Fantastic from Stokes

Strangely Stokes isn't rated highly by some. 24 years old and he has 3 centuries (One in fooking Perth, quickest ever at Lords and now today's performance), he's got a sixfer in the Ashes and lets not forget the catch he took at Trent Bridge.

Adds excellence balance to the bowling, no other country has a bowler as good as him as 4th choice bowler. Going to be huge for the next ten years and another hugely benefitting from Bayliss' attacking style

312 for 1 in 38.4 overs in a Test match unbelievable innings from Stokes, probably the most exciting talent in World cricket right now. Really pleased for Bairstow as well he looks like he believes he belongs at that level now which is half the battle.

It's going to be tough to force a win on this pitch though, it's a belter that we'll have to work very hard to take 18 more wickets on. That drop from Root could prove costly.

I agreed with the decision to leave Stokes out of the World Cup as his form was that bad but it really does seem unbelievable now.

Their batting line up is weak and we have 500 runs to play with, it's ours to lose but you can't drop a player like ABD so easily.

We shouldn't lose to fair!

I wouldn't say it's a weak batting line up, it's one that's low on confidence and out of form. The problem is the wicket is so flat they could play themselves into form. Amla looked all over at Durban in the first innings, he's looked in no bother in this innings so far and his record shows you when he gets in he's relentless.

Pretty tight bowling so far from England but not much happening, pitch still a very good batting wicket. Sharp chance for Anderson but both batsmen had a life now with catches I reckon they would bet on taking 9 times out of ten.

Proper test match attrition this morning, sharp contrast to all that carnage and fun yesterday. Watched the highlights again last night and still gobsmacked by that Stokes innings, incredible clean hitting not just slogging

I would actually like it if England lost this test in a humiliating way after all the tub thumping in the Sunday papers about how brilliant they all are

Need a Boycott innings to bat it out for the draw .. never thought we'd be saying that.

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Seem to remember England posted a huge first innings total in one of the matches in Australia that ended in defeat on the way to a 6-0 Ashes whitewash. It can happen!

Adelaide in 2006/07. They barely played a shot on day five leaving the Aussies about 160 in 30 odd overs which they got easily.

I think we should be alright here though!

Well....Test cricket continues to surprise, what a game of contrasts!!!! Brilliant

Very similar to the Test in the UAE recently were it looked a bore draw until we put Pakistan under pressure on the last day.

England had been out in the field and hot weather for three days, it takes it toll mentally and physically.

Is it forecast for heavy rain?

It's raining now Tree

Chip has called the game off already.

A nice kick up the arse that there's plenty still to. 1-0 up still going into the final test.

A number of positives and no need to change the XI

With all due respect he did score the 2nd most amount of Test runs in the World in 2015 so he's probably worth his place and that's without mentioning the fact he's scored more Test centuries than any other Englishman ever.

Yes and drop Joe Root as well he's useless.