England's Summer of Cricket 2021

First topic message reminder :

Jacks, Crawley, Hain, Stokes, Salt (WK), Lawrence, Gregory, Overton, Saqib, Ball, Parkinson?

Will MacPherson suggests Hales won’t be picked, which is a bit odd given they hinted he would get a chance this summer.

You also have Vince, Duckett and keep an eye out for Harry Brook.

msp83 wrote:That could probably be it for the day. India not quite on their A game with the ball, and already a decent start for the English openers. No early soft wickets and no Joe Root early. That means the Indian bowlers will have to work that extra hard...
But overall, India will take the day they've had. Form 112-4 behind by 71, they'll happily take the 95 run lead. KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and the bowlers with the bat, doing a fine job.
Hope will get substantial play in the rest of the match, and India can drive home the advantage.

Eng used the Heaviest Roller that does flatten the pitch for 10odd overs and Bumrah & Siraj are seam bowlers
Be patient......there is enuf in the pitch when the roller affect subsides.......200ish is what I give Eng in 2nd inning

Play abandoned for the day.

Tomorrow's forecast not looking good at all.

Duty281 wrote:Play abandoned for the day.

Tomorrow's forecast not looking good at all.

The lesser the time left, the more only one team can lose scenario becomes likely

90 to 100 ovrs might be enuf to enforce a result, if it gets into a only one team only can lose scenario

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Play abandoned for the day.

Tomorrow's forecast not looking good at all.

The lesser the time left, the more only one team can lose scenario becomes likely

900 to 100 ovrs might be enuf to enforce a result, if it gets into a pnly one team only can lose scenario

Potentially a reason why Root should have bowled first. He knew the games was going to be shortened - and as KPF says, the team who batted second will struggle to lose in situations as the team batting third will never declare

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Play abandoned for the day.

Tomorrow's forecast not looking good at all.

The lesser the time left, the more only one team can lose scenario becomes likely

900 to 100 ovrs might be enuf to enforce a result, if it gets into a pnly one team only can lose scenario

Potentially a reason why Root should have bowled first. He knew the games was going to be shortened - and as KPF says, the team who batted second will struggle to lose in situations as the team batting third will never declare.

[/quote]

Perhaps although remember Kohli said he would have also chosen to bat first. For me, England's current dicey position is less to do with Root's choice on winning the toss and more to do with us batting poorly. Being tumbled for 183 probably isn't something that Root should have anticipated.

guildfordbat wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Play abandoned for the day.

Tomorrow's forecast not looking good at all.

The lesser the time left, the more only one team can lose scenario becomes likely

900 to 100 ovrs might be enuf to enforce a result, if it gets into a pnly one team only can lose scenario

Potentially a reason why Root should have bowled first. He knew the games was going to be shortened - and as KPF says, the team who batted second will struggle to lose in situations as the team batting third will never declare.

Perhaps although remember Kohli said he would have also chosen to bat first. For me, England's current dicey position is less to do with Root's choice on winning the toss and more to do with us batting poorly. Being tumbled for 183 probably isn't something that Root should have anticipated.

In the hypothetical world where the innings were reversed, and India batted first but still led by 95 - England’s chance of escaping with a draw would be higher because with limited time left India would be unlikely to leave a generous declaration. England would control the game and in theory be able either go for the win if they rolled India third innings or shut up shop and see out the limited time left if India batted too long. Probably only adds a small % to England’s chances, but worth considering.

But yes, the over arching point remains if you want to win Test matches don’t make 183 in the first innings! Something England haven’t quite grasped…

JDizzle wrote:But yes, the over arching point remains if you want to win Test matches don’t make 183 in the first innings! Something England haven’t quite grasped…

This is the 2,428th test match. Only 59 tests (2.4%) have been won by a team that batted first and scored 183 runs or fewer in the first innings, the most recent being England v Ireland in 2019, when England were bowled out for 85 in the first innings.

Conversely, 234 tests have been lost by teams that have batted first and scored 183 runs or fewer in the first innings.

India, weather permitting, should win from here. But England's position could have been much worse given that India, at one point, were only 80-odd behind with 10 wickets in hand.

Very glad they never got out again in the evening as England, on 25-0, could well have lost a wicket or two (three or four?) in a short evening session.

Excellent stats by Duty above. Bit surprised that only 59 Tests have been won by first-up scores of 183 or less. There was some low-scoring on the poor wickets of the late-19th century and also in the days of the traditional uncovered "stickies" they had sometimes in Australia.

Dry start to the day. Should get a few hours in before the rain. England need to show some resilience, still behind by 70.

Rain expected to arrive around 14:30. England will hope to be in a small lead by then.

First breakthrough after a fairly placid start. Burns gets drawn into a good length Siraj delivery.

Now Crawley edges first ball, but to the boundary. Nervy times.

Still looks a decent batting day (at least for now) if the batsman settles.

with the flattening affect of very heavy roller subsided.......ball is beginning to do some things off the pitch by way of seam movement

No surprise to see Crawley out. That was a hopeless short stay. Good grab by the keeper, England wobbling.

In fairness, it is tremendous bowling from India.

This pitch requires playing more strokes while out there.....like India's no. 6 and downwards did
not a run a ball...but about 4RPO.....else sooner a ball will nip extra or jump a bit and get you
That-s the problem with Sibley, Burns, Crawley etal...they eat balls but don't score enuf so on a good day after getting in, they will make 20s and 30s

Time for bowling change at both ends now....bring fresher next 2 seamers

Not the worst opening hour for England. They've seen off the initial burst and Root and Sibley have established themselves at the crease. Root looking in good touch, albeit fortunate to escape with an edge that fell just short of Kohli.

Only trail by 24 now. Intriguingly poised. Big hour coming up.

The pitch doesn't have anywhere near enough demons in it to justify an aggressive approach. The bounce is consistent and the bowlers aren't working with lots of movement; it just requires good test match batting.

KP_fan wrote:This pitch requires playing more strokes while out there.....like India's no. 6 and downwards did
not a run a ball...but about 4RPO.....else sooner a ball will nip extra or jump a bit and get you
That-s the problem with Sibley, Burns, Crawley  etal...they eat balls but don't score enuf so on a good day after getting in, they will make 20s and 30s

I would agree with this. Its one thing to be watchful but you also have to try and take the bowlers on. As good as India's bowling has been, there have been numerous bad balls that are not being attacked. Burns was guilty of this, Sibley continues to be guilty of this but Crawly didnt last long enough to do it. Root is and he is putting the bowlers under pressure.

Thakur too straight and into the pads....but aiming to get an LBW as a number of English batsmen...notably Root & Bairstow play across the line with head falling over

Commentators saying the Sibley looks very comfortable out there. Not too sure i would agree with that assessment. Looks more like he is just clinging on for dear life.

Root punishing the bad ball. If only England had 2 more batsmen like him...

This is ok for England, if Sibley stays in and scores a 300 ball 50 with Root getting a ton, game still on.

Sky showing that today has had the least swing of all four days of the test. This is easily the best batting day so far and, if Jadeja can't pick the lock, India may rue not selecting Ashwin.

Sibley's doing his job so far, pleased for him. Root's scoring at the other end and the lead has nearly vanished.

Very poor decision. Thank heavens for the review system. I remember when India used to oppose its use.

it always looked outsdie line of off
bad review

Root's looking oddly unsure against the short ball. And he's playing a highly dangerous game v Jadeja. Also may be struggling with a knee injury - would be a calamity for England if he missed tests through injury.

Sibley brings up his century...of balls faced.

England in the lead. Draw a big favourite with the rain around today and tomorrow, but if it stays away this test is finely balanced.

Brilliant counter-attacking fifty from Root.

Good session for England. Root at his best, Sibley frustrating India with his obduracy at the other end. Narrow advantage to England in terms of the test match as a whole, but we all know how swiftly this team can collapse! Lead of 24, need to get that to at least 200.

Just under an hour's worth of play in the afternoon before the likely rain.

The Pitch is at its best....BUT Root has played the type of inning that is needed on this type of pitch
Indians need to get him soon....and then it might be a different ball game
welcome break for coaches to alter the strategy

There is no particular type of innings needed on this type of pitch - Sibley defending for 124 balls with relative comfort demonstrates this. It's simply a good batting wicket with no demons.

Root is playing at his best in terms of timing and placement and punishing the bad balls that are coming.

Good stat from the BBC - In this knock Joe Root has gone past 1,000 Test runs for the year. No-one else in the England team has more than 350.

It is a good batting wicket so why is Sibley not dispatching any bad balls? Their is watchful batting but this is painful. Doing a job but my goodness its painful to watch.

Its a very good job that Root is scoring runs at the other end or England would be in a world of hurt.

Because he's Sibley. And he's doing a classic opener's job in grinding down the bowlers and making it easier for the shot-makers in the middle-order to score.

Very happy with his contribution, especially with the deficit England started with.

Rain imminent. Not sure who that benefits at this stage.

I understand the role but i do not like it. I think that he brings pressure on to other players to score. He does not even look to play the bad balls.

He can at least attack the off bad ball, cant he?

And there goes Sibley. I know some will see that as a good innings but i simply do not.

Hell of a take though

excellent catch.......can't believe rishabh has improved so much

KP_fan wrote:This pitch requires playing more strokes while out there.....like India's no. 6 and downwards did
not a run a ball...but about 4RPO.....else sooner a ball will nip extra or jump a bit and get you
That-s the problem with Sibley, Burns, Crawley  etal...they eat balls but don't score enuf so on a good day after getting in, they will make 20s and 30s

as I said before....on a good day, when they get it the Sibleys, crawleys and Burns get 20s and 30s

He's gone now. Top take behind the stumps and badly needed for India.

I think it's an essential role that Sibley plays. Too often England are three down for very little. If Sibley can see off the new ball (as he's done here) he can establish a good platform for the middle-order, meaning they have to bat against an attack into their second/third spells with a softer ball, rather than against a fresh attack with a new-ish ball. Most openers England have tried since Strauss retired haven't been able to do that.

And that was a good innings from Sibley. Bairstow is now coming to the crease against an attack that has been in the field for 46 overs, the ball is soft and he has a better chance of scoring some decent runs.

Bairstow needs a decent score I feel and this might just be the track to score it on.

That said, India have their tails up again.

The English inning is going to the same script as in first inning

Even when England are 135-3, they still manage to be 40-3.

KP_fan wrote:

KP_fan wrote:This pitch requires playing more strokes while out there.....like India's no. 6 and downwards did
not a run a ball...but about 4RPO.....else sooner a ball will nip extra or jump a bit and get you
That-s the problem with Sibley, Burns, Crawley  etal...they eat balls but don't score enuf so on a good day after getting in, they will make 20s and 30s

as I said before....on a good day, when they get it the Sibleys, crawleys and Burns get 20s and 30s

Sibley got out through playing a poor shot, not from something the pitch did.

I think we will never agree on the approach from Sibley here Duty.

He had plenty of bad balls bowled to him where he could have picked up some runs. I agree that an Openers job is to see off the new ball but it is also their job to score significant runs and put the bowlers on the back foot. The amount of balls he faced today, i feel he was about 25-35 runs short of what a good opener would have scored.

I like Bairstow’s changes he has made to his technique for Tests. Batting more over on off stump. He knows he has a problem so has made an effort to fix it. It might not work, but at least he’s not trotted out the ‘this is the way I play’ and carried on with his ODI method.

Root looking a bit scratchy the last few overs… some plays and misses, an LBW shout and an edge that dropped short. Don’t give it away Joe, come on.

That is a horrible review, that never looked remotely out.

Very poor

Surprising from Kohli. He's normally judicious with reviews, but two very poor ones today.

Looks like that expected rain only emerged as a mizzle and the players (thankfully) stayed on. Next rain on the radar is an hour away, hopefully that doesn't lash down either.

Root and Bairstow managing this period well. Indian bowlers were briefly edging the contest, aided by the lights coming on, but the Yorkshire pair have kept the runs ticking over. Have also liked Bairstow's subtle technical changes.

The less said about India's reviews the better, quite poor really.

Bairstow is looking quite confident today.

If England had quality batters in reserve, you could probably carry Sibley to do a job against the new ball. In a lineup short on quality and runs it's not quite enough

Oh dear, Bairstow.

Cracking shot but right to the fielder. Fell into that trap.

That was poor from Bairstow. Did the hard yards in getting settled then gifted his wicket.

82/4. This is a huge innings for Lawrence. Three ducks in his past four innings.

eirebilly wrote:Oh dear, Bairstow.

Cracking shot but right to the fielder. Fell into that trap.

Out of interest who do you think produced the better innings today in the context of the match, Sibley or Bairstow?

Soul Requiem wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Oh dear, Bairstow.

Cracking shot but right to the fielder. Fell into that trap.

Out of interest who do you think produced the better innings today in the context of the match, Sibley or Bairstow?

I think Bairstow did, he looked far more in control of the situation and allowed Root to not focus on scoring all the runs as he was. Root got a small breather while he was there for me.

I don't dislike Sibley, i simply think that he is far too negative and does not look to pick off any bad balls. As i said earlier, the amount of balls he faced and the bad balls he received (and did nothing) i felt he was about 25-35 runs short of what he should have scored.

eirebilly wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Oh dear, Bairstow.

Cracking shot but right to the fielder. Fell into that trap.

Out of interest who do you think produced the better innings today in the context of the match, Sibley or Bairstow?

I think Bairstow did, he looked far more in control of the situation and allowed Root to not focus on scoring all the runs as he was. Root got a small breather while he was there for me.

I don't dislike Sibley, i simply think that he is far too negative and does not look to pick off any bad balls. As i said earlier, the amount of balls he faced and the bad balls he received (and did nothing) i felt he was about 25-35 runs short of what he should have scored.

Those extra 15 overs Sibley are up could prove to be vital come tomorrow, he's not good enough for test cricket that much is obvious but the obsession with strike rate has in part contributed to our batting woes.

Its not an obsession with strike rates, far from it. Its more to do with the approach. I simply feel he is far too negative. By all means, use up the overs but he can look to be a bit more positive in his approach.

Lead up to 112. England can hopefully get that beyond 150 by the time the second new ball arrives.

Rain is staying away which is good news. If it remains dry until the conclusion then England are just edging ahead as favourites.

Or maybe not as Lawrence departs. A flashy innings, like Bairstow's, but not a substantial one.