Regards Strauss, he can put it across as a positive either way, but actions certainly speak louder than words. Back his bowlers to rattle through Australia a second time, ok it may not be as successful the second time round, but if we bowl anything like, and that is what he has to be thinking, we should be in a pretty good position.Much as we've bowled refreshingly decently today (though certainly not outstandingly - only Ponting was genuinely got out, the rest it was all bad batting to varying extents), I just can't see the point in confidently proclaiming your certainty of bowling well and blundering straight on then finding it doesn't happen, if you've the alternative of not doing.
If England bowl well in Australia's second dig, they'll win follow-on or no follow-on. If they bowl badly, they'll (probably) lose if they enforce and (probably) draw if they don't. It's just a case of insuring for the eventuality of bowling badly while not making any effect on the outcome if you bowl well.
As I say - not enforcing is a win-win situation. You just have nothing to lose by batting again, you have something to lose by enforcing the follow-on.
As for Strauss backing his bowlers, so much of that is about his own demeneur. As long as he says the right things and keeps the right body-language, he can put it accross as a positive to take whatever option he chooses.
That's a good point... I really must phone my Grandad if it looks like we might win, see if he can remember the last time.Thinking about this again, isn't it just fantastic that England can bat, from three downwards, pretty damn poorly, and bowl no more than decently, but still have Australia completely on the rack... at Lord's.
In so many ways this was so unlikely. Which is why it's so important that we get the job finished and don't let them back into it.
There are precious few people who will remember England beating Australia at Lord's once. There is no-one who will remember them doing it more than once. England have a phenomenal opportunity to do something impossibly rare.
And it's so bloody annoying that we didn't get that bloody 650 score that we absolutely should've got from 196 for 0. If we'd done that we could've been on for an innings-and-300-run victory. That'd feel like it did when Man Utd beat Arsenal 6-1 in 2000/01.
Miss them both and catch Ponting who happens to be walking past in the background!OK you have one free punch, and both Haddin's face and Siddle's face to aim at. Who gets it?
I think they're two of my favourite players in the Aussie team. So many of them are so dull.OK you have one free punch, and both Haddin's face and Siddle's face to aim at. Who gets it?
It's not so much them, it's their faces. Punchable. Really punchable.I think they're two of my favourite players in the Aussie team. So many of them are so dull.
What makes a face punchable anyway? I've never understood that.It's not so much them, it's their faces. Punchable. Really punchable.
I've thought of starting a thread on why I'd like to punch Peter Siddle's face. But I realise it won't improve Anglo-Crim relations here, nor do CW any favours, nor reflect well on me. So I won't.What makes a face punchable anyway? I've never understood that.
Probably wise.I've thought of starting a thread on why I'd like to punch Peter Siddle's face. But I realise it won't improve Anglo-Crim relations here, nor do CW any favours, nor reflect well on me. So I won't.
Siddle, he has a face only a mother can love..OK you have one free punch, and both Haddin's face and Siddle's face to aim at. Who gets it?
I bypass both and go for Michael Clarke.OK you have one free punch, and both Haddin's face and Siddle's face to aim at. Who gets it?
When it belongs to an Australian.What makes a face punchable anyway?
My Headingley tickets were £50 each, Day 4 to clinch it 3-0?£60, dammit, paying £70 for edgbaston, and the train is dearer as well, and probably the beers. BUT it is Saturday at Edgbaston so it should be pretty ****ing special, watching us go to the brink of 2-0