It's The Ashes (again)

[Tom Joad]

Some great attacking cricket there. Really forced the score along and the Aussies looked pretty demoralised. TBF, we rode our luck, Crawley could have dragged on 3 times before he eventually did and Moeen mis-hiit a few. Not taking anything away, scoring at that rate really put pressure on and you can make your own luck. Starc went from bowling superbly, to feeling every knock while Cummins rarely goes for that many. They were mis-fielding aplenty as well, just to give the crowd a laugh. As close to a perfect day as it gets. That ball that got Root out shows there is the odd demon lurking in the pitch too. I'll have everything crossed tomorrow as I probably won't get to see anything before tea. Come On England!

[Malcolm Tucker]

Can’t see us batting till tea unless the weather interrupts. If we start on time and keep wickets in hand  can only see us batting until 1 hour after lunch at most. With wickets in hand we will score at least 200 in that time and we will need to declare because of the diabolical weather for Saturday.
Mind you I think we will be lucky to start on time tomorrow. Weather looks crap in morning.

200 in an hour would take some doing, especially with the over rates in this series. You’d be looking at 15+ per over.

[Tom Joad]

Can’t see us batting till tea unless the weather interrupts. If we start on time and keep wickets in hand  can only see us batting until 1 hour after lunch at most. With wickets in hand we will score at least 200 in that time and we will need to declare because of the diabolical weather for Saturday.
Mind you I think we will be lucky to start on time tomorrow. Weather looks crap in morning.

200 in an hour would take some doing, especially with the over rates in this series. You’d be looking at 15+ per over.

Aye. I think a few may be getting ahead of themselves. It's a lead of 67, no guarantees come with that. A bit of help from the weather and I'm sure it'll go well for us but we're still a long way from making sure we set a target and then bowl them out again.

[SuperBob2002]

200 is ridiculous, 120 is doable if they get going? (4 runs an over assuming they get the allocated 30 overs in, which I guess they won't, so it'll be nearer to 5 runs an over needed).

If so a lead of 187 is enough to declare on and could be enough to force the win.

[Ted Maul]

Another 70 for England this morning could be enough whilst still keeping enough time in the game.

It puts the Australians in an awkward position too, given the delays coming up over the weekend do they bat time and try and take the sting out of England knowing that if they lose a couple of quick ones when they're on and off for bad weather they're well and truly in the shit. Or do they come out aggressive and try and make 300+ themselves to give England a target to chase.

I think it would have to be the latter, if we can get 150 ahead then we're in a really strong position - Australia would need at least 300 to concern us come Sunday and I can't see them getting 300 second dig on a pitch that looked like it had just started misbehaving a little towards the end of yesterday.

[SuperBob2002]

Australia won't be thinking about the bat. They'll be pissing about slowing down their over rate as much as possible.

[Lurker#3]

200 is ridiculous, 120 is doable if they get going? (4 runs an over assuming they get the allocated 30 overs in, which I guess they won't, so it'll be nearer to 5 runs an over needed).

If so a lead of 187 is enough to declare on and could be enough to force the win.

Tahts why i'd bat till around tea and try and get north of 150 more runs. 

I think there will a surprising amount of play tomorrow and Sunday.

[wba13]

200 is ridiculous, 120 is doable if they get going? (4 runs an over assuming they get the allocated 30 overs in, which I guess they won't, so it'll be nearer to 5 runs an over needed).

If so a lead of 187 is enough to declare on and could be enough to force the win.

Tahts why i'd bat till around tea and try and get north of 150 more runs. 

I think there will a surprising amount of play tomorrow and Sunday.

Saturday a wash out we need to score quickly today because we will lose a hour or two because of the showers.

[Cunninghamismagic]

Looks grim ooop north this morning.
Rain throughout the country tomorrow so a likely washout.

[SuperBob2002]

Fun fact - England haven't lost an Ashes Test this series when they've selected 2 Bears players. That's not a coincidence.