It's The Ashes (again)

[Borin' Baggie]

Perfect so far!

Now time to get into 'em before lunch...

You on a time delay?

[SuperBob2002]

The over rate penalties are not enough, this is a joke.

I agree. But Australia are abusing the laws as they currently stand. It's ultimately no different to time wasting when you're 1-0 up with 10 mins to go. 

I've no issue with teams, in any sport, taking the rules to their maximum in order to gain advantages. In fact, when the Throstles are 1-0 up I love watching us shithouse the opponents with petty time wasting. Not that that happens much. 

Anyway, 180 lead is enough, for me. I'd declare now and have a good go at bowling them out over the next two sessions. I'm not sure what an extra 50/80 runs achieves from this point other than taking time out the game now. We may not need those runs and if we do we'll get them when we bat again. Either we bowl Australia out cheaply or they bat out. I'm not so sure an hour or so worth of batting is going to impact the match one way or the other.

180 lead would be knocked off in 4-5 hours play, meaning England may need to bat again. Batting again takes time out the game.

We won't score any quicker in 4th innings than we are now, which is the key, so the best use of the time is to get the runs right now - fast - and get as big a lead as possible. Its the right call to make as many as possible as fast as possible right now.

Edit: Unless these two get a lead of 300 ish, then it might be time to declare!

I don't think Australia will get to 180. It is what it is. There should be plenty of time to knock over these 10 wickets. 

I'd have declared at 180, but I've no qualms with them carrying on like they did. Just a personal preference.

Can set much more attacking fields now. Definitely did the right thing IMO.

Perfect so far!

Now time to get into 'em before lunch...

You on a time delay?

We'd set an attacking field if we 450 runs behind!

[AnelkasBeard]

Anything Saturday is a bonus I reckon, also think Sunday we may be looking at 2/3rd day at best

I'd be tempted to get them in before lunch 13-150 lead, playing time is the only thing which threatening us in this test

Cuzer

Can’t see why we’d do that. 150 lead is probably 4 hours of batting by Aus to make us bat again. There’ll be more than 4 hours play in the test from lunch today onwards.

Get the runs now while we can score super fast, and try to only bat once.

Is correct.

Bat for about an hour after lunch with YJB hopefully smacking it to all parts for as long as possible, Broady to stick around. Try get another 50-80 in that time if we can (Jonny is definitely capable of that).

That puts the Aussies about 260-270 behind, plenty to hopefully mean we don't have to bat again, or have to chase a measly total. With our batters, anything under 100 we can knock off very quickly I reckon.

Nailed it 

[Tom Joad]

Good captaincy. Get the runs on-board now, it won't be as easy to bat later on.

[Borin' Baggie]

That ball from broad a couple of overs ago kept really low, Labuschagne lucky it went wide of the stumps. Very good omens with the variable bounce and dispels thoughts it was due to the ball.

Now get one or two more before stumps and we're well in front.

[wba13]

That catch by root was more out than a couple that the Aussies have been given in this series, Smith took one that hit the grass along with Green , it was out. Umpires on pitch and 3rd umpires have been crap in this series.

[Borin' Baggie]

Huge wicket

[ChamonixBaggie]

Despite being heterosexual and in a committed relationship, I've inexplicably found myself in love with Mark Wood

[Malcolm Tucker]

Only the weather can save these wankers now. Managed to get some tickets for Sunday, so hopefully it’s not too bad.

[SausEggBaton]

Excellent days play.

Feel a tiny bit for Bairstow on 99, but fair play to him on his batting today, nobody at all can complain about that.