The alarm went off. The snooze button was hit. Several times. As a result I’ve only just watched the highlights on Sky having carefully avoided any kind of cricket website or blog.

What can you say? There’s no point going over old ground and saying he should have played in the first two Tests. He didn’t and England are 2-0 down but he’s now back and becomes the first English spinner to pick up 5 wickets in a Test match at the Waca. Great bowling by the Beard of the Year contender and I was delighted to see Steve Harmison pick up 4 wickets as well.

Disappointing that we closed 2 down but Brett Lee bowled an absolute doosie to get out Ian Bell and Cook is stuggling at this level. Strauss and Collingwood need to push on in the morning session and give us a healthy lead by stumps.

Does anyone know what was said to Justin Langer as he left the field? He sure looked angry for an Oompa Loompa…

Tags : Cricket, The Ashes, England, Australia, Third Test, Monty Panesar

Picture:BBC Sport

Well we’re only a few hours away from it kicking off all over again. England need to win this Test match or it’s realistically curtains for the Ashes. Sure they will still have a chance if they draw the Test but going into the final two games knowing you need to win both will, in my opinion, be too much to ask.

So what will the team be? I go along with the team I suggested for the Second Test which is Panesar in for Giles and Mahmood in for Anderson. I know Anderson had a good run out in the warm up match but I think Mahmood offers more with the bat and is something on an unknown quantity for the Aussie batsmen.

One of my worries, though, is the pressure that will be on Monty’s shoulders. He has been hailed as Englands Great Hope and I just think that it may be asking a lot for him to live up to the expectation. It’s easy to forget that Monty is still a relatively inexperienced international cricketer and the atmosphere at the Waca is going to be tough.

I’d be shocked if Monty isn’t picked, to be honest. I just hope that after all the hype that he can deliver the goods.

Tags : Cricket, The Ashes, England, Australia, Third Test, Monty Panesar

OK, I’m now officially confused. I was always under the impression that the Third Test would start at 2.30am UK time. However I’ve just read about Western Australia adopting daylight saving so does this mean it starts at 1.30am, 2.30am or 3.30am?

Tags : Cricket, The Ashes, England, Australia, Third Test

I’ve just seen the video of the Murali run out and, I’ve got to say, I laughed heartily when I saw it. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

If you haven’t seen it yet, head on over to The Corridor and watch the video.

With regard all the hand wringing and “it’s not in the spirit of the game” nonsense, forget it. Murali made a basic schoolboy error and was out. End of.

Tags : Cricket, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Ball Chucker