We've bowled well but it seems the Aussies have finally found some discipline when it comes to their batting.



I think the one thing our attack lacks is someone with a bit of aggression, to try and force the issue a bit more.

The following are actual excerpts from an email recently found in the BBC website's general inbox:



Dear Sir/Madam



I was disgusted recently to discover my eight-year-old daughter reading the BBC's ball-by-ball cricket commentary, authored by one 'Ben Dirs'... this is the sort of puerile joke I thought the BBC would be above... the kind of thing I would expect to find in The Sun... I shan't be reading again...



Yours sincerely, Mr R Robinson



PS. If indeed that is his real name, please send my condolenses

Fantastic! Perhaps Mrs Robinson should go to watch Wayne Kerr playing for Oldham Roughyeds?

55-1 at lunch, very cagey opening session. Tremlett's wicket with the last ball, and the lack of runs, means I guess it's a fairly even session.

with england just getting the latest of boosts, and the new boy up next - pup under pressure, nice and tight from england's bowlers all in all..could pan out nicely

Get the new guy early in the afternoon and then we are slightly ahead, think days 2/3 could be the best for batting.

England's day.

The lunch break saw me off.



We're on top after the late wickets but we weed to stop Hussey and Haddin getting a partnership going in the morning, then get into the tail.

Definitely our day, especially as they're barely scoring at more than 2 an over. Equivalent of one session lost to rain. Not sure how much more play might be lost on subsequent days. I assume we'll start 30 mins early tomorrow to make up time.



As always it's hard to be certain how the game might pan out until both teams have batted, but unless Hussey drops anchor we should have a good chance to go on and force another win.

Slightly off topic, but I'm just watching the SA v India match.....Are South African TV cameraman contractually obliged to spend the day scouring the crowd for scantily-clad young ladies?....





I ain't complaining, but it is starting to get a little obvious.....

That wont worry them.

Haddin gone! Nice one Jimmy.

a bit of colly trundle

Almost paid off there.

yup, close thing

BOOM

Massive wicket with the new ball due too!

The Aussies are making such hard work of this I'm beginning to worry the pitch must be a minefield.

Johnson playing a few shots, makes me worry he might bowl well.

I think there is a risk these two could change the momentum of the game. They are hanging around when I thought they were going to be all out for sub-200. Instead they are looking more likely to get 240/250 or even more. With the ball swinging a lot they will take a few early wickets.



This game is well in the balance.

The line Tremlett is bowling to Johnson is shocking. All too easy to paddle down the leg side.

I agree, low scoring pitch this one I think and with England having top bat last these could be very important runs for Australia. They should have been 190-210 all out and now they are looking at 250+, the last time this happened we then batted poorly. Johnson and Hilfenhaus will move the ball on this wicket.

Shocking stuff from England. Absolutely terrible.

Finally! Bresnan shows how it's done against the tail. Fast and at the wickets. Why was Strauss bowling Swann on that pitch when there is so much movement. Michael Holding called it about 75 runs ago. Field should be set for wickets and wickets only and seamers should be bowling for the wickets not trying to entice them into shots with perfect balls that they cant hit like they would with a top order batsman.

That's why Whispering Death has forgotten more about bowling at the highest level than most of us will ever know - top bowler,top commentator