The Ashes Thread.

[NamPikToot]

Warner out at last but the Booing is poor, embarrassing.

[NamPikToot]

1 brings 2

[Bettyboo]

Archer & Broad have bowled well, but not supported well by Woakes & Stokes.

[NamPikToot]

Jesus with light issues in Test 2 we'll be lucky to get 5 hour days for Tests 3-5 - these Umps are wankers

[NamPikToot]

Betts is 12th man - a 3rd

[NamPikToot]

[David48atTD]

A wrap of today's play ...

That's stumps! Australia all out 179 (Labuschagne 74, Archer 6-45)



Interesting day, that. Went very quickly from being a complete wash out, to a cracker of a day for Australia and then a convincing win for England. The match turned on the wicket of David Warner - taken by Jofra Archer, of course. From that point, Australia lost 8-43 to be bowled out well short of 200 and in a fair bit of strife.

First, a positive word for Marnus Labuschagne who looks every inch a Test match batsman and has now put together two innings of genuine class and courage in this series. Both times he's been unlucky to be out, but his future is bright. Warner too was determined, overcoming serious early jitters to reach his first 50 of the series.

That's where the positives end for Australia though. Archer and Stuart Broad, with the odd bit of help from Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes, were sensational for the most part. They beat the bat with regularity early, but found more fortune late in the day as Australia wilted under the pressure of a moving ball. The bowling was accurate and relentless, sans a wayward hour after the final delay. England has well and truly set this match up.

But! There's still a lot of cricket to be played, and the Aussies will believe they are a chance of knocking England over for a similarly meager total.

A lot will be determined by the weather.

If it's sunny as predicted then it's England's to lose and their decision to bat first will be well justified.

[reddog]

After a day with more stops than the Croydon line i think the end result is fair enough.
Warner has his mongrel back and Labushagne is a worthy sub for Smith.
Weather conditions again will be the big one in how OZ bowlers perform,but I don't think
the Poms should be too confident of a big score.

[Jordon]

Both teams have weak batting line ups and batting on day 5 is tough. Poms need 300 to feel confident. If they only get 250 I favour the aussies.

[harrybarracuda]

If we can't win this one, we don't deserve any of the spoils (weather permitting, that is).

[Jordon]

If Smith plays test 4 he will bat 3, Lasagne 4 and with Warner finding some form it's a better batting line up than the poms. Poms have to win test 3 for any chance.

[Bettyboo]

I love this new look England International 11, but would like to find perhaps a Sri Lankan opener and an Indian spinner, and also a batsman, or 3, from somewhere. It's like colonial days all over again, fantastic...

[kmart]

Thought Archer in particular and Broad were sublime yesterday. The Aussie new guy Labuschayne looks like a great find, unlucky (twice) to get out after making quality half centuries.

Highlights from yesterday:

[cyrille]

He hasn't started bowling fast yet.

He was making the most of the conditions, which were encouraging swing.

[Bettyboo]

He was making the most of the conditions, which were encouraging swing.

Indeed. He does seem to be an intelligent bowler, and puts the balls in the right places.

[NamPikToot]

Both teams have weak batting line ups and batting on day 5 is tough. Poms need 300 to feel confident. If they only get 250 I favour the aussies.

I don't think the batting line ups are weak per se, they just struggle in the test arena which is a tougher examination of technique and patience.

[Loy Toy]

I don't think the batting line ups are weak per se,

I tend to agree with you as the batting conditions and the wickets have been extremely difficult so far.

Australia's total may turn out to be competitive and based upon the batting conditions yesterday.

[Jordon]

Which means they are weak. Lasagne has scored more in 2 innings than many of them in 4 or 5.

Usman is gone. Pro knicker. Only bats well against weak attacks.

[cyrille]

That's true.

Blazing sunshine will make it a good toss to have won and bowled first, but Lyon could exploit a very dry strip in the fourth innings.

Interestingly poised at the minute.

Root needs to step up and not just piddle around with 20 or 30.

[Bettyboo]

What would be a good total?

I stand by my standard line: bat 100 overs at least in your first innings then you're in the game with a chance to win it.

I'd be happy batting through the day and towards tea tomorrow for 350, or so, sloooow runs are fine if you get them on the board, then 170+ lead will give us something to bowl at - we may not even need to bat last.

[David48atTD]

^ agreeing with Betts (in part)

Both teams have weak batting line ups and batting on day 5 is tough. Poms need 300 to feel confident. If they only get 250 I favour the aussies.

I don't think it will deep into Day 5.

Maybe finish up on Day 4

[harrybarracuda]

Well according to the Beeb weather shouldn't be much of a factor. No rain forecast until Wednesday.

[cyrille]

Only about a third of tests go into a fifth day.

[Bettyboo]

For the series, an English (& Wales) win would be great. If the Convicts turn this around then the series is over and will ramp down a bit in interest.

[Saint Willy]

For the series, an English (& Wales & India & South Africa & West Indies) win would be great. If the Convicts turn this around then the series is over and will ramp down a bit in interest.

FTFY.