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totally agree with you Jardine.....but I reckon this team of fragile specialist batsmen will probably do the impossible and chase down 350!!

Seriously though, get some early wickets and be chasing 280, then hopefully those pea hearts in Watson and Cowan especially, actually deliver and earn the ridiculous wages they earn....christ talk about getting paid good money for mediocrity! Whilst Agar won't get another 90, hopefully the likes of Pattinson, Siddle and Starc score a few more than they did in the first dig.....ditto to Watson, Rogers, Cowan, Clarke and Haddin too!

Not all lost, but a win from this position would certainly ruffle the poms feathers!

In the 2009 series at lords the Aussies scored 406 in the fourth inninings chasing 520 plus. This wicket is slow so it is not easy for the quicks. It is not easy for the batsmen either to score runs. England managed 260 yesterday. The forecast is dry for the next 2 days but if there is a bit of cloud about Anderson could get some of his swing happening. Starting to look beyond the Aussies but they will have 4 or 5 sessions to chase the runs or play for a draw.

joan trieste wrote: In the 2009 series at lords the Aussies scored 406 in the fourth inninings chasing 520 plus. This wicket is slow so it is not easy for the quicks. It is not easy for the batsmen either to score runs. England managed 260 yesterday. The forecast is dry for the next 2 days but if there is a bit of cloud about Anderson could get some of his swing happening. Starting to look beyond the Aussies but they will have 4 or 5 sessions to chase the runs or play for a draw.

Unfortunately for us Joan, Graeme Swann is likely to get substantial assistance from the wicket & I doubt that Australia's batsmen will be able to keep him out or chase down the target England will set them.

mikeh wrote: Fridays play demonstrated quite clearly that England are a vastly superior side to Australia at the moment. They fought their way through a very difficult match situation by putting together a series of partnerships that has gradually batted Australia out of the game. All the Aussie bowlers tried hard, but there was noone who looked like taking the game by the scruff of the neck and getting 2 or 3 wickets in a hurry. Even Siddle didn't seem to have much energy. England could probably declare now and win the game, but I would say they would be eyeing off a 350 lead which will give them plenty of runs to play with. The roles are reversed in these ashes contests now in that in the 90's and most of the 2000's, England could compete with Australia for a session or maybe even a day but you just knew they would fall away in the end, now its the complete opposite.

Brickbat of the day goes to Clarke and Haddin for that ludicrous LBW referral, which even to the naked eye was sliding down the leg side. Even the bowler didn't look that interested and this stupidity cost them 2 wickets later in the day which could have been overturned if they had a referral left.

I thought the exact same as you did Mikeh. Australia battled as hard as they could but England showed the ability to fight back, like good sides do. I was a bit puzzled why Clark did not bowl Agar more before taking the second new ball. I also thought Smith could have been given 4 or 5 overs with the ball.

I think the ICC need to review the current system on referring LBW decisions. Watson was very unlucky to be given out & on review the ball was shown to be barely clipping leg stump. So Australia loses a wicket & a review. If the umpire gave the decision not out & England reviewed it, Watson would be given not out & England would lose a review. I would like to see a more consistent outcome ie out if the ball is shown to be hitting the stumps or out only if more than half of the ball is hitting the stumps then the batsman is out. Too much hinges on the umpire's initial decision under the current rules, which leads to inconsistent outcomes.

So far Australia has made a very bold start to its innings. I am surprised that Swann is not getting much response out of this dry 4 day wicket. Hopefully the rest of the batsman can contribute to the strong start.

Dar & Dharmasena are nothing but over paid, well travelled hat racks!
Both should be umpiring in the Swan Helena Cricket Association!

Watson got a stinker alright just like Rogers in the first innings. We have a time on our side and the forecast weather wise looks good. We are right in this.

joan trieste wrote: Watson got a stinker alright just like Rogers in the first innings. We have a time on our side and the forecast weather wise looks good. We are right in this.

The stupid thing is that the referral system is useless if the umpire gives these out & the technology shows that the ball was going to brush leg stump by a bee's fart.

Cowan just got out to Joe Root playing a very loose shot, to follow on from his loose shot in the first innings. I reckon Ed is sailing pretty close to the wind with regards to holding his place in the side.

Double strike for England, both Clark & Smith gone with the score on 161. The score is 5/161. Clark also wasted Australia's last review, as he was caught off a faint edge. Big ask now with 149 runs still required. Also a shame that Australia has not been able to cash in on the opening stand of 84. Hadden & Hughes at the wicket. Australia are still a chance, but need a big partnership between these 2.

Hughes very unlucky to be given out. I don't care what Hawkeye says. That ball pitched outside leg. Technology gone mad