Thread: The Ashes, 2009
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Old 07-17-2009, 02:57 AM   #17
ZenGum
Doctor Wtf
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Badelaide, Baustralia
Posts: 12,861
Second test, day one

The second test is being played at Lord's, which is regarded as the Home of Cricket. The ground drops more than eight feet from one edge to the other, and about two inches from one side of the pitch to the other. You'd expect England to have a home-ground advantage, but they haven't beaten Australia here since 1934. The pitch is flat and dry, and looks very favourable to the batting side.

England won the toss and began splendidly. Openers Strauss and Cook scored freely, going to lunch at no wicket for 126. Hilfenhaus was tight and occasionally threatening, but Johnson was untidy and very expensive for the Aussies.

After lunch the runs resumed, until Cook was out LBW to Johnson for 95 with 18 boundaries. England were 1 for 196, looking in control. Spin bowler Hauritz suffered a nasty injury attempting to catch a hard-struck drive, having his middle finger bent back and dislocated. Scans found no breaks, so he can still play but the injury is on his bowling hand. Australia fought back by taking the wicket of Bopara (LBW to Hilfenhaus for 18), but England still went to the tea break on 2 for 255.

Australias's bowlers lifted and things slid for England in the final session, as they lost the wickets of Pietersen (32), Collingwood (16), Prior (8), and Flintoff (4), thus demonstrating a grasp of reverse logarithms. Broad is not out on seven, and Strauss, the captain, is not out on 161, from 266 balls with 22 boundaries, having batted all day. Glory is his, for now. At the end of the day England were 6 for 364, a very good score so far, but they let slip the chance to make a huge total with their middle-order fade-away.
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