England's Summer of Cricket 2022 as Joe Root Steps Down

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Must be assuming Southee can't be as ineffective again.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Shubman Gill ironically caught by Crawley in the slips, with one of the most Zak Crawley innings of all time

Ha ! You just beat me to it

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Shubman Gill ironically caught by Crawley in the slips, with one of the most Zak Crawley innings of all time

The TMS team were raving about him after a couple of boundaries but is very Crawleyesque, he'll play some nice shots but as a bowling side you expect to get him sooner rather than later.

Vihari lucky to survive his first over . Jimmy looking good this morning. Broad not quite on it yet , I think. Might be a case for Potts now and bring him back when Anderson rests ?

Duty281 wrote:

alfie wrote:I honestly didn't realise Pujara has an average of 98 opening the batting !

Small (8 innings) sample ; but still...

Bolstered by a few not-outs. Certainly a change of pace to Rohit opening!

Looks a very good day for batting, once this swing abates. Not sure why you'd want to bowl first on this, but I think it's something England will do a majority of the time when they win the toss.

Pujara has a higher strike rate opening than Rohit ironically enough.

Much better over from Broad ...he must have heard my comment

Funny how batting looks so much harder once a wicket has fallen. Think Jimmy is setting Vihari up for something here...

alfie wrote:Don't like batting first , do they ? Ben sends India in to bat ...  reckons they've been doing pretty well chasing.

Hard to argue with that .

True but that’s still a pretty small sample. History of the game points otherwise.

Anyway, boarding my dinosaur for home very soon ….

Rather a risky run then...and I think Shastri has a point in that Billings really ought to have moved more decisively to the stumps . Not sure he'd have been able to gather and nip the bails in time ...but he should have shown a bit more intent , just in case.

He has looked a little uncertain behind the stumps so far , to my eyes. Probably hoping he can get a solid edge he can take in his gloves rather than relying on his knees this time

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Don't like batting first , do they ? Ben sends India in to bat ...  reckons they've been doing pretty well chasing.

Hard to argue with that .

True but that’s still a pretty small sample. History of the game points otherwise.

Anyway, boarding my dinosaur for home very soon ….

Dinosaurs unite ! I'd have batted first too. But we will see how it pans out I guess.

First hour done at 38/1. Even.

Yeah , didn't think he hit that. Review shows too high for lbw too so Pujara survives.

Good ball though. And good use of drs.

Aah...bad luck for the excellent Potts ! Thought Crawley had that ... But the ball spills out.

He has dropped a few this summer. Taken some too , to be fair. But it means England's woes in the slips continues : since a very good game at Lord's , they've dropped rather a lot of chances.

Potts is bowling very well here .

Anderson and Crawley no mistake this time though ! 45/2... Pujara gone...

Unfortunate for Potts, should have been taken, but Anderson's domination of Pujara continues. Very good wicket to take as Pujara was looking settled.

The out-of-form Kohil arrives to join the hapless Vihari. One more before lunch puts England on top in this one.

Hope they're sensible and take an early lunch. But this is cricket.

So Eng made a pitch  (or at least ordered one) that in their view would help seam bowlers so much that  Eng would put the opposition into bat upon winning the toss.

To me the pitch has not seamed or bounced alarmingly nor ball swung excessively...but there is been plenty in it for bowlers......and yet India's old & perennial nemesis Anderson is the only one to pick wickets

India may have liked to bat first anyway...they have fought hard, but not broken through clearly ahead....they would have had they gone into lunch with one down
Nor has Eng managed to crumble India......they could still with two more wickets if rain permits more play before lunch.

Pujara & Vihari have played hard cricket and hope now Vihari converts
Hope Pant and Jadeja get to bat in the overs 40 to 80 window....they can take the game quite a long way, India's way if either of them bats 40  overs.

270 would be a competitive score if India can muster than much
Pitch will offer as much support IMO even on D2 to seamers

Duty281 wrote:Hope they're sensible and take an early lunch. But this is cricket.

Lunch, thankfully has been taken - but it seems this rain might be set for an hour or two unfortunately

KP_fan wrote:So Eng made a pitch  (or at least ordered one) that in their view would help seam bowlers so much that  Eng would put the opposition into bat upon winning the toss.

To me the pitch has not seamed or bounced alarmingly nor ball swung excessively...but there is been plenty in it for bowlers......and yet India's old & perennial nemesis Anderson is the only one to pick wickets

India may have liked to bat first anyway...they have fought hard, but not broken through clearly ahead....they would have had they gone into lunch with one down
Nor has Eng managed to crumble India......they could still with two more wickets if rain permits more play before lunch.

Pujara & Vihari have played hard cricket and hope now Vihari converts
Hope Pant and Jadeja get to bat in the overs 40 to 80 window....they can take the game quite a long way, India's way if either of them bats 40  overs.

270 would be a competitive score if India can muster than much
Pitch will offer as much support IMO even on D2 to seamers

Looking at the pitch and the pitches produced for the New Zealand series this isn't vaguely true.

king_carlos wrote:Wasn't the Buttler as opener thing just Sangakarra thinking out loud on comms that was then backed (of f-ing course) by Vaughan? So nothing to do with McCullum whatsoever in other words?

On this - Buttler has confirmed on TMS that he has no plans to be play red ball cricket for the foreseeable future - and similar referenced that the comments only came from Sangakkara in the media, not anyone linked to England. Total non-story

Soul Requiem wrote:
Looking at the pitch and the pitches produced for the New Zealand series this isn't vaguely true.

What isn't vaguely true about Eng winning the toss and putting opposition in today?

Good to go again in just under twenty minutes. Radar looks clear so shouldn't be any further interruptions.

KP_fan wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:
Looking at the pitch and the pitches produced for the New Zealand series this isn't vaguely true.

What isn't vaguely true about Eng winning the toss and putting opposition in today?

I think the point is that there has been nothing remarkable (and certainly nothing "fixed" ) about any of the pitches this season. They have all given both batsmen and bowlers a decent opportunity to perform... In short , excellent cricket pitches. As I hope this one also turns out.

Stokes likes sending the other team in. Especially if he thinks their batting might be a little undercooked.

Duty281 wrote:Good to go again in just under twenty minutes. Radar looks clear so shouldn't be any further interruptions.

Good news.

Atherton beat me to the comment about Potts' haircut just before lunch. As this is in Birmingham I was also thinking about Peaky Blinders - especially as herself and I are currently watching series six. Used the rain break to view episode five...

Fancy some more cricket now though.

I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

VTR wrote:I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

Just like vs NZ at Trent Bridge where England doctored the pitch, stuck the Kiwis in and shot them out for a measly 553.

In actual fact, I think this summer - through a combination of flatter pitches and the ball softening up quicker, has been the best summer to bat in England for years. Certainly in the Bayliss years some spicy pitches were prepared.

alfie wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:
Looking at the pitch and the pitches produced for the New Zealand series this isn't vaguely true.

What isn't vaguely true about Eng winning the toss and putting opposition in today?

I think the point is that there has been nothing remarkable (and certainly nothing "fixed" ) about any of the pitches this season. They have all given both batsmen and bowlers a decent opportunity to perform... In short , excellent cricket pitches. As I hope this one also turns out.

Stokes likes sending the other team in. Especially if he thinks their batting might be a little undercooked.

Ohh OK...you explain it better...and are probably right
that Stokes doesn't dread the 4th inning chase and hence puts oppositions in to gain whatever D1 advantage available for seamers...even when its not a rank seaming pitch
you see, coming from BCCI regime....many of us ( Indian followers) cannot eliminate these theories that others will dismiss as imagined conspiracies

VTR wrote:I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

They also moved the boundaries closer.

JDizzle wrote:

VTR wrote:I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

Just like vs NZ at Trent Bridge where England doctored the pitch, stuck the Kiwis in and shot them out for a measly 553.

In actual fact, I think this summer - through a combination of flatter pitches and the ball softening up quicker, has been the best summer to bat in England for years. Certainly in the Bayliss years some spicy pitches were prepared.

Yes, CricViz has said this summer has seen the least swing and seam movement in England since they started recording data in 2005.

Trent Bridge and Edgbaston in the 2015 Ashes were definitely home pitches. It's still not exactly a definite recipe for success if the opposition have a decent pace unit. India clearly prepare home pitches, which is a good strategy when England in the course of time have sent the likes of Gareth Batty, Samit Patel and Zafar Ansari to try and bowl them out. Nothing wrong with any of this by the way

That's been coming...Potts has Vihari cold there. No review - off he goes.

End of a rather tortured innings. Just reward for some fine bowling from the young man

One of the worst 20s I've seen. Vihari finally removed by Potts.

Was about to say I think it's Iyer's first time batting in England, but they've sent Pant up the order instead.

Duty281 wrote:

VTR wrote:I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

They also moved the boundaries closer.

yup that world cup trophy sitting in ECB cupboards has a black mark of blemish( or may be 2) that hasn't vanished or even dimmed after 3 years of polishing & cleaning  
Moving the boundary in to 40 meters in "that" crucial game
and that deflection 6 ( off Stokes bat given and not retracted by Stokes

It's all going Potts' way, it's all going against Kohli. One having a joyous time, the other a nightmare.

71/4. India in trouble. Normally this is around the time when NZ would unleash Mitchell and Blundell, will Pant and Iyer do the same? The scorecard will move very briskly if these two stay around.

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

VTR wrote:I'm struggling to follow. England have doctored the pitch so it's perfect for the 50/50 chance they win the toss and are able to bowl? Or something else?

They also moved the boundaries closer.

yup that world cup trophy sitting in ECB cupboards has a black mark of blemish( or may be 2) that hasn't vanished or even dimmed after 3 years of polishing & cleaning  
Moving the boundary in to 40 meters in "that" crucial game
and that deflection 6 ( off Stokes bat given and not retracted by Stokes

Only in your imagination, of course!

I don't think a batsman can retract runs that are scored, a fielding side can retract an appeal however.

Another one for the excellent Potts ! Kohl I plays on...72/4 and Shreyas Iyer enters the arena at an "interesting" point...doesn't seem to mind playing his shots from the start !

Looks as if Pant is going to try and take the bowlers on - which is not exactly surprising ; might be a lively period of play ...

Our friend KP_F whilst he may be off on many a thing, I think has called the demise of Kohli correctly. A washed batsman these days, not fit to lace Joe Root's boots

I'm not so sure Kohli is finished. Root had a pretty poor couple of years but got back to the best form of his career. The ability is still in there if Kohli can get going again. The lack of Tests that India have played is probably not helping

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Our friend KP_F whilst he may be off on many a thing, I think has called the demise of Kohli correctly. A washed batsman these days, not fit to lace Joe Root's boots

Forget Root.....he ain't good enuf to find a place in squad of 15 now
Terrible mistake to bring him in.......should have had Mayank in Kohli's place in the playing 11
I am not sold on Pujara either....fudged his way based on some county runs.....god only knows under what conditions and quality of attack those were scored.

When all fit Rohit & Rahul should be openers
Vihari, Gill, mayank fight for 3 and 4
Iyer, Pant, Jadeja  5 thru 7

Fine catch by Billings to see the end of Iyer's bright little cameo...

Smart bowling from Anderson ... Shorter and bouncier and it's done the trick.

98/5.

Here's Jadeja. He won't go easily...

98/5, great grab by Billings, the last recognised pair of batsmen at the crease now. They've got to try to get India to 250 if they can.

Hmm...Leach? They hoping Pant skies one to mid-off?

Interesting ! Leach on ? Two left handers . And we know how Pant likes to attack Leach...

Bold move with the seamers doing so well. Certainly can't imagine Root ever trying this...

Let us see what it brings !

Does my head in that fielders never celebrate those properly to get the soft signal on their side from the on-field umpires

Leach experiment short lived...

Now : Root has caught this , no ? But soft signal is no....and it appears the ball is touching grass as he grabs it so Jadeja survives.

My instinct says he caught it : but as Root himself wasn't sure they obviously couldn't give it out.

Some good counter- punching from Pant and Jadeja here. Ball must be getting a bit soft now so this is an important period of play...get one of these and the tail beckons ; but these two are capable of Mitchell/Blundell stuff - and at speed.

Anderson has put in a good shift . Might be time for Stokes to have a go himself , perhaps ?

Entertaining stuff. Stokes refusing to call off the England attack, but Pant and Jadeja counter-attacking. 50 off 54 balls.

KP (the one on the TV) - please shut up.

Leach again...and Pant is going ballistic from the off...

4-4-6 ... Fifty stand up . This could bring a mistake and a wicket...or it could be runs in a rush.

Question for Stokes , as the score moves on rapidly while England still look to attack. Who will blink first ?

Could catch up only in bits.
Poor team selection from India to start with. Agarwal should have played in place of Vihari, and looking at the track, think Ashwin should have been a head of Shardul.
No massive swing or seam on this day one track. Like the case this summer, England setting up for flattish pitches. But in England the overhead conditions would always matter, and day one would be the best time to bowl otherwise. And they have been chasing brilliantly of late, so understandable decision from Stokes, particularly as Ashwin's not playing either.
Despite the damage control from this partnership, England well on top, with old man Anderson doing damage upon an Indian batting lineup not for the first time! Poor from Gill, Vihari and Kohli. And Shreyas Iyer too. Poojara was done in by a good one, but he still seems to be in the old mode of weathering rather than confronting the bowling. In his current stage of his career, don't think that's going to work very well. Not suggesting he turns himself into Virender Sehwag 2.0, but bring a greater intent to keep scoring... That's the only way he's going to extend his test career by another couple of years...

Pant on to 50. Hope this doesn't jinx him, but like Virender Sehwag, he's a better test player than a limited overs one really.
Slight problems for Stokes here, Leach not keeping things under control, and the skipper himself isn't doing much better. And he's struggling to keep his foot in place. Averaging a no-ball per over...

Stokes' bowling rhythm is still shot. India not in a position of strength, but they've finished the session well, and if these two get through the opening half-hour of the evening session they'll be thinking about 300+, which would be a decent return.

England's three main seamers have done well, Broad unfortunate not to be in the wickets column.

Over-rate very bad from England. 11.3 an hour in that session! 40 overs left in the day, but play can only go on until 7 tonight (2hrs 25 minutes), so more overs will be lost. ICC need to step in with suspensions for match captains.

Yes excellent revival from these two : Pant taking the attack to Leach early ; and fairly motoring to his well deserved fifty. And Jadeja - one of my favourite cricketers - doing what he so often has done for India in digging them out of a bit of a hole.

Bit early to say they have put their team on top though : one might bring a few more ; though with an ageing ball and not much help for the spinner England might be wondering how to get the one...

India managing to stay alive at tea, nothing more than that despite this good partnership. An early wicket, they could be shot out for less than 200 even now, though unlike in South Africa later on, the Indian lower order showed some remarkable fight in the earlier part of this series last year.
Ball seems to have gone soft, and there is no swing, not much seam, and Leach hasn't been allowed to land much properly to explore if there is any spin! So another flattish track, but the ineptitude of the Indian top order combined with some good bowling from Anderson and Potts means Stokes would be very happy with his call at the toss. England will have the best of batting conditions to utilize for the test, and if India is shot out for a less than par score that seems very likely, they would be able to really make it count. Already, another Joe Root hundred seems like a formality...

Potts to take up the attack after tea...I think that is a good choice. Bit concerned about Stokes' ineffectiveness - and all the no balls ; and not sure Leach will have a lot to work with so England need someone to produce some magic.

So far just two Pant boundaries though...

100 partnership with little alarm.

It's like Mitchell and Blundell never left. Though Pant's more exciting to watch. 202/5. England need something soon.