*Official* India Tour of England 2018

[wpdavid]

Solid stuff from India. Thought England actually bowled okay, but it just shows you don't have to go at 4 and 5 an over in order to boss the opposition. A little bit of grit is good. If I were India I wouldn't think about declaring today. They need to try and grind England's bowlers into the dirt. Anderson and Broad are tired and Stokes is limping (no sympathy). Give Ashwin as much time as he needs to be in bowling shape.

Dead right about not declaring today. The fact that Root is bowling suggests that he's given up any hope of bowling India out and wants to protect his quicks from being over-worked. Either that or he thinks Kohli and Pujara are susceptible to part-time off-spin.

My guess is he'll declare at lunchtime tomorrow with a lead of about 650. Five sessions will be way more than enough to win the game.
The only point of interest now is how many India will win by. And what the record margins of victory are, as this one could really challenge them. 500 runs really isn't our of the question.

This does rather show up the folks who were suggesting 5-0; clearly they haven't seen much of this England team. Based on this match, 3-2 to India is the likeliest result. From an English pov, the only crumb of comfort is that this wouldn't be the first time they've performed abysmally and then come back stronger for no apparent reason. Trent Bridge against SA last year springs to mind, as does the first test against Pakistan in May. And obviously the Lord's test against India last time they toured.

 

[StephenZA]

This does rather show up the folks who were suggesting 5-0; clearly they haven't seen much of this England team. Based on this match, 3-2 to India is the likeliest result. From an English pov, the only crumb of comfort is that this wouldn't be the first time they've performed abysmally and then come back stronger for no apparent reason. Trent Bridge against SA last year springs to mind, as does the first tests against Pakistan in May. And obviously the Lord's test against India last time they toured.

The Gambhiring is high from all sides this series it seems.

 

[TheJediBrah]

England are going to need a Gabba '10 Cook innings to get out of this one

 

[wpdavid]

The Gambhiring is high from all sides this series it seems.

But I did say based on this match tbf. And based on how England have played so far, Bangladesh would fancy their chances against us at Southampton and The Oval.

 

[vcs]

Good work from these two. Reminding me of one of my favourite overseas partnerships by an Indian batting pair, though they were a lot more fluent on that occasion.

1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 18-22 2013 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo

 

[OverratedSanity]

Good work from these two. Reminding me of one of my favourite overseas partnerships by an Indian batting pair, though they were a lot more fluent on that occasion.

1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 18-22 2013 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo

The way Pujara dominated Steyn and Philander after a slow start was awesome. Shame he hasn't replicated that overseas since.

 

[vcs]

The way Pujara dominated Steyn and Philander after a slow start was awesome. Shame he hasn't replicated that overseas since.

That was an amazing day of Test cricket.. first match since Sachin's retirement, for the new kids on the block to show that they'd arrived... shame they couldn't bowl SA out on day 5 though.

 

[Borges]

These two could get going now, if they wanted. Get to a lead of 500 quickly and then declare, I say.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Good work from these two. Reminding me of one of my favourite overseas partnerships by an Indian batting pair, though they were a lot more fluent on that occasion.

1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 18-22 2013 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo

ugh don't remind me of the infamous "not going to try to go for the win as long as we don't lose" chase

 

[Shri]

I'll lol when rain washes out day 5.

 

[StephenZA]

Good work from these two. Reminding me of one of my favourite overseas partnerships by an Indian batting pair, though they were a lot more fluent on that occasion.

1st Test, India tour of South Africa at Johannesburg, Dec 18-22 2013 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo

That could have been such an epic famous test... sigh.

 

[wpdavid]

I'll lol when rain washes out day 5.

That would take a major change from what's being forecast.

 

[Starfighter]

Hearing Bairstow with a broken finger. The test continues to head south for England. These two gonna get centuries too.

 

[Borges]

They said that Bairstow is back at the ground, and will bat 'if necessary' (that means will bat, surely)..

 

[vcs]

ugh don't remind me of the infamous "not going to try to go for the win as long as we don't lose" chase

That could have been such an epic famous test... sigh.

I get that the end felt a bit anti-climactic, but that Test was still an absolute classic. Neither team deserved to lose TBH.

 

[Borges]

Fair amount of turn for Rashid, he's bowling quite well now.

 

[wpdavid]

They said that Bairstow is back at the ground, and will bat 'if necessary' (that means will bat, surely)..

Not much point if he has a broken finger and England are having to bat out five sessions.

 

[Borges]

Everyone, please note: caught Cook.

 

[StephenZA]

I get that the end felt a bit anti-climactic, but that Test was still an absolute classic. Neither team deserved to lose TBH.

Nah... SA should have shown some more balls. (Yes epic, but more epic needed..!)

 

[StephenZA]

Everyone, please note: caught Cook.

At 50% catch rate does that mean he drops the next one?