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...

Probably an innings that gives Jennings a chance to just do OK at the Oval and keep his place. Valuable runs and time taken, skidder gets him. Around 80 runs net in the next test and he could keep his place. Whether he’s a better fit at three...

Bare minimum for England is to set a target of 175. For that to be achieved it will need a 50+ score from Root and another 50 partnership somewhere down the line. If one of the all-rounders Stokes, Buttler or Curran can chip in with decent runs as one of them normally does then a lead of 200 is achievable.

India need to stop England before 180. Anything above 160 will bring the series to 3-1.

Instant dismissal! England teetering.

Wow, its just Wow. Baristow bowled first ball by Shami.

Root need to play his captain's inning here. Indian Pacers are really testing them which is a rare scene overall but a normal scene this series.

Bairstow bowled first ball and Shami on a hat-trick. India now with the advantage. England effectively 66 for 4.

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Probably an innings that gives Jennings a chance to just do OK at the Oval and keep his place. Valuable runs and time taken, skidder gets him. Around 80 runs net in the next test and he could keep his place. Whether he’s a better fit at three...

Dolph - just possibly Jennings gets another chance at the Oval although I don't think that's a done deal. If England lose this Test, a head might be chosen to roll and his would be around the front of the queue - it's not entirely fair that his chances of retaining his place rest to some extent on our bowlers but that can sometimes be how it is. Jennings is probably fortunate in that of his two opener rivals - Burns has gone a little off the boil and never been regarded as Test class by the selectors whilst Stoneman although back in form in his last knock has been out of it the rest of the season.

I was going to say that 3 wickets in the first session made it India's morning - India undoubtedly ahead now with Bairstow gone first ball. I did say yesterday I would have rested him altogether for this Test.

Certainly a hard shout to drop someone new (and whose anchor is struggling too) before the series end with one test left. It’s not that he wouldn’t somewhat deserve it, probably a slight reluctance to poison anyone else with one test in those circumstances.

Gotta gel for Mo, suddenly shoved in at 3. Sure, if that’s his position from the first innings, but not really able to judge on a late plan.

He’s always wanted to know his role, the only way they could confuse it now would be for him to open the bowling expected to bowl some snorting bouncers

Couple of observations on play so far : despite a disappointing exit for Cook and the inevitable result of batting Moeen at three , things were looking OK for England until the last ball before lunch...but Shami has put the cat among the pigeons again.

Although Mo at three didn't work - and never will - at least it got Root back to four. Which seems to have helped him , a little .

Is there still anyone out there advocating pushing Bairstow up the order ? If so I have to wonder if they've actually been watching...

Considering the first day movement is much reduced today , India have done rather well ; and are clearly - if not yet overwhelmingly - on top in the match. 70/30 ? But a partnership could change it...

Oh...and perhaps unfortunately , Jennings did enough that they'll probably persevere with him now , especially as the tour of Sri Lanka puts a premium on batsmen , even openers , who can play spin. I just do not believe he will ever be the answer to England's top order issues ; and I fear keeping him in is just moving the decision down the road.

And guilford's advice to rest YJB looks very sound in retrospect : in fact was pretty good beforehand ; but the management are a stubborn lot - as I think we all agree

You can say he was keen to play , has credit in the bank , and it might have worked. But it didn't ; it has further confused the 2 wicket keeper problem and probably dented his confidence ; and it's a pretty reasonable assertion that Vince couldn't have done any worse...

Bairstow' finger injury is making his afraid coming behind the line of the ball...
so he stay's leg side of the ball...but becomes a walking wicket
Bad move to play him

Finger injury aside , KP-f...Bairstow doesn't play straight enough early on , for my taste , at the best of times. His game is perfectly suited to the six-seven he prefers. A lot of people have been seduced into overrating his technical strength by the weight of runs scored down the order and in the white ball game.
Not saying he can't bat , say , five : but he will never be more than adequate in that spot. The figures don't lie.

alfie wrote:Finger injury aside , KP-f...Bairstow doesn't play straight enough early on , for my taste , at the best of times.  His game is perfectly suited to the six-seven he prefers. A lot of people have been seduced into overrating his technical strength by the weight of runs scored down the order and in the white ball game.  
Not saying he can't bat , say , five : but he will never be more than adequate in that spot.  The figures don't lie.

I saw his debut innings ( I think it was against SA)...and he had a partnership with KP ....and that's when I had noticed he uses too much of bottom hand to straight / incoming balls on middle stump......trying to whip them towards mid-wicket, with his bottom hand instead of presenting a straight bat

and was getting bowled / LBW......
over the years he has overcome that a bit.....but not fully
but standing outside the line of ball and staying outside the line would make it further difficult for him

they are bowling very straight and trying to trap Root LBW with a bit of reverse

England looking to rebuild here. 117 for 4. The lead is 90.

and ashwin should not worry about the rough.....there is enough turn in the pitch regardless of where he pitches......bowl his normal line and lengths

Ishant not that far away with that lbw against Stokes...but it did appear to pitch outside leg even live. Kohli sensible not to waste the review.

He dare not bowl round the wicket to Stokes , of course , being one call away from a ban. But still dangerous with it reversing...

Root run out ! Stupid stupid stupid

That might be the match...

Suicidal run out. Root goes on 48. Madness. England effectively 95 for 5. Shami great throw.

harakiri is the word that comes to mind now

Oh dear, oh dear. England's hopes evaporating now. 95/5, effectively.

hat a bonus in a tight game like this to get Root for free like this

Kind of want England to lose as a punishment for that running

CaledonianCraig wrote:Suicidal run out. Root goes on 48. Madness. England effectively 95 for 5. Shami great throw.

Was fine piece of fielding , yes. But an unnecessarily risky run ...and pretty lazy running from Root too : why no dive ? Truth is , he looked half asleep.

Going to need a minor miracle to set a serious target now , as you'd think anything under 220 would be pretty gettable. 75% India .

Buttler off the mark in his usual manner ...an edge through slip if he ever loses that rabbit's foot he's going to be in trouble...

What must be remembered is England's mid-order is where they have got their big scores. England effectively now 107 for 5.

alfie wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Suicidal run out. Root goes on 48. Madness. England effectively 95 for 5. Shami great throw.

Was fine piece of fielding , yes.  But an unnecessarily risky run ...and pretty lazy running from Root too : why no dive ?  Truth is , he looked half asleep.

Going to need a minor miracle to set a serious target now , as you'd think anything under 220 would be pretty gettable.  75% India .

Buttler off the mark in his usual manner ...an edge through slip  if he ever loses that rabbit's foot he's going to be in trouble...

Just caught up with the run out- jeepers! Shami was far more alert to the run out than Root was to the run. If you see it again, look as to how the fielder moves to the ball before his excellent throw.

Btw, Alfie - ''pretty lazy running from Root'' was almost word for word the description from Janet (Mrs Bat) as she also watched whilst starting on the post-holiday ironing. Tbf, I have been cutting the grass before any feminists kick off!

Well they need at least another hundred from somewhere. It tends to get easier to bat as the bowlers tire and the ball gets older - although a bit of reverse swing can partially negate that trend.
But you wonder how often the late order can do the business from these rough situations ? Buttler will put away anything loose , but he continues to look as if he could come out at any moment ; while a fairly restrained Stokes (15 from 63 !) doesn't look as if he is going to produce one of his counter attacking specials today.
Only really Curran to follow , although the others aren't hopeless , so it still looks like hard work...Shami and Ashwin bowling very well at present.

England reach tea on 152 for 5 leading by 125. India just with the advantage perhaps but this could still tip back England's way. Partnership of 30 and counting.

That Winviz thingy must not rate India's batting if it has England ahead in the match ! Only 123 ahead and you couldn't say the batsmen are in complete command...

Certainly either team could still win from here - the evening session might make things clearer. But I'd still rather be in Kohli's boots at present.

The 46 put on by Pujara and Bumrah for India's last wicket looking so valuable ....

There again I think Moeen will be looking forward to bowling on this pitch.

CaledonianCraig wrote:There again I think Moeen will be looking forward to bowling on this pitch.

True. But hopefully not until some time tomorrow

from an Indian POV...Anderson & Broad would be much lesser threat...
& Indians won't mind some sharp spin from Moeen / rashid...as this will be looking more like a D2 Indian pitch by the time Ind bat later tonight and mostly tomm....which they aught to negotiate in their sleep also.

we need an Eng collapse now to bundle the last 5 for 20 odd by ashwin

So Moeen is now England's number three batsman? Strange decision or genius from England's Captain Mr Root?

Think the seamers will still be a threat tomorrow - at least with the newish ball. This pitch I understand does produce some uneven bounce as it wears and that may start to be a factor.
Indian bats didn't seem to be negotiating Moeen all that easily first time around...but I guess if he is charged with winning the game in the fourth innings it will put him back under pressure ; and he sometimes finds that tricky...

review is not a prayer in hope or desperation

The Stokes/Buttler partnership continues to build very slowly and it has now put on 52. England now effectively 147 for 5 and I would say they have the slight advantage now. And India have no more reviews left.

time to replace ashwin and bring in shami

There's still over two days of play to go.  It seems that nowadays batsmen just don't have the patience or maybe the skill for the five day game.  Joe Roots runout was comical and so unnecessary, it was not as if they were scrambling for runs at the end of a 50-50 match.  Yet there was still nearly three days of batting remaining.

KP_fan wrote:time to replace ashwin and bring in shami

Glad they didn't listen to me

Again, just as a partnership looks like dragging England to a position of command, India check the advance with a perfectly-timed wicket.

I think India could chase up to 250 on this. It's still a decent wicket, and blue skies overhead. England's don't have a Swann-figure to take full advantage of the turn on offer.

Ashwin finally gets spin and snares Stokes at first slip. England 178 for 6. They lead by 151.

I would say any target under 200 and India are favourites. Anything between 200 and 225 and its 50-50. Over 225 and England are favourites.

Whenever England look to be getting back into the ascendancy they manage to lose one out of the blue...

Credit to the nice catch but Stokes will be kicking himself for not dealing with that ball. He was so restrained in that innings ; I suspect he'd have been forward and driving that on another occasion.
Useful partnership anyway. Buttler after a lot of early play and miss has settled in - seems to like batting with Stokes.

Still four wickets in hand so they'll hope to drag this lead up towards 200... But with a run rate that hasn't been exactly bubbling for the last few hours that might not be easy. At least they've mostly put their heads down today and tried to play proper Test Cricket.

Game remains very open . I hope I can watch some more of it but the picture has gone on the blink a couple of times now so have fingers crossed for more than one reason...

With 23 overs left in the day there will be overtime again

Duty281 wrote:Again, just as a partnership looks like dragging England to a position of command, India check the advance with a perfectly-timed wicket.

I think India could chase up to 250 on this. It's still a decent wicket, and blue skies overhead. England's don't have a Swann-figure to take full advantage of the turn on offer.

Mo did quite well yesterday

Decent pitch to bat on once the ball gets a bit old ; but you couldn't say any batsman has really looked comfortable for any length of time in the match : Pujara played a magnificent innings by patience and concentration ; and Curran counterattacked brilliantly against tiring bowlers...but otherwise batting has looked distinctly taxing.

Might not be too many flying to slips tomorrow ; but could be a few keeping low and trapping pads... I think it will be a tense affair whatever the final target.

Six overs to a new ball...

Even what England have now will be no cakewalk for India. Remember they failed to chase down 190 in the first test.

A vital 50 for Buttler. He is in a fine vein of form. England effectivelty 179 for 6. The new ball approaches.

Pant is hit in the throat by a vicious bouncing delivery from Ashwin but after treatment he can continue.

200 up

Was a time that looked unlikely ! Buttler doing a good job at seven after some early scares and now over fifty

He's making the most of his Test recall...I hope England can find a sensible solution to the 2JBs problem ; as if the end result is just Buttler replacing Bairstow in the XI they won't have actually gained anything . I do have hopes that Stokes might make a number five which would enable them to occupy 6/7 ...because I think it's clear enough neither belong in the top four.

Lead at 181 now...India will be looking forward to that new ball...

pitch appears to have eased on pace and movement significantly ....except when the ball jumps out of a rough
BUT
you only really figure when the other team bats

As I said earlier England's mid-order is currently their strength in batting. It is puttingbon crucial runs here. England effectively 187 for 6. This partnership mow worth 36 following on from the 56 of the last partnership.