I managed to bag tickets for the Old Trafford test today through the Lancs membership scheme

Boycott reckons 80-100 is a very good lead.

I personally would like about 150 lead!

 

Doing better than I expected

Can't see anything from Ali, but another 100/150  doesn't seem ridiculous 

Ali might do the business if we already have a reasonable lead when he comes in. 

Maybe not

bollocks

Mini-collapse...

Well left Ali.

Get Smith tonight

2 hours ago, boltondiver said:

Get Smith tonight

Can’t see us winning 

Who might not out this series?

 

Moeen, Bairstow, Denly

Thank fuck for that. Smith out. 

Edited August 4, 20196 yr by Cheese

Missing a bowler seems to have caught up a bit second innings round.

Just hope some of our batsmen can knuckle down tomorrow.

See the draw out and get some confidence.

39 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Missing a bowler seems to have caught up a bit second innings round.

Just hope some of our batsmen can knuckle down tomorrow.

See the draw out and get some confidence.

Could do with some rain as well

 

Roy will be thinking that 400 in a full day is entirely doable.............

Best ever Test match I saw live was the 5th day draw at OT in 2005. Decided to go at the last minute on the Sunday. Just done the same now. Booked train tickets for tomorrow. Another early night.

Can't see us coming back to win the series if we lose today

2 hours ago, boltondiver said:

Can't see us coming back to win the series if we lose today

I think when you really look at it we've picked the wrong team.

Broad, Woakes and Stokes were unplayable first morning and early afternoon when the conditions suited. When the ball softened and pitch died a bit their number 9 looked like batting was no issue at all. We needed some extra variety and Ali is way out of form with bat and ball. 

Even then though we had them 122-8 and they got 284. We were 274-4 and all out for 374. That's two huge chances to put them out of the game completely and we didn't take either. You can perhaps excuse the bowlers to an extent with Jimmy missing. The batting collapse on Saturday was really poor - the Aussies weren't doing much - just bowling tight line and length. We could have batted all day with patience. Instead likes of Stokes and Bairstow got out playing unnecessary shots. 

Not the wrong team, just perhaps some of them need to get into test match mode.

Stokes in a very useful bowler with an older ball as he can get it to reverse swing.

Losing your main bowler is bound to have an effect. I also think that root was careful not to overbowl the remaining ones, with 4 more matches to come in a short time.

The pitch seems dead, but Lyon is the one to watch. Over the years some of our batsmen have seemed very fearful of him.

3 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Not the wrong team, just perhaps some of them need to get into test match mode.

Stokes in a very useful bowler with an older ball as he can get it to reverse swing.

Losing your main bowler is bound to have an effect. I also think that root was careful not to overbowl the remaining ones, with 4 more matches to come in a short time.

The pitch seems dead, but Lyon is the one to watch. Over the years some of our batsmen have seemed very fearful of him.

I personally think that on a spinning pitch having a spinner who has no confidence and who's batting is now abysmal - probably was a mistake.

We can argue about Archer but I can understand them not wanting to risk him and Anderson - but by god what a difference Jofra would have made - I doubt Siddle would have looked so comfortable first innings with Archer steaming in at him. 

I thought we batted in the main in test match mode - one might even argue a bit too slowly at times - on a pitch like this at some point you're getting a ball with your name on it - I felt we could have scored a little quicker - the Aussies went at a fair old lick though partly that was down to shocking bowling in fairness. 

For me Stokes is a spell an innings bowler - he's not a bowler who can do line and length and therefore most of the time he's a bit wayward. When it reverses he's useful. But there was not much swing at Edgbaston after day 1. 

How to spunk away a test match and a series 

 

hope someone writes a book

Sounds like Roy's temperament got the better of him.

Jimmy's now batting. 

Twice in 3 days I’ve caught a chuff chuff in the hope of witnessing a miracle. Next up the Roses on Friday. Should be more straightforward,🤞

That was a bit abject. Feel sorry for anyone turning up to see that.

Bairstow and Moeen to drop out

Roots captaincy is poor.

If anderson doesn't break down, I think we win the test

So, I'm not sure how much of it is down to roots captaincy

A much bigger issue, for me, is we still don't have test class batsmen at the top

For me, bairstow stays in, but buttler takes the gloves and bairstow bats at 4 or 5

Stokes above buttler

Moeen is on very thin ice

None of it matters in Smith averages 140, mind

 

 Anderson needs to go back to county level and get a 4 day game under his belt before he plays again. He declared himself fit for this test and obviously wasn't. Throwing a few balls into nets to prove fitness for a five day game was probably the worst fitness test prior to a test match.