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Joey Woodwork 8:49 Thu Jul 16
The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

July 16-20, 2015
Start time 11am local (1000GMT)

Australia must wish the first Test had been played in New South Wales instead of old south Wales. Already Cardiff held few fond memories for Australia cricketers, from their one-day loss to Bangladesh there in 2005 to their 2009 failure to finish the job against England in an Ashes Test. After their defeat in the first Investec Ashes Test this year, their win-loss record in Cardiff across all formats reads much like the name of a Welsh village: LWLDLLL.

No wonder they didn't feel like sharing a beer with Alastair Cook and his men after the game. Of course, the post-match snub was merely froth and bubble (or not, apparently) compared with what happened on the field. There, Cook earned praise for his captaincy and was backed by a strong all-round effort from his players. They were calm, confident and patient. And, despite doubts over Moeen Ali's fitness, they enter the second Test at Lord's with a largely settled side.

The same cannot be said of the Australians. Significant changes are expected, including the withdrawal of Brad Haddin for personal reasons. That will mean a Test debut for Peter Nevill, albeit not in the kind of circumstances anyone would wish for. There is also a likelihood that Shane Watson will be axed for Mitchell Marsh, a move that has been described as potentially career-ending for Watson. However, given Marsh's history of injuries, it is not out of the question that Watson could find himself back in the side later in the series.


Form guide
(last five completed matches, most recent first)
England WLWLW
Australia LWWDD


In the spotlight
Things went pretty well for England on the third day in Cardiff, and not only because they skittled Australia's lower-order and set up the victory. It was also the day on which Ian Bell emerged from a batting slump. England will hope he gained some confidence from the 60 - his first half-century in ten Test innings - and Australia know how dangerous it can be to allow him to find form. Last time the teams met at Lord's, Bell scored 109 and 74.

Peter Nevill will become the 443rd man to represent Australia in Tests and will be keen to show the selectors he can handle the step up. A fine domestic batsman who scored 764 runs at 76.40 in the most recent Sheffield Shield summer, Nevill has overtaken Matthew Wade as Haddin's backup and, at 29, he could have many years of Test cricket ahead of him if he eventually becomes the full-time successor.

Team news
England named an unchanged 13-man squad for the Lord's Test and hope to keep the same XI from Cardiff but Moeen Ali is carrying a side strain that has limited his ability to practise. If he is ruled out, then Adil Rashid is in line to make a Test debut.

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Adam Lyth, 3 Gary Ballance, 4 Ian Bell, 5 Joe Root, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Moeen Ali/Adil Rashid, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson

Marsh and Nevill appear set to replace Watson and Haddin, but a third change looks unlikely. Mitchell Starc battled an ankle injury during the Cardiff Test but has bowled well in the nets in the lead-up to the Lord's Test and should retain his spot ahead of Peter Siddle.

Australia (probable) 1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Adam Voges, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pitch and conditions
The Lord's pitch should have more pace and carry than what was offered at Cardiff, where even on day one some deliveries were staying low. Rain has hampered preparations slightly but the forecast for the match is for fine weather and temperatures in the low 20C range.

Stats and trivia
Nevill will become the first Australian to debut in a Lord's Ashes Test since 1977, when Richie Robinson, Craig Serjeant and Len Pascoe all debuted together
Mitchell Johnson needs 16 runs and seven wickets to join Shane Warne as the only Australians with the double of 2000 Test runs and 300 Test wickets
The last Lord's Ashes Test was just two years ago but only three Australians and five England players from that game appear likely to take part this time
Quotes
"When we win, the captain gets the plaudits; when we lose, the captain picks up the negative bits as well. That is part and parcel of the job."
Alastair Cook is not getting complacent after a week of good reviews

"Generally here at Lord's the first session of the first day is a bit tough, it seams around a bit, but once you get in as a batter it can be beautiful to bat on."
Michael Clarke will hope for longer in the middle this Test

Jonah Lomas 1:51 Wed Jul 22
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Ronald_antly 10:28 Wed Jul 22

Probably won't last that long Ronald, either way.

Stewie - I do yes, so I don't post then.

Sven Roeder 11:21 Wed Jul 22
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

South Africa not having the best of times in the Test match in Chittagong

South Africa 248
Bangladesh 166/3 (61.2 ov)

Bangladesh trail by 82 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Ronald_antly 10:28 Wed Jul 22
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

What about day 5, Jonah?

stewie griffin 9:14 Wed Jul 22
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Do you ever get bored, LOLmas?

Serious question.

Jonah Lomas 11:26 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Chin up Hacko, you've got a reasonable record at Edgbaston, and Cook has publicly begged for a decent pitch, instead of (allegedly) playing a part in the decision to produce a docile pitch, like in the 2nd test.

Plus, I'll be there to cheers the boys on, on the 2nd day.

hacko 11:16 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

I don't want much. Just for England to respond to this walloping in the same way that Australia performed after their defeat in Cardiff.
Somehow... I'm doubtful.

hacko 11:16 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

I don't want much. Just for England to respond to this walloping in the same way that Australia performed after their defeat in Cardiff.
Somehow... I'm doubtful.

Brussels Sprout 9:07 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Bonjour Davies, you seem a touch disturbed?

LeroysBoots 8:06 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

An innings and 207 runs is a thrashing by anyone's standards !

JustAFatKevinDavies 7:08 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

thats like saying 'i've not been involved in genocide for 4 years and was only involved for 18th months'

you have blood on your hands

LeroysBoots 7:05 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

JAFKD

I've not been in insurance for 4 years now, and I was only in it for 18 months !

stoneman 6:38 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

The women's ashes series is a bit dull, all a bit slow but better than watching the men lose I guess.

JustAFatKevinDavies 6:37 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

sprouts, go and crawl back into whatever cage you escaped from you arse faced weasel.

stewie griffin 6:36 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Hahaha. ..I'll give you that, Gayvies

Brussels Sprout 6:35 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

JustAFatKevinDavies 6:31 Tue Jul 21

JustAFatKevinDavies 6:31 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

'I'm quite fond of her'

LOL

stewie griffin 6:29 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Funny enough, Burns0, she now carries a flick knife.

I took her over to Lloyds the other day to go to the medical bit and it went off at the security cunts checks.

I'm quite fond of her, but even the best Kent ones embarrass you eventually.

stewie griffin 6:27 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

hahaha! Wouldn't put it past them, the weird cunts.

Mr. Burns 6:27 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

griff0,

Was the note actually for the car rather than the girl?

stewie griffin 6:25 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

There's a bird here, unsurprisingly from KENT, who got a little note on her car one day saying 'you're so beautiful, this is my number'...and the next day found a bloke HUMPING her car when she got back from work.

Probably both BOOTS, I reckon.

Creepy Kent cunts.

JustAFatKevinDavies 6:21 Tue Jul 21
Re: The OFFICIAL 2nd Test Thread - England vs Australia - Lords

Yes P, thats exactly what it was. It was definitely some insurance mug which is why i naturally thought of them 2.

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