Second Test: England v India at Lords, 9-13 August 2018.

[backfootpunch]

India still in the game now with buttler and woakes at 6/7

[Arthur Crabtree]

Just woken up. Looks like England should get a handy lead. Not enough seam attack from India to go round.

[KipperJohn]

Root looked unusually uncomfortable in that knock. Top 4 all gone again.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Deficit nearly wiped out though on a bowler's pitch. A fifty lead will be pretty handy, and with the ball old and Ishant and Shami well into their bowling, it should be more than that.

[alfie]

I'd be targeting to bat all day for 300 and then I'd declare.

Indian batting line up looks terrible. I doubt if back then heavily to score 200 if the ball moves

Nice idea but I can't see them getting anywhere near 300. Get 200 from here - and get them quickly - and they could have this virtually over tonight ! Still plenty there for the pace men.

[DiligentDefence]

India have definitely gone in a seamer light.

[alfie]

India have definitely gone in a seamer light.

Indeed they have. Hardik actually bowled quite a tidy spell ; but too much is being left to Shami and Ishant - and it's starting to tell.
Ashwin hasn't even bowled. And Kuldeep needn't have bothered...he really just temporarily released the pressure.

124/4 The two JBs enjoying some luck ; but keeping the scoreboard ticking over...

[backfootpunch]

Buttler running at the 87-90mph quick bowler went as expected

[alfie]

Buttler's luck runs out...another lbw. Useful 24 but he's hardly demonstrated a strong claim to a place as a batsman. Needs a score soon.

At 131/5 England have a edge ; but could do with a partnership about now...

So far Pope's 28 is the highest score in the match.

[meninblue]

England have a good lead of 30 runs. Miracle or heavy rainfall required for India to draw or win this.

[backfootpunch]

Bairstow improving his white ball cricket has definitely had a negative impact on his test batting

He is now terrible against deliveries on a length or just back of a length outside off

Looks like getting out every other ball

[backfootpunch]

England have a good lead of 30 runs. Miracle or heavy rainfall required for India to draw or win this.

Tomorrow looks like a wash out

[DiligentDefence]

Bairstow needs to be more judicious in his shot selection here.

[alfie]

Bairstow improving his white ball cricket has definitely had a negative impact on his test batting

He is now terrible against deliveries on a length or just back of a length outside off

Looks like getting out every other ball

Well you couldn't say anyone has looked particularly comfortable out there...

I do agree he's picked up a couple of bad habits from the ODIs. But he has been England's highest scorer in this series so far so I wouldn't say it's destroyed his batting yet.
Batting a couple of places higher has had some impact , I think.

[meninblue]

England have a good lead of 30 runs. Miracle or heavy rainfall required for India to draw or win this.

Tomorrow looks like a wash out