Macca

We need to counter attack here ... how you do that is anyone's guess. But it's no good poking about against this quality bowling.

Barring rain we're going to see a result you'd imagine. Still the equivalent of 5 sessions left with the time made up for the rain delays.

Jeepers that was quick. Don't poke the bear hey? Apart from all that, Head isn't exactly the world's best batsman. Deserved a send-off.

Archer seems a bit sharper tonight. We'll need to keep him out but Broad is bowling really well too.

The series has been quite incredible DJ ... packed full of drama. Just enough in the tracks to help the bowling but the good batsmen can still score centuries anyway. Test cricket is at its best when the bowling is slightly favoured. A century therefore scored by any individual is hard earned and often memorable. I cannot get enough of it.

I'm worried Wadda Most concerned! It's like watching our forward line in action. Except if Smith was in our forward line he'd dominate!

3 - 24! We couldn't, could we? Never fear, Smith is here!

Not far off opening the batting going in after 6.2 overs. Smith is no commodity and he is certainly not expendable!! Once again our 2 best batsmen are at the crease. Quite a meteoric rise for Kid Charlemagne but he's a real fighter.

Well, my focus is primarily for the team to win. Individuals come and go and to be perfectly honest, I often see them as expendable and as commodities. So it's next up and get the runs up so we can declare. Harris, Head & Wade aren't contributing either so it's nothing personal. This is like watching Melbourne play in a GF for me. Nothing short of a win counts.

None of it matters if we win the Ashes Warner will either get another chance or he won't. What is most important is to win this match. Right now, I couldn't care less about Warner's future. There's plenty who can replace him anyway. It's not like footy where the replacements are often as useless as the players making way. 6 batting spots only with numerous candidates vying for 1 spot.

Another zero for Warner. He's at the crossroads now. Confidence is shot. Still, it's all about the team so we need to get about 200 odd in this innings as soon as we can.

... and they get 301. Here's the next possible chapter ... we set them 385 and we bowl 8 overs at them tonight. Edit: Forgot to factor in the time being made up for the rain delays. Regardless, we'll be wanting to score at 4 an over once our batting gets going. And we'll want to have a dash at their batting tonight as well. 1 or 2 wickets being the aim.

Should we open the batting with Smith in our 2nd innings? ha ha! He's seeing it like a beachball anyway and we want another century from Smith just because we want another century yeah? As long as the rain stays away we should be able to force a victory Wadda.

I won early and late ... various types of wins too. Got a double at Morphettville thanks to JJ. I had Dreamforce & Faatinah in exactas and Gator got me a couple of winners as well. Looking forward to watching all the replays and the review shows tomorrow morning ... the Sky app & Racing.com apps both allow one to watch their racing shows either live or on replay.

I Redzel is back hey? Nature Strip just can't be trusted but Waller is training the horse for 1200m. It will probably win its next start and the odds will be better. Audio only for me today!

Thanks Dappa Got a lot of catching up to do as I saw nothing of the game and only heard bits & pieces of the 2nd half via tunein radio. Always pleasing to defeat a true rival especially at Soldier Field. In the whole scheme of things that's a big win. We might just be a contender after all (with the new coach). We've got a kind draw in the first half of the season so no excuses. Eagles come to Lambeau 27th Sept (GF eve Oz time)

Packers have a D?

We should be able to push for victory now. Still got to get another 19 wickets but at least we can't lose the game now. If England were to score 300 they'd still be 200 behind. And if we bat again there won't be any generous declaration. We hold all the cards and just have to bowl & field well and the Ashes are there for the taking. We've fought back exceptionally well after the 3rd test loss. Smith is a freak and even the luck is on his side. He can't put a foot wrong. Excellent support by Paine, Starc & Lyon too.

Yep ... Starc & Cummins can get 20 each Wadda. Even Lyon can be hard to dislodge. Paine should cash in after being dropped. A good player would make them pay. Archer has not been a factor which is a surprise. I was expected fireworks. And now Smith goes close to holing out. Chancing our arm?

Should be 4 down only though. Wade had to get through to lunch. We need a few more 'Kid Charlemagne' types. They don't have to classical A graders either. Just players with great temperament & fighting qualities. Matt Renshaw, Will Pucovski, Kurtis Patterson & Alex Carey are the future. I would be playing them sooner rather than later. All 4 have got a bit of class about them too. And they're young and ambitious.

On the bit and never out of 3rd gear Wadda The bloke is on another sphere right now. Just incredible how he makes it look so easy.

Yep. Poor shot by Wade ... he had to bat for the team and for the partnership. Amateurish. Could be really costly too.

Drinks and we've lost just the 1 wicket Wadda ... I'm looking at the clock rather than the run count. The longer we're out there, the less chance we have of losing the match. And there will be more rain. An ideal scenario sees us attacking from safe ground. As expected, they've dried up the run supply (somewhat) but we still scored 44 runs (13 overs) in that hour.

If our lefties get their front foot at the trajectory of the delivery (around the wicket by Broad) they take the LBW out because it hits them outside the line Playing from.the crease is asking for trouble. Batting 101. I know Broad isn't exactly pedestrian but our lefties don't play him well.

Well, we can decide to just bat long enough where we take the loss out of equation. Batting first and them batting last means we can control the tempo. As long as we bat well of course. We hold the Ashes and they need to win the series to wrest the Ashes back. Bat for time and the runs will mount up. And then England have to try and force a result. As long as Smith is out there batting it is advantage Australia.