An excellent day at the cricket nearly became a perfect one. England finished the game well on top and now look capable of turning the series round. The Aussie batsmen will be having nightmares about Jofra Archer, and with Stokes batting beautifully plus signs of returning form from Buttler and Bairstow, things are looking much more positive. The obvious remaining problems are Jason Roy and Joe Root. I would persist with Roy, but switch him to number six, with Denly opening and Stokes and Buttler moving to four and five respectively. We'll have to hope that Root can regain some form next week on his home ground. Leach bowled nicely today and is well worth his place in the side. I'm backing England to win the series 2-1.
It was always going to be a draw with so much time lost, suited the poms as it became a limited overs game. One step closer to the ashes for us, still one win ahead with three games to go and one more win required.
Unchanged team for Headingley, Smith may not be available as there's a bit of a stink brewing over them sending him back out after he got 'topped' on Saturday. Odds have swung our way...
