The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[The Waugh Twins]

Great comeback for Australia in the end, but we all know the history of the game, still nothings impossible.

[The Waugh Twins]

Gonna end the day a couple of overs light again.

Yes and the last four batsmen took nearly 10 minutes combined to walk to the crease and not a single commentator mentioned it yet alone complain nor were they bothered about being short overs.

[The Waugh Twins]

At least the BBQ's clean.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Holding seemed to be defending the over rate. Maybe influenced by himself being in a side that could bowl eight overs an hour.

Have a good party Waughtwins.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Cook would have declared overnight in any case, worried about the rain on day five!

[The Waugh Twins]

Holding seemed to be defending the over rate. Maybe influenced by himself being in a side that could bowl eight overs an hour.

Have a good party Waughtwins.

Cheers Arthur, I'm getting in trouble right now for being on the computer too much so i'll see you tomorrow or tonight after one too many.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wotcha.

[yuppie]

Judging by the scores in the test so far this is more than enough for England.

Can't watch any of todays or tomorrows play. Hows the pitch playing, if Australia are not over confident like in the first innings can they chase this down, or has the pitch become much tougher? Looked pretty easy from the highlights i saw on the first 2 days. Slow, low with the odd variable bounce. But how did that go to 15 wickets falling today?

[sussexpob]

Judging by the scores in the test so far this is more than enough for England.

Can't watch any of todays or tomorrows play. Hows the pitch playing, if Australia are not over confident like in the first innings can they chase this down, or has the pitch become much tougher? Looked pretty easy from the highlights i saw on the first 2 days. Slow, low with the odd variable bounce. But how did that go to 15 wickets falling today?

Some signs that the pitch is breaking a little, but nothing overtly crazy. Root got one that didnt bounce as high as expected, Ballance got out to a ball that bounced a little higher, and it seems timing the drives on fuller lengths can be a bit risky as the ball sometimes comes on a little quicker or slower than expected. Some increasing signs of turn at the end of the day.

For a side that has two days to survive or nurdle their way to 400, its the kind of pitch they could do it on. But they are chasing a big 4th innings score on a pitch batsman had struggled to really play that well on since day 1 when the bowlers have got their lines and lengths right.

Australia can do it, but only if England really lose the plot with their bowling.

[backfootpunch]

the only way i can see the aussies doing this is if warner smashes a fast hundred and england begin to panic and start bowling short

if we bowl the full length we bowled in the first innings we should win barring someone playing the innings of their life

[yuppie]

Cheers for that SP.

[Alviro Patterson]

In theory Australia need to be mindful against Anderson, Broad and Wood, whilst going after Stokes and Ali. Jobs a good one.

[sussexpob]

I think both teams need patience in the 4th innings. Australia are in a bad position because at times with bat and ball they were too impatient and Aggressive, and while England have been aggressive with the bat (which I think has cost them a 100 runs in the second innings) they bowled much more disciplined than Australia.

Ali is the key tomorrow, Lyon got movement today and if Ali can exploit a dry surface that is showing some spin now, then he should make it tough. Ali has got good batsman out so far in his test career, so its up to Australia to show him some respect and play him properly... same for Lyon with England moving on here. Both spinners have limitations, but try to smash them around, they will get wickets when you make mistakes.

[Durhamfootman]

Saw my first bit of ashes action on Ch5 tonight. England seem to be well in control of the match. Cautionary note though; England gave a few wickets away trying to be very positive, so it might not be quite that simple to lift 10 wickets for the win. They should go 1-0 up, though, and that will give the Aussies something to think about.

I confess that I enjoy watching Woody enjoying his cricket. He's come from nowhere really, done well and is clearly having a ball. An object lesson in how to flourish at the highest levels of any sport.

[backfootpunch]

the weather forecast for sunday has got much worse than the last time i looked

we might need to finish this tomorrow