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]

Agar run out for 2, the rock of Trent Bridge has gone. 96/7 !!

[ChillDoubt]

Agar commits suicide going for a run that was never on, Haddin doesn't move and Agar goes. 96-7. Will England enforce the follow on?

[ChillDoubt]

Anderson gets his first wicket as Siddle nibbles one, 104-8.

[jim360]

Swann gets Haddin, and Anderson gets Siddle, to leave Australia on 104/9. Even worse than their first innings at Trent Bridge -- can Harris and Pattinson manage to produce another ear-record tenth wicket partnership to save the Australians' blushes?

[ChillDoubt]

..and Haddin goes swiftly after! 104-9.

[ChillDoubt]

At 112-9, the touring side require a further 50 to avoid the follow on. What's the betting on enforcing it? I'd say let's do it.

[ChillDoubt]

Swann assists the Aussies in their quest to avoid the follow on as he drops one.

[jomifl]

Maggers, deffers

[ChillDoubt]

I prefer Muggers, as his surname us pronounced Mu-graa just sounds better to me.
Swann gets his 5 with a catch from Kp and Cook decides to bat again. I'd have liked to have seen the follow-on, just to bury their noses in it. I'd feel sorry for other teams but never for the Australians.

[DTCwordfan]

No, Cooke will bat and rest his bowlers for the final push - get the poor Ozzies knackered from running around and then start to knock them around Sunday lunch time.

[jim360]

I tend to think why not force the follow-on if you can? But in this game I don't think it will make too much difference as there is so much time left. England could get skittled for 200 and still be winning. Hopefully they'll be more like 350+ at a declaration -- and also hopefully Root can make a decent contribution because he is part of England's long-term future. Third-highest run scorer in the world in First-class cricket this year.

[DTCwordfan]

Nah Jim - get the bowlers squeaky fresh again, the major danger being we do the same thing....but on that wicket - in my day even I could have made runs....against the Ozzies.

[ChillDoubt]

Root gets lucky as he tickles one between keeper and first slip, living dangerously. 18-0.

[craft1948]

Love this comment posted on the BBC site.............

"What's that you say, Skippy? The real Australian cricket team are stuck down an abandoned mineshaft?"

[jim360]

All the talk about Jor Root's vulnerability, and Cook is first to go again. 22/1.

[jim360]

Lordy-lordy! England back into that tricky position of 30-3! Still, they were in that position last innings and recovered. Expect them to do so again here, but I don't think they'll need more than 170 or so to win this match.

[ChillDoubt]

I don't wanna say "told you so" but the follow on should have been enforced whilst they were in such disarray. Hope it's not a chance missed.

[jim360]

I wanted to go for the follow-on too.

Don't think it will matter, though. And don't see why people are slating England even though they've reached a commanding position.

[sunny-dave]

Evening All - been offline for posting, but able to read the thread - thanks for the entertainment.

Personally I'm glad about Cook not enforcing the follow on - I've got tickets for Sunday and at least there is now some chance of there being play to watch :)

[jim360]

Day 3, Lunch, and England have reached 114/3. No more wickets lost, steady accumulation of runs, and the lead is almost 350. Great work by Root and Bresnan.