Australia ran into more technological trouble on another
chastening day, this time courtesy of their official Twitter account
rather than the decision review system. When the third umpire, Tony
Hill, turned down Steve Smith's claim to have caught Ian Bell in the
gully, the Cricket Australia account tweeted: "That decision sucked ass
#bullshit".
The offending tweet was quickly deleted, and replaced by "Apologies for the inappropriate tweet earlier regarding the Bell catch. It didn't emanate from CA's official Twitter presence at Lord's. CA is currently investigating the matter."
The incident was especially embarrassing for Australia's cricket authorities after they had fined one of their own players, David Warner, for his inappropriate tweeting during a row with journalists in May. But plenty of neutrals shared their view of Hill's decision, while expressing their disappointment in more temperate language.
"That's appalling," said David Gower, who was commentating for Sky at the time. "There is no way that's not out, I'm sorry."
Michael Vaughan, another former England captain, agreed, and in Sydney the former Australia bowler Geoff Lawson was infuriated by Bell's refusal to walk, much as he had been when Stuart Broad stood his ground at Trent Bridge.
"Bell joins Broad in non-walk of shame," raged Lawson. "Apalling umpiring precipitated by Bell rorting the system How could anyoine justify Bell's actions? Are England players taught to behave like this? Can't believe TV or radio commentators have condemned descision but not Bell's behaviour."
But Peter Siddle, who was sent to face the media by Australia as a representative of their hard-working bowlers, had no such complaints, revealing that it was Smith who had referred the decision to the third umpire.
"Steve wasn't quite sure so as anyone does you leave it to the umpires," he said. "It went upstairs and it's not out. For us the replay out on the field wasn't too obvious. So be it."
Joe Root, who was at the non-striker's end, rated his second Test century as even more satisfying than the first on his home county ground of Headingley in May, mainly because it contained plenty of other firsts to be going on with.
His first Test century as an opener, his first against Australia, and his first at Lord's, also made him the youngest England batsman to score an Ashes century at Lord's and surely the first to receive regular abuse throughout his innings from his younger brother, Billy, who was England's 12th man and later shared a handshake and a hug on the outfield.
"He was telling me how slowly I was batting, how he'd be smashing it to all parts, just winding me up," said Root, joking that his brother's sledging had been "nastier" than anything offered by the Australians, among whom Shane Watson seemed to be especially vocal.
He also confirmed that Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, had played a part in his development, after spending a winter at Lehmann's academy in Adelaide. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity I had over there," Root said. "That did set me up."
Root said he was "very relaxed" about whether he will be given the opportunity to complete a double century by his captain, Alastair Cook. "That's down to Cooky, and he's not said anything to me," said the 22-year-old. "I just want to play my part in making sure that we go 2-0 up. They bowled well and made it tough for us so we had to really battle through that and grind them down, then reap the rewards later in the day. The best thing now is we're in a good position to hopefully set ourselves up for a win."
Kevin Pietersen will not take to the field for the rest of the Test after a scan showed he has a left calf strain. He will continue to be monitored and will be assessed again before the third Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday 1 August.
The offending tweet was quickly deleted, and replaced by "Apologies for the inappropriate tweet earlier regarding the Bell catch. It didn't emanate from CA's official Twitter presence at Lord's. CA is currently investigating the matter."
The incident was especially embarrassing for Australia's cricket authorities after they had fined one of their own players, David Warner, for his inappropriate tweeting during a row with journalists in May. But plenty of neutrals shared their view of Hill's decision, while expressing their disappointment in more temperate language.
"That's appalling," said David Gower, who was commentating for Sky at the time. "There is no way that's not out, I'm sorry."
Michael Vaughan, another former England captain, agreed, and in Sydney the former Australia bowler Geoff Lawson was infuriated by Bell's refusal to walk, much as he had been when Stuart Broad stood his ground at Trent Bridge.
"Bell joins Broad in non-walk of shame," raged Lawson. "Apalling umpiring precipitated by Bell rorting the system How could anyoine justify Bell's actions? Are England players taught to behave like this? Can't believe TV or radio commentators have condemned descision but not Bell's behaviour."
But Peter Siddle, who was sent to face the media by Australia as a representative of their hard-working bowlers, had no such complaints, revealing that it was Smith who had referred the decision to the third umpire.
"Steve wasn't quite sure so as anyone does you leave it to the umpires," he said. "It went upstairs and it's not out. For us the replay out on the field wasn't too obvious. So be it."
Joe Root, who was at the non-striker's end, rated his second Test century as even more satisfying than the first on his home county ground of Headingley in May, mainly because it contained plenty of other firsts to be going on with.
His first Test century as an opener, his first against Australia, and his first at Lord's, also made him the youngest England batsman to score an Ashes century at Lord's and surely the first to receive regular abuse throughout his innings from his younger brother, Billy, who was England's 12th man and later shared a handshake and a hug on the outfield.
"He was telling me how slowly I was batting, how he'd be smashing it to all parts, just winding me up," said Root, joking that his brother's sledging had been "nastier" than anything offered by the Australians, among whom Shane Watson seemed to be especially vocal.
He also confirmed that Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, had played a part in his development, after spending a winter at Lehmann's academy in Adelaide. "I'm really grateful for the opportunity I had over there," Root said. "That did set me up."
Root said he was "very relaxed" about whether he will be given the opportunity to complete a double century by his captain, Alastair Cook. "That's down to Cooky, and he's not said anything to me," said the 22-year-old. "I just want to play my part in making sure that we go 2-0 up. They bowled well and made it tough for us so we had to really battle through that and grind them down, then reap the rewards later in the day. The best thing now is we're in a good position to hopefully set ourselves up for a win."
Kevin Pietersen will not take to the field for the rest of the Test after a scan showed he has a left calf strain. He will continue to be monitored and will be assessed again before the third Test at Old Trafford starting on Thursday 1 August.
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