There you go.

Now Anderson, this will be interesting to see if he can run.

Edited August 3, 20195 yr by Wadda We Sing

Just now, Wadda We Sing said:

Yep as Ian Healy just said dig em into him and put the short fielders in. This is Paine i think, he goes on the defensive very quickly. I noticed Smith moving fielders around before. Cant help himself!

Has Paine given Smith a license to do that?  I wonder?  I'd prefer to see Smith back in charge but he has to know his place.  The natural pecking order tends to often shine through.

All's well that ends well though Wadda so it's whatever works.  Need to get this last wicket pronto.

1 minute ago, Macca said:

Has Paine given Smith a license to do that?  I wonder?  I'd prefer to see Smith back in charge but he has to know his place.  The natural pecking order tends to often shine through.

All's well that ends well though Wadda so it's whatever works.  Need to get this last wicket pronto.

Im sure he has Macca, hes right beside him. At least Warner seems to be having some fun with the crowd. Anderson is hardly moving, looks like he wont be bowling. Not sure what theyre singing to Warner......hes showing them the empty pockets haha

3 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Im sure he has Macca, hes right beside him. At least Warner seems to be having some fun with the crowd. Anderson is hardly moving, looks like he wont be bowling. Not sure what theyre singing to Warner......hes showing them the empty pockets haha

Could be that Paine realises that Smith has the greater knowledge and has just deferred.  Maybe he wants to concentrate on his keeping?  There's a reason why wicketkeepers make good vice-captains.

Seems unusual but behind closed doors,  who knows what has been worked out?

It's not often you see a non captain making moves or taking charge.  Bowlers can tend to wave their arms around but that's just bowlers being bowlers.

48 minutes ago, Macca said:

Could be that Paine realises that Smith has the greater knowledge and has just deferred.  Maybe he wants to concentrate on his keeping?  There's a reason why wicketkeepers make good vice-captains.

Seems unusual but behind closed doors,  who knows what has been worked out?

It's not often you see a non captain making moves or taking charge.  Bowlers can tend to wave their arms around but that's just bowlers being bowlers.

My internet is dropping in and out due to network maintenance. Warner gone again. I thought he might be the one to get going in this series and really give it back to them. A bit disappointing so far. Khawaja or Bancroft need to do something here or our top order is going to look as wobbly as the Pies!

Agree re Paine. Smith was a great Captain

The current odds are Australia 4.50 England 1.30 Draw 13. 

Edited August 3, 20195 yr by Wadda We Sing

So we're effectively 3 - 34 with 7 wickets in hand.  Smith holds the key once again (what a champ) but we'll need input from Wade,  Paine and the tail. As well as Head. 

150 in front isn't enough and even a 200 lead doesn't feel comfortable.  A 250 lead is 216 runs away and that's a bit of an ask.  But you never know. 

And there is a bit of rain forecast so we might be on and off the ground a bit.

4 minutes ago, Macca said:

So we're effectively 3 - 34 with 7 wickets in hand.  Smith holds the key once again (what a champ) but we'll need input from Wade,  Paine and the tail. As well as Head. 

150 in front isn't enough and even a 200 lead doesn't feel comfortable.  A 250 lead is 216 runs away and that's a bit of an ask.  But you never know. 

And there is a bit of rain forecast so we might be on and off the ground a bit.

Time for Wade to become a player. If he fails again I think his Test Career will be all over!

Bancroft has almost as dodgy a technique as Handscomb, he gets squared up to much.

Warner has become souless IMV. I reckon the crowds and pressure have got to him. Time for him to go back to being a mongrel.

Aint over but need around 200 lead. Lyon holds the key!

5 minutes ago, picket fence said:

Time for Wade to become a player. If he fails again I think his Test Career will be all over!

Bancroft has almost as dodgy a technique as Handscomb, he gets squared up to much.

Warner has become souless IMV. I reckon the crowds and pressure have got to him. Time for him to go back to being a mongrel.

Aint over but need around 200 lead. Lyon holds the key!

I wouldn't have had Wade in PF but we need him to get some runs regardless.  Warner can be a marchwinner and the next best is Harris or Burns anyway.  Bancroft deserves a bit of a go at it.

I would have had Renshaw at the top with Warner with Harris at no.3.  Smith at no.4 which is his ideal position. 

And then at 5 and 6 I'd have any 2 of Labuschagne,  Bancroft,  Khawaja or Pucovski.  There's no reason why top order batsmem can't bat in the middle order ... we used to introduce players into the team that way.  For decades a batsmen had to bat in the top 3 for his State to even be considered for Test selection

And weight of runs at lower levels or non first class levels is often a flawed concept ... at Test level a batsman needs sound technique and great temperament.  So identify young talent,  make sure they bat in the top 3 for their State and then introduce them into the Test team in the late middle order.  A tried and true method that worked for decades. 

e.g Ponting played the large majority of his first 20 tests batting in the no.6 position.  The rest is history.

Having said all that we can still win this test with the current line-up.  Looking ahead,  I'm not so confident. 

Nerve racking start so far. These first few overs could be vital.

26 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Nerve racking start so far. These first few overs could be vital.

Travis Head needs a mindset where he can imagine himself batting through the innings.  Do that,  and we can get ourselves into a winning position.  Support Smith by refusing to go out.

I missed the initial commentary. Did they say what the pitch was doing/likely to do?

Smith and Head look to be settling after those first few overs. 

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

Travis Head needs a mindset where he can imagine himself batting through the innings.  Do that,  and we can get ourselves into a winning position.  Support Smith by refusing to go out.

Hes looking a bit better now. Hes now on the same score as the first innings and has done pretty well really. Smith just makes him look bad because hes so good. If we can get to 200 without losing another wicket we are in with a huge chance.

Australia into 2.50 from 3.00 at the start of play. England out to 2.10 with the draw now 5.00 from 7.00. (must be a good chance of rain).

Just now, McQueen said:

I missed the initial commentary. Did they say what the pitch was doing/likely to do?

Smith and Head look to be settling after those first few overs. 

They only mentioned Australia was wanting to score quickly before the pitch disintegrates!

1 minute ago, Wadda We Sing said:

They only mentioned Australia was wanting to score quickly before the pitch disintegrates!

Sounds promising if we can get some runs and put the pressure right on in the last day. 

5 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Sounds promising if we can get some runs and put the pressure right on in the last day. 

Lets hope McQueen!

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=7+day+forcast+edgbaston

Can we also hurry up and let Smith be the Captain again. 

5 minutes ago, McQueen said:

Can we also hurry up and let Smith be the Captain again. 

He selects himself really, doesnt he. I dont think he is allowed to play any kind of leadership role until March 2020. (Maybe they forgot to tell him that).

That statistic that Nassar Insane mentioned before about Smith making over 1000 runs in his last 10 Ashes innings. So in that case he averages over 100 v England for the last 4 years. Thats pretty incredible.

A lead od 83 is a start but the unit ( Smith ) and Head have to keep going. Ward and Payne as well but be harder for new batsmen. Denly is the one I would watch. Getting the ball to spin well.

Aim is to get through to lunch without a wicket being lost and say 40 more runs.

We need a lead of 250 to make a game out of this and that's still another 170 runs away.

Need to get them in on a 4/5 day wicket if we are going to rely on pitch deterioration. The worst thing would be to all out by tea today.

Edited August 4, 20195 yr by Diamond_Jim

4 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Aim is to get through to lunch without a wicket being lost and say 40 more runs.

We need a lead of 250 to make a game out of this and that's still another 170 runs away.

Need to get them in on a 4/5 day wicket if we are going to rely on pitch deterioration. The worst thing would be to all out by tea today.

Yes agree DJ. The way theyre going atm, they will make 250 lead by tea. Theyve also taken the crowd out mostly. Much more quiet today so far.

Wade has had some prolific scores in England on the Australia A tour.

A whirlwind 100 would be nice now.

Lunch to tea session is really big needless to say.

38 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Aim is to get through to lunch without a wicket being lost and say 40 more runs.

We need a lead of 250 to make a game out of this and that's still another 170 runs away.

Need to get them in on a 4/5 day wicket if we are going to rely on pitch deterioration. The worst thing would be to all out by tea today.

31 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Yes agree DJ. The way theyre going atm, they will make 250 lead by tea. Theyve also taken the crowd out mostly. Much more quiet today so far.

Well that ensured poor old Trav went!! Smith is a freak and hoping Wade and Pain can assist this time around.

If we get 250 in front I think we can bowl them out. If Denley can spin it that much, Lyon will be hard to play. Here's hoping anyway as I prepare for the week with a Tiger snake "Rye of the tiger"  on ice  to finish another weekend our team has tried to ruin. (they boys did have a crack in fairness last night). 

Three fours to Wade in his 15 runs.

He "could" break this game open

So only 4 other Australian batsman have ever posted 2 hundreds in 1 match in an Ashes game. Well maybe Smithy can make it 3! Doesnt look like hes in a hurry to go anywhere. Who the hell places 20 sets of gloves on the grass on the ground that your batting at in a test match?!!

For the first time Australia are now favourites in this match.

Im just riveted to this. What an amazing game.

6 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Three fours to Wade in his 15 runs.

He "could" break this game open

started positive and usually his first 15 are the most dangerous. Also hope that they bowl the spinners at Paine as his record against spin is excellent (saved the test against Pakistan making 60 odd not out last year in the UE on a turning wicket.)