TOPIC:

Given the circumstances I think that would be finest innings Smith has played for Australia. He refused to get sucked in to Englands plans to bowl short at him and was very disciplined. Cummins supported him beautifully and may be he could be developing into the all rounder that the Aussies have been lacking.Hopefully the other batsmen in the team were watching the Smith/Cummins partnership carefully. The first three days have been a battle of attrition but the game may speed up tomorrow as the pitch quickens up on days 4 and 5. I have the feeling that Nathan Lyon may hold the key to dismissing England cheaply in the 2nd innings as he has been very unlucky so far.

Every 15 year old around the country should be buying keepers gloves and learning to be the best. Our current best are average which is why Payne has got a gig.

Whatever happened to Sam Whiteman? I always thought that he was a really good keeper and held in very high regard around the country.

Correct A/man. Believed to have the same type of in jury that has kept Paine out of cricket. Broken finger...

Harsh to call Tim Paine a show pony, that said I'm amazed he was selected for this series as the keeper (make no mistake he will get at least 3 tests now). The selectors have to back this one in now and by jeez he must know someone, you can't argue his impelling record which got him this gig now.
Why can't you argue an impelling record? Well he doesn't have one.
So while I won't call him a show pony, not his fault he was selected on the back of basically no batting form (not a shield ton since 2006, and never made one at his at a brief interlude at test cricket either prior to this selection).
It does appear that obviously he has been in the sights of certain selectors, I'm a little stunned that actually keeping wicket (making stumpings and taking catches, oh and scoring runs isn't part of their sights).
So again, is he a show pony, no he didn't pick himself but someone did pick him and questions should be raised regarding those who did.

What a blow to dismiss Root before lunch.Would think a draw is out of the question now.With AU on top.

Great bowling by the Aussie quicks (and also the G.O.A.T) - the England tailenders again had no answer to the short stuff.
However, 170 is one of those moderate targets that the Aussies have failed to reach countless times in the past (I think the fourth-innings shakiness goes back to Headingley in 1981).
The "To and Froms" are certainly not out of the game, but let's hope the Aussie batsmen play their natural game without thinking they have to win the game tonight (the 1998 MCG Ashes Test is a case in point).

Stokes has left a massive hole in England's middle order.The ECB has not penalised Stokes yet.Waiting to see if the Police lay charges.

well done Australia.

gtr: any chance England might bat Bairstow in the top four?
anch: handscombe at five could be vulnerable for the Perth test

Would think that Khawaja would be under more pressure, in particular if he gets a bat tomorrow morning and goes cheaply to an off spinner.
Looks the goods in Shield cricket against pace and there is not much going around in relation to off spin except for Lyon who rarely play Shield.
If an Australian wicket falls in the first over it appears the tactic will be to bring an offie straight on.