The Ashes; Second Test, Lord's, July 16-20

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good plan, Waughs.

[GarlicJam]

Think only 5 times has a team batted for 5 sessions to save a test match.

But this is the type of pitch that a team could do it on.

I make the prediction now, if England bat out 5 sessions to save this test, they will win the Ashes.


With "if" you can fit Paris in a bottle.

[GarlicJam]

......and Watto finally avoided lbw.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Dunno. For me, England drawing this Test feels more likely than winning the series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

SL batted for a long long time to draw a Test at Lord's in 2007. After the top order didn't do much as well. On a surface like this one.

2006. Memorable game for England supporters.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/225264.html

[braveneutral]

Different looking bowling attack there.

[alfie]

Think only 5 times has a team batted for 5 sessions to save a test match.

But this is the type of pitch that a team could do it on.

I make the prediction now, if England bat out 5 sessions to save this test, they will win the Ashes.


With "if" you can fit Paris in a bottle.

Reckon you're right there , Garlic. The deflating effect on the rekindled Australian confidence would be enormous. But I'd be astonished if England could bat anywhere near that long in the fourth innings.
Think Australia will have this wrapped up mid-Monday latest - weather permitting.

As to the rest of the series ; I suspect we may be in for some pretty interesting battles - hopefully on some slightly livelier surfaces ? Both teams have some significant weaknesses , so I don't see many draws. As I certainly don't see one here...

[Durhamfootman]

Anyone else think that England bowled utter dross for most of the 3rd innings. No wonder they aren't taking any wickets.... I think they need to review their plans for this test, because the bowl wide and get them to nick off policy has only bagged them a handful of wickets in 2 days of bowling, whereas the Aussie straight and short, and straight and full has worked much better if you ask me.

I've lost track of the number of runs scored by Aus down to third man playing the back cut. On the highlights every other ball seems to crash down to that part of the boundary

[Durhamfootman]

Still every chance of England saving this test match, because, as AC rightly said, the pitch is a pudding..... but of course they'll let the scoreboard get inside their heads and do stupid things to get themselves out.... make life nice and easy for the Aussie bowlers

[alfie]

Though I think it is basically academic , it will be interesting to see when Clarke does declare . Will he want a set target , say 500 - or will the timing , either side of lunch , be the main issue ?
Really couldn't see him batting much longer than that. Even if they aren't able to race along at five per over , I'd think he'd want at least 140 overs to bowl , so would probably settle for whatever the lead is a half hour after lunch. In truth they probably have just about enough already ...
Suppose if there is a bit of rain about that might complicate things somewhat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I don't think it's the sort of pitch where a side will fold due to fourth innings pressure and a pitch showing some wear. My guess is that taking another ten wickets will be really hard, and chasing a large total possible. I normally write off fourth innings chases in which people hope for/fear a legendary rearguard or win. As I did at Cardiff. But I don't think they can be disregarded here. Unless the pitch breaks up, but that wouldn't be characteristic for the ground.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Forecast is good for today now. Some cloud and light rain tomorrow about the start of play.

[alfie]

Anyone else think that England bowled utter dross for most of the 3rd innings. No wonder they aren't taking any wickets.... I think they need to review their plans for this test, because the bowl wide and get them to nick off policy has only bagged them a handful of wickets in 2 days of bowling, whereas the Aussie straight and short, and straight and full has worked much better if you ask me.

I've lost track of the number of runs scored by Aus down to third man playing the back cut. On the highlights every other ball seems to crash down to that part of the boundary

Everything the Aussies have tried has worked much better in this match
It might help though if the slips were to catch the edges ...in fairness there have been a few chances and half chances , despite the flat pitch ; so I'm not sure you can declare the plans totally useless.
Certainly the Australians hit the stumps a few times in England's innings. Though the dismissals of Stokes and Cook owed a little to fortune.
I would like to see more straight bowling to Smith in particular - though you'd need some good leg side cover !

[alfie]

I don't think it's the sort of pitch where a side will fold due to fourth innings pressure and a pitch showing some wear. My guess is that taking another ten wickets will be really hard, and chasing a large total possible. I normally write off fourth innings chases in which people hope for/fear a legendary rearguard or win. As I did at Cardiff. But I don't think they can be disregarded here. Unless the pitch breaks up, but that wouldn't be characteristic for the ground.

Agree it is unlikely the pitch will break up , Arthur. But history says saving games over five sessions is next door to impossible ; and I think this particular England side is better attacking than playing for time.
May be just my not wishing to raise false hope after essentially resigning this as a loss quite early ...but I can only see one ending to this.
And I'm normally your sunny optimist

[hopeforthebest]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/428749.html