England vs India - 4th Test

[tiger76]

A pretty even day now, India have fought back strongly in the final session, and England could do with a lead of 50 minimum, and 100 ideally, as batting last on this pitch won't be easy if there's any kind of total to chase last innings.

A good test of England's character now, so let's see if someone can step up to the mark instead of Root for once. Malan impressed and he needs to anchor the middle & lower order tomorrow you sense.

[Local cricketer]

Why have the Tms commentators stoped saying 3rd man. Cricket commentary goes woke

[Local cricketer]

Stopped damn edit button

[claretonthecoast1882]

Overton gone to his 4th ball of the day 53/4

[tiger76]

Overton gone to his 4th ball of the day 53/4

I know he was night-watchman, but it's still not a great start is it, the best bet on this pitch seems to be to try and get a few well you can, that's what India's lower order managed to do, and England need to at least get parity, or somewhere close on 1st innings, time for the middle order to step up and deliver.

[ClaretTony]

Malan gone now - five down

[claretonthecoast1882]

62/5

Malan gone 190 looks a long way off suddenly

[tiger76]

Will this game see a third day? must be in severe doubt at this rate.

Terrible first 40 minutes for England I'm afraid.

[tiger76]

78-5 at drinks, so England mustered 25-2 in that 1st hour, definitely India's morning so far.

Pope has got a start on 15, and hopefully he can go on and help the rest add a few.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Thakur & Siraj on and runs start to flow

16 off an over and then 12 off the next 106/5

[BleedingClaret]

Thought Nick had gone with the England footy squad but he’s trying to save England at Cricket
That’s what you call an all rounder

[Burnley1989]

Still hugely in the balance

[TheFamilyCat]

Why have the Tms commentators stoped saying 3rd man. Cricket commentary goes woke

To annoy people like you.

Have they, btw? Can't say I've noticed but you very rarely see a third man in test cricket.

[claretonthecoast1882]

To annoy people like you.

Have they, btw? Can't say I've noticed but you very rarely see a third man in test cricket.

Imagine how irate he would be if they stopped with silly point

[claretonthecoast1882]

50 up for Pope 160/6

[dandeclaret]

Imagine if the world could be powered by Uptheclarets cricket hot takes, and reactions to wickets, or half an hour without a wicket..... the swingometer is incredible

[Bosscat]

Why have the Tms commentators stoped saying 3rd man. Cricket commentary goes woke

I definitely heard 3rd man mentioned several times yesterday

[tiger76]

Bairstow goes for 37, good stand of 89 between him & Pope, but England still could do with a few more runs.

It's looking effectively a 1 innings game now.

England 156-6, 35 adrift, but remember one of those 6 was Overton, so there is still batting to come for the hosts.

50 for Pope, a brilliant knock in the circumstances, now can he convert.

[claretonthecoast1882]

I definitely heard 3rd man mentioned several times yesterday

You been watching them mucky videos again

[Rileybobs]

Have you noticed that Pope has faced over 100 balls and the commentators haven’t mentioned his name once for fear of upsetting other religions. It’s Woke gone mad.

[RVclaret]

Have you noticed that Pope has faced over 100 balls and the commentators haven’t mentioned his name once for fear of upsetting other religions. It’s Woke gone mad.

Wow!

[MACCA]

I definitely heard 3rd man mentioned several times yesterday

Me too, and I only cought the last 2 and a half hours live...

[tiger76]

Pope now on 58 the highest score of match yet. And England only 24 shy of India now.

Crucial session here you sense, if England are still batting at tea they should have a useful lead, however if India knock these last 4 over quickly they'll be well poised to set a challenging total in the 4th innings.

[TheFamilyCat]

Have you noticed that Pope has faced over 100 balls and the commentators haven’t mentioned his name once for fear of upsetting other religions. It’s Woke gone mad.

I fear for Local Cricketer when Woakes comes out to bat.

[Rileybobs]

I fear for Local Cricketer when Woakes comes out to bat.

[claretonthecoast1882]

I fear for Local Cricketer when Woakes comes out to bat.

Probably pretend to be cheering Root and give it a boooo

[MACCA]

Pope now on 58 the highest score of match yet. And England only 24 shy of India now.

Crucial session here you sense, if England are still batting at tea they should have a useful lead, however if India knock these last 4 over quickly they'll be well poised to set a challenging total in the 4th innings.

A bit of batting to come, a 60 run lead would be useful and should be minimum really from here, although I'm confident it could be around the 100 mark, which puts us in control.

[ClaretTony]

When the early wickets fell this morning I wasn’t expecting this news but we are now in front, 192/6.

[Quickenthetempo]

A very good innings by Pope to get us in the lead. Ably helped by Bairstow and Ali.

It's huge for the mental side, for the lower order.
They can come in positive now. If 70 behind they would be nervous and reluctant to play shots.

[ClaretTony]

Moeen gone for 35, total 222/7.

[tiger76]

Fantastic recovery from 62-5 this morning, bravo to Pope, Bairstow and Moeen.

221-6 nearing tea, and England's lead is already,, and Kohli isn't a happy man, which as an Englishman is a great sight to behold.

New ball not due for another 12/13 overs, so England could really make hay in the next hour or so against a tiring attack.

Blast double nelson strike Moeen gone for 35, 222-7.

Yet another twist in this intriguing match, and I'll wager it won't be the last.

[box_of_frogs]

Shame Moeen didn’t bide his time. He was looking ok til that silly shot.

[tiger76]

Moeen gone for 35, total 222/7.

Daft shot at any time, but just minutes before tea it's even dafter, and India have got a sniff now of restricting England's lead to below 50 if they can wrap up the tail quickly.

What on earth was going through Moeen's mind there, he'd done the hard work, so just stay in and support Pope.

[ClaretTony]

Daft shot at any time, but just minutes before tea it's even dafter, and India have got a sniff now of restricting England's lead to below 50 if they can wrap up the tail quickly.

What on earth was going through Moeen's mind there, he'd done the hard work, so just stay in and support Pope.

And at 222 I’d done everything possible to try and prevent the wicket.

227/7 now at tea.

[tiger76]

227-7 at tea, England's session, but that Moeen wicket has just out the game back in the balance once more.

Woakes can hold a bat though, as he's proven on many occasions with England. and a nice boundary to get him off the mark just before tea will settle him down.

Lead still only 36 though, and ideally England want to build as big an advantage as possible 1st innings, because batting last on this you don't want to be chasing 150 plus, given how this match has gone that wouldn't be easy.

[ClaretTony]

Lead past 50

[ClaretTony]

250/8, Pope gone for 81.

[ClaretTony]

I think we've done well here given the start this morning, currently 284/9,a lead of 93.

[Quickenthetempo]

England have done superb.

Welcome back Woakes with a 50

[ClaretTony]

All out 290 - lead of 99

[kendaldave]

Jimmy gets his hundredth 'not out' in test match cricket!

[Quickenthetempo]

Time to nip 3 out tonight before they get anywhere near drawing level.

I would open with Woakes seeing as he will be on a high.

[MACCA]

A bit of batting to come, a 60 run lead would be useful and should be minimum really from here, although I'm confident it could be around the 100 mark, which puts us in control.

Spot on...

Sadly I can only see 1 wicket maximum going down tonight.

[Quickenthetempo]

Spot on...

Sadly I can only see 1 wicket maximum going down tonight.

Just keep line and lengths and not go chasing wickets.

Try and keep the pressure on with no freebies.

[tiger76]

England have done superb.

Welcome back Woakes with a 50

To add to his 4 wickets. That's what you call an all round contribution.

[tiger76]

Good response by India, 43-0 at close of play, still 56 behind however, so a couple of early wickets in the morning could put England back on top, but the way this series has fluctuated it would be a brave man to call it right now, I'd say England have noses slightly in front, but a couple of good partnerships now the pitch is easier to bat on, and India will be fancying their chances when they come to bowl 2nd time around.

Great knock from Pope, pity he didn't get his ton, but after being 62-5 England would have bitten your hand of to post 290, and a near 100 lead.

Could do with an early breakthrough or two tomorrow though, while the ball is still relatively new, otherwise it could be a tough day in the field.

[Quickenthetempo]

To add to his 4 wickets. That's what you call an all round contribution.

In England Woakes averages 36 with the bat and 22 with the ball.
Far better than any all rounder England have had for the last 40 years at least.

[tiger76]

In England Woakes averages 36 with the bat and 22 with the ball.
Far better than any all rounder England have had for the last 40 years at least.

Yes his record in England is impressive, hence why I'd always pick him if he's fit for home tests, regarding touring, I'm afraid that's a different story entirely, as he's never quite the same overseas, but he's a great cricketer to call upon when you need something to turn a game, or as we saw in the WI series, even to win a game.

However that's a big claim that he's England's best all rounder in living memory, I strongly suspect Botham & Flintoff could easily lay claim to that crown ahead of Chris Woakes, as good as he is.

[Quickenthetempo]

Yes his record in England is impressive, hence why I'd always pick him if he's fit for home tests, regarding touring, I'm afraid that's a different story entirely, as he's never quite the same overseas, but he's a great cricketer to call upon when you need something to turn a game, or as we saw in the WI series, even to win a game.

However that's a big claim that he's England's best all rounder in living memory, I strongly suspect Botham & Flintoff could easily lay claim to that crown ahead of Chris Woakes, as good as he is.

His stats are far better. I don't judge cricketers from different eras, it's a totally different game.

[Local cricketer]

India’s to lose now. Flat pitch probably rack up 400 and skittle England again