2nd Ashes Test v England @ Lords, the home of MCC/Cricket

[dedja]

OK cricket lovers (and Pommy haters ) the intrigue in this series continues.

After another late night (channel surfing between the Ashes and Le Tour ... hail the new King Contador, sorry I digress), I've now had a strong coffee and have read through my posts from last night to ensure that I hadn't disgraced myself too much

It's still an enormous task but can the boys do it?

The Poms have the new ball and overnight to regroup and Pup and Haddo have to start their innings again.

Lots of emotion last night about sportsmanship and umpiring so good to see lots of passion from people who care about the sport and yes I was one of them (Strauss is a cheat, Strauss is a cheat ... oh, FFS shutup Dedj ).

The best way to deal with adversity, well to just get on with it which is what Pup and Haddo have done.

How do you think it is going to pan out?

[whufc]

The Aussies definately a chance, though the only worry is England are probably just ONE ball from wrapping the match up.

If these two get a start i think Johnson is the wild card, the bloke can bat and seems to have that fearless attitude with the willow in hand. He scores runs quickly which will put Struass under pressure and may worry him into making too many changes and not giving the pommy bowlers long enough to execute plans and soforth.

[wycbloods]

Can we dare to dream???

Sh!t wouldn't it be magnificent, need one fo these two to make another 100 and the rest to bat around him.

The longer these two can bat for tonight the more the POMs will get nervous and start thinking of saving the game rather than winning it....

IF (big word) these two can be there at lunch.....

IF(agreed huge word am bays) these two are there at lunch we will win. I would be happy if they bat 20 overs tonight, that should give us a real sniff.

[mal]

IF they get to 400 thats good enough for me and a great effort after all the controversies
Realistically this game should be over at lunch today
A wicket in the first 15 overs and its all over
To win the REBmen need to make at least
CLARKE 200
HADDIN 150

[dedja]

IF they get to 400 thats good enough for me and a great effort after all the controversies
Realistically this game should be over at lunch today
A wicket in the first 15 overs and its all over
To win the REBmen need to make at least
CLARKE 200
HADDIN 150

C'mon MAL we're not talking about MALwood here mate ... close enough isn't good enough!

The rest is a fair assessment ... our hopes will be shattered by a quick wicket.

[Dissident]

My god I hope we can pull this off.... I'm staying up ALL NIGHT.

Oh, I think I need an asterisk there somewhere.




In saying that, I'm honestly afraid this will be one of those times where a wicket is lost in the first 3 overs on the last day, sending the result England's way.

Again, I hope not!

[Dogwatcher]

It's about time we're on the end of one of these outrageous record breaking run chases.

West Indies, South Africa in tests have done the unbelievable in recent memory, while South Africa and New Zealand has done it in ODI's.

It's our turn.

[Dissident]

Haha, I'm going to print up a t-shirt and wear it all night with "It's OUR turn - Dogwatcher" on it.

If we don't get up, I'm burning it and sending the ashes to Loxton.

And if we win, I'm burning it and putting the ashes in an urn, and sending it to Loxton.

[Dogwatcher]

That'd be gold. It'd go on my bar with pride - whichever the result.

I think Ricky Ponting should use Mikey Walsh's speech in The Goonies for inspiration - "It's our time".



"Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Because it's their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. That's all over the second we ride up Troy's bucket."

[spell_check]

I've been thoroughly impressed by the way Clarke ad Haddin have gone about it. You can tell they are going for the win by being positive. Once you start going defensive and not playing shots the field comes up, they get chatty to put the pressure on and sooner or later a close in catch happens.

This pair keeps on taking the singles and twos (and threes!) briskly and if one of them happens to get out, then Johnson should do the same thing and go for the win. It is time.

[Dogwatcher]

Spelly's on the bandwagon too!
Nice one.

BTW - I agree with your sentiments regarding the Haddin/Pup partnership.

[JK]

Obviously I hope we can somehow find a win tonight, but IF we can't, I hope it's not another Border-Thommo heartbreaker!!

I reckon it will fizzle out early (as so often happens when expectation is high), but naturally hope I'm wrong.

[Pup]

F**kin Michael Clarke.

Yeah I'm not a big Clarke fan either, seems to bat a lot better at 3/250 than 3/50!

Hmm seems to have blown that theory out the window.

He cops a lot more flak than he should IMO, His test form over the last 12-18 months is undeniable and his innings last night was absolutely magnificent.

Let's hope he and Haddin can push on and get a bit of support from Johnson and the tail, If we can get within 125 with these 2 then we are a huge chance. First 20 overs will tell us the story.

[Gozu]

It was a great innings and I'm hoping like anything we might be able to sneak home tonight, can't wait to watch it. But in fairness for the most part it was batting practice. The game was essentially over (still only a slim chance we could win only having the tail left) once North got out so most of that ton was played with minimal pressure on Clarke. If he gets us within sight of the finish line or even goes right on with it, then I'll review my front runner label of him.

[Dogwatcher]

Struth, no quarter given hey Gozu?

[silicone skyline]

I will root Michael Clarke if we win. Bingle can join in too

[Gozu]

Struth, no quarter given hey Gozu?

It's been a great knock but I've seen him disappear when it gets hot in the kitchen one too many times over his career to lose my mind over one innings.

[Stumps]

cant see us winning unfortunately- brilliant effort so far but 1st innings will cost us IMO. Aus to lose between lunch and tea

[Adelaide Hawk]

F**kin Michael Clarke.

Yeah I'm not a big Clarke fan either, seems to bat a lot better at 3/250 than 3/50!

Hmm seems to have blown that theory out the window.

He cops a lot more flak than he should IMO, His test form over the last 12-18 months is undeniable and his innings last night was absolutely magnificent.

Spot on. I don't know how many more 100s he has to make before people give him some credit. Just this morning a journo still labelled him a "good time player" which is grossly unfair. He has scored 11 Test 100s in 49 Tests at an average just below 50, including tons against all major Test playing nations except Pakistan. If I were a Test player, I'd take that.

[Dirko]

I will root Michael Clarke if we win. Bingle can join in too

poof.....