LONDON, (Reuters) – England sensed history in the making yesterday when they took an overall lead of 521 over Australia with two days’ play left in the second Ashes test at Lord’s.
Rain prevented a planned declaration last evening with England on 311 for six in their second innings. But the home side are still poised for a final victory surge and their first win over Australia at Lord’s since 1934.
No side has scored more in their fourth innings to win a test than West Indies’ 418 for seven to beat Australia at St John’s, Antigua, in the 2003-3 season. However, rain looks certain to play some part in the final six sessions and there were also six successive draws on the friendly Lord’s pitch before England defeated West Indies in three days this year.
Australia, reeling at 156 for eight overnight, took their first innings total to 215 in reply to England’s 425 yesterday morning.
Andrew Strauss had the option of enforcing the follow-on or batting again in the hope of scoring enough runs as quickly as possible to give his bowlers maximum time to dismiss the Australians.
He chose the latter option although wicketkeeper Matt Prior, whose 61 from 42 balls invigorated an England innings which had been in danger of stagnating, said the decision had been by no means clearcut.
“There was a huge amount of discussion last night and this morning,” he told a news conference.
“I think the decision was only made three seconds before it was announced. We wanted to leave the decision open this morning, there was nothing set in stone.
“I think it was the right decision, as it happened today was a great day for batting. The sun shone most of the day and the wicket played well.”
FASCINATING TEST
England will now pray for the cloud cover that helped James Anderson swing the ball so dangerously in Australia’s first innings and will have also watched the performance of Australian off-spinner Nathan Hauritz with interest yesterday.
Hauritz took the first three wickets in England’s second innings to add to the six he captured in the drawn first test in Cardiff.
His dismissal of Strauss for 32 was a model of the spinner’s craft, a flighted delivery which drew the left-hander forward then spun off the edge to slip.
His England counterpart Graeme Swann, who bowled only one over in the Australia first innings, may have an equally important role.
“We are in a great position. We’ve certainly got the fire power and the skill to do the job,” said Prior. “We’ve played great cricket for the last few days and we deserve to be in the position we’re in.”
Hauritz, who dislocated the middle finger of his right hand attempting to catch Strauss in the England first innings, made a brave attempt to catch Ravi Bopara yesterday. He dived forward and thought he had completed the catch but the television umpire ruled in the batsman’s favour.
“I thought I had caught it straight away,” said Hauritz. “I didn’t hear it hit the ground. But Rudi (ground umpire Koertzen) said it was inconclusive.”
Hauritz said he thought Australia could still win a fascinating test match even though the force is now clearly with England.
“We definitely can win,” he said. “We scored over 600 in Cardiff, we’ve got the depth in batting.”
