We will need to bat a lot better than we did in the first innings thats for sure. Apart from Anderson, our bowling is poor, but you have to hand it to Agar, what a brilliant performance from a 19 yr old kid batting at 11 in his first Ashes Test. WOW
England have lost the plot and Cook has lost the game plan. No plan B either as yet. Aussies 124-9 and now 229 for 9 @ lunch.
Looks like Agar is a ringer. Not a no.11 at all according to many aussies. They have done us well and truely on this one. England need to re-group over lunch and get the last wicket. Then score 500+ as the sun wont last the full 5 days. Those who were panicking over the game reaching saturday should now be alot calmer. Lol.
Here we go again! Unless Pietersen plays one of his great innings, I fear the worst. Shame Agar missed out on his ton, even though he his an Aussie,he deserved it and the other fellow played a great innings as well.
I really do have concerns whether Root is up to the job as opening batsmen. Nick Compton scores a hatful of runs against the Aussies who can't get him out and Root is picked instead?
Ian Bell should have opened with Cook to take the shine off the new ball. Root should be No.5 after Petersen imo. Root is not yet ready for Test match opening. We kill our talent at a young age sadly. Over hype and over expect. England more like at the moment and it is.
Root is a Yorkshireman nuff said never take sides against the White Rose Carmine. We have a bridge for people who want to leave.......................
England 79/2 lead by 14 runs now. Some awful batting today when all is said and done. Boycott has got it all spot on. Some need detention and the nets @ close of play.
Proper test match batting at the end. At one point we'd scored one fun in five overs but it's exactly what was needed. Both AC and KP dropped anchor and slowly reduced that deficit until it was gone. Well done to those two and my pathetic comment wasn't aimed Tickles, Stan you rascal.
Totally agree. Sometimes I feel the batsmen get caught up in thinking test matches are T20. We've got another 3 days and it won't rain so stick around, the pitch is only going to get worse and lets bowl at them on day 5. Ps - any update on Greenteeth signing?
Too late. PGT is off to PSG. He whiffs like a Frenchman so he'll fit right in. Disclaimer. I actually like the French and as such my jape cannot, therefore, be deemed as racist.
Fair play to the Aussies & to Agar. Great Cricket. Missed England's quick fire wickets in the first hour than missed Pietersen & Cook trying the steady the ship, after Root & Prior got out. Interesting days play tomorrow. England need to bat the day out if they want to win it, i reckon.
I can see a similar approach to how we bat this morning. Just drop anchor and try and get to lunch, even if we only add 50 in the morning session but don't lose more than one wicket I'll be happy. If batting conditions are like they were late on yesterday I can see Cook scoring big, it might take him all day to reach a hundred but he's clearly digging in.
