A pretty good morning, just the one wicket lost, Jason Roy for 10, but Root and Burn's still there on 11 & 41 respectively, so far so good. A bit of a weird one, the ball clipped Root's stumps, but the bails didn't come off. A bit of luck.
The umpires are having an absolute ****ing shocker for both sides. Though I suppose that's better than them having a shocker for just one side.
Especially when it's an intentional shocker. Eg, England in Australia 1970/71, in 6 tests with Aussie umpires, England didn't get one single LBW decision in their favour. They still won the series 2-0, the only time I think, the Aussies didn't win at least one test in a home series.
Yeah bloody gutsy. Unrecognisable from when he played vs Ireland. He looked totally out of Nick, but to be fair even Thursday evening when he first went in, he was knocking it about very confidentially.
hat a great knock by Burn's, rode his luck at times, but to see the day out still unbeaten is a great achievement. Here's hoping we can see off the first hour this morning and build a commanding lead. I think they will need a good lead, as batting last on this wicket could see Lyon causing some damage.
Seeing the way Lyon turned it at times I agree .. think we need a minimum of 80 lead before we've done .. however lose one of Stokes and Burns early I'm fearful they'll run through us like a dose of salts .. cant see Alli hanging around long .. Woakes is a bit hit and miss as is Broad and then there's Anderson .. means it's down to Bairstow. Having said that Burns knock really surprised me given how he floundered against the Irish .. let's hope they surprise me again.
I hear on TMS that Anderson was bowling a few in the nets this morning. Could be a psychological ploy, or may be able to bowl 3 or 4 overs in the Aussies 2nd innings
Before the start sky showed him running in 3/4 pace this morning and letting a few go .. got to say didnt look anything wrong with him.
Have to say I would have preferred Rashid to Alli in this game. The tailenders cant read a leg spinner so doubt they'd have plundered 160 odd runs for the last 2 wickets .. he turns it more .. and has variations. Alli I suspect is being picked hoping he can do a job and score a few runs but that ain't worked out for best part of 12 months.
