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

[GarlicJam]

Lunch and only the two down still.

If it isn't even, they England would be in front a little.

[captaincolly]

and then Athers (?) asked Nasser what he would have d....


"oh we know what you would have done...."

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not bad for England given they were put in.

[Durhamfootman]

Phone Stuey Law?

[Durhamfootman]

good recovery from these two, by the looks of it

[captaincolly]

good recovery from these two, by the looks of it

Yes. They've had occasional scares but looked relatively comfortable.
Perhaps Warne and co were right about batting first after all - although a collapse is always just a wicket away!

[Durhamfootman]

Lords is usually bat first, isn't it?

I think both sides are uncertain about their respective top orders and so whoever won the toss was likely to take the easier option to try and get on top of the opposition. This is likely to be a short test match with the predicted weather, so why risk losing it on the first day (second day)?

[captaincolly]

Lords is usually bat first, isn't it?

I think both sides are uncertain about their respective top orders and so whoever won the toss was likely to take the easier option to try and get on top of the opposition. This is likely to be a short test match with the predicted weather, so why risk losing it on the first day (second day)?

I think you're right. Always a good chance of a clatter of wickets with these two lineups regardless of conditions.
Atherton took the view that he'd have batted in order to try and take advantage of what looked like good conditions. As you say though, one bad session with the bat could be fatal.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe Ireland's evisceration of the England batting on the first morning at Lord's influenced Paine to insert. Still quite likely the decision will come good.

[captaincolly]

Maybe Ireland's evisceration of the England batting on the first morning at Lord's influenced Paine to insert. Still quite likely the decision will come good.

Yep. Stokes seems in pretty good touch ( so a first ball duck is probably his destiny ) but Buttler and Bairstow are not.

[captaincolly]

And there goes Denly. 92/3.

[backfootpunch]

And there goes Denly. 92/3.

Hes a poor mans james vince

Who himself is a poor mans ian bell

Which sums up how far our batting has fallen

[captaincolly]

And there goes Denly. 92/3.

Hes a poor mans james vince

Who himself is a poor mans ian bell

Which sums up how far our batting has fallen

Yep. Not sure where the selectors go from here.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The highly rated but underperforming middle order now. Buttler-Stokes-Bairstow. At least Burns is doing well, even if having a bit of help from the fielders.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And there goes Denly. 92/3.

Hes a poor mans james vince

Who himself is a poor mans ian bell

Which sums up how far our batting has fallen

Yep. Not sure where the selectors go from here.

James Vince?

Or ZBGB?