England tour of India

[sussexpob]

Leach unlucky. Kohli inside edged that straight passed the stumps. Kohli then plays a bit of an airy drive short of Bairstow in the covers. Leach got to keep chipping away, creating some half chances here.

[sussexpob]

Without wanting to hit on Ben (as its clearly a pre-defined tactical role the team have him do), these spells England have him bowl that mimic of Flower's "Broad the enforcer" nonsense really do get the lad bowling at his least effective. Get him bowling properly he can be useful in the channel with late swing, there is nothing worse than seeing a not that fast pace bowler digging in 80 mph half trackers to one of the best players in Asian conditions whos ever played. If Kohli hadnt mistimed his pull, hed had smashed three easy hits in 2 overs.

[Red Devil]

Ind 74/2 - same score as England at that stage

[sussexpob]

Ind 74/2 - same score as England at that stage

Something tells me India wont be 100-9 though

[sussexpob]

Comms saying thats a nick, but I think Sharma has played that very purposefully. He plays that a lot hence the guy in no mans land waiting (comms are asking why lol, thats why).

Sharma hits another 50. Total mystery how this lad doesnt score in other countries, he looks compact, got behind the pace and swing, and his movement forward to the spinners is as good as you will ever see.

Id have my English bats watching replays of his innings and saying, thats how you bat on these wickets

[sussexpob]

Thats a ripper from Leach. Takes some explaining why Root took him off after 6 overs. Kohli totally beaten and Foakes too, but I dont think there was an edge

[sussexpob]

Pope almost takes the greatest catch that is ever been. Sees Sharma moving for the sweep and starts to move before the ball pitches to get into position to cut it off behind square, manages to somehow get a hand on it in mid air, but it doesnt stick. Shame. Great piece of quick thinking and anticipation from Pope

[sussexpob]

Lol this time Pope drops a simple regulation edge. Kohli tries to pull out the shot, bit of bounce from nowhere off Anderson, edge flies to Pope as a gift but he puts it down.

Just focusing on Pope now, trousers are covered in drops of blood. Maybe that superman attempt has split his finger open, and could be a reason he dropped that last onee. Just a guess

[sussexpob]

England think they have Sharma again, carbon copy of the last game with a stumping.... umpire rules this time his foot is just down. Not sure you could really tell on the angle of the replay where he foot was, but umpire was certain.

[sussexpob]

Big wicket. Kohli chops on from a cut shot that is just too close to play the shot. Gets cramped and inside edges onto the timbers.

[sussexpob]

6 overs left after this, if England can get another its a bit of a fight back from them and at least a platform to build on tomorrow

[sussexpob]

6 overs left after this, if England can get another its a bit of a fight back from them and at least a platform to build on tomorrow

[sussexpob]

Scratch that, England's paltry 11 overs an hour means we lose 6 for the day. Can the ECB start partially refunding Indian fans, because they paid to see 90?

[Durhamfootman]

what I find both incomprehensible and thoroughly irritating is that England's over rate is down to 11 despite having a spinner at one end for a third of the innings. They just don't care, do they?

[Durhamfootman]

England think they have Sharma again, carbon copy of the last game with a stumping.... umpire rules this time his foot is just down. Not sure you could really tell on the angle of the replay where he foot was, but umpire was certain.

it looked down to me, but honest Joe doesn't seem to agree. He was chuntering away at the wrong umpire for the rest of the day's play