In my 1st Test review, I stated that the events of the previous 5 days suggested that the predictions made by the likes of Sir Ian Botham (who made a seemingly outrageous 10-0 prediction over the next two Ashes series) were completely ridiculous, and bordering on disrespectful of the opponent. Predictions like that also tend to have the effect of underestimating their opponent, a fear that appeared realised as the Aussies moved within 15 runs of victory at Trent Bridge. However, the events of the previous four days at Lord's have shattered those illusions, and have forced me to question whether the predictions of Botham were actually so ridiculous in the first place. A complete decimation of the Australian batting, with the bowling often being treated with similar contempt, England have now moved within one Test victory of a series win, and still appear on course for a home whitewash.
The Lord's test started with England winning their second consecutive toss. With the wicket seeming dry and perfect for batting, the consensus was that this was a fantastic toss for Cook to have won. However, after a brief visit from the Queen, delaying the start (cue calls of 'reign stops play'), play began with a bang. England's top order were shattered by firstly Shane Watson, and then new-man Ryan Harris, leaving England without Root, Cook and Pietersen, and languishing on 28-3. Cue an inspirational fight-back from Trott and Bell, with the latter progressing to his third succesive century to put England in command of the Test by tea. Trott, who had reached his fifty in quick time, perished with a silly mistake, bringing the inexperienced Bairstow to the crease. He provided the perfect foil for Bell to add major runs, but should have gone on just 21, when the predatory Siddle ripped through the gate to send his off-stump cartwheeling. However, closer inspection revealed a no-ball, and the lucky Yorkshireman was called back. And he made the Aussies pay, reaching an impressive 50. With England rampant on 271-4, Aussie captain Michael Clarke will have been understandably worried. His solution: turn to the untested leg-spinner Steve Smith. Fortunately, the gamble paid off, as Smith took the wickets of Bell (109), Bairstow (69) and Prior (6) in quick succession, leaving the Aussies in higher spirits by the end of day 1, as England closed on 289-7.
Day 2 started with the Test still very much in the balance. With the average first-innings total at Lord's being closer to 400, England knew that the first session needed to be good to recover from the lapse in concentration at the end of the previous day. But their day got off to the worst possible start, as Bresnan went first ball to Harris. 289-8, and now England looked desperate. Anderson, after the briefest of responses, went to Harris. 312-9. With England seemingly on target for a below-average score, hopes rested on the partnership of Swann and Broad. Fortunately, they didn't disappoint, scoring at a tremendous rate, and moving England closer to that magic 400 mark. When Broad eventually perished, England sat on a much healthier 361, with a real target to now attack the Australians. Clearly frustrated, the Aussies lacked concentration in the early overs of their reply, with Watson narrowly avoiding an edge to Anderson first ball. Having briefly regathered his thoughts, the opener went for 30 to leave Australia on 42-1 at lunch, and missing a crucial batting cog. Things got much worse after lunch, as firstly Rodgers, then Hughes joined Watson in the pavilion in successive overs to leave Australia on 53-3. After debutant Khawaja briefly stabilised the innings, he too fell. 69-4. With Michael Clarke and Steve Smith the only registered batsmen left, an Ian Bell-esque recovery was needed. Clarke promised much, being the first man to reach 25 since Watson. But a disastrous couple of overs put the Aussies on the brink of collapse, as firstly Smith (2) and then Clarke (28) perished, leaving Australia on 91-6. The collapse was soon complete, as a shambolic run out gifted England the wicket of Agar, before Siddle, Haddin and Harris all fell before tea, finishing the innings on 128 all out. A dismal total. More bizarrely, however, England did not enforce the follow-on, electing instead to bat on themselves, presumably hoping to add further runs to the lead. The plan did not start well, with almost a carbon copy of the first innings. This time Cook (8), Trott (0) and Pietersen (5) all went cheaply, gifting Australia a way back in at 31-3 by the close.
Day 3 would seal the English victory, however. Starting the day on such a small total, the Aussies would have been confident of skittling the English batsmen and having a crack at a reasonable total to win. What they didn't account for was someone to have the game of their life. That someone was England's Joe Root. The young Yorkshireman started day 3 in confident fashion, himself and night-watchman Tim Bresnan picking up where they left off the previous night to pile 99 runs onto the total. With Root handily placed on 72, Bresnan lost his wicket on 38, after an excellent innings. After three successive centuries, the last person Australia would have wanted to have seen walking to the crease was Ian Bell. Himself and Root continued the onslaught of the Australian bowlers, helping Root to his maiden Test 100. There is certainly no better place to start than with an Ashes hundred at Lord's. A worrying sense of deja-vu set in as Bell cruised to his 50, and with England seeming invincible, it was surely only a matter of time until he reached three figures? Wrong. After another incredible innings, the usually calm Bell chipped a simple delivery down the throat of Chris Rodgers on 74. Despite this set back, Root remained collected, extending England's lead past the 500 mark, and bring up his 150 in fantastic fashion. At the close of play, England led by 566, and would pick up day 4 on 333-5, with Root on 178 not out.
What proved to be the final day began in dramatic fashion. In just the third over, Bairstow's quick innings came to an abrupt end, as he edged a Harris delivery through to Haddin. Just two overs later, Joe Root's dream of a Lord's double century went up in smoke. After such a composed innings, a horrible shot straight up into the air saw the young man perish. Immediately, England captain Cook signalled the declaration, leaving England on 349-7dec, and setting the Australians a seemingly insumountable target of 583 to win. More importantly, it gave England a whole day and a half to take the necessary 10 wickets. After starting nicely, the inconsistent Shane Watson was trapped lbw by Anderson for 20. Chris Rodgers soon followed for just 6, leaving the Aussies in real trouble of not making it to day 5, on just 32-2. The wickets continued to tumble, with Hughes gone soon after for just 1. 36-3. Michael Clarke and Usman Khawaja set about rebuilding the innings, with the pair making a good partnership. Not enough to worry England, but well built. Had the pair stuck around until the close, the nerves may have begun to settle in amongst the English players. However, both fell after making half-centuries. Joe Root, who seemingly walked on water for the last two days of the Test, was the catalyst behind both dismissals. Firstly, the captain Clarke, who clipped a simple delivery round the corner to his opposite number at slip for 51. He was swifly followed by Khawaja, who did something similar, picking out Anderson at gully for 54. Another collapse was threatened as Smith went for just 1 in the next over, but the Aussies stabilised.
With England requiring just 4 wickets, it was a touch ironic that the man they faced next was the very man they had tried, and failed to get out for so long at Trent Bridge: Ashton Agar. When he did eventually depart for 17, it wasn't without its share of controversy. Having been given not out on the field after a shout for a caught behind, England reviewed the decision to the third umpire. Needing to find 'conclusive evidence to overturn', Agar's cause was seemingly vindicated when no mark showed on HotSpot. However, much to the astonishment of the batsman, the decision was reversed, based solely on movement and a noise, rather than on the much more trusted thermal imaging. This certainly pours fuel on the already burning fire over DRS, with critics now suggesting that it doesn't actually work. Certainly, this decision appears to be unjust, and most DRS decisions this series have certainly benefitted the hosts. If this had been at Old Trafford (the football ground rather than the cricket one), we would be talking about 'Fergie-time' and bias and conspiracy theories. I am all for technology in sport, but when it is incorrectly used, there is no excuse. A swift apology may be required, as we saw in rugby league recently.
After Agar's dismissal, Australia attempted to get going, but every time they began to look comfortable, a wicket would fall. Next to go was Haddin, who was completely outfoxed by the bowling of Swann, to leave England needing just 2 wickets, and the Australians simply looking to draw the inevitable defeat out a little longer. The tail began to wag slightly, with Peter Siddle beginning to play some strokes. However, at 190-8, he too fell, leaving England just one wicket from victory. As 6 o'clock drew ever closer, new rules were consulted. As Australia were nine wickets down, an extra half an hour is allowed to be played, in order to try and finish the game then and there. Pattinson and Harris, having batted valiantly for the final wicket, now had to withstand another period of intense pressure. After holding England at bay for 10 minutes over the allotted time, Swann began the final over of the day. After defending the first ball, Pattinson was trapped lbw with the second to send the English crowd into delirium, and leave the English side needing just one more Test victory to secure the urn once more.
Having watched the Trent Bridge Test on the edge of my seat, I found myself becoming less and less interested during the Lord's one. As I have said previously, I would most enjoy a highly competitive set of Tests, with an English victory being the ultimate outcome. The 1st Test fulfilled all of my expectations, and more. However, this one left me feeling bored. Not at the way the English played, as it was at times exhilarating. I am becoming bored of the Australian batting order collapsing. Having discussed this with several people, the best piece of advice as to why I feel this way is undoubtedly that I 'haven't experienced the pain'. With my first memory of being interested in an Ashes Test series being in 2005, I have only experienced English home wins. I therefore was not watching when England were ripped apart for series after series in the 90s, and so cannot feel that delight at watching an old enemy suffer now. From my point of view, I hope the Test at Old Trafford is considerably closer than the one at Lord's, as I am looking for entertainment. I do now understand, but cannot feel, the point of view from every other cricket fan in the country: more of the same please!
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