Based on those two pre-lunch overs, it’s not going to be easy for England to just go out and smash 160 quickly. I hope I’m wrong but we could be some way into the last session before we have enough to get India in again.
A couple more quick wickets from India’s spinners after lunch would make England think twice about throwing the kitchen sink at this innings. Ashwin is a wily old sod and Nadeem looks a lot more threatening now the ball is turning sharply for him. Will be an interesting second session for sure!
Root and stokes will make batting on this look easy.
Hopefully
We’re about to find out! You’re right about Root so far, excellent controlled aggression.
Is it safe to come in ? Has the Ollie Pope at 3 argument stopped yet ?
It has stopped, indeed for now at least, but there is, potentially another argument brewing and that is - "isn't it about time that Burns was dropped?". Prepared to give him another three or four innings before I raise that one though!
OK I was being "slightly" flippant with regards to Burns but I am mindful that our 1-2-3 is a vulnerable unit - hence my original call to more Pope up and have Crawley opening. We have to think about the Ashes later this year and I can see us consistently being two down for not very many and Root, effectively, being exposed to the new ball almost as if he is an opener. As I say, I believe Pope to have the technique and temperament to bat at 3 but what is wrong with trying him sooner rather than later and if it doesn't work out then allow him to go back to 6?
So, back to Burns. I said that we should review his situation after another 3 or 4 innings. The fact that someone has done "OK" previously does not mean that they will do "OK" permanently. Denly consistently did "OK" but there was no argument from me when he was dropped. Burns with a Test average of 31.65 is no more a Root than Denly (29.53) is. For those who do not believe that Burns is struggling for form, these are his scores from his last two series:
4 10 0 6 33 0
So, give Burns the benefit of the doubt for the next two Tests. But should he suffer another 4 low scores I would suggest for the final Test just giving the Sibley, Crawley, Pope a go. What do we have to lose? .
no balls by spinners should be like running on the wicket.
Third time you do it you should be removed from the attack
Amazing, isn’t it? Nadeem only takes five or six steps, it can’t be rocket science to move his marker back a couple of inches.
But he won't really learn 'til he has a wicket chalked off for over stepping. There again, he probably still won't learn bur it will, at least, be amusing for that to happen!
Is it safe to come in ? Has the Ollie Pope at 3 argument stopped yet ?
It has stopped, indeed for now at least, but there is, potentially another argument brewing and that is - "isn't it about time that Burns was dropped?". Prepared to give him another three or four innings before I raise that one though!
OK I was being "slightly" flippant with regards to Burns but I am mindful that our 1-2-3 is a vulnerable unit - hence my original call to more Pope up and have Crawley opening. We have to think about the Ashes later this year and I can see us consistently being two down for not very many and Root, effectively, being exposed to the new ball almost as if he is an opener. As I say, I believe Pope to have the technique and temperament to bat at 3 but what is wrong with trying him sooner rather than later and if it doesn't work out then allow him to go back to 6?
So, back to Burns. I said that we should review his situation after another 3 or 4 innings. The fact that someone has done "OK" previously does not mean that they will do "OK" permanently. Denly consistently did "OK" but there was no argument from me when he was dropped. Burns with a Test average of 31.65 is no more a Root than Denly (29.53) is. For those who do not believe that Burns is struggling for form, these are his scores from his last two series:
4 10 0 6 33 0
So, give Burns the benefit of the doubt for the next two Tests. But should he suffer another 4 low scores I would suggest for the final Test just giving the Sibley, Crawley, Pope a go. What do we have to lose? .
I'm just going to throw one more thing into the Pope batting at 3 debate and the reason why Surrey haven't used there. The answer is simple - because he's probably never batted there even through county age group cricket. Is that due to him not being considered a number 3 even then or because he was keeping wicket and keepers, generally speaking, bat in the middle order.
I've personally witnessed that with my son who, at the age of 11, was an opening bat and leg spin bowler for Kent. A year later he took up keeping and for both Club and County was demoted down the order. Which is why, after 5 years of doing that, he moved clubs and ended up opening all of last season.
11/12/2008-15/12/2008 Chennai. Be aware of cricket history England.
Just checked that test. Tendaulker hit a century in their 2nd innings. He's not in their side now 😉😄
FWIW (and I did post about this last night) I think we should have enforced the follow on. We are now playing the "have we, haven't we" dance around when to declare.
11/12/2008-15/12/2008 Chennai. Be aware of cricket history England.
Just checked that test. Tendaulker hit a century in their 2nd innings. He's not in their side now 😉😄
FWIW (and I did post about this last night) I think we should have enforced the follow on. We are now playing the "have we, haven't we" dance around when to declare.
But the pitch will be worst for whoever bats last which is what we want India to do
Comments
So, back to Burns. I said that we should review his situation after another 3 or 4 innings. The fact that someone has done "OK" previously does not mean that they will do "OK" permanently. Denly consistently did "OK" but there was no argument from me when he was dropped. Burns with a Test average of 31.65 is no more a Root than Denly (29.53) is. For those who do not believe that Burns is struggling for form, these are his scores from his last two series:
4
10
0
6
33
0
So, give Burns the benefit of the doubt for the next two Tests. But should he suffer another 4 low scores I would suggest for the final Test just giving the Sibley, Crawley, Pope a go. What do we have to lose?
.
Be aware of cricket history England.
I've personally witnessed that with my son who, at the age of 11, was an opening bat and leg spin bowler for Kent. A year later he took up keeping and for both Club and County was demoted down the order. Which is why, after 5 years of doing that, he moved clubs and ended up opening all of last season.
FWIW (and I did post about this last night) I think we should have enforced the follow on. We are now playing the "have we, haven't we" dance around when to declare.
Declare FFS!!
Not sure I agree.....should he dangling the carrot to Pant & Kholi, not just making them want to survive
GET ON WITH IT
Blocking and padding the ball away is getting us nowhere and costing us time.
98.3 overs.