STEVIE B

Most of them are on easy street, they all play like they're in the team for the long haul. Maybe these big bucks central contracts aren't helping anymore. John Rudkin has to be involved

I'm all for 4 days with a guaranteed 90 overs per day. Too many days rarely have 80. Start earlier, cut out the ridiculous water breaks & glove changes & bowlers constantly tossing the ball to the umpire to change it.... .the thing gets hit & will go out of shape !

Didn’t Waghorn also get a late winner at the kop end once ? That was pretty incredible from memory.

I think that says more about our batting than their bowling. We also bowled way too short throughout. We never seem to learn, or see what brings success to our opponents. Starc has been MoM in both games so far. Surely our many analysts can't fail to notice that & pass it on ? Maybe we're too pig headed to try plan B or C. Our batting side is also under no pressure from within, nobody is pushing to take anyone's place. I'm not for wholesale changes, but it's become too safe for Crawley, Pope etc.

I don't really follow much county cricket, but l guess The Lions side currently in Oz have the best of the rest ? They don't seem to be doing that well. The pool of quality player's maybe is more of a puddle. Are the selectors too blinkered & not willing to give 2nd chances to batmen like Sibley & Hameed ?

Not much will change going forward. Most batter's spots are safe as nobody is really pushing them, maybe that's why some play with a carefree attitude. The Lions aren't exactly pulling up any trees. Seems like it's harder to get out of this side, than getting into it. No doubt the power's that be will blame the domestic county set-up. Again.

Is Smith allowed a third innings then ? I’d prefer Root to be allowed another go, personally !

Do you think the same could be said of England when it comes to rugby ? An abundance of talent, but possibly underachieved at the very top ?

The batters aren’t patient enough, rarely read a game situation. Root is the blueprint. The bowlers aren’t targeting the wickets enough (in this Test, at least). They’re taking 2 modes of dismissals away. Cricket isn’t a very complicated game, but is technical. Occupy the crease, bowl at the 3 bits of wood. Then tweak to make it work better. This Series has gone, l don’t know what we’ll learn from it. Maybe the 'Bazball' approach only works on very flat wickets in England against certain sides, but l doubt the egos will have it. Although, If we lose this Series 5-0, McCullum’s job must be in some doubt.

Brook did review both though didn't he, even the one he obviously knicked ? He rightly reviewed the 1st & was right. The 2nd he edged & was wrong. Just checked the BBC & they confirmed it.

Sums up the ego issue. Pathetic from Brook. Why review a massive, obvious edge ? A batter knows when he/she's knicked it.

........can we take into day 4 !?

Fair point. Test Series wins abroad are not easy & seemingly less common, especially in India (although SA just won there !)& Australia. It's the manner of our defeats that is painful. We dont just lose, we lose very badly. The next Ashes Series Oz will more than likely be rebuilding. Probably no Lyon, Starc, Hazlewood, Smith, Boland & Cummins is now 32. So there is hope !

I know he's the best in the world, but surely Root is the blueprint of how to build an innings. It seems not one England player has taken any notice of what he does.The general mantra seems to be, '...But it's just the way l play'.

Only 1 LBW in the match so far. Be patient, park your egos, cut out the silly wafts outside off stump, see Starc off & there's runs to be had. Simple !......Unfortunately l don't think we have it in our game. Hopefully they prove me wrong.

The Aussies just play on our massive egos. They just get on with it. They're also missing Cummins & Hazelwood ! I can’t see anything other than 5-0, with no Test reaching day 5.

The Aussies have this set up perfectly. They'll have a lead of over 150 & will bowl at Eng with a new pink ball under the lights. This could get very messy, very quickly.

Only 4 balls were going on to hit the wickets in the 1st session. Mind blowing.

Jeez, needed that.

It shouldn’t be difficult, but 90 overs are almost never bowled in a day. Batsmen changing gloves, helmets being changed (although that is a genuine reason if a batter has been hit), drinks being brought onto the field 10 mins after an official break, bowlers constantly asking for the ball to be changed. I’ve probably missed a few. It all takes time out of the game. The days play has to be lengthened. 74 overs today is ridiculous.

I still don't know why England's home Tests start at 11am. Surely 10.15 is manageable. If it's being dictated by Sky, or whoever that's ridiculous.

Personally, in what will probably be a fairly low scoring game & our frailties against Starc, runs on the board would be paramount. England can then copy Australia’s ‘tactics’ & slow things down in the field for 2 sessions, then speed things up after tea/dinner/supper.

.......supper innit

Brook once again fails to read a match situation. I am shocked. 2 set batters set, Starc on, lights on. ‘I’ll carry on flailing, it’s what l do’.

Brook worries me. T20 mode, too early. Just get in first.