Fourth Test: India v England, 8-12 Dec.

[rich1uk]

looking very easy for india atm

nothing happening for the seamers at all and ali and rashid not able to build up pressure and just hoping for the odd "magic" delivery

had been hoping for better from rashid today after how he has bowled in the series so far but just didn't seem able to get it consistently in the right place

[sussexpob]

Stokes is a decent attacking bowler with the old ball, when he pitches it full and gets it moving in the air.

This emerging tactic of throwing him the ball to plunge into the middle of the pitch is incredibly moronic, even if Vijay has shown weakness to short bowling.

As last time I mentioned this though, this is not Ben's fault. It seems that he has become England's new "enforcer"....

[rich1uk]

getting worried here

i know they have a long way to go but if India can get any sort of lead here, and its all looking pretty comfortable for them atm, then you wouldn't be too confident about what we will score in our second innings

[sussexpob]

If India end the day 1 down, then its been pretty much a perfect day for them.

[meninblue]

Lovely response from Team yet again

[sussexpob]

Solid test cricket from both sides with the bat so far. Without wanting to sound like Bhaveshgor, I do have to wonder why India got 5 extra overs in last night, but England finish the day short.

[Dr Cricket]

TBH India could have bowled 8-9 over extra yesterday.
Well England need to stop wasting time.
Pretty annoying to watch Them in the field now especially when you pick it up happening.

[andy]

For me a dissapointing day all round...i seem to be the only person who wasn't thirlled with 400....from 280 odd for 5, i was thinking we needed 450, and i still think 400 isn't enough....we were saved by a 9th wicket partnership, which is a bonus, take that away and 340 would have been a poor effort given where we were...Buttler played well, and is playing well since coming back into the side...Woakes needs runs, he has been short of them recently, and the less said about Rashid's dismissal the better....Luckily, for us Jake Ball came to the party, who i also thought was under-bowled...

With the ball, same old story...no penetration and no consistency...as much as im a huge fan of Jimmy, i just never see him taking wickets in the sub-continent, and then gets frustrated, and leaks a silly boundary...Woakes dosent look threatning, when the ball isn't swinging, which isn't a new thing with him...Ball i thought was under-bowled, and should start tomorrow morning with Jimmy IMO....Stokes also under-bowled...When Woakes came on for his final spell near the close, i would have actually gone with Stokes instead, as it was clear we desperately needed a wicket, and for me in India, old ball, i would go to Stokes for some magic...The spinners frustrate again...Root's 3 overes were good, and it annoys me that he can bowl a solid line and length consistently, but Moeen and Rashid can't! Moeen bowled far too short, and didn't look threatning, barring the wicket oif Rahul, which was as much a poor shot, against the spin than anything else.. Rashid seems to take 2 steps forward 1 step back...been impressive this series, so they leave out the extra spinner, and he bowls a pile of crap...his last over was probably the best over he bowled, but because it was the last over, he couldn't tempt Pujara into a drive...

So im sorry but for me, it was a poor dissapointing day for England

[Arthur Crabtree]

Early days and England made a similar start to their innings (albeit in better conditions). A bit surprised England didn't get another wicket or two, but, it may be hard to start and one might get another couple. England well on top in my view.

[alfie]

Early days and England made a similar start to their innings (albeit in better conditions). A bit surprised England didn't get another wicket or two, but, it may be hard to start and one might get another couple. England well on top in my view.

I wouldn't say well on top ...but they are still 250 ahead. And India (barring a monster score) will have to bat last.

Didn't see a lot of the last session but it seems the bowling was a bit under par - and just possibly Vijay ( who had some luck early on) and the excellent Pujara played rather well ?
Tomorrow is another day. I think this is very open at the moment

[sussexpob]

India really need 500 to take the game by the scruff of the neck. England will be happy giving a small lead away to bat 3rd.

I think England are ahead. Probably not "well" ahead, but it feels they are significantly enough in the lead to be clear favourites.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'll withdraw the 'well'.

[sussexpob]

I'll withdraw the 'well'.

Such a gentleman.....

[sussexpob]

Just saw Stokes dismissal if that wasn't given out reckon Sussex would be fuming about his luck.

Well Ben seemed very unhappy with the dismissal, sulking in the dressing room and slamming his gloves down as he sat. He seemed to indicate that he didnt think he had edged it. It was a baffling decision by the on field umpire.

[Durhamfootman]

Stokes is a decent attacking bowler with the old ball, when he pitches it full and gets it moving in the air.

This emerging tactic of throwing him the ball to plunge into the middle of the pitch is incredibly moronic, even if Vijay has shown weakness to short bowling.

As last time I mentioned this though, this is not Ben's fault. It seems that he has become England's new "enforcer"....

enforcer

England really are in trouble if they are investing in that tired, ridiculous, outdated, ineffectual, discredited piece of old nonsense of a strategy