• England India 5th test

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 8:32 am**

The loss of Stokes levelled somewhat with no Bumrah.

An attack of Overton, Woakes, Tongue, Atkinson and Bethell looks a long way from one capable of bowling India out twice. Hopefully I am wrong.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:01 am**

The way India’s coach is trying to fire his players up by having a go at the Groundsman is a new one.

He doesn’t look like the kind of bloke it’s wise to pick a fight with either.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:02 am**

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:01 am
The way India’s coach is trying to fire his players up by having a go at the Groundsman is a new one.

He doesn’t look like the kind of bloke it’s wise to pick a fight with either.

Bit of a unit wasn't he

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:44 am**

Wonder if we are going to bat first this time? Seems the sensible decision based on the quick turnaround

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:50 am**

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 8:32 am
The loss of Stokes levelled somewhat with no Bumrah.

An attack of Overton, Woakes, Tongue, Atkinson and Bethell looks a long way from one capable of bowling India out twice. Hopefully I am wrong.

Atkinson is a step in the right direction but no archer significantly weakens us.

I know a lot of people are not a fan of Overton but I really rate him. Think he could be a surprise package in this test.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 10:12 am**

Ric_C wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:44 am
Wonder if we are going to bat first this time? Seems the sensible decision based on the quick turnaround

You would really think that India might actually win the toss this time - having now lost 14 in a row! - and I would expect them to put us in the field.
Having said that it's a new bowling attack so in terms of fitness it's probably not that relevant.
The Oval should be a very good place to bat.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 10:50 am**

England win the toss again and bowl. A good decision given the overcast conditions and a slightly green wicket. Looks like conditions will improve later in the day so early wickets a necessity.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 10:56 am**

15 in a row

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:00 am**

Bordeauxclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 10:56 am
15 in a row

Toss of a coin champions, they'll never sing that

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:17 am**

Atkinson has been a real miss this summer.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:21 am**

India lose the toss 15 in a row

Pope wins his 15th review after 14 losses

10 for 1

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:51 am**

RVclaret wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:17 am
Atkinson has been a real miss this summer.

We need him, Wood, Archer and Stokes all fit and firing for the Ashes.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 3:23 pm**

Gill

crazy run out 83/3

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 3:43 pm**

He seemed to forget there was a bowler travelling naturally towards where he'd knocked the ball. He was miles out when his stumps scattered.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 4:06 pm**

How has Atkinson bowled? I'm a big fan but was worried about his lack of cricket coming into the game.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:36 pm**

I'd say he's been the pick of the bowlers but generally the bowling hasnt been great in terms of line - a lot of wayward balls. A real waste given the conditions favouring the bowler.
Tongue's line had been v poor, having said which, he's now got two wickets with his relatively rare good deliveries.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:39 pm**

Two superb deliveries from Tongue to get both Sudharsan & Jadeja caught behind but he’s bowled a lot of poor deliveries.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:43 pm**

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 4:06 pm
How has Atkinson bowled? I'm a big fan but was worried about his lack of cricket coming into the game.

Very good.

We have missed him massively this summer

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:56 pm**

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:39 pm
Two superb deliveries from Tongue to get both Sudharsan & Jadeja caught behind but he’s bowled a lot of poor deliveries.

Him and Overton look like they don’t even know where the balls going.

Ability to play till 7.30/till bad light kicks in hopefully means we can put an even bigger dent into them before the close.

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:17 pm**

Can England not go through a full day without getting someone injured?

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:24 pm**

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 5:56 pm
Him and Overton look like they don’t even know where the balls going.

Ability to play till 7.30/till bad light kicks in hopefully means we can put an even bigger dent into them before the close.

England might live to regret not bowling decent lines today (Atkinson excepted) and having India all out, especially as Woakes looks like he may not bowl further now. Real waste of the conditions. Wonder what J Anderson's figures might've been today in the conditions prevailing?

Posted: **Thu Jul 31, 2025 8:06 pm**

LeadBelly wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 7:24 pm
England might live to regret not bowling decent lines today (Atkinson excepted) and having India all out, especially as Woakes looks like he may not bowl further now. Real waste of the conditions. Wonder what J Anderson's figures might've been today in the conditions prevailing?

Inclined to agree with this, they will have been happy at 6pm but perhaps a little disappointed by the end, but these are world class cricketers they will dig in.

Broad and Jimmy would have had these all out for sub 200 on that pitch today.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 7:23 am**

Bowled too short for most of the day too..it looks good for the cameras when the ball is whizzing past the outside edge, but that generally means you're not bowling full enough.

You want the little nicks, not the extravagant movement and swinging once it's gone past the bat..

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:11 am**

The injury to Woakes brings into serious question the baffling decision to select Overton.
(Was it because he plays for Surrey?)
Up until yesterday he’d bowled less than 20 overs in red ball cricket this season, with just 2 wickets at 55 each.
He bowled 16 overs yesterday and will no doubt be required to bowl several more today, and then he will be required to bowl a significant number in the 2nd innings.
We need 4 quick wickets today and then to bat for along time as it’s likely to be a tough slog for our much depleted bowling attack when India bat again.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:24 am**

Really struggling to see what their obsession with picking Overton is about. Is it because he can bat a bit? Not sure what Potts has done wrong really.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:29 am**

nil_desperandum wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:11 am
The injury to Woakes brings into serious question the baffling decision to select Overton.
(Was it because he plays for Surrey?)
Up until yesterday he’d bowled less than 20 overs in red ball cricket this season, with just 2 wickets at 55 each.
He bowled 16 overs yesterday and will no doubt be required to bowl several more today, and then he will be required to bowl a significant number in the 2nd innings.
We need 4 quick wickets today and then to bat for along time as it’s likely to be a tough slog for our much depleted bowling attack when India bat again.

It's baffling because he's distinctly average. Why is Potts out of the rest reckoning?

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 9:07 am**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:24 am
Really struggling to see what their obsession with picking Overton is about. Is it because he can bat a bit? Not sure what Potts has done wrong really.

Overton bowls like he bats a bit and bats like he bowls a bit.

Not sure he is even the best Overton

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 9:07 am**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 01, 2025 8:24 am
Really struggling to see what their obsession with picking Overton is about. Is it because he can bat a bit?

Plays for Surrey?

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:14 am**

Staring to think this is a ploy of Tongue's to chuck some balls way down the leg side to the boundary and then get the batsman out a few balls later

Nair gone lbw 218/7

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:19 am**

Sundar gone now too 220/8 to Atkinson

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:28 am**

2 more in 3 balls for Atkinson 224 all out

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:40 am**

Atkinson 5-33 from 21 overs. Impressive.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 11:43 am**

Sensational figures from Atkinson.

The Oval is about as close to an Aussie pitch as you'll get in England (a touch green right now though). Good to see our quicks giving one of the best batting lineups in world cricket a hard time.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:01 pm**

The Umpires in this series have been exceptional.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:24 pm**

10 4s and 2 6s in the first 8 overs

60/0

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:48 pm**

Ffs Duckett. Just throw your wicket away for no reason

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:52 pm**

It was a great aggressive start from both England's openers but that ridiculous scoop attempt by Duckett was Bazball gone mad.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 12:56 pm**

Gotta take the rough with the smooth. Bazball is at it's most effective in low scoring matches.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:10 pm**

Think Duckett should escape any criticism after a very enjoyable hour which has hurt the Indian bowlers and helped take away almost half of India's total in about an hours batting.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:14 pm**

Deep’s response to the Duckett wicket was outrageous.

Set of dicks this India team.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 1:46 pm**

Pretty incredible this opening partnership; Shubman Gill looks completely devoid of ideas.

Edit: I'm well behind. Drats.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 2:14 pm**

Bit of needle out there, loving the angry Joe Root.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 2:23 pm**

Pope going for a valiant captains knock of 22.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:07 pm**

Root gone

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:29 pm**

Bethell gone 195/5 (6 really with Woakes ruled out)

Good job we got off to a flier

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:56 pm**

Newcastleclaret93 wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 31, 2025 9:50 am
Atkinson is a step in the right direction but no archer significantly weakens us.

I know a lot of people are not a fan of Overton but I really rate him. Think he could be a surprise package in this test.

Yep, he's having a great game....

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:56 pm**

Conditions have gotten trickier but it’s hard to say we’ve not made a mess of that session.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:57 pm**

100/0 to 215/7 with no Bumrah in their attack. Great work boys.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:57 pm**

sjb wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:56 pm
Yep, he's having a great game....

My only surprise is he’s even worse than I thought he was going to be in this test.

Posted: **Fri Aug 01, 2025 4:04 pm**

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑
Fri Aug 01, 2025 3:57 pm
100/0 to 215/7 with no Bumrah in their attack. Great work boys.

all started with Duckett

There is aggressive and there is stupid, he basically threw his wicket away

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