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

[alfie]

The Eternal Summer picked a good time to go missing...

Suppose given England's recent patchy record at Lord's a rain ruined draw might not be too awful from Joe Root's point of view. But I've been looking forward to the contest

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'll be at Lords on Friday - is anyone else going to be there?

Take an umbrella.

[captaincolly]

Inspection at 4.50. Almost certainly to abandon play for the day as it's still raining according to TMS.

[captaincolly]

Inspection at 4.50. Almost certainly to abandon play for the day as it's still raining according to TMS.

Yep. Abandoned for the day.

[alfie]

Four day Test. Might force a rethink on team composition ?

[Arthur Crabtree]

They'll leave out Mo anyway.

[Durhamfootman]

Is the pitch at Lords looking green?

[alfie]

They'll leave out Mo anyway.

Probably. But just possible they could include among in place of Rashid if it looks like being a seam bowlers special ?

[sussexpob]

The initial pitch report this morning suggested that a covering of live grass was binding what is assumed to be quite a crumbly surface. Expect a bit of pace, bounce and seam early, but as the grass dies, the pitch will break up and it could turn

Kolhi looked at it and was talking double spin

[meninblue]

Virat is poor in reading wickets though. Imo Gauti was the best Indian captain to have read wickets more often than not.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Radio rain chat was that it would be a defo bowl first scenario.

[ianp1970]

Radio rain chat was that it would be a defo bowl first scenario.

With rain around it is often deemed to be a bowling day. If the weather is set fair tomorrow and the pitch is dry, then I wonder whether opinions will have changed?

[sussexpob]

Looks like all smiles and sunshine today, hopefully for Red and all it stays like that.

[sussexpob]

Anyone got a clue what Ed Smith is babbling on about this morning regarding Malan. In a statement where he wanted to leave the door open to him, he seems to contradict himself.... he says the door is open because;

"he has done distinctly well playing in very alien conditions.... one of the things we are looking for is to have the right players for the right conditions"....

but then goes on to say

"this is not horses for courses. I bridle at that sense because you wouldnt play someone who can only play well at one ground. That is not going to happen"...

So we can pick Malan in conditons that are alien to the team, but he wont be picking anyone based on conditions. The guy is off the hook

[sussexpob]

Yadav and Dhawan out, Pujara and Kuldeep in.

Malan and Stokes out, Woakes and Pope in

England win the toss and bowl