The first two tests have certainly lived upped to the hype and expectation. The first test was very tense and the second was no different.
Day 1
Another good toss to win by Straussy and he chose to bat on what looked like a very good batting wicket. The decision to bat was a good one. The first wicket stand between Strauss and Cook was worth 196 runs when Cooky was out lbw for 95. Strauss went on to make his hundred and we finished the day on 364 for 6 with Strauss not out on 161.
Day 2
After a good start on day one we wanted to press on on day two but we lost early wickets taking us to 378 for 9 but a partnership of 47 for the last wicket between myself and Graham Onions took us to 425 which we thought was a decent total.
We started well with the ball and had Australia 22 for 2 and lunch including the key wicket of Ponting. We continued to bowl well all day and had them 156 for 8 at the close of play.
Day 3
After taking four wickets on day 2 I was hopeful of getting a fifth on day 3 and get on the famous board at Lord’s, but it wasn’t to be. We did however manage to bowl them out early for 215 and by lunch we had got to 57 for 0, starting well again with the bat.
We pushed on through the day, picking up the run rate and scoring quickly. Fifties from Matt Prior and Paul Collingwood got us up to 311 for 6 at the close of play.
Day 4
We declared straight away in the morning and again started well taking two early wickets and Australia were 76 for 2 at lunch. Three more wickets just after lunch left Australia 128 for 5. That brought Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin together at the crease. They batted extremely well and put on 185 by the end of the day.
Day 5
A sleepless night followed day 4 and although they still needed over 200 runs to win, the way Haddin and Clarke had batted the previous afternoon left us knowing it would not be an easy day for us.
There were a few nerves around in the morning but they were soon settled when Fred dismissed Brad Haddin with the tenth ball of the day. Fred went on to bowl for the whole session and took his first five wicket haul at Lord’s and the Man of the Match award in the process. Graeme Swann took four wickets including the crucial one of Michael Clarke. We finally bowled Australia out for 406 before lunch, winning by 115 runs.
It was Fred, though, that took all the plaudits and rightly so. To bowl such a long spell, consistently hitting the 90mph mark and with a very sore knee was a monstrous effort.
So a fantastic victory at Lords and a 1-0 lead going in to the 3rd test at Edgbaston. We have a few days before the next game and we need to prepare ourselves for the Aussies to come back strong which they will definitely do. We will have some time away from cricket, a little bit of time in the gym, then meet up on Monday in Birmingham to get ready for the game.
I just hope the next game can be as entertaining as the first two!
