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

[alfie]

Balance of 3+2 is fine for India. But having Pandya as third seamer was perhaps a miscalculation, even though he has a pair of middle order wickets.

Not sure about that. Always likely this match would be one for the seamers , surely , given the forecast ? And I guess they needed Pandya's batting...

What puzzles me is : if they were determined to play two spinners , why not Jadeja ?

[Durhamfootman]

I always thought it was Steely who was ultra cautious, but it seems it's the management, which begs the question... what is the point of captains?

[sussexpob]

This is just dumb. Why are we batting

[meninblue]

Balance of 3+2 is fine for India. But having Pandya as third seamer was perhaps a miscalculation, even though he has a pair of middle order wickets.

It is a blunder to play just two specialist pacers in England as much it is to play one specialist spinner in India. It was fine if the wicket was expected to spin (with weather report even that was probably ruled out), but that extra spinner should not have come in at cost of dropping specialist pacer (in this case Umesh Yadav).

Hardik Pandya needs to be dropped for time being. He had a good debut with bat and ball versus SL and was very good with bat against Afghanistan but failed to pick a wicket even against weak Afghanistan batting which collapsed in 30 overs or so. The SA tour was also bad for him with bat as well as ball. Even in the first test at Edgbaston he flopped with bat and ball. He should ahve been dropped to include any other bowler they wanted rather than to drop specialist Umesh.

Hardik needs to improve his batting as well as ability to take wickets. His batting average is on decline and his bowling SR is nearing 90's.

[alfie]

After reading the BBC coverage experts' comments , I suspect Root is batting on to annoy Michael Vaughan

Chill out chaps... Think they'll be calling it off shortly...these two are swinging at everything now.

[alfie]

Yes. Curran out , in they come...289 lead.

Top knock Chris Woakes

[Arthur Crabtree]

Played Woakesy. Needs wickets to stay in the side though.

[Dr Cricket]

depending on how india bat in the 2nd innings might take 5-6 weeks break not sure I can take the heartache of a thrashing series.

[sussexpob]

If in India, I'd just draft up a whole new batting line up

[meninblue]

Procession starts. 1 joker gone.

[meninblue]

Another joker gone as well.

[meninblue]

Flat track bullies being exposed brutally.

[Dr Cricket]

Flat track bullies being exposed brutally.

Bit harsh adi that.

[Dr Cricket]

Another joker gone as well.

Show some respect to the player.

[meninblue]

Rahul averaged 7.50 in SA .On this tour he has averaged 9.

None of others averaged over 20 in SA apart from Virat. Same averages here as well.