Yeah could have done without the declaration in the first innings. Looks like we need all the runs we can get unless the last 4 wickets produce something special. Would have thought would want 300 at least on this pitch if its decent weather?

There is a time and a place to do Bazball then there is utter stupidity

He batted 'absolutely majestically', the entire time, with the exact same intent you bemoan when he gets out. Not a clue where to go with that, fella.

According to this logic - he is fine reverse scooping the best fast bowler in the world, first ball of the day...but he is not fine coming down the wicket to a spinner when set and batting 'majestically'?

No its a test match imagine if he had got out 1st ball today, to be fair he does play that scoop brilliantly but imo i dont think he should be risking it so early in his innings as its not a one day match its over 5 days a test of endurance and patience but we shall see who prevails.

Robinson can bat so why slog it in the air? He could easily have hit it along the ground for a single and possibly four but he just kept going in the air. Now we need 50 from Anderson and Broad.

Athers reckons England are slight favourites but with Australia just about to start their run chase, the odds are Aus 1.79 Eng 2.68 Draw 13.5.

I haven't had a bet but as somebody who's always banging on about how hard it is to win when you're not chasing a small total in the 4th innings, I've got to side with Athers and make England slight favourites.

There have been about 600 Tests played in England and 280+ has only been successfully chased on 11 occasions.

just the way they play currently and have had a huge amount of success with it to this point...won plenty of games they shouldn't have already and pi$$ed some run chases last summer...

if they have a run of failures with it then they'll have to have a bit of a think but they currently have so many credits it's some way off..

(and I say that as someone who felt the approach was mental when they started it)

Game might swing on those two wickets taken
in poor conditions on Sunday evening. When
play resumed for a few overs.

England were dreadful until Stokes took over
captaincy.

Stokes might need to adapt bazball.

geordie1956 • June 19, 2023 5:23 PM BST
If we lose this one then the wicketkeeping stats highlight a big weakness & these details taken from the BBC website illustrate it... Carey has taken 9 out of 10 opportunities .. Bairstow 1 from 5

Look at bringing in Ben Foakes like last year with bairstow as batsman. Maybe have to leave Brook out?

Drop Pope bring in Foakes

getting very interesting now

Only time it's not raining in Birmingham tomorrow is between 5-6pm.

Really disappointed with our batting approach when 70 odd for none.We should have gone into 1 day mode and put it back to them. Our defensive approach throughout the game will come back to bite us. Can't see us getting the runs tomorrow.

unusually pessimistic TMB...

Don't want to stop them playing Bazball as you can't deny the results have been fantastic since the approach and it is fantastic entertainment.

However I would be very disappointed if they make more decisions like declaring below 400 on the first day of the test. There was plenty of time left, it was a good batting track and surely making a possible 30 or 40 more runs and the aussie bowlers toil in the sun for a full day would have been better. Root was well in and scoring quickly, I'm hoping those possible extra runs won't matter at the end of today.

looks as though most of it's gone through on the radar though could be an odd shower later..

was reported they wanted flat decks as you say but apparently they aren't happy with how slow this is..

with the drainage in England these days it's virtually impossible to keep pace and bounce in surfaces these days without a decent live grass covering  so they'll either be largely like this one or they'll have to rethink what they want..

I would have thought Eng are more suited to lively decks  where cameo 30's 40's double in value especially as they don't have a quality front line spinner available...

eng seem to want this, that and the other to help assure victory in what they say is the be all in test cricket , yet that dec on 1st night was horrendous decision,

I am not sure that people know what Bazball is even if it is a thing!

It certainly ain't about whacking it one day stylee.

The way England batted on the first day showed the intelligence they have used. Cummins was spooked and set terribly defensive fields " allowing " England to milk easy runs without too much risk. Root was magnificent, Crawley played well, YJB was a little uppish and I think he is not using his legs well but seeing the ball well. Brooks looks like some sort of talent and needs to be allowed time to develop and the rest of the series may be a real test.

I am a conventional Test Match Snob but the way England have been playing is magnificent. The declaration was a mistake at best and stupid at worst but who would hang this Captain for that?

The way they have batted has given them a chance in this match with the weather as it is. Some of the criticism of them in this match is ill thought out. The only thin I would change atm is Stokes cavalier batting as the type of leader who leads from the front. He is such a good batsman he really should take his time and work through the gears.

I would say that England's approach has knocked Australia off their stride. Their batting was also far too conservative. They should have destroyed Moen and hammered the ball through or over the umbrella field' which, I thought was also excellent thinking by Stokes on a slow pitch. Khawaja well as he played was partially responsible for this. He was well in and should have been more positive with approach to scoring runs and tried to put England on the back foot. I was hiding behnind the sofa watching Moen bowl at times and they did not take the initiative and that may cost them the Test if the rain does not save them.