Cricket / Second Test: Border 'going for the jugular'

SHANE WARNE, round the wicket and pitching into the rough, removed the last two Englishmen by bowling them around their legs and Australia's victory, this time by an innings and 62 runs, was complete by 3.25pm.

After Ted Dexter's disastrous innings at the press conference, in which he was out by every means known to the Laws, the victor strolled in. Allan Border has won all his five Tests at Lord's, averaging 100.6 on the ground. As usual, he was great value: 'This was the crunch day for us. If England had saved the game, with a real backs-to-the-wall job, it would have given them huge heart. Now we're 2-0 up, they're in disarray, and we're going for their jugular.

'I say that because I know how quickly things can turn. I've had my downs, so have Australia and I have a lot of respect for England as individuals. As I said at Old Trafford, they're lacking the spark.

'We're on a roll. We were fortunate to win the toss, we lose a 200-wicket fast bowler but as Craig gets crocked the pitch starts to turn. We have two spinners and Merv to put in the fizz. When things are going for you that's the kind of things that happen.'

And England? 'I'd be disappointed in the first-innings batting but the second showed some ticker. You've got to remember that once the opposition gets 600 it becomes bloody hard. When you're on a streak like England's the ball always seems to bounce the wrong way.'

Border was surprised, and pleased, that English pitches are helping the spinners: 'It's certainly different from 1989 and it's making exciting cricket. We had bowled all our overs by five o'clock yesterday so we were able to give the crowd an extra hour.'

Could he improve England? 'I enjoyed my time in Cricket . I think the four-day game is an advance; the cream will come to the top but it will take time. We do play the game more aggressively and that makes a difference in Tests. It's not tiddlywinks. Australia's cricket is geared to produce a Test team. I don't think that's true of England's'