Ashes 2021-22.

[sussexpob]

I definitely declare at 450 as Australia have a good session at England tonight

[Arthur Crabtree]

I pointed out last match, the last four wickets for Australia average over 30 in Australian conditions v England. 450+ still very much on.

Bit of a killer that partnership.

[Durhamfootman]

how many sessions can England bat before they lose all 20 wickets?

my guess is 5

[sussexpob]

How did we let them score so quickly in the tail? Poor stuff

[bigfluffylemon]

Nothing ever goes right for England in Australia.

After that lower order performance, England will make it look like a minefield v second string bowlers.

4 down by close?

[sussexpob]

That took long

[sussexpob]

And there goes number 2

[sussexpob]

Root edges just short.... this is going splendidly

[Arthur Crabtree]

Neser's first Test wicket at 31. Great moment for him. His anecdote potential for his retirement years is undermined a bit by his victim though.

[sussexpob]

Was saying last test about my worry watching Hameed and his hand/wrists and his tendency for closing the face on the bat or bottom hand dominance.... that dismissal is all down to that, his bottom hand is out of control there.... this is a huge problem he has.

Never noticed this in his first stint, so I really hope this is something that is creeping into his game rather than something he's born with and cant correct.... because he isnt making it in test cricket if this is terminal.

[sussexpob]

Lightening saves England any further embarrassment for the day. Malan is totally blinded by a huge lightening bolt as the ball is delivered..... wonder what would have happened if he edged that..... would Australia have appealed?

[Durhamfootman]

quelle surprise

[alfie]

Well that was all a bit gruesome for an England fan...

For Australia it could hardly have gone better : right out of the playbook for a Test in Adelaide. Win the toss . Bat. If the other side bowl well , graft through most of the first day . See off the second new ball. Let the tail have fun once the opposition have bowled for five sessions in the heat. Declare and nip out a couple of knackered batsmen quickly...perfect !
Even the electrical storm isn't a big loss : ball still new for another burst in the morning.

Have to honestly praise Australia for the way they handled that. Had some good fortune again with the bat ; but a lot of that is down to England's inadequacies in the field . I actually thought most of the bowling was reasonably good on an unhelpful pitch , until the happy hour anyway. Overdid the Stokes short barrage at times , and Woakes really struggled for much of his work : but I reckon it was more good Aussie batting than bad bowling that got this result.

They have three really high class bats ; and they all got more or less a hundred. Unfortunately , England don't. And it is this that will basically have this series going very much one way...which , while it might delight the home fans , is a bit of a pity for neutrals as well as England fans : five match walkovers are a bit like watching someone pulling the wings off flies after the first two or three...

Positives ? Stokes is getting fitter. He looks odds on to be captain after this series so better hope he stays healthy. Not much else I'm afraid ; though Robinson continues to look like Anderson's eventual replacement. He only got one wicket though so not getting too carried away just yet.

The sad part was the way England ended up so ragged looking ; (understandably) poor body language in that last session. I know they were cooked in the heat but just the same : after they had come back quite well from that First Test shocker , with plenty of fight , at least , for much of the Australian innings ; seeing them so completely crushed at the end was dispiriting. I hope it doesn't mean they are totally broken already 'cos there are three more to play after this...

I guess I will still watch tomorrow. But won't be surprised if very few England fans bother to wake up for it at 4 am !

[Durhamfootman]

Stokes says that England are not beaten yet

of course they aren't, Ben........ but this time tomorrow they either will be or very nearly will be. My money is still on for the morning session of day 4

[yuppie]

England in both tests so far have managed to work an opening a few times but not managed to walk through it.