*Official* Second Test at Lord's

[Cooky Monster]

Good bowling by Smith, will come in handy come the Oval test.

I'm not sure how people are still running with "If Smith is turning it, that doesn't bode well for Australia with Swann"line. Swann got a slow rank turner last match and was pretty ineffective for most of the match apart from a couple of decent balls and a few terrible shots, I don't think Australia fear him at all tbh.

This pitch doesn't look anywhere near as dry as Trent Bridge, and the weather is pretty similar.

If Australia can dismiss them for under 350, they'd be fairly happy with that, and it's pretty level pegging. Australia are going to have to bat out of their skin to win it, with probably 2 centurions in the first innings. The pitch has a bit in it when the seam is still hard, but once it softens up, it's a bit of a road, and with short boundaries and a quick outfield, you can't get much better batting conditions than these first 3 days of this pitch imo.

I can see this test ending in a draw.

Underestimate him at your peril, if you think Swann will be ineffective this series you will be in for a suprise.

 

[Spark]

Meh, after this long I think we can make a reasonable guess at what Swann will produce. One excellent performance, one or two meh ones, lots of handy contributions but nothing earth-shattering.

As plenty of people have noted by now, Swann simply has never given us that many problems compared to others.

 

[sphynx]

Underestimate him at your peril, if you think Swann will be ineffective this series you will be in for a suprise.

I'm not underestimating him, but god, the way the media and commentators and alot of English fans on here have carried on in regards to "If the Aussies are turning it, what will Swann do to their batting lineup" is just rubbish.

We aren't talking about Murali here, on a bunsen at Gaul, it's a fantastic batting track that a wrist spinner managed to get some purchase out of. Swann managed 4 wickets at TB, and for all his lambasting on here, Agar should of had 3.

I'd be surprised if Swann was any sort of real threat until the last innings, and even then, Anderson won you the test at TB, not Swann, after enduring him at TB, I think alot of the batsmen would be pretty confident in facing him on the quicker Lords pitch.

 

[Top_Cat]

Plus, Swann's record at Lords isn't spectacular, his one good game was in a joy-less performance against Pakistan in the match when when Asif and Amir were pinched.

 

[Burgey]

Never mind Swann....

 

[91Jmay]

Trent Bridge was to slow a pitch for Swann to be effective. He isn't a tall spinner so he needs some pace in the surface or he is to easy to play off the back foot. I think this pitch already looks a better one for him. I'm still in disbelief about how much better Smith looked than Agar. Agar didn't bowl a threatening ball all day, can't even remember him turning one or beating the bat, but Smith bowled 5 or 6 in his four overs.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Speaking of, seeing as how Australia is still part of the dominion - how easy is it for an Australian to move to the UK?

Even making the suggestion you want to sees you deemed to be mentally ill...making you a perfect candidate to blend in with the rest of British society.

 

[Spark]

England have had three subcontinental tours in the last 18 months or so. A slow deck really doesn't excuse Swann for having less than fantastic control of length at TB.

 

[Son Of Coco]

In a perverse way i almost want England to lose the series so this whole team wide defensive/negative mindset is dropped..

It's part of your culture mate...it's not going anywhere. It might be dampened slightly by some success, but when things get tense it pops its head out again.

 

[91Jmay]

England have had three subcontinental tours in the last 18 months or so. A slow deck really doesn't excuse Swann for having less than fantastic control of length at TB.

Yeah he bowled badly as well - toss control of his length, still think this pitch will suit him more than TB. Trent Bridge I mean. This pitch will certainly suit him more than tuberculosis.

 

[Spark]

We'll see. I've seen enough Lord's pitches which have looked like doing something, only to totally flatten out as time goes on, the pitch against NZ this year being the exception rather than the rule.

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah that is a good point. That pitch also spun early but died later on for Swann as well (it was Lords where Bumble was declaring Swann the lead wicket taker in the match before he'd even took one because a ball in his first over ripped wasn't it?).

 

[sphynx]

Trent Bridge was to slow a pitch for Swann to be effective. He isn't a tall spinner so he needs some pace in the surface or he is to easy to play off the back foot. I think this pitch already looks a better one for him. I'm still in disbelief about how much better Smith looked than Agar. Agar didn't bowl a threatening ball all day, can't even remember him turning one or beating the bat, but Smith bowled 5 or 6 in his four overs.

According to the twitter, he has something wrong with his hip.

I'm not too concerned, Agar is an all-rounder in my books, so long as he contributes with either the bat or the ball, he's a 19 year old kid that needs experience and is only going to get better, he deserves his place in the side.


Despite the extra innings, Agar is still the third highest run scorer in this series, to a side with a brittle batting lineup, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[Ruckus]

Smith wag!

Liking how this test is set up now. It's that moment of truth again for our batsmen...

 

[watson]

Smith wag!

Liking how this test is set up now. It's that moment of truth again for our batsmen...

Which is why I think that 289 on Day 1 is about par. Another 75+ runs from the tail (do-able) and England will think themselves on top.

 

[DingDong]

its funny nobody has discussed davey's effect on series so far since that slap root is looking shakier than jello

 

[Adders]

2 good bowling attacks V's 2 **** batting line ups......makes it impossible to judge parity on a wicket. That was a 400+ wicket IMO but it could be that 300 - 350 could end up being a good score.

Was so much easier beating you ****s by innings margins......not into this topsy turvy nonsense!!!

Nah, jokes aside this test is set up to be another ripper again I reckon. Won't be the high standard of 2005 but these 5 tests could definitely be just as good a contest.

 

[Spikey]

so glad it wasnt a dream

 

[Ruckus]

Which is why I think that 289 on Day 1 is about par. Another 75+ runs from the tail (do-able) and England will think themselves on top.

Well assuming the weather stays fine, there is going to be no better chance for our batsmen to make a 400+ score. And that's really what we'll need to win this match. Very flat wicket, excellent for batting and without too much scoreboard pressure. If they can't bring in the goods now, well, then I have little hope for the rest of the series.

 

[Spikey]

i'm not like liking the tone re Smith's fulltoss wicket. I mean, it shouldn't've got a wicket, but it's not like it was a gimmie 4. It's the kinda ball that can get you a wicket if a batsman isn't careful, and if the batsman is careful he probably plays it along the ground to the bowler who fields. Should bowl it more tbh. Much better than the junk James "Mitchell Johnson" Pattinson bowled.