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This is rapidly becoming Australia's game. Great batting and very poor bowling and Australia are playing like they have tee times booked for tomorrow afternoon.

2 down with 147 to go. As long as Clarke is there we win. Lose him and who knows. Wish I could watch this.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Clarke's just gone to a very good delivery, things back in the balance at 175-4 - this is what the Ashes should be!


Edit - for a couple of minutes at least, England clearly back in control now with 6 down. As an Englishman it's obviously nice to see England win, but can't help feeling cheated of some really good cricket in this series - every time it looks like a great finish it seems to just become a foregone conclusion again - 1st test excepted of course.

Unfortunate but another good win to England. Predictable batting collapse (again) unfortunately but at least it was a good test!

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

I really thought Australia were going to pinch this one, but then I never expect Australia's lower order to collapse. (I think I've far too many Aussie teams over the years just keep going all the way down the order). But I agree Tim, it was a good test.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Looks like some really classy bowling from Broad. I wonder if this Australian team just doesn't know how to win. They got themselves into a good position and once upon a time would've pressed home the advantage. But this team seems to lack the self belief (probably with justification). Congrats to England on a series win.

I'm not his greatest fan, but Broad is such a streaky bowler, and when he's on, my goodness he's on. He found the right length yesterday, a little fuller than his stock ball, and it was like he was bowling grenades. It would be easy to groan at another Aus collapse but on a 5th-day wicket with uneven bounce, and Broad coming in with variable carry, lateral movement, and at 90mph, I think you have to just credit the bowling.

Aus look like they've some progress on a lineup, with Warner and Rogers opening and Watson moved down to a spot where his beefy 30s are more appropriate. And Lyon is clearly a better proposition than Agar right now. Harris looks to have convinced himself that he can play three successive tests without a year in physio; I really like him and Siddle - no-nonsense bowlers. But I assume Starc will come back for Bird, who didn't threaten. And they'll really miss Pattinson at the Oval, which is always fast and bouncy - the closest England comes to the WACA! In consequence I think you might see Tremlett or Finn for Bresnan, or even Anderson, who might be rested, for he's looked curiously toothless the last couple of tests.

Wow. I just saw. That's a heck of an innings from Watson. Who would have thought, although he was more than due and did need that. Great start from Australia. Nice to win the toss. I have to say the series has improved with every game given that we've steadily become more competitive.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

Australia winning this would all be part of the inversion of the sides' fortunes for me: I can remember when it was always England who won the dead-rubber Oval test when the tourists, Ashes in the bag, already had a collective eye on the Qantas check-in. What would give an Aus win here a bit more meaning, however, is that unusually they're headed straight off for another series down under. So it would give them some momentum and feelgood.

It would be justice if Australia one this one - although a draw would hardly be surprising here. Certainly been a more competitive series than expected and looking forward to it happening all over again in a few months.

Another good day for the Aussies and well deserved. Bodes well for a far more competitive series down under in 3 months.

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... although I really don't like the idea of back-to-back Ashes series this year. While I understand why they've done it - i.e. to break the cycle of Ashes series being held directly before the Cricket World Cup - it could very easily result in an amazingly short-lived retaining of the Ashes by England!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Despite the 3-0 score line this was a more competitive series that a lot of us expected. If Australia can keep 3-5 fit seamers for the summer it could be interesting. Swann will still be a handful in Melbourne, Sydney and maybe Brisbane (with bounce). If we can overcome those horror batting sessions where we throw the test away it could be close.

Agree completely - there was actually very little difference in this series in terms of total runs scored by the two sides and most of the matches were competitive - albeit a little artificially in the last test. Looking forward to some great matches in a few months.

Sad to hear the English team celebrated by urinating on the pitch