Ashes 2019: England v Australia first Test, day three – live!

92nd over: England 269-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 39) Stokes gets the first run from the bat on day three, driving Cummins to cover – well slowed down by Bancroft. They take one. Burns deals with the rest.

“Can you please enlighten me as to what the players have to eat during the lunch break of a Test?” asks Phil Murnane. “Are they all finely tuned specimens with strict dietary and macronutrient needs, or is it a case of Jammy Dodgers and Jaffa Cakes all round?”

They get a proper feed, as I understand it. But the bowlers have their intake measured through the day – especially when it is hot. Tim Murtagh spoke last week of the double desserts at Lord’s. Old school.

91st over: England 268-4 (Burns 125, Stokes 38) Pattinson wins an early false stroke from Stokes, who chases a ball he should have left, beating his outside edge by quite a distance. WHOA, the next delivery has gone to first slip! I don’t think that was the pitch either, it has just swung a MILE. They take a bye. Burns’ turn, and he is beaten first ball of his morning too. Gorgeous delivery. “This is the life of a batsman in England,” observes Kumar Sangakkara on TV. “You will play and miss a lot. You need to put it behind you.”

The players are on the field! Well, one team at least. That’s quite unusual: Australia are set and in their positions for a good minute before Burns and Stokes leave the dressing room and make their way to the middle. But they’re there now. James Pattinson has the ball in his hand, he will be starting the day from the City End. Stokes (38) is facing the first delivery, Burns (125) up the other end. PLAY!

“Hi Adam.” Morning, Paul Baalham. “When was the last time an English batsman batted for three consecutive days in the *same* innings in a Test Match?”

It has to be Cookie. Maybe his double ton in India? Or the UAE?

“England to get to 420 as Stokes goes nuts,” says Dean Bainbridge in Cardiff. (More like blaaaaze 420, ayyy. Sorry, I can’t help myself) Dean continues with his prediction: “Broad rips through the Aussie top order, Moeen wipes up the tail & England win by an innings with a day to spare. Sorry, Sunday ticket holders.”

As a freelancer, curse you for saying such a heinous thing! The push for four-day Tests might be strong, but I want them to go TIMELESS.

“I notice on Sky that Sir Ian’s wearing the same shirt as yesterday,” observes Simon Richards. “Must’ve been a good night in Birmingham!”

It was loose on Broad Street last night, I can tell you that much. Cricket punters from both nations mixed with the usual, predicably wild, Friday night crew. And yes, I stayed out of the Walkabout.

“Good morning, Adam.” G’day, Geoff Wignall. “I’d be interested to know what single thing others would most like to occur today. My choice would be for Modern to find some form and make a decent (60+) score; simply because it would make the world a better and happier place. Except perhaps for Australian fans and I can live with that.”

Moeen’s role is crucial later today – with the ball. Given that Anderson surely won’t actually bowl, they need to set-and-forget with him from the City End and rotate the quicks. He can’t afford to have a bad day. But yes, runs first. He needs those quite a lot.

Today’s global TMS link. For overseas listeners only. If you’re in the UK, grab their coverage in the usual BBC places. Here it is, with thanks to Peter Haining for sending it through.

Jimmy Anderson update. From the England camp: he will bat if required and do some running before play today. They will “take a view later” on whether he will bowl in Australia’s second innings.