England's Summer of Cricket 2021

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Siraj will have a couple of deliveries at Anderson. The lead is already a nice 25.

Basically because Bumrah bowled a few bouncers at Anderson end of day 3, we’ve decided to do the same. Embarrassing captaincy/tactics (I’m usually on Root’s side of these things, but this is woeful)

Here's Sam. I welcome that now. Pitch it up, into the stumps or pads.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Basically because Bumrah bowled a few bouncers at Anderson end of day 3, we’ve decided to do the same. Embarrassing captaincy/tactics (I’m usually on Root’s side of these things, but this is woeful)

Bumrah was always going to get a couple of short ones. And fair enough. But abandoning normal bowling tactics is madness. Now these despised rabbits are feeling set and look capable of adding a few more yet.

Root did well yesterday but he's been rubbish this morning. Moeen on now which is a good idea.but it is mind boggling that England have been unable to run through this much criticized tail in 15 overs with a new ball .

If the same poor attitude affects the batting India will win this easily. Lead now 210 which might be nearly enough.

Tailenders have put Mind over matter
Played with focus ., concentration and nullified their lack of skill with desire and bloody mindedness

Ind getting the match into a zone......where RRR for Eng would be upto 3
and only one team could lose
Unbelievable and unexpected fight and application
Root lost steam waiting for a declaration now

It's like England did the hard part early then over thought anything afterwards. Chance to win ebbing away as its not like Burns and Sibley will come out blazing!

What has Anderson bowled, two overs with the new ball? What the heck is going on

I get the impression that Root is more than happy to see time taken out of the game, looking like a draw from here.

Not going well at all here for England, poor tactics and some pretty decent Indian tail end batting.

My Scenario, of earlier, is getting more and more possible by the minute.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:What has Anderson bowled, two overs with the new ball? What the heck is going on

What indeed ? Pant hit him for one good boundary and someone else edged another and he was off. Is he injured ?

Right from the start Root/Silverwood tactical plan has been abysmal. Indian bats have played with heart and brain but it's been made easy for them.

Three days fighting back into the game and then this dismal display

If they can get two wickets now the target would still be reasonable with a good batting effort. But I've pretty much lost hope of either watching this mess. Think a draw is the best England can hope for now.

demotivated, demoralized, mentally  down....only bad light or miracle can save Eng now when 4 pace bowlers and a spinner with close ins will be breathing into Eng's faces....in a situation where ONLY one team can lose

India could stick them in 10 min before lunch but lose 10 min for changeover
OR
don't come back after lunch and gain 10minutes

England got Pant and have been mildly less than average since

Not the golden arm I thought might come from Sam.

And now Root grasses one from Bumrah off Moeen.

50 partnership between Bumrah and Shami. They've done extremely well and probably taken an England win off the menu. Poor play and captaincy from England though in the last hour.

Game very much edging into India's hands.

Cunning move by England to keep India batting so that the fragile England batting order does not have to face too many overs....

I think after this those of us (Duty I'm looking at you ) who have laughed at the Indian tail - and indeed most of their batting in English conditions - need to eat some humble pie. These two are doing a number on their hosts...and deserve much credit.

Wonder if the England tail will be able to summon similar resolve later today if needed to stave off defeat ? Root is looking pretty shattered (his body language does tend to be a bit poor in these situations) so I hope he is up for a game saving innings. Think England's winning chance has gone.

if it was a Boxing bout....the coach would throw in the white towel

What should India do? Get 260 lead and declare or bat as long as possible and basically settle for the draw unless England collapse.

So when England do eventually get India out, its bat for a draw?

England opponents now know they just need to hit their bowlers with a few short ones on the ribs to totally mess up their tactics on how to bowl out the tailenders

Think if I was Kohli, I'd be getting the seamers revved up over lunch. Let Englands openers stew for 40 minutes

Shami, what a 50

Taken the game away from England.

Tailenders Pummel Eng
Now Kohli only needs to bowl Eng out in 2 sessions in "Jimmy's Backyard"

eirebilly wrote:So when England do eventually get India out, its bat for a draw?

I presume it is. Already 256 and looking like no more than 60 or so overs to bat at best. Test teams rarely go at that anything like that rate on day five , for that long.

Their confidence will be on the floor after this flogging anyway.

No point in a kamikaze charge...

Congrats Shami on his highest score

sirfredperry wrote:Cunning move by England to keep India batting so that the fragile England batting order does not have to face too many overs....

Blimey! Things are bad for England when Sir Fred's doing sarcasm. Sir Fred is normally engaged here for the factual match reports.

I don't really see the harm in giving Buttler and Bairstow a chance at it, but suspect England will set up shop

GSC wrote:Think if I was Kohli, I'd be getting the seamers revved up over lunch. Let Englands openers stew for 40 minutes

Yep, - and Olly is already pressing the buzzer to give my answer - I would bat one over after lunch and then declare. Even though it takes 3 overs out of the match, it'll give Burns and Sibley an uncomfortable 40 minutes over lunch as they wait and wonder which could be valuable to the visitors.

AlciG wrote:England opponents now know they just need to hit their bowlers with a few short ones on the ribs to totally mess up their tactics on how to bowl out the tailenders

Wasn't just that though. Right from the start you could see England were "playing safe" with a defensive field : a clear signal to India they didn't have the confidence or the courage to attack. When Pant fell they had a chance to go for the throat but they still squibbed it. And then Bumrah and all the silly aggro...

I'm disgusted , frankly. For the sake of the series I hope England can salvage a draw but I'm not sure I can get too exercised about it . Arguably , they deserve nothing from this game. And I'll be astonished if they can win a Test this summer.

Well done India.

Who would have thought that Shami would top score for India in an Innings

I doubt if Ind will come out to bat again...though they should have sent the word to Bumrah & shami to try and slog another 10 runs in last over.

64 overs...260 needed at 4+RPO
We will see a lot of hostility , close-ins and only Root batting until the end can save Eng here I think

Though If I were leading Eng now...I would open with Butler and bring Bairstow in at the fall of Butler.........give a shot at winning...but if wickets fell then let Burns & Sibley "Eat Balls" and play out for a draw

alfie wrote:

AlciG wrote:England opponents now know they just need to hit their bowlers with a few short ones on the ribs to totally mess up their tactics on how to bowl out the tailenders

Wasn't just that though. Right from the start you could see England were "playing safe" with a defensive field : a clear signal to India they didn't have the confidence or the courage to attack.  When Pant fell they had a chance to go for the throat but they still squibbed it. And then Bumrah and all the silly aggro...

I'm disgusted , frankly.  For the sake of the series I hope England can salvage a draw but I'm not sure I can get too exercised about it . Arguably , they deserve nothing from this game. And I'll be astonished if they can win a Test this summer.

Well done India.

Ok, let’s not overreact here Alfie - they’ve had a bad hour and a bit there, but I don’t think that suddenly means they deserve nothing from this match (it would be a well earned draw after day one), and certainly doesn’t suddenly make them winning a test in this series a massive improbability.

And they should see this one out for a draw - there is a bit in the pitch, but it’s not got massive demons. 60 odd overs should be able to be seen out playing defensively

Batting defensively to save a match I can understand, having boundary riders for numbers 9 & 10 is unforgivable. Root is a fine fine batsman but he's a garbage captain.

KP_fan wrote:I doubt if Ind will come out to bat again...though they should have sent the word to Bumrah & shami to try and slog another 10 runs in last over.

64 overs...260 needed  at 4+RPO
We will see a lot of hostility , close-ins and only Root batting until the end can save Eng here I think

Though If I were leading Eng now...I would open with Butler and bring Bairstow in at the fall of Butler.........give a shot at winning...but if wickets fell then let Burns & Sibley "Eat Balls" and play out for a draw

This was my point earlier, based on the Indian innings and the required chase, will Root adjust the batting order to go for it.
If i was in Roots shoes, I certainly would give it a go.

Very poor from England. Root's woeful captaincy is never too far away. I remember when he nearly snatched a draw from victory v India in the first test in the winter series. Today was outright negativity and, in fairness to Root, another demonstration of overly-elaborate bowling plans to tailenders that precede his captaincy.

Should be a comfortable draw from this position, and Root won't be too unhappy such is his negative mindset, but most England fans will be discontent at missing out on a 1-0 lead.

True , Olly : you are right about earning a draw (if they can !) : and indeed they should be able to.

But after the position they reached last night the lack of intent this morning really appalled me. Such a strong chance to take a win over an Indian side which generally just looks significantly , though not enormously , superior to the home team. Will they get a chance like this again ? And if so , will they have the nerve to take it ?

Add in the wear and tear on the diminishing pool of bowlers and I don't think I am being unduly pessimistic in doubting their chances in the series. Without Stokes I reckon this is a rather mediocre England team.

OK I am a bit depressed today already due to our local extended lockdown so perhaps I'm gloomier than usual. But I'm not sure I'd change much of the above comment anyway. Get a good draw and I may reconsider

Was at work and could follow the game only on cricinfo.
Thought when Rishabh went, the end, that was already there when Jadeja had gone, would just be a formality, and was hoping for Bumrah and Shami to do some damage to keep India alive into the 2nd section.
The lads went ahead and did exactly that, but not the way I expected them to! What a partnerships, both getting their career bests, turning around a certain defeat into a great deal more. Remarkable, from Bumrah in particular. Prior to this series, in 30 test innings Jasprit scored 43 runs in total! He has more than doubled that tally in the next 3! He has taken it upon himself, that since the batting order keeps letting him and his fellow bowlers far too often, they do the job for them too!
Alfie, the criticism that has come on these boards and elsewhere about India's lower order batting, has been more directed at Kohli rather than Bumrah and co. Because they are the best bowlers India have got, its The Brat who often mess things up with his stupid selections and end up unbalancing the side!, and he's not doing things that he's best at, scoring big runs either.
But this time, his bowlers have taken a few for their skipper, and all but bailed him out.

Must say I was quite taken aback by the kind of fields that I could see from time to time. They were trying to deny quick runs to Pant, made a bit of sense though I'd have attacked him, considering he was running out of partners and the ball was new and hard. But to Bumrah and Shami, and Ishant too, the singles that could pick up with ease, it was downright pathetic from Root. Perhaps carrying this England batting all by himself, Root may have switched off and didn't quite know what he was doing!

Think I would continue to bat after lunch and add whatever more can be added on. After working this hard, you wouldn't even want to give, Buttler, Bairstow and Moeen a chance here... And the pitch is far too slow, and though Moeen did get a few to do things, it doesn't look a demanding 5th day pitch really. It could still get over in 2 balls after lunch, afterall this is the Indian lower order that we are talking about, one of the worst, if not the worst going around, in terms of batting contributions. Even if that happens, it will only add to the pressure on Sibley and Burns, so surely bat on.
But knowing Kohli, he might be thinking differently...

unbelievable Ind come out to bat again

Well, Kohli and I happen to be on the same page here, India are batting on. And its not getting over in 2 balls after lunch, as Bumrah negotiates the first from Robinson.

I don't really see why Kohli is continuing here. England ignored a better carrot against NZ

Spits of rain and fading light. Surely time to declare?
Maybe get the chase up to 280 runs (@ 4.5+ rpo) but 260 at lunch would have sufficed I'd have thought.

Kholi actually keeping England in this match. I was certain of a declaration.

England surely seem to have given up. And strangely, so too India. Wasting time like its nobody's business!

Seems Shami is ready to switch back to type. If he lasts there for a few overs, this could be fun.

And Kohli has declared...

guildfordbat wrote:

GSC wrote:Think if I was Kohli, I'd be getting the seamers revved up over lunch. Let Englands openers stew for 40 minutes

Yep, - and Olly is already pressing the buzzer to give my answer - I would bat one over after lunch and then declare. Even though it takes 3 overs out of the match, it'll give Burns and Sibley an uncomfortable 40 minutes over lunch as they wait and wonder which could be valuable to the visitors.

Close enough! Trusting Joey will give me a few extra sympathy points in his comp!

There is some cloud cover, a couple of balls did something. And off goes Kohli.
Fair enough, though I would have given it another 3-4 overs if they could stay out there. Not sure England would be going for it any time now, if they do, it would be in the last 20... Lets see if the top order can set a platform for the likes of Bairstow, Buttler and Ali. Or whether the Indian bowlers will make it a fight for survival for the English batting lineup.

guildfordbat wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

GSC wrote:Think if I was Kohli, I'd be getting the seamers revved up over lunch. Let Englands openers stew for 40 minutes

Yep, - and Olly is already pressing the buzzer to give my answer - I would bat one over after lunch and then declare. Even though it takes 3 overs out of the match, it'll give Burns and Sibley an uncomfortable 40 minutes over lunch as they wait and wonder which could be valuable to the visitors.

Close enough! Trusting Joey will give me a few extra sympathy points in his comp!

Think we all deserve some sympathy points, guildford.

Congratulations by the way on the Surrey victory yesterday. I had an eye on the scorecard. Good luck against Durham tomorrow!

Wasn't surprised Kohli delayed his declaration. He wanted to make quite sure England are going to bat with no chance of winning. After all they've been pretty poor at batting out for draws in recent years so he probably thinks he has as much chance of getting them out in sixty overs trying to block as by dangling any sort of carrot and having a handful more time to dismiss them.

Amazing performance from Shami and Bumrah (even with England's insipid tactical non-effort) to take them into this position. Hats off to the two of them.

Gloomier conditions now . Sibley could do with an innings.