Off Topic The official 2017-18 Ashes Thread

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A bit of a grind for England this morning. Root out hooking and Malan given out LBW when he got a big inside edge, but, like Vince, he didn't call for a review! Just coming up to lunch and England are 263-4, still 64 behind. If the tail contribute properly, 400 is still on the cards.
 
Well done cookie 244 not out & lead reaches 164 at close of play, good knock from broad as well & about time he scored some runs.
 
Cookie proves us all wrong again.
Amazing knock from England's greatest ever batsman.
There's always that niggly feeling that the Aussies have taken their foot off the gas though.
 
Cookie proves us all wrong again.
Amazing knock from England's greatest ever batsman.
There's always that niggly feeling that the Aussies have taken their foot off the gas though.
I don’t think that’s in the Aussies nature Col, especially in an Ashes series. There is not that much difference between these teams on paper, except the conditions, our lack of pace to suit the conditions, and the fact that the English players have performed well below their potential most of the time.
 
Nice to wake up to find England in an attacking position for a change and putting the Aussies under some pressure.......

Well done Cook and nice to see Broad get some runs, 100 partnership for 9th wicket is priceless......might as well bat on in the morning for Cook to get 250 and then hopefully the bowlers can apply pressure.......
 
Amazing turnaround for England in comparison to the end of Day One. Cook showed what has been missing from the English batsmen in this series, you need one big hundred at least to stay in the game at this level. Interesting stat - this was only the 2nd time in 113 tests that Cook has batted with Broad. Let's see how the Aussies react now when seriously under the cosh...
 
I don’t think that’s in the Aussies nature Col, especially in an Ashes series. There is not that much difference between these teams on paper, except the conditions, our lack of pace to suit the conditions, and the fact that the English players have performed well below their potential most of the time.


It's not in their nature, nor most competitive sportsman. However, it's a subconscious thing.
 
Huge anti-climax as Anderson surrenders meekly to the first ball of the day.
First time I decide to watch from the start of play, hoping for a bit of batting fun and it doesn't happen.

Now, it's overcast, so come on England. Pitch the thing up!
 
England's bowlers looking completely toothless and now they've wasted a review.

I'm off to bed. Hopefully things will have improved by the time I check the score in the morning.
 
Looks like rain will rescue the Aussies now, they'll look to bat out the day tomorrow. Our bowlers need to find their form from Day Two...
 
So the last test, eng 233-5, bad end for eng after a good stand by root & malan, why didn’t they send in a night watchman instead bairstow? Puzzling.
 
So the last test, eng 233-5, bad end for eng after a good stand by root & malan, why didn’t they send in a night watchman instead bairstow? Puzzling.

Total stupidity. They leave it up to the individual batsman as to whether the nightwatchman goes in, against Starc with the 2nd new ball at the end of the session it should have been a no-brainer to send the nightwatchman in...
 
It was all going so well, then 5 minutes of stupidity at the end of play.....

As Boycs is so fond of saying "add 2 wickets to the score to see how it really looks"....well England did that rather well at the close.....from being in a decent position to a precarious one in 5 minutes.....Now is the time for Moeen to rediscover his batting form.

Expect us to be all out before lunch.....