[tomtom]

Bugger, woke up to watch bell and 3 tail enders to disappear for 5 or 6 runs............

Still its game on from the Aussies point of view...

[Bobling]

Good to see Mitchell back in the team and having a bit of fun.

I didn't mean that much fun Mitchell 

Sad to see Bell out like that...he must be kicking himself. 

[DaveC]

 

[Bobling]

C'mon England to retain the Ashes!

[Bobling]

Cook and Strauss gone - KP walks to the crease on a pair...Mitchell get's stuck into the Barmy Army...it's all happening!

[rich d]

KP off the mark at least - a 200 partnership would be nice.

[Dolly]

WE could do with these two just staying there really

[robertostallioni]

KP off the mark at least - a 200 partnership would be nice.

[Bobling]

 

[rich d]

KP off the mark at least - any partnership would be nice.

[DaveC]

Sat down to have a look at the cricket this afternoon having missed the first hour and there's some Attenborough thing on! Found myself having a flashback to the 90s when this sort of thing happened all the time. Anyway, I still reckon the poms will retain the Ashes and quite possibly win the series - IMHO they still have the better and more consistent team, it's as much about having less weak links than the Australians as anything, but I'll still allow myself a minor celebration just this once...

PS Is it me or have Australia v England test series become just the most superb contests in recent years (2006-07 excepted.)

[butters]

Capitulation springs to mind as the word to describe the performance in this test - a truly awful show from England but it was lost as much as anything on the first day when we allowed the Aussies back in after having them at 69\5.

Having said that England have become a bad team overnight and overall they are the better team of the two from 1-11 as Dave points out. Also got to agree with Agger's assessment that Collingwood should be dropped for Bresnan - OK Collie took a blinder of a catch but looking back over the test as a whole I would rather have had a gritty fifty plus out of him.

PS Is it me or have Australia v England test series become just the most superb contests in recent years (2006-07 excepted.)

The Ashes have been rather good over the last few years (with the obvious exception as noted) and although it pains me slightly to admit it, it will probably be a better series overall with the win for the Aussies today.

[DaveC]

Well after Perth I thought maybe I was wrong about our cricket team over here but ....!
98 All Out and England 138-0, Adelaide service resumed...

[Grubes]

Been watching bits all night. The England seamers bowled fantastic.
Strays and cook are looking confident but the bowls are not threatening them. Saying that the spinner just bowled a couple of dangerous balls.

Come on England bring the ashes home

[Richie Crouch]

A good positive reaction after the last debacle, hopefully we can put a monsterous lead on the board and avoid having to bat again till the last test 

[Adam Lincoln]

         

[ksjs]

the only thing that will stop England retaining the Ashes now is a huge second innings effort from Aus where Ponting and Clarke score well overdue double centuries and then England get skittled out for a sub 100 score. or of course theres always the weather.

i just cant see it though: this series has had a ring of the end of an era for the Australians about it. bar Mitchell J's efforts last outing, Mike Hussey's spectacular form and not forgetting Siddle's hat-trick and of course Shane Watson's general solidity Australia have been dire. in fact not dissimilar to Pakistan's inability to find some discipline and consistency in their batting despite giftedness.

[john horscroft]

        

May I just add.......

 

[tommytwotone]

I swear I woke up this morning and a cat was chasing a dog. What the heck is going on??

They've just replied a bit of Boyc's commentary after the end of the Aussie innings:

"...ohhh 98 all out, I feel so sorry for Australia - I'm wiping away the tears as I speak..."

Someone give that man a medal!

[grumpycrumpy]

A good positive reaction after the last debacle, hopefully we can put a monsterous lead on the board and avoid having to bat again till the last test 

444-5 ....... Looks like it's on the cards .....

[Moo]

ING GERLAND ING GERLAND ING GERLAND NAAAA NAAAA   

[andy_e]

Declare with a lead of 350 and embarrass them at the crease again, with the chance of maybe having to score a few ourselves? Or get a few more runs and finish them off?

[Moo]

declare as soon as its safe cause they will defo be playing for a draw

[DaveC]

Here's a tip: England will add a few quick runs to get 400 ahead his morning (it's Tuesday here) then go for the innings win inside three days - and I suspect they'll get it too! It would be well-deserved, particularly after Ponting's latest display of petulance. I almost get a perverse pleasure out of watching him getting his arse kicked these days.

[Dolly]

Atherton reckon we'll bat until nearly tea so we can to get a lead of 500 plus so we've got a good 2 and a Bit days to get em out