Damn, Root is out at anyone with tickets for Sunday, supposedly the fifth and final day of the match At least it's a fair contest between bat and ball, as opposed to a flat track run-fest! Excellent stream for anyone without Sky Sports 2 http://watchcric.net/channel/live-cricket_1
C'mom Moeen - Aussies fear the beard. Any lead over 100 will still have us in the box seat, particularly as the wicket doesn't look like flattening out anytime soon.
True, and with Lyon getting turn and bounce on the fourth session of the match, the pitch should - in theory help Ali and to an extent Root when the Aussies bat a second time. Intriguingly poised.
Just realised I hadn't yet voted on the OP, but I have now - definitely Moeen Ali, I always new he was going to have a brilliant series
Don't wish to jinx things here, but if they can remove either Clarke or Warner cheaply and soon, an innings victory can't be ruled out
Nice start from Finn after tea. Get rid of Warner and we're into the tail. Not likely to see much play tomorrow I reckon. Even I as a card carrying Ashes pessimist am starting to feel very confident.
There's a chance tonight that we could have the first two-day Ashes test since 1921, and Warner could get the record for biggest percentage of runs scored in an innings, which currently stands at 67%. He's on over 75% at the moment.
What a mad two days of cricket this has been. Shows that the Aussies need the pitch to be very much in their favour to get runs. Get Warner an this looks an innings victory. If not it'll be a win by 9 wickets (Lyth will inevitably get himself out).
Makes two of us, Munky, but with Aus effectively at 23/7, with three days to go and the weather set fair, there's surely only one outcome? Though from a betting man's perspective, which I'm not, it just may be worth a little £20 tickle on the draw
Absolutely no chance whatsoever of a draw, however if they can get a lead of a hundred or more with Mitchell Johnson steaming in with the new ball on a deteriorating wicket then it could be very interesting - and not in a nice way!
Best will in the world, I've seen more than enough from Broad, Finn, Stokes Ali - and even 1.5 overs from Root to suggest the tail won't trouble England overly much. The pitch at Lords was nobody's friend, we just collapsed in the second innings, but this pitch has ensured a contest between bat and ball - and we have clearly been far superior with the ball. I just don't see that changing tomorrow, with them seven down
Earlier I this thread I supported Rashid as I feel he's the spinner more likely to take wickets and that Ali was a compromise because he can bat. I'm now firmly of the opinion that I was right. However I feel Ali has shown himself to be one of our best batsmen so far so definitely makes my test team now.
Jimmy likely to miss the last two matches now. I assume Wood will come back in alongside the new improved Finn.
I dunno, I think Ali has bowled pretty well and taken some pretty important wickets so far. I'd have gone for Rashid at the start of the summer, and who knows he might have done brilliantly, but I agree that Ali was definitely the right choice.
