[Cricket] England vs Australia Second Ashes Test - Lord's 14th-18th August 2019

[hans kraay fan club]

I know I haven't lived in the UK since 2002, but Test Matches always used to start on a Thursday. Since when have they been scheduled to start on a Wednesday?

In the period where Test cricket was in the doldrums, they wanted to take every chance to maximise ticket sales. Day 1 of a Test, plus the Saturday and Sunday (if no rest day) where the easiest to shift. If they started late in the week, there was limited chance off an early finish meaning dishing out loads of costly refunds on those Sunday tickets.

Nowadays with every day of an Ashes Test sold out regardless, they can start when they like.

 

[pasty]

We must bat if we win the toss make the most of the best batting conditions today, spinning pitch possibly batting last against Lyon, no thanks!

Weather forecast looks to be fine today, fine tomorrow till 3/4 (will they use some brains and start play early? Probably not) Saturday and Sunday look relatively ok with a few showers about

I was following cricinfo yesterday for updates and somebody posed the "starting early" question, and the response was an emphatic no, that never happens in England. No idea why not

 

[A1X]

[TWEET]1161921655494598656[/TWEET]

 

[Rodney Thomas]

In the period where Test cricket was in the doldrums, they wanted to take every chance to maximise ticket sales. Day 1 of a Test, plus the Saturday and Sunday (if no rest day) where the easiest to shift. If they started late in the week, there was limited chance off an early finish meaning dishing out loads of costly refunds on those Sunday tickets.

Nowadays with every day of an Ashes Test sold out regardless, they can start when they like.

They also have to cram 5 games into about 6 weeks.

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Makes you wonder what to do if we win the toss?

I’d have a bowl and try and skittle them cheaply on a wicket that’s been under covers for a day. It’s the only way England have a chance of winning and even if they bat big the weather should save us.

We must bat if we win the toss make the most of the best batting conditions today, spinning pitch possibly batting last against Lyon, no thanks!

Weather forecast looks to be fine today, fine tomorrow till 3/4 (will they use some brains and start play early? Probably not) Saturday and Sunday look relatively ok with a few showers about

This is why I love test cricket, there really are so many options and intricacies. Hopefully one of us will be right and England will bounce back

 

[The Wizard]

Don’t understand why the Toss couldn’t have been at 10 and game started at half 10, if you’ve lost a days play surely you should be looking to make up time wherever is possible.

 

[cardboard]

A days test then a trip to the Oval tonight to watch the mighty sharks

 

[pasty]

AUS win toss and BOWL

 

[Titanic]

Root is a useless tosser. England have been inserted.

 

[Taybha]

Interesting choice 1-1

 

[The Wizard]

Australia win the toss and BOWL first, very surprised by that... both captains wanted to bowl.

 

[pasty]

Australia win the toss and BOWL first, very surprised by that... both captains wanted to bowl.

Me too, but then Root said he would have bowled too. Kidology?

 

[The Wizard]

Pitch looks good to me, best batting conditions will be today. Strange decision for me, perhaps the fact that the last 2 tests at lords the two teams batting first have been out for 100 odd?

Hazlewood will go well on this track, dangerous bowler at Lords

 

[Titanic]

England: 1 Rory Burns, 2 Jason Roy, 3 Joe Root (capt), 4 Joe Denly, 5 Jos Buttler, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Jack Leach

Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Cameron Bancroft, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Matthew Wade, 7 Tim Paine (capt & wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon

 

[lawros left foot]

I must admit , I like the way Steve Smith allows Paine to pretend to be Aussie Captain at the toss. At what stage does he decide to take over, first bowl? leaving the changing room?

 

[jakarta]

Why wouldn't you bat first given the weather forecast plus knowing Lyon would be bowling to England in the 4th Innings of a supposed turning wicket?

Hope it goes as well for the Convicts as Brum in 2005!

 

[Eeyore]

Aussies will be bowling because there is still dodgy weather in the four days. They think they've got us on the rack.

 

[Knightsworld]

Is there a reason why today's play couldn't have started earlier seeing that yesterday was a washout?

 

[pasty]

Is there a reason why today's play couldn't have started earlier seeing that yesterday was a washout?

None of the MCC Members would agree to get up half an hour earlier.

 

[Gazwag]

78-3 at lunch