*Official* Second Test at Lords

[Pizzorno]

I love how the Sky commentators are quick to criticize Strauss' decision to not enforce the follow-on when it's actually the first piece of good captaincy he's shown all day.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Be a good time bowl em out for around 51 right about now.

 

[Ikki]

I think Australia might be buoyed by this decision not to follow on. The best thing to see is that the team you are facing have so much respect - read: fear - of you that they are still hesitant about their own success doing well against you. If I were Johnson and the other bowlers, I'd be thinking: "what a bunch of pretenders".

 

[cover drive man]

part of me actually thinks it wouldn't be a bad thing if the crims bowled us out for 250...but realistically I think we should look to set 500 or so

Agree, we should make it near impossible for the Aussies to win before they come out to bat.

 

[duffer]

Praying Johnson's shut the pie factory today.

 

[Richard]

I love how the Sky commentators are quick to criticize Strauss' decision to not enforce the follow-on when it's actually the first piece of good captaincy he's shown all day.

Abso-bloody-lutely.

And now he smacks another piece of rubbish from Hilfenhaus over mid-wicket for four and follows-up with a well-run single - hopefully the tide has turned.

 

[duffer]

EDIT: nevermind

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Not enforcing is definitely the right decision for mine. Even if England bat very poorly, they're still likely to have almost two days to bowl Australia out defending 400+, and likely 500+. Conditions are perfect for batting today, and as poorly as Australia batted yesterday, it was a lot tougher then. If Australia did bat well and scored 400+, there'd be a much higher chance of England losing the match.

Personally, supporting Australia, I was hoping Strauss would enforce, but wasn't at all surprised when he didn't. Australia's only hope from here is a bit of rain and some excellent defensive batting on the last two days to salvage a draw, unless England completely fall in a heap in perfect batting conditions on a road.

 

[Richard]

I think Australia might be buoyed by this decision not to follow on. The best thing to see is that the team you are facing have so much respect - read: fear - of you that they are still hesitant about their own success doing well against you. If I were Johnson and the other bowlers, I'd be thinking: "what a bunch of pretenders".

If I were Johnson I'd be worrying about learning again how to hit the cut strip before I tried cod-psychology on myself.

 

[GIMH]

TBH even if we did collapse for 51 like Ben said, the chase would still probably be close...I guess that's one of the main arguments for enforcing mind you

 

[duffer]

Heh, leg stump half volley.

 

[Craig]

I think Australia might be buoyed by this decision not to follow on. The best thing to see is that the team you are facing have so much respect - read: fear - of you that they are still hesitant about their own success doing well against you. If I were Johnson and the other bowlers, I'd be thinking: "what a bunch of pretenders".

What makes you a cricket captaincy expert?

 

[Richard]

And predictably going on about declaring too late in West Indies, failing yet again to realise that the fault there was not declaring too late but being unable to dismiss a tailender.

And now not even able to get the Tests right - saying the Fourth Test was "the very next game" to the Second Test.

 

[wfdu_ben91]

Last thing I'd want if I were England is to give a us half a sniff of chasing a total down because you know Ponting will be hell bent on chasing it down.

 

[aussie tragic]

Highest 4th Innings score at Lords:

(1) 397 - India in 2002 (Lost when set 567 to win)
(2) 344-1 - West Indies in 1984 (Won)
(3) 329-3 - Australia in 1975 (Chasing 483 so draw)

So England all out for 190 and Aussies set new run chase record of 401 to win

 

[GIMH]

Botham is so angry, it's amusing. I personally would have liked to see us enforce but think there were solid arguments either way, don't really see why anyone is getting high and mighty about it tbh

 

[Richard]

Botham is so angry, it's amusing. I personally would have liked to see us enforce but think there were solid arguments either way, don't really see why anyone is getting high and mighty about it tbh

Because that's what he does. I don't mind him at all under most circumstances - some hate him regardless - but times like this are the only occasions he really annoys me.

 

[Craig]

I think if Strauss had a bigger lead then I think he would have enforced the follow on.

 

[GIMH]

Because that's what he does. I don't mind him at all under most circumstances - some hate him regardless - but times like this are the only occasions he really annoys me.

TBH I enjoy his commentary, especially at times like this, always like to see someone getting passionate about something

 

[Richard]

Highest 4th Innings score at Lords:

(1) 397 - India in 2002 (Lost when set 567 to win)
(2) 344-1 - West Indies in 1984 (Won)
(3) 329-3 - Australia in 1975 (Chasing 483 so draw)

So England all out for 190 and Aussies set new run chase record of 401 to win

Clearly though Greenidge's Match in 1984 was a case of West Indies being denied the chance to set the unbeatable record for highest fourth-innings chase by England's ineptitude and inability to set a proper 470+ target.