2nd Investec Ashes Test- Lord's - Day 2

[Bareth Garry]

Cook is looking solid.

We get him and we're in business.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Marsh got one up to 138. He can do it, depends if he trusts his body.

 

[Malifice]

Cook very watchful.

 

[Damon_3388]

Not the same scenario, Rogers averages in the 40s at test level, Finch barely averages 30 at first class level

Glenn Maxwell FC Record

AVE-38.18 ECO-3.62 SR-63.2 Wickets- 49

Nathan Lyon FC Record

AVE-38.13 ECO-3.14 SR-72.6 Wickets-242


Lyon has done it for longer, but their first class wickets are similar... Lyon cheaper but Maxwell takes a wicket more often

The majority of Lyon's First Class matches (43 of 79) have also come against tougher Test competition that Maxwell, too. Bizarrely though, Lyon's non-Test FC record is actually poorer than his Test record - 44.59 average, 3.13 economy rate, 85.5 strike rate. Better captaincy (fields being set, etc.) and teammates (building pressure) at Test level, making for more frequent wickets?

Still, Maxwell also avarages barely 11 overs per innings when he bowls (which isn't every time out, either). I wouldn't really trust him to bowl 20+ overs in an innings at Test level, and not get belted. To improve and really show his value as a bowler, he'll need to put up a lot more overs a lot more consistently at FC level, but I don't really think he'll get the opportunity to do that in the Victorian side while guys like Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland are around. Not often really that much call for a 2nd or 3rd spinner to consistently bowl a good amount of overs in Sheffield Shield play.

One wonders whether Maxwell would be better served forgetting about the spin bowling lark and just focussing on his batting, a la Steve Smith.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Cook very watchful.

Get him tomorrow morning.

 

[Malifice]

Cmon Lyon.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

The majority of Lyon's First Class matches (43 of 79) have also come against tougher Test competition that Maxwell, too. Bizarrely though, Lyon's non-Test FC record is actually poorer than his Test record - 44.59 average, 3.13 economy rate, 85.5 strike rate. Better captaincy (fields being set, etc.) and teammates (building pressure) at Test level, making for more frequent wickets?

Still, Maxwell also avarages barely 11 overs per innings when he bowls (which isn't every time out, either). I wouldn't really trust him to bowl 20+ overs in an innings at Test level, and not get belted. To improve and really show his value as a bowler, he'll need to put up a lot more overs a lot more consistently at FC level, but I don't really think he'll get the opportunity to do that in the Victorian side while guys like Fawad Ahmed and Jon Holland are around. Not often really that much call for a 2nd or 3rd spinner to consistently bowl a good amount of overs in Sheffield Shield play.

One wonders whether Maxwell would be better served forgetting about the spin bowling lark and just focussing on his batting, a la Steve Smith.

I see Maxwell as a good part-timer though, and he obvously wants to be an all-rounder. He would probably get bored as just a batsman.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Cook did well, looked really ginger early.

 

[Malifice]

Good days cricket.

 

[Malifice]

**** Tubby. Stop echoing me.

 

[Stevi_Tigers]

Englands day didn't bowl them out in 29 overs

 

[Plugger35]

Good fightback from Cook and Stokes, could be tough going for the Aussie bowlers with the old ball tomorrow.

Why isn't this on GEM?? I knew HD was too good to be true

The NRL is on GEM tonight and tomorrow night.

 

[DaRick]

Brilliant day. Hope we keep it up tomorrow.

 

[Shiv]

Stokes is the key, great day for australia

 

[Bareth Garry]

Moeen Ali and Jos Buttler haven't been up for it when England needed them in a dire situation. These two are resilient (along with Root) but the rest are great when there is runs on the board and no pressure but it's a completely different scenario now.

Get both out in the morning session and we're good.

 

[Damon_3388]

I see Maxwell as a good part-timer though, and he obvously wants to be an all-rounder. He would probably get bored as just a batsman.

He's very Andrew Symonds-esque, but probably has potential to be even better. He's still two years younger than Symonds was when he played his 1st Test, so he's still got time. I just don't want to see him get too caught up with being an all-rounder though, and just end up being a bits-and-pieces limited overs specialist forever. Ideally, Maxwell will be good enough/consistent enough to man that #6 spot in the batting order, averaging around 40 with the bat, while sending down 10 or so overs with the ball, averaging around 35.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

MJ sounds such a different man from a few years ago.

So glad he got some wickets, thought he was unlucky in Cardiff.

 

[lewigie]

Good fight back from stokes and cook. Just get out you bloody campaigners.

Hopefully they'll depart early tomorrow

 

[Juddy88]

That Voges drop at short leg could be costly.

 

[King Elvis]

MJ, you are a ****ing superstar!!!!

And how was that ball from Haze? Just about unplayable!!

 

[Bucking Beads]

MJ sounds such a different man from a few years ago.

So glad he got some wickets, thought he was unlucky in Cardiff.

He'd have fallen to pieces after Cardiff if he was the man he was in his last tour of England.

 

[happy punter]

Stumps came at the right time for Aussies - they can now regroup and go hard at Stokes and Cook in the morning. Still a fantastic day for the Aussies but we have to make it count now.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

So is the pitch still a disgraceful flat track that's impossible to take wickets on? Or is it possible that Smith and Rogers just batted outstandingly well?

 

[happy punter]

So is the pitch still a disgraceful flat track that's impossible to take wickets on? Or is it possible that Smith and Rogers just batted outstandingly well?

what is that old saying - you can't judge a pitch until both teams have batted and bowled on it

 

[Bucking Beads]

So is the pitch still a disgraceful flat track that's impossible to take wickets on? Or is it possible that Smith and Rogers just batted outstandingly well?

We just bowled superbly with the new ball. It'll be a better indication of the pitch when we see how we go with an older ball.