England are so far ahead of the game that, without rain affecting it, you couldn’t see anything other than us winning. I’ve also noticed that Marsh and Green are a right pair of fatso’s. They’re supposed to be professional athletes, they look like incarnations of Mike Gatting.
Wicket starting to throw up a few gremlins. If we get get 150 in front that could be just about enough. Root copped for one that hardly bounced, proper daisy cutter.
Might sound daft but if they know the weather is coming why don’t they allow extra time at the start of the test? They could easily play until half seven tonight.
It's because you don't actually know what the weather will do so you could end up banking time you subsequently can't use because the weather turns out fine. Question was posed and answered on the bbc live text stream this morning.
Understandable if it’s touch and go re the forecast but Saturday looks like the full day will be lost due to rain. I don’t see the issue with playing more overs than scheduled if it means you get a result anyway.
Think it was Fred Trueman who said 'if tha' wants to be fast bowler tha's got to 'ave a great fat arse'. Think he was referring to Darren Gough.
Kudos to Moheen Ali today. Volunteered for the number three role, which nobody else wants, and when he was at the crease within a couple of overs it was so important that he saw off the new ball. When he was out the ball was about 30 overs old, Root had a platform and Crawley's seeing it like a beach ball. And he contributed a decent knock himself. Imagine the scenario if he'd been out early; we're 10 for 2, Root comes in to face the Convicts with their tails up and a new conker in their hands... Suddenly it's a different game.
Agree about Moeen, slightly shaky start but once he'd settled he was like the Moeen of old, a stylish, classy batsman.
I think Moheen was the reason Crawley made his score... that saying 'keep your head whilst everyone around you is losing theirs' (is that right)
Get to a 200 run lead as quick as possible and put them in. Hopefully it nips around and the pitch misbehaves.
I was saying to some dude at work, I reckon we come out this morning (weather permitting) for 10 to 15 overs and just slog it and declare (about 200 up).
A draw here is no good for England. If the target for a declaration is 200, I would expect every aussie on the boundary. The field set to run them in 1's and 2's or get out caught, trying to smite the target in 6's. On a pitch that showed some uneven bounce. Hope we have a full days play.
I’d be gobsmacked if there was a result here. The forecast is even worse than it was yesterday. Today looks like it will be heavily affected, tomorrow’s a complete wash out and Sunday looks really grim as well. It’s looking like a three day test, due to the weather.
On Manchester weather. My daughter moved there for work. And rang me during one biblical (typical) downpour, "Dad, we think it rains in Hull, but it doesn't."
