MadAsHell

Unbelivable turnaround! I was confident we'd bounce back, but to win as easily as that is quite amazing! Very concerned for poor old buck Rogers. Clarke came out in his press conference saying he thinks the dizzy spell was unrelated to the hits and expects him to play the next test, but we'll wait and see. Certainly doesn't look good, and I fear he may have just played his last test. Could it be that we'll see three changes to the team for the next test? Haddin back for Nevill, S. Marsh to replace Voges (back issues) and Watson to replace Rogers? I hope not! England have some serious selection issues also. Lyth to me doesn't look up to it, and both Ballance & Bell are seriously out of form. I know they've both made a 50 each so far ths series, but outside of those scores and if you look at their numbers v New Zealnd & West Indies, some questions need to be asked. Names like Bairstow & Compton have been thrown up. Bairstow averaging over 100 in County Cricket so far this year and Compton averaging over 40 as both are in the top 5 run scorers each. Having said that though our bowlers made light work of Bairstow two years ago and Compton's an already failed England openners, so don't know if they'd go back there? Their selectors wouldn't have the courage to recall Pietersen at this stage, so there's no real other option I can see. Maybe James Taylor who's in their ODI team and had some success there, but his numbers aren't great this County Season. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/county-championship-div1-2015/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=9751;type=tournament Will be some interesting selections ahead for both teams I think.

Cook drags it on for 96 just before the new ball and we should be looking t knock them over for less then 300 with any luck!

Thanks for the link Macca. Was a good fightback from Cook & Stokes, but Stokes & Buttler out either side of lunch has England still well on the back foot. My prediction is even if we bowl them out with a lead of over 200, we wont make them follow on. Will look to bat possibly till half an hour into the middle session tomorrow and set them around 450 - 500 to win,

Another great day for Australia. Couldn't have asked for more having them 4 down at stumps. Couple of early wickets tomorrow morning and think their spirit will be shattered for this match and hopefully the series from there.

Smith & Nevill both depart in quick time, but the damage is done at 7/536. 20min till tea. Reckon they'll look to bat till then and maybe just half an hour after tea . If not dismissed by then they'll likely declare. Not point exposing the tail to the 3rd new ball. Somewhere in the 570 region is a daunting total, so can't see us loosing this test from here.

Like the look of Nevill with the bat. Very busy. Reminds me a bit of the way Ian Healy used to bat. And well done Steve Smith, brilliant double ton!

Broad bowling well. Picked up Voges & Marsh since lunch. Hopefully this is a sign that the pitch is getting better for the bowler? Still well on track for at least 500.

Better session then by England, but we're still well on top at 3/424 Rogers great innings came to an end and Clarke's run of outs continues. But Smith & Voges looking good. 600 could be on the cards here?

Never in doubt Macca!Still a long way to go in this test, but couldn't have asked for a better day 1. Pitch likely to quicken up for our bowlers which will help. We shouldbe aiming for well over 500 now.

Great middle session by the Aussies, lets hope Rogers & Smith can both go on and make 100's. Hopefully we aren't anymore then 4 down at Stumps and with about 300 odd runs on the board, we should be well set up for that 400+ score. Wont be watching this final session, so I hope for good news when I wake up.

They've slowed us down to a snails pace England. But wickets in hand is worth two in the bush!

What on earth was that Warner! You've got through the first hour without incident, taken 10 runs of Ali's first 5 balls and then you try and hit him out of the park again only to sky it to midoff! We'll be in for another painful test if that's an indication of the shot selection we should expect. Dreadful shot!

Good first hour. Lets hope they can cash in and make at least 400 in the first dig. 500+ would be even better!

Funnily enough, I think our batting looks a bit better now with Mitch Marsh & Nevill there now instead of Watson & Haddin. Although we will miss their experience no doubt. Still think we can bounce back qucikly. Especially if we win the toss and bat first and make a decent total. We saw in the last sereis out there in 2013, that the two tests we batted first (3rd test & 5th) we had them on the back foot the whole time, and if it weren't for rain would have likely won both tests. If enough pressure's applied to England they'll fold I have no doubt. Bowl in the right spots, build an innings with the bat and hold your catches and we win without much fuss. That I'm confident of!

Suspect they figured it would be his final series anyway, so thought they might give hima farewell series. With us 1-0 down and him falling LBW twice yet again, they had no choice but to bite the bullet early, and fair enough too!

Watson & Haddin out. Mitch Marsh in & Nevill to debut. http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2015-shane-watson-dropped-for-second-test-at-lords-with-mitchell-marsh-selected-for-australia/story-fndpt0dy-1227442241402

That would be delightful bjDee! I appologise to all for not heading down. But don't worry, I promise I'll be back for their next match v Werribee on Sunday August 2 rain, hail or shine!

Great effort scorps! Annoyed with myself that i didn't go. Let yesterday's result put me in to much of a negative mood. Serves me right! Oh well, the afternoon at home with the wife and son has been nice.

Was going to do the 200 meter walk, but decided against it. Has been raining steadily out here since last night and there's no sign of it letting up.

Good to see the tail show some fight towards the end. But we were completely out played this test. The three main areas where we lost it were: 1. Haddin dropping Root. 2. Poor bowling in Englands first innings. 3. Failure to convert starts in our first innings. We can rebound for sure. But not ideal to give England that sort of confidence first up.

Watson out LBW for a change. But I'm not going to point the finger squarely at him. Having said that he's underperformed for a long time! Have we seen him for the final time at Test level? Mitch Marsh surely must come in. Tea on Day 4: 7/162 Praying for a miracle they can survive till stumps and it rains all day tomorrow. But there's less then 1% chance of that happening. Will make my calls for Lords now: OUT: Watson, Starc (if injured) IN: M. Marsh, Siddle (if Starc misses, accuracy at Lords valuable) Haddin & Voges under pressure also with both Nevill & S. Marsh in the winds. Edit: Tea score/changes.

Batting to save the match and Haddin tries to slog Ali over cow corner first ball he faces off him, only to hit it to short mid wicket. Lucky he's got some credits, because that was horrible, he's had a shocking match! Nevill will be a chance to debut this series after Haddin's performance in this match.

Agree with everything you say there TU except Smith throwing it away twice goes. Reckon his dismissal this innings was just a good ball, had to play.. Threw it away in the first innings though. And I agree re: our shaky batting. Even if we do bring Shaun Marsh in for Voges, he doesn't fill me with a heap of confidence either.

Clarke gone, lost 3/9. Game over! This is getting ugly. Only heartening thing is we smashed England in the first test in 2005 and they came back to win 2-1. So lets hope history repeats!

Smith out, now 3/101 and pretty much game over unless Clarke & Voges can put on about a 200 run partnership. Warner was a bit stiff with the LBW, and England have had the rub of the green with those decisions this match. Watson got a similar one in the 1st Innings, where as we missed out on Lyth very early in their 2nd Innings. And you're right TU. Haddin's drop on day 1 is going to be the match changer in this test. Attention to turn to Lords now. Will Starc be right? Mitch Marsh will surely come in for Watson unless he somehow manages to score a match winning ton. And if Starc does miss, you'd think Siddle would have to come in ahead of Cummins due to his accuracy as we struggled in that department this match.