God loves you whatever you decide Gav. 2 days to the third test.... I'm not sure the Aussies will know what to do in the current heatwave, some of them may be wearing 3 or 4 sweaters.

French media have some blame to take, but even then its not like the guy in second is french. Its not as though Froome is miles better, Quintana lost the race in the first few days on the flat.

Well that didn't end well Paul... Regarding TDF 2 major tests left, followed by the procession to Paris, Froome looks very strong although 3 minutes isnt a unassailable lead in the Alps. 1 bad day and all....

A long way off the beaten trail, but can recommend Scottish seafood here...http://www.lochindaalhotel.co.uk/our-food/

On the other hand, the better managers get their best team on the pitch e.g. Cantona, Keane.

2 spineless batting, and poor bowling performances. God knows where we go after that mess, but our top order looks a disaster zone, could easily drop 3 of the top 5.

If the Aussies get to 550+, as looks likely, then England have to play for the draw, however I dont think we have that type of batsmen. It's tricky but I think we'll all be doing a rain-dance come sunday lunchtime.

Yep, marvellous stuff wasnt it, much better than pesky cobbles

I'm supporting Abbeys comments that all you do is have a pop at people, and guess what? I share Als opinion on Pieterson, but wouldn't support the opposition, imo time will prove it is wrong not to select Pieterson. You should have a look at your own posts before you accuse other of bullying too. Ask Chaddy if he feels that I have bullied him.

He's right though, more or less every one of your posts is having a go at someone. Well done England btw, very pleasantly surprised by the result.

Gave some cheap wickets away at the end of the day. Odds are very much against it, but if the Aussies dig in and get to 100 for 0 they have plenty of time to score the rest. Jos Buttler has gone cheaply twice for daft shots, which is a shame. Also a shame our best batsman is in the West Indies.

Cobbles are all about who crashes really, it's not really a test of the best rider. Then again I probably think they should be ascending mont ventoux every other day.

Dramatic because of crashes mainly, not particularly because of the riding. Time we got some hills involved.On another note, 3 separate uk bids for the grande departe next year. Scotland, Manchester and god-forbid London (too flat to be interesting)

Decent day for England, shame to lose Buttler so late for a poor shot. England need to get another 40+ runs to give the Aussies a target to think about. Great recovery given the start of the day.

Pietersons main gripe is that England are too passive.Even Geoffrey Boycott is agreeing that Cook is too conservative in modern cricket. Forget not that Cooks response to the abysmal World Cup performance was that it proved he shouldn't be dropped. Cook is a great player, but not a great captain. Its such a shame that picking or dropping Pieterson is directly linked to Cook. The best managers get their best players on the pitch.

I'll accept fracking the moment the first site is operational in Kent or Sussex, not just the "desolate" north (as per Lord Howell -chief lobbyist and Osbornes father in law - describes us). For my money there has been no movement whatsoever on answering the question of groundwater pollution.

Well Kanye West killed it..........literally. Truely awful.

Jonathan Agnew said it was cringeworthy (straussy). Seeing as its a messageboard, and debate / opinion is surely the point, I have the right to post what I think. I don't need the thought police thanks Chaddy. Feel free to stop telling us your opinion if you see fit.

Heard an interview this morning with Alistair Cook referring to his bosses boss as Straussy n several occasions. All a bit too cosy for me. Chaddy, your KP argument is like saying theres no point signing Ronaldo because he's greedy and we have no way of being sure he would be better than Tom Cairney. England got out of jail big time today, the Aussies would have had us all out and be ahead of us by now.

Mis-read it then, sorry.

So they didn't even have the grace to tell Ian Bell he wasnt vice-captain? Thats a disgrace in itself.

Ian Bell has been interviewed and said he has no problem with KP, so its a dwindling list of people who object to him. Stuart Broad could be one which would tie in with the admin side as his sister is part of the coaching staff.

Its Cook - how many others of the last ashes team are still in the squad? - and as for admin staff surely thats a joke? Flintoff has said KP isnt in the top 10 of difficult players he's played with. Cook seems to well above his station, putting his own feelings above the team performance. Sounds like he needs bringing down a peg or two to me, and needs to concentrate on his own game let alone negative captaincy.

Cricket is very much an individual within a team environment, theres no hiding places for poor batsmen or poor bowling in the same way that you can carry players in a football team. Having mates who are lovely but who will get destroyed by the opposition is not how you win test matches, or indeed how you build team spirit. The only trust really needed is that the other guy is not going to run you out, the rest is down to you as an individual.

What did the Aussies do with David Warner? Good management get their best players on the pitch. See Craig Bellamy, Roy Keane, Andy Cole, John Terry, Ashley Cole etc...