*Official* 2nd Test at Lord's

[FaaipDeOiad]

Cardiff was fine. No bounce but had something in it for the bowlers even on the first day.

This has nothing along with the fact that a Lords pitch doesn't break up as much as others.

We'll see after England have a go but if its a total snore fest I hope they get a big fine.

I think Cardiff was pretty bad still. Game turned out fine but I don't think the ball should be falling short of the keeper and slips in the first hour of a test.

 

[Compton]

Say what you like about that pitch, but it takes great application to bat for as long as Rogers and Smith did without giving away multiple chances. Rogers' rash shot through the slips at the start and Smith's edge on 50 was about all England got excited about.

England wasted the first new ball, IMO. By the time the second came along they had frazzled heads. Cook bringing Moeen back on was madness.

 

[dermo]

but australia suck on slow pitches

 

[MW1304]

Good toss to lose. :/

 

[Woodster]

Well England can't complain about the pitch because I'm fairly sure this will have been what was requested otherwise we'd have had a pitch similar to the NZ Test. The one that delivered thrilling cricket with both teams fighting fire with fire. England management are clearly more concerned about what the Aussies can do on a deck like that rather than if Englabnd can actually perform on it,rightly or wrongly. Although we are trying to promote this new bold, aggressive England,we then produce a pitch where it's less about that and more about patience and turgid cricket,a slight contradiction?

That said I do believe the home side have the right to play in conditions that suit their side,not entirely sure this favours us much more than Australia.

 

[Howe_zat]

This is the second worst day of watching England bowl I can remember.

At least this time no one had to smash their sunglasses to lighten the mood

 

[Gob]

Regardless of the pitch scoreboard pressure is score board pressure. Loads of people were saying how flat Cardiff was and how flat Port Elizabeth was 18 months ago but Aust crumbled under pressure and neither England or SA got anywhere near what Aust would end up tommorow. 120 for 3 with 480 behind and its not that flat anymore plus this will take turn.

 

[GotSpin]

Really, it Will be so dumb if Clarke declares early. Let Starc rest more, Neville to have some throw downs out the Back and crush the English into the ground.

One of our best batting days in a long time. Missed some of the last session and Was expecting to see Clarke gently chipping one to midwicket

 

[Gob]

Really, it Will be so dumb if Clarke declares early. Let Starc rest more, Neville to have some throw downs out the Back and crush the English into the ground

Yeah 650 for me

 

[Howe_zat]

It is arguable that England's problem today has been a lack of wickets. I would be most grateful for Clarke casually throwing away half a dozen with an early declaration

 

[GIMH]

It is arguable that England's problem today has been a lack of wickets. I would be most grateful for Clarke casually throwing away half a dozen with an early declaration

Lose to win

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Around tea would be a good time to start thinking about declaring, maybe a bit after. Should be 600 by then if Australia are still batting, which is plenty. 450-500 would be a silly declaration, batting all day tomorrow would be overkill.

 

[Tangles]

Want 2 goes with the new ball so give them an hour before stumps tomorrow. Assuming things go as planned.

 

[Furball]

Middle order lolapse, stick on 650 then roll them for 200fkr an innings win. Easy peasy.

On a serious note, looks like the highlights will be grim viewing but it's hard not to at least be happy for Rogers.

 

[Gob]

Middle order lolapse, stick on 650 then roll them for 200fkr an innings win. Easy peasy.

On a serious note, looks like the highlights will be grim viewing but it's hard not to at least be happy for Rogers.

If they get to the middle order of course

 

[Lillian Thomson]

This England attack being fodder on a good wicket is hardly hold the back page news.

 

[wpdavid]

I think England bowled pretty badly in the first hour and that had a fairly big impact on the tone of the day. Wood's first spell in particular was very poor, when Anderson was struggling and he needed to bowl well. They definitely bowled well from the time Warner got out until tea though, and are understandably a bit worn out now. The key was the start with the new ball in the morning and taking chances in that middle session. Didn't really take those (small) opportunities, and Rogers and Smith have been superb.

That was my take on it. Everyone knew we needed to make use of the first new ball when there was a bit of cloud cover, but there just wasn't any pressure at all. Even Rodgers' edge over the slips was more down to him playing a rash shot that any merit in the bowling. We just needed our openers to step up and make something happen, but there was nothing at all from either of them.

It's the inability to maintain standards for consecutive tests that is disappointing, as we've seen this in our previous two series And I know we haven't batted on this yet, but, as others have said, coming in to bat near the end of Day 2 after your opponents have put 650 on the board is going to be tough. Especially if their blokes bowl better than our guys, which I think they will.

 

[Red]

Rogers is such a pro. Near perfect opening day for an opening bat.

And TPC. What can you say?

Pls both make 200s tomorrow.

 

[Red]

And this innings is bumping Rogers' live average up considerably. Deserves to finish his career with a 40+ avg

 

[wpdavid]

Has there been much comment about how far back Buttler was standing? Looking at the chance that Bell missed and the one in the final over that bounced just in front of him, they look as if they were too far back, and obviously Bell follows the keeper's lead.