England India 5th test

[Milltown1882]

Remind me again which County they play for?

I’m Lancastrian and nobody can hate the number 1 and 2 batsmen on the planet

[Milltown1882]

Can’t be alone in counting this chase down in 10s 12 to go

[Buxtonclaret]

Remind me again which County they play for?

That'll only put a downer on it, if they get out!

[Buxtonclaret]

99

[Buxtonclaret]

What a ton!

[Milltown1882]

Outstanding century from Brook. 10 centuries in 30 tests is outrageous.

[Buxtonclaret]

Yep.
Great stats.
Harry might just have a future in cricket.

[Milltown1882]

Brook gone, outstanding knock. Usual ridiculous shot to get out but can’t argue with 111 off 98.

73 to win no mistakes now please!

[Big Bri]

Will woakes bat if required? Or is the injury too severe

[Ric_C]

When are we going to control the urge for Uber recklessness when we are well on top? We will never become a great side until we learn

[Milltown1882]

317/4, 57 to win at tea. 98 not out. The most sensible Bazball session yet.

[Milltown1882]

Will woakes bat if required? Or is the injury too severe

If there’s 5-10 to win with one wicket remaining I guess he’d be out there. Hopefully it won’t come to that being in the conversation.

[Big Bri]

When are we going to control the urge for Uber recklessness when we are well on top? We will never become a great side until we learn

It looks uber recklessness when you get out, if it’s a 6 over cover then it’s genius, it’s a fine line. Embrace the best cricket england have EVER played in any era. Test cricket was dead, continuing scoring 2 an over , the test format would be gone. Breath of fresh air this side. Even my mrs wants to go watch a game !

[CoolClaret]

It looks uber recklessness when you get out, if it’s a 6 over cover then it’s genius, it’s a fine line. Embrace the best cricket england have EVER played in any era. Test cricket was dead, continuing scoring 2 an over , the test format would be gone. Breath of fresh air this side. Even my mrs wants to go watch a game !

There hasn't been 2 scored in an over in test cricket for nigh on 50 years.

[Big Bri]

There hasn't been 2 scored in an over in test cricket for nigh on 50 years.

You get my point, pretty boring stuff. Any one not appreciating this type of cricket bewilders me. Knocking a fellow who batted for 111 runs is just unbelievable tbh.

[CoolClaret]

You get my point, pretty boring stuff. Any one not appreciating this type of cricket bewilders me. Knocking a fellow who batted for 111 runs is just unbelievable tbh.

I just don't understand why (like everything) it has to be either '2 runs an over boring cricket' or ultra aggressive stuff?

I like the tactics, at times - especially when the ball is moving about you can never really play yourself in (Crawley and Duckett's approach in the first innings).

Just think at times, be a touch more measured - which they have done at times this series and then we'd be even better.

[Buxtonclaret]

Come on, England.
Do it!

[nil_desperandum]

tbh - I found the Lords test to be the most engrossing when batters had to be more circumspect and England's scoring rate was around 3 an over.
There's way more to high quality Test match cricket than fast scoring.
Brook is a brilliant batter, but if he were to be just a little more measured - at times - he could be an all time great, like Root who rarely gives it away.

[Milltown1882]

Take a bow Joe Root

[Milltown1882]

tbh - I found the Lords test to be the most engrossing when batters had to be more circumspect and England's scoring rate was around 3 an over.
There's way more to high quality Test match cricket than fast scoring.
Brook is a brilliant batter, but if he were to be just a little more measured - at times - he could be an all time great, like Root who rarely gives it away.

He’ll score more Test runs than Root, he’s that good.

[Buxtonclaret]

Root.
England's Greatest!

[Burnley Ace]

WTF was Bethell doing? “The pressure was building” - what pressure??

[Gunfury]

Bethell gone…looked totally unconvincing since he came to the crease

[Roosterbooster]

You get my point, pretty boring stuff. Any one not appreciating this type of cricket bewilders me. Knocking a fellow who batted for 111 runs is just unbelievable tbh.

I think the argument is that you still need to win to be able to continue playing Bazball

And when Bethell backs it up with that sort of dismissal, then I'm inclined to agree that while Brook might have put us in a winning position, he also might have cost us the match

[MrTopTier]

Root gone.

Woakes is going to be needed.

[Milltown1882]

37 now looks a lot. Pressure building.

[Gunfury]

Root gone now…better start strapping Woakes up at this rate

[Buxtonclaret]

Blimey

[RVclaret]

Pressure does funny things.

[Gunfury]

To be fair,this series deserves going right down to the wire,it’s been a cracker

[Big Bri]

I think the argument is that you still need to win to be able to continue playing Bazball

And when Bethell backs it up with that sort of dismissal, then I'm inclined to agree that while Brook might have put us in a winning position, he also might have cost us the match

So you play that way to 111 and then you should change and play more defensive , gets a nick playing defensive and your shouting why change the way your playing . It’s a package, win or lose it’s brilliant to watch

[Ric_C]

For the neutral yes

[CoolClaret]

So you play that way to 111 and then you should change and play more defensive , gets a nick playing defensive and your shouting why change the way your playing . It’s a package, win or lose it’s brilliant to watch

Not really, he played himself in a bit more this innings - started getting really loose past 100 and... dismissed.

[Ric_C]

Ball moving all over the place since tea

[Casper2]

So you play that way to 111 and then you should change and play more defensive , gets a nick playing defensive and your shouting why change the way your playing . It’s a package, win or lose it’s brilliant to watch

It really isn’t

[RVclaret]

Ball moving all over the place since tea

Very dark and gloomy.

And off they go for bad light and rain.

[Big Bri]

Shame that, should of got on with it

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

A very frustrating end to the day.

[RVclaret]

Sunny here in north London now.

[nil_desperandum]

So you play that way to 111 and then you should change and play more defensive , gets a nick playing defensive and your shouting why change the way your playing .

But it's not a binary choice between those two extremes.
It was a very balanced and mature innings for the most part - until he reached his 100.
So with all the time in the world to score about 70, there's no need to block or slog, you simply play each ball on its merits.
It was an agricultural slog at a time when we were in total control.
Overnight I reckon he'll be as nervous as those who have to bat tomorrow.
I think we'll win, but it's going to be tense now.

[nil_desperandum]

To be fair,this series deserves going right down to the wire,it’s been a cracker

Spot on.
It will be fitting if Woakes has to come out at the non-striker's end with the scores level and we run a single to win.

[CleggHall]

Poor selection, Bethell and Overton have not played red ball cricket this year and it shows!

[BurnleyFC]

It looks uber recklessness when you get out, if it’s a 6 over cover then it’s genius, it’s a fine line. Embrace the best cricket england have EVER played in any era. Test cricket was dead, continuing scoring 2 an over , the test format would be gone. Breath of fresh air this side. Even my mrs wants to go watch a game !

Give over.

This current side is entertaining with a couple of world class players but England have had some far better sides over the years.

[Longsidebovril]

I like the ‘we’re in the entertainment business’ attitude.
You can’t deny this series has been one of the most entertaining in a while. Very fitting that it comes down to the wire.
Test cricket is brilliant when it’s like this.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Smashing series to watch and it could still be an interesting finish.
When our 4th wicket went down in the first innings we scored a further 72 runs before we were all out with Brook being the lsat wicket .
WHen our 4th wicket went down in this innings we needed a further 73 runs to win.
The comparison when the 6th went down is we scored 32 and this innigs we needed 37. Very tight indeed

[IanMcL]

New ball will decide it, if they get to play. The old ball was moving all over the place, last night. If it doesn't move when they resume, then they need to whack it quickly. If it does move, gang on in there and hope the new ball doesn't move and stays straight.

50 - 50 with nothing sides thinking they can win.

[Buxtonclaret]

4....4 .... 27 wanted

[Buxtonclaret]

Stop bloody wafting!!

[Ashingtonclaret46]

What the hell was Smith doing? He had the warning with the first two balls which he didn't need to play at but then -----what a sucker!

[Goalposts]

Shocking by smith - absolutely garbage both technique wise and mentally..truly awful