England close day two on 267-4,just 17 runs behind Australia. It's been a fascinating start to the Ashes series with Australia fighting back on day 1 and England now in a good position. Two great centuries scored by Steve Smith and Rory Burns (who was a bit lucky today that Australia didn't refer a not out LBW decision which would have been given out by the third umpire).

Edited September 8, 20195 yr by King Rollo

Oops!, sorry forgot to start this thread about The Ashes currently taking place.

 

Feel free to discuss away.

 

 

England surrendered on the final day of the first Ashes Test, giving Australia a crushing 251-run win and a 1-0 lead in the series.

 

Needing to bat out the day to earn a draw - chasing 398 to win was never in the offing - England at one stage lost six wickets for 37 runs on the way to being bowled out for 146 at Edgbaston.

England got gradually worse as the match went on. Losing Anderson on day 1 didn't help. They will have to improve quickly if they want to compete for the Ashes.

 

The standard of umpiring in the first test was appalling.

England have dropped Moeen Ali and replaced him in the squad with slow left-armer Jack Leach for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's.

The first day of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain at Lord's.

 

A break in the weather did allow a 15:30 BST start to be scheduled, only for further rain to intervene.

 

There has yet to be a toss and the teams have not been officially named.

 

However, pace bowler Jofra Archer was presented with his England cap, confirming that he will make his Test debut.

England all out for 258 in their first innings on Day 2 with Australia 30/1 at the close of play.

In total five sessions have now been lost to rain.

@1163098097871970304

The series in finely poised now, I think England will win the 3rd test but we need our top order to at least have one ship steadier for at least 2-3 sessions of batting.

 

Archer is absolute box office.

England have named an unchanged squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia at Headingley on Thursday.

 

James Anderson is making progress with his calf injury and will play for Lancashire second XI in a three-day match beginning on Tuesday.

 

England say the 37-year-old will be assessed "on an ongoing basis".

Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test after suffering a concussion.

 

Smith, 30, was hit in the neck by a 92mph bouncer from Jofra Archer on day four of the second Test, but passed an initial concussion test and returned to continue his innings.

What a fantastic second test match,but a shame the weather prevented a result. England seem to have the upper hand now but it's still going to be tough to actually win the series. Jofra Archer has made a big difference to England's bowling strength and James Anderson will probably be back for the fourth test. Surely it's only a matter of time before David Warner makes a big score or can England keep him quiet for the rest of the series?

England need a miracle a la Botham Headingley 1981. Awful batting performance from their first innings.

Yes,that was horrible batting from England yesterday. Their batting was much more sensible today. 203 needed with 7 wickets left. It would be a remarkable run chase if they could pull this off.

At lunch,England need 121 to win with 6 wickets left. They could do this.

Ben Stokes it's all down to you.

Eight now to win, Could they?

@1165643321542414337

OMG! :cheer: Will write a longer post about this later.