The Ashes; Second Test, Lord's, July 16-20

[Arthur Crabtree]

A worry for England will be that Ballance got worked over, even on this slow pitch. Hard to imagine that there won't be more pace at Lord's, even if only on days 1&2.

[hopeforthebest]

I feel sorry for Ballance as left hand bat coming in after two left hand openers. The bowlers have had time get their lines tuned in nicely against the batsmen. He does look very awkward at the crease to me though. I had to laugh when on cricket writers on SKY, George Dobell said in the future he could see Ballance opening for England.

[sussexpob]

Far too much praise of England and writing off of Australia for my book. There seems this horrible trend at present that every England win should be raised aloft as if proving the years of underperformance are the exception rather than the norm and vice verse for a single win. The talk of new England being the real deal on Crapinfo was particularly poor especially as it came from Kimber and Dobell who are two of the best current cricket journalists.

England have a tendancy to underachieve better than most teams though, so a change in attitude could have quick effects on the team.

My point above was more about Australia though, minus Starc and Harris this line up does not strike me as one to fear. It makes several assumptions that are favourable to England, but there you go.

Australia have a lot to think about before Lords.

[yuppie]

Far too much praise of England and writing off of Australia for my book. There seems this horrible trend at present that every England win should be raised aloft as if proving the years of underperformance are the exception rather than the norm and vice verse for a single win. The talk of new England being the real deal on Crapinfo was particularly poor especially as it came from Kimber and Dobell who are two of the best current cricket journalists.

England have a tendancy to underachieve better than most teams though, so a change in attitude could have quick effects on the team.

My point above was more about Australia though, minus Starc and Harris this line up does not strike me as one to fear. It makes several assumptions that are favourable to England, but there you go.

Australia have a lot to think about before Lords.

Yep after the first test most of the questions are on Australia.

But Englands top 4 still needs addressing. Perhaps Root needs to go up to 4.

In a discussion on another board earlier a suggestion was put of S Marsh coming into 3 for Australia and everyone dropping down one, except for Watson who would be dropped, and M Marsh taking Voges place. Interesting thought. Keep S Smith away from the moving ball early. No Sure i like it, but interesting idea.

[bigfluffylemon]

Smith's reign as the number 1 test batsman lasted all of one test match...

There's a lot of question marks over both sides. Which should make for a fascinating, fluctuating series. The Australians didn't do well at Cardiff, but we know what they're capable of if everything clicks. England similarly have been blowing hot and cold for the past year. They've surrendered series leads against West Indies and New Zealand, but came back from behind against India. With the way both teams play, I don't see any draws in the offing unless there is rain.

Trent Bridge as the fourth test could prove critical. England tend to do very well there, and Anderson's record is phenomenal (last year's turgid pudding notwithstanding).

Australia's batting does seem very vulnerable. Surely Watson has played his last test match? Haddin is in a dismal slump, Clarke averages less than 35 since the start of 2014, Voges is untested, and the replacements in the form of the Marsh brothers do not have great records (M Marsh has an FC average of 32, and S Marsh's forays into the test arena have not been convincing). On the other hand, if Warner gets off to a flyer and Smith settles in and gives the others a chance to come in against tired bowlers and with a decent platform, they are still very capable of big scores.

I expect Siddle and M Marsh to replace Starc and Watson. Even if Starc is capable of playing, Australia need to manage their bowlers. It's a five match series - bowling on a dodgy ankle in the second could put Starc out for the rest of the summer. Better to rest him and give him the best part of three weeks to get over it.

[hopeforthebest]

I believe Australia will do everything they can to get Stac on the field for this test and even slightly unfit will play. He is deadly with the new ball against incoming batsmen as Bell in particular knows well, Starc also did him and James Taylor with his in swinging yorker in the ODI Tri series in Oz.
Even a draw in this game will be a poor result for Australia and with a rest period coming after this test they'll have time to sort him out. By all accounts it's more a niggle than a bad injury so I expect him to play.

[Aidan11]

Starc looks like he will play.

Could be a gamble. I think Siddle might have been a better selection.

[The Waugh Twins]

So Starc had cortisone injections so it has to be more than a niggle, of course this is cricket and it always seems to be nearly impossible to ever find out exactly what the injury is.

Baseball, basketball or football and they give you the anatomic details down to cellular level.

I still haven't figured out exactly what's wrong with Harris's knee.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's busted.

[The Waugh Twins]

It's busted.

Ha,ha.

Years ago I took a car into the mechanics as it was overheating. he said the engines broke. Even my wife chuckled.

Turned out it was the water pump and I managed to fix it myself with her very bright Kiwi brother in law who was visiting. Never forget having to click the engine over to get a nut to loosen on the fan.

[The Waugh Twins]

I read he has his first new born. Wondering how much that's affected his decision.

[The Waugh Twins]

A point not made yet is Australia are the touring team. There was a minor glitch in the Windies with Oz beating a fairly young and experimental side, but other than that when's the last time Australia have won away from home?

[Aidan11]

The ICC have created a new mode of dismissal for the second test onwards - Leg Before Watson.

[The Waugh Twins]

A point not made yet is Australia are the touring team. There was a minor glitch in the Windies with Oz beating a fairly young and experimental side, but other than that when's the last time Australia have won away from home?

South Africa 2013/14.

[The Waugh Twins]

A point not made yet is Australia are the touring team. There was a minor glitch in the Windies with Oz beating a fairly young and experimental side, but other than that when's the last time Australia have won away from home?

South Africa 2013/14.

Whatever!