India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[Arthur Crabtree]

Still, 50 partnership (off close on 20 overs).

[andy]

Pant off the field with busted digit...jurel on with the gloves

[andy]

England fighting hard and have to keep those bowlers out there...only halfway through second session and Bumrah has already bowled 13 overs...keep putting miles into his body it will get easier to bat longer stay out there

[Arthur Crabtree]

I remember hearing that from Geoff Boycott.

[sussexpob]

I want Ollie Pope's lottery numbers, I am not quite sure how he is still there.

[Durhamfootman]

T’aint bazball that’s for sure

[andy]

Makes you laugh don't it....read on Cricinfo an interview the other day Daren Sammy saying brathwaite was under pressure and a lot of of people saying he's one of the worst batsmen to play 100 tests as he's only averaging 33.....and now Crawley is 56 games into his test career and is only averaging 31.....how are openers getting away with this...and experienced openers at that too....

[Durhamfootman]

T’aint bazball that’s for sure

Unless it’s bazball with brains, of course

I imagine MPV will tell us later

[andy]

Makes you laugh don't it....read on Cricinfo an interview the other day Daren Sammy saying brathwaite was under pressure and a lot of of people saying he's one of the worst batsmen to play 100 tests as he's only averaging 33.....and now Crawley is 56 games into his test career and is only averaging 31.....how are openers getting away with this...and experienced openers at that too....

Don't get me wrong duckett isn't overly consistent himself but when he does score runs he goes big...Crawley gets runs once in a blue moon...at least duckett is relatively reliable a few times a series

[andy]

Pope digging in makes a nice change...34 from 88 struggling but fighting

[sussexpob]

Makes you laugh don't it....read on Cricinfo an interview the other day Daren Sammy saying brathwaite was under pressure and a lot of of people saying he's one of the worst batsmen to play 100 tests as he's only averaging 33.....and now Crawley is 56 games into his test career and is only averaging 31.....how are openers getting away with this...and experienced openers at that too....

There is a lot of devil in the detail also. His best score was against a team that had to undergo about 2 months of brutal lockdown conditions and inadequate preparation, in matches teams couldn't shine the ball. He average 124 vs Zimbabwe, 68 v Ireland.

His OT 100 in the last Ashes series was great, but other than that its slim pickings on innings of true value.... scoring a 100 in Rawalpindi when 7 of the top 4 on each side made a 100 for instance hardly feels much cop.

[andy]

Very good 50 for root!!! 153-2 at tea

[andy]

Pope goes first ball after tea

Wasn't expecting that.... Nitish was only bowler who had really looked threatening

[sussexpob]

Terrific take that, Pope got a lot of bat on that, sub keeper makes the ball stick.

Pope hung in there much more than he deserved to, but a good partnership either way. Gets out just at cash in time

[andy]

Huge shame for him as he had done the hard work....hint of turn for jadeja which is unusual at lords