Ashes 2019

He's done nothing to justify being in the middle order though.

Can't keep, can't bowl, what's the point?

One day and T20 player, that's it.

His test 'career' is now over.

 

Superb fightback led by Joe Root. England need 203 more runs with 7 wickets in hand

We have a chance but Root needs to go big and Stokes, Buttler and Bairstow need decent scores aswell

 

Would certainly turn my opinion of Root around if he sorts this out tomorrow.

Not gonna lie, I'm not holding my breath.

Hope I'm proven wrong.

 

You do wonder what might have been if instead of that pathetic horror show in the first innings it was just a piss poor effort of say 150 .

 

For anyone tempted to read "The Test" by Nathan leamon I'd suggest you don't do it in the next twelve hours...
Bloody cricket - you want to believe there's a chance but... Sure football's my first passion like most of you on here but there's something mesmerising about an test match especially against these boys. We have players who can do this - and they can also really **** it up. I used to pity blokes who had no interest in sport - on days like today I'm a bit envious

 

Without Steve Smith the Aussies are nothing to fear with the bat. Yeah his replacement looks half decent apart from when Jofra keeps trying to take his head off

We really have capitalised on Smith being out by bowling then out cheaply twice. But we get a pathetic 67. As you said if it was 167 we would have pissed this

But what ive learnt over the years is the easier the target. The harder England make it look

England in test cricket are better when they bat first. If the openers get us off to a flyer. Rarely happens now then the middle order often do well

The openers have always set the tone for our innings and still do

 

We’ll crumple like a cheap suit and it’ll be all over shortly after lunch.

Amen.

 

I think the Root and Stokes partnership decides it. If they can take about 75 runs off the 203 then we are seriously in business

We dont need to chase the game as we have 2 days to get the target. Defend well and punish the bad balls

 

well those hopes were dashed rather quickly

 

2 full days of play left and he tries that. Even taking the odd single here and there, they should be able to comfortably make 100 runs a day. None of them have test match batting brains. Boycott would still be batting from the 1st innings if he was playing. Question now is, who takes over as captain?

 

It's got a bit interesting

 

shh
don't jinx it ffs.

 

Superb from Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow

Lunch 238-4
Need 121 more runs to win

Come on England

 

Crowd doing their bit

 

Root and Denly made us think it was possible
Stokes and Bairstow made his possible
Upto them and whoever else is needed to make it happen

Big few hours for alot of test careers and legacys

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Bairstow has thrown this away. Played so well before lunch then left his brain in the changing room. As for Buttler, was 1 run really worth the risk?

 

ah well, at least they put up a show in the 2nd innings and didn't let it be a complete humiliation.

 

I'm shocked at what goes through players' brains. A guy playing well at the other end so just support him, ffs!

 

Whatever happens from here. Get Ben Stokes knighted. What heart and desire he has shown yet again when everyone else around him was crumbling