England v Australia, 2nd test, Lord's, July 16-20 (II)

G.Wood wrote:It will be all over within an hour.

I hope so anyway. The alternative is we get closer and closer and my hopes get higher and higher. Until at 9 down with 2 runs needed, Fred conjures up some bizarre wicket, strikes his "Let's see Jesus do that" pose and I end up needing to buy a new tv.

Aye. Pup and Haddit get the hopes up, then get dismissed quickly the next day is the more likely scenario. I'm gonna be ratsh!t tomorrow if the other scenario plays out.

If this pair take it to 400-5 then its pants-fill time I think. Not sure if I'm around until later tomorrow to um, 'enjoy' the climax.

5 down means Australia can't afford to make many mistakes, another Rudi special wouldn't go amiss too.

England to win by 20 runs after a last wicket partnership of 30 makes it a bottom-clencher.

I'm actually dreading the feeling a defeat would bring but somehow unlike Vilks I am in total denial....

skully wrote:Can't say I was concerned with the no-ball "not out" - good ball, Fleas was beaten by it - out.

Aye, it's not like he was inches over. There's probably two of those just over no-balls that missed every over. Bowlers have it hard enough so a bit of leniency there is no biggy.

Blackadder wrote:Mearly taking lessons from those that have made it a artform over the centuries.

Which brings to mind the two Marston Pedigree Bitter advertising boards I noticed around the ground ....

ENGLAND HAS HISTORY ....
AUSTRALIA HAS PREVIOUS.

and

ENGLISHMEN DRINK PEDIGREE BITTER ...
AUSTRALIANS RUB LEMON IN THEIR HAIR.

Even had the Aussies chuckling!

Might have given us an outside chance if there was another session yesterday but starting over again this morning will screw things up. The kiddie will be knocked over inside 20 minutes and from there it'll either be all over inside one hour or we'll get to about 470 or 480 before being bowled out.

skully wrote:Great effort by Pup and Haddit to set a few Pom nerves a-jangling.

Can't say I was concerned with the no-ball "not out" - good ball, Fleas was beaten by it - out. But the non-referral of the Hughes "catch" was stoopidly inconsistent and Hussey's simply wasn't out.

If that's whinging, then sue me.

Check the morning papers Skulls ...

Ross wrote:Might have given us an outside chance if there was another session yesterday but starting over again this morning will screw things up. The kiddie will be knocked over inside 20 minutes and from there it'll either be all over inside one hour or we'll get to about 470 or 480 before being bowled out.

Injustice Ross.
He particularly and Haddin looked unbeatable this afternoon ... I don't see that trend changing tomorrow unless the England quicks put them under pressure with some accurate and hostile bowling first up, or one of them blows a fuse.

Right ... off to kip ... it's gonna be a long day tomorrow chewing Valium whilst watching Aus creep closer.

I'm not sure i'll be able to watch play tonight. If I do, i'll probably only end up yelling at the screen as England stuff it up. Best to not get too emotionally attached....

Seriously though, if England lose having had Aus 130-5 chasing 520, it will be one of the worst days in English cricketing history. It will also probably be Flintoff's last test, and the current bunch of younger players will find it extremely tough to recover from.

The worst thing is that we'll have a whole 9 days to stew over it before the next test starts.

Have to laugh at suggestions England could some how ****** it up from here.

Blackadder wrote:Have to laugh at suggestions England could some how ****** it up from here.

You've not watched us much then.

51 all out, to being unable to defend 380 against India.

Alot of difference to being able to defend 512, I think even the Poms can manage that one

agreed...the poms are red hot certs to win this...

skully wrote:

G.Wood wrote:It will be all over within an hour.

I hope so anyway. The alternative is we get closer and closer and my hopes get higher and higher. Until at 9 down with 2 runs needed, Fred conjures up some bizarre wicket, strikes his "Let's see Jesus do that" pose and I end up needing to buy a new tv.

Aye. Pup and Haddit get the hopes up, then get dismissed quickly the next day is the more likely scenario. I'm gonna be ratsh!t tomorrow if the other scenario plays out.

Clarke will do his usual trick and get out just before a drinks break or lunch.

Haddin will get out trying to hit Swann for his 3rd six off the over.

I really hope these 2 make it to lunch though if for nothing more than the "fark me I can't believe we are going to lose this" posts from the Pommy forummers.

Of course, we have no hope.

Current odds!!!

England	1.38
Draw	15
Australia	3.7

JGK wrote:Current odds!!!

England	1.38
Draw	15
Australia	3.7

That's ridiculous. They were $9 before play yesterday which was even more ridiculous

No reason why the third umpire couldn't be sat watching every ball in real-time from a camera trained solely on the crease. Umps in the middle have an earpiece. Third umpire just relays the no-ball information straight to the guy in the middle, who then sticks his arm out. No waiting for replays. No real delay. He could get the information to him before the ball's even reached the keeper.

Exactly how it needs to be done.

The throw back to Richie thing is a yearning for some heart warming aspect of the good old days that would never survive in 2009. It would be chewed up & shat out before you can say "spirit". The backfoot rule was chucked out because of media led "encroachment" hysteria in the early sixties. Hass, can you imagine all the screaming headlines & distraction where a key wicket is taken with the bowlers front foot forward of the bowling crease by six inches? It's another media shatstorm that no-one needs.

We have an umpire sitting on the lounge doing very little. Give the no ball job to him & allow the central umps to focus their vision at the other end.

G.Wood wrote:

JGK wrote:Current odds!!!

England	1.38
Draw	15
Australia	3.7

That's ridiculous. They were $9 before play yesterday which was even more ridiculous

Still - not quite attractive enough to slap a lazy hunj on England.

Centrebet are putting the line at 452.5 runs. Sounds generous to Aust. Fark, if they get more than that with a couple of wickets left it will be Edgbaston all over again.

Some other interesting "line" bets:

Clarke - 158.5 runs
Haddin - 107.5 runs
Midge - 18.5 runs


Might be worth shorting all of them. If I lose 2 of the 3 then that's still a big dent in the 209 runs.

jgk = legend

I thought the odds may have been skewed by idiotic patriotic punters but even in England it is $1.40 for the poms and $3.75 for Aus

Have just seen Swanny's post-day's play interview on Sky. What a farkin legend.

Haven't got the lines verbatim, but he said something along the lines of:

"I'm English, and everyone in England is English, so of course we're nervous"

"Wouldn't be the Ashes without high drama"

"Just glad the Ashes are living up to the hype. Both Tests have been great. Glad it hasn't turned out a pile of sh!t."

Hehehe, great stuff.

must not be watching tapes of his bowling

Can't be bothered going through the whole thread - but it is depressing when horrie is your best bowler!