England tour of India

[Red Devil]

I had us as slight favourites this time yesterday. Now we have no chance!

Yes, looking tough now.

Sibley very unlucky there with a firm sweep rebounding off Gill and lobbing up to Pant! Sibley must be frustrated to get so unlucky after watching Root being lucky to survive a couple of times.

Stokes and Root together now - couple of boundaries for Root and it's game on

[Durhamfootman]

365.......

that's a run for every day in the year that England are hopeless against spin

[Red Devil]

365.......

that's a run for every day in the year that England are hopeless against spin

They were lucky Axar had that brain fade to get run out, otherwise it looked like India would go past 400

[Durhamfootman]

Sibley very unlucky there with a firm sweep rebounding off Gill and lobbing up to Pant!

except it isn't really, because India have men crowding round the bat, so every little half chance is likely to be caught. Kohli only has this luxury because the regulation dreadful start from the England top order piles extraordinary pressure on the batsmen

[Durhamfootman]

365 runs and it'll be good enough for an innings and 100 run victory

[mikesiva]

Which is what makes that shot by Stokes so bad.

Not the kind of shot to play with fielders crowding around.

[Durhamfootman]

it's the 'I don't know what else to do' shot, so admirably described by SP about 2 tests ago...... so once the pressure is on, the batsmen lose their heads and demonstrate that they've learned absolutely nothing from 3 humbling defeats

[Red Devil]

Which is what makes that shot by Stokes so bad.

Not the kind of shot to play with fielders crowding around.

Agreed, awful shot - that would infuriate me from my U11s team!

Another top edge sweep from Root but no fielder there to take the catch! Root could easily have been out 3 times by now

[Durhamfootman]

All that being said, I was not expecting England to win the first test, so they have still exceeded my expectations

[Red Devil]

Why on earth is Siraj coming on for Ashwin???

Is Kohli trying to give the England batters some respite!

[Red Devil]

All that being said, I was not expecting England to win the first test, so they have still exceeded my expectations

To be fair, I hate pitches like that - you still have to capitalise but just winning the toss means you are massive favourites to win the test - pitch was so flat for 2 days and then started to deteriorate quickly..

[Durhamfootman]

yes... definitely a cock up by India there

speaking of cock ups...... ouch!

[mikesiva]

I believe the toss should be abolished.

Give the visiting team the right to decide what to do.

I think Vaughan was the first commentator I heard talking about that, but I'm not sure.

[Red Devil]

I believe the toss should be abolished.

Give the visiting team the right to decide what to do.

I think Vaughan was the first commentator I heard talking about that, but I'm not sure.

Absolutely, I've said that for a while. Really hope they bring that in soon

[Durhamfootman]

sharp work from Pant

puts Pope out of his misery