BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Lyon's injury hands Todd Murphy his chance
BUMBLE AT THE TEST: England FAIL to look ahead, Nathan Lyon’s injury hands Professor Plum look-a-like Todd Murphy his chance and Usman Khawaja shows up England’s batters
- Usman Khawaja leads Joe Root – the second highest series scorer – by over 100
- England lost their final six wickets for just 46 runs in a trying morning session
- Re-live the action from Lord’s as Australia take up a 221-run lead on day three
England collapsed on the morning of Friday to hand the advantage to Australia in a must-win second Test of the Ashes at Lord’s.
Day three began where day two finished with quick wickets falling for the hosts, before Australia took up their place at the crease to add further damage to the 91-run lead they had after the first innings.
David Warner fell for 25 and Marnus Labuschagne for 30 – falling victim to Josh Tongue and James Anderson respectively – before Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith saw the visitors through to stumps, brought forward by poor weather.
Khawaja has starred for Australia so far in the Ashes, and now leads second-highest run scorer Joe Root by more than 100 runs in the series.
Here, Mail Sport’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd takes you through some of the stories you may have missed from the home of cricket.
Todd Murphy is an accomplished 22-year-old off-spinner who’s played just four Test matches
Nathan Lyon has suffered a calf injury that has cast his contention in the rest of the series in doubt
Mighty Murphy’s no mug
The injury to Nathan Lyon will give an opportunity to Todd Murphy, an accomplished 22-year-old off-spinner who’s played just four Test matches and only 12 first-class matches.
He got a seven-for against India so he’s definitely no mug. Do England have someone like him they can plug straight in?
The nearest I can think of is 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed and both can bat.
Plum job for the newcomer
So what does Todd Murphy look like? He’s got big spectacles for a start and looks very studious.
He looks like Professor Plum from the Cluedo film, who I always thought looked a little bit shifty!
Murphy (left) bears a resemblance to Professor Plum (right) who also wears large spectacles
Willie would be proud
On Friday morning, I wandered around to the Harris Gardens — a tranquil spot at Lord’s. I wondered who it was named after?
As it was constructed in 1934, I thought it was in memory of the great rock star ‘Wee Willie Harris’. It was in fact Lord Harris, a famous cricketer at the time.
But who can forget Wee Willie’s rendition of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!
Missed opportunity
England in that morning session lost six wickets for 46 runs in an hour and a half.
It was reckless batting when there was an opportunity to keep Australia on the field, without their frontline spinner, and wear them down.
Especially with the Test matches coming thick and fast. We’re just not thinking ahead!
Australia took six England wickets inside an hour and a half at the loss of just 46 runs on Friday
Our survey said!
When Bob Monkhouse hosted Family Fortunes back in the day the catchphrase was, ‘And the survey said…’
Well, I went out and about at Lord’s with the question: Are you entertained by England’s batting?
Have a guess what the survey said… two words were barmy and crackers, and others which are unprintable!
Khawaja’s slow dance
Let’s compare Usman Khawaja’s batting to England’s.
Usman Khawaja dances around the crease
Khawaja is controlled and watchful with minimal movement and often playing late and close to his body.
In complete contrast, England’s batters are skittish and dance around the crease like in a Bruno Tonioli Paso Doble.
Fine the dissenter
In the 23rd over of Australia’s innings, Josh Tongue bowled a very aggressive bouncer to Khawaja, who had the audacity to leave it and let it go harmlessly through to the keeper when England had two fielders on the boundary.
This is a disgrace. Has he not been watching? He should be fined 40 per cent of his match fee.
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