If the pitch is soo good, why bat for a draw?

5 sessions, 400 runs??

The target will be around 480 from 150/60 overs

Then England will have to bat cautiously but not simply blocking. You never know

To keep up 3runs per over, over 5 sessions on a 4th and 5th day pitch will be very hard. History proves so

I hope Australia bat for around 70 overs today. Means England would have more chance of getting a draw. I think Australia will only bat for 1 session though.

Why on earth would they bat 70 overs? That would mean batting until tea. That would drastically reduce their chances of winning, would be massively shooting themselves in the foot.

Why would they bad for 70 overs? They'd have a lead of 600 haha!!

I know it's extremely unlikely. I'm just saying that I hope they do that.

Fair enough... in that case I hope they're all out in the next 5 overs and we chase down 400 in 3 sessions

Aussies will leave a sniff of a total imo.....test out this positive 'New England' positive mentality.

A lead of 450-475 should be about the right time to declare again. Cook and root only England batsmen that can see it out. The others like to play their shots

Still next to no chance of a draw here, would be very surprised if Aus don't wrap up the win with a session to spare

The only possible result here is a Aussie win. Rain was our only chance.

Lyth, Ballance and Bell need to step up and at least put up a fight. You can't get away with being 40-3 every time. If Cook can drop anchor it will be respectable otherwise I fear we'll be rolled over again.

Good catch Chef

Cook becoming a pretty decent fielder in front of the bat

If only Bell could remember how he used to field in front of the bat as well

Think Clarke may like to feel bat on ball for a while.

Where is the next test? Interesting to see if England prepare another flat track. Doubt it.

As good as Anderson is on swinging pitches. He has been very crap in these sort of pitches. Doesn't have a clue of how to get wickets on these sort of pitches and the worst of all is his shoulders drop very quickly

Next test is at Edgbaston.

comment by virudagreat- beating India in india is ..... (U8738)
posted 2 minutes ago
As good as Anderson is on swinging pitches. He has been very crap in these sort of pitches. Doesn't have a clue of how to get wickets on these sort of pitches and the worst of all is his shoulders drop very quickly
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He has been very disappointing this series, arguably our worst front line bowler - in fact arguably the worst front line bowler on either side

Just wish we had a Hazelwood up our sleeves

Cook off the pitch again... reckon he's still suffering from that blow to the knackers in the first test

Smith b Moeen 58

Have any of Moeen's wickets been the result of good bowling or have they all been Aussie batsman going after him?

Smith bowled by Moeen Ali for 58.

When will Oz declare?

comment by Duncan1987 (U2291)
posted less than a minute ago
Have any of Moeen's wickets been the result of good bowling or have they all been Aussie batsman going after him?
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may as well just bowl him throughout the innings, at least it could lead to more wickets