I don't think we should be focusing on what has gone on before Ewood. At the end of the day, all of the above is trumped with the fact two of Australia's run scorers have both been sidelined for genuinely cheating Whatever has happened previously is irrelevant - the deGrandhomme incident is not even in the same context. Pope was not the wicket keeper at the time of run out and the batter had not grounded either his foot or his bat in the crease. Therefore, there could never ever be any confusion as to whether the bowl was dead or live

Starc grounded that ball. End of story Smith got Root out with a catch that benefitted from the rule changes; in reality the ball touched the ground there as well It really has been a magnificent 10 days of cricket. That innings by Stokes will go down in history. Had we been able to bring it along the line it would have trumped Headingley. The control and the way he manipulated the field was a masterclass; a class of cricket that Stokes shows once a year. He is at his best when his back is to the wall. I have a feeling he knows that now- he now has 3 tests to turn this around. He doesn't strike me as a man who accepts losing despite all the talk of entertainment and Bazball I don't look down on the Australians for the Bairstow wicket because it is what we come to expect. I hope to see that level of nastiness, and gamesmanship, from ourselves at Leeds. The crowd will be hostile and so should we. I'd be looking to bowl both Tongue and Wood and come at Australia with pace. Warner and Khawaja have both shown they are susceptible to Tongue, who was our best bowler by a long way. Be hostile, be aggressive and let's try and turn the anger of the Baristow wicket to change the game Genuinely though, it has been a pleasure to watch this Ashes despite the results. Both games could have gone either way. Yet we find ourselves 2-0 down, with a task in front of us that hasn't been achieved since the 30s. But, you know what, I still think this England squad are in with a chance If anybody knows of any tickets going at Headingley or OT, name your price and message me. It has been sensational so far. I really cannot explain how privileged it felt to be able to see Ben Stokes in that form.

I have never seen us lose a day in person After some fantastic breakfast in Elephant and Castle we are on our way. We will skittle these this morning; give ourselves 300 to chase and Crawley will absolutely piss a century this afternoon I’ve also had a beer with breakfast so I could be talking nonsense

The attacking cricket is definitely playing in our favour. White ball cricket has taken over in England. We don't have the big pool of players to pick from like Australia do. In part because most lads here play football or rugby; cricket is seen as a pursuit for the rich kids. So we have to play to the strengths of our already limited pool of players. I am going to assume Stokes and our Baz recognise that, hence the quick change. As posters have said, it is Bazball that has put us in the positions we have been in. It is also the relentless pursuit of attack that has put us back in precarious positions. I just think we could balance it a little better, which will come with time I hope. Stokes should not have declared with Root at the wicket. Yet, if he did get Warner or Khawaja out in that evening, it would have been a stroke of genius. We should have ducked it out yesterday, but as KP said, if a couple of them had gone for 4 or 6 we would have cut the short bowling out instantly Ultimately I think it is why the posters in here love test cricket. The variance, the ever changing conditions and the speed on which a match can turn...despite it lasting 5 days! We are in for another great day of cricket today (if the weather holds...it's raining in Brum) and for that I am thankful to both England's Bazball and Australia's skill in dealing with it. Only India have come close to matching it so far.

Not to derail the thread.....but why?

I thought this was dropped at the time When it got given out I just assumed it was the picture on my laptop confusing me. It looked for all the world to be a dropped catch

Do agree in some way with this John but there's passages of play that you have to be sensible in They took 3 big wickets by bowling short. There is no way they could have sustained that for a while. We were scoring freely when they pitched up. In my opinion you just soak up the short stuff, let the seamers tire out, and then wait to attack when the part time spinners / tired bowlers pitch up It was a nonsense period of cricket from an England perspective. I don't think it is betraying Bazball to just relax for brief periods

The problem is we put ourselves in the winning position. Then we threw it away and let them back in Lyons went off injured and they had to resort to a short barrage. Why didn't they duck it out and let them tire? Then attack again They were stupid wickets to throw away. Duckett and Root. Especially Root. You can attack and be sensible, they aren't mutually exclusive.

We deserved that Root let off

Lyons going off injured may have just tipped this whole series in our favour

What England have done is take back the initiative. Crawley's wicket was stupid again, but that attacking intent has put us well on track to win our first batting session yet again. You expect Pope and Duckett to now bat the day out. I think this is where "Bazball" has to adapt ever so slightly. It is all well and good going out guns blazing, but at times we need to reign it in.

Brooks would. I'd wager Foakes wouldn't be far off either. Carey is an exceptional wickey, but the truth is Foakes is the best in the world. It is a criminal decision he is not in Pope on his day can knock it around with the best of them too. But with their middle order he wouldn't get in at the moment Maybe a fit Stokes for Green too We don't have a bad side, openers not counting, but seem to bottle it against the Aussies I think if we go into 2nd innings having scored 400 we become favourites. We love a chase Setting itself up nicely for Saturday and Sunday - of which I have tickets again 🙂 Going down London tomorrow night, bit of Lion King in theatre to keep her happy, followed by 2 days at Lords. Perfect weekend

In bat before lunch. Rain cloud looming.... All out for 200 I'm saying

Pears has gotten some very unjustified pelters on here The strange thing is that nobody has argued he is a better goalkeeper than Kaminski. But the situations that posters have chosen to highlight - the Millwall goal and the Coventry goal - are not at all examples of Pears mistake. They are, perhaps, the closest to a mistake he made since he stepped in for Kaminski Pears has had all sorts from his glove work to his charisma (weirdly) slated. It just seems unnecessary to me. Is Thomas Kaminski that irreplaceable? We got him for less than a £1m. He made mistakes too So if highlighting Kaminski's mistakes comes under 'confirmation bias' then what does highlighting Pears' mistakes come under?

It’s much smarter to adapt If people do solid weeks, week in week out, then you are wasting your life. You only get one

We will win this test today With any luck the rain holds out until 1pm. Giving them an afternoon to get 175 runs whilst we need 7 wickets in favourable conditions Good lad Stokesy

How many shirts do you reckon we have to sell to solve our FFP problem?

The weather is turning. This could genuinely be the last session of the match I think we find ourselves 30 runs short, and we may rue Root's moment of madness An early wicket to Warner and we are on our way. Huge session of cricket coming up here

If we can get this to a 300 lead I'll still fancy us The rain forecast tomorrow morning will give us every advantage in the morning session We need to try and bat the day out though. Ali and Robinson need to produce something brilliant here imo

I was at Edgbaston yesterday, and the conditions were perfect for the bowlers after the rain delay It is just England's luck. That said, both Duckett and Crawley should have left everything not on the stumps. Everyone could see the massive rain cloud coming over and the wind had started to swirl. Bet that lot couldn't believe their luck The Bairstow stumpings / dropped catches may cost us. We could have had some more hours batting in good conditions. The weather has turned now, and even today in Brum you'd like to be a bowler, so I think the pitch will have a bit more life in it

Good lad Crawley. Needed that Pope getting out to a terrible ball. Other than that a very good morning

The glory days Supernoodles on toast for dinner, 70p Becks for dessert Still a better food and drink offering than at Ewood

Ali extends our batting line up. In theory that middle order can score very high, very quickly The problem is we start 0-1 anyway, as any runs Crawley puts on the board are considered a bonus The biggest travesty is Ben Foakes. A terrific wicket keeper and came in quite handy with the bat last year too. A lot of not outs with 30+ on the board In my opinion, you may as well risk Bairstow opening and drop Crawley and bring in Foakes.

Doogs is a wind up merchant Move on

The minimum they are required to ensure the club does not break financial rules and for the football financial regulators to stay away If they wanted to improve the ground, match day experience, facilities and all commercial aspects of the Rovers they could and could do so without breaking any rules