2ND ASHES TEST: England v Australia at Lord's Jul 18-22, 2013

[Mr Spock!]

I rest the blame squarely on T20 cricket and laying roads for a pitch. These days we get a whole bunch of young guys who can score runs quickly on flat tracks, but when there is even the tiniest bit of variable bounce or movement it's like the pitch has opened up a fault line. It would be great if we could have batsman with great technique again who can handle movement and variable bounce rather than the flat track bullies of recent years. Clarke is the only one that doesn't look out of place among batsman such as Waugh, Langer, Tendulkar, Lara, Martyn, Dravid and the like, and that's because his technique is up to scratch.

Agree with you re T20.

Not so sure about the roads being prepared.

The number of centuries in the Sheffield Shield have been down and the top three runscorers last season were Ponting, Cosgrove and Rogers and Cosgrove only hit one ton while the other two hit 3. Only a handful averaged over 50 or scored over 500 runs.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...most_runs_career.html?id=7544;type=tournament

There were 31 Shield games and overall 32 centuries in the Sheffield Shield. And some of those were by nuffies like Copeland and Krejza.

Definitely be looking at Silk before T20 stuffs him up.

 

[TheParraboy]

I think Clarke needs to come in at 3. Hopefully Rogers and Watson can make a decent stand at the top (100 plus), and then Clarke can hopefully bat out the innings, we need that from him to have any hope. The others need to chip in with Clarke with decent partnerships along the way to get us a draw

All the above is wishfull thinking of course

 

[Horrie Is God]

We're getting a thorough Roebucking..

No vasso..

Nuthin'..

 

[Mr Spock!]

We're getting a thorough Roebucking..

No vasso..

Nuthin'..

Yes, our pants are clearly down. And, like Roebuck, it's not going to be a happy ending.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I'd like England to bat until lunch Day 5. Declare with a 1000 run lead. Bowl out Australia in 2 sessions.

Now that'd be a good Roebucking!

 

[BunniesMan]

Weirdly looking forward to todays play. Certainly not expecting a win but I'm looking at this next innings as an opportunity for our batsmen to get themselves back into form.

They have plenty of time. Hopefully a couple of them can get their name on that famous Lords honour roll and put a bit of a spring into our steps heading into the rest of the series.

 

[benched tiger]

Mental toughness sees to be the biggest problem with our batsmen.There was a time in Australian cricket when you had to average over 50 in shield cricket to get a look in the test team,this is not the case now,so no wonder they struggle at the next level above.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

Joe Root is 178??? FMD

 

[Xfactor1979]

Weather forecast for London tomorrow: (not today)

33 degrees (?!) Chance of a thunderstorm 30% chance of rain

 

[BunniesMan]

Why the f**k would you be bowling Harris? He doesn't exactly have a good injury history, imagine him doing something serious to himself here while bowling meaningless balls.

 

[BunniesMan]

Weather forecast for London tomorrow: (not today)

33 degrees (?!) Chance of a thunderstorm 30% chance of rain

If we get through today...stranger things have happened.

 

[8Ball]

Harris won't be bowling...

 

[Timbo]

That's why BM you genius.

The smartest thing the Poms could do here would be to let Agar take the final 4 quickly, keep the height going.

Agar drops a sitter c & b.

 

[Y2Eel]

Why are England still batting? I presume they will go till lunch today giving us 5 sessions to bat it out.. Stranger things have happened

 

[Timbo]

Agar's bowling...

The love from the 98 is gone and it's time for the kid to go.

He's just not test standard.

 

[Timbo]

Root gone ramping off Harris. Declared.

 

[BunniesMan]

It took Root doing something that silly to finally make Cook stop this farce.

What did these 15 minutes achieve?

 

[MrAnonymous]

Agar's bowling...

The love from the 98 is gone and it's time for the kid to go.

He's just not test standard.

This

Not yet anyway.

 

[Timbo]

It took Root doing something that silly to finally make Cook stop this farce.

What did these 15 minutes achieve?

They clearly know that they have way more time than they need to get us and were letting Root go for his double.

Fair decision really.

 

[vvvrulz]

It took Root doing something that silly to finally make Cook stop this farce.

What did these 15 minutes achieve?

How the hell is it a farce, England have 150+ overs at the Australians.
You're off your rocker.