Ah, I'm glad to see someone took my advice.

Not quite the one sided affair people thought, wihich is good IMO

Even less so now. KP flashing and nicking once again.

Not quite the one sided affair people thought, wihich is good IMO

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

Lol! We're one session in

We'll judge any one-sidedness after 5 tests

I see Ben just jinxed KP. Australia now definitely in the ascendency.

Originally Posted by: Gooner 

A bit more swing about than might have been expected, but I still think it was the right decision to bat first. I can only think that the pressure of the occasion has induced some poor shots from the English batsman.

Not quite the one sided affair people thought, wihich is good IMO

Originally Posted by: Matty H 

Lol! We're one session in

We'll judge any one-sidedness after 5 tests

I see Ben just jinxed KP. Australia now definitely in the ascendency.

Originally Posted by: Gooner 

I know Matty, but  Sir Ian and others have been talking about it being  a hammering each time, as you know take each session at a time , Aussies win the first one and they will take heart from that .

Bell or Trott will have to get a ton to put any pressure on the Aussies .

I think there's about as much swing as was expected. A bad toss to win, given the winner was always going to bat (or be crucified if they elected to bowl, then saw the opposition score big). Jimmy would have ripped them to bits in these conditions; probably with a 5-fer by now.

But don't worry, we've got Root coming in at 6 to rescue us. Oh, wait... 

Hope he proves me wrong, but I've no faith in Bairstow; he's little more than an agricultural slogger - and we already have a lower-order shot player in Prior.

By all accounts, Root got a decent ball, but Cook & Pietersen got themselves out.

Trott gone Aussies on top. None of our batsmen are in particularly good form so we might struggle in the batting department this series. We will have to rely on our bowlers.

Arse

As Boycs would say you can only judge a pitch after both sides have batted. I will refrain from any sweeping statements for now, Aussies certainly on top that's for sure but plenty of life in this one yet. On decent stand between these two, Prior, Broad or Swann and it will be honours even I say.

If they take 3 or 4 more and have us 8 down at the close then clearly they win the day. As I say though, let's see how they go on it tomorrow first.

TBH, that's nonsense, though. A poor stroke is a poor stroke. This has nothing to do with the pitch. 3 batsmen have lost their wickets to poor shots. If the Aussies fall cheaply, that won't change that fact.

My issue with Bairstow is not so much lack of time in the middle, as lack of ability. He'd be a decent wicketkeeper-batsman, but just doesn't cut it for me as an out and out batsman.

Of course having said all that he's just now become our second highest scorer of the innings so far.

Bell out he is in a really bad run of form must be close to being dropped. Siddle bowling well.

We're scoring quickly but keep losing wickets, need minimum 300 to have a chance.

Have to agree with Nick on this, a poor stroke has naff all to do with the wicket.

Aussies on top............at the moment

Prior gone, old school England we are in a world of pain here.

He does of course have the ability to deliver a good innings - I'm not trying to make out he's rubbish. As I said earlier in one of the threads, his inconsistency troubles me - and I put that down to not having the stroke library of, say, Root or Cook or Trott.

Indeed, Siddle has bowled well though. Are batting is really awful at the moment and that might cost us the Ashes, early days obviously. Luckily our bowling is superb and will get us out of a few holes.