jim mk2

He averages 38 at No 3 and 51 at No 4. You leave your best batter in his best position Moeen at No 3 is barmy but have to say I can't think of many decent alternatives and it's not as if if it's Pope's best position either

Blimey, I'd have Aaron Ramsey all day long to run the midfield and teach our youngsters a thing or two.

The idea should be you have a No 3 who is capable of batting No 3, not an over-promoted No 8

England looking to bat Moeen at No 3, according to the papers. Einstein is alleged to have said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results but this obviously does not apply to the England cricket team

On the face of it their faith is Bairstow is mystifying. Foakes is a more than decent bat, averaging circa 32 in Test cricket to Bairstow's 36, but by common consent is the far superior wicketkeeper. England might be ahead in this series without Bairstow's many mistakes behind the stumps. Whether it's because Bairstow has bought into the Bazball cult more than Foakes one can only guess. It's one of them decisions that just don't make any sense

Yes, that occurred to me too. This absolutely stinks if true

More than a poor do. How could they do this and why do they think it's acceptable? How about another idea, all the Tests to be played in the Midlands and north with not one in the south.? How would they like it? Questions need to be raised in parliament and the PM himself (a cricket fan for a northern constituency) should contact the ECB. . Levelling up, eh?

That was a relief. There's nothing better than beating this lot. Nothing. It's even better than beating Burnley And a whitewash has been avoided - which is another relief. We're 2-1 down and the Ashes are still alive but the fact remains we should be 2-1 up but for some of the reckless, brainless that's been on show The other lot aren't the best that's toured here by a long way and their best batters are struggling. They're eminently beatable playing positive, sensible cricket

Brook gets out to another stupid shot with victory in sight

Money rules (I've read it's all the players talk about in the dressing rooms) and "instant" cricket is the perfect game for the Playstation generation - they don't have the patience to sit through proper Test cricket

We haven't had a Test class opener since Alistair Cook retired. And we haven't had a Test class opening partnership since Cook and Strauss were in harness. This lot are just products of T20 cricket

Thanks for all your efforts in this match Jonny. Brilliant 2 days to make 250 and it could be over by tea on the 1st day ...... because we didn't play Bazball Chuffing nonsense

Root out right before lunch. Do England actually want to win this?

Crawley out to another T20 shot. 3 wickets down (with 40 minutes still left) in the first session isn't how you win Test matches. Crawley ticking himself for the shot too. He needn't bother - it's instinctlve and he does it time after time

Root looks a bag of nerves. Calm down Joe FFS and play some proper cricket shots

Root's head has gone with this Bazball stuff... why did he play that shot at the end of the over? Crazy And then he tries to run himself out. There's 2 days to go and they're taking risky singles

Six sessions over 2 days, even allowing for the weather, England can do this without taking any risks, nurdling the ones and twos. Wouldn’t that be something ….. making the target without hitting a 4?? If I were captain that’s what I’d be telling my batsmen. The Bazball mindset has led to defeats in the first 2 Tests. Heads down today for some proper Test cricket and grind out the win

It’s been a low scoring match so far and I don’t see why it should be any different in England’s 2nd innings. The other lot will come out all guns blazing - 2 quick wickets and the target suddenly looks a long way off. Fingers crossed though - there’s nothing better than beating them

Proper Test batsmen would take 2 days if necessary

Wish I had your confidence mate. I’ve been following England so long to know anything is possible so it’s always best to fear the worst because the worst usually happens

225 ahead and counting it’s too many with out T20 mentality batsmen

5 down, 43 runs to keep the target under a perhaps manageable 200

You can think what you want but it's highly unlikely Still waiting for your insider knowledge on "what Stokes and McCullum are actually saying to the players"

Bonkers

Smith out, keep chipping away lads