The Ashes.......

[DracoM]

Frankly, having watched him bowl in this Test, he looks tired, sulky, disinterested and out of it. On a LORD's wicket????

[aeolium]

I think trying to prepare wickets to suit the home team is an absurd old tradition, like picking umpires whose decisions invariably favour the home team. We have got rid of the latter, with neutral umpires and the DRS system, and we should get rid of the former. Have the preparation of Test pitches overseen/reviewed by an impartial panel and require the groundsman to prepare a pitch in the interest of good cricket and good entertainment. If he manifestly fails to do that, then mark the pitch as poor and have the ground lose its status as a Test venue for the following season. That ought to stop us seeing the sort of lifeless pitches that we have seen here at Lords (and also at Cardiff).

[muzzer]

Well it's backfired if it was the strategy as Aussie will win today/tomorrow and take the initiative into the 3rd test.......

[DracoM]

Today. End of.

[Nick Armstrong]

Ashes highlights just in...

Dealt with it brilliantly!

[Historian]

Well, at least the England Women's team have got their summer off to a good start by winning the first One Day International against the Australians. Hopefully they won't follow the example of the men's team and crash and burn next time around.

[Historian]

Interesting first morning at Trent Bridge.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

47-9

[Stanfordian]

47-9

Hiya Eine Alpensinfonie,

Thanks to the limited over game England and Australia have lost the ability to play defensively.

[johncorrigan]

Interesting first morning at Trent Bridge.

I thought Blowers was going to take off with a flock of his pigeons.

[Historian]

I thought Blowers was going to take off with a flock of his pigeons.

He did seem to be close to combusting at times.

I'm not gloating yet; let's see how England bat.

[eighthobstruction]

Use of the word 'extraordinary rampant today amongst the commentators....

....glad to see the 2 Yorks lads having an extended knock....

....Aussies stupid leaving Mitchel Marsh out and Voges still in....

....OH JOY

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't know whether we've had this one before, but what's the connection between Henry Blofeld and Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld?

[subcontrabass]

I don't know whether we've had this one before, but what's the connection between Henry Blofeld and Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld?

Henry Blofeld's father was at Eton with Ian Fleming. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Blofeld

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Indeed, he was.

(It makes you wonder about Blofeld snr. )