England's Indian Summer - T20s, ODIs & Tests

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Off goes Rahul...at least he doesn't waste a review ! That was stone dead.
Jimmy on course for ten ?

Rahane in next as Kohli was off the field too long...

I see Moeen has just got out for 219 against Yorkshire .

Putting his hand up , one might say.

alfie wrote:

Gooseberry wrote:Just seen that Moeen scored a ton in the CC yesterday. Signs of a return of confidence could be enough for a recall? Rashids not exactly had the opportunity to shine but given hie desperately England need to strengthen their batting hes making a case.
The specialists and slips are still a greater concern but Im being nudged into grufging acceptance its a valid option.

Going to be a fun selection meeting , isn't it ?

The magnitude of this defeat really does mean they have to act decisively , no ?  Forget team building ; if they want to save the series they need to get an XI suited to these conditions  , this opponent.  If that means bringing back Bell (Example Only , I stress then so be it.  Worry about Sri Lanka after The Oval : pick a team to win home Tests.
I don't see Rashid in that , myself.  He's not going to wreck India in the red ball game ; and he doesn't give the control that England need to rest their strike bowlers - who are their match winners.  He may tour in the winter ; but for now he's a luxury they can't carry.

Might be Moeen...could be Bess , who did nothing wrong against Pakistan ? Or Leach...

The batting is the bigger worry though.  Especially if they have to replace Bairstow.  No one at present looks like a realistic Test batsman !
Though a week ago you could say the same of India , Kohli excepted...

But then India didn't exact bat brilliantly, Kholi has been the main man in both innings albeit with more support than the previous test, they got the better of the batting conditions and England dropped a number of very good chances.

I disagree about purely short term picks. The batting flaws that are exposed are long term issues. The need to get develop a proper spinner and find a fast bowler are real too, but the options and opportunities to push that harder.
Moeens recall would be a bit short termist, but I do feel hes a certainty for Sri Lanka to enable someone like Bess or Leach to be picked whilst keeping the batting depth.
But any other changes absolutely should be with an eye to know and the future. If Bairstow is out then it gives the ideal opportunity to bring in Gubbins or Burns and prop up the top 3. Let Root get a bit more protection and breathing space at 4. Push Pope back to a fairer 5. Stokes 6 , Buttler 7 as keeper (Id say Foakes but it aint happening), Moeen at 8 , Woakes at 9. After the flogging they've taken Anderson or Broad probably should get a break, so Curran comes back ....suddenly the  depth looks a lot better despite having lost one of your two functional batsmen.  
Theres the opportunity to blood a top 3 bat (desperately needed) and give another bowler a go with the new ball and let some of the bats drop a place.

Whilst I agree with Olly saying England have done a lot of boom bust the concern for me is greater. The reasons they keep having awful tests (and awful away series) is because they aren't very good. They've gotten away with it at home by a few good bowling performances when conditions have suited them. But on the whole their batting and slip fielding are in long term crisis, even the games they've won those issues have often been evident. Without cloud and a dukes ball their bowling isn't up to much. That's why Id advocate changes with an eye to the future rather than short termism like recalling Bell (hows his catching these days?)

England likely will still win this series. But they cant use that to mask the glaring issues with the side and keep persevering with a failing batting line up and slip cordon.

It has gone a bit flat since lunch after the earlier carnage. Not that India need to hurry.
Ashwin getting some spin . Couldn't say Stokes looks comfortable but he's hanging in there. As is Buttler though he's edged a couple...His luck is holding.
At least the tea lady might have to brew up as we near the halfway mark of the day with six wickets still needed. I see Bairstow is padded up in the pavilion.

Ah, this looks like being the one big partnership before everything collapses in a heap.

And they are riding their luck, just a teensy bit.

383 to go...

Hey Goose...

Not really disagreeing with your post there .  (Except I'm not sure about resting Broad or Anderson.  Have serious doubts about the backup bowling's ability to do the job without serious input from those two)

Short term picks : well I'm not advocating masses !  If Moeen is one , fine.  As to the batting I agree the idea of trying a new top three player to make a virtue of Bairstow's presumed absence makes sense. (Are you still retaining Jennings , by the way ?) But although a young player would be preferable , I just don't think they should be ruling out a Hildredth , say if that is what they feel is needed.

2-1 up England are probably still favorites ; but the remaining two pitches may well suit India better than the first three so I think there is a need for them to get selection absolutely right : the series is very much on the line.

So : assuming no YJB...

Cook. Burns Someone Root Pope Stokes Buttler Moeen Woakes Broad Anderson

I can't fit Curran in. And Foakes has no hope as Buttler , while very fortunate to be picked in the first place , continues to do enough that they won't go back on it.
The key bit there is "someone" to bat at three. I don't know : do you ?

Stokes survives a referral by a whisker.

Feel Jennings is probably gonna get the series.

I'd bring in Burns as three anyway. I really don't think it's going to be any easier or harder than being an opener, it's three in name only at the moment.

Buttler is going to keep his place, and fair play to him so far with this knock. I don't think they are gonna bring Mo back as the spinner though, they obviously have given up on him being that man for them.

I imagine though that they will go Root three, Mo five. I'd go Mo four if they're gonna, give Pope a little more protection, but it's all a mess

Buttler gets a half.

Stokes lucky then...I was giving that one out live...but umpires call so he survives .
150 up . Total humiliation avoided but it's still a matter of when...

Think I've had enough for this one : pause to salute Buttler as he goes to fifty with a nice cover drive

...and it's goodnight from me

Saw someone on twitter say that Buttler’s best test knocks seem to come when the situation is clear (ie. block for a draw, or smash it with the tail) - and his knocks this summer would seem to evidence that

We have missed a "when the going is good" batsmen since Ian Bell

Wow, no wickets in that session.

Another 6 hours of batting from these two and everything will be rosy!

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:We have missed a "when the going is good" batsmen since Ian Bell

The good old days when our biggest problem was Ian Bell only getting runs when he already had runs on the board. Happier times.

JDizzle wrote:

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:We have missed a "when the going is good" batsmen since Ian Bell

The good old days when our biggest problem was Ian Bell only getting runs when he already had runs on the board. Happier times.

Good point, we're missing "going is good" from too many of our displays!

If we could at least survive the 12 overs until the new ball, we'd have half a chance.

Bell was part of an outstanding batting unit and team. The way things are going with the game that could be the last great Test team that England produce. Can't see anything other than limited overs success becoming more and more what players value

Buttler moves onto 86. His highest score in test cricket.

Marky wrote:If we could at least survive the 12 overs until the new ball, we'd have half a chance.

Steady on!

Fifty up for Stokes and 200 up for England.

This is Buttler's longest ever innings in test cricket. He's had a bit of luck, but fair play to him for digging in. I've criticised him strongly, but I'll retract it all if he doubles his current tally!

India just waiting for the new ball.

Maiden test century for Jos Buttler. Fabulous knock that in extreme circumstances.

Century for Buttler.

Some tired legs out in the field.

Excellent play. Well done, use this as a base for your test style. Start from this, then see if you can play the free and easy game you wanna play

Before play if you were betting on who would offer the most resistance you would have probably said Cook, Root and Bairstow. Certainly not Buttler and Stokes. England 220 for 4. The partnership up to 158.

Duty281 wrote:

Marky wrote:If we could at least survive the 12 overs until the new ball, we'd have half a chance.

Steady on!

...of surviving the day, I should have specified!

Buttler finally converting one of his fifties - magnificent knock. The only English batsman to face over 100 balls in an innings three times this summer - one selection Mr Smith got right (despite some nonsense posting calling for him to be dropped after two low scores!)

Now time to stop batting him at 7, let him bat at 6 rest of this series with the gloves

Marky wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Marky wrote:If we could at least survive the 12 overs until the new ball, we'd have half a chance.

Steady on!

...of surviving the day, I should have specified!

Ahhhhh

Time for the new ball. Could get messy.

Very pleased for Buttler there. I am skeptical of his ability against the moving ball but that's the best I've seen him bat in red ball cricket.

Fixing the mess of the batting order should be the selectors first priority IMO. If Buttler plays as a batsman it needs to be top 5. If the selectors want him at 7 then he should get the gloves - a then difficult situation as Bairstow is a better keeper. Either way our wicketkeeper should be batting at 7.

Burns at 3 is an interesting suggestion. It would allow Root to bat at 4 where he's been more successful and should provide more solidity against the new ball.

Why do India have to do this? Memories!, memories! Memories of South Africa 2013, New Zealand 2014! 4 down for 62, no clue where the next one is going to come from! AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham. and now Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler.

Ashwin, despite the overs he managed, doesn't look fit. The seamers have run out of steam. And if Stokes and Buttler, well set now will make the new ball travel, even 520 may not be enough to get away with a draw!

England could be 450-4 and India would still be favourites msp - keep calm, it’ll happen

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:England could be 450-4 and India would still be favourites msp - keep calm, it’ll happen

Indeed. Reminds me of Lord's 2009 against the Aussies. Australia needed 522, a sixth wicket stand transported them from 128/5 to 313/5, before Flintoff savaged the lower order and England won by a 100-odd.

This game probably won't be that close.

Buttler goes. Tight dismissal goes against England, but then they did get one in their favour earlier.

And Buttler is trapped lbw and after a review he exits to a standing ovation. England 231 for 5.

That is unlucky on the review! He'll be gutted to go on a leave.

Gotta think this is time for the tumble

Bairstow out first ball. Don't think he should have batted anyway. Could be over tonight.

Bumrah bowls Bairstow first ball. Bumrah's on a hat-trick.

Can India complete the coup de gras tonight?

Great bouncer from Bumrah and Woakes gloves it behind to Pant. The end is nigh as Rashid comes to the crease.

Pandya gets Stokes and this test will end tonight. England 241 for 8. India will win to bring themselves back into the series as they trail 2-1. They have been the better all-round team in this test by some way.

Buttler earning his place for a good long while now, which is only right because he is the best player the world has ever seen (cricket and football).

Problem for the needed reshuffle though. Unless he can be this player long term, a controlled test batsmen, then I still think the team balance is iffy.

And now Rashid is reprieved as Bumrah delivered a no ball.

Rashid having a thrash with the bat here. England 270 for 8.

Kohli drops Rashid on 22. No matter the end is nigh.

So for came for 62, another 4 come for next to nothing after a massive partnership. Now Rashid and Broad getting a partnership. Here was the ground where Jimmy Anderson scored a near ton last time round when the 2 sides played. With no regular batsmen left, that danger is very less, but these 2 are likely to take the game to the 5th day by the look of things. If Pant's drop of Buttler provided the life for the Stokes/Buttler partnership, is it going to be Bumrah's no-ball now?

India a bit too unfocused now. No-ball wicket and now a drop catch.

Broad does have an issue with the short ball. But if you telegraph things days in advance and keep bowling short every ball, he's going to be ready. He's afterall a batsman with a test top score of 169!
Perhaps its time Ashwin gets a go with the new hard ball?

This will be done tonight msp. India will ask for the extra half hour if need be. England 283 for 8.

Think we are not going to get all the overs in today and that England will drag the game to the 5th day.