If it's a seaming deck - which seems unlikely given recent SCG pitches - then three seamers is enough anyway, especially if two of them are Anderson and Broad.
Moeen is a lucky, lucky man, he is only playing because the squad is empty and they need him at #7 for his batting - which has been crap all tour anyway.
As things stand we'll have Curran at 8, Broad at 9, Anderson at 10 and Crane at 11 - so a long tail is there which means Ali has to bat properly and cut out some of the shite he served up in Melbourne.
The thing with Ali is he is a fantastic No.8 at Test level but to bat 8 you need to be an international class bowler and he is not, and he is not good enough a bat (Test) to bat any higher.
For Foakes the Ashes has probably been a great, if frustrating at not playing, experience. For the only other player not to play in the series, Ballance, it's probably been pretty ordinary sitting on the bench week after week.
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Moeen is a lucky, lucky man, he is only playing because the squad is empty and they need him at #7 for his batting - which has been crap all tour anyway.
As things stand we'll have Curran at 8, Broad at 9, Anderson at 10 and Crane at 11 - so a long tail is there which means Ali has to bat properly and cut out some of the shite he served up in Melbourne.
Not sure I fancy watching England bat today on that greenish pitch with rain in the air
Cook 3 from 35 balls
Stoneman 20 from 19 balls
Stoneman gone for 24.
Not gone to bed yet!
Vince gone for 25 playing another needless shot.
Cook gone lbw for 39 after an Australian review.
Root 16*
Malan 16*
Root 42* (71)
Malan 28* (82)
Surprised they didn't do the coin toss inside if it's raining!
228-4.
Bairstow gone for 5.
Think that's the end of the day as well, only two balls left.
228-3 and England's day to eight balls later, 233-5 and Australia's day.
Hopefully Malan and Ali can push us past 300.