England v Australia | 2nd Test | Lords | 16-20 July 09

[JeeraBlade]

on cricinfo;

Clarke needs a drink, and needs some tape on his bat. Strauss needs some new fingernails. Huge roar as Flintoff comes steaming in

 

[CricnPak]

Thrilling partnership. Someone said it before, shades of Langer-Gilcrhist are undeniable right now. Doubt they can pull it off though seeing how Mitch Johnson's terribly out of form; as well, they don't quite have a Warne or Lee to provide some lusty blows near the end. But there have been some fantastically extraordinary results over the last year in the 4th innings...Chennai, Perth, Lords?

 

[Wasim_Waqar]

Great fightback from Australia. I think if they played for longer tonight, it would have benefited Australia. As I said to my dad, if these two get past 350 (would leave 170 odd to win) then I think Aus will really have England scared.

 

[asifp]

I cant believe I will be working tomorrow and miss this.

Good day of test cricket too bad the umpires made stupid decision. Two of them are fine, missing a nick and missing a no-ball, but not to refer the Strauss catch is stupidity that could have been easily avoided.

 

[saj786]

if these 2 bat the morning session then the games theres, remember the forecast 2morrow is clear and suuny, flintoff the key if they see him off then theres nothing to fear

 

[hasanb]

What a days play we have in store tomorrow, truly test cricket at its best.

 

[James]

Woah. Tomorrow's gonna be tennnnnse. But the romantics have to remember a Mitchell Johnson with no confidence is next in to bat, and inexperienced tailenders after him. 209 runs is still loads, and considered a tricky target for a full side in the final innings, let alone the lesser half of the side. If we lose I would be surprised.

 

[lalaji]

i'm loving it...test cricket is so much fun....now lets hope we dont have an anti climax here....

btw i'm rooting for the aus...i hope MC and BH do a magic here ....

 

[Oxy]

I'm just watching the highlights.

Why didnt Rudi get confirmation from 3rd umpire - instead of that blind bat at square-leg?

NOT OUT for me - too much ground involved

 

[12thMan]

If Australia had atleast one more wicket in hand than a chance of good game tomorrow. A wicket is falling in first 4.5 overs tomorrow.
Match will be over in first session or maybe 32 minutes after lunch.

Only rain can make a good game which will see England trying to take two wickets before end of play - like the first test. Otherwise match is overs

 

[Deewana Mastana]

It should be a good 5th days play tomorrow!

 

[On_the_up]

Excellent effort by Clarke and Haddin to start making England slightly uneasy.

 

[Afridi_Fan]

I hope Aus will pull it off, and then I would love to read what English press will think abt this one

 

[OZGOD]

one wicket of a no-ball one a false catch

way to destroy what would be a great test match umpired

We just need to suck it up unfortunately. It's bad luck, but umpiring is one of those things that the team can't control, you just need to work around it.

Doctrove is an ordinary umpire though to be sure. It's frustrating that Taufel cannot umpire for us (just as I'm sure it's frustrating that Dar cannot umpire for Pakistan).

 

[Random Aussie]

Just on an hour to go.

Unless it rains there will be a result. I have hope but the head says it will be too many runs to get.

At least we can be Indian and blame the umpiring and pretend we won the match.

 

[pakistanbest]

Just on an hour to go.

Unless it rains there will be a result. I have hope but the head says it will be too many runs to get.

At least we can be Indian and blame the umpiring and pretend we won the match.

That's not the Aussie attitude that i know off, you guys can and WILL win it, you got to!

 

[pakistanbest]

Mitchell Johnson will have to bat well and with Hauritz injured, it will be hard but this Aussie tail ain't no mug with the bat!

 

[Fish]

That's not the Aussie attitude that i know off, you guys can and WILL win it, you got to!

We have a plane on standby at Heathrow and if we lose and the ICC dont sack Bucky we will be flying home. ) )

 

[pakistani pride]

I still think its ENG game.
AUS need more then 200 runs !

An early wicket and its game over BUT if these to get another 50 runs then who knows . . .

 

[Fish]

Strauss's catch.

 

[haroonrasheed320]

One of the most awaited day of the Ashes is about to begin the Ashes are definitely ablaze

 

[kingusama92]

Strauss's catch.

Clearly he didn't get his fingers underneath. Strauss was within in his rights to claim the catch... it's the ump's responsibility to make sure with the 3rd umpire and they really made a blunder out of what should be common sense.

 

[Oxy]

Freddie strikes instantly! Haddin caught at slip for 80!

Eng on top!

313-6

 

[pakistani pride]

FLINNNNNNNNTOFFFF the master !
Go England go !

 

[Oxy]

Flintoff 92.6 mph

 

[pakistani pride]

whats the weather forecast ? anyone knows that . . .

 

[dblock]

What a breakthrough.. England firmly in the box seat here.

 

[Amjid Javed]

England should wrap this up from here!

4 wkts to go..

 

[Oxy]

Flintoff strikes Clark on the glove - ouch!

 

[Oxy]

Freddie cranking it up to 93mph

 

[pakistani pride]

so does any 1 know if it will rain or not ?
Its ok here in holland

 

[pakistanbest]

what's the weather like?

think today everywhere is overcast with sunny spells

 

[Amjid Javed]

Aus 321/6 - Flintoff pretty much needs to be seen off here!

 

[Oxy]

Fulltoss from Freddie - at 93mph - hits the pads - would have been LBW

(No ball)

 

[dani2k]

Clearly he didn't get his fingers underneath. Strauss was within in his rights to claim the catch... it's the ump's responsibility to make sure with the 3rd umpire and they really made a blunder out of what should be common sense.

Aussies getting a taste of their own medicine...I am loving it!

 

[Amjid Javed]

330/6 now....

Aussies need to get to lunch with out losing another wicket!

 

[pakistani pride]

Harmison would make this attck complete !

 

[Oxy]

Great spell of fast, hostile bowling from Flintoff.

12 consecutive 90mph+ balls

 

[Amjid Javed]

MJ looking to play his shots which maybe is a good thing for england as he may get out that way!

 

[Oxy]

Im surprised Ponting is letting KP go off the field so many times...with a sub coming on

 

[frz]

Im surprised Ponting is letting KP go off the field so many times...with a sub coming on

What can Ponting do about it? Isn't this sort of thing the umpire's call?

 

[pakistani pride]

Would lo ve to see a yorker now !

 

[Oxy]

What can Ponting do about it? Isn't this sort of thing the umpire's call?

He can object. KP has come into this series with pplenty of pre-existing injuries, hence Ponting would be within his right to object to a sub-fielder.

 

[Oxy]

356-6

166 to win!

 

[hasanb]

GONE swann gets the massive massive wicket of michael clarke...but what an innings that was from him.

 

[Oxy]

A wicket straight after the drinks break! Swann gets Clark

Aus 7 down!!

 

[pakistani pride]

Moment du madness ! clarke charges down and gets bowled !
Go england !

 

[Amjid Javed]

Clarke gone! Huge wicket for Swann!

 

[zulfiqar]

Aw man what the hell... NOOOOO! He was playing so well and with 166 to go I thought Clarke would be the hero! Now there's absolutely no chance Aus can win this. 166 with Clarke was possible... seriously dissapointed, but alas, the task was too much for him =(

 

[On_the_up]

The Fat lady starting to get her make up on. (again!)

 

[zulfiqar]

How dissapointed was he when he got out?

 

[Oxy]

That was actually a great ball - deceived CLark in the flight - and crucially spun 6 ins to hit off stick

 

[pakistani pride]

he was really dissapointed . . .
flintoff deserves a rest here !

 

[James]

Again, I never understood why Australia were given such a fighting chance by the pessimistic section of our support, we were always firm favourites!

 

[Oxy]

HAuritz leaves one - its an inswinger.

AND BOWLS HIM!!!

363-8

What a beauty from Freddie!

 

[hasanb]

flintoff bowls hauritz all ends up after a silly leave by hauritz...england on the hunt now...victory not far off!

 

[pakistani pride]

What an inswinger Flintoff leading the Eng attack in a great way here !

 

[Oxy]

Terrible shot from Hauritz - the ball before was an inswinger - suicidal to leave.

Been a GREAT display of fast, hostile, aggressive pace bowling this morning from Flintoff

 

[saeed-sohail]

that's game well and truely over.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Hauritz gone!

Flintoff has 4 for now!

 

[Oxy]

I can hear Swann in the backgeound saying 'hit him Freddie'

 

[Oxy]

Atherton is spot on - every ball looks like it will take a wkt

 

[hasanb]

Again, I never understood why Australia were given such a fighting chance by the pessimistic section of our support, we were always firm favourites!

hmm more due to australias history than anyhing else i think

 

[Oxy]

Flintoff deserve a F'fer

 

[James]

Terrible shot from Hauritz - the ball before was an inswinger - suicidal to leave.

Been a GREAT display of fast, hostile, aggressive pace bowling this morning from Flintoff

That's because he is the best GENUINE fast bowler in the world

 

[James]

hmm more due to australias history than anyhing else i think

nope just due to typical English loser mentality. Importantly, the TEAM knew they were bound to win the match.

 

[saeed-sohail]

Again, I never understood why Australia were given such a fighting chance by the pessimistic section of our support, we were always firm favourites!

Hindsight is a very good thing my friend.

 

[James]

Hindsight is a very good thing my friend.

I said last night we were going to win. Posted it on here.

 

[Oxy]

That's because he is the best GENUINE fast bowler in the world

I forget to add 'consistent' to my description. Everyball has been over 89mph today

 

[Oxy]

Swann drops it - great c&b attempt - would have been a stunner!

 

[James]

I forget to add 'consistent' to my description. Everyball has been over 89mph today

yeah he has been amazingly fast in this test match. Not just the occasional 90mph ball, he's been way above that barrier, all the way through. Some of the best bowling of his career

 

[Uzzy]

Is anyone watching the Pak vs SL game?

I'm watching Eng vs Aus and everytime I switch over to the Pak game it just seems so boring and dull.

Thoroughly enjoyed this second test match.

 

[pakistani pride]

Eng need to bring back Harmison i feel, drop either onions or broad.

 

[Oxy]

Perhaps worth resting Flintoff bowled unchanged from the start - getting hit around a bit now

 

[Oxy]

Is anyone watching the Pak vs SL game?

.

Nope - cant stand Asian TV coverage - simple as that. Blocky, pixellated, full of ads, poor audio; crap commentators etc etc

 

[zulfiqar]

Bah... hope Johnson goes into fury mode and goes after everything

 

[hussein]

That's because he is the best GENUINE fast bowler in the world

Genuine Fast bowlers get 5-fors more often and the really best get the odd 10-for, for me steyn is well ahead,

shame though the rest of his career will be wasted on ipl/odis, why didnt he retire for Limited overs crickert

 

[Oxy]

Genuine Fast bowlers get 5-fors more often and the really best get the odd 10-for, for me steyn is well ahead,

shame though the rest of his career will be wasted on ipl/odis, why didnt he retire for Limited overs crickert

I think the argument here is simply pace - and Flintoff wins that hands down by a mile.

 

[hussein]

Nope - cant stand Asian TV coverage - simple as that. Blocky, pixellated, full of ads, poor audio; crap commentators etc etc

thats why im looking forward to pak touring england, i think sky should replace holding with warne, warne should definitely have a permanent spot as commentator, holding is getting boring

 

[Oxy]

MJ only knows one way!

Moves onto 48*