After a forgettable third day, Australia have their backs to the wall and will need divine intervention to save them from almost certain defeat in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s against England. We’ll have live scores and commentary from 8.00pm AEST.
Of course, what they could also do with is a combination of very good batting and some fortune as far as the weather is concerned because expecting only one of these factors may not cut the ice for the visitors.
If it was lame batting and the off-spin of Graeme Swann that undid the good work of the Australian bowlers on the second day of the Test, Joe Root took the game away from the visitors on the third.
Having come under criticism for promoting Root to the top of the order, the Yorkshire batsman repaid the selectors’ faith in him with a masterful and rather matured innings of 178 as England piled up 5/333 on the third day. He was still at the crease when the stumps were drawn.
Ian Bell was lucky to be let off by the third umpire as he went on to score 74 as England lost just two wickets in the day.
Bell missed his century after the night watchman Tim Bresnan had played his part in blunting the Australian pace attack and puncturing their already sagging morale.
The bare facts of the situation Australia now faces are as follows.
There are two full days of play remaining.
England have an overall lead of 566 with five second innings wickets in hand.
The highest total chased down successfully in the fourth innings of a Test ever is 418. That’s in 136 years of cricket.
The last time Australia scored more than 500 runs in an innings in a Test match was 11 Tests ago when they did that against South Africa in Adelaide last year.
None of Australia’s top six batsman except captain Michael Clarke has scored a century since September 2011 – that’s nearly two years ago when Phil Hughes hit one in Sri Lanka.
In short, the potential target they will be set will be next to impossible to achieve.
What can be achieved is a bit of respect, with a show of ticker that has been lacking in the side this game. Batting has been the team’s bugaboo for long enough but the team needs to persist with the current set of players and in turn, they will hope the batsmen can begin to deliver.
What this target should do is to free up the batsmen – but what coach Darren Lehmann will also want is the tightening of some of their techniques.
Some of the shots that were played in the first innings can be avoided while some others like Chris Rogers and Usman Khawaja can show a little more intent from the start.
Follow the live score and blog of the second day’s play of the second Test from 8.00pm AEST. You can join me for this live blog and post your comments below.
fadida
Guest
According to his brilliant brother, Warner is apparently an "escape goat"!!!!!! :D
Frankie Hughes
Guest
A damn right pathetic effort by the batsmen again. The bowlers did a great job to keep the Poms so 360 on a flat pitch. Time for Hughes Watson Haddin to be axed. Get Tim Paine in to keep. Haddin's two drops have cost us the series. Dropped Bell on 88 in Nottingham, Bell added a further 21, we lost by 14. Dropped Root(didn't even bother trying to catch it) Root added another 174. Hughes(my favourite player) if he's not opening he shouldn't be playing. Watson is useless. Slogs 20/30 in boundaries then gets out. Shaun Marsh Simon Katich and Adam Voges should be included.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That's it then, from me...as always has been a pleasure bringing this to you and to receive your comments. Will be back with the third Test match, which begins on August 1 at the Old Trafford. Have a good day ahead!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Joe Root has been declared the man of the match as expected. The youngest Englishman to make an Ashes century at Lord's. Root: Dream week for me. Great win for us. This was a more special 100, to do against Australia at Ashes. Happy to help the side with the bowing too. I want to keep contributing and every time I go to bat and I am happy to bat up the other.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Full marks to England. Cook, Trott and Pietersen aren't currently firing and they are still notching up some big enough totals. Ian Bells in the form of his life and he sure is making it count. Joe Root's overcome all the controversy around his selection as an opener and smashed a 180. And the tails chipping in whenever necessary. The bowling is the best of the lot. James Anderson took 10 in the first Test. Swann takes nine this time. Broad's chipping in whenever he can and Bresnan provided a lot of control in this Test. To top it all, even Root's been effective on pitches which have afforded some turn. Fair to say then, so far England haven't allowed Australia to compete, not in the Lord's Test for sure. Second success Ashes loss for Australia at this venue by the way.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
England have gone ahead 2-0 in the series and it does look unlikely that Australia can win the Ashes from here this time. The problems are too deep-rooted to mention them all. Poor batting and under-par bowling are only two of them. Issues between players, some rather surprising DRS referrals and no light at the end of the tunnel in the foreseeable future... Honestly, I thought Agar's 98 was a huge tonic that they could have used to turn around their fortunes. And for some time it did look like they were doing just that, given their fighting effort with the bat in the second innings at Trent Bridge. Here, at Lord's, on what seemed to be a good batting wicket, they were bowled out for 128 and 235. Back to square one then for the visitors.
Behold
Roar Rookie
Aus A play South Africa A from the 24-27 hopefully, their bowling line up gives Aus A a better work out. Shaun Marsh better get a run, and you would think anyone who scores runs in that game could be considered for the third test. Warner's place in the squad should come under scrutiny if he fails again.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, has been given out, Pattinson's having to walk, England have won by 347 runs! Spins away from round the stumps and the left-hander gets hit on his pads. Given out lbw and looks pretty adjacent too. Well done Swann, who picks up his fourth wicket and the ninth of the game. Pattinson scored 35. Australia bowled out for 235.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
22 dots later, there are a couple of singles and a two which bring Pattinson on strike to play the last over of the day. Swann to bowl. 9/235 in 90
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden from Swann, played out well by Pattinson. 2 more overs remaining. Australia 9/231 in 89
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in the bowling now as Graeme Swann comes on. 9/231 in 88
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Must be getting frustrating for England this. It's been more than 25 overs since the eighth wicket fell. 9/231 in the 88th. Three overs after this for the day.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The resistance continues, added 39 so far here. Australia 9/231 in 86. Five overs for the day.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Moreover, Warner has batted terribly against Zim, does that guarantee his non-selection for next test?
Tom from Perth
Guest
So does anyone think there is any real chance of Katich coming back? If so who do you think he'll replace?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Change in bowling now. Tim Bresnan brought in for Anderson. The last-wicket stand's already worth 38.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another four for Pattinson. Quick ball on the leg-stump line, climbs up on to the batsman who does well to roll his wrists over that one and gets it through fine-leg for a four. End of the day's play officially. England are claiming the extra half hour they can. 9/225 in 83.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Runs galore here. 4 leg-byes, followed by a couple of couples before getting one on his pads and Pattinson crashes it through the leg-side for a four. 9/220 in 82. 29 from 66 for JP. Stand of 28.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And now Australia get four leg-byes. Hits the Pattinson pads, and there's an appeal. Given not-out but the slip fielder has a shy at it and goes through for overthrows. 9/212 in the 82nd
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, that's some commitment. Punched on the up through the covers and looked four all the way but Bairstow gives it a good chase and dives full-length to keep it down to three. 9/208 in 81