India in England Aug-Sep 2021 (& July 2022)

[sussexpob]

As for broad, he now I'd guess owns the test and limited overs record for most expensive overs, considering he got taken for 36 by Yuvraj a few years back.

Not records he will cherish

[sussexpob]

Yes just checked...no international over has ever gone past 36....

[alfie]

I really do not understand why England persist in using that "everything short with field spread" tactic when bowling to the tail...

These fellows bat 9 , 10 , 11 for a reason : they aren't very good with the bat. If you spend most of your bowling life trying to get good batsmen out by hitting top of off , getting an edge , etc ... Why the devil don't you trust the same method against the rabbits ?

Not saying you can't give them some short stuff to keep them uneasy ; but mix it up for heaven's sake. Back your bowlers to succeed by doing the basics well : surely couldn't do any worse than this method consistently seems to manage (England currently rank a poor last among Test teams for dismissing the last three bats so it isn't just an "impression" : they really do bungle that situation nearly every time)

Up to the bats now to salvage the situation. Not the best start with Lees gone just ahead of the rain interruption.

This could turn into a "back to earth" result for the new management team. Which wouldn't be a disaster - as long as they learn from it.

Way to go yet of course...

[sussexpob]

Going to come down to England's middle order....Pope, Root and Bairstow are all in great form, and will need to continue it for England to compete now.

[sussexpob]

Don't like seeing Crawley playing away swing by closing the face on middle stump....edge lands safe, but play yourself in and see off the shine before trying to manufacture shots.

[sussexpob]

And there he goes....totally useless. He wants to hit out his funk, but opening in these conditions you need to be patient. Another dismissal driving loosely into the offside.....always the same. Caught behind for nothing.....

[sussexpob]

Bumrah putting Root under pressure instantly. Good bowling

[Arthur Crabtree]

Back on. Nice rest for the Indian new ball bowlers.

[bigfluffylemon]

It baffles me how it's been obvious to us for years that England are *modded* at bowling to the tail because they go too short, yet they persist. The coaches must be telling them to.

I feel as though since the English tail got bounced out repeatedly for nothing in Australia 2017, they saw it worked against them and became determined to do it against everyone else.

Also, what is it with England and sixth wicket partnerships this test?

Can't see them getting out of this one, but we said that at TB I guess...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad doesn't like it up him, therefore...

[sussexpob]

Some interesting stats floating about twitter. Zak Crawley has now got out front foot driving 11 times since the start of 2021, and his success rate/chances produced while playing positively off the front foot is the worst of all full time batsman.

That's pretty depressing for him, because his defence is porous and his stroke play his strength, but as suggested in the NZ series, it's very clearly he has so little faith in his stickability, he's going after everything and getting himself into trouble.

If England want him to have any future, they need to take him out the firing line. Trying to hit his way out a slump when you are opening the bat to a moving ball in England is just asking to be punished.

But judging on Collingwood take last night, it seems the coaching staff want this. Although Collingwood saying England are happy to just bat their way out of crap bowling was quite a mad thing to say with this line up. One series aside, we've been absymal for years....

[Durhamfootman]

India showed immediately the value in bowling length. The ball was doing plenty and they helped it to do it. I haven't seen Root looking that uncomfortable for a long time

and, of course, sending in the nightwatchman while the ball was nipping back sharply was just gifting India another wicket.

I look forward to the Bairstow/Stokes blitz tomorrow. Somehow they have to negotiate the first hour without giving it away. If they can do that then the ball ought to help them re-build, but it probably needs to be these two who are batting when the ball goes flat and soft.

[alfie]

All come unstuck for England in this one... Nothing necessarily awful about that ; India are a strong team and any side can have a bad day/session ,

But the concern is the apparent failure of the England brains trust to learn from experience : that short attack on the tail has failed too often so why not give it a rest and ask world class bowlers to attack the stumps of tail enders ? Has some analyst produced data to show Shami and Bumrah get out to short balls for small scores rather often ? Perhaps (I have neither the time nor the inclination to investigate) but if so have the circumstances surrounding those dismissals (score , partner , pace/arm of bowler , pitch conditions ) all been taken into account ? Have to doubt it : memory of just one year ago between the same teams should surely have over ridden it anyway , no ?

Even so , 416 as against 380 neither here nor there if they bat well. But in bowler-friendly conditions , against top class seam bowling , the limitations of the current England top three were shown up again. It is a serious worry , despite Pope's two fine knocks against NZ and Lees' gradual improvement. Crawley has been given huge support - something to applaud in one way ; but perhaps the obligation to justify that support has become too much of a cross to bear : he looks shot to me - at least for now. (Hope that guarantees a second innings century )

Was excellent bowling from Bumrah and Shami though. If England hoped to be batting in sunshine on the second afternoon they were savagely repaid for trusting a British weather forecast ! I don't think many bats would have fancied facing those two in the conditions , and even Joe Root looked far from his usual
busy and calm self in that late session. Five down including the sacrificial goat night watchman - it might have been worse !

Might be a bit much to expect Jonny and Cap'n Ben to save the day again : but I guess this summer has taught us all that Nothing is Impossible. Would prefer the rain to work to a better timetable though : hard enough watching in this time zone without having to make sleep or wait decisions at 2 am...

[sussexpob]

England living dangerously this morning. How has Shami not got a bag of wickets this innings?

[sussexpob]

Stokes gets dropped, then the very next ball plays the same shot to the same fielder, and Bumrah takes him second time.... not smart cricket that.

England's fortuitous morning finally runs out of luck.