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

[Arthur Crabtree]

Gonna burn Anderson out before they get to Trent Bridge.

[Aidan11]

They'll all burn out at this rate.

[yuppie]

Whats the carry like? Im guessing it is a slow pitch as well?

The pitch is slow but because it appears rock hard the carry is not as bad as Cardiff. The main problem there's no swing and no seam. Starc and Johnson's 90 mph yorkers don't touch the pitch anyway.

maybe im being a little tough on the pitch and should be giving more credit to the batters? I really wish i could be watching some of this.

I guess we wont know until both teams get to bat on it. But from the little i have seen on the web the wicket fell to a stupid shot, and at best there was one chance that should have been held and then a couple of half chances.

I saw Broad got one through Rogers early on, just missing off stump. But not much joy beyond that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

The ball hasn't gone past the bat much. Certainly not for a day 1 Lord's wicket. Quite a few have kept low, so that may develop as the game goes on. There were some inside edges, suggesting unreliable bounce. But... Lord's usually goes to sleep on day three. But it's already asleep. The only cloud promised is light. You never know, sometimes the ball starts to swing for no fathomable reason.

[yuppie]

The ball hasn't gone past the bat much. Certainly not for a day 1 Lord's wicket. Quite a few have kept low, so that may develop as the game goes on. There were some inside edges, suggesting unreliable bounce. But... Lord's usually goes to sleep on day three. But it's already asleep. The only cloud promised is light. You never know, sometimes the ball starts to swing for no fathomable reason.

Jelly beans perhaps?

[Arthur Crabtree]

I was thinking rubbing the ball along your zip.

[yuppie]

Both suitable options, and who would blame a bowler after only getting one wicket in 90 overs.

[Durhamfootman]

Oh Lordy


hey....... well played Rogers and Smith.

Can't argue with that, other than to say that England didn't get a shred of fortune all day. Someone said on the highlights show that England have asked for flat slow lifeless pitches, so can't complain when there is absolutely *modded* all in it for the bowlers.

If Aus can get a big old score, and I can see no reason why they can't, then all the pressure to bat just as well will pile onto the England batsmen. Add in that at some stage the pitch might start to deteriorate, and Aus have gone a long way, today, towards levelling the series

[hopeforthebest]

Keeping their score down to 330ish was not bad, it might well have been 30-40 more.

[Making_Splinters]

I see it's been overlooked how excellent Cook's captaincy was today.

Inspiring stuff from England's top man.

[yuppie]

I see it's been overlooked how excellent Cook's captaincy was today.

Inspiring stuff from England's top man.

Thought bowling Ali for the 81st over with the old ball was just brilliant.

[braveneutral]

Inspirational, forward-thinking, dynamic, flexible.

Four things I could tell you Ali Cook's captaincy isn't.

And I haven't even seen a ball bowled.

[yuppie]

Of course im hoping that a pitch like this just shows up Englands bowlers limitations more than they do Australia's.

Going to be tough to take 20 wickets, and this is going to hurt Starcs ankle. In this situation one would think that Watsons control will be better than M Marsh erratic bowling.

A lot of overs to be bowled by Lyon, and who will ever make up the 5th bowler.

[Making_Splinters]

I see it's been overlooked how excellent Cook's captaincy was today.

Inspiring stuff from England's top man.

Thought bowling Ali for the 81st over with the old ball was just brilliant.

It's that level of out of the box thinking that comes so naturally to England's greatest Captain.

[pompeymeowth]

I spent a lovely day in Rye today, doing the Tilling trail.

Mapp and Lucia was set in the 1930's, if Rogers and Smith had been able to replace Woodfull and the Don, they'd probably still be batting now on about 2.000 000 not out.

Quai Hai!