they cannot win but we've thrown the main chance to win away by not declaring early. They have 1 day to bat out but the good thing is the way the pitch was playing this morning it looked like archer might have a field day. Its going to be close, they cannot win imo but we can certainly draw unfortunately.
Jimmy Anderson is ****ing incredible - 3 for 7 in 5 overs. Just unreal at his age on the sub-continent
Good win. The early breakthrough took any hope from India and really it just gave our lot encouragement. Leech was getting battered first innings but was near a 5for there. Was really enjoying himself by the end
Total and utter capitulation. Team selection wrong due to a grand plan for the rest of year being executed by blazers. went in with a less than strong bowling line up on to a pitch where it was wickedly turning without the guy who had taken wickets (Bess dropped for a few full tosses it seems) without anderson who will play no part at all in one days or t20s etc. Without wood and ended up bowling roots who actually did better than leech and alli. HMMMM.. It does seem the team who wins the toss will win the game on this tour but IMO england set themsevles up for a hockeying here.
Have to feel maybe a missed a trick not playing some more spinners. If leach and moeen can take 4 wickets, imagine what rashid could have done! When you end up bowling pope and root you know your team selection was wrong. still, great batting by India on what was a horrible pitch. Won the toss managed to get a score while it was somewhat playable and from then England just couldn’t bat as it got worse. do wonder if ICC will step in and do something about the pitch as it shouldn’t be that variable 2 days into a test. The spin and bounce was something you’d expect to see day 5
England gave up half way through first innings. You can always tell from the fielding and bowling and honestly india had it pretty easy. Today they have bascially gone out to bat like they had a chance of winning and threw wickets away lol.
to be fair I don’t think any team after conceding 400 in first innings would stand a chance. Lose a couple of wickets and you’re then saving the game on a pitch that is just not offering fair lay between bat and ball. first ball India bowled today from spinner nearly bounced over wicket keepers shoukder while turning at right angles... how do you bat against that? Burns was a silly shot playing against the spin but not sure the others got themselves out.
not on that pitch no, i agree. The issue is we ended up needing root bowling to get near them just keep it to 400. IMO no matter who won the toss the other side was always saving the match by the look of it.
well yes it could have given england an easy win but I think equally england telegraphed their team selection as well. A hammering.
its not rotation, its an accountants version of picking a team. Dropping bess was ridiculous but dropping anderson was absolutely crazy.
It was the way it was planned before they left for the sub-continent.. Butler's gone home for the next two tests. I'm not even sure he's back for the one-dayers or the T20s.