Sending an offender down under? Ashes 2017-18

[tee rex]

This is like the Tories losing a junior minister in Ross, Cromarty and Skye - an hour after they've got to 326.

[ad hoc]

In all the previous games in this series at the end of day 2 things have looked OK, almost evenly matched. But on day 3 it has all gone completely pear shaped. Just saying

[Jon]

Yes. England still have to bat well into the day to stand a chance. Is cummins out of the match or will he be back for day three?

[Satchmo Distel]

The attack looks a lot less impressive without Starc. It's obviously the key to Cook suddenly playing well. The next 3 days are a test of Australia's depth and resilience. Even though it's a dead rubber, they won't want 5-0 to turn into 3-2.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Day 3 and with 20 overs to bowl before the new ball England need Cook and Root to push on and reduce the deficit and get England to 270+.

This could be a really fascinating day. I'll try to survive until lunch before sleep catches up with me.

[ad hoc]

Root always seems to be out in the first half hour of a new day after he's got in the previous evening.

[E10 Rifle]

Australia bowling well now, particularly Hazlewood, keeping it tight

[Antepli Ejderha]

Root always seems to be out in the first half hour of a new day after he's got in the previous evening.

He's survived 35 minutes so far.

Boycott really getting into Jackson Bird, he doesn't rate him at all.

[Ray de Galles]

He's survived 35 minutes so far.

There you go, another daft shot once he’s got past 50.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Joe Root gives it away again, he cannot convert his 50s into 100s. Ridiculous choice of shot.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Cummins is building up a head of steam now, I think he'll only have another couple of overs at most with the new ball due in 9 overs.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Hazlewood strikes with the new ball, Malan out LBW. But just like Vince yesterday he'd hit but didn't review.

[San Bernardhinault]

It's just insane. Root may have given his wicket away, but Vince and Malan have really, really given their wickets away.

[Antepli Ejderha]

Malan and Cook had a chat as well as it looking like Malan had got something on it. Bizarre really.

[San Bernardhinault]

Well, that's impressive from Cook given that we were wondering if he didn't have it any more.

[tee rex]

Still possible for Cook to join the 50% club. Ten England batsmen have done it in the Ashes, award yourselves a statto's urn if you can name even half of them (some very unusual suspects).

Here's the full list, from all tests.

[ad hoc]

Very impressive from Cook. With even Broad having a good innings. All we need now is for Ali to rip through the Australian batsmen and we've got redemption for all the established players who were catching some grumbling

[Sean of the Shed]

Still possible for Cook to join the 50% club. Ten England batsmen have done it in the Ashes, award yourselves a statto's urn if you can name even half of them (some very unusual suspects).

Here's the full list, from all tests.

Scoring 30 out of a total of 52 isn't really worthy of being called an achievement of any description other than being the least shittest.

[longeared]

Seen a couple of media references this morning to England having done enough to avoid the whitewash. They could still fuck it up from here, dismiss Australia again (yes, I know) for 350 then have an awkward chase of something like 190 from 60 overs. That'd be sufficient time to make a hash of things and get bowled out again.

[Etienne]

Things were a bit different in the 19th century.

[SouthdownRebel]

Scoring 30 out of a total of 52 isn't really worthy of being called an achievement of any description other than being the least shittest.

That test when Hutton scored his 30 out of 52 appears on the list twice - Arthur Morris scored just a touch over 50% of Australia's runs in the next innings, their first. The only difference is that he scored 196. But then that was the Australian touring team that won 25 of 34 first class matches and many of those by an innings.

A certain other player scored 0 in that test, but that's not what the match is remembered for.

[Satchmo Distel]

Awesome from Cook, who redeems his reputation as England's best opener since probably Hutton. The only caveat is the absence of Starc, without whom the attack dips badly.

Can Australia bat from behind? We'll find out.

[pebblethefish]

With Cook and Broad completely reversing their form from the whole of the rest of the series, I'm fully expecting a 10-for from Moeen tomorrow

[E10 Rifle]

Moeen looks shot to be honest and could do with a rest. Still think his job would be easier if there was another proper spinner in the team, alongside him rather than instead of him. It spins a bit at Sydney normally, so maybe there, but there isn't an obvious replacement.

[Toby Gymshorts]

It spins a bit at Sydney normally

Anticlockwise, I believe.