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I'm surprised with Strauss for not starting after lunch with his most effective weapon in Anderson. By the time he bowled the game had gone. This is not the first time his captaincy has lacked aggression. Similarly, I'm surprised in Ponting. He needs to get Mitchell Johnson bowling at his...

This is the sort of day that will be the death of test cricket. Next time I watch Sky's ads hyping up the Ashes intensity I'll smile ironically. There's still a minimum 15 overs left of this garbage, technically.

f***ing shit captaincy from Strauss today, literally handed Clarke and North a couple of centuries. Not the intensity required in the heat of an Ashes contest.

Australia would do well to bear in mind that less than 6 months ago England capitulated to 51 all out vs the Windies. I'd definitely put them in for 20 overs tonight.

Aussie lead 159, 38 overs left in the day. I wonder whether Ponting will consider a declaration, mainly to wrest the initiative from England going into the 4th Test? England's top order bar Strauss have looked shaky. With a 200 plus lead and, say, 20 overs left that'd be enough time for us to...

If 200 off 20 overs is the tipping point then with the 2 overs for the changeover the Aussies would need 3 runs an over for the next 27 overs. Is anyone watching this on the telly? Is Anderson on the field?

I disagree with you there Samhale86. In the hour since lunch when Anderson hasn't bowled England odd's have gone from 11-2 to 13-1. Cricinfo basically think the game's up. Their lead's 100 and if Anderson came on now he'd need to take 4 or 5 wickets in the next hour. That's criminal...

A fruitless half and hour and now Swann's on for Broad - still no Anderson. The lead is 90 runs. Strauss has generally captained well but he's dropped the ball on this one.

I see Strauss is going with Broad after lunch. That's a huge call - he seems to have boundless faith in Broad's bowling.

Yep, I feel we needed 3 wickets in that session. The bookies have the draw now 5 times more likely than an England win. Basically, we need at least one of the bowlers to have a demon spell after lunch. I'd bowl Anderson and Onions for the first hour in tandem.

Interesting question. If you're one down with two to play and in the midst of a wet summer you've got to do what you've got to do to retain the Ashes, surely?

I think tomorrow could be the pivotal day of the series if the weather holds. Australia were in a handy position but they've given it away and England are well set with danger man Strauss still in. Tonight at the hotel Australia should be having a crisis meeting. It's not going well -...

With no Pietersen it's all about Strauss, what a HUGE wicket it is. With 52 overs remaining we should post another 170-180-odd runs today, and if Strauss is still there at the close then things should be looking very promising.

Bopara's selection is interesting in light of the dropping of Hughes. Pietersen's injury may have granted Bopara another life.

If, and it's a big if, the weather holds then what a chance for England now that Haddin's out.

Flintoff isn't unfit, just "at risk" and a bit fragile. I agreed with the calls for Harmison in the previous 2 tests but not this one. There's no bounce in this surface, the ball will simply sit up and beg to be hit. The wicket promises more for the skiddy bowler, who can pitch it full on a...

Why the hell would you drop Flintoff for Harmison when you're already without KP??

This looks like it's going to be a draw. Steve Rouse the groundsman has said bowling will be a slog, the pitch is wet so the seam will be soft and not easy to swing and not much to be gained by banging it in short. If we win the toss we should bat. This should reduce Flintoff's workload and...