Ashes 2015

Lyth gone. He doesn’t belong in this company.

20/1.

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Such has been the largely poor quality of batting in this series from both sides, he looks very much at home in this company.

121-2. Cook was a bit unlucky out for 34. Bell going well.

I’ve had the pleasure of watching this knock. Vintage Ian Bell. But he needs to go on now. :clap:

That Cook dismissal was GUBU. What are the chances?

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Oh dear. Bell has given it away to Lyon.

Off for rain now. England will be happy to stay off.

133/3. Bairstow joined Root just before the delay. Official: that’s close of play.

They go missing when Australia are under the cosh. Was barely a peep out of any of the Australian cheerleaders during the Cardiff test.

Probably because I was asleep and really quite busy in work. As previously mentioned, I was on holidays for the Cardiff test, in summary, go fuck yourself.
Awesome display by Anderson and Steven Finn, who wouldv’e thunk it? Appalling batting again from Australia. As I stated after Lord’s, I wasn’t getting carried away by it, Australia are too flakey at the top order, Smith didn’t score runs and the tail couldn’t save them in the face of outstanding bowling. But Australia really have to realise this is a five day test and blocking for long periods might be warranted to see off bowling like that. Advantage obviously England, no rain about, they’ll clearly win this test now and the momentum swings their way again. Edgbaston again.

Bairstow bounced out on the very first delivery he faces from Mitchell Johnson. 142/4, lead of 6 for England and that’s 300 test wickets for Johnson.

Difficult batting conditions again today and you wouldn’t rule out an England collapse comparable to Australia’s yesterday.

Stokes out for a duck now, bounced out as well by Johnson. England 142/5. They’ll be all out for less than 200.

159/5. Root bring up his half century off 49 deliveries. Root is key now. If Australia can claim his wicket soon, they’ll skittle England out for under 200. If Root hangs around he’ll take the game out of Australia’s reach.

Let’s see what Jos Buttler is made of here too.

There’s no finer sight in world sport than a spell of nasty and hostile fast bowling.

Buttler hasn’t transferred his form with bat in the shorter forms of the game to the test arena. Needs a decent knock now.

In fairness to Bairstow and Stokes, they both got beasts of deliveries from Johnson. Its slightly more palatable when you’re dismissed in those circumstances than throwing your wicket away like Lyth and Bell did yesterday and indeed most of the Australian team.

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Root gone on 63 - 182/6 lead of 46.

Australia will fancy their chances of getting back into match now.

221/7. Afternoon session about to get underway. Every run is precious and Moeen and Broad have put on 31 since Buttler was out lbw. Apparently it would have been overturned on review but he didn’t use one of England’s two remaining reviews.

Johnson’s second over after lunch: Moeen plays and misses 4 times and hits boundaries off the other 2 balls. 25 runs off the first 3 overs of the session. 246/7.

A lovely on drive for four followed by a cracking pull shot for another boundary by Moeen in this latest Johnson over. And carves him over extra cover for another 4 to finish it. Edgbaston is rocking. 12 from the over. What a test match.

Moeen has his 50. Hazlewood has replaced Johnson and Broad has started to swing the bat. What a decision to cancel my 1.45pm meeting to instead watch an hour’s cricket. Moeen down the pitch and hammers Lyon for a boundary. 269/7.

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51 runs from 8 overs after lunch.