*Official* Second Test at Lord's

[Spikey]

No it was definitely in the morning session. Can definitely understand it all blurring into one though - very, very dull day of cricket until the last hour or so

nah they got through the first session. 100% sure they got through the session. I made a mental note of it because so often I enter into these type of situations thinking "well if they get through the first session..." and then they blow it but these guys didnt

 

[Cabinet96]

No it was definitely in the morning session. Can definitely understand it all blurring into one though - very, very dull day of cricket until the last hour or so. I mean, the situation was interesting and intriguing, but the actual cricket wasn't actually really worth watching as opposed to score updates.

From the day five notes on Cricinfo: Lunch: South Africa - 126/4 in 85.0 overs (AB de Villiers 31, F du Plessis 49)

He only got two more runs after that, so I doubt he batted more than half an hour at best after Lunch, but it was in the afternoon

Edit: Was the 24th ball after Lunch infact.

 

[Maximas]

I remember I once scored 4 off 21 overs to successfully save a game batting at 10 when everyone above me had batted terribly. I didn't once intend to score, but I constantly internaly told myself to keep positive footwork against the spinners and just watch the ball. It's really not that hard.

we're both stonewalling gods, maybe we're both right

 

[Daemon]

Khawaja!

 

[Spikey]

thought that was all ground

 

[Maximas]

Root being flattered by the conditions somewhat...

 

[Spark]

Short of messing with a batsman's mind, I can't see any way anyone is going to get out to one of those balls...

 

[Spikey]

imagine the Daily Mail headline if Australia somehow save this partly because Swann is bowling at half capacity due to the clash

 

[Uppercut]

Short of messing with a batsman's mind, I can't see any way anyone is going to get out to one of those balls...

Yeah and it makes Rogers' dismissal look worse. They're all either turning far too much or not turning at all. If you play a defensive shot through the right line you need to get very unlucky to get out.

 

[Maximas]

This has been really impressive from Australia, my confidence in the batting has been 10% restored

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

You do see some batsmen do it very well though. There's some truth in the "stay positive" rhetoric but there's a lot of confirmation bias as well- when a batsman stonewalls and gets out the comms always seem to think he got out because he stonewalled.

I don't think it'd be right to do it here though. England can't disregard the target altogether if they keep playing the way they are now.

Yeah totally agree. I just think some batsmen would bat worse with no intent and get out like rogers did. Though obviously his situation wasn't entirely intent based.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Ironically, two of the people more renowned for "soft runs", have successfully taken that approach recently when batting for the draw. I personally think people take batting for the draw the wrong way. In Auckland Ian Bell batted ages for his 70, then Prior went in blazed a century and took all the plaudits. Not only did he not bat for as long, but he also could've been out several times and really rode his luck. It's a terrible approach in those situations IMO.

He also got you enough runs to get you in front to kill the game.

 

[Spark]

Man that would've been a bad way to get out...

 

[Maximas]

Clarke way too loose now

 

[Arachnodouche]

Thing is, you can't be stonewalling from the get go when you have two days ahead of you. Play watchfully but relatively naturally for most of today and till about lunch tomorrow and then clamp down if you make it till then in reasonable shape. These two are doing about right so far to their credit.

 

[Furball]

That timing from Nasser.

 

[Maximas]

****, that's a killer blow

 

[Spikey]

man what's with clarke and leg slip

 

[Ruckus]

Wasn't it more like an hour after lunch?

And I don't really know what Ruckus is talking about with regards to kiling off interest in the game. Who cares? That's not the point of what they're trying to achieve. And that Adelaide game was certainly exciting on the final day.

Well apologies if the game was actually exciting, I just don't remember it. But def put me more in the sport is 'ultimately for spectators' camp, and hence there should be some consideration of that. I think if batting ultra-defensively with a SR of like 10 for hours was the most effective way of batting for draws (I have no idea if it is), and was encouraged amongst all players, the sport would become pretty unpopular.

 

[Cabinet96]

Yeah and it makes Rogers' dismissal look worse. They're all either turning far too much or not turning at all. If you play a defensive shot through the right line you need to get very unlucky to get out.

Doesn't glorify the leg glance out of the rough against the off spinner either....