England v India 2nd test (Lords)

[Burnley1989]

Fantastic 100 from Root, England’s greatest ever batsman for me alongside Alistair Cook.

Privileged to see arguably England’s greatest 3 players in one era, Jimmy being the third

[tiger76]

Bairstow gone for 57, and India have taken the new ball, dangerous period for England here, we need to come through this next half hour or so without further damage.

100 for Root, what a run of form he's presently in.

236-4, 128 behind.

[tiger76]

258-4 Root ticking along nicely, and yet another landmark for the skip.

The landmarks just keep on coming for Joe Root.

He reaches 9,000 runs in Test cricket with a flick through square leg for four more.

He is the second youngest to that landmark after Sir Alastair Cook. He's slots in ahead of Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.

That is some company.

That would be some top 4 if they all played in the same side.

[tiger76]

267-4, lead less than a 100 now, and England slowly batting themselves into a decent position, still work to do however.

[tiger76]

Another good session for England, although the 2 wickets for India ensure it's still on an even keel.

Root still going strong on 132, and Moeen on 20 as they resume for the evening session, England a mere 50 runs shy now.

[diamondpocket]

Just need to bat the evening session as we have done today and see where we are regarding reaching India's total. Then, tomorrow have some fun and add to the total. 100 lead after a good morning hitting will make it a very interesting last 5 sessions.

[tiger76]

Just need to bat the evening session as we have done today and see where we are regarding reaching India's total. Then, tomorrow have some fun and add to the total. 100 lead after a good morning hitting will make it a very interesting last 5 sessions.

Yep I've criticised England recently, but this has been a fine display of how to bat in a test match, notably from the skipper himself, and it just shows if you play yourself in then the rewards will follow, and England have a chance now to exert pressure on India, and see how they react under the pump.

[dandeclaret]

Another good read...... more hot takes, judging a wicket before both teams have batted on the wicket consigned to the bin.

[tiger76]

150 for Root. A toss up between him or Jimmy as England's man of the series methinks, they've both been world-class when required.

[tiger76]

Crikey! Moeen, Sam Curran & Robinson all departing in quick succession, Root still there on 160, England 6 runs adrift, so effectively we have a 1 innings game here.

[Quickenthetempo]

Root has seen his average go above 50 with this great innings.
I just hope he can carry his bat so it stays there.

[tiger76]

Well England have a lead, albeit a slim one, tremendous innings from Root again, and he's now showing the form he was a few years ago when he was mentioned in that elite bracket alongside Kohli, Smith & Williamson.

[tiger76]

Useful runs these, lead now up to 27, and Root onto 180, 391-9, and India can't bat tonight if they take this last wicket, they'll probably be happy with that.

[tiger76]

Jimmy dismissed, so Root finishes unbeaten on 180.

England's day by a small margin, and it's set up perfectly for the last 2 days, so hopefully the weather stays fair, although if you're England you wouldn't mind some cloud cover in the morning, Jimmy and the others will be fired up to strike with the new ball, and this is a now a proper test match, and you'd be a brave man to call it from here.

[Local cricketer]

Well England have a lead, albeit a slim one, tremendous innings from Root again, and he's now showing the form he was a few years ago when he was mentioned in that elite bracket alongside Kohli, Smith & Williamson.

Kohli averaging 24 over the last 18 months so I’m not sure he’s in that bracket anymore

[tiger76]

Kohli averaging 24 over the last 18 months so I’m not sure he’s in that bracket anymore

No he's going through a rough trot, as Root did for a couple of years, however class players will always return to form in time, I just hope he doesn't find his touch in the 2nd innings here.

[Guller Bull]

Forecast looks reasonable.

[Taffy on the wing]

They've shown more mettle than i thought they would......Draw very likely now.

[tiger76]

They've shown more mettle than i thought they would......Draw very likely now.

Yes England's batsman earned their corn today, however Joe Root did score nearly half of the runs again, and you do worry if he has a failure or two, which he undoubtedly will sometime in this series.

The way the pitch is playing I'd say a draw is the most likely outcome, but both sides have suffered a clatter of wickets in this match, and with bowlers of the calibre of Anderson, Robinson and the Indian quicks you just never know.

[tiger76]

2 wickets for Wood who's snaffled both openers, Jimmy finally off after a 9 over spell, does this guy ever get tired?

India into the lead 48-2, but their advantage is a meagre 21, so if England can nip a couple more out before lunch they'll be well placed to push for victory perhaps even today, however this pitch is showing signs of the ball keeping low, so England won't want to be chasing to many 4th innings, anything 150 or above could be tricky.

[Local cricketer]

Kohli still averaging under 25

[box_of_frogs]

No he's going through a rough trot, as Root did for a couple of years, however class players will always return to form in time, I just hope he doesn't find his touch in the 2nd innings here.

Safe!!

[tiger76]

Big scalp that bang on the stroke of lunch, England strong favourites now given India's long tail, although if someone like Pant gets getting he could quickly change the momentum.

56-3 at lunch, lead of only 29, so India under severe pressure this afternoon.

[tiger76]

Kohli still averaging under 25

His poor form in England continues. It couldn't happen to a nicer chap.

[kentonclaret]

One of the presenters on SSN used those fateful words yesterday that are normally the death knell when attributed to England

"INDIA ARE IN A COMMANDING POSITION"

Effectively 29-3 doesn't look so commanding now for India.

[tiger76]

Effectively 29-3 doesn't look so commanding now for India.

No but it only takes one good partnership to tilt the balance again, England on top as it stands though.

[tiger76]

Good stand this between Pujara and Rahane, now worth 63 valuable runs, and India approaching a lead of 100, certainly not time for England to panic quite yet, but they could do with a breakthrough soon.

[dandeclaret]

Bairstow gets the Cymbals out again to good effect.

[tiger76]

How many catches are England going to put down in this series. Hope that doesn't prove a decisive moment in this match.

[tiger76]

Wood has struck to remove Pujara, but that Bairstow drop of Rahane is proving costly, he's nearly doubled his score since then.

However he's finally gone for 61, a wicket for Moeen.

India 167-5, lead of 140, but the new ball is due in 4 overs, so if England can make that count they should be favourites to go on and win, but it won't be an easy chase.

[tiger76]

India 181-6 at the close, 154 ahead, but those 3 late wickets have nudged England slightly in front.

However despite the new ball being available first thing tomorrow, if England do take it, which I assume they will, then there's the lurking danger of Pant smashing some quick runs, plus Mark Wood took a heavy tumble while fielding, and he appears to be carrying a shoulder injury.

Should be a cracking final day, it could well be one of those thrilling 5th days where the result is in doubt right until the end.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Root wanted to bring the pace bowlers on so they went off for bad light.
Why wouldn’t he just continue with spin?

[dandeclaret]

Pant about to launch into them, and could move the game on too far. With likely enough time, why wouldn’t you wait until you could use your best options?

[Bordeauxclaret]

I’d argue time is running out.

I’d also be very surprised if Pant was to throw the bat at it in their current situation.

[dandeclaret]

Does he have another way to bat? There’s not a lot left for him to bat with either.

[Bordeauxclaret]

They were playing for time, you could tell by Kohli’s antics on the balcony.

They want the draw.

[dandeclaret]

Yep, I’m sure they’ll Do everything they can to slow down the game, but, not sure they’ll have enough to take enough time out of the game.

[dandeclaret]

They probably need to bat for another 18-20 overs minimum, that would give them a 200 or so run lead with 70 overs for England to chase…..

[Bordeauxclaret]

With Ali claiming a few weeks I’d like to have seen us push for the final four and use as much time as possible.

I don’t think Pant would have tee’d off but if he did and it came off then fair play, we should still be backing ourselves to bat out a draw on a ground where historically the pitch doesn’t tend to deteriorate too much through a test.

[tiger76]

Root wanted to bring the pace bowlers on so they went off for bad light.
Why wouldn’t he just continue with spin?

They could have done, but that might have allowed India to nick some valuable runs, before England take the 2nd new ball tomorrow morning.

And given how tight this game has been every run could be precious.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Well of course they could, I wasn’t suggesting we’d bowl maiden after maiden.
However our best chance of winning is claiming four wickets. We’ve reduced our available time to do that.

[Local cricketer]

Pant cost them the test championship by having no match awareness. Interested to see how he goes today

[LeadBelly]

I think it'll likely peter-out as a draw now but it'd be good to see a tight ending as per the WI v Pakistan 1st Test yesterday.

WI needed 168 to win in the last innings (4th day) after a fairly low scoring game

It went to 92-5, 111-6, 114-7, 142-8 151-9 then the last WI pair just saw it through.
Both sides giving it a real go on the day, Roach 30 NO at the end was decisive (as were a couple of late dropped catches (one not too difficult) by Pakistan).
Enthralling stuff for this neutral, hope there's some excitement left in the Lords game today.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Robinson strikes Pant gone 194/7

Lead of 167, massive chance now

[claretonthecoast1882]

209/8 another for Robinson

[Bordeauxclaret]

Bumrah looking like a man who’s regretting his bowling on Saturday night.

[matttheclaret]

This might have got away from us now

[claretonthecoast1882]

This might have got away from us now

Agreed, had the lead been under 200 we had a chance. Now I think the least likely of the 3 results is us winning. We won't get all the overs in today if we got close to the total and already its over 3 rpo needed.

[Bordeauxclaret]

I’m not sure we’d go for it even if they declared now.

[Longsidelenny1882]

As they say up colne bowl at the wicket lad upthecolne