Third Test

I forsook watching the Premier$hite football when I got home from work in favour of the third test - we batted like a one day match and declared on 280-6 to leave Australia 423 to win the test.

It's certainly a winnable match, trouble is do we have time to win it?

[sufcintheprem]

I think we'll go at them hard but they've showed how hard they battle for games. It will be tough and I think that we need a little luck although Giles and Vaughan were getting quite a lot of joy against the openers just before close so I think with that luck it's definitely doable

[Matt the Shrimp]

25/1... COME ON!!!!

http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Hong Kong Blue]

121-2 at lunch.

I'd make the draw favourite, but there are still theoritically 70 overs remaining (assuming England bowl them in time, and bad light or rain doesn't intervene).

So far this series the convicts have batted for 40.2, 100.4, 76, 64.3 and 84.5 overs, an average of about 73 overs per innings, so England are definitely capable of it. However I think Australia with some help from the weather will bat it out.

[Hong Kong Blue]

England desperately need a wicket.

20 overs to go and Ashley Giles enters the fray.

He's already bowled 25 wicketless overs, Warne bowled 25 overs without a wicket as well.

Maybe Old Trafford isn't as much of a spinner's paradise on days 4 and 5 as some people think.

Kaneria's 0-200 would also suggest so.

[BrettieAngell]

1 wicket short! http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

Fair play to the Aussies though, especially Ponting he didn't deserve to be on the losing side after the innings he played!

This series just gets better and better, talk about tension!

[Hong Kong Blue]

Wow. What a game and what a series.

If the next two tests can match the last two, this will be the greatest sporting contest of all time.

[BlueJ]

f*****g hell it was close, I can't believe we didnt get that 1 wicket needed!

It's been the best Ashes series I can remember. We're pretty much matching the Aussies at the moment, and if weather had not intervened on Saturday we may well have been leading the series.

Can't wait for the fourth test!

[canveyshrimper]

What a fantastic sporting contest this series has been so far. It has had everything so far and there are still two matches to go.

Fair go to the England selectors by sticking to their guns, I am sure that the unchanged team and selection continuity will only benefit England long term.

What a knock from Ponting, I just hope that the weather stays for Trent Bridge & The Oval and England can nick the series and bring those Ashes home at long last. We must have the momentum going to Nottingham and I think the convicts will make changes there, Hodge for Katich & Kasprowicz or McGill for Gillespie.

[BlueJ]

Any shrimper going up to nottingham for the next test? If so prehaps they could pick up Reading Shrimper's arm patches (http://www.shrimperzone.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=15377)