You know I have a rule on this blog. One of the few. I don’t discuss politics. I don’t want you to discuss politics. This is a cricket blog. But I’m not a journo. I don’t get paid.
However, this is not merely a cricket blog, but a journal of my life as well, and you cannot escape life when it hits you between the eyes. I have to say that this morning I did not give a single toss about this test match. I had to face things that actually directly impact my life – you know I go to the States every year, have family there, and have an American spouse. So you aren’t going to get a match report from me. I wasn’t watching, and to a large extent, wasn’t even following the game.
Sean and Chris are both unavailable for selection, so it falls to me. 311 for 4 is an excellent start and it was great that Joe Root converted a 50 to a ton. Not a massive ton, but the first in India by an opposition test player since 2013, I think I read. Moeen has the chance to join him, posing that tantalising question that I sort of raised yesterday (in saying he doesn’t have a long-term future at 5). 99 not out overnight, and hopefully an early milestone and moving on to a nice sizeable knock. 500 has to be the aim, whether we get there or not.
Other match reviews are available, and I’ve not read them, but if you have comments on today and tomorrow’s play, stick them on here. 1460ish days to the next US election. And I’m not allowing comments on that.
Comments on Day 2…..below
Being Outside Cricket 
Good morning. A bit of an early starter at the best of times, but I’ve got up to find out that Mo got his small ton and that Stokkes and Bairstow have had a fair bit of fun. Looks like that at worst, England are now highly unlikely to be going 1-0 down into the next test.
I’ve backed Ali as a no.5 v Asian sides in Asia as his game against Yasir as the last home series went on suggested that he’s probably one of our best player v spin that isn’t Cook or Root. Not so sure that will stack up v South Africa or Australia next year but needs must. He also now has a more than respectable overall record as a batsman who has not only batted at no.8 for a long while, but also misguidedly been put up to open for a series as he was in the UAE last year.
India have dropped a fair few catches this innings (5) and I’ve seen a couple in the 30 minutes I’ve been watching. England look set to get over 550 and it will be about how the bowlers will go on what does look a good pitch.
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Erm, Bairstow has just flashed an edge to the keeper and Saha makes up a bit for a couple of earlier drops. That might put a dampener on such a large score but in theory there are still 4 first class century makers from 8-11.
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Looking forward to how the Stokes-haters explain this one away….
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England all out for 537. That is a good effort. Already there have been more centuries in one innings than in the entire tour of South Africa of India (2 tons, both by Rahane in a dead rubber, on what looked like the most decent of the three result pitches by a long stretch) or the tour of New Zealand of India, where India managed just three tons in the entire series.
Bear in mind that there have been only two higher match totals (for both innings combined) that have lost since England’s last visit to India (by 6 and 8 wickets respectively). Both against Australia in 2013 (and Australia won those tosses, which probably helped them get a few more on the board than they would have if they lost the tosses).
Appalling effort in the field from India – I counted at least half a dozen drops. India basically have four batsmen (Gambhir is extremely lucky to be considered, let alone be playing), so England should be pressing hard for a 1-0 series lead.
But I wonder how come it took the groundsmen about 2 years to figure out how to prepare a pitch on which a first innings score of 200 is not a winning score?
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Ask a good question….
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-3923016/England-s-Test-India-exciting-clash-fans-refusing-turn-numbers-especially-five-day-pass-costs-7.html
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Both points raised in the article I have heard elsewhere as well – so I assume they are very valid.
If it’s a difficult stadium to get to, combined with alot of your money becoming worthless overnight I think I might skip the cricket.
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Haven’t seen any play or listened to much of TMS today but it looks like We’ve done much better than anybody ever expected us to do, which is good isn’t it?
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Why wouldn’t it be, Essie?
Bloody pity I haven’t seen much at all. But three centuries is great. Tomorrow will be interesting indeed@
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Exactly.
At this time tomorrow we should have pointer as to where this game is going.
Is nobody else following this game? Rather quiet on the comments front isn’t it?
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If only BCCI introduced night/night Tests, we could watch/listen from 4pm UK instead of 4am… #SirGilesPinkBallsWish…?
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Quiet as an unused road
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Quiet as the Essex mafia after a Cookie duck.
On that, Chris Stocks described Duckett’s innings as something like a “fluent cameo”, which amused. How many before that turns into something else….
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I don’t know where to go with this, it may be a ramble
Of wickets true, and insights new, Test cricket now a gamble?
Two days of batting unfazed, despite fielding inept, yet via TMS, I’m swept
From 4am Uk, til I have to head to work not play
This is Test play that I crave
With three days left, there’s no intrigue we not to be bereft
Slowly pitch turns, a battle becomes all that we yearn
Players playing, displaying skills or lack
No T20 could give us this, or ODI one-sided slack
England, with three tons in a score
Such tingling batting from Root, Mo, Stokes to adore
Playing to the situation, different strokes emote our infatuation
A beautiful play in variety of styles
Making in many ways, all of us smile
The bowling may be harder to effect
I hope there’s scope in our Capt to select
A way to play and use spinners and seam
Not bowling dry – attack, tempt, tease, joust
Not accept the msm swept inept dream play way to oust
Be bold, or be bowled out later low
Fifth day pitch filth could yet land the killer blow
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Cheers Rooto! 🙂
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Sorry BF but can’t do likes for some reason!
A good game and a very good batting performance. The spectre hovering over it is the pitch and whether it will get deader and lead to a bore draw. I have a sneaking suspicion that if one of the Indian top order get to a hundred they will convert it into a Daddy.
Interesting case with Root’s dismissal and I felt one occasion when slow motion was not appropriate to assess what had happened (after all, a frozen image would have created the impression of the ball under control but that’s not really the point). Still, a good break for India who were quite appalling in the field and it was notable that some did not hide their displeasure.
Even allowing for the Indian batsmen playing for the close I thought the England spinners bowled very well in the final period of play. If they get that accuracy and flight on a turning wicket they may after all be a handy unit.
Sadly my plan for watching the play on Sky plus and speeding through the gaps between balls was let down by spoilers on Twitter. I have sadly stopped following all cricket related tweeters until the series is over.
Wouldn’t a competitive series be great after all the pessimism? But this is a very good India side in home conditions…
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no-d***heads update
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/nov/11/new-zealand-rugby-year-of-sex-violence
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“said Margaret Come” – oh dear
Anyway, the reason NZ are “best in the world”
is because most of their passes are forward…I look forward to the day when technology picks it up because it’s so obvious.
Back to your point – KP was SO unprofessional, wasn’t he?!
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Shots fired….
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