England vs India Test Series

Well that was some way to start the day! Atkinson is pure class.

Think we'll need a big 1st innings lead with the loss of Woakes though

 

Be interesting to see how we bat

 

Hottest summer in many a year, it’s hardly rained either

the oval is normally a barren wasteland of yellow dry grass…. This year it’s lush, green and resembles an April country out-ground!

no idea where happened here but the water bill must be sky high

 

Does Woakes injury mean India just need 18 wickets?

 

So far it looks like we’re going to attack.
It’s a proper good bowlers wicket , if their bowlers take advantage

 

Yep I guess so.
We’re allowed a sub fielder or a keeper ( if relevant).

 

So…. Duckett reverse scoops for six !
He certainly hasn’t modelled himself on a bulk of our openers from over the years

 

T10 at the moment. India have no answers.

 

Tongue - change what he does and risk losing his wicket taking pottery to refine him?

He’s an enigma, unplayable wicket taking balls, a few good balls and the rest were awful.

 

It's his action. He's incredibly hard to pick and he has that knack of getting the ball to skid through in a way that makes it feel like he's bowling much faster than he actually is. England's biggest bowling issue for years has been loading the side with pace bowlers who are all nearly identical. Tongue offers something completely different and i think thats a good thing. Him and Atkinson in tandem this morning looked a nightmare pairing to face. Atkinson tight and probing from one end and Tongue aggressive and wild from the other.

In fairness to Tongue, he was particularly wild yesterday as the conditions were affecting his ability to plant his front foot which is key to his technique. He wouldn't have that issue in Australia.

 

This pitch has devils in it. They aren't poking around waiting to fall.
Bowlers can't find a line or length.
Nightmare for Gill.

 

What a session that was. India well and truly on the ropes.

 

Great start by Duckett and Crawley. It's like Stokes said when he took captaincy. Openers done their job. It's not what they score individually it's the platform they produce. You'd much rather be 93/1 than 20/1 nudging and prodding.

 

It's good to watch but both openers have got out to nothing shots.

 

Is it really wrong that there’s a part of me that hopes one of these chirruping, whining Indian cricketers says too much and gets belted?

Odious they are. When do you ever see Root lose it? He even smiled and laughed at Warner and he’d punched him in the face. Horrible bunch these.

Akash Deep was lucky Ben Duckett didn’t elbow him in the jaw before lunch too.

 

Six of one half a dozen of the other!

 

3 wickets gone for just 50 runs all of a sudden. The good work is starting to go to waste. Another big partnership needed.

 

Pope doesn't get forward enough. If he gets forward he's outside off playing a shot.

 

What did he do to Joe!?

 

Was gobbing at him, must have said sumat untoward for Root to react like he did, he just usually smiles at any sledging he receives tbh.