Hmmm. Interesting article here, which I think I pretty much agree with.

Some very valid points, particularly about the batsmen. I'm rather despairing of the lack of progress shown by Cook - when he came into the setup he looked a genuine prospect but when did he last put in a decent knock?

I'd argue that the opinion on Monty rather than Onions is a bit revisionist though; the decision wasn't to play Monty or play Onions, it was play one spinner or two spinners. Given the reputation of Glamorgan's ground, playing two spinners was generally seen to be the right decision. The two best spinners England have available are Swann and Panesar, so they play. In hindsight, given the way Monty bowled, you'd have said playing an in form Onions would have turned out to be a better option. However I don't see how you could have said that on Wednesday morning.

I expect we'll see Onions at Lords, so we can start to make some sort fo judgement about whether he'd have fared any better against the Australian bowling line up then.

Jon

My choice/changes for Lords Test would be:-

Panasar out, Onions in
Broad out, Harmison in

Although looks like Freddie might be out injured yet again

Wow, who stole the England top order?

Nearly - Onions in for Panesar, but no place for Harmy.

Tea on day one at Lords. England batting first, 255-2.

Strauss and Cook put together the best opening partnership by an England pair in the Ashes at the ground, scoring 190 before Cook was caught LBW on 95 off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson. I recall hearing a Boycott rant that Cook had a technical failing that means, when playing forward defensive, he has to sweep the bat round his leg (and pad) to get to the ball and is therefore vulnerable to LBW from a straight ball. Sounds like it's caught him again.

Nathan Hauritz has gone off injured having dislocated a finger on his bowling hand attempting to get Strauss out C&B. Ouch. Fortunate for England in one sense but that's not the kind of thing you want to be taking advantage of really.

Ravi Bopara came in and frankly made a right hash of it, looking very shakey from the start and being out for 18 after 7 overs. He's not ready to play number 3 in an Ashes series that one. Pietersen entered the fray and, apparently wanting to cock a snoop at those who had criticised his efforts at Sophia Gardens, proceeded to play risky shots almost from the off. His ego is writing cheques his body can't cash, to paraphrase a famous film. Meanwhile Strauss has done exactly the right thing at the other end by scoring steadily and somewhat conservatively and got his century in the last over before tea.

Jon

Definitely can't cash. He's gone for 32

Day two

And England have collapsed. Strauss (161) went first over, followed by Swann (4) and Broad (16) in the following overs. After being 190-odd for no wicket, England will be very lucky to make 400.

Hauritz is apparently not disabled by his finger injury although he won't bowl again this innings. We'll see if he needs to bowl again this test...

Jon

Given the conditions, it might not be such a catastrophe to have the Aussies batting with the ball swinging quite so much.

Anderson and Onions seem to be putting in a really solid performance with the bat here. Again, tail enders shaming the higher order batsmen.

Lunch. Blimey, what a session.

England recovered, ending on 425 all out. Anderson was out for 29, Onions carried his bat on 17. Hilfenhaus was best bowler with 4 for 103.

Australia came in and what calamity; Hughes was out for 4 off Anderson, swiftly followed by Ponting for 2, a decision of great controversy. Given caught behind by Strauss at slip, replays showed that there was no contact between bat and ball. Australia were on 10-2. The break arrived with Oz on 22-2 with Katich and Hussey at the crease.

Game on!

Jon

tea.

The afternoon session has been majorly disrupted by rain and, to be honest, nothing is happening. Australia are now 87-2. Onions has had a go and bowled quite economically ( 4.5 overs, 1 maiden and for 15 runs) but otherwise it's been, pretty much literally, a wash out.

End of play may be extended on account of the rain. Scheduled end of play is 7:10, with the option to go on to 7:40 if the required number of overs haven't been bowled.

Jon

Cripes.

This has been a thrilling afternoon. Australians 139-6.

Looks likely they'll be forced to follow on.

148-7. More like skittles than cricket.

England showed a very ruthless streak to take out as many batsmen as possible while play was allowed under conditions which we could describe as 'favourable to the bowler or which the tourists would probably describe as 'unplayable'. A very much better attitude than in Cardiff from the English attack. Almost Australian, in fact...

England have a good chance of getting a win out of this and therefore put the Australians on the back foot for the whole series but they can't let the opposition off the hook this time as they've shown a worrying tendency to in the recent past. Get the tail enders out early tomorrow, then have a proper go at the upper order again under cloudy skies. For once though, the Australians may be glad to see the rain coming in, as it's forecast to.


Jon

You're all talking a foreign language! I'm really gonna have to look up this cricket thing on Wikipedia