Great news that test cricket is finally back on terrestrial tv*. Granted it starts at 4am, but that's the good thing about a sport that's on for more than 7 hours! (and the third test is a day nighter so will start at 9)

Hopefully it'll be a decent series, will be interesting to see how England fare in Indian conditions against a side fresh from winning in Australia. Looking forward to it!





* the last time this happened we'd just won 1-0 at Peterborough with a Gary Jones goal.

Going to be a great series Abdul and really looking forward to it as I don’t have sky, 2 teams on form who you rooting for out of interest? 🇬🇧  🇮🇳

Going to be a great series Abdul and really looking forward to it as I don’t have sky, 2 teams on form who you rooting for out of interest? 🇬🇧  🇮🇳

Quoted from Abdul19

Great news that test cricket is finally back on terrestrial tv*. Granted it starts at 4am, but that's the good thing about a sport that's on for more than 7 hours! (and the third test is a day nighter so will start at 9)

Hopefully it'll be a decent series, will be interesting to see how England fare in Indian conditions against a side fresh from winning in Australia. Looking forward to it!

As an 80s child I took live Test cricket being on terrestrial TV for granted. It was like a comfort blanket whereby you could sit at home with it on the background whilst you did your Geography homework. Or you could go out and play footy with your mates for a couple of hours, you’d come back to the TV and Lathwell or JER Gallian had added about 3 runs a piece.

Football will always be my haddock and chips but a bit of coddy cricket remains a dirty and missed pleasure

Will be a useful aid to us insomniacs

Done really well today apart from one rash shot from Burns. As I type, Sibley gets out LBW to last ball of the day but Root still there and looking very comfortable. Definitely England's day.

Read the thread heading and thought it was cookery thread about curry and fish n chips!

Still batting at the end of day 2 with Root making another double hundred. Finished on quintuple Nelson for the superstitious among you. Looks to be a very good score but India are fantastic with the bat and we have lost before with this sort of first innings lead in Asia, so will have to bowl well.

Can't ask for anything more than still batting at the end of day two.

Quoted from ginnywings

Still batting at the end of day 2 with Root making another double hundred. Finished on quintuple Nelson for the superstitious among you. Looks to be a very good score but India are fantastic with the bat and we have lost before with this sort of first innings lead in Asia, so will have to bowl well.

Can't ask for anything more than still batting at the end of day two.

The knock from Root was brilliant and has just carried on his form from Sri Lanka. To bat so long there and here takes an unbelievable amount of physical and mental fortitude.
This is coming from a pasty ginger but I struggle to do anything when the missus turns the radiators up high!! But what an innings nonetheless.

It was indeed. He's one hell of a batsman.

First to score a double hundred in his 100th test, and moved up to third in the all time England rankings. Think it's nailed on that he will end up as our leading test run scorer.

Quoted from ginnywings

It was indeed. He's one hell of a batsman.

First to score a double hundred in his 100th test, and moved up to third in the all time England rankings. Think it's nailed on that he will end up as our leading test run scorer.

Totally agree.

Has trouble converting 200s into 300s though!😉

Almost perfect from England. I say almost as Jack Leach is a Sunday trundler. Surely we have a better spinner than him somewhere? Without his gift bowling, we would be well on top.

Quoted from ginnywings

Almost perfect from England. I say almost as Jack Leach is a Sunday trundler. Surely we have a better spinner than him somewhere? Without his gift bowling, we would be well on top.

He’s taken some tap for sure but Pant can do that to a bowler. With foakes to come in for buttler I’d like to see Ali come in for leach unless it’s a 3 spinners pitch up next.

Strange tactics from England here, with no urgency. Think they are wary of the Indian batting line up and want to make sure they don't have time to chase down the runs, but if they are not careful, they won't leave enough time to bowl India out. India being as slow as they can running down the over rate and trying to leave England less overs to play with. Umpires should be having a word with their captain I think but everyone seems unconcerned.

England will give themselves a bowl soon with the lead over 400.

C'mon England.

Quoted from ginnywings

Strange tactics from England here, with no urgency. Think they are wary of the Indian batting line up and want to make sure they don't have time to chase down the runs, but if they are not careful, they won't leave enough time to bowl India out. India being as slow as they can running down the over rate and trying to leave England less overs to play with. Umpires should be having a word with their captain I think but everyone seems unconcerned.

England will give themselves a bowl soon with the lead over 400.

C'mon England.

That totally negative and unnecessary spell of cricket set the tone for a flat start to this Indian innings. Root is not nearly aggressive enough for my personal taste.
Going to be a very intriguing final day that’s for sure.

Root should of declared 400 tops I’d rather lose this than draw.

Quoted from Humbercod

Root should of declared 400 tops I’d rather lose this than draw.

If we were smashing them to all parts then I could see the logic in making them chase around in the heat and getting them more fatigued. It was the total lack of intent from us that baffled me. The game just drifted and meandered along.
Of course if we win then it doesn’t really matter but imagine running out of time with them 8/9 down.

Quoted from ginnywings

Almost perfect from England. I say almost as Jack Leach is a Sunday trundler. Surely we have a better spinner than him somewhere? Without his gift bowling, we would be well on top.

This hasn’t aged well😂 just as he takes wicket no. 4👏

Quoted from Humbercod

This hasn’t aged well😂 just as he takes wicket no. 4👏

Ha! Not as simple as that though. My nan would take wickets in India on day four and five on that pitch 😂.

I think Ali is our best spinner and offers some middle to lower order batting too and I would go with him but perhaps I was hasty in suggesting for leach. Maybe a 3 spinner game next up but if not there is a decision to make.

That Jimmy over was like ‘that’ flintoff over to pointing in 2005. Brilliant

what a performance brilliant! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿👏

Obviously you'd expect some difference, but the contrast between Leach's test figures between the first and second innings is incredible.

Anderson is just a freak!

Guess who missed the coup de gras? First day I didn't get up early enough to see the finish. :B

Great win though and to be honest I didn't think we would win at the start, so well chuffed.

Next test is at the same venue, so it will be an important toss to win for either side.

Quoted from ginnywings

Guess who missed the coup de gras? First day I didn't get up early enough to see the finish. :B

Great win though and to be honest I didn't think we would win at the start, so well chuffed.

Next test is at the same venue, so it will be an important toss to win for either side.

Sod’s law that Ginny! You do know that now that’s happened you have to make the personal sacrifice of staying in bed to aid England, in their quest for glory next test.

That over by Anderson was just something else.

He was rolling back the years with some outstanding deliveries

Quoted from Sandford1981

Sod’s law that Ginny! You do know that now that’s happened you have to make the personal sacrifice of staying in bed to aid England, in their quest for glory next test.

Think I may be able stay in bed for the cause.

Surprised with the tinkering the only change for me should of been Archer. Jimmy Anderson is in top form saying he said he was fit and ready to go. Biss g he af a good game he should of been allowed to build on this, not a fan of Ali been in poor form for England for a long time.

Quoted from Humbercod

Surprised with the tinkering the only change for me should of been Archer. Jimmy Anderson is in top form saying he said he was fit and ready to go. Biss g he af a good game he should of been allowed to build on this, not a fan of Ali been in poor form for England for a long time.

Ali is a proven test match spinner. Who incidentally hasn’t played tests for a long time. Barring the magnificent wicket and the odd good ball he hasn’t been great granted but he’s rusty.

The stumping was tight but out for me but that missed catch was diabolical (in sporting terms obvs)

This is a spinners wicket but apart from Root , Ali and leach have both not looked great.

Quoted from Humbercod

This is a spinners wicket but apart from Root , Ali and leach have both not looked great.

Don’t think Leach has been that bad. Ali is rusty-you cannot concede that many on this though. First test since August 2019 and coming off the back of covid.
This feels far too much. Not a good test match wicket.

Looking good for India if they can add enough runs in the morning 350+ is going to be a very good score.

Great to see some fans in the ground.

Said before the game that the team winning the toss would be in the box seat and so it is proving. Think England were good in patches but have let India score too many runs too quickly. It'll be a mammoth task just to get a competitive score on the board for England, and at this early stage, I can't see anything other than India levelling the series. They have much better spinners than we do and i think they will cause havoc from the first over. Their fast bowlers are pretty good too and they are the best team around at the moment for me, especially on their own patch.

Mind you, I didn't think we would win the first test, so what do I know?

Quoted from ginnywings

Said before the game that the team winning the toss would be in the box seat and so it is proving. Think England were good in patches but have let India score too many runs too quickly. It'll be a mammoth task just to get a competitive score on the board for England, and at this early stage, I can't see anything other than India levelling the series. They have much better spinners than we do and i think they will cause havoc from the first over. Their fast bowlers are pretty good too and they are the best team around at the moment for me, especially on their own patch.

Mind you, I didn't think we would win the first test, so what do I know?

A good summing up I reckon. Hard to disagree with any of that. They’ve produced a wicket for a result in their favour no doubt. Doing far too much for a day 1 wicket though for definite.

Welcome back England. Oh how we have missed you. As quintessentially English as a fry up with a mug of sweet tea there’s nothing like a batting England collapse to set you up for the day.

....a really poor test match wicket mind.

Normal service with the bat resumes, if only we played the best bowler in the world run chase wouldn’t of been out of reach.

Soon as we lost the toss it was game over on that pitch. Their spinners are almost unplayable on a surface like that, same as our swing and seam bowlers are in England when the conditions are right.

Quoted from ginnywings

Soon as we lost the toss it was game over on that pitch. Their spinners are almost unplayable on a surface like that, same as our swing and seam bowlers are in England when the conditions are right.

Absolutely correct. It would be difficult to beat India in those conditions with swanny and monty in their pomp let alone Moeen and leach who are under baked for different reasons.
As soon as England got in to a winning position in the first test you knew this would be a raging bunsen burner.

Talking about batting until tea tomorrow.

I think India could declare now and still win easy.

15000 crowd great !!

Let's hope we can get some crowds at our sporting games later in year.

There has been some shocking decisions in this game. How that was playing a shot I will never know. 🤬

Quoted from Sandford1981

There has been some shocking decisions in this game. How that was playing a shot I will never know. 🤬

He was playing a shot but his leg got in the way. ;D

Quoted from grimsby pete

He was playing a shot but his leg got in the way. ;D

I stand corrected 😂

Glad it’s not just me then chaps;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/56061842

Day/nighter plus a pink ball. Does this level the playing field? I would go with-

Sibley
Crawley
Root
Pope
Stokes
Bairstow
Foakes
Bess
Leach
Broad
Anderson

Quoted from smokey111

Day/nighter plus a pink ball. Does this level the playing field? I would go with-

Sibley
Crawley
Root
Pope
Stokes
Bairstow
Foakes
Bess
Leach
Broad
Anderson

I think it definitely evens it up, especially if you compare that Bunsen burner in the last test.  If I use your team as a template-

We know how Root doesn't like to bat anywhere but 4 so I’d imagine Bairstow at 3 could be the way to go.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Wood plays. It’s then who for. Would you just go leach as the front line spinner with Root as back up? I’d be tempted to.

That leaves me with a seam attack of Wood Broad and Anderson with a bit of Stokes too. Of course if I’m wrong bout the pitch and conditions that attack may not be up to it.

Quoted from Sandford1981

I think it definitely evens it up, especially if you compare that Bunsen burner in the last test.  If I use your team as a template-

We know how Root doesn't like to bat anywhere but 4 so I’d imagine Bairstow at 3 could be the way to go.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Wood plays. It’s then who for. Would you just go leach as the front line spinner with Root as back up? I’d be tempted to.

That leaves me with a seam attack of Wood Broad and Anderson with a bit of Stokes too. Of course if I’m wrong bout the pitch and conditions that attack may not be up to it.

I know what you are saying about Root, but I think Bairstow could be more destructive further down. Providing it isn't at 50-4!!!

Given the ages of Broad and Anderson they could bring Wood/Archer in for one of the spinners, using Root for back up (as you stated).

All will depend on the pitch. Hope it goes into the fifth day.

Quoted from smokey111

I know what you are saying about Root, but I think Bairstow could be more destructive further down. Providing it isn't at 50-4!!!

Given the ages of Broad and Anderson they could bring Wood/Archer in for one of the spinners, using Root for back up (as you stated).

All will depend on the pitch. Hope it goes into the fifth day.

Don’t get me wrong I think Root should play where he is needed most but he doesn’t does he if the past is anything to go on.

I didn’t know Archer was available again. That’s good news. Could we see both Wood and Archer then?

Prodigious turn already for a spinner Graeme Swann says doesn’t get a lot of revs on the ball.
Worrying signs.

5 down already, it's not looking too promising.  Maybe Broad and Anderson can cause some problems under lights later today but we really needed a strong start after the last test.

India's spinners again look lethal.

Make that 6 down. This test is lost already, half way through day 1.

Let's hope we can have them all out for 120 as well. Whatever, this game won't see day 4!!!!

Quoted from smokey111

Let's hope we can have them all out for 120 as well. Whatever, this game won't see day 4!!!!

I can argue until I’m blue in the face that 9 wickets should not be falling to spin in half a day on day 1 of a test but some of the batting was unbelievably poor.

I got this totally wrong. Made erroneous assumptions about the pink ball and conditions.

We are not playing well , batsmen poor apart from Crawley.

Bowlers not threatening and only one spinner with four pace bowlers.

Who picked this team. ?

Why has Root not bowled ?

We have lost this match on first day.

Quoted from grimsby pete

We are not playing well , batsmen poor apart from Crawley.

Bowlers not threatening and only one spinner with four pace bowlers.

Who picked this team. ?

Why has Root not bowled ?

We have lost this match on first day.

I have to admit I liked the look of the team given my assumptions about what the pink ball and conditions would do.

Turns out I was very wrong and now the team looks totally unbalanced to say the least.

What an incredible spell this is!!

Well that was a crazy hour or so,  maybe the match will be finished today!  

Quoted from codcheeky

Well that was a crazy hour or so,  maybe the match will be finished today!  

England all out for 32! You heard it here first!
Another poor test match pitch I’m afraid.

Bairstow is hopeless

I did ask the question why Root had not bowled well five wickets for eight runs tells us what a crappy pitch this is.

All over in two days is that a record ?

Stokes will be out any minute he’s to reckless.

Root got away with one there  phew !!

Stopped watching. This isn't a proper match, it's ridiculous.  When Root is taking 5 for 8, it's a game of who has the best spinner.

England 5 down already. Pathetic pitch, not worthy of an international contest. Fantastic new stadium has everything bar the most important bit.

Dont think the indians have bowled a pace bowler so far in this innings. Its a waste of time this

(I don’t like cricket) I love it! In my opinion test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport. However, at a time when people can’t concentrate for five minutes it’s under threat from the shorter formats of the game.

Preparing dust bowls like this does absolutely nothing for test cricket at all. It only harms it and that is unacceptable.

Proper mardy I am!😂

Don't panic Root will get 10 for 18 and we win by one run  ;D


OR

India get 49 for 0 win by 10 wickets .

Quoted from Hagrid

Bairstow is hopeless

Bairstow was playing nicely in Sri Lanka and in our wisdom sent him home for a break, he plays no cricket and then is back in and he fails. Defies logic in my eyes.

Last test match going pear shaped again. Right in it until Pant got to the crease and we can't get him out. Looks likely we will lose the series 3-1 at this stage.

Currently watching their bowler Sundar smack the ball to all parts. I fecking hate sport at the moment. Every team I support is rubbish.

Quoted from ginnywings

Currently watching their bowler Sundar smack the ball to all parts. I fecking hate sport at the moment. Every team I support is rubbish.

It’s character building...or something like that!

Quoted from Sandford1981

It’s character building...or something like that!

I must have built one hell of a character by now.

Quoted from ginnywings

I must have built one hell of a character by now.

Is that what your calling the beer belly?😉

Quoted from Sandford1981

Is that what your calling the beer belly?😉

Not got one of those anymore. I'm all about healthy eating and exercise nowadays.

Quoted from ginnywings

Not got one of those anymore. I'm all about healthy eating and exercise nowadays.

Fair play.

Watching sport at the minute is a challenge and England are taking it to new levels here ....... anyway I’m off to see what I’ve got left in the chocolate drawer! Hope there’s a snickers or 5 left otherwise I’ll be raiding the kids supplies 😊

I'm sorry to say but Dom Bess is not good enough yet, sure he has potential but he is far far too inconsistent currently, he bowls too many full toss's and short balls.

To be fair to Dom Bess he had a decent game in the first test taking 5 wickets. He was then dropped for the 2nd test and then left out for the 3rd test on a spin bowlers dream of a pitch, no wonder his confidence was shot. Poor management has let him down for me but he’s lost his place now so will need to go back to his club and put the work in.

Useless, spineless tossers.

Didn't expect us to win the series, but I expected us to put up a fight. India are going to win 2 tests in the length of time 1 test should take. Their bowlers and wicketkeeper have scored more runs than all our batsmen combined.

Quoted from Humbercod

To be fair to Dom Bess he had a decent game in the first test taking 5 wickets. He was then dropped for the 2nd test and then left out for the 3rd test on a spin bowlers dream of a pitch, no wonder his confidence was shot. Poor management has let him down for me but he’s lost his place now so will need to go back to his club and put the work in.

Bess hasn’t bowled well since South Africa and that includes when he took wickets. If you cannot control your length in test match cricket and especially in conditions that are stacked in your favour, then you get found out very quickly.
He has undoubtedly been treat shoddily too I agree. Limited ability and no confidence is a bad combination.
Bess has time on his side but needs to go and learn his trade for sure.
However we really shouldn’t be looking at him. The ‘batsmen’ however...

Don’t get me started on the batsmen 😤

We don't help ourselves do we ? The amount of poor shots we played makes you think they don't want to be out there.

Let's hope we fair better in the 20/20 at least we will not lose by an innings.