I would love to see the evidence that going along at 2 an over leads to success.

I’d love to know what you posters using the term “Bazball” actually think it is. for me it means getting ahead in every aspect of the game, of being positive in everything you do, of forcing the agenda and results. It doesn’t mean being totally reckless but getting that balance right is critical. If England go out today and play the old test cricket brand of going at 2 an over and taking no risks, the chances are they won’t get over the line. If they let the Aussies get on top of them, they’ll lose IMO. Keeping the run rate up is Englands best chance.

Aussies favourites for me. 250 is a long way away.

What a player Stokes is. When everyone before him look like they could get out at any ball, he comes in and makes it look easy. He’s played and missed a few times but so did all the Aussie batsmen. He can play the classical game and he can completely destroy the opposition. watch him get out now.

What an awful shot.

Chance for Bairstow to redeem himself.

Advantage Australia I reckon, which is disappointing considering how we bowled them out so quickly. someone has to do to them what Marsh did to us.

Now for the difficult bit. hard pitch, bounce, swing. Ideal for our Australian friends.

England might* find it difficult on this wicket as well. *will

Brilliant again from Wood

Superb from Wood. Starc clean bowled

Another easy catch dropped, this time by Root

Bairstow drops another. This time an easy one.

Great cricketing day for me yesterday. Watched Ashes on TV then off to OT to see Lancs progress to a home quarter finals tie on Friday, then back home to watch the Ashes highlights on TV. 🙂 The Bairstow incident? I would much rather see players being got out by cricketing skills, than the underhand way the Aussies went about it. They should have withdrawn their appeal which would have acted as a warning to Bairstow to be careful in future. Not that he was in any way trying to achieve any advantage by going for his mid wicket chat anyway. Only downside is Lancs charging us £20 for a ticket for the QF shortly after the Roses game was abandoned without a ball being bowled. Non members got their ticket fee refunded. 🤨 Last season it was free for members.

You going to Old Trafford? I am.

Hope they don’t. I would take a draw now and move on.

The Aussies will go short again, just like England are doing now. It’s not good to watch for sure. The current benefit to England is that it’s slowing the run rate down meaning it will delay a declaration- giving England less time to bat and get out.

With or without his crutch?

Aussies not dealing very well with the short ball. Fabulous😀. unfortunately, at 198/5 effectively 198/6 because of Lyons injury and a lead of 289 I think they already have enough.

No. I said this was silly… Sensibly leaving would be anti Bazzball.

Of course. Just leave the short ball.

and? last Ashes test series we lost 4-0. That was better?

Their record under Stokes and McCullum says exactly the opposite.

Silly statement ARA.

The simple thing is that England weren’t prepared for the short ball barrage and had no idea what to do about it.