Eng in India

by KP_fan on Tue 01 Nov 2016, 6:49 am

First topic message reminder :

England tour of India, 2016-17

Nov 09, Wed - Nov 13, Sun
India vs England, 1st Test
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

Nov 17, Thu - Nov 21, Mon
India vs England, 2nd Test
Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Nov 26, Sat - Nov 30, Wed
India vs England, 3rd Test
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

Dec 08, Thu - Dec 12, Mon
India vs England, 4th Test
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Dec 16, Fri - Dec 20, Tue
India vs England, 5th Test
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Jan 15, Sun
India vs England, 1st ODI
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Jan 19, Thu
India vs England, 2nd ODI
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack

Jan 22, Sun
India vs England, 3rd ODI
Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Jan 26, Thu
India vs England, 1st T20I
Green Park, Kanpur

Jan 29, Sun
India vs England, 2nd T20I
Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur

Feb 01, Wed
India vs England, 3rd T20I
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

by king_carlos on Wed 09 Nov 2016, 10:39 pm

Bairstow at 8 would be complete waste of one of our best batsmen this season Hammersmith. Arguably 7 is already low for him but I hope if he's kept there he uses it as a chance to let his attacking instinct loose more.

Root is also very much our no 3 now. Best batsmen coming in at first drop, looking to pressure the bowlers and up the scoring rate.

I wouldn't be surprised if Moeen will soon need to justify his place in the side as a top 6 batsmen to stay in it regularly. Jack Leach looks an excellent young spinner who could possibly to a much better job of tying up an end than Moeen does. Tying up an end then picking up useful wickets is often what an England spinner is required to do in home conditions.

by Hammersmith harrier on Wed 09 Nov 2016, 10:54 pm

I don't think Ali's place is under any real threat at the moment, he's one of the five best batsmen we have, no matter how you configure Ali, Bairstow, Stokes and Woakes, at least two of them will be batting too low.

by king_carlos on Wed 09 Nov 2016, 11:18 pm

As long as he continues to justify his place as a top 6 bastman I completely agree. I just feel he will soon be overtaken as primary spinner so the days of him dropping down the order when he loses batting form but remaining as a bowler might be numbered.

Although it might not seem like it I actually find Moeen very likable as a player! His batting is great to watch when he gets going and his bowling has improved a lot in the international spotlight - something very hard to do. I just feel that his role within in the side, which has never been stable, will be subject to more change pretty soon.

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 6:07 am

Another fantastic session for England.- they've powered onto 450-6, with Stokes into the 80's. Will be slightly disappointed that Bairstow fell just before lunch but a good session nonetheless

Will be looking to put on 550+ here. The pitch definitely turned more this morning, and the ball is reversing early too.

India again very poor in the field and I have no idea why Mishra bowled such a long spell. He was horribly ineffective

by alfie on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 6:58 am

Great morning session for England ...

Middle session not starting so well Smile

Woakes will be kicking himself for missing out.

Pleased to see the aggressive intent ; much rather get 500 quickly than take forever in search of 600 plus. Obviously have to bowl well to get anything from this either way ; but clearly the intent is to push for a win.

by alfie on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 7:36 am

Hundred for Stokes clap

Runs dried up a bit with a few wickets falling quite quickly. I know everyone is talking about a flat pitch ; but the bowlers - seamers and spinners both - have created a fair few chances , not all of them accepted. OK some down to batsmen in a hurry ...but I think there must be something there for the bowlers. And presumably there will be more as the game progresses.
Also note the Indian seamers have obtained a bit of reverse , despite pre-game theories that the lush outfield would prevent this. All up , I think England must have a some prospects for doing damage to India when they bat.

by Corporalhumblebucket on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:07 am

Ideal situation for Ansari to show what he can do with the bat in the lower order. Playing at the other end from an established and more aggressive batsman he calmly acculmulates. He's batted for 47 balls during this partnership of 44. Obviously he's got a lot more to do to establish himself as an England player, and in particular with his bowling, but he's clearly a very handy player indeed to come in at no 10.

by VTR on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:11 am

Have been impressed with Ansari this morning - calmed things down and supported Stokes, who has had some luck but played really well

Rashid - brainless and not a thinking cricketer in any way, a bit of a luxury in the team and I will call it now that he won't play another Test after this tour

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:18 am

VTR wrote:Have been impressed with Ansari this morning - calmed things down and supported Stokes, who has had some luck but played really well

Rashid - brainless and not a thinking cricketer in any way, a bit of a luxury in the team and I will call it now that he won't play another Test after this tour

Have we already just dismissed the innings/partnership he put on with woakes in the last game? Has he suddenly become brainless overnight?

by VTR on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:23 am

Nope - in general he has been poor in Tests, and today is another black mark

Mainly for me it's his bowling though, as I would accept a legspinner who batted like the lovechild of Alan Mullally and Phil Tufnell if he was a really good bowler. To me though he seems to go through his variations and hope that something happens

by dyrewolfe on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:48 am

Fantastic efforts by Root, Moeen and Stokes. Bubbly

Also good to see Ansari being a thorn in India's side. Don't think this last wicket pair will hang around too long, but at least our bowlers have a good target to defend. clap

Apparently this is the first time England have scored 3 centuries in the same innings against India since 1961!

Looking forward to seeing one or two Indian wickets go down before close of play.

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:52 am

I'm no fan of Rashid but, like all his critics, we still need to see how gets on with the ball in this Test. 4 or more match wickets and we have to accept he'll probably make the next game at least. However, a match return of 1/170 and the hounds can be released!

Meanwhile, Ansari displaying his calm and unruffled approach. He supported Stokes well and showed clear signs that - if needed - he could bat higher up the order in this team.

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9:05 am

Right - regulars will know my thinking here. Need Ansari and Broad to now take us safely to tea. Don't give the India openers 20 minutes to prepare themselves for their innings.

Blast! Ansari given lbw, reviewing ....

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9:07 am

... yeah, thought so, Ansari out and England's innings closes on 537. Excellent achievement.

by dyrewolfe on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9:09 am

Oh well...good knock by Ansari to boost England to 537 all out.

At least India know they can't simply cruise past England and build up a big 1st innings lead. Be interesting to see how they approach this.

Imagine they will just want to get to close of play with all their wickets intact. If England can knock over one or two it might get the nerves jangling.

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9:12 am

Indias spinners with combined figure of 351-6 off 99 overs

Fantastic batting effort by England

by Gooseberry on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 9:18 am

Rashid is a real dissapointment. But then so were Stokes and Woakes when first picked. Im trying to be positive here, but he really does need to do more with his chances even if they have been limited to date. Judge him on his bowling though, if he cant do that then his place really should be under threat.
Absolutely agree that Moeens place is safe in the medium term as a batsman who also offers a significant spin option, albeit one that he would struggle to justofy selection on alone if there were a decent alternative. I see him as Englands Duminy.
Bairstow probably should bat above Stokes. Whether theres an elemnt of wanting to make a statement about his primary role being a glovesman, and thats what he should be getting selected on and concentrating on developing Im not sure. But hes clearly in Englands top 6 batsmen, in terms of runs scored this year hes number 2 only behind Root. Bearing in mind how low he bats thats a pretty huge contribution.
That said you could make a case for Ansari and Woakes being bumped up too, it wouldnt be beyond reason for Stokes to go in at 8 (he does still avergae in the low 30's). With so many all rounders Englands line up is very interchangeable. Having a guy who on occassion opens the batting at first class level batting 10 is prettty ridiculous, and Broad who early in his career was tipped as a potential top 6 bat at 11 ... well they really can make up for the inability to sort out 2 settled and effective players to make up the top 4 with Root and Cook.
I stand buy my early statement that they still havent sorted that part of the team out, and that shuffling the players yet again still hasnt made a telling impact. Yes Root had a good score, but that shouldnt mask that the top 4 who should be scoring the bulk of the runs contributed far less than 5-8 yet again. England are still reliant on their middle and lower order to get the runs. Whilst some of the "tail" didnt wag the number 10 has still hit more runs than the 2 other newbies who are selected purely as batsmen in the top 4 (and Cook)

Anyway regardless of how they got there England have a solid total and it will be hard for India to win from here, its more about whether England can bowl India out twice or not. They do have a genuine tail from 9-11 but so much quality in the top 5. Its on Englands bowlers to turn up. The Captain has plenty of options to juggle and lots of challenges to offer different batsmen so there is a chance...but I do fancy a draw from here.
Its a better start than we have come to expect from England for sure.

It is a good score even on an absolute road, but it wouldve been a dissapointement if they hadnt got well over 400 given they were batting first on a flat pitch, the senior seamer missed half a day, the Indians cant field for toffee, and they have the depeest test batting line up anyone has ever fielded.

by alfie on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 11:04 am

Had to go out so missed most of the latter part of the day...pleased to see Ansari helping the score to a handy 537.
But I think England will be a little disappointed to have not been able to make inroads tonight : might have hoped tired batsmen would be a chance of making mistakes. But they've looked pretty sound since I got back.
No chances ? Might be hard work taking ten wickets in this first innings ...

by alfie on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 11:09 am

And safe at 63/0 at the close...but I hope Rashid can produce a few more like that googly he bowled on the penultimate delivery! Was a ripper.

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 11:22 am

Thought England bowled well there but it's clearly going to be difficult these Indian batsmen are a step up in class from Bangladesh

But good to see them keep it tight. A good start by India but still a long long way from being anywhere near parity

by alfie on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 11:43 am

Can't see them being rolled over easily...so I guess England should aim at chipping away throughout tomorrow , with a view to hopefully getting them out south of 400 early day four : which would leave time to try and force a result.
India of course would prefer to bat for the next two days Smile

Seems to be a bit there for the spinners so I suppose a lot depends on how quickly the pitch starts to offer even more...

by VTR on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 11:46 am

It's a road, but India are despite that good start the best part of 500 behind. Still a lot of work for them to do, and I think England will come into more with the older ball

by msp83 on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 12:05 pm

Another terrible day at the office for India. But credit to England, they had the platform, something their more than capable and deep batting lineup hasn't often been provided with, and they cashed in brilliantly. Another fine contribution from Ben Stokes, and Bairstow made runs yet again. He has completely changed and has become unrecognizable from the batsman who needed just a full and straight one at the stumps to be bowled!
Their fielding, and Amit Mishra. The greatest disappointment for me as far as India is concerned. Mishra, at 34, can't expect to get too many chances. With Jadeja and Ashwin in there, he has had limited opportunities, but he has reached a stage in his career wherein he has to take every opportunity. After the Sri Lanka series, at one point Virat Kohli had in fact preferred him over Jadeja as the 2nd spinner in away conditions, but Mishra managed to bowl himself out of the side in the West Indies with some pretty poor performances. He again got a chance because of the fine performance he put in in the limited overs against New Zealand, but he's finding himself out of his depth again, at the test level. If he doesn't rectify the situation as early as the next innings, think they should look at options. Kuldeep Yadav's Chinaman could be a good starting place.......

by msp83 on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 12:12 pm

Even with 5 bowlers, India couldn't restrict England to under 500. And now without a 6th batsman, will they even manage to get anywhere close to the England score? Yes the openers batted well, and without much discomfort, but it will be interesting to see how they go about when the ball would reverse.......
They have to bat positively tomorrow

by msp83 on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 12:21 pm

And Wriddhiman Saha, get your act together man! Rishabh Pant is waiting!!
Saha came with a big reputation as a keeper. But he kept dropping important catches every innings, up to the West Indies tour. There, he seemed to have turned a corner with bat, and his reputation with the gloves was justified. And then he had a fine series, particularly with the gloves against New Zealand, wherein he made important contributions with the bat too. And now, he's back to dropping key catches. And the 2nd one he dropped of Stokes, that was the kind of catch he kept dropping, the relatively straightforward one.......
Not suggesting Saha's place has to be up for scrutiny as of now. However, if he keeps making these mistakes, and if young Pant, the lad from Viru Sehwag's land, keeps pulverizing domestic bowlers the way he has so far done this season, then Saha, in his 30s, may not get an extended run to get himself sorted.......

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 12:26 pm

Hi msp - can tell you're not happy! Wink

Understand that although your openers did a good job in the final session and have made the draw the most likely result at this stage.

Anyway, as I've given you my thoughts about him quite recently, how did you think Ansari scrubbed up?

by msp83 on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 2:00 pm

Hi Guildford
Well Ansari didn't disgrace himself with the bat. Admitedly, coming in at 10, in a no pressure situation, on a flat track, against an attack that was blunted. But he did show a sense of calmness....... With the ball, he didn't bowl enough to say anything, in the overs he bowled, didn't seem like changing my opinion a great deal.......

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 2:24 pm

Cheers, msp.

I didn't actually see much of England's bowling and missed Ansari altogether with the ball. As for his batting - yes, it was a no pressure situation but he showed fine sense in not throwing his wicket away and provided good support to Stokes. That by itself certainly doesn't get him a Test place but equally it doesn't do him any harm.

by Mad for Chelsea on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 2:41 pm

It was a decent knock by Ansari. As a batsman he looks fairly composed and well organised, seems to understand his game well. Gave good support to Stokes and helped make sure England crossed 500 and then some. His bowling was OK too, he didn't bowl any bad balls, but didn't create anything either. Admittedly the pitch is flat, but Moeen managed to spin a couple past the edge, one coming within a whisker of bowling Vijay, and Rashid caused the odd problem too*.

Overall, India will be delighted to still be none down at stumps, while England will hope the ball starts reversing properly sooner rather than later (and that Stokes is fit to take advantage of it - though you'd expect him to, looked like cramp more than anything). They'll also want the pitch to start breaking up a little, there's been the odd sign of spin and uneven bounce, but overall it's still looking very flat.

*Rashid's bowling was rather a microcosm of his career, and of the issues of the leggie. In two overs he ripped a googly past Gambhir's outside edge, got one to spin and bounce to Vijay who edges it uncomfortably past slip, and also nearly trapped Vijay with his front-on variation. However, he also bowled a full toss (hit for four, though I felt Cook should maybe have cut it off), and two balls that while not rank long-hops were too short and easily knocked away for runs.

Tomorrow I expect to be a grind for England. The good news is that with six bowlers they can hopefully not overtire any of them, whereas for India, with Mishra not doing all that well, Ashwin and Shami, and to a lesser extent Yadav, have bowled a lot of overs.

by king_carlos on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 4:09 pm

If Stokes can pick up a few economic wickets (or get more runs in the second innings of course) then this test could take his batting average above his bowling average. Currently his bowling average is sitting a hair higher.

Many think of it as a notional statistical quip that the test of an all rounder is having a higher batting average than bowling but it's also a very good measure of how much an all rounder balances a side.

It would be a deserved reward for his increasing consistency in tests.

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 6:24 pm

An aside - enjoying the English commentators (Atherton, Hussain and even Botham) ripping the BCCI and the Indian commentators awkwardly changing subject

Hussain flat out asked Gavaskar what he thought of the current state of cricket admin followed by 7/8 seconds of silence and Gavaskar changing the subject

Botham brought up the DRS issue and Shastri changes subject immediately

Subtle comedy from the english

by sirfredperry on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:01 pm

India should have been warned. Just how many times in recent years have England bounced back from a bad Test defeat with a good performance in the next Test?
Conversely, England now appear to be at their worst after winning a Test. I've now started worrying when they are victorious. Beats the old days, though, when the main worry was whether England would win ANY Test.

by wisden on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:04 pm

In fairness this pitch is a complete and utter road...even our batting line up had to make a score on this track...i expect India to make at least 300, its not really turning, and they have an incredibly talented batting line up

by guildfordbat on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 8:31 pm

I'm not as convinced as some about the track being a total road. If India had taken all their chances - and some of them weren't that difficult - they could have had about 18 wickets in 5 sessions.

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 4:04 am

guildfordbat wrote:I'm not as convinced as some about the track being a total road. If India had taken all their chances - and some of them weren't that difficult - they could have had about 18 wickets in 5 sessions.

My thoughts too. Perhaps not 18 wickets - some of the chances were the same batsman Smile

But England surely wouldn't have made 500.

Pitch is certainly good for batting - I'd expect India to make it hard for England's bowlers too - but it hasn't been one of those dreadful strips on which slip fielders are redundant and wickets only fall when batsmen get bored. The pacemen have produced some bounce and carry - and a touch of reverse , once the ball has worn a bit - and the spinners have made the odd ball do something. Batsmen have had to stay alert.

Think it will still be pretty good for batting today ; but it may not be on Sunday.

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 4:10 am

Great start for England - Broad strikes with his first ball. Gambhir departs.

Will hope to build on that...

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 4:35 am

Pujara seems to be in a busy and fluent mood...scoring very briskly from the off.

Bit ominous ?

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 5:50 am

Runs flowing towards lunch , after a period of tight bowling. 148/1 from 47 overs now.

India having the better of this session : if they can keep going like this England's total will not look so huge...

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 5:52 am

alfie wrote:Runs flowing towards lunch , after a period of tight bowling. 148/1 from 47 overs now.

India having the better of this session : if they can keep going like this England's total will not look so huge...

Stokes completing undoing the work of Woakes/Ansari who kept it tight for 10 or so overs, with a frankly awful 3 overs

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 6:11 am

A good call from Dharmasena - was sure that LBW was plumb! Vijay can't pick Rashid it seems

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 7:48 am

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
alfie wrote:Runs flowing towards lunch , after a period of tight bowling. 148/1 from 47 overs now.

India having the better of this session : if they can keep going like this England's total will not look so huge...

Stokes completing undoing the work of Woakes/Ansari who kept it tight for 10 or so overs, with a frankly awful 3 overs

Wasnt able to watch at that time ; I presume he went searching for reverse and didn't find any ? Scoring rate has been a little erratic today...quiet spells followed by bursts of aggression ; but the net result is India are making somewhat alarmingly quick progress in pursuit of an England score that no longer looks so imposing.

The one chance offered Hameed just couldn't hang on...but this is a good spell from Broad , and Rashid looking promising at the other end...really need to turn this pressure into a break...

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:06 am

alfie wrote:
Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
alfie wrote:Runs flowing towards lunch , after a period of tight bowling. 148/1 from 47 overs now.

India having the better of this session : if they can keep going like this England's total will not look so huge...

Stokes completing undoing the work of Woakes/Ansari who kept it tight for 10 or so overs, with a frankly awful 3 overs

Wasnt able to watch at that time ; I presume he went searching for reverse and didn't find any ? Scoring rate has been a little erratic today...quiet spells followed by bursts of aggression ; but the net result is India are making somewhat alarmingly quick progress in pursuit of an England score that no longer looks so imposing.

The one chance offered Hameed just couldn't hang on...but this is a good spell from Broad , and Rashid looking promising at the other end...really need to turn this pressure into a break...

Was a combination of full tosses and leg side half volleys from stokes

The spinners are bowling pretty well, but not really threatening.

by guildfordbat on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:18 am

Zafar very unfortunate to lose his 'dismissal' of Pujara on review. I didn't see so much bounce in the ball. Maybe I just didn't want to see it. Wink

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:19 am

I think the spinners have actually threatened lately ...Ansari so nearly had one then ! Bounce saved Pujara on review ...

Looking at the moment as if India are set fair for at least matching the England score . Which would mean either side might have a winning chance if the pitch suddenly deteriorated ; but I am not certain it will.

Then again : new ball due soon ; if a wicket falls it is possible the new batsman might not find things so easy. I'm not ready to make any bold predictions at the moment. But although the conditions seem primarily batsman-friendly , I'm not finding this uninteresting. Just enough happening that you feel wickets could fall. These two are batting really well. clap

by dyrewolfe on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:20 am

Looking at the moment like India will declare around the 650 mark. England's 537 looking just about on par. Sad

Pity we don't have any proper pace bowlers to try and unsettle India. Think we're really missing someone like Finn or Anderson.

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:26 am

guildfordbat wrote:Zafar very unfortunate to lose his 'dismissal' of Pujara on review. I didn't see so much bounce in the ball. Maybe I just didn't want to see it.

Yeah I thought it was stone dead live...but once I saw the slow motion I feared it might be going over ; a fair bit of bounce here - though less so for Ansari than the wrist spinner...

Not quite going for England today : I think they've bowled quite well for the most part ; but these two batsmen have played really well and I am starting to wonder where the next wicket can come from. Have to just hope one brings two , etc.
Still they are more than 300 behind so plenty of time to change

by Good Golly I'm Olly on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:27 am

alfie wrote:I think the spinners have actually threatened lately ...Ansari so nearly had one then ! Bounce saved Pujara on review ...

Looking at the moment as if India are set fair for at least matching the England score . Which would mean either side might have a winning chance if the pitch suddenly deteriorated ; but I am not certain it will.

Then again : new ball due soon ; if a wicket falls it is possible the new batsman might not find things so easy. I'm not ready to make any bold predictions at the moment. But although the conditions seem primarily batsman-friendly , I'm not finding this uninteresting. Just enough happening that you feel wickets could fall. These two are batting really well.

Still over 300 runs behind...long long way to go yet. Match is currently hurtling towards a draw tho...

by dyrewolfe on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:30 am

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:
alfie wrote:I think the spinners have actually threatened lately ...Ansari so nearly had one then ! Bounce saved Pujara on review ...

Looking at the moment as if India are set fair for at least matching the England score . Which would mean either side might have a winning chance if the pitch suddenly deteriorated ; but I am not certain it will.

Then again : new ball due soon ; if a wicket falls it is possible the new batsman might not find things so easy. I'm not ready to make any bold predictions at the moment. But although the conditions seem primarily batsman-friendly , I'm not finding this uninteresting. Just enough happening that you feel wickets could fall. These two are batting really well.

Still over 300 runs behind...long long way to go yet. Match is currently hurtling towards a draw tho...

There is at least that to say about England's bowling attack. They might not have got the wickets, but for India to still be over 300 behind shows they've managed to contain the hosts to a certain degree.

Then again it also speaks volumes about the Indian batsmen that they haven't got themselves out with rash shots, trying to chase down England's score.

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 8:57 am

It is good "old fashioned" Test Cricket ; possibly not everyone's taste.

India have responded with character and discipline to England's formidable total : no wickets last night , and after an early shock this morning these two have produced a wonderful exhibition of patient (but far from passive) batting.
And England's bowlers have stuck to their (difficult) task extremely well : if India periodically threatened to run away they managed to regroup and drag the scoring rate back. As a result this game is still very much in the balance.

The danger for England is that this third session might see the batsmen prosper at the expense of tired bowlers. Cook has rotated his bowlers quite well so none have been drained ; but long days in the field do take their toll...

India by contrast could yet see much of their good work undone if they were to suffer a clatter of wickets against the second new ball ; this partnership remains very important.
On balance I think the batting side will be happier with the state of play at the moment. But a couple of quick wickets might change that

by alfie on Fri 11 Nov 2016, 9:18 am

Fine hundred for Pujara clap

Moeen with the new ball ? Innovative. But not immediately successful as he is launched over mid off for six Smile

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