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

[yuppie]

Genuine question:

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

Yes

He has made Australias job much easier.

[Durhamfootman]

:/

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.

seemingly Burns is only the third England opener to score 50 or more three times in a series since Strauss retired. Cook, obviously, and Hales did it against SL, so he's doing okay. Certainly better than the other 50 openers they've tried in the last 5 years

[yuppie]

Starting to think that Stokes is the luckiest cricket player around at present.

[backfootpunch]

Starting to think that Stokes is the luckiest cricket player around at present.

Think labuschagne and stokes have had some remarkable luck in this series

Labuschagne has been dropped about 6 times and had a few close lbw decisions go his way

And stokes has been dropped a few times and had about 4 plumb lbws not given, mainly against lyon

I suppose the good players punish the opposition for their mistakes

[GarlicJam]

I hope England avoid the follow-on.

By one run.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I suppose the Aussies have to enforce the follow on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Archer hasn't managed to make any impact with the bat yet.

A bit tense for the follow on. Leach might need to make the second best one ever to get England there.

[Durhamfootman]

I suppose the Aussies have to enforce the follow on.

If they get the chance

before Headingley I think the Aussies, in this position, would have backed themselves to bat for a session and a half and expect England to roll over on the final day, but Stokes probably changed that view, so I'd imagine if they get the chance they'll take it. If they get the chance it will mean England still only managed to bat about 4 sessions in their first innings, which, heroics aside, is probably as much as they are capable of

[Durhamfootman]

squeaked it.... just!

301 ao. 196 behind

how long will Australia bat for?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Will want at least 350.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wee Davie goes in the first over. Series from hell.

Broad has him half a dozen times in the series.

[Durhamfootman]

Wee Davey

what a shame

[Durhamfootman]

I'll go as far as to suggest that if the series is all square going to the Oval, Warner won't play.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Suffering from bad karma.

[dan08]

I'll go as far as to suggest that if the series is all square going to the Oval, Warner won't play.

Probably will keep his place as none of Harris, Khawaja, Bancroft are doing any better.