Ashes, 3Rd Test Perth

[humbersloop]

02.30 gmt, I just did it so no one else has to: feel free to carry on.

On the plus side, they'll still be playing when we wake up...

...puts head in hands

[WELSHYORKIE]

Seekerz - looks like the Fremantle Doctor is making an appearance - time for an Aussie collapse maybe (oh no it isn't, oh yes it is - come on, it's panto season!)

[seekeerz]

Depends on which way you look at it , Wharton ....me, I'm not impressed, you...well who knows !!

[seekeerz]

Fireworks over for the time being, we're 5/203

[humbersloop]

at least there's a scrap on

[ChillDoubt]

Just waking to the news that England after a good start have let them off the hook a bit. Not impressed with the team selection, especially after Flower promised 'tough decisions'. Brew for Monty is unfair, everyone knows it should have been Swann to make way.
Prior shouldn't be there either. 69 in the last Test was good by the pressure was off and expectations low because the match was already gone.
We needed that in the first innings.
He is averaging just over 18, simply not good enough and Bairstow should have been tossed the gloves.
As I type, Smith gets his century.

[ChillDoubt]

Brew? Should read Bres! Hate predictive text on the iPhone at times!

[ChillDoubt]

Close of play looks as the Aussies reach 314-6, average here for first innings is 323. Day 1 almost over and it already feels as though the game is slipping away from England.
Had our foot on the throat at one point but eased off and now the Aussies are in control.

[ChillDoubt]

Close of play LOOMS not looks!
Johnson hits successive boundaries off Broad with hook shots. It's all going Pete Tong as they move to 322.

[ChillDoubt]

That's it, no further loss, Johnson 39 and Smith on 103.
With our bowling and their tail I can see them batting beyond lunch tomorrow.
Feels as though we are already playing for a draw, but you never know.

[EdmundD]

I wonder when the series is over how former England cricket captain Alastair Cooke will explain it?