*Official* Second Test at Lords

[JBH001]

We're in for a thrilling, thrilling denouement, chaps.

Love the standard of vocabulary on CW.

Big decision for Strauss on who to open up with on the fifth morning. Reckon Flintoff has to be one for sure, but if weather conditions are not cloudy or overcast, I dont know that Anderson may be the best option from the other end.

 

[Uppercut]

Clarke brilliantly put on 100 or so runs with the tail at Melbourne earlier in the year after being n/o overnight so the precedence is there, albeit on a smaller scale.

Putting 200 runs on for your last five wickets isn't wildly uncommon, especially for Australia. If the current two put on 70 or 80 more it'll all be about holding their nerve.

 

[Fusion]

I can't wait till play starts again! Will be ignoring work and following the score best I can.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah I'm watching the clock for 8pm here. Can't wait.

 

[NUFAN]

Edit: having a quiet chuckle now at Richard's "nothing an Aussie batsman does here will tell us a thing about how thay go under pressure" just after Clarkeh came in

LOL same! I was just looking for the post before your comment.

Love our fighting spirit, my stomach will be sick tonight if we lose a wicket.

 

[Burgey]

Agreed. Going to be a cracking finish. Can't help but think a lot depends on how Flintoff pulls up in the morning with his knee. If he is not fully fit anything could happen.

Full credit to Michael Clarke - yesterday was the day he officially made it as a quality Test cricketer.

Love those moments when you see players go from good to very good, or very good to great.

Thought Ponting's innings in the third test in 05 was his moment of that kind.

 

[morgieb]

Clarke & Haddin putting on a good partnership. Phew.

 

[DingDong]

Don't you just hate Ponting's hypocrisy? He make's big statements about taking the fielders word on catches but when one of his own is in the same situation he asks Hughes to wait for the umpire's decision. It looks worse since the guy claming it was a catch was Strauss, one of the few remaining gentlemen in the game.

Ponting, u are a joke.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Mate, that's complete bull****. If opposing captains had actually agreed to take fielders words like he always asks them to, then he wouldn't stop players from doing it.

 

[duffer]

Yeah Bopara set the precedent in the third innings.

 

[Andre]

Love those moments when you see players go from good to very good, or very good to great.

Thought Ponting's innings in the third test in 05 was his moment of that kind.

Yeah, agree completely. If there was one criticism of Clarke's Test career, it was that he'd never really made big scores when the going was really, realy tough. He's played some important innings before this but this is the first time I can remember him standing up and potentially being the difference in a Test match.

The innings, regardless of the result, is the making of him IMO.

 

[Ausage]

I'm excited like duffers avatar, but I can't help feeling we're building ourselves up for a fall here.

 

[Andre]

I'm excited like duffers avatar, but I can't help feeling we're building ourselves up for a fall here.

To get this close is an absolute bonus for mine. Regardless of what happens day 5 it is a great effort by Clarke and Haddin to get us this close. Sometimes defining moments of Test cricket aren't reserved for winning teams.

 

[Top_Cat]

To get this close is an absolute bonus for mine. Regardless of what happens day 5 it is a great effort by Clarke and Haddin to get us this close. Sometimes defining moments of Test cricket aren't reserved for winning teams.

Or alternatively, what has already happened in this Test might lead to greater things in the remaining ones. Losing a battle but winning the war, as it were. Especially if Freddie is knocked out of the rest of the series due to injury.

 

[ripper868]

Was very happy to see Clarke and Haddin there still, praying for a miracle, will be watching all tonights play (won't be posting as i won't be taking the work comp home with me)...so pumped.

 

[Burgey]

FFS roll on 8 pm already. This is ****ting me to tears here!

 

[duffer]

I'm excited like duffers avatar, but I can't help feeling we're building ourselves up for a fall here.

Really up for tonight. The banter at the office has been awesome, the Brits aren't too excited tbh.

 

[TT Boy]

 

[howardj]

Jooooonnnnesssss!!!!

Bowwwwden!!!!

I hope it's similarly thrilling tonight.

 

[inbox24]

Jooooonnnnesssss!!!!

Bowwwwden!!!!

I hope it's similarly thrilling tonight.

I sure as hell hope not. Just want these two to score quickly and finish this an hour after lunch.