oops, it was Cook who was out for 13 runs

England 2 for 98 at Lunch Day one, 19 fours in 26 overs
& off to a good start

Time to see what sort of mood KP is in today... I don't much fancy our middle order so a good KP showing is vital.

Oh dear...

Don't worry Octavious,
it looks like 200 & a few runs is a fair 1st Innings total,
given the performance of the Australian "top order" batsmen so far.
( five for 70 odd I think )
I enjoyed the commentary of G Boycott, Blowers & the gang
Boycott is just completely "uncompromising Yorkshire"in his attitude

What the absolute shit? Then again, the Australian team has been a bad weak for the past few months. I wish I saw Clarke's face.

are you the representative "lager lout" largeham ?

A) I don't drink beer

B) Nah, I'm a pretty safe drunk, just talkative.

I will admit I kinda like Joe Root, though he could be a smug prick, he spends too much time smiling for a normal person.

AGAR's Awesome innings saves Australia's first Innings
at Launch Day 2 Australia lead by 14 runs at 9 for 229 ish
the 19 year old spinner has a stellar first test cricket innings at No 11
going to the crease at 9 for 118, & has scored 70 ish in approx 110 run partnership
HOORAH
Chris Broad bowling "non strategy" doesn't get a bowl till over 55th over
then when he does & gets the edge & the chance through the slips,
it's too late and there's few slips fieldmen & the chance goes through the gap at 2nd slip

I feel slightly sorry for Agar not getting a century. Brilliant individual performance from him, though.

Agar certainly deserved to get on the honours board, but if sport was fair it wouldn't be worth watching.

Damned good game though. Can't predict anything other than it won't be a draw

Indeed, Agar and Hughes changed everything.

Did anybody else follow the last over finish between India and Sri Lanka in the Celkom finals today? Very reminiscent of the World Cup finals in 2011.

one thing to say: GIVE KHAWAJA A CHANCE

I think thr game is still there to be won by either side
admittedly England losing 2 wickets and still having to make up the "lead" that
Australia have from the ist Innings makes it tougher for them, but look what the Australian "tailorder" did, so I wouldn't write them off as not being capable of a similar recovery in their batting & If they can set a decent target then they have the chance to bowl Australia out & win
Similarly Australia have to dismiss the English for the smallest possible second Innings
runs total & then bat well on a deteriorating last day pitch to win
There's still plenty of time to get a result

I feel Agar won't be 11th on the batting order for very long.

Naughty Broady, didn't get caughty

Broad not walking ..... that is just not cricket, it used to be a gentlemans game, not a genitalsman game, he's a dick !!

i never did like him!

Ashton Agar is a national hero.

those wascally English batsmen have swung the "balance of the game' back in England's favour, what target will they set Ausatralia ???
anything above 270 runs will be very dificult to chase down
KP & Mr Bell have showed that they are both "top class" performers

bump

Agars got one wicket, if he can take 4 wickets for 9 runs when play resumes
( England 6 wickts down & 261 runs "in front" )
then.....

@ Nigs

To be honest I think it's an inevitable result of the appeals system. Using your appeal wisely has become an important skill of the captain. Australia failed to do this. By Broad walking he would essentially be saying to Australia "hey, instead of keeping your appeals to overturn blatent wrong decisions (like what they were designed for) feel free to use them whenever you think there might be an outside chance of an lbw". That would give them a significant advantage. Now they know they have to be as careful as we are.

Also, Australians never walk :p.

Agars did great things with the bat (with a bit of luck on his side) but I don't think he's ready to do the job intended for him. National hero he may be, but his selection may have been an error.

well Agars didn't take a bunch of wickets for a handful of runs & stop the English second Innings quickly-- he's been selected as a bowler - so that's where he has to perform.

Another top order batting collapse, after a good start, so you would have to think England are in the better position to win the game -- I don't think there will be a Draw
I went to sleep listening to the game on the radio, so I do not have the details clear
but I think Australia are six wickets down and need about 140 odd runs to win
maybe Agar will come to bat earlier and make another big score & we will win

err agar is playing with haddin

he was promoted from 11 to 7

2 down, 2 to go.

Not a bad effort from Agars considering the pressure he was under. As tail enders go he's quite useful with the bat. Not good enough with the ball to get man of the match though, methinks.

Speaking of man of the match, Bell's ton puts him in with a shout. I'd probably give it to Anderson this time myself.

well as I said I had fallen asleep listening so was a bit fuzzy on the details
listening now, 238 for 8, so about 80 runs needed--aaarrggghhhh
Anderson has taken another wicket -- Siddle is out
Anderson 4 for 67 so far in the second Innings
so yes Man of the Match is probably a choice between Bell & Anderson

My vote will go to Anderson. And Australia could have won this, they had one whole day and four wickets in hand to take a bit over 100 runs, quite possible.