Sam Curran to get another 50? Must have got a good percentage of our runs! 250 plus might well be enough with the spin likely to come into play.
At this rate the spinners will only have the tail to bowl at. Broad and Anderson look hungry. Chew 'em up boys
Alistair Cook retiring after the 5th test this week.' A true great as his numbers prove . Probably the right time - hopefully we can replace him well but might be tricky !
Good to see India did indeed form a guard of honour for Cookie. Let's hope for one more Cook century .
As did India. Very good day for England . Not so for Serena Williams. Really lost it during her defeat to an excellent Osaka .
On the cricket I think England are excellent and very entertaining. I have really enjoyed this summer's cricket even if I've been limited to dear old TSM and YouTube highlights. England can collapse and still win tests against the number one rated side in the world. I hear criticism that we cannot find 3 quality batsmen to fill the top slots but when you have 4 or more all-rounders I don't see that as an issue. I don't care where the runs come from. And we now have a range of bowlers, slow and quick. queuing up to bowl. And "England can't play spin" is a thing of the past. England I believe are currently the best in the world. Bring on Sri Lanka.
Interesting interview with Kohli at lunchtime yesterday. During it, he complained, albeit rather diplomatically, about the lack of preparation and the quality of opposition in warm-up matches. He was a bit hypocritical with that comment, as all home countries do that, which is why there is now such a big difference between sides winning at home and away. David Gower was also quick to point out that it was the Indians who requested that their match at Essex was to be changed from a 4 day match to a 3 day match. I hope that Essex were given decent compensation for ticket sales, hospitality and possible income for that final day, but given they would have to ask the BCCI, probably not. I don't know the financial position of any of the counties (Durham being the obvious exception), but I perceive Essex to be a county for whom that would be a big hit, but not critical. It could have meant the end for any struggling counties.
In 1959 the India touring party arrived in England on 17 April and left on 17 September. ... Not sure why complaints. As I understand it, it was the Indian Cricket authorities who limited the tour to little more than seven weeks. And the Essex game was shortened due to weather. Is that not what happens in cricket?????. The truth is India were beaten by a superior side, and yes they will probably lose their No. 1 ranking but that's life. But it was a great series that ebbed and flowed, predictions changing day by day. PROTECT TEST CRICKET BY LAW
The way Root is going, like a man possessed, he will possibly pass cookie, and I think by lunch it will be already too much for India. But great if Cookie gets a century and ends not out. However, Bairstow and Curran could do with getting a few runs, but I guess you cannot have everything. But, I hope we declare, or are bowled out, an hour after tea. There is a match to be won to get us moved up the rankings. At least the weather is set fair for the last two days
