England, July 19: History beckons for England. After 75 years, the place which had become a fortress for Australia has begun to collapse around them like a house of cards.
It is certain that they will resist, since this record above all records – never having lost a Test at Lord’s since 1934 – is one they are desperate to preserve because much else would disappear with it.
To do so, however, and also avoid going behind in the Ashes, they will have to bat for most of the last two days of the Second Test. To achieve the target set they would have to make comfortably the highest total scored in the fourth innings to win a Test match.
To survive, unless they go into complete self-denial, which is hardly in their collective nature, they may still surpass the second highest fourth innings of all.
Being Australia, they might have a crack. Being Australia, they might just do it. But those fallen cards are stacked against them. England are hardly flawless but Australia’s bowling attack, with honourable exceptions, is beginning to look ragged.
The man who was intended to lead them to glory, Mitchell Johnson, has been overcome by the weight of expectation and the side of the wicket he bowls on is determined by fluke. Drunks have driven along country roads more steadily.
–Agencies