India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well done Brook and Root. Nice bucolic names. Important they didn't get out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I saw a stat the other day that suggested that while Pope doesn't score anything like enough hundreds, when he does he scores dirty great big ones. If he carries on tomorrow and fills his boots like he did to win the India test a while ago, his next challenge will be to not spend the rest of this series making single figure scores

first ballers for the rest of the series now that his position is secure?

Rubbish shot.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And Crawley.

[sussexpob]

I saw a stat the other day that suggested that while Pope doesn't score anything like enough hundreds, when he does he scores dirty great big ones. If he carries on tomorrow and fills his boots like he did to win the India test a while ago, his next challenge will be to not spend the rest of this series making single figure scores

first ballers for the rest of the series now that his position is secure?

One interesting stat I saw about Pope in the first test was how his performance in matches varies so much across innings. In general, his numbers are very good in the first innings, but things get really messy in the second innings. When England chase in the 4th innings, you may as well bat him at 9 or 10, because his performance is abhorrent. If memory serves, it was 1 x 50 in near 30 runs chases, and an average of only 15. Become a proper tail-ender when confronted with a target.

[bigfluffylemon]

Don't judge until both teams have batted etc., but England have a mountain to climb here.

I know how much this team likes chasing, but I do think they missed a trick not batting first with Bumrah out of the attack.

[sussexpob]

Ouf! England lose Root, and then Stokes cops a golden duck....

300 runs to the follow on, almost 3 days left. England already in miracle street, India have seemingly killed this game off this morning

[Durhamfootman]

inconspicuous start

Siraj (of all people) takes the wickets of Root and Stokes in consecutive balls

Brook and Smith rebuilding

[sussexpob]

Ben Stokes golden duck is a stark reminder of just how bad his batting has become. Since that magnificent, blistering 155 that nearly took England to a huge chase at Lords nearly 2 years ago to the day, he has averaged 28 in test cricket with no hundreds in 19 matches, and that is a figure that is continually trending downwards over the period too. If that isn't enough to point to terminal decline, then the 5 years since he Covid series vs WI he has averaged a few decimal places above 30, with a failure in the 2nd innings pushing that into the 20s.

That is a period that represents 42% of his total test career..... so we are not talking about a blip here, we are talking about a sustained drop in form that continually gets worse.

Badly badly needs to get some runs under his belt.

[sussexpob]

Smith is on a rampage.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Worth his place as a batter/bowler/captain. But given his injuries, maybe the end is in sight.

As it is for England in this match. Completely outplayed.

[sussexpob]

Gill needs to take of Krishna, getting dismantled here. Not sure why he keeps banging it in short.... its not like Smith isn't smashing everything he's put at him

[andy]

Krishna has now bowled 8 overs for 61....gone round the park in both tests looks short of confidence...surely it's time they looked at arshdeep Singh?? Baffles me how he dosent get selected....him and Kuldeep both bitterly unlucky not to be playing

[andy]

Harry brook gets a life..sharp catch dropped by gill off bowling of jadeja....brings up the 100 partnership...need to double up on this plus more!

[andy]

Think it's time Jamie smith batted above Ben stokes...he is a proper batsmen wasted at 7 often batting with the tail....maybe stokes needs to be freed up batting with the tail because he looks dreadful trying to actually bat 'properly' these days...

[andy]

Deficit under 400 now....these too really putting their foot down and motoring