Macca

No rain forecast so we should get the full 90 overs - although 20 overs need to be bowled from the commencement of the last hour of play For instance: If we've bowled 75 overs by 5pm (BST) then a total of 95 overs can be bowled in the day (with the mandatory 20 overs to be bowled in the last hour) Stand corrected with the above if the ruling has been changed.

2 out of 3 ain't bad if you or anyone else had taken the first 2 legs. And once again my first choice (Houston Rockets) wasn't listed by Laddies (or anywhere else for that matter) Houston duly saluted by 2 runs. The bookies know that multi punters use 'bankers' so what better way to foil the punters by simply not listing a banker. Happens too many times for it to be a coincidence Wadda. The bookies know what they're doing! For instance: just lately the England bookmakers have stopped multi punters in having multi runners with Dettori on board. And apparently that was all the bookies.

We can't really lose from here now Wadda but we still need to get the 10 wickets. Gut feeling says we knock them over on a deteriorating pitch. Amazing transformation really ... we looked down and out and now we hold the upper hand. Them not having Anderson helped but those are the breaks. That sort of thing works both ways and there was a question mark over his fitness prior to the test. A grand knock from Wade in the end ... ably supported by Paine, Pattinson & Cummins. With Smith as the architect. Playing 5 tests in 6.5 weeks means that rotating the bowlers becomes mandatory ... Starc & Hazlewood are fresh and ready for Lords if required. Selection has worked out well - kudos.

Went close but missed by 'that' much! Needed a 3 run homer but got a 2 run double instead. Still, I picked up a baseball multi last week on the back of the opposite occuring. You win some, you lose some. What happened in the F1's? I checked online with 20 laps to go with Bottas down in 11th. Thought we might have been out early. Get well soon too Wadda ... the flu going around is bad news.

Two Tasmanian wicketkeepers batting together in a Test match for Australia. Got to be a first.

Credit to Wade (and Head) ... both have played tough, gritty fighting innings. Great support for Smith.

Are the Poms still booing Smith? If so, keep it up. It's working (for us)

About 62 overs Wadda so 18 overs to the new ball. We're scoring at about 4 an over too. 8-112 in the first innings to this point. Been quite a turnaround.

Classical drive through extra cover to bring up his ton. Smith = Champion. Whilst we're all nervous he's not. The fidgeting is there to put the opposition off (?) What a unique character!

Think I'm right in saying that Michael Hussey went on 2 Ashes tours and didn't play a test. He had to wait an eternity to get into the team. Stand corrected on that one but he certainly was in a lot of squads prior to breaking into the team. No such luxury these days hey? Great player though as was another late starter - Adam Gilchrist. But Greg Chappell, Punter, AB, Steve Waugh & Smith are in a league of their own. Greg & Ponting had the elegance to boot! I saw a lot of Ian Chappell's career from about '68. A fabulous no.3 who often had to go in early. Really hard to dislodge once in. A dogged fighter.

Can't split the 5 actually ... all were great as is Smith. I'd put Ian Chappell somewhere in there as well. Michael Hussey? We've had some good one's!

Smith reminds me of Steve Waugh or Allan Border. Gritty fighters who played for keeps. Not classical players but they don't have to be. Most players edging towards a century would show some sort 'tell' that close to lunch. But not Smith ... didn't look remotely fazed. And then took a single off the last ball so as get the strike after lunch. Cool as a cucumber. He's way ahead of the game isn't he?

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.

Yeah I'm ready to get back into the tips DZ The off-season for me doesn't really exist as I get right into the overseas racing (Europe & Sha Tin) To good effect too especially in July and from mid to late June. The winter racing in Melbourne & Sydney threw up the usual skewed results. I steered clear for the most part but in hindsight should have followed Craig Williams & Damien Oliver. They both rode plenty of winners.

A lot of the good horses are back next week BM but there are only 3 stakes races up for grabs this upcoming Saturday The Winx Stakes (formerly the Warwick Stakes) is the first Group 1 for the season - 24th August. This year's version could well see a much larger field and because the grand mare Winx is retired, a lot more competitive too. Same deal for the George Main Stakes, Turnbull Stakes & the Cox Plate. Alizee & Avilius to step in with the absence of Winx? Hartnell the 9yo?

So very Melbourne Wadda! Next thing we'll be the butt of jokes if you keep talking like that. Oh hang on ...

Over to you Wadda to complete the deal.

And here's the Sussex Stakes and Nassau Stakes from Goodwood (raced last Thursday & Friday)

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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.

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.

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.

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.

He's annoying isn't he (Broad) ... seems to often hold us up or take vital wickets. Truth is he's quite a good cricketer who plays the villian role to very good effect. 73 ahead now and it's advantage England. I'm now thinking ahead in the sense that we don't want to be any more than 2 down once we wipe off the deficit. And we still have to get them all out!

I cashed out on a couple of Gator's tips so a happy camper here! Including a nice collect in the lucky last (Oliver is the master) And I've always liked the way they score boxing ... working from 10 down. A cricket session is more than quite similar but I've only thought about it that way in the last 2 days. Never occured to me beforehand. It's certainly an interesting way of scoring a Test match. So if a novice to the game asks "Who's winning?" we now have a possible answer!