Can England win it?
Emma John on the day’s play.
That’s all for today. Thanks for your company and emails - I’ll leave you with Ali Martin’s report. Goodnight!
So, at the end of a delightful day’s play, India need 157 to win with nine wickets remaining. They are strongish favourites, though there is a forecast for thunderstorms tomorrow and all results are still feasible.
There was supposed to be plenty of rain today. Instead we were treated to 88.4 overs, 330 runs, 11 wickets, another five-for from the remarkable Jasprit Bumrah and a century of bittersweet brilliance from Joe Root. He may never have played better - but he is still looking down the barrel of a fifth defeat in the last six Tests.
Updated
Close of play
14th over: India 52-1 (target 209; Rohit 12, Pujara 12) Rohit hooks Robinson for a couple, with Curran doing extremely well to save the boundary, and then shovels a single round the corner. That gives Pujara three deliveries to survive before the close. He does that and more, picking up two boundaries with a thick edge and a classy cover drive.
Updated
13th over: India 40-1 (target 209; Rohit 9, Pujara 4) With the clock ticking towards 7pm, this will probably be Broad’s last over of the day. Rohit pulls a single, a controlled shot with two men out on the leg side, and then Pujara gets off the mark with a breezy clip to the midwicket boundary.
Another dramatic over ends with Pujara bat-padding Broad over short leg and just short of Bairstow, running in from leg gully. Pujara could not have bisected the fielders more perfectly had he tried.
Updated
12th over: India 35-1 (target 209; Rohit 8, Pujara 0) Now Pujara is beaten by consecutive jaffas from Robinson, who has such admirable control of line and length. This has been such an enjoyable day’s cricket.
REVIEW! India 34-1 (Rohit not out 6)
Rohit survives a review for caught behind after being beaten by a cracking delivery from Ollie Robinson. A number of the England players thought it was out - but Richard Kettleborough disagreed and there was nohing on Ultra-Edge.
11th over: India 34-1 (target 209; Rohit 6, Pujara 0) That was a beast of a delivery from Broad, which roared from a fullish length. KL Rahul was playing masterfully but he had no chance with that. The new batsman is Cheteshwar Pujara, who must - especially given his recent form - have been tempted to send out a nightwatchman.
Updated
WICKET! India 34-1 (Rahul c Buttler b Broad 26)
Broad changes ends to replace Anderson - and he strikes fifth ball with a magnificent delivery! It seamed and bounced extravagantly to take the edge as Rahul pushed defensively with soft hands, and Jos Buttler did the rest. That was nigh-on unplayable.
Updated
10th over: India 33-0 (target 209; Rahul 26, Rohit 6) Rohit is beaten by a grubber from Robinson that only just misses the off stump. It was a good ball rather than a poor stroke. In fact India’s batting this evening has been close to flawless - particularly from Rahul, who gets four more later in the over when he steers a short ball from Robinson to third man. India need 176 to win. And yes, since you asked, it is cowardly to pray for thunderstorms. It’s also what I’ll be doing all day tomorrow.
9th over: India 28-0 (target 209; Rahul 22, Rohit 5) A full ball from Anderson is driven emphatically through the covers for four by Rahul, who is giving another masterclass in how to bat in English conditions. The rain, incidentally, appears to have taken a detour away from the ground.
8th over: India 23-0 (target 209; Rahul 18, Rohit 4) Ollie Robinson replaces Stuart Broad, who bowled a slightly disappointing spell of 3-0-12-0. His first ball bursts at Rohit, hitting him on the arm (possibly via the shoulder of the bat) before landing safely on the off side. Another lifter hits Rahul on the hand, and then he gloves a short ball round the corner for a single. Excellent stuff from Robinson, who looks thoroughly unpleasant to face on pitches with a bit of extra or uneven bounce.
7th over: India 20-0 (target 209; Rahul 17, Rohit 2) A quiet over from Anderson, who isn’t making the batsmen play as much as he would like. In other news, it’s going to pelt down any minute now. India will be thrilled if they emerge unscathed from what could have been an extremely difficult mini-session.
Updated
6th over: India 19-0 (target 209; Rahul 17, Rohit 1) Rahul softens his hands to steer Broad to third man for four, and then drives classily through mid-off for another boundary. That was a gorgeous shot. These are very good bowling conditions but so far India have batted beautifully, with soft hands and clear heads.
Updated
5th over: India 11-0 (target 209; Rahul 9, Rohit 1) Rohit is turned round by an Anderson outswinger and gets a leading edge along the ground to point. The rest of the over is defended immaculately by Rohit, who is batting outside his crease to Anderson.
4th over: India 11-0 (target 209; Rahul 9, Rohit 1) A quiet over from Broad, comfortably defended. There are 18 overs remaining, in theory, but play cannot go on past 7pm.
3rd over: India 10-0 (target 209; Rahul 9, Rohit 1) The third umpire has brought the light meter on, and it is pretty dark at Trent Bridge. Rohit edges Anderson short of Burns at gully; then he’s beaten by a snorter that bursts from a length. This is a horrible time to bat - but KL Rahul is still positive enough to drive a half-volley through mid-off for four. Lovely shot.
2nd over: India 5-0 (target 209; Rahul 5, Rohit 0) Stuart Broad shares the new ball, which I think is the right decision despite Ollie Robinson’s first-innings excellence. Broad loves situations like this, and he starts with a wobble-seam delivery that kicks from the pitch as Rahul pulls his bat inside the line.
Rahul responds with a beautifully timed push to the cover boundary and then pulls his bat away from a couple of good deliveries. There was some really sharp bounce for Broad in that over.
1st over: India 1-0 (target 209; Rahul 1, Rohit 0) Jimmy Anderson, who last bowled a loosener sometime in the summer of 2014, starts the innings with a high-class over to KL Rahul. The third and fourth balls were beauties that straightened past the outside edge. Root thought the latter had taken the edge and ran forward in celebration, only to realise nobody else had appealed.
That England innings was 85.5 overs of topsy-turvy Test cricket joy. There were lots of useful contributions on both sides, and two immense performances: Joe Root made a masterful, emotive 109 before becoming one of five men to fall to the devastating Jasprit Bumrah.
WICKET! England 303 all out (Robinson c Rahane b Shami 15)
Robinson is okay to continue, at least for the next two balls. He slashes Shami high in the air towards third man, where Rahane takes a simple catch. Selfless stuff from Robinson, and that’s the end of the England innings. India need 209 to win.
85.3 overs: England 303-9 (Robinson 15, Anderson 0) Shami spears five wides down the leg side, which brings up the England 300, and then follows Robinson with a terrific bouncer that thumps into the grille. There’s a break in play while Robinson undertakes a concussion test.
Incidentally, Kohli and Anderson had (civil) words before the hat-trick ball was bowled. The commentators on Sky think it was because Mohammed Siraj had been a little overzealous in greeting Anderson to the crease.
Updated
85th over: England 296-9 (Robinson 13, Anderson 0) The hat-trick ball is another full-length inswinger, but Anderson defends it solidly and all parties break into a smile. It turns out it was a no-ball because there were three fielders behind square on the leg side, so it’s a good thing he didn’t dismiss Anderson. The extra delivery is another snorther that beats the bat. Bumrah really is a preposterous bowler, possibly the best Indian quick I’ve ever seen.
Since you asked, here’s the weather forecast for tomorrow, to be read in a Jackie Aprile Sr voice.
WICKET! England 295-9 (Broad b Bumrah 0)
Arf. Stuart Broad has gone first ball, bowled off the pad by a big inswinger. Yeah, good luck playing that. The sensational Jasprit Bumrah has another five-wicket haul, his sixth in only 21 Tests - and now he has the chance of a second hat-trick.
Updated
WICKET! England 295-8 (Curran c Siraj b Bumrah 32)
Curran, hurried by Bumrah’s zip and pace, spoons a simple catch to Siraj at mid-on. He was on the back foot and got in a very awkward position, almost like he’d been punched in the stomach. It’s the end of a useful if skittish cameo: 32 from 45 balls with four fours.
Updated
84th over: England 293-7 (Curran 29, Robinson 13) Robinson, who is a very good No9 even at this level, has raced to 13 from seven balls. He steered Shami for three earlier in the over and then laced a square drive to the boundary. Inbetween Curran played a mildly outrageous shot, walking miles across his stumps to ramp Shami towards fine leg. He didn’t time it properly and only managed a single, but it’s the thought that counts.
England lead by 190. They’d love 60 more but would probably take half that. Sod it, give me a target of 200 and it’s a deal. 195?
83rd over: England 285-7 (Curran 29, Robinson 6) Oh my. Curran is dropped off Bumrah, a very sharp chance to the diving Rahane in the gully. Curran opened the face but steered the ball a bit too close to gully. It was an extremely difficult chance, though, one-handed and low to his right. Hold the effigy.
82nd over: England 281-7 (Curran 25, Robinson 6) Shami invites Curran to whiff some Dukes leather, ramming in successive short balls that Curran just about manages to avoid. Curran drives a single and then Robinson gets off the mark - and a pair - with a back cut for two. An eventful over ends with Robinson flicking jauntily through deep backward square leg for four.
81st over: England 274-7 (Curran 24, Robinson 0) That was the last ball of Bumrah’s over, the first with the second new ball. It feels like a matchwinning wicket, but nobody knows anything really. England lead by 179.
Joe Root is out for a wonderful 109. He pushed outside off stump at a fine delivery from Bumrah that bounced and moved away just enough to take the edge. Root groaned instantly, before the catch was taken by Rishabh Pant, and then walked off with his head down. Eventually he turned to raise his bat and acknowledge the standing ovation.
Updated
WICKET! England 274-7 (Root c Pant b Bumrah 109)
The second new ball has done the trick!
80th over: England 272-6 (Root 108, Curran 23) Root survives a desperate appeal for a bat-pad catch. India have no reviews left, so that’s the end of that. It was a good ball from Siraj, which came back sharply to hit Root on the flap of the pad. The ball looped to Kohli in the slips, who appealed for a catch rather than the LBW. Siraj, whose DRS stylings make Stuart Broad seem like a reluctant reviewer in comparison, was appealing for anything and everything. Replays showed that neither anything or everything were out: it didn’t hit the bat or glove and the ball was bouncing over the stumps.
“Hello from Trent Bridge, where Joe Root has just made an emotional charge down the wicket on scoring his century and the sun has come out as if in instant celebration,” writes Emma John. “The Fox Road stand is very, very happy, and singing in unison…”
I like the idea of the heavens responding to events below, although I’m not sure what that would mean for the ending of Magnolia.
Updated
79th over: England 269-6 (Root 106, Curran 22) A quiet over from Jadeja moves us a peedie bit closer to the second new ball.
Updated
78th over: England 266-6 (Root 104, Curran 21) A distressing lack of needle between Curran and Thakur in that over. Two runs from it, which means England lead by 171.
“Now that Indian are unencumbered by having any reviews left, we should prepare for some lusty and sustained appealing,” says Brian Withington. “Loved seeing a smiling Virat Kohli cheekily ask Joe Root if he nicked one down leg side. Batting, fielding, captaining and reviewing (and appealing) he has to be the most engaged and entertaining player on the planet.”
With respect, Brian, I think you mean ‘most engaged and entertaining Test player’.
77th over: England 264-6 (Root 103, Curran 20) Jadeja replaces Thakur, who bowled a very good six-over spell that included the wickets of Lawrence and Buttler. Curran continues his dangerous counter-attack with an elegant back-foot drive for four.
“I hate to be a bore, Rob, but is the overseas TMS link available for sharing?” says Ian Copestake. “Can’t find the bugger anywhere.”
You really know how to make an old man feel special. I jest, of course; here you go mate.
Updated
76th over: England 259-6 (Root 103, Curran 15) This Test cricket is so damn life-affirming. As if that charming Root hundred wasn’t enough, it’s now time for round two of Thakur v Curran. A loose delivery is tickled fine for four, which prompts Thakur to move round the wicket. Curran square drives a single to move to 15 from 13 balls. This guy, as Richie Benaud used to say, is a dangerous customer.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Root celebrate a century so demonstratively. “All the emotion came pouring out,” says Mike Atherton on Sky. In the context of the match, the year and the pressure on him as both captain and batsman... I’m in awe of how well, and especially how freely, he has played.
Updated
JOE ROOT MAKES AN IMMENSE HUNDRED!
75th over: England 253-6 (Root 102, Curran 10) Root, on 97, cuts a short ball from Thakur this far short of the man at cover. Kohli, amused by all the recent appeals and some sarcastic DRS signals from the home crowd, smiles and signals for a review.
Root is beaten by one that keeps low - and then, finally, he times a beautiful drive through mid-on for four to move to three figures! He had both hands in the air as soon as the ball left the bat. It’s been a glorious innings - his 21st hundred in Tests, his first in England since 2018, and his greatest for at least six years, maybe ever.
Updated
74th over: England 248-6 (Root 97, Curran 10) From nowhere, Curran and Siraj are going toe to toe. Siraj zips a cracking delivery past the edge, then Curran slams a cut stroke through the covers for four. Siraj rams a bouncer down the leg side and has a bit of a rant in the direction of Curran, who gives plenty back. This is terrific stuff, and is already registering 5.2 on the Atherton/Donald scale.
73rd over: England 244-6 (Root 97, Curran 6) Sam Curran drives Thakur sweetly through the covers for four. After the events of 2018, India won’t relax while Curran is at the crease. They wouldn’t say no to Root’s wicket either, and he survives a couple of appeals - one for LBW, one for a catch down the leg side - later in the over. Both were good decisions from, yep, Michael Gough. England lead by 149.
72nd over: England 239-6 (Root 97, Curran 1) Mohammed Siraj, on for Bumrah, bowled a superb over to Root. After beating the outside edge earlier in the over, he had a huge LBW appeal turned down when Root pushed outside the line of an inswinger. It looked like it also hit him outside the line of off stump - but Siraj was certain it was out and pressured Kohli into a review. Replays showed it hit Root outside the line, and that means India have no reviews left. Kohli, who had every right to be fuming, instead patted Siraj on the shoulder and told him not to worry.
Updated
Root is not out and India have no reviews left!
INDIA REVIEW FOR LBW AGAINST ROOT! I don’t think this will be out.
71st over: England 239-6 (Root 97, Curran 1) Root works Thakur to mid-on for a single. He needs three runs for himself, and probably another 103 for his team.
Jos Buttler has gone to the second ball after tea. He offered no stroke to a ball from Thakur that jagged back to hit the top of off stump. Buttler looks fuming as he walks off; it was a poor leave and he knew it. Buttler has all the shots in the book, and - not for the first time in his Test career - he’s been dismissed playing none of them.
Updated
WICKET! England 237-6 (Buttler b Thakur 17)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAACH!
The players are back on the field. England lead by 140, there are 10 overs to go until the second new ball, and Test cricket is the greatest thing in the world.
“Whilst chuckling at the thought of your disturbing teletextathon in response to Bill’s paean to Tests, I am old enough to recall one or two truly turgid draws in the late 70s and early 80s whose only redeeming features at the close were Graham Gooch’s repertoire of bowler impressions,” says Brian Withington. “As well as the obligatory Bob Willis, his Chris Old, all pumping action before pulling up with a bad back pre-delivery stride, is rightly considered a classic of the genre.”
No Gooch on YouTube, alas, but you can find a few others - including these gems from Javed.
Teatime reading
That was another compelling session: 30 overs, 116 runs, three wickets. Joe Root is four away from a century, having played one of his finest innings. He played a supporting role for much of the afternoon session, which makes sense given the aggressive approach of his fellow middle-order batters. After the dismissal of Dom Sibley, Root scored only 25 of England’s 100 runs and faced 46 out of 148 balls. It was almost the equivalent of a boxer taking a couple of rounds off to recharge for the business end of the fight. At some stage, if he stays in, he’ll need to go on the attack again.
Tea
70th over: England 235-5 (Root 96, Buttler 15) Root works Bumrah to third man, first for two and then for a single. Buttler does likewise for a couple more, and then drives the last ball of the afternoon session for another single. England lead by 140.
69th over: England 228-5 (Root 93, Buttler 12) Buttler survives a big LBW shout after offering no stroke to an inducker from Thakur. Michael Gough says no, and there’s no chance of Kohli risking the final review. Replays confirm it was too high, probably too wide as well. This isn’t news, but Michael Gough is a phenomenal umpire. If I was a captain I would be much less inclined to review his decisions.
“Ah yes. Selectadisc on Birdcage Walk,” says John Starbuck. “I bought my first Robert Johnson LP there; great days. Mind you, these times even TMS go on about the long queue for Rock City.”
68th over: England 227-5 (Root 92, Buttler 12) Buttler was a sitting duck for Bumrah in the first innings. Not this time: he is beaten outside off stump by a typical Bumrah jaffa, but then stretches to clatter the next delivery to the cover boundary.
67th over: England 222-5 (Root 91, Buttler 8) “The formula of Test cricket appears to have been finely honed so that it very rarely appears boring: rarely is a shock outcome is off the cards,” says Bill Hargreaves. “This one, as all others, has me intrigued.”
You say that, but I followed every ball of this game on Teletext. I didn’t even remember doing so until my therapist suggested hypnosis to unlock any childhood trauma.
66th over: England 221-5 (Root 90, Buttler 8) Bumrah is back, presumably with Buttler in mind. Buttler works a boundary through square leg to get off the mark, and indeed off a pair, and then lashes a square drive for four. It looks like he’s in the mood to counter-attack before the second new ball is due. England lead by 126 and, in case you hadn’t noticed, this is a helluva Test match.
“The Chaworth and Musters clan were responsible for most of the Victorian housebuilding in West Bridgford, behind Trent Bridge,” says Chris Harrison. “You can see that from other street names. They were keen hunters, hence they used Fox and Hound when they ran out of family names. So the story goes...”
I don’t know whether to be proud or ashamed of the fact that, when it comes to Nottingham, my specialist (and indeed only) subject is Selectadisc.
Updated
65th over: England 211-5 (Root 90, Buttler 0) It was a bright and breezy innings from Lawrence, 25 from 30 balls, but I’m afraid it’s yet another nothing score from an England batsman. In this Test alone the top six have made scores of 18, 27, 29, 18, 28, 30 and 25. Jos Buttler is the new batter, another one who’s on a pair. England lead by 116.
WICKET! England 211-5 (Lawrence LBW b Thakur 25)
Shardul Thakur replaces Jadeja, whose figures (11-3-31-0) are more MOR than rockstar. Thakur’s first over is pretty stiff, with a no-ball and eight leg-side runs for Lawrence, but then out of nothing he gets one right on the money. It jags back off the seam to trap Lawrence plumb in front as he pushes outside the line. Lawrence goes for the review - England have three left - but replays confirm that Michael Gough has got yet another decision right. And now England have two reviews left.
Updated
64th over: England 202-4 (Root 90, Lawrence 17) Root moves into the nineties with a single off Shami; it also takes England’s lead into three figures. If he looks in control, the same can’t yet be said of Lawrence. He is beaten by a beauty from Shami, an almost laughably good delivery, then edges the next ball short of KL Rahul in the slips. Lawrence’s response is pretty impressive: another flamingo flick to fine leg for four and a confident cover drive for three. This could be his last Test innings for a while. He’s not going to die wondering.
63rd over: England 194-4 (Root 89, Lawrence 10) Jadeja gets through his overs so quickly, which is a challenge for batsmen, not to mention livebloggers. Lawrence, who has started with his usual attacking intent, slaps a short ball past backward point for four.
62nd over: England 189-4 (Root 88, Lawrence 6) Siraj off, Shami on. Root pulls his first delivery not far short of Jadeja, charging in from deep midwicket. It was a strange shot, almost absentminded, and for a split-second it looked like he was in trouble.
“I’d have to disagree with you about Sibley,” says Andrew Hurley. “I think he’s miles off - he can’t score, can’t rotate the strike, and (as a result) he puts huge pressure on the other batsman - the opposition can also settle into a rhythm with him there (as he plays no shots), this also hinders the other batsman, and finally, the opposition know if he’s there in three hours, who cares, he’ll be on 18. If Pant is there after an hour it’s game over...”
I understand the frustration with Sibley getting loads of 20s and 30s, but I don’t get the blanket criticism of his slow scoring. You need all sorts in a batting line-up, and at his best he wears bowlers down. That’s such a precious quality. In his short Test career he has been, in his own strange way, a matchwinner.
61st over: England 188-4 (Root 87, Lawrence 6) Lawrence survives a run-out referral after being sent back by Root. He pushed Jadeja into the off side and set off, only to realise Root had precisely 0.00 per cent interest in a run. Kohli whistled a throw into Pant, who broke the stumps in a flash. Only a desperate dive saved Lawrence.
“Fox Road was named first (heading towards Leicestershire) and the Hound came after it,” says John Starbuck. “Also, If needed because of the match situation: what, in your opinion, was the best of so many England Tests which lost at least an entire session to rain?”
That’s a slightly odd question because so many games lose a session, often without us remembering. The first match that comes to mind is the Oval 2005, for reasons so obvious that it feels unnecessary to highlight said obviousness, never mind elaborate on it, but it wasn’t a great game per se. Was a full session lost at Headingley in 1991?
60th over: England 188-4 (Root 87, Lawrence 6) Root back-cuts Siraj for a couple more. With the pressure he is under and the state his team is in, this has been one of the greatest innings of his life. I have no idea where he gets the mental strength not only to make these runs, but to do so in such a stylish, positive manner.
59th over: England 184-4 (Root 84, Lawrence 6) In his last eight Test innings, Bairstow has made three ducks and five scores between 28 and 30. It’s being in the 28-30 club that will annoy him the most.
Dan Lawrence would love a score of 28-30 right now. He is beaten by a dramatic delivery from Jadeja that straightens sharply, but then gets off a pair with a thick edge wide of slip for two. And he gets four off the last delivery with an extravagant flamingo flick that beats short fine leg.
58th over: England 177-4 (Root 83, Lawrence 0) The new batter is Dan Lawrence, who is on a pair and has made three ducks in his last four Test innings. He survives the last three balls of Siraj’s over without alarm. England lead by 82.
Updated
WICKET! England 177-4 (Bairstow c Jadeja b Siraj 30)
Oh, Jonny. This is a desperate dismissal, and yet another nothing score for Bairstow. Siraj dug in a short ball, and Bairstow absolutely nailed a swivel pull stroke. Sadly it went straight down the throat of Jadeja at deep square leg. Siraj puts his finger to his lips and looks at Bairstow, who has no choice but to walk off, raging with impotent frustration. I wouldn’t want to be a dressing-room locker right now.
Updated
57th over: England 174-3 (Root 82, Bairstow 28) Root has just passed KL Rahul for the most balls faced in the match. He’s also hit twice as many fours, and six times as many as Dom Sibley in third place. What are we going to do with Dom Sibley? He’s close to being a proper Test batsman - closer than he looks, closer probably than he realises. But the last mile is the hardest.
Meanwhile, Bairstow survives a biggish LBW shout after pushing around an arm ball from Jadeja. I think it was missing leg, umpire’s call at best. India only have one review left and there’s no way Virat Kohl is going to risk it. Quite right too: replays show it was missing leg by a fair way.
56th over: England 173-3 (Root 81, Bairstow 28) It has, almost unbelievably, been nearly two years since Jonny Bairstow last made a Test fifty. There have been a lot of nothing scores in that time, and he’ll surely be aware of that as he works his way through the twenties. The recent past might be his biggest concern right now, because he’s batting with something resembling the authority of his peak years as a Test batsman. He offers no stroke to a big inswinger from Siraj that bounces over the stumps; it looked close but I think that was a safe leave on length.
“Re: Fox Road and Hound Road,” begins Adam Roberts. “I always assumed it’s just a reflection of the area, what with foxhunting being such a big part of life in the East Midlands. Loughborough Road runs by the ground which will take you into Quorn country, and the Radcliffe Road will set you off towards Belvoir.”
55th over: England 171-3 (Root 81, Bairstow 26) Thanks Tim, hello everyone. Ravindra Jadeja comes on for Mohammed Shami, and Root premeditates the deftest of laps for four. That takes him to within 19 runs of the most glorious century. But first, with England leading by 76, it’s time for drinks.
54th over: England 166-3 (Root 77, Bairstow 25) After spending the first innings trying to be a Test-match sobersides again, Bairstow is now approaching the task as if he’s wearing the bright red and hot pink of Welsh Fire. He sees a ball from Siraj that is neither very short nor very wide and cuts it for four. He has hogged the strike too, in a good way – facing 36 balls out of 49 since Sibley’s demise, thus allowing Root to calm down. Maybe he’s playing first fiddle. Time for me to hand over: a big hand, please, for the great Rob Smyth. Thanks for your company and correspondence.
53rd over: England 160-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 20) Shami becomes the latest bowler to think he’s got an LBW, and Bairstow’s new red-ball technique certainly encourages the thought – but it’s a bit high and India can only review now if they’re sure the umpire has made a howler. This is one of the best things about DRS: if you use it badly, it turns into VAR.
52nd over: England 158-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 18) It’s a double change, which means they’ve seen off Bumrah for now, and it turns out that Siraj was just changing ends. Bairstow again produces a warm welcome, cutting him for four. At the risk of sounding like Alec Bedser, I have to say that a lot of runs would have been saved in this Test if either captain believed in having a third man.
Meanwhile Emma John gets in touch again. “Does anyone,” she wonders, “know the origins of Fox Road and Hound Road here at Trent Bridge? i was wondering about the lovely symmetry of those two roads/stands as i walked round the ground at lunchtime.”
51st over: England 153-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 13) Shami takes over from Siraj and Bairstow greets him with a lovely shot, opening the face to send a flowing drive through backward point. Bairstow has started much more assertively in this innings after doing a Sibley impression on Wednesday. England lead by 58.
50th over: England 148-3 (Root 76, Bairstow 8) A couple of singles off Bumrah. He’s bowled five overs in this spell, so England are wise to see him off.
“Dear Mr. d,” says Adam Roberts, “I may not know much about cricket, not having edited Wisden and that, but I was surprised not much has been said about the decision to bat first. I’d have thought a greenish Trent Bridge wicket with Anderson/Broad and clouds around would have been a no-brainer. Am I missing something?” No, you’re right. Leaving out your spinner and then opting to bowl last is not exactly joined-up thinking.
49th over: England 146-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 7) Siraj, the Broad of the subcontinent, is convinced that Bairstow is LBW. Nobody else agrees, but Kohli does one of his late reviews. Sure enough, it’s missing leg stump, so Michael Gough is right again, Kohli is wrong again, and India, like England in the previous innings, have got down to their last review rather early on. Bairstow celebrates with a back-foot force for four.
48th over: England 142-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 3) Jonny Bairstow has a role to play here: second fiddle, as opposed to 15th fiddle, which is what Sibley was. He gets off the mark with a nice easy push to midwicket for three off Bumrah. Root, still skittish, plays and misses, then gets a nick, but keeps it on the floor. Can Bairstow, who knows him so well, calm him down?
Updated
47th over: England 139-3 (Root 75, Bairstow 0) The lights are on now and the ball is beginning to move again. Siraj thinks he’s got Root LBW with a sharp nip-backer, but Michael Gough decides it’s going down and Hawk-Eye agrees with him. Root retorts with a cover drive that is straight out of the Root playbook.
46th over: England 135-3 (Root 71, Bairstow 0) That’s a great grab by Pant and the end of another long vigil from Sibley. The partnership was 89, and Root made 71 of them.
Wicket! Sibley c Pant b Bumrah 28 (England 135-3)
Sibley finally goes! He went for a shot on the off side, for once – a big loose drive – and could only get an inside edge. Rishabh Pant had a lot to do to change direction, but he managed it with aplomb.
Updated
45th over: England 134-2 (Sibley 28, Root 70) Another over from Siraj, another single to Root, another set of dots for Sibley’s collection. He has now faced 131 balls, and has even hit two of them for four.
Updated
44th over: England 133-2 (Sibley 28, Root 69) A single for Root off Bumrah, courtesy of an overthrow after a shy hit the stumps – the lowest form of run-scoring, even worse than a leg bye.
“Re England’s top order,” says Gareth Wilson, “I was astonished to see Burns and Sibley have played 25 and 20 Tests respectively. What would Compton, Lyth, Carberry, Robson, Duckett have given for that level of (blind?) loyalty?” It’ll be interesting to see if Duckett gets back in. He’s been impressive with Welsh Fire in The Hundred, both as a blaster and a stand-in captain.
43rd over: England 132-2 (Sibley 28, Root 68) Kohli takes Jadeja off, for no apparent reason, and brings back Mohammed Siraj. Root greets him with a square drive for four. England lead by 37. Root now has 132 runs in the match, for once out, while the Rest of England have 158 for 11 times out. It’s the World XI at one end and Ilford 2nds at the other.
42nd over: England 127-2 (Sibley 28, Root 63) At the other end, Bumrah is back. Root leg-glances his first ball for four, deft as a dancer, and pulls the last one for a single. In between, even Sibley manages a scoring shot, tip-and-run to mid-on. In the last ten overs he’s made four, to Root’s 28.
41st over: England 120-2 (Sibley 27, Root 57) Jadeja continues and Root takes a single first ball, pushing towards point. A caption shows that he’s made a thousand runs this calendar year – 1012 in nine Tests, at an average of 59. And that’s with a five-match drought in the middle. How many would he get if he wasn’t lumbered with the captaincy?
The Indians are out there and Virat Kohli is giving a speech. He’s got his serious face on.
40th over: England 119-2 (Sibley 27, Root 56) Root dabs Shami for a single, Sibley does a bit of blocking, and that’s lunch, with England feeling much happier. It’s been a rocky ride for Root, but he has single-handedly seen off the danger of an innings defeat. He’s in his thirties, he’s played a hundred Tests, he’s a father of two, he’s been England captain for years, and he’s still the boy stood on the burning deck. Now all he has to do is add another hundred to his fifty.
“Delighted there’s so much play,” says Robert Wilson. “It’s drab day-long drizzle here in Paris which, despite the tourist clichés, always makes the place look like an industrial estate just outside Darlington.
“Jadeja yesterday and Root today prove once more that the Gods just dote and smile on some players, no amount of scratchy form or tricky conditions can dent the sure progress of their cheeky thirty-somethings and stolen fifties. Since childhood, we’ve all seen players like this in all sports as we lurk resentfully in changing room corners while they bask in their permanent sunbeam. It’s not luck. Because you’ve got to be good to have it (Jadeja has always been better than people think). It’s an ancient notion we’ve lost. It’s felicity. They’re felicitous, these blokes. It’s not always easy to spot its presence, but its absence is visible from actual space. And it’s what the England top order do not have.” That is a top-class rant. But Crawley does have it, doesn’t he?
39th over: England 118-2 (Sibley 27, Root 55) Jadeja, finding himself bowling to Sibley, takes the opportunity to whizz through a maiden.
38th over: England 118-2 (Sibley 27, Root 55) Shami replaces Thakur and Root flirts with danger yet again, dabbing through the slips, but he gets four more and that’s his fifty – 52 off only 68 balls. It’s been frantic but effective. To show that he really is Joe Root, not some impostor, he then plays an imperious on-drive.
37th over: England 109-2 (Sibley 26, Root 47) Root sweeps Jadeja, not timing it but picking up three to midwicket. He’s still batting like a 14-year-old who’s just tried a double espresso.
36th over: England 105-2 (Sibley 25, Root 44) Thakur is still on and Root is still not being quite Rootish enough. He plays that vertical back-foot defensive shot again, straight down into the crease, and then misses another hook. Sibley may have to have a quiet word: Skip, you’re not playing for Trent Rockets now.
35th over: England 102-2 (Sibley 25, Root 41) Root succeeds where he failed in Jadeja’s previous over, playing a late cut for four, but then he tries it again and the ball is too close to him. For once in his life, he looks like a wicket waiting to happen. When Sibley gets down the business end, Jadeja finds some turn. Deep in the England dressing-room, Jack Leach may well be holding his head in his hands.
34th over: England 97-2 (Sibley 25, Root 36) Root flirts with danger again as he almost gloves a bouncer from Thakur. At the moment, he needs a little more of Sibley’s zen. Maybe they can strike a deal? Sibley could do with a tenth of his talent.
33rd over: England 96-2 (Sibley 25, Root 35) Root is itching to attack Jadeja, late-cutting, then sweeping, but finding the fielders. the only runs come from four byes – which are enough to level the scores. There’s another review as Root misses Jadeja’s arm ball, but it’s a silly one from Kohli as Root was playing a shot and was struck well outside off. A shovel from Sibley sends England into the lead. The crowd give them a big cheer, perhaps unaware that they are effectively 1 for 2, or perhaps acclaiming the fifty partnership. Sibley’s contribution has been 9 – Sibleyish to the last.
32nd over: England 91-2 (Sibley 24, Root 35) It’s a maiden from Thakur, who has done a solid job as the fourth seamer, conceding only seven runs off five overs.
Yes, it's missing
Sibley survives! It was about three inches wide of the leg bail. A poor decision from the umpire, a good one from Root. Reviews are easier when you’re nowhere near Stuart Broad.
Updated
Wicket? Sibley given LBW b Thakur
Could be going down. England review – not something they’ve had much success with in this match.
31st over: England 91-2 (Sibley 24, Root 35) Time for some spin! Kohli turns to Jadeja, who starts rather bathetically with a no-ball. He may be a little rusty after bowling only three overs in the first innings. Sibley takes a quick single that leaves Root hobbling.
“Sibleyish is a wonderful word,” says Colum Farrelly. “Does it replace Tavaréesque?” Ha.
Updated
30th over: England 88-2 (Sibley 23, Root 34) This game has been a tale of missed run-outs, mostly by England, but now it’s India’s turn to mess up as Root sends Sibley back and Siraj, swooping at midwicket, fails to spot that Sibley is the one in more danger.
29th over: England 85-2 (Sibley 22, Root 33) Two more for Root, clipping off his pads, followed by a quick single. England’s overdraft is down to ten.
Meanwhile I’ve been having a text conversation with Emma John, who is at Trent Bridge. “There’s a dude outside the ground,” she says, “holding a sign saying God Is Love. I thought God was Kohli. But then maybe Kohli Is Love?” Emma’s been doing the sidebar every day for The Guardian and she’s been on top form – find them here.
28th over: England 82-2 (Sibley 22, Root 30) Thakur tries a bouncer and Root pulls, confidently, getting on top of it, but straight to the man out at deep midwicket.
Over on Twitter, there’s the age-old sound of England fans harrumphing. “The England top order,” says Mick Collins, “needs to avoid the impression that it is a closed shop. If you score runs at the county level, you deserve a chance. Keep batters fresh and instil more competition for places.”
27th over: England 80-2 (Sibley 21, Root 29) Root works Shami through the covers and although it doesn’t sound as if he’s middled it, it just beats the fielder to the rope. Next ball he does it again, and this time there’s a nice crisp ring to it. Kohli, as so often, turns himself into an emoji – “dismayed face”.
26th over: England 72-2 (Sibley 21, Root 21) Root clips Thakur for a single and catches up with Sibley – not, admittedly, the toughest challenge in Test cricket. Root has faced 27 balls, Sibley a very Sibleyish 78. But Root plays and misses too as Thakur holds his line outside off. He’s not quite himself today.
25th over: England 71-2 (Sibley 21, Root 20) Shami goes wide of the crease and draws another inside edge from Root. The Harrow drive is in danger of becoming his signature shot.
A guy in the crowd, possibly supporting India, holds up a sign saying “THANK YOU BRITISH WEATHER.” Today’s India are pretty hot in any weather. And that’s drinks, with England wobbling as usual. They are still 24 behind.
24th over: England 68-2 (Sibley 20, Root 18) It’s a double change as Siraj gives way to Shardul Thakur. Each batsman takes a single off his hip; no prizes for guessing who is the more elegant of the two.
23rd over: England 66-2 (Sibley 19, Root 17) Mohammed Shami finally gets a go and he’s right on the spot, beating Sibley on the inside edge, then the outside. He’s such a good bowler.
22nd over: England 65-2 (Sibley 18, Root 17) Root cover-drives Siraj again and it’s an even better stroke than the first one, taken on the up. Then he tucks through square leg, on the back foot. He’s not putting on the hair shirt, as Bairstow and Buttler did in the first innings, and I reckon he’s right – it doesn’t take much to persuade Kohli to go on the defensive.
21st over: England 56-2 (Sibley 17, Root 9) Root may be ropey when the ball is straight, but he’s superb outside off. He guides Bumrah for four through the slips, then threatens his own stumps again with a back-foot push that goes down into the crease, pops up, and has to be shovelled away. Next he plays with the outside edge for the first time as Bumrah turns him round, but the nick drops short of the slips. That’s a lot of false shots by Root’s high standards, and England are still in the mire – 39 short of avoiding an innings defeat.
20th over: England 52-2 (Sibley 17, Root 5) Joe Root, who must feel like rolling his eyes in despair, shows his class by getting off the mark with a textbook cover drive. But then Siraj, who has a bit of spice to him, finds the inside edge of Root’s bat – not once, not twice, but three times. The third is a Harrow drive that brings a single. Andrew Strauss, on commentary, shows that Root is vulnerable to straight balls, averaging only 14 against them in England since 2017. Wow.
19th over: England 47-2 (Sibley 17, Root 0) Just to show that he’s still Sibley, Sibley gets a juicy full toss from Bumrah and turns it into a dot. Still, with 17 off 61 balls, this is one of his sparkier performances.
18th over: England 47-2 (Sibley 17, Root 0) Another single to Sibley, who is raising his stock just by virtue of still being out there. The wickets are being replayed and the commentators reckon both batsmen had to play at those deliveries, so I take it back about Burns (as well as Siraj). For elevenses, I will be tucking into some humble pie.
“Re Tom van der Gucht’s comments just now,” says Bill Hargreaves, “I hope that at one point in my life I, too, may taste the sweet nectar of this oft-mentioned last-chance saloon. Truly the Holy Grail of all establishments for imbibing. If you score a ton, do they put your name on the wall?” Ha.
Updated
Wicket!! Crawley c Pant b Bumrah 6 (England 46-2)
One brings two! It’s a good ball from Bumrah, angling in and seaming away, and another disappointment for Crawley.
Updated
16th over: England 43-1 (Sibley 13, Crawley 6) Kohli celebrated that wicket as if it had been taken by his baby daughter. Siraj nearly makes it two in two, turning Zak Crawley round and drawing a leading edge, which zips to the third-man boundary. Crawley then ducks a bouncer before finding the middle of the bat with an on-push for two.
Wicket! Burns c Pant b Siraj 18 (England 37-1)
The breakthrough! And it’s Siraj, moving one away as Burns commits himself when he could have left it. To think that some people wondered why Siraj was bowling.
Updated
15th over: England 37-0 (Burns 18, Sibley 13) The ball isn’t swinging today, so Bumrah pulls his length back and beats Sibley by jagging it away off the seam.
14th over: England 37-0 (Burns 18, Sibley 13) A few singles off Siraj, which are not to be sniffed at: rotating the strike is one of the many things England have struggled with lately.
13th over: England 34-0 (Burns 17, Sibley 11) Rory Burns, too, gets an early freebie, as Jasprit Bumrah hands him a half-volley on leg stump. It should be a single but there’s a fumble at fine leg. Bumrah finds some lift and movement with that catapult action of his, but then drifts on to leg stump again and gets clipped for four. This is a positive start from England.
“Let’s be honest,” says Tom van der Gucht, “half of the England batting line-up are drinking in the last chance saloon. Burns, Sibley, Crawley, Bairstow and Lawrence all have question marks next to their name and (in all fairness) Buttler is still underwhelming in Test cricket. This is the chance for a hero to step up and announce they’re ready to cement their place for the Ashes. There’s a few young (ish) guns breathing down the necks of the incumbents: Livingstone, Malan, Hameed... Broad must sense Mahmood hot on his heels now Archer is out for longer as he brings something different to the attack.” That’s a bit harsh on Buttler, who averages 46 since lockdown, and a bit flattering to Malan, who is 34 next month, but yes, Mahmood should be in the Test squad now.
12th over: England 27-0 (Burns 11, Sibley 11) Virat Kohli sprang a surprise last night by opening with Mohammed Siraj and he does it again now. Dom Sibley is so relieved that he takes runs off the first ball of the day – a nurdle for two. There’s an LBW shout at the end of the over, but it’s too high for Kohli to risk a review.
Play!
“Glorious day,” says David Lloyd. “Blue sky.”
Updated
Preamble: crunch time for the top three
Rory, Dom and Zak. They could be contestants on Love Island. We’ve got to know them all quite well. Rory has silly hair and is on the short side, but he’s very likeable. Dom, who is affable too, is much taller, with sensible hair. Zak is even taller and often looks a bit embarrassed, but he’s everyone’s type on paper. Now, though, the crunch has come, and at least two of them are in danger of being voted off the show.
This is a big day for England’s top three. Burns and Sibley, whose average opening stand since lockdown is just 27, need to turn a promising 25 for 0 into at least 50 and preferably 100, to wipe out India’s lead. Sibley, even on a good day, bats like a crustacean. Lately he’s been a crustacean under general anaesthetic – and after an innings of 18 that was painful to watch, he went and dropped KL Rahul. One more flop and he’ll be carrying the drinks for Haseeb Hameed.
Crawley was one of only four England batsmen who looked good on Wednesday, alongside Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran, but he has to convert his confident strokeplay into runs. Since making his name last summer with 267 against Pakistan, he’s been dealing in fractions of that. His biggest Test score since has been 53 (opening, against India, in some style), the next-best 27 (in this match). It feels as if another big one is round the corner, but that’s not enough. England need it right now.
India are sitting pretty, still 70 runs ahead, which is a lot in a low-scoring Test. So far they’ve done everything better than England – from preparation to reviewing. The weather forecast, for once, is not too bad: just a 10pc chance of rain this morning, rising to 20pc at 3pm and to 50pc in the last hour. The rain will only save England if they save themselves first.
Updated
