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[Vic Nicholas]

Gifting wickets here...just giving them away.

Totally mad, because England will NOT throw this test match away.

All Clarke is doing here is helping Broad, Anderson and Swan improve their series averages....helping them attain respectability (although Swans figures were reasonable to begin with).

Perplexed.

[The_Bird]

I think Australia have enough, England will be blocking anyway and with it turning big Lyon/Smith/Clarke would all get a lot from the surface. Declare at tea

[Buzz]

if eng get within 100 of this chase I would be staggered.

[Nickauger]

Terrible shot from Root! Doesn't deserve to keep the openers slot down under!

[Vic Nicholas]

Terrible shot from Root! Doesn't deserve to keep the openers slot down under!

I feel for Root in this situation as I did for the Aussie batsmen who were forced to throw their wickets away.

Sometimes, you are forced to play in a way that goes against your instinct.

His series average takes a hit as have blokes like Steve Smith...unfair when you are trying to build a career and a compelling case to retain your place in the team.

[Nickauger]

To a certain extent I agree with you vic. But on the other hand you can play positively without wafting at wide ones. He's built his reputation on being an exciting,  attacking batsman.

[The_Bird]

Credit to Clarke for the declaration but sadly he doesn't have the attack to put any pressure on England. It's fine to have the attitude like Warne was eluding to on commentary but having a world class attack on any surface helps you win cricket matches not being brave or aggressive with captaincy. The attack of old knew how to win, losing didn't ever come into their heads.

[The_Bird]

We'll take 3-0!!

Get in England, fully deserved.

[procricket]

Game over..

Oh well i suspect we will take 3-0.

Has Warne had relations with Faulkner.

I look forward to the return leg i think England have more than enough and with Harris possibly crooked but as Warne suggests you do have the world beater in Faulkner

[beaver5]

Bloody ridiculous! Lights are on, massive crowd who have paid a fortune to come and watch. When are they going to realise this is an entertainment industry and without public support it won't survive. Would they call off the Wimbledon final or the last hole at the open due to light. Feel let down just watching let alone if I'd paid to go.

[Giraffe208]

Bloody ridiculous! Lights are on, massive crowd who have paid a fortune to come and watch. When are they going to realise this is an entertainment industry and without public support it won't survive. Would they call off the Wimbledon final or the last hole at the open due to light. Feel let down just watching let alone if I'd paid to go.

In all sport we ask officials to be consistent and that is what they have been. While I would have loved to see the game finish as an England fan I am not overly disappointed that it is 3-0.

Without the declaration, today could and probably would have been a terrible final day of cricket so in all fairness Australia and Clarke have given both the crowd at the ground and at home a better spectacle.

[tim2000s]

Clarke had to give himself a chance to bowl them out. Good on him. The ICC need to change the stupid rule.

3-0 is a fair result, and had it gone to 4-0, I think it would have been a slightly unfair reflection on Australia.

[csnew]

Clarke didn't have to make a game of it by declaring. Lets not forget the slow over rate of England during both Australian innings. So don't understand the criticism.
Thought Clarke was a disgrace too at the end, had to be forced away from the umpires and told not to touch the umpire.
ICC need to look at the slow over rates during this series at certain times and the lack of fines. I'm sure if it was a subcontinent team, fines would have been issued straight away.

Well deserved win for England anyway. 

[The_Bird]

I would always encourage players to use the laws and regulations to the extreme and for whatever advantage they can gain.
Formula 1 is a prime example, the teams push every law, guideline etc to the limit. Clarke was well within his rights to challenge everything the umpires do and all he was doing was looking after his team, which is what every captain should do.

Until the ICC grow some balls and some common sense scenarios like today will always happen.

[Buzz]

good on Michael Clarke for having a go and a very bold declaration.

no English player/supporter can possibly complain about the result.