Television replays on day two at Lord's showed there had been an umpiring error from Rudi Koertzen as Ricky Ponting's bat had jammed into his foot rather than going anywhere near the ball. Vic Marks in the Guardian says the episode did little to enhance confidence in Koertzen. He had three options in response to the appeal: not out, out lbw, out caught at slip. He chose the last, which the TV replays suggested was the least likely to be correct. A sort of justice had been reached but for all the wrong reasons.
It appears players are more inclined to believe television ahead of the umpires, writes Malcolm Conn in the Australian.
In the hospitality boxes at Lord's, Lawrence Booth spoke to two survivors from Australia's 1948 'Invincibles' side who expressed their distaste for sledging and questioned Ponting's captaincy. Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton have a couple things to say. Read on in the Guardian.
In the Times Gideon Haigh says that a jittery Mitchell Johnson is testing Ponting’s patience. Johnson is becoming Australia’s greatest potential headache, awkward to carry, but just as problematic to exclude. If Brett Lee were to recover in time for the Edgbaston Test that starts in a week, who would make way?
Peter Roebuck in the Sydney Morning Herald says Johnson and Phillip Hughes need to find their path forwards.
In the Guardian Paul Weaver salutes England's hero of the day, James Anderson, saying he arrived with a cloudburst to stun Australia.
Former England bowler Angus Fraser believes Anderson showed a struggling Stuart Broad how to make the very best of what he's got. Anderson is the leader of England's pack, possibly the best fielder his captain can call on, and his new positive style of batting highlights the confident frame of mind he is in. Read on in the Independent.
The Times' Simon Barnes believes this may just be the summer Anderson was made for.
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