Ashes second test, Lords, continued.

First topic message reminder :

Please continue here guys.

Another good reason to declare soon is to keep Root on 100+ not out and Bell 50+ not out.

I'm sure they'd love to improve their averages that way.

Fifty for Bell  

Run machine...

50 for Bell!  

hopefully root can get to 200 NO!!

that will sort his average out even more

50 up for Bell to add to his 2 centuries. Must be in the form of his life right now.

This some awesome day for sport- westy has a 3 shot lead in the open.. Turned around 5 shots on woods in 3 holes!!

and rooty and bell are killing it

GSC wrote:Can't see England dropping a batsman for a bowler with their brittle lineup.

Neither can I . Especially as they get a rest before this next Test. The present formula seems to work pretty well for them anyway.

Oh I'd add bat until tomorrow lunchtime as well. We'll only need 3 and a half sessions maximum to bowl them out.

Tbh, with a 500 run lead we might as well bowl at them. Better lineups have fallen way short of that target.

mystiroakey wrote:This some awesome day for sport- westy has a 3 shot lead in the open.. Turned around 5 shots on woods in 3 holes!!

and rooty and bell are killing it

Chris Froome to win the Tour de France!
Lee Westwood to win a major...at last!
England to batter Australia...again!

 England

mystiroakey wrote:hopefully root can get to 200 NO!!

that will sort his average out even more

Rate he's been going he'll need another 30+ overs. Too slow...not to mention unnecessary.

Might let Bell go to his 100 though if hes in the area.

I wouldn't declare until tomorrow lunchtime, OR until Bell and Root both get out. This is far too much fun. Root has a golden chance of a double ton here.

root is starting to go some now Wolfy!

I really doubt England will bat longer than an hour tomorrow. No point.

We have to let them go for the next targets- we have plenty of time left. Normally i would argue till i am blue in the face at a declaration- but if the bowlers cant get them out in 5 sessions they will be heavily to blame.

Really increasing the pace now.  Piling on the runs....

mystiroakey wrote:This some awesome day for sport- westy has a 3 shot lead in the open.. Turned around 5 shots on woods in 3 holes!!

and rooty and bell are killing it

 and Froome has done it The Tour too.

Duty281 wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:This some awesome day for sport- westy has a 3 shot lead in the open.. Turned around 5 shots on woods in 3 holes!!

and rooty and bell are killing it

Chris Froome to win the Tour de France!
Lee Westwood to win a major...at last!
England to batter Australia...again!

 England

 you lucky chap to be growing up during this.

It was all going South for us when I was your age.

Yeah suggests England want to bowl tonight

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

mystiroakey wrote:This some awesome day for sport- westy has a 3 shot lead in the open.. Turned around 5 shots on woods in 3 holes!!

and rooty and bell are killing it

Chris Froome to win the Tour de France!
Lee Westwood to win a major...at last!
England to batter Australia...again!

 England

 you lucky chap to be growing up during this.

It was all going South for us when I was your age.

Yes it is rather fortuitous isn't it?  

Root on 140 now. Surely England can't declare while Root has a double ton on the horizon?

Bat the rest of the day out, see where we get. Then make the decision to declare before start of play tomorrow. 

Also Joe Root  complete legend. 

Nice to see Ian Bell batting well again, the moaners must be going crazy atm!!!

The lead is up to 500!

Agar is having a torrid time out there.

150 partnership. England underline their immense superiority.  

Well batted Ian Bell


515 lead, looking good

Oh. Bell's gone for 74. Out of absolutely nothing to a horrid ball. He's missed out on a ton there!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/627197.html

'England not as good as they think' - Steve Waugh

Are you sure?    

Root on 149...

Getting nervous , Duty ?

alfie wrote:Root on 149...

Getting nervous , Duty ?

 

My faith in Joe Root remains.  

150 for Root     

Not bad for a young 'un

There it is, 150 for Joe Root! The man I tipped to be leading run scorer in this series.  

I don't know why everyone is so keen to be bowling tonight. Let the bowlers sit there with their feet up, they were bowling yesterday after all. Run Australia into the ground. We can set them 600 and still give ourselves 160 overs to bowl them out, as this is still only Day 3.

As soon as a bowler would have to walk out I'd declare to protect him from the Aussie quicks having a go, but while we have batsmen in reserve let them do their job. Barstow could do with a knock here as well.

Come on Cooky, don't declare yet. Seeing Australia set a target of over 600 will go some way to make up for this:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ausveng/engine/match/249222.html

I think they want the 550 lead.  Looks a good lead.

I reckon England will bat again tomorrow. 5 sessions and a bit is more than enough to bowl Aus out.

Its cloudy, under lights, why not just stick Aus in for a few tricky overs with the new ball.

England have a tendency to be over conservative at times.

Not as if the extra runs are doing anything for Root or Bairstow at this point. Aus offering buffet bowling, not bothering with the new ball.

Rather expected them to bat all day , to be honest. So much time left , why not keep them out there suffering ? Extra wear on somewhat fragile bodies like Harris - it is only game two of five...

Fair bit of turn for Agar. Swann will be fancying his chances.

I highly doubt England are being conservative. They just see no need to Bowl. Aus are being demoralised and run ragged. The bigger the winning margin the more damage to Aus.

Presumably if you don't have a spell at them tonight then you plan to bat tomorrow.

Get it over with, give yourself monday off. All a bit pointless this session, just an opportunity for some batsmen and Agar to pad their averages.

Successive sixes for Root ...enjoying himself as the day winds down.

Three hundred scored today. For two wickets.

Makes yesterday look even more bizarre.

Good day for Yorkshire.

Might as well fill his boots. Rarely will test runs come as easy as these ones.

Fair enough decision to bat all day.

Yeah i would call it a day now tbh. Declare. Start fresh bowling tomorrow!!!

Yeah I don't have a problem with it, I'd just rather see them get on with it. Australia already given up, Clarke resting his seamers and Agar and Smith bowling some rubbish. TB was a brilliant test, this won't live long in the memory.

Root played well for his first 100, but the last 50 runs or so have been a glorified net.

So 566 ahead with young Joe still rooted to the crease..Think we can say England have taken a grip on the match  

Back for the kill tomorrow.  

so will they try to get Root to 200 or just declare now?

I suppose a team could get that in 2 whole days.  Another hour and a lead of 600 and they couldn't.

GSC wrote:Root played well for his first 100, but the last 50 runs or so have been a glorified net.

 Did we just see Aussie heads drop?

They'll give Root his 200.

And by they I mean England and Australia.