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.

KP_fan wrote:Root gone...it's Over

Moeen to the rescue

How much of this game is mental , eh ? OK it's been clouded since lunch but this is still the same pitch on which India's nine and ten smashed England's best bowlers all over the park...and yet the home team have folded limply in the face of real pressure.

Still praying for a miracle stand to save this game. But not too confident it can happen.

That fear of mine is looking more real : India 4-0.

It's the tone Root set. Ultra negative in the face of a prime winning position and it feeds down to the rest of the team. Not surprised he didn't make a big score this time after three straight successes.

Wonder if Root gave leadership lessons to Southgate, or vice versa?

Kohli shells a sitter at slip...life for Jos. But he's not looking at all secure...this rearguard action isn't his caper. Think if he survives a few more overs he might play a few shots to try and push the bowlers back a bit ?
Apart from Root the batsmen have been pretty much paralysed into defence - apart from the ones that didn't even get started. This is not a game any of them are comfortable with. Sam Curran next and it certainly isn't his preferred method either.

28 overs down. Still 33 more - though the light may not allow them all. Indian bowlers are commendably forcing the batsmen to play a lot of deliveries...has been a fine performance all round today

Duty281 wrote:It's the tone Root set. Ultra negative in the face of a prime winning position and it feeds down to the rest of the team. Not surprised he didn't make a big score this time after three straight successes.

Wonder if Root gave leadership lessons to Southgate, or vice versa?

Leave Southgate out of this - he has got England a lot further than his last umpteen predecessors !

But as for Root : do you not agree it can't be just him ? Surely the coaching/leadership group/senior players are all partly responsible?

India are so confident after besting Australia in their own den and then coming back from an initial loss to brush aside England in India that they believe they can win from anywhere. England look to me like a team that has forgotten how to win : no real belief , even when clearly on top.

I know it is easy to be an armchair critic : but surely with Pant gone , India just 167 ahead , four registered rabbits left to bat and a ball three overs old : what is wrong with three slips and a gully plus a short leg ? So they might have got a few edgy runs but I am damned sure they wouldn't have added a hundred ! Didn't anyone think to suggest a bit of cricket basics ?

Sorry will stop ranting...

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:It's the tone Root set. Ultra negative in the face of a prime winning position and it feeds down to the rest of the team. Not surprised he didn't make a big score this time after three straight successes.

Wonder if Root gave leadership lessons to Southgate, or vice versa?

Leave Southgate out of this - he has got England a lot further than his last umpteen predecessors !

But as for Root : do you not agree it can't be just him ? Surely the coaching/leadership group/senior players are all partly responsible?

India are so confident after besting Australia in their own den and then coming back from an initial loss to brush aside England in India that they believe they can win from anywhere. England look to me like a team that has forgotten how to win : no real belief , even when clearly on top.

I know it is easy to be an armchair critic : but surely with Pant gone , India just 167 ahead , four registered rabbits left to bat and a ball three overs old : what is wrong with three slips and a gully plus a short leg ? So they might have got a few edgy runs but I am damned sure they wouldn't have added a hundred ! Didn't anyone think to suggest a bit of cricket basics ?

Sorry will stop ranting...

I don't think you are incorrect Alfie, in fact Silverwood now really being the head honcho for all things England cricket doesn't particularly sit great with me - not just from a workload standpoint, but from a, what has he actually done to deserve that standpoint too!
Bring back Ed Smith

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:It's the tone Root set. Ultra negative in the face of a prime winning position and it feeds down to the rest of the team. Not surprised he didn't make a big score this time after three straight successes.

Wonder if Root gave leadership lessons to Southgate, or vice versa?

Leave Southgate out of this - he has got England a lot further than his last umpteen predecessors !

But as for Root : do you not agree it can't be just him ? Surely the coaching/leadership group/senior players are all partly responsible?

India are so confident after besting Australia in their own den and then coming back from an initial loss to brush aside England in India that they believe they can win from anywhere. England look to me like a team that has forgotten how to win : no real belief , even when clearly on top.

I know it is easy to be an armchair critic : but surely with Pant gone , India just 167 ahead , four registered rabbits left to bat and a ball three overs old : what is wrong with three slips and a gully plus a short leg ? So they might have got a few edgy runs but I am damned sure they wouldn't have added a hundred ! Didn't anyone think to suggest a bit of cricket basics ?

Sorry will stop ranting...

Yep, not just Root but he is the leader and can-carrier. I'm not sure if England have forgotten how to win, it hasn't been too long since they have and winning test series at home is a regular occurrence.  I'd be surprised if England felt that way, but do agree India are a highly confident nation after their astonishing win in Australia.

Still making England favourites for the series, in spite of your doom-laden prophecy.

Maybe just me, but spinners bowling no balls really irks me.

Love your optimism , Duty

Even if I worry that it tempts fate too often !

Is the luck changing ? First Kohli drops Jos ; then Moeen survives due to a Jadeja no ball...

Tense enough for you ?

AlciG wrote:Maybe just me, but spinners bowling no balls really irks me.

It really is poor isn't it, there really is no need for it.

I would actually like to see how many no balls, wides and byes India have bowled in the first two tests. They would have to be the most ill disciplined bowling unit in world cricket, surely?

Jadeja nearly does Moeen in, but at last, those no-balls have come to haunt India. Moeen edged Jadeja behind, not given by the umpire, Kohli reviewed, and it is after they reviewed that the 3rd umpire signaled no-ball.
Along with the Kohli drop, think England is just going to get away with it here...

GSC wrote:More than fair questions about Root and the coaching staff, but I also think it's much easier to coach and captain a good team. And England minus a few star players are not a very good test team right now

Fair questions as GSC says and fair comments from him too.

I will though continue to bang my own drum about the toll being taken by a relentless and unforgiving international schedule together with a muddled schedule severely limiting the amount of Championship cricket available to current and potential Test players to refine their game.

Moeen doesn't profit from his reprieve...

Six down and still 21 overs left. Light seems fine now so that's a lot of balls to soak up , even with Jos valiantly channelling Pujara...

eirebilly wrote:

AlciG wrote:Maybe just me, but spinners bowling no balls really irks me.

It really is poor isn't it, there really is no need for it.

I would actually like to see how many no balls, wides and byes India have bowled in the first two tests. They would have to be the most ill disciplined bowling unit in world cricket, surely?

All bowlers bowling no balls irks me when it's from the team I'm supporting to be honest.

The free hit has seen no balls basically removed from limited overs cricket by the best sides as the potential punishment is so severe. If bowlers can keep their foot behind the line in limited overs they should be able to in Tests as well.

Well now, its all over.

First King pair at Lords for Sam Curren, not the way he would want to remember this test.

And a King Pair for poor Sam Curran ... he has had a horror match !

This is done. Just a question of how long.

Will Woakes be fit for the next test? Has to come in for Curran if so.

This is showing how shocking England were to that ninth wicket pair. Its not an easy wicket. The lead was probably enough at that stage as it turns out, but the runs conceding to that quality of player was abysmal

Now i want Robinson to smash Siraj all over the shop, even if England do lose. I do not like that from bowlers.

Duty281 wrote:Will Woakes be fit for the next test? Has to come in for Curran if so.

I haven't seen any notes about his injury since the initial report, which did say he should be fit for the 3rd test. Lets hope that's still the case, we need Sir Chris to save us!

A tough Test for Sam Curran. I've said before that I think Curran and Stokes complement one another really well as bowlers. If it's swinging around then Curran can be very dangerous (not that we've seen it this series) but if it flattens out then Stokes often bowls at his best. With Stokes injured I struggle to really see how the attack balances itself with Surran in there.

I expect that England partially really fancied Sam for this series because of Kohli's average against left-armers. If Woakes is fit for T3 then I'd be very surprised if Sam keeps his place.

Need more than Sir Chris I think Olly.

The main reason I am so pessimistic this year is that while you can make a fair case for dropping about half the team - there really isn't anyone (apart from Woakes perhaps) who you could bring in to improve it. No red ball stuff on at present makes it worse !

Plus I have fears for Wood after that injury and Jimmy after his solid workload in this game.

Coming back from a (presumed) 1-0 down looks like a fantasy. Especially as their morale is going to be at rock bottom after today's debacle.

People often laugh at me when i say this but i personally believe that Tom Curran is a far better bowler than Sam Curran. Sam is obviously the better batter but its his bowling that he is predominantly in the team for.

eirebilly wrote:People often laugh at me when i say this but i personally believe that Tom Curran is a far better bowler than Sam Curran. Sam is obviously the better batter but its his bowling that he is predominantly in the team for.

No just no. Sam is struggling at the moment but has shown his worth in the past, Tom however is just bang average.

Sam has had a wretched game (though he did get Kohli out ! ) . But he has had plenty of good matches and everyone has their bad days.

Does he make a first choice England XI ? No . But he's a worthy squad member , and can be a very useful player on his day. Don't think the very slow pitch here helped him much.

I don't have quite as dim a view of brother Tom as some on here ; but I don't see him as a Test player. Handy white ball bowler , though again not first choice XI. A

AlciG wrote:Maybe just me, but spinners bowling no balls really irks me.

It certainly isn't just you, Alci.

If I had my way, it would be a criminal offence.

These overs tick down with the speed of an arthritic snail...

Worst of it is knowing it is all going to end with the last wicket falling just when you had started to hope

Why are the lights on , by the way ? Looks light enough out there without them. Not going to get any early release tonight...

guildfordbat wrote:

AlciG wrote:Maybe just me, but spinners bowling no balls really irks me.

It certainly isn't just you, Alci.

If I had my way, it would be a criminal offence.

These two showing a bit character here, giving England a big chance of drawing this test.

eirebilly wrote:These two showing a bit character here, giving England a big chance of drawing this test.

Making India work , at least. Long way to go yet though. Only takes one ball to do something or a slight misjudgment and it's curtains.

Agree about the character shown.

If only they can survive alfie, 60 balls to go

These are the last 2 that could possibly survive as well as Wood and Jimmy would probably survive about 8 balls between them.

On a side note, just how athletic is Pant behind the stumps? He has saved loads of runs. He is not quite a de Kock level yet but not not far behind.

Oh that was plumb.

Robinson gone, great ball by Bumrah.

That looks plumb

alfie wrote:Need more than Sir Chris I think Olly.

The main reason I am so pessimistic this year is that while you can make a fair case for dropping about half the team - there really isn't anyone (apart from Woakes perhaps) who you could bring in to improve it. No red ball stuff on at present makes it worse !

Plus I have fears for Wood after that injury and Jimmy after his solid workload in this game.

Coming back from a (presumed) 1-0 down looks like a fantasy. Especially as their morale is going to be at rock bottom after today's debacle.

No disrespect to Sir Chris or even Olly but we to should keep in mind that his last game of any sort (I mean Sir Chris, not Olly) was a One Dayer against Sri Lanka at the start of July. I think his last first classs match was against Pakistan at Sothampton in August 2020. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be recalled if he is fit but we have to temper our expectations.

Alfie's comment about the absence of red ball stuff reenforces what I have been banging on about.

Unless the umpire thought there was an inside edge that looked like a terrible decision

Robinson's gutsy vigil ends with a successful lbw review ...today there have been two - the first two successful reviews of the match. Was a valiant effort but he's fallen just a bit too soon...another three or four overs might have spooked the bowling side.

Nine overs - two wickets . I'm afraid I know how this ends...

Oh Jos, that did not need to be played at.

9 gone now. Over in 10 minutes.

Well done India

Yep, not expecting Cardiff v2 here

At least we won't have to wait...Jos follows immediately.

Well battled , Jos. But this late resistance has all been too little , too late.

This match was lost about 11.30 - 12.00 this morning.

eirebilly wrote:Oh Jos, that did not need to be played at.

9 gone now. Over in 10 minutes.

Well done India

Sadly so. Just worn down, I guess.

Btw, Billy, congrats on the forthcoming twins for the family. Trust all goes well.

Congrats India.. well played. Unbelievable 8th wicket stand made it all possible.

All done...Easy in the end.

Congrats India

If England can come back from this disaster I'll be astonished. Anything less than 4-0 to India will be a surprise now.

guildfordbat wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Oh Jos, that did not need to be played at.

9 gone now. Over in 10 minutes.

Well done India

Sadly so. Just worn down, I guess.

Btw, Billy, congrats on the forthcoming twins for the family. Trust all goes well.

 

I guess he was but i was kind of hoping in the end.

Ye know about the Twins? Thanks brother.

Totally deserved win for India.
Totally deserved loss for England.

More later.

Yep, Root led his team to defeat. Another dark day for his captaincy to add to many others. A fine effort from the Indian seamers.

England will have to come back like India did in the reverse series and like in 2014. Do expect them to replicate such comebacks, even if Alfie is a staunch pessimist!

Incredible win for India! They were there for the taking in the morning, and England got Rishabh Pant, the last hope out early in the day. Then, inexplicably, they spread the field, took Anderson off, and watched Shami, first in the company of Ishant, and then with Bumrah, take the game away, ball-by-ball, over-by-over.

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Need more than Sir Chris I think Olly.

The main reason I am so pessimistic this year is that while you can make a fair case for dropping about half the team - there really isn't anyone (apart from Woakes perhaps) who you could bring in to improve it. No red ball stuff on at present makes it worse !

Plus I have fears for Wood after that injury and Jimmy after his solid workload in this game.

Coming back from a (presumed) 1-0 down looks like a fantasy. Especially as their morale is going to be at rock bottom after today's debacle.

No disrespect to Sir Chris or even Olly but we to should keep in mind that his last game of any sort (I mean Sir Chris, not Olly) was a One Dayer against Sri Lanka at the start of July. I think his last first classs match was against Pakistan at Sothampton in August 2020. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be recalled if he is fit but we have to temper our expectations.

Alfie's comment about the absence of red ball stuff reenforces what I have been banging on about.

Your lack of faith in the wizard of Warwickshire astounds me

But on a serious note, congratulations to India - absolutely magnificent today in the field and with the bat. A shocking days play by England, completely undoing what was actually a great performance to that point…
The mini gap between tests comes at a good time for England that’s for sure!

Need to find a way, some way, to get some consistent runs. Root can’t keep scoring massive hundreds to just give us a shot in the game.

The more I look at the scorecard the worse it is : bowled out in 52 overs ?

India bowled really well but that is an awful performance from England. The dreadful session with the ball this morning seems to have just knocked the stuffing out of them.

Who is the PoTM ? That Siraj is a bit of a pain in the arse but he bowled his team to this win : does that trump the century makers ?

And Virat the Brat, you bloody win! your 4 fast bowlers took the wicket, So much your players buy into your plan, that Sir J overstepped when he took the only spinner wickeet for India in the game. And Bumrah and co put their bodies on the line, overcame their limitations of skills with the bat to turn this game around, with a little help from Root.
I still don't think the team selection was quite right, but Virat has the win, and then there is no point of arguing it!