Second Ashes Test - Lords

[whythelongface]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

I fell asleep at tea. The bowling in that session was sensational to say the least. England must have been all our just after tea?

I thought the decision to play Mitchell Marsh was the right one and how good was Neville.

Not sure on Haddin's situation but if available does he come back in or do they continue playing Neville, whom looks like a very solid keeper. didn't see him bat but got 42 in the first dig.

Personally would like to see Neville keep his spot.

[Bornadog]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Not sure on Haddin's situation but if available does he come back in or do they continue playing Neville, whom looks like a very solid keeper. didn't see him bat but got 42 in the first dig.

Personally would like to see Neville keep his spot.

Neville was a massive improvement on Haddin. I hope he keeps his spot.

[Ozza]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Also did anyone see the English batsman in the first innings get given not out caught behind and walked? I'm trying to remember who it was, was it Butler?

What did you think of him walking, GS?

[Greystache]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

What did you think of him walking, GS?

I think it was admirable but something I'd never do. You get some good decisions as a batsmen and some bad ones, you take the rough with the smooth. If you walk every time you'll still cop your share of bad ones and you'll never get the good ones to balance it out.

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

I think it was admirable but something I'd never do. You get some good decisions as a batsmen and some bad ones, you take the rough with the smooth. If you walk every time you'll still cop your share of bad ones and you'll never get the good ones to balance it out.

I share the same view but technology has brought it almost to the point of redundancy, 99 times of out 100 a nick will be caught on review... Barring human error like that Broad call a few summers back. Players know they'll be caught out if the umpire misses so what's the point being sledged about it

[Sedat]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

We had major issues with our top order when Boof gave Chris Rogers a chance to play the anchor role at the top of the order 2 years ago (prior to the last Ashes series in England). The Poms should have done the same thing with Michael Carberry, who was far from England's worst in Australia 18 months ago. Now they have a man-sized hole in their top order with nobody else coming through at county level. Carberry is not a long-term option but neither is Rogers - sometimes you just need to pick the players best equipped to do the job required, and Carberry played Johnson about as well as anybody for England has done in the last 18 months.

Lyth keeps getting out the same way and is nowhere near this level. Ballance is not either at the moment. Places an awful amount of pressure on Cook and Root, especially with Bell in such a deep trough that looks terminal.

[Ozza]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

I think it was admirable but something I'd never do. You get some good decisions as a batsmen and some bad ones, you take the rough with the smooth. If you walk every time you'll still cop your share of bad ones and you'll never get the good ones to balance it out.

Yep, same here.

While I can understand some people lauding it in isolation - as you say, if you don't take the good decisions, then you still get the bad. Just lets the team down really.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

The highlight is listening to Boycott whinge post days play.

Vaughan and Swann like stirring the pot.

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

We had major issues with our top order when Boof gave Chris Rogers a chance to play the anchor role at the top of the order 2 years ago (prior to the last Ashes series in England). The Poms should have done the same thing with Michael Carberry, who was far from England's worst in Australia 18 months ago. Now they have a man-sized hole in their top order with nobody else coming through at county level. Carberry is not a long-term option but neither is Rogers - sometimes you just need to pick the players best equipped to do the job required, and Carberry played Johnson about as well as anybody for England has done in the last 18 months.

Lyth keeps getting out the same way and is nowhere near this level. Ballance is not either at the moment. Places an awful amount of pressure on Cook and Root, especially with Bell in such a deep trough that looks terminal.

If they're looking for a sheet anchor Nick Compton was, has been and continues to be the man to play it. He wasn't a failure in his first crack at test cricket and was dumped relatively prematurely with rumours about him not being particularly liked in the dressing room. Carberry's county numbers have never been up there with Compton's and besides, Carberry is regarded as a dasher who was getting bogged down and not playing his natural game when he came out here.

I'm not sure a blocker is the way to go partnering Cook. Cook plays best when he's in that bubble and the run rate becomes secondary, Marcus Trescothick would have been ideal. I think that's why they've gone with Lyth, he's quite a nice stroke player and has been putting up considerable runs for a few years now, he just looks a class below the level at the moment. Keep an eye out for Daniel Bell-Drummond, he'll be their next long term guy

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

What on earth was Ben Stokes thinking. Complete brain snap.

No-one does a capitulation quite like the English.

Saw on the ESPN website yesterday that Warner and Rogers have 14 50 run partnerships for the first wicket this year.

Three things any basic mug cricket coach should teach young cricketers

- Drop catches, lose matches
- There are only three calls to your batting partner, yes, no or wait
- Ground the bat when running between wickets

There are a lot of talented cricketers out there but there are certainly some dumb ones.

Back to the game itself, How do elite cricketers succumb to this level of performance on what was a good day for batting? Less than half the wickets taken were due to outstanding deliveries.

The French College of Capitulation must have had a bumper year.

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Not sure on Haddin's situation but if available does he come back in or do they continue playing Neville, whom looks like a very solid keeper. didn't see him bat but got 42 in the first dig.

Personally would like to see Neville keep his spot.

I believe that if he is available then he is back in the side. He will be given the chance to depart on his terms.

[lemmon]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Back to the game itself, How do elite cricketers succumb to this level of performance on what was a good day for batting? Less than half the wickets taken were due to outstanding deliveries.

The French College of Capitulation must have had a bumper year.

Is there a sport played more between the ears? We've all been in a dressing room that collapses and the rot sets in. No doubt that frazzled sense of panic and pressure exists at all levels.

[GVGjr]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Is there a sport played more between the ears? We've all been in a dressing room that collapses and the rot sets in. No doubt that frazzled sense of panic and pressure exists at all levels.

I think this is a union thing, never take a game into the 5th day when batting collapses won't be dealt with by selectors.

Seriously, our efforts on the 4th day in the first test were disgraceful but England in this test somehow made our efforts look reasonable.

This game is losing me because the selectors will not deal with under performing players.

[1eyedog]

Re: Second Ashes Test - Lords

Where does the collapse start? Bad luck losing a wicket or two? There is nothing worse for a number 4, 5, 6 to see 1,2 and 3 go down cheaply. As a middle order batsman you really rely on someone from the top 3 to hold up an end.

Quick wickets are a waiting batsman's worst nightmare. It's a bad feeling all of a sudden frantically looking around for your pads or gloves.