Not complaining but what the hell is Ponting doing, this field to KP is ridiculous!!

Expecially when it's meduim pacers dropping it short. Right now the only person who looks like getting KP out is himself if he gets too adventurous.

Is that 450 runs for Cook in the series now? Outstanding, he looked mentally drained last night when doing his aftermatch comments.

pitch still looks a belter for batting - get to the afternoon session 3 or 4 down and the runs could really flow in the afternoon

Theres been a few interesting bounces etc for me to think there could be something in it for our bowlers.

I think they already are - 66 runs in 70 mins and the longer KP stays in the more the runs will flow.

450-3



Over 5 runs an over in that session, hope KP can go on to improve his 158 to a double ton!

Bat out the next session then have a half hour slog in the last before putting Ozzies back in. Get em 2 down tonight and we are laughing.

Bar a collapse that is exactly what I would do.

We have them on the ropes here, just hope we can finish them off!

over 1000 runs now for the last 5 wickets

KP delivers me some humble pie. Git.

200 up for KP

Superb display so far. Not far off a 300 lead now.

Ironically our total stands at 551, exactly the score on which we declared before losing on the same ground four years ago. The lead is 306.

If we declare now and the Aussies bat well the scored would be about level by the end of day 4. If they bat really well we might be left chasing a target of 150 or so against the clock on a worn pitch on the final day. Do we declare now, or smash another 50-100 tomorrow morning and leave them no chance at all of an unlikely win?

They should go out tomorrow and treat it like a 20-20, smash the ball and don't worry about losing wickets get a quick 100 and declare

still could easily be a draw, sat was a warm 38 and sunny, today was cooler at low 30's and wet and we are due more rain mon and tues. we dont get much rain in adelaide , but to get 3 days in a row in summer could spoil the outcome for strauss

England need to be careful. They cannot let the 4th day drag on out of sentimentality towards KP. Fine knock, but it will mean nothing if they don't take 10 Aussie wickets in time. On that pitch there is no reason why they couldn't hit 500 themselves.

I'd agree with the 20:20 mentality mentioned above. Just go out and smash runs as quickly as possible then declare. Then ignore the scoreboard and just go for wickets.

I'd declare now, would have like another 50-100 runs but the weather is closing in and could play a part. We need to take 10 wickets so lets get on with it.

Fantastic from KP and Collingwood and Bell both looked good too.

went for the afternoon session on sat( long story lol..) and it was a poor bowling display, where are mcgrath and warnie when you need them

The forecast isn't great, so I'd be very tempted to declare now.

Unless something spectacular happens a draw is the worst outcome for us, the Aussies would have to bat for so long to set us anything to chase that they wouldn't have the time left to bowl us out.

Probably shouldn't write this but, even if it is still 0-0 after this test, I haven't seen anything to worry me from Australia.

the question of when to declare here is intriguing
i can't really see the aussies doing anything spectacular in this match, they have been poor - this is not a good aussie side. so its a balancing act over leaving enough time to win the match against losing too much time to bad weather. think the tactics will come down to the weather forecast, 6 sessions left, if aussies bat well we may need 4 to 5 sessions the get them out so outcome = draw. if they are abject again then we will win. if weather intervenes then probably draw. without the weather factor i would definately bat on for a session, giving a lead of over 400 then having 5 sessions to get the aussies out. with the weather factor its the captains call, though what i will say is that this sitaution must present itself in english cricket time and again due to our weather so i'm sure the captain and management know what they are doing

agree with you certainly about the bowling, but think they only need ponting and clarke to hit form with the bat and they could be good for a few runs - watson, katich, ponting have all showed gimpses of form and hussey and haddin look in good nick - however in order to win they need to bowl us out twice and i haven't seen any remote evidence of this yet

I'd be tempted just to go out in the morning session for about 8-10 overs and blast away just to try and distract the minds of the aussie players a little. If we put them straight in they'll have had time to mentally prepare to bat for long periods and will be concentrated on the task in hand.

8-10 Overs off them chasing the ball around and then get them in and go at them hell for leather. I have a bad feeling the weather is going to beat us but they can't concentrate on that.

Mind you...can i have a slice for Cook