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.

Another of those marginal calls going India's way! Pujara this time, surviving on Umpire's Call.

Was a very good time for Stokes to produce a killer ball...even if the catch had to be raffled

Another ho-hum innings for Kohli ...but by hanging in with Pujara he has steered India to a pretty handy spot :would need an unlikely melt down to leave England a realistic target from here.

Good to see Stokes recovering some bowling mojo though.

Pujara's stepped up the scoring rate. India's lead will be in the 400s by midway through tomorrow afternoon, just seems a waiting game now as to when they declare.

The batch of balls used in this English international summer, a real disaster!

So India 125-3 at stumps with Cheteshwar Pujara reaching his 50 in the last over of the day. Hopefully the rain will stay away and will have a lot more good cricket coming our way.

257 the lead at stumps. India in complete control and heading for victory. There will be no miracle chase this time.

Tomorrow won't be incredibly interesting to begin with. We'll watch India stack up the lead and declare with 110-120 overs left, with the lead past 450. Something like that.

Eng's counter attack today got them past follow-on and to some respectability.
Within the counter-attack was ..
Stokes chancing arm by clear slogging...he is a much better batsmen playing the normal cricket that I have seen all his career....this dance down the track and slog....is sure to give diminishing returns.
And Bairstow...though he got a ( another) stroke filled 100....even he was chancing arm
More straight bat, short-back lift hit thru line to length or fuller length and  short arm jabs/wafts to slightly short of length....mostly semi predetermined & sophisticated...but chancing the arm neverthless
This is how Rituraj Gaekwad bats in IPL....

The way to get him is to string a series of dot balls.....and a couple of maidens and he will mishit some pre-determined stroke and create a chance
I think the Indians figured it eventually.....a bit late for first inning...but will immediately apply this in the second.
Billings played proper cricket....and looked alright.

For India...it's clear Gill ain't an overseas condition opener and will be out.....
Kohli on good days gets 20s and 30s whihc isn't enuf.....and don't be surprised in line with BCCI culture he is told to announce his retirement and will be offered a farewell home series
I don't see him on another  overseas tour for him to SA-NZ-Eng or Aus

Pujara meanwhile showed his hand, eyes and feet are still working and will go on, on a series by series basis.

Eng's bowling was exposed again and in both innings when lacquer is off after around 25 overs.....I have seen only 2 wicket taking deliveries ...both effort balls from Stokes to get Shardul & Kohli in each innings.
It doesn't augur well if the captain does not have confidence to bowl the 4th bowler ( Leach)at all.

Ind will aim to bat 2 sessions.....Iyer, Pant,Jadeja and Shardul all can do a run a ball 50s.....and leave Eng with a 450+ chase in 4 sessions
It sounds impossible and actual anything above 300 will be impossible IMO

Would also add - 15 overs missed today from what was scheduled (I think the rain took out one over) is a new low. Abysmal over rate from both teams. About a session's worth of overs in this test have been lost due to a team being slow.

The ICC have to do something urgently. There can be no excuse for failing this when county sides can bowl 96 overs in six hours, yet test sides struggle to bowl even 80 overs in six hours. Sort it out. Start suspending captains. Get umpires to be more proactive. Impose penalties during play, such as adding runs to the batting team's total. Stamp out this ball-changing nonsense. No one pays to watch about fifteen minutes worth of an umpire putting a ball through a hoop.

Looks as if India have managed to bat themselves into a nearly impregnable position - thanks to some solid "normal" Test Match batting , especially from Pujara ; who apparently isn't quite as over the hill as many have been suggesting for a year or two...

That lead of 132 was always likely to be enough , barring a total second innings foldup . But with three down for 75 a collapse was still just possible : Pujara and Pant deserve full credit for making sure that did not happen. Thought England bowled pretty well : with a bit of luck they might have done more damage - Potts in particular hasn't had any favours from the gods of near things in this match. Though in fairness one might say the same of Shami in particular when England were batting.

This has been another good Test Match ; only marred by the regular ball change business and the moving clowns behind the bowlers' arms. I am really not as bothered by many over the slow over rates - though admittedly I haven't paid a hundred pounds for a seat

Seriously though : yes the umpires should be making more effort to ensure the game goes on more smoothly ; the players should hustle through more - maybe less running on and off with drinks etc . But the issues mentioned above are taking up a lot of time ; as are drs reviews , checks on boundary fielding - and all the going on and off for the weather is always going to impact the overs for the day. Be good to see things speeded up but I don't thing draconian sanctions that start banning some of the best players in the world from matches just to please grumpy keyboard pundits is actually going to please the paying spectators either.

I do think something needs to be done about these balls. It isn't just one team complaining about them - they are pretty obviously a dud lot and it is undeniably wasting more time than anything else. Either that or simply pass a rule that says you play with the same ball until it falls apart...again not really what we want for top level cricket , is it ?

How long will India choose to bat - assuming they don't get knocked over in a flurry of shot making in the morning ? Quite a long time , I think : they don't have to win this match to take the series ; they know England are both unlikely to try and less likely to succeed in playing for a draw anyway ; and the pitch is starting to exhibit uneven bounce - so I would imagine four sessions bowling should be ample to achieve the win. Why risk some more mayhem from Bairstow and Stokes chasing down an improbable target ?

Unfortunately this probably means a fourth day mostly devoid of the highly entertaining cricket we have seen over the first three days (and indeed first three Tests !) despite the annoying rain interruptions. Later session might be interesting though : could be fun - of a sort - to see how under-fire top order England bats like poor old Zac Crawley go about embarking on a chase for 450

Um...England have got Root bowling the second over. How intriguing.

Duty281 wrote:Um...England have got Root bowling the second over. How intriguing.

Not game to use Leach with Pant at the crease,

For all the aggro batting approach , England aren't really looking too fired up with the ball this morning. Old ball , part time spin at one end ; an air of "waiting for a mistake" about all this. Probably not much else they can do to be fair...they are keeping catchers up anyway ; and if they can get a break we will probably see a bit more urgency...

and there is the break ! Bit of a get out shot from Pujara ; but Broad will happily take it

Good knock from the allegedly past-it Pujara : not dramatic ; but very important in the game context to ensure India keeps foot on English neck.

He'd have been eyeing a hundred there so won't be happy to have given it away then. England will be hopeful of getting Iyer quickly - and then that Jadeja can't do it two innings in a row...can he ?

Pant going nicely anyway so India remain firmly on top.

Potts up now ...deserves better luck than he's had so far in this match. Not an easy time to bowl but all good further education for a very promising young bowler.

This match needs a wicket or two or we are in for a rather dull couple of hours : India probably have plenty either way but would be more entertaining if they weren't quite sure.

Iyer timing the ball beautifully, lovely player to watch.

Won't take too long for these two to push the lead past 400.

Nearly ! Good bowling from Broad ...and that (very difficult !) dropped catch won't help poor Crawley's confidence , I'm afraid.

Pant a bit cheeky trying a reverse against Broad- would have looked silly had that ball been a little lower.

Fifty for Pant

Having a good match , one might say .

Duty281 wrote:Iyer timing the ball beautifully, lovely player to watch.

Won't take too long for these two to push the lead past 400.

Yeah. Nice bright little 19 and gone. Just like Crawley.

Gift wicket , of course. But in truth only what Potts deserved - he's had no luck in this match.

Now just Mitchell and Blundell Pant and Jadeja to worry about

Strange time to introduce Leach.

Stokes must be trying to hurry the declaration

Wouldn't call it a collapse ; but England will be pleased to have three so far today. Pant got a bit too funky then - Leach will be very relieved !

Thakur is usually pretty aggressive , no ?

Yep, England getting through the wickets quicker than thought. Means the chase should be starting a bit earlier and we shouldn't be awaiting an Indian declaration...although we still have to watch England try and bounce out the Indian tail.

Bounced out Thakur anyway

Potts having success with the short ball today. Crawley has had a lot of catches - and a few drops - in this match. Ball follows you ...

Seven down.

Hopefully the attack will be a bit more ...nuanced ? this time . Mix the short stuff with some at the stumps , eh ?

Bit tired of seeing Shami and Bumrah fatten their averages on English tripe...

350 the lead.

England still terrified of bowling to Shami, I see.

Lead up to 361. Shemilt (BBC cricket writer) bizarrely asking if England will try to win it today.

Have to admit I've lost interest in the test match until England begin batting

In the meantime, me and JDizzle are willing this into existence and it might be happening;

England Lions squad for two 50 over games vs South Africa is extremely #fun

Tom Abell (c)
Rehan Ahmed (!!!!!)
Tom Banton
Sam Cook
Ben Duckett
Stevie Eskinazi
Sam Hain
Adam Hose
Benny Howell
Jake Lintott
David Payne
George Scrimshaw
Will Smeed

I think they're a Will Jacks away from me spending ridiculous amounts of money I don't have to go watch both games. Saucy saucy squad

28 overs. 104/4 . Game moving on.

Nice lead of 361. But I think they fancy a few more after lunch.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Have to admit I've lost interest in the test match until England begin batting

In the meantime, me and JDizzle are willing this into existence and it might be happening;

England Lions squad for two 50 over games vs South Africa is extremely #fun

Tom Abell (c)
Rehan Ahmed (!!!!!)
Tom Banton
Sam Cook
Ben Duckett
Stevie Eskinazi
Sam Hain
Adam Hose
Benny Howell
Jake Lintott
David Payne
George Scrimshaw
Will Smeed

I think they're a Will Jacks away from me spending ridiculous amounts of money I don't have to go watch both games. Saucy saucy squad

I suppose picking Ahmed shows the immense potential England believe him to have. Not even 18 yet.

Smeed, also, great potential, but a lot of the other names - Lintott for instance - surely don't have a hope of making the main squad.

Quite a few of these players will actually be making their List A debuts and some, such as Hain, haven't played a 50-overs game for years, thanks to the idiocy that is the Hundred.

Stokes doing a good job since lunch...not many more runs , two wickets .

Any chance of grabbing the last one without donating a fistful of boundaries , I wonder ?

Must say I reckon they have been better this innings : still with the short stuff ; but mixed it up a bit.

But as I type Bumrah hooks Ben into the stands...but gone next ball trying a repeat !

Four for Stokes ; yet another catch for Crawley...just 377 to win

Just catching up...
India not quite pushing it beyond the realms of possibilities for England with almost all wickets down to poor shots rather than an unplayable ball or pitch miss-behaviour. Questions around Shreyas Iyer not answer, in fact getting louder. Shardul Thakur not producing anything of note with the bat after the previous part of the series. Not the 4th best seamer available for India either. Can't complain too much about Pant though I badly wish he didn't do what he did there to get out and stayed on for another 7 or 8 overs at least. And Jadeja, the latest area for him to work out is to find a different templet to batting with the lower order. Not quite finding the right balance... Considering his evolution as a test batter, I am sure he'll find a way soon enough.
So England will have plenty of time to achieve the chase... Lets see how the Indian bowlers would go about it, and how the pitch will play. Bit of uneven bounce already, lets see if Jadeja will find something more from this track. They aren't surely going to let him keep bowling at them, so the usual Jadeja templet might have to change a touch...

So 378 it is, the target for England. As I said, plenty of time to achieve it. India would have wanted another 50 more to clearly put it beyond them...

378 to get then. Good response from England this morning, India probably a little disappointed they didn't put it into world record territory.

Should still be comfortable from here for the tourists. Nearly 100 more than the three chases v the Kiwis, plus India's bowlers are unlikely to serve up the dross NZ did, they're not missing anyone due to injury, and they're not relying on a part-time spinner to do the job.

About 59 overs left tonight, plus the possibility of another half-hour if India are close, so not out of the question India win it tonight.

Disappointed to see England persist with short bowling v the Indian tail, after Broad's humiliation, and more disappointed to see them get Shami and Bumrah with short balls as it means the tactic will be continued with.

alfie wrote:28 overs.  104/4 . Game moving on.

Nice lead of 361.  But I think they fancy a few more after lunch.

Kind of a good day for England to get India all out with a lead limited to 377 - should be enough for India to be safe, but at least it is still just about within the range of possibility, especially given how well England have chased scores around 300 in the last few weeks.
Definitely needs a good start from the top 3 to stand any chance - can't rely on Bairstow miracles every week.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Have to admit I've lost interest in the test match until England begin batting

In the meantime, me and JDizzle are willing this into existence and it might be happening;

England Lions squad for two 50 over games vs South Africa is extremely #fun

Tom Abell (c)
Rehan Ahmed (!!!!!)
Tom Banton
Sam Cook
Ben Duckett
Stevie Eskinazi
Sam Hain
Adam Hose
Benny Howell
Jake Lintott
David Payne
George Scrimshaw
Will Smeed

I think they're a Will Jacks away from me spending ridiculous amounts of money I don't have to go watch both games. Saucy saucy squad

Will be Will Smeed’s first ever professional game that isn’t classed as a T20, if selected. 45 x T20s (and counting) but 0 List A and 0 Red ball games. Must be a record.

Wonder what WINVIZ - or perhaps more significantly , the bookies , think of England's chances ?

We have seen some remarkable chasing recently ; but I reckon this will prove a bridge too far. Certainly they will be going for it as they're lousy at blocking out for draws.

At least they have plenty of time ...

Other than an ill-judged leave from Lees that almost bowled him,, nothing alarming for England in those first couple of overs. Good pace from Bumrah and Shami... Shouldn't give away easy runs to the England top 3 and let Root, Bairstow and Stokes have any platform to launch...

England around 2/1 to win with bookies. Expect that would have been getting on for 6/1 at least pre Bazball. Really don't expect them to chase these, it's a lot more runs than previous chases against a better bowling attack on a more lively pitch. Main point of interest for me is to see if the top 3 can do anything of note

India currently 73% on WinViz and 4/9 with Bet365. I'd have them a bit stronger than that.

Brisk start from these two.

England won't be blocking it out Alfie - we need to win to draw the series!

Bumrah's pace is going up, but Lees has looked to take the early initiative and doing so successfully. England going at 6 an over. Did Ben tell them to knock it off today itself?

msp83 wrote:Bumrah's pace is going up, but Lees has looked to take the early initiative and doing so successfully. England going at 6 an over. Did Ben tell them to knock it off today itself?

They will probably try. Don't worry though, England aren't getting near this total

dummy_half wrote:

alfie wrote:28 overs.  104/4 . Game moving on.

Nice lead of 361.  But I think they fancy a few more after lunch.

Kind of a good day for England to get India all out with a lead limited to 377 - should be enough for India to be safe, but at least it is still just about within the range of possibility, especially given how well England have chased scores around 300 in the last few weeks.
Definitely needs a good start from the top 3 to stand any chance - can't rely on Bairstow miracles every week.

Yeah I think we can give England a bit of praise for taking the last seven for just 120 today. Sure a few of them fell to loose shots - but one might say they played them because they weren't served up a lot of free hits... Potts I thought bowled very well again ; and Stokes looked easily the best he has this season.

I'm not too bothered they still went with the short ball to the rabbits as I think they mixed it up a bit more this time - even using a spinner at one end . And the short stuff was generally (apart from a couple of easily hookable gifts ) better directed. It is a weapon ; but not one to be used exclusively ... Have to keep the batsman less than sure of what is coming. The plan probably still needs polishing but I fancy there was an improvement : hopefully to be improved further as they go on...

Can't really play for a draw anyway. About 155 overs total means a 1990s run rate of 2.5 would be perfectly sufficient to get the runs.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:England won't be blocking it out Alfie - we need to win to draw the series!

Oh I've no illusions on that score , Olly. But they'd be going for it even if they were 2-1 up. When was the last time they successfully blocked out four sessions ? 2013 ?

Terrific opening partnership already by recent England standards. Ominous for India? Its not just about the runs the openers score, the more they stay out there, the new ball that is the thing that matters on this track, will be away from Root, Stokes and Bairstow...

Duty281 wrote:Can't really play for a draw anyway. About 155 overs total means a 1990s run rate of 2.5 would be perfectly sufficient to get the runs.

Wouldn't want to give India two new balls though. Stokes'plan more like fifty overs @ 4 followed by twenty overs @ 9.

This has been a load of rubbish from India to start, Jadeja's coming in early. Will see if he can reproduce the turn that Leach got.

A fifty opening partnership - these are heady days!

Think this is lost. England have 64 on the board, and there is not even a sign of Joe Root!. India going to pay for their overconfident and casual approach, when they should have shown ruthlessness and determination. England are simply unstoppable, even Sir Jadeja isn't able to keep the runs down.