[Cricket] The Ashes- England v Australia- 2nd Test, Lords, June 28 - July 02, 2023

[The Wizard]

Anderson just doesn’t look himself does he, he looks like he’s lost a yard and I just don’t see that passion burning in him anymore, he looks frustrated.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Wind howling, overcast conditions, Australia a bowler down… We’ve had the much better of the conditions and we are still well behind in this match.

Be interesting to see how many the Aussies will want to be in the lead before a declaration, if at all, without a front line spinner will they be more conservative? I guess it doesn’t really matter what they set, England will have a biff and a hoik

Apparently just bowl short and make us inexplicably play every ball and they'll be fine.

 

[The Wizard]

This was the Aussie field earlier with all those bumpers, must say I rate the tactics from Cummins though, he played on the england players bone idle must score 6 an over at all times mentality. They’ve thoroughly shown that brains outsmarts brainless brawn.

When you see that field it makes it all the more hilarious that our batmsan continued to hook it in the air

 

[The Wizard]

Anderson drops one, to add to his woes… deary me

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

This was the Aussie field earlier with all those bumpers, must say I rate the tactics from Cummins though, he played on the england players bone idle must score 6 an over at all times mentality. They’ve thoroughly shown that brains outsmarts brainless brawn.View attachment 162914

When you see that field it makes it all the more hilarious that our batmsan continued to hook it in the air

 

[Willow]

In other news, Sri Lanka are struggling against The Netherlands. They managed to get back to a target of 214 and The Netherlands have had a couple of ducks (and a horrendous run out). Currently 126-4 with just under 30 overs to go.

Thanks for the tip, I turned over.

Sadly the Dutch are now 8 down so I will be back to the Ashes soon.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

There's so much media hype about 'Bazball' but it's basically just a hit and hope slog. There's no mystery, or particular skill, to it. Sometimes it will come off, sometimes you'll look like complete idiots. Currently the latter.

Agreed.
It is transferring one day mentality to Test cricket. The pacing of a five day contest bears no consideration. Opposition as good as Australia are paid no respect. We were told they were going to go even harder in this Test rather than try and learn from the mistakes of the First Test. An England opener declared that we will win this Test by 150 runs. What is the basis for this? The man is at best deluded and at worse an idiot. We haven't dominated the Aussies for some time. Whatever possesses people to think that we can bully and intimidate the strongest team in the world.
This is a decent England side playing into the hands of the Aussies, who can't believe their luck.

 

[The Wizard]

 

[Bold Seagull]

Anderson drops one, to add to his woes… deary me

Sadly like the clock watching over this match, Father Time has no respect for past deeds when it catches up with you.

For England’s greatest bowler, this looks like a series too far sadly. In elite competition you only need to lose a couple of % and it’s enough to make you ordinary.

 

[Ali_rrr]

Thanks for the tip, I turned over.

Sadly the Dutch are now 8 down so I will be back to the Ashes soon.

Yep, the Dutch have absolutely thrown it away. Still impressive considering 8 players are missing due to county commitments and injury.

 

[The Wizard]

Has Ollie always been below the 80mph mark? I’ve always thought of him as an early to mid eighties type bowler.

Watching our bowlers reminds me of something I said before the series even began, the Aussies have a much better balance of attack, even with the expensive Starc you’ve got 3/4 quicks who are all fairly different, and as proved in that England innings when a pitch doesn’t respond a certain way they can change things up

If this pace attack start bowling bouncers the Aussies will be laughing themselves to the run bank.

 

[timbha]

Why is Pope fielding?

Ooops… why was …..

 

[The Wizard]

What on EARTH is Ollie pope doing out there fielding? Utterly bizarre, he can’t even throw the ball!!

 

[Simster]

* turns off cricket *

 

[Ethelwulf]

England have thrown it away . Shocking

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

Sorry, but we were utter shite before Stokes and McCullum turned up, the transformation of the last year of an abject Test team has been remarkable.

It has unravelled here but there is no way you bin the process because of this series, this is something to learn from, and develop the approach, not bin it.

Do you not recall the previous 4 years or so of being second best in pretty much every series including losing to the Windies!

AH! I don't mean bin it entirely, I meant tone it down. It's clearly not working here, so needs binning for now and back to basics before we get back in control.

 

[nicko31]

England's attack is as dull as the weather. I was offered a ticket for tomorrow but couldn't go, frankly I'm relieved

 

[Ethelwulf]

Australia playing proper test cricket England playing shit

 

[The Wizard]

Never out, going down leg.


Pleaaaaaaseeeeeee

 

[KZNSeagull]

Never out, going down leg.


Pleaaaaaaseeeeeee

Good call .

63-1. Warner out lbw