England v India

[ClaretTony]

Duckett gone for 149. England are 253/3.

[ClaretTony]

And Brook gone first ball.

253/4 and the game has suddenly changed.

[alwaysaclaret]

Stokesy has to literally be Captain fantastic here.

[claretonthecoast1882]

I guessing those who had a bit of a moan at Brook getting out for 99 in the 1st innings would have took him getting out on 49 or 99 doing this same this time round.

This last session could be fun

[dandeclaret]

Typical Yorkie - goes missing when the country needs him.

[ClaretTony]

102 required and coming off for rain

[Noblelight]

That was just stupid cricket from Brook. Plenty of time in the game.

[jdrobbo]

Absolutely love Brook. He’s such a talent, BUT to go chasing that shot on his first delivery was wild!

[dandeclaret]

Absolutely love Brook. He’s such a talent, BUT to go chasing that shot on his first delivery was wild!

Ah JD, don't become another one of those Twelth Man types who post on here. This team play their shots, that's what makes them. They've matured into it, but if it's there to be hit, they're going to try and hit it, and a wide ball down the legside is there to be hit.

[TheFamilyCat]

Often deemed to be unlucky to tickle one down leg to the keeper, and arguably it was, but giving the charge first ball was ridiculous.

[Dressinggown]

Still, game on.

[Dressinggown]

That looks out !

[ClaretTony]

Still, game on.

Very much so. Could still go either way.

[ClaretTony]

300/4 - 71 required

[ClaretTony]

Stokes gone - 302/5

[alwaysaclaret]

Surely not, not when we've come this far, this close 🫣

[dandeclaret]

Super start to the test match summer either way.... and people choose that meaningless pop and crisps franchise nonsense over this?

[Noblelight]

Ah JD, don't become another one of those Twelth Man types who post on here. This team play their shots, that's what makes them. They've matured into it, but if it's there to be hit, they're going to try and hit it, and a wide ball down the legside is there to be hit.

No problem with their approach but just think you can take an over to see how it’s playing, he certainly is an incredible player and the cricket we play is exciting

[ClaretTony]

Super start to the test match summer either way.... and people choose that meaningless pop and crisps franchise nonsense over this?

Second superb test match in just over two weeks having watched Australia v South Africa at Lord’s.

This one could still go either way.

[Quickenthetempo]

New ball to come but England must be favourites now.

It's been a great chase.

[dandeclaret]

New ball to come but England must be favourites now.

It's been a great chase.

Favourites now? They've been odds on since just after lunch, and are currently no offers, cos the odds are greater than 1/100

[boatshed bill]

This innings has been brilliant

[RVclaret]

Fantastic win from England. 2nd ever highest run chase. A great match. Amazed Bumrah ended with 0 wickets today.

Is Ben Duckett the best all-format batter in the world right now?

[Bordeauxclaret]

Fantastic chase.

Just goes to show you can be attacking without being reckless.

Really impressive to keep their heads with the threat from the weather as well.

[alwaysaclaret]

Absolutely brilliant test match, against the odds the rain held off, and we seem to have found ourselves a very able, calm, collected middle order batsmen that knows how to bat.

[ClaretTony]

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

[CoolClaret]

Brilliant that.

Genius from Duckett - they couldn't work him out at all, that mix of his height / ability to sweep (both ways) yet play off the back foot... top, top drawer stuff.

Here's one - would anyone swap Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes in the batting order?

[Milltown1882]

What a test match start to finish. Anyone suggesting 4 day test matches needs their head testing.

[Milltown1882]

Brilliant that.

Genius from Duckett - they couldn't work him out at all, that mix of his height / ability to sweep (both ways) yet play off the back foot... top, top drawer stuff.

Here's one - would anyone swap Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes in the batting order?

I said that in conversation with a friend the other day. Bethell replacing Bashir and splitting spin duties with Root was also in the same conversation though.

[Casper2]

Great win

[Milltown1882]

Has a team ever lost a test match after being 430/3 in the first innings?

[jdrobbo]

Ah JD, don't become another one of those Twelth Man types who post on here. This team play their shots, that's what makes them. They've matured into it, but if it's there to be hit, they're going to try and hit it, and a wide ball down the legside is there to be hit.

Yeah fair. I agree wholeheartedly, but for me, on a wide first delivery, he seemed to not be in full control. It didn’t swing and he seemed to be slightly off balance. I think he’d be all over it just a few balls later. Wonderful performance Vaughan described it as, ‘Baz Ball with brains’ which I like. Really encouraging

[equinox]

Even Andy Jacobs will be happy with that.

[CoolClaret]

Wonderful performance Vaughan described it as, ‘Baz Ball with brains’ which I like. Really encouraging

Wish we could move beyond the 'Baz Ball' stuff and just call it what it is(was) - intelligent attacking cricket.

[jdrobbo]

Wish we could move beyond the 'Baz Ball' stuff and just call it what it is(was) - intelligent attacking cricket.

Yep, agree!

[boatshed bill]

Massive credit should go to Root for his calm innings, just what was needed.

[Claretnick]

What a brilliant test match between 2 excellent teams.
Even more amazing that the weather kept away from Headingley, it's hardly stopped raining in East Lancs all day

[bodge]

Full credit to the Headingley ground staff for preparing a cracking test match pitch.

First time a team with 5 centurions has lost a test match, Siraj et al must be frothing at their out cricket.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Never missed a ball today
Went on my walk at 8 am and back home on bus for 10-45.
Absolutely amazing match and wonderful final day

[LeadBelly]

After that first day I didn't think we had much of a chance, assumed the wicket would make it too difficult 4th innings but pitch held up more than you could hope for and our batting was great. Bowling was a bit average I think but chances of progression for all the bowlers hopefully.
India made a fair few errors (not getting their heads down and getting a bigger 1st innings score mainly) and some of the fielding was sub par.

I've got Oval tickets for 5th test, was worried India would maybe in an unassailable position then but that fear has receded now.

Hope we can keep this batting standard up, some really good performances in this test

[Taffy on the wing]

Brilliant win!.......even got to watch the last 30 mins on a blokes phone in the pub.
Nothing better than a good test match!

[Andreshotboots]

A game that had everything, full credit to both teams for producing a series opening cracker.

The only things both teams will be really disappointed with was the catching, I dont know the exact total, but there seemed to be a hell of a lot of catches gone down over the 5 days..

[DesmondHaynes]

Full credit to the Headingley ground staff for preparing a cracking test match pitch.

First time a team with 5 centurions has lost a test match, Siraj et al must be frothing at their out cricket.

They said on the radio that it was the first time in any first class match that a team scoring five centuries had lost.

Five centuries, four centurions I think? Sorry to be pendantic Steve.

Stokes is some leader. They give everything for him.

[Andreshotboots]

They said on the radio that it was the first time in any first class match that a team scoring five centuries had lost.

Five centuries, four centurions I think? Sorry to be pendantic Steve.

Stokes is some leader. They give everything for him.

He certainly leads from the front for sure. Still concerned a touch about our bowling, and in particular our spin options, but with some bowlers coming back to fitness we may have more options soon.

Keeping Stokes bowling fit is vital for the Ashes..

[warksclaret]

That win was on a par with us beating Chelsea 3-2 at Stamford Bridge under Dyche

[GordonvaleClaret]

Good toss to win.

[Bordeauxclaret]

The defeat hasn’t gone down well in India, despite a decent performance from them overall.

1 win in 9 Tests now since they demolished England at the start of 2024.