*Official* Fourth Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) 19-23 July

[Burgey]

He might be pondering 200 as the lead he wants. Great position to be in for a bloke who should be pondering a 6x8 foot cell in Pentonville road gaol

 

[91Jmay]

23 overs in 2 hours is embarrassing. Hardly loads of boundaries and only 3 wickets, and can't remember any unnatural stoppages.

Lovely shots

 

[Saket1209]

Good from Bairstow

 

[White Ball]

have to back the draw quite strongly here

 

[halba]

hazlewood's getting slogged.

 

[ashley bach]

Why isn't Carey at least attempting any stumpings?

 

[Wayner]

Hazlewoods figures flatter him

 

[Gnske]

Abject Charles, absolutely pathetic

 

[trundler]

Australia extremely lucky again.

 

[Saket1209]

189 is already a good lead.

 

[91Jmay]

That over should mean declaration now. 5 RPO session ain't too bad though especially as there was genuine movement with new ball.

 

[halba]

that could be the declaration as end of the session.
next two days a wash
so they have to bowl out AUS today.

 

[Owzat]

Good from Bairstow

he does add runs well with the tail usually, a factor that the "batting average" bashers don't appreciate, it is as much runs scored whilst at the crease as it is individual scores.

now I've said that he'll probably get out, England must have a figure/lead in mind before declaring, I think I said yesterday (here or HYS on beeb, no idea which) I'd declare lunchtime, bit of a forecast as England weren't in front at the time, but it would give two sessions or what rain permits today and the rest of the match to get aussies out and chase any runs.

not much point declaring in arrears or slightly ahead, but my main point is I'd do it at a good time with a healthy lead not have a specific total in mind. England may end up wasting time by crawling to a target total through regular wicket loss, I'd cut losses here and declare in the interval, save two overs change of innings and come out to have to after break goes and bring in the new ball towards the end of a third (depending on when overs can be bowled of course, but 80 overs after starting out after lunch whenever that comes, day 4, day 5)

 

[Gob]

Don't see any point of keep batting. They should do the bulk of the damage today

But seeing how the ball moves, this could finally be the time for a good old fashion collapse too with Broad getting six fer

 

[Qlder]

Why declare. Eng need to keep batting so they don't have to bat again. Aus will struggle with 250 to get

 

[morgieb]

Bizarre session. England will be happy that the scoreboard still moved on despite not going that hard and perhaps more crucially the ball is starting to move around a bit.

Man that's a lucky 4-fer for Hazlewood. If he gets 5 it's one of the Hall of Shame, like some of Finn and Starc's worst efforts.

 

[Gremlin]

122 from 24 overs and batting seems trickier this morning.

I'd declare now. Let Broad loose at warner.

 

[Owzat]

That over should mean declaration now. 5 RPO session ain't too bad though especially as there was genuine movement with new ball.

I fear England/Stokes may have a total in mind, but declarations need to come with circumstances and in this one there's a danger of play lost to weather and they lost 4 wickets for 122 runs ie momentum isn't the same as 44 off 45 balls between Root and Robinson in the 1st Test - Bairstow is well set mind

 

[Jarquis]

That over should mean declaration now. 5 RPO session ain't too bad though especially as there was genuine movement with new ball.

Ridiculous how the talk is about how we needed to put our foot down and stop farting around when 5 an over used to be declaration batting

 

[halba]

probably going to try for atleast 230. then try to bowl them out today and also maybe sunday might sneak 1-2 hours in if needed. rain all day saturday and mostly on sunday.

Considering aus powder puff batting lineup - its definitely doable- innings victory. 2nd innings the ball will move.

what a shambolic display by AUS