Just got in to watch the last hour and the umpires have offered the light to the batsmen. That’ll be them for the evening. 156/8 and another 70 odd required to avoid the follow on.
The sun is out and the pitch has flattened out. Hauritz and Siddle are still sticking around and batting looks a lot easier than yesterday. Even if England and Wales are in a position to enforce the follow on, I would have a bat again if I were Strauss. Make Australia bat last on the pitch when it might be deteriorating and conditions may be more seam bowler friendly.
I’d agree with you there Bandage. Batting looks handy enough at the moment and they don’t want Australia’s openers settling in for half a day.
Also it ensures Hauritz can’t bowl if England are next up.
[quote=“Rocko”]I’d agree with you there Bandage. Batting looks handy enough at the moment and they don’t want Australia’s openers settling in for half a day.
Also it ensures Hauritz can’t bowl if England are next up.[/QUOTE]
Weather is also a consideration. If the English and Welsh took a lead of just over 200 and batted again only for rain to disrupt their chances of taking the Australian wickets on day 4 and 5 then they’d seriously regret not having another bowl.
Australia 215ao - England and Wales lead by 210 and Strauss has decided not to enforce the follow on. Botham’s making the point about weather now and he’s mentioned about England and Wales being very conservative about declaring in the past. He’s right in that they batted on way too long twice in the West Indies over the Spring and didn’t leave themselves enough time to bowl them out. But there’s loads of time left here and they can’t get bogged down on external things like weather. They just need to crack on and bat well again.
Solid start from Cook and Strauss, 43-0…
I’d agree, correct decision not to enforce the follow on. Its a day for batting. Would have been fairly demoralising if Convicts got to something like 200/1. Concern would be the weather and the recent bad precedents of England not enforcing the follow on in the Caribbean and not getting the win.
E&W are 130 for 2 at tea, Bopara lucky to survive an appeal after hauritz caught him, looked as if it hit the ground beforehand
Bopara gone for 27, 151-3 now…
Missed Pieterson’s wicket but Prior is after coming in and hitting a half century off 37 balls…
E&W 248-4, they lead by 458…How mush more before they declare, another 150, then declare around lunch tomorrow?
Matt Prior is on fire 60 off 41 balls, E&W looking well in control
Just as I type it he gets run out with a superb throw from North…
E&W finish the day on 311-5 with a lead of 521, presume they will bat for an hour in the morning and declare with a lead of 550+
Following Aggers and some of the other TMS team on twitter. All of them wanted the Follow On enforced but Tuffers was changing his mind. When it wasn’t then they reckoned make Australia bat the last 6 innings or so in failing light, but weather changed that.
Agree they’ll bat a little in the morning to add a few more and then put the Aussies in to chase what would be a record 2nd innings chase at Lords.
Great show from England after the somewhat lucky draw at Cardiff. Bopara must be feeling unsafe though as unlike the others he hasn’t had a single good innings.
My joy at Ponting’s early dismissal was only enhanced by his two fielding bloopers. Apparantly the crowd actually laughed at one and enjoyed all the big screen replays. Most un-Lords-like but Ponting brings it on himself.
Yeah, you would nearly feel sorry for Ponting if he wasnt such a prick. It was a tricky decision to make regarding the follow on. Just hope Strauss doesnt go with his usual defensive outlook and declares early tomorrow
Early breakthrough for England. Katich gone 17/1
Philip Hughes fails yet again. Gone for 17.
34/2
E&W well on top, the convicts are 145-5…
100 partnership for Clarke and Haddin. England and Wales are actually bowling pretty well in fairness to them - the two lads are batting excellently though. Didn’t see any of it early but there were apparently 2 or 3 very dodgy dismissals - looking forward to the highlights later. England and Wales should still secure the win but Australia are battling hard.