England tour of India, Jan 25 - March 11

[Arthur Crabtree]

Really poor game for the England middle order, with Stokes' 70 the only positive.

[meninblue]

England batted 64.3 overs in first tinnings. Certainly they have to bat more overs in test match unlike batting slightly more than full quota of ODI overs in test.

Then India batted for 121 overs - should have batted 150 though given various factors. Just shouldnt allow opponent to bat double the overs you have batted. The lead is going to be significant.

More importantly England shoudnt be losing a test in India in which they won the toss. Its going to be incredibly tough winning when Rohit wins the toss and India bats first.


England batting needs to be much much better. Hopefully as the first test is about to be done by end of Day 4 and England players slightly better used to conditions by end of this tesrt, the second test will be competitive.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ton up for Pope. Probably going to be the only one of the Test.

Good work by Foakes too.

[sussexpob]

71 and Infront, Pope dropped. If he goes on to the close, wonder if that could make this game interesting

Foakes goes as I type that. Ball kept low, decent knock

[Durhamfootman]

there was a lot of talk from journo's that India were preparing a 2 day pitch. Perhaps England bought into that narrative a bit with their 1 seamer selection, but the match is still alive and heading into day 4, so not such a bad pitch after all, presumably

[bigfluffylemon]

Seems like a perfectly reasonable pitch. Well played Pope. Still can't see England bowling India out for under 200, especially with Leach struggling.

[Durhamfootman]

Leach has a knee like a pudding from what I've heard. I guess Root will bowl a lot of overs in the 4th innings.... hopefully they give him the new ball. I had read that that was the plan all along, so quite what changed when England came out to field in the second innings I don't know

[sussexpob]

Got to applaud Pope and this second innings effort. Glimmer of hope of they bat another session. Especially glad to see it's Pope too... Only batter in yonks who strikes me as good enough technically, but so far it's not been good enough. Great innings might change that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad news if Leach has to miss some of the series. Not had much luck with health and injuries.

Has the potential to be an interesting day tomorrow. Before India win.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wow, what a great effort by England. Have to presume the pitch isn't the death trap that was predicted. But at least they have made India work for their win.

[Arthur Crabtree]

England already burned through their reviews!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wow 2 in 3 balls for Hartley. Game sort of on.

[bigfluffylemon]

There's a sniff, at any rate.

[Durhamfootman]

oh hello

420 is more than I dared hoped for really and now Hartley is beginning to get stuck in

I still expect India to win from here, but they've still got to get another 168 runs first

[Durhamfootman]

Axar has been promoted to 5, so does this mean they want him to go on the charge?