Lord’s Day 4
Better weather was expected for today and lucky it is because this is proving to be an absolute corker!
The day started with the Aussies looking to press home the advantage. But as we have for each morning of this test, the Duke is performing more tricks than a clown at a 5 year old's birthday party. Smith and Head could not repeat their heroics of the first dig. throw in Ussie who looked like he was getting ready to call the Lord's honour board sign writer, and they were all gone too early with the visitors lead not yet 300 overall. England seemed to have learned from the visitor's tactics yesterday. whether it was tit-for-tat or just just clever bowling, the English were relentless in avoiding the "salmon-length" ball. Below is evidence of their attack, as well as my wife's forgetfulness in bringing her gluten free cereal down to breakfast (face slap emoji).
But the real story of the day was Nathan (Gaz) Lyon. They breed 'em tough in Young, NSW. Especially being a finger spinner in such cold weather. There is a rumour of how the fingers are kept warm in Southern NSW sheep country, but I'll leave that to the imagination - the answer is oven roasted potatoes in your pockets, of course!
Gaz came out to bat when Hazelnuts became the 7th Australian wicket of the day and the lead was 355. He and Iron Man (Starc) put on another 15 runs when the innings finally closed, leaving what would an attempt of a record 4th innings chase at Lord's. There were 2 schools of thought to Gaz coming out to bat with an injury that will probably rule him out for the series. The first is one held by any Australian who has played competitive sport - and this is "well, I'm on the team list for 2 more days, I may as well have a lash". The other is by everyone else, saying "what a buffoon! why would you risk further injury for just a few runs?".
But apparently there's a third view. This one comes courtesy of the man who went to Ashley & Martin to have a skunk removed from his head, Kevin Pietersen: 
Kevin believes that the only reason why Gaz strode to the wicket on one leg, while the English were bowling short heat (well, not Bracelet) was so he could get hit in the head and the Aussies could make a concussion replacement. When the best off-spinner to wear the Green Cap faced the media after Day 4 and was told of those comments, he replied in the absolute best way possible - paraphrasing, he said he would do anything for this team, and takes offence at Kevin comments given he lost a mate that way on 27/11/2014 - RIP Cap No. 408.
Skunk has really made a name for himself with bonehead comments. Ricky has a crack at him during the first test while Kevin was lavishing superlatives on Dud Root's batting in the second innings - again met with a great retort - "But he got out for 40, so...." And when you type in 'stupid kevin pietersen comments' into a search engine, there is an impressive list. His former teammate, Steve "Wide Ball" Harmison dug in about Skunk's comments on how the current team are too firendly with the Aussies, saying his comments would not be met well within the current team environment. Hopefully, nothing get's in the way of the friendly spirit that exists between the two teams....
Onto the fourth innings with England chasing an impressive total to level the series. It started well enough for the hosts, until Starcy's second over, with Spider caught behind for 3, then Boniface adjudged leg before for the same score, and the hosts were 2 for 13 and on the back foot - mainly because of some beautiful length bowling (and at pace). Coach Ron obviously had a chat with the lads and decided that the traditional line and length was in order, because Postman Pat (because he always delivers) took Dud for 18, just as he was looking good (or so Kevin P said). However, in perhaps the nut of the series so far, just 3 balls later, The Postman took the poles of the very punchable Brook with an absolute peach to leave the run chase in disarray at 4 for 45. D#$%it continued to practise the art of Bazball, swinging the bat with gay abandon, that was until he was caught hooking by Iron Man sliding to his preferred left and taking a great catch. Wait, no, what??? Umpire GAS is looking at it from the Smokey Dawson chair in the Third Umpire's room. NOT OUT!
With D#$%it punching from the hip and Bent Spoke looking to make an impression, Day 5 should be an absolute belter.
JT
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