Wasn't a bad way to bring up a double ton, think he was a bit surprised when he actually realised how many runs he had he was that focused
If you aren't convinced we can bowl them out twice, why give them enough time to build a score big enough to push for the win and make us bat again?
Yep that's why we should have Butler having a go now and get them in before close of play. Of course that is me sitting at home watching the match never having been to India or played 1st class cricket. Not a bad sporting day.. Sunderland on SAFSEE, cricket/golf now and Calcutta Cup early evening... I will not be popular today to certain residents of my household.
Cos the openers will be tired after being in the field for 2 days and with our bowlers being totally rested they might just make a slight in road into them tonight and grab a couple of wickets. They'll then be on the back foot starting tomorrow. If they do get them out cheaply without India making the follow on, Root can then decide what to do next. What would your opinion be then?
I'd like to see us grind them down. The longer they're out in that field, the more demoralised that they'll be. I believe the wicket is showing signs of uneven bounce now and that will only get worse, so I'd like to see us stay out as long as possible and have them batting the last part of the game when it should become a bowler friendly wicket. We really don't want to be putting ourselves in a position where we are chasing a score, at the end.
In an ideal scenario I would agree, I'm just not convinced with the spinners. I'll think they'll get wickets but can they produce match winning figures? Here's hoping you're right
What a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning watching cricket on free to air TV. Quite enjoying the no frills production and really enjoying a proper test match
Definitely in this heat keep them in the field as long as possible,always good to break a bowler or two early in the series if possible! Great performance, be good to see India with their great batsmen having to battle under a bit of scoreboard pressure tomorrow too. You'd put this down as a draw with the pitch but getting to the point where only one team can win really which is all you can do. Should be a top series this with England competing, bring it on!
We might not need to rely on just the spinners. The pitch breaking up should assist all bowlers. We have Jimmy Anderson with his reverse swing who has always done really well in these conditions. Archer with his blistering pace. Stokes who doesn't exactly tie batsmen down but he is a wicket-taker and generally chips in with a couple of wickets. Anyway, we are in a great position. Hopefully our bowlers can fire
Hope you caught Stokes and Root at the crease The coverage is great, the wit and humour of the Indian commentators is infectious, and Root and Stokes at the crease was riveting, sport at its best.
Like all the very best players, he is always working at his game. He was stuck way back in his crease, too far back even for a player like him who loves the back foot. He isn't now, and looks almost impossible to bowl against. Not the first time Joe has had the humility to work out a problem and fix it. Seemingly he has also been seeking help in converting more of those fifties and sixties into tons. What a player. I saw him one Saturday at Chester le Street about eight or nine years ago against Durham. We had declared, had a very good bowling line up and were favourites to win. Root was brilliant, opening and almost carrying his bat IIRC and Yorkshire won a great game . Any one lucky enough to have been there that day, will have been able to guess at some of what has come since. Tremendous to see him back to being a great player instead of a very good one.
Well you're right, theycan't go on for ever. Soon it will be Archer, Stone, Overton, Wood, to carry the fire with Stokes doing his thing. They and others are all good bowlers and will ba able to hold their own at least. But losing 1100 wickets out of the team is going to hurt , no doubt about it.
Clockstander, 2 top players for sure, and great to watch going about things in their own way. The thing I like is that this isn't a team bullying a small nation, it's against a fantastic test side on their own turf. Blowing teams away is good fun but you can't beat a competitve hard fought test series between top sides. Unless it's the ashes in which case one sided is fine by me haha!
Bat another hour tomorrow - the pitch is now starting to offer something for the spinners which bodes well for us. Root is in imperious form - He'll get past Cook at this rate. Plays spin so well.
Good early wicket by Archer. I watched a lot of the Australia versus India series and Pujara is a nightmare to get out. We really need to target him as he seems to be the one that India rely on to hold their innings together while their free-scoring batsmen push the score on.
