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

[yuppie]

England are in a good position. Another wicket and then they are into the tail.

Bowl Australia out around Lunch, bat for just over 2 sessions and have probably 75 overs to bowl Australia out.

The only problem being that if the weather is improved, then the batting conditions should improve.

[Durhamfootman]

whereas England won't

[mikesiva]

Smith is a great batsman but that leave alone is comical!

[GarlicJam]

Smith is a great batsman but that leave alone is comical!

He sure isn't the most fluid, or even languid, of batsmen.

Whereas Khawaja, at his best, is a bit Goweresque.

[GarlicJam]

What's the thinking behind Buttler being 'keeper in the ODIs and Bairstow fielding, and then reversed for the tests?

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think it came about over who cemented their place first at wk/bat in either format.

[mikesiva]

Smith is a great batsman but that leave alone is comical!

He sure isn't the most fluid, or even languid, of batsmen.

Whereas Khawaja, at his best, is a bit Goweresque.

Putting aside the leave alone, the batting of Smith is Bradmanesque.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stone is out the series.

[yuppie]

Smith is a great batsman but that leave alone is comical!

He sure isn't the most fluid, or even languid, of batsmen.

Whereas Khawaja, at his best, is a bit Goweresque.

He is a joy to watch, which also makes him a frustrating player to watch.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm thinking of a series against the WI when England could hardly get Chanderpaul out. Like with Smith, he was far and away the best bat. I wonder if there's a tendency in that situation to subconsciously stop striving to dismiss that bat and only fully try to dismiss the other batter.

Shiv set records for batting without dismissal in that series.

[yuppie]

Looking at the tiny screen I'm watching on, these seem to be pretty good bowling conditions. Lot of movement in the air.

[Arthur Crabtree]

For a lot of cricket watchers nearing my years, Gower is always the go-to player for describing the ultimate glamorous batter. But for me Lara was the most sublime looking player, and Michael Vaughan for England. I wonder if it was Gower's decadent image that helps makes him the paragon so many think of first?

[yuppie]

Gower, M Waugh and Azarudeen for me just seemed to make batting look so easy when in full flow.

[Gingerfinch]

Damien Martyn as well

[Gingerfinch]

For a lot of cricket watchers nearing my years, Gower is always the go-to player for describing the ultimate glamorous batter. But for me Lara was the most sublime looking player, and Michael Vaughan for England. I wonder if it was Gower's decadent image that helps makes him the paragon so many think of first?

Left handers tend to look better in general, plus yes, Gower never looked like he cared if he was in or out.