A mouth-watering day ahead.

Image by Darwin Bell via Flickr

The 5th and final day of the 2nd Test at Lord’s is set to be a humdinger. Australia needs 209 runs and England requires another 5 wickets. The team that wins is sure to rewrite history, but going by their past performances it is more than likely that it is going to be Australia.

The 4th day started with England declaring and leaving Australia to score 522 to win. The huge target, a world record if it is overhauled, ratcheted up the expectation of a keen contest.

Unfortunately, the umpires Rudi Koertzen and Billy Doctrove with their inconsistencies proceeded to mar the expectation. Frankly, their decision-making capacity appears to have diminished in relation to the keenness of the contest. To put it mildly, they are guilty of letting their mind wander.

However, it is too early to say whether the errors will cost Australia the match. Australia being Australia simply upped the ante and refused to dwell on the umpiring errors. Instead of surrendering to fate, they rolled up their sleeves, met it head on. By the end of the day, they have managed to chip away and reduce the target to manageable proportions.

The equation is mouth watering. Australia needs just 209 and to repeat the obvious England needs just 5 wickets. There is as always a mild threat of rain, but even if there are showers, there is enough time left for both teams to achieve their ends.

This in turn leaves us with the prospect of good day’s cricket.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Time for Lord's Test virgins to come to the party (midoff.blogspot.com)