Root's a net bowler !

Que ?

The popular papers back all the "big clubs" - because it is in their interests to do so. The big clubs have the most fans / readers. How do you know "the majority of their readers hate United" ? Seeing as United probably have the biggest fanbase in the country it is highly unlikely anyway. Was the Moyes reporting gleeful ? I don't think so - just a cracking story. You're wrong on this. There's no anti-ManU agenda in the media.

So ManU aren't "media darlings" ? Every paper I read backs them to the hilt.

Sir Les Patterson, Kylie Minogue, Ned Kelly your boys took one hell of a beating !

I must admit I don't understand the way they play modern Test cricket. Watching England this morning, with so much time left in the match I can only think players from the past would have batted all day, posted a huge score and given Australia no sniff of a chance. Has Buttler never heard of the forward defensive shot ?

Bairstow's technique still isn't right. Mixture of good shots and awkward defence. Root is in the form of his life. Most enjoyable day of cricket in years - England must build on this tomorrow and make at least 450. .

How would you describe Australia's batting - criminal ? At least they've got one decent batter - Extras. Perhaps he should open the 2nd innings.

Cook was playing beautifully before he was out - a ridiculous dismissal. Lyth found wanting again but Bell should be made to do 100 lines for getting himself out like that.

Managers have to take difficult decisions with maverick big name footballers too - and the ones who cause problems in the dressing room or whose egos and the circus surrounding them gets so big they think they are bigger than the team itself (eg Beckham at ManU) don't usually last long. Pietersen has only himself to blame.

Edited: I've looked at some of his other stuff. It's all puerile, schoolboy rubbish. Does that count for serious comment down there ?

Usual one eyed view. Someone should tell him England have won the last 3 Ashes series at home. Not quite so "pathetic".

3rd series here in 6 years - it's getting boring to be honest. With the way they played I'd have preferred New Zealand to be here all summer.

It's a 450 minimum pitch, very placcid with nothing in it for the bowlers. Anything less is below par. Losing Buttler near the end was a blow. Bell has been out of form for so long I don't know why he was selected.

None of you have mentioned that Harris, their best bowler, is out of the tour and has announced his retirement,.

What does your post mean in plain English ?

Gordon, if you read the reports (and do some research for once) there is no clear demand for the sort of volumes of potash that this mine will produce. There is also a global oversupply of potash at present. The technology they are proposing to use to extract it is unproven too. Sirius now have raise the billions in funding to build a 37km long by 6m wide tunnel under the North York Moors national park bigger then the Channel Tunnel - and create a market for a product which is currently barely in use - and get and retain 86% share of world sales of this wonder chemical - and maybe it'll break even , eventually. Place your bets on this thing never seeing the light of day or maybe started and then the project being found to be unfeasible unless further planning restrictions are lifted. Meanwhile, a precious national park is opened up to industry - and all in the name of "growth" that may or may not be achieveable. Thankfully, the Campaign for National Parks pressure group said it could launch a legal appeal. “This is such an important test case of the protection for National Parks in national planning policy,” it said.

For the first time in your life, you're right.

Well done to LCC for putting the concerns of local people and the environment first. NYCC are a disgrace for putting allowing potash mining to go ahead - particularly in a national park. I hope the objectors take it to a judicial review. Anyone who seeks to make money out of the despolation of an area of an outstanding natural beauty should hang their heads in shame.

Buttler is going to be a big player for England this summer - good signing by Lancs.

This has to be some sort of joke. Hoping your country fails because your favourite player has been snubbed is idiotic, even by your low standards.

With all due respects to Bumble, he never saw the likes of Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton or Wally Hammond. Graves is to blame for all this. He could have put this the matter to bed months ago by saying Pietersen was finished with England but he put his foot in it by leaving the door ajar. He's got form with opening his mouth too - witness his silly statement before the Windies tour. English cricket is so badly managed at the moment - why do we need a "director of cricket" for heaven's sake ?

Great player in his pomp but more trouble than he is worth now. Strauss has done the right thing in making a clean break.

Yes they have. Like Swansea and Bournemouth and Brentford and a few others. But we don't have a future and should be looking at amalgamating with our rivals (copyright thenodrog).

Barcelona are dull as ditchwater to watch - there's more to football than constant passing. I usually fall asleep when they are on TV. Guardiola has alot to answer for in my view, and Bayern are becoming almost as bad though they still have a certain amount of Teutonic directness.