England on a slippery slope at Lord's

Captain's watch … Australian skipper Ricky Ponting gazes out upon Lord's Cricket Ground from the dressing room balcony this weeAdvertisementPeter Roebuck

July 16, 2009

Wonderful record at Lord's bodes well for their prospects in the forthcoming Test match. England have won plenty of Test matches at their headquarters but have not beaten these opponents on this ground since Hedley Verity exploited a wet wicket - and he was killed in World War II.

Whereas Cardiff offered warmth and intimacy, Lord's has a dignity that resides in every brick, every painting, every face. It holds the story of the game. Thankfully, Lord's also provides a firmer pitch than Sophia Gardens, and a tighter contest between bat and ball can be anticipated. Over the years, Lord's has provided many masterpieces and very little mischief.

Now it is a new generation's turn to sample Lord's unique atmosphere. Something about Lord's inspires the baggy greeners, a collection more respectful of tradition than they sometimes pretend. Lord's is the stuff of dreams, and a far cry from farms beyond Bourke or banana plantations up north. Nor does it disappoint.

The pavilion was built on the grand scale by 19th century visionaries, the dressing rooms are vast and the walk out to the middle involves weaving a way down several staircases, between numerous perambulating members, through the Long Room with its hush and paintings and finally down the steps and onto the most famous field in the game. Already Peter Siddle has got lost in the building, causing his captain to send out a search party.

Besides its history, the eerie feeling of following in Don Bradman's footsteps, Lord's other challenge is its slope. No other pitch of any standing obliges players to allow for an incline. In most sports, flat surfaces are taken as read. Yeovil craftily erected its football ground on a hill but they play in the minor divisions. Even so, top teams dread visits to the town. Golf greens undulate thereby testing putting skills. Although the Lord's slope seems small, cricket is a game of inches. Some players adjust superbly. Glenn McGrath's nip-backers were almost unplayable. Others stray to leg from the Pavilion End or wide of the stumps from the Nursery. Batsmen can use the slope to advantage or let it prey on their minds. The Australians need to take it into account.

On the other hand, they ought to forget about the time-wasting nonsense from Cardiff. Obviously, sending out a physio - an Aussie as it turned out - was a ruse intended to alert the last-wicket pair that time not overs had become the main consideration. Otherwise the hosts did not play up. Far and away the longest delay was caused by injuries to Graeme Swann as he copped bumpers on the body. It's high time umpires told batsmen to face up promptly or retire hurt. Apart from that, Ricky Ponting had little reason to grizzle. Anyhow, it's done and dusted.

Although the first Test is also done and dusted, Australia can take heart from their domination of the match. And there is room for improvement. Siddle was subdued until the last afternoon. Mitchell Johnson was off colour as well. His action requires technical precision. Of course, he knows that his arm was low in Cardiff but remedying faults demands a full understanding of the operation. Mechanics can fix cars in five minutes because they know how they work. Simplicity is quite a complicated business.

Australia's other supposed worry lies with Phillip Hughes. Numerous observers felt he was fragile in Wales. Many locals identified him as a weak point, and he did not seem to have a coherent answer to short balls directed at his body. But he has made runs all his life, and has constantly made critics eat their words. He is, too, a fast learner. England ought not to discount him. In any case, he was hardly the main thorn in their side. They need to figure out ways to remove Simon Katich, Marcus North and Brad Haddin.

Before the series the teams appeared to be well matched. A gulf appeared between them in the first Test. Lord's will tell us whether it was temporary or permanent.