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Or has he been offered Belarus? Lukashenko reportedly seriously ill. Putin basically controls Belarus. That's a theory among the talking heads here this morning.

So Wagner troops will sign MOD contracts - whether that is just those in Ukraine or all Wagner personnel unclear. Wagner operatives in large numbers in several African states - as an unofficial arm of Russian foreign policy. What has Prig been offered? Can't just be some flimsy personal security...

Lukashenko is supposed to have sent his family out to Turkey - just in case

They engage the Wagner forces it won't go down well with regular Russian troops.

Don't think Daddy's boy would be on the front line.

He's also called out members of the elite for starting the war for their own benefit, for profiteering in the Donbas region since 2014 etc. The MOD is taking flak for their handling of the war but others are taking it for causing it to happen in the first place

That's why he's calling out the elite.The accusations of mismanagement, corruption etc aren't confined to the military leaders. It's unlikely he can position himself but he's been allowed almost complete freedom up until now to do what he pleases. Part of this has to be about the July 1st...

Certainly a nutter. Wagner been accused of most of the more serious war crimes against civilian population and their track record as a mercenary group in certain African states is grim. The fear for the Russian leadership is maybe how other "official" troops react - not fight them or even join...

and firmly place himself as Putin's successor??

So you've got a heavily armed force of potentially up to 30000 troops behind your defensive positions in Ukraine where you have deployed the majority of your army's troops. If you move mobile reserves back to counter the situation then your defensive lines are weakened. You can't move large...

that could be a really good game

Unless weather intervenes don't see many games being drawn.

Thought it was an excellent Test match against the current number 1 ranked side. Could have gone one either way right until the end - Stokes holds that chance and we could be seeing a different narrative. Don't think the declaration was that big a deal - had enough chances in the field in both...

If they lose today it's arguably more about converting chances with the ball than the bat. Some stat last night Australia converted 12 from 15 fielding chances whereas England only converted 8 from 18 ( Inc Bairstow just 4 from 10).

Could all revolve around how Moeen bowls - can't give away as many boundary balls as he did in the first innings. And can't waste as many chances as they did in 1st innings either.

Has to be a balance between Bazball and your last recognised batsman nursing the tail.

Pretty much the same. More interested to see Williams actually get properly in the points when I looked at the results.

Nobody should be wasting money on day 5 tickets this summer :)

It's just insane. First day of first Ashes Test and it's "here's who we are now - what you got?". Could backfire spectacularly if they bat 2 days for 600 but it's just enthralling atm.

Sums up bazball. Attacking out of a potentially difficult situation. Put yourselves on a nice position with a healthy scoring rate. Then walk past a ball that didn't really need playing at - having just edged one. Dull it isn't!!! Root again reverse sweeping like there's no tomorrow - Boland not...