India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[sussexpob]

I understand that England were guilty of 6 drops in the last innings. Not necessarily dollies, but all very catchable. That is what has put India in such a strong position in this test, I would suggest

Most drops by an England side since records began in 2006, apparently. Add in 2 run outs that were out with a direct hit from a close range throw, they really let chances slip. Dropped key catches at OT too in the 3rd innings.

Then again, this test series could be the first ever to go every single one of the 25 days of play (and all to session 3)... so its been abnormally long, I guess this is fatigue

[sussexpob]

I hope Sky can get Ricky Ponting on a permanent deal. Can listen to Punter commentate all day, his knowledge of the technical side of batting (and bowling) is second to none, his reading of tactics and field positions are enlightening, and dare I say hes provided some much needed objectivity for a box that features so much rabid England bias. Even Atherton nowadays lets his England bias get in the way of some of his opinions.

[sussexpob]

Siraj screams two consecutive ones past Duckett's edge, he's found his length and line now. Great bowling.

EDIT - And again, that one bounced a bit as well. Siraj knocking on the door, deserved a wicket this over.

Ouf... Duckett responds with a wild hack at one, and again it misses the bat by mms. Settle down Ben. Just got to see this spell off.

My god, he screams ANOTHER past the edge last ball. You cannot bowl a better wicketless over than that.

[sussexpob]

Plenty of beating the bat, no cigar for India. Can feel their frustration mounting, especially Siraj who once again beat Duckett and rather than a smile, he looked like he was about to kick the stumps over.

[sussexpob]

I type that and seconds later Duckett is gone. Ah, Ben... you played so well, the tide was just turning.

Good ball, drew him forward to drive, maybe moved away a little from the deck and its curtains. Edge flies to third slip, and India aren't in the mood to gift extra lives like England

Good bowling fro Krishna

[Arthur Crabtree]

At the start of the innings my fiver was on England to score 150-200. So doing better than I expected. But surely any heroics will have to be anchored by Root.

[sussexpob]

Siraj forcing an error from Pope now, tried to withdraw the bat late, ball could have gone anywhere but bounced infront of gully. Poor Siraj could have had 2-3 on another day

[sussexpob]

Don't like this field to Root from India. He's the last person in the game I would leave the nudged off single to, if he wants to play one of those deft, wristy placed shots to either side of the gully fielder, then stand back and applaud it, but giving him a free single on either side square of the wicket, he's the best player of that shot in world cricket... just an invitation for slowly being bled to death.

Meanwhile guess what? Siraj fires another past Pope's edge....

[Arthur Crabtree]

I was a bit unhappy with the commentators- particularly Vaughan- digging their claws into Pope's captaincy. Any periods of play without a wicket were due to his lack of inspiration. You'd think Stokes never lost/drew a game, despite England bowling India to a draw over five sessions in the previous Test!

Nothing about the five (six if you count Duckett's half chance) drops by players positioned by the skipper. Or the limited bowling options.

[sussexpob]

This is incredible... Siraj just continues to beat the bat ..twice in 3 balls to Root, Jadeja is convinced the second has been edged. It hasn't but its literally a cm in it.

How has Siraj not got a wicket this morning. Its baffling

[sussexpob]

Siraj gets his wicket, Pope reviewing in hope more than expectation. Pope had played badly and never looked settled.

Why bother reviewing that? Even Pope knew it was plumb in front of middle. He took all the time on the clock to sheepishly ask for the review, just walk off. You know you didnt hit it, you know its back leg not forward.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Typically Popish score for Pope. Gets a start but doesn't go on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Another wicket before lunch and the players may as well book their tee times for tomorrow.

[sussexpob]

I was a bit unhappy with the commentators- particularly Vaughan- digging their claws into Pope's captaincy. Any periods of play without a wicket were due to his lack of inspiration. You'd think Stokes never lost/drew a game, despite England bowling India to a draw over five sessions in the previous Test! Nothing about the five (six if you count Duckett's half chance) drops by players positioned by the skipper. Or the limited bowling options.

I guess you are referring to Vaughan's comments after play yesterday on TMS, which I cranked on after the close while making dinner. I think he said with Stokes, he felt England could beat any side, with Pope they could lose to any side, such is the difference in leadership. Pope has a better win record than Stokes even if he loses this test, and look at Pakistan where England bowled out Pakistan twice on a road after scoring their best ever overseas score in the test... and then were battered when Stokes came back and lost the series.

I think I have made it clear what I think about this Stokes cult of personality. People assume I dislike him, but I just have no time for this OTT nonsense. Why is he a tactical master? He lost 4-1 in India, we didn't win the home Ashes, we are now looking incredibly unlikely to beat an Indian team who have lost 6 of their first team in a year and are in deep transition, and we lost away in Pakistan badly in those two tests. Its like English commentators are trying to gaslight us into this idea England are a generational side, lead by an inspirational, tactical genius.

99% of the time Stokes goes for the standard 3 slipper field, or if a partnership develops the pacers go half trackers and he has the short leg, two men deep behind square. He pretty much never has a field that isn't that. Pope on the other hand realised Jaiswal's release shot to the short ball is the uppercut and got him out by posting Overton out for the shot and getting them short and offside. He had previously put a man in an unorthodox fly leg slip realising he flicks in the air behind square off his pads, and Duckett dropped the catch when Jaiswal fell into the trap.

I think both of those examples are more than you could say of Stokes thinking a batsman out this series.

[sussexpob]

Pretty sure Vaughan, Cook and Aggers clubbed all their life savings in Ben Stokes stock though. To a lot of the England commentators, Stokes can literally do nothing wrong at all.