The Second Investec Ashes Test, England v Australia, Lords

[Basil Fawlty]

That's not really that useful then

Of course it is, when he is in form. He can tear Bowling Attacks apart, but I think Durham are holding him back and he should join a side say like Yorkshire, to develop that potential to become a England top order batsman.

 

[Canonman]

Pietersen often DOES let himself down though, and I think over-confidence often comes into it. Take his dismissal today - ball did nothing much - KP stood there and thought "I'll just knock this down the pitch". And he would have too, in 5 or 6 overs time, when he'd got himself in properly - like he DID in the second innings at Trent Bridge. Often guilty of going too hard, too soon, without putting the hard work in first.

Good way of putting it.

 

[spring hall convert]

It's so sad for the Aussies that this is only Harris's 13th Test for Australia. His average of 23.63 puts him in some seriously esteemed company.

I won't be losing any sleep about it though.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

How are Durham holding him back?

 

[spring hall convert]

Antony Stokes of Durham, you can add into the mix for our top order. But he is to inconsistent for this format. But still has great potential though.

I'm not sure his technique is up to it. I suspect he'd get found out in Test cricket a la Morgan.

Taylor's the one for me. He's got all the shots, scored heavily in all formats consistently at an unfashionable county and has taken the move to a more high profile county in his stride.

He struggled against South Africa but to be fair so did most of the rest of the team. I just hope it hasn't affected him mentally, he's definately got the talent.

 

[Pavilionaire]

If the umpire had given Root not out I think he would have stayed not out. There was certainly some doubt but not enough to overturn the umpire's decision. The Root dismissal makes the Trott decision look even worse.

As for the batting line-up, the only other first class batsman with the potential to be proper test class is Morgan. He needs to score a double ton for Middlesex though to really show his class. I believe he's got the mental strength - he's showed that in the one-day game - he just needs to show he can adapt his style to the test format.

 

[Titanic]

Lunch 80-3 (26 overs)

Trott 34* Bell 23*

Good session for Australia.

 

[spring hall convert]

If the umpire had given Root not out I think he would have stayed not out. There was certainly some doubt but not enough to overturn the umpire's decision. The Root dismissal makes the Trott decision look even worse.

As for the batting line-up, the only other first class batsman with the potential to be proper test class is Morgan. He needs to score a double ton for Middlesex though to really show his class. I believe he's got the mental strength - he's showed that in the one-day game - he just needs to show he can adapt his style to the test format.

Not in Tests for me, Morgan has got a serious technical deficiency playing defensively to the proper quicks. Until that's sorted he won't average more than 40 in Test cricket & that needs to be the minmum requirement.

 

[keaton]

Morgan's looked rubbish in the ODIs for a while and is lucky to still be in that team let alone the test

 

[Pavilionaire]

Lunch 80/3. Good response from the Warwickshire men. Have Australia let England off the hook again. If these two stick around for another hour or so then the answer will be yes.

Australia will bat last and - Jimmy apart - I can't see the other bowlers bowling as poorly as they did in the 4th innings at Trent Bridge.

 

[keaton]

Of course it is, when he is in form. He can tear Bowling Attacks apart, but I think Durham are holding him back and he should join a side say like Yorkshire, to develop that potential to become a England top order batsman.

It's not. He asked who people would replace our top order with. You suggested someon who you think isn't good enough at the moment.
And averages 35 in the CC and 22 this season.

 

[knocky1]

The heat and score seems to be getting to everyone this morning. What a load of old arguments.

The bookies have England and Wales at evens and the convicts at 2-1, in from 9/2 at the toss.

 

[spring hall convert]

Lunch 80/3. Good response from the Warwickshire men. Have Australia let England off the hook again. If these two stick around for another hour or so then the answer will be yes.

Australia will bat last and - Jimmy apart - I can't see the other bowlers bowling as poorly as they did in the 4th innings at Trent Bridge.

Recent history suggests that batting last at Lord's isn't quite the issue it can be at other grounds. If anything the wicket tends to flatten out on days 4 & 5. What we don't know however, is given the exceptionally hot and dry conditions it may well turn as the game goes on. To win this game I'm pretty sure we need to bat long in the first innings, 400 being the minimum requirement.

 

[spring hall convert]

The heat and score seems to be getting to everyone this morning. What a load of old arguments.

The bookies have England and Wales at evens and the convicts at 2-1, in from 9/2 at the toss.

Yup, I wouldn't exactly be rushing to the bookies to back Australia at 2's.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Yep no doubting his figures, but he ought to be getting into the eighties more times than he does.

Is this the pietersen who WALKED without looking at the umpire?

 

[vegster]

can all Australian commentators please stop saying " Aw look " every other sentence please ?

 

[Titanic]

Trott 53* (77 balls)

We need him to make it a big one.*

*Sorry

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Trott 53* (77 balls)

He'll not get many more. I've a couple of quid on him as first inns top scorer @ 7/2, and I pretty much never pick a winner on these!

 

[Simster]

can all Australian commentators please stop saying " Aw look " every other sentence please ?

On the positive side, at least this is Ashton Agar's second match so we won't have to hear their ridiculous "dayBOO" pronounciation. Dicks.

 

[Simster]

He'll not get many more. I've a couple of quid on him as first inns top scorer @ 7/2, and I pretty much never pick a winner on these!

Australia are bowling some absolute pies at the moment. That won't last either, surely?