The Ashes: Sydney

[Arthur Crabtree]

Malan is the third highest run scorer in the series, both sides.

[Toby F]

Fantastic catch by Smith though.

[rich1uk]

Malan is the third highest run scorer in the series, both sides.

he's been the big success of this series for us

looks like he has a good head on his shoulders

always said success at this level is as much about patience, discipline and making good decisions as it is about technique or pure talent and he has those first qualities

[Arthur Crabtree]

One of those annoying scorecards. Everyone gets to double figures, no one gets to three.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Um. Apart from JB was out for five.

[rich1uk]

couple of big letoffs there, the drop of moeen was a real dolly

[bigfluffylemon]

There have been a lot of good Aussie catches in this series. Sometimes you make your own luck.

England are scraping towards 300, may even make a few more if Moeen doesn't throw it away, but based on the SCG's record, 430+ is par for the first innings here.

Fun facts: Barring 2016's washout v the West Indies, the winning team (or in the one draw, both teams) has scored 430+ in 8 of the last 10 first innings here (2013 was an exception, where Australia only scored 330 in the first innings and went on to win due to England having no stomach for the fight against Mitch1 any more, and 2010 v Pakistan, where Australia scored 127 in the first innings and went on to win. Australia were 257-8 in the second innings only 55 ahead, yet managed to score 381 all out thanks to a 120 run 9th wicket partnership between Hussey and Siddle, and then bowled Pakistan out for 139 in pursuit of 176. Later than year of course three of the Pakistan line-up were banned for spot fixing. If that 2010 game at the SCG wasn't dodgy I'll eat my hat).

[rich1uk]

Broad and Curran having a bit of fun here

350 is in sight, still not sure thats going to be enough with how good this pitch looks

[backfootpunch]

Broad and Curran having a bit of fun here

350 is in sight, still not sure thats going to be enough with how good this pitch looks

Can't see the Aussie batsmen being as generous to our bowlers as the likes of root, bairstow, cook and Vince were

[rich1uk]

just looking at this scorecard there, yet again almost every batsman has got a start and failed to convert it

story of this series for england

[backfootpunch]

just looking at this scorecard there, yet again almost every batsman has got a start and failed to convert it

story of this series for england

Story of the last 2 years really

At least we haven't been 40-3 every innings though

[rich1uk]

good start by Broad

lets hope an early wicket can get him fired up

[meninblue]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

[bigfluffylemon]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

Agree. Why pick Crane and not bowl him has a specialist spinner?

I'd be tempted to give him a crack at Smith, just because he'll offer something different. Smith's spent all series smacking the rest of our bowlers around, they have nothing to surprise him. A leggie might. It's a long shot, but conventional tactics aren't getting Smith out.

[rich1uk]

Mason was given only 5 overs spell. Why is it so that the specialist England spinner is bowling less overs than an out of form all rounder spinner. Joe has to get some thing right with captaincy.

i've been pretty disappointed with root's captaincy, particularly his bowling changes and general management of his bowlers, but i assume its because khawaja has a history of being a bit dodgy against off-spin