*Official* Australia vs Pakistan in England

[Flyonthewall]

Katich WAG. Hope he can get a hundred in this second dig, his performance deserves a place on the honours board really. Reckon he'll carry his bat in this innings whichever ways

Although he survived (just about), confused as to why Australia put Johnson in. I know North went cheaply in the first innings, but Johnson's been pretty inept with the bat for the last...well, 12 months, really, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was out pretty quickly tomorrow. If that's the case, maybe just maybe Pakistan could roll the last few over quickly and give themselves a chaseable target (although still likely to be the biggest of the match). You'd still have to back Australia for the win, of course, but it would make it interesting.

It's been a very entertaining two days of cricket either way though, test cricket's so much better when there's something in it for the bowlers IMO.

 

[Sir Alex]

Ah cannot understand this "choke" business. It is just another ground ffs.

 

[pasag]

How much for Aus to feel safe?

I'd have butterflies with anything under a lead of 400 itbt though 300 probably enough.

 

[four_or_six]

**** you to both teams. Next year I'm buying tickets for England, at least we can bat properly.

 

[Sir Alex]

I think they are already safe.

 

[aussie tragic]

North and Paine should hang their heads in shame that they needed Johnson who has averaged 10 in his last 16 innings to protect them...ffs get smith at 6 and Wade as back-up keeper...

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Had my first day at Lord's today and had a really great time. The crowd was really good for a non-English game and there was some pretty entertaining cricket on show. From where I was sitting I thought Bollinger was pretty ordinary early and way too short. Hilfenhaus bowled well, though, and his figures probably don't represent how he bowled. Watson obviously the star in conditions that suited him, and it really exposed some awful batting from Pakistan.

Butt was pretty cool to watch and those drives through the off side are awesome. He got bogged down when he didn't need to, though, and probably let himself down with a scratchy end. Afridi was Afridi and while he was entertaining and all, it was a disastrous captain's knock in the circumstances. This was probably the least impressive Pakistan batting lineup I've seen.

Got a couple of photos in, but I'm a rubbish photographer. This is the closest to an "action shot" I could find.

 

[pasag]

Great stuff SBI, living the dream

 

[Manee]

Awesome pic, mate.

 

[aussie tragic]

Wow, Paine is so far back for an opening Batman bowling

 

[Teja.]

Had my first day at Lord's today and had a really great time. The crowd was really good for a non-English game and there was some pretty entertaining cricket on show. From where I was sitting I thought Bollinger was pretty ordinary early and way too short. Hilfenhaus bowled well, though, and his figures probably don't represent how he bowled. Watson obviously the star in conditions that suited him, and it really exposed some awful batting from Pakistan.

Butt was pretty cool to watch and those drives through the off side are awesome. He got bogged down when he didn't need to, though, and probably let himself down with a scratchy end. Afridi was Afridi and while he was entertaining and all, it was a disastrous captain's knock in the circumstances. This was probably the least impressive Pakistan batting lineup I've seen.

Got a couple of photos in, but I'm a rubbish photographer. This is the closest to an "action shot" I could find.

Mind if I use it as background for my desktop?

 

[four_or_six]

Had my first day at Lord's today and had a really great time. The crowd was really good for a non-English game and there was some pretty entertaining cricket on show. From where I was sitting I thought Bollinger was pretty ordinary early and way too short. Hilfenhaus bowled well, though, and his figures probably don't represent how he bowled. Watson obviously the star in conditions that suited him, and it really exposed some awful batting from Pakistan.

Butt was pretty cool to watch and those drives through the off side are awesome. He got bogged down when he didn't need to, though, and probably let himself down with a scratchy end. Afridi was Afridi and while he was entertaining and all, it was a disastrous captain's knock in the circumstances. This was probably the least impressive Pakistan batting lineup I've seen.

Got a couple of photos in, but I'm a rubbish photographer. This is the closest to an "action shot" I could find.

That's a really cool photo

 

[Woodster]

A useful burst from Gul late in the day just drew Pakistan ever so slightly back into the contest and will give them a degree of confidence that they can bowl Australia out with a lead of around 300 tomorrow. I do agree that Australia probably already have enough on the board should the conditions remain as they have for the opening couple of days.

Katich is once again showing the kind of dogged determination that is essential to score runs so far in this Test. It really isn't pretty, there are few shots where you genuinely sit back in your chair saying "shot" to, despite them coming off very close to the middle of Katich's bat. But that certainly should not take anything away from his effectiveness. He has a style, and it is proving not only frustrating to opponents but also exceptionally consistent in run scoring for himself and Australia.

Watson on the other hand does have an attractive look to his strokes. His driving is authoritative, ditto his front foot pulls, yet I still believe a genuine opener, in the ilk of Jaques or Rogers, would be ensuring these starts would develop into match winning contributions.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Just watching the highlights. Spectacular leave from Clarke. Shades of Jones in 2005.

Ponting sawn off tho; didn't look right in real time. Struck him on the back leg but the angel was always taking it down IMHO.

Pains me to say it but we've probably seen better entertainment value in the first two days of this series than we didn in two tests v Bangladesh. Whatever is played versus the Banglas ain't quite test cricket I'm afraid.

 

[Woodster]

Just watching the highlights. Spectacular leave from Clarke. Shades of Jones in 2005.

Ponting sawn off tho; didn't look right in real time. Struck him on the back leg but the angel was always taking it down IMHO.

Pains me to say it but we've probably seen better entertainment value in the first two days of this series than we didn in two tests v Bangladesh. Whatever is played versus the Banglas ain't quite test cricket I'm afraid.

Yes two rather poor errors of judgement. As you say, Ponting unlucky not to get away with his, but it just ain't his lucky ground!

Having watched the first two days in their entirety, there has been some decent cricket on show. Mainly from the seam/swing bowlers, but cameos with the bat too from Katich, Clarke, and Butt. Not quite sure how you'd describe Afridi's effort this afternoon, but it was definitely entertaining.

Was disappointed with Umar Akmal going so early today, and the collapse of the middle order did not come as a surprise at all.

 

[Top_Cat]

Pakistan; making part-timers look good since, well, ever. Playing like a bunch of T20 cricketers, not Test players. Sad, really, but OZ are probably fairly safe in the game even if they squeak out only another 100.

The decision against Ponting was dodgy of course but it was a shocking leave so probably, in some ways, deserved the wicket regardless. Clarke's was..... hahahahah Watto's in the first dig was pretty average too. Pick the blokes who encounter swinging conditions the least, making decisions about whether to play or not too early.

 

[brackenNY]

How much for Aus to feel safe?

I'd have butterflies with anything under a lead of 400 itbt though 300 probably enough.

They're safe already. TBH, I seem them getting another 200 tomorrow, though.

 

[Nate]

SRW. Such a gun. Well and truly over our middle order though. Move Ponting down.

 

[Burgey]

Such an interesting day's play to watch.

Kudos to Bob Willis though, whose voice still managed to put me to sleep.

 

[Johnners]

Awesome day from Watto, shame about the way he was dismissed though!

Massive lol at Clarke, and whilst Ponting was unlucky, was pretty stupid to be leaving like he was whilst the ball's hooping around so much.