England's Winter of Cricket 2020/21

First topic message reminder :

Rum sort of field for Nadeem to Sibley...two short covers ???

Not noted for getting caught there , is he ? Strange theory...

Watching this on Fox sports, at lunch its an interview with Billy Birmingham (the 12th man). That was a seriously funny album back in the day. I still pull it out every now and then for a good laugh.

The 100 run partnership comes up. These two looking very comfortable out there.

Poor shot from Stokes, didn't fully commit to the slog sweep and holes out.

Stokes gone. Kohli stuck to his plan with Nadeem and it finally pays off. Great innings from Stokes.

Stokes gone. Out of nowhere really. He's caught near the boundary after attempting another big shot and will be doubtless frustrated he couldn't make a ton.

13 No Balls now, that is truly unacceptable.

Blimey this is quite an innings for England isnt it

Root starting to struggle physically, but he's still going for now at 183*. Pope hasn't looked particularly comfortable since arriving at the crease, though he has just played a neat drive to the boundary.

415/4. India ran out of ideas a long time ago. And they've now lost their last review on a desperate throw of the dice. Very poor use of the technology from them today, Kohli's normally fairly astute in this area.

Pope looked as though he thought he'd gloved that to me.

6 for 200 ....wow. The perecentage of runs n the 3 tests so far from one player is absurd.

The best way to bring up a fifth double century.

India are being desperate now. Not often you see Indian teams lose composure like this. England really putting them under pressure.

Duty281 wrote:The best way to bring up a fifth double century.

3 of his last 4 centuries have been doubles.

First player to score a double in his 100th test.

Still rubbish though.

Pure class.

Unlike the rest of the big four his average is hindered rather than bolstered by his home record.

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

Duty281 wrote:The best way to bring up a fifth double century.

3 of his last 4 centuries have been doubles.

First player to score a double in his 100th test.

Still rubbish though.

A proper player would have had a triple by now.

454/4 at tea.

Two ways England can approach the final session. Have a thrash for an hour and a bit, declare, and bowl at India in the hope of prising one or two out before stumps. Or continue as they are, with the aim of making 600+, and declaring sometime tomorrow morning.

I expect the former, though I'd give serious consideration to the latter.

Averaging 158 this winter, and two of his wickets were run outs. No wonder Kholi looks clueless

Duty281 wrote:454/4 at tea.

Two ways England can approach the final session. Have a thrash for an hour and a bit, declare, and bowl at India in the hope of prising one or two out before stumps. Or continue as they are, with the aim of making 600+, and declaring sometime tomorrow morning.

I expect the former, though I'd give serious consideration to the latter.

100% should continue as they are, look to get to the close losing one or two more wickets while adding another 80-100 and then look to add quick runs tomorrow morning. Root spoke about it yesterday, they need to be looking for 600+

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

Duty281 wrote:The best way to bring up a fifth double century.

3 of his last 4 centuries have been doubles.

First player to score a double in his 100th test.

Still rubbish though.

First double hundred in India by a touring player since Brendon McCullum in 2010

Popes started to settle down which bodes well, its arguably more important now he gets runs for his confidence going ahead than it is for this game. England will have a sizeable first innings score even if they collapse from here for another 50, the loss is looking very distant. Great to see Stokes right back into cricket playing a Stokes innings.

Need someone to step up with the ball in the same way. The one thing India will know is that a lot of time has gone form the match so the draw is always there to save them if they knuckle down.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:454/4 at tea.

Two ways England can approach the final session. Have a thrash for an hour and a bit, declare, and bowl at India in the hope of prising one or two out before stumps. Or continue as they are, with the aim of making 600+, and declaring sometime tomorrow morning.

I expect the former, though I'd give serious consideration to the latter.

100% should continue as they are, look to get to the close losing one or two more wickets while adding another 80-100 and then look to add quick runs tomorrow morning. Root spoke about it yesterday, they need to be looking for 600+

NEED is pushing it a bit, looking for is fine but scores of 600 are incredibly rare especially for touring sides. . It took two double hundreds for them to get a 600+ score in India back in the 80s, thats the only time England have ever made that kind of total away from home.

Sure they will rightly be batting for as many runs as possible and setting themselves strong "A" targets, but lets please temper expectation and acknowledge that this is already a very good score. We had the same in SL with everyone saying the needed 500+ in their first innings.

Realistically if 500 isn't enough if not its the first innings batting thats been the problem, its the bowlers


Cook now talking up the need to push the scoring rate a little.

There's no need for this pair to do anything other than what they are doing, if we need quick runs give Buttler T20 instructions.

It’s the classic response of an England cricket fan to when they are doing well - but I can still picture England declaring on 550 at Adelaide in 2006 and losing! Grind them into the dust.

Yeah dont get me wrong I have no issue with them batting through the line up and still going tomorrow, every runs a winner, just noting that it shouldn't be seen as a failure in any way if they "only" make 500. Its already a strong position. As much as they should be having positive thoughts about whats possible they shouldnt be planning a test match around fear of previous teams biggest failures.

Definitely a big plus for the series that they have put a lot of overs in Ashwin and Bumrahs legs and continue to do so.

Didn't England once score nearly 500 in India and still lost by an innings? A few years back if i remember correctly.

Pal Joey wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

As for the comments from one poster rubbishing Root - probably best for giants (and that's everyone else here) not to concern themselves with a pygmy. Apologies if that's heightist.

Are you standing on your library ladder at Bat Towers again, Guildford?  

Just realised. Could that poster could be Steffan? Very similar tone with those disparaging remarks. Best left ignored.

...

You got it right on all counts there, Joey.

eirebilly wrote:Didn't England once score nearly 500 in India and still lost by an innings? A few years back if i remember correctly.

The test where Nair made a treble ton and India nearly made 800.

Gooseberry wrote:Popes started to settle down which bodes well, its arguably more important now he gets runs for his confidence going ahead than it is for this game. ...

And of course for me in Joey's competition!

Gone now though. A shame. As goose said, he never completely settled but was beginning to look more comfortable.

Ha, I walk in after cricket and drinks and instantly bring about the dismissal of Pope...

Still at 473/5 England are in a fair position , no ?  Could maybe do with a bit of a push on from here as taking 20 wickets might be a problem.

Joe Root any good then ? Nathaniel says no , I suppose.

eirebilly wrote:Didn't England once score nearly 500 in India and still lost by an innings? A few years back if i remember correctly.

They've also won games scoring less than 500 first up.


Reveiw for Root ....

Pathetic, cant even play spin.

The end of a superb innings. Arrived with England in a spot of bother at 63/2, leaves them in a strong position of 477/6.

Looks like England will be bowling tonight!

alfie wrote:Ha, I walk in after cricket and drinks and instantly bring about the dismissal of Pope...

Still at 473/5 England are in a fair position , no ?  Could maybe do with a bit of a push on from here as taking 20 wickets might be a problem.

Joe Root any good then ? Nathaniel says no , I suppose.

Can you stop drinking please

In fact I'm collapsing the innings

Should have stayed down at the club.

Great innings , Joe Root

Now we need some frisky tail end stuff to get over 500 and get at India this evening. Ball maybe starting to turn a bit ?

Duty281 wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Didn't England once score nearly 500 in India and still lost by an innings? A few years back if i remember correctly.

The test where Nair made a treble ton and India nearly made 800.

We don’t speak of that game

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:454/4 at tea.

Two ways England can approach the final session. Have a thrash for an hour and a bit, declare, and bowl at India in the hope of prising one or two out before stumps. Or continue as they are, with the aim of making 600+, and declaring sometime tomorrow morning.

I expect the former, though I'd give serious consideration to the latter.

100% should continue as they are, look to get to the close losing one or two more wickets while adding another 80-100 and then look to add quick runs tomorrow morning. Root spoke about it yesterday, they need to be looking for 600+

I don't believe there's a right or wrong answer as to an England declaration here but I would favour it tonight. Look to get at the Indian openers after almost 2 full days in the field. Don't give them a full night's sleep before batting even with 40 more minutes fielding tomorrow. Sometimes you can get more wickets in 20 or 25 minutes than in 70 or 80.

This assumes the opportunity either way still exists. Root now gone after a batting masterclass.

Alfie, I think it's time you gave the club your proposal for day-night matches. How's your vision under lights, chum?

You're still a few streets ahead in the tipping comp though.

The pitch isn't as dead as some have made out, been reasonable amount of turn throughout and the seamers were able to get a bit of reverse too. Root has made it look easier than it is which Kohli and co are more than capable of replicating.

Difference between 500 and 600 is you can still lose (admittedly highly unlikely) after scoring 500, but it's virtually impossible if you score 600. No test team has ever lost after scoring 600 in the first innings batting first - the highest 1st innings score (batting first) and going on to lose is Bangladesh making 595/8 declared against NZ in 2017. There's been a total of seven instances in test cricket where a team batting first has scored 500-595 and gone on to lose (five of them taking place in Australia).

Duty281 wrote:Difference between 500 and 600 is you can still lose (admittedly highly unlikely) after scoring 500, but it's virtually impossible if you score 600. No test team has ever lost after scoring 600 in the first innings batting first - the highest 1st innings score (batting first) and going on to lose is Bangladesh making 595/8 declared against NZ in 2017. There's been a total of seven instances in test cricket where a team batting first has scored 500-595 and gone on to lose (five of them taking place in Australia).

Hi Duty - yes, but we should not lose having exceeded 500. I accept we still could as history shows. However, I doubt we'll be in such a good position too often in this series as we are now. I would therefore gamble (although I don't think it's too much of a gamble) by declaring before stumps today and leaving some runs out there in going for the win.

Popping out for 20 minutes now.

To be clear, I still want us to be batting when I return. A declaration by then would be too soon and I certainly don't want us bowled out!!

Pal Joey wrote:Alfie, I think it's time you gave the club your proposal for day-night matches. How's your vision under lights, chum?

You're still a few streets ahead in the tipping comp though.

My vision not the best in any light these days , PJ

Sorry I missed the Stokes innings but I do think they might have saved a bit of good batting for me...

As to the road map I'd prefer guildford's plan of quick runs and get at India tonight. As goose says , if 500 plus isn't enough the bowling is the problem. Unless of course their modest aim is to get a draw...

Agree with the general position on any talk of a declaration being premature - but if Bess continues his blockathon (currently 2 off 21) then I may change by opinion! He still has to look to rotate the strike. Can’t become completely becalmed in this situation as that is what India will want.

Buttler did indeed get away with one. India needed a review.

There is something more in the pitch in this last session in terms of spin
But....The spin is slow....Giving batsmen chance to adapt

Eng has batted well and the only trick India missed was to not deliberately slow down Eng....Instead of attacking to pick wickets .

There.have been some.declaration discussions however in my view
Eng should bat on and on and on ....
By doing so they score when pitch is still good....All of morning session tomm if they cam
And go on to enforce follow on

India on the other hand should be able to avoid follow on and fancy themselves to score 400+ on what Will be a slightly deteriorated but still benign pitch
BUT
Runs on the board creates a strange pressure that only a mountain of runs can create.

Nadeem has redeemed himself today and Butler very very lucky saved by an umpiring howler

Duty281 wrote:Buttler did indeed get away with one. India needed a review.

Maybe reviewing an LBW shout when Ben Stokes punched it was a bad idea huh

That is why you don't waste your reviews on fishing expeditions. The sort of howler drs was designed to avoid ... But India with no tries left.

Jos won't mind

Yes, no excuses for losing your reviews when you have three of them.

Buttler now gets his off stump knocked back by Sharma. Deserved wicket for Sharma who's bowled well all innings. Still around an hour of play left today. Actually only 9 overs left, India's spinners have helped them get through the overs today.

Another for Sharma! Archer was nowhere on that.

Okay, maybe now with Buttler gone is the time for some naked aggression. Not that Jofra can really do anything else, or even do that, with the bat at International level!

Not the best leave I've seen today , Jos.

Ishant deserved that...bowled pretty well without reward.

And now Archer continues to demonstrate why he is batting too high at nine...

Think it's time to have a swing chaps...