The Ashes: 2Nd Test, Lords

[ChillDoubt]

England have won the toss and will bat. Big Tim Bresnan in for Finn(no surprise there) is the only change.

Khawaja and Harris replace Cowan and Starc for the Aussies.

[jim360]

I don't want fascinating this time!

[jim360]

It's a good thing Trott's so steady, I suppose, and we still have Prior, Bairstow, Broad, Swann, Bresnan to come. Thank goodness we have a longer tail this time. Covers for the terrible start.

Root unlucky again?

[doctordb]

I would have kept faith with Finn, especially on his own ground. Bresnan tends to bowl in the slot and won't worry anyone. Yes he can bowl tighter than Finn but he doesn't have the ability to rip through a side as Finn does. His batting is better than finns but still overrated and anyway he's in the side to take wickets.

The first hour is always tricky at lord's let's hope the two bears can rebuild and then push on in the afternoon.

[seekeerz]

If memory serves me, Glen McGraths nickname was Pigeon - one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet

[ChillDoubt]

It was indeed seekerz.

I'll go with Muggers, sounds ok. England creeping towards 50.

[Sqad]

I am not convinced that Joe Root is an opening batsman......

[ChillDoubt]

He needs to make 40+ next innings Sqad, otherwise Flower may have to have a re-think.

[doctordb]

He opens succesfully for his county and given time wil do so for England.

[Sqad]

doctor..;-)

[jim360]

Hmm...

Not yet. But that's where he plays for Yorkshire, and this season almost made 1,000 runs before May including three centuries.

[ChillDoubt]

4 very streaky runs through 2nd slip sees England on to 52.

[jim360]

There's the England 50 at last. Here's hoping that Trott and Bell can dig in, 80/3 or something like it at lunch will do nicely.

[jim360]

Good work to steady the ship... and that's the 500 up for Yorkshire!

[jim360]

Lunch, and it's 80/3!

"80/3... at lunch will do nicely."

Psychic

[jim360]

So, what would be a good score at tea for England? 160? 170? Ideally no more than one more wicket gone.

After 7 balls, twelve runs added to the lunch score.

[ChillDoubt]

After a dreadful start I'd take 160-4 at tea, but hopefully it'll remain only 3 down.

[jim360]

Me too -- but 43 runs picked up in the first half-hour, so I think 160 might be being pessimistic. If the runs start to flow again, but the wickets remain tight, this day might end up being England's after that dreadful start.

[jim360]

Gosh darn it, there goes Trott. Still, he's steadied the ship.

127/4.

[jim360]

Looked like it was 171-5 for a moment, but Bairstow saved by a no-ball with about fifteen minutes into tea!

[jim360]

Bairstow survives, and its England's sessions at 103-1 to bring them to 183-4. Same again next session and that mad start will be forgotten.