Ashes second test, Lords, continued.

First topic message reminder :

Please continue here guys.

When players like Phil Hughes are getting a game, you know they are bad.

Pity international cricket doesnt have a Transfer list a la Club Football. We would offer Aus A few million plus two first class level batsmen for Clarkus.

Hughes , like Watson , is becoming a serial review waster.

Apart from being clueless against spin...

You could see Khawaja was telling him not to refer that , but he just couldn't stop himself  

Eek, close.

Can you imagine how many we would beat them by if Cook was in form?  

How they could do with one of Clarke's double or triple hundreds right now.

Can't see it happening though.

He's good enough Wolfie.

Though I think they were a lot easier when he was coming behind a world class top 4 and just extending their lead. Having to rebuild and save the innings every time is a different challenge.

Olly wrote:When players like Phil Hughes are getting a game, you know they are bad.

When you have England fans actually feeling sorry for Australia, you know they are bad!

Prior misses a chance to get rid of Clarke ...in fairness , it is not easy taking Swann here with the spin and variable bounce. So you can see how the batsmen are struggling  

The fanatics still enjoying themselves.

They can totally sympathise with what it was like for the barmy army now.

trebellbobaggins wrote:He's good enough Wolfie.

Though I think they were a lot easier when he was coming behind a world class top 4 and just extending their lead.  Having to rebuild and save the innings every time is a different challenge.

Oh I don't doubt he's good enough...its just the rest of the team that aren't.

You have to feel sorry for him really, being the one world-class player in the team, when he used to be in a team that was world-class from 1 to 11.

Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

This is just so amazing, i could cry. 

Joe Root complete legend

Think we will get them all out before end of play today, or by lunch tomorrow.

Hope England can have a good afternoon, would love to see it wrapped up.

So England's morning but Aussie did get a couple of wickets too.

no crowds will be in tommorow so might as well wrap it up today and get another rest day

Dirty Aussies

trebellbobaggins wrote:Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

Lol! I can just see Ricky Ponting giving Clarke a pep talk in the dressing room...

"Mmmm...last of the Jedi are you. Teach others the ways of the Force you must..."

He just frieking decked swann!!

wtf

dyrewolfe wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

Lol! I can just see Ricky Ponting giving Clarke a pep talk in the dressing room...

"Mmmm...last of the Jedi are you. Teach others the ways of the Force you must..."

And botham as the emperor teaching the sith how to hunt them down.

Kawaja has got to 19 without me noticing. He is doing well.

Might as well play their shots the Aussies

Clarke is leading well.  

As long as they stay out there then they could survive this game.

Even win it maybe!  Well maybe.

Conditions are good overhead now so they should be fine to build a couple hundred more with these two.

The pitches in Australia will probably resemble a bowling green at this point.

dyrewolfe wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

Lol! I can just see Ricky Ponting giving Clarke a pep talk in the dressing room...

"Mmmm...last of the Jedi are you. Teach others the ways of the Force you must..."

Surely Ponting was a Dark Lord of the Sith, and Clarke was his apprentice?

Kawaja looks totally set,

Wouldn't be surprised to see a big ton here from both and this to go into tomorrow on is fairly flat track.

Will be fun if they are chasing a win tomorrow.

Khawaja seems to be gaining a bit of confidence. Playing a few shots now.
Clarke has survived one or two dangerous moments against Swann...ands now he pads up somewhat riskily to Broad...Too high , but he'd have been gone if that had stayed a bit lower.
England will think something could happen at any moment...

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

Lol! I can just see Ricky Ponting giving Clarke a pep talk in the dressing room...

"Mmmm...last of the Jedi are you. Teach others the ways of the Force you must..."

Surely Ponting was a Dark Lord of the Sith, and Clarke was his apprentice?

Britain is the empire the struck back though.

trebellbobaggins wrote:Kawaja looks totally set,

Wouldn't be surprised to see a big ton here from both and this to go into tomorrow on is fairly flat track.

Will be fun if they are chasing a win tomorrow.

 are you waning?

Not at all. I'm confident England will still bowl well but I don't think this will be an easy win.

Just saying what I see.

Broad getting a bit clattered so a change is needed. Clarke rotated his bowlers well.

Shame that Root couldn't get a double ton, but England are still coasting to 2 nil and have one hand on the urn. Don't think we'll get it finished today, but probably by lunchtime tomorrow.

Yes seems more likely to me. I honk after these two they will struggle. Don't see agar having anther easy innings.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:

dyrewolfe wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Clarke is like obi wan.  He was around fighting the wars surrounded by other cricketing Jedi before the dark times, before the empire.  Now he's all there is.

Lol! I can just see Ricky Ponting giving Clarke a pep talk in the dressing room...

"Mmmm...last of the Jedi are you. Teach others the ways of the Force you must..."

Surely Ponting was a Dark Lord of the Sith, and Clarke was his apprentice?

Britain is the empire the struck back though.

  Fair enough

Crikey - Khawaja's got to 32! He's been keeping under the radar since he came in. Just quietly accumulating.

Wonder if him and Clarke can build some kind of partnership?

dyrewolfe wrote:Crikey - Khawaja's got to 32! He's been keeping under the radar since he came in. Just quietly accumulating.

Wonder if him and Clarke can build some kind of partnership?

Best Aussie partnership of the match already IIRC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/23393489

KP is a doubt for the third Test. It would have to be Taylor to replace him wouldn't it?

50 partnership for Khawaja & Clarke.

Aus will be hoping these two can bat all day.

Broad getting a bit hostile - a sign of frustration?

Good tactics by England, letting Khawaja bat himself into the Old Trafford XI

Nice little display this. All very calm actually.

It almost seems like Cook is making a conscious effort to get Anderson to bowl as little as possible. Almost as if he wants to play down the talk that England are over-reliant on Anderson. Still, Cook will have to bring Anderson on soon - this partnership is picking up.

I keep thinking of mark butcher when I look at kawaja.

not without the helmet though.

Actually finding this little period of play quite fascinating . Broad has bowled some very well directed short stuff and left Clarke looking rather uncomfortable..while Swann is really testing the Australian captain with some nice variations.
Clarke not one to sit and wait is using his feet...good duel.

These two batting well since lunch. Need to take it to tea and beyond. If they do, expect "the follow on" to rear its head once more ....

Good but unrewarded spell from Broad comes to an end. Jimmy back.

Cook will also have to be careful not to bowl Swann into the ground. Even spinners get tired , and he mustn't be afraid to rest him occasionally...Root could do a job by way of relief.
Not yet , of course. But if the partnership lasts there may be a case for a change at that end , as Swann will have a major role to play in working through the very handy Australian tail.

Doesn't really matter, if Australia can make 583 batting last after throwing away 3 top order wickets they deserve the win.

In reality England will win sooner or later. As Agar showed at TB, its a different proposition batting under no pressure as these 2 are.

I think these two watched Root and Bell bat and took notes.

Very much like England's 2nd innings for the last couple of hours.

The only way Australia will have a chance of saving this game is if these two bat till stumps. That isn't happening.

probably not doods but you never know.

but no, I think a mistake is incoming.

Kawaja looks a serious talent.  Maybe things aren't so bleak. That's two batsmen.

50 up for Khawaja. Now he just needs to add about 150 to that.

Oooh! Usman survives an enthusiastic appeal...umpire gives him not out and England decide not to review.

Swann getting ridiculous amounts of turn off the pitch.