The Ashes, Second Test Lord's

First topic message reminder :

Harris and Khwaja in.
Aus's bowling depth is so good that they can drop who was rated to be their top fast bowler without blinking an eyelid.

root is going to be our opener, no point relegating him to just put him back up in a years time!!- he has the quality. a 30(3rd highest score of the innings) and 2 50/50 outs and people are acting crazy..

Actually, it wouldn’t be very easy to put him ‘back down’ to the middle order. Just imagine how that would be interpreted by the Aussie bowlers? I think it’s either opening or gone and that doesn’t sound good

bradman99.94 wrote:Actually, it wouldn’t be very easy to put him ‘back down’ to the middle order. Just imagine how that would be interpreted by the Aussie bowlers? I think it’s either opening or gone and that doesn’t sound good

No he wouldnt be dropped mate! it would be bairstow gone if compo came back at 2

Fists of Fury wrote:I think moving him back to six constitutes a drop, yes. It effectively says "we got it wrong, you're not our man yet".

Or its a case of we want you where you've been doing well for us. Bairstow would be the one getting the axe.

When you compare Bairstow and Compton the stats are fairly similar, Compton has had 2 more innings and has hit 86 more. The thing that stands out for me is Compton has hit 2 100's where Bairstow hasn't passed that mark yet. Despite passing 50 three times.

Ton up for England and Trott just one shy of his fifty.

50 for Trott  

Very timely.

mystiroakey wrote:root is going to be our opener, no point relegating him to just put him back up in a years time!!- he has the quality. a 30(3rd highest score of the innings) and 2 50/50 outs and people are acting crazy..

I don't know.

You're saying its too soon to drop him on the back of 3 results but equally its too soon to know whether he'll be able to be a success as an opener.

He came into the England Test side as a middle order batsman and it could be thats where he is best suited. As you say though, too soon to tell.

Also I think it'd be better to drop him down the order than drop him altogether. He's shown he can make runs lower down the order (albeit against weaker opposition) so he should be given time.

Trott brings up his 50...lets hope he can convert that into a 3 figure score.

I've a feeling he will come good.

Those technical issues with his head dropping need addressing though (nas showed them earlier).

He allready has been a success as an opener- He is an opener at club level..

I realise its not the same- but this is how he has played for the most of his life- trust me the chances are he will be our long term opener. I am happy to make that judgement call

And England are continuing the rebuild. This is nice, Trott and Bell going along with little alarm.

Another 4 there for Bell - good run rate as well by England, over 3.5 an over thus far.

Both Pattinson and Siddle going at 4 an over here. Pattinson has clearly struggled today. Their relative ineffectiveness is forcing Clarke to use Watson that much more.

Australia have bowled lousily since lunch, a bit inexplicable...

Trott out

whoops, I just gave it the kiss of death

Oh what has Trott done there? Thrown away his wicket.

Just misjudged the bounce a bit and got underneath it...not like Trott at all.
Now the trouble with the early collapse is seen again : despite a really good partnership one mistake has Australia right on top again. What was required was a 200 run stand , not 99...
Need a similar effort from the two gingers now to get right back in the game.

The Aussies still not got a third man for Bell?!

Oh no...England's anchor has been swept away. Harris gets Trott for 58. Eng on a decidedly shaky 127-4.

Bell last "real" batsman standing. Can he and Bairstow help England to a decent target. Looks like Ian will have to repeat his heroics from the 1st Test.

Oh that's a real shame, I had hoped Trott could get us to 200.

200-3 would have looked pretty good.

Aussie back on top. It swings again.

Now JB has a chance to prove himself.  Come on young man!

Still a lot of batting to come, only 266 more required for the magic 400 figure. At the rate England are going, that shouldn't be a problem.

Bairstow time to step up mate.. Lucky to be in the team reall- Everyone bangs on about root or comp and forgets him..

Trott has been doing this for a while now, gets off to a typical solid start, post a decent score, and then get out without converting it. Now Bairstow has to really step up and offer Ian Bell all the support he needs.
What an inspired selection Ryan Harris is proving to be. He always had the class, its been his body that has been the problem, but he has delivered superbly so far for Australia. Along with the 2 batsman out there, Prior and the England lower order will have to step up in this innings. Australia on top at the moment despite that good partnership during which both Bell and Trott looked in control.

mystiroakey wrote:Bairstow time to step up mate.. Lucky to be in the team reall- Everyone bangs on about root or comp and forgets him..

I think everyone is in agreement that Bairstow should be the man to be dropped and Compton replacing Root at the top of the order, imo KP needs to start earning his money.

but we'll see!

Come on lads 350 minimum

Nice analysis msp.

I think Harris might have found five days and lots of overs hard but he is getting through England quite quickly.

Ok it's not 80 all out thankfully but it's still a long way short. Very impressive.

And now suddenly the runs have dried up as well.

Really a completely unTrott-like dismissal - while msp has a point that he has struggled to convert starts into match-defining innigs recently, he is the last player you would expect to get out caught at deep square leg to the pull shot.

Opportunity for Bairstow to prove the doubters wrong. Not a wicket with any demons now the ball has lost its early hardness, so it's minly a case of responding well to the pressure of the situation. Bell at the other end shoulf be able to help talk him through as he did so effectively with Broad last match.

True about Trott...actually a few of the England players have been failing to go on to big scores lately. Partly down to batting conditions perhaps , as there have been some low scoring games all round this season.
But today you would have thought that a well set Trott would have been booked in for bed and breakfast.
Maybe they haven't quite got the one day mindset out of their heads yet.

Scrumpy wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Bairstow time to step up mate.. Lucky to be in the team reall- Everyone bangs on about root or comp and forgets him..

I think everyone is in agreement that Bairstow should be the man to be dropped and Compton replacing Root at the top of the order, imo KP needs to start earning his money.

but we'll see!

Come on lads 350 minimum

He's played 1 Test in the past 4 months... and he scored a 50 in it...

What other batsmen scores so many 40 plus scores game after game after game.

Trott has a bit of an insecurity about his SR. He knows us fans have a pop. He has mentioned it a few times recently and he also has mentioned that he will try and play more shots..

Maybe that is his problem.. But thing is in this situation no one wanted his rate up- He was playing perfectly

mystiroakey wrote:What other batsmen scores so many 40 plus scores game after game after game.

Trott has a bit of an insecurity about his SR. He knows us fans have a pop. He has mentioned it a few times recently and he also has mentioned that he will try and play more shots..

Maybe that is his problem.. But thing is in this situation no one wanted his rate up- He was playing perfectly

People had a problem with Trott's strike rate in ODIs rather than tests, but yeah, perhaps the talk might have got to him just a little bit, or it might be a concentration issue. In the first innings at TB, and now here, he has got out in a very UnTrottlike way.

Scrumpy wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Bairstow time to step up mate.. Lucky to be in the team reall- Everyone bangs on about root or comp and forgets him..

I think everyone is in agreement that Bairstow should be the man to be dropped and Compton replacing Root at the top of the order, imo KP needs to start earning his money.

but we'll see!

Come on lads 350 minimum

Wasn't an average of 48 in India good enough? How about the average of 75 in Sri Lanka, or the near 55 he averaged against South Africa last year?

Ashton Agar on for Siddle. On a day one track, if he could keep the runs down long enough, even that could be an achievement. A wicket could be a real bonus. But both Siddle and Pattinson need to step up for Australia, they haven't bowled too many balls that troubled the batsman, and neither have they kept the runs down.
Jonny Bairstow needs to relax, he couldn't put away some loose stuff from Siddle, but if he stays out there long enough, the runs will come.

150 up. Too early to declare?
I'll get my coat

Bell becomes the second player to reach the 50 milestone.   Great going Ian...now England really need you to add another 50.

50 for Bell. A fine continuation of a few days ago.  

Bell you legend- I HAVE NEVER DOUBTED YOU:run:

Duty281 wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:Bairstow time to step up mate.. Lucky to be in the team reall- Everyone bangs on about root or comp and forgets him..

I think everyone is in agreement that Bairstow should be the man to be dropped and Compton replacing Root at the top of the order, imo KP needs to start earning his money.

but we'll see!

Come on lads 350 minimum

Wasn't an average of 48 in India good enough? How about the average of 75 in Sri Lanka, or the near 55 he averaged against South Africa last year?

Trouble is those fantastic-looking averages tend to be made over 1 or 2 great innings. The rest of the time he's absolute pants.

Bairstow has now equalled Cook, Root and KP's combined scores. Maybe theres hope for him yet...

I'm not able to watch or listen to TMS at the moment but I'd be interested to know how Bairstow's looking. This is a big innings for him and he's looked a fair bit nervy recently

he looks fine bradman. not nervous..

That rev counter isnt working at all..

no way has he just bolwed a 2600 and a 2800 on the spin. he has been bolwing 1800 all day long and last test he didnt get beyond 2150

Poor effort this so far. Cook, Root and KP missed out big time

Been at work all day, now time to relax to a beer and the cricket!!

Were doing well which is good to see, delighted that Bell is having another good innings. Trott being his usual reliable self. Bairstow has started of well.

Shame Cook, Root (getting worrying) and KP all going very cheaply.

Are people seriously questioning Bairstow already? He was one of England's better batsmen in the 1st Test, is only back in the side, was unfairly dropped last winter and then reselected having played no cricket for months on end. He then gets dragged around with England for the CT without lifting a bat. Give the lad a chance for Gods sake.

Edit: Please God do not let thsi be a scud.

liverbnz wrote:Are people seriously questioning Bairstow already? He was one of England's better batsmen in the 1st Test, is only back in the side, was unfairly dropped last winter and then reselected having played no cricket for months on end. He then gets dragged around with England for the CT without lifting a bat. Give the lad a chance for Gods sake.

It's the modern world. It seems hardly anyone is prepared to give someone a chance, success has to be instant, just like real life has to be instant. Patience. That's the key.

Liver what are you banging on about this time?

everyone knows the decison was between comp and bairstow not root!

if you wanted compo in the side- bairstow wasnt in. That is the point being brought up. We all want him to do well mind!

liverbnz wrote:Are people seriously questioning Bairstow already? He was one of England's better batsmen in the 1st Test, is only back in the side, was unfairly dropped last winter and then reselected having played no cricket for months on end. He then gets dragged around with England for the CT without lifting a bat. Give the lad a chance for Gods sake.

Edit: Please God do not let thsi be a scud.

 This.

Australia's over rate, once again, is very poor. They're about 6 or 7 overs behind here.

well it's coming together.

I think the nice thing compared to the poor period in the 90's is that the team tend to be able to at least get some runs even after a start like that.  I have bad memories of Aussie getting on top and getting them out very cheaply.

There is some fight here which is nice to see.

Oh my days.. great bowling!

shame