England v India 4th Test

[Bordeauxclaret]

For the fourth time in a row India lose the toss and for the third time in four we’ve chosen to bowl first.

[jdrobbo]

Heard a remarkable stat on the radio…

No team has ever won the toss at Old Trafford, elected to bowl and won the test match!! (Dating back to 1884)

Looking at the weather, this looks like a three or four day match at most, so I can see the logic behind the decision to bowl first in these overcast conditions.?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Heard a remarkable stat on the radio…

No team has ever won the toss at Old Trafford, elected to bowl and won the test match!! (Dating back to 1884)

Looking at the weather, this looks like a three or four day match at most, so I can see the logic behind the decision to bowl first in these overcast conditions.?

I was surprised to read that India have never won a Test at Old Trafford.

[dandeclaret]

India have lost 14 international coin tosses in a row..... around 16000/1 that...

[ClaretTony]

I was surprised to read that India have never won a Test at Old Trafford.

They’d never won one at Edgbaston either

[ClaretTony]

Brilliant to see Clive Lloyd & Farokh Engineer ringing the bell this morning having been recognised with the naming of a stand.

[claretonthecoast1882]

They’d never won one at Edgbaston either

Had no idea about that either, equally as surprising.

[ChrisG]

Brilliant to see Clive Lloyd & Farokh Engineer ringing the bell this morning having been recognised with the naming of a stand.

Love that they have given Sir Clive the top tier presumably as a nod too his batting style

[ClaretTony]

Love that they have given Sir Clive the top tier presumably as a nod too his batting style

Two batsman who were brilliant to watch. Despite his size now, Farokh looks good at 87.

[ChrisG]

Two batsman who were brilliant to watch. Despite his size now, Farokh looks good at 87.

He really does, I was surprised to learn he was that age

[ClaretTony]

He really does, I was surprised to learn he was that age

I think he’d struggled to get up and down behind the wicket now. Those two were special signings for Lancs. What a one day team we had in the 60s/early 70s.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Had no idea about that either, equally as surprising.

They’ve only won 10 tests in England in their history.

[Tricky Trevor]

When Sir Clive was pro at Haslingden he was living across the road in the Woolpack and put a 6 through his own bedroom window. Urban myth or true? Over to Hassy fans.

[ClaretTony]

When Sir Clive was pro at Haslingden he was living across the road in the Woolpack and put a 6 through his own bedroom window. Urban myth or true? Over to Hassy fans.

I posted this recently but worth a repeat. When he played for Haslingden at Burnley he hit three sixes in one Jack Schofield over that all landed on the football pitch. It wasn't as remarkable as it sounds, they were building the new stand at the time and it went straight through the building works.

[Casper2]

Two batsman who were brilliant to watch. Despite his size now, Farokh looks good at 87.

Such a decent bloke too , remember speaking to him at various trade shows in the 90s

[ClaretTony]

Such a decent bloke too , remember speaking to him at various trade shows in the 90s

I spoke to him once many, many years ago at OT. Definitely came across really well.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Finally a wicket

Woakes gets Rahul 94/1

[claretonthecoast1882]

The collapse is on 120/2 Dawson gets Jaiswal

[Buxtonclaret]

140/3

[TheFamilyCat]

Love that the 3rd umpire confirmed there was no bat involved there.

[Taffy on the wing]

Cricket only available to watch for the past year or two here.........Old Trafford looks completely different.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The collapse is on 120/2 Dawson gets Jaiswal

I really rate Dawson (both bat and ball) would love it if he has a good game here

[Bordeauxclaret]

Pant with another painful one.

Not sure why he couldn’t have limped off.

[Buxtonclaret]

Hope we aren't going to regret dropping Sudharsan too much.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Wonder if Pant comes back in later with a runner whether they will try to get their better keeper to keep in both innings or whether one of the other 10 selected players will have to do the job

[Buxtonclaret]

235/4
Ben has had Sudharsan caught.

[Spijed]

Anyone affected by the long queues?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939rnrk54qo

[Taffy on the wing]

I just have to say how impressed i am with Stokes's bowling......this and the last test are the only times i've seen him when he's properly fit......he was bowling quicker than Archer today.
What a cricketer he is!

[fatboy47]

Anyone affected by the long queues?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939rnrk54qo

Yep...it was an absolute shambles...utterly amateur show from LCC....and to suggest it was caused by late arrivals was simply lying.
We got there just before 10.20 and didn't get in until after 11.15.

[CBT]

I just have to say how impressed i am with Stokes's bowling......this and the last test are the only times i've seen him when he's properly fit......he was bowling quicker than Archer today.
What a cricketer he is!

He was the best bowler
And he is a superb cricketer
But if your all-rounder is consistently your best bowler then your in trouble in my eyes

[CBT]

Yep...it was an absolute shambles...utterly amateur show from LCC....and to suggest it was caused by late arrivals was simply lying.
We got there just before 10.20 and didn't get in until after 11.15.

Bags are the problem
Got into Victoria at 10:30ish
Tram to old Trafford for 10:55ish
Straight through via fast track(no bag search)
In seats(party stand)at 11:02ish
Left bag at home(which lccc advise)
Small brolly and sun hat in pockets
Easy

[Taffy on the wing]

Hope we aren't going to regret dropping Sudharsan too much.

Harder to drop than catch.....poor.

[claret wizard]

Wonder if Pant comes back in later with a runner whether they will try to get their better keeper to keep in both innings or whether one of the other 10 selected players will have to do the job

Runners not allowed anymore. He’d come to only hit boundaries.

[fatboy47]

Bags are the problem
Got into Victoria at 10:30ish
Tram to old Trafford for 10:55ish
Straight through via fast track(no bag search)
In seats(party stand)at 11:02ish
Left bag at home(which lccc advise)
Small brolly and sun hat in pockets
Easy

Fine if you can tolerate queuing half the day for the overpriced muck they call food in these places.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Reports saying Pant has a fractured toe and will obviously miss rest of the series.

[Buxtonclaret]

Harder to drop than catch.....poor.

Yep. A bad miss.
But to be fair, that apart, he's had a decent spell behind.
He took a 'shooter' a while after really well, that kept ridiculously low.

[ClaretTony]

First wicket of the day, really good catch by Brook off Archer to get Jadeja.

[Andreshotboots]

First wicket of the day, really good catch by Brook off Archer to get Jadeja.

That's a superb catch as the cameras never do justice as to how fast that ball is actually moving..

[ClaretTony]

That's a superb catch as the cameras never do justice as to how fast that ball is actually moving..

It really is - the reaction time they have in the slips is minimal. I don’t think you can ever appreciate that watching on tv.

[kentonclaret]

Reports saying Pant has a fractured toe and will obviously miss rest of the series.

Hold the back page on that

[claretonthecoast1882]

314/6 Stokes get Thakur

Out comes Pant, here comes the yorkers

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Hold the back page on that

Fair play to him coming out to bat!

[martin_p]

Hold the back page on that

Looking at him out in the middle I’m pretty sure he will miss the rest of the series.

[ClaretTony]

Off for rain

[kentonclaret]

Looking at him out in the middle I’m pretty sure he will miss the rest of the series.

Undoubtedly that will be the case that he will not play in the 5th Test and will only play as a batter in the rest of this game.

[blatherwickstattoos]

Anyone affected by the long queues?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c939rnrk54qo

I jumped a queue but had no idea I did until I went in and saw a huge one going around the corner.

Got in well in time for the start. Slow morning session but picked up later. Great day

[Longsider]

Just listened to the second part of the orchestra tribute to the 2005 ashes victory on 5 live extra. If you have missed it it's on again tonight in full. It's brilliant. Brings back amazing memories.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Stokes with 2 in an over 337/8 Pant still there

Stokes 5/63

[Buxtonclaret]

Great bowling, Ben!
337/8

[claretonthecoast1882]

2nd time this innings Pants down

354/9 bowled Archer