Ashes Third Test

[EdmundD]

so far leads me to believe that we were very lucky it rained last Monday......

[humbersloop]

big-hearted Bell, ton up that man!

small woo hoo

[Sqad]

Yes......in my opinion one of the better test matches........well done Durham.

Tomorrow will be a good day of cricket..........don't write off the Aussies.

[sunny-dave]

Yes indeed Sqad - a thoroughly entertaining match.

Tomorrow should be a nail biter ... one way or the other.

[DTCwordfan]

Brilliant, Bell - and on that wicket. A lead of 250+ would be really nice

[Sqad]

New ball taken .....Bell out.......game on 251-6

[Sqad]

Prior out.....first ball.....Harris on a hatrick.

[seekeerz]

And now 251/7

[Sqad]

No hatrick.......

[ChillDoubt]

Prior has done little with the bat all series. For the last test I say drop him, let Bairstow have the gloves, drop Root back to 6 and try out a new opener, may as well blood someone before the winter.

[Sqad]

Broad gone.....275-8..............good session this morning for the Aussies.

[ChillDoubt]

On this day 5 track I feel Swann will be pivotal in England getting a result from this match.
Hopefully gonna be a very interesting afternoon's cricket.

[jim360]

Interesting idea CD. I'd say that if we get a win or a draw in this test the 5th should be used as an opportunity to experiment a bit. I was thinking that Anderson might need a rest too, he's been relatively ineffective in the last two tests, 4-208, but has an innings left so might be better.

So who can replace Root as Opener?

[Sqad]

Jim

\\\\\So who can replace Root as Opener?\\\\

Compton.

Although, to me, Root is never a test match opener.....I would give him the reast of this series.

[jim360]

Anyway, good news is that the runs are flowing, 40 in the last four overs, Bresnan doing a great job to get England within sight of 300.

[jim360]

So how about a 5th test line-up of:

Cook, Compton, Trott, KP, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Onions/ Finn/ Anderson

?

[Sqad]

JIm.......looks a good squad.

[ChillDoubt]

Compton lives off the name of his family name IMHO.
Why not give Daniel Bell-Drummond a go?

[FredPuli43]

You're an old man if you can remember an opening pair for England who guaranteed 140 plus for the first wicket. Root looks like an opener in the making. The ball that got him out this time would have troubled Bobby Simpson or Hammond. The technique looks sound and he has the air of one older than his years. Not sure that Compton has either.

[ChillDoubt]

That should read 'lives off his family name'.

[jim360]

I think you should never say never about Root being an Opener, but he's not good enough now is for certain, that 180 was sadly an exception this series. He's too good a player, and too much part of England's future, to be dropped forever, but probably is a year or two away from making the opener's position his own.

A very good first hour for England, really, reaching 306/8 and a lead of 274.