4th Ashes Test

[IlfordEagle]

Have to say England have had their best day yet albeit 3 Tests late!! An excellent performance to get the last 7 wickets for 67 inc a well deserved first for Curran (not bad getting Smith after missing out on Warner!). At last our best 2 batsmen got runs quite comfortably & so so good to see Ally get what looked a classy ton, much more like his old self. I haven't heard/seen any comments from The Ego about this innings & don't suppose I will as Ally did well.
Tomorrow gives us a chance of a good total & lead if at least 1 of the big 2 bats long.

[nat]

All too late.

[bwildered]

Test cricket, still got to perform has the Aussies would have no hesitation of nothing else . A sublime double ton for Cook, some textbook drives ( still got to get runs whoever your facing ) .
Now past Lara in test runs scored, and now shares 9th wicket partnership with Broad for England at MCG, breaking the previous being Beefy and JK .
A lead, but can we knock them over for a second time ?

[Oldhasbeen]

My money would be in a draw, but great work by Chef & Broad to get us on top. At last, something to smile about!

A few other early-morning thoughts:

Astonished to see both Malan and Vince not appeal after getting edges - I can't even recall this having happened once before, can anyone else?

And Khawaja's "catch" to dismiss Broad - come on you umps, are you serious?

Obviously Starc's absence is a big factor - Bird looks more like an English-conditions bowler to me - but we were due for a bit of luck after losing so several bowlers to injury (and Stokes to stupidity)

Moeen's looking like a man who's mentally shot. On the evidence of today maybe he should be batting at 10? 

[IlfordEagle]

Wonderful innings by Ally much like his old/normal self, just shows that form is temporary but class is permanent, surprisingly good support from Broad. We have a good chance to win if we can get over psychological 500 & get some early wickets particularly Warner & Smith. Agree re Khawaja's 'catch' which always looked iffy, could do worse than play Crane at Sydney, interesting choice between Curran & Overton if the latter is fit.Two good days in a row, can we make it 3??

[Valentines Park]

surprisingly good support from Broad.

Broad always looks a classy bat he just doesn't like the short stuff.

Hopefully his daddy ton has put paid to all this talk of Chef being finished as a test batsman.

[Andy]

Yep, quelle surprise, their best seamer's injured and the other had some TESCOS turkey, suddenly it's a different series. If we'd have taken Stone Cold Stokes in the first place, we might've had a competitive series.

Chefs done enough to stay in for another two series and break that appearance record. Good for him, but we need a replacement.

[bwildered]

Batting practice for the Aussies tomorrow ( fifth day ) , unless a clatter of wickets by tea . Would England chase a target,  and risk also getting knocked over cheaply and end up hanging on ?

[Andy]

Batting practice for the Aussies tomorrow ( fifth day ) , unless a clatter of wickets by tea . Would England chase a target,  and risk also getting knocked over cheaply and end up hanging on ?

You wrote that as if England had a choice?

[bwildered]

If the Aussies captain had been knocked over early one never knows, even good sides get into trouble.
Can see Crane getting a game in the final test in place of Moen . At least they have stopping another whitewash, only grey this time .

[Oldhasbeen]

No whitewash is some relief, but bloody glad I didn't sit through the last 2 sessions today.
Can't see any point in playing Moeen for the next one. Biq Q is whether to play a front line spinner at all - maybe gamble on Wood?

[Andy]

Why take Crane if you're not going to play him? I suspected Leach might have been slipped in for the final test, I reckon Ali will come back, make a quick century against a weaker team and take a few wickets then he'll still be around for another year.