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

[sussexpob]

Willis saying Cook got out because he was tired and careworn. Which is a worry for him, because they are mental things, and Cook's overwhelming strengths as a batter are his mental attributes.

Thought he got out because he played a daft shot personally. Funny that we're all happy to jump on th top three a based on their collective failure as soon as skip has made a couple of runs.

Said before the start of this test it would be interesting to hear the pundits on Cook's captaincy if things didn't go right. Unsuprisingly they're all a little quiet on the follow up to Cook's "Greatest Test".

It was a poor shot. I suppose they were trying to find some context for it.

Cowardice.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad karma.

[yorker_129-7]

Maybe England should just blow it off and get Yorkshire to play the final three tests.

The first ever 3-1-1 Ashes scoreline.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bresnan?

[sussexpob]

Marcus is right. Bell looks needy and beseeching at the crease, like an insecure adolescent boyfriend.

Well when has Bell ever looked good playing at one or double drop? The lower in the middle order you bury him, the better he is. That has always been the case, so why England have decided to periodically elevate him to positions he has consistently failed in is beyond me. This is the conundrum about Root. England need him to bat higher, it solves problems.

As for the opener, we wont find one unless we stick with a bloke for a while. Funny no one talks about Dave Warner's technique, so why should we be talking about Hales? Personally I wouldnt drop Lyth, and wouldnt have dropped Compton or Robson. They have to show a guy a bit of faith and stick with them

[Arthur Crabtree]

Agree. I was thinking that maybe they should move Bell down the order. They put him in the plum spot at four, apparently to give him responsibility. Pundits are on tv at the moment suggesting they move him up to three, to give him responsibility.... It often feels like they are trying to lure a shy child out of the bedroom so he might show off how wonderful he is. If they move him down to positions he excelled in (though behind KP), it might send him back inside and locking his door.

Which is unfairly facetious about a player with all those runs and tons. But, that's where we are.

Also agree about the openers.

Not sure about Root moving to where he was in Aus, and the position he was dropped from. Especially as he may be skipper soon.

[Arthur Crabtree]

If Bell's dropped, he won't be back. Given that circumstance, maybe best to give him a bit more rope. Though the next tour is UAE, of which he won't have good memories.

[dan08]

I would drop Bell now but give Lyth and Ballance an extra game.

[sussexpob]

Bell averages about 35 in 53 tests played in the top 4.... he averages 48 at 5, and 60 at 6 in a total of 71 tests. The maths are clear, bat him low. The solution to him failing is to have him bat higher, where he fails more? This is ridiculous, do the selectors and captain not observe or know their players at all?

This argument of responsibility is absolutely laughable. If he was the only one not cashing in on mega scores, then fair enough. But coming in at 4 with two early wickets down is hardly saying he cant excel because his role is not to exhibit responsibility. If anything, the longer the innings fails, the more responsible the lower middle order becomes. If anything, he is failing to show responsibility now, so increasing the stakes is hardly improving the situation.

It all goes hand in hand at the end of the day. How we expect a lad like Lyth to thrive when his opening partner is getting blown away and has so much baggage is beyond me. The number three is then put under constant pressure, he fails, the number four is then under the gun.... and hey presto, the top order gets blown away.

England need Root to step in to that role at 3, they need a guy on form who has proven he can score big recently. If he can get in and stay at 3, it gives Lyth or Cook a platform also, it would give Bell a better situation coming to the crease, and so on.

You cant have two openers who are unsure, one who is fighting for his career the other for his captain armband, reputation and trying to find some long term form......backed by a player who is seriously being dismantled technically, followed by a guy who is fighting for a career.

England are stacking up like dominos waiting to fall. They need someone with at least some belief, form and fight who will steady the ship. By the time Root is getting in, its 50-3/50-4 all the time anyway, which means he either wins the game on his own or gets out and its lost.

[backfootpunch]

looks like the batsmen fancied a game of golf on monday instead of a day and a half of batting

[Aidan11]

No way should Stoneman be in the side.

[from_the_stands]

I would drop Bell now but give Lyth and Ballance an extra game.

From an Oz point of view, I'd leave all 3 in. In fact I'm quite happy with the England team as it is. They don't need KP. He would only make these matches last longer, and we don't that.

[captaincolly]

No way should Stoneman be in the side.

It'd be one way to stop him captaining the 50 over competition.

[Aidan11]

No way should Stoneman be in the side.

It'd be one way to stop him captaining the 50 over competition.

There is that of course.

[captaincolly]

No way should Stoneman be in the side.

It'd be one way to stop him captaining the 50 over competition.

There is that of course.

I don't think he is close to a call but I have heard the likes of Butcher & Fulton talking about how they think his technique means he could well succeed at the top level against quick bowling. Think if he racks up a few more hundreds when the CC resumes he might start getting talked about as a serious candidate.