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

[The Waugh Twins]

Ha,ha was that Lillee and Marsh? Been a lot of water near a bridge since that story was in the news.

I think I was living in Wales.

[The Waugh Twins]

Even if the weather plays a part or some how England survive it's been a pretty good test for Australia.

Johnson's firing as is Hazelwood. Smith needed that big innings as he was looking shaky. Rogers neede to get past 99. The wicket keeper so far has had a great first test, so far. Warner needed that 50 today and if he turns it into a ton, well bonus. Marsh got a couple crucial wickets and Watto finally avoided lbw.

Clarke?????????????????

[The Waugh Twins]

Even if the weather plays a part or some how England survive it's been a pretty good test for Australia.

Johnson's firing as is Hazelwood. Smith needed that big innings as he was looking shaky. Rogers neede to get past 99. The wicket keeper so far has had a great first test, so far. Warner needed that 50 today and if he turns it into a ton, well bonus. Marsh got a couple crucial wickets and Watto finally avoided lbw.

Clarke?????????????????

If they win does it matter?

[The Waugh Twins]

Even if the weather plays a part or some how England survive it's been a pretty good test for Australia.

Johnson's firing as is Hazelwood. Smith needed that big innings as he was looking shaky. Rogers neede to get past 99. The wicket keeper so far has had a great first test, so far. Warner needed that 50 today and if he turns it into a ton, well bonus. Marsh got a couple crucial wickets and Watto finally avoided lbw.

Clarke?????????????????

If they win does it matter?

I'm guessing he's not putting much strain on his back.

[The Waugh Twins]

My guess is Clarke will come in first drop tomorrow if he's not carrying back issues. If he doesn't then I would bet my house on it that there's a niggle.

[The Waugh Twins]

My guess is Clarke will come in first drop tomorrow if he's not carrying back issues. If he doesn't then I would bet my house on it that there's a niggle.

That would be the smart move right Mark.

[The Waugh Twins]

Mark Butcher reckons they will declare either side of lunch. That would give them a lead of say 460/470. with about 160 plus overs left in the game. Can't see that happening, but half way between lunch and tea would leave England to face about 135/140 overs in the match. That's more than enough overs for all 4 results.

[dan08]

Mark Butcher reckons they will declare either side of lunch. That would give them a lead of say 460/470. with about 160 plus overs left in the game. Can't see that happening, but half way between lunch and tea would leave England to face about 135/140 overs in the match. That's more than enough overs for all 4 results.

Australia would definitely have a lead of more than 460 at lunch. Probably over 500.

[yuppie]

Think Aus will come out tomorrow morning and will look to put on 150 in the morning session. This is a flat pitch, and they will need a lot of time to take 10 wickets. If Warner is there at Lunch tomorrow, then the lead will be over 500.

From the highlights i have seen, there is the odd low ball, but nothing else to worry the batters. Still think a draw is likely, England bat a long way down.

[The Waugh Twins]

Mark Butcher reckons they will declare either side of lunch. That would give them a lead of say 460/470. with about 160 plus overs left in the game. Can't see that happening, but half way between lunch and tea would leave England to face about 135/140 overs in the match. That's more than enough overs for all 4 results.

Australia would definitely have a lead of more than 460 at lunch. Probably over 500.

Yep more than likely Dan, just being on the conservative side. England could bowl very wide of the crease and a few wickets might fall chasing those deliveries. In all likelihood though you're right.

[The Waugh Twins]

History of the game at this point tells us the most likely result is a win for Australia and I'm hard pressed to find any other test in this current situation that hasn't gone that way.

I would be surprised if there has been one.

[The Waugh Twins]

History of the game at this point tells us the most likely result is a win for Australia and I'm hard pressed to find any other test in this current situation that hasn't gone that way.

I would be surprised if there has been one.

Yep at least not without rain.

[yuppie]

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.

[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.

[The Waugh Twins]

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.

Nice bit of stat work yuppie.

I am on for half way between lunch and tea. Clarke doesn't want to let them have lunch and then come out and bat, that would be foolish obviously. Keep them in the field for 3 hours tomorrow and that will really wear them down.