*Official* Second Test at Lords

[Noble One]

Was also impressed with Nathan Hauritz, when he was struck by the ball, I thought that was the end of the game for him, but he showed some character coming back on the field on the last session, hopefully he would be okay to bowl today.

Best result is for Hauritz to remain on the field today and not bowl at all.

Can only imagine his finger is swelled, and sore as buggery. The way Australia has been batting, he may have a good opportunity to put his feet up for two days and let the swelling go down.

Will be a massive shot to the already limited confidence of Hauritz, he is no use to the Australian cause if his only bowling contribution is to bowl darts.

 

[The Sean]

South. Clapham Junction.

Confused as to your attitude toward Aussies then, as you've deliberately surrounded yourself with them.

 

[91Jmay]

Pretty even days play to be honest. If Eng get 450 - 500 i'd be happy, because the pitch isn't as placid as it was made out to be.

 

[Redbacks]

Incidentally, annoys the piss out of me how often the commentators have commented here and in Cardiff about how Johnson arrived there with 'a big reputation', like he's the first bowler to go on tour and struggle. Waqar Younis lobbed here in '96 with a huge rep and struggled (and he, at least, had the benefit of a previous tour here) but it didn't make people start questioning whether he was any good. Grinds my gears.

He's clearly out-of-sorts and, as I've said earlier, he's still taking wickets whilst bowling a lot of tosh and England better hope he doesn't get it right.

Totally agree, I suppose evidence so far has shown he doesn't get it all right all that often. I have a few memories of his balls down leg never or wide not getting punished in RSA, probably because he was bowling at altitude and the batsmen were scared ****less at times. On the current wickets the batter probably has time to play 2 shots to a delivery and he hasn't been able to intimidate thus far.

 

[zaremba]

Confused as to your attitude toward Aussies then, as you've deliberately surrounded yourself with them.

Indeed. On the last day of the Cardiff Test, we invited some friends round for a barbecue, and as it turned out over half of them were of the antipodean variety. Part of the reason why the Anglo-Aussie rivalry is so brilliant is that we're basically good mates. Simon Barnes wrote a brilliant article about this in The Times the other day.

 

[zaremba]

Incidentally, annoys the piss out of me how often the commentators have commented here and in Cardiff about how Johnson arrived there with 'a big reputation', like he's the first bowler to go on tour and struggle. Waqar Younis lobbed here in '96 with a huge rep and struggled (and he, at least, had the benefit of a previous tour here) but it didn't make people start questioning whether he was any good. Grinds my gears.

I know exactly where you're coming from, but I'm not sure that's really what's meant (reluctant though I am to go into bat for the majority of cricket commentators that we have to put up with). I don't think anyone here seriously doubts that Johnson is an excellent bowler, and equally I think that everyone's aware that he's operating well below his usual standard atm. There may also be an element of us Poms struggling to believe our luck; usually it's our Great Fast Bowling Hope that turns up to the Ashes and gets humiliated.

 

[zaremba]

Indeed. On the last day of the Cardiff Test, we invited some friends round for a barbecue, and as it turned out over half of them were of the antipodean variety. Part of the reason why the Anglo-Aussie rivalry is so brilliant is that we're basically good mates. Simon Barnes wrote a brilliant article about this in The Times the other day.

Pchah, WTF was I talking about?

****ing ******* convict ******s; ****ing "Spirit of Cricket" **** *** **** Gary Pratt ***** so **** off back to Sydney you *****s.

 

[The Sean]

Pchah, WTF was I talking about?

****ing ******* convict ******s; ****ing "Spirit of Cricket" **** *** **** Gary Pratt ***** so **** off back to Sydney you *****s.

...and just like that, all is well with the world once more.

 

[pasag]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRIU5S6vgB8

Enough said.

 

[pasag]

Really need the Prince to step up today and secure the draw, lose a few early wickets and it could be Mohali all over again.

 

[The Sean]

Really need the Prince to step up today and secure the draw, lose a few early wickets and it could be Mohali all over again.

He'll ton up this afternoon.

 

[Craig]

Rodney Hogg tips that England will get bowled out cheaply.

 

[Jungle Jumbo]

North, in between beginning sentences to Nasser with "Look..." in a rather aggressive manner, suggests Hauritz might be fit to bowl.

 

[Craig]

The SBS team plus Rodney Hogg is shocking.

 

[Pizzorno]

Pretty even days play to be honest. If Eng get 450 - 500 i'd be happy, because the pitch isn't as placid as it was made out to be.

I've a feeling our bowlers will make it look a whole lot more placid though.

 

[91Jmay]

North, in between beginning sentences to Nasser with "Look..." in a rather aggressive manner, suggests Hauritz might be fit to bowl.

Why do all Aussies do that? It makes them sound so unintelligent and makes alot of there sentences nonsensical.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Looking forward to seeing Stuart Broad bowl today.

 

[Richard]

Incidentally, annoys the piss out of me how often the commentators have commented here and in Cardiff about how Johnson arrived there with 'a big reputation', like he's the first bowler to go on tour and struggle. Waqar Younis lobbed here in '96 with a huge rep and struggled (and he, at least, had the benefit of a previous tour here) but it didn't make people start questioning whether he was any good. Grinds my gears.

Waqar was proven over 4 years though; Johnson has been over 4-5 months. It's not quite the same thing.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

yessssss

 

[Craig]

Andrew Strauss is a moron.