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[gazr5]

Lovely shot from bell to bring up his 50. Some lovely drives shown in the highlights package. Aus bowling too full?

[gazr5]

Spoke too soon re Bell. Don't write them off yet mate, they are a good side. Think over confidence was England's problem in the last test.

[csnew]

Oh dear! Ian bell!

[ppccopener]

Bells get's some runs when we needed it Phew!

well played

[Seniorplayer]

Bit of French cricket first up from Steven Smith

Smith didn't look that regal today did he to be a true great you have to be able to bat on all type of wickets.

[Seniorplayer]

Superb lesson in how  to bowl swing and wobble seam from Jimmy

[sctyd]

Smith didn't look that regal today did he to be a true great you have to be able to bat on all type of wickets.

Bit harsh considering it's his first real fail for the series.

1495 runs @ 99.67 from his last 10 Tests in 4 different countries speaks for itself.

[potzy248]

I doubt anyone would call Smith a "great" this early in his career, including Smith himself.
However, you cannot argue with his numbers over the last 2 years, the guy has been a run machine.

Only thing that grinds my gears about Smith is when he waves his bat when saluting the crowd.

[Seniorplayer]

Bit harsh considering it's his first real fail for the series.

1495 runs @ 99.67 from his last 10 Tests in 4 different countries speaks for itself.

Yes but the point is apart from Headingly where he failed we're the wickets in his last 10 tests simular to the first innings track at Lords .
All the best players could bat in any conditions anywhere  in the world against all types of bowling Smith should know the ball seams and  lswings late in the UK.

[Seniorplayer]

anyone else thinks Yesterday  Bell looked in terrific form until he threw it away.
The shot lyth got out to would have been poor at anytime but at the start of the innings against the new ball terrible.

[jamielsn15]

^ absolutely.  Haven't got sky sports so watched the C5 highlights.  Any better sight in cricket than an Ian Bell cover drive?

Shows the value of scoreboard pressure (or otherwise) at Lord's - You can say to the contrary all you like, but you know if the oppo bats first and gets 500+ you're done.

This is continuing to be a very good series...

[tim2000s]

We've seen it throughout this series though - both sides have tried to get on top of the spinner and smack them out of the attack - Warner at Ali, Bell at Lyon. I'm not sure of the point of this approach though, especially when you're in a position to milk runs.

[Seniorplayer]

^ absolutely.  Haven't got sky sports so watched the C5 highlights.  Any better sight in cricket than an Ian Bell cover drive?

Shows the value of scoreboard pressure (or otherwise) at Lord's - You can say to the contrary all you like, but you know if the oppo bats first and gets 500+ you're done.

This is continuing to be a very good series...

Quite right Jamie particually when the wicket is a Lords win the toss bat first win the match one.

[gazr5]

He did look in amazing form. Agreed @tim2000s the approach is silly. If your set and scoring well why create extra risk. The game situation did not call for it, it did, however, call for him to keep going to demoralise the Aussie attack.

[ppccopener]

Quite right Jamie particually when the wicket is a Lords win the toss bat first win the match one.

We are at home we should play whatever grounds suit us and whatever pitch suits our bowlers, you need 20 wickets to win the batters should be good enough to play on any tracks at home.
When we go to Australia we get the quickest,bounciest pitches and there should be no complaints either way.

Gawd knows what was going on at Lords apart from pleasing the Australians and bat sponsors