3.30pm "Woakes and Broad warming up in the middle. No sign of Anderson yet." Melinda Farrell has her binos trained on the outfield... "Looks like Sam Curran is warming up, possibly as sub fielder," Where did he spring from? I thought he was being given a beasting by Tom Banton at Taunton!
3.17pm That will be tea, seeing as the ten-minute turnaround makes a restart a bit pointless. England will settle for their handy lead of 90 ... but they got there in a runabout fashion today, thanks largely to Woakes' unbeaten 37 and a doughty bout of tailend durability from Broad. Nathan Lyon finishes with three wickets, and we can expect him to be right in the thick of things if Australia can give themselves enough runs to defend. This is getting tasty! Back in 15
Donnylad: "The best way to rest Anderson's leg might have been for Stokes, Bairstow and Ali to have worked extra hard to stay in for longer?" Indeed. Not a lot of clues in his body language as he left the field. He tends to look pretty downcast after his dismissals... but who knows, have we seen the last of Anderson in an Ashes contest? Let's hope not.
sheshank: "I bet Starc is sitting at home laughing" I imagine he's sitting in the dressing room scowling...
Jazz: "Sorry, but since when did the umpires start deciding teams don't have to face a tricky 15 minutes before the scheduled break?? Seems quite convenient for Australia." I think it's more about being fair to the paying public... why have 30 minutes of dead action out of 45?
JM Anderson c Cummins b Lyon 3 (27m 19b 0x4 0x6) SR: 15.78
Silly point and short leg lurk, and a slip
Mehul : "If Anderson is seriously injured, it makes sense for England to bat as long as they can, so the bowlers get a longer rest and are ready for the higher workload. "
A switch of ends for Lyon... Woakes on strike
END OF OVER:135 | 2 Runs | ENG: 373/9
- James Anderson3 (16b)
- Chris Woakes36 (93b)
- Pat Cummins33-9-84-3
- James Pattinson27-3-82-2
Arun: "Perhaps Woakes not running two at 133.1 was an indication of the state of Anderson's legs?" Ding! That's actually a very valid observation
Phil.: "The point of the stand is in part to keep Aus out in the field for longer. A day and a half in the field often leads to a few cheap wickets in the next innings. " Well yes, there is that. But the refusal of all singles just seems perverse.
Cummins returns from the City End (sorry, Birmingham End, the council got involved and we love Birmingham Council here at Cricinfo)... Anderson on strike with a couple of slips and a short leg
END OF OVER:134 | 4 Runs | ENG: 371/9
- Chris Woakes36 (93b)
- James Anderson1 (10b)
- James Pattinson27-3-82-2
- Nathan Lyon43-8-111-2
Camillo Coccia: "So this is the fabled brittle English batting order" Nope, this is the fabled eternally wagging tail. Keep up!
Tasmeem: "Discount Lara will survive two more overs max (if he can't get off strike soon)." I must say, I can't see a lot of point to this stand at present...
Pattinson's back, as Australia seek a swift denouement
END OF OVER:133 | 2 Runs | ENG: 367/9
- Chris Woakes32 (87b)
- James Anderson1 (10b)
- Nathan Lyon43-8-111-2
- Pat Cummins32-9-82-3
Melinda Farrell has her ear cocked to the crowd: "Warner holds out his palms to the crowd as they sing "He's got sandpaper in his hands" and then turns out his pockets before giving them a clap." What japes