Ashes, Third Test, Edgbaston, July 29-Aug 2

[The Waugh Twins]

Yes Arthur a massiff day for old England.

They are pretty much 2-1 in the series, if you're a betting man, and have barely broken a sweat. This is cricket though so I'm not writing the Aussies off just yet.

[The Waugh Twins]

It just occured to me that England didn't send in a nightwatchman.

[The Waugh Twins]

It just occured to me that England didn't send in a nightwatchman.

Perhaps Cook is the finest captain of his generation.

[The Waugh Twins]

It just occured to me that England didn't send in a nightwatchman.

Perhaps Cook is the finest captain of his generation.

Much like Hermione being the finest wizard?

[Durhamfootman]

Day 1 seems to have gone very well. Amazing what holding onto catches can do.

Pity about Bell throwing his wicket away late in the day, but there you go, this is the positive approach that England hope will wrest the ashes back. Pressure shifting across to Lyth. It might only be a lack of opening options that keeps him in the side (he's also been more guilty than most of shelling catches in this series) but some runs in the second innings would ease things a lot. Some runs might also improve his catching.... the bit of extra confidence, born from scoring a few runs, can work wonders.

Interesting day ahead, and a big day for Jonny B. Can England build themselves a commanding lead? They certainly have the batting depth to do it. A bit of sunshine might help batting

Amazing that both captains wanted to bat first, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, I suppose

[budgetmeansbudget]

It just occured to me that England didn't send in a nightwatchman.

At the fall of the third wicket there was still an hour or so to go before play was scheduled to finish.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Interesting stat on Sky which showed that out of the five or six openers that Cook has batted with since Strauss retired the most successful partnership has been with Joe Root.

[Gingerfinch]

The sun is out. Could do with the stroke makers toughing it out early on. Today could be the day we effectively win the game.

[budgetmeansbudget]

The sun is out. Could do with the stroke makers toughing it out early on. Today could be the day we effectively win the game.

Looks a promising forecast for Birmingham today. I doubt they'll be alot of toughing it out, they'll look to play positively from ball one, try and put the bowlers on the back foot.

[hopeforthebest]

We shouldn't assume that the improvement in the weather will make batting easier today certainly early on. There has been a fair amount of rain and the warmth can draw moisture out of the ground and improve swing bowling. Root and Bairstow have to play like openers early on.

[hopeforthebest]

Every time Steven Finn gives an interview he really impresses me and his interview with Ian Ward was a great example to other players.

[yorker_129-7]

I think the major worry for Australia is that the wickets they've taken have all been ones they haven't themselves "earned". Lyth flashed at one like an absolute clot, Cook had probably the worst bit of luck any batsman will have in this series and Bell had a mind-melt at the end of the day. Hazlewood stood out as the best Australian bowler for my money, he looked potentially devastating, but just couldn't get himself a wicket.

Two quick ones this morning though and they're right back in the game, If England find themselves 160/5 then they've failed to capitalise.

[sussexpob]

Seems Bairstow's technique is still shocking.... out to a short ball again

[hopeforthebest]

What a vicious bouncer from Johnson, not many batsmen would have dealt any better with that delivery. Sorry for Bairstow as I've a soft spot for him and wanted him to do well.

[backfootpunch]

hmmmmm

what happened to ducking the bouncer