I'd say our only worry is Strauss negativity as a captain when it comes to declarations etc. I'd like to see us really go at them and put them back in on day 3. We need to make sure we win this test from here on out. Anything less will be a massive psychological boost for the Ozzies.

I know we have done incredibly on the 1st day, but to imagine we might still have the opportunity to still be batting our 1st innings by the 4th day is a little far fetched.

Ideally, we'd like to be able to set the pace with a declaration, but realistically this match should just run its natural course and we should still comfortably win with time to spare.

The match situation is one that we would have been happy with at the end of day 2, the fact we are 1 day ahead of ourselves already is a huge bonus....Our main aim should be to bat steadily on day 2 - If we do that then this match should be in the bag by the end of day 4.

Barring the last test match is there any reason to believe the Ozzies can remove us before the end of the 3rd day? IMO there isn't. Their heads will have dropped and I expect if we play sensible we could bat for as long as we like. I just hope we don't sit in there trying to make some ridiculous total when an aggressive declaration would keep the Ozzies running for their lives.

I know what you are saying, but I think the main difference this time is that we are at least a day ahead of ourselves with regard to the match situation.

Think of it as 12 sessions left, with each session worth approxinately 100 runs, then we probably need to bat 5 sessions max, giving us a lead of 550+ and so giving us 6 sessions to take the 10 Aussie second innings wickets.

I'll go along with all of that. The match seems to be taking a similar shape to Adelaide so far, except we've got them out more quickly and for less than half the runs. The time to worry about declarations is if we've still got wickets in hand at the end of day 2, although I'll be surprised if we haven't.

I think Warne is a lot more shrewd than Botham, although he seems to veer wildly between useful analysis and blindly talking up the Aussies regardless. I try not to take any notice of anything Botham says. He seems to have the most incredibly condescending tone of voice, yet most of the time he's talking complete rubbish like someone propping up the bar at closing time. I've had his autobiography on the bottom shelf of my bookcase for years (my mother picked it up for me in a charity shop) and have never even thought about reading it. I really ought to throw it out. A shame really as he was one of my greatest schoolboy heroes.

not an ideal start, but we are still 72 ahead for 2, which you'd take.

Before the game you would have, but I thought they were both pretty soft. Decent enough balls but they hadn't been under massive pressure from a string of brilliant deliveries.

The England batting lineup can look as vulnerable as the Aussies once a few go down. Pietersen is desperately trying to get himself out as I speak and bar Bell there is nothing much to come after him. Today they are 15 for 2 and unlucky not to have KP too. I wouldn't be surprised to see England leading by only 150. Talk of batting through day 3 to lead by 500 is ridiculous. England could well be all out for 250 the way they have started today.

Just good early bowling from the aussies and nothing to do with the way England started. I expect England to get around 350ish.

Bit of an overreaction. It's funny reading this thread, there's knee jerking at both extremes. On this very page there's people saying we should be declaring late on day 3, then you're claiming we could be out for 250. I think the excitement has gone to peoples heads.

Before the day started I'd have said we'll get 350ish.

Trott amd Pietersen are playing very sensibly, and long may it continue.