Cricket

[WtOB?]

well.. there goes cook.

[Evvo]

So you need to dig in for 2 days and then you go hooking? Stupid beyond measure

[WtOB?]

great example to set for your team, cooky.

[LetMeSleep]

Leading from the front. Shows that the whole dressing room is rattled. Gooch must be either shaking his head in frustration or preparing his resume.

[zeb]

Not as good a day as we might've expected but we should still be 2-0 up by the end of play tomorrow.

[LetMeSleep]

[Evvo]

Well that's that. Deserved win by Australia and very few positives for England. Root looked alright at 3 in the second innings and Prior got a good score, though it is difficult to read too much into it as the game was long gone.

It looks like Bresnan will play at Perth and he's been missed. Hope we can show a bit of bottle and not roll over again. Cannot take the thought of going down 5-0 to this Aussie team.

[LetMeSleep]

There are a few minor positives for England but not enough. Carberry, Root, KP and Bell got a few runs and Prior got some today. Stokes has gained some experience too.

The main issue seems to be that Australia are all over Cook, Broad, Anderson and Swann. Unless those guys can get over their mental or form issues, this may easily be 5-0. In fact, if they lose in Perth then mentally they will be wanting to back home with loved ones for Xmas. Sad days.

[zeb]

Here comes 3-0?

[Clint72]

Gutted for my fellow Tasmanian Faulkner, broken hand in nets, may well of played in this Test

[LetMeSleep]

Gutted for my fellow Tasmanian Faulkner, broken hand in nets, may well of played in this Test

It's always a shame when someone gets injured. Not sure he would have played anyway. It's a big toss to win.

[WtOB?]

yeah i doubt Faulkner would have played anyway, i hope he's ok for the one dayers and t20 games.

[Evvo]

Excellent partnership from Smith and Haddin to take the sting out of the attack

[LetMeSleep]

It's currently even stevens for the day. Another wicket will give England the upper hand. Well done to England though. They have looked much sharper this test. And Australia are still quite fragile.

[WtOB?]

i think we got this.

[zeb]

They're in real danger of a whitewash if Broad's series is over.

[zeb]

Australian batsmen made a real statement with their second innings.

[William Bloke]

Glad to see Bailey come to the party with 28 of the last (Anderson) over. Cook for a golden duck was an excellent start too!

What the hell has happenned to these 2 teams?

[LetMeSleep]

It's signalling a shift in English cricket. Slight changing of the guards. Too much dependence on Swann, KP, Anderson, Trott etc. Cook has to stay captain as he's the only choice but it'd be good to see a few new faces cement a place like Stokes, Carberry and Root (like a few Aussies have done.) It's a shame Broad looks to be out for a while. He has heart and real talent if he applies himself.

So 4 wickets to go. Should be wrapped pretty early on I'd assume. As well as Australia has batted they have had 3 top order collapses rescued by Clarke, Smith and Haddin. I'd like to see someone like Khawaja step up in the mould of Katich or Border and cement the #3 position. Someone who doesn't give his wicket away too cheaply.

[Evvo]

Fair play to Australia, the far better team. Took chances well with both bat and ball and actually used their heads.

Interesting to see what England choose to do for the MCG, though Broad's injury could prevent wholesale changes.