Ashes 2nd Test

[Gandalf]

I can't recall if we have a cricket thread lurking or not, so thought I would start one to cover the second test. Been watching it online for the last half an hour and England are off to a cracking start at 40-0. Hopefully, it will be an improvment on the first game. Not a bad start at all. Australia looking ragged in the bowling department.

Feel free to chip in with random observations as the match progresses.

[Gandalf]

And if anyone is unable to watch it on tv because of work or whatever you can follow it on this site.

http://sportzpal.net/

Some really good streams on there.

[Gandalf]

A great first session for the English....might crack open a beer for the afternoon session.

[Gandalf]

Australia not looking in this at all. Their bowlers are like toothless sharks, no bite whatsoever. I worry about the English bowlers on this surface considering how useless they were in Wales.

I seem to be talking to myself, but that's okay. I'm quite content. Another boundary! 177-0.

[Memphis]

Nice on miles, Ive been listening until now. 231-2. We really need a big first innings total, 600 +

Pieterson needs to keep his head, hopefully Strauss hangs around to keep him on the ground.

[Memphis]

Pietersons not fucking about is he. I think we should have had Harmison in for Broad. Harmison can be all over the place but he's been bowling well and He'd give us a bit more variety with his height.

[Gandalf]

Yeah, really great start despite the 2 wickets. I'm really enjoying it. I just tried explaining the rules of cricket to the Mrs but I don't think it clicked, she's given up and gone to bed.

I have a few more bottles of beer to keep me company though!

600 would be great. Another good session and I think we can really get to something like that kind of total at some stage tomorrow.

[HattonTheHammer]

england 255/2 at present.

Apart from cook playing all round a straight delivery and bopara having one zip on him we`ve destroyed the aussie bowling attack on a very placid wicket.

Wickets at lords usually do sod all for the 1st 3 days but if we can expose an average aussie middle order twice over we may just be able to nick this.

my prediction...

england to be skittled out for around 470 tommorow lunchtime and aussies to dominate just as much with the bat scoring 500 odd....england to make 250 2nd time around leaving the last day of the test with australia needing 200 odd to win on a turning lords wicket. gonna be exciting!!

[Gandalf]

Damn Pieterson gone now. Crucial point this, need a decent partnership to try and push for a big score. No use having wickets falling every 20-30 runs until they are all out.

[Memphis]

Strauss is the key. If he stays put we'll be alright. Channel 3 is the best stream by the way if anyones struggling with channel 1.

[HattonTheHammer]

Damn Pieterson gone now. Crucial point this, need a decent partnership to try and push for a big score. No use having wickets falling every 20-30 runs until they are all out.

If we cant make 500+ on this wicket with an attack as bad as this we have no right to be competing to win this series.

Johnson is being horribly exposed in english conditions, siddle is extremely one dimensional and hauritz is just terrible. Only guy who looks decent is that hilfenhaus and he`s hardly a match winning bowler.

Still dont think we`ll win a test this summer as i genuinely dont believe the likes of broad, swann, anderson have 20wkts in them.

2-0 Australia

[Gandalf]

You can also download TVU and watch it on there. Its decent quality.

I was getting a bit annoyed with the streams cutting out.

Getting tired now, nearly 1am out here. Will try and get through the session.

[Gandalf]

Damn Pieterson gone now. Crucial point this, need a decent partnership to try and push for a big score. No use having wickets falling every 20-30 runs until they are all out.

If we cant make 500+ on this wicket with an attack as bad as this we have no right to be competing to win this series.

Johnson is being horribly exposed in english conditions, siddle is extremely one dimensional and hauritz is just terrible. Only guy who looks decent is that hilfenhaus and he`s hardly a match winning bowler.

Still dont think we`ll win a test this summer as i genuinely dont believe the likes of broad, swann, anderson have 20wkts in them.

2-0 Australia

Yep, I can really see our bowlers having a nighmare against the Aussie batsmen. To bowl them twice will be a real task.

[Gandalf]

Damn, just as it looked like a partnership was forming. England will be kicking themselves if they implode now. Let's hope they can get some runs with no further losses. Strauss looking well set.

[HattonTheHammer]

Damn, just as it looked like a partnership was forming. England will be kicking themselves if they implode now. Let's hope they can get some runs with no further losses. Strauss looking well set.

once again england doing their absoloute upmost to cock up a winning comanding position.

Collingwood just played the most ridiculous shot and ive no doubt now with an hour left what should be 370-3 odd will now end up with us around 360-7 putting australia right back into pole position