MadAsHell

He's been below par Mitchell Starc, I don't think anyone can dispute that. But the delivery that he just bowled to dismiss Cook is the reason why he's probably beyond being dropped and Hazlewood's the guy who may struggle to hold his spot.

Some good news for Australia at least: http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/the-ashes-2015-england-blow-as-jimmy-anderson-to-miss-trent-bridge-doubtful-for-the-oval/story-fndpt0dy-1227465403232

I need to pull myself up here. I have made multiple references to Edgbaston 1981, when in fact i was referring to Headingly 1981. My apologies.

Agreed. Cameron Bancroft Joe Burns Peter Handscomb Nic Maddinson & Marcus Stoinis These are five youg batsmen who are all potential players that will get chances over the coming years. I'm a really big fan of Handscomb, and Bancroft has also had a good year.

I'm hoping that if i keep saying Edgbaston 1981 enough times that Nevill & Starc can summon Botham & Willis like performances, get us about 150 in front and then roll England. I'm dreaming i know! Well i think Voges has played his last test and both Starc & Hazlewood will be in the gun due to their inconsistent bowling with Siddle to come in and potentially Cummins also? Will also be interesting to hear the latest on Anderson's side strain.

If that's the sort of stroke play to expect in this innings by Smith just then, I think we'll struggle to set them much of a target at all. Complete brain fade!

Jo Burns who played a couple of Tests against India in the summer batting at 6 normally opens for Queensland. Maybe after the Ashes they'll look to bring him back into the team to bat at 4 before eventually moving to the top?

Thankyou Hazlewood! Now knock over these last two asap and go out and make 400 - 450 to give ourselves a chance!

This lead is now really starting to get into a dangerous territory now. If Moeen Ali plays & misses one more time I think I'm going to loose it!

Whatever the result of this test match, I think there'll be two big questions to come out of it. 1. Does Shaun Marsh come in for Voges? 2. Does Starc's inconsistent form cost him his spot for Siddle?

Maybe it's the best way to get him. Haha. I can't believe DRS was suggesting that the ball was missing. Looked out as anything live.

Root thinks he's playing T20 and waves his bat at a Starc delivery that could have been called wide twice! Happy for him to give his wicket away. Keeps us in it. Bring Johnson back, even if just for 1 or 2 overs of short stuff at Moeen!

Was a heck of an over wasn't it! Unfortunatly both Starc & Hazlewood have been bowling pies as support. Might need to get Lyon on at one end just to give some control.

There's certainly issues there.Clarke is safe for awhile yet due toVoges being more in the gun and this series likely being Rogers last. I think moving further down the order to number 5 though could be a good thing. Shaun Marsh to come in for Voges (if he fails in the 2nd innings) and bat at 4. Aussies needa huge morning session on Day 2. If we can knock them over for no more then about 260 i think we're still in it, although coming from a long way back. Then come our 2nd innings our leaders Clarke, Smith & Warner will need to stand up.

Rogers out. He couldn't get going after the last rain break it seemed. Well at 8/110 if they could somehow manage to grind out 170 that'd be great but I'm not optimistic. Think we're in for some pain! This is just a shambles! Mainly bad strokes which is what makes this performance all the more worse! Edit: Last line.

Well made 50 Buck Rogers, we'd be in all sorts without him! This series is difficult to get a hold of either team's form so far.

Alas not many runs for Johnson either! I agree, 170-180 will be useful now! And key will be to restrict England's leade to no more then 100-120, otherwise we'll just be to far back.

Nevill shoulders arms to a straight ball. Oh dear!

Would certainly take that now with us 5/80odd!

You've got one more innings to turn things around Voges.

Spot on with the above. Edgbaston is a difficult ground to chase on. So If we make 300+ then we're in a decent position. I always hope for 400+ obviously, but lets just take it one thing at a time.

Need Rogers to continue his great run of form. Great opportunity for Voges to shut out the challenge of Shaun Marsh. He needs runs and a century would see him safe for the remainder of the series you'd think.

Unbelivable turnaround! I was confident we'd bounce back, but to win as easily as that is quite amazing! Very concerned for poor old buck Rogers. Clarke came out in his press conference saying he thinks the dizzy spell was unrelated to the hits and expects him to play the next test, but we'll wait and see. Certainly doesn't look good, and I fear he may have just played his last test. Could it be that we'll see three changes to the team for the next test? Haddin back for Nevill, S. Marsh to replace Voges (back issues) and Watson to replace Rogers? I hope not! England have some serious selection issues also. Lyth to me doesn't look up to it, and both Ballance & Bell are seriously out of form. I know they've both made a 50 each so far ths series, but outside of those scores and if you look at their numbers v New Zealnd & West Indies, some questions need to be asked. Names like Bairstow & Compton have been thrown up. Bairstow averaging over 100 in County Cricket so far this year and Compton averaging over 40 as both are in the top 5 run scorers each. Having said that though our bowlers made light work of Bairstow two years ago and Compton's an already failed England openners, so don't know if they'd go back there? Their selectors wouldn't have the courage to recall Pietersen at this stage, so there's no real other option I can see. Maybe James Taylor who's in their ODI team and had some success there, but his numbers aren't great this County Season. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/county-championship-div1-2015/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=9751;type=tournament Will be some interesting selections ahead for both teams I think.

Cook drags it on for 96 just before the new ball and we should be looking t knock them over for less then 300 with any luck!

Thanks for the link Macca. Was a good fightback from Cook & Stokes, but Stokes & Buttler out either side of lunch has England still well on the back foot. My prediction is even if we bowl them out with a lead of over 200, we wont make them follow on. Will look to bat possibly till half an hour into the middle session tomorrow and set them around 450 - 500 to win,