England's Winter of Cricket 2020/21

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Rum sort of field for Nadeem to Sibley...two short covers ???

Not noted for getting caught there , is he ? Strange theory...

KP_fan wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Puffs of dust for the seamers and spinners, 10 overs into day one, not a great toss for England to lose!

Leach seemed convinced on that one, but surely always going down leg...

Welcome.to what's called Dustbowl  in India

Pitch looks like it was on day three of the last test, on day one of this.

Two edges so far, one off Leach and one off Moeen...both fell short of Stokes

Root jogs back on , looks OK , thankfully. Might need his bowling later...

Leach fancies his chances here : it's not like the fifth day last week but there's enough there for him that you feel a chance might come at any moment. Even if Rohit is ticking along at four per over at present. Moeen doesn't look as likely .

Root back out there already thankfully. Hopefully just something that needed a quick inspection and  strapping from the physio.

There is not much difference between how Rohit plays his test or ODI innings
Later in the game it might be evident that merely standimg there .....And eating ball is futile on this pitch

England missing Bess

At last an edge carries. Deserved, I feel, for Leach, and a very important wicket to nab twenty minutes before lunch.

Get one more before the interval and it'll be a half-decent session for England.

Good catch from Stokes and a very needed wicket for England courtesy of Leach.

Leach has just started settling into a good line and length. Mo has been erratic at best.

I'd maybe consider Broad or Stone from the other end with the new batsman in.

Leach pulled the length back ....pujara could not reach the pitch. And leach got reward

Aha...there it is. Leach gets Pujara to nibble at one and Stokes foes the rest...thought that was coming

Bit concerned Moeen is not providing any control the other end but England will be relieved to have that break.

king_carlos wrote:Good catch from Stokes and a very needed wicket for England courtesy of Leach.

Leach has just started settling into a good line and length. Mo has been erratic at best.

I'd maybe consider Broad or Stone from the other end with the new batsman in.

Yes. I'd have a burst from Stone right now.

But wow ! Moeen bowls Kohli with a miracle ball

What the fukkkkk is.Kohli pretending for
He was bowled clean, neck and crop

That's a poor shot from Kohli but a lovely bit of bowling by Mo.

Mo has surprised us all before...

Wow. That did something. Moeen out of nowhere. Fairweather Indian fans silenced.

Kohli looks baffled. Just the pitch, it exploded and turned like a day-five ball.

200 is a good score on this pitch I think

Funny old game , this.  One moment India cruising at 80/1 ...now this. No good for my tipping competition , mind   Have to sack that Kohli chap...

Seriously can see why Kohli didn't believe it had bowled him . It's Moeen not Shane Warne after all. Not a good shot but the ball has no right to do that in the first two hours of a Test Match.

Big last fifteen minutes to lunch .

On replays he flighted and it dipped on kohli from Moeeen this one ....Classic beaten by flight and spun thru the gate

This is a brilliant time to get Rahane to the crease with him a bit out of form. He's a very good batsman but is under a bit of pressure. Mayank Agarwal has 3 centuries in 5 Tests batting in home conditions and is a talented player in the wings.

Looking again, it's atrocious batting from Kohli, but it's turned so sharply because the pitch is almost like a late day three/day four wicket. Out of nowhere from Moeen who didn't look close to producing something like that. But land it in the right place and you're in the game.

Goes back to what I was saying that the toss isn't of much importance. Unlike a typical Indian pitch where it's good to bat on for the first couple of days before falling apart, this pitch will be tough to bat on throughout the game.

I was just thinking what a good score will be.

England have the deeper batting lineup but India have by far the better top 3.

200-250 should be competitive I reckon.

Duty281 wrote:Looking again, it's atrocious batting from Kohli, but it's turned so sharply because the pitch is almost like a late day three/day four wicket. Out of nowhere from Moeen who didn't look close to producing something like that. But land it in the right place and you're in the game.

Goes back to what I was saying that the toss isn't of much importance. Unlike a typical Indian pitch where it's good to bat on for the first couple of days before falling apart, this pitch will be tough to bat on throughout the game.

it will get worse
It's difficult but a playable pitch now
It will become unplayable by second half tomm
Rohit's playing a big inning in context of this likely low scoring game

100 up for India with Rohit scoring 75 of them. He's timed the ball remarkably well on a tough pitch.

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Looking again, it's atrocious batting from Kohli, but it's turned so sharply because the pitch is almost like a late day three/day four wicket. Out of nowhere from Moeen who didn't look close to producing something like that. But land it in the right place and you're in the game.

Goes back to what I was saying that the toss isn't of much importance. Unlike a typical Indian pitch where it's good to bat on for the first couple of days before falling apart, this pitch will be tough to bat on throughout the game.

it will get worse
It's difficult but a playable pitch now
It will become unplayable by second half  tomm
Rohit's playing a big inning in context of this likely low scoring game

Agree with this. Reckon it is going to be progressively harder to bat on throughout - so Rohit may already have given his side an advantage.

A problem for England might be that apart from Root they don't have many players who are likely to get a lot of runs in unorthodox style , if normal batting becomes extremely difficult.

Lunch at 106/3 from 26. Not sure whether that is England's session - or Rohit's...

Yep, Rohit's session. More than kept India afloat with that sparkling contribution. Stone squared him up in that last over, but when it's your day those edges will find the rope.

England know they're only a couple of wickets away from the softer batsmen, so will be content enough.

That two hours felt like watching a highlights session, not live play.

Charles Bannerman getting twitchy about the oldest record in cricket yet? A few more wickets not at Rohit’s end and he will be!

Rohit has been magnificent, and while England will be happy to have Pujara and Kohli in the hut...India still on top for my money. Reminds me of the pitches in Bangladesh a few years back so far, maybe the argument wasn’t Bess or Moeen, but three spinners instead of two!

We won’t be setting alarms for day 5, maybe not even day 4 I don’t reckon...

My forecast of this game
India 200
Eng 160
India 200
Eng 120

As to who is on top , a lot depends on the next couple of wickets , I think. Get at the Indian tail and this innings might fall short of requirements - although we would then have to see how England manage on this. They don't have a Rohit.

alfie wrote:As to who is on top , a lot depends on the next couple of wickets , I think.  Get at the Indian tail and this innings might fall short of requirements - although we would then have to see how England manage on this. They don't have a Rohit.

Loki: I have an army
Tony Stark: We have a hulk

Alfie: They don't have a Rohit
Carlos: They have a Root

As I was just saying yesterday moeen is a fine cricketer unfairly excluded from the test team for a long period

India's whatever remaining runs are have to come from Rohit, Rahane and a dash from.Pant....Who if Eng cannot stop with be devastating if he gets even 50 odd

Rest will all fold tamely to either spinner or full fast straight and keeping low ones from Stone
Won't be surprised if Stone gets 2 or 3 in an over

Eng should be disappointed if they let India go too much over 200.....And certainly out of the game if Ind crosses 300

king_carlos wrote:

alfie wrote:As to who is on top , a lot depends on the next couple of wickets , I think.  Get at the Indian tail and this innings might fall short of requirements - although we would then have to see how England manage on this. They don't have a Rohit.

Loki: I have an army
Tony Stark: We have a hulk

Alfie: They don't have a Rohit
Carlos: They have a Root

Yeah I take your point , KC - and wholeheartedly agree. But what I meant was they do not have an opener capable of blasting off from the start like Rohit and getting early runs in a low scoring game. Root - and Stokes - are more the counterparts to Kohli and Pant.

Reckon this could go either way from here - but unlikely to go much past Tuesday morning...

Keeping it tight. Something England usually struggle with, but if they can strangle the run-rate they can take a hold of this test. Might be easier said that done with Rohit blasting away!

alfie wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

alfie wrote:As to who is on top , a lot depends on the next couple of wickets , I think.  Get at the Indian tail and this innings might fall short of requirements - although we would then have to see how England manage on this. They don't have a Rohit.

Loki: I have an army
Tony Stark: We have a hulk

Alfie: They don't have a Rohit
Carlos: They have a Root

Yeah I take your point , KC - and wholeheartedly agree. But what I meant was they do not have an opener capable of blasting off from the start like Rohit and getting early runs in a low scoring game. Root -  and Stokes - are more the counterparts to Kohli and Pant.

Reckon this could go either way from here  - but unlikely to go much past Tuesday morning...

Very true. It's a pitch where "blunting the new ball" isn't going to be nearly as valuable which nullifies the strengths of Sibley and Burns a bit. Lawrence meanwhile didn't convince in T1 but can (crucial verb there...) play spin very well and that should be vital.

Runs are the only currency on a pitch like this and if any of the top 3 can grind out a fifty against Ashwin on this wicket it will be a very valuable one indeed regardless of the strike rate.

Something will give between leach and rohiit soon

This is the best I've seen Leach bowl since the last Sri Lanka tour, not offered up a single bad ball

I'm not saying that Ashwin and Kuldeep won't be dangerous on this because they undoubtedly will but Jadeja would be lethal on this track. A bit quicker and really bowling the ball into the pitch getting it to spit and turn.

king_carlos wrote:I'm not saying that Ashwin and Kuldeep won't be dangerous on this because they undoubtedly will but Jadeja would be lethal on this track. A bit quicker and really bowling the ball into the pitch getting it to spit and turn.

Axar is deemed similar to Jadeja in style
Poor man's Jadeja at best
Broad in and let's see if he can get reverse

Really impressed by Rahane here. Not in the best of form, like Rohit I suppose, but is producing a solid and workmanlike innings to grind out a credible score.

Pitch not having a lot of demons since lunch. And not happening for Broad so far, though (like Soul) I think Leach's contribution has been excellent. Tight, controlled and consistent with his line, few freebies on offer. A constant test. Stone has also risen to the occasion well so far, a display of highly accurate and probing bowling.

Has been more disciplined from England since the resumption. A few signs of Rohit's frustration becoming evident.

Older ball making batting seem easier since lunch. Not racing along but they're scoring regularly enough : England need to break this up soon or they could be in for a long day. They'll hope one brings two , etc...and if they can get through these two and Pant they might fancy working over the tail. But the fast start means India will be on a good score if they bat this day out.

First real error Rohit has made ...nearly cued that to a fielder ! On 98 now...

Great century from Rohit.

Excellent hundred from Rohit

Really has played wonderfully well . Early days yet ; but already one senses it may come to be seen as a match winner.

Well played Rohit, I will however be delighted to see him opening the batting in the summer.

Broad not getting any reverse and hence not able to fill the hole left by Anderson
Maybe Stokes more likely to fund reverse

Contrary to some comments I've heard , I don't think England have got this quite right today - in tactics or field setting. If this were a road , a run rate of 3.5 per over would be acceptable: but it ain't that. Need to put a bit of a brake on at least...too many easy runs on offer lately., not much pressure on the bats.. Long way to another new ball...

Soul Requiem wrote:Well played Rohit, I will however be delighted to see him opening the batting in the summer.

Averages eighty-odd at home...27 away

I think it was the new hard ball that allowed more purchase from.the pitch  in first session
Not finding reverse is hurting Eng....And they are offering  too many ways singles with spread out fields

Rahane plays equally well spim and fast and seam , home conditions or  overseas.....Has no overt weakness
Scores a lot of difficult runs overseas but misses out BIG hundreds and mega series in easier home.codiroms
That's why he averages 42

Been a bit caught up for the last few days and couldn't come over here.
Interesting call from England to draft Moeen Ali in for Dom Bess who has been doing a decent job across the winter so far. Moeen has been Moeen so far, got an absolutely big wicket with a ball noone thought him capable of producing, but in between offered enough filth. Surprising that Rohit hasn't really taken him on that much, has been a pleasantly disciplined innings from Rohit so far. Did take Stokes on with a fielder in the deep early on, and very nearly got out playing an unnecessary, ugly scoop, but overall, he has been disciplined. I know I am talking about an innings in which he has a strike rate of 70, and for a significant period, over a hundred. But the characteristic ill-discipline and lack of game awareness hasn't crept in so far. We all know he can play every shot in the book and make it look all very easy. His game against fast bowling against the new ball is something that has surely improved. But its been the discipline that has been the problem. So far so good from Rohit.

A magnificent century by Rohit. In the conditions it's a remarkable innings.

Rahane is getting more and more fluent as well. A very valuable partnership for India and worrying times for England. They need a breakthrough.

Partnership ticking over nicely. England struggling for control . Leach is fairly economical without exactly strangling them ; but Moeen has gone for 60 off 13 - not a single maiden. True he produced the magic ball to get Kohli : but I've seen nothing really to justify his replacing Bess.

That should ensure him a hat trick

Too easy for India at the moment. Too easy to nurdle and nudge singles or twos - I noted that quite early on that after Rohit hit a few early boundaries, the field retreated. No real pressure on him since then.

Barring one outrageous ball, Moeen has bowled a load of old toss which is, unfortunately, what most of us expected.

Breakthroughs sorely needed because, at the moment, India look set to bypass 300.