Fourth Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 4-8 September.

[backfootpunch]

50 for burns

Very well played, probably his best knock of the series

Really dont like the way he plays the cut shot with a vertical bat though, looks very risky

You think of all the great players of the cut shot and the bat is much closer to horizontal than vertical

[Arthur Crabtree]

Burns scoring runs in spite of his seeming vulnerability. Another fifty on here.

[yuppie]

Looking on my dodgy link, this really does not look to tough to bat on.

Australia made 500. This has a high scoring draw result to me.

[yuppie]

And Starc is maybe showing why its taken to the 4th test for him to play. Really loose, how Australia could do with Siddles control here.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hundred partnership and new ball seen off. England in a fair position.

[yuppie]

England supporters must be very happy with how this is going. Burns finally edges one. But some good fight here, and Root is slowly getting himself back into form.

Australias 4 man attack will also start to get knackered. England find themselves in a strong position to at least save this test. And maybe even wear some bowlers down for the final test

[yuppie]

Perfect chance for Roy here.

And as type that Root out again in the 70's

[Arthur Crabtree]

What a 2017-18 Joe Root type score. Better than usual for 2019 though.

Bit of a chance here for the Aussies.

[yuppie]

New ball in the morning as well. Australia would have enjoyed a few more overs this evening, but they have opened the door.

[Durhamfootman]

well, that was a disappointing end to an otherwise promising day. I kind of got the feeling that Burns and Root were both out 'tired' which is a bit worrying for professional sportsman. Then Roy followed that up with a forward defensive that had a gap between bat and pad big enough for the excellent Hazlewood to drive a horse and cart through.... which is even more worrying. Still, I'm sure the England think tank knows what it's doing

Cummins showing again what a fine bowler he is, and I confess I was shocked to see how poor some of Starc's deliveries were. Not at all surprising that Australia have kept him waiting. That being said, he might very well run through the England tail tomorrow to nip in the bud any hopes of England avoiding the follow on. Lets hope not

[GarlicJam]

I venture that England's best result from here would be fiercer to follow-on and then salvage a draw by batting most of the last two days.

That would set them up nicely for The Oval, with knackered Aus bowlers - especially if Root wins the toss and bats,

[The Professor]

Genuine question:

Can anyone think of a positive impact that Roy has made on any of these matches?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Caught Khawaja in Leeds.

[backfootpunch]

Genuine question:

Can anyone think of a positive impact that Roy has made on any of these matches?

After steve smith, cummins and hazlewood hes been australias best player

[bigfluffylemon]

:/

Burns is showing some promise, looking like he could at least stay in the opening spot for a while.

If we can somehow get past lunch and the follow-on, there may not be time in the game for a result, but one way or another England probably need to bat 4 of the remaining six sessions to salvage a draw. Even with 15 wickets to spread across those four, I won't hold my breath.

Still, it's a minor miracle the Ashes are still alive at all by this stage in the 4th test.