As Day 2 ended Escort rightly pointed out on the comments to Day 1 that it was a little quiet around here. While there is no doubt that a bad performance, or a moronic press piece set the pulses racing, we aren’t the relentless churls that pressmen of yore (no sign of that blog yet?) tagged us as. We’ve complained that this England batting line-up needed to put scores together, and they have. Not a lot to get mad about, is there?
How this innings will be judged will be clearer in three days time. The media seem to think there is something in this track, although I’ve not seen a lot of the game to comment, but it does seem odd that this wicket appears to have neutralised India’s key weapon, Ravi Ashwin, and as a result they’ve struggled. England appear also to have benefited from some woeful fielding and a little bit of the lady luck that can be so helpful (I’ve watched the highlights of Stokes through the 90s….). India appear to have been relatively untroubled on the way to the close. The thoughts must be that this is a very good batting surface and it will take a lot to get a result. But the thing about test cricket is that one bad session and the match can be thrown into the melting pot.
So with congratulations to our three century makers (and when was the last time we had three centuries in an innings. Without looking it up I’m going for Sydney 2011 as my worst guess) and wishing luck to our spinners tomorrow to get more out of the wicket than the Indians, I hand it over for your observations, your comments on today and importantly for Day 3…
Comments below…
Being Outside Cricket 
Apparently Cardiff 2011 (Cook, Trott and Bell) was the last time we had 3 centurions in an innings. Before that it was Sydney and before that it was Brisbane, where if it hadn’t been for the fact that they ran out of time England could have been the first team to get centuries from all 11 players, the support staff, a few spectators and even Mitchell Johnson disguised with a WG Grace beard.
LikeLike
Cheers, Alec. I was too lazy to look it up!!
From memory other three century England innings…
1985 Edgbaston – Robinson, Gower (a double) and Gatting. That Saturday afternoon watching Robbo and Lubo spanking the Aussies for 300 runs was one of my favourite afternoons watching cricket ever!
1990 India at Lord’s – Gooch (a triple), Lamb and Robin Smith. Then 1990 India at Old Trafford – Gooch, Athers and Smith again.
Did we get three tons in saving a test v Sri Lanka at Lord’s about a decade ago? (No – top five all made 50s).
I’ve sat through the Aussies hitting three against us (2001 at The Oval – Langer and both the Waughs) and South Africa (Smith, Amla, Kallis).
LikeLike
2009 against the West Indies as well.
Just so you’re all aware of the fact- this is space in my brain that I’m meant to be using for my bookkeeping studies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And then there was Moores first test in charge…
http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvwi/engine/match/258459.html
And this. I was at days 1,3 and 4 of this as well…
http://www.espncricinfo.com/engvpak/engine/match/225255.html
LikeLike
It was then that I fell in love with Younus. It was by far the best innings of the match – in a match where it had competition, after all.
LikeLike
Anyway…stats mining notwithstanding ….Jimmy Anderson?.. I think he’s f##ked
Thoughts??
LikeLike
Why?
LikeLike
Hopefully he isn’t. His bowling would be much missed but his shit attitude won’t.
LikeLike
Shoulder injuries are the worst, I’ve had a few myself, and they take ages to come right. I really think he should have had a spell with the Lions. It would send Newman et al into apoplexy but I think it would have been a wise decision in the interests of his longer term well being.
I’ve no facts to back it up, but, I just feel it in my water that he’ll break down again this tour because it’s gonna be tough. Hope I’m wrong!!
LikeLike
Not much from me as:
1) I only saw the last hour or so of play and don’t like to comment on play I haven’t seen.
2) It really is difficult to know what it all means until India have batted some more.
Saurav Ganguly on Cricinfo says that the next Test pitch will “turn square” and as it’s the pitch where NZ were bowled out for 79 in the recent ODI with Mishra taking five-for, he’s probably right.
Looking forward to the Hobart Test – defeat for Australia and things start to get very interesting…..
LikeLike
And 2016 has taken another great. RIP Leonard Cohen. Blimey, what a year.
LikeLike
As I said to my partner on Wednesday, can’t wait for 1st January…
LikeLike
Listening, and Pujara seems to be racing along. Not expecting too much wicket action just yet. The supposed deterioration may arrive too late.
LikeLike
So, lunch at 162/1, with Gambhir falling lbw to Broad; Pujara has raced past Vijay already. Woakes managed to hit Pujara three times on the helmet, but otherwise, really not much in it for the bowlers thus far.
LikeLike
Disappointed that Rashid only came on for 2 overs before lunch. With runs in the bank, I thought it was exactly the situation to give him his head, and he has posed a couple of problems. I think Rashid has the ability to surprise, which – on this surface – is rare.
Mind you, I also thought Stokes could have bowled earlier, and that didn’t exactly work out when he came on.
LikeLike
Yes I was surprised that Stokes was left until so late in the session and I think it is indicative of as to how much faith Cook has in Rashid that he left him so late in the morning. Stokes bowled pretty poorly in the event. To be fair, Ansari was bowling decently until late in his spell when Vijay went after him but I would feel that both could have perhaps been tried earlier although I would admit that it is a bit of hindsight with that.
LikeLike
On a related note, Moeen has not bowled since the 30th over. We’re now 62 overs in.
To be fair to Cook, if you have so many bowling options, it is hard to juggle them around effectively, and one or two players always end up being underbowled.
LikeLike
India batting pretty well with some serious firepower to come. A couple of balls starting to rip and turn. If India reach parity or get some sort of lead they will fancy their chances if the pitch deteriorates. Reverse swing maybe England’s best chance. 10 great overs and India’s tail may look exposed. Still lots to be interested about despite the wicket…
LikeLike
Should also have added that I think Rashid is bowing pretty well…
LikeLike
202/1 after 68 overs. With the current pair of Pujara and Vijay batting together for 44 overs already. England are not bowling as badly as the wicket column suggests either. A bit of purchase for the spin bowlers, but nothing too extravagant yet.
Hameed dropped Vijay off the bowling of Broad. Should probably have been taken. Chances are scarce, so every drop is going to hurt. Now, the problem is that if England don’t start taking wickets soon, they may be in the field for a long, long time.
LikeLike
Presumably the drop was at short-leg? Does Hameed field there at all in the CC does anyone know?
LikeLike
He was at short extra cover and it was really at full stretch. Although he needed (obviously) to catch it, it was a tough catch. Can’t tell you where he fields in CC.
LikeLike
At that level the catch should have been taken. It was low to his left and he had enough time to see it. That said he is a young kid on a hot outfield, it would have been tough to concentrate out there.
LikeLike
Not looking that great at the moment. Apart from Stokes, I don’t think any of the bowlers have bowled badly at all and in some cases quite well. Need a breakthrough soon or otherwise India might be close to 400 tonight.
LikeLike
Wicketless second session of the day. India 228/1 after 79 overs. No one really bowled bad (other than perhaps Stokes first spell of the day). Then again, it is not a lively wicket either.
Pujara got a reprieve on DRS, which may help to make DRS a permanent feature for series involving India. At tea he is sitting on 99*.
We passed the halfway point of the Test with just one wicket down in the second innings of the match. Does look like the draw is the favorite result here, but there are still at least 214 overs in the match left. A lot can happen.
LikeLike
Have only just seen Ansari’s bowling action after the comments on another post a while back. Must say his action does looks flawed, bent elbow, heavily leaning over at point of delivery and so on. I can see why it was said he will struggle to lack consistency when bowling.
LikeLike
Fri 930am : I wouldn’t want India to get a lead of 100
LikeLike
No team has ever lost a Test in India after scoring 500 in the first innings (478 by Australia in 2010 is the highest).
England have lost twice after a first dig 500 – both times in Australia (1929 and somewhen else!).
LikeLike
I believe West Indies almost lost in 2011 after making 590 in the first innings: India tore through them in their second innings, but it finished as a draw with the scores level.
LikeLike
Change at the DT:
LikeLike
The bonfire of the nationals goes on. I don’t take any great pleasure in the news, as I thought Steve, though very establishment, was a pretty decent writer.
LikeLike
Agree, I quite liked him. Didn’t always agree with what he said but this is sad news.
LikeLike
Just the 16 overs to bowl in 25 minutes of scheduled play (excluding the extra half hour). Despite playing 3 spinners. Despite having 537 on the board ….
LikeLike
Luxurious wicket by Rashid.
LikeLike
*THAT* scorecard is now up on the screen to highlight the problems of India going past England’s score here.
LikeLike
Boycott nailed it..11 overs short..how many wickets would they have got in those missing overs? A moot point but England cheated themselves, as well as everybody else!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, it’s been quiet here? Sorry I’ll try to change that. My absence wasn’t due to good English batting, just work interfering with my life.
A big English total never signifies anything to me. If England passes 400 in an innings, I just start to wonder how much they’re going to lose by, and how funny it’s going to be this time around. Some might say I’m prejudiced and biased, but they’d be wrong. I just learn from experience.
Just checked out the match report on cricinfo to see what’s been happening, this from Farbrace struck me:
“In the past there has been lots of talk about Adil bowling a bit slowly. But the work he has done with the bowling coach, Saqlain Mushtaq, has been about trajectory, not pace. So he has been aiming to get the ball above the eye-line, allowing it to spin and getting the ball up there for batsmen to drive.
“The key thing is that he has learned quickly. He has worked hard on trying to be more disciplined. He was calm between deliveries and set in his plans and he has bowled consistently. He didn’t rush it or try and bowl too quickly. But he spun the ball out of the hand and got a nice bit of drop. It’s only one day and we’re looking for consistency across the series, but he did have a good day.”,
Hey Mr Selvey, what was he referring to with that bit about “In the past”?
So, two days into the tour and all’s going well. Chicken counting time?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes. We have some chickens. Three or four, I’d say, and I’ve counted them twice. And in that time, Aus got bowled out at Hobart.
LikeLike
Looking like a second good day, or at least morning. Appears more like our premier spinner at the moment. If only bowlers were given the selection chances batsmen are given. They must be used to it. It’s what makes them so grumpy.
Meanwhile, have a recco to cheer you up, Fred.
LikeLike
Steve Smith eh? What a guy. Standing tall while all around him flounder.
🙂
LikeLike
A mere flesh wound.
LikeLike
’tis but a scratch. ’tis why I kinda love Australians.
LikeLike