Second Ashes Test - Lords

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Makes a mockery of our having to have an all-rounder approach as a way of explaining Watson's selections

Hopefully that breakthrough might give Clarke some more confidence in his bowling, huge wicket

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Hopefully that breakthrough might give Clarke some more confidence in his bowling, huge wicket

Just on a side note, are there any other all-rounders out there that could potentially make test team in a year or two? Marsh can be injury prone.

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Just on a side note, are there any other all-rounders out there that could potentially make test team in a year or two? Marsh can be injury prone.

Only the usual suspects, all-rounders are so highly valued that their aren't many who haven't been exposed already. In terms of pace bowling all-rounders Faulkner and to a lesser extent Henriques are the only two worth genuinely talking about at this stage.

Henriques has put up pretty consistent numbers for a few years now but is he worthy of a spot for either discipline? I wouldn't have thought so. Faulkner's batting output in the longer form is starting to get to the level required, the numbers he's put up in his county stint have been terrific and he's finally hit that maiden century. Obviously you'd like that average to nudge ahead of the 30 it currently is but he'd be my next cab off the rank to bat 7 with a competent keeper at 6.

The selectors like Abbott but he looks like a handy number 8, they like Maxwell but I don't think he's a bowling option and Stoinis is more of a part time change bowler. Ashton Agar is the other being molded for the role, he batted mostly at 7 for WA and did a pretty good job of it, he's all potential rather than performance at the moment but is a lovely clean striker of the ball - bowling came together after Christmas too.

There aren't many coming through the under 19's. Guy Walker was touted but looks a genuine bowler and Matt Short is the other who debuted for Victoria but his off-spinners are very part time. He's a batsman predominantly

[Bornadog]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

This wicket is so flat it's making the play so boring.

[Bornadog]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

A bit of spin gets a break through

[Twodogs]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

I just heard Geoff Boycott on the radio broadcast saying that he would have Pieterson in the team except that KP doesn't always play innings that put the team's circumstances first and that you have to play as an individual but on the team's terms. I wonder how long after Boyc's retirement from test cricket it was that he worked that out?

Sunny Gavaskar was the only batsman I've seen that approached Boycott in the selfish batsman stakes.

[jeemak]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Seriously useless new ball bowling happening right before tea break.

What's wrong with just hitting the spot and letting the bat fail. That was almost the worst display of new ball bowling I've seen in a long time.

[Twodogs]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

That was an optimistic DRS review.

[Twodogs]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

They should review that.

[whythelongface]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Australia in a very strong position. Rack up another 150 and send England into bat midway through the 2nd session.

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Australia in a very strong position. Rack up another 150 and send England into bat midway through the 2nd session.

The question is around how many more runs do we need? 150 sounds a lot but it's not a bad number.

Should we declare 30 minutes after lunch no matter what we have scored giving us nearly 5 sessions to bowl them out?

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Agree GVG, that's the way I'd be looking. Tough declaration to make considering how good the pitch is

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

The question is around how many more runs do we need? 150 sounds a lot but it's not a bad number.

Should we declare 30 minutes after lunch no matter what we have scored giving us nearly 5 sessions to bowl them out?

Agree with this.

The only other option would be 30 minutes before lunch for 2 goes with the new ball. We will have enough runs, but it will still be tough to get the wickets.

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Agree with this.

The only other option would be 30 minutes before lunch for 2 goes with the new ball. We will have enough runs, but it will still be tough to get the wickets.

If the bowlers are to win us the game they will need plenty of rest. An 80 minute spell before the dinner break and then a full session will certainly give them enough time to make some inroads without running them into the ground and in the process setting up a good day 5.

I'd expect Marsh and Smith to bowl a few overs.

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

It's such a new ball wicket we need two or three early. Having Cook back in the sheds really knocks out their rudder