Cricket fred

[Banquo]

Can Stokes be the first player to break the magic mark of 46 this innings? Both Root and Brook have given away their wicket when well set at 46... and as I type now Stokes is given out LBW. Reviewing...

ETA. Piss. Tee off Moeen - our best chance is going to be battering a quick score with a counter-attack.

Puja

Cummins has been superb. Ball's done a bit more this innings, but Root and Brook getting themselves out hasn't helped.

[Banquo]

smart bowling, but disappointing from us.

[Puja]

Waiting for Stokes to declare so we can have a few overs at them before tea...

Puja

[Banquo]

Early wickets needed. All got themselves in, needed one to get a ton.

[Puja]

I'd've taken your hand off at the wrist for 273 when Stokes went at 210-7. Great little wag of the tail to set Australia 281 to win. It's not an insuperable total for a chase, but it's certainly something that England can bowl at.

Good timing as well - gives England a session and whatever of Tuesday is playable to try and get 10 wickets. Just a crying shame that they couldn't've lasted for another 5 minutes - I suspect Stokes was readying a declaration just to be annoying, possibly at 282 which was the famous figure from 2005.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Better than it looked like being at one stage. We needed one of Root, Brook or Stokes to press on for a 70/80.

Game in the balance. Should be a thrilling 4th innings.

[Banquo]

Not good enough from bairstow

[Donny osmond]

Not good enough from bairstow

He's had a shocking couple of days. Taken in isolation one or two of yesterday's chances could be forgiven, but add them all up and it's just not good enough

[Puja]

4 missed catches and the stumping. If we lose this, he'll have been the difference and, fine as the first innings counterattack was, he'll've made a powerful argument for a Foakes recall. I know a key part of Bazball is that we don't drop people after one game, but we can't play a series with a keeper missing 5 wicket-taking opportunities per match. Even if only two of them were taken, it'd be a different game entirely.

Puja

[Banquo]

Two undercooked cricketers are the difference at the moment. And Sir Geoffrey Khawaja.

[Puja]

Well done to Australia. An incredible Test match and either side would've been worthy winners.

Fantastic series ahead of us though. England pushed Australia to the wire despite having Ali and Stokes barely fit to bowl and Bairstow barely fit to keep, so I'm hopeful we can do better in the games to come.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Fantastic match showing conclusively that test cricket is the greatest of all formats.

Small margins at the end. we should improve but so will Australia.

[Donny osmond]

Absolute quality. Have to think (hope) everyone's going to improve as well, so hopefully we'll get some tests that don't swing on dropped catches and the like. I mean, if all the tests are like that one, I won't be complaining but it'd be nice to see them swing on cricketing talent rather than missed opportunities

[Banquo]

Kudos to the ozzies, every time we had em on the ropes they fought back hard.

We have a number of selection issues to sort.

[Puja]

The BBC consoling themselves by using a picture that looks like Cummins is running in terror from a levitating bat that's chasing him.

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Puja

[Puja]

Terrible start to the second test. Helpful bowling conditions and yet Australia are 72-0, with both openers having been dropped (albeit the first was very tough). There's lots of time to go in the match, but this is putting us under pressure already.

Puja

[Banquo]

We’re screwed. Scoring at over 4 an over as well.

11 nb and 12 b is terrible as well. Sloppy today and toothless.

[Puja]

We’re screwed. Scoring at over 4 an over as well.

11 nb and 12 b is terrible as well. Sloppy today and toothless.

Yeah, this afternoon has taken it from "lots of time left" to "we're screwed" in quick succession.

ETA. And, as I type that, Root takes two in an over. Still screwed, but slightly less so now.

Puja

[Banquo]

We’re screwed. Scoring at over 4 an over as well.

11 nb and 12 b is terrible as well. Sloppy today and toothless.

Yeah, this afternoon has taken it from "lots of time left" to "we're screwed" in quick succession.

ETA. And, as I type that, Root takes two in an over. Still screwed, but slightly less so now.

Puja

Had to lol at that. Until you see the turn he’s getting and we bat last probs.

[Banquo]

Anyone else thinking this could be it for Jimmy? Needs a big statement with second new ball.

[francoisfou]

36 extras in Australia’s first innings is an appalling statistic, that England may come to regret come the 5th day.

[fivepointer]

What a letdown. Very slack, unfocused effort from us yesterday. Big day required to get back into the game.

[Banquo]

What a letdown. Very slack, unfocused effort from us yesterday. Big day required to get back into the game.

decent start tbf. But the extras are a huge problem, again.

Bit of a concern that the pitch has livened up and was turning yesterday

[Puja]

We’re screwed. Scoring at over 4 an over as well.

11 nb and 12 b is terrible as well. Sloppy today and toothless.

Yeah, this afternoon has taken it from "lots of time left" to "we're screwed" in quick succession.

ETA. And, as I type that, Root takes two in an over. Still screwed, but slightly less so now.

Puja

Had to lol at that. Until you see the turn he’s getting and we bat last probs.

Look on the bright side - maybe we'll have to follow on?

Puja

[Banquo]

Yeah, this afternoon has taken it from "lots of time left" to "we're screwed" in quick succession.

ETA. And, as I type that, Root takes two in an over. Still screwed, but slightly less so now.

Puja

Had to lol at that. Until you see the turn he’s getting and we bat last probs.

Look on the bright side - maybe we'll have to follow on?

Puja

That was my 'probs'