[Red Moon]

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Australia first innings 602-9 declared
England first innings 157

Australia second innings (overnight 181-1) </span>

<table style="text-align: left; width: 521px; height: 130px;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">J Langer </td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">not out</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">100
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">M Hayden</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">run out</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">25</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">R T Ponting</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">not out</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">60
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;"> Extras (lnb-4lb)</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">5
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px; font-weight: bold;">Total (declared, 45.1overs)
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px; font-weight: bold;">202</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Bowling: Hoggard 11-2-43-0, Anderson 9-1-54-0, Flintoff 5-2-11-0 (nb-1), Harmison 12.1-1-54-0, Giles 5-0-22-0, Pietersen 3-0-14-0

<span style="font-style: italic;">Did not bat: D.Martyn, M.Hussey, M.Clarke, A.Gilchrist, S.Warne, B.Lee, S.Clark, G.McGrath</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;">England second innings </span>

<table style="text-align: left; width: 519px; height: 196px;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">A Strauss
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">c sub (Broad)</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">b Clark</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">11</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">A Cook</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">c Hussey</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">b Warne</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">43</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">I Bell</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">lbw
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">b Warne</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">0</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">P Collingwood</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">st Gilchrist</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">b Warne</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">96
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">K Pietersen</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">not out
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">92
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">A Flintoff</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">c Langer</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">b Warne</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">16
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">G Jones</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">not out
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">12</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px;">Extras (b 8 lb 5 nb 9 w 1)</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px;">23
</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 135px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 100px;">
</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 200px; font-weight: bold;">Total (for 5, 80 overs)</td> <td style="vertical-align: top; width: 50px; font-weight: bold;">293
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Bowling: Lee 17-0-81-0, McGrath 12-2-30-0, Clark 19-5-56-1, Warne 31-7-108-4, Hussey 1-0-5-0

<span style="font-style: italic;">To bat: Giles, Hoggard, Harmison, Anderson</span>

[Red Moon]

There is some hope to be taken from last nights play. At least we got a score that is more on par with what a test side should be getting. 293-5 isn't that bad and there was some decent scores from Cooke, Collingwood and Pietersen. The chances of us winning or drawing the game are very slim but there has been a big improvement in the batting from the first innings.

Our problem has been the bowling. I still think Harmison needs to be set home and we need to get another fast bowler into the side, but then I keep thinking do we need one. We could play two spinners and have both Giles and Panesar in the team. Leaving us with 3 quick bowlers in Flintoff Hoggard and Anderson. And don't forget we still have Collingwood who Flintoff seems to have forgotten can blow a bit in a holding role.

[Dan_]

We did much better yesterday.A bit more encouraging that we may even get to around 350 with Australia in very good form.

Only downside is Warney is starting to hit form. But Pietersen and Collingwood started to win the battle with him, KP really had him rattled.

We really do need to make a rapid change in bowling, I'd proably go with Monty and Giles the way that Harmison is playing.

I've heard a very strong rumour that Vaughan is not too far off being fit once again, now that would be a tremendous boost to the side,he's got that calming presence on the side and is also a great batsman.

Ponting and McGrath are also starting to struggle with injuries, it might just be starting to turn in our favour again.

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by BB fernzy
I've heard a very strong rumour that Vaughan is not too far off being fit once again, now that would be a tremendous boost to the side,he's got that calming presence on the side and is also a great batsman.

Who do you drop for Vaughan would be the queston and where do you play him, number 3 or as an opener?

Originally posted by BB fernzy
Ponting and McGrath are also starting to struggle with injuries, it might just be starting to turn in our favour again.

Lets hope that's true. The back to back tests might see them off.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by Red Moon

Who do you drop for Vaughan would be the queston and where do you play him, number 3 or as an opener?

Tough one on who to get rid of, possibly Bell or Cook.Both have had one good innings and one poor innings.I'd have him as an opener, purely for his expierence.

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by BB fernzyTough one on who to get rid of, possibly Bell or Cook.Both have had one good innings and one poor innings.I'd have him as an opener, purely for his expierence.

Going on the form of the last match I guess you would drop Strauss. Crookes form has been rather good since he joined the England side and he would benefit from his experience and make him a far better player.

[Dan_]

Originally posted by Red Moon

Going on the form of the last match I guess you would drop Strauss. Crookes form has been rather good since he joined the England side and he would benefit from his experience and make him a far better player.

Strauss has got out by making two identically stupid shots so he might be an option to drop.

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by BB fernzy
Strauss has got out by making two identically stupid shots so he might be an option to drop.

The Australians will be targeting him, they use to do it to Graham Gooch many years ago. They got him out nearly every time the same way for the whole of the English summer. Looks like they are doing same to him, picking on his habits and instincts. They are hard things to break and take a lot time in the nets and training.

[Dan_]

England unchanged from the first test

We have won the toss though and opted to bat.

[Red Moon]

Originally posted by BB fernzy
England unchanged from the first test

It's a mistake... it will cost us the game.

And now we are 32-1..... here we go again.... I really hope we don't lose this one.

[Dan_]

Better night for us.266/3 with Bell, Collingwood and Pieterson all getting half century's.

[Dan_]

Well done to the lads last night especially Colly and KP.551/6-declared and now Australia are 28/1.

I hope the bowlers have as good a time as the batsman.

Warne and McGrath looked average.

[Dan_]

Australia 312 for 5, Hoggard getting all four wickets yesterday.Only Flintoff and Hoggard seem to be getting wickets.

If only Giles hadn't dropped Ponting when he was on 35

[Dan_]

How did we contrive to lose that game?

[Jay]

We Batted terribley, Warne bowled great we had no answer to his bowling still can't believe we lost this test.

[BigSister]

im confused when I left for uni this morning we were still in the lead what happened

[Dan_]

We got bowled out cheaply and they made the total required with a few overs to spare.

[BigSister]

awww thats too bad

[SiMoN!]

thats all i can say

[Dan_]

Originally posted by BigSister
awww thats too bad

It is, we threw the game away

[Dan_]

Great start to the 3rd test for England.We bowled Australia all out for 244,Monty took 5 wickets and Harmison 4.

I'm just glad we finally gave Monty a chance and it totally payed off, can anyone see Giles doing that?

[Mike]

Yeah it's great Monty finally got his chance his bowls have been top class.

[BigSister]

yay go Monty ive been wanting him to play all the time

[Dan_]

We batted fairly poorly only making 215.Harmison was 3rd highest scorer! Monty did aswell as Giles does with the bat, still bemused we never picked him before now.

Australia now 119/1.