Ffs Root charges down the wicket to Ashwin and skies it straight up in the air ! ****ing idiot, that was just dumb. Ashwin is turning the ball Patel isn't , so pick the right bowler to take on. Just crazy doing that, Root is too good and too clever to play like that. Bazball is one thing but when you've got Bairstow and Stokes to come who are bigger hitters than he is, then just try and lower the target and wear them down ! Right up against it now. 245 more to win or 6 wickets for India. Ah dear
Patel actually getting some to turn now, very dangerous and we've got away with a couple of very close calls. He's bowled uninterrupted since the start, must surely be due a break soon.
Ffs Crawley misses one from Kuldeep in his 1st over and is out lbw on review for 73 . Huge blow that. 205 mite to win and Stokes in with Bairstow now. These 2 have to try and get us close or we're doomed. Get to lunch first !
Ffs umpires call, another one gone. All the decisions going there way. Miracle required now, Stokes needs 150 and support from the remaining batters ! Doomed
Every player got a start and only Crawley made a 50, got to be getting 2 tons out of those starts to chase this down. If Stokes pulls this out the bag, the man's a God !
An unlikely miracle win now looks impossible. Stokes is so often the hero, but that was brain dead running, literally jogging the first 10 yards and getting run out. Idiot!
Oh well. Scant solace, but I reckon under the old style we would have lost that match by an innings. Need one or more of Root, Stokes and Bairstow to find some consistency with the bat.
It was always going to be a tough ask. Fair play to the Indians they pegged England back throughout. Glimmer of hope, which faded quickly. Sets up the series nicely, who thinks this form of cricket is dead!
Kevin Peiterson made an interesting point about Stokes, saying that maybe he should go up through the gears sooner, rather than waiting till he's with the tail. As long as he doesn't go all Sunday league slog again as soon as he comes in, I think it's a good suggestion.
