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And,D Cambodia International
Hello and welcome to Nines Wide World of Sports, now coverage of day four of the second Ashes
Test match.
Well, after a brilliant day on day three, the Australians find themselves in a commanding
position going into today's play, two for 131.
Good performance yesterday, they bowled England out for 77, eight wickets to Glenn McGrath,
it was a wonderful day.
In Australia at the moment, two for 131, the batsmen out, Mark Taylor for one and Greg
Blewett for 45.
Blewett continuing his great form, he showed in the first test match at Edgbaston.
Not out is Matthew Elliott on 55, he's had a couple of chances but he's still there all
the same and with him Mark Waugh on 26, not out and Mark Waugh gaining in confidence as
his innings progresses.
For the English bowling, Darren Goff a wicket to him, one for 45 off 13, it was a little
expensive yesterday Goff but really was bowling in an attacking mode and one wicket to Robert
Croft, one for 15 off 10 overs for Croft and as this test series progresses, one gets the
feeling he is going to play a big role for England.
Now play was supposed to get underway approximately two and a half hours ago but as has been the
case in the last couple of days at Lord's, rain has played its part and unfortunately
the showers have been present once again today but just to find out what's happening at the
present time, here's Ian Chappell.
Well sadly Greg, your timing is spot on because just as we arrive at Lord's, the rain starts
belting down.
It's a depressing sight that we've seen far too much of in the last four days, a lot of
rain overnight and then early this morning some thunder and lightning and a huge storm
at around about 9.30 where the water was really belting down.
Then it cleared and started to look quite good, the umpires called for an early lunch,
a lunch at 12.30 and it was looking as though we might get started around about 1.15 but
at the moment it's Michael Slater unplugged.
That's about the only entertainment available to the players, they actually went across
the other side to the nursery and did a bit of work in the nets but now it's back to the
guitar and a few lessons from Eric Clapton.
And the ground staff, well the poor blighters out there, you've got to feel sorry for them,
they've worked very hard at getting the excess water off the covers and then suddenly you
get a storm like this and all the good work is undone.
For quite a while we just had the covers across the square, they didn't have the big covers
on and the ground staff had appeared as though they were fairly confident things were going
to clear.
We've been told that it was going to get better this afternoon but well if this is better
I don't want to see any more of it.
A lot of water gathering now down in front of the mound stand and in front of the tavern,
the ground slopes down that way, it's probably one of the reasons why it is a good draining
ground because of the slope.
But the drains now starting to fill up and the water collecting and we are even getting
water on the field.
Although the storms don't seem to last too long, about five, seven minutes is about the
normal length and then it does clear pretty quickly after that.
But I'm afraid that the situation is depressing here at Lords and hopefully when you come
back next time Greg will have some better news for you.
See in Chapel there at Lords and that was a depressing scene.
Australia in a good opportunity to force victory in this match, 54 runs in the lead at the
present time, still two days of cricket to go or what's left of today and tomorrow, so
still the opportunity of perhaps a victory but they'll need that rain to clear and clear
pretty quickly.
Now for sports fans we'll take you back to Lords as soon as play looks as if it's going
to get underway but for the moment we're going to return you to normal programming.
Welcome back, well things looking a little brighter at Lords, the rain has stopped but
the cover's still out in the centre and still there is no word on when play will get underway.
Of course Australia very, very keen to get out in the middle once again holding a first
innings lead of 54 with eight wickets in hand and as soon as we get the word when play will
resume at Lords we'll take you straight back.
Welcome back to Lords, well the news is not good, it's stopped raining, the ground staff
are working hard to take the surface water off the covers, the umpires have just made
an inspection and the news is they'll inspect again at 3.40 local time, they'll take tea
and have another inspection at four o'clock.
So if it doesn't rain the ground staff have got to round about an hour or so to get the
covers off, mop up this water and there's a possibility of a late start here on the
fourth day of this vital test match.
The ground staff have worked tirelessly to get the water off, there's been some very
heavy rain, hasn't rained for about half an hour and one can only hope that if the rain
does stay away that there could be a late start in the final session this afternoon.
The Australians will be very keen to get out, in fact the Australians might even declare
at 2.131, they're running out of time in this test match to try and force a victory and
Mark Taylor might gamble once again by opting to declare and get the Englishmen in again
later this afternoon.
Al-Et not out 55, Mark Warr not out 26, the not out batsman 2.131, but a very disappointing
day for the good crowd here, they've been very very patient, it's been sad, the Australians
are out there talking to the ground staff who must be dog tired by now, they've worked
very very hard to get this game underway but every time they get it just about right the
rain has fallen once again but now it's pretty bright and the crowd's quite high so we can
just hope that at four o'clock when the umpires do make another inspection that play may get
underway.