Quality player, but always felt uneasy watching him bat. Anyone else recall how high he used to hold the bat. It was almost 45 above the wicket at times.

Not when the ball arrived it wasn't....

Indeed. Through the line with the ball accelerating the opposite way [sn_bsmil]

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Tomorrow England avoid the follow on. Cook declares and invites the Ausseis to give us a total to chase. Would add a a bit of interest 

Tomorrow England avoid the follow on. Cook declares and invites the Ausseis to give us a total to chase. Would add a a bit of interest 

There's only four things wrong with that statement....

1.  Cook won't declare (until the final hour, when they can shake hands and walk off)

2.  The Aussies wouldn't declare

3. England wouldn't take any risks in their second innings

4. There isn't enough time left to engineer anything. Even assuming 7 hours tomorrow

 

Other than that, good plan....

 

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I don't think he was being entirely serious you know, Pete? 😂

You're right about Cook, though. If we had a lead of a 1000 with 5 sessions left, he'd probably still be batting.

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I don't think he was being entirely serious you know, Pete?

You're right about Cook, though. If we had a lead of a 1000 with 5 sessions left, he'd probably still be batting.

 

I know he was joking - that's why I provided an excessively detailed riposte......

I think people may be forgetting that there's another 5 test matches starting in 3 months' time.  Psychologically Cook and Flower want England as much on the front foot as possible to end this series.

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I don't think he was being entirely serious you know, Pete?

You're right about Cook, though. If we had a lead of a 1000 with 5 sessions left, he'd probably still be batting.

 

I know he was joking - that's why I provided an excessively detailed riposte......

I think people may be forgetting that there's another 5 test matches starting in 3 months' time.  Psychologically Cook and Flower want England as much on the front foot as possible to end this series.

Aha! Agree entirely, which is why the selection for this test bothered me. 😉

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Play to start at 11.30, some blue sky emerging too.

Obviously vital to get past the follow-on total. If we don't then it could well be a tense day. If england get past the follow on but are, say, 180 short, then australia will come out and try to bash some quick runs and declare. If England can bat on and on then the match will drift to a close.

Only one thing to go for today: Bell's 4th century of the series to make records.

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Only one thing to go for today: Bell's 4th century of the series to make records.

Yep. I can't even bring myself to watch any of it. I hate it when test matches play out like this.

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England have avoided the follow on - will Alistair Cook take my advice 

I'd just like to see us try to hit every ball out of the ground from here. At least give the paying crowd something to watch

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Anyone else's sound playing up on SS2?

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Anyone else's sound playing up on SS2?

Yes - it sounds like a problem with Shane Warne's microphone.

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Anyone else's sound playing up on SS2?

Yes - it sounds like a problem with Shane Warne's microphone.

Yep, it's when he speaks.

Although having said that its doing it all the time now

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I'd just like to see us try to hit every ball out of the ground from here. At least give the paying crowd something to watch

There was a good comment in the Times this morning by Martin Johnson. Commenting on the flak that has been aimed at Alistair Cook recently.

"Oh for the days when we had captains who had a bit more of the cavalier spirit about them. And lost. Usually by an innings."

Sums up my feelings perfectly.

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Mentioned now. It's only on HD apparently. I'm not switching to SD because I'm too posh.

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Anyone else's sound playing up on SS2?

Yes - it sounds like a problem with Shane Warne's microphone.

Yep, it's when he speaks.

Although having said that its doing it all the time now

Nasser has just apologised - apparently it's only the HD channel.

I'm tempted to mute the TV and listen to TMS.

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Mentioned now. It's only on HD apparently. I'm not switching to SD because I'm too posh.

"Posh" is when after three glasses of red wine you stop noticing the sound....

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Mentioned now. It's only on HD apparently. I'm not switching to SD because I'm too posh.

"Posh" is when after three glasses of red wine you stop noticing the sound....

Hang on, I'll grab the corkscrew [sn_bsmil]

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I'd just like to see us try to hit every ball out of the ground from here. At least give the paying crowd something to watch

Swann seems keen to give the crowd something to cheer. 23 off 8 balls for him and 32 for england from the last 11 balls