India v England - 5 test series.

booth70

A combination of dire captaincy from Cook , utter tripe from Plunkett and brilliant batting by Rahane in the final session just about keeps India in the game

Even so 280 is nowhere near being a very competitive total and they'll need to bowl really well

Rjd2

Its absurd that Yadev can get nowhere near this test squad, really is. He would have been great here, but because he is an average ODI bowler he is not selected for tests anymore. :mad::mad:

Shami needs to do something as Ishant is untouchable.

Kumar is great though.

Great knock from Ballance from an England viewpoint, Ali worked hard but he gave it away.

Rjd2

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar: 11 wickets @ 14.9
Ishant Sharma: 3 wickets @ 70.33
Mohammad Shami: 3 wickets @ 62.00
Ravindra Jadeja: 2 wickets @ 63.00

Indian bowlers stats so far this series. :eek:

Gillespy

That's Trent Bridge for you. They have bowled well here. Choice of spinner is more of an issue seeing how this pitch is now and they're bowling last on it.

Brilliant catch by Root. Dhawan was looking good too.

booth70

Bad for the match that Dhawan is out

Can't see India going anywhere if Vijay and Pujara get stuck in😟

Gillespy

No rush. Only half way through day 3. I'd like Pujara to get a 100, batted very well in the first innings.

dango

http://instagram.com/p/qoiXNtyy5T/ Pretty dodgy stuff here from the groundsman...

Rjd2

dango wrote: »

http://instagram.com/p/qoiXNtyy5T/ Pretty dodgy stuff here from the groundsman...

Agreed, but sadly everyone does it.

Vern got fined 75% of his match fee for interfering with the ball against Lanka, all countries do it, just don't get caught.

Be a little more subtle than Afridi:pac::pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjIDhTDq0fU

Rjd2

booth70 wrote: »

Bad for the match that Dhawan is out

Can't see India going anywhere if Vijay and Pujara get stuck in😟

Nah, no rush yet, dig in, tire the bowlers and accumulate the runs, lots of time left.

Pujara to be fair normally starts slow no matter the scenario anyways.

Twas a pie to get Dhawan but to be fair Stokes has bowled well today and all match, just needs to score some runs also!

booth70

How quickly a match changes!

123/4

In comes the king of all them flat track bullies Dhoni

India in danger of being bowled out tonight.... Hopefully Bhuvi will bail us out with the bat again

Dozen Wicked Words

Slow over rates aren't doing Test cricket any good. ICC need to start fining teams runs and money. Joke from England today, 5 overs short.

Gillespy

Almost 4 minutes late bowling the first ball after tea. Roundabout way of dropping Cook?

How many more will India need? Another 100 would make for a great finish.

Rjd2

India will need 275 at least, I know some may disagree but what happens if Bhuvi does not fire? Want to be relying on Shami or Sharma who is averaging close to 50 over the last few years?

Its been a cracking test match although looking forward, Michael Clarke will be looking forward to hosting India and touring England immensely at the moment. :pac:

booth70

Great test match so far and an even contest between bat and ball .... just when you thought the pitch was flattening out it actually seemed to quicken up last evening

Vijay has been an absolute revelation this series.....For somebody who made his name in the IPL really didn't think he had the temperament for test cricket but the way he has curbed his natural attacking instincts has been impressive

240 plus will be a good score to defend but I think England will prevail in a close finish .... Hopefully the man of the series so far Bhuvi Kumar will still have a say in how this test match ends

booth70

Crazy innings from Dhoni..... He simply does not know whether to sink or swim when he bats outside India

Superb catch by Cook.....Unless Binny takes 6 for 22 and bowls England out later today that should be the end if his test career

179 ahead with Sir Jadeja at the crease and the new ball to come!

Rjd2

Vijay has been great indeed.

Binny needs to take wickets next innings, because that shot was an absolute disgrace. If Jadeja had done it would not have been as bad as he has no brain, but Binny the other week showed he could apply himself.

I wouldn't play him again this series for that shot alone if he does not contribute with the ball, dreadful stuff indeed.

booth70

England need to score 319 for the second time in the match to win

What a fascinating Test match.....easily one of the best of recent times

Still more drama to come I reckon before we are done with this match

booth70

80/4....

Excellent stuff from Ishant Sharma so far

If the bell has tolled for Cook it surely must be 'tolling' for Mr.Bell as well

India favourites now but surely there's still a couple of twists to come......The real fun begins when England are 7 down and India struggle to get the tailenders out as usual

Rjd2

India have been in more dominant positions before in the last 12 months, AB/Faf and Jimmy/ Mc Cullum took the games away from them so they need to be careful and go hard in the morning. Drop nothing and bowl well.

Even if England win though, Cook has to take some responsibility for his dire form, at very least drop the captaincy surely.

Prior tomorrow probably playing for his career, unlike others does not have time on his side to come back.

Gillespy

What about Anderson and Broad? Wasted that day 1 pitch. Look at what Steyn and Morkel have done in Sri Lanka this week. They're mentioned in the same breath all the time but really? They were out bowled by Sri Lanka and now India at home after spending the winter chasing Warner and Hadden. Cook won the toss and was let down by them again. It's okay to say drop the captancy but who is going to take over? Root? Bell? Broad? No standouts candidates.

I hope Ali does well tomorrow, he did it in Headingley and take the game as deep as possible.

huey1975

I wonder if the ECB apologise to KP would he make a comeback?

Gillespy

The last thing they need is KP back. The new batsmen have been a success, Robson, Ballance, Root and Ali have shown enough. It's the old guard, Cook, Bell, Prior, Anderson and Broad have been below par this summer.

Rjd2

Yep lets not forget kp wasn't really doing much in the last 12 months, wasn't liked, has shot knees and is getting on a bit.

As Gil said the new batsman have been fine, and they have James Vince who is a run machine this year and even Morgan who has got some runs for Middlesex if they want to add some flair to the middle order.

Broad was fine in Australia to be fair, just nobody bar Stokes stood up, and I rate him as world class but he was woeful on the first day. He is a bit like Morne, at times you think nobody can touch him when he has those spells as Australia well know, but other times you just want to bang your head against a wall watching him.

Anderson looks knackered at the moment. He could do with a break, maybe bring in Jordan or Woakes who has been good for Warwickshire this season.

booth70

Rjd2 wrote: »

India have been in more dominant positions before in the last 12 months, AB/Faf and Jimmy/ Mc Cullum took the games away from them so they need to be careful and go hard in the morning. Drop nothing and bowl well.

Even if England win though, Cook has to take some responsibility for his dire form, at very least drop the captaincy surely.

Prior tomorrow probably playing for his career, unlike others does not have time on his side to come back.

Agree.....India should have won those matches at Jo'burg and Wellington but didn't and if England make it to say 170/4 then it will be panic stations for Dhoni....Dhoni simply cannot let the game drift like he usually does from positions like this

If India lose this questions must surely be asked about Dhoni as a captain and his value as a batsman in the Test team given India's dismal record overseas in the last 3 years......but as long as that crook Srinivasan runs the BCCI Dhoni can do do what he pleases

Cook will survive both as captain and batsman if England win......The only likely replacement as captain in this side is Bell who could do with being dropped himself.....Root is too young and will command no respect from the likes of Broad or Anderson...... And Morgan is not a Test batsman let alone a Test captain!

djimi

booth70 wrote: »

If the bell has tolled for Cook it surely must be 'tolling' for Mr.Bell as well

Bell has a couple of scores at least this summer which will probably deflect attention from him for a while longer. Cook and Prior are both on very thin ice at this stage; Id be surprised to see both play the next test and wouldnt be at all surprised to see neither play (although I dont think Cook will be dropped nor do I think he will step aside).

booth70

djimi wrote: »

Bell has a couple of scores at least this summer which will probably deflect attention from him for a while longer. Cook and Prior are both on very thin ice at this stage; Id be surprised to see both play the next test and wouldnt be at all surprised to see neither play (although I dont think Cook will be dropped nor do I think he will step aside).

Cook and Prior will survive if England win today.....

booth70 wrote: »

Agree.....India should have won those matches at Jo'burg and Wellington but didn't and if England make it to say 170/4 then it will be panic stations for Dhoni....Dhoni simply cannot let the game drift like he usually does from positions like this

If India lose this questions must surely be asked about Dhoni as a captain and his value as a batsman in the Test team given India's dismal record overseas in the last 3 years......but as long as that crook Srinivasan runs the BCCI Dhoni can do do what he pleases

England have moved serenely to 140/4......

I am starting to get that 'Here we go again' feeling that afflicts all Indian cricket fans when India play overseas

Rjd2

Yeah England look in control here, and plenty of batting to come. Its been a strange captaincy from Dhoni with some would call very odd fielding decisions.

India have been here before in the last 12 months.

Also is Binny going to have a bowl ever? Looks really petty of Dhoni to be using Vijay and Dhawan ahead of him.

Gillespy

Mitchell Johnston would have been proud of that over by Ishant. Prior has some of that to look forward to.

booth70

This match continues to fascinate .......Vital and totally against the run of play breakthrough off the last ball before lunch ...... Good stuff from Ishanth Sharma

173/5

New ball due in 4 overs......With 2 walking wickets due to come in at 7 and 8 , India have an outside chance here but runs will flow against the new ball as well

That session though has swung the game towards England and this might still be England's match to lose

England's batting depth should count and I reckon Cook will be thanking Root this evening for saving his captaincy and career

Rjd2

Gillespy wrote: »

Mitchell Johnston would have been proud of that over by Ishant. Prior has some of that to look forward to.

He did well, but that was really SC rookie way of dealing with the short ball from Ali. Twice he has done the hard work in this test in getting in and has given it away very simply.

booth70

Some crazy tactics after lunch by India

Whatever happened to bowling proper line and length to the new batsman

It's new ball or bust for India I think

KevIRL

Its all down to Roooooooot really

booth70

booth70 wrote: »

Some crazy tactics after lunch by India

Well what do I know!......even crazier stuff from Prior

Is that the last we have seen of Prior in a Test match?

Gillespy

Leaked a few boundaries but it worked.

Stokes in no form and new ball due.

Rjd2

Brought back memories of this. Really poor from Prior, but he has looked shot for a long time. Even if England win, he is finished sadly in test cricket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xZTUB7dU8Y

booth70

201/7.....

With the walking wickets out of the way the chase starts in earnest now!

Gillespy

This is a collapse now. 6 for Ishant.

lambayire

Utterly pathetic batting by England, post-lunch.

Cook, Bell, Prior and Stokes should be in a bit of bother for selection.
Stuart Broad looks wrecked as a bowler too.

Dozen Wicked Words

Game over, Cook needs to go. Worst run of results for England since early 90s.

Gillespy

Jadeja runs out Anderson to end it.

The fun starts here, five days to the next test I wonder what that team will look like.

KevIRL

Can't beat a good old fashioned England collapse all the same

booth70

Hopefully that will be the last of Michael Vaughan's sarcastic tweets about chin music , subcontinental teams not playing the short ball well.....They may still not play the short ball well but its been Sri Lanka and India of all teams who have bounced England out this summer!!

Superb test wicket.....superb test match

Going by the post match interview Cook has no plans to step aside.....With no suitable alternative the ECB will stick with him I reckon

djimi

booth70 wrote: »

Cook and Prior will survive if England win today.....

Maybe that result is for the best so :pac:

Cook is finished as captain. He needs to head back to Essex for the rest of the summer (or for however long it takes) and remember how to enjoy batting, because right now he is doing the side and himself no favours.

Prior looks in real trouble as well. I was prepared to give him another chance after being dropped in the winter, but his form with the bat and especially with the gloves has been awful this summer, and if the talk of his injuries is true then he may well be finished at this level at least. No idea who comes in to replace him; not convinced by Buttler, yet at least, and there isnt exactly a queue of stand out candidates.

Rjd2

djimi wrote: »

Maybe that result is for the best so :pac:

Cook is finished as captain. He needs to head back to Essex for the rest of the summer (or for however long it takes) and remember how to enjoy batting, because right now he is doing the side and himself no favours.

Prior looks in real trouble as well. I was prepared to give him another chance after being dropped in the winter, but his form with the bat and especially with the gloves has been awful this summer, and if the talk of his injuries is true then he may well be finished at this level at least. No idea who comes in to replace him; not convinced by Buttler, yet at least, and there isnt exactly a queue of stand out candidates.

It won't ever happen but Read and Foster are the best glovemen in England are experienced captains. Maybe one of them could do a job with the gloves and as a fill in captain for now?

djimi

Read wouldnt be the worst short term appointment. I cant see them going for him though. If Cook gets dropped/steps down then I cant see anyone but Broad getting the captaincy (not because he is necessarily the best man for the job, but simply because he is there and has experience).

The whole thing is a mess at the moment. After the Ashes I said that it was time to start rebuilding and spend the next couple of years getting a solid base in place. The biggest problem England face now is that Cook, Bell and Prior have all gone completely off the boil, Broad is apparently playing through an injury that needs sorting, which only leaves Anderson as the remaining senior player (and he could end up with a couple of games of a ban if this hearing goes against him). There is almost none of the side remaining from the last few years, and several of those that do remain are likely to find themselves dropped in the not too distant future, which means there is no base to build from. I can see the next few years being a bit painful for English cricket if Im honest.

djimi

Read wouldnt be the worst short term appointment. I cant see them going for him though. If Cook gets dropped/steps down then I cant see anyone but Broad getting the captaincy (not because he is necessarily the best man for the job, but simply because he is there and has experience).

The whole thing is a mess at the moment. After the Ashes I said that it was time to start rebuilding and spend the next couple of years getting a solid base in place. The biggest problem England face now is that Cook, Bell and Prior have all gone completely off the boil, Broad is apparently playing through an injury that needs sorting, which only leaves Anderson as the remaining senior player (and he could end up with a couple of games of a ban if this hearing goes against him). There is almost none of the side remaining from the last few years, and several of those that do remain are likely to find themselves dropped in the not too distant future, which means there is no base to build from. I can see the next few years being a bit painful for English cricket if Im honest.

Washout

I was kind of against Eoin Morgan coming in as Captain. but there is absolutely no potential leaders in the current England team. So Ive changed my mind.

Next Match at Southampton Cook, Prior and Broad, who isn't at the Races Out. Morgan, Foster and Jordan to come in.

Delighted for India. Outstanding win after losing the Toss. I Hope Kohli can get firing because when he gets going he is some sight.

Gillespy

Both Atherton and Beefy suggested Morgan. I would like to see it, I think I said it after the ODI series in Australia where he impressed that they needed to get him into the team.

Rjd2

Yeah, even if they win this series, right now, you'd fear for England against Australia next summer. Can you imagine the grin on Mitch's face if he was watching this afternoon?:eek:

Read or Foster would be fine as short term options, as England have a pretty young team, and while neither are Gilchrist, they are not total rabbits, Read especially has played some gritty knocks when needed for Notts. He actually has scored more runs than Buttler and is averaging 45 this season in county championship division 1.

Its a bit like Rogers for Australia isn't it? Not to exciting of choices and neither like Rogers will be around in five years, but like Rogers, both are tough and could do a valuable job for a few years. Heck Misbah was considered as a bit of a journeyman when he got the captaincy a few years ago when in the mid 30's:o

They will go with Buttler or Bairstow as wicket keeper if they make a change, and Cook will get the full series as captain and batsman.

djimi

I dont think they have anything to lose by picking Morgan tbh, either as a batsman or as captain. There are no real stand out candidates for captaincy aside from Broad who Im far from convinced by, and at least Morgan has some experience of captaining England and usually looks impressive when he fills in the role. Maybe a complete change of approach is what is needed at this point.

In terms of his batting, he seems to be having a bit of a mixed season with the bat; got 190 odd a few weeks back but some low scores also. He has shown time and again in ODIs that he has the quality to bat at the top level, and its not like selecting him would be the biggest of gambles.