2nd Test, Lord's, London

[trundler]

Day 5 failure from Lyon?

 

[Gob]

This feels absolutely made for an Aus collapse in about 40 overs

Yeah i'll take a draw just about now

 

[Lillian Thomson]

This feels absolutely made for an Aus collapse in about 40 overs

Yep. To think that if we had taken our chances yesterday we'd probably have already won the Test. Even a breakthrough puts Australia in a collapse position.

Australian pessimism is quite alarming. It's been an odd match. I think it'll be good to get it over with and regroup.

 

[mr_mister]

Day 5 failure from Lyon?

Late day 3 pitch if you don't include the time it's been under a tarp

 

[old_kookaburra]

Lyon may come through

 

[morgieb]

Day 5 failure from Lyon?

He definitely could be better, but I do think England are playing him pretty well and this really isn't playing like a Day 5 deck. He's had a bit of bad luck too, I guess.

 

[vcs]

Australia have been the better side in this series so far and the rain hasn't helped them in this game. England will likely get out of this one with a draw and come out with their arses on fire in the next game, so Australia will have to weather the storm at some stage if they want to win the series. Over the last few years, England have looked eminently beatable at home at various points, but they are hard to put away over the course of a series.

 

[morgieb]

Australia have been the better side in this series so far and the rain hasn't helped them in this game. England will likely get out of this one with a draw and come out with their arses on fire in the next game, so Australia will have to weather the storm at some stage if they want to win the series. Over the last few years, England have looked eminently beatable at home at various points in recent years, but they are hard to put away over the course of a series.

Yeah getting a win in Leeds assuming Smith doesn't play is going to be very hard. 1-1 sets things up very nicely for the last two Tests.

 

[trundler]

Australia without Smith have as limp a batting order as England and the home advantage would tilt it in the latter's favour.

 

[slippy888]

Why Did England bat so poorly day 5 last game it looks exact same pitch conditions.

 

[hazsa19]

The thing about criticising the Australian bowlers is that this wicket looks pretty flat as things stand. Really Australia should've had them 8 or so down yesterday, and that's what cost them victory.

Bit of a leap

 

[mr_mister]

Such bad timing for the concussion to be in the test that has a 3 day turnaround before the next one

 

[Uppercut]

England have definitely had the better of the conditions so far this series.

Tbf that’s mostly because Paine chose to gift them to England.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Tbf that’s mostly because Paine chose to gift them to England.

Yep. If Paine had batted in this test Smith wouldn't be injured and the urn would be halfway down under by now.

 

[morgieb]

Tbf that’s mostly because Paine chose to gift them to England.

Yeah he batted first in the First Test where he arguably should've bowled first but bowled first here when he really should've batted first. Has made things a lot harder than what they otherwise could've been.

His captaincy is the #1 thing holding us back. Has made some really bad mistakes thus far.

 

[Spark]

Yep. If Paine had batted in this test Smith wouldn't be injured and the urn would be halfway down under by now.

Or indeed if he realised that you are allowed to review balls hitting leg stump.

 

[Test_Fan_Only]

Who should be captain other than Paine? Don't say Smith because he can't

 

[vcs]

Or indeed if he realised that you are allowed to review balls hitting leg stump.

Yep, you can criticize the umpires for poor decision making and argue that this should not be part of a keeper's remit, but for reviewing failures to happen multiple times is not good enough.

 

[morgieb]

Who should be captain other than Paine? Don't say Smith because he can't

It's a problem, I admit. What was Usman's captaincy like for Queensland? Even then it's still not perfect. Head has a bit of leadership potential but probably isn't entrenched enough.

It's why Smith's time as captaincy probably isn't up.

 

[trundler]

Let Smith do the job and appoint a sinecure leader to shield him.