Ashes 2015: England's batting was a horror show says David Lloyd

'England will look at that performance and be very angry'

By David Lloyd, Cricket Expert & Columnist @BumbleCricket

Image: Adam Lyth again struggled at the top of the order for England.

David Lloyd was left disappointed by a 'dopey' batting display by England, as they collapsed to 107-8 on day two of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.

Australia had earlier scored 481 in their first innings, but England collapsed from 60-2 to to 92-8 in the evening session with the returning Peter Siddle taking 2-18, and Mitchell Marsh going one better with 3-18.

"It has been a horror show from England," said Lloyd. "I thought they looked dopey.

"The Australian bowlers have got far more out of this pitch and the two pitch-it-up bowlers - Siddle and Marsh - are the ones that have got the ball moving around.

England will look at that performance and be very angry. And they should be.
David Lloyd

"England will look at that performance and be very angry. And they should be."

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England openers Alastair Cook (22) and Adam Lyth (19) top-scored for England, but that is scant consolation for Lyth who has yet to make a big score in this series and his top-edge dismissal to a pull off Siddle did little to help, with his place under threat.

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Lloyd hopes that he, and the rest of the England batsmen make a much better fist of things second time around, with the team perhaps having to follow-on.

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"Lyth got done by a short delivery at just 80 miles per hour from Siddle - a bonus wicket. He then bowled a beauty to get Ian Bell that just trimmed the bails.

A pick of the action from day two of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval

"There is also the wicketkeeper, Jos Buttler, with only about 80 runs in the series. He is out of nick and gets done through the gate by Nathan Lyon.

"Ben Stokes' dismissal - he is going to try and counter-attack - but it didn't work, top-edging a pull off Marsh.

"They've got to play a darn-sight better than they have done. I will say though that the Australian bowlers have got more out of this pitch, so well done them.

"But it's a good opportunity for England second time around to get stuck in."

Watch coverage of the fifth Ashes Test live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fifth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.

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