England v India - 2nd Test

AlargeClaret · Post by **AlargeClaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:20 pm

Couple of superb knocks , ok the pitch is so docile most of this forum could probs get a 50 , but these 2 came together with Eng facing total collapse so great show .

Clarets4me · Post by **Clarets4me** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:36 pm

England's scoring today is 222/2 ... Richie Benaud's favourite score ! Rolling along at 5 an over ...

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:01 pm

Superb 150 by Smith!

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:25 pm

I missed most of the morning session due to a medical appointment but did learn that Root & Stokes had gone in successive deliveries.

At that point I feared the worst but what’s happened since has been superb. We are still in the second best position in this test but Smith & Brooks have done a brilliant job.

And as I type, the partnership has just reached 250.

CleggHall · Post by **CleggHall** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 3:36 pm

Yes a nice turnaround, responsible batting from Smith and Brook, a long way to go though.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:31 pm

300 partnership - fantastic from them

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:34 pm

And Brook gone just one run short of avoiding the follow on

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:52 pm

They love their stats at the cricket and Smith has now passed Alec Stewart’s 171 as the highest ever score by an England wicket keeper.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:04 pm

8 down now - both Woakes & Carse gone.

Ric_C · Post by **Ric_C** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:07 pm

Always think it's unfair to give lbw when the bat is so close to the pad. If it doesn't hit the pad it would hit the bat and never go on to hit the wickets anyway. I know it's the rules but that dismissal never sits right with me

kentonclaret · Post by **kentonclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:09 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 04, 2025 4:52 pm
They love their stats at the cricket and Smith has now passed Alec Stewart’s 171 as the highest ever score by an England wicket keeper.

You’ll never replace Statto CT it was 173.

Since you pulled me up on Rohl STILL being manager of Sheffield Wednesday.

Ric_C · Post by **Ric_C** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:15 pm

More brain-dead batting from Tongue. Just defend your end and let the guy at the other end on 184 not out swing away

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:17 pm

Bashir hit on the helmet first ball. Can Bethell come in as concussion sub?

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:20 pm

407 all out, 180 behind. Smith was 184 not out.

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:21 pm

Pure rubbish from the tail there.

sjb · Post by **sjb** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:21 pm

Bashir is a proper ferret. He comes in after the rabbits.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:22 pm

407 all out with 6 ducks. Mental.

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:23 pm

sjb wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:21 pm
Bashir is a proper ferret. He comes in after the rabbits.

He needs replacing in the next test for me.

matttheclaret · Post by **matttheclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:23 pm

RVclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:21 pm
Pure rubbish from the tail there.

Was a really bad time for Brook to get out, exposed the tail enders to the new ball

wilks_bfc · Post by **wilks_bfc** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:28 pm

6 ducks in an innings is shocking

Tbh after yesterday I didn’t think we’d get to 200 so 407 is some achievement.

The squad needs to buy Brook & Smith some drinks tonight for giving them some hope

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:30 pm

kentonclaret wrote: ↑
Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:09 pm
You’ll never replace Statto CT it was 173.

Since you pulled me up on Rohl STILL being manager of Sheffield Wednesday.

I was only 2 out of:D

mdd2 · Post by **mdd2** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:48 pm

Pretty shocking innings that when Root on 22 is the third top scorer
Shudder to think the score without those two centurions

Newcastleclaret93 · Post by **Newcastleclaret93** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:50 pm

6 ducks on that road of a surface is honestly embarrassing

Casper2 · Post by **Casper2** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:59 pm

Woakes opening the bowling is embarrassing

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:00 pm

And as expected the opening bowlers making it very easy for India.

xxmunkyennuixx · Post by **xxmunkyennuixx** » Fri Jul 04, 2025 6:12 pm

Attack looks a bit flat. inaccurate and not threatening. No deviation like what the Indian bowlers achieved with the new ball. Need some real aggression in this spell. Twenty minutes to tear in.

kentonclaret · Post by **kentonclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:40 am

A welcome wicket for England this morning and India lead by 276.
The 3rd Test starts at Lords next Thursday and the temperatures are expected to remain above 30 degrees for the whole 5 days. India are certainly getting their conditions.

alwaysaclaret · Post by **alwaysaclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 2:14 pm

None of this England bowling attack have any fire in their bellies, far too easy for the Indian batsmen, and how on earth Bashir got here I'm clueless.

Longsider · Post by **Longsider** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:10 pm

Surrounded by Indian fans at Edgbaston.having a great afternoon. We all. Want the declaration.

Longsider · Post by **Longsider** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:14 pm

Currently a bloke in a large fluffy inflatable pig costume is being chased through the stands by his mates dressed as butchers with inflatable cleavers. The pig has just escaped capture. The stand are cheering. Hope this is not some flashback to them shrooms I had at global gathering in the 90s

kentonclaret · Post by **kentonclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:29 pm

Longsider wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:14 pm
Currently a bloke in a large fluffy inflatable pig costume is being chased through the stands by his mates dressed as butchers with inflatable cleavers. The pig has just escaped capture. The stand are cheering. Hope this is not some flashback to them shrooms I had at global gathering in the 90s

Things seem to have moved on from the days of a few inflatable beach balls and the odd Mexican wave.

Crackling atmosphere though

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:35 pm

Hoping Gill sh1ts the bed and doesn't want to declare giving us an 'achievable' target based on our success in the first test, and leaves it too late and we manage to bat out our innings....

... realistically though, we will be put into bat to chase 500+ and Duckett will go for a reverse sweep with the first ball. No chance of batting for more than a day!

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:53 pm

Madness if they don’t declare at tea. The highest test chase ever is 418 the game is long gone.

RVclaret · Post by **RVclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:59 pm

Has to be bowling changes at Lords. Atkinson, Archer and Bethell in. Root and Bethell to offer spin options.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:00 pm

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:53 pm
Madness if they don’t declare at tea. The highest test chase ever is 418 the game is long gone.

I know England have won with some incredible chases but surely India have to feel safe now. If they leave it too long and only come out with a draw after dominating so much of the game, England will take a huge psychological advantage.

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:03 pm

RVclaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 3:59 pm
Has to be bowling changes at Lords. Atkinson, Archer and Bethell in. Root and Bethell to offer spin options.

Agree with this 100%. Somerset don’t want Bashir, went on loan to Glamorgan and couldn’t get in the team there, he can’t hold a bat but he’s Englands first choice spinner is absolutely baffling.

Longsider · Post by **Longsider** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:12 pm

They should have declared at 370 lead. Cowards.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:33 pm

Longsider wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:12 pm
They should have declared at 370 lead. Cowards.

I cannot understand why they are still batting

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:34 pm

I'd a feeling he'd have set us a world record chase.
But this is now "what in the world" is Gill thinking land.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:37 pm

Madness from India.

Newcastleclaret93 · Post by **Newcastleclaret93** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:49 pm

This has got draw written all over it thanks to India bottling it and the weather tomorrow

Andreshotboots · Post by **Andreshotboots** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:00 pm

ClaretTony wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 4:33 pm
I cannot understand why they are still batting

I'd love to see England just bat out the test now and finish on 250 for 5. Serve the Indians right, this is negative beyond belief belief.

They probably had enough runs 2 hours ago, I just hope these wasted overs comes back to haunt them as it's certainly taken the spectacle out of the game for the crowd tomorrow.

Andreshotboots · Post by **Andreshotboots** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:01 pm

At last a declaration at drinks..

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:02 pm

Finally, finally they have declared.

TheFamilyCat · Post by **TheFamilyCat** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:02 pm

Gutsy declaration.

Buxtonclaret · Post by **Buxtonclaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:21 pm

That's poor from Crawley.

CoolClaret · Post by **CoolClaret** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:24 pm

Any other batters out there that can open?

Surely the time's up for Crawley, 55 tests, averages 31 and I can imagine his median score is in the 20s.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:24 pm

Crawley has to dropped now. Another duck for England from a duck egg batsman. We need to find a better opener before the Ashes.

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:26 pm

How good is Crawley’s dad at golf if his mate Rob Key continues to insist he gets picked. Awful player.

Milltown1882 · Post by **Milltown1882** » Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:26 pm

CoolClaret wrote: ↑
Sat Jul 05, 2025 5:24 pm
Any other batters out there that can open?

Surely the time's up for Crawley, 55 tests, averages 31 and I can imagine his median score is in the 20s.

Triple ton from Sibley this week.