Off Topic The Ashes.

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Ali or Rashid.

  • Ali

    Votes: 2 16.7%
  • Rashid

    Votes: 8 66.7%
  • Both

    Votes: 2 16.7%

  • Total voters
    12
Well that'll be that then. Lead in excess of 100. Was not expecting this when we were 40-3 and Root had been dropped on 0.

Let's hope the Aussie attack is equally wayward in the second innings and that our batters knuckle down and don't give them anything to get their teeth into - I don't want us to be relying on another Root wonder innings and the lower order wagging.
 
No way will we declare around 300. Given that there are still two full days left in the match I honestly can't see Cook declaring much earlier than lunch tomorrow (assuming that we are not skittled out before then) just to ensure that the Aussies don't have sufficient time to knock off whatever we have. That said if England stay in for much longer then we will have a massive score as we are scoring remarkably quickly and have Buttler and Ali to come who are not exactly blockers.
 
No way will we declare around 300. Given that there are still two full days left in the match I honestly can't see Cook declaring much earlier than lunch tomorrow (assuming that we are not skittled out before then) just to ensure that the Aussies don't have sufficient time to knock off whatever we have. That said if England stay in for much longer then we will have a massive score as we are scoring remarkably quickly and have Buttler and Ali to come who are not exactly blockers.

I don't think there will be a declaration. We'll be out before a declaration becomes an option/necessary.
 
What do we all reckon then? 412 would be the Aussies highest ever chase in the Ashes, and the pitch is favouring us.

But with no need to score quickly, I can certainly see the likes of Smith putting a dent in that total.
 
But with no need to score quickly, I can certainly see the likes of Smith putting a dent in that total.
I reckon on a wearing, unpredictable pitch, Moeen Ali and Jimmy Anderson will have a big part to play in the Aussies second innings. Forecast not too smart for Sunday - if it gets that far, Aus will have batted / battled well <ok>
Impetus England, and no doubt about it.
 
Well that went well. Didn't expect us to play that well. Joe Root is just superb. Frankly we were never going to be as bad in England, Australia have brought several players with good reputations who have struggled in England.

It is however only 1 test, clearly there's a contest on here but Australia will get used to the conditions, it's important to capitalise at lords before they can regroup.