aye. some decent players there.

Would you open with Graeme Smith and Hayden with Lara 3, and PJ 4?

I would open with PJ, need him in for as long as is humanly busy.

Interesting. Is he Boycottesque?

So maybe open with Sangakarra?

It doesn't really matter who he'd open with as he'd carry them.

On another note its looking promising that KP will be playing on Thursday

you appear to like PJ a lot. Maybe a bit too much?

What is there not to like?

No idea, I dont know him.

You're missing out

"weather permitting"!!!

For the record the riverside could have a fair bit of rain and still easily get the test complete. As for the oval I'd be banking on the lovely southern weather. My only concern is manchester and that looks ok. Will be lumping on tonight and a very small saver on 4-0 just incase. Iv never seen a worse Aussie side they are awful and only Clarke scares me. You look at there top order and its piss poor, compare that with ours and there just isn't a contest. Our attack is way stronger aswell

I'd normally be in full concurrence if I was in full form and fitness TPP but I am some way short of both mainly fitness (I'm fucked for this season)

I would however fit nicely into Australia's current top six, you bowl first change for them as well.

Is KP fit though? Obviously they think he is but they played him last game and he clearly wasn't. I'd have sat him out of this one as we clearly don't need world beaters yet.

He was fit at the start of the last test he just strained his calf during it.

I'd imagine he's had enough time to recover from a slight calf strain.

He's played in both tests that we've won so we obviously have needed him.

Hopefully he played but if he's struggling a bit (which he clearly is from the Sky Sports News coverage) then potentially he could be fielding for a day and a half on Thurs/Friday which might aggravate it and we're left with 10 batsmen.

James Taylor is a more than able deputy should he not be 100%

I'm just saying give him time. We won the last one by a canter and he got 20-odd in two. We don't need to rush him back, we're hardly in trouble.

He shouldn't play if he isn't 100% I agree but I don't think theirs a chance he would, that is why Taylor is there.

Birthmark, SkyBet have price boosted 5-0 to 4/1 if you haven't bet yet

Do you honestly believe that?

For me playing in an ashes series would be the pinnicle of my cricket career. I cant see anything better than that.

On that basis I would be prepared to hide all kinds of minor injuries to ensure I didnt miss out.

As I would expect all of Englands players to do, if they really wanted to play.

Tis only a scratch.

So only 5 hours to go.

Lets hope the wather holds, and we get some decent sport to talk about.

Bat or bowl?

Some quite contradictory comments from the experts yesterday. Some saying it will turn later so bat first. Then saying it helps the pace bowlers early so bowl.

Maybe its best to lose the toss?

Thanks for that.

A managed to get 5.6 on betfair but didnt have a saver on 4-0. Hat could change during the test though. Weather forecasts now showing showers on a few of the days. See what happens, if they bat 1st ill be very confident of wrapping this up quickly.

Paddy power are going 10-0 75/1 over the 2 series. Could b value in that of we can get this one 5-0 then just lay off for a decent bet for nowt

There spin bowlers are shite, a turning pitch wouldn't worry me. For weather purposes I hope they bat 1st and we do what we've been doing and skittle them for a weak score, then over to a very strong batting line (with or without pieterson) to grind out a lead.

Can anyone remember if that bar on the corner at Rochdale has sky in???

Yeah, The Church pub has Sky Sports, I've watched cricket in there before. (last season?)

The Aussies have been firmly screwed by the third umpires this series!

Fair play to the Aussies today, series is back on

It looks a really flat pitch for the seamers, Clarke is confidently driving on the up.

It will spin big and possibly keep low late in the game though.

If England bat as they should in the first innings it could be an intriguing last couple of days.

The series needed the Aussies to have a good day today.

Just watched the Highlights on Sky, the standard of umpiring today was an absolute disgrace.

Tony Hill should be doing third team cricket not Test cricket, the bloke looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Khawaja's wicket was awful he was nowhere near the ball.


Steve Smith was plumb LBW twice and caught behind.

Oh and hotspot doesn't work.

With all the technology that is available I see no need for two neutral umpires lets just have the best umpires for the biggest series.

I'm I right in remembering that we used to have home umpires? If so when did it stop, presumably because of accusations of bias?

Rightful accusations of bias, I think teams touring Pakistan and India stopped even asking when the ball hit the pads!

It's never going to be the case now though.

The aussies have batted well but this has been a pretty poor bowling display.

Yet another tail ender gets 50.

You almost get the feeling Sky have asked England to keep the series interesting.

no chance of a 5- 0 now !!!!

I dunno that a 5-0 was ever that important Mr Parmo. A 2-0 lead and an intriguing few days cricket are alright by me. I'm hoping Cook and Root can last the day out and then see how tomorrow goes.

49 for 2

What is the point of Night Watchmen?

Caught off the trousers. That's a new one. Cook must have decided they'd save an appeal for a more senior batsman.

What the fuck was bresnan playing at, surely he knew if he hit it. He was nowhere near it. Can't believe between him and cook they never reviewed it. Complete joke. Playing for a draw will be painful to watch tomorrow. Glad ill only see a bit.

Hoping to see KP bat for a long long time tomorrow and hopefully he will have a bit of fun smashing things around.

Unfortunately for the Aussies David Warner couldn't bring that to the crease.

Sunday and Monday looking like a washout now

Alot of rain today aswell, draw will do to retain

The Aussies massively deserve to win this one, could be an interesting afternoon

Not now. Too much rain to force a result.

They're ours and anyone who'se bet 5-0 can tear up their slips!

Pity it didn't come to a conclusion like, it could have been an interesting afternoon.

Was a great day on Saturday and Lancashire cricket club had the drink situation sorted. Very quick ad efficient with the drinks, average wait time of about 25 seconds for 4 pints. Hopefully it will be similar at Chester le Street next week.

I know it helped England and there still wouldn't have been a result but stopping play for bad light seems ludicrous when the batsman are happy to stay on and there is a paying audience watching.

Anyway roll on next Monday

I've never had any problems queuing for beer at Durham for the England matches I've been to previously, they're normally pretty efficient.

The queue wasnt the best last year in the 1 dayer v them. A missed 4 wickets through waiting. Really looking forward to Friday and barring defeat will get to see us raise the ashes and win the series. I just hope the weather is ok and not the game not spoilt by rain

I see There are english cricket fans around saying They Had hoped the aussies Had Won.

Only in fooking England.

Well the rain just meant a retention, but we haven't yet won the series and of course everyone wants to see a competition apart from the 'we have to crush them' crowd to whom a 1-0 win at anything is a failure.

Who's going at the weekend then? A few of us are there Saturday onwards. Look out for the 7 foot pools flag bought in preparation for the away series

It was a nightmare the last time I was there. No where near as bad as the chaos in the west stand at Headingley though.

Day 4 and 5 for me if it lasts that long....

When was that? I was there for the one dayer against the Aussies last Summer and don't think I queued once. Loads of staff on and beers already pulled