It's just not cricket

[jdaw1]

BBC: England unchanged against Australia for Lord's Test.

[djewesbury]

England won. Cook's captaincy was supreme. Derek, sometimes you just want something to complain about. Bad luck. Cook was invaluable in the field - several absolutely stunning catches not to mention the actual field setting. You remind me of a carp when you are carping.

And you remind me of Jimmy Hill when England are winning. One test does not make a summer.

A time will come soon when Bell and Cook will need to perform with bat in hand and on the evidence of the last four days they might be found wanting. That is all.

I agree with Owen that both sides contributed to England's victory - a victory that was well deserved.

I'm not saying they won the Ashes. I just think you're churlish to look so hard for the flaws. Two of Cook's catches alone were each worth 20+ runs.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I fear that with two losses and only the one win that Scotland are going to struggle to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

[LGTrotter]

I fear that with two losses and only the one win that Scotland are going to struggle to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

I saw this report too on the Beeb and thought of asking for a quote from our Scottish sports correspondent, but he seems to have rather forsaken the team of his nation for the Sassenachs. I bet he hasn't even got a sporran.

[Alex Bridgeman]

I fear that with two losses and only the one win that Scotland are going to struggle to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

I saw this report too on the Beeb and thought of asking for a quote from our Scottish sports correspondent, but he seems to have rather forsaken the team of his nation for the Sassenachs.

Quite frankly, I can understand why. It must be a little embarrassing that your national team only qualifies to play cricket in England as a minor county alongside Berkshire and Cornwall - only slightly less successfully.

[DRT]

I fear that with two losses and only the one win that Scotland are going to struggle to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

I saw this report too on the Beeb and thought of asking for a quote from our Scottish sports correspondent, but he seems to have rather forsaken the team of his nation for the Sassenachs.

Quite frankly, I can understand why. It must be a little embarrassing that your national team only qualifies to play cricket in England as a minor county alongside Berkshire and Cornwall - only slightly less successfully.

Embarrassing? No, just a reality. But then we are not allowed to mention realities here otherwise we might upset Jimmy Daniel

[djewesbury]

Now then...

[LGTrotter]

I fear that with two losses and only the one win that Scotland are going to struggle to qualify for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year.

I saw this report too on the Beeb and thought of asking for a quote from our Scottish sports correspondent, but he seems to have rather forsaken the team of his nation for the Sassenachs.

Quite frankly, I can understand why. It must be a little embarrassing that your national team only qualifies to play cricket in England as a minor county alongside Berkshire and Cornwall - only slightly less successfully.

Minor counties hold many pleasures for the conoisseur, one of the pleasures of the summer is hiring a deck chair for a pound at Sidmouth and watching Devon play. Cider is available and there is an excellent croquet lawn behind. They might not be a pound anymore.

[PhilW]

Cider is available and there is an excellent croquet lawn behind.

According to the BBC you may struggle to find anyone who knows how to play; though with enough cider, you may not care.

[djewesbury]

I know how to play! Shall we have a new thread, "it's just not croquet?"

[PhilW]

I know how to play! Shall we have a new thread, "it's just not croquet?"

Only if we merge it with the thread "it's just not punny?"

[djewesbury]

Veering back momentarily to the cricket, I see they've dropped Haddin and will have a novice keeping wicket. The heavy, humid conditions in London at present surely favour us as well. I feel calm and confident.

Derek, any predictions, since your barometer is so finely calibrated at present?

[flash_uk]

Veering back momentarily to the cricket, I see they've dropped Haddin and will have a novice keeping wicket. The heavy, humid conditions in London at present surely favour us as well. I feel calm and confident.

Derek, any predictions, since your barometer is so finely calibrated at present?

Winning the toss will as ever play a part...

[LGTrotter]

I see Moeen is a doubtful for the next test. I think the bearded Gower will be missed, but on the other hand I am most interested to see how Rashid does, if as expected he gets a go. Cook has not been good at using new bowlers and I fear that Rashid may not get used much even if he is picked.

Haddin and Watson leaving the Australian side will not be a disaster for them, but I know nothing of the proposed replacements.

I still think Lords will favour the Australians but I understand a dryish, softish pitch has been made which might be good for spin later, the toss may indeed prove significant. On the other hand Lords has always been a difficult pitch to bowl on because of the slope and the Australians did not look like a disciplined bowling attack at Cardiff.

[DRT]

Derek, any predictions, since your barometer is so finely calibrated at present?

I think that the team that wins the toss will win the Test. They could all save themselves a lot of time by listening to my prediction.

[benread]

That might hurt the Lord's coffers on lost sales of fizz!


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[LGTrotter]

Derek, any predictions, since your barometer is so finely calibrated at present?

I think that the team that wins the toss will win the Test. They could all save themselves a lot of time by listening to my prediction.

That is not such a bad prediction. I might refine it by saying whoever bats first will win.

[DRT]

Derek, any predictions, since your barometer is so finely calibrated at present?

I think that the team that wins the toss will win the Test. They could all save themselves a lot of time by listening to my prediction.

That is not such a bad prediction. I might refine it by saying whoever bats first will win.

Indeed - I hadn't considered either of them winning the toss and making the wrong decision

[LGTrotter]

Australia have fulfilled both conditions having won the toss and elected to bat. If everybody could move towards the exit as Derek and I have saved us all 5 days.

[djewesbury]

England will win and Derek'a losing streak will continue.

[DRT]

England will win and Derek'a losing streak will continue.

Did you say that in an Italian accent?

[PhilW]

England will win and Derek'a losing streak will continue.

Did you say that in an Italian accent?

Spanish Infanta.

[LGTrotter]

Bell drops Smith on 50. Thank goodness he isn't the kind of batsman who goes on to score big centuries.

[DRT]

Daniel, I think PaddyPower are still giving good odds on an England win

[djewesbury]

There is a ridiculous amount of winking going on here. It's like a Monty Python sketch.