Aye, well, we didn't so like I said it's academic. It's all about if's innit? What if we go for 120-odd?? Big word 'if.'

Then they would need 350 and wed still win!!!

Also that won't happen by the way, our batting line up is too strong and they ain't got the attack

If we got 120 odd we'd only win by 200 runs instead of 450.

Thank you Mr Wisden. I didn't realise it was a given.

Very little chance of us getting bowled for 120 when their wicket keeper can't be arsed to stretch for a catch.

A decent s ore for Joe Root is of as much importance as us scoring over 300 here. Everything is in his favour

Root should have been out, he could do with a score here !
Shame they promoted him up the order so soon to accommodate Sunday league slogger bairstow

Why does someone always have to be under pressure? Even when we're winning!?

We're pissing the match Root is a great player and an opening batsman plus it's the second Test of the series. Two matches, that's all. Some runs for him would be perfect but it's not essential I'm sure England see him as a long term fixture at the top of the order and wouldn't panic about two quiet matches.

I rate root, but it would definitely help his confidence to get some runs when opening, just feel he has been promoted quickly so accommodate bairstow, Christ knows why

I would think we'd have been in a bit of trouble yesterday if Bairstow hadn't got his knock yesterday. Added to which he seems pretty good in the field as well. Him and Joe Root are up and coming, we might need to show a bit of patience with them.

I really can't understand why people are replying to this DD prick.

It's clearly exactly what he wants

Errrr.....y'know when I said 'what if we go for for 120........'

Cook needs to have a look at himself.

Batting fragility again exposed

Cook will come good but it would be nice if root can make a score

Trott is having a funny series so far most unlike him

Spender and DD's daily competition is in full swing again.

Ffs there goes pieterson, can see the Aussies having 350 to chase.
2 poor sides here batting wise

Bad shot from KP but Siddle has bowled superbly here, he's a whole hearted trier for sure.

Did cook make a mistake not enforcing the follow on ?

Lets hope bell and root can see us through to stumps. Bairstow can be a night watchman to protect prior and bresnan

Bell isn't even batting you flaming Galah.

You aren't even watching the Test

He's lasted 15 balls this match. It's down to Bell again.

Mind, Like TPP said in the OP, it was never going to be easy.

We could declare now and win.

There playing for pride that is all its 2-0. Our batting line up is that strong we can afford wobbles and still get out the shit (even though we ain't in any at all here).

To be fair siddle Bowled outstandingly there. He was on the money time and time again. Great spell.

As said by pj we could declare now and win, come the end I'd be surprised if we didnt win by at least 200

Errr...I wouldn't. If we can make 361 on this pitch, they can. They've had the worst day they're going to have in this series I reckon. Put 450 up and maybe we're home. If they get Bell early it'll be nervy.

I have no idea Whats going on here with the batting. I would hate to think i Had tickets for any fourth day at the minute.

450 has been scored twice in the history of Test cricket in the fourth innings of a match, on neither occasion was it to win a match.

The highest ever run chase at Lords is 344 and I'd put my house on it not being on a pitch as dry as this one. forget 31/3 England are 263/3, about 80 runs from being in an almost unassailable position.

I wouldn't back this Aussie team to score 350 in the first innings against us on a flat wicket with the ball doing nothing. To suggest they could do it in the fourth innings of a match is absurd. They have a laughably bad top six.

Right. You wouldn't back it so it's absurd. They bloody nearly made the record run chase at Trent Bridge though.

We need to batter them into the ground to send out a strong message, not let them back into it like we did last week. Set the 550 and skittle them for sub 550.

It's the least they would do to us if roles were reversed

This pitch has more in it for England's attack. Trent Bridge was that slow that later in the game it became difficult to take wickets. This pitch is more conventional in that it will deteriorate as the game goes on and batting will become more difficult. It's already spinning quite a lot. That's before you even take into consideration how shit the Aussies batting looks. They'll fight harder second innings but anything above 300 and they have about a 1% chance. It would take Micheal Clarke to to something special. Test cricket is quite old and these records exist for a reason.

If Australia win this Test match I will fly to China and buy you a pint.

I don't think that will happen but the best thing about test cricket is the uncertainty. It's human chess.

The best teams are ruthless, fully expect England to pile on the runs and smash Australia in to the ground making it 2-0 and killing their confidence, then we go on to win 5-0. Simple!

The best teams are rutless, we are one of them we will win this game !

I'm pleased for Joe Root like, and when they finally got Tim Bresnan, who was excellent by the way, they must have thought 'ahhhh fack, mate' when Ian Bell came strolling down the steps.

This is a no-contest. A joy to watch!

Going by doubledickhead's Ashes observations the latest pearler being Compton should be opening instead of Root, I'm off to put a pony on Pools winning League Two.

We're taking the mick now like. I guessed 450 was the benchmark and either we'll bat the day out or declare on the next wicket.

19 overs left in the day John and this pair could take it well beyond 500 the way they've played the last ten.

I can see us giving them a tricky 30-45 minutes to survive.
Swann must be looking forward to having a go on this track.

Either way, it's a job well done.

Pietersen potentially injured, I would bring back Compton , push root to number 5 and get rid of the comedian bairstow next game.

Root has done very well and will be a fixture for years to come so no need to peg him at the top of the order too soon

You've made a tit of yourself, two options really;

a) Slip away quietly

b) Keep making a tit of yourself

Looks like b) at the minute.

Blatent fucking moron

Outstanding knock by root. Its what all the fans wanted and over the moon it was him that got the score. Lobbed £30 39/1 on root/Anderson before this started to be best batsmen/bowler and that's looking very good now. He's got huge potential and to suggest he should be batting 5 is lunacy. Another gem in a team full of them

How much ill-informed claptrap is it possible to fit in one statement? I'm off to ring Roy Castle and the McWhirter brothers!!!

The proof that the people thinking we should have enforced the follow on needed. This is way too easy. We wobble aswell but are so strong it dosnt matter but these are terrible. Worst Aussie side in history. Bet365 offered 100/1 for 10-0 and barring rain its looking a awesome bet.

Root a shoe in for man of the match, another failure with the bat from bairstow

162/8 only 442 behind and a day to play, too close to call isn't it

3 knocks really given he was out off a no ball

team for next test assuming Pietersen is injured

Cook, Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Taylor, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson

so it wasn't three knocks then was it you fucking bell-end ? fuck off over there, then fuck off a bit further out of my sight.

Why are you all arguing when we won by a street?

Hopefully we'll go on and crush them 5-0 now, it'll take more than 10 days for Lehmann to iron out the problems they've got.

Bell and Root with the bat and Swann plus Bresnan with the ball the most pleasing aspects from our point of view

Jimmy, Broad and Bresnan or Harris, Pattinson or Siddle?

Anderson is the best pace bowler on either side, with Harris second if he could maintain his fitness