Thought this match starts tomorrow, just like I thought the first test started the next day. I really need to sort it out!

In-gur-land, In-gur-land, Barmy Army etc etc.

May I suggest a diary?

Come on Engerland, and rember we don't have to try and hit every delivery for 4!!!

Still think it's harsh dropping Onions, one of the leading wicket-takers, for Harmison. The latter had better prove it was worth it because he's been crap for England for ages.

I get cocky and think I don't need one. It's alright though as I'm ready for the 'fun' to begin, because I got up 'early' today (10.30am).

Agree but aggressive bowling from Freddie and Harmy could win this one on this pitch.

got up early at 10.30, I've been working since 4 am so I can knock off in about 30 seconds to watch the cricket ;-)

Lose a wicket in the first hour and it's all over!

Aye, play and miss from Strauss to Siddall

Fuck me how pissed off am I, had a ticket for tomorrow but a cliunt insisted we do a meeting in Reading 1-3 pm tomorrow so I gave my business partner my ticket for the Oval, and now I've just got an out of office reply from cliunts email and the kent is at the test today, fecking kenting arsehole wanka! Gonna add a grand onto his bill to compensate me for emotional trauma lol

11.20 Cook goes on 10 caught off a good delivery from Siddall

Bye bye Ashes.

Aye, Bell only averages 30 ish at number 3 for england as opposed to around 50 at 5 or 6, we is doomed!

Bell just got lucky, should have been out caught behind

Bell living on borrowed time, looks awful to the short ball. Only plus is since a bit of drizzle it's got fresher so ball not swinging much

think england have picked the best possible team available, can't wait for harmison and flintoff to bowl in tandom, and bounce the aussies all out for 100...or something

Bell and strauss pass the 50 partnership, tough out there but doing OK now, need to get to lunch without losing another wicket then dig in for the afternoon

Looking a bit better now - Strauss stepping up a gear and through to fifty

Hopefully these guys can keep going now.

Good knock from Struass so far, looks set to bat the day.

100 up now.

100-1

108 for 1 at lunch, I'd have taken that at 11.00 this morning

the average for 1st innings scores on the oval since 2000 is 430 odd


not a lot of people know that :michael caine:

Aye, and a higher than average result ground too, howay lads lets fuck the convicts ower

Yet again Strauss fails at the start of a session!!!

this made me chuckle

If England drop Graham Onions for Flintoff, they will attempt to take 20 wickets with five bowlers who, in the last two Ashes series, have taken 65 wickets at an average of 50.12, with a strike rate of a scalp every 83 balls. If they continue on this form, they will need 277 overs to bowl Australia out twice for a combined total of 1002 runs (excluding leg-byes and byes).

England will therefore have to score 1003 in around 170 overs to win. The best tactic on winning the toss would be to insert Australia, bowl them out for 501 by mid-afternoon on day two, then smash a quick run-a-ball 1003 for 9 declared by just after lunch on day four, and bowl Australia out for 501 again to win with the last ball of the match. The only potential flaw in this plan is that the 11 batsmen who would have to do this have, over the same time span, averaged 30, and scored at three per over. Still, stranger things have happened. Albeit, not in cricket. Or reality.

Colly out for 24.

176-2.

Here comes Trott.

180 for 3 at tea, not ideal but could have been much worse

Bell throws his wicket away with another loose shot, inside edge back onto the stumps bat miles away from his pad on the shot, very poor!

Suspect we aren't going to make 300!!!

Pretty rubbish last session then! Really can't see us winning this, but we can hope...

Need to get the 350 up and take a few early wickets tomorrow...

Anderson won't get much joy, but bouncers from Flintoff, Harmison and maybe Broad, as well as spin from Swann are our only hope - they all need to bowl well.

Agreed, but think this is well set up for a pretty exciting test now, can't see us getting more than 330 ish at best but I think there will be a lot in the wicket for Harmison and Flintoff, and given that North was getting turn and bounce Swann could be a matchwinner. All hinges on us not chucking pies, cut out the short wide stuff, make them play at most deliveries and Swan keep one end quiet to keep the run rate down and I think we may be able to do it. Suspect it will be clenched buttocks on the final day again mind

332 - not as bad as it might have been. We need an early wicket but the Aussies are playing it very cool. The are clearly happy with a draw

Poor start with the ball, but unbelievable Broad has made two huge breakthroughs.

First Watson lbw (sounds like a bit of a poor swish from Watson), then the biggie, Punter goes, played on. Now, if we can only get Katich out as well, then England might have a chance in this match...

I'll settle for him skittling out Hussey. Great stuff, Broad!

Now, if he can only do one of the following:

(i) get Katich out

(ii) get all of the other remaining batsmen out

then we might be in with a chance

Has to be said that on current form, Michael Clarke a bigger danger than Katich. Scored 93, 103, 29, 136, 1, and 83 so far this series, average of 74. That's a stunning performance.

And Clarke's gone! Broad again! Stunning stuff from the floppy-haired babyface.

Makes me quite annoyed that I have been clearing out my office all afternoon instead of watching it

Broad currently on 4-15, and those four are more or less the best four wickets you could get. Oh my word

He's had an incredible turn around this series, with bat and ball. Just wish he could have played like this since the start. Cracking stuff.

The current substitute fielder I played cricket against occasionally when we were about 11/12. He was incredible then and impossible to get out.

So yeah my claim to fame is I've bowled at him and he probably hit me for some fours, but oh well.

112 for 7

We could be enforcing the follow on before the day is out

unbeliavable session from sturat broad! checked the score at 70-0 and thought we'd waved the ashes goodbye, then was a amazed to see 311-8, come on england!

Well that was pretty good.

Should of put Monty in too, and Rashid

Watch out though, Katich, Clarke and North can bowl spin.....

Leaving Hauritz out will be a major talking point if we win this.

Still seems a bit odd that we have a decent chance of winning the Ashes now, but I'm not complaining. Hopefully the batsmen can build on the bowling with plenty more runs (lots of time to score them) and then we can win like we did at Lords.

Not saying anything yet though...

Fucking typicial.

The collapse begins...

39-3

Overall, i have to say we edged it on the day, i dont think i've ever seen England bowl so well in a single session ever, Broad was immense and so was Swann.

Now though is the time for the much criticised middle order to stand up and be counted, if we can plod along to a lead of around 350-400 on a pitch that is fast deteiorating and not favouring the batsmen, i think we have a wonderful opportunity to take a glorious win. But the middle order now have to get stuck in and score big

Collingwood has been very disapointing in recent tests, getting on a bit, and there is comptition for his middle-order place at the moment.

He scored 64 and 74 in the first test - you could argue that he more than any other player saved that match for England. Since then though, you're right, he's been poor.

if they (England) dont win this

Aussies 86-0, they need 546

It'll be another nailbiter i bet but yeah, they've got 2 full days to bowl them out, if they lose this, we really are shit

I know it requires a world record to do it, but I have an awful feeling they may do it.

I do also. It's meant to rain tommorow, and they'll be aware of that and try to bat all day and hope for the weather tomorrow.