First Ashes Test, Edgbaston, 1-5 August 2019

[Arthur Crabtree]

Might be a lot for Mo to do. His recent record with the ball is superb. 45 wickets at 24 in his last ten games.

[alfie]

Good start for Moeen.

Gets Bancroft. Nearly has Khawaja too.

This partnership the big one for Australia , you'd think. England would kill for another quick one now...especially if it were Smith.

[Durhamfootman]

Aussies grabbing runs while they can?

[alfie]

They've certainly been positive. Fifty eight runs have come pretty quickly. Obviously England want to attack so there are gaps ...but I think Smith is taking the right approach in looking for runs anyway ; getting bogged down would play into the bowlers hands especially with Mo getting significant turn.

Khawaja has been busy . Never looks totally secure to me , but he's played some nice shots and has been keeping the scoreboard ticking over. They are running this deficit down rather briskly...

[alfie]

Important breakthrough by Stokes...gets Khawaja , fierce greeting for Head...he's up for this ! As is his pace...nearly 90.

Still 15 behind and three down so pressure on Australia. Won't worry Smith , of course...

[yuppie]

Quick wicket tomorrow for England would be game over. With Wade and Paine the next 2 bats Australia really need Head to make more than a useful 50 and for Smith once again to perform. Forecast suggest the morning should have some cloud cover so the reality is this game could be over just after tea tomorrow, if the rain stays away.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Important breakthrough by Stokes...gets Khawaja , fierce greeting for Head...he's up for this ! As is his pace...nearly 90.

Good ball that.

[bigfluffylemon]

Back in Oz.

Well played Burns. Best inings by an England opener not called Cook for a very long time.

Match well poised. England just can't get Smith out, can they? But if they get him early tomorrow, they've got a good chance to win. Wouldn't vfancy chasing more than 200.

Good test match between two flawed sides.

[alfie]

Have seen a few different takes on this position. Some point to the likelihood of Lyon being a huge threat to any sort of fourth innings chase , and the fact that Australia erased the deficit rather quickly ...others that they are effectively 34/3 and only a couple of quick wickets away from disaster... Truth is the game remains pretty open at the moment , though I'd suggest England retain a small edge - if less than they had after day two , as Australia have fought back rather well.

Certainly if Smith were to come out early tomorrow Australia would struggle...but how likely is that ? England still seem clueless in how to contain him let alone get him out. And while he's at the crease you don't really want to bowl Moeen who seems to present runs on a plate when faced with the Australian master. Think the home team need a big effort on a now unhelpful pitch from their three seamers on the restart : how they are missing Anderson ! At least he'd have been likely to restrain Smith a little. As it is they have to juggle their bowlers as well as they can and remember that wickets have often fallen in clumps in the match. Smith looms over any assessment of the task ; but they have to remember he is actually human and just keep to a sensible consistent plan of attack : it worked on day one up to the point where tiredness defanged the pace pair ; and this time they've not yet been overworked.

How many can they chase ? Some say anything over 150 could be a challenge. I think that might be a bit alarmist : certainly they've had some great collapses recently but unless the pitch "goes" dramatically you'd fancy them to get anything south of 200 - though maybe not without some nervy moments ! Lyon will be a threat - he's so much better than Moeen - but the three pace men may find it hard to back up so soon after heavy first innings workloads.

I suppose possible weather interruptions could play havoc with any game plans - and affect both batting conditions and the bowler fatigue issue. So I still wouldn't be putting money on any predictions. Except that both sides might need to be on the ball with their use of referrals...

[sussexpob]

Lyon had the help first up but didn't bowl well, so hopefully that stays as is. Anything over 200 and Australia will feel they have the match, anything over 150 and it's close. Anything under then England should really win

[Durhamfootman]

Moeen looked as though he was turning the ball a lot, but seems shorn of confidence. More than anyone else, he'll be the man under pressure today. I suspect that Lyon will completely outbowl him when it's his turn. I hope I'm wrong.

There was a time not too long ago when a middle order of Stokes, Bairstow and Moeen looked like a real strength. now it looks like a one man middle order. Buttler has some work to do to justify his role as a test number 5. Looks a long way off it atm

with a flaky top order, a mis-firing middle order and a star bowler who can't bowl, England look one day away from losing a first test that they've largely dominated. Today would be a good day for Broad to have one of 'those' days

[Arthur Crabtree]

Having said that, England are on top, after securing a very significant first innings lead and dismissing three top order bats... England may lose, but they are in the better position at the moment. Australia have a weak batting line up and have a lot to do to put England under pressure. And while Lyon is a good spinner, he's not Warne or Murali. England will have a chance against him, and if it's not his day, Australia don't have a decent back up or another spinner to complement him.

The real minus for England is being a bowler short. It could get tough if the Aussies create a couple of partnerships. But that's some way off yet.

[backfootpunch]

Moeen cant play the next game

He cant bat and he has zero control with the ball

[ianp1970]

Moeen cant play the next game

He cant bat and he has zero control with the ball

I'd be surprised if he doesn't play.

[GarlicJam]

at 3/79, Aus are starting to look a bit stronger. Need to get more from this partnership - if they get another 50, I reckon it will be advantage Aus.