Ken

Best to err on the side of caution. Nothing concrete will be happening imminently. Jan window is shut. Put yourself in Staveley's shoes, or high heels, for a moment; Why would you pay more for a club that is a threat of relegation. Better to wait to see what happens and the pressure goes back to Ashley to sell.

Correct. Didn't mention 3-0 because that was fairly comprehensive, but not a whitewash. That fourth test was hampered by the weather and a declaration from us to get a result either way. We are always competitive, even in dead rubbers.

3-2 and 2-1 aren't exactly whitewashes.

Why would you even bother tweeting that?

A bit of a concern that you lot don't have an alternative spinning option. Moeen Ali simply doesn't get enough revs onto the ball. Had always been England's strength, you need to find one between now and when we play you on your patch.

He needs to say that to keep morale high but I don't see your lot winning a match here, you'll do well to prevent a whitewash tbh.

Our bowling attack collectively is the strongest it's been in years, better than when we played you last time, and they'll be around barring injury of course in two years time. They would do well in England given the fact you have 7 left-handers in your team and Lyon would lap that up and our three quicks working in tandem, I'd be quietly confident that we could get 20 wickets over there. Batting lineups are fairly even given Bancroft's inexperience, Khawaja's ineffectiveness against spin, and the number 6 spot up for grabs given Handscomb's weaknesses. You'd be favourites and deservedly so but this squad of ours will stick around and develop and it would be a closer series than the end result that this one will end up being.

Woakes and Root out within the first three overs of play and that was that. 2-0. Onto the third test at the WACA which is a batting friendly wicket as it happens and not the fierce and fast wicket it used to be so it will be an opportunity for your batsmen to build up a bit of a score and defend it.

Thought this only happened to mature aged people, as in 45+ My dad has it, I don't have it yet.

I actually thought this pic was photo shopped or was taken to take the piss, so-to-speak.

Another gloomy prediction. You won't win but you have put up a fight which is a good sign, and Root is fighting hard to redeem himself, he has copped it tonight but is still there fighting away.

I wouldn't even consider Cook your leading opener anymore. He has only averaged 30 here and he's toured a number of times. I would be relying/setting my hopes on Stoneman to get a ton or close to. He'll be key. And again, we come down to Root's decision to field first. Shambolic.

Our first mistake of this series was to not enforce a follow on there. England need to bowl us out in the first session or soon after that just so you can wear the ball out a bit before the night session and negate swing. Thta's your only chance, but a bit of fight from the Pommys, I like it.

Agreed, but this game was fizzing out badly. This little fightback at least makes it interesting again.

England putting up a bit of fight now. Where was this in the first innings?

Vince and Cook almost giving each other the Liverpool kiss just about sums up England's day today. Foot is firmly on throat, we should declare with about an hour's play to go and take a couple of wickets.

Well, yes, but you don't gamble everything on the fact you have two decent pace bowlers, as decent as they are, you have no decisive strike capability that can change a game in Australian conditions against us atm. It was a massive gamble and no thought was put into protecting your weakness which is your batting. I also think Root and management looked at the stats on the last two tests in Adelaide and seen the team bowling first won, but the wickets were different those two times. This wicket is as dry as a bone. Did Root think he'd bowl us out for less than 200? You batting second plays into our hands on this pitch.

Yeah, wasted the first new ball with short rubbish. Anderson in particular was disappointing, has looked very uncomfortable, and t never looked like threatening the openers. Australia firmly with the upper hand, well on the way to scoring 300. Root has copped a fair amount of stick for choosing to bowl first and I think it is well deserved.

...and I think Root rues his decision to bowl. Shoulders slumped he must already be thinking the rain keeps tumbling down for a few days

Root wins the toss and elects to bowl, Smith would have batted. Bit of a gamble but conditions are conducive to swing bowling. Overcast and wind blowing across the wicket. Not as grassy as last year's wicket so will come onto the bat well early on.

I considered Liam or Sean first

He has bodyguards. He has many bodyguards.

An Irish mafia. What is the family name, Paddy?

Agree with this with what I have seen. Stoneman has a bit about him for sure, but Vince and Malan have yet to prove anything. They were batting on a dead wicket in the first innings at the GABBA and in the second innings they lasted, well, not very long.