5th Test: England vs India - The Kia Oval

[Arthur Crabtree]

New ball soon. Just five needed in the session. Should be England's game.

Split between thinking this is a great breakthrough by two emerging Indian bats inexperienced in the conditions/ too little too late by a pair of players who offered little until they got a flat track in a dead game.

[meninblue]

Well done to Rahul and Rishabh for the tons. Rahul in particular being a specialist batsman needed a ton after having flopped in SA and most innings of this series. Rishabh too was in need of a good innings after having got out cheaply and this innings relieves the pressure on him.

[yuppie]

India need 5 an over.

England need the new ball

[yuppie]

Stokes to be given the new ball?

[alfie]

Hmm. Anderson already about seven overs into his spell (split by tea , of course) If he can't break through with the new ball India are going to fancy this chase...

200 partnership.

You'd have got long odds on this situation at 2/3 yesterday

[meninblue]

New ball soon. Just five needed in the session. Should be England's game.

Split between thinking this is a great breakthrough by two emerging Indian bats inexperienced in the conditions/ too little too late by a pair of players who offered little until they got a flat track in a dead game.

Haven't watched even a single ball of this test. Would like to know if this is actually a batting friendly test as you mentioned. No movement off the pitch or in air ?

Thinking more after your comment (flat track in dead game), there could be fact because Cook and Joe were struggling for runs, both scored tons. Similarly Rahul had a horrible time since SA and now he scored a ton. Rishabh too was struggling going by scorecards ( 43 runs in 4 innings), and now he scores a ton.

Wondering if this is the test where the maximum number of runs have been scored in this series.

Anyways the runs will be important as it saves them from being dropped, so they will take it even if it has been a batsman's wicket. A ton at 21 for Indian player batting in England is an achievement. Wondering when was the last time an Indian wicket keeper scored a ton in England ? Must be in 19th century.

[yuppie]

How Root has used Anderson here is strange.

Perhaps confidence in Broad and Curran with the new ball.

Presently keeping the old ball.

[Arthur Crabtree]

India can't get these can they? They'll lose wickets chasing five an over.

[yuppie]

England will slow the game if it starts to get close.

Interesting that England have not gone for the new ball. Worried about the ball going to the boundary quicker?

[yuppie]

Rashid has done it....

[alfie]

Rashid has done it....

With a bit of help from the rough....that was Warne-like !

Needed that. Wonder if Jadeja will attack ? Pant surely will continue to do so. But one more wicket will surely be the signal to batten down the hatches.

Pant gone ! Rashid repays the faith and this looks like Game Over.

[Dr Cricket]

irrespective of the result in the series, this series and the SA ones is the dream standard I expect from india in all matches, especially away from home.
I really can't fault the effort and the commitment from the players.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Bloody hell Bairstow, insist on taking the gloves back from Buttler, and you blow Anderson's record wicket.

Probably would have just carried to Cook.

[alfie]

Bloody hell Bairstow, insist on taking the gloves back from Buttler, and you blow Anderson's record wicket.

Probably would have just carried to Cook.

Tough chance. Don't think it would have carried to slip. But Jimmy must think he's cursed today...has bowled really well without reward. And will probably have to come off now and wait until the winter tour for The Wicket...

Only 18 more , this might well be drawn ...credit to India

[budgetmeansbudget]

Bats are so thick these days you can't feel big nicks!