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

[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.

James Vince?

Or ZBGB?

They might have to. Seem to have gone through all options so may go back to the beginning and stary again from the top.
I wonder if Bell would have considered had he been fit and scoring runs?!

[alfie]

Pope , perhaps ? Maybe will prefer to wait until the winter tours rather than throwing him to the dingoes...but I think he is one for the future.
Comes from Surrey too

[captaincolly]

Pope , perhaps ? Maybe will prefer to wait until the winter tours rather than throwing him to the dingoes...but I think he is one for the future.
Comes from Surrey too

I'd forgotten about him!

[captaincolly]

Wonderful catch by Bancroft to get rid of Burns.
116/4.

[alfie]

Wonderful catch by Bancroft to get rid of Burns.
116/4.

Was a ripper indeed. Justifying his place in the side as a specialist fielder ? Guess Burns had enjoyed his share of good luck already ; but he was stiff to have that one held !

Has been good cricket today. Some excellent fast bowling (pitch is decent for all , I think : no devils in it but good bowlers are getting enough out of it to create chances ) and the batting in between has been spirited enough...they've not missed opportunities to score.

And as I type I see Buttler at last gives Siddle fair reward for his work with a nibble to the keeper...

England in peril now

[captaincolly]

Wonderful catch by Bancroft to get rid of Burns.
116/4.

Was a ripper indeed. Justifying his place in the side as a specialist fielder ? Guess Burns had enjoyed his share of good luck already ; but he was stiff to have that one held !

Has been good cricket today. Some excellent fast bowling (pitch is decent for all , I think : no devils in it but good bowlers are getting enough out of it to create chances ) and the batting in between has been spirited enough...they've not missed opportunities to score.

And as I type I see Buttler at last gives Siddle fair reward for his work with a nibble to the keeper...

England in peril now

Yep. Bairstow close to another first ball duck!

[captaincolly]

England might be relying on Archer to save them with the bat never mind with the ball!
138/5 and a wicket looks likely to fall at anytime.

[captaincolly]

Stokes out lbw. 138/6!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Feels a long time since a wicket.

[captaincolly]

Feels a long time since a wicket.

Maybe they should get Woakes to bat at 4-or open!

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's leading the England averages in the last 12 months with 51. Buttler is next on 36. But Woakes only has a ton and no fifties in five games.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Fifty partnership.

[Durhamfootman]

oh blimey... I wish I hadn't looked!

still...... we'll almost certainly have Australia 21-5 by COP

[captaincolly]

He's leading the England averages in the last 12 months with 51. Buttler is next on 36. But Woakes only has a ton and no fifties in five games.

That's a damning stat - best average from a specialist batsman is 36. Woakes usually looks solid although that might be because there's less of a fear of failure after the supposedly specialist batsmen have been and gone.

[Durhamfootman]

and, of course, the trouble with losing 4 wickets since lunch means that now that the ball is as flat as it will ever be for 25 overs, the pace men are being rested with an offie in the least helpful conditions for him and a part timer on, Englanf haven't got the wickets in the bank to try and take full advantage and force the Aussies to bring their pacemen back before the new ball is due

it all combines to put England further and further and further on the back foot. Unless YJB can do a 'Smiffy'