Summing up
England’s day overall, though India fans had cause to cheer courtesy of Rishabh Pant’s hobbling heroics and some more encouraging signs with the ball in the last hour. England’s followers, meanwhile, can bask in another forceful bowling performance from Ben Stokes and the effortless fluency of their opening batters, who made the most of some initially substandard Indian bowling.
So there’s a lot to look forward to tomorrow, for which the OBO will be alongside you all the way. Thanks for your many fine emails today, only around half of which I had time and space to use, but it’s all appreciated, and enjoyed. And I’ll leave you with Ali Martin’s initial report from Old Trafford. Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye.
Zak Crawley speaks
“We bowled really well, we beat the bat a lot, found the edge more and everyone deserved more than they got, and Stokesy was magnigicent obviously
We’re happy with where we are right now, we had to be aware of more bounce from the Statham End and adjust your gameplan.” [On his partnership with Ben Duckett] … “He’s just extremely good, he’s an unbelievable player, a phenomenal thinker about the game and is hard to contain.
[On his own approach] Today I was just trying to play every ball on its merits, perhaps in my head previously I was trying to premeditate too much … a lot of the dismissals are too half-hearted but I’m pleased today that I hit the ball well. There was a bit more pace and carry that suits my game, it’s a great ground to play, good batting deck and I enjoy playing here, I can react and play a little more.
“Sometimes you can want it too much and that’s something Baz has been good with me on, allowing me to get in a good place.
[On his dismissal], “he [Jadeja] changes his line so much so when he bowls that wider one you can get a bit lazy. I was fuming with myself but it is what it is.”
Thanks, by the way, to Michael Meagher for reminding us that 20 more runs tomorrow for Joe Root will take him past Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to No 3 on the all-time Test run-scorers’ list.
Stumps: England 225-2, 133 behind
46th over: England 225-2 (Pope 20, Root 11) Pope betrays some anxiety as he sets off for a dab and run single off the first ball but is promptly sent back. It’s another no-ball anyhow. Bumrah responds with a regulation bouncer as Bumrah continues to be on the money until Pope manages to skilfully bunt an attempted yorker straight past the bowler for four. The last ball of the day is a bouncer that Pope ducks, and England end it probably on top.
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45th over: England 220-2 (Pope 16, Root 11) Root unfurls a stress-alleviating straight drive past the bowler, Kamboj, for four. Kamboj continues to find some zip and movement from the Statham End but Root is equal to it. And we’ll have time for one more over …
44th over: England 216-2 (Pope 16, Root 7) Yo, Bumrah’s the show (I’m determined to flog that pun senseless), as he cuts Root in half with a stunning inswinger. Initially, the bowler is all over the caught behind appeal but there was no bat involved and they decline the review. A flick to leg for one is the only run off the bat in the over. Suddenly this is a battle to survive to the close for England.
43rd over: England 214-2 (Pope 16, Root 6) More swing from Kamboj, but Root makes one such work to his advantage by helping it to fine leg for four. Oh actually no, it’s four byes.
“As you’re looking fior characters to join your selection of good-time company,” mails Chris Weaver, “may I nominate one of the few ex-professional cricketers I have ever met: Kerry O’Keefe?
“Kerry, who had to retire too early because of a shoulder injury, was a real character: hilariously witty, full of life, and with a host of wonderful stories.
“I was lucky enough to spend a whole day in the commentary box at Sydney with Kerry back in the day (January 1983), together with my Australian-resident brother, who had good contacts in the local radio/TV world. We watched a marvellous day’s cricket between MCC/England and Australia from our lofty perch, at the height of various rivalries featuring Border, Lillee and Thommo and an English team whose stars included Botham, Gower, Randall and the less memorable Derek Pringle, who if I recall replaced an injured Botham for that Test. England only narrowly and undeservedly failed to win because of an awful umpire’s call of not out against Kim Hughes, who hit a shot off somebody’s (?Alan Lamb’s?) foot, which the not-overly athletic Geoff Cook plunged to catch, only for the (Australian) umpires to wrongly rule that the ball had hit the ground. With today’s neutral umpires and video referrals, Hughes, who stood his ground, knowing full well he should have been given out, would have been sent post haste back to the pavilion. He went on to make 137, being named player of the match and ensuring the Australians a score which was narrowly out of reach of their opponents, who ended a frustrating draw on 314/7.
“Despite England’s disappointing failure to win, I really enjoyed my five days in the Sydney Oval, which produced a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish. I hope this year’s winter series comes somewhere close to that experience.”
Good shout. Always enjoyed him as a radio commentator.
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42nd over: England 210-2 (Pope 16, Root 6) Now Bumrah’s back, to see us through the last 20 minutes. Five dot balls pass with Pope untroubled before he flicks down to fine leg for a single.
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41st over: England 209-2 (Pope 16, Root 6) It’s become a much more even contest now, and Root’s not taking any chances against Kamboj’s shapely seam-up swing. But he’s denied the first maiden of the innings bowled by someone not called Bumrah when a gift on leg stump is tucked towards fine leg for four.
“Of course Tuffers must be the spinner,” chirps Christian from Vienna, “but surely Gladstone Small is in the 11. He’s lovely. There must be nice guys as well as characters. I want Allan Lamb too. And if I have to have an Aussie, then, of course, David Boon.” Pack your asprin.
40th over: England 205-2 (Pope 16, Root 2) Jadeja v Root – one of the great duels, and the latter is circumspect and defensive off his first four balls before pushing to midwicket for one. Pope then picks up two with good late soft hands enabling a glide down towards third man.
39th over: England 202-2 (Pope 14, Root 1) Kamboj’s location of swing and bounce finds its reward immediately, when Duckett edges behind, and gives Root something to ponder with his nicely shaped first ball at the former England captain too. Root is away with a clip to square leg for one and a rare fuller ball from Kamboj is then driven firmly by Pope on the onside for four, courtesy of Thakur colliding with the rope on contact with the ball.
Wicket! Duckett c sub b Kamboj 94, England 197-2
Duckett falls six short of a seventh Test hundred, Kamboj finding that extra bounce, which does for the batter, who top edges his cut behind. That’s a big wicket, and what a first scalp for the bowler.
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38th over: England 197-1 (Duckett 94, Pope 10) Duckett advances to clout Jadeja through the covers for three but Pope finds the bowler harder to pick until he cracks through the off for two.
“Surely Monty Panesar must be in there for his (highly underrated) left arm spin,” writes Matt Kilsby, “and, of course, for the hours of entertainment during rain delays watching that Mastermind performance on loop. A seminal moment in cricketing and television history. Oh goooosh. Dream Boys.”
37th over: England 192-1 (Duckett 91, Pope 8) Kamboj comes back into the attack, which feels a bit of a risk given India have asserted some control recently and with Bumrah grazing in the field. Kamboj finds some nice swing here mind, and Pope hacks at a bouncing away swinger that just eludes backward point and gets a rather lucky four. A much improved over from the India newbie.
36th over: England 186-1 (Duckett 90, Pope 4) Duckett sweeps for one, Pope clips for two and then is late to get his bat on to a tricky one that skids on. And the next is even better, which is reviewed for a stumping with Pope bamboozled by the spin outside his edge, but his feet were grounded behind the line.
35th over: England 183-1 (Duckett 89, Pope 2) Siraj – again – strays towards leg, and Duckett times his clip exquisitely, the fielder deep behind square seemingly seeing it late, which means four more.
Krishna Moorthy mails again to invert the “Mates XI” ethos with a “won’t touch with a barge pole XI:
“Pietersen, Kohli, Warner, Marlon Samuels, Gautam Gambhir, Hershelle Gibbs, Shane Warne, Shoaib Akthar, Javed Miandad, Andre Nel, Merv Hughes”
Some of those figure in the “Best Mates XI” emails too, which just goes to show it takes all sorts to make a friend.
34th over: England 178-1 (Duckett 84, Pope 2) Duckett wants to sweep and reverse sweep most of what Jadeja has to offer, sometimes scoring sometimes not, and then Pope gets off the mark with a push through midwicket for two. Jadeja against these batters at least feels like more of an ebbing and flowing contest now.
33rd over: England 175-1 (Duckett 83, Pope 0) Duckett, rhythm seemingly uninterrupted by the loss of his opening partner, glides Siraj to the third man boundary for four, and gets four more with a rare straight drive. The bowler responds with a proper bouncer, something whose under-use in this innings is exercising Ricky Ponting on comms.
32nd over: England 166-1 (Duckett 74) Duckett pulls out the reverse sweep for a single off Jadeja, who switches to round the wicket at Crawley in search of new rough to exploit. The singles continue though, until a crisp sweep square from Crawley – off a no-ball – goes for four. But that extra ball proves a blessing, Crawley squirting an edge to slip to end a fine partnership.
Wicket! Crawley c Rahul b Jadeja 84, England 166-1
Crawley looks to have edged this to slip, off the extra ball following the no-ball. He reviews, doubting whether it carried, but replays show it did. A fine grab from Rahul brings a desperately needed breakthrough.
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31st over: England 158-0 (Crawley 79, Duckett 72) Siraj has looked unthreatening all afternoon but this is a better over, with more appropriate lengths.
Derek Randall has had plenty of Mates XI noms this afternoon, the latest from Nicholas Walmsley. “Randall would be one guy I’d love to have in my team and then chat in the bar with afterwards. Universally adored the cricket world, there’d never be a dull moment with him on or off the pitch.”
Yeah I remember as a young kid, watching Randall was my introduction to the importance of athletic fielding, in an era when there wasn’t loads of it about. And he nearly broke my young heart with his (foiled at the last) heroics at the 1985 NatWest Trophy final.
30th over: England 156-0 (Crawley 78, Duckett 71) Jadeja is finally bringing a modicum of control, conceding three singles from a tidy over, but these openers still looking pretty serene. And that’s drinks.
“Does Shubman Gill have any left-field slow bowlers on the field?” asks John Starbuck. “It looks like he needs a Joe Root equivalent for surprise unfamiliar wicket.” A penny for Kuldeep Yadav’s thoughts?
29th over: England 153-0 (Crawley 76, Duckett 70) A Duckett pull shot is a thing of wonder and he gets on top of a back of a length Siraj delivery to thump it through the gaps for four to bring up the 150 partnership. This continues to be all very easy.
“Yes Thomas Atkins,” nods James. Kerr. “My Mother in Law was physio at Hants CC while Warnie was captain. She is a stern Welsh Methodist judge of character. ‘He was charming’. I heard the Young Hants players worshipped him
“Listening to the BBC Phil. / Charles Dance thingy at lunch reminded me how much I miss Warnie, even when he was tormenting us …”
28th over: England 145-0 (Crawley 74, Duckett 64) Jadeja, wider at the crease, finds a better line at Duckett and essays a half-hearted lbw appeal when Duckett sweeps and misses, one of two such fluffed shots from the batter. A nudged single brings Crawley on strike, who inside edges an attempt to reprise his earlier six.
27th over: England 144-0 (Crawley 74, Duckett 63) Another delay for pitch surgery gives the players a chance for a breather, which India will need more than England. Then Siraj resumes and Duckett glides him beyond gully for four straight away. One more single follows.
26th over: England 139-0 (Crawley 74, Duckett 58) Spin, at last, from Ravindra Jadeja, who’s shone more with bat than ball this series. Crawley’s clocked this too, and clobbers his second ball straight down the ground for SIX. That’s brilliant decision making to be honest, as his flick of a quicker ball to the fine leg boundary for four more, prompting a leg slip to be brought in, but he too is beaten by the next ball which is padded wide of him for four leg-byes. That wasn’t the control Shubman Gill sought.
25th over: England 124-0 (Crawley 64, Duckett 58) All-seam continues with Siraj returning to the attack, who strays on to Crawley’s pad straight away and is clipped for one. Duckett adds another and Crawley drives the final ball of the over square on the off for a single.
More “Mates XI” theorising from Thomas Atkins: “Shane Warne – OK, hear me out. He could be boorish, and anyone who Merv Hughes calls unreconstructed is going to be hard work, but as a pure force of nature he’d be enthralling company, and his loyalty and generosity mean he’d be a great man to have in your corner. I also can’t think of many people I’d rather spend time talking about cricket with, he was very rarely dull as a pundit.”
Yeah there was much to quibble with when it comes to Warnie – that Boris Johnson backing for one – but on the subject of cricket he was endlessly fascinating, and yes, a generous guy by all accounts. I’d also have loved to have talked to him for a very, very, very long time about this:
24th over: England 121-0 (Crawley 61, Duckett 58) Bumrah’s hit his groove, and he has Duckett beaten all ends up with an away-seamer that wasn’t far at all from his outside edge. Two from the over.
23rd over: England 119-0 (Crawley 60, Duckett 57) Thakur strays down leg and is punished the way almost all such balls have in this innings – with a four down to fine leg. Four more ensue with a more fortuitous thick edge through the cordon. This feels like an important knock for the ever-scrutinised Crawley, at his most productive Test venue.
“Somerset’s 1950s cricketer John McMahon looks like the man who’d be good value…” writes Simon Withers, the words “good value” literally covering a multitude of sins. “From Wikipedia:
The reason behind McMahon’s sacking did not become public knowledge for many years. In its obituary of him in 2002, McMahon was described by Wisden as “a man who embraced the antipodean virtues of candour and conviviality”. It went on: “Legend tells of a night at the Flying Horse Inn in Nottingham when he beheaded the gladioli with an ornamental sword, crying: ‘When Mac drinks, everybody drinks!’”
The obituary recounts a further escapade in second eleven match at Midsomer Norton where a curfew imposed on the team was circumvented by “a POW-type loop” organised by McMahon, “with his team-mates escaping through a ground-storey window and then presenting themselves again”. As the only Somerset second eleven match that McMahon played in at Midsomer Norton was right at the end of the 1957 season, this may have been the final straw. But in any case there had been “an embarrassing episode at Swansea’s Grand Hotel” earlier in the season, also involving Jim Hilton, who was also dismissed at the end of the season. Team-mates and club members petitioned for McMahon to be reinstated, but the county club was not to be moved.
22nd over: England 111-0 (Crawley 52, Duckett 57) As the Barmy Army trumpeter treats the assembled to Rocket Man (Duckett, man), singles continue to be milked off Bumrah, who finally, fourth ball of the over, manages to rip a beauty away from Duckett and past his outside edge, and repeats the trick two balls later. Much better from the India spearhead.
21st over: England 109-0 (Crawley 52, Duckett 56) These opening batters have the field more or less where they want them now, so easy singles such as Crawley’s drive off Thakur to deep extra cover are a regular feature. Duckett adds one more to put Crawley back on the strike, and he brings up his half-century in style with a ruthless cut past backward point for four.
20th over: England 102-0 (Crawley 47, Duckett 54) You wonder whether fitness is catching up with Bumrah a little. If they hadn’t been behind in the series, India would’ve wanted him to play at the Oval rather than here, you’d imagine. This one’s a decent, tight over, extracting some seam movement but wickets aren’t looking likely.
19th over: England 102-0 (Crawley 47, Duckett 54) Ben Duckett brings up a pretty effortless 50 with a nudge for two off Thakur. A lovely punch through the covers for four then brings up England’s 100. Another hour of this and England could be in a match-dictating position.
“Hello Tom.” Hello Krishna Moorthy. “My wish they were my mates is an open and shut case:
Greenidge, Haynes, Richards, Lloyd, Kalicharan, Gomes, Dujon, Marshall, Holding, Roberts, Garner.”
Heh. I see what you did there. Has any sports team in history been as nostalgically pined for and loved by fans of the opponents they thrashed as the 1980s West Indies? It’s an extraordinary phenomenon, some of it rooted in us wanting our childhoods back.
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18th over: England 96-0 (Crawley 47, Duckett 48) Bumrah’s now at least locating the kind of movement off the seam and in the air that England’s attack found earlier. It’s much better from the bowler but his one loose delivery is flicked off Crawley’s pads to the deep midwicket boundary for four
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17th over: England 92-0 (Crawley 43, Duckett 48) Thakur jags one past Crawley’s outside edge with venom – best ball of the innings, I’d wager – but is driven gloriously through the covers by him for four a couple of balls later. A mixed old over concludes with Duckett swinging carelessly outside off and missing.
“A friend of mine here in Canada told me he lived in Australia next door to Adam Gilchrist for a couple of years and reported that he was a delightful chap,” writes John Johnston. “It’s also become clear to me that Glenn McGrath is nothing less than a hell of a guy. In fact so many of that Australian team that made my life hell turned out to be great blokes. Which somehow makes it worse.”
I think that’s why 2005 resonated so much in England, not just a “we’ve finally beaten this mob in a thrilling series” but the way it enabled us to connect with and appreciate Australia too.
16th over: England 86-0 (Crawley 38, Duckett 47) Bumrah’s back, at the Anderson end this time after a poor opening spell from the other one. He’s getting some movement off the seam now but not putting it particularly in drivable/nickable areas. Only one from the over, mind.
15th over: England 85-0 (Crawley 38, Duckett 46) Change of bowling after tea: Shardul Thakar is into the attack for the first time and has Crawley beaten outside off straight away. He’s found some swing immedately, though unfortunately that means his next one is edged through the cordon for four. And the scoreboard keeps ticking over.
Abe Froman’s all-time mates XI: “Athers, Alyssa Healy, Mike Brearley, Kumar S, Freddie F, Grace Harris, Sarah Taylor, Warnie, Charlie Dean, Richie B, M Holding”
If I have time*, I’m going to knock all these into a spreadsheet to determine our overall imaginary mates winner and best XI.
*I won’t have time
“Andy Afford, the former Nottinghamshire spinner, founded Dr Comfort and the Lurid Revelations, the band that Graeme Swann was the singer in,” adds Richard O’Hagan. “Curtley Ambrose used to play bass in a band called Big Bad Dread and the Baldhead. I think Richie Richardson used to play guitar for them occasionally. Andy Caddick and Alan Mullally were/are also guitarists.”
Ooh you’ve given me an earworm now:
The hare is well and truly running on “Wish They Were My Mates XI” chat. Here’s a couple more. First up, Mike Morris: “I just thought I’d stick my oar in and say you need a balance for a night out. Too many ‘fun’ mates and you’re in some horrible strip club at four in the morning [speak for yourself – ed]. I’d want Tuffers and Flintoff for fun, but also a gent like Michael Holding to provide a little touch of class. Also, something about Harold Larwood seemed like a good solid friend who’d get you in a taxi at just the right time...”
And Mojo Wellington: “I’m enjoying the nominations for the Wish They Were Mates XI, not least because it’s going to keep throwing up names of cricketing heroes who were, ahem, let’s say, indifferent, when I met them.
“But I was at a Ryan Adams concert recently and Mark Butcher was standing opposite me during the interval. He did a swift about turn, perhaps because I was wearing a Lord’s t-shirt, or maybe just because the concert was about to restart.
“Anyway, got me thinking that muso cricketers would at least be people I could chat to during the tea break. After from Butch, the likes of Derek Pringle, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, Dermot Reeve, Brett Lee and Curtly Ambrose... am sure there are plenty of other music-loving cricketers.”
Swann and Reeve always had a bit of an air of trying to be the class joker about them, but music small talk is always good. I think Atherton’s a big REM fan, on that tip.
Tea: England 77-0, trail by 281
14th over: England 77-0 (Crawley 33, Duckett 43) Crawley’s in good touch now, and creams a sublime on-drive past the bowler, Siraj, for four more. India aren’t even conjuring dot-ball pressure, with singles flowing freely. And for all that the weather has brightened, there’s still plenty of cloud cover round and about.
And that’s tea. India have much to think about, England will be feeling pretty chipper. And I’m off for a short break. Back soon.
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13th over: England 69-0 (Crawley 27, Duckett 41) Kamboj puts another half-volley up near Ben Duckett’s pads. Guess what happens next? Yep, they fielders at deep midwicket are chasing in vain to cut off another clipped boundary. He clips another single next up to give Crawley a go, and he adds another one. This is as mediocre as I’ve seen the India attack bowl all summer.
“I was wondering when someone was going to get around to nominating a player from before 1990,” says Richard O’Hagan of the Mates XI discourse, “so heartily concur with the inclusion of Richie Benaud. His teammate Alan Davidson was reputedly an exceptional human being, and of course you would also have to have Keith Miller from that era – the man who gave his wicket away for a duck in 1948 because he was so annoyed at Bradman running up the score unnecessarily. On the England side of things Dennis Compton was of course an exceptional bon viveur, whilst the same attributes sadly curtailed Colin Milburn’s career and were probably responsible for the biggest exponent of all, Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie, never getting an international cap.
“I’m also wondering why David Gower hasn’t had a mention. Surely that Tiger Moth flight doesn’t preclude him from selection on this occasion? And one which might surprise is Daniel Vettori, a man so dedicated to late nights with his mates that he was nicknamed ‘Night Captain’.”
There’s a tight balance to get right between “guarantor of a good night out” and “decent human being”. They don’t always overlap.
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12th over: England 62-0 (Crawley 26, Duckett 35) Runs on the legside continue to flow, Crawley again flicking Siraj off his pads fine for four. And Siraj then serves up Crawley the opportunity to play his favourite shot, that airy cover drive of his, for four more. But what’s this? Crawley plays no shot and is rapped on the pad. India review: but it’s going over – that was risky from Crawley though, and risked undoing his good work.
11th over: England 53-0 (Crawley 18, Duckett 35) India give Kamboj another go, this time from the Statham End, and Duckett welcomes him back with a single to bring up the 50 opening stand. Kamboj finds better length and line from this end but England’s opening pair still look untroubled, finding singles where they wish. Old Trafford is bathed in rare sun.
10th over: England 49-0 (Crawley 16, Duckett 33) The flow of runs just can’t be stemmed as Crawley flicks Siraj fine for four, though Siraj atones by jagging one right back into Crawley’s guts. No matter, though as the England opener cracks another boundary, to which Siraj again responds by bringing one back into his pads.
“I nominate Richie Benaud as the captain of the I Wish He Was My Mate XI,” offers Bert Fill. “Has anyone in cricket ever been either nicer or a better skipper?” Quite, and also, anyone who wells up at his “Time to say goodbye” commentary sign-off in 2005 is a friend of mine.
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9th over: England 41-0 (Crawley 8, Duckett 33) Duckett continues to tuck Bumrah’s fuller deliveries to deep midwicket for four, and does it again her, prompting the bowler to come round the wicket again and induce a play and miss. A definite sense India are wasting the new ball and the conditions here.
Pramith Pillai has another “wish they were my mates XI”: “Virendar Sehwag, Shaheed Afreedi, Viv Richards, Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Rishabh Pant (Apologies to MS Dhoni), Andrew Flintoff, Pat Cummings (Controversial?), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar. I wish I was mates with at least one of them.”
I wouldn’t say Cummings is that controversial – he comes across as a thoroughly decent, well-rounded guy. And everyone would want to be Flintoff’s mucker, surely.
8th over: England 36-0 (Crawley 7, Duckett 29) Siraj replaces Kamboj at the Jimmy A end, and is welcomed with a Duckett pull for one. Crawley then hoiks and misses guilelessly in a quieter over, which concludes with a neat flick off the pads for one.
“Re Ben, 1429,” thunders James Davey, “I find it hard to understand how, when Ben Stokes does something incredible (which feels like a weekly occurrence this summer) people find reasons to explain why actually, that’s a bad thing. He’s a world class all rounder - the likes of whom come round less than once every generation - and while his batting is a bit sub par at the moment, it’s hardly catastrophic. Can we not just enjoy him?”
Indeed. And I’d have Stokes in my Mates XI too – the acceptable face of alpha-masculinity.
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7th over: England 34-0 (Crawley 6, Duckett 28) Crawley cops an awkward blow to the finger again en route to finally getting off the mark with a single. Duckett then swishes and misses carelessly before scurrying through for another one. The singles are flowing freely now, and a dreamy drive through the covers by Crawley – for which they run four – rounds off the over and this has been a confident breezy start by England.
Robert Ellson puts in a “my mate XI” nomination for Graham Thorpe. Well said. Still so missed.
6th over: England 26-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 26) Duckett wants to get after Kamboj but is deceived by a quicker ball that he pulls at and misses, victim of hard-to-read bounce. He rounds off the over with an easy two though.
Daniel McDonald, meanwhile, tosses in a few hand grenades with this “talent plus personality” XI, though a “personality” is very different from “a friend”:Matthew Hayden, Virender Sehwag, Brian Lara, Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Ben Stokes, Risabh Pant, Shane Warne, Stuart Broad, Merv Hughes, Wasim Akram
5th over: England 24-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 24) The start of Bumrah’s third over is delayed by some hammer-based pitch surgery, before Duckett plays his third effortless clip off his pads through midwicket for four of the innings. Four more follows when a loose Bumrah delivery down leg is helped casually to the fine leg boundary. The bowler responds by going round the wicket but still strays on leg and is milked for another single. Untypically loose, there, from Bumrah.
The ball has apparently swung more today than on any other day of the series but India yet to capitalise on it.
4th over: England 15-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 15) Thanks Daniel, ready and chilled (ish). Duckett continues to intermittently take a fancy to the debutant Kamboj, carving him through the off for two. Then adds a single as the batters change ends for the first time
Returning to Daniel’s earlier topic of Who I’d Want To Be My Mate XI, I’d put in a word for Kumar Sangakkara, and Sarah Taylor’s long been an admirable figure. A night on the town with Botham, on the other hand, would be like going out with Finchy from The Office, though the wine would be decent.
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3rd over: England 12-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 12) In comms, Ian Ward kvels over Bumrah’s seam position in that first over; it looks designed to catch Crawley’s outside edge. But his second isn’t as good, the batter defending well enough when he has to and letting go what he can, allowing another maiden. And with it, my watch is over; here’s Tom Davies to chill with you through the rest of the day.
2nd over: England 12-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 12) It’s Kamboj not Siraj from the other end and, after his duck earlier this afternoon, he’ll want to get into the match. And after opening with a dot, he finds a bit of lift and swing, taking the ball down leg side, clipping Duckett’s glove … and rearing up past Jurel’s drive before racing away for four. Gosh, then another false shot, Duckett looking to cut and, in the process, tossing his bat, which falls, bounces … and, like a rugby ball, we’ve no idea which way it’s going to flip … but it misses the stumps. This is already an eventful over, all the more so when Duckett tucks a straight one off his pads for four to deep backward square … then does it again, next ball.
1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 0) Bumrah begins outside off, his lone and length not bad, but allowing Crawley to leave his first three deliveries. His fourth, though, moves away and this time Crawley goes after it, doing well to avoid edging; he then introduces bat to ball, defending twice, and that’s a maiden.
Bumrah, though, could be lethal with cloud cover, bounce, and a bit of natural variation. Here he comes…
Out come the batters. This is big for Zak Crawley, who likes batting at OT and badly needs a score to cement him into the Ashes XI – with the pitches in Australia also likely to suit him, given a true bounce and a tall man who likes to hit at the top of it.
“As wonderful as Stokes (though not his recent batting average) is,” begins Ben, “are his superheroics, or attempts at, coming at the expense of a more rounded and coherent team?”
I’d have to see your working, I’m afraid. AllI I’m seeing is an inspirational, selfless and compassionate leader who bowls superbly and fields brilliantly.
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“I have always thought having umpire’s call on impact is truly ludicrous,” coos Brian Withington. “There is no predictive element involved and DRS doesn’t know what the umpire was uncertain about anyway.”
Yeah, I think I agree with this. We should be able to know this definitively, and the umpire may have been happy with that aspect but unsure whether the ball was hitting the stumps.
OK, I really mean If We Knew Each Other We’d Definitely Be Mates XI, but let’s stick with what we have.
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We’ll have our usual 10-minute break between innings; I think we’ll call our team I Wish He Was My Mate XI.
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WICKET! Bumrah c Smith b Archer 4 (India 358 all out)
Yup, the ball brushed the glove, and that’s three for Archer, who ends an innings that, broadly speaking, will satisfy both sides.
115th over: India 358-9 (Bumrah 4, Siraj 5) Stokes strays down leg, Bumrah follows it, misses with the hook, and is there an edge? No says the umpire, yes say Joe Root, and Stokes rewies. Bumrah’s disappointed reaction to the shot says gone…
114th over: India 358-9 (Bumrah 4, Siraj 5) India are well in the match with this total – it’s worth more than it is because the outfield is so slow, never mind because they have Bumrah in their attack. But he has work to do here first … and so does Siraj, who clouts a full one back over the bowler’s head for four. Rishabh Pant, though, what a hero; I wonder, if we were compiling a team of that kind of type – indisputable talents and personalities – who else would be in it, apart from Ben Stokes.
113th over: India 354-9 (Bumrah 4, Siraj 1) Siraj forces through midwicket to get off the mark first ball, then Bumrah takes a huge mow and misses … before edging the final ball of the over behind the wicket for four.
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WICKET! Pant b Archer 54 (India 349-9)
This is good enough to bin a fully fit Pant, fast, straight and moving away – just as we saw at Lord’s – before sending off-stump for a backflip. But what an effort from Pant, who put his team before himself and performed his usual array of incredible tricks; a while ago, I asked if there was anything on the planet that no one dislikes, and perhaps the answer is Showbiz Pant.
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113th over: India 349-8 (Pant 54, Bumrah 0) Pant takes a huge swing, getting his front pad out of the road, and toe-ends just shy of the fence at cow corner; he turns down the run.
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112th over: India 349-8 (Pant 54, Bumrah 0) Stokes now has 16 wickets in the series – the most he’s taken, beating the 15 he took in his debut series in Australia in 2013-14. And he also has 19 wickets this summer, in that aspect the best of his career, and equalling the 19 he took in Bangladesh and India in 2016-17. Anyhow, he runs in, flings outside off … and Pant stretches to lace a drive through the covers; that’s his fifty, and he’s just an absolute superstar, inventing and changing the game as he goes. Again: I love him. Watching the replay, I’m reminded of KP telling me – pick that namedrop out – that feet aren’t important in batting, it’s all about head – it’s the heaviest part of the body, so where it goes everything else will follow, and you want it as close to the ball as you can get it. A single follows, and this man is not of this world.
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111th over: India 344-8 (Pant 49, Bumrah 0) Surely Pant is going to start swinging now, with just the quicks left? He can’t exactly nick singles, and with Archer and Stokes in tandem, wickets feel imminent. After two dots, the former tries a yorker dug out just before the crunch then, served a slower ball, he’s on to it in a trice, swatting six over midwicket! This should be an exciting little passage, but the final two deliveries of the over yield just a single, to Pant, meaning he’ll be on strike at the start of Stokes’ next over.
110th over: India 337-8 (Pant 41, Bumrah 0) The final ball of the over is wide enough for Bumrah to leave, so he does.
WICKET! Kamboj c Smith b Stokes 0 (India 337-8_
AND THERE IT IS! It’s almost bullying to serve someone this on debut, a lovely delivery bouncing, nipping away late and demanding the edge. Five for Ben Stokes, who’s bowling beautifully in this series. What a player, what a person.
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110th over: India 337-7 (Pant 41, Kamboj 0) It’s eight years since Stokes took a Test fivefer; he’s well set for one here though, with an injured man and a debutant at the crease…
WICKET! Sundar c Woakes b Stokes 27 (India 337-7)
A really well-directed bouncer demands Sundar play it, he fends high around the corner, and on the fine leg fence, Woakes stands his ground and waits for the ball to come to him. Stokes now has fourfer.
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110th over: India 337-6 (Sundar 27, Pant 42) Pant changes his bat then drives one to cow corner; they should run two but make do with one.
109th over: India 336-6 (Sundar 27, Pant 41) Pant gets down the other end with a leg bye but Washington is stevewaughing this, trusting the man at the other end; he flicks the next delivery to square leg for one more. So Archer tries a full toss and Pant has a huge cross-batted yahoo, getting the ball back over the bowler’s head but nowhere near the fence; they run one.
108th over: India 333-6 (Sundar 26, Pant 40) Stokes runs in with Pant preparing to face his first delivery of the session … and flings a nonsense one down leg side, which rushes away for four wides. Two singles follow, then Stokes tries a toe-crusher, Pant looking to dig it out and wearing it on the pad … so the England captain goes again, this time flicking the outside of the pad, and the batters “run” a leg bye, before Washington throws hands at a wide one, earning four through third man.
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107th over: India 322-6 (Sundar 21, Pant 39) Excellent over from Archer, and a maiden. The batters will do well to get out of it with their wickets intact.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
The ball hit the pad but impact was umpire’s call on whether it was in line. Tiny margins…
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107th over: India 322-6 (Sundar 21, Pant 39) It’s Archer to bowl from the Sir Jimbo End and he goes around to Sundar from the off, his third delivery slanting in then jutting away off the seam and contacting the pad; lovely nut. There’s a shout, but no appetite to review when the umpire says naw; rightly so, it was pretty high. So Archer goes again, just back of a length, and I think the ball takes the back of the bat before Smith pouches, but if it doesn’t, it hits the pad. This time, when the umpire says no, Stokes is very interested and England review…
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106th over: India 322-6 (Sundar 21, Pant 39) The lights are on, but Ponting reckons it’s brighter than at any previous time during the match; that sounds about par. Otherwise, it’s Stokes resuming after lunch, Washington on strike with his arm-pad on the outside of his jumper. He plays away five dots, then angles the final ball of the over through point and they run one, keeping Pant at the non-striker’s.
Showbiz Pant:
Back come the batters. Pant looks to be moving a little more easily.
Good news: the pitch is uncovered, so assuming there’s no further rain, we’ll be good to start in four minutes.
Assuming the weather doesn’t jigger us, we’ll resume at 1.30pm BST.
I’ll be back in 30 or so, but we’ve plenty to keep youse amused in the meantime:
And for those not sick of me, here’s something football-related.
Rain stops play, early lunch taken
Yup, Stokes sets his field, but the rain is coming down harder now and the umpires signal for an early lunch. We’ll recommence at 1.30, Pant leading Sundar off, his legend of theatre and drama burnished yet further. I love him.
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105th over: India 321-6 (Sundar 20, Pant 39) I’d be sorely tempted to get Archer going at Pant before lunch, but in the meantime it’s Sundar facing Carse; he takes the third delivery of the over for a one, so what can the bowler come up with? I don’t know, I’d be going full, but Carse is short of a length, Pant looks to go big but instead miscues to cover, and waddles through for one more like a man desperately seeking a khazi. Washington, though, is showing no mercy – and I’m certain there’s no request for any – a third single leaving a one delivery to see out. A no-ball and a dot complete the over and, with rain now falling, the covers are readied. We might be finishing the session a little early.
104th over: India 317-6 (Sundar 18, Pant 38) Eeesh! Already hobbled, Showbiz comes forward as one spits at him off a length, rapping the glove; it looks a right sair yin. So he cuts towards point and wobbles down the other end for a single, then Washington sees out the rest of the over, taking a single to fine leg which allows him to retain the strike.
103rd over: India 315-6 (Sundar 17, Pant 37) Muuuuch better from Carse, a spiteful lifter putting Sundar in quite the tizzy. But he fends it off with a glove, sees away five more dots … and then, once we’ve cut to ads, the no-ball signal comes. So back we come for a further dot, and that is over bowled. Check to Stokes v Pant…
Meantime, great news from HQ!
The first women’s Test match to be held at Lord’s will take place next July when England take on India over four days. The dates for the historic fixture, England’s first home Test since the 2023 Ashes, were announced on Thursday as part of the full 2026 home schedule for both the men’s and women’s teams. Ben Stokes’ men’s Test team are due to face New Zealand in a three-match series in June, and Pakistan in a three-match series in August and September. Harry Brook’s white-ball team will face India in July in five T20s and three ODIs, with Sri Lanka visiting in September to play three T20s and three ODIs. PA
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102nd over: India 314-6 (Sundar 17, Pant 37) I cannot wait to see what happens next; Rishabh Pant is showbiz. But he’s not going to be running anywhere, so Stokes can spread the field and target the stumps; he goes around and goes full; Pant paddles, missing, then is totally diddled by one that slants in then whips away.
WICKET! Thakur c Duckett b Stokes 41 (India 314-6)
This is a fine delivery from England’s best bowler this summer, yanking the batter forward and this time finding the edge; the ball flies to gully where Duckett takes off to his left, holding a decent grab. And guess who’s limping down the stairs, in next!
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102nd over: India 314-5 (Thakur 41, Sundar 17) Three dots, including one down leg side, but Stokes is trying to incite the drive with a fuller length.
“Archer has bowled well this morning, writes Ian Dunn. “But I believe he hasn’t been used properly. If he was bowling for Australia, he would have had two short legs and would have bowled two short balls an over; create some fear. Did he bowl one bouncer in the first hour? Looked like a quality County seamer, not a fearsome tear way which is what he really is.”
I think on a different track, he’d be using his bumper more – at Lord’s, his pace was up above 90.
101st over: India 314-5 (Thakur 41, Sundar 17) Shardul defends to point and they run one; they’re handling Carse, I’m afraid, and I’d not be surprised to see Dawson tossed the ball shortly.
100th over: India 313-5 (Thakur 40, Sundar 17) Thakur misses a cut, then twizzles to midwicket and Sundar, way down the track, turns to see Carse hoving at mid-on. He swallows his insides, turns, dives, the throw comes in and he’s dead if it hits … but it misses, just. Shardul then tries to glance behind square on the off-side, but directs it towards Pope at point … and the ball drops just short.
“Thakur means a master/landlord and Sundar means beautiful,” advises Krisnamoorthy V. “The partnership vindicates what their names convey. Maybe, they do not want the Terry-in-waiting to ‘pant’.
I actually looked up what Jasprit means yesterday – the answer is “one who sings God’s praises” or “beloved of God’s praise”. In his case, I’m going for option two, though his bowling satisfies option one.
99th over: India 312-5 (Thakur 39, Sundar 17) Carse bangs in and Washington turns off his hip towards deep square and, with Pope not quite stuck-on but not far off, they run two. They’re the only runs off the over and this is a very fine partnership.
98th over: India 310-5 (Thakur 39, Sundar 15) I sense another marathon Stokespell. After two dots, he hurls down a toe-crusher that incites Washington to gets right on to his haunches, dropping the bat; the ball rolls back towards the wickets … and passes off-stump, just. On the balcony, a large tear rolls down Mohammed Siraj’s cheek and splashes on to his knee, forming a reservoir. Unsurprisingly, Shakur wants down the other end, taking a single to point off the next delivery – the only run from the over.
97th over: India 309-5 (Thakur 39, Sundar 14) Carse replaces Archer and Washington forces his loosener over point, but the sluggish outfield means he only adds two; a wide one, but with decent bounce, follows. He bowled poorly yesterday and given just nine wickets in the series, he’s work to do to secure his place for the Gabba, especially with Mark Wood hoping to be fit for that.
“I’m really impressed with Thakur’s work during this morning session,” says Rohan Tewari, “and the spirit he’s displayed by coming back into this side after a dismal outing in Leeds and playing with real panache. With the surface we’ve got and overheads, a first innings total of 350-380 would give India a great fighting chance. Game on!”
Agree – this is a terrific partnership in nasty conditions that should, whatever else happens, ensure a total that means India are well in the game.
96th over: India 306-5 (Thakur 39, Sundar 11) Full and wide from Stokes, so Thardur, brain scrambled from the previous delivery … unfurls a gorgeous cover drive, smoking it through cover and to the fence, singe-marks left on the turf. Stokes reponds well, again getting decent bounce to beat the outside edge, and this could well be a telling spell. If he gets the breakthrough of which he seems capable, England are on top; if India see him away, they’ll be close to a total which makes competitive any side with Jasprit Bumrah in it. That’s drinks at the end of a compelling first hour. I believe there may be a second to come.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
What a great decision. The ball past very close to the gloves but took none of them; on first view, that looked dead.
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96th over: India 302-5 (Thakur 35, Sundar 11) Stokes replaces Woakes – I’d have opened with him – as we see Pant in the dressing room in full kit. Assuming he’s not planning a John Terry, it’s hard not to think he’s planning to bat, but what’s this?! Stokes persuades one to bounce on a tight line, it looks like it clips something, edge or glove, someone at Sky presses the “WICKET” button … and the umpire says not out. England review…
95th over: India 302-5 (Thakur 35, Sundar 11) Archer begins his sixth over of the morning, the tightness of his line again squares up the batter, again catches the edge … and the ball runs away for four. He responds with a beauty which moves away and beats the edge, then repeats the trick; I’m sure Stokes won’t want to keep him going after this, but at the same time, I’m also sure he’ll feel a wicket is in the post. Still, though, I’ve been really impressed with the mental strength shown by both sides in this series, this partnership, now 36, off 61, yet another example of it.
94th over: India 298-5 (Thakur 35, Sundar 7) Again, a wide one takes off once past the bat, curling away from Sundar, and again, it adds five to India’s total; Woakes, still coming from around, finds a much better line thereafter, beating the batter coming forward. A two eased behind square on the off-side, follows, then a single, and these two are rebuilding well after an opening burst that suggested a torrid time was likely.
93rd over: India 290-5 (Thakur 35, Sundar 4) Thakur comes forward to defend, an edge allowing another quick single, then Archer spirits one away, his pace now up to 87mph. That’s still a few clicks off where he was at Lord’s – he might have slowed down because that allows him to bowl fuller, or it might be a softer run-up offering him less energy, but perhaps he’ll get up to 90 and above over the course of the day. Anyroad, a squirty single to Sundar completes the over.
92nd over: India 288-5 (Thakur 34, Sundar 3) Woakes goes around to Washington, who pushes to midwicket and sets off, a quick single getting him off the mark; another one to Shardul underlines India’s intention. And it makes sense too – they can’t let England just bowl, and the left-hand/right-hand combo means rotating the strike forces the bowlers to continually recalibrate their lines. An edge for two completes the over, and I’d really like to see Stokes give himself a go with this ball, while it’s still moving about.
‘Amazing that Brett Lee managed to keep the existence of that video quiet in Australia,” writes Justin Rigden. “Never seen it before – strewth.”
Don’t forget stoning the flamin’ crows!
91st over: India 284-5 (Thakur 33, Sundar 0) I’m not sure if it’s the particular Duke England picked, the overhead conditions, the pitch doing more or a combination, but the new ball is doing more today than yesterday’s … though of course, this is a less good over, Archer straying short, down leg, and eventually sending as wide leaping away from Smith; he gets a glove to it, but it still runs to the fence for five, all told. Sundar is now 0 off 18.
90th over: India 279-5 (Thakur 33, Sundar 0) Thakur takes a single off Woakes’ first delivery, so Sundar, currently on 0 off 13, has five more to get off the mark; he cannot, but Archer will be running in again in a second.
“Morning Daniel, morning everyone, from a grey Old Trafford,” chirps Guy Hornsby.| The ground is nearly full – none of the entry farrago of yesterday, thankfully – and there’s a real frisson of nervous energy about. That wicket has settled things a little, though. I can’t tell you how happy I am seeing Jofra Archer bowl again in the flesh. For him, for cricket, for England. For us. He’s such a beautiful sight in full flight. The ball is doing something today, too. The last time I saw him was here at the 2019 World Cup, a lifetime ago. It partly temper the sadness of not seeing Pant’s energy at the wicket. The yin and yang of cricket and life.”
Yup, both are in that rare category of players who pin you to your seat and get your body bent at the waist, climbing forward.
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89th over: India 278-5 (Thakur 32, Sundar 0) Archer’s first delivery is too good for Thakur, beating him with outswing, then the batter allows one to hit him on the buttock, knowing there’s a leg-slip waiting to snaffle any shovel or fend. But he does then play into the leg-side for one, leaving Sundar two balls to see away; he edges the first into the ground, then is beaten by one which leaves him – or does he play inside it? Either way, this is a very, very serious opening spell from Archer. England are a totally different proposition with him in the team.
88th over: India 277-5 (Thakur 31, Sundar 0) Thakur takes a single to square leg, then Woakes fails in his efforts to make Washington play … until the final ball of the over, with draws him forward then does just enough off the seam to beat the edge. India are under it here.
Apparently Ozzy Osbourne he was a big cricket fan,” advises Henry Scowcroft, “but didn’t get to play that much because nobody would give him a bat.”
Badabing!
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87th over: India 276-5 (Thakur 30, Sundar 0) Thakur takes a single to midwicket, meaning four balls for Archer against the left-handed Washington. And he’s getting decent movement too, but the batter realises that, with the ball moving away, he can probably leave it, so he does.
“Let me preface this by declaring my ignorance,” says Nick Lee, “but I’ve noticed the bemoaning of the ball failing to carry to the slips all series. Why can’t the slip cordon take a step or two closer?”
Sometimes they do, but this pitch in particular is surprisingly quick on occasion, and I guess the rationale is that it’s easier to go forwards than backwards.
86th over: India 275-5 (Thakur 29, Sundar 0) Woakes tries back of a length, persuades the ball to bounce a little more, and Thakur, not expecting that, forces it off hips with a glove, somehow earning four to fine leg. Then, after two dots, Thakur drives uppishly but nicely through cover for a second four of the over, adds a single, and the sense is that this morning, his overs will turn out to be the bits in between Archer’s overs.
“In your preamble this morning,” says Martin O’Donovan-Wright, |you noted that no matter the fluctuations through each day, these two sides end up in a close contest. As well as being closely matches teams, I think a considerable factor in this is English pitches: there is almost always something in it for bowlers of every hue, from tweakers to speed merchants, from seam to swing; whilst good batters will still usually have enough to do well: an even contest between those who excel with bat or ball. Visiting sides with decent players of any technical stripe will do well. South African pitches also have these qualities. This seems less the case with Australian and subcontinental pitches, which heavily favour particular types of bowlers, or are very batter-friendly, favouring home sides who naturally specialise in producing players to suit the conditions. Would welcome yours and others’ thoughts on this theory.”
I think these teams are really well-matched, but it’s also the case that English pitches are extremely sporting – sometimes too sporting, in that they offer assistance to bowlers who aren’t that good. I’m not sure that’s been the case in this series, but I do think slow tracks and outfields have stopped teams getting away. In Australia, on the other hand, pitches are true and outfields are quick, so nondescript medium pace gets hammered.
85th over: India 266-5 (Thakur 20, Sundar 0) A brilliant start from Archer. It’s so good to have him back – and that is not a partial point.
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WICKET! Jadeja c Brook b Archer 20 (India 266-5)
It had to come! Archer again gets close to the stumps, as he does, again squares Jadeja up, again moving the ball away, it again takes the edge, and this time it carries, Brook snaffling a smart one, falling low to his right.
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85th over: India 266-4 (Jadeja 20, Thakur 20) Lovely start from Archer, landing one on the seam which moves away from Jadeja, squaring him up, and this time he catches the edge … but with his pace down at 82mph as he gets loose, the ball doesn’t carry to slip. Unsurprisingly, Jadeja gets himself down the other end as quickly as he can, turning into the on-side for one, then Thakur edges – so far, this is the opposite of yesterday morning – but it’s still brutal for England, the ball refusing to carry, dipping and dying in front of Brook at two.
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84th over: India 264-4 (Jadeja 19, Thakur 19) Yup, it seems that Pant is out of the series, though he may bat in this match, depending; bah. That means increased responsibility for Jadeja in particular – he’s in terrific nick and will relish the situation. But it’s Thakur, playing for his place, on strike, and he plays out a maiden comfortably enough, meaning Archer will have a full over with the new ball against the lefty Jaddu.
…and we’re readdy to go, Woakes with the new loganberry.
Here come our batters…
“Cricinfo saying Pant’s foot’s broken and he’s out,” advises Robert Speed, “except for emergency batting perhaps.”
Absolute sake.
“Just checked the OBO report to read the preamble,” writes disappointment’s Riley Strother, “but since I am in British Columbia and it is nearly 3am, I think I will be heading to bed soon. However I couldn’t help but want to throw my song suggestions into the ring:
For cricket themed songs the classic is Dreadlock Holiday by 10cc. As for songs about rain you got most of my favourites (Beatles, Cult, CCR) but you are missing It’s Raining by Rick Derringer (recently RIP). Speaking of recent RIPs you could do worse than include Black Sabbath’s eponymous track simply for the rain and thunder sounds at the start of the tune! RIP to Ozzy (did he ever attend cricket matches? I’ve seen videos of him at F1 and MLB games but not cricket). Goodnight!”
“What time period this morning would you say is crucial?” wonders Andrew Cosgrove. “Would you say, perhaps, the initial 60 minutes?
If we’re doing Indian cricket-themed music, the one that immediately springs to mind is the collaboration between Asha Bhosle (of Brimful of Asha fame) and, (checks notes) Brett Lee.
Definitely the initial 60 minutes, if we’re splitting time into arbitrary sections, and perhaps those which follows too.
Word to the wise: if you’re near a telly, computer or a phone and can get Sky, Ricky Ponting is about to talk batting.
A question Stokes has to answer this morning: who takes the new sphere? Most likely, he sticks with Woakes and Archer, but I’d not be uninterested to see what he makes of it.
Email! “As some OBO readers may be aware,” begins John Starbuck, “BBC Radio 3 have a playlist each morning made up of listeners’ suggestions. Today, the theme is cricket. Soul Limbo has already been played to start it off but should anyone wish to contribute, essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk is where tosend emails. I’d go for Roy Harper’s ‘When an old cricketer leaves the crease’ or David Rudder’s ‘Rally round the West Indies’.”
Funny you say that. Just this morning, I was thinking that when I cover Afcon and World Cups, I do playlists for the countries whose music I know well – Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa (links available on request). But I don’t know much about Indian tunes, so was thinking it might be fun for those who do to curate an OBO playlist. And in the meantime, here’s our rain offering:
Also going on:
And in other sport – apparently there are some:
Chris Woakes, the pick of England’s bowlers yesterday and a man who stinks of unimpeachable honesty, says he’s hearing Pant is out. I really, really hope not.
Good news, potentially for both teams: it’s overcast in Manchester, so there should be a bit there for both attacks. The pitch played slightly strangely yesterday, docile but occasionally lively. I actually think they got the track almost perfect in the first Test at the new OT, the 2013 Ashes contest: there was something in it for quicks hitting 85ish and above and also for quality spinners, but otherwise it was flat and the best batters made runs.
So far there’s no news on Pant. But he’s not at the ground and the signs do not look positive. Godspeed, old mate.
Preamble
A day of Test cricket is – even when split up into six portions of crucial next hours – a long time. It offers us scope for undulation, fluctuation and domination, a story within a story that nourishes our brain through the long evenings before we go again.
Somehow, almost every time these sides get to it and however things meander and explode, we end up near to where we started: with a close contest that could conceivably go either way.
Yesterday, India had the better of the first session, sensible and doughty batting aided by a supernatural force-field protecting their outside-edges from the ball, however hard they tried to unite the two. Then, in the afternoon, England – led by the exhibition masochism of Ben Stokes – fought back, before the even evening dig left the match beautifully balanced as we bounce into day two.
It feels like much of what’ll happen next is rooted in Rishabh Pant. If he can’t bat, England will feel like they’re almost into the tail, but the problem for India would be a symbolic one too; he is the human embodiment of bravery and hope, so his incapacitation would extract a toll not just practical but mental. They need his batting, but they also need his presence.
England’s attack, meanwhile, should be a day wiser. Bowling at Old Trafford is unlike bowling anywhere else, and Brydon Carse struggled while Jofra Archer, though miserly, is there to be deadly. If, as a unit, the perform similarly today, they will be facing a substantial first-innings total; if they improve, they could be ahead of the game by stumps. Bring on the six portions of crucial next hours!
Play: 11am BST
