If anyone who said test cricket is boring, watch the Ashes now !!

[Oneonone]

One more point, I would swap the position of Watson and Warner.

I think Watson would be more comfortable at number 6 then Opener, he doesn't look like he belongs to that position.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers.

Watson is a slogger and an all rounder he is not an opening batsman, so yes you are right don't know why they didn't do it to start!

Well its good to see a bit of a score on the board for a change hope they can go on with it.

The umpiring leaves a lot to be desired the third umpire must have been asleep! I think they should go away from the referral system its not working and its not being used for what it was intended anyway.

[AHLUNGOR]

One more point, I would swap the position of Watson and Warner.

I think Watson would be more comfortable at number 6 then Opener, he doesn't look like he belongs to that position.

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers.

Watson used to be a good opener, remember when he won the AB medal a few years back and he was a good "choker" for Not making the century when he was close enough! He got out so many times in the 80's and 90's and I felt sorry for him, but his batting average was very ordinary when he is Not opening so I said he basically is out of form and lack of confidence!

If the boys can continue on tomorrow and put up a big first inning score on the broad, you watch him opens up his shoulder when he bats again in the 2nd innings with a 200/300 runs lead with no pressure !!

Well, if Clarke and Smith can bat on and get us to 400 before the likes of Warner and Haddin and Starc (99 not out !!) have a crack! We can win this !!

Go Aussie !

[Irene638]

Watson used to be a good opener, remember when he won the AB medal a few years back and he was a good "choker" for Not making the century when he was close enough! He got out so many times in the 80's and 90's and I felt sorry for him, but his batting average was very ordinary when he is Not opening so I said he basically is out of form and lack of confidence!

If the boys can continue on tomorrow and put up a big first inning score on the broad, you watch him opens up his shoulder when he bats again in the 2nd innings with a 200/300 runs lead with no pressure !!

Well, if Clarke and Smith can bat on and get us to 400 before the likes of Warner and Haddin and Starc (99 not out !!) have a crack! We can win this !!

Go Aussie !

It is quite true. Properly, he is under extreme pressure at the moment. He looks so tense when batting. He doesn't smile or say anything to his partner anymore.

Feel sorry for him as I am a big fan of him. With all the injures that he has got must hurt his confident big time.

Hope he do well soon.

Go Aussie.

[AHLUNGOR]

The boys started the day well and Smith just played a poor shot and missed out on his possible maiden century on 89, silly !

And Warner , well a leftie facing Swann is always dangerous and he bloody wasted a review too!

Haddin stared well, they get lunch, I take a shower, hope we are still batting at stumps tonight !!

Go Aussie !

[AHLUNGOR]

We got 400 !!

[asiafever]

Clarke out. Well played sir. Hopefully there is still some wag to get us up over 500.

[AHLUNGOR]

The Captain is gone for 187 !

A bit unlucky, the ball hit his chest and on to the wicket!

Well, his job is done, now it's up to the tails to carry on and get to 500!

Go Aussie !

[AHLUNGOR]

Bloody Swann, got a 5 wickets innings again and bowled Siddle for 1 !

But wait, I saw something ! When Swann was congratulated by Cook, they embraced and Swann kissed Cook on the chin !! Did I see wrong ?? Lets start a rumour !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Haddin made half century !

And Starc is batting very well and in quick time too, 35 off 36 balls - he can open !

[AHLUNGOR]

Australia made 500!

Starc made half century, 54 off 54 balls, great efforts, his third half century in 9 matches, no kidding, he can open !

[AHLUNGOR]

Clarkey declared 7 for 527 !

Lets see if our bowlers can do the job !

Go Aussie !

[AHLUNGOR]

Good declaration!

Two early wicket will set us up nicely for the attack tonight, now it's up to the bowlers!

I have one question, I don't understand how the "follow on" works?

Now we have a big lead, if we bowl out England with say still a lead of 300 runs, do we bat again and declare again when we get to 450-500? Or do England go back and bat again?


Would some brother in the know please enlighten me ??

Thanks

[asiafever]

If we lead by a certain margin (200+) and they're all out we can choose to send them in again or we can bat again.

[Oneonone]

If we lead by 200 runs or more on the first innings and England are all out we have the option of asking them to bat again. If we do that and they score more than 200 runs in their second innings then we can bat again to get the short fall or until we are all out.

If there is less than a 200 run lead then we just have to bat again and so either all get out or if we think we have enough runs to win we can declare.

If we decide not to enforce the follow on then we bat again and increase our lead and decide when we want to declare if we are not all bowled out.

The biggest problem with enforcing the follow on is that your bowlers don't get a rest and so can be tired and jaded.

If your bowlers aren't tired then you would enforce the follow on

If we are running out of time then we will enforce the follow on.

I am sure with three days gone and only two left we will want a 200 run lead and enforce the follow on.

[bbbandit]

If we lead by 200 runs or more on the first innings and England are all out we have the option of asking them to bat again. If we do that and they score more than 200 runs in their second innings then we can bat again to get the short fall or until we are all out.

If there is less than a 200 run lead then we just have to bat again and so either all get out or if we think we have enough runs to win we can declare.

If we decide not to enforce the follow on then we bat again and increase our lead and decide when we want to declare if we are not all bowled out.

The biggest problem with enforcing the follow on is that your bowlers don't get a rest and so can be tired and jaded.

If your bowlers aren't tired then you would enforce the follow on

If we are running out of time then we will enforce the follow on.

I am sure with three days gone and only two left we will want a 200 run lead and enforce the follow on.

I think Australia might consider not enforcing a follow on if they bowl England out cheaply because it looks like it might be difficult to get 20 wickets on this track. It might get progressively worse and be much more difficult to bat late in day 4 and day 5. In that scenario, Clarkey and co. might decide to have another dig and rack up a 400+ lead and declare again after tea on the 4th day to give them a better chance of bowling England out twice. This is all depends on how England go though. The pitch looks flat, so they should have as good a time, if not better, than Australia based on form in the series so far.

[AHLUNGOR]

Thanks guys, I think I got it !!

Which ever way, we have to win this match while England can have a draw and they retain the Ashes !!

So let's get those 8 wickets by the end of the day then.

So Aussie !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Not a bad morning!

Alastair Cook was a big wicket and Haddin took a sensational dive to the right with an one handed catch, brilliant !

4 for 119, if we can get Bell and Piertersen out before tea, we should win this !

Go Aussie !

[AHLUNGOR]

Finally a break through!

Harris clean bowled Ian Bell !

Now we need to get Pietersen or get everyone else out around him!

5 more wicket guys !

[AHLUNGOR]

23 test centuries in 97 matches, that's a great strike way!

Piertersen is a danger man, get him out quick !!

[AHLUNGOR]

Great Ibw from Starc to get Pietersen !

Three more needed

Go Aussie !