Par is no more than 300 on this. Uneven bounce, huge movement with the new ball. I guess the pitch may have flattened out since the first session but i still think anything over 300 is a very good score.
Credit to the lower order as well: 86 runs from Foakes, Hartley and Robinson have been pretty game-changing.
Mainly Foakes and Robinson TBF. Foakes in particular grafted very hard for his runs while giving Root support. Didn't quite get 50, but a very good knock.
Even Hartley stuck around for a half-hour; Root hasn't been under any pressure to leave his comfort zone because wickets haven't been coming thick and fast at the other end.
Not just runs either. Faced over 200 balls to give Root time to do his thing. That keeps the series alive for another day.
McDermott back to Hants for the T20 Blast. He's formed a very strong opening partnership with Vince over the last couple of seasons so a no brainer to bring him back.
Foakes should be dropped for how he played with the tail. If India have all the field back get the 2's on offer - keep the score ticking over. If England lose narrowly he's to blame.
Foakes is to blame ?! he shouldn’t have been put in that position courtesy of this lot !!! Duckett c S Khan bR Ashwin 15 Pope lbw bR Ashwin 0 Root lbw bR Ashwin 11 Bairstow c Patidar bJadeja 30 Stokes bKuldeep 4 And credit to their bowlers as well .
That innings from Foakes is an example of why I've struggled to ever accept Foakes as an international standard cricketer. Sure, he's an excellent keeper. And if he has a decent batter at the other end, he's quite capable of giving them company (as shown in the first innings). But ultimately he lacks the dynamism to bat at no.6 or no.7, or the quality to bat at no.4 or no.5. The situation he found himself in today is very common for a no.7, but he just wasn't able to adapt to it.
Foakes main job is as a wicket keeper . If he can contribute as a batsman , that is of course a welcome bonus
