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

[Arthur Crabtree]

Four down. Might be talking about the miracle of Manchester this time tomorrow.

[Durhamfootman]

miracle of Manchester?

That would be nice. England don't win many ashes tests at Manchester. Did we decide it was '81 the last time

[Durhamfootman]

unsurprisingly England still haven't got Smith

[Durhamfootman]

Leach getting a bit of tap?

I suppose England want to delay the Aussies as much as poss by bowling miserly, so this probably isn't what is needed

[Durhamfootman]

Smith's 8th consecutive ashes 50, seemingly

make that 9th

[Durhamfootman]

lead is now 300. That will probably do and still a couple of hours to get England 3 or 4 down, so now it's a question of how affected Australia are by the Stokes innings at Headingley

[yuppie]

15 more overs at this run rate this evening, Aus will be happy with that

[Durhamfootman]

maybe tell Smiffy that he has 20 mins to get another hundred and then have an hour at England tonight?

[Gingerfinch]

maybe tell Smiffy that he has 20 mins to get another hundred and then have an hour at England tonight?

I'd bat for another 15 overs, just to make sure.

[yuppie]

maybe tell Smiffy that he has 20 mins to get another hundred and then have an hour at England tonight?

I'd bat for another 15 overs, just to make sure.

Yep, i think so.

England slowing it down now though. They see the danger.....a little late maybe

[yuppie]

England using the review system to waste time?

We still get wrong decisions and teams can use it for situations like this. Still needs improving.

[Durhamfootman]

lead is 382 and the Aussies are still going. With a bit of luck the light will make the min no. of overs irrelevant and give England the chance to get off tonight with most of their wickets intact

Notice how I completely ignored England's batting incompetence there? Quite intentional I assure you

[Durhamfootman]

ah... now they've declared

left it too long hopefully

[yuppie]

Stokes last innings meant they needed to be safer.....

[Durhamfootman]

absolutely

yet another reason for the England batsmen to show a bit more backbone and a bit more patience/stubborness/bloody mindedness.... otherwise known as proper test cricket batting

perhaps all these pennies are finally starting to drop?

only taken four *modded* years for Bayleaf the Gardener to see the light