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

Broad is bowling shitehouse, though, and I would've considered replacing him after the first Test.

But there's another innings to go yet. Might take a bagful second time around and all the "Harmi should have played" stuff will skulk off into the distance.

JKLever wrote:

Dello wrote:

Merlin wrote:Harmi should have played in this match.
The End.

Yeah, he wouldn't have peppered the middle of a docile pitch with pies... oh.

It's the old 'player who is out of the side is a demon bowler, whilst the one in it in bage' syndrome.

So you do reckon Broad bowled well .... oh wait !

Dello wrote:Broad is bowling shitehouse, though, and I would've considered replacing him after the first Test.

But there's another innings to go yet. Might take a bagful second time around and all the "Harmi should have played" stuff will skulk off into the distance.

This deck was made for Harmi - like for like replacement for Broad ... who, whether you like itor not, has bowled gash and worse since Cardiff. At 22 he has time to develop ... right now I repeat - he is a luxury in an Ashes series.
Fifty quid says that's not going to change in Aussies 2nd dig.

Keeping him in the side just coz he's "young and talented" is going down the same road as the selectors went with Bell ...

Merlin wrote:

JKLever wrote:

Dello wrote:

Merlin wrote:Harmi should have played in this match.
The End.

Yeah, he wouldn't have peppered the middle of a docile pitch with pies... oh.

It's the old 'player who is out of the side is a demon bowler, whilst the one in it in bage' syndrome.

So you do reckon Broad bowled well .... oh wait !

Yes, because that's what I said.

hilarity at the shot of Thommo having a snooze in his seat

There is no way on earth we can save this Test unless it rains out at least 3 sessions.

Zim, we were saying the same at Cardiff when Aus were piling up 600+, although there's no denying that Anderson here is more threatening than your attack was then.

I was surprised that Harmison didn't play because I thought if they made the effort and big decision of recalling him for a bouncy surface it was that intention in mind. Broad didn't deserve another match and hasn't really put his imprimatur on test cricket to any degree. If they kept him solely because of his youth and superior batting, it's folly.

Australia is in this position because of wanton displays with the bat and ball. The only way they can wriggle out of it is with some protracted rain periods and a much more disciplined batting performance. Surely the shot selection can't be as bad or the general attitude be as casual and profligate. It's true that England enjoyed the more conducive bowling conditions, but the batsmen compounded this and it's up to them to redeem themselves.

Johnson must be a huge concern and Clark must be a realistic chance of replacing him. Lee wants to play in the next test but is not keen on playing in the tour match. For all is innocuousness, Hauritz is at least taking wickets where his colleagues are struggling. Hilfenhaus has been the pick of the bowlers, while Siddle has bowled some tight spells. It's hard to believe that Johnson has been the second quickest in test history to 100 scalps but the feeling is that he has little confidence when his radar goes slightly awry. He doesn't know how to re-calibrate it.

The fielding display in the match has also been somewhat shoddy at times with dropped catches and missed run outs. It's been a big change from Cardiff with the teams basically reversing their positions.

And of course there's Haddin. And the question has been posed.

What have Haddin and Michael Jackson both in common?

Something to do with a glove?

Paul Keating wrote:Something to do with a glove?

Yep, as they say, both wear gloves for no apparent reason.

England should not bother about batting an hour more and not risk weather and rains coming to Aussies rescue the last day. I would like to remind you of how India didn't win the last test against New Zealand a couple of months back. We didn't pay heed to the weather aspect despite rain predictions and batting extra cost us a session the last day that would have sealed a 2-0 win for us.....

Well, I've had a busy weekend, and thank Mod for that.

Didn't see a lot of last night, and won't see a lot of tonight.

Probably a good thing.

But can someone please tell me, when exactly did the anomaly in the space-time continuum that's taken us back to some time around 1985 open up?

Zat wrote:Well, I've had a busy weekend, and thank Mod for that.

Didn't see a lot of last night, and won't see a lot of tonight.

Probably a good thing.

But can someone please tell me, when exactly did the anomaly in the space-time continuum that's taken us back to some time around 1985 open up?

When Mitch decided to morph into Mike Whitney.

Re: England v Australia, 1st Test, Cardiff, July 8-12 (II)
by Invader Zim on Mon Jul 13, 2009 7:47 am

If it wasn't at Lords I'd say England are certs to win the next Test.

Even Lords can't save us now

vilkrang wrote:Despite their first innings, the Australian batting line up is still very intimidating and still easily one of if not the best in the world. On a flat pitch, I wouldn't put it past them to rack up 521. Would quite fancy them to do it in fact.

My ribs are hurting.

What were you smoking when you posted this, vilky?

England to win this in a canter after batting on for an hour today. All over between Lunch and Tea tomorrow.

England's confidence then sky high, the stoopid farkin NSP will stick with Midge when Gump clearly should replace him, and flat slow decks for the remaining 3 Tests, giving us no chance of scratching up a win to retain the Ashes.

That missed opportunity at Cardiff is now looking very costly.

skully wrote:

vilkrang wrote:Despite their first innings, the Australian batting line up is still very intimidating and still easily one of if not the best in the world. On a flat pitch, I wouldn't put it past them to rack up 521. Would quite fancy them to do it in fact.

My ribs are hurting.

What were you smoking when you posted this, vilky?

better comedy than the batman

Well am just about to pop off to Lords to watch OZ get half-way towards their world record run-chase. This time last year I watched Neil Mackenzie bat for a whole day at Lords so am not too optimistic...

Oh and it's cloudy at the moment with a few breaks of blue sky. Doesn't feel humid yet though.

Fecking rain....

They just showed Warne's ball to Gatting in 1993. Gets better every time I see it, stunning.

declaration. it's on!

And they just had Michael Clarke on saying how Australia will be going for the win :| .

Dust off the record books...

I must say I'm surprised. Well done Straws on giving England maximum time to get rid of us.

All out 280.

vilkrang wrote:And they just had Michael Clarke on saying how Australia will be going for the win :| .

I guess if you don't believe it, then it's hard to convince others to believe,