Second ASHES Test (Lords in London)

FIRST INNINGS (425-10)
Well England have missed a huge opportunity in their innings to build a total of 500+ (in quick time too) and ensure an Ashes victory at Lords (something they haven't done since Verity spun them to victory in 1934). Unless the ball swings a lot more for Anderson and Co than it did for the Australians they will face a bitter fight for that most elusive of wins.

125-0 at lunch will bring memories back from Edgbaston in 2005 where an aggressive assault brought a similar score (eventually 408-10 on the first day). At this point England were in complete control. Cook was beaten by Johnson for 95 (147) from one of only a handful of test-worthy deliveries sent down by the left-armer, the rest were belted by the two openers in a massive 196 run stand.
Hilfenhaus was the only 'test' bowler on show and his dismissal of Bopara (222-2 strangely) showed impressive control of swing and seam. With Pietersen and Strauss still in at Tea, 500 was almost certain, however - as in Cardiff - a late day collapse handed the game back to the bowlers as 265-2 became 333-6 and 365-6 at the end of Day 1
Andrew Struass played brilliantly among the late-day wreckage and an England win will owe much to his batting, some of the best I have ever seen from him, as he compiled 161 (268).
For the Australians, the continuing b******* performance from Mitchell Johnson was a problem as he leaked 21.4-2-134-3 and looked overwhelmed by the Lords occasion as did most of the attack

Day Two brought quick success as Struass went and soon the score was 378-9 but was lifted to 425; I predict better bowling from the English attack may just bring them the desired victory though

More importantly with 365 runs on the first day, the series has (for me) come alive and I can't wait for the next installment in this compelling drama

SECOND INNINGS (215-10)
The England campaign begins to appear more and more like that of 2005 after the 196 stand by the openers and, more importantly, the bowling and fielding effort that cleaned up the Australian batting effort. The accuracy was much better than the Australian bowlers and the rewards were equally greater.
The only point of calm for the batting team was the 93 run partnership between Katich and Hussey, both playing very well until Katich was nicely caught by Broad in the outfield.

However the hook-shot that sent the ball to said fielder was both stupid and a sign of things to come as 'batsmen' Clarke, Haddin and Johnson all perished to ill advised shots trying to break out of the situation. It was irresponsible batting that has always reared its head when Australia have been in trouble (2005, 2001 etc).

England would be foolish to enforce the follow-on with just 215 as a lead (especially on the anniversary of a certain test in 1981 that had a team win after following on) and should build a 400-500 lead and bowl Australia out over 2 days.

THIRD INNINGS (311-6 dec)
Despite some good bowling by Hauritz (3-80) the English batsmen built an impressive lead before overdoing it late in the day as an opportunity to get a couple Australian wickets was missed.

FOURTH INNINGS (406-10)
M. Clarke - b. Swann - 136 (227). Graeme Swann had the courage to flight one more delivery to the best player of spin in the Australian line-up, quite set on 136, but nothing could stop England's march as Clarke was bowled and his departure signalled the end to Australia's chance of victory. I imagine Australia would have preferred to edge their way through the first hour on Day 5 but Andrew Flintoff's dismissal of Haddin in the second over seemed to shorten the pitch by 5 yards as all seemed unable to deal with his hostility.

Chasing 522 to win was never really on, certainly not when the score reached 128-5 after Broad had applied good pressure to bring about Ponting's dismissal for just 38 (69). The Australian captain looks in very good form this tour and if England can continue to dismiss him cheaply they may well regain the Ashes.

Clarke and Haddin's 185 run partnership took the game into the last day and many pundits were unsure of who would be victorious (including myself) but Flintoff completed figures of 27-4-92-5 (now the 6th player to appear on both Lords honours boards) and Swann 28-3-87-4 to finally beat Australia at Lords after 75 years.

THOUGHTS
For England:
The team can be happy that 400+ runs was followed up by a fine bowling and fielding effort this time. They dominated all but 3-4 hours on Day 4 and deserved the victory
While the opening stand of 196 was encouraging, the middle-order collapse that followed was reminiscent of Cardiff and England should look to avoid this in the remaining games if they wish to win the series. Of concern is the form of Bopara and Pietersen who both look unsure of how to play.
The bowling was a huge improvement with Broad and Swann impressing after poor performances at Cardiff. Anderson will feel better after 4 wickets in Australia's first innings while Flintoff, heroics aside, seems to have a hold on Phil Hughes which is protecting the other bowlers from the savagery that defeated South Africa.

For Australia:
Australia will feel somewhat pleased that they mustered 400+ in the 4th innings but in retrospect this match was decided when they rolled over for just 215 on Day 2.
With the exception of Hughes, the batting is largely in-form with runs for all the batsmen so far in this series - they just need to put together a couple partnerships like that of Clarke and Haddin.
However, to win a test requires the taking of TWENTY wickets and unless Mitchell Johnson gets his line/length sorted this will be as difficult at Edgbaston, Headingly and the Oval as it has proven in Cardiff and Lords

Overall:
Although Flintoff took the Man-of-the-Match award it was Andrew Strauss who deserves the praise for this victory. His 161 (268) was a captain's innings of the highest quality and his field placings in Australia's first innings were spot on. In terms of captaincy the score is 1-1 but the scoreline that counts reads 1-0 to England.
This was a fine example of the drama available in the longer form of the game and anyone who thinks test cricket to be dead need only listen to the roar when Flintoff runs in to take his 5th wicket - you don't get that in a slog fest, you get that from 75 years of waiting, 5-0 in 2006/07 and 4 proceeding days of building up the tension.
Long may it continue