Revitalised and roaring, the ‘Three Lions’ of England ready themselves for a likely resurgent Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. Join The Roar at the home of cricket for Day 1 of live scores and commentary from 7:30pm AEST.
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The formbook was not so much thrown out but torn to shreds by England last week in Cardiff. For all the pre-tour rhetoric about a poorly-positioned home side ready to be found wanting, it was instead the mistaken confidence of Australia that was brutally exposed.
More Ashes:
» Rogers and Smith lay England flat
» Chris Rogers does it his way
» Australia dominate Day 1 at Lord’s
» Ashes news and opinion
There were many facets to England’s sumptuous first Test victory – take the early Day 1 position of 3/43 to make 430, or the incisive and disciplined bowling and fielding effort where patience was maintained and chances taken at first offing. Citing the work of a new coach for England’s resurgence is too simple – the shackles of the Flower-era have well and truly been jettisoned.
For all of England’s positive quality, Australia showcased a lack of Plan B when their preferred fire and brimstone method didn’t work. Darren Lehmann’s main concern is about how an experienced Test side were made to look less hungry than their counterparts. Perhaps a visit to the Home of Cricket is what is needed for Australian cricket to re-find its spark – that and several tweaks to the formation.
While changes have already been made for the visitors (Watson dropped, Haddin through personal reasons), it’s expected the rest of the XI will be given another shot at redemption. Yet surely the time for sentiment has long been used up for several among the baggy greens.
The only other pending question for Australia is the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who looked badly underpar in Wales following a knock to his ankle. His place could be filled either with the similarly attack-minded Pat Cummins, or a more stable alternative in Peter Siddle. Given Lehmann’s penchant for sheer pace, the prospect of Cummins will be viewed favourably, even if the quick’s first class appearances have been meagre since his only Test in South Africa four years ago.
In victory or defeat, England have been loathe to change tack against Australia at home in the last decade – and have been rewarded for their persistence in the main. Result aside, what will please England most is the manner in which nearly all of their line-up contributed positively in Cardiff. With no changes expected, the only item yet to be ticked off is a solid opening stand between Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth.
While the pitch is expected to contain more life and even bounce than the offering at Cardiff, the groundsman Mick Hunt has reportedly been instructed to remove the last tracings of grass, in a stark contrast to the pitch served up against New Zealand in May. While this may nullify the extent of seam movement for both sides, the evident slope of the ground will be of assistance, while also a surface of even bounce will allow the batsmen on both sides to settle into their task easier than at Cardiff.
England have the momentum and will need to ride with it at the Home of Cricket. They should expect the Australian riposte, but will start at Lord’s with a nation excited about cricket once again.
John Howes
Guest
Detailed scores are hard to find after close of play. Firstly confronted with all the verbal rubbish the Commentators constantly utter.
Dudley Haydock
Guest
Who Dares Wins
Sandy
Guest
Who the hell do you think you are, HOW DARE YOU, question the personal reasons behind Haddin returning to his family. The fact that YOU can use something as trivial as a dropped catch as the reason is more indicative of your petty attitude. You like to think you know everything about the Australian Cricket team, maybe your time would be better spent sorting yourself out.
Dom Varley
Guest
Well in Vas, Looking forward to tonights coverage.
David McCarthy
Guest
Preparing the wicket like that is nothing short of cheating to ensure a draw and that England goes into the third test one nil ahead. Why bother staying up half the night to watch two unworthy Australian centuries on a wicket such as that?
peter chrisp
Guest
I think the Aussies would be happy with their first day scoreboard doesn't look too bad @ the end of the day, i thing too all Aussie supporters would be quite happy 1/337 is pretty reasonable great stuff.
Dudley Haydock
Guest
Once again England fail to understand the basic nature of the Australian Cricket Team and on day one of T2, have let them off the hook. Firstly the pitch should have been harder and with less grass on it and having lost the toss, England should have opened up on them with a barrage of the shortest balls they could muster. Aggression is what was needed to endorse in the Aussies minds that they are in for a really hard and unpleasant time all Summer.. They are a side that must be denied confidence, at all costs. And although they can dish out aggression, sledging and potentially injurious play, they cannot take it. My guess is that the 'personal reasons ' that Brad Haddin quit for, are simply that they blamed him for dropping Joe Root and he told them to 'stuff it'. England, you had them on the ropes and in failing to understand the nature of the beast, you have let them off them. From T2day 2 you must demonstrate aggression in every aspect of your play, viz: body language, comments, hard return throws to stumps and the Wicket Keeper, short deliveries and bowlers obstructively standing their ground post-delivery. In short, every jiggly little trick that the Australians are going to use on you. And finally, the most important thing of all : Keep them in the field for absolutely as long as you possibly can. Don't worry about not scoring, just keep them from taking wickets. They cannot cope with this. Their morale will plummet and they will go into self-destruct mode. Their will be more heads made to roll and more injuries. Just like Haddin and Starc.. They are a side that cannot cope with adversity, nor lack of success. They have no psychological way of dealing with defeat. KEEP THEM OUT THERE IN THE FIELD FOR AS LONG AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.! DENY THEM WICKETS.
ColinP
Guest
Dull day, Australia are boring plodders. England or kiwis would have score 600 today on this wicket, Aussies are a threat to the future of test cricket with this Victorian style. Wait till the England youth team get on this deck, carnage Press still unconvinced by smith over here, flat track bully with problems outside off and leg stump. Rumours are grandad Rogers threw werthers originals on the pitch today to distract England bowlers also....
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Nice work vas
dan in devon
Guest
Top Knock Vas
riddler
Guest
cheers for the efforts Vas.. great efforts by rogers and smith... great guys, great play...
dan in devon
Guest
Aggers and Boycott arguing about the pitch! It was made to order - didn't they order the curator to take the grass off it?
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Cheers Vas, nice job mate
TheTruth
Guest
Good call Vas. Well worth getting 3 hours sleep for work tomorrow unlike last week.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Eight overs into the new ball, and Moeen Ali is back. He has 1/81 off 21 overs. Aside from the fact he's bowling with a new cherry, has Cook even seen the amount of work Ali has done for him? Smith lets go the first.
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
AUS 1/332 (88) Rogers 155 Smith 128 Broad 0/44 (15)
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Broad overpitches, and Rogers pounces with an open face past mid-off for four! AUS 1/332
riddler
Guest
good call vas
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
Single to deep fine for Smith. That's the 250 partnership - should we now be thanking David Warner for his recklessness? AUS 1/328
Vas Venkatramani
Roar Guru
AUS 1/327 (87) Rogers 151 Smith 127 Anderson 0/64 (18)