Don't get carried away, 4-61 is a solid return and he's done the bulk of the damage but it's nothing spectacular.

If Australia can bat out tomorrow you'd think that's game over.

And the Barmy Army are great sports, they've straggled on to Suncorp to bring a bit of a singoff for the WSW vs Roar Match

We'll probably capitulate tomorrow.

It would need to be a near record breaking collapse for England to be left chasing under 300 though.

There batting is still a lot stronger than ours but if we can keep them to low scores then we are a real chance. I expect their batting will fire at some stage and the trick is not to lose if that happens. Going up 1-0 here would be a massive boost in confidence and with that extra confidence anything could happen.

Yes it would but this England team have plenty of players capable of a long innings and I would not rule out them chasing more than 300, especially if they start doing it around tea on day three.

Don't forget the pitch will be starting to break up a little by then. England put up 370 back in 06 batting 4th but they were chasing over 600. I think anything over about 300 and Australia are in a good position, especially when the 4th innings average at the Gabba is 150 odd.

The biggest issue Australia have is the forecast for rain tomorrow morning and as to how long the clouds hang around and how much ball movement comes from it.

And Anderson in particular is damaging when he can get the ball moving about

Raining up here now. Almost certain to at least lose some play tomorrow.

I don't get the negativity either. We were woeful in India sure, but in England we were a great chance to win 4 of the 5 tests. The 3-0 at the end of the series flattered England. If we can get a win here it's huge. England are going to struggle massively at the WACA as well.

Rogers gone to that English bloke. No reason to panic but they cannot get a few quickly or there will be problems.

That's pretty much standard. Win in Brisbane in Perth on the 2 pitches most suited to Australia's cricket (hence, why Australia consistently open their series' thus) and the MCG is going to be an amazing test.

Tremlett gets Watson to a miscued shot to a bad ball. Two wickets for next to nothing so far. A third wicket quick wicket and the collapse is well and truly happening. Hopefully Clarke and Warner can form a partnership.

Edited by Davis_Patik: 23/11/2013 11:37:20 AM

It is funny how things change. Back 20 odd years ago Australia opened series against WI with a Brisbane and Perth which favored the WI's pace attack perfectly. There were calls for it to change because of that. So I do not think Brisbane is chosen as the first test because it favors Australia currently, but because Brisbane has for a long time been the first test of the Summer.

Well, part of the reason is obviously the weather being warmer allowing them to start the series a little earlier than if they started in other cities. But surely the reason they go from Brisbane to Perth rather than another city is because those two pitches suit the kind of playing style that Australia aspire to select in their teams.

Good job Watto, just casually stopping Australian fans from getting their fans up too much. The only real surprise is that it's now been 4 innings since he last went out LBW.

1988-9 was the series I think I was remembering where it went Brisbane - Perth and the WI won them both. With Brisbane being the first team, Melbourne and Sydney having their dates fixed there is not much room to move if you have a series starting in late November. It is either Perth or Adelaide for the second test.

It seems the new Adelaide Oval pitch is slow, low and boring. Hopefully the test match pitch is better.

Warner century, probably his best ever innings.

Swann getting destroyed.

Warner gone, a brilliant innings which has made sure that Australia will not lose the test and they will be in an excellent position to win the game.

Why is Mitchell Johnson's dismissal unique in this test match?

Michael Clarke gets a century as well. He averages 72 in second innings against England and 110 at the Gabba so I guess this innings is not a huge surprise but it has been excellent and was certainly needed when he joined Warner.

Very early in his career but it might be worth following South Australian 19 year old Travis Head. He is batting number 3 for SA and has a couple of 90s so far this season. He is currently batting and is 40 no out against Tasmania and apparently quite impressively.
Lots of players are scoring Shield runs this season so there are in form options, including former test match players Hughes and North, if the selectors want to change the test side.

Let's see Bailey open up after tea, put on some big runs quick and finish the day with a bang.

Bailey gone, bowled Swann for 34.

A photographer has been kicked out of the Gabba for the heinous crime of returning a beach ball that had just crossed the fence back to the crowd. I am glad the security has been extremely alert and has up held law and order by removing this dangerous criminal from the ground, what is the world coming to?

Wow...returning a person's property to them. What an asshole.

Love watching MJ bat. :d

Declaration, 561 is the target.

Anything other than an Australian victory will be a surprise unless weather intervenes.

They send Siddle out to face 5 balls and then call him back in. What? Does Clarke really think that 6 runs is going to make a difference? Honestly?