It all got a little sweary.
Root takes the blame.
Jonathan Liew on today.
Here is Ali Martin’s report.
That’s it for our coverage of a momentous Lord’s Test. Thanks for your company and emails - goodnight!
It’s not just cricket The Ruth Strauss Foundation raised £1,204,447 during the match. “That has blown me away, it has blown the Foundation away,” says Sir Andrew Strauss. “We are unbelievably grateful.”
The Player of the Match is KL Rahul, who scored a wonderful 129 sometime last month.
“I’ve been looking at the honours board every morning to see if they’ve put my name up there permanently! At the moment it’s a temporary piece of paper. It was a really proud moment and I’m really happy it resulted in a victory for India.
“We’ve been in England for a couple of months and the batsmen have been working really hard – we’ve shown a lot of discipline, and we’re really happy that we could put in a performance like that.
“The intensity is what you expect with two competitive teams. It only shows how much each team wants to win. We don’t mind a bit of banter – and if you go after one of our guys, all 11 of us will come right back at you. That got us going and the bowlers were really pumped to go out and have a crack at them.”
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“Bumrah is phenomenal - I was sure he’d find a special delivery in the last 10 overs to crack the game open,” says Sandile Xaso. “Right up there with Cummins, Rabada & Southee. Siraj could be the next seam bowling superstar. Did it in Australia, doing it in England. I love this game!”
He is really special – exactly the type of character you’d want as a third or fourth seamer. He takes wickets when all logic says he shouldn’t. He takes timely wicket, important wickets, matchwinning wickets.
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And here’s a beaming Virat Kohli
“I’m super proud of the whole team. The way Shami and Jasprit batted this morning was absolutely outstanding. We decided to have a crack at the result - we believed we could get them out in 60 overs, and the tension on the field at the end of our second innings really motivated us.
“It takes a lot of character and heart for bowlers to back like that, and we were so proud of them. Then they got us two wickets with the new ball, which was crucial for us. When we were at our most successful in Test cricket our lower order was contributing big-time, and that’s something we’ve focussed on. The batting coach is working really hard with the boys. We know how priceless those runs are.
“To get a result in 60 overs... it’s quite special, and especially with someone like Siraj playing for the first time at Lord’s. But as I said, what happened on the field really charged us up and gave us the motivation to finish this off. [He doesn’t elaborate/]
“I thought anything under 55 overs didn’t sound right - I didn’t want to walk off the field wishing we had a few more overs. We decided on 60, and the breakthroughs were the new ball were vital for us. Our fans gave us so much support today; these things are very crucial and we fed off the energy of the crowd. It was Independence Day yesterday and this is the best gift we can give the people of India and the Indians that are staying here. fans.
“We’re not going to rest on our laurels. If anything we’re going to get more intense and precise in what we do in the next three Tests.”
JOE ROOT IS ACTUALLY BOOED (I THINK) BEFORE HE SPEAKS
“Can you ask that again, please? I didn’t hear the question. We didn’t quite manage to see out today which is very frustrating, but there’s still a lot of cricket to be played in this series. You can bet we’ll be coming back hard in the next three games.
“A lot of this defeat has to come on my shoulders. I could have done things differently this morning, and we went from being in a very strong position to being behind the game. I take responsibilty for that as captain. I need to learn and be better tactically if we find ourselves in the same position.
“No I don’t think it was [that England were too emotional]. I just got a few things slightly wrong, and credit to them for the way they batted. There are things we can take from this game - it was great to have Mo back - and there’s a long way to go in this series. It’s important we don’t panic and stay calm.
“It’s so good to have crowds back, and they didn’t disappoint this week.”
This will shatter England. They’ve been lurching near the precipice all summer, yet the genius of Joe Root and some fine bowling gave them a good chance of a famous victory today. And then it all went a bit Adelaide. They may bounce back, cricket being such a perverse game, but I expect India to hammer them now. If England win this series, I will denounce Maurice Mentum forever.
India deserve it all. Brisbane will always be the one, but in many ways this is an even greater insight into the defiant charisma of this generation of Indian cricketers - not least because Virat Kohli was conducting the whole thing from first slip this time, picking fights left right and centre and creating an irresistible energy. He probably crossed the line once or twice with the umpires, but it was exhilarating to watch.
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Joe Root is shaking hands with all the Indian players and staff, ostensibly making eye contact with them all, but the only thing he can see is a little black dot precisely 1,000 yards away. He scored 213 runs in this match and was only dismissed once; he also presided over a shocking session in the field this morning. But jeez, he doesn’t deserve this.
Siraj ends with four for 32 and eight wickets in the match. India have so many heroes, from the out-of-form Pujara and Rahane yesterday to Mohammed Shami the batsman this morning. And then there’s Jasprit Bumrah: he started it on Saturday night, escalated it with the bat this morning and landed the killer blow with an outrageous bit of bowling at a time when it looked like Ollie Robinson and Jos Buttler might guide England to safety.
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What a game! What a twist! Anderson lasted three balls before being cleaned up by the wonderful Mohammed Siraj. A truly glorious Test, the best at Lord’s since 2012, has been won in astonishing circumstances.
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INDIA WIN BY 151 RUNS!
WICKET! England 120 all out (Anderson b Siraj 0)
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It was the second ball of a new spell for Siraj - tight line, back of a length, and Buttler thin-edged it through to Pant. He could have left it, ultimately, but thinking clearly in a situation like this is nigh-on impossible.
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WICKET! England 120-9 (Buttler c Pant b Siraj 25)
Mohammed Siraj has moved India to the brink of an astonishing victory!
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51st over of 60: England 120-8 (Buttler 25, Wood 0) Robinson fought really hard, surviving 35 precious deliveries, but he was undone by a genius.
WICKET! England 120-8 (Robinson LBW b Bumrah 9)
Gone! It was wonderful bowling from Bumrah, who followed a vicious bouncer from round the wicket with a slower off cutter that pitched on the stumps and would have hit off and middle. That is sensational!
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INDIA REVIEW FOR LBW AGAINST ROBINSON! This is really close. Bumrah was bowling round the wicket so it may have pitched outside leg. If not, Robinson is struggling.
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50th over of 60: England 119-7 (Buttler 25, Robinson 7) Kohli wants to bring back Siraj, but he was off the field and cannot bowl for another seven minutes, it says here. Sharma continues, bowling as straight as possible to take advantage of any uneven bounce. Buttler defends consecutive deliveries that bounce erratically, one high and one low and now I can’t stop thinking about Bruce Forsyth. Another one down. England have 10 overs to survive.
49th over of 60: England 116-7 (Buttler 23, Robinson 6) After three balls of Bumrah’s over, Kohli calls for a couple of helmets to be brought onto the field. Pujara and Rahane put them atop their noggins and stand at silly mid-off and silly mid-on, right in Buttler’s eyeline. The rest of Bumrah’s over is too wide, however, and Buttler is able to leave everything outside off stump. Buttler was dropped early on by Kohli; that aside, he has played heroically.
48th over of 60: England 116-7 (Buttler 23, Robinson 6) In theory India could bowl more than 15 overs in the final hour, but that’s not going to happen. Buttler leans into a half volley from Ishant, pushing it very carefully through the covers for three. That allows Kohli, back on the field, to resume his buddy with Robinson from second slip. Robinson defends the last two balls, though the second kept low and almost sneaked through. He played it well in the end. Twelve overs remaining.
“Hello Rob,” says Garry Sharp. “I’m sure I remember an esteemed England captain (either Brearley or Gatting I think) saying that the difference between rampant success and ignominious failure is just a 2-3% variation in performance. Have you heard that and what do you think?”
You want to discuss that now?
47th over of 60: England 113-7 (Buttler 20, Robinson 8) Bumrah to Buttler, who is going to places he didn’t know existed when he was inspired by Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid club the ball all round Taunton during the 1999 World Cup. He calmly takes the first five deliveries, leaving Robinson just one to survive. Buttler has 20 from 79 balls. Yeah, I know.
“England could have opened with YJB and Buttler, with Root and Moeen at 3 & 4,” says Mark Hooper. “And if the World Cup-winning T20 approach didn’t look like lasting for 10 overs, bring in their traditional opener blockers to sit out the draw?”
46th over of 60: England 112-7 (Buttler 19, Robinson 8) The weather is fine now, so England are going to have to do this the hard way. Kohli is temporarily off the field, putting the world to rights on the India balcony.
The last hour begins with a bowling change, Ishant for Shami. His third ball beats Robinson, but the rest is defended with authority. Fourteen overs to go. Welcome to the Eighty-Four, an action-packed, unmissable new 84-ball cricket competition that will put you on the edge of your sanity.
45th over of 60: England 112-7 (Buttler 19, Robinson 8) Kohli is absolutely in his element. He gives Robinson another mouthful between overs, which prompts Buttler to get involved. He and Kohli have a more civil chat - these things are relative - and then the ball is thrown to the catalyst for all this needle, Jasprit Bumrah. Thank goodness he did, because the last two days have been quite exhilarating.
After a sluggish start to the over, Bumrah turns Buttler round with a stunning delivery. It takes the outside edge, almost a leading edge, and falls short of KL Rahul in the slips. The next ball, the last of the over, again finds the edge; it again falls short of the cordon and this time runs away for four.
It’s time for drinks, and then the last act of this glorious Test match.
44th over of 60: England 108-7 (Buttler 15, Robinson 8) “100 balls remaining in the day,” says a slightly mischievous Sky graphic as Shami continues to Robinson. He’s doing okay, and doesn’t seem unduly bothered by the reciprocal abuse he is receiving from the Indian players. Another maiden from Shami - who, lest we forget, walloped 56 not out earlier in the day.
“Loving the idea of Gary Naylor being 20 years old (33rd over),” says Nick Parish. “I think I’ve been reading his insightful OBO comments since at least 2002, which would mean he started sending you comments as a toddler. I wouldn’t put it past him.”
I didn’t even know they had internet in the womb.
43rd over of 60: England 108-7 (Buttler 15, Robinson 8) Robinson pushes Siraj solidly through mid-on for three, which prompts loud and slightly weird cheers for the England hundred. Buttler then flicks one round the corner for four. There were plenty of oohs and aahs, but it was well wide of Jadeja at leg slip. A thick outside edge, all along the floor, gives Buttler a couple more. England need 164 runs from 102 balls to win.
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42nd over: England 99-7 (Buttler 9, Robinson 3) Shami returns in place of Jadeja. The first four balls are defended or left well by Buttler, but the fifth snaps spectacularly off the seam to beat the edge and - don’t ask me how - the off stump. Wonderful bowling.
It’s another maiden. Jos Buttler, the greatest white-ball batsman England have ever had, has 9 not out from 64 balls.
41st over: England 99-7 (Buttler 9, Robinson 3) Siraj has another crack at Robinson, who defends successfully if not entirely convincingly, and is so keen to get off strike that he takes a dodgy single off the fourth ball. Buttler gets home comfortably enough in the end but for a split-second it looked like a fresh layer of farce might be added to this England innings.
I can’t keep up with all this. Buttler takes a single himself, then Robinson flicks just short of Kohli at leg slip, who collides with Pant. Hang on, I think it was leg byes.
“So, what’s Saqib Mahmood’s batting record like?” says John Starbuck. “Assuming Curran goes from the semi-all-rounder spot, he’s probably the next in line. Pope in for Sibley but Hameed to open with Burns(?).”
Number three is a problem, as Pope has never batted there, but I suspect that’s what will happen. Chris Woakes will probably replace Curran, then Saqib will come in for Wood (assuming his shoulder injury keeps him out).
40th over: England 94-7 (Buttler 8, Robinson 2) Buttler and Robinson play out another Jadeja over without too much trouble. Jadeja was brought on mainly with the left-handed Moeen in time, so that might be the last we see of him today. There are still 20 overs remaining.
39th over: England 93-7 (Buttler 8, Robinson 1) Robinson’s second ball explodes from the pitch and rams him in the breastbone. What a delivery! Siraj follows through, straight into Robinson’s face, and has a word. So do some of the Indian fielders, which prompts Michael Gough to talk to Virat Kohli before the next delivery. I don’t know what Kohli said in reply, but his facial expression suggested it was not entirely subservient. This is blistering stuff, and a joy to watch.
“I feel it’s important that we just remind ourselves for a moment,” says Hugh Molloy, “that Root won the toss and chose to bat last.”
Yep, and it was the correct decision. England have had the better of the conditions in this match.
Siraj has three slips, a gully, a short leg and a short midwicket... and the hat-trick ball is well wide of off stump.
Ollie Robinson walks off for the hat-trick ball, and gets a right mouthful from Virat Kohli. Here we go...
It was another immaculate delivery from Siraj - a perfect line and length, with just enough movement to shave the edge as Curran felt tentatively off the back foot. Rishabh Pant did the rest and Siraj and Kohli set off in celebration. As a bowler and a character, Mohammed Siraj is irresistible.
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WICKET! England 90-7 (Curran c Pant b Siraj 0)
A king pair for Sam Curran!
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This is just brilliant bowling from Siraj. Having beat Moeen three times in the previous over, he found the edge of a defensive push with another fine delivery. Kohli, who dropped Buttler earlier in the session, took a sharp catch in his midriff at first slip. India are back in business!
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WICKET! England 90-6 (Moeen c Kohli b Siraj 13)
Mohammed Siraj, the man who makes things happen, has done it again!
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38th over: England 90-5 (Buttler 8, Ali 13) Jadeja starts over the wicket to Buttler, and then moves round to draw a thick edge that rolls all along the floor. It’s another maiden, bowled in little over two minutes by Jadeja. India need five wickets in 22 overs.
37th over: England 90-5 (Buttler 8, Ali 13) This is the latest weather forecast, with a 30 per cent chance of rain before 6pm. Siraj beats Moeen outside off stump yet again - not once but thrice. Although they have had plenty of good fortune, Buttler and Moeen have approached their innings with a lot of discipline and determination.
36th over: England 90-5 (Buttler 8, Ali 12) There was a small spike on UltraEdge, so it’s probably fair to suggest Moeen did edge that no-ball from Jadeja. If India don’t win this, that will sit alongside Kohli dropping Buttler on their list of regrets.
MOEEN IS NOT OUT! “No point, no point” says the third umpire Richard Kettlebrough straight away. “It’s a no-ball.” We’re still not sure whether Moeen edged it.
INDIA REVIEW FOR CAUGHT BEHIND AGAINST MOEEN! Now, this is a big moment: Ravindra Jadeja is coming on for Mohammed Shami. There’s a lot of rough outside the off stump of the left-handed Moeen, who survives an appeal for caught behind first ball. Virat Kohli goes for the review...
35th over: England 88-5 (Buttler 8, Ali 12) Siraj, the eternal optimist, continues to hammer a fullish length and test Buttler’s defensive technique. His fourth ball straightens just enough to beat the edge, a fine bit of bowling. That aside, Buttler survives the over comfortably: 35 down, 25 to go.
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34th over: England 88-5 (Buttler 8, Ali 12) Moeen edges Shami well short of Rohit in the slips. As the ball gets older, the pitch is getting slower and lower. Sir Andrew Strauss, commentating on Sky, thinks it’s time to bring back Ravindra Jadeja with Moeen in mind.
The seamers are still making things happen, though, and later in the over Buttler leaves a ball that whistles past the stumps. Jos Buttler’s Test career is a story of one man’s eternal struggle to establish the precise whereabouts of his off stump.
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33rd over: England 85-5 (Buttler 7, Ali 10) Siraj is on for Bumrah, and Buttler gets his first boundary with a beautifully timed push through extra cover. It was a fairly safe shot, I think. I haven’t a clue any more.
“I’m following the OBO from Kampala, Uganda,” says Liam Taylor. . I don’t think this is the worst test team of Gary Naylor’s lifetime unless - which I suspect is unlikely - he’s 20 years old. But it does remind me of the West Indies side of the late 1990s: one all-time great batsman who is also an average captain (Lara), two miserly, metronomic pace bowlers at the end of their careers with about a million wickets between them (Walsh, Ambrose), and eight extras. Oh yeah, I forgot they had Chanderpaul too. The rich man’s Dom Sibley.”
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32nd over: England 80-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 9) A stroke of luck for Moeen, who tries to leave Shami and inside edges the ball this far wide of leg stump. The ball runs away for four entirely irrelevant runs.
Seven days ago, Moeen flogged 59 from 28 balls in the Hundred; today he has 9 from 28, and four of those were unintentional. He has adapted pretty admirably to the situation.
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31st over: England 76-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 5) A single from Moeen elicits sarcastic cheers, which really isn’t helping anyone. He and Buttler, that one ludicrous cut stroke aside, have shown excellent judgement. Buttler has 3 from 29 balls, Moeen 5 from 22. England have another 29 overs to survive.
“Ahoy hoy,” says Jim Crane. “Not sure how likely it is to go into cricket lore, but I’m very much hoping that Jos has chipped in with ‘You’ve just dropped the LV Insurance Test Sceptre there, mate’.”
30th over: England 75-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 4) Shami replaces Ishant, who bowled a masterful spell of 7-2-7-2. After a few secure defensive strokes from Buttler, Shami jumps wider on the crease and beats him with a spectacular delivery that roars off the seam. My word he bowls some jaffas.
“I think the reason Hameed gets viewed differently to Sibley is the same thought process that means injured players missing from a struggling team get better each week they’re out, sometimes to genuinely silly levels (I call it the Tom Cleverley syndrome),” says Mark Gillespie. “So Hameed gets credit because we haven’t watched him graft, let alone fail, like we have Sibley, and his short England career was too brief to do anything other than put a fantasy of the player he would become, without reality coming in to give us a realistic view of him.
“On a separate but related note, their similarity is why Sibley should have been dropped rather than Crawley. Sibley has more runs, but they’ve both been really poor, and the balance of the side was worsened, while reducing Hameed’s chances by having to play him at 3. If they wanted to drop Crawley, Pope should have come in.”
Yep, I’d agree with all of that. I don’t think it’s the only reason Hameed is more popular but it’s certainly an important one. This time next year we’ll be demanding Sibley’s recall to replace that fraud Hameed.
29th over: England 75-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 4) Bumrah swerves another lovely delivery past Moeen’s tenative defensive push. It’s getting a bit gloomier at Lord’s, and there’s every chance bad light will save England. If so, India will have good reason to wonder whether they’ll ever get their just deserts in a Test series in England.
“Monsieur Starbuck is not wrong about Hameed’s stance versus whatever you would call what Sibley does while waiting for the ball,” says Robert Wilson. “Cricket fans are oddly embarrassed by an uncomely stance in a proper batter. They’ll accept a hundred Peter Willeys or any number of tail-enders who look like broken bagpipes tossed in a skip. They’ll even take the alien strangeness of Chanderpaul’s facing up. As Eoin Morgan’s red-ball career faded away, his stance began to look like he was undergoing some awful gastric catastrophe in a hostel bathroom. People didn’t want to see it anymore.
“But it also could be because Sibley quite literally has the wrong face. I’ve rarely seen a bloke who looks more like a smasher and a biffer. His run rate with that face is like Cary Grant having Noddy Holder’s accent.”
28th over: England 75-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 4) Ishant has swung the ball into the right-handers throughout this innings. That’s the perfect delivery to bowl to Buttler as well as Bairstow, though Buttler defends solidly in this over. Thirty-two overs remaining.
“Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “Is this the worst England Test team in our lifetimes Rob? It’s moot just now, but inarguably so if Joe Root tweaks a hamstring or is just worn out and needs a break. We all know red ball cricketers who can’t play white ball, so why are we expecting white ball cricketers to play red?”
Come on, Gary. In 1999 England were unofficially the worst team in the world; now they are probably the fourth best. Nor should we forget that, in the late 1980s, England won one Test in three years.
27th over of 60: England 75-5 (Buttler 3, Ali 4) Now Buttler is dropped by Kohli! So much for Buttler batting sensibly: he played a horrible, loose cut stroke off Bumrah that he could only top edge in the direction first slip. The ball looped towards Kohli, who spilled a two-handed chance above his left shoulder. That was a pretty straightforward chance, though the ball may have dipped at the last minute.
26th over: England 74-5 (Buttler 2, Ali 4) Buttler, pushing defensively, edges Ishant’s last ball just short of second slip. He did pretty well in the end to soften his hands and ensure the ball fell short. Although he is naturally attacking, Buttler isn’t the worst player to have in this situation. He survived 111 balls in a similar situation against Australia two years ago, and has the ability to control his instinct and put certain shots away. In fact, from memory, he got out in that Ashes Test offering no stroke.
25th over: England 73-5 (Buttler 1, Ali 4) Buttler gets off the mark with a single off Bumrah, and then Moeen does likewise with a flick round the corner for four. Bumrah ends the over with a ludicrous jaffa that just misses Moeen’s outside edge.
To put England’s struggles into context, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah added 89 this morning. This would be a devastating defeat, which would sit alongside Trinidad 1994, Adelaide 2006 and a couple of other traumatic experience that are buried deep in the subconscious.
24th over: England 68-5 (Buttler 0, Ali 0) Ishant goes round the wicket to Moeen and beats him twice outside off stump in the course of another good over. I may have pulled this out of somewhere intimate, and there isn’t time to check, but I think Ishant has an excellent record against Moeen.
23rd over: England 67-5 (Buttler 0, Ali 0) A wicket maiden from Bumrah. The more you see the Root dismissal, the more it looks like it was a bit of extra bounce that undid Root.
“Dear Rob,” says Amod Paranjape. “Don’t you honestly think this English team depends too much on Root and Anderson. Though I am not the right guy to ask this question, when Rahul Dravid got out, I would promptly switch off the television.”
To be honest, Amod, it’s not something I had thought about in the previous 84 seconds until I read your email.
Jasprit Bumrah has kicked the door down! Root pushed defensively at a good length delivery outside off stump and edged it low to second slip, where Kohli took a good catch and charged towards Bumrah in celebration. Root leant on his bat in despair and then slowly left the field. In the last nine days he has almost redefined the concept of the captain’s innings, but he knows the implications of that moment.
WICKET! THE BIG WICKET! England 67-5 (Root c Kohli b Bumrah 33)
Root falls straight after tea, and England are in all sorts!
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‘Is it cowardly’ department
Here’s the weather forecast, and it’s fairly good for England.
Whatever we think about England, and we’ll come to that after 9pm, India have been sensational. While England lost their heads this morning, India have channelled the perfect levels of fury and focus. Nothing can top Brisbane, but if they pull this off it might be their greatest victory under Virat Kohli.
“On the question of why Hameed is viewed so differently to Sibley, my guess is because we all love a redemption story,” says Billy Mills. “The early promise, the injury, the catastrophic loss of form, the recovery; it’s an irresistible narrative arc.”
That’s true, though I bet there will be nowhere near as much goodwill when Sibley is recalled in 2024. I think there’s a lot more to it than that. I’m not implying anything race-related by the way, I haven’t gone rogue; I just find it interesting.
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Ballance > Cook Yes, yes I meant playing professionally and available for selection (3.36pm). The England batsmen aren’t the only ones struggling to think straight. You think it’s tense out in the middle at Lord’s? Try being in the OBO dungeon, Joe!
Teatime entertainment Root has scored 914 Test runs more than any other England batsman this year, which is a bona fide statgasm in any currency. His internal monologue when Bairstow was given out must have been a riot.
Tea
22nd over: England 67-4 (Root 33) First things first, Michael Gough has made a mistake. Where were you? It was another really good ball from Ishant, which shaped back to beat Bairstow’s defensive push on the inside. Virat Kohli reviewed a little reluctantly ... and then roared like you wouldn’t believe when he realised it was out. Sheesh, this is pulsating cricket. Light permitting, India have 38 overs to take six wickets. England have Joe Root, Joe Root and Joe Root.
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WICKET! England 67-4 (Bairstow LBW b Ishant 2)
Gone! A huge wicket on the stroke of tea!
Erm, there’s no inside edge This is perilously close. I think it might be umpire’s call on height.
INDIA REVIEW FOR LBW AGAINST BAIRSTOW! I think there was an inside edge. If not, he’s done. The good news for England is that the umpire is Michael Gough.
21st over: England 66-3 (target 272; Root 32, Bairstow 2) Shami, on for Siraj, wangs his first ball down the leg side for four byes. That takes extras into the twenties, a worthy partner for Joe Root. Shami finds his line thereafter and beats Bairstow with a textbook delivery in the Yorkshire corridor. For all England’s, erm, imperfections, this is such a good Indian pace attack. The days of Atul Wassan and Sanjeev Sharma - all due respect - are long gone.
“Second behind Joe Root,” begins Darrien Bold. “Not Gary Ballance is it?”
It bloody well is. The top ten is:
- Root 50.26
- Balance 37.45
- Stokes 37.04
- Bairstow 34.24
- Buttler 33.75
- T Curran 33.00
- Hameed 32.57
- Burns 31.92
- Foakes 31.53
- Pope 31.50
A few of you got Ballance - I know what you’ve been up to on StatsGuru - but Darrien was first so he wins (sic) the prize. A couple of you mentioned Cook but I was talking about players still available for selection. Yes, yes I should have made that clearer. So sue me!*
* Don’t.
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20th over: England 60-3 (target 272; Root 31, Bairstow 2) Root is beaten, playing a loose dab at Ishant Sharma. But he survives, and that’s all that matters for England.
Thanks for your emails about the current England player (by that, I mean still playing professionally and available for England, not necessarily in the current team) with the highest Test average apart from Joe Root. The answer is not Ben Stokes (he’s third) or Ollie Robinson (he’s nth).
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19th over: England 59-3 (target 272; Root 30, Bairstow 2) Siraj continues to bowl a very tight line to Root, but at the moment almost everything is coming off the middle of Root’s bat. In even happier news for England, the covers are being readied.
“I think Hameed has a higher ceiling of potential,” says Phil Harrison. “In fact, I think he’s already shown that in Test cricket, first time round. He played knocks in that India series that were quite fluent. We got a tiny, tantalising glimpse of the player he could be - that’s what’s so tormenting about the whole Hameed saga.”
I’d largely agree with that, but I’m not sure that’s enough to explain such a difference in popularity levels. I suppose it is largely charisma, perceived or actual, but I do think Sibley at the very least deserves a lot more respect. I also adore Hameed, so I’m as guilty as anyone.
18th over: England 56-3 (target 272; Root 28, Bairstow 1) Ishant is getting some lovely movement back into the right-handers, which has been Jonny Bairstow’s Kryptonite in the last few years. So far he has defended solidly.
“The first difference is their stance at the wicket,” says John Starbuck. “Hameed looks correct, Sibley as if he hasn’t a clue.”
Steve Smith, next.
17th over: England 53-3 (target 272; Root 26, Bairstow 0) Oh my. Root is dropped by Pant off Siraj! It was a very difficult chance down the leg side, and he could only punch it for four as he dived to his left.
By the way, Hameed’s failure in this match means Joe Root is now the only current player averaging over 40 in Test cricket for England. He averages 50.23. The first person to correctly name who is second on the list wins a free copy of Robin Smith’s autobiography.
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16th over: England 48-3 (target 272; Root 21, Bairstow 0) Ishant Sharma, on for Jadeja, picked up Hameed with his third ball. I’d like to see it again but I don’t think Hameed did a huge amount wrong. It was a pretty good delivery.
The first ball to Bairstow is even better, a surprise bouncer that jags back and clonks Bairstow on the noggin before running away for four leg byes.
“Genuinely struggling to think of a more anxiety-inducing vicarious experience than watching the start of this Hameed innings,” wrote Phil Harrison, about two minutes before Hameed was dismissed. “Literally watched his first few balls through my fingers.”
Here’s a question, to which I don’t really know the answer. Haseeb Hameed is essentially, give or take, the same batsman as Dom Sibley. One is adored, the other disparaged. What gives? Is it down to charisma?
WICKET! England 44-3 (Hameed LBW b Ishant 9)
He’s gone! It was hitting the top of the bails, and Michael Gough gets yet another decision correct.
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He hasn’t hit it, but height might save him It was a good ball from Ishant, which nipped back to hit the flap of both pads.
HAMEED IS OUT TO ISHANT LBW - BUT HE HAS REVIEWD IT!
Hmm, if he hasn’t hit this he’s struggling.
15th over: England 43-2 (target 272; Hameed 9, Root 20) Hameed is solidly behind a good nipbacker from Siraj, and then shows good judgement to leave a couple of deliveries that aren’t a million miles from off stump. In one sense this is the perfect match situation for Hameed, because all he has to worry about is batting time. He’s doing it pretty well.
14th over: England 43-2 (target 272; Hameed 9, Root 20) The move to introduce Jadeja so early was a bit surprising, given Hameed and Root are more comfortable against spin than seam. I’d love to know Virat Kohli’s thinking, but he persists in ignoring my WhatsApp message. Root plays out a maiden without alarm. Fourteen overs down, 46 to go.
13th over: England 43-2 (target 272; Hameed 9, Root 20) Mohammed Siraj comes into the attack, a good move given his ability to make things happen. He fancies Root as an LBW candidate, but his first ball is fractionally too straight and that allows Root to flick through square leg for two. Root flicks another single later in the over, then Hameed works a shorter ball down to fine leg for two. It hasn’t quite sunk in that we are watching Haseeb Hameed bat in a Test match. I don’t know about you, but I gave up on that particular dream at some stage during the 2019 season.
12th over: England 38-2 (target 272; Hameed 7, Root 17) Jadeja continues to Hameed, who is starting to settle after a torrid start to his innings. He pushes a single to move to seven from 36 balls; then Root does likewise to move to 17 from 29.
11th over: England 36-2 (target 272; Hameed 6, Root 16) Too straight from Bumrah, which allows Root to flick another boundary to fine leg. He’s not going for this target, but nor is he going to turn down runs when they are on offer. The remainder of the over is much more accurate, and treated with all doo respect by Root.
Thanks Daniel, hello everyone. If you’ve just joined us, here’s a summary of England’s day so far.
10th over: England 32-2 (Hameed 6, Root 12) Target 272 Anxious that the needle is subsiding, Kohli thanks Shami and tosses the ball to the shy, retiring Jadeja; that’s a smart call, trying to get Hameed moving his feet before he’s at ease. And Jadeja is on the money, pinning his man on the crease, but Hameed is a fine player of spin and does pretty well to see out a maiden. And with that, my watch is over – here’s Rob Smyth to calmly coax you and England home.
9th over: England 32-2 (Hameed 6, Root 12) Target 272 Oh my days, Extras is having an absolute day out! What a player this boy is! Bumrah flings one full but leg side, and Pant can’t save four more byes. England are right up with the rate, which seasoned watchers will know means a collapse is imminent ... all the more so when Root runs four more down to third man ... except Root’s batting like God. This is getting hot.
8th over: England 24-2 (Hameed 6, Root 8) Target 272 Shami tries to bang one back of a length and Hameed watches it fly over his left shoulder for four byes – England are ticking them off now, with Extras up to 11 not out, and after a decent delivery four more byes follow! England’s relentless pressure is too much for India!
“An Indian team without Kohli beat an Australian side with the world’s best bowling attack in Australia, a feat few teams have achieved in recent years,” says Harsh Vora. “It seems no matter how much this Indian side does, it is not given the credit it deserves for its away performances. It’s always: oh, the opposition didn’t have its top players, it was not an even contest, the pitch played a part or the team lacks what it takes to be counted among the greatest.”
I don’t know. India did brilliantly to win in Australia, but are we saying this side is anywhere near as good as the greatest Australian and West Indies sides we’ve seen? I don’t see it I’m afraid, and it’s not because I don’t respect their achievements.
7th over: England 16-2 (Hameed 6, Root 8) Target 272 Bumrah tries a bouncer but Root’s in far too deep a vein to let it by, rolling wrists over a pull for four, and though he’s beaten by the next delivery he sees away it and the four dots which follow. England are on a roll!
“Just what England need – get the openers out instantly,” says Jen Oram. “No point in Burns and Sibley spending an hour blocking. The only man likely to score England’s winning runs is Root, so he has to be brought to the wicket as quickly as possible.”
6th over: England 12-2 (Hameed 6, Root 4) Target 272 Aaaarrrggghh! Hameed picks out mid off when offered a half-volley, the forget to move his feet and edges straight to Sharma at two ... and he drops it! Even though the cordon is in close to make sure nothing drops short, that was very poor – he went down the wrong line, the ball missing hands and clipping forearms – and they run two, the only runs from the over.
“Curious observation,” says Richard White about me saying India lack great players. “Holding reckons you need to average four wickets per match to be considered a great bowler, both Bumrah and Ashwin do that, Ashwin has a batting average 10 points higher than his bowling average which makes him close to a great all-rounder, and Pant looks likely to be one of the legendary batter/keepers.”
Pant might get there – I hope he does - but if we’re saying he’s there now, then I’m miles off with my standards. Similarly, Bumrah isn’t there yet either and Ashwin isn’t playing, so.
5th over: England 10-2 (Hameed 4, Root 4) Target 272 Root looks in such control out there, and when Bumrah offers him overpitched width he leans forward to glide four through cover. But this being day five, the next delivery stays low and he leaps to jab it down before it can rush into the stumps. We’re at that sage where every ball is an event, the kind of cricket that has you sat at 45 degrees to you chair like you’re availing yourself of a Wetherspoon’s toilet, and India sprint through another changeover to go at England again.
4th over: England 6-2 (Hameed 4, Root 0) Target 272 It’s unlikely to rain, but England – or India – might yet be saved by the light. Now that’s irony. Anyway, Shami sends down a maiden – how crucial might that be in the final analysis – and the batsmen looks a touch more comfy.
3rd over: England 6-2 (Hameed 4, Root 0) Target 272 It’s absolutely buzzing in the middle and Bumrah has a full over to go at Hameed – if he can come out of this with confidence enhanced, he really is on the road back, and a clip to midwicket earns him three. Goodness me, this is the intersection of opportunity and embarrassment right here, though of course he won’t be defined by what happens, and with him at the other end, Root sees away Bumrah’s final delivery.
2nd over: England 13-2 (Hameed 1, Root 0) Target 272 Here comes Joe Root to take on India alone, yet again, and Shami goes short so Root moves away, taking the bye. And what scenes come next, Hameed edging for one – the first run off the bat in this innings and his first in Tests in half a decade. England are away!
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WICKET! Sibley c Pant b Shami 0 (England 1-2)
Just when you think you’ve heard all the gags, England amaze you with something so fresh and thrilling you wonder if you’ve ever heard anything. This is a terrific ball from Shami, on a length and nipping away as Sibley turns square as if on purpose. He feather an edge, and off he trudges, his hopes of a 3 not out of 250 squashed like so many leg glances.
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2nd over: England 1-1 (Sibley 0, Hameed 0) Target 272 Sibley wants to nick a quick single, but Hameed sends him back and England are conducting this chase with customary composure and elan.
“Been thinking about this Indian team,” brags Digvijay Yadav. “Think this is a really good Test side that is desperate to become a bona fide great team but is also aware that time is against them (look at the number of 30+ players). They’d like to win here in England and later this year in South Africa and nail their legacy.”
I think that’s fair – because cricket is an individual sport played in teams, to be a great one you need some greats, and Kohli aside India don’t quite have that. On top of which, you also need to beat great sides and – arguably – there aren’t any around at the moment. So, though they may well beat England then South Africa, those wins wouldn’t enshrine them alongside the best we’ve seen because neither side is all that.
1st over: England 1-1 (Sibley 0, Hameed 0) Target 272 It says a lot about England that Burns’ place is under no threat – in fairness he’s scored an 80 and a ton this summer, but we know that, at Test level, he’s just about workable and no more. But anyway, onto Hameed, who does well to hold his nerve – his Friday, falling to a half-volley five years after his last Test cap and five seconds after taking guard, was brutal – playing inside one that leaves him. He sees out two more dots, and England are fighting back!
WICKET! Burns c Siraj b Bumrah 0 (India 1-1)
This is, when all’s said and done, extremely amusing. Bumrah drops one outside leg and Burns looks to follow it but somehow performs a trick shot, a leading edge lobbing the ball into the sky and sending it plop into the hands of Siraj, in from mid off. Coming next: Haseeb Hameed on a king pair.
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1st over: England 1-0 (Burns 0, Sibley 0) Target 272 Bumrah begins from over and what a delivery he sends down, spitting spitefully off a length and kissing Burns’s glove hello; lovely stuff. A no ball follows, which means an extra one in this over – he giveth and he taketh away...
The thing is, much as it’d be amusing to see India unable to take the final England wicket because of the extra overs batted and consequent overs lost when Kohli carried on batting after lunch. But this Test deserves a finish with both teams going for the win ... except here come Sibley and Burns, in not inconsiderable gloaming.
If England were really going for this, they’d open with Bairstow and Root – both have take that role on numerous occasions – then Buttler at three or, if things go wrong, the remainder of the batsmen in order. More likely, it’ll be Sibley and Burns, then a potential thrash if the win looks possible.
Tell you what, it’d be something of a mechayeh to see a series open with two draws. It’s the way I tell em.
What a brilliant effort that is from Bumrah and Shami, who’ll be back with us very soon to disburse more horror for England. Joe Root, meanwhile, needs to decide whether or not to have a dart at the win – he won’t have enjoyed the criticism he got for accepting a draw against New Zealand earlier in the summer – but he also won’t enjoy the prospect of his side being dismissed for 97 in 30 overs. Decisions decisions!
India declare at 298-8, setting England 272 to win or 60 overs to survive for the draw!
110th over: India 298-8 (Shami 56, Bumrah 34) It’s looking a bit grimy out there and England’s body language suggests a team waiting for the next thing to happen. Shami then takes a break to mess with his thigh pad and nothing happens, before two men rush out with options for him; it’s all very sedate, so much so that Kohli shpritzes himself with what looks like aftershave; can’t play fresh if you don’t smell fresh, which probably explains some of the worst excesses of the OBO. Eventually, though, Anderson is allowed to run in, and though Shami doesn’t middle an attempted heave, he then edges four, and Kohli has seen enough! No ton for Shami, but an unbroken partnership of 89 and 271 runs to bowl at.
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109th over: India 294-8 (Shami 52, Bumrah 34) By opting not to declare over lunch, India robbed themselves of the three overs that’ll be lost to the changeover; the tide is turning back to England! And Robinson starts well, beating Bumrah first and second up, then nips one back into the pad ... and watches it rush away for four leg byes. It never rains, but it’s not going to pour, which is what England need at this point, all the more so when an Anderson misfield gives Bumrah four more. On the balcony, Kohli is getting ready to field, but he doesn’t call them in and the lead is now 267.
Righto, Ollie Robinson has the ball and off we go again...
“Whenever I see Ishant Sharma batting,” says Dan Almond, “I feel compelled to sing his name to the tune of John Lennon’s Instant Karma.”
I recall a riff on this topic from last summer, one it’s fitting to revive now because this is the time for Dom Sibley, Dom Sibley, just as it is for Sibley Dom Dom Sibley Dom Dom.
“I see a lot of hand wringing from the home fans on the OBO,” notes Fahd Masood. “But if our tail can score these runs the pitch surely isn’t that difficult to bat on. As much as it pains me to say it, Joe Root has got this in the bag.”
I know what you mean, but I also know sport rarely works like that. England will be under pressure while India will be on one, and their bowlers will trot out in a pretty decent mood. Of course, England have the batsmen to chase whatever the target ends up being, but nothing about the mental state of the teams, never mind the technical level, suggests that as a likely outcome.
“I can’t work out whether the demoralising preparation England are currently putting themselves through, having allowed a 9 and a 10 to build a 50 partnership on day 5, or Australia’s baffling intention to go essentially an entire year without Test cricket, puts either team in a decent position for the Ashes,” wonders G. “I don’t know which is worse, quite frankly.”
Happily for us, we’ve no need to choose because we can enjoy both!
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“Appalling Cricket,” begins Niall McClure tentatively. “Not sure I have witnessed such brainless cricket in a very long time. Staggering.”
I do think Root got it wrong this morning, but I think we can understand why he took off Anderson after three overs – it worked, after all – but his error was how long he took to correct things when they went wrong. It’s a funny thing really, because my principal gripe with Root’s captaincy has always been the effect on his batting – leading from the front is more important than anything else, by far – but he didn’t smell the game well this morning. Can he redeem one with t’other?
Bumrah and Shami both scored ducks in the first innings, and their performance this morning says loads about the kind of competitors they are, but just as much about the kind of mentality and spirit Virat Kohli has created. You can see it from the doughty, brave manner of their batting, but also from the team spirit that sees the captain animated on the balcony backing his boys. Join me again in about half an hour, and we’ll do some emails before opening our support group for those struggling to process the hilarity of England’s collapse.
108th over: India 286-8 (Shami 52, Bumrah 30) Moeen tries a quicker one and Bumrah makes sure to get bat on it, poking wide of Root at slip for one – the only run from the over. So he and Shami trot off to the adulation from the crowd – there’s a pleasingly vocal India contingent – and their team lead by 259, which makes them hot favourites to go one up in the series.
107th over: India 285-8 (Shami 52, Bumrah 29) Joe Root looks pretty peaky now, and I doubt one of Lord’s fabled luncheons will help him feel better. He’s made mistakes this morning, crucial ones, and though we don’t know that bringing Anderson back sooner and asking Wood to attack the stumps would’ve helped, we do know that the alternative has been disastrous. Anyhow, two come from this latest Anderson over, and there’ll be one more before the break.
“I suggest that England open with Moeen Ali and Haseeb Hameed,” emails Mark Slater, “with Jos Buttler at first wicket down, Joe Root and YJB to follow and then Sibley and Burns if needed to save the game. Go for the win with two players absolutely burning to fix themselves into the starting XI. I doubt it, though...”
Yes, I think we’ve got two hopes of seeing this: no hope and Bob Hope.
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106th over: India 283-8 (Shami 51, Bumrah 28) The lead was 167 when Wood got Pant and England looked warm favourites. Whether they were so affronted by Bumrah bouncing Anderson on Friday that they had to go after him in the same way, only they know, but it was when he came in that they lost control of things and HAVE AN ABSOLUTE LOOK! Shami wallops Moeen over cow corner for a one-bounce four ... then rattles him for a six over midwicket that takes him to a sensational and probably decisive 50!, his second in Tests and first for seven years! This is magnificent behaviour, and when he goes again but doesn’t get enough of it, the ball soars then plummets shy of Anderson! The lead is 256 and this, my friends, is o-v-e-r.
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105th over: India 271-8 (Shami 40, Bumrah 27) In commentary, Mel Jones wonders if Kohli will want to tempt England or bat them out of it; I wonder if India have already done the latter, given the rate they’ll need is already above the one they eschewed against New Zealand. In general, though, and especially against a line-up in such shaky form, I’d say that asking them to defend with no prospect is victory works well because the pressure is so intense – they don’t just have to negotiate the good balls but the bad ones which, if they’re pursuing a target, they’ve no excuse not to go at. One off the over, Bumrah gloving an Anderson bouncer, and again the umpire has to intercede with Anderson and Root going at him.
104th over: India 270-8 (Shami 40, Bumrah 26) At what point do India declare? Shami, who’s having a time out there, shmices Moeen over his head for four – befuddled by flight and turn he is not – then after a single, Bumrah edges wide of slip and they run two. A further single follows, and with 68 overs remaining, England are targeting 46-6 off 60.
“This is an absolute fairytale from Shami and Bumrah!” exclaims Ayan Chakrabarti. “It will perhaps break any time now, but this is already echoing Sydney once more, to our eternal delight of course.”
This is not an especially bold comment, but in a crowded field I’d say that Australia-India series was the best of the lockdown sport.
103rd over: India 262-8 (Shami 35, Bumrah 23) This is funny now, Shami taking one then Bumrah trying a hook and wearing one on the helmet instead, so he skips two then calls for the physio, a knowing grin creeping across his phizog as Anderson waits to go again, slapping his thigh and sharing a good old belly-laugh with his revered foe.
“This is brainless,” says Felix Wood. “We have England’s greatest-ever bowler. A new ball. Two absolute rabbits at the crease. And Root’s trying to buy wickets with Sam Curran and Moeen, having failed to bounce the tail out. Now the field is set for Steve Smith. For literal f’s sake.”
I get why he took Anderson off early – he wanted to persist with Robinson while using Wood’s pace, and it worked – but I’ve not a clue why it took so long for him to be brought back.
102nd over: India 259-8 (Shami 34, Bumrah 23) Moeen returns at the Nursery End – that makes sense, offering him the slope to help induce an outside edge – and Bumrah edges his second delivery ... but Root misses it low down! It might just’ve died in front of him, but he was close enough to get forward to it, and the look on his coupon tells us it was a chance. A further singles raises the fifty partnership, and India are strong favourites now! The lead is 232.
101st over: India 257-8 (Shami 33, Bumrah 22) Yup, here’s Jimmy, and Bumrah inside-edges right to where short leg isn’t and they run one, then Shami’s beaten with a beauty before clipping over midwicket Bairstow’s leap can’t quite intercept – for four! On the balcony, Kohli is absolutely loving it – this is his spirit we’re seeing, inculcated into his players over years – and another clip again clears Bairstow, taking the lead to 230. This is brilliant from the batsmen.
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100th over: India 250-8 (Shami 27, Bumrah 21) England, desperate for a wicket, have Curran and Moeen in tandem – I didn’t expect that this morning, and I imagine we’ll see Anderson again soon; we should be seeing him now. Wood, though, is off and stretching again, while Curran dons his angry face then scurries through another over. He does beat Shami outside off, but a single comes next and when Bumrah strikes then holds the pose, presenting the full face, it takes his partner to remind him there’s a single out there for him. They’re enjoying this, and rightly so – it’s been a brilliant effort.
99th over: India 248-8 (Shami 26, Bumrah 20) Oooh yeah! Moeen gives one some air and Shami doesn’t need asking twice, chucking hands through an extra-cover drive that earns him four more – it’s a lovely shot. A single follows, increasing the lead to 221 – I reckon 220 made this a 50/50 match – so England are in big trouble.
98th over: India 243-8 (Shami 21, Bumrah 20) Somehow, Curran gets one to leap, problem being it allows Bumrah to top-edge him for four! Two singles follow, and this is brilliant from the two batsmen.
“Greetings from Paris,” says Robert Wilson. “Already in this series there’s been a lot of whining and sledging from us punters about the lack of talent on display, or the semi-permanent troughs of poor form that bedevil both sides. It’s to be expected, a hardy constant of being a cricket fan but am I wrong in thinking that it is the very weaknesses of each of these teams, the glitches in the mechanism that are making for such a good match-up? The 80s West Indians, the 90s (and after) Australians, and a whole clutch of Lionel Messis and Roger Federers have accustomed us to some grotesque historic outlier laying waste to an entire generation of honest strivers. As though actual sport was a PC game with its own cheat game-editor. But life’s not meant to be a Marvel film. It’s more fun when it’s mere human beings, all limits and rueful realism, succeeding and failing by creditably and satisfyingly small margins.”
Yup, dominant champions have their good and bad aspects, and you definitely don’t need elite sport to enjoy watching sport. There is something about watching the two best teams or two great teams in a struggle – the most intense sport I’ve seen live over the last 15 or so years was probably the South Africa tour in 2012 – but styles do make fights and this is a goodun.
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97th over: India 237-8 (Shami 20, Bumrah 15) Moeen replaces Wood at the Pavilion End and Shami bunts two to cover, then edges two more wide of slip. The partnership is now 28, the lead 210, and at some point not too far away the number of overs left in the day will become a factor – though of course Sibley might blaze that into inconsequence in a barrage of forward defensives.
“I think England might avoid bowling bouncers at India’s tail,” emails Kaustubh Mone, “to eliminate the possibility of Ashwin coming in as a concussion substitute.”
Oh gosh, someone’s going to try that at some point aren’t they?
96th over: India 233-8 (Shami 16, Bumrah 15) It’s been a funny Test this, almost sub-continental – slow for a lot of the time before speeding up unexpectedly, and are we in the midst of its definitive acceleration? Root introduces Curran to the attack, which suggests the short-pitched tactic has been binned, and his first over goes for a two and two ones. The lead is now 206, and this Test is slipping away from England.
“Stepped out of the bunker for a moment to see what is going on,” emails Charles Sheldrick. “Seems to me that India are more than happy and in pole position at the moment. With every run and every over that goes by they make it less and less likely that England will win. If they can stay out there until lunch then England will need 240 or so in less than 60 overs. The fragile nature of our batting makes a chase almost impossible. Remember the NZ Test, we chose not to lose than try to win.”
Yup, I’m not sure England will be so blasé again and perhaps it might suit Bairstow to have a red-ball field but with a white-ball target.
95th over: India 229-8 (Shami 13, Bumrah 14) Shami nabs yet another single, and when Bumrah pulls for one more to raise the 200 lead, we again see Kohli rabble-rousing on the balcony. Two more singles follow, the second when Bumrah hits the stumps again, and surely it’s time for Anderson to have a go at him.
“I’m tempering the nervous tension at Lords with the ECB stream of Essex’s first innings at Sophia Gardens in Royal London Cup semi,” emails Brian Withington. “Cricket is the ideal game for watching two matches simultaneously, actually, despite offending my puritan brother’s sensibilities. Cook’s going along nicely at the moment alongside the very promising Rymell. Just wondering how much Joe Root would like to have him in at Lords for the nerve-shredding chase to come?”
Not that long ago, England’s batting line-up was Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Collingwood, Prior, Bresnan, Swann, Broad, Anderson. I’m beginning to think that was quite good.
94th over: India 225-8 (Shami 11, Bumrah 12) Strauss suggests that when bowling at tailenders it sometimes pays to deploy a slightly straighter line to bring in all three stumps. But in the meantime, four singles come from this latest Robinson over, and England need to have a think.
“Why are England giving verbals to Bumrah?” asks Gary Naylor. “They have 90mph bowler but they’re now bowling at the man and not the stumps. And they’ve riled up the opposition’s main man for the fourth innings. ‘Watch the windows Jasprit!’ a much wiser tactic.”
I assume they’re giving the verbals because how can they not? That said, I give them to my wife and daughter when playing Monopoly so might be a bad person to ask. Other hand, they are bowling short too often, so some full, straight balls to accompany the patter would probably be a good idea.
93rd over: India 222-8 (Shami 9, Bumrah 11) Strauss reckons England need to bring the stumps into play and I wonder if England have been swayed by Bumrah bouncing Anderson. Either way, yerman edges a single, then sends Shami back when he wants to pinch another - a wise decision. The lead is 194.
“This is what it’s all about isn’t it?” asks Guy Hornsby. “Pant charging Jimmy then perishing, a tail that could go for 12 or 70. Woody looking on. After all that, an England batting lineup that could stride home or lose by 100. My god, what a beautiful, maddening, joyful game this is.”
Absolutely. I’ve not a clue what’s going to happen here, nor have I a clue which side will be happier with what we’ve seen so far today. I’m leaning towards India myself.
93rd over: India 220-8 (Shami 9, Bumrah 9) Bumrah cuts hard and Wood’s first ball hares away for four; on the India balcony, Kohli leads the applause to show Bumrah he’s not alone out there. Two dots follow, then Bumrah wears one on the helmet, declines the easy single available, and out comes the physio; the umpires decide this is a good opportunity to take a drink, but the players are at the “We’ve all had a few” stage already; the “hold me back, hold me back”s are imminent.
We’ve had various requests for the TMS overseas link, which is actually right there these days, on the BBC page. But here it is:
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92nd over: India 216-8 (Shami 9, Bumrah 5) This is a very game effort from India’s tail and the squirted singles are adding up. Bumrah is playing at everything and hooks a bouncer for a single, then after an edge drops safe, Shami cuts for one more. So Bumrah, who’s been rehearsing a straight drive, tries to deploy it and misses by miles, goes again, and this time hits the stumps at the non-striker’s. This is so tense – remember Bumrah bombarded Anderson on Saturday evening – and you can feel the needle in the middle seeping through the screen. Words are exchanged, Michael Gough gets involved to calm it down, and this is lovely stuff.
91st over: India 213-8 (Shami 8, Bumrah 3) Wood is bowling quick and Burah misses with a hook then edges fresh air with a huge swipe – that second delivery was 94mph. So Wood goes short again and again Bumrah swings, missing with the bat but connecting with the forear, Anderson on hand behind the cordon fine enough to save the boundary; they run one. This is terrific stuff from Wood, who’s charging in like an absolute thug, and it’s getting lively in the middle as he sears another heat-seeker past Shami’s edge. This isn’t just pace, it’s pace with a plan, and it’s beautiful to watch.
“Having never been to lords, but being a big fan of cricket,” emails Josh Hughes, “I’d love to know what you mean by ‘rows of glorious food’. Is there a food market on the back row, or something?”
Yes, behind the Compton and Edrich Stands there are vans selling brisket, duck wraps, Mr Whippy’s and the like, all of them better than anything cold bought in a supermarket.
90th over: India 211-8 (Shami 7, Bumrah 2) Another slower one from Robinson, who’s bowled well this morning, and Bumrah unloads the suitcase to add two over mid on. Then he goes again, Bumrah swings again, and because so much pace was off the ball, the ensuing edge drops just shy of Buttler.
“This match is India’s to lose now,” reckons V Krishnamoorthy. “Bumrah has all the right conditions to exploit:
1. An achievable target
2. Anxious batsmen
3. Punishing length
4. Rarely straying out of line.”
All of this is true, but one decent partnership and the total is very chaseable.
STILL OUT!
Sharma is halfway off when the call comes, but his 16 runs might just make the difference when England bat.
REVIEW!
India know this is dead but they’ve got reviews in the bank so go for it anyway.
WICKET! Sharma lbw Robinson 16 (India 209-8)
This is full, straight and slower, far too good for Ishant, who misses with his attempted flick while stepping across his stumps, and that’s an insult to an umpire of Michael Gough’s calibre.
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89th over: India 207-7 (Ishant 15, Shami 6) Wood does indeed replace and Anderson and looks ok, flinging down a nasty boomp-ah at which Shami fends on the leap. England want a catch in the slips, but the umpire says no and they don’t review; a replay shows it was shoulder, though the ball was close to the glove. His fifth delivery is then bumped back to him and he dives to field, right on his shoulder – eeek! – then completes a maiden.
88th over: India 207-7 (Ishant 15, Shami 6) Now Shami has a shy, banging down his front foot to carve four through point – do England set the field back and assume their lines will keep the score under control pending a good ball or an error, or do they get around the bat and force things? On the boundary, Wood warms up, a good sign for them, but in the meantime three singles follow which take the lead to 180 and Wood is back on the pitch with the ball in his hand. I dare say some light teeth music is en route.
87th over: India 200-7 (Ishant 14, Shami 0) Ishant has a hoik over slip and the ball rockets over slip for four, to Anderson’s intense mirth. Wth the lead at 171, England won’t want too many more of those – 220 seems the kind of score that’d make this a 50-50 match – and Bairstow has moved from slip to fly slip to defend the premeditated edge. Then, after four dots, Anderson goes for the toes and somehow Ishant squeezes out a two – India are doing ok here.
86th over: India 194-7 (Ishant 8, Shami 0) In co-commentary, Dinest Karthik reckons that in England, you can’t just play correctly and hope that’ll be enough because the late movement off the seam means you might need to adjust late doors. That’s what happened to Pant, and you’d fancy that India’s tail will encounter similar tzoros.
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WICKET! Pant c Buttler b Robinson 22 (India 197-7)
Colossal! Robinson is so reliable with his discipline and he yanks Pant forward who plays very straight. But the ball does just enough off the seam, leaving him, caressing the full face, and shooting behind!
86th over: India 197-6 (Pant 22, Ishant 8) Pant flicks two in front of square on the on side...
85th over: India 192-6 (Pant 20, Ishant 8) There was a touch of Andy Flower’s England about yesterday afternoon, bowling dry enough to stay in the game with the ball and pitch offering no help but excuse me while I interrupt myself, after three dots Pant makes room by backing away to leg while springing out of his crease, cleansing Anderson for four through cover. Ridiculous behaviour, yet typical behaviour. A leg bye follows, then Sharma slices a, er, square drive that also runs away to the fence, and the lead is not 165.
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84th over: India 183-6 (Pant 16, Ishant 4) Robinson, like Anderson, is bereft of wickets in this innings, but has been given just 10 overs – this is his chance to affect things, and he’ll know it. In the meantime we cut to Wood, showing off his pecs and swinging his strapped shoulder through a stretch, which doesn’t look good. Anyhow, after four dots Robinson has one leave Pant up the hill and he misses his second defensive push of the morning then, after a single, Sharma fends off a lift-uh that drops clear of short leg.
“Ooo, don’t you just love Test cricket,” emails Bill Hargreaves. “So many variables, so many holes in the dyke to plug, so many opportunities to attempt to exploit. It’s like playing chess, bridge, and the trombone at the same time. Have a little part of my mind dedicated to those Afghanistan teams that showed up at the international events. Fingers crossed for them all.”
Agreed on all counts.
83rd over: India 182-6 (Pant 15, Ishant 4) England have gone for an in-out field, two slips and a gully then men looking for the heave, and after two dots Anderson persuades one to leave Pant as he looks to defend, seam position absolutely fit as. But Pant then gets himself down the other end with an off-side shove and Ishant sees out the remaining two deliveries, just about.
“With Pant at the crease, it just dials up the excitement to 11,” reckons Séin Healy. “I feel he could come out to bat on a motorcycle and nobody would bat an eyelid, just look on appreciatively.”
And rightly so.
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New ball in hand, heeeeeeere’s Jimmy....
The players are with us and Jimmy Anderson has the ball; Crawley is fielding, so presumably Wood is not...
Public service announcement: I’ve been going to Lord’s with the same group of friends for decades, and part of our routine involves, on day one at least, visiting Waitrose John Barnes next to Finchley Road tube and running around buying everything to complete the fabled and legendary cricket picnic. Well, on Thursday I reached into the cool bag and realised that I didn’t want to eat whatever I was pulling out because it was cold, and just behind me were rows and rows of tremendous hot food. Of course, the existence of a banquet at one’s feet is a fine feeling, but I’m afraid we’ve reached the point at which it is no longer the best way of performing the necessary gluttony. Thoughts and prayers with you all at this sad moment – but please do point out why I’m wrong and what I’ve failed to consider.
“The thrilling anticipation I’m feeling going into this fifth day decider of a fabulous turnaround Test match,” says Dean Kinsella, “is tempered only by the thought that this Indian tail will not last 5 minutes against the GOAT with a new ball in his hand. I would love Woody to get onto the Lord’s honours board but I feel it will be Jimmy’s morning. His first-innings efforts showed what marvellous form he is in and the barrage of bouncers he withstood while batting won’t have put him in the most charitable of moods.”
Yes, he was excellent once he switched from Nursery to Pavilion End, and we can usually be sure that Robinson won’t go for many. But even three big overs, whenever they come and however they arrive, could make a difference so even brilliant bowling might not be enough.
Oh man, I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone talk about grief more movingly and with greater clarity than Andrew Strauss, and Sky have just shown us VT of him and others promoting the Ruth Strauss Foundation – which offers support to kids whose parents have terminal illnesses. Now, Mark Chapman – who lost his wife just over a year ago – is with him, and I’m gone. Text TWENTY to 70600 to support them with a score.
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Email! “Morning Daniel, morning everyone,” begins Jonathan McCauley-Oliver. “While today should be great fun there was a cracking match at Sabina Park which finished with West Indies beating Pakistan by one wicket, putting on 17 for the last wicket. However, there were eight ducks in the match, three of them being first-ballers. Add to that the five we have had in this match so far, two of them being first-ballers and you have to ask yourself; what’s going on? And these stats are not boosted by tail-enders, the majority have been top six batsmen.”
It’s also worth noting that, while there are some great bowlers around, we’re not quite in our 90s heyday of Ambrose, Warne, Murali, Walsh, Pollock, McGrath, Donald and the rest. We can’t draw conclusions at this point, but the rise of T20 and its accordant impact on the 50-over game looks to be the most significant factor. Batsmen train their brain to do one thing, then expect it to slip back into another when they tell it to, and that’s not far off impossible.
And what on earth is happening when England bat? I was going to write more words after this, but what on earth could I say?
Yeah, Athers and Wardy also thought that interview sounded grim, though note that the new pellet, due immediately, will go to Anderson and Robinson so perhaps he won’t be required. Thing is, as soon as the shine is off it, England will need that bit of extra pace, and it was Wood who got Pant in the first innings too.
The weather in north London is overcast, and Mark Wood’s mood isn’t far off – not a sentence anyone supposed to wrote. His shoulder, hurt on the dive yesterday – he heard a crack – is sore this morning and he’s not sure whether or not he’ll bowl though hopes a “doctor’s remedy” sorts him out. Though he’s generally been better overseas than at home, he was the pick of England’s attack yesterday and I daresay he’ll be eyeing a spot on the honours book every bit as much as India’s tail are relishing his injury.
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So what’s going to happen here? I’d make England very slight favourites, because if they bowl well this morning even a poor batting performance will get them over the line. But on the other hand, even if they do, if Pant bats well then everything changes or, put another way ... wait for it ... here it comes ... wooooooooooh .... the first hour is crucial.
Preamble
Our relationship with cricket has changed over the last 18 months, the game taken away from us then restored in stages which highlight its different aspects. And though we didn’t need a pandemic to remind us that we love it, our relationship to it is refreshed nonetheless: first, the return of competition gave us the simple joy of bat and ball. But the return of crowds has reminded us that it’s ours.
Last afternoon, there was nothing of anything going on, ball and pitch benign but Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane struggling to score. As such, it looked like neither side would be good enough to force a result, but the Lord’s crowd – the Lord’s crowd! – weren’t having it. Out of nowhere, they generated enough of an atmosphere to raise things in the middle and Mark Wood charged in even faster, finding spiteful line, length and lift to revive a match that was slowly expiring.
So here we are at the start of day five with all three results possible, Rishabh Pant at the crease, and thousands of revellers pouring in for some bonus beauty. This is going be excellent.
Play: 11am BST
