Second Ashes Test, Lord's, 14-18 August.

[Durhamfootman]

4 down

5 down in 10 mins

Forget 5 or 6 down, with this middle order England will be all out tonight, I reckon...... but it'll be *modded* exciting!

[dan08]

Can't drop Roy yet, surely!

Could try moving him down the order but still, he doesn't look like making double figures.

[Durhamfootman]

England have perfected the art of 'collapsing with a swagger'

[Durhamfootman]

like a balloon that has been released so that it fizzles around all over the place and makes people go "ooh.... for a split second that was amazing!"

[Durhamfootman]

kids squealing with delight..... that sort of thing

we are after all trying to get more of them to come to cricket matches

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stokes has batted for twenty minutes. Must be starting to tick now.

Can't let the bowlers dominate.

This might be my day.

I'm due.

[Durhamfootman]

surely the penny hasn't dropped?

[Durhamfootman]

Stokes has batted for twenty minutes. Must be starting to tick now.

Can't let the bowlers dominate.

This might be my day.

I'm due.

I'm much less worried about Stokes (but then I would be, I suppose), because I know that Stokes can bat long, can bat without getting frustrated. I'm more worried about Buttler, tbh, not because I don't think he can resist chasing after balls, but because I'm not convinced he has the technique to do anything else other than be aggressive and hope he gets away with it

[yuppie]

Australia twice not referring decisions that would have got them wickets.

They were shocking at referrals in the first test, and in this test they have taken it to a new level.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies are still in with a chance though. But I can't think England can win this.

I suppose if Smith didn't shape up from his head injury today (these things can have lasting effects as with Ginger Rogers in the last Ashes over here) then something memorable could happen in their run chase.

[backfootpunch]

Can't drop Roy yet, surely!

Could try moving him down the order but still, he doesn't look like making double figures.

He doesnt even open for Surrey

And averaged 28 when he used to

Drop denly and move roy down, or just drop roy because at least denly can make a vince esque pretty 20 or 30

[mikesiva]

Root should be batting at four IMHO.

Lara usually batted at four when he was captain.

[backfootpunch]

Root should be batting at four IMHO.

Lara usually batted at four when he was captain.

Root just looks mentally exhausted

Needs a few months off

It's interesting that the commentators always say the teams best bat should be at 3

Yet smith, kohli, sachin, Lara, Kallis, etc etc didnt bat 3

Surely your best player should bat where he will score the most runs. Basically let him bat where he likes as hes your best player and you need him at his best

[sussexpob]

Say if Smith did wake up a bit groggy with some delayed concussion, could he have a substitute seeing as though he came back to bat? My understanding would be no, but a tricky one

[Alviro Patterson]

Have England found a chink in Smith? Is it going to be fast and short from archer the moment he arrives now?

Smith shuffling around the crease playing with a diagonal bat, I am not surprised he copped one off a rampant Archer. A back foot defence would have neutered the threat.

The delivery was fuller than what Smith thought, not too dis-similar line and length wise to what Neil Wagner does but faster.