The Ashes First Test Lords Thursday 21st July..Day 2.

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Well at 87-5, this was not that good by Australia, and the End result was .

McGrath G D McGrath18.05535
S Harmison S J Harmison11.20435Had the better strike rate.
But Harmison has only collected 2 wickets today, so i see no reason McGrath should fair much better, conditions have changed.
err um yes, well I think I needed a bar, understandable error .

Yes but he get most of his wickets bowling short, so is it wise to start bowling full, it does not unsettle the batsmen, Hoggy-"Shrug Shoulders".

Hey Ernest Harmison may have had the better strike rate (only due to Pieterson touching Mcgrath up in the last few overs, before that he had a strike rate of 1.6 bowling against England's Famed batsmen). But McGrath went through the english top order. Harmison went through Australia's Tail. Australia still has 3 wickets, so Harmison could still get 5 wickets. So according to your if this happens that can't reasoning - McGrath can still go through Englands top order and collect 5 wickets again.

But I would love a bet on England at the moment - any one know the odds being given to England by the bookies?

[Ernest]

Match Betting Price England 9/2Draw 12/1Australia 1/5

I think 9/2 agaist England is generous, might have a bite at that.

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

So according to your if this happens that can't reasoning - McGrath can still go through Englands top order and collect 5 wickets again.

So it is good news for England if Harmison gets no more wickets, I see the logic, if you are using my logic as a TOR .

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Match Betting Price England 9/2Draw 12/1Australia 1/5

I think 9/2 agaist England is generous, might have a bite at that.
So it is good news for England if Harmison gets no more wickets, I see the logic, if you are using my logic as a TOR .

What no 500 to 1 on England to win by the bookies - Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh will be disappointed

[John]

I am glad Harmison didn't bowl like this in SA the winter just gone. We had enough problems as it is.
I think apart from Englands batting they are doing alright. It's just the Aussies's are so damn impressive. Even when you get on top you seem to know the fight back is on its way.
I think Englands problem is Giles against any other side he is worth his place but not this side. I think Warne was technically right when he said England should play with four bowlers like "us." That would mean an extra batsmen and Flintoff coming in lower down.
But Warne was being disingenious he knew England would have to play Giles with ff covering number 6. Where really a fully fledged batsmen would be more apporiate.
By playing four bowlers Australia can have Glichrist at 7 where FF should be.

Great Test match Australia favourites but England in with a shout.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

What no 500 to 1 on England to win by the bookies - Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh will be disappointed

LOL Yes even the Aussies had a bite at that (don't blame them), but I watched that match, after Botham heroics, I think England had a lead of 130.

A little comparason with McGrath here, Bob Willies took 7 or 8 for in a blisterering spell of fast bowling, not unlike McGrath yesterday, my point, Willies did not have such a spell in Australia's first innings.

Originally Posted by john

Great Test match Australia favourites but England in with a shout.

Yes I agree it's a facinating game, anyone can win it.

Harmison in South Africa, my fingers still ache from the constant typeing that all that was wrong with Harmison, was he was home sick.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Ernest

A little comparason with McGrath here, Bob Willies took 7 or 8 for in a blisterering spell of fast bowling, not unlike McGrath yesterday, my point, Willies did not have such a spell in Australia's first innings.

With respect to Willis and his dour personality Ern, he barely reached the heights of brilliance that McGrath has sustained for almost a decade. Any freak can have a 'one-off' bowling spell; only the truly great do it day in, day out, series after series.

[Ernest]

I am not really compairing Willis with McGrath, although I had an admiration for him, he took some stick of the press.

This was reflected in his speach after the match.

My point was that a bowler great or not, rarely emulates a brilliant first innings display in the second innings, it's asking a lot.
Watch him get 5 for now , I hope we get an interesting 3rd and 4th days.

[Beny]

Good to see that Clarke has gotten himslef back into the runs... I missed the innings but I'll watch the replay today. The sign of a great batsmen is when they can score under preassure.

[Irish Left Armer]

England fans are so pessimistic because they've been getting stuffed by Aus for the best part of 20 years now and don't have faith in England's top order making runs.

So the plan for tomorrow is:

Ern, get yourself down to Lords and nobble McGrath when he's touching up his hair in the morning.

England don't bowl any ****e and blow the Aussies lower order away.

Tresco does not wave his bat outside the off stump.

Strauss remembers how to bat.

Vaughan realises he's not Michael Vaughan model 2002 - 2003 and has to work for his runs.

Bell is not exposed to the new ball and gets to come in and grind when England are doing ok.

Pietersen is the arrogant prick we all know he is and blisters the ball about.

It could happen....or not.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

Ern, get yourself down to Lords and nobble McGrath when he's touching up his hair in the morning.

Off to the seaside for a week RLA, so England are on their own I am afraid, got a TV in the appartment, and full Internest useage a 10 minute drive away.

They can do it with some application, hope the don't all atart to wave me off with their bats later .