91Èȱ¬

Do you think Broad is up to the job of being England's opening bowler Tom?

well thats the three before lunch then, including Katich & Ponting - unbeleivable from Pannesar!!!

Punter the big one we need to get, not just the for match but for the entire series. My memory's shaky, but did any single bowler have the hold on him in 2005? I seem to remember - Old Trafford excepted - he didn't do that well, but he's scored runs against us for fun since.

I worry about Broad. I have a horrible feeling that unless the ball swings or he gets something out of the pitches this summer the Aussies will treat him like an average medium quick and fill their boots.

Things were looking different at lunch: 4 down and North looking like he's batting on a minefield with a stick of rhubarb for a bat. Critical first hour after lunch: England need another quick breakthrough; if they get it, Australia may not manage a first innings lead - if Australia dig in, they may still be looking at 500+.

What's your best bet for a result then Tom? A draw, I guess, if the forecast is as bad as Dirsy says it is. Is there any chance of an England win here?

So far, this Test seems to be an illustration of Broad's inexperience. When he's on fire he looks the genuine article. At Cardiff he has looked overwhelmed by the occasion and is a bit wayward.

That said, it does seem that he's being targeted a bit by the Aussies.

If England get a couple early on this afternoon, we're definitely in the stronger position. As it stands it really could go either way. Shame it's probably going to chuck it down and most likely end up a draw.

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I'm relying on the 91Èȱ¬ for coverage as I'm sat in an office making somone else money when I could be at home putting the TV licence to good use.

The Aussies appear to be putting up an excellent first batting session. There are a lot of new guys in their squad but good old sledger Ricky Ponting himself has done it again.

Hopfully Freddie and the boys will put the Aussies batting influence to bed-rock soon!

Good old pratty! How could I forget? Agree with those calling for Harmisons inclusion - he may be a liabilty but he's also our most threatening strike bowler so we should take a risk with him next Test. Faint heart never won fair urn. Know very little about Onions or Bresnan. You're the expert Tom so who'd you go for?

england are missing two players so far, a captain and a fast bowler. Vaughie has gone but Strauss needs to wise up and fast- he's always reactive not proactive and so we are always behind the eight ball. We are letting our best fast bowler sit it out. Harmie showed at Worcester he can be lethal unlike Broad who is gentle at 80-90 mph and no threat at all. We need this change for 2nd test. If another seamer is needed for variety it must be sidebottom.

Tom: Sorry, had an operational issue here, so I was not following the game. It looks like my question is answered> Marcus North is battling through and I'd bet on 500+ now. If he had gone quickly, Australia might not have got to 400. Another lost opportunity. My guess is that this will be a draw now, with neither side able to land a killer blow. Both sides look a strike bowler short.

Tom, I agree, but it worries me. Onions is just the right pace to be collared unless he is extremely accurate or gets movement. In general, it's not the best move to go for a fast medium "English conditions" swing and seam bowler if you have the chance to pick someone different. I know that Steve Harmison and Sajid Mahmood are in bad odour with the selectors (and for a good reason), but those extra few mph make a big difference at this level. And one thing that Freddy desperately needed yesterday was someone at the other end to fling it down at 90mph+ to support his bombardment.

c'mon England & Wales

The problem is we are simply not as good as we think we are. Just like the football team, we lack depth. Anyhow, Pieterson is overrated and Panesar needs to go. Broad is struggling and while we have some good players, we simply have too many foreigners in our national league.

THE FORGOTTEN MAN - RYAN SIDEBOTTOM!!!

Much as I would love to see him take wickets for Notts, it is common knowledge that the Aussies HATE SWING!!! Therefore, bring in Mr Sidebottom! Albeit he's not as penetrating when there is no swing, bt I would still bring him in. Would you Tom?

BTW - Love the way Graham Onion's is twelth man, he can't play for England or Durham!! The CC is returning to Trent Bridge

pS - surely you could have got some more WAG pictures Tom? ;)

I quite object to the focus on wags. Yes, we know cricketers have partners who watch them play, but do we need to have to have camera shots and photos of them? It makes cricket seem as superficial as football and hello magazine, neither of which I can bear! True fans just want to concentrate on the match.

lighten up a bit mate