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.

Couple of 4s for Overton and out LBW to Shami

And Robinson out swinging to Bumrah so England last 15 minutes anyway

India took last 8 out for a 130 odd.....
Its not gonna save them ....but good to see they continue to fight in a losing cause

354 the lead then. Think conditions will look a lot more difficult for batting when India are out there. They were mostly going through the motions with the ball, England are striving for victory.

Will be a good statement if England get it done today.

Didn't take long this morning. Couple of fours and a no ball added to the lead (incidentally I am really dying to see the moment when Bumrah gets Joe Root out and then gets overturned by a no ball : surely he has been dead lucky not to have lost wickets already given the number of times he's overstepped)

Probably no bad thing. Overcast right now so not ideal for facing a new ball.

Fancy India won't be rolling over like day one though. Question is how hard can they make it for England - I will bet they would be happy to make Jimmy bowl thirty overs with an eye to the fourth match...

India will struggle to get to 354, they may do but i cant see any real total being set for England.

Ah yes, the most important rule of cricket - you can't start playing in a tiny bit of drizzle. If you were out there you wouldn't come off for it, but you definitely can't start in it.

I'd be surprised to see a lot of resistance from India. They know they've lost, most of them are out of form with the bat, it's good bowling conditions - probably not 78ao again, but difficult to see them scoring much beyond 200.

I never really understand the outrage at not playing in drizzle. England do not want to be bowling if it's raining at all with a new ball.

Duty281 wrote:Ah yes, the most important rule of cricket - you can't start playing in a tiny bit of drizzle. If you were out there you wouldn't come off for it, but you definitely can't start in it.

Just be glad Dickie Bird is only there watching and not umpiring. That bit of drizzle could have been curtains for the day!

Soul Requiem wrote:I never really understand the outrage at not playing in drizzle. England do not want to be bowling if it's raining at all with a new ball.

Take your point, Soul, but the top priority for me are the spectators at the ground, many of whom have paid over a quid for each of their expected 90 overs. A lot to be said for Bumble's cry of ''Get on with the game!''.

Rohit and Rahul understandably watchful this morning...they'll need to be as Jimmy is getting serious movement already.

Needless to say this opening stand is pretty important; especially with the under fire Pujara due in next.

Warne predictably calling for Moeen to be brought on early...

I don't mind the idea of using him if nothing is happening for the pace men : but both Anderson and Robinson are giving the bats plenty to think about and I'd prefer to let Sam Curran have a go while the ball is swinging. Reckon they'll all get a good workout today as I don't think India are going to roll over easily at all. The openers have done well to survive ...ten...overs...just ! I thought that was out for sure...

Nearly didn't review and I'm not surprised. Think Robinson is to have not got that one though ! Excellent over.

Think Rahul might have gotten just a bit lucky there, don't think he expected that review to stick

I don't think ball tracking got that one right, looked stone dead to me.

It nipped back a fair way and was already angled in. Only missing by millimetres though.

If Overton can get his line right with that late outswinger then he will be in business.

Most lbws have been going over in this match. Robinson with his height has to be very full to be sure of getting it spot on - probably why they took a punt on reviewing ? It was basically a desperation call though - Rahul was pretty sure he was gone.

I was astonished to see it come back as missing. Hadn't even expected it to be umpire's call.

Surely a wicket is coming any minute ? Overton looking threatening too...

king_carlos wrote: It nipped back a fair way and was already angled in. Only missing by millimetres though.

If Overton can get his line right with that late outswinger then he will be in business.

I was surprised Rahul and Rohit (on his behalf) appeared so reluctant to review and almost didn't. It was vital not to lose an opener so early and in my view the review was never going to be reckless, regardless of the outcome.My thought on first sight in real time was that it was clipping leg and so the ''out'' decision would be upheld but that the review wouldn't be lost.

Overton starting well second dig. He's had a better than useful first half of this Test with 3 tidy tickets and 30 odd runs.

Here's Sam - now pitch it up on the stumps ....

Jonny, Jonny, Jonny...

You know what Overton looks pretty handy.

Getting close to lunch and India have done brilliantly to survive this session... All the England bowlers have been on the money and conditions have been anything but batsman friendly. Plus the pressure of starting 350 behind...

If they get through the next few balls they can give themselves a pat on the back...

But they can't ! Brilliant catch from Jonny Bairstow at slip sees the break on the stroke of lunch : Rahul gone ; reward for Overton. Good session of Test Cricket

Great take from Bairstow. Ends some stubborn and gritty resistance from the Indian openers.

Good spells from Overton and Robinson. Robinson very unfortunate not to get in the wickets column.

India lost a wicket at the stroke of Lunch and yet I would say its India session...they played out 20 overs with the new ball...saw-off Anderson without too much damage ......after polishing off Eng's tail quickly this morning.

The ball is doing a bit more for Eng...

a. because they are floating it to let it swing while new
b. India is not batting freely...still under pressure

Ind needs to go thru the next session without losing more than a wicket...and then they have chance of taking the game into tomm.

5 straight sessions to Eng and last 2 to Ind.....eight more sessions to go.

KP_fan wrote:India lost a wicket at the stroke of Lunch and yet I would say its India session...they played out 20 overs with the new ball...saw-off Anderson without too much damage ......after polishing off Eng's tail quickly this morning.

The ball is doing a bit  more for Eng...

a. because they are floating it to let it swing while new
b. India is not batting freely...still under pressure

Ind needs to go thru the next session without losing more than a wicket...and then they have chance of taking the game into tomm.

5 straight sessions to Eng and last 2 to Ind.....eight more sessions to go.

Possibly so but it doesn't take account of how convincingly we won Wednesday's 3 sessions. As George Orwell almost wrote, some sessions are more equal than others.

guildfordbat wrote:

KP_fan wrote:India lost a wicket at the stroke of Lunch and yet I would say its India session...they played out 20 overs with the new ball...saw-off Anderson without too much damage ......after polishing off Eng's tail quickly this morning.

The ball is doing a bit  more for Eng...

a. because they are floating it to let it swing while new
b. India is not batting freely...still under pressure

Ind needs to go thru the next session without losing more than a wicket...and then they have chance of taking the game into tomm.

5 straight sessions to Eng and last 2 to Ind.....eight more sessions to go.

Possibly so but it doesn't take account of how convincingly we won Wednesday's 3 sessions. As George Orwell almost wrote, some sessions are more equal than others.

Very true. India did very well to take five wickets after tea yesterday : but England also scored 125 runs in that session at a pretty fast rate.

Anyway Test Matches aren't decided by session points though it is often an interesting study. India need a couple of big partnerships now. Pujara - out of form though he's been - is one who could provide one...

For such a big hulk of a bloke, Craig Overton is surprisingly nimble in the field. I've noticed the same of his twin Jamie at Surrey.

Bit mixed from England since lunch. Some fine deliveries - and some four balls. Pujara has got a start - which will be a relief to him.

Think I'd prefer Anderson from his original end but I guess you couldn't get Overton off. Sam rather marooned on his one over as a consequence of the wicket falling when it did.

Root may need to change things around a bit now...

England won nearly every session on days two, three and four in the last test; one atrocious morning session on day five undid all of those previous session victories.

Interesting bowling after lunch. Some corkers and some rubbish in equal measure. Anderson generating big swing but unable to break his second innings duck at the moment.

Alfie - as regards Pujara, I've stuck with him in Joey's comp although wondering whether it would be me or the India selectors who run out of patience first.

guildfordbat wrote:Alfie - as regards Pujara, I've stuck with him in Joey's comp although wondering whether it would be me or the India selectors who run out of patience first.

Think he needs a score in this one or the selectors might have had enough. Might get one too , now he's got "in".

Robinson back. Think that's right : Anderson uncharacteristically straying too often onto the pads...perhaps trying too hard for the killer ball ; but I do think he was at the wrong end in that spell. Conditions still look good for bowling so England just need to keep bowling those good lines.

Quite impressed with Overton today.

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Alfie - as regards Pujara, I've stuck with him in Joey's comp although wondering whether it would be me or the India selectors who run out of patience first.

Think he needs a score in this one or the selectors might have had enough. Might get one too , now he's got "in".

Robinson back. Think that's right : Anderson uncharacteristically straying too often onto the pads...perhaps trying too hard for the killer ball ; but I do think he was at the wrong end in that spell. Conditions still look good for bowling so England just need to keep bowling those good lines.

Quite impressed with Overton today.

As most Surrey supporters will tell you, he's not the worst cricketer in the Overton family. We bought the pup.

England are complete rubbish at lbw reviews lately. That was always too high ...total waste and I hope they don't pay for that later. Root and his advisers need to work on this skill as it has been consistently poor for a fair while now.

Anderson back at the correct end now I'm pleased to see. Though poor Sam has been rather neglected and doesn't look like getting much of a chance with a relatively new ball.

73/1 India batting pretty well. Still feel a wicket might not be far away...

Robinson doing everything bar take a wicket atm

This looks a better review : too late though ...

Would have been out ! Shows how silly the previous one was : if they hadn't wasted that one , he'd not have hesitated too long this time...

No excuse for that . Totally dumb cricket , sorry. As I feared - costly.

Those review errors are contributing to a sense that England are losing the plot a bit here .

Anderson not quite right - and grumpy. Robinson getting frustrated. Ball still doing plenty but no results... Probably a good time for a drink.

That was definitely India's hour.

Ind see off another hour...balls is moving around less.....Eng has come with a strategy to bowl straight inot stumps and fuller....BUt they have been drifting too much into pads
Balls is not new and visibly swinging /seaming less....Anderson looks tired

This is like the first innings in the second test. Ball doing a bit, plenty of close shouts, but no dice for England. Good thing they're a mile ahead!

Time for Curran?

Woakes expected to play in the T20 Blast QF tonight. If he makes it through he'll be added to the squad for the fourth test, coming in for (presumably) Anderson.

Think this will be comfortable still. Won't be easy starting for any batsman, so I expect a cluster of wickets at some point. India could easily end up around 150-5 from here, despite doing well so far

Fifty partnership and batting is starting to look a bit easier...and now fifty for Rohit

Not sure I agree that this is likely to be 150/5 after a break is made. Have a feeling England are going to have to really work hard to prise out the Indian top order in this innings. Ball has done plenty so far but only one wicket has fallen and you'd think it is going to be easier for incoming bats against the older ball - 39 overs down already.

A lot may turn on how Moeen bowls on this as he might have a bit of work to do over the next day or two.

Pretty sure this is not getting done today.

See how Moeen goes, Jadeja got some movement yesterday

Curran's swinging it but with no control.

Rohit averaging a tidy sum in these first three tests, and as so often in this series it's the first and second wicket partnerships that are proving the toughest to break. England just need to plug away and the collapse will come.

Time for Moeen.

Aha. Moeen now. This will be interesting.

Jadeja got some purchase so we might see a few do something for Moeen. Pujara seems set to take him on a bit rather than play too passively ; which is probably sensible.

Twenty minutes to tea. India would take some heart from a wicket less session...

Anderson overused despite not threatening a huge amount, Curran underused despite generally lacking threat with an older ball, Overton bowling a spell albeit split by lunch. England go a bit over the top with their plans sometimes.

England have done ok missed review aside. Generally bowled well enough to get more results than they have. Rohit and Pujara have hung in there.

A lot of work for Moeen this evening you'd think. Getting some turn

GSC wrote:England have done ok missed review aside. Generally bowled well enough to get more results than they have. Rohit and Pujara have hung in there.

A lot of work for Moeen this evening you'd think. Getting some turn

Yeah they've bowled alright, apart from Curran here really. Unlucky to not have one, if not both of these already. Just need to keep plugging away after tea

GSC wrote:England have done ok missed review aside. Generally bowled well enough to get more results than they have. Rohit and Pujara have hung in there.

A lot of work for Moeen this evening you'd think. Getting some turn

They bowled pretty well immediately after lunch ; might easily have had a few wickets. But it's gone a bit flat since those stuffed up reviews. Neither batsman has looked troubled for a while now.

Moeen may indeed be busy. Might see a bit from the likes of Root or Malan at some point too.

Fine session for India

Better than expected from India so far, though it can all go wrong rather quickly. Rohit has been brilliant yet again, and he was gifted a life by Root. Rahul fought it out, survived for a crucial hour and a bit before getting undone with a fine catch on the stroke of lunch. And Cheteshwar Pujara has looked the most fluent that he has in the last 3 years.
The ball is still doing things, and this lineup has no depth in batting. And they are soooooo far behind in the game, a little partnership shouldn't alarm England. I see they have been trying too many things though, too many leg-side fielders for Pujara, yes they are attacking the stumps, but think they are overdoing it a bit.

guildfordbat wrote:

KP_fan wrote:India lost a wicket at the stroke of Lunch and yet I would say its India session...they played out 20 overs with the new ball...saw-off Anderson without too much damage ......after polishing off Eng's tail quickly this morning.

The ball is doing a bit  more for Eng...

a. because they are floating it to let it swing while new
b. India is not batting freely...still under pressure

Ind needs to go thru the next session without losing more than a wicket...and then they have chance of taking the game into tomm.

5 straight sessions to Eng and last 2 to Ind.....eight more sessions to go.

Possibly so but it doesn't take account of how convincingly we won Wednesday's 3 sessions. As George Orwell almost wrote, some sessions are more equal than others.

Another session won by India....3 in a row after losing first 5 straight ones...and 7 to go
I understand the magnitude of session win & timing of it also matters significantly...
And  I am in no way equating Indian won sessions with them inching towards a win or even an unlikely draw.

The game is gone....BUT we are barely 1 hour past the mid point of the series and presuming series stands 1-1.

After the resounding thrashing in first 5 session, every session won delays the defeat.... adds to self belief, morale  that is important for the last two decider games.

On the cricket itself, I agree Warne questioning the role of Curran.....and that if Overton can bat like he showed he dis....Eng aught to have picked a faster Mahmood ( although  I have never see him bowl)

India need to go through the last session losing no more than 1 wicket...ball is not doing much and new ball ain't coming today....and Anderson looked too drained so I would be surprised if he bowls again
Rush of blood dance down the track to Moeen and impulsive hook is what Rohit's gotta be wary of.

Yeah, good bowling from England, just no reward for it. Bit flat in the second hour. Keep at it and the victory will come.

KP_fan wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

KP_fan wrote:India lost a wicket at the stroke of Lunch and yet I would say its India session...they played out 20 overs with the new ball...saw-off Anderson without too much damage ......after polishing off Eng's tail quickly this morning.

The ball is doing a bit  more for Eng...

a. because they are floating it to let it swing while new
b. India is not batting freely...still under pressure

Ind needs to go thru the next session without losing more than a wicket...and then they have chance of taking the game into tomm.

5 straight sessions to Eng and last 2 to Ind.....eight more sessions to go.

Possibly so but it doesn't take account of how convincingly we won Wednesday's 3 sessions. As George Orwell almost wrote, some sessions are more equal than others.

Another session won by India....3 in a row after losing first 5 straight ones...and 7 to go
I understand the magnitude of session win & timing of it also matters significantly...
And  I am in no way equating Indian won sessions with them inching towards a win or even an unlikely draw.

The game is gone....BUT we are barely 1 hour past the mid point of the series and presuming series stands 1-1.

After the resounding thrashing in first 5 session, every session won delays the defeat.... adds to self belief, morale  that is important for the last two decider games.

On the cricket itself, I agree Warne questioning the role of Curran.....and that if Overton can bat like he showed he dis....Eng aught to have picked a faster Mahmood ( although  I have never see him bowl)

India need to go through the last session losing no more than 1 wicket...ball is not doing much and new ball ain't coming today....and Anderson looked too drained so I would be surprised if he bowls again
Rush of blood dance down the track to Moeen and impulsive hook is what Rohit's gotta be wary of.

Rohit has already battled himself not to do anything stupid against Moeen! Think the break has come at a good time, I could sense Rohit was iching to have a go at Moeen!
England have kept attacking the stumps, and probably rightly so considering the amount of swing that they have been getting. But with Rohit, a surprise short-ball every now and then should make for great strategic sense. He just isn't going to hold back. They can even afford to try and buy his wicket. The shot by nature, is never going to come off more than 7 out of 10 for any batter. So even if Rohit can hit 4 or 5 6s, think its worth getting him out early, as he's the in-form batter along with his fellow opener. Other than Wood in the last test 2nd innings, England used the short ball as a last bit strategy against Sharma though. What they don't seem to understand is that the short-ball needn't even be a surprise tactic against Rohit, you can tell him a week in advance about an over full of short balls coming his way, and he'll try to hit every single delivery out of the ground regardless of the game situation, his score or the field set.