England vs India Third test

[Buxtonclaret]

Wanted and needed

Another will give us the day.

[Longford Claret]

In other international cricket news. Scotland have lost against Italy and Jersey and are out of the T20 World Cup qualifiers.

[ChrisG]

It’s a brilliant catch and he’s now taken more catches than any other outfield player in test cricket passing Rahul Dravidian

What a superb cricketer Root is. Bat, field, and even ball.

He genuinely has it all, and I'm loving his renaissance since relinquishing the captaincy.

[Newcastleclaret93]

What a superb cricketer Root is. Bat, field, and even ball.

He genuinely has it all, and I'm loving his renaissance since relinquishing the captaincy.

For me it’s the longevity as well. The other fab 4 have started to drop away and if anything it feels like root is getting better.

[TheFamilyCat]

For me it’s the longevity as well. The other fab 4 have started to drop away and if anything it feels like root is getting better.

They did a comparison of Root, think it was since 2021 and his conversion rate since then is ridiculous, with a century every third game, i think they said. Can't remember the exact figures but prior to that it was really poor, around 25%.

[ecc]

Two wickets either side of lunch give England the advantage. 255-5.

[Anonymous Claret]

They did a comparison of Root, think it was since 2021 and his conversion rate since then is ridiculous, with a century every third game, i think they said. Can't remember the exact figures but prior to that it was really poor, around 25%.

I think he failed to convert a lot of 50s when he was captain often getting out in the 60s and 70s.
Captaincy always looked to weigh heavily on him.

[ClaretTony]

I think he failed to convert a lot of 50s when he was captain often getting out in the 60s and 70s.
Captaincy always looked to weigh heavily on him.

It was an issue with Root earlier in his test career but definitely not now.

[Anonymous Claret]

I seem to remember him being out between 50 and 100 when he was captain also.
It could be my mind playing tricks and I could be wrong though.

[TheFamilyCat]

I seem to remember him being out between 50 and 100 when he was captain also.
It could be my mind playing tricks and I could be wrong though.

It was both before and during his captaincy.

[Taffy on the wing]

Scores tied....2 overs to defend for England.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

1 over. The time wasting in this test is absolutely farcical.

[RVclaret]

Umpires have been at the time wasting! Unbelievable how long it’s taken to change balls. Walk faster!!

As for the test, I read this is the 8th time scores have been tied at the halfway stage, only 1 has been won by the team batting last…

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Watching Gill and the Indians complaining about Crawley calling the physio on because he was struck on the fingers reminds me that, just yesterday, Gill, who was fielding, lay down on the field because he said that he had some injury or other. Physio came on and they treated him for quite some time on the field and thus held play up.
He should have gone off for treatment and a sub fielder come onto the field so that play could continue. The umpires did not make this happen as they should have done, however, in view of this, Gill should wind his neck in because he wasted far more time than CRawley has done this evening.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

Great stuff from Crawley, had them all rattled. Dyche would be proud.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Umpires have been at the time wasting! Unbelievable how long it’s taken to change balls. Walk faster!!

As for the test, I read this is the 8th time scores have been tied at the halfway stage, only 1 has been won by the team batting last…

Deciding to change the ball straight after a drinks break has been a particular highlight from the umpires.

[Milltown1882]

Watching Gill and the Indians complaining about Crawley calling the physio on because he was struck on the fingers reminds me that, just yesterday, Gill, who was fielding, lay down on the field because he said that he had some injury or other. Physio came on and they treated him for quite some time on the field and thus held play up.
He should have gone off for treatment and a sub fielder come onto the field so that play could continue. The umpires did not make this happen as they should have done, however, in view of this, Gill should wind his neck in because he wasted far more time than CRawley has done this evening.

Literally just had this conversation with my friend. They don’t like it when they can’t dictate every aspect of the sport.

Hope we stick 300-350 on tomorrow.

[BurnleyFC]

Crawley is a man mountain. He’d have Gill for breakfast.

[TheFamilyCat]

Watching Gill and the Indians complaining about Crawley calling the physio on because he was struck on the fingers reminds me that, just yesterday, Gill, who was fielding, lay down on the field because he said that he had some injury or other. Physio came on and they treated him for quite some time on the field and thus held play up.
He should have gone off for treatment and a sub fielder come onto the field so that play could continue. The umpires did not make this happen as they should have done, however, in view of this, Gill should wind his neck in because he wasted far more time than CRawley has done this evening.

One of the commentators suggested that Gill was wasting time because Rahul had been off the field and may not have been back on for long enough to open.

[Ashingtonclaret46]

Three days have seen 232.5 overs bowled so, even if you add on a further 8 overs for between innings, we are still 30 overs short of what should have been played. If this continues we will be short of another 20 overs in the next two days which makes total of 50 overs in the match. This equates to more than half a day's play. Not good.

[LeadBelly]

One of the Indian batsman today, having just come on after a wicket, spent some time in the middle adjusting his handle grip. As if he couldn't have got that sorted in the pavillion before he came on. Having said which, both sides have hardly rushed matters along.

[jrgbfc]

In this country where the daylight is no problem they should just be made to bowl the overs. The players would soon speed up.

[Andreshotboots]

In this country where the daylight is no problem they should just be made to bowl the overs. The players would soon speed up.

The strange thing is on the last day they do, 90 overs have to be bowled.

To me drinks breaks should be scrapped, there's enough natural breaks in the game for players to get the support staff on to get a quick drink, wickets, ball changes, physio on after an injury etc.

[Jakubs Tash]

To me drinks breaks should be scrapped, there's enough natural breaks in the game for players to get the support staff on to get a quick drink, wickets, ball changes, physio on after an injury etc.

Only the other day on TMS, Alastair Cook was saying this exact thing and that the main reason for the drinks breaks now is adverts. It all come down to money.

[Buxtonclaret]

All right.
How nervous is everyone this morning?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Crawley is looking very very shaky

[Newcastleclaret93]

Duckett is some player

[Newcastleclaret93]

Duckett is some player

Sorry

[Buxtonclaret]

22/1
Duckett. Soft, that.

[RVclaret]

There was simply no chance Pope was lasting over 20 minutes this morning with the ball doing a bit and pressure on.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Pope out

[Gunfury]

There was simply no chance Pope was lasting over 20 minutes this morning with the ball doing a bit and pressure on.

Something that a number 3 should be able to handle

[Casper2]

If Pope is a number 3 then I should be opening

[RVclaret]

Same old story for Pope: 100 not out at stumps on day two at Headingley, but 86 for 6 since and now averaging 31 for the series. And his overall average in England's second innings of matches is now below 20. Time to give Bethell a go.

[Gunfury]

Number 3 is a problem area for England.Dont think we’ve had a decent one since Jonathan Trott

[Newcastleclaret93]

Shock Crawley now out

[Gunfury]

Now Crawley gone flashing to slips again….get rid!

[Casper2]

And Crawley out for the exact same shot , ridiculous

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Shocking morning so far
Duckett and Crawley out to dreadful shots
Could lose this by the end of day if we keep playing balls that we can leave

[Casper2]

How can a sub be a specialist wicket keeper ? can’t bowl or bat but they can wicket keep ? Then the wicket keeper (pant) doesn’t field but then is totally fresh and ready to bat

[RVclaret]

How can a sub be a specialist wicket keeper ? can’t bowl or bat but they can wicket keep ? Then the wicket keeper (pant) doesn’t field but then is totally fresh and ready to bat

Agree, seems a complete joke to me.

[jrgbfc]

I've got a feeling they'll stick with Crawley for now. Pope must be under serious pressure from Bethell though.

[alwaysaclaret]

Just absolutely shocking hari kari this by England, can't describe any other way.

[Buxtonclaret]

Poor that from Harry too.
Just no need.

[ClaretTony]

How can a sub be a specialist wicket keeper ? can’t bowl or bat but they can wicket keep ? Then the wicket keeper (pant) doesn’t field but then is totally fresh and ready to bat

Doesn’t seem right to me. Not sure when the rules changed but there was a time when one of the other ten players had to keep wicket with the sub not permitted to do so.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Dreadful Brook - 10 minutes to lunch
Just Root
Stokes
Smith

Defeat looking more likely now unless Archer had a big and successful spell in their innings

[ClaretTony]

Poor that from Harry too.
Just no need.

Really poor from him.

[kentonclaret]

How can a sub be a specialist wicket keeper ? can’t bowl or bat but they can wicket keep ? Then the wicket keeper (pant) doesn’t field but then is totally fresh and ready to bat

As I understand it if Jamie Smith was injured the umpires would not allow England a replacement wicket keeper as other players on the field of play can perform that specialist role. England would be allowed a fielding sub only. Jamie Smith would still be allowed to bat though as it was an on field injury.

[CoolClaret]

I find it incredibly frustrating viewing this, and it's not worth the occasional mental win against all odds.

Openers are there to see off the new ball and wear out the strike bowlers, giving a real platform for your middle order to rack up the runs.

The amount of pressure we put on our middle order to score around 250-300 is obscene. To be 4 wickets down in 23 overs, three of those wickets being self inflicted with daft shots is ridiculous.

You can get away with it against Zimbabwe, good luck against India or down under this winter. Frustrating.

[ecc]

Openers are there to see off the new ball and wear out the strike bowlers, giving a real platform for your middle order to rack up the runs.

Hi CoolClaret,

I've no idea of your age but that was what I was brought up to believe. There used to be - has it now completely disappeared ? - a huge difference between the role of the openers and the other specialist batsmen. I realise his attitude was often criticised even by his own county but Boycott was the perfect illustration of an opener. He wasn't there to hit boundaries - unless the ball was rank bad and sitting up for him - and sixes didn't exist in his own world. He was there to do what you said. And if your openers could get you to 100 before the first one fell, you were in with a good chance of building a big score.