Joe Root wins the toss and bats first.

Who gives a toss!?

HiroshimaClaret wrote:Who gives a toss!?

You must do to have commented

tybfc wrote:Joe Root wins the toss and bats first.

Root bats 4th!

Looks batsman friendly today.

The Oval looks a shade of the fast bouncy wickets we used to see.

Both Cook the Ali dropped in the slips in space of 3 balls, some great bowling from Bumrah in particular.

The pressure is building, i can sense a wicket, we haven't scored a run for about 4 overs.

Now 134/4 losing 3 quick wickets. Root and Bairstow ducks.

Three wickets lost in last 2 overs
134-4
Root 0
Bairstow 0

What the heck happened there 133-1 Cook and Moeen going nicely,now 134-4 Root and Bairstow falling for ducks,heaven help England now Cook is retiring.

Tony you just pipped me to it

198-7 at the close,apart from Cook and Moeen who rode their luck,and Jennings who at least battled hard,p45's for the rest,there is no balance in this England selection,far too many all-rounders and not enough specialist batsman,someone has to make hard decisions before the winter tours.

194/2 Cook still there on 84

Can he do it..?

Closer...
95

Haha!

100 up!
Reached it on overthrows!

Well done, Mr Cook.
Brilliant achievement.
They're still applauding now!

265/2

Joe Root gets his Ton too.

And so, he's out.
147/4

End of an outstanding career.
Huge reception from everyone there for an all time great.


Root out shortly before for 125

You have to feel for India's bowlers lead nearing 400,Bairstow and Stokes in the middle,oh! and Buttler to come next,great partnership between Cook and Root both showing their class,delighted for chef to get a ton in his final innings,important also for the skipper to bag a century before the winter tour,takes some pressure from his batting now he's finally converted a start.

If England can bat that long....so can India.
Better leave enough time.

Oops! Bairstow bowled as I post!

India 2/3, chasing 464 to win. Jimmy takes two quick wickets to draw level with Glen Mgraw.

Sorry for spelling of Ozzie bowler.

Alistair Cook. What a player. What a gentleman. Wish we had him in midfield

Kohli gets a golden duck to cap India's day,they did well to get to the close only 3 down,gives them a slim chance of a draw.

Bizarrely despite winning the series,England have more problem-solving to do than India,the top three are up for grabs,and somehow all these all-rounders have to be juggled without unbalancing the line-up,i would be tempted to give one of Broad/Anderson or both the winter off,they aren't getting any younger and are vital for the Ashes next year.

Incredible scenes at The Oval. Must be the longest ovation a player has received for scoring a century.

The behaviour of the Indians when he has dismissed shows just how respected Cook is.

Top man.

Good stand from India although I suspect they have left themselves too much to do.

Bordeauxclaret wrote:Good stand from India although I suspect they have left themselves too much to do.

It’s getting interesting - depends if Pant gets to 100 and starts pushing on again. I have a sneaky feeling they might start going for it soon.

It’s definitely turning into a proper 5 dayer though.

Could be an interesting finish!

India currently 290/5 coming to the tea break needing 174 more runs for an unlikely win in maybe 30-35 overs.

India nowt to lose so may as well go for it.

Make that 298-5!

Think we got the answer from Pant

I got here at 10.59am keen to get in, in case Jimmy got a wicket with his first ball.

The batsmen have been in charge though especially the present pair with a century each.
Rahul has been especially dominant.
Jimmy had four overs this morning, probably 3 or 4 just before tea.. he is back on now, first over after tea. He has bowled well but historically, there have usually been plenty of runs at the Oval Test..

Could be a decent finish to this, if they go for it.
- very good over over JA..

India 307 for 5

- they need 157 to win.

They have batted well but we haven't bowled well at all.
Why Stokes thinks he's quick enough to bowl short on a placid pitch is beyond me, maybe the odd surprise delivery but not 4 or 5 in a row.

What a brilliant match this has been/is for all the spectators, think if India do pull this off it will be the 2nd highest 2nd innings score in test match history!

Currently 325-5 as I type..

Should be game over now

328/7

India need about 130 from 140 balls.

England need 3 wickets.

Time for an over from Cook to get the crowd whipped up.

The crowd are right behind JA, willing him on, but he’s not having his best day... no matter, one good delivery should do it..

9 down

Jimmy has done it - 564 test wickets, one more than Glenn McGrath.

What a great way for Jimmy to achieve the record ---middle stump out of the ground.
Great Test match with Alastair Cook's farewell 100, Pant scoring a cracking, entertaining 100 in the Indian fight back and then Jimmy ending it all with a record breaking wicket.

In a perfect world that last wicket would have been c Cook b Anderson but what a way to do it, knocking the middle stump out of the ground.

I saw him make his Lancs League debut at 15 and could never have believed this. The town of Burnley should be so proud of him.

What a Test.
Script writers dream!

Had virtually something of everything yet some say test cricket is boring...certainly not this series. What an achievement for Jimmy...will he get to 600?

Suratclaret wrote:Had virtually something of everything yet some say test cricket is boring...certainly not this series. What an achievement for Jimmy...will he get to 600?

Yesterday's viewing gave me goosebumps for most of the day. The atmosphere was electric.

How this man hasn't got recognition from this town is beyond belief.

The greatest ever sportsman to come from the area, he deserves a statue at the very least IMO.

MACCA wrote:How this man hasn't got recognition from this town is beyond belief.

The greatest ever sportsman to come from the area, he deserves a statue at the very least IMO.

There’s a statue being erected outside the Emirates

564 Test Wickets. World best by a fast bowler. WOW

joey13 wrote:There’s a statue being erected outside the Emirates

He isn’t a footballer.

RocketLawnChair wrote:He isn’t a footballer.

Weird how some people think a tribute to Jimmy is somehow related to football.

MACCA wrote:How this man hasn't got recognition from this town is beyond belief.

The greatest ever sportsman to come from the area, he deserves a statue at the very least IMO.

He is a freeman of the borough but I totally agree there should be recognition. Was posted on here recently that Centenary Way should be renamed James Anderson Way with a statue at one end. I’d fully support that idea.