Ashes start in 20 mins..

[Woolly Mammoth]

England 302 all out.
Australia 59/3 at 04.22 this morning.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Aussies slightly ahead at end of second day I would say

[Woolly Mammoth]

If we can get rid of Smith early tomorrow then we will be on top. We need to break this partnership, their tail is not as long as ours. The first session tomorrow will be crucial.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

If we can get rid of Smith early tomorrow then we will be on top. We need to break this partnership, their tail is not as long as ours. The first session tomorrow will be crucial.

Smith is key wicket. He can get big hundreds. Need him out.

[Keynsham]

Don't forget that a draw at the Gabba has to be a very decent result, it'll start to play on the Aussies if we can get away with that.

[HillingdonFFC]

Don't forget that a draw at the Gabba has to be a very decent result, it'll start to play on the Aussies if we can get away with that.

Cant see it being a draw mate. If we fail to get Smith early tomorrow then we're looking at a potential big first innings deficit. If they roll us could be over in 4 days.
Bit negative I know but our batting , despite Stoneman, Vince & Malan doing well, isnt the most dependable

[Woolly Mammoth]

The batting can be fragile at times, we need both Cook and Stoneman to build a decent opening wicket stand in the second innings. All credit to the new guys, they all contributed well.
Some of their batting is weak, excluding Smith and Warner. So our opening pair in the second innings have to give us a solid start.
One other thing we have going for us, is that we have more alrounders and a better wicketkeeper batsman.
But our batting can be our archilles heel at times. 

[Keynsham]

Agree it looks as though there will be a result, I was pointing out the obvious that the Gabba is a fortress.  However, if  we can get past Smith then they really don't have very much beyond that.

I think it was Botham who has declared this as the worst Aussie batting line up in modern history, even though ours is somewhat lacking too these days, it gives us a chance.

On a knife edge right now, I reckon.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Cook and root need to step up. Cannot win this series without contributions from the senior batsmen

[Woolly Mammoth]

Agree, and what a great achievement mentality and physically, to win at the Gabba first test, would knock the Aussies right back to the days of Ned Kelly. If we can turn them over in their so called fortress, we can turn them over anywhere. 

[BestOfBrede]

Did Ned play Cricket as well?

[Woolly Mammoth]

Did Ned play Cricket as well?

Apparently in a suit of armour, and in between innings he robbed banks.

[BestOfBrede]

 :005:
I thought that was Mick Jagger!

[Woolly Mammoth]

:005:
I thought that was Mick Jagger!

He never had the spare time, as he spent most of it retreading his lips, and purchasing Mars Bars for one of his ex girlfriends.

[Fulham Tup North]

expecting quite a few rain interruptions today.
Could make it into a '4 and a bit' day test.  Early wickets would help us, but I would take a draw atm.
Good luck England  :)

[Woolly Mammoth]

It could be a low scoring game, so I cannot see a draw.
Therefore, we need a first innings lead, if we are to stand a chance of winning at the Gabba. As only once in the history of the Ground has a team lost when taking a first innings lead.

[Woolly Mammoth]

They are 213/7 at lunch. It's been a good morning Session from England.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Aus all out. Only 20 odd ahead. This becomes a one innings match.

[Slaphead in Qatar]

Cook didn't need to play that shot

[the nutflush]

Steve Smith is the best Aussie batsman since Bradman.