Ashes second test, Lords, continued.

First topic message reminder :

Please continue here guys.

Khawaja is doing a very good job for his team. Must admit I am slightly surprised : he looked like a hapless Swann victim early on ; but after an early struggle he has looked quite solid.

Root now getting outrageous spin from the footholds ! Too much spin...no one can get an edge on that !

50 up for Clarke as well. Solid job by these two.

Can they keep it up for another session?

I sat there and watched Rooty and told myself this was going to be his game. and he gets Aussies most stable man... now the pressure will be horrible on Kawaja... he took confidence from Clarke.

dyrewolfe wrote:50 up for Clarke as well. :clap:Solid job by these two.

Can they keep it up for another session?

 No.

Look for Root and Swann to spin them out now.

Is there anything Joe Root can't do?

Vital breakthrough for England!  

Evidently not.

Part-time spinner Root adds to his 180 with the big scalp of the Aussie skipper. Clarke goes for 51 and Aus are 134-4.

Will this spark another collapse?

Part-timer? I'm not having any of that, he's got the best bowling average of this England team!

Good trap field placing by Cook...

Pretty poor shot from Clarke it must be said : very unwise to try that with a leg slip in.

Matt Prior will be feeling much better now  

Duty281 wrote:Part-timer? I'm not having any of that, he's got the best bowling average of this England team!

Fraid so. I bet his figures wouldn't look nearly as good if he bowled the same number of overs as Anderson or Swann.

so i take we are worrying for nothing about kp and swann getting on. Root is the answer for both?

Nothing for the seamers all game really once the new ball has worn a bit. Difference is England have Swann and Australia have Agar. Might be the biggest difference in this game.

Root thinks he has Kawaja, not out but reviewed

Not out, missed it apparently

Yep, turned down

It is pleasing to see that Root appears to be much more a serious fifth bowler than Trott or KP...and that Cook has sufficient confidence in him to treat him as such...

Nearly another one for Root ! Can see how England were fooled then ; so close to the edge , turning ...and bat hitting ground . Good decision from Dharmasena - and England lose a review...

But that's out !

Now gone. Root doing his best Steve Smith impression

Oh he's a boy isn't he? Root will tear you apart again!

Joe Root for Prime Minister, what a fantastic young cricketer!

It is Roots day.

We needed our future premium all-rounder to get rid of both these settled batsmen.

Perfect now for Swann to clean up after Root gets a couple more.

After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

The success of part timers like Root and Smith really highlight why Agar has to go for OT.

ROOOOOOOOOT!

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that ball in your hand?

JR gets his second wicket in quick succession. Khawaja survives one close appeal, only to fall next ball for 54. Australia now 135-5.

Looks like England will wrap this up before close of play.

GSC wrote:The success of part timers like Root and Smith really highlight why Agar has to go for OT.

Agar was injured in this match.

Nonetheless it was bizarre that Lyon, be took 9 in his last Test, was axed.

Gerry SA wrote:After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

Since when was Clarke left handed?  

End should be nigh really after tea. Swann and Root in tandem.

Lyon was one of the Aussies who came out of the India tour looking ok, he certainly became better as it went on. Baffling why he was dropped for Agar really

Root is such a legend!

Bat, Bowl, field, think he should be dropped.

Clear man of this test match!!!

Can we wrap the match up by end of play?

Olly wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

Since when was Clarke left handed?  

Talking about bowling

Clarke gave his wicket away rather than Root getting him out.

ooo smithy sure he is not out there.

Smith gone

Reviewed.

either way he is out and the young man has it.

6 down, England having a disco in Lords.

NA NA NA
NA NA NA
HEY HEY HEY
GOODBYE!!!

Smith gone!

Timmy the Trundler gets another wicket

Gerry SA wrote:After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

He pretty much gave up bowling though because of back problems. Bit early to say Root isn't as good as Clarke, now Root is in the England set up, if they want to bring his bowling on he will improve.

nope, out Smithy.  I can see why he reviewed though. It was faint.

and now the young man comes back but a very different innings needed here.

tea first.

NickisBHAFC wrote:Smith gone

Reviewed.

Wasted review

You could hear the edge...

Australia don't understand how to use DRS...

Wow - Smith given out for just 1. Bresnan gets in among the wickets and Aus now 136-6.

This is so humiliating for the Aussies. Where do they go from here?

VTR wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

He pretty much gave up bowling though because of back problems. Bit early to say Root isn't as good as Clarke, now Root is in the England set up, if they want to bring his bowling on he will improve.

Clarke bowled in the West Indies last year

Took a 5 fer.

dyrewolfe wrote:Wow - Smith given out for just 1. Bresnan gets in among the wickets and Aus now 136-6.

This is so humiliating for the Aussies. Where do they go from here?

Call up Katich and Voges to strengthen up the batting

Nothing in cricket beats having a batsman who can bowl 10-15 overs consistently. It adds an extra dimensoon to the team, literally. Hope young Root can refine his doodles.

They were saying on Sky earlier you could probably make a more competitive Aussie team from the Aussies who are over here playing county stuff/covering it than the one actually playing!!!

Probably allows England to resist Panesar for OT does Root.

Trundle Timmy with 3 wickets in the match now

Voges and David Hussey could do a job.

Only Warner has really got to grips with Root

If they speed up my VISA I could do a job... Cant do any worse than their current #6. Plus I also bowl.

Where do Aus go from here really? Potentially bowled out twice for under 200 by spin, on a pitch offering a bit of assistance. Next up OT that offers a lot more recently.

How many times have people been bowled just before tea this series?

Good decision about timing of declaration.  Give the crowd a decent day's play today while still minimal risk of needing to come back tomorrow.  

Gerry SA wrote:

VTR wrote:

Gerry SA wrote:After 50 Tests Michael Clarke's bowling average was 17, with 6-9 as his career best figures

After 100 odd Tests, his average is over 30.

Root's not as good as Clarke. Only thing in his favour is Australia so many LHB

He pretty much gave up bowling though because of back problems. Bit early to say Root isn't as good as Clarke, now Root is in the England set up, if they want to bring his bowling on he will improve.

Clarke bowled in the West Indies last year

Took a 5 fer.

Well yes he still bowls. Just not very often these days due to injuries. He hasn't for example bowled in this series yet, and England have had some lengthy innings.