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

[Is it PotG?]

It all looks very convivial and friendly doesn't it?

England need to understand they're playing those f***ing ****s and give them some.

Roy Keane certainly wouldn't be enjoying the 'arm around the shoulder, smiley buddiness'

 

[Bold Seagull]

Cracking tackle from the steward

 

[Is it PotG?]

Not sure winning the toss and bowling first is the right move - as much as the pitch and conditions look conducive to making a good start bowling first, the risk on the other side is that they could be chasing a competitive target on a worn pitch with Lyon probing.

All of the pundits and Pat Cummins too concurred, do you know something we don't?

It might simply be that our attack ain't up to much.

 

[nwgull]

What’s going on with Robbo? Getting reverse swept bowling 78mph balls

Very average bowling from England this morning, only 4 balls would have hit the stumps out of 60

This is probably intentional. 25 from the first 11, so they're hardly letting the Aussies race away.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Good toss to lose tbh.

Well, seems to have gone that way so far...

 

[Hotchilidog]

Another drop. Garbage fielding yet again.

 

[Is it PotG?]

Root now Pope...were loose.

 

[The Wizard]

Another drop…. Same shit different day

 

[Mackenzie]

Should have been taken.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Well, Pope confirming why Bairstow has the gloves.

 

[Eeyore]

Could’ve done his back and been out for the series - f***ing morons with no job or care for people.

Twas a very silly thing to do by Bairstow. He should have dropped him, like he usually does.

Meeooowww.

I still remember Terry Alderman at Perth, Although Bairstow wouldn't have been born then.

 

[The Wizard]

Any danger of bowling any balls that actually hit the stumps lads

 

[Bold Seagull]

It doesn't help that we're currently playing the luckiest sports team on the planet right now...

 

[Screaming J]

Hmmm....this Tongue chap is proving a bit expensive!

 

[Screaming J]

Hmmm....this Tongue chap is proving a bit expensive!

I take it all back

 

[WhingForPresident]

Beauty. Bloody needed that.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Desperately needed that. Completely changes the feel of the lunch break.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

If we'd actually taken our chances and kept our feet behind the crease Khwaja would be averaging about 30 and we'd be 1-0 in the series now.
Doesn't matter what your mindset or tactics are if you don't get the basics right.

I was about to write that I don't think Tongue is fast enough to be a proper quick and isn't good enough to be fast medium when he took that wicket.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Could’ve done his back and been out for the series - f***ing morons with no job or care for people.

Twas a very silly thing to do by Bairstow. He should have dropped him, like he usually does.

Meeooowww.

It's the catches he doesn't even go for that are the problem.
Let's the ball go through between him and Root but happy to risk injuring himself carrying somebody all the way to the boundary.

 

[jcdenton08]

If we'd actually taken our chances and kept our feet behind the crease Khwaja would be averaging about 30 and we'd be 1-0 in the series now.
Doesn't matter what your mindset or tactics are if you don't get the basics right.

I was about to write that I don't think Tongue is fast enough to be a proper quick and isn't good enough to be fast medium when he took that wicket.

He’s been up around 88mph consistently - definitely a quick pace, his problem has been when he gets put away from his shorter ball. He drew a thick inside edge from Warner in a previous over when he gets his line and length right.

That ball is swinging around like crazy, especially for Tongue and Anderson - no excuses to be made, these conditions are an absolute dream for a bowling attack exclusively of seamers.

They must be licking their lips, no blaming the conditions, got to get the line and length right and take our chances. Pope seems to be seen a specialist catcher but he’s pretty hopeless!!