England v Australia 2019

[Meeharaka]

Wow Smith! What an insane player. Wow England - where were you today? Full marks to Aus, done the business when it mattered to probably be the only team that can win with a real shot at the Ashes. That is a huge score on any wicket but I think this wicket is done with batting and Lyon will be a handful and lookout for Starc with reverse.

Paine done a Thiri but a vital innings and stand to keep Eng away and allow Smith to take the game away. England can at best hope to bat this out but it hasn't been their strength so good luck England.

[mugatiya]

Eng were very poor yesterday

Fielding and captaincy as well as the bowling

Smith is just something else

[mugatiya]

I just love how Smith let the bat do the talking after he came back. He started the Ashes to boos, he will go home showing the UK why he is one of the greats of the game.

In a weird way, I'm glad the ban happened (rightfully so). It has probably prolonged his career. Saved him from burnout in a bad team culture and the personal demands he had. Made him hungrier than ever to enter batting Nirvana.

I see the same thing in Ben Stokes. As someone said I think both of them realized what they may have stood to lose based on their actions and it has given them a much wider perspective and probably helped their mental state no end now when approaching the game.

[pj57]

Smith....world's best batsman playing in his own world.....amazing.

[Bada]

#PoliteEnquiries: When will Steve Smith return to his home planet?
http://www.espncricinfo.com/video/clip?id=27545978

[Bada]

Comment on cricbuzz

"144.142.92.211 is that IP address that Archer tried to trace but Australia put Marnus security system."

[Bada]

Forecast is good for the last two days. There's enough time to force a result if AUS can get a big deal. Can't see low order heroics this tkme with Starc playing. They missed him in that hour of madness. No one bowled a yorker.

[pj57]

Good partnership between Burns and Root, nothing much else. Still need 97 to avoid a follow on, not that it will be enforced.

Starc has been disappointing so far, too many loose balls. Hazlewood with 4 wickets.

[Meeharaka]

Eng had a good thing going but like it has been for a while now, they fell away and lost too many wickets. Still nearly 300 behind and the new ball due soon, Aus must go for the kill. If it were to work out, rather enforce the follow on than mess around with rain and targets and of course the chance of losing wickets and taking time out of the game.

[pj57]

Very rarely do teams enforce the follow on these days mainly because they want to give their bowlers a bit of rest rather than any other reason. If Aussies can get the remaining wickets before the follow on mark they can go for quick runs and declare with a lead of around 350 on day 4 itself.