Macca

Well summarised. Re the session evaluations ... Oddly enough there are 15 sessions in a Test match (if it goes the distance) which coincidentally matches the 'traditional' 15 rounds that a boxing match lasts for at Championship level (when boxing was more relevant of course) England marginally ahead but that could change quite quickly. We could clean up these 2 wickets cheaply or they could get away from us. Or somewhere in between. And as for the evaluations - whoever here gets in first (But get it right!)

Tempted to go 10 - 6 but you're right Wadda. 10 - 7 is the outcome. Others may have their view of course as the numbers aren't written in stone! So here's the blow-by-blow account ... Day 1 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 8 Day 1 Session 2 Eng 10 Aus 7 Day 1 Session 3 Aus 10 Eng 6 Day 2 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 8 Day 2 Session 2 Eng 10 Aus 9 Day 2 Session 3 Eng 10 Aus 9 Day 3 Session 1 Aus 10 Eng 7 Overall score: Eng 63 Aus 61

As entertaining as ever Wadda ... love your work! And yeah, it's all ahead of us now. We could assume that if we don't bowl them out before lunch then they'll have probably added 80 odd. Which would give them a 60+ lead with wickets in hand. And if they only lose 1 or 2 wickets we're in allsortsa. Open fire ready with costumes and spears at the ready for the much awaited rain dance. Demonland style!

Well, I'll give that last session a slight win to England (10 - 9) as it looks like they're now going to gain at least a reasonable lead on the first innings. But they still need to be at least 60 ahead to effectively be in front (and that is still 77 runs away) And with Bairstow, Moeen Ali & Woakes to come they might build a big lead. A gritty ton to Burns being the chief reason why England are on top. An early wicket changes everything but the early morning session tonight may well decide the match. We'll need to bowl them out by lunch to stop them gaining a strong advantage.

If we don't win this next session I will be doing the rain-dance.

In boxing whoever wins the round gets 10 or if it's level it's 10 each So 10 - 8 in Englands favour for that last session Wadda? Which makes the overall score as 46 - 42 or thereabouts depending on how one scores the battle (in England's favour) Needless to say we need to win the last session. By the way, the last time we were in England we were bowled out for 60 in (I believe) one session. 10 - 0?

Wasn't Joe's best knock but I'm glad to see the end of him all the same. He's a top player. 1 wicket often brings 1 or 2 more and Lyon still remains the key DJ. And as Wadda said in the above post, a terrific caught and bowled by Siddle. Like to see him get a couple more wickets.

The umpires have got a lot of calls wrong and once that happens the whole review system becomes farcical. It's like a perfect storm. If the technology 'ruled' then it wouldn't matter what decisions the umpires make. Human error is therefore just as prevalent if initial rulings by the umpires have importance. Total technology or go back to the old ways ... by the way, I have had no issue with England umpires over the decades. They are renowned as the best in the world anyway. Shepherd & Bird were exceptionally good umpires Now we take away their impartiality by making sure they are nuetral (supposedly) ... effectively undermining the umpires. e.g. Paul Reiffel can't umpire games involving Australia. We are effectively then calling him a cheat in advance. And Paul Reiffel is not a cheat. The insane hatred of umpires leads to even greater issues. Lose the hate I say.

Technology was supposed to rid the game of the howler yeah? I have seen nothing but the opposite. We're back to where we started from where it's now a game-of-reviews with a LBW ruling that is highly questionable. And that's if you trust the technology. In effect it makes for poorer umpiring where the umpires might end up 2nd guessing themselves anyway. It sounds radical but do we actually need the umpires out there at all? If all their decisions are governed by technology what's the point of having them out there? They instead could act as orderly's Pointing the finger at the umpires effectively ignores a much greater problem.

Good point with them winning the session Wadda. Marginally though. So we've possibly won only 1 session out of the 4 in this Test so far. Albeit a comprehensive win in the session after tea yesterday. We could score it like a boxing match ... I'll have a go Day 1 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 8 Day 1 Session 2 Eng 10 Aus 7 Day 1 Session 3 Aus 10 Eng 6 Day 2 Session 1 Eng 10 Aus 9

He doesn't look at all comfortable to me ... a painful 11 runs so far. Off 57 deliveries. We've bowled well to him all the same. He does have great temperament like Smith so we need to get him soon.

1 wicket changes things DJ ... work for 1. Lyon could get amongst them especially the fresh batsmen. The turn is there. Just need 1 wicket to get on a roll

Have the poms glued the bails onto the stumps? That's extraordinary

Heard Boycott saying he liked the idea ... is Geoffrey trying to be thoroughly 'modern' after all these years? And that Lyon LBW appeal (that was out) could come back to haunt us. You take every chance you get at this level.

Along with the gaudy big numbers on the back of the shirts. It's just not cricket Wadda! Why didn't they go upstairs with the LBW appeal off Lyon? Looked out to me. And Hawkeye reaffirmed it ... hitting leg.

I'd expect Lyon to be used reasonably early and he might end up bowling a number of overs today. There's some turn there and Moeen Ali extracted a bit of movement yesterday.

Goodwood has been great from a punting perspective. 'Too Darn Hot' duly saluted and I had a late flutter on 'Deirdre' at terrific odds in the Mares Group 1 (Nassua Stakes) RacingPost tipped the Japanese runner and for good reason - was way overs. I'll post up the 2 replays later on but I don't think Frankie saw 'Deirdre' coming! (took the rails run) To view go to the results page on Tab.com

At the start of the day I would have taken 284 (batting first therefore not having to bat last - in theory) I questioned a number of the selections especially around our late middle order and the 3 quicks we chose. But if it works, it works. But it hasn't worked yet as we need to restrict England to 320 or less. Even them getting to 340 only really evens things up. Batting 2nd a team would ideally prefer to be 80+ in front on the 1st innings. So right now, England have to get themselves into a strong position. They'd be really annoyed that they let us off the hook ... this conversation would have been way different if we'd only made 150 or so.

Smith is elite ... great grit shown by Siddle & Lyon. Was surprised to see the scoreline as when I nodded off we were 8 - 130 so a fantastic recovery The bowling has a score to defend so you never know. All things being reasonable England will have to bat last on this wicket and that might be tricky. Might take turn later on Wadda (?)

It's like clockwork the way it happens. Need to post more when the poms are batting! Anyway, it's down to Smith now you'd imagine. Needs support of course but he's the one who can make a big score.

Anderson out with a calf injury by the looks of it (gone for a scan) And there was talk of England playing an extra quick with Jofra Archer and they could certainly do with the extra bowler now. A matter of keeping them out there now whilst perhaps targeting Moeen Ali and/or Ben Stokes. At 3 - 98 the game is interestingly poised. We need one of these 2 (Smith or Head) to make a big hundred. If that happens we're right in this Steve. *Mozz factor deactivated (these in-match posts often bring about almost immediate change in the game circumstances)

Stradivarius proved too strong at the weights in the Goodwood Cup raced overnight. A masterful ride by Frankie Dettori all the same. Here's the replay ...

Glorious 'Goodwood' starts up on Tuesday ... a 5 day festival of racing much like the Royal Ascot Carnival. 3 big Group 1's to look out for ... 'Stradivarius' is up against Cross Counter & Dee ex Bee in the 2 mile Goodwood Cup on Tuesday On Wednesday 'Too Darn Hot' will start close to even money favourite in the Sussex St. (Mile) And on Thursday 'Hermosa' (9-4) will prove hard to beat in the Nassau Stakes (2000m for F & M) Frankie Dettori will almost certainly be riding Stradivarius & Too Darn Hot whilst Ryan Moore will probably saddle up on Hermosa.

Weekend Special MLB Monday 3.05am Philadelphia vs Atlanta Philadelphia Win -1.5 $2.35

Enable just finds a way to win ... often doesn't win by much but never-the-less, she wins! That will-to-win might just land her another 'Arc' too DZ. The other talking point from our point of view are the comparisons with Winx. But as stated previously, I prefer to celebrate all the greats as a collective. They're all great. Here's the race from last night again ...