Comments to follow during the day.
Got a decent pic of the first ball.
Surrounded by top people. And Graham Gooch is nearby…..
Broad bowling well.
Think Voges looks in awesome touch. Very good morning’s cricket.
On the phone so sorry for the short bursts. A pleasure to watch Smith but he had a monster on there. Silly shot in my view. Nevill looked dead handy. Still looks like 600.
Being Outside Cricket 
Good start from Anderson — ding on the head for a sleepy Rogers.
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from afar, having not watched a ball yet, it seems like otherwise he’s bowled like a drain?
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Yep, he followed the first ball up with a bit of rubbish wide outside off, and a few half volleys that got picked off for four. Nothing much else. Warne complaining about defensive 7-2 fields when they could have put pressure on Rogers with short leg etc. Broad looking far more dangerous.
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Good bowling from Broad in difficult conditions. Rogers plays on to a good length inswinger. Probably unsettled by the knock from Anderson first ball, and hung back in the crease.
Broad + short leg.v Clarke….
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Another good thing for Australia, is that yesterday’s partnership, even though it has been ended this morning, has given Starc an extra day’s, and possibly more, rest on that ankle of his. Contrast that to Moeen, who’s likely to have bowled the best part of 40 overs by the day’s end, with a side strain…
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So am I the only person who thinks this pitch has been prepared so that Cook would have the best possible chance to accumulate masses of runs?
Or would that be just too sad, petty and pathetic and only someone with a seriously distorted worldview would even imagine it?
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Not to me, but then I’m the cynic that thought KP was sacked to prevent him becoming the highest run scoring English batsmen (because he isn’t ‘English’ enough)
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This is really good from Broad against Clarke — nothing short so far, just pitching it on a good length on or outside off and getting a bit of seam away. Clarke getting beaten repeatedly, playing at it outside off.
Wood on for Anderson…
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from Cricinfo:
“First change of bowling. It’s Mark Wood. A few questions over whether he is fully fit.”
Oh, brill.
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Michael Holding on commentary is convinced Wood has trouble with his left ankle.
They had some footage of Wood bowling in the warm-up and his left leg appeared to buckle under him in one delivery. Farbrace had his arm around Wood’s shoulder afterwards.
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Selvey getting his daily anti-Rashid Tweet in early this morning:
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“Trust me. ”
Not in a million years buddy.
Barney Ronay writes with more insight about cricket now.
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Damning Barney Ronay with faint praise – I like it!
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Oops. Didn’t mean to do that!
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I was wondering before the Ashes if this would be series too far for Pup. The players seemed to enjoy playing under Smith before the WC: If the wheels were to come off in this test (I doubt they will), would/should his place come under scrutiny?
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I think that Clarke has made it clear to CA that he intends going to retire after this series, due to health issues. And it is even more likely if he wins the Ashes this series.
That would leave another batting slot up for grabs, and without Rogers, probably Haddin, they’ll suddenly be quite inexperienced.
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No double century at Lord’s postwar for an Australian.
Smith has 32 to go.
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Also, if Smith gets there it will be the first away double century by an Australian since…… ?
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Jason Gillespie
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There’s an awful lot of whining from Australian quarters about this being a doctored pitch. Aside from how overseas cricketers choke on their tea at the claim that Australia never do it, apparently England have deliberately created a pitch to completely nullify their own bowling. So not just cheats, but really stupid ones.
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As the old adage goes….let’s wait till both sides have batted on it before we pass final judgement.
Oh FFS, the BBC is once again giving The editor of The Cricketer magazine more free advertising time to promote his book. Second test match in row!
Tomorrow Mr Agnew will promote Waitrose brand new tie range.
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Agnew had just told off boycs for naming the sponsors when discussing his eyesight and what he could and could not see. Lovely double standards.
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Oh is off down cricket memory lane now………
Tales of when he batted with Dean Jones………those were the days!
Tomorrow I will be on gardeners question time answering questions about how to improve and maintain your lawn, and how to get the best out of your roses. I know nothing about gardening, but I have a new book out……” How to garden by someone who knows nothing about gardening.”
I’m sure with BBC backing it will be a best seller.
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Dmitri, if you leave today without talking to Sangakkara I shall never forgive you!
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He’s gone.
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Why weren’t you chasing him down the street? You’ve let me down…
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spotted Dmitri talking to Shane…
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A penny for your thoughts Shane❓
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“Surrounded by top people. And Graham Gooch is nearby…..”
LOL
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100 for 3 so far today. Not bad on a dead track. I hope Aust’s bowlers are watching Broad and taking notes.
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Make that 4/105.
These bowler-friendly pitches are killing the game…..
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Had I read the press about it this, I probably wouldn’t have been carrying on so much about it here But yeh, one should wait a bit and see how it plays throughout the game, I guess.
Been impressed by Broad’s behaviour today, as welll as his bowling. He looks like he’s up for the job, rather than getting hot under the collar and pouting and grizzling when things don’t go his way, or carrying on like a goose when they do.
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Conditions were not as bad as the press made it out to be. You can’t blame the batsmen for not gifting chance after chance. If England refuse to take them, that does not make the pitch as bad as the scorecard might suggest.
143/4 for the day, in 41 overs. That is less than 3.5 / over, which suggests that England have bowled and fielded better today / Australia found it harder to make runs.
Honestly, I would not be surprised to find out that England are say 60/3 after 20 overs in their reply at stumps.
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Moeen is getting a bit of turn, the odd one has kept low (esp the one that got Mitch Marsh). I’d be happy to see that with 450+ on the board.
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491/5 at drinks in the second session. This partnership between Nevill and Smith is motoring along at 5 / over, and at that rate, there is no point in declaring early, unless weather conditions make it bowler-friendly. You actually buy time if you bat at such a rate, and the wicket is probably not going to get better for batting either.
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Smith now past Don Brown (TM Martin Samuel) and only Bradman’s 254 to overhaul for an Aussie at Lord’s. The rumours that Nevill is a decent bat don’t look exaggerated.
Lots of talk on TV (mostly from Ricky Ponting) about a declaration around 550. I really don’t see why – especially with runs ticking alaong and two home bowlers carrying injuries (possibly three if Stokes has tweaked an intercostal throwing as Botham thinks).
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How many flippin’ times do Sky have to tell us that Smith “started off as a leg-spinning all-rounder”? It’s always said in a way that seems belittling to the world’s number one test batsman.
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D’Artez Alert: Smith Review
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKH4ucRUAAEyqvv.jpg:large
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Oh dear. Lyth out 2nd ball playing a horrible airy waft at one he should have left well alone. If he can’t locate his off stump I fear he won’t last beyond the summer.
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Oh dear again. Ballance out bowled by MJ. Done for a bit of pace maybe. Those top order issues are not going away. Bell and Root must feel like virtual No3’s, it’s so rare for them to come in with more than 50 on the board.
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I was out attending a meeting, so I did miss it. Would have made my blood boil.
They gave that? That is practically a free wicket to England then.
Dharmasena again (after the Warner wicket in the first Test). England really have little to complain about the umpiring this series thus far.
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Ballance dismissed for the 14th time by a Full Length delivery from a seamer. He’s been dismissed twice by Good Length balls and once by a Short ball (last innings in Cardiff).
Good news? Rain now forecast for Sunday.
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Bell gone, played all around a full one. Red Adair Root in early again.
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12 wickets in the day. Bloody bowler friendly pitches eh?
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Only 306 till the follow on is reached
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Stuff this, I’m off down the pub. I was nice to my Aussie mate last week, let’s hope he reciprocates. Hope it doesn’t rain on Sunday, we don’t deserve it. it might be over by then anyway!
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Drinks break. This is what tragically brought Cook undone in Cardiff according to one journalist, despite his superhuman powers of concentration. If he does get out, I wonder if that excuse will be recycled or if they will find another new one.
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Not sure about the twitter circle-jerk mocking the idea that Ballance should have his place questioned. The guy has just been exposed time after time after time with good full bowling. He’s clueless against it.
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Every time Sky show a cutaway of VIPs in the crowd (Piers, Thommo, Flower, etc), I keep imagining a big, bearded, black guy in red baseball gear sat just behind, listening in.
A day of Sky is as inside cricket as I get. Back on the road tomorrow, back to TMS. Considering how much dead air TV cricket can afford, these Sky commentators don’t half repeat themselves. Botham, Warne and ( surprisingly) Nas seem the worst at it. Holding very impressive, at ease with all co-commentators.
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I think Holding is one of my all time favourite commentators. And yes, he is excellent with everybody. I think he gets the best out of whoever he commentates with. I think people of that generation instinctively sit up and take notice if Holding is around!
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I could listen to Holding all day, he has such a great voice and I love it when he says things like “he might getalikklebitof swing.”
Some people complain that he describes what’s happening too much, but I think he’s mindful of viewers who might need things explaining.
It’s only odd that this calm middle-aged man is that ferocious young bowler of years gone by.
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Number of times three of England’s top five have been dismissed for less than two in the same innings of a home Ashes’ Test before today: none.
Number of mentions on commentary already about Alastair Cook’s mental toughness (he’s currently 17*): three.
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In fairness to Cook (and as everybody knows I am not his biggest fan) I thought he batted very well tonight. Nothing crazy, just good defence, and occupy the crease. Considering he has been in the field for 5 sessions captaining his was a good effort. I get irritated with the media for their eulogising of some of his innings. ” A brilliant 12.” Which doesn’t do him any favours. But credit where it’s due this was a good knock under pressure with his team dissolving around him.
Pity one can’t say the same for the other top order players. Lyth was a dreadful shot. He has a real problem outside off stump. Balance fell again for his nemesis; full pitch on off stump. And Bell looks like he is shot to pieces.
However food the pitch, fast full bowling causes England big problems. Somehow they have to score another 250 odd runs tomorrow and hope it pisses down with rain on Sunday.
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Stokes likes pressure, doesn’t he? Laps it up.
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