pharvey wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 2:01 am Any point in declaring early on tomorrow?
So much depends on the weather. Rain is forecast in the morning, so it might delay the start. With only 4 wickets down and with Brook and Stokes in and Bairstow next up, whatever time they start England will look to score quickly. They're 70-odd runs ahead now. If they could get a lead of 200 runs or close to it by lunch I reckon they'll put the Aussies in and try to get all 10 wickets.
But I repeat, so much depends on the weather, and you can bet the Aussies will slow things up as much as possible, hoping for a draw.
Whatever happens in this match, and the Ashes as a whole, I think this new England approach has been a huge success.
Compare international rugby in the 70s, with forwards slogging through the mud for a 3-3 draw, with the modern fast, entertaining, attacking, handling game, and you have a similar scenario with the current approach to test cricket, even if it's only England at the moment.