Cricket

[Scratch]

That's always the problem when a batsman comes in and seemingly makes a mockery of the perceived conditions...it looked slow and laborious early on, but then Pant came in and showed what could be done on the pitch, and the England openers have followed that example (which plays perfectly into their philosophy at the moment anyway, 'Bazball Mk2').

[Yozza]

Great morning

Stokes crunches 141 as England bowled out with lead of 311

[Yozza]

India 0-2

[Sus]

Sigh, how disappointing. Hopefully this fightback goes a bit longer and we have an exciting last day

[Yozza]

148-2

Incredible effort by India

[Sus]

Still englands game tomorrow, with Pant and his fractured foot, but at least it’s a contest now on the 5th day

[Le Chef]

I went - Boring as **** after lunch - Fair play to India they crunched it out but as a spectacle it was ****ing dire - England didn't help themselves mind you.

[Le Chef]

I went - Boring as **** after lunch - Fair play to India they crunched it out but as a spectacle it was ****ing dire - England didn't help themselves mind you.

Well that was a war of Attrition - Fair play to India for batting six sessions, but it was boring as ****, Dawson did **** all, Archer clearly showed he was unfit and Carse, meh. barring Bumrah India's attack are pretty ****e as well - but there batsman wow, Gill - have they found the next Tendulkar/Koli?

[Yozza]

Absolute bore fest...

Bet the Aussies are crapping themselves over our bowling attack...

[Sus]

I think big question marks over both attacks - where did the Indians get Kamboj from? I reckon I could bowl faster than him, and they brought him in over one quick who already played in this season and another (Rana) who operates above 140km/h and hits the deck hard, which I thought would be perfect for these slower, drier end of summer wickets.

And that's before you even get started on Kuldeep

In terms of England's attack, questions over Stoke's fitness, Archer's ability to dismiss right handers (didn't realise until I saw the stats this test that he averages 20 against lefties and 35 against right handers), and Carse's accuracy

Woakes will be ineffective in Australia, I reckon, and they need another quick who has enough control to build pressure on those baking days in Melbourne / Adelaide / Perth when the ball isn't doing much

I've only seen Carse in this series, and I think he could be really useful in Oz if he doesn't give up 1-2 boundary balls each over. At the moment, he reminds me a bit of Harmison, where on bad days he has the potentially to be really bad (3/10), rather than just 6 or 7 out of 10.

[Buzzo]

Quite enjoyed India forcing England to bowl extra overs so that both batsmen could get 100’s

Both batsmen had earned the right, but equally must have been frustrating to have to stay out there. Brooks overs were absolutely rank.

[Le Chef]

Absolute bore fest...

Bet the Aussies are crapping themselves over our bowling attack...

Hopefully Wood will be back an Archer has got some fitness (and some bite) - but the cupboard is bloody dry on quicks, TBH I think Stokes will be cooked after the Aussie series

[Le Chef]

I think big question marks over both attacks - where did the Indians get Kamboj from? I reckon I could bowl faster than him, and they brought him in over one quick who already played in this season and another (Rana) who operates above 140km/h and hits the deck hard, which I thought would be perfect for these slower, drier end of summer wickets.

And that's before you even get started on Kuldeep

In terms of England's attack, questions over Stoke's fitness, Archer's ability to dismiss right handers (didn't realise until I saw the stats this test that he averages 20 against lefties and 35 against right handers), and Carse's accuracy

Woakes will be ineffective in Australia, I reckon, and they need another quick who has enough control to build pressure on those baking days in Melbourne / Adelaide / Perth when the ball isn't doing much

I've only seen Carse in this series, and I think he could be really useful in Oz if he doesn't give up 1-2 boundary balls each over. At the moment, he reminds me a bit of Harmison, where on bad days he has the potentially to be really bad (3/10), rather than just 6 or 7 out of 10.

TBH - I would have brought Anderson in for the 4th Test, but England shot their bolt, not for wicket taking but as a medium if would have tied the end up, as they have got no idea on what to do on a lifeless pitch

[ChesterDave]

Atkinson will presumably be back in once he is fit

[Le Chef]

Atkinson will presumably be back in once he is fit

Still not a patch on the Aussie quicks tho