne is one of the few Queenslanders not up to test cricket.  Old Mike might be enjoying the Aussie performance, but is probably  embarrassed how well Hazlewood and Labuschagne are performing after using them as punching bags!

I saw those two Starc overs and went to bed shortly after.

With two days left and no more crap weather predicted the Aussies now have time to take the remaining wickets and wrap up the Ashes. So what will happen from here. Firstly we have to remove their big hitters in Stokes and Buttler asap. Those two can do serious damage and eat up valuable time. Then do we enforce the follow on? I say no as we wanna have last crack on this deck with added scoreboard pressure plus with pitch wear it may just suit our tweakers more.

Thought Starc looked fine from what i saw, beat the bat a lot/

Cday Bg,
jaszyjim - Agree with you, no follow on just try & set an ungettable? score and have a go at them
on a last day track

He did early on and then sprayed them for a couple of overs.

yeah had two terrible overs then caused some issues when he got it right

I love what Mike brings to this  forum.  He brings a lot of cricket content per post.

Some posters post lengthy posts  all about selections and other cricket phenomena, often when games are not on or in recess.

Others post short recounts  of  games as they unfold.

I can remember Mike banging  on and on how terrible Hazlewood is though! He also anointed fellow Queenslander, Labu, as unworthy of selection.  I am amused at the egg now on Mike's face after him emphatically pontificating how they weren't  up to it!

Too funny.

Without a pace bowling  all rounder, I think Aus bowling in two successive innings may be too demanding physically.

If the pitch is spinning, Labu and Smith can provide support to Lyon with their leggies though. A follow on could be a plausible option.

yes mike is a quality poster!
his judgement on hazelwood might have been harsh though!

emphatically pontificating 
The eloquently- speaking DC

egg on face definitely.

Problem is when Haze gets back on flat Aussie drop ins his figures will fall and mike will be beating up on him again.

Ha ha! 

Precisely JJ.

That's what Starc can do, top delivery.

Starc gets Stokes. Hes been much better today.

Such a Starc over though. Gets the big Stokes wicket also goes for 10 runs