The Ashes.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Not only was the top batting order predictably poor so was everything else. If Stokes hadn't been bowling no balls (never mind the pathetic officiating did someone in the England camp watching on tele not think to have a word) if Hameed could hit 3 stumps from 5 yards or Burns could catch dollies then Head might have come in with Aus 100 behind instead of 50 in front. It might (probably not) have been very different.

With regards to selection it seems as if the make up revolved around getting a spinner in the side. Now if that spinner is Muralitharan, Warne or Swann then I get it. But Jack Leach.............

[Leicesterbaggie]

You do have to question the decision to bat on a green wicket with muggy overhead conditions. I'm afraid that this, to my mind, put us on the back foot from the word go. Was it Root's decision or a joint decision. Whoevever, it was it was the wrong one! This is not with hindsight as I was amazed at the time.

[Barrera]

Good fight back overnight ... must admit was expecting to wake up to see we had been bowled out for 150 again and lost by an innings. So good to see some backbone by the batters - especially Root and Malan. Hameed stuck in there for a while as well.

Still favourites to lose of course being 50 behind on first innings ..... all it needs is to lose a couple of wickets tomorrow morning and we will be on the back foot. But good to see a bit of fight and determination.

[Leicesterbaggie]

What would have happened if we'd not chosen to bat? I think the outcome would have been totally different!

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

What would have happened if we'd not chosen to bat? I think the outcome would have been totally different!

It seems England captains still carriage the baggage around from Nasser Hussain's disastrous decision to put the Aussies in first nearly 20 years ago some. Crazy!

[WBA123]

What would have happened if we'd not chosen to bat? I think the outcome would have been totally different!

I'm not so sure. You can't blame Root for some of those batting dismissals. You can't blame him for bad luck / poor catching in the field either.

Its all ifs and buts, but had we added another 50-100 runs with the bat and taken our chances with the ball (particularly with Warner) we'd be in charge in this test in my view. We'd could conceivably have been 100 runs ahead now with wickets in hand.

I don't blame the call at the toss as much as I do for some of the players applying themselves. Rory Burns in particular, 1st ball duck and then dropped Warner at slip when he was on 40 odd. Those 2 actions could have swung the game to them.

[9goals2hattricks3pen]

Indeed. I suspect that Broad himself can’t believe it ! Very strange. I like Leach but sure how much he will be needed this Test.
(I hope I’m wrong and he takes 5 wickets each innings !)

You could be half right! England get another 250 and Leach runs through the Aussie 2nd innings (were the odds ever 500-1?)

[mickd1961]

Burns is a horrid little player, nasty technique and wholly ill suited to Test cricket.

His batting isn’t even “hit and miss”, it’s “mediocre at best and miss”.

His number of dropped catches now are beyond a joke.

It’s too much to ask that we have a day 4 to match day 3, starting afresh we’re more likely to see Malan and Root gone within 5 overs and us lose by an inning or by 10 wickets than we are to witness a miracle.

If this pair can put on another 100 and then one of them stay to complete a 180-200 innings then with what we have to follow we could set a decent target for the Aussies.

Alas, this bowling attack is unlikely to skittle them for less than 200.

Leach and Wood FFS.....😤😤

[Leicesterbaggie]

I'm not so sure. You can't blame Root for some of those batting dismissals. You can't blame him for bad luck / poor catching in the field either.

Its all ifs and buts, but had we added another 50-100 runs with the bat and taken our chances with the ball (particularly with Warner) we'd be in charge in this test in my view. We'd could conceivably have been 100 runs ahead now with wickets in hand.

I don't blame the call at the toss as much as I do for some of the players applying themselves. Rory Burns in particular, 1st ball duck and then dropped Warner at slip when he was on 40 odd. Those 2 actions could have swung the game to them.

I take your points 123 but I still believe that it was a big mistake, considering the conditions, winning the toss and not putting them in.

[mickd1961]

I take your points 123 but I still believe that it was a big mistake, considering the conditions, winning the toss and not putting them in.

As I stated earlier, the refusal to stick them in first is rooted in Nasser Hussain's error at sticking the great Aussie side in on this wicket over 20 years ago, ridiculous to continually hark back to an error so far in the past.