India v England 4th Test, Nagpur

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So we are reaching the last lap of the series with lots of things at stake.
England are 2-1 up, and this is a historic chance for Alastair Cook's side to make history by winning a series in India after 28 years. After a dreadful year where they lost 7 test matches and the well earned number one ranking, England seem to be getting firmly back on track.
Captain Cook is leading from the front, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior are backing him well with the bat and Nick Compton has been solid if not spectacular. Of late Jonathan Trott also found some form. James Anderson has been good, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann comfortably outbowled their Indian spin counterparts.
There are injury concerns though Steven Finn, who bowled very well in the last match is almost ruled out. Stuart Broad won't be able to step in for him, as he's already ruled out. That leaves a straight choice between Tim Bresnan and Graeme Onions. Bresnan has struggled to match his ashes form since his elbow troubles, and was pretty poor at Ahmedabad in the first test. Onions didn't have a great time in the tour matches. I would personally go for Onions, who has more pace than Bresnan has and bowls a wicket to wicket line. But England might prefer Bresnan's experience and his previous record in the sub-continent. There are questions over Samit Patel's place as well. Patel hasn't really gone on to play a big innings so far, but he has got a few important starts. If Finn's ruled out, his 5th bowling option would be more handy for England.
As far as India go, its a test match at the crossroads for them. The team has lost 2 back to back home tests after 12 years. They are facing the prospect of a home series loss after 8 years. All these come on top of the disasters in England and Australia. The batting isn't firing, the spinners are being outbowled. The leader of the pace pack is send packing by the selectors. There are shrill calls for the captain's head.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects his side to show some character in these circumstances. He expects Gautam Gambhir to convert one of those starts into a big one and he believes Sachin Tendulkar, as he has often done will deliver for his team and prove the speculators wrong. He things he can handle the criticism coming his way.
They are sure to go in with 2 changes as Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh who played the previous matches are dropped. It could be Ajinkya Rahane's much anticipated test debut. He might bat 6 in place or else they can bat him at 5 and push Virat Kohli to 6. The other option is to pick Ravindra Jadeja who has been in the form of his life in the Ranji Trophy this season. Jadeja has already scored over 800 runs with 2 triple hundreds for Saurashtra and has picked 26 wickets with his left-arm spin. Playing Jadeja would mean they can play 3 spinners without losing the balance of the attack. The absence of Zaheer and the unavailability of the injured Umesh Yadav might mean that Ishant Sharma's experience might see him playing. Remains to bee seen as to who would partner him in the seam bowling department. Ashok Dinda has been in the squad for some time, Parvinder Awana has good pace and recent good form.
As far as the pitch goes, cricinfo reports that it hasn't been watered for the last couple of days. So the dry pitch should turn. From when onwards and how much remains to bee seen.
Weather is expected to stay good.

love that attacking declaration from india ...

turned the telly on and all i have is sound- wtf is going on!

This is what i love about cook and why i think he would be a very worthwhile t20 player- he adapts to any given situation..

This is also why he is a top captain as well..

He can play any way he wants..

The KP's of this world are only high class when attacking.

the trotts and bells(when in good nick) of this world have to set up there innings and play at a steady rate after..

Cook is playing perfectly here, as he allways seems to.

I love cook, yeah i know.. I want him to captain every format tbh..

cook given another howler

81 - 2 Compton gone. This shows why it's important that they don't let the run rate completely stall. Could bat for ages - well into tomorrow and still give India a gettable total of under 200.

And now Compton given out - lbw , though it should have been caught

Right result , umpire still wrong...

So two down and less than 90 ahead. The problem with playing ultra defensively. If KP goes we're in trouble.

Well its safer for kp to play his natural game- and if he gets a quick 60 then its runs.. root looks like he could stay about.

Still positive..

Yes England are still in the stronger position . But what might have been "nearly out of sight" by now , is more "two quick wickets and anything can happen"

Next hour very important.

yes i agree- if kp gets out quick i will worry!!

Despite not converting, Compton has made some critical contributions in this series. I hope they let him cash in in NZ.

Yep i think he has kept his place and deservedly so..


But if i had the decision I would rather look elsewhere for a no.6(bairstow probally) and promote root in as opener!

Compton should get another shot in NZ I would think.

That Cook decision was laughable. Remind me who got Umpire of the Year Mr Dharmasena? (spelling)

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:81 - 2 Compton gone. This shows why it's important that they don't let the run rate completely stall. Could bat for ages - well into tomorrow and still give India a gettable total of under 200.

Yes, unless Pietersen comes up with something special we're going to need to bat well beyond lunch tomorrow ....

Expect Compton in the squad for NZ . Test selection will be interesting.

Cook , Trott , KP, nailed on ; but Bell , Bairstow , Compton , Root and even possibly Taylor contesting the other three spots...

...and before BFB has a heart attack I am fairly sure IB will be starting.

The thing is, the pitch isnt that hard to bat on, just to score on. Pieterson and Dhoni have both played the long game on this pitch.

I imagine it'll be Panesar for Finn, Bresnan for Broad if fit. Probably keep Root in.

Sehwag drops KP.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH

Getting themselves in trouble here with this negative approach. KP leaving one that was completely straight.

I think Bell might try and be positive. Just needs to get the balance right.

Lead of over 100 and batting tomorrow may get tricky. So not in total panic yet.

But India are right back in this , and I fear this is largely down to England's defensive mindset. I can't watch for a little while now...just praying things don't get worse before I am back in an hour...

Wheres Collingwood when you need him

Bell is indeed helping pick the scoring rate up a bit. Suddenly four boundaries in three overs,

Well, India still not out of the match. England 114-3. India would certainly need more wickets today if they have to have a chance. Bell's batting with Trott. Bit of a strange knock from Cook. He should have shown a bit more of intent. England haven't really built up any really threatening lead and too much of playing for a draw can play into the opposition's hands.
Will we have an exciting finish in the last session of the last day? Or will the match be practically over by lunch tomorrow? I hope for the former with India emerging with the credit, but there are greater chances for the former to happen.
If India can somehow produce 3 wickets at least in the last hour tomorrow, they would go in with a better chance.

only just started watching this so missed the action. Why did India declare behind? I'd have though they might just push on for a small lead? I guess they need to force a result? quite positive then,

msp.. nice and honest of you. you're bound to hope for your team to win and with the match situation at home and englands fragile batting once Cook goes you're probably favourites again now.

By the way it was the none-turner that did Pietersen in, just like it happened to Trott in the first innings. He wouldn't want to see a replay of that, KP!.

England are stepping it on now, the more they score, the less chances of an Indian win. Wickets, wickets and wickets, there is nothing else that can save India. But where do they come from?

from a bowler getting a batsman out by various means or a run out?

Shocking from India. Really trying to put pressure on the umpires. No evidence he hit that anyway.

Lets not forget, its not going to be easy for India to knock off runs in double quick time either. Scoring quickly on this pitch is very hard, batting time easier.

Trott's response: I'll walk when you recall Cook.

Excellent 50 from Trott. About time he came to the party.

that was pretty awful from the Indians really, especially as I don't think Trott hit the ball (certainly there's absolutely nothing that indicated that he had). Kohli and Dhoni at least should be looking at bans for that sort of incident.

Just a 40% fine if the icc is consistent but I agree - Ought to be banned for a test series

Just shown the snicko replay. Seemed to show nothing at all, although there was a bit of a spike after the ball had gone past the bat. Suggestion Trott may have hit his pad.

Considering the BCCI dont want DRS with one of the reasons being the umpires decision shouldnt be questioned the Indians need to act better than that

Bell looking good so far - soft dismissal probably coming up soon!

You'd have thought the Indians would have prepared a pitch with more pace and bounce considering they needed a result and atm that is looking pretty unlikely

Think the match has slipped away from India. Trott looks well set and Bell has overcome his starting troubles. Only 3 down, England are ever so closer to that series win.

England need another 100 before we could say that MSP.

Chasing 250+ after lunch tomorrow would be interesting for India.

They wont chase 250 in 2 sessions on this pitch

No I don't think they will, that seems more a days batting but it'd be a lovely carrot to dangle, considering the hitters in their team!

Defensive field on a day 5 pitch thats been low and slow from day 1, they'd struggle to push 3 an over. Desperation beginning to sink in for India, they need 2 in the next 25 mins

Oh how I love it when decisions go against India! 3 letter for the arrogant ****wits at the BCCI: DRS.

Also, they weren't complaining at the 2 Cook shockers, and don't seem to see the hypocrisy in crying over the Trott one. I hope they all get fined for their behaviour here.

We've had the DRS debate several times lol. Either its mandatory for all or not used at all I think is the solution.

Not sure I agree GSC. I think its inexcusable when the top/richest 4 fail to use it when playing each other (Eng, SA, Aus, India). Understandable if poorer boards do not want to use it as we don't want to bankrupt someone by enforcing it. Its a bit 2 tier, but I'd want it used where possible.

And of course the debate will run and run until the BCCI move!

So...back to see this stand is worth 54 ...do I gather there has been some controversy while I was gone ?

Slightly amazed to see Bell has survived more than an hour

If its mandatory then the ICC should pay for it to be used tbf.

We should be getting the extra overs or at least an over in today, but seems tomorrow will be a dull day. But England can be glad, they are rewriting history after 28 years. Surely this has to be the end for Mahendra Singh Dhoni the captain? A dignified last test for MSD, he fought hard for his side, but they are proving to be not good enough.
Time for Gautam Gambhir the test opener to go. You can't survive on a few 30s and 40s and a rare 50 for 2 years. Have a feeling we may not see Sachin Tendulkar in test action for a great deal more. Rahane for Sachin, who would come in for Gambhir? Murali Vijay or Abhinav Mukund do not really inspire a lot of confidence.

Don't think India can ignore the calls for change anymore. Too many players living on past glories who cant reclaim old form, and a pretty ineffective bowling attack.

161-3, lead of 165 and more importantly 7 wickets left. Obviously the doomsayers will have their say, but India just about looking for a total England collapse