“You are still a whisper on my lips, a feeling on my fingertips, pulling at my skin.
You, you leave me when I’m at my worst, feeling as if I’ve been cursed, bitter cold within
Days go by and still I think of you….”
Dirty Vegas – Days Go By or possibly the UK Print Media (circa December 2018)
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After a day at the test it was time for a day watching the test on TV, in between usual Saturday tasks and manipulating / ruining the nearly 200 pics I took yesterday. Danny took care of the review for Day 1 so it seems a bit silly for me to do the same, but I will refer to some points from yesterday in the review today. Plus you’ll get to see some of the pictures.
England resumed on 198 for 7. It was debatable how you could take the day. Sitting at deep backward square / deep extra cover to left handers, the lateral movement and swing wasn’t easily perceptible and I’m not a great watcher of the video boards. Some, like @pktroll enjoyed it a lot, while I felt it a bit dull. Look, I’m not after swashbuckling, reckless cricket, but there is a natural game to be played, and too many got themselves out, or got stuck. Many people thought Mo stuck it out well, despite playing and missing more than you would like. I felt the only one who really did what came naturally was Alastair Cook, and when he was out, 20 minutes after tea, he had 71 out of 133. He was on pace for a hundred plus.
There is a point. This morning, with a new ball, which may be easier to bat against than the older on, England put the foot down and added over 100 runs in the first session. Buttler’s positive approach meant that when he did find the edge to the slips, he had got the field spread and 3rd slip wasn’t there [to drop it]. Rashid and Buttler got the scoreboard moving, and then when Rashid had to go, Broad came in and played as assuredly as he has done all summer. After a session in which England took the game to India, the pitch looking a little better, the swing a little less pronounced than I saw on the highlights last night, England were in charge. 300 looked a good score on this surface, in this era, with this ball, in these conditions, with these teams. After tea Broad was caught brilliantly by KL Rahul, and Buttler was last out for 89, as Ed Smith will no doubt let the world know the genius of his selection as he did with Newman this week. It’s fair enough, I suppose to crow, but Jos has been a success of the summer. Thank heavens, because with this mess of a batting line-up one might think he hasn’t got a scooby!
India’s reply started with an early wicket. Part-time dancer, and casual worker opener Shikar Dhawan was pinned LBW. Cook remains the only opener with a half century, but at least KL Rahul seemed to have more of an idea this time, making 37 before Sam Curran trimmed the top of off with a 79mph beauty. What say ye about all those pace bowlers now. With the Big Two in, it was imperative for India to field a big score from one of Pujara and Kohli, but this hasn’t been a series where consistency (other than Virat) has been a hallmark.
After an LBW had been declined by Kumar Dharmasena which was marginal on outside the line (when I first saw it I said it was outside) but knocking middle and off out, Anderson went on a little tizzy, which Kumar had a word with Root about. In my mind that’s the sort of thing that leads to more – I’m pretty sensitive on this matter after an incident I had in club cricket – and fair play to Nasser for calling him on it. Kohli applied the Kissinger peace methodology to the whole incident, never a man to bring a candle to a burning pyre, but a tanker load of petrol, but all seemed to calm down. Shortly after the incident, Anderson induce a nick from Pujara and he was sent on his way for 37. 101 for 3. Shortly after Rahane nicked to the slips where Cook completed the catch and it was 101 for 4, and the game was now firmly in England’s hands.
The debutant Vihari survived an LBW appeal that was out and not reviewed, then reviewed an LBW that was given out and reprieved by the DRS. Dhawan had coughed one of the reviews up so it was a brave man taking the second one while Kohli was at crease! I hope he got leadership group approval! I then had to pop out and did not expect to come back with him still in. TMS disappeared to the Shipping Forecast (I once read a really dull book on the various areas that are mentioned) and when it came back he was still in. When I came back it wasn’t Vihari falling, but Kohli nicking to slip where skipper Root held on. Kohli left the London Stage to a score of 49, and now neither he and Tendulkar have a test hundred in London in….I’ll look it up… a lot of innings. And with him you sense the test match, as a contest, went up the stairs to the dressing room. England had the game by the scruff of the neck, and the wicket of “what the hell is he doing in the team” Pant at the end, again to Stokes, put the tin hat on it. India finished the day at 174 for 6, trailing by 158, and hoping Vihari and Jadeja can do a passable impression of Jos Buttler.
A round of applause for two things missing today. Bow your heads in remembrance for the five overs lost into the ether. Ravi Jadeja didn’t bowl much today so the one man make the 90 overs quota machine had little effect. Talking of not bowling much today, Adil Rashid wasn’t trusted with a single over. I am beyond amazed. This has all the hall marks of an ostracising. I may be being over-emotional but it’s just not on. When is he supposed to bowl? With the opposition 300 for 1? An over before lunch? Answers on a postcard.
So tomorrow the tears will flow as Alastair will probably bat for the last time in tests. In the audience yesterday, where I was, there was clearly a heartfelt fondness for him. They applauded loudly when England won the toss, reasonably loudly for the 50 and then a big standing ovation on his departure. I’m honest to myself. I stood up when he came out, took pics when he got 50 (see above) and did when he left, but then sat before most. My own reaction is not important, of course, and nor do I criticise those who did. I thank heaven there was something that would lift up the day, though.
England will probably take a decent lead, with a fair bit of time. Cook has all the time in the world to finish his career on the note all his supporters would like.
I’ll do more full posts on my day at the test and on the KP “revelations” (sigh, haters) next week, but for now we have a test summer to finish.
Comments below.
Being Outside Cricket 
The big news of the day is India avoided the follow on, and as a result England, and therefore more importantly Cook will bat again.
I repeat, Cook will bat again. There now follows a public service announcement………
Cook will bat again!!
Actually,England were never going to impose the follow on so Cook was always going to bat again. But sometime tomorrow the English public will have one last opportunity to gaze upon a national treasure for the last time. Rejoice!
As to the match situation… same as it ever was, all series. India flatter to deceive. Kohli teased for a short while he could save India single handed. India have four wickets left to reduce the deficit, and then Cook will stride out for the last time with a useful lead,…….
A nation awaits!
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Good read and, no, I don’t think you’re being over emotional with regards Adil. I feel the seem, it seems like complete mistreatment/ostracism of him, I would wager there are others on here who may also concur.
Boycott was incredulous today that he had not bowled more. When they (TMS types) told Boycs that Adil had only bowled 69 overs (in the series), but had taken 7 wickets, he thought that was very good. When he was then told Adil had got Kohli out twice, he said ‘that’ll do!’. I get the feeling Boycs is a fan, good on him if he is!
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I look forward to Root’s captaincy, and perhaps the current team culture, receiving more attention on this blog once a certain someone has played his last innings, given his final press conference and shuffled off. The names and specific circumstances may have changed but is Team ECB a healthier or easier to like entity than it was in 2014?
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Funny, I seem to remember Boycott interrupting his convalescence from heart surgery to spit feathers when Adil was selected earlier in the summer. Called him a “spoilt brat” if memory serves.
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It does appear that the captain, and the selectors are not as one.
As we come to the end of the Cook era the same issues that dogged the KP story are still there. A suspicion of the individual maverick.
Those that said we were a one issue protest don’t understand that it goes to the heart of the teams DNA. Your face must fit. Everything else is secondary.
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I think we all acknowledge Rashid is no Shane Warne, but it just blows my mind how badly England have handled his entire career and I really didn’t think it could get worse – and now it is.
Got to feel for the poor bloke, you just know they’re going to drop him to bring in Leach for SL.
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In that first picture, right up the top, it looks like you’ve captured George Dobell in the third row.
And just below him in the second row, there’s Ed Smith, sitting next to Chris Rogers, and Kohli’s sharing a joke with him.
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and there’s a guy just on Kohi’s left too, wearing a baggy green, can’t quite make him out, Voges, maybe?
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There also Eric Dier in an Argentina shirt far right.
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Breaking news: Lovejoy paired with Oti Mabuse in Strictly Come Dancing.
Further disproving the Just World Hypothesis.
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Conclusion from the Guardian live blog :
– The cricketer will be out first
– Unless Susannah will, which she will
– The cricketer can’t even clap his hands in time
– Which roughly puts him on a par with the studio audience
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Take the smallest thing known to humans, divide it by the largest thing you can think of and deduct an extra million for good measure and you will still be one billion the times the number of (expletive deleted)s I care.
I think.
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I am genuinely proud that I have not the first fucking clue what you’re on about…
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Sorry but I’m totally bored with this series now.
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Nothing much has changed with this team since they disposed of KP. You are either in or you’re out. Face fits or it doesn’t and am sorry but Rashid’s face has never fitted. Just as with KP if it hurts the team result that’s just bad luck. I can never respect or like ECB and the English team while this is their attitude.When are they ever going to think of the supporters and the paying public.Just as a final note I have been BORED.
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Julie, your final note certainly resonates with me. I think one of the problems in this series has been the lack of variety in the surfaces and conditions. We are preparing the same pitch on every ground and it’s just not the way it should be. Every test playing nation has a variety of test venues, each with it’s own characteristics – and this is surely one of the things that makes a test series compelling. So far each game has had the same script, except in one where the roles were reversed. That just doesn’t get my toes a tapping.
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Loving the musical captions. In particular Sorry for Laughing….
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On the insufferable plagiarist, all this self aggrandisement he is indulging in is going to backfire beautifully when it all goes tits up. Whitaker at least had the sense to keep his head down. When Strauss/Flower/Graves needs someone to chuck under the bus, dear darling Ed will be the one to go. He he, idiot.
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Rashid has bowled quite well this morning – nice to see him get a wicket.
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Methinks that the number of comments today just shows our ultimate dismay…
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Yes, so bittersweet to see an opener play his last innings in an England shirt.
Keaton Jennings: we may not see his like again.
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Cook will finish with a 44.99 average if he gets out without adding a run tomorrow. That would be a rather delicious piece of ironic stattery if it happens.
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