THE Official Cricket Thread

[Niall Diamond]

they deserved that, 0-3 would not have reflected series so far,

Been a brilliant series so far. Hard to match cricket for the drama

 

[keamoresouth]

England bowling first this morning at Old Trafford, Broad has just trapped Khawaja lbw - his 599th Test wicket. Australia 16-1.

 

[keamoresouth]

Aus 61-2, Warner out caught by Bairstow off the bowling of Woakes

 

[Rebel CNC]

Setting up to be another cracking test. Aussies 187 for 4. With exception of Khawaja (gone for 3), Australia's top order solid without shooting the lights out. Important for them that Head (47 not out) keeps tipping away.

 

[Niall Diamond]

Setting up to be another cracking test. Aussies 187 for 4. With exception of Khawaja (gone for 3), Australia's top order solid without shooting the lights out. Important for them that Head (47 not out) keeps tipping away.

250/4 to 299/8...Aussies could have sewn it up. The weather could stymie Eng, forecast bad Sun and Mon I think. If they finish them off early tomor hopefully they can set 100+ lead

 

[Jerno]

 

[keamoresouth]

English batsmen making hay, have erased Australia's lead with 8 wickets still standing

 

[Pooman]

Aussies getting a bit of a thumping. BT must be on hols, normally he'd be all over this....

 

[BlackpoolTerrier]

Aussies getting a bit of a thumping. BT must be on hols, normally he'd be all over this....

LOL, I'm here alright PM - just v busy at work and not able to keep an eye on the action in Manchester.

Aus have been well and truly bazballed in this england innings - Crawley's 189 coming in only 182 balls and the rest of the team giving it similar welly. England's picking of strong batsmen all the way down the order is paying bigtime as well - even Broad was in long enough to support Bairstow and to p**s the Aussies off.

We now have the very unexpected siutation where, despite the dire weather forecasts, England could actually bowl the aussies out before they get level - they might not need that much time this evening and across the weekend. Saturday and Sunday look like a washout but not this afternoon. They'd absolutely deserve the win too - the Aus attack (excepting Hazelwood) has been very poor.

It's also been yet another test match where the Aussies have not delivered with the bat - not so much the modest runs total as the speed with which they came and went.


There's enough breaks in the rain to deliver a few hours this afternoon. England might not need much more if Aus don't buck up

 

[keamoresouth]

England 592 all out, Bairstow 99 not out.

Lead is 275, Australia will have to dig in to force the draw from here.