Nearly, But Not Quite...

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The Aussies victorious again in the second Test today, despite the usual heroic stand by Ben Stokes for the home side. There were questions marks - had Bairstow's unfortunate stumping been reversed, things might well have swung England's way - but there you go: in the letter of the laws, but not the spirit of the game. It didn't go down at all well with the normally staid and reserved Lord's members, resulting in some decidedly un-Lords-like behaviour. Stokes must now be considered as one of the best cricketers of all time, and played, as usual, out of his socks, to drag England so tantalisingly close to pulling off yet another last ditch win from nowhere. Alas, when he finally went for a magnificent 155, the curtains were certain to, and did, close on England's chances. And it's been a very long time since a team two down in an Ashes series came back to win. But you never know...

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