a quick 200 is easier said than done
bopara gone
bopara gone
England v Australia - Second Ashes Test - Lord's
- Thread starter gaffs
- Start date
as a neutral, great to see that wicket and the spinner back on....
Soft from Bopara again, we can't allow him to scratch aroud like this all series.
Colly can dop anchor and afford KP some more freedom.
Colly can dop anchor and afford KP some more freedom.
colly and pietersen have a history of batting well together
baggsy no jinx this
baggsy no jinx this
Swann should be liking what he's seeing you'd think.
A few lost wickets might not do the situation much harm here frankly, it'll save England pissing around for the full morning session tomorrow trying to push towards a needless (or what should be needless) 500
tuffers on tms says 450 minimum lead needed
Agreed, they should have gone out and smashed the ball all over the fking place all out for 220/250 and then gone after them
You could be pulling your hair out watching Pieterson in this innings today - he'll never get a better opportunity to smash a quick ton and put England in total control
Pietersen gone England 174-4
We were well on course to that with Strauss and Cook, and probably still would have been were at lest one of them to have been partnering Bopara/KP. The form/confidence of the latter is unfortunate but unavoidable it at the minute.
I think they made the right decision to not enforce the follow-on. The important decision will be the time that Strauss chooses to declare. If England lose a couple of more wickets, they might feel that they haven't reached their target and waste too much time scratching their way to it.
I agree the pitch looked good to bat on plus the rain is coming it might not help for time but the pitch like yesrerday will work better in Englands favour.
If we'd put the Aussies in and they were 174-4 it would have been all over.
I recon another 50-60 runs could see us in a match winning position.
The highest winning 4th inning winning score istands at 418 , by the Windies.
So anything above that should be OK ,Thats not to say the Aussie's could not get a big total .
But I doubt it on this pitch.
The highest winning 4th inning winning score istands at 418 , by the Windies.
So anything above that should be OK ,Thats not to say the Aussie's could not get a big total .
But I doubt it on this pitch.
Would you be tempted to dec before 6 and give us 45 mins to get a couple of the Aussie opener's ?
prior going well
Get them to bat today.
Lead to 425 Prior playing really well.
It would have been an attack without Flintoff, Broad who is below par and Swann yet to find his Ashes legs so to speak.
We equally could have bowled Anderson into the ground and them be 174/1 or 2.
Even the SKY commentor's are saying that the Aussie's would not like to bat again tonight.
Strauss must be think about it?
Strauss must be think about it?
They say we could be looking at rain before the day is up, might not have the opportunity even if desired.
Mind you the weather looks utterly pleasant here in North London, no sign of rain.
BBC did give rain , but after 7pm .
16 of that over lead now 465
Prior gone
very unlucky that was a cracking throw at the wicket
Great throw by North but great innings by Prior
I think that Freddie is going to have a swing here and see what happens and maybe if he gets a quick 20-30 , Stauss will declare
19 overs left today if no rain
Agreed , Prior played very well.
Exactly
With virtually no threat of a tie
As it is, England have to rely on the weather, and hope the Aussies don't dig in successfully given they only have to bat defensively now
what odds on the declaration when we get to 500.
Would be a hell of an effort to bat 6 sessions. England will surely put Australia in first thing tomorrow.
Lead's already 486. Pointless to stay in any longer.
Got to be.
An Aussie comedian on talkSPORT described Johnson's form form thus:
"It's not just a hiccup, it is as if he has vomited in his own mouth."
"It's not just a hiccup, it is as if he has vomited in his own mouth."
I wonder how this aussie side will deal with such pressure to play defensively, with a draw in mind.
They'll put them in before the end, have 10 overs to bowl at them surely...
They'll put them in before the end, have 10 overs to bowl at them surely...
This is to all the ones that think test matchs are boring 
This has been the best 3 days of a test match I have seen so far.
This has been the best 3 days of a test match I have seen so far.
I dont think Aussies would go for a draw,
Its not in their DNA.
Its not in their DNA.
I agree set the Aussie's a score and they will go for it.
Well done Collingwood ,cracking 50 in 72 balls
Which is why it will be interesting to see how they react.
I don't really rate this aussie side anyway.
I don't really rate this aussie side anyway.
SKY are saying that the light is not that good,looks ok on TV.
The Aussie wont want to bat and if they are put in and given the chance off bad light they will come off.
The Aussie wont want to bat and if they are put in and given the chance off bad light they will come off.