3rd Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 11-15 August: Day Three

[Occasional Fan]

Another gripping match under way in a thoroughly gripping Ashes series. Friday saw England post a first innings score of 444, slightly below par in the views of many, and then, with an extraordinary six wicket session after tea, tear a big hole in the Australian response to leave Australia on 210-7 at the close (Warne 45 not out, Gillespie 4 not out). Questions to be answered on Saturday include:

• Will England be the first opponents to invite Australia to follow on in seventeen years? And, sadly but perhaps more significantly:
• Will the weather in Manchester allow us to find out?

Scheduled commencement of play is at 1030BST. Please place your comments on the third day's play in this thread.

The weather forecast from the BBC is for light rain, and an interrupted day must be expected.

[King Aragorn]

According to this site, rain is expected around 5 pm so hopefully we won't lose that much time.

[greg]

Never trust the weatherman KA.

I hope that Australia avoid the follow on so we aren't tempted to put them back in.Make McGrath bowl as much as we can as he is clearly not fit and Gillespie is bowling so badly it's untrue.Lee and Warne will find it hard to carry the attack again and we should set them over 400 preferably 500 to win.

Then again the England management might look at it and think that with Clarke's injury to his back Australia are as good as 1 down already and it might be worth the risk of chasing a small target to win.I just wouldn't want to chase more than 150 against Warne on a turning pitch which by then will have uneven bounce.

One thing that is certain is that Brett Lee will face a barrage of bouncers from GBH and Freddie.

[The Phantom Ram]

I know it might not happen but I am finding this talk of the follow on facinating. I never thought there would be a time when the follow on should be turned down, but on this occasion I agree with what everyone is saying. Making them follow on would be a big blow to the Aussies though - I read somewhere on here that they haven't been asked to follow on since 1988. It could be a key marker in the end of their dominance if we did enforce it, but there is the threat of Shane Warne turning it at right angles from about the 5th over of our innings. I've been thinking about it as I have been posting and changed my mind. I think we should enforce it if we get the chance as this is the most attacking game plan, we will be, by definition, about 200 runs ahead. If our bowlers perform like they have been doing (and the Aussie batsman do too) can you see them getting 350 on this pitch? Especially with Clarke in so much pain. Even if they did I think we'd make 150.

[Harmy's Army]

Latest from the ground is no likelihood of play till after lunch.

[Occasional Fan]

If there is anyone closer to the ground than I am (I am about 750km away as the fly crows), please could you let us know the weather report? At 0930, according to the BBC, there was heavy rain at Old Trafford, with more expected. A delayed start was predicted. Any updates welcome!

Here in Prague, it is a beautiful day for cricket!

[Occasional Fan]

Pitch inspection at 1100BST. Vic Marks is on the pitch and says it is hard as a rock. If they can rope the outfield and so on, could be in for a rapid start.

[monotonetuba]

covers are coming off!

[Occasional Fan]

Lunch will be taken at 1200BST, which means the earliest start time will now be 1240BST.

[monotonetuba]

good grief!