Ashes 2009 : England dont enforce follow on

England opted against enforcing the follow-on, despite closing out the Australian innings 10 runs shy of the target on the third morning of the second Test. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook came out to bat in the second innings under clear skies with a 210-run lead behind them. Surely, the hosts will never have a better chance to end Australia’s proud 75-year unbeaten streak at Lord’s.

But I am not discounting the Aussies yet as the Aussies are known for making comebacks and the English are known for crumbling under sustained pressure from opposition.

Ashes 2009 : England dont enforce follow on

England opted against enforcing the follow-on, despite closing out the Australian innings 10 runs shy of the target on the third morning of the second Test. Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook came out to bat in the second innings under clear skies with a 210-run lead behind them. Surely, the hosts will never have a better chance to end Australia’s proud 75-year unbeaten streak at Lord’s.

But I am not discounting the Aussies yet as the Aussies are known for making comebacks and the English are known for crumbling under sustained pressure from opposition.

Ashes 2009 : Careless Australia lose the plot

Australia has been very careless in the second Ashes Test at Lords. Its 75-year unbeaten record at Lord’s is facing its greatest threat. Five of their batsmen fell to hook shots, they could have simply swayed out of the way. The bowlers have already let England get to a pretty good score.

Anderson turned in a performance befitting his recently-acquired mantle of England spearhead, maintaining a threatening line and swinging the ball just enough to create angst among the opposing batsmen. With Flintoff conceding runs at barely two-per-over at the other end, and Stuart Broad and Graham Onions constantly probing the outside edge, England created a pressurised atmosphere in which the Australians spectacularly cracked. The tourists lost six wickets for the addition of just 49 runs after tea, and must now hope for more of the rain periods that interrupted the second day’s play if they are to emerge from this match unscathed.

The teams seemed to have revered roles in this match. In the first test England was playing catch up all the time and in the second test its Australia’s turn to play catch up.

Ashes 2009 : Careless Australia lose the plot

Australia has been very careless in the second Ashes Test at Lords. Its 75-year unbeaten record at Lord’s is facing its greatest threat. Five of their batsmen fell to hook shots, they could have simply swayed out of the way. The bowlers have already let England get to a pretty good score.

Anderson turned in a performance befitting his recently-acquired mantle of England spearhead, maintaining a threatening line and swinging the ball just enough to create angst among the opposing batsmen. With Flintoff conceding runs at barely two-per-over at the other end, and Stuart Broad and Graham Onions constantly probing the outside edge, England created a pressurised atmosphere in which the Australians spectacularly cracked. The tourists lost six wickets for the addition of just 49 runs after tea, and must now hope for more of the rain periods that interrupted the second day’s play if they are to emerge from this match unscathed.

The teams seemed to have revered roles in this match. In the first test England was playing catch up all the time and in the second test its Australia’s turn to play catch up.