Hmmm could be an interesting last day. A sporting declaration by Cummins in this day and age

Hopefully everyone has got their popcorn ready - even expect a record UK audience watching the game too.

Draw odds might seem to be a bit low because there's no chance of weather reducing the time. We have both great weather and a spare day

I see possible storm at 4pm today. Fancy that a storm in London.

bbc keeps bringing up that this would be a world record 4th innings chase, and that its extremely unlikely for that reason

this sort of analysis fails to consider that for most of test history going at 3 per over was considered eccentric and going at 4 was borderline ungentlemanly behavior

Feeling much better now - it's coming home lads

One of the greatest overs in Test History there from Boland

Boland goes alright. Hope we can finish this quickly and rest up for the Ashes.

He's the best in the world with the red ball at the moment. Quite surprising that no county has signed him (last season or this season).

2 Ashes series at the same time in the next few weeks is going to be amazing.

Test cricket will always be the best form of the game. I will be happy to say that again in a few weeks even if England win the Ashes.

Congrats Aus, sad day to hand over the Mace...

Long live Test cricket, really looking forward to these ashes!

Just think if we hadn't had the slow over-rate and got penalised points for the 2019-2021 world test championship we could be looking at two in a row.

You might not like it but the batting is more valuable in the modern game

If runs are more valuable, then keeping is even more important. How many extra runs is one dropped catch a game worth?

Foakes v Bairstow isn’t Gilchrist 50v35 Haddin. It’s 32 v 37. And while I can’t find the stats, I’d bet that Bairstow averages less when keeping

I suppose unfortunately for you it is also bums on seats. People would rather pay money or watch Bairstow bat than Foakes - so if it is even, then Bairstow gets the nod with his more attacking play and remember who the coach and captain now are.

Overall

Keeper (50 tests) ave 37
Not keeper (40 tests) ave 37

Last 4 years

Keeper (8 tests) ave 19
Not keeper (19 tests) ave 45

County Championship only

Keeper (75 games) 51 ave
Not keeper (18 games) 47 ave

Hmm thanks. That’s good stuff. He’s the anomaly then

Tbh I’d like him in the side still, I’d much rather have him open instead of Crawley and have Foakes keep and bat 7…or even 8 if Ali plays

I mean…I hope the England selectors don’t have a Box Office component for an Ashes series?

I’d guess they don’t have problems selling those tests anyway but as above, I want Bairstow in and he needs to be given his last 2 years. But I’d have him ahead of Crawley.

Got into cricket about a year ago through playing this fantasy/collecting game similar to Sorare if anyone is familiar with that. Only been watching T20 and a few ODIs so far, but this site invited me and my friend over to the WTC Final. Got to watch our first live cricket game and first Test match ever. Was in the ICC hospitality area for day 1 and had normal tickets for day 2.

Was afraid we would not have the patience for Test cricket, but was really pleasantly surprised. Just an amazing experience all around and something we will remember for the rest of our lives. People were really friendly and helpful in explaining some of the finer details of the game that is hard to understand for someone who has never played the game. Great atmosphere (at least until Kohli went out on day 2 :-D), the Indians loved my friends CSK jersey so much that he constantly had people coming up to him wanting a picture with him.

Amazing to think that so many people in the west is barely aware of this great sport. Will certainly be coming back to the UK to attend more games in the future.

Some photos:

Is that Chris Gayle?

Yes, great guy, really took the time to talk to us and take pictures. Even being kinda new to cricket he was easy to recognize :-D

I'm kinda obsessed with Boland's action. It's mesmerising.

His action is a bit West Indian for mine.

On selection love to see Australia just bite the bullet and select Marcus Harris as a Chris Rogers type 2015 replacement for Warner. He has really good county form, solid enough Shield season and has Chris Rogers as his domestic state coach.

Cue the Aussies targeting, terrorising him and Brook averaging less than 10 for the series

i have gone back & forth on this, but have settled on the conclusion that the advantage of home conditions is comfortably bigger than the skill gap between england and austrailia

therefore 5-0 england, lets have it you cheating scum