England Versus India - 1st Test (9 Nov - 13 Nov)

[KipperJohn]

Never seen Hameed bat before, but he looks a cut above all the recent players tried all over the top order. Never mind the pitch, this is in India on debut.

[Dr Cricket]

England overrate is attrocious, crazy more hasn't been made out of it.

[Dr Cricket]

Still 10 overs today? Have I misread the time difference between India and Oz, or is the over rate atrocious?

This looks to be heading for a draw, unless on team or the other collapses. Obviously it's still a little early to be thinking about a declaration, but if England are still batting by lunch tomorrow, they should have a lead of around 250. Might it be worth putting some pressure on India to bat out a couple of sessions, or is it still too risky on this pitch?

With Anderson maybe fit for the next game, I wonder if, as suggested above, the long view would make it worth just keeping the Indian bowlers and fielders out there all day, get the draw and wear India down for the next test, while England can rotate and have a relatively fresh bowling attack? Given their underdog nature and the 5-0 predictions, I think England will take more than India will from a draw.

50 for Hameed on debut. Well done that lad . Early days and a good batting wicket, but this bodes very well. Since Strauss retired, there haven't been too many 50+ scores by England openers not called Cook.

If cook doesn't get a fine ICC are a disgrace.

[budgetmeansbudget]

Never seen Hameed bat before, but he looks a cut above all the recent players tried all over the top order. Never mind the pitch, this is in India on debut.

Me neither, first chance I've had to watch him live for an hour or so.

Well impressed with technique and temperament for a 19 year old. And he looks to score and not just block. Looks a real prospect.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well done to Haseeb.

Seems like the pitch isn't going to play its part. Maybe have a net tomorrow and then bowl a few overs after tea.

England's day again.

[Dr Cricket]

Think the day shared Arthur.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm expecting England to get bowled out, so won't have control over how many they set. A first innings lead at least means every one of their second innings runs counts.

Could still happen I suppose, as it did in BD when Cook and Duckett put on a hundred for the first wicket. Though that was in a game where the wickets were falling quickly, not 20 in four days. Probably right to admit I underestimated the England openers. Or overestimated reports the pitch was breaking up.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Think the day shared Arthur.

Over the day, India gained a net 50 runs (roughly), but lost six wickets.

[Gingerfinch]

Definitely England's day.

Bat till team tomorrow then put them in?

[hopeforthebest]

I knw the pitches in BD were more spin friendly but I think their spinners are better than those we've seen in this game. Maybe they've simply underperformed but the ease which England batsmen have played them is surprising. A lot of confidence will be gained for the next test even though the talk is that the pitch there will be very spin friendly.

[Dr Cricket]

Think the day shared Arthur.

Over the day, India gained a net 50 runs (roughly), but lost six wickets.

Still very likely to get a draw though, not like India any closer to losing, i know India can still realistically face 40-50 overs but hard to imagine England get 3-4 wickets in a 20 over spell to make them finish the overs they will likely agree to the draw.
Think it would have been England day if India scored 70-100 runs less.
For me it is shared because India got close to England can took a lot of the time away from the game. If you add 70-100 runs to England total right now, England wins the game.

Anyway happy to disagree.

[meninblue]

Today was Englands day. However both teams have played equally well over the 4 days. The wicket gave opportunities to score lot of runs and both teams did not fail in scoring big totals. From my perspective i would be glad if we draw the test on this wicket having lost the toss and opponents piled 537 and kept us on field for 5 sessions.

[sussexpob]

Got to thing with 163 runs on the board, they need the best part of another session to put say 250 lead on the board, but thats only really 50 runs away from a par two session score and wouldnt take much more aggression to chase down after lunch if India were in a position.

So realistically India have to survive probably a session and an hour?

Couldnt really get more of a guaranteed draw situation. England will bat India out the game, then ask them to commit suicide on a pitch thats stilll comfortable to bat on

No result here.

[The Professor]

When I was nineteen I was barely able to organise council tax properly....At the same age Hameed is looking his country's most natural batter.

[sussexpob]

When I was nineteen I was barely able to organise council tax properly....At the same age Hameed is looking his country's most natural batter.

I really feel sorry for Hameed. He scores 60 runs, and literally everyone is proclaiming the second coming of Christ...... players dont need such hype, it puts negative amounts of pressure on them.