England v India 3rd Test, Ageas Bowl

First topic message reminder :

Lets get in the thread early enough.
India 1-0 up and now is the time to keep up the leel of intensity.
For England a few careers might depend on a quick turnaround in fortune here.
The pitch is reported to have some green on it and is expected to be in between the ugly pathetic track for the Trent Bridge and a lively track for the 2nd test at the HQ.
Not many reports on the England xi, but there are indications that Stuart Binny will be out for India, and by reports coming in now, its Rohit Sharma who might come in.

Scrumpy wrote:

GSC wrote:England will be looking at 450+ I think.

Memories of Sri Lanka still fresh, Cook will want an unassailable target

Woud that be enough on this wicket with 2 days to go?

Pitch is good, but not good enough on day 5 for a record run chase you'd imagine. Beginning to turn and bounce a bit so Ali might have a part to play.

JDizzle wrote:Moeen's far too loose with his drives to open in a Test Match. Never mind his potential weakness against the short ball.

It does amuse me when people suggest replacing Robson as opener with someone who's been just as (un?)successful at Test level with the bat in Moeen.

And from memory, Mo's never opened for us in first class cricket, he has in t20/list A but obviously that's completely different.

Ballance gets another poor decision but a good morning for England

buttler needs to get in next yep.

For some reason i thought buttler was ballance so ignore the above- I am not with it at all. Work is over loading me which isn't on when England are playing Cricket

Don't worry lads, we're now owed a decision after that decision

Kallis retires from all cricket

GSC wrote:Kallis retires from all cricket

Nope, he still be playing T20 in India and Aus.

*International >_>

Two things:

1) England were never enforcing the follow-on once India batted past 50/60 overs. that much is clear from England declaring at 550 odd and not batting on. So this rubbish about Cook not being strong enough to tell his bowlers to bowl again is ridiculous - as usual.

2) I have a feeling Bell will be the next batsman out - then probably Buttler.

Not 'all Cricket' then!   

Jadeja appeals against his fine.

liverbnz wrote:Two things:

1) England were never enforcing the follow-on once India batted past 50/60 overs. that much is clear from England declaring at 550 odd and not batting on. So this rubbish about Cook not being strong enough to tell his bowlers to bowl again is ridiculous - as usual.

2) I have a feeling Bell will be the next batsman out - then probably Buttler.

1) agree
2) hope not! bell allways needs 50 balls before he scores his first run!

well bell is in- just smash it- dont think about yourself ginger nut!

India's chances of a draw suffered in the morning session as they added not much to the overnight total and then let England fly away at 4 an over for the rest of the session. Cook should be looking at a score of around 450 that they should manage by tea without much issues.
Then it is a battle for survival for the Indian batsmen. Gautam Gambhir ones played an innings of a lifetime to save a test in New Zealand in broadly similar circumstances, but the overall record of Indian batsmen isn't great in this regard and Gambhir anyways isn't playing this game. Pujara and Vijay can play the waiting game, but not so much the rest of them. Ajinkya Rahane has the technique to play the long innings and Kohli has the temperament and ability to do the same as well. But Virat is in terrible form and that has resulted in some technical issues creeping into his game. Rahane is a positive player though technically sound he's and it has to be seen whether he can play the South Africa like game of self-denial. The Offspinner is anyways hopeless, and Dhoni and Jadeja do not have the technique to play the waiting game in these conditions. On top of all that, one of the openers, Shikhar Dhawan is playing for his place in the side. Shikhar really needs a big score to save himself here, his technique has issues, but hopefully his temperament will save him and his side here.

Ding Dong, Bells on!

Regardless of what England eventually set India some will say they have been too cautious. I would like to see them try to have a 15-20 minute period before tea, but that means scoring 100+ in an hour and a half which won't be that easy. Bell looks like he wants to get a move on though.

Anderson and Broad needed the rest TBH. Enforcing the follow-on would have been daft given the efforts they put in in the first dig. Pitch won't get easier for batting on. If the idea was to only bat once England would have batted for another 50-100 runs in their first innings at least.

I see the knives are gathering for Robson. Can't say I'm surprised. He has looked IMO better than Compo and much better than Carberry. Needs more time, at least the end of the series before reassessing.

I like Robo,

Not everyone can be the new Bradman like Root and Ballance.   

He needs to stick- no point bringing back in some old lads that have already hit there ceiling.

From the live text

Was Ian Bell born 'in form'? He never looks out of nick, does he?


Aside from the first 2 tests, no.

Heartbreak for Ian Bell bowled by Jadeja. 

Missed out on some for freebie runs. 


England for the love of God get Buttler in now for a slog.

Root in.

This is where England tend to be a bit too rigid.

Yeah I've no idea why Buttler hasn't gone in for a smash

Cook with 35 off 74 balls, needs to be quicker than that cookie, a strike rate below 50 needs to be at least 65/70

What are we doing?

GET ON WITH IT!

Still at over 4 per over mind. Bit like the middle overs of an ODI this. Fields spread, England happy to keep the scoreboard ticking. Get the sense some carnage may be on the way.

Fifty for Chef   

Leading from the front ( for those who like their cliches   )

Were people arguing for the follow on ? (haven't read back yet ) . Wouldn't have been logical on this ; the main two bowlers needed a break. And if they can't bowl India out in 120 overs bowling last - well they probably couldn't have got 'em out bowling third either.
Result not guaranteed...but India will have to bat very well to escape.

Scrumpy wrote:What are we doing?

GET ON WITH IT!

Going at 4.5 per over ! What more do you want ? Acceleration is happening...

There's no chance in hell Cook will declare if he's close to a 100...

He's barely scored a run in the last 12 months.

A cheap 100 will keep the KP fans quiet for another few weeks.

I doubt Cook really cares.

400 lead up. England stepping on the throttle now. Might have a half hour before tea at India.

alfie wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:What are we doing?

GET ON WITH IT!

Going at 4.5 per over ! What more do you want ?  Acceleration is happening...

Buttler.

Alfie

I thnik the only reson the follow on was even talked about was that the innings change was very early in the day - bowlers were reasonably fresh and were getting some lateral movement.

There are some arguments both ways, although I think in the context of this match and England's bowling line-up, having another bat was probably the right choice (may have been different if we had Swann and a more effective 3rd seamer). Just a bit disappointing that we aren't being more positive in this last 20-30 minutes of batting.

I agree on Buttler but Roots still going at more than a run a ball, as did Bell.

Cook is digging for his 100.

GET ON WITH IT

  

Lead into World Record territory

Yep time to call it a day soon have half an hour before tea

Probably about 30 shy of comfortable.

What is Cook doing?

Get off the pitch, if we draw tomorrow because we can't get the last wicket then Cook should be sacked.

50 for Root.

England just shy of 5 per over now.

dummy_half wrote:Alfie

I thnik the only reson the follow on was even talked about was that the innings change was very early in the day - bowlers were reasonably fresh and were getting some lateral movement.

There are some arguments both ways, although I think in the context of this match and England's bowling line-up, having another bat was probably the right choice (may have been different if we had Swann and a more effective 3rd seamer). Just a bit disappointing that we aren't being more positive in this last 20-30 minutes of batting.

Not against people talking about it. But the mere fact that India were knocked over quickly didnt change the real issue : if the follow on had been enforced , at close of play tonight England would have been fielding for more than two days ( barring an unlikely skittling of India ) , and Broad and Anderson bowling perhaps fifty overs each...Rough on them , both because they have two more Tests very soon , and because any Indian wickets then left over might have been very hard to take by exhausted bowlers. As we have seen in other games in this series , on both sides.
Sometimes the follow on is the right call. But surely never in this case.

Your point re Swann etc was well taken.

There we are. 445 for India in 130 overs. More than enough time to bowl an Indian side, who have spent 200+ overs in the field, out.

Declaration setting 445. A bowl before tea...just what Mike was hoping for earlier , I think ?

Well played Root (unselfish play). Has grown in stature this summer ; though tougher tests lie ahead.
And well done Cook ...batting and the declaration. Should be early enough for even the " fix bayonets , charge " mob.   

Nope, tea taken early

Fifties have come up in 83, 70, 52 then 36 balls. Ended up at pretty much 5 per over despite plenty of men on the boundary and jadeja bowling a negative line.

Terrible scoring rates.

Root gone, England have declared giving themselves 15 or so minutes before tea. India need 445 to win from about 125-130 overs (we won't get them all in tonight). Under 3.5 per over, I think that's attacking enough from Cook.

Some people would have you believe he should have set India 360 off 150 no doubt. Much easier from your armchair.

Another good batting session for Cook and England; the declaration, also, fairly prompt and in good time. Good captaincy from Cook throughout this Test.

Think England will win quite comfortably. Two wickets today, minimum, and it should be plain sailing from there.

Early tea is a stupid rule. It penalises England twice - they don't get two cracks at India and the bowlers have to get through an even longer session (it will already by 2.5 hrs because India's over rate has been understandably dreadful).

Mike Selig wrote:Fifties have come up in 83, 70, 52 then 36 balls. Ended up at pretty much 5 per over despite plenty of men on the boundary and jadeja bowling a negative line.

Terrible scoring rates.

Root gone, England have declared giving themselves 15 or so minutes before tea. India need 445 to win from about 125-130 overs (we won't get them all in tonight). Under 3.5 per over, I think that's attacking enough from Cook.

Some people would have you believe he should have set India 360 off 150 no doubt. Much easier from your armchair.

We don't get 15 mins before tea, it is being taken early and personally that is the only issue I have. The fact the cut off time was 15:10 (which Cook and Moores must have known) and Root got out at about 15:14 and then we declared made absolutely no sense to me at all. Declare at 15:09 and give Jimmy and Broad 2 bites with the new ball. Hopefully it won't make a difference, just not good captaincy in my mind as the last thing the Indian opening batsmen would want is to face 5 or 6 overs before tea.

Cook missed the window to get India in to bat for a few overs before Tea, poor Captaincy imo.

Mike Selig wrote:Fifties have come up in 83, 70, 52 then 36 balls. Ended up at pretty much 5 per over despite plenty of men on the boundary and jadeja bowling a negative line.

Terrible scoring rates.

Root gone, England have declared giving themselves 15 or so minutes before tea. India need 445 to win from about 125-130 overs (we won't get them all in tonight). Under 3.5 per over, I think that's attacking enough from Cook.

Some people would have you believe he should have set India 360 off 150 no doubt. Much easier from your armchair.

Indeed, but some people are just never happy, and will always look for an opportunity to stick the knife in.

Duty281 wrote:
Indeed, but some people are just never happy, and will always look for an opportunity to stick the knife in.

Which they are intitled to do as cricket fans.

Scrumpy wrote:

Duty281 wrote:
Indeed, but some people are just never happy, and will always look for an opportunity to stick the knife in.

Which they are intitled to do as cricket fans.

Only if England fail to win from here...

Scrumpy wrote:

Duty281 wrote:
Indeed, but some people are just never happy, and will always look for an opportunity to stick the knife in.

Which they are intitled to do as cricket fans.

Entitled as they may be, they will only end up being proven wrong in this instance.