First Test: England v India at Edgbaston, 1-5 August 2018.

[andy]

Broad has bowled really well... Suprised he got taken off after 6 earlier, I would have given him a couple more he was on a roll

[Durhamfootman]

still 7 overs to be bowled

it's 6.45 and it's only 90 overs

amazing

[meninblue]

88 to win.

[Durhamfootman]

at least they are being made to bowl them

or at least I presume they are

[meninblue]

Few singles. 85 remaining now.

[meninblue]

Stumps. 84 runs or 1 wicket of Virat.

[andy]

honours even i think

[sussexpob]

Broad has bowled really well... Suprised he got taken off after 6 earlier, I would have given him a couple more he was on a roll

As mentioned earlier, NAsser Hussain said that Broad apparently has come down with the flu since yesterday, and was touch and go whether he would be able to bowl much.

[Durhamfootman]

at least they are being made to bowl them

or at least I presume they are

they aren't

naturally!

[sussexpob]

Hard to call this test now. Ball has definately stopped moving as much after the last wicket, which would be about 5-10 overs less than when I noticed it in the India innings. Have to favour India, all they really need to do is bat another 20 runs unbroken, and England will have to start looking to buy a few wickets by adding fielders in and bowling reckless lines. If India ride out the first 4-5 overs, it could end quickly tomorrow.

Then again, a wicket falls early, particuarly Kohli, and India are bang in trouble.

Been a great test this

[KipperJohn]

Certainly an exciting Test - wouldn’t class it as great as the standard has ranged for brilliant to dire. It makes for compulsive viewing though.

[backfootpunch]

Hard to call this test now. Ball has definately stopped moving as much after the last wicket, which would be about 5-10 overs less than when I noticed it in the India innings. Have to favour India, all they really need to do is bat another 20 runs unbroken, and England will have to start looking to buy a few wickets by adding fielders in and bowling reckless lines. If India ride out the first 4-5 overs, it could end quickly tomorrow.

Then again, a wicket falls early, particuarly Kohli, and India are bang in trouble.

Been a great test this

With shami, ishant and yadav at 9, 10 and 11 the game isn't over until less than 20 are needed

[backfootpunch]

Certainly an exciting Test - wouldn’t class it as great as the standard has ranged for brilliant to dire. It makes for compulsive viewing though.

It's always best when ball is slightly on top of bat

This has been a perfect test pitch, some of the batting and catching has left a little to be desired though from both sides

[bigfluffylemon]

Bloody hell. What a bizarre test. With the exception of the magnificent Kohli, both sides seem to be trying to outdo each other in batting and catching incompetence. Once again it's the bowlers who keep England in the contest. If I were Jimmy I'd be thinking of retiring soon rather than keep putting up with having to bail the team out.

Malan surely has to go - no runs since Perth, and three friggin' critical drops. Still, no doubt all the discussion in the run up to Lord's will be whether or not Rashid should retain his place. After all, after England's thumping by Pakistan at Lord's due to *modded* batting, all the debate seemed to be about which bowler to drop (Broad? )

The one bright spot for England has been Curran. After a promising debut at Headingley, he's surely done enough to warrant a decent run in the side. And he's only 20. Hopefully one with a good England career ahead of him, if the England development system doesn't break him as it has so many before (poor old Steve Finn).

It's probably my natural pessimism, but I'd have India as favourites here. Of course, as many have said, much rests on Kohli. Bag him in the first 10, and England will have a shot at victory, at India's tail isn't great. But as I said upthread, 200 is unlikely to be enough. India by 3 wickets I reckon.

[sussexpob]

I actually think David Lloyd made a good observation about Curran, and that was at his pace, if the ball swings from the hand, he just won't be good enough without the pace. But some balls start out straight, and then swing later, and then he looks deadly.