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About to go and have a nap, got some long nights coming up again. Here we go again, come on England.

Forecast looking good for all 5 days

Bit jealous in that couple mates arrived there at Lords earlier today (our time). Might see them in the crowd at some point. Anyway, call heads this time Clarkey!

Could the Aussies come back and retain the ashes after a ‘no result’ at Lords, would be very difficult. What a pitch to make your international debut as a keeper, the pressure is on Nevill.

How fast is the outfield?

What seems like a defensive shot is flying to the boundary....

N5 1BH wrote:Could the Aussies come back and retain the ashes after a ‘no result’ at Lords, would be very difficult. What a pitch to make your international debut as a keeper, the pressure is on Nevill.

How many tests are there? Australia only need to tie the series don't they?

Dry July wrote:

N5 1BH wrote:Could the Aussies come back and retain the ashes after a ‘no result’ at Lords, would be very difficult. What a pitch to make your international debut as a keeper, the pressure is on Nevill.

How many tests are there? Australia only need to tie the series don't they?

m
5 tests and yes

Great start by the cons

Shit shot by Warner

The Poms doctor the pitch again in the hope that Cook wins the toss and bats first.....oh well....

looks like a batting wicket, and a DRAW is the most likely outcome

^^^^^^^^^
Exactly....

God is an Englishman wrote:If this is true, then I await some SA whingeing that they've picked the best keeper.

No whinging from this South Australian. No SA keeper comes close.

Dry July wrote:

N5 1BH wrote:Could the Aussies come back and retain the ashes after a ‘no result’ at Lords, would be very difficult. What a pitch to make your international debut as a keeper, the pressure is on Nevill.

How many tests are there? Australia only need to tie the series don't they?

If Australia can't win at Lords, I will put England just ahead to win the Ashes back based on their records at the remaining grounds

To Hawksey and Co

If you are readers of the Guardian, do you rate Barney Ronay as a sports journo?

Nice to see Clarke take my advice and call "heads" this time.

Unless a big collapse, just a matter of when to declare. Assume get to about 550 (min) around tea then let it rip with the ball.

Shame the old style seaming English wickets seem to be a thing of the past (ie winning the toss has so much more bearing).

MegaBonus wrote:To Hawksey and Co

If you are readers of the Guardian, do you rate Barney Ronay as a sports journo?

Not read any of his stuff, don't mind the Guardian for its sports reporting though. I'll have a read, has to be better than Malcolm Conn.

Bomber wrote:Nice to see Clarke take my advice and call "heads" this time.

Unless a big collapse, just a matter of when to declare. Assume get to about 550 (min) around tea then let it rip with the ball.

Shame the old style seaming English wickets seem to be a thing of the past (ie winning the toss has so much more bearing).

I make you right, cons to bat almost all day today and try to set enough of a score that they only need to bat once.

There seemed to be a lot of swing early on yesterday and the cons did well to survive that. Only reason you lost 1 wicket is because Warner's an idiot.

MegaBonus wrote:To Hawksey and Co

If you are readers of the Guardian, do you rate Barney Ronay as a sports journo?

I think you'll find this site has all the info you will need

http://www.ecb.co.uk/groundsman/

Bomber wrote:Nice to see Clarke take my advice and call "heads" this time.

Unless a big collapse, just a matter of when to declare. Assume get to about 550 (min) around tea then let it rip with the ball.

Shame the old style seaming English wickets seem to be a thing of the past (ie winning the toss has so much more bearing).

To be fair heavy rain a couple of days before the test made it difficult to get it absolutely right. Some think it's a shame about Australia's increasing reliance on drop-in pitches.

N5 1BH wrote:

Bomber wrote:Nice to see Clarke take my advice and call "heads" this time.

Unless a big collapse, just a matter of when to declare. Assume get to about 550 (min) around tea then let it rip with the ball.

Shame the old style seaming English wickets seem to be a thing of the past (ie winning the toss has so much more bearing).

To be fair heavy rain a couple of days before the test made it difficult to get it absolutely right. Some think it's a shame about Australia's increasing reliance on drop-in pitches.

Drop in pitches more likely as ovals here used for other sports, so stands to reason to a degree.

And yes, hawkesy, what Warner was thinking is bizarre. Got 10 off the off first 5 balls of over and then skies such a loose shot. Imagine if they collapsed after that? Luckily for him, they didn't.

Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

And

Amazed how quiet you lot have been

God is an Englishman wrote:Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

I didn't watch any of day one so can't really comment but the scorecard does tell the difference. It was 40/4 when I went to bed. No work tomorrow so shall definitely tune in tonight.

God is an Englishman wrote:Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

And

Amazed how quiet you lot have been

Job not done yet. All signs are good and bit of swagger is back, but plenty of cricket left and I never trust the weather reports.

Bomber wrote:

God is an Englishman wrote:Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

And

Amazed how quiet you lot have been

Job not done yet. All signs are good and bit of swagger is back, but plenty of cricket left and I never trust the weather reports.

Well Sunday has changed already. Stokes and Cook have saved us before and it will need to be them doing it again.

Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

And

Amazed how quiet you lot have been

what hasn't changed is the intent of the groundsmen (on requests/orders) to produce a certain type of pitch...I stand corrected but I cant recall Australia doctoring pitches to counter the oppositions strength....I remember one of the greatest swing bowlers (Hadlee) destroying Aust in Brisbane.....I remember the Windies in Perth and the Indian spinners in Sydney/Adelaide causing havoc...

anyway....Australia was outplayed and out captained in Wales but there's still plenty of cricket in this one

assuming Australia knocks them off cheaply on Day 3...will they bat or enforce the follow on??

Stop whinging about doctored pitches please.

Sorry.....I must be taking my cue from all the English journos.....

MegaBonus wrote:Sorry.....I must be taking my cue from all the English journos.....

Which journalists?

MegaBonus wrote:

Amazed how much a day has changed this wicket

And

Amazed how quiet you lot have been

what hasn't changed is the intent of the groundsmen (on requests/orders) to produce a certain type of pitch...I stand corrected but I cant recall Australia doctoring pitches to counter the oppositions strength....I remember one of the greatest swing bowlers (Hadlee) destroying Aust in Brisbane.....I remember the Windies in Perth and the Indian spinners in Sydney/Adelaide causing havoc...

anyway....Australia was outplayed and out captained in Wales but there's still plenty of cricket in this one

assuming Australia knocks them off cheaply on Day 3...will they bat or enforce the follow on??

Depends on how easily and how cheaply?

You should only enforce the follow on id you're running out of time to get the result.

Love the comments of "doctored" pitches, Australians think they'd have a divine right to describe exactly how a pity should act. All pitches are doctored otherwise games would be played on unmown, unrolled wickets.

Time is always running out. I prefer to see teams enforce a follow on leaving themselves a right of reply should the opposition chase down the runs.

Shibasaki Kō wrote:Time is always running out. I prefer to see teams enforce a follow on leaving themselves a right of reply should the opposition chase down the runs.

Batting 4th is far from ideal,