Cricket

Denlys last test today. Big inquisition into the state of our test team coming at the end of this series.

Roots captaincy will be questioned but the cupboard looks bare in terms of Test Match batsman.

Questions also for the ECB and the declining state of the county game.

Too much emphasis on T20 and now 100 ball cricket.

Englands only way out of trouble is to counter attack and drive through the covers. No interest in leaving, leaving, leaving until the bowler gets too straight and you can work him for runs.

I watched The Edge yesterday and it was a real eye opener in terms of the impact Flowers reign had on the England players mental state (by the end of it Trott had set the bowling machine to 95mph and was deliberatly letting the balls just smash him)

The flip side was we were very rarely 45/6 and played some great cricket. While Flower clearly went too far and was too strict with his players at times, every player in that team was required to give their absolute best.

I'm not sure this regime asks enough questions of itself. These batting collapses have been allowed to happen time and time again.

There has to be times where the players and the coaches speak honestly and question each others desire to do well.

Denlys last test today. Big inquisition into the state of our test team coming at the end of this series.

Roots captaincy will be questioned but the cupboard looks bare in terms of Test Match batsman.

Questions also for the ECB and the declining state of the county game.

Too much emphasis on T20 and now 100 ball cricket.

Englands only way out of trouble is to counter attack and drive through the covers. No interest in leaving, leaving, leaving until the bowler gets too straight and you can work him for runs.

I watched The Edge yesterday and it was a real eye opener in terms of the impact Flowers reign had on the England players mental state.

The flip side was we were very rarely 45/6 and played some great cricket. While Flower clearly went too far and was too strict with his players at times, every player in that team was required to give their absolute best.

I'm not sure this regime asks enough questions of itself. These batting collapses have been allowed to happen time and time again.

Listening to mark ramprakash about being batting coach. Definitely a case with some players of not treading on their egos

The sports just becoming a bit of a joke really. This could well be over within 3 days. The players have got worse and worse.

Theres not many great batsman around the world in test matches. In the England team there isnt many adequate ones.

In this game we have a number 7 coming in  as purely a specialist batsman.

Shoddy batting England.Aussie's have a decent attack for sure but knocking England over for 67...Part of the problem is not having a settled top class opening pair.Also the rest of the line up looks very much like the white ball line up.

Again it's all over bar the shouting and it's only day 2.

F***ing Tim Payne. Biggest joke will be him lifting the urn. F**k me!

Australia are pretty poor outfit but there 20s 30s and 40s have won this one. That's all England would have needed themselves yet the high scorer of the innings got F***ing 12.

Well that was sh*te!

Doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.

Not watching as at work, but 3 gone already and Root for 0. Seriously?

England were in a great position after after getting Australian out for less than 200. At this rate we will be all out before I can even get home and watch it!!

Jesus, who knew it could get worse.

Serious questions have to be asked, Australia have won the ashes after playing 2 tests and 1 innings. Root going for consecutive ducks, but broadly speaking, surely when you see the first couple of wickets fall in quick succession you stand your wicket and defend it and just settle things down a little?

Absolute farce.

Jesus, who knew it could get worse.

Serious questions have to be asked, Australia have won the ashes after playing 2 tests and 1 innings. Root going for consecutive ducks, but broadly speaking, surely when you see the first couple of wickets fall in quick succession you stand your wicket and defend it and just settle things down a little?

Absolute farce.

I wouldn't be counting chickens just yet. You'll have a couple full days to try and chase down whatever total we end up at. Looking very unlikely but I've seen weirder things (I watched South Africa chase down 400+ when that was meant to be impossible so who knows).

Think we should wrap this one up with relative ease but I'm not gonna start crowing too much yet. The fact we are again struggling to make 200 leaves the door open a bit - and we as Liverpool fans know as well as any how that can go

I wouldn't be counting chickens just yet. You'll have a couple full days to try and chase down whatever total we end up at. Looking very unlikely but I've seen weirder things (I watched South Africa chase down 400+ when that was meant to be impossible so who knows).

Think we should wrap this one up with relative ease but I'm not gonna start crowing too much yet. The fact we are again struggling to make 200 leaves the door open a bit - and we as Liverpool fans know as well as any how that can go

Burns and Roy gone for single figures!

Root and Denly with a century partnership! Surely we cant right?

140-2, hell of a recovery so far.

Root and Denly with a century partnership! Surely we cant right?

140-2, hell of a recovery so far.

Going to stop posting in this thread, Denly just gone for 50. Stokes in.

Suddenly looks a very difficult chase again, but England need some patient batting, plenty of time to chase it.

Much better. Dare to dream...

What did I say fellas. Long from being over! Two full days to grab 200. Absolutely possible.

Would be mad if we let it slip but it would be a wakeup call about sticking the boot in when we have the chance. Just should have been able to put another 100 on the board at least if a few of the passengers in this side could wake up - very much looking at Warner (though his fielding in the 1st innings was brilliant).

Well at least we are making a fight over it.Obviously had we shown some fight in the first innings we wouldn't be in this mess.

Well at least we are making a fight over it.Obviously had we shown some fight in the first innings we wouldn't be in this mess.

Agreed. Hopefully some of the lower order such as buttler and bairstow can get some form back.

At 238-4...122 needed. Still Aussies are favourite. If another wicket goes down needing over 100..I would throw Woakes in and say throw the bat one day style and try and get a quick 40 odd. That would leave 50-60 to win with Butler coming in.

Try and inch our way there and it could go wrong.Lyon is the biggest danger and to have any chance we have to hit him out of the attack.Risky but it could be the best option. Good test match from what looked like a shoo in for Australia.

England coming out to bat....cometh the hour come... and all that crap..

Lyon is turning it square...give it a tweak..but it's off spin..he doesn't try the top spinner..just less revs as it goes on with the arm.Doesn't vary the pace as much as some..John OUT...gone to DRS...is he out..no IMO..

Bairstow not out..

Bairstow with a successful review!

Bull sh*t appeal by the Aussies there...never anywhere near hitting it,,

Aussies trying to get into Bairstow..John need to regroup..

Lyon back in for the kill...the vultures are circling over England..