Fourth Test

[Jwscud]

Those of you waking up after a long Christmas Day of indulgence are in for a late present - Australia all out 98 after being put in by Strauss.

Absolutely bloody marvellous! 4 for Tremlett, 4 for Anderson; hopefully the batsmen have remembered how to bat, and we'll only have to bat once on our way to retaining the ashes. Obviously fingers crossed, touching wood and any and all other superstitious gestures!

[nimbusj15]

I've just made my Christmas message to the Commenweath, emphaising the importance of sport.

[CaptChaos]

Gosh what a first day! Nice Boycott comment on TMS after 12 minutes saying as someone paid to be an expert, there was no way he could see England winning

[PaulB]

The Aussie press were certainly impressed by yesterdays performance!

http://yfrog.com/h69n0lj

... but Cook would appear to be out with only 2 runs added on day 2!

[Paul Incognito]

Enjoyed Ponting's tantrum. In the last test (or the one before) England appealed a caught behind on an inside edge, they were all convinced but hot spot showed nothing so the game went on and England lost a review. Exactly the same again (but Aussie's fielding), only the Aussie appeal wasn't half as convincing when they appealed. Does Ricky take it like a man? Does he borrox! Several minutes arguing with the Umps followed by approaching Pietersen and appearing to suggest he should have walked.

Well it's got the soap dodgers in the crowd excited!

[vintage ATCO]

Vote on Ponting's future
http://www.theaustralian.com.au
(scroll down, right hand side)

[vintage ATCO]

Ponting should have been suspended: Chappel

[CaptChaos]

Vote on Ponting's future
http://www.theaustralian.com.au
(scroll down, right hand side)

I voted "non" as he has been a great help to us

[Paul Incognito]

Finally read a reaction by the plonker himself. He now admits he regrets the incident but...

I looked at it again on Monday night. Still in my heart and mind he inside edged it and if you look at it properly the hotspot mark wasn't that far away from where the ball was but it's gone now.

If we look at is closely? Anyone who stayed up last night to watch the match would have seen it closely plenty of times and the hotspot mark was clearly on the toe of the bat while the ball passed the bat roughly half way up. Never in a million years could the ball have caused that hotspot, but then that's about as often as Ponting admits he's wrong.

Loving tonight's cricket. At the start of the Aussie innings I'd have taken 200/5 at the close of play, but with them at 101/4 already (24 overs remaining), who knows, may even be over tonight.

[Jwscud]

Well. That was a rather pleasant logging on. After our interweb dropping off, logged back on to find that England are effectively 3 wickets from retaining the ashes in Australia for only the second time in my lifetime (and the first time I've been old enough to appreciate it). Well done to Bresnan - I have to be honest I never used to rate him that highly but he's certainly broken the back of their 2nd Innings.

Could it be 3-1?

[CaptChaos]

After last nights session, I think the appropriate English expression is "its coming along nicely"

[Jwscud]

Thoroughly deserved in all respects. I was always of the view that Strauss should have been made Captain instead of Flintoff in 2006, should definitely have taken the reins ahead of Pietersen after Vaughan's resignation, and is the right man to lead England. Very well done indeed.

Still a long way to go to the number 1 spot though - we need to beat India next summer for starters...

[nimbusj15]

It would be inapprpriate to gloat, so I'll just grin instead

[Paul_Sengupta]

India vs. SA in Durban is a pretty low scoring match all round.