The Ashes Thread

Australia's field is surprisingly passive. I count two slips and no one around the wicket.

 

It sounds like they aren't getting much out of the ball. Teatime at Edgebaston.

 

Nice work.

Bopara bowled for 23, England 60-2.

 

That's not a bad stand, but now it would be good if Bell and Strauss can get to the close.

 

I'm sort of over Bopara as a No. 3 in tests.

 

10-run over snaps the slowing match out of its duldrums.

 

Light offered and taken. England 116-2, and I think we drifted back toward a draw in the afternoon.

 

No play so far, and no play likely.

Play abandoned for the day.

 

So barring some world-class skittling, it'll be 1-0 England with two tests remaining.

 

The Aussie bowlers are getting some good results so far — taking out Strauss, Collingwood, Bell and now Prior.

England up by six at 271-6 through 74 overs.

 

Flintoff is blazing, now at 73 off 76 balls.

I have vague hopes that England could do a quick bowl-out and chase it down in the last session, but that's probably extremely overoptimistic.

 

Flintoff out for 74. 309-7.

England probably can't lose, so they can be as aggressive as they want when bowling.

That lost wicket probably foils any England chance of winning, though.