Ali Martin's day two report
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Righto, that’s us – England are on the slide really, perfect yesterday and only near-perfect today. But they’re still in a very strong position, and it’ll take some spectacular behaviour from both sides to prevent the series from going 1-1.
In a way, those afternoon wickets were as good for England as for India, because assuming they’re all out by lunch tomorrow, that’s two-and-a-half days to take 10 wickets with a lead of around 400. The pitch looks pretty flat, but perhaps that’s just the case when India’s seamers bowl on it – England’s swingers might be a different proposition.
England lead India by 345 with two first-innings wickets intact
It’s been a dreamy two days for England, and tomorrow is set up to be a belter.
NOT OUT!
Overton got bat on it.
129th over: England 423-8 (Overton 24, Robinson 0) Ishant will bowl it, and when he offers short width, Overton’s eyes light up and he bangs down into the pitch and away for four. That’s 300 runs in the day for England, which suggests that dislodging India a second time won’t be easy even with SB Pressure in the attack, then Overton eases one more to deep backward point. One ball left in the day, and Ishant gets some swing! I know! Overton misses it, and India review!
128th over: England 418-8 (Overton 19, Robinson 0) Siraj, who was delighted with that wicket, takes a lie-down and the physio helps him with some cramp – just a little while ago, Nasser wondered if he had enough zip left to try a bouncer and of course he did, but it came at a cost. Anyway, he’s soon up smiling before charging in at the new batsman – I love the way he plays the game – and sends down the five dots which complete his wicket-maiden. I reckon we’ll have one more over before the close.
WICKET! Curran c sub (Agarwal) b Siraj 15 (England 418-8)
Was a decent partnership. Siraj tries a bouncer and it’s a goodun, Curran pulling directly to deep forward square.
127th over: England 418-7 (Curran 15, Overton 19) Ishant returns for his eighth spell and Overton, who knows what he’s doing, whips four through midwicket after Curran takes one to cover. Two singles follow and this is a decent partnership now, worth 35 off 50.
“Possibly late to the greatest bowler debate,” says Christopher Dale, “but there’s a case for Underwood surely? Both in terms of statistics, longevity and importance to the side he played in.”
Just yesterday, Sky told us that Dexter didn’t rate him, but I have to defer on this one as I’m too young to have seen him. I do, though, recall a Sunday Times cricket sticker wallchart from the late 80s that taught me “he’d have played for England even if he hadn’t turned the ball”.
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126th over: England 411-7 (Curran 13, Overton 14) It sounds like recency bias but probably isn’t: in co-comms, Nasser wonders if we’re watching England’s best-ever bowler and best-ever batsman. Which is ironic because we’re watching a team who’re been absolute nonsense quite a lot of the time. Anyway, Curran looks to go over the top and does but can’t get all of it; they run two. Then, facing the final ball of the over, he takes on Jadeja at mid off - good luck old mate – a direct hit and he’s gone. But Jadeja misses, and England’s lead is Graham Gooch, 333.
125th over: England 408-7 (Curran 10, Overton 14) Very nice from Overton, letting his arms go to deposit Jadeja back over his head for a one-bounce four – the only runs from the over. He’s enjoying himself out there, and looks right at home.
124th over: England 404-7 (Curran 10, Overton 10) Siraj returns, looking bushed before he’s even started because he probably is, and the batters take a single to square leg apiece.
“Re: Timothy Sanders,” says Stewart Fellows. At least according to StatsGuru, Bairstow did not bat at 5 during the 2017/2018 Ashes. He was at 6 from Perth onwards, and indeed doesn’t move back up to 5 until the arrival of Buttler for the Pakistan series.”
I’m not certain how much difference there is between those two spots, but I do think Bairstow was extremely fortunate to still be getting picked at that point – if they’d sent him off to work on his technique when they should’ve done, he might’ve been back and in from by then, though.
123rd over: England 402-7 (Curran 9, Overton 9) Five dots from Jadeja then Overton goes for an expansive drive that he doesn’t get all of, taking to past mid on anyway.
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122nd over: England 400-7 (Curran 9, Overton 7) Bumrah drops short and wide so Overton slashes, missing slip and earning four, then opens the face to add two more. A single follows, guided down into the off side, then a no ball, and the lead is 322.
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121st over: England 388-7 (Curran 5, Overton 0) Curran fancies this, a back cut taking four off Jadeja - the only runs from the over.
“Talking of Mr Kipling’s cakes,” says Paul Hobson, “I always remember part of the script of the M Kipling’s spoof advert from The Goodies: “Did you ever wonder how Mr Kipling makes his delicious cakes ... well, he has bloody great big factories.”
I wonder if he ever met Mrs Elswood. They strike me as a perfect match.
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120th over: England 388-7 (Curran 5, Overton 0) This is actually a semi-important knock for Overton, who presumably is in the team partly for his batting – a point he needs to emphasise given the talent to come back. But in the meantime, a cover-drive from Curran gets him off the mark with a boundary, then retains strike with a bang down the ground, Bumrah doing well to get down to it – had he not, that was probably four.
119th over: England 383-7 (Curran 0, Overton 0) A wicket-maiden for Jadeja.
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WICKET! Moeen Ali c sub (Axar Patel) b Jadeja 8 (England 383-7)
Moeen puts in a big stride then clouts straight to mid on. Hello collapse, we’ve missed you! The lead is 305.
118th over: England 383-6 (Ali 8, Curran 0) Applause as Curran blocks back Bumrah’s first ball to him, the batsman smiling wryly to himself. Three further dots follow, and this is a veritable marathon!
WICKET! Root b Bumrah 121 (England 383-6)
Root is aggravated, swishing his bat in frustration at a third ton in three Tests and rightly so – absolute joker, him. This is a good ball, though, kissing the surface and skidding in – not one to cover drive which, presumably, is why Root is naused. He hears the rattle behind him and leaves, saluting the crowd as he reaches the rope, and Sam Curran is in next, following a king pair at Lord’s.
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117th over: England 383-5 (Root 121, Ali 8) Root was stretching earlier and now has the physio out, who looks like he’s administering to cramp – Root’s on his back and has one leg elevated. Then he gets up and immediately tickles Jadeja under the chin around the corner for four – that’s as deft as Mr Kipling’s cakes are good – adding one more with a bunt to cover.
“I hope Tom van der Gucht is open to disagreement regarding Jonny Bairstow’s move up the order,” says Timothy Sanders. “Rather than mismanagement, it was the happenstance of Ben Stokes being suspended for the 2017-18 Ashes tour, combined with Moeen and Woakes being unable to live with the Aussie pace attack. Jonny moved up to no5 at Perth so that he didn’t run out of partners, and it worked pretty well when he and Malan both made centuries. That was 18 months before Ed Smith’s experiment with the specialist no7, so it wasn’t the Buttler who did it.”
Ha, very good.
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116th over: England 378-5 (Root 116, Ali 8) Bumrah returns, which will delight England – what strange words those are to type. But the more overs he bowls in this particular cause the better it is for them, and his loosening over costs him a single and a two which takes the lead to 300.
115th over: England 375-5 (Root 115, Ali 6) A single apiece, then Root gets forward to reverse Jadeja down the hill for four; Jadeja gives it an “Ooooh!” like he’s Shane Warne and that was nearly out. Root then takes one to point, and we’ve got 17 overs left in the day or an hour maximum; England lead by 297.
114th over: England 368-5 (Root 109, Ali 5) Shami is really charging in now, but after three singles, Moeen absolutely cleanses him through backward point for four – that is glorious. Like Buttler, he is not someone you want coming in at this stage and Shami has seen enough, gingerly hobbling off the pitch for a bath and a rub-down.
“Never mind peak Flintoff,” emails Colum Fordham. “We’re witnessing peak Root for sure. I think India have missed a trick by not including Ravi Ashwin who, besides being a more than decent lower-order batsman, is arguably the one Indian bowler wily enough to trouble Root. Long may peak Root continue!”
Yup, I think Kohli will know he made an error there. I’d expect Ashwin to replace Ishant for the Oval and OT (where they’re playing a Test match in the middle of September!)
113th over: England 361-5 (Root 107, Ali 0) Root takes a single to square leg, then Moeen presses forward and the ball passes through the gate; there’s an appeal, but any impact there was was outside the line and then Rahane drops what would’ve been a dolly. I’m pretty sure no bat was involved, but.
112th over: England 360-5 (Root 106, Ali 0) That wicket precipitated drinks but no one thought to say so. Anyhow, Shami, in his sixth spell I think, has 3-80 off 24.4, which is a serious piece of effort.
“From a rival site,” says Timothy Reston, “it seems that straight after tea, Pant had to remove tape that was binding two fingers of his gloves together. As webbing except between the thumb and index finger is illegal under the Laws, what should the penalty have been for each time Pant handled the ball, and should Malan (caught by Pant the previous ball) been not out?”
That’s an interesting point. In general, sportsfolk contravening the rules isn’t something that bothers me – I thought the fuss over the Aussie ball-tampering was astonishing, and bore no relationship to the offence but a lot of relationship to the ego of the CA suits. But on an intellectual level, I’m intrigued to know what’s gone on here and how people rationalise it – is the taping an offence?
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WICKET! Buttler c Ishant b Shami 7 (England 360-5)
Buttler catches this nicely, but sends it whizzing just above the turf directly to square leg. Maybe he should stick to coming in at 23-4.
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112th over: England 360-4 (Root 106, Buttler 7) Root takes a single, then Buttler plays away form his body, half-battting four between gully and slip.
“Regarding bowling stats and best-ever bowlers,” says Peter Hanes, “I remember when Botham came on the scene and for all his heroics and magnetic personality on the field, a lot of those early Test wickets came against marginal teams and even inept Aussie line-ups. Don’t we have all-time Test rankings to resolve these debates?”
Well, sort of – we’re not mandated to agree with them, or to deploy the same criteria.
111th over: England 355-4 (Root 105, Buttler 3) Buttler takes a single to deep backward square, then Root turns one more into the on side.
110th over: England 353-4 (Root 104, Buttler 2) Shami is a solid, solid geezer, and he powers through an over that yields just a single, Buttler dabbing to cover and hauling Root through. England have run brilliantly this innings.
“On the subject of declaration,” emails Alexander Hayes, “I’d imagine it’s as much about the psychology as the pitch and Moeen. England copped a psychological shellacking on the fifth day at Lord’s, and I’m sure Root will want to return it with interest. Bat on and on, exhaust them and then put them in after tea tomorrow facing 400+ and seven sessions. Sounds good to me!”
Yup, agree with that. This is a five-Test series, and the harder India’s bowlers work, the better that is for England – but they’ll feel like right charlies if they run out of time to take 10 more wickets.
109th over: England 352-4 (Root 104, Buttler 1) Jadeja continues – how’s your patience Jos? – and Root takes one to square leg, then Buttler gets away in similar vein.
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108th over: England 350-4 (Root 103, Buttler 0) As per the below, this is why Buttler was picked – to take the game away, not to save the game. Let’s see...
“Interesting to hear you are a right handed bowler and lefty batter,” lies Darrien Bold. “I reckon the current/recent crop of England players is the most ambidextrous we’ve seen: Jimmy, Stokesy, Broady, Moeeny... Even big Ali Cookie was a dangerous right handed bowler in his day.”
We’ve done his prowess today as it happens, but yes, now that you ask I write, eat and bat left-handed, but throw and play tennis right-handed and can play table-tennis with both. I am odd.
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WICKET! Bairstow c Kohli b Shami 29 (England 350-4)
Bairstow plays a lazy drive, barely moving his feet, and edges behind where Kohli takes a catch that’s actually pretty smart, given Pant was diving across him.
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108th over: England 350-3 (Root 103, Bairstow 29) Shami returns and Root eases a single to third man.
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107th over: England 349-3 (Root 102, Bairstow 29) I didn’t think this’d take long. Bairstow comes down the track to clobber Jadeja over long on for six, and I doubt that’s the last time we see him try that. Two singles follow, then Bairstow unfurls his sweep, sending four to very fine leg and raising the fifty partnership at the same time; he and Root greet one another in the middle, not something I’ve managed with any of my close mates after putting a top-class attack to the sword.
106th over: England 337-3 (Root 101, Bairstow 18) Five dots from Ishant, then Bairstow turns a single to square leg. Root then takes a drink, which makes me wonder just how fit he must be to keep batting for so long, especially given the mental energy he expends captaining in the field.
“What I found especially interesting about Nath Jones’ stats for the most runs scored in a year,” says Tom van der Gucht, “is that Root has two of the English number of runs scored in a year above him on the list. And that Bairstow is up there too. How was he rewarded for such an amazing year? He was moved out of position to accommodate Buttler who’s scored fewer centuries in all his matches since than Bairstow had managed that year.”
I’m not sure – I’m glad Buttler was given a chance and it worked really well. The problem of late has been him coming in with England in ridiculous trouble, which isn’t what he was originally restored for.
105th over: England 336-3 (Root 101, Bairstow 17) Another quick over from Jadeja, a single to Bairstow coming from it.
“On the subject of the best English bowler” emails Patrick Brennan, “I would say that Peak Harmison (for example vs WI 2004, 7-12 and all that) was about as unplayable as I have ever seen from an English bowler (for me, that’s since about 1998). Similarly Peak Broad, but they do tend to be more one-off spells of utter lunacy, rather than longer periods. On the other hand, Mitchell Johnson in 2013-14 was like nothing I’ve ever seen *shudder*.”
Yes, agreed on Johnson. The first cricket I remember is the 1984 West Indies one, so I’m old enough to remember Marshall – and Ambrose, Wasim and Waqare. But I’ve never seen a series dominated by one bowler like that one was.
Joe Root makes his third century in three Tests! He is a rrrridiculous individual!
104th over: England 335-3 (Root 101, Bairstow 16) A stern flick through midwicket does it and Root leaps into a celebration in front of his home crowd, then leaps into the arms of Bairstow, in front of their home crowd. Goodness me, what a feeling and what a moment, Root’s dad standing there applauding his boy – not something my old fella’s done lately. That’s six tons in the calendar year, the same as Compton in 1947 and Vaughan in 2002, and who’s to say there won’t be a few more? As DK notes, India haven’t a clue how to get him out.
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103rd over: England 329-3 (Root 96, Bairstow 15) Unless England get after him, I’d expect Jadeja to bowl a long spell here. Kohli said at the toss that he thought there’d be more for him in the pitch than at Lord’s but more than that, he won’t want to flog his quicks when all he’s waiting for is a declaration that might not come until this time tomorrow. Root adds one through Harrow drive, the only run from the over, and is four away from yet another yet another ton.
102nd over: England 328-3 (Root 95, Bairstow 15) Ishant returns and when he drops short and wide Bairstow doesn’t need asking twice, cutting for four through point. The over also yielded two singles, and England have setpped things up again.
“Am sure approximately 1 million OBOers have already contacted you, but the RH/LH shirt is, of course, due to cricket’s god Mammon – all about the sponsor being in full view of the camera,” tweets Gareth Wilson.
Good knowledge – and relatedly, the word mammon originated in Aramaic. Somehow, in chapter eight of Bava Kama, the Talmud extrapolates that the intention of Exodus’ phrase “an eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, a tooth for a tooth, a wound for a wound” was monetary compensation. Course it was, lads.
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101st over: England 321-3 (Root 93, Bairstow 10) Gary Neville once said that playing with Paul Scholes was relaxing, like wandering into a bar and hearing someone play nice piano music, which is how I imagine batting with Joe Root feels. Except Bairstow isn’t really into relaxation, so adds consecutive fours through mid on and point (but refrains from issuing any playful headbutts).
100th over: England 313-3 (Root 93, Bairstow 2) Ach, England are away again, Root cutting hard past second slip for four – he places the ball so delightfully – then takes two more to midwicket. Three dots follow, then Root drives elegantly down the ground which takes him into the note remotely nervous nineties; 10 off the over.
“Agree that peak Flintoff is up there,” returns Tom Bowtell, “but how high does a short peak need to be surpass sustained excellence? For brief blazing peaks, Tyson’s Ashes would be in with a shout too – or even Malcolm at the Oval in 94 ... someone needs to do an algorithm. I caught myself doing the maths to see how it will take Jimmy to catch Murali yesterday.”
Yup, Tyson is one of the peaks, but as you imply, his didn’t last long enough and neither did Freddie’s.
99th over: England 303-3 (Root 83, Bairstow 2) Thinking about England’s declaration, if they get there, I wonder if Root wants to stay out for as long as possible so that the pitch, likely to flatten out, deteriorates so that Moeen is properly in the game. Already, it’s offering Jadeja a smidgeon of turn, and Root’s flick to square leg yields the sole run form the other.
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98th over: England 302-3 (Root 82, Bairstow 2) Siraj is doing his best and after Root takes one to point, Bairstow edges ... but the ball drops shy of two and I wonder if India’s cordon is sufficiently close in because this isn’t the first time that’s happened. Anyhow, Siraj then beats Bairstow, who misses with a forward defensive, and India have staunched the flow.
“Being too young for early Botham makes you too young for Tavaré,” says Ian Copestake. “At the end of the day, it’s swings and roundabouts.”
Alas not – I’m afraid I remember the 1989 Ashes all too clearly.
97th over: England 301-3 (Root 81, Bairstow 2) Jadeja doesn’t half rush through his overs, four dots preceding a drive from Bairstow that goes into the ground, hits silly mid off, and loops up for a catch. There’s an appeal and the umpire’s soft signal is not out, and it’s not even close from what I saw. Indeed, the ball went into the pitch, a dot follows, and that’s a maiden.
“Just noticed that England have left and right handed shirts,” emails Mark Russell. “Is this usual?”
Great spot! And when I’m picked, will I be issued with one for my right-arm over and one for my left-handed batting? I guess we can check Jimmy.
96th over: England 301-3 (Root 81, Bairstow 2) I wonder how Bairstow will approach this. On the one hand, it’s in his nature to attack, but on the other, he probably wasn’t expecting to get back into the Test team so soon and will want to ensconce himself by making runs. as for Pant’s gloves, it turns out he’d taped bits of them, which isn’t allowed, while back to the action, Bairstow gets himself away with a tuck to square leg – the first of three singles from the over, the second of which raises England’s 300.
“I absolutely loved Will’s Anderson work back in over 86 too,” says Tom Bowtell. “I’ve been trying to nail whether the Jimmy of the last 10 years is England’s greatest post-war seamer. Here’s where I’ve got to:
- He’s ahead of anyone who debuted post Botham on stats alone (more wickets at a better average than Broad/Gough/Fraser/Irani etc). His career average has now dipped below John Snow’s (202 @ 26.66)
- If you compare Anderson’s last 90 Tests with Bob Willis’s entire 90-Test career you get: Jimmy: 351 @ 23.07, Bob: 325 @ 25.20- If you compare Anderson’s last 50 Tests with Botham’s first 50, you get: Jimmy: 178 @ 21.72, Botham: 229 @ 22.89 (also c/f Bedser 236 @ 24.89 from 51 Tests)
- If you compare Anderson’s last 67 Tests with Trueman’s entire 67-Test career you get: Jimmy: 253 @ 21.40, Fred: 307 @ 21.57
So on average, Jimmy of the last decade takes it. But on wickets/strike rate, you might go with all of Fred or early Botham.”
I think the other argument is whether Jimmy’s best is the best. I’m too young for early Botham, but Flintoff’s peak is as good as anything I’ve seen from an England bowler.
95th over: England 298-3 (Root 80, Bairstow 0) There’s a brief pause – if you can pause something which hasn’t started - while Pant sorts a problem with his gloves, then Jadeja wheels through a maiden at Root.
“Also interesting,” returns Richard O’Hagan. “Not only have England’s top four all scored more than 60, but each batsman has scored more than the one above him in the order.”
Lovely stuff, absolutely buzzing for Jimmy’s tripleton with England on 1298-9.
“At the time of writing,” writes Nath Jones, “Joe Root is 132 runs away from England’s highest-ever number of runs in a calendar year, and 439 runs short of the overall record, with potentially 11 innings still to play in 2021 after this one. Unless something goes very wrong, he’ll end the year with three of England’s top five. Told you captaincy would negatively impact his batting.”
It’s a weird one isn’t it, like someone’s given him the key to his own mind, which is why it doesn’t feel like form.
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And that’s tea; England lead by 220 with seven first-innings wickets intact. See you in 15.
WICKET! Malan c Pant c Siraj 70 (England 298-3)
That’ll sting because Malan could easily have left that, but instead he strangled himself down the leg side. He’s done a brilliant job, though, punishing India as his team amassed an unassailable lead, and he’ll know that he’s not only in for the summer but probably the winter too, if anything happens. Credit to Siraj too, who was the only Indian interested in a review.
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INDIA REVIEW!
I’ve no idea if he feathered this...
94th over: England 298-2 (Malan 70, Root 80) This might be the final over before tea – I doubt India can be arsed with another – and after Root takes a single to fine leg, Malan puts an exclamation mark on the session, absolutely clouting another fit as cover-drive to the fence for four. One ball left, and Malan follows it to turn fine, misses ... and there’s an appeal, rejected...
93rd over: England 293-2 (Malan 66, Root 78) Jadeja comes on to whizz through one or two before tea, Root turning his first ball to leg – the only run from the other. His sixth hits Malan on the pad and there’s a hopeful appeal, but I think there was an edge and that impact was outside the line. Other than that, though...
“The last time England’s top four made fifties was 2013 against New Zealand in Dunedin,” says Richard O’Hagan. “One of the four was Steven Finn, who made 56 as nightwatchman. Don’t ask me the last time they all got 60, though.”
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92nd over: England 292-2 (Malan 66, Root 78) Root has something in his eye, or maybe he’s tearing up with emotion at how ludicrously he’s batting. Real talk, I’ve not a clue how sportsfolk cope, nor their parents – I’d be beside myself in either circumstance. A single apiece opens this latest Siraj over, so he goes around to Root ... who shmices a hook and finds the gap on an extremely crowded on side, four taking him to 78 off 90. So Siraj goes again, and this time Root makes do with a pulled single; pork, beef, runs, is anything not pulled these days.
“Just a quick reminder that the largest first innings deficit overcome by a winning side is 291,” warns Pete Salmon. Still tense.”
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91st over: England 285-2 (Malan 65, Root 72) Warney is advocating for a part-timer to finalge a wicket, which tells you just how desperate this is for India. England add three singles, two of them to Root via pull – he doesn’t seem that petrified of Ishant’s bumpers, nor that he might top edge one of them.
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90th over: England 282-2 (Malan 64, Root 70) We see Bairstow sat on the balcony and I bet he can’t wait to get out there; goodness, his is not a face I’d be eager to see if I was in the field. Anyhow, Siraj tries a few bouncers, two out of three pulled for singles, then Root turns another to fine leg.
“Can anybody remember the last time England’s top four all got 50 or more?” wonders Paul Holmes.
No.
89th over: England 278-2 (Malan 62, Root 68) Ishant gets another go and gets milked like Big Bertha, four singles taking the lead to 200.
“Kim’s message got me wondering,” emails Jack Sidders. “What would constitute an unassailable lead for this (or any) England Test team, or if such a thing can ever be said to exist in the post Headingley 2019-era? A first innings lead of 500 with two and a half days to bowl the opposition out? Maybe add in a nasty stomach bug for the opposition top order, just in case? Or could they still manage to implode (like a submarine being crushed from the outside by hydrostatic pressure) from there?”
I hate to be a simpleton, but there’s always the weather – I seem to recall learning, while on the OBO any years ago, that it’s possible to force rain to come earlier, so perhaps we might club together for the planes necessary to make that happen?
88th over: England 274-2 (Malan 60, Root 66) Siraj replaces Shami and in commentary they’re advocating some molar music. But it doesn’t work out that way, Root taking one to third man before Malan flicks four to midwicket; India are taking an absolute hiding here, the lead a mighty 196.
“Very sad at the news of Ted Dexter’s passing,” says John Starbuck. |While the obituaries mostly deal with his excellent Test career, I also recall him leading the International Cavaliers, regularly broadcast on the BBC, in a partnership intended to achieve Brighter Cricket. This was the first of the limited overs game on a proper scale, with odd money prizes such as the Fastest Fifty. There was one occasion when he was going for this but towards the end hit a six, which got lost in the long grass. He only needed a couple of runs for the half-century but the umpires deemed that too much time had passed searching for the ball, so they ended the innings one over short. I never did discover if he got that Fastest Fifty, not so much for the money (in his case) as the glory.
Don Everly, Charlie Watts, Lord Ted in one week - not a great time for legends.”
My first acquaintance with Dexter had me thinking his full name was English Cricket Supremo Ted Dexter. I’ve learnt more about him since then, and like Everly and Watts too, we can take comfort in a life properly lived. The Everly Brothers’ Cathy’s Clown was my dad’s favourite song – feel free to send in the tunes with which your parents inspired yu.
87th over: England 269-2 (Malan 56, Root 65) Ishant, who’s having a miserable match, returns and goes around to the left-handed Malan, beginning with a no ball then seeing another dab run past the slips and down the hill fo fo. The second new balloon hasn’t worked for India, the extra pace increasing the rate such that the lead already looks matchwinning. A single follows, then another no ball before Root twizzles three to midwicket; I daresay Ishant will shortly be thanked, rather “thanked”.
I also absolutely love this:
England Men's XI as Paintings
— Murali End 🇱🇰 (@MuraliPod) August 25, 2021
Rory Burns - The Desperate Man, Gustave Courbet (1843-5)#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/zGyY5iPmlh
86th over: England 259-2 (Malan 51, Root 62) Eesh, yesterday I wondered if India had just chosen a less good ball than England, but on 49, Malan looks to play another run-down only for the edge he imparts to drop short of Pant. So he goes again and this time it works, allowing him to wave his bat to the crowd; what a feeling that must be! A single to deep backward square follows, raising the hundred partnership of just 138 deliveries, and India are, like Smokey, entering a world of pain.
I absolutely love this:
— Will 🚾 (@ohlookitswill_) August 25, 2021
85th over: England 256-2 (Malan 49, Root 61) “Absolutely gorgeous” says Wardy, when Root steps back, leaps, and eases four through cover. Not since 2013 and Ronald’s Ashes has an England batter exuded such easy authority, and this doesn’t seem like a run of form but an enduring oneness with self and technique.
“Can we just sit back and appreciate what a belter of a test match Ravichandran Ashwin is having here,” asks Rudrarpan Chatterjee. Nothing like a balmy August evening to kick your heels in the dressing room and enjoy some schadenfreude.”
Balmy is pushing it, though Leeds looks more clement than north London, but yes, India could probably do with him.
84th over: England 252-2 (Malan 49, Root 57) After Root nurdles a single Malan takes Shami to the cleaners, opening the face to glide four past third man then absolutely yeeting four more through cover point. He’s been handed an unexpected reprieve and believe he’s going to take it.
Thanks Tim and afternoon everyone. So India put in 10 days of brutal graft, outclassing England by and large, then went and tossed it all in two sessions. What a sport!
83rd over: England 243-2 (Malan 41, Root 56) A few singles off Bumrah, and that’s drinks, with England right back on top.
“These two are getting a shift on, aren’t they?” says Guy Hornsby on Twitter. “Amazing how runs in the bank and time can give an aggressive middle order the keys to the castle.” Yes, and England have the right people up their sleeve – Bairstow, Buttler, Moeen and Curran – to go ballistic after tea. But it would still be surprising if they don’t have a wobble at some point. I’m handing over to Daniel Harris to steer you through the rest of the day. Thanks for your company, correspondence and tolerance of my technical troubles.
82nd over: England 239-2 (Malan 40, Root 54) England’s lead is now 161. So far, 15 players have had a bat in this game. Not one of the Indians made it to 20, yet all four of the Englishmen have reached 40. This is not a Test match: it’s a Test mismatch.
Fifty to Root!
Root glides Shami through the covers with the greatest of ease and brings up yet another fifty. At a time when his team have been mostly floundering, he has found the form of his life.
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81st over: England 230-2 (Malan 40, Root 45) India take the new ball ASAP, as you would. Bumrah swings it straight away but the first ball is a full toss to Malan, who is so surprised that he doesn’t hit it for four. He rectifies that off the last ball, standing and delivering, cover-driving on the up. Shot!
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80th over: England 226-2 (Malan 36, Root 45) England pick up a few more runs before the new ball, helped by an overthrow, which is greeted with indecent scorn by the Western Terrace. The lead is now 148.
“Tom Peach’s comment regarding platonic ideal may perhaps be his first shot in a pre-Ashes sledging war,” says Leon Wylie. “Ascribing David Warner as Australia’s platonic ideal is OK only if England accept Don Sibley is theirs. Otherwise Pat Cummins or better still Ellyse Perry (at least to this Australian in sunny Scotland).”
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79th over: England 221-2 (Malan 35, Root 41) Root, knowing he won’t be seeing Jadeja again for a while, decides to bring out the sweep and sends the ball skimming through midwicket. When Root starts a series majestically, he tends to fade away by the end, worn down by the cares of office – but he seems hell-bent on not letting that happen here.
78th over: England 215-2 (Malan 34, Root 36) Siraj keeps it tight with some more bustling dots.
Here’s Charles Sheldrick, responding to Tom Peach from the 71st over. “I agree with the sentiment,” he says. “Always loved to watch Mark Waugh even though we were almost always getting spanked. Martin Crowe, Kallis and Sanga batting, Dravid just staying there for days… Curtly bowling was a joy, as was Mushi… Jonty fielding. All superb opponents. But David Warner as an ideal anything is one of the strangest things I have ever had the pleasure of reading in the OBO.” Ha. Ideal opponent for Stuart Broad, maybe.
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77th over: England 214-2 (Malan 34, Root 35) Jadeja drops short and Malan puts him away. He’s now a third of the way to a score that will prove a point to Ed Smith.
76th over: England 210-2 (Malan 30, Root 35) Kohli replaces Ishant with Mohammed Siraj, who comes charging in like a man who has had a Red Bull with his lunch. Root treats him with respect.
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75th over: England 209-2 (Malan 29, Root 35) Jadeja manages to bother Malan, going fuller and faster and persuading him to play and miss twice in a row. Rattled, Malan takes a kamikaze single, but the throw goes to the wrong end. And that’s the fifty partnership, off only 70 balls. Headingley celebrates with a woozy rendition of Joe Root, to the tune of Hey Jude.
74th over: England 204-2 (Malan 28, Root 35) Root brings up the 200 with his most Rootish stroke, the back-foot force past cover. Ishant bites back with a good outswinger, drawing a leading edge, but fortune, favouring the brave, gives Root two for it. He has passed 30 for the fifth time out of five in this series.
73rd over: England 198-2 (Malan 28, Root 29) A better over from Jadeja, who gets one to turn sharply out of the rough at Malan.
72nd over: England 197-2 (Malan 28, Root 28) Kohli has finally bowed to OBO pressure and posted a third man. This decision saves three runs as Root plays a late cut off Ishant. It would have been well worth four: Shane Warne was going “Shot!”.
71st over: England 196-2 (Malan 28, Root 27) Jadeja goes too full, so Root flicks him for four; then too short, so Root pulls him for four. He’s making the game look so easy at the moment.
“Evening Tim, evening everyone,” says Tom Peach, from “locked-down Helensburgh NSW”. “As an England cricket supporter living in Oz for many years I can get really protective of Our Team, sometimes to the point of not seeing the good in other teams. (The Ashes can be toxic at times.) But this Indian team is full of wonderful stylish players and in Bumrah, the run-up, the sling, the pace, the trickery, the talent, is their platonic ideal in the way Jimmy is ours. Or David Warner is Australia’s. A reminder, if one were needed, that we should appreciate, even love, the talents of our opponents.”
70th over: England 187-2 (Malan 28, Root 18) If Ashwin was in the XI, he’d be bowling now. As it is, Kohli goes back to Ishant, who’s been the least threatening of his four seamers. Both batters help themselves to a single, dabbed away easily enough, and Root pushes into the covers for a well-run three. His 18 has come off only 19 balls.
69th over: England 182-2 (Malan 27, Root 14) Jadeja continues as Kohli keeps one eye on the new ball, which is due in 11 overs’ time. Aiming at the rough outside Malan’s off stump, he commands more respect than he did just before lunch, and this is a maiden.
68th over: England 182-2 (Malan 27, Root 14) Kohli brings back his trump card, Shami, for one over before lunch, which isn’t a fast bowler’s idea of fun. Root dabs him for four, a little perilously, then does it again, with more control. Where’s that third man, Virat? Would have saved some of those overthrows, too. And that’s lunch, with India having a much better session and getting rid of both openers, but England still sitting very comfortably in the driving seat. They lead by 104.
67th over: England 174-2 (Malan 27, Root 6) Root, going swiftly back with that dancer’s footwork of his, flicks Jadeja for two. Apologies for the stuttering coverage – my telly’s on the blink and so is my laptop. Apart from that, everything’s just fine.
66th over: England 170-2 (Malan 26, Root 3) Bumrah beats Malan with a yorker outside off, then Root nearly defeats his partner by sending him back when, as Nasser Hussain points out, there was an easy run on offer. Bumrah tries a yorker to Root too, but he’s in such good nick that he has no trouble jamming the bat down.
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65th over: England 169-2 (Malan 25, Root 3) Jadeja continues, bowling nice and slow. Malan and Root show Hameed how it’s done by working him around, picking up three singles and a two.
64th over: England 164-2 (Malan 23, Root 0) Bumrah is back already, at the other end, and he’s not happy because one of his team-mates has just handed England four overthrows with a bizarre throw that ends up in the slips.
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63rd over: England 159-2 (Malan 18, Root 0) Instant success for Jadeja – who did turn that ball, just enough to beat Hameed’s forward prod and brush the outside of off.
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Wicket! Hameed b Jadeja 68 (England 159-2)
Hameed’s vigil is over! He misses a straight one. Was it that blow to the head, or the 28 dots in a row?
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62nd over: England 158-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 17) While Hameed deals in dots, Malan is just waiting for the bad ball and hitting it for four. He drives Siraj through the covers, then, for a change, takes a quick single.
61st over: England 153-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 12) Yet another maiden to Hameed from Bumrah, who now has figures from the Anderson playbook: 18-9-24-0.
60th over: England 153-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 12) Siraj tries going round the wicket to Malan, which, as Shane Warne has just shown on the telly, is the way to get him out, but the only instant result is four leg byes to bring up the 150. That last fifty took 144 balls: it’s as if Dom Sibley is still there.
“Is there such an out as Head Before Wicket?” asks David Melhuish. “That last duck-down from Haseeb Hameed looked dangerously low!” It did. And yes there is – if I remember it right, LBW covers any part of the body except the hand, which counts as part of the bat.
59th over: England 149-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 12) The Indians have been trying the bouncer against Hameed, who has been ducking quite easily – until now, when he cops one from Bumrah on the helmet. There’s a delay for the usual checks, although he seems fine. Bumrah follows up with a full ball and inquires about LBW, but Alex Wharf, who has been making a confident Test debut, shakes his head as it was going down. Hameed is a bit becalmed: eight runs in 85 minutes this morning.
58th over: England 149-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 12) Kohli finally gives Shami a rest, bringing on Mohammed Siraj. He was so good at Lord’s, but his mojo seems to have gone missing somewhere on the M1. He drops short, twice, and Malan says thank you very much and cuts him for four, twice, behind square. Another Yorkshire truism: you need a third man.
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57th over: England 141-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 4) More oohs as Bumrah gets one to lift and leave Hameed, but he’s pulled the bat and gloves well out of harm’s way.
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56th over: England 141-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 4) It’s still Shami, and he’s still making the ball talk. Malan gets something resembling the ball that did for Burns – speared in from wide of the crease – and elects to leave it alone, which has the crowd oohing, aahing and wondering how it’s missed the off bail.
“When Jason Gillespie coached Yorkshire,” says Tim Sanders, “he told the bowlers to go a little fuller in length, aiming for the sponsor’s logo three-quarters of the way up off stump. His team won two championships, and Liam Plunkett out-bowled Anderson and Broad in the 2014 Test here, in the years when Jimmy was still searching for the ‘Headingley length’.” Local knowledge! Excellent.
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55th over: England 141-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 4) A few minutes ago the commentators produced Hameed’s wagon wheel, which was interesting: every single scoring stroke was square of the wicket, much like Joe Root, only more so. Hameed plays out a maiden from Bumrah, which means he’s reached drinks without mishap. India have been better this morning, as expected, mainly thanks to Shami – but England are still well on top. They lead by 63 and CricViz gives them a 93pc chance of a win here, with India on 5. Anybody getting a touch of vertigo?
“Haven’t felt so much for a forward defensive,” says Emma John on Twitter, “since the Atherton days.” Ha. She wrote a book about that, so watch out Haseeb.
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54th over: England 141-1 (Hameed 68, Malan 4) Malan plays and misses at Shami, who’s been much better today than last night.
“When should England declare?” asks Nigel Smith. “I’ve never said that before.” Ha.
53rd over: England 140-1 (Hameed 67, Malan 4) Here at last is Malan, who had to wait 50 overs to see a wicket fall, and then a few more minutes to get the strike. He has a bizarre weakness as a Test batsman: facing good-length balls, against which, according to a recent analysis by the Telegraph, he averages 9 (compared to 49 against the short ball, and 33 against the full one). But he puts a length ball away now, pushing Bumrah crisply through the covers.
52nd over: England 136-1 (Hameed 67, Malan 0) Kohli, trying to crank up the pressure, posts a silly mid-off for Shami. Hameed stays calm and side-on. He’s not just wearing a black armband for Ted Dexter – he’s playing the way Ted used to advocate.
51st over: England 136-1 (Hameed 67, Malan 0) A belated entrance for Bumrah, the human catapult. He’s on the spot straight away and gets Hameed to leave the ball perilously close to the off bail. The last ball is more obliging, pitched up on middle-and-leg, and Hameed takes a single, so Dawid Malan can continue to make his re-entry to Test cricket from the non-striker’s end.
50th over: England 135-1 (Hameed 66, Malan 0) The ball hit the top of off – the classic Headingley dismissal. The partnership was England’s highest of the series, beating 121 by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s.
Wicket! Burns b Shami 61 (England 135-1)
The breakthrough! Shami first gets Burns playing with a crooked bat outside off, then bursts through the gate with the nip-backer. Is this the moment the game changes?
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49th over: England 135-0 (Burns 61, Hameed 66) Kohli doesn’t go as far as making a bowling change, but he does bring in a leg slip for Ishant, bowling to Hameed. And it perhaps has an impact as Hameed first plays and misses, then gets a thick edge, low into the slips. It brings a single, which leads Dinesh Karthik – usually very sharp – to say you make your own luck. That’s another saying I don’t understand. Isn’t luck, by definition, the bit you don’t make?
“Great to see you in the seat,” says Bill Hargreaves, whose reliably kind words are part of our good fortune on the OBO. “Exciting! Thanks for the great service. This is the TMS overseas link in case it’s wanted.” Thank you, Bill.
48th over: England 133-0 (Burns 60, Hameed 65) Shami bustles away, picks up a maiden, but doesn’t bother the outside edge. Kohli needs to do something fast.
47th over: England 133-0 (Burns 60, Hameed 65) Another over from Ishant, another freebie on the pads for Burns. We need a camera on R Ashwin, who must be tearing his hair out.
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46th over: England 130-0 (Burns 57, Hameed 65) Hameed sees that clip for four by Burns and thinks he’ll have one too, off Shami. Michael Holding reckons the Indian seamers have been a touch too short. They’ve also been too much on the pads. Headingley is all about hitting the top of off, which may explain why Yorkshiremen sometimes make boring commentators – they’re always making the same point. Geoffrey Boycott’s catchphrase was “As I was saying”.
45th over: England 126-0 (Burns 57, Hameed 61) Burns hits the first four of the day as Ishant hands him a birthday present on the pads. Before that, Hameed gets off the mark for the morning with a crisp tip-and-run, push and go. He’s done that so well in this innings – simple but effective. Not that I‘ve ever seen the point of that “but”: simple is nearly always effective, isn’t it?
44th over: England 121-0 (Burns 53, Hameed 60) From the other end it’s Mohammed Shami, so Kohli is keeping his Bumrah dry. Shami bustles in and bowls to Burns, who is celebrating not just a return to form but his 31st birthday. He knows that this fifty will turn into a hundred if he can just hang in there, and he plays out a maiden.
43rd over: England 121-0 (Burns 53, Hameed 60) Kohli hands the ball to Ishant Sharma, a show of faith after he set the wrong tone by starting this innings with a nine-ball shemozzle. He goes awry now too, giving Burns a gentle loosener on the pads, which is tucked away for a single, and his first ball to Hameed is too wide. But by the fourth ball Ishant is in the groove, finding just enough movement to beat Hameed’s studious prod. Headingley is shrouded in clouds, which should have all the bowlers licking their lips.
The first email of the day has landed. “Good morning Tim,” says Kim Thonger. “I like your intro this morning.” Thanks! “I’ve been watching Test match cricket for five and a half decades. In that time it’s become ever more volatile. Despite a great day yesterday I have literally no idea which England team will take field this morning. I don’t think there’s an algorithm in existence that can predict the outcome of this game. I see an Indian win is priced by bookmakers at 22/1 and frankly I’m going to have a tenner at least on that because if India get three quick wickets England could implode like whatever it is that implodes most impressively. Nobody will convince me they have a clear path to victory or an unassailable lead. Their minds seem as fragile as a very thin sheet of ice on a shallow puddle. Very much looking forward to the day though, whoever takes the upper hand, it’s enthralling. PS your email address is wrong on the link by the way :-) it bounces.” Ah sorry, will fix. It should say tim.delisle.casual@guardian.co.uk.
Preamble: daydream believer
On Monday Joe Root was talking about his boyhood dream. Yesterday he was living it: captaining England in the field as wickets fell like autumn leaves, then watching his team-mates cruise into the lead without requiring a single run from him. Today he must be tempted to take the day off, nip down to Sheffield to see the family, and leave the rest of the batsmen to it.
In reality, though, he will be expecting India to come roaring back. Virat Kohli had a shocker yesterday, making the wrong call at the toss, batting feebly, then failing to inspire his attack. This was a performance from the old Indian playbook, not the new one. But teams that have that bad a day usually show some fight at the next opportunity, as England did yesterday. And there is nothing wrong with India’s position that can’t be fixed by taking seven quick wickets.
For England, the challenge is to keep going, while fighting off any feelings of disbelief. Haseeb Hameed needs another 40 for a first Test century. Rory Burns may well be eyeing one too, and if either of them falls, the stage will be set for Dawid Malan. All Root has to do is tell him to treat the occasion like a T20, and he should be good for a no-fuss run-a-ball fifty.
The last time England were in this strong a position on the second morning of a Test, they went on to make 500 and win by an innings. But then, as every single one of their supporters knows, they always have a collapse in them. Do join me at 11am UK time to see which way they go.
