Prayer mats out for good weather.
We need Swann to fire on all cylinders from the word go, and hopefully Anderson gets some swing from the conditions.
I don't want to tempt fate, but this current Aussie side are just average at best. Their batting line up is OK, but that attack is dross. Their selectors must pine for a Warne/McGrath.

Wonder what the odds are of Warne playing in the 5th test if they have a chance of winning the ashes back

Our selectors must pine for a Flintoff or Gough. We are finding it a struggle taking Aussie wickets.

Come on england 1-0 up. As soon as Hussey and Haddin went was only a matter of time. Nice 5 wickets for swann, My 3-0 bet is looking good

"Swaaaaaaaaaaaann, Swann will tear you apart again..."

We did OK Sal, getting 20 wickets sub 600 on a flat batting track. Only down point is losing Broad for the rest of the series. Are Tremlett/Bresnan good enough for an away Ashes series?

The problem with replacing Broad is that nowadays Broad is considered an all-rounder. The most like for like replacement would be Bresnan but i think he's more suited to the one day form of the game, Tremlett would be a good pick because he's tall and would be very effective on the bouncy pitch at the Waca, then theres Ajmal Shahzad who i've not seen much of to be honest but, from what i did see he looks pretty quick with a skiddy action. My money is on Chris Tremlett for the simple reason that he's tall and should be very dangerous in Perth.

totally agree tremlett for me,shame we lose broad as he was turning into a quality player.andersons the key for me hes our best bowler keep him fresh and he`ll get his wickets..

At times Broad can be a bit "hit and miss" with his bowling. Many matches he can go along with just 1 wicket per innings, then WHAM, he's got a 7 for.. and a 4 for.. . Likewise with his batting. Five or 6 relatively low scores, then a 150 Graeme Hick-esque innings. I was hoping this tour would be the making of Broad, because the next few years are against Sri Lanka, India on dead wickets which wont do bowlers like Broad any favours. Real Shame.
Tremlett possibly fav for me (what I've seen of him). I don't think Bresnan is the answer in an away Ashes tour.

I really don't think we need to worry about lengthening the tail. The batsmen have done alright so far, and Broad's contribution with the bat was a golden duck. He's also only taken two wickets so far at an average of about 80. I'm not disparaging him on purpose as I think he's a good cricketer, I just don't think he'll be massively missed on the evidence of the series thus far. If the next test was on a spinning wicket (which I know it isn't, but this is just to illustrate), then I'd have suggested Broad's place in the side was the most vulnerable.

Taking wickets is the key to winning this series, so I'd hope they go with Tremlett or Shahzad, rather than Bresnan. Shahzad marginally ahead for me as Tremlett seems a bit too similar to Finn.

disaster..need to skittle them out asap..englands worst 2 days in the series so far

normal service has resumed..get a decent lead and the ashes will be staying with us..wonder what ponting and his boys will whinge about now

Good to see that the Wigan Walk is alive and well and now being practiced in Melbourne.

Will Joel be joining us when he hears the word "Walkies"?

Rather watch paint dry - or dry paint.

Bet Boycott is feeling a bit of a tit now, especially as he wrote off England's chances after 12 minutes of play, stupid Yorkshire twunt.

that wicket was a gift to our bowlers,it's all over now,another late night beckons.

great innings by trott which has put us firmly in control..get to 500 declare and have well over 2 days in which to get the aussies out..proves my point about ponting,throwing another hissy fit over a decision which was proved right by video evidence...hope the england players rub there noses in it..

Great day again for English cricket, only blemish was yet another failure with the bat for Paul Collingwood, i'd like to see Eion Morgan given a chance in the 5th test to add abit more steel to the middle order.

great stuff 4 more wickets and the ashes are ours...now wheres my betting slip

I think he shouldn't even be considered for England but that's another debate

Because he's Irish or you don't rate him?

He's Irish, his folks are Irish and he's played for Ireland but like i said i'm not getting in to it on here, this thread is about The Ashes.

cough cough pat richards cough cough

you could quote quite a few..ben harrison robbie and henry paul the list could go on all night