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[Mr Cricket]

England cant afford to lose sight of reality, at various points in this game (being 0-1, 260ao, aus having lead of 200+) they would have given their collective right arm for a draw. Im sure that Flower and Strauss wont lose sight of this and England will do the professional thing and set out to bat all day.

[PM7]

England have always taken the conservative approach and will never change their ways
If the Aussies were batting they will be looking for a win as they have dominated apart from yesterday
Should be a draw, Strauss and Cook will take their confidence into the next Tests.
Great start to the Ashes...gonna be a great series.

[Johnny]

Australia have such a good record at the Gabba that I think a draw will still hurt them. I personally think England are looking good. They seemed too nervous on day 1, but seem to have settled into the game now, and hopefully the series. I thought Anderson and Broad bowled excellently on days 2 & 3 and were very unlucky - if Swann gets it together for the next test I still think England can win the series

[roco]

At the end of the day they have to beat us to get the urn back so more preside on them bat this test out as the gabba was there banker for a win so they will not be happy and neither will the press or public

[Washington]

Ive not seen Swann not play a pivotal part in a test match for a long time!! I definately think its a conscious effort from the aussies to target him and he's not been subjected 2 such an aggressive approach! I think one of 2 thinks will happen . . . He will like a marine adapt, improvise and overcome and make the ashes his or it will break him! For me the day will peter out into a boring draw! 

[mattwhitfield17]

I hope pietersen comes out, plays aggresively and gets a big score. If we play for the draw, to add insult to injury i think we should put AUS in for 15/20 overs try and get 3 or 4 wickets

[procricket]

Matt it will be hand shaking time by then

[mattwhitfield17]

Not If we Declare before Tea sometime..

[Howzat]

No point declaring, rest our bowlers and give our batsman some practice. Grind the aussies down!

[mattwhitfield17]

Agree with that also, just would be nice to knock them even more with a few wickets!

[sultanofswing]

As long as we draw I am happy!

Whos going to be more disappointed with that result after the first three days!

[Lefthook]

Is there anything to be said for the following tactics:

Don't let them bat, as you know that it'll be a draw - make them bowl for as long as possible and tire them out.

Or is it better to say:

Send them into bat for the last 20-25 overs and hope to dent their batsmen's confidence by getting a few cheeky wickets?

Which tactic would you prefer?

[tim2000s]

Hmmm...

Is there anything to be said for the following tactics:

Don't let them bat, as you know that it'll be a draw - make them bowl for as long as possible and tire them out.

How soon is tea? If I bat up till tea, then we aren't likely to play beyond tea, and it will only give me another 5-10 overs, so not terribly exhausting.

Send them into bat for the last 20-25 overs and hope to dent their batsmen's confidence by getting a few cheeky wickets?

If my bowlers are up to it, we might get a couple of quick wickets, but the pitch is very flat and any good batting could be used as lifter for those batsmen. And we'll have a draw within a couple of overs of tea.

I think that option 2 is the better one. If you get those quick wickets on the flat track, it's very demoralizing after having watched the opposition hammer your bowling all over the ground... Of course, you do have to keep hold of your catches....

[sultanofswing]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/current/story/489620.html

Quite a good piece about Marcus North