Travis Head's walk, and the 7-2 width

England looked like they could compete with Australia at times, but they kept losing the small battles with the ball and in the field.

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“What can England chase?”

All these years in, and we are still asking the question: what can England chase? We do a lunchtime show on YouTube every day, mostly to keep me awake, and that is all we heard about on Day 3 of the third Ashes Test. Australia hadn’t even really started their innings, we had no idea what the pitch might do late, and there were already people talking about the 400 chase that England could make.

Two things on that. One, England never chased that many when the Champagne and Koolaid were flowing. And two, their batting is not like that anymore. In terms of quality, confidence or mindset.

Yet people still believe.

Outside of the tactical innovations, I think that is the coolest part of Bazball, that England can make a game feel alive when it is undoubtedly dead.

By the time it was stumps at Adelaide, even those shooting Bazball into their veins had to give up. 450 seems like the chase now, if somehow Australia start badly on Day 4 and the new ball does some of the work.

It could be 500. Not sure Baz can sell that one.

But also not sure anyone is left to buy it.

Harry’s Hands

Slip catches on a pitch like this are very tough. You have to stand very close to the batter, and then still be aware the ball won’t carry, so there might be a need to come forward as well. Harry Brook did this really well, twice.

The problem is, he also dropped Travis Head when he was on 99.

Perhaps the game was gone already, but that was going to be England’s last chance. Head got himself trapped hundred chasing, England stacked the field, and the hometown anticipation caused extra pressure. Then Head slashed and Brook dropped a tough - but gettable - chance to his left.

In the first innings he had dropped Usman Khawaja as well.

There are times when it feels England could compete with Australia, then they do something silly like dropping someone.