*Official* Second Test (Lord's, London) 28 June–2 July

[GIMH]

Ehh. Smith's team won, his knock gave Australia a match winning first innings total and for most of that knock he was batting under cloudy skies with the ball moving a ton. Was a very good innings. Stokes was better, but the winning team more often than not get's MOTM.

Yeah, they do but it’s stupid. It should go to the best performer of the match which was clearly Stokes

 

[Shri]

Yeah, they do but it’s stupid. It should go to the best performer of the match which was clearly Stokes

Mate stokes is already up 2-0 in moral victory ashes series. Leave something for the losers

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah, they do but it’s stupid. It should go to the best performer of the match which was clearly Stokes

I just have a fundamentally different conception of what MOTM actually is. Even if someone managed to score two tons and take all 20 wickets on the losing side I'd still not give it to them.

 

[Prince EWS]

Mate stokes is already up 2-0 in moral victory ashes series. Leave something for the losers

Saving Test cricket is its own reward.

 

[GIMH]

I just have a fundamentally different conception of what MOTM actually is. Even if someone managed to score two tons and take all 20 wickets on the losing side I'd still not give it to them.

In which case, does Starc not have a case over smith?

Good innings first up no doubt, probably the 4th best of the series so far, but Starc’s wickets made the difference.

 

[Nintendo]

In which case, does Starc not have a case over smith?

Good innings first up no doubt, probably the 4th best of the series so far, but Starc’s wickets made the difference.

I assume usman's 140 and stokes 155 are two of three you think are better, but what's the third?

 

[Prince EWS]

In which case, does Starc not have a case over smith?

Good innings first up no doubt, probably the 4th best of the series so far, but Starc’s wickets made the difference.

I thought about that because it was such a road but him getting smashed around so much early in the first innings did start to swing the game back to England. Give it to Head IMO, 77 and 2fa in the first innings when it counted

 

[Prince EWS]

I assume usman's 140 and stokes 155 are two of three you think are better, but what's the third?

Root's ton Day 1 in the first Test was better.

 

[GIMH]

I assume usman's 140 and stokes 155 are two of three you think are better, but what's the third?

Root

 

[Nintendo]

Root's ton Day 1 in the first Test was better.

Root

You reckon? Bowlers where barely getting anything from the deck and the sun was beaming during root's knock. Smith made most of his with the ball moving around heaps and cloud overhead.

 

[GIMH]

You reckon? Bowlers where barely getting anything from the deck and the sun was beaming during root's knock. Smith made most of his with the ball moving around heaps and cloud overhead.

I mainly said the 4th best to get a nibble tbh. I only caught a bit of it when he was batting with Head.

Root was sublime that day though. Would personally say it’s the most comfortable a batsman has looked for an extended period all series to date.

Four very different innings tbf.

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Some are clearly here purely to taunt England and they know exactly who they are as well

Well I hope they do know who they are. Don’t need any confusion.

 

[Gnske]

#justparramattathings

I was at Parramatta last week you know. First time.

What an absolute pigsty. I hope I never go back.

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Series scoreline.

Quality of players.

You don’t say?

 

[Michelle Fivefer]

Except the Barmy Army aren't welcome at Lords (stfu Burgey )

I despise Lords......apart from the fact we're historically **** there it's just a **** venue, full of **** people and is generally a dull and **** atmosphere. I'd never pay to walk through their gates.

I don’t despise Lords but it’s not a favourite ground. Been there in May and nearly froze to death. Few years ago in summer had to ask a steward to find me a seat away from the blazing sun. Love the Oval.

 

[ashley bach]

I have enjoyed both tests - great contests. In this one the innings by Stokes and Smith were highlights. (I'm Australian). I did not enjoy the over use of short pitched fast bowling - and would like to see limits put back or it will get out of hand.

I enjoy a good contest and both of them were.

In relation to all the drama both teams have some questionable history. Sometime, the problem is in the laws and rules. Too often 'sprit of the game" is an excuse for poor and ambiguous laws - and a recipe for upper class histrionics.

I want to tell you the story of an (ex-?)English friend of mine and this test. I met him in Australia decades ago when we both watched a 5-day test at the MCG - having seats next to each other. We became quite friendly with lots of cheeky and fun banter. On the final day of the test he went to get a drink and while doing this had his bag with his passport and travellers cheques stolen. So I gave him accommodation and financial support until his new passport was issued - and we became friends. We often banter over test matches - up until recently always friendly.

During this match I gave him cheek about Bairstow trying to run out Labuschagne in the same way Carey did. We both laughed. I also gave him some cheek about a catch being disallowed. Friendly banter. Then the Carey incident happened. He went quiet and then went feral - basically told me all Australians were cheats and we were a bunch of criminals and lay abouts. Just wow - there goes decades of friendship. Iwas flying to the United Kingdom to catch the last test and to go to a friend's 60th birthday. I was going to the test with my old friend but he told me he has given the tickets to an 'englishman'. I was stunned. Something has gone wrong with our attitudes to sport and competition if it has these sort of outcomes.

Hard to believe a mate could **** all over you like that.

 

[ashley bach]

Best dish. Seriously. Heading out for some on Sunday for lunch to celebrate going 3-0 up and retaining the urn.

Always important after eating so many pancakes to leave room for the San choy bau.

 

[slowfinger]

yes but we do not go on about the spirit of cricket. if we find that ****ing spirit we will burn that **** too

Doesn't that say more about the indian attitude towards cricket than the english?

 

[slowfinger]

are the Barmy army actually banned from Lord's? doesn't do much to help the reputation in England of cricket being a game for aristocrats

 

[Gob]

Smith's innings was comfortably better than Root's. Both were chanceless but one came on a road in a clear day and other under difficult conditions

Don't know how anyone think otherwise