Ashes 2021-22.

[alfie]

There is a bonus though in Malan getting runs. That is at least a batting spot settled for the next few months.

They might as well settle for this 3-6 for the near future.

Missing a (cynical) smiley , Arthur ?

I am impressed with Malan's efforts here - backing up his good form last trip down under. Unfortunately he's no spring chicken and hasn't done much elsewhere so can't quite see him as the next David Gower...

As others have said : England batting at an all time low. Apart from Root , no one averaging near 40. What hope ?

Will still win games at home because the bowling (even when Anderson and Broad call it a day) has some ability. But to win in Australia , India , NZ - eve SA perhaps ? Looks a long way off.

Depressing.

[bigfluffylemon]

7 days of cricket and the series is effectively over. Now it's just a case of how many.

I didn't go in to the series expecting much from England, but even the miserable teams of the 90s scored runs when the deck was flat, and they had to face Warne.

Butter has to be dropped, but then what happens. Back to Bairstow?

[bigfluffylemon]

Even the Australian press is lamenting this to a degree, because it spells the death-knell for a remotely interesting or competitive series.

[Durhamfootman]

7 days of cricket and the series is effectively over. Now it's just a case of how many.

I didn't go in to the series expecting much from England, but even the miserable teams of the 90s scored runs when the deck was flat, and they had to face Warne.

Butter has to be dropped, but then what happens. Back to Bairstow?

For whatever reason, Buttler seems pretty bombproof, even though he's a bit of a liability

[alfie]

Not surprised to see an absence of posts on here today...presume most England fans have prioritized proper sleep over more suffering.

Actually one of the more absorbing sessions : early wreckage as Anderson and Broad were all over the bats in the first hour : both overnight bats gone before Steve Smith was dropped first ball , survived an lbw by millimetres on umpires call on his second , and got out for just six : has to be his worst innings for about eight years !

But Head and the ultra-annoying Labuschagne have put Australia firmly back on course. Unfortunately apart from the two old stagers the bowlers haven't been able to keep control - though Robinson did account for Smith before experimenting with some not very threatening off spin.

An uncharitable soul might suggest that England actually looked a lot more energetic and proactive while Root was off the field with his warm up injury and Stokes had command - and seemed to fall back into more passive mode after the regular skipper took the field again. Probably more down to the ball getting older and bats settled ... but I do feel that Root (and Buttler behind the stumps - despite his managing to take two very good catches today while dropping only one rather easier one ) are guilty of pretty uninspiring body language in the field. Stokes unfortunately bowled utter rubbish today but he does at least generate a bit of menace that some of these "nice" chaps don't seem to have in their kit...

Fear the next session will be more predictable as Australia proceed to their desired declaration target.

[bigfluffylemon]

Not sure why Jimmy hasn't bowled since before tea. He and Broad had some control. Australia are hitting out and England are bowling the part timers and picking up wickets. Just batting for the inevitable declaration, and then no doubt another horror-show under the lights.

It would be nice if England showed some resolution when batting, but if they make it until lunch (or whatever the first break is called) tomorrow I'll be pleasantly surprised.

[bigfluffylemon]

Just 470 to win then.

Root and Malan with 2 wickets each due to slogging.

Yet Australia still get 230, which is probably more than England will get trying to stay in.

[Durhamfootman]

Not surprised to see an absence of posts on here today...presume most England fans have prioritized proper sleep over more suffering.

no point wasting any time over this shower

[Durhamfootman]

Yet Australia still get 230, which is probably more than England will get trying to stay in.

absolutely

Marmalised by Lyon in the second innings, I reckon

[Durhamfootman]

England do not have the capacity to survive much more than 2 sessions when trying to save any match

[Durhamfootman]

and so it begins

[Arthur Crabtree]

Haseeb 58 runs in four innings so far. Average 14.5.

[GarlicJam]

Haseeb 58 runs in four innings so far. Average 14.5.

He and Harris are having their own competition.

[Arthur Crabtree]

First wicket of the match for Richardson and second for Neser. New boys having quiet games... so far.

[Durhamfootman]

Root falls in the last over of the day's play

Of course he does....... I expected nothing less from this England team

tomorrow Australia will run through the England middle and lower order in the first session and England will lose by at best 300 runs and prove once again (as if any further proof was needed) that they can't bat much longer than 2 sessions to save any match.