The Ashes, Lords: England open up huge Lord’s lead

BBC SPORT: “England put themselves in a powerful position after three days of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as they reached 311-6 in their second innings to lead Australia by 521 runs.

After bowling out Australia for 215, they held a 210-run lead but opted against enforcing the follow-on – and put the tourists’ bowlers to task again.

Following a sterile session between lunch and tea when England added just 73, Matt Prior’s sparkling 61 off just 42 balls turned a turgid innings into a run spree.

The Aussies will need to shatter the previous record for a fourth-innings chase when England declare their innings – an event that will surely come early on day four as the hosts seek to secure the lead in the five-match series…”…”more

via BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | England open up huge Lord’s lead.

Jingoism in reverse: how the media are beating the defeatist drum in Afghanistan – Telegraph

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Charles Moore has raised an issue that I have been noticing in regard to recent events. There are some media commentators behaving irresponsibly by using the deaths of young soldiers in order to launch doubt on the wisdom of the struggle in Afghanistan.  Those who are defeatist are failing to recognize the humanitarian disaster that would hit the ordinary people of Afghanistan if ISAF forces withdrew.    The Taliban are hated by ordinary folk they know many Taliban are foreigners.  The problem is the Labour government must deliver the equipment and troops needed to finish the job.

Charles Moore in THE TELEGRAPH: “I must defend the Government. That is an unusual sentence in this column, in this newspaper, at this time. But the way our media go on, you would think that Gordon Brown’s indifference, arrogance and penny-pinching are causing the pointless death of a generation of British youth in Afghanistan…”more

via Jingoism in reverse: how the media are beating the defeatist drum in Afghanistan – Telegraph.

The Ashes, Lords: Australia in trouble

Australian  1st innings has reached 214 for 9. ; This has been a good bowling and fielding session for England hopefully Andrew Strauss’s team will keep the pressure up. Andrew Strauss has decided not to force a follow on!

England now begin second innings

BBC SPORT | Cricket Scorecard.

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