Lords victory

[mightyWBA]

I can't believe its 74 years since we last beat the Aussies at Lords in a test match!
How many times have we actually played them there since and how many were draws?
If it's such a rarity why do our press always expect us to win?
Congratulations to the England team anyway on a rare success :-)

[wallacia]

as a cricket loving scotsman.i would just like to say,well done england.

[mightyWBA]

Cheers mate,thats very sporting of you and good to hear :-)

[lesblue]

This was the eighteenth time England have played Australia at Lord's since 1934 (our previous last victory). of the past 17 matches, the Aussies won nine with eight draws. So, well worth celebrating this victory, I feel. Well done, England.

[SeaJayPea]

I was there today, Mighty. With no shadow of a doubt it was the best atmosphere I've ever experienced at any sporting venue. I can't believe I was the only one with a tear in his eye when Freddie got his five for. And then again at the end.

Brilliant day.

To answer your question, this was the 19th match since the last time England beat Australia at Lord's. Australia have won nine and there have been nine draws.

As to the reason why the press always expect England to win, it's more the triumph of hope over experience, I fear.

[SeaJayPea]

Nine draws Les, in 1938, 1953, 1964, 1968, 1975, 1977 1980, 1981 and 1997. The confusion will be that 1980 wasn't an Ashes test. It was the one-off Century Test.

[lesblue]

Yes, you are right SeaJayPea. I was only counting Ashes matches. You must have had a great day today.

[SeaJayPea]

On the subject of the press, in 1989 I went to the Australia v Middlesex game at Lord's, just before the test series. It was Sunday and I had a few of the papers with me, as you do.

Peter Roebuck had written a piece in the Sunday Times in which he assured his readers that England were going to win the series easily. I mentioned this, rather scathingly, to my mates and Geoff Lawson, who was fielding a few feet away, overheard and asked to borrow the paper. He read the article, looking up every now and then, and handed it back with the words 'We'll see. Thanks'.

Australia won the six test series 4-0, with two draws. Geoff Lawson took 29 wickets. Peter Roebuck now lives abroad.

[mightyWBA]

Thanks for your answers SeaJay,Les and Steve.
It' certainly is well worth celebrating such a rare victory!

Would be nice if our press could stop expecting England to win everything in all sports ,as it obviously doesn't happen and certain bits of this Kingdom think we agree with hype!

Roll on the World Cup in South Africa next year ........
Oh 'eck :-(

[jno]

Steve, no point in blaming an Australian for the fact that hardly anyone will actually have seen Flintoff's feat; it was the ECB who sold the game out.

Since the last time it happened, there's been a world war, men on the moon, antibiotics, the internet...