India v England 4th Test, Nagpur

First topic message reminder :

So we are reaching the last lap of the series with lots of things at stake.
England are 2-1 up, and this is a historic chance for Alastair Cook's side to make history by winning a series in India after 28 years. After a dreadful year where they lost 7 test matches and the well earned number one ranking, England seem to be getting firmly back on track.
Captain Cook is leading from the front, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior are backing him well with the bat and Nick Compton has been solid if not spectacular. Of late Jonathan Trott also found some form. James Anderson has been good, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann comfortably outbowled their Indian spin counterparts.
There are injury concerns though Steven Finn, who bowled very well in the last match is almost ruled out. Stuart Broad won't be able to step in for him, as he's already ruled out. That leaves a straight choice between Tim Bresnan and Graeme Onions. Bresnan has struggled to match his ashes form since his elbow troubles, and was pretty poor at Ahmedabad in the first test. Onions didn't have a great time in the tour matches. I would personally go for Onions, who has more pace than Bresnan has and bowls a wicket to wicket line. But England might prefer Bresnan's experience and his previous record in the sub-continent. There are questions over Samit Patel's place as well. Patel hasn't really gone on to play a big innings so far, but he has got a few important starts. If Finn's ruled out, his 5th bowling option would be more handy for England.
As far as India go, its a test match at the crossroads for them. The team has lost 2 back to back home tests after 12 years. They are facing the prospect of a home series loss after 8 years. All these come on top of the disasters in England and Australia. The batting isn't firing, the spinners are being outbowled. The leader of the pace pack is send packing by the selectors. There are shrill calls for the captain's head.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects his side to show some character in these circumstances. He expects Gautam Gambhir to convert one of those starts into a big one and he believes Sachin Tendulkar, as he has often done will deliver for his team and prove the speculators wrong. He things he can handle the criticism coming his way.
They are sure to go in with 2 changes as Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh who played the previous matches are dropped. It could be Ajinkya Rahane's much anticipated test debut. He might bat 6 in place or else they can bat him at 5 and push Virat Kohli to 6. The other option is to pick Ravindra Jadeja who has been in the form of his life in the Ranji Trophy this season. Jadeja has already scored over 800 runs with 2 triple hundreds for Saurashtra and has picked 26 wickets with his left-arm spin. Playing Jadeja would mean they can play 3 spinners without losing the balance of the attack. The absence of Zaheer and the unavailability of the injured Umesh Yadav might mean that Ishant Sharma's experience might see him playing. Remains to bee seen as to who would partner him in the seam bowling department. Ashok Dinda has been in the squad for some time, Parvinder Awana has good pace and recent good form.
As far as the pitch goes, cricinfo reports that it hasn't been watered for the last couple of days. So the dry pitch should turn. From when onwards and how much remains to bee seen.
Weather is expected to stay good.

Anderson back on for another short spell here.

Good move from Cook again, Dhoni in the 90s, Jadeja on debut just in. Seems like Jimmy indeed has some minor niggle though.

Seems he has a bit of trouble with his hamstring. Big appeal against Jadeja, Dharmasena says not out.

And good call from the umpire, impact just outside off.

20 minutes remaining, 8 overs to be completed.

Yes , good call in the face of an impassioned appeal from Jimmy

Was outside the line , if only just. Good umpiring.

But that one wasn't !

Jimmy gets Jadeja

That's another one down, Anderson gets another, the ball came back a long way, not a dificult call for the umpire. Jadeja gets a corker to get out in his first test innings, he's gone for 12, and England are right back in the game, despite all the hardwork that India did through the day. Ravi Chandran ashwin and captain Dhoni should see them through the day without further damage.
But superb performance this from James Anderson, he's not fully fit, has been able to bowl only short spells, but he has done the job for his captain late in the day.

5 more overs to see through.

Dhoni has to be very careful with the running here, its not Kohli or Jadeja batting with him, its Ashwin and he doesn't fancy running too hard!.

Anderson hits the pad again, not out clearly, but he has been very dangerous and England have missed a fully fit James Anderson today, that's for sure. A historic series win is at stake and Anderson is giving everything here, to whatever extend possible.

Match well poised. Two days to go is a lot of overs if England start to wobble. May well find the over rate goes up and down fairly dramatically as fortunes change...

Ashwin keeps the strike again, at the end of the over!. and his captain is batting on 99.

2 overs remaining, India behind by 35, Mahendra Singh Dhoni on strike to James Anderson on 99.

There is a direct and he is gone for 99.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Match well poised. Two days to go is a lot of overs if England start to wobble. May well find the over rate goes up and down fairly dramatically as fortunes change...

Good sitrep , Cpl ...got a feeling we won't be relaxing too much over the last two days of the series...

Dhoni run out ! What a moment

Think he's gone. What an unfortunate way for MS to go. Doesn't seem like his bat is behind the line.

lol

Wow.

Bad luck for Dhoni , but magnificent fielding from Cook

Captains taking each other on

Game very much in the balance...

Who was the fielder who got the direct hit!

Feel very sorry for MS, but it is better than most of his testt innings nevertheless and he has given his side a fighting chance here. A run out is a stupid way to finish such a determined innings, but well played MS. At least those who were questioning his place in the side might give him a break now.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:Who was the fielder who got the direct hit!

Cook leading by example!

Dhoni has a few 90s, 92 against England, another 92 against Australia, 90 against South Africa....... He was very patient today, was calm and collected in the 90s till that moment, a direct hit was needed and captain cook did it for his side and well, England finish on a high, with another one for Swann. 297-8.

Proper test match this. India built a great partnership and came back but England applied themselves and got the breakthroughs.

Some great fielding to remove MSD and a nice bit of bowling here too.

Interesting game this now. India could yet build a good lead or we could be starting pretty much evens again. If they did then i'd just aim to bat sensibly and see out as much of the two days as possible, England don't need a win just not to lose. Whether the batting will hold up is always the question though.

BBC Simon Mann was predicting India 170 ahead by tea tomorrow. Still might but it shows this has been any easy game to call.

With that one hour of excellent, England partly restoring the balance and partly undoing the fantastic work of Dhoni and Kohli.

guildfordbat wrote:256 - 4.

This has been India's day so far by a country mile as they look to achieve a sizeable lead tomorrow. However, just one wicket now would give it a different complexion. They still trail by 70 odd runs ....

How quickly can Test cricket change! It was honours even in the end I think.

Parhaps India getting bowled out in the first session tomorrow may not be a very bad thing for them, if their bowlers find something from the pitch and manage to restrict England, we could be in for an interesting last day chase.
James Anderson will be rested and refreshed, and I don't see India holding out long for tomorrow, but I hope the Indian bowlers will do the job for the team tomorrow.

Strong fightback by England in last session taking for 4 wickets for 28 runs. England probably hoping for a really uneventful day tomorrow in which they more or less bat India out of the match. But even if England end up, say, 200 ahead with 5 wickets down by close tomorrow match still wide open for the last day.

msp83 wrote:Dhoni has to be very careful with the running here, its not Kohli or Jadeja batting with him, its Ashwin and he doesn't fancy running too hard!.

Great last session. Fabulous intensity after a long, hard day - something which India have struggled to keep up.

Marginally Indias day considering where they started, but the last hour just allowed England to retain the edge. Indias last batsmen should really hit out tomorrow morning, India playing the clock and England now. From then on England just have to bat properly. 200-4 or so at stumps and India will be in real trouble.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:256 - 4.

This has been India's day so far by a country mile as they look to achieve a sizeable lead tomorrow. However, just one wicket now would give it a different complexion. They still trail by 70 odd runs ....

How quickly can Test cricket change! It was honours even in the end I think.

Thanks, Trebello. I just felt too many posters and tv commentators were getting carried away with the potentially strong position India were in and considered they were there already.

Mind you, the game is still in a mighty interesting position. Looks effectively like it will be a one innings match in a little under two days. India clearly won't settle for a draw so we'll probably have to bat beyond lunch on the last day to ensure we avoid defeat and achieve the series win.

An enthralling match. Throwback Test cricket.

Dhoni and Kohli applied themselves really well today, and after 2 sessions India looking to be taking back control. Then a magnificent final session by England has put them back in the driving seat. The run out being a magnificent highlight of today for England. Now it's simple for England. Bowl India out to get a small lead, then bat until lunch on day 5 and the series is in the bag!

If Compton and Root bat for long periods in England second innings when the match is in the balance they will feel they've really had a proper induction to test cricket and come through it. Likely to be a lot of pressure on Bell...

Hopefully this time tomorrow, the England lead will be up to around 175 with a maximum of 4 wickets down. 2 days from history!

guildfordbat wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:256 - 4.

This has been India's day so far by a country mile as they look to achieve a sizeable lead tomorrow. However, just one wicket now would give it a different complexion. They still trail by 70 odd runs ....

How quickly can Test cricket change! It was honours even in the end I think.

Thanks, Trebello. I just felt too many posters and tv commentators were getting carried away with the potentially strong position India were in and considered they were there already.

Mind you, the game is still in a mighty interesting position. Looks effectively like it will be a one innings match in a little under two days. India clearly won't settle for a draw so we'll probably have to bat beyond lunch on the last day to ensure we avoid defeat and achieve the series win.

An enthralling match. Throwback Test cricket.

Totally agree. It's been rather nice to watch. I think England will need a safe and steady attitude to batting in the third to see this out. It could go either way but application can make all the diffence.

Agree with guildford, too many people were getting carried away with that fabulous partnership between Dhoni. What they forgot was that partnership was for the 5th wicket and couple of quick wickets would have given the control back to England that's exactly what happened, Kohli got out to a good ball, Jadeja got a terrific one from Anderson on his debut. Then some good pressure applied got to Dhoni who took on Cook's arms on 99 and on the 2nd last over of the day. Perhaps Ashwin should have rotated the strike a bit more so that Dhoni had a better chance, he was kept away from the strike for a bit too much on 98 and 99 and perhaps it got to him a bit. Dhoni staying there for tomorrow wouldn't have been a good prospect, when he applies his mind to the task, he can hit the best ones out of the park and he would taken on the bowling.
But although I am disappointed at the late collapse and particularly disappointed for the captain who had to cope with a great deal in the last few days, I don't think this is altogether a travesty for India. Don't think either team would go in with a particular first innings advantage. I'd be happy if India get a bit more close to that England total. and if England finish tomorrow 6 or 7 down with an overall advantage of 180 200, it will be game on in the last day. So the captain has restored something for his side, tomorrow is the day the bowlers have to back him. And I'll e happy if they could maintain the better intensity in the field, something they did well considering their standards!.

afternoon everyone.

well after a quite brilliant partnership by Kohli and Dhoni England fought back magnificently in the last hour, and at the end of the day the game is pretty evenly poised all things considered.

Cook's run out of Dhoni was brilliant: having spent 130 overs in the field, captaining no less, to be able to attack the ball, aim and fire down the stumps so quickly was a great bit of work. I thought there was a single when Dhoni set off to be fair, but he lost a bit of time in swerving around Anderson and didn't dive (remember Root diving to make his ground on day 2? that could have saved Dhoni here). Swann then cleaned up Chawla with a ball which turned a bit and England will feel they're still in control of things here.

The pitch is still doing very little for the spinners, though there's definite reverse swing on offer. Hope Sharma feels up for it, as he'll probably be needed if India are to force a win here. I think India's last two wickets shouldn't try hanging around for too long tomorrow: there's no point in wasting 15 overs or so getting up to England's score.

For England, they stuck at it, but I thought bowled poorly in the afternoon, much too wide of off stump, on this pitch you have to be straight. Anderson is struggling a bit for fitness: he's bowled his fair share of overs this series, quite a few more than any other seamer I'd guess, and the four tests in such a short space of time don't help. Bresnan bowled OK, without particularly looking like getting a wicket. His pace was better than in the first test, and he kept things reasonably tidy, but I don't think he's been the same bowler since the elbow injury. Panesar kept a real lid on the scoring, but was largely unthreatening. Swann bowled much better once he came around the wicket to the right handers, something I'm surprised he didn't do earlier. Again, on a slow pitch like this you want to be wicket to wicket, which isn't his natural line from over the wicket. From around the wicket he bowled much better.

For tomorrow, like I said India should look to score quickly, get as close as possible to England (maybe even overhaul it), and then try to find a way of bowling England out cheaply for the first time since the first innings of the series.

For England, secure a lead, then bat, bat, bat. If they bat 4 sessions they'll be safe.

The problem though MFC, neither Ishant Sharma nor Pragyan are qualified sloggers. They both are quite capable of holding an end up for some time, but unlike many other tailenders, they can't really slog the ball much. So if India have to put some quick runs, then everything would depend on Ashwin.

Yeah theres no point Ashwin and co wasting deliveries tomorrow. Make a quick 30-40 then get bowling would be ideal

Intriguingly poised match. Would have to say the draw looks most likely and an Indian victory looks least likely. However, the series situation puts more pressure on England evening the odds up I think. A good start by Cook and Compton will make a big difference, otherwise the pressure might start to build.

TBH i would go with an england win being least likly- we will in all probaility play for the draw.. The indians have to play for a win.

However short odds on a draw in this one

Difficult for England to win, because scoring rates mean the match isn't really all that developed. We can win, but it would almost certainly be by accident rather than design: the result of being bowled out with a lead of 250/300 and then bowling India out as they go for the win.

Wouldn't want to declare and set it up, as India have played a lot of their best Test cricket in recent years in last day run chases.

Shelsey93 wrote:Difficult for England to win, because scoring rates mean the match isn't really all that developed. We can win, but it would almost certainly be by accident rather than design: the result of being bowled out with a lead of 250/300 and then bowling India out as they go for the win.

Wouldn't want to declare and set it up, as India have played a lot of their best Test cricket in recent years in last day run chases.

Agree with all that. If India have to chase 250/300, I wouldn't expect a draw. More likely, they'll get the runs or be all out going hell for leather to level the series ....

Shelsey93 wrote:Difficult for England to win, because scoring rates mean the match isn't really all that developed. We can win, but it would almost certainly be by accident rather than design: the result of being bowled out with a lead of 250/300 and then bowling India out as they go for the win.

Wouldn't want to declare and set it up, as India have played a lot of their best Test cricket in recent years in last day run chases.

Precisely what I said on Twitter.

England just need to bat and bat long, simple as. No need for declarations if indeed we get into a position where we COULD declare. India need to chase the game, not us. Just need a professional performance and the series is ours. Who would have though it after that first Test.

Not sure what will happen today...but I think those who are talking about India potentially trying to chase down 250-300 are being rather unrealistic.
Consider the scoring rates in this match so far : day one 199/5 from 97 (!) overs ;day two 218/9 from 90 and day three 210/4 from the same...there is a pattern here , and scoring is unlikely to become easier over the last two days.
Even assuming the Indian innings closes quickly on the fourth day , England are most unlikely to achieve a lead of more than 220 by the close. By the time that lead stretched to over 250 , if it did so on the last day , India would be looking at chasing at significantly over three per over - unlikely on this surface - and if we are talking of a 300 lead it would be time to shake hands on a draw straight away.
Perhaps the most likely outcome is an eventual stalemate ; but if there is to be a result it is more likely to come about through an England collapse for under 200 and an Indian pursuit which might then go either way...
Logically , with India having to bat last , the odds favor England . If the pitch remains true , they ought to be able to bat India out of the game : if it crumbles today batting conditions will presumably be even worse when India bat.

The danger for England arises if they become obsessed with "making the game safe" and end up going nowhere with their second innings - scoring very slowly and getting bowled out anyway while leaving India lots of time...should not happen , but it concerns me a little that so many fans and pundits are practically recommending such an approach. I trust the team itself is remaining focused on batting normally , looking for runs , intending to set up a position from which they can look to actually try to win the match in the last two sessions should the pitch deteriorate. Think Flower is smart enough to be keeping their minds in gear.

well I think it's safe to say that's not what India wanted from Ohja, 3 off 32 balls, India scoring just 20 runs in 50 minutes this morning as England are happy for India to take time. Panesar with the wicket, bit of turn, bit of bounce, and it comes off the glove onto the stumps.

Still plenty of time in the game...realistically , the only way India can win is if England implode in their second innings , so a bit of wasted time in scratching up these twenty odd runs won't make too much difference. This is actually the way I expected India to play it this morning , though I expected England to bowl them out by now.

That wicket ball from Monty turned and bounced a bit , but I'm not sure the pitch is going to become a minefield anytime soon.

Ashwin having a swing at Monty now...

Bresnan dozing at long-off and that allows Ashwin back for a couple of runs. poor. And India have declared! 4 runs behind, an hour played today with just 29 runs scored and Dhoni has had enough.

Ashwin played pretty well, but not sure what Ohja was thinking, just dead-batting the ball for nearly an hour.

England now need to bat well...

Looks as if India may have planned to do just that...bat an hour , get what they could...maybe hope the pitch would dust up a bit before they get England in again ...

If they bowl England out for 150 Dhoni may be hailed as a genius

Equally , if England bat four sessions what happened this morning may not matter much anyway...