We're obviously batting well but what's the pitch doing?
Is it likely India will also bat well and this peters out into a dull draw?
The pitch is doing little at the moment and unless it deteriorates on day 4/5 this will be a draw. But the important thing is that we do get that massive score in the bank especially as we were written off by many coming to India.
Missed the first session but now settled in for a feast of batting. What a position for England in the first test of a tough series, let’s hope we can capitalise on it. Root looks so determined to bat on and on, Stokes his usual mix of steady defence and savage attack.
Still an important contribution from Stokes and with England's "number 3 in waiting" coming in now I still expect us to get 500 plus.
The irony is that India have gone in with three spinners and just two seamers but the two wickets to the spinners were as a result of our batsmen getting themselves out.
Missed the first session but now settled in for a feast of batting. What a position for England in the first test of a tough series, let’s hope we can capitalise on it. Root looks so determined to bat on and on, Stokes his usual mix of steady defence and savage attack.
I hope that Buttler bats in a similar way and doesn't go into his shell. A quick 50 from him would really rub India's noses in it.
Still an important contribution from Stokes and with England's "number 3 in waiting" coming in now I still expect us to get 500 plus.
The irony is that India have gone in with three spinners and just two seamers but the two wickets to the spinners were as a result of our batsmen getting themselves out.
Before Stokes gifted Nadeem a wicket, I was going to point out India’s 4th and 5th bowlers had gone for a combined 0-165. But at 1-170 the point still stands I think. They basically have a 3 man attack. Nadeem doesn’t look to be near the standard of Embuldeniya in Sri Lanka and the other guy is just making up the numbers.
I still can't get my head round how a spinner can bowl one no ball let alone the half a dozen that Nadeem has bowled. What advantage does he think he has in getting that close to the line and with the third Umpire looking at it he's not going to get away with it anyway.
400-4 at drinks. Doesn't that sound good? Especially as I expected us to be 250-280 all out! As they say, though, you can't tell how good a score it is 'til the other side bat.
Doesn't it make you laugh. The Indians make sustained, repetitive and against the Laws of the Game appeals for the catch to put pressure on the Umpire and as if there is actually no question whatsoever that Pope is out. They then take their full allocation of time to decide whether they review it because it is that obvious that it is out. They take it out of desperation and they end up losing all their reviews!!!
Anyone else imagining fans in the ground in those high stands with what appears to have no sides?!?! It’s giving me anxiety! Especially when they use the fish eye camera when they put up the score card. It distorts the stand to look even higher and precarious!
Anyone else imagining fans in the ground in those high stands with what appears to have no sides?!?! It’s giving me anxiety! Especially when they use the fish eye camera when they put up the score card. It distorts the stand to look even higher and precarious!
Yeh Pope definitely looked like he was finding his feet again. Even more reason to leave him at 6 - at least Lawrence has had recent match experience in Sri Lanka.
Comments
355-3, 119 overs
Root 156
Stokes 63
Just hope it lasts till the ashes.
Is it likely India will also bat well and this peters out into a dull draw?
The pitch is doing little at the moment and unless it deteriorates on day 4/5 this will be a draw. But the important thing is that we do get that massive score in the bank especially as we were written off by many coming to India.
The irony is that India have gone in with three spinners and just two seamers but the two wickets to the spinners were as a result of our batsmen getting themselves out.