The Cricket thread

Mitchell Johnson on for Starc who managed 12 deliveries with none of them threatening the timber.

Cook's gone for 20 caught behind off Lyon who is getting bounce and turn (on the first morning!). 42-2.

Bell's next.

Starc gets an in-swinging one on target! Bell LBW 1. 43-3.

Looked a bit leg sidey...

Here's Joe Root.

Root saved by an edge from an LBW (knocking everything over) 1st ball, dropped by Haddin 2nd ball. Flashes at a leggy one 3rd ball.

(Hawkeye gives Bell out as Umpire's Call.)

Stupid decision to bat first and not being wise after the event, just couldn't understand the thinking on a dank and murky Cardiff morning. Very lucky that Haddin dropped Root, Bell made one of the most unconvincing one's in test history, must be a question mark against him.

Lunch 88-3.

Root smashing loose balls all over the place; Ballance grinding one out.

Aussies edge the session but it could have been much worse.

Root 50 not out.

Ballance looking anything but a test #3 here. 38 not out. Root 62. 129-3.

Root sweeps, misses and dodges another one: "pitched outside leg". Just. Umpire's call again.

One referral gone.

100 partnership. 143-3.

Ballance 53 not out. 127 balls. 179-3.

Tea 190-3.

Definitely England's session.

That 300 looks well within sight.

Ballance out. LBW 61. Plum. 196-4.

Root 101 not out. Next 20 minutes is crucial. (200 up too.)

203-4

Root 134 caught in the slips driving at a wide one.

Stokes 42 not out.

280-5.

New ball in 7 overs.

Stokes 52 not out.

293-5.

Stokes (52). Clean bowled. Missed a good 'un.

293-6.

300-6.

Ali 7, Buttler 3.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Lyth's gone. Caught in the gully. 7-1.

Ball wobbling about a bit. No bounce in the pitch.

300 will be a good score.

Do you still think 300 is a good score? I think 400 might be par on this pitch.

Who needs TMS when we've got SFD

Frank Bullitt wrote:

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Lyth's gone. Caught in the gully. 7-1.

Ball wobbling about a bit. No bounce in the pitch.

300 will be a good score.

Do you still think 300 is a good score? I think 400 might be par on this pitch.

You'll have noted that it was very early on that I went for 300 and at that time the ball was swinging (as it did for much of the day to be fair) and even Lyon had found some turn but worst of all was the lack of pace. Loads of balls were going through low and some even bounced twice through to Haddin. On top of that the outfield was killing anything along the ground... And for some of it Cook and Ballance (neither of whom is going to empty any bars) were playing.

Bearing all of that in mind I'm delighted with the 343 we have. Could we get to 400? Yes. Will we? I don't think so.

The pitch is just a dog. It's awful and will make for slow attritional cricket and the relative lack of pace that our quicks enjoy might be an advantage because the ball won't be coming on to the bat as the pitch gets lower and slower day by day.

If Cook can get Broad, Jimmy and Wood (and they pitch it well up) going from one end with Root and Ali plugging the other the Aussies are going to find it very tough going.

Predictions are always risky but I'd wager each innings totalling a lower score as the match goes on but Michael Clarke could easily biff a double ton and turn it all on its head.

Which means, apart from the Clarke Factor of course, 1-0 to England!

And there's unlikely to be further regular updates from me after today I'm sorry to say.

That said...

Broad out for 18. 395-8.

Mitchell Johnson has his 100 (0 wickets) up.

lunchtime now and some wittering on TMS

264-5,still 166 behind. If England can get a lead of 70 or so tomorrow then they must be in the box seat-the pitch will get more uneven as the match goes on. Still not convinced by England's attack but they gradually chipped away and the new ball is not a million miles away-time maybe for Broad to come to the party.

Good start to day 3 from England, Haddin just gone 304/8