Ashes third test

[nil_desperandum]

My point remains exactly the same, I expected this done by tomorrow tea. England have made too many mistakes and not capitalised on Autralias. That's throughout the whole series.

Very much doubt Australia will declare early tomorrow, (despite a forecast of rain.)
Don't forget they only need a draw, so I imagine they'll bat as long as they can to ensure there's no chance of an England miracle win.

[Lancasterclaret]

You saw yesterday when we dropped catches all over the place

Its not depressing because its a work in progress, but you can't drop people who go on to make runs in test cricket, especially if they are regulation catches

[fatboy47]

Jim Maxwell on TMS just said he felt that there was little to choose between the sides in respect of batting and bowling, and that the fielding, especially behind the wicket, has been the difference and the reason it's looked so one-sided.

I tend to agree.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Jim Maxwell on TMS just said he felt that there was little to choose between the sides in respect of batting and bowling, and that the fielding, especially behind the wicket, has been the difference and the reason it's looked so one-sided.

I tend to agree.

Despite all the doom mongers on here I think that’s spot on.
Apart from it looking one sided because it really hasn’t.

[Ric_C]

Our catching has cost us the ashes potentially.

Other than Mitch Marsh, no one has looked comfortable on this wicket

[Lancasterclaret]

Our catching has cost us the ashes potentially.

Other than Mitch Marsh, no one has looked comfortable on this wicket

And Mitch Marsh absolutely baz balled it

[kentonclaret]

Our catching has cost us the ashes potentially.

Other than Mitch Marsh, no one has looked comfortable on this wicket

Ditch BAZ ball practice CATCH ball

[Clive 1960]

Despite all the doom mongers on here I think that’s spot on.
Apart from it looking one sided because it really hasn’t.

I tend to agree that it's been close other than the fielding but let's be honest when as any team declared first innings on day 1 with your main batter still there on a 100 and could easily have got another 50 with sensible batting , for me we lost the Ashes that day being arrogant.

[kentonclaret]

Fielding is and always has been a key part of cricket. One of the oldest adages being “Catches win Matches”.

[Spijed]

The problem with Bairstow behind the stumps is that his reaction time is very poor. It's as though he doesn't follow the movement of the ball well enough.

[Tribesmen]

Hard work this morning but still think England can get close to their score they have a chance .

Really dislike the Aussies i must say .

[Casper2]

Maybe if they practiced instead of playing golf they would hold on to a few more catches.

[kentonclaret]

If we can’t get close to the Australia first innings total, or even go past it, in what are perfect batting conditions it really will have been a rank poor effort.

[alwaysaclaret]

Irrespective of the result of this match, surely we can't carry stokes any longer, had we have been able to take the 1s and 2s in the last one we could arguably have squared the series, we're in a similar position here that his mobility is costing runs, I'm actually surprised he didn't get his knee sorted in the winter, knowing we had the most important series in world cricket coming up.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Bit harsh on Stokes, without his 155 we would have got nowhere near. The other 6 batsmen in the 2nd innings managed just over 100 between them.

[alwaysaclaret]

Bit harsh on Stokes, without his 155 we would have got nowhere near. The other 6 batsmen in the 2nd innings managed just over 100 between them.

Don't mean to be, and I agree, but as I say with the 1s and 2s we, or should I say he could arguably have won the game.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Harsh on stokes

He pulls through when we need him most usually

[alwaysaclaret]

Harsh on stokes

He pulls through when we need him most usually

As I've said in the last post, don't mean to be, but let's be realistic, he can't keep playing on and on like this, the longer he goes surely the more damage.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Don't mean to be, and I agree, but as I say with the 1s and 2s we, or should I say he could arguably have won the game.

Who would you pick instead to get his 150+ runs and then the 1s and 2s.

Had the 6 batsmen scored an extra 7 runs each we would have won also.

[Casper2]

That’s just stupidity

[fatboy47]

Shelling peas

[Casper2]

Harsh on stokes

He pulls through when we need him most usually

You mean martyr

[alwaysaclaret]

Who would you pick instead to get his 150+ runs and then the 1s and 2s.

Had the 6 batsmen scored an extra 7 runs each we would have won also.

That's the million dollar question, and I don't have the answer unfortunately, but again I agree if the openers were doing a better job we wouldn't be needing stokes so badly.

[Conroysleftfoot]

That’s just stupidity

Couldn't agree more

[Newcastleclaret93]

What the hell is wrong with English batters

[onewillieirvine]

This is a real weary batting effort.

[Burnley1989]

Part of me wonders if Ali actually likes being out there, he has all the tools but comes across as completely braindead

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Give me the definition of pure stupidity Moeen!

[Clive 1960]

What a pathetic shot to get out to , had he not learned a couple of shots before.

[sjb]

Absolutely brainless. How Ali gets anywhere near a Test team is ridiculous. Stokes must take some responsibility for asking this busted flush if he wanted to come back.

[JohnDearyMe]

This is a real weary batting effort.

Only 20 minutes to lunch as well. Madness!

[Vino blanco]

Who the f.ck said Moeen Ali was a test cricketer? Abysmal performance, he and Bairstow should not play for England for a long, long time, if ever.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I just don’t get his logic. Lunch is in 15 mins why not just do what he’s done for the last hour

[alwaysaclaret]

That’s just stupidity

Fully agree, he been warned it was coming the one before, but he doesn't have to play at them, Cummins just reeled him in, and that's where they've been better making decisions, setting traps etc.

[Lancasterclaret]

Admiral Akbar is better at spotting traps than this lot

[Casper2]

Bairstow in for his batting is paying dividends

[Clive 1960]

Shot selection again as let us down first Johnny and now Ali .

[RVclaret]

What an absolutely awful morning session.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Useless

[sjb]

And another one gone

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Dreadful and mindless cricket. Still least it’s really exciting to watch if you happen to be Australian.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Awful England batting
Could be a whitewash 5-0
Not in the same league as the Australians

[Newcastleclaret93]

Can anyone tell me how the most in form batter in the country can’t even get in this squad?

Baffling

[alwaysaclaret]

Yet another we don't need to play at, absolutely pathetic.

[Conroysleftfoot]

The commentators keep saying it's an excellent wicket for batting because the ball is coming on to the bat, so how come we are 142 for 7.

[JohnDearyMe]

Maybe the England selectors should use an IQ test as part of the selection criteria in future

[alwaysaclaret]

Awful England batting
Could be a whitewash 5-0
Not in the same league as the Australians

Correct, light years ahead of us

[Casper2]

Can anyone tell me how the most in form batter in the country can’t even get in this squad?

Baffling

Obviously his face doesn’t fit , like Foakes

[Casper2]

Maybe the England selectors should use an IQ test as part of the selection criteria in future

Need to test their IQs first

[warksclaret]

I believe Captain and coach for England do not interfere with player's decision making and the shots they play. Its very much showing in all three test matches. We are playing a very good Australian side, and this "gung-ho" attitude is just not working. Too many English batsmen are giving their wickets away