First time in the entire history of Test cricket that both England openers in a home match have been dismissed without scoring. Notwithstanding the fact that Shami and Bumrah are both on fire at the moment, that is a complete disgrace. We simply cannot go on expecting Root to rescue an innings by walking in with the score below 25, as he has had to twice in this match. Even superheroes like our Joe need a bit of help sometimes. Sibley should with any justice be dropped for good now, and Burns is surely walking a tightrope. Who to bring in for the Ashes then? Vince and Dawson?
Dawson - no. Vince - I could see it if he does well for Hants in the next phase of the 4 day stuff. His best test innings did come in Australia and he's played in the Big Bash enough times to know what the pitches are like.
Both looked like they were in “deer in headlights” mode …… quite what Burns was doing trying to turn a ball to leg when it was straight (or even on off stump) is beyond me. “Get straight behind it, lad”, I could hear Boycs say ….. Then Sibley was all at sea. You have to expect the bowlers to be coming in at full pace and hammering it down straight and full, so meet it straight as well. Root must be totally fed up having to bail England out of the **** time after time ……
It does seem unfair on Pant that most of them count against him, he couldn’t have possibly reached any of them.
I was just thinking that - really unfair on a keeper when the bowlers are bowling a line which he can’t reach!!
Sam Curran will be forever remembered as the first person to get a king pair in a Test Match at Lords. 90-7, Siraj on a hat-trick.
I am loving the aggression coming from the Indian team, especially Kohli with his chirping and fielding positions. Waiting for the batsmen to star running the clock down with glove changes or calls for drinks or treatment to an imaginary cramp. Edit. Or can they still call for an extra half hour if a result is possible? The umpire signalled the last hour started at 17.55
England should never have found themselves in this position. NEVER. They were all over the place with their bowling and field plans this morning. Embarrassing to let Shami and Bumrah share a near 100 unbeaten partnership. And the batting is nothing sort of shambolic. England have turned into an absolute joke.
Get rid of Sibley and Hameed completely. They can't cut it at this level. Drop Sam Curran - showed no application with the bat which is quite frankly not acceptable. One golden duck I can understand but 2 in the same match is inexcusable for Curran, who is very capable with the bat. He needs to go away and decide if he is really committed to test cricket or just the shorter format. Give Crawley a shot at opening with Burns, bring Pope back in. I hate to say this but we're so ****ed without Ben Stokes.
