2nd Ashes Test: Edgbaston, 4-8 August: Day Two

[Occasional Fan]

Please post comments on the second day's play here.

[GlennMcGrath500]

Australia are going to make and pass the total quite comfortably

[greg]

Could be a weather affected day.Been quite a lot of rain in Midlands overnight so outfield will be slower and hopefully the cloud will stay and it will get muggy so the ball will swing.If it doesn't it could be a long hard slog for England.If i was Buchanan i would tell the players to make sure they are batting at tea on day 3.If they are England will be looking at a big first innings deficit.

[English_Al]

I think the general feeling yesterday was that England screwed up by throwing their wickets away. However, I was watching Sky Sports (Gower etc) summing up which I was stunned when they seemed to be generally happy with Englands positive intent and bouncing back against the Aussies - completely different take - bizarre!

The Aussies will have a great day today I think, the only thing that will prevent this is if the weather conditions favour the bowlers...

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by English_Al

The Aussies will have a great day today I think, the only thing that will prevent this is if the weather conditions favour the bowlers...

I am of course living in dreamland, as I remember Harmison's own comments following his seven for next-to-nothing against the West Indies in the Caribbean when he said something along the lines of: "when I saw where the West Indies bowlers were putting it, I knew where to bowl."

Well Steve, you've just seen eighty overs of Australian bowlers largely failing to put the ball in the right place... do you suppose you can fathom out from the errors-of-their-ways where it might be wise to put the ball?

If you can, we've a dog's chance here.

Of course, it would help if Hoggard could work out where to put the ball if it swings (or even if it doesn't).

I don't think anyone can really convince me that he's any good. Except perhaps himself (Hoggard that is) with figures of about nine for seventy-three. In the match, of course... but six-fer quite quickly in the first innings would certainly help.

[greg]

Bye bye Hayden. 0-1

[John]

Great start Hayden gone for 0.


Any of you think Roebuck is anti English read his article in Independent he thought the batting of England was great. I didn't.

Oh I get it he is only anti English when he says Flintoff is chucking.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by greg

Bye bye Hayden. 0-1

Incidentally I don't believe for a moment that Hoggard can take a quick six-fer. But wouldn't it be nice.

[Pabs]

Originally Posted by John

Any of you think Roebuck is anti English read his article in Independent he thought the batting of England was great. I didn't.

Oh I get it he is only anti English when he says Flintoff is chucking.

Not anti-English so much as deliberately perverse and inflammatory. The Julie Burchill of cricket.

[greg]

Ponting is looking in decent touch.Would never have thought Langer had a problem against the short ball before this series but Harmison seems to rattle him a bit.