Bess speaks!
Here’s today’s report.
Channel 4’s panel of pundits so far consists of Alastair Cook, Alastair Cook, and more Alastair Cook. He talks a very different game from the one he used to play – he rattles along at high speed, and struggles to serve up anything memorable. So I’m going to give the last word to Mike Atherton, who would be on the telly if the rights had gone to Sky.
“Really enjoyed that day,” Atherton says on Twitter. “It had everything: terrific new ball spell from Jofra Archer; Dom Bess’ best spell in England colours; great catch at cover from Joe Root; classy batting from Cheteshwar Pujara and a thrilling counter attack from Rishabh Pant. Fantastic.” Amen to that, and goodbye from a snowy London. We’ll be back tomorrow at 4am sharp. So far, this series has been well worth its weight in lost sleep.
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“Brilliant morning’s cricket in Chennai,” says Colum Fordham, “but thanks for bringing the other Test match to our attention in Bangladesh. Flicked briefly to the streaming of the highlights and it looks as though West Indies have found in Kyle Mayers the natural heir to Chris Gayle. Muscular left-handed batsman who is a big hitter and graceful.
“In response to one of Kim Thonger’s questions [62nd over], I think you have to be a masochist to be an England captain as much as a psychopath.”
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So that’s the end of an enthralling day. England batted on, hoping to get to nirvana, or as it’s known in cricket, 600. They didn’t quite make it, but Joe Root would have settled for 578 if he’d been offered it when he reached the crease on Friday morning, with the score on 63-2. And when India batted, Jofra Archer, restored to his rightful role as England’s spearhead, removed both openers. In came Virat Kohli, sniffing a double hundred, only to be bamboozled by Dom Bess.
While a billion people shook their heads and asked “who the hell is Dom Bess?”, the bounciest little off-spinner in Somerset took out Ajinkya Rahane, thanks to a great catch by Root at extra-cover. Cheteshwar Pujara was joined by Rishabh Pant for a fabulous, fearless counter-attack – Pujara playing Test creekit, Pant making merry hell. They added 119 off only 24 overs, before Pujara fell to an outrageous piece of bad luck, as his pull shot bounced off Ollie Pope’s back to give Rory Burns a catch at midwicket.
Pant went blasting on, lacerating poor old Jack Leach, but fell in the nineties for the fourth time in his 17 Tests – giving a catch to Leach, who had the last rueful smile. That was the end of the firework display, whereupon Ashwin and Sundar restored order by seeing out 17 overs. It’s been breathless stuff, great entertainment for those watching Channel 4 on a Sunday morning. If only there had been a crowd in to enjoy the ride on the rollercoaster. Thanks for your company and erudite correspondence, and the match report will be along soon.
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Stumps: India mounting a rearguard
74th over: India 257-6 (Sundar 33, Ashwin 8) We were expecting Archer to make things happen, but it’s actually Leach who finds a touch of magic. He suddenly produces some extra bounce, forcing Sundar into a defensive prod which goes down into the ground and bounces over the bails, like a serve in ping-pong played in reverse. Then another one spits out of the rough and goes for four byes. And that’s stumps, with India seeing out the last 17 overs safely. Well played Washington Sundar and and Ravi Ashwin. They trail by 321, so they need another 122 tomorrow to avoid the follow-on.
“Contributors with longer memories,” says Phil Sawyer, “will remember that there was indeed once a range of OBO merchandise, in honour of the Laurie Engel Fund. Including the unlikely OBO thong. Not a fashion statement that I believe caught on. It also makes me feel very old realising how long ago that was. I’m currently channelling my inner Roger Murtaugh.”
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73rd over: India 253-6 (Sundar 33, Ashwin 8) Archer, bowling his 16th over of the day, moves through the gears, but more gently than in his last spell – 126kph, 129, 133, 136... and Ashwin, who has got through 55 overs himself in this match, is equal to it.
“These days,” says Phil Russell, “the follow-on seems to be going down the same route as WG Grace’s maxim on the toss. ‘When in doubt, think about enforcing the follow-on, then don’t.’ Certainly this century has seen a much lower enforcement rate than in all of Test cricket previously. I guess it can be put down to a combination of:
- less time lost to weather, taking it out of the equation.
- faster scoring rates increasing the risk of a counter-attack with a tired bowling unit struggling to respond.
- a dislike of small 4th innings targets.
- being able to bowl last on a wearing pitch.
“If anything, the judgment call is when to declare the 3rd innings to give enough time to bowl the opposition out without risking defeat. Something Mominul Haque is no doubt reflecting on as we speak.”
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72nd over: India 252-6 (Sundar 32, Ashwin 8) Sundar hits Leach for four – how and where, I cannot say, as I was busy dealing with matters of OBO merchandising and one drawback of watching on channel4.com is that you can’t rewind. The partnership has reached 27 off 92 balls. And heeeere’s Jofra!
71st over: India 247-6 (Sundar 27, Ashwin 8) A maiden from Bess to Ashwin. The Amalgamated Union of Off-Spinners would approve, but it feels as if England are missing a chance to make sparks fly. Nick, from the 69th over, is surely right: get Jofra on!
“You’re all probably too young to remember this,” says Paul Whaley, “but back in 2009 OBO merch was very much a thing. Proceeds went to charity. You could even get an ‘is it cowardly to pray for rain’ thong.” I definitely believe that. “David Horn was your man. The merch site seems to be down now, but I wonder if he could be nudged into doing it again? Great work on the OBO, keep it up!”
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Dropped! Sundar by Archer off Leach
70th over: India 247-6 (Sundar 27, Ashwin 8) Sundar finally decides to attack Leach, chipping over mid-on – and getting dropped by Archer, running back and diving. It was a half-chance, tough but not impossible.
“OBO as a religious cult?” says Nick. “A group of devotees waiting on the intermittent witterings of a bloke typing away from his basement is more of a political movement these days – like QAnon for the self-aware. Now, where do I get my ‘Make Archer Bowl Again’ hat?” Ha. QAnon for the self-aware, that’s us.
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69th over: India 245-6 (Sundar 25, Ashwin 8) Bess is back from his breather. Sundar treats him with respect, taking just a single.
68th over: India 244-6 (Sundar 24, Ashwin 8) Leach reverts to allowing each batsman a single.
Meanwhile the exam set by Kim Thonger (62nd over) has found a willing candidate. “I believe Kim Thonger’s first question is flawed,” says Brad McMillan, “as it equates the role of captain to a CEO. It seems closer to the MD role of a particular division within a business (in this case, let’s say On Field Activities). While there is clearly still scope for a high level of psychopathy in that role, I’d say most of it can be left to the head coach.” Not sure about that – the captain is the boss, isn’t he?
“As for the second question, I haven’t revised, so will simply answer ‘no, it doesn’t happen often enough’.” Ha. Some of the trickiness of the follow-on decision has been removed, paradoxically, by Pant, because he scored so fast. England have been able to get through the top order without tiring their bowlers out, which is quite a luxury for a visiting team in India.
67th over: India 242-6 (Sundar 23, Ashwin 7) Stokes slips in a yorker which Sundar is good enough to dig out. He celebrates with a textbook off-drive, the first four since Pant departed. India are 336 behind, still 137 short of escaping the follow-on.
“Thanks for all the coverage,” says Tim Stafford. It’s a great pleasure. “Just wanted to add my voice in support of Nigel Smith’s for OBO merchandise (93rd over). I’d certainly take an OBO floppy to wear at the cricket this summer or on the beach...” You do realise it’s going to be the height of fashion?
66th over: India 237-6 (Sundar 19, Ashwin 6) Another ball from Leach, another puff of dust in the rough, another leave by Sundar, another review, and another wasted one, though this time the ball was only just going over the bails. “Fuck!” says Joe Root. England, who are usually good at reviews, now have only one left, whereas India have all three. Still, something extraordinary has happened: Jack Leach has bowled a maiden. His figures are 13-1-85-0.
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65th over: India 237-6 (Sundar 19, Ashwin 6) A single to Sundar off Stokes, and these two have now added a mighty 12 off eight overs.
“Hi Tim from ‘your friend in the North’.” It’s Anthony Bradley. “My young off-spinner/middle-order bat has yet to emerge from his pit unfortunately.” That’s his prerogative. “Also, in case you are wondering, they lost their U15s semi-final at the back end of last season. The lad got a couple of wickets but extras were the big difference and amounted to an extra batter for their opponents.” Ah shame, but great about the wickets.
64th over: India 236-6 (Sundar 18, Ashwin 6) Leach has a rather unexpected review against Washington Sundar, for LBW, as he plays no stroke to a ball landing in the rough outside off. The on-field umpire isn’t interested, nor are the commentators, and sure enough the ball was going over the stumps. But it’s all part of Leach’s rehabilitation. His four overs in this spell have gone for eight runs, and normal life has resumed. Just what we all long for.
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63rd over: India 235-6 (Sundar 17, Ashwin 6) So Bess has a well-earned rest and Stokes, bowling only his fourth over of the winter, finds enough movement to beat Ashwin’s outside edge.
“Channel 4 live cricket and the OBO,” says Nigel Smith. “What more can you want in life? My student daughter would disagree – she feels she hasn’t got a life.” Ah, feeling for her. “I have tried to explain to her the joys of cricket but it’s a tough sell.” Give her time – my student daughter suddenly got the bug last summer, out of nowhere, or possibly lockdown.
“Anyway,” Nigel goes on, “I still think the idea of OBO merchandise is a great idea. In the colder climates we could have OBO bobble hats, winter leggings, fingerless gloves… the list is endless. In June I’m off to watch England v New Zealand – all OBOers who are going could wear OBO merchandise and we could all meet up!” You may have started a religious cult.
62nd over: India 233-6 (Sundar 17, Ashwin 5) Three more singles, off Leach, who has somehow managed to get his economy rate down below eight (11-0-84-0). And Ben Stokes is loosening up.
“I have two questions,” says Kim Thonger. “1. It’s often said that successful CEOs are psychopaths, so does one have to be a psychopath to be a successful England captain? Discuss, giving real life examples to support your argument.
“2. Is making the correct judgement call about enforcing the follow-on the truest test of a cricket captain? Please show your workings in the margin.” Ha.
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61st over: India 230-6 (Sundar 16, Ashwin 3) India need 149 more to avoid the follow-on, and these two have decided to get ’em in singles. They’ve added five in 4.2 overs: hello again, proper Test cricket.
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60th over: India 229-6 (Sundar 16, Ashwin 2) Another two-run over from Leach, who, when he took that catch, woke up from a bad dream. His figures are now no worse than 10-0-81-0.
Over in Bangladesh, West Indies have completed their famous victory, and Kyle Mayers has walked off the pitch with 210 not out on debut. Not even Joe Root managed that.
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59th over: India 227-6 (Sundar 15, Ashwin 1) A maiden from Bess to Ashwin, one off-spinner showing another some respect.
58th over: India 227-6 (Sundar 15, Ashwin 1) Better captaincy from Root, who takes himself off – even though he once got Ravi Ashwin out – and brings Leach back, now that his tormentor has gone. Leach celebrates in very Leachian fashion, with a tidy over for two.
Here’s Gary Naylor. “All these Channel 4 newbies to Test cricket,” he reckons, “are going to find The Hundred rather slow and dull aren’t they.”
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57th over: India 225-6 (Sundar 14, Ashwin 0) Bess had dished up a full toss, first ball, and Pant helped himself from the buffet to move into the nineties. Somehow I got the feeling they wouldn’t be nervous – but I wouldn’t have guessed that he was about to blow it. His 91 came off only 88 balls and gave us some wonderful entertainment. The cricket gods continue to smile on Dom Bess, who now has a sensational four for 53 off 19 overs.
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Wicket!! Pant c Leach b Bess 91 (India 225-6)
The big one! Pant’s flamboyance finally gets the better of him as he tries to hit a six over extra-cover, doesn’t get hold of it, and presents a catch to the very man he has spent the afternoon tormenting. Karma!
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56th over: India 221-5 (Pant 87, Sundar 14) Root takes Leach out of the firing line and turns to... himself, with his round-arm offbreaks. Pant, perhaps wary of getting out to a part-timer, plays out five dots before driving for a single. And that’s drinks, with England still on top, sniffing the follow-on, but facing resistance of the highest quality from the swashbuckling Pant. There are still 21 overs to be bowled today, in theory, so don’t go away. And do persuade the nearest young person to watch Pant, who is treating Test cricket like a party in the park.
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55th over: India 220-5 (Pant 86, Sundar 14) Sundar is not your normal No.7. He opens the batting for Tamil Nadu, according to one of the commentators, and shows why by tucking into Bess. Never mind the rough: if it’s pitched up he’s going to drive, and if it’s short he’s going to cut. The counter-attack continues. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, as Andrew Cosgrove points out, Kyle Mayers of West Indies is closing in on an epic victory – 192 not out, on debut!
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54th over: India 210-5 (Pant 85, Sundar 5) Another false shot from Pant, but again he gets away with it as a top-edged sweep lands safely behind square (and goes for three). Sundar sees Pant bullying Leach and joins in, getting off the mark with a cracking cover-drive for four. Leach’s figures are not a pretty sight: 8-0-77-0. England may need to track down Phil Edmonds, who was so good in India in 1984-85, and get him chatting to Leach on Zoom.
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53rd over: India 202-5 (Pant 82, Sundar 0) Once again, it’s a different game at the other end, where Sundar plays out a maiden from Bess.
Abhijato Sensarma is so inspired by Pant’s firework display that he has turned to poetry.
Rishabh Pant bats like the lovechild of Gilchrist and ABD
The cricket ball is something this Indian keeper can see
Like a football, be it red or white
The opposition can never keep him quiet
He’s Pant and he’s the best of us
He always hits a six, then another, like a London bus!
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52nd over: India 202-5 (Pant 82, Sundar 0) Will Pant switch to the anchor role? Will he hell. Facing Leach, he plays a ramp shot, over Jos Buttler’s shoulder for four. And then he dances down the track and swings to cow corner. That’s his fifth six, the same as the whole England team managed in more than two days. If there was a crowd in, they would be going crazy.
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51st over: India 192-5 (Pant 72, Sundar 0) So the demon Bess has three wickets, and now, as Washington Sundar comes out, he has two left-handers to bowl at. But Pant is still there. India need another 187 to avoid the follow-on, and he may have to get most of them himself.
Wicket!! Pujara c Burns b Bess 73 (India 192-5)
Dom Bess’s golden arm strikes again! Or perhaps I should say Ollie Pope’s golden back. A rank bad ball, a comfortable pull by Pujara: Pope ducks, the ball bounces up off somewhere just beyond his shoulder and gives Burns a simple catch at midwicket. That is outrageous.
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50th over: India 192-4 (Pujara 73, Pant 72) Even when he slows down, Pant is always looking for runs. He straight-drives Archer for two and would have more through the gully but for a fine stop by Rory Burns.
“Pujara and Pant look like they could bat for a long time,” says Matt Dony. “Time to start praying for rain?” Outside my window, there’s snow.
49th over: India 188-4 (Pujara 72, Pant 69) Pant plays a false shot, cutting Bess in the air, but it lands some way from the man at point. Pujara, using his feet again, pushes into the covers for four. After marmalising Leach, these two may be making a calculated assault on Bess. Root reacts by taking out silly point, which, as Nick Knight says on commentary, seems a shame when Pujara tends to play with bat and pad together.
48th over: India 182-4 (Pujara 67, Pant 68) Pujara cuts Archer for four. He’s actually been scoring faster than Pant for the past few overs, so I was wrong to say he was just the straight man – liar, liar, Pujara’s on fire.
47th over: India 177-4 (Pujara 62, Pant 68) Anderson’s spell comes to an end after two overs, and Bess returns. Pujara, itching to get after him, comes down the track a couple of times, and doesn’t profit directly, but it makes Bess drop short, whereupon Pujara pulls for four. And that’s the hundred partnership, 103 off only 121 balls. It’s been a masterclass in the art of the counter-attack. And the double act – the entertainer and the straight man.
46th over: India 172-4 (Pujara 57, Pant 68) What on earth has happened to Pant? He’s allowed Archer to bowl a maiden.
There’s a pause while Pujara’s finger gets some attention from the physio. Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, West Indies are chasing 395, and they’re 307-5. CricViz gives them a 35pc chance of getting the remaining 90.
45th over: India 172-4 (Pujara 57, Pant 68) Anderson gets Pant where he wants him, wafting outside off – and the edge goes through the vacant fourth slip. There were only two catchers, a slip and a gully, and England paid the price for their parsimony. The camera homes in on the ball, showing that the seam has fallen apart, just as it did at this stage of England’s innings, but Jimmy can still work with it – he gets some reverse into Pujara, and raps him on the glove.
44th over: India 167-4 (Pujara 57, Pant 63) Pujara joins in the fun, spotting an attempted yorker from Archer and meeting it on the full. That wasn’t a straight drive, it was a straight block. This is such a good contest.
43rd over: India 163-4 (Pujara 53, Pant 63) Yes, it’s Jimmy Anderson – but his first ball is delivered by an impostor, short and wide, and Pant cuts it for four. Jimmy reasserts himself with a few dots, and then Pant plays a back-foot force for four more. Has nobody told him that Anderson simply doesn’t go for eight an over?
42nd over: India 155-4 (Pujara 53, Pant 55) Pant hears those questions and answers, for once, with a dead bat, before glancing a single. Archer, athletic as ever, reaches 90mph with his second ball.
The players are out there and Jofra Archer is doing his stretches. It could be seam at both ends for a bit, to ask Pant some different questions.
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Tea: India on the counter
41st over: India 154-4 (Pujara 53, Pant 54) Just a single off Bess’s over, so that’s a sober end to a spectacular session. England were all over India when Bess removed Kohli and Rahane, but then Rishabh Pant launched a sparkling counter-attack. The first hour after lunch yielded only 14 runs, the second 81 as Pant’s pyrotechnics combined with Cheteshwar Pujara’s patience. England are still 424 ahead, a position so unfamiliar that they’re not posting nearly enough catchers. Mind you, Jack Leach may want everyone on the boundary, as he’s been hammered for 59 off six overs. See you shortly.
40th over: India 153-4 (Pujara 53, Pant 53) Pujara has found his feet. He skips down to Leach again and drives inside-out to reach yet another fifty. Last time England were in Chennai, Karun Nair made a triple hundred: if anyone can do that here, it’s Pujara. But it’ll be a lot more fun if Pant does it. He too reaches fifty, dancing down to slap Leach past mid-off. Pujara’s fifty took 106 balls, Pant’s just 40. The partnership has been like a parable, the tale of a careful father with a spendthrift son.
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39th over: India 143-4 (Pujara 48, Pant 48) Now Pant attacks Bess, giving him the charge and slapping, uppishly but safely, into the gap at wide mid-off. Root dispatches a fielder there, which means Bess, who’s having the best afternoon of his life, is down to one close catcher, a slip. Root’s batting may be sheer genius, but his captaincy is not.
38th over: India 139-4 (Pujara 48, Pant 44) Root shows faith in Leach, who may be relieved to find himself up against Pujara – but it just means he goes for two, two, four, instead of six. Two cuts, followed by an on-drive that Greg Chappell would have been proud of. Leach has none for 49 off five overs. Root needs to do something: bring himself on, or Stokes, if he’s fit enough to play some chin music.
37th over: India 131-4 (Pujara 40, Pant 44) Bess again. Ollie Pope, who is so sharp at short leg, appeals for a run-out as Pujara scrambles back from a dance down the track, but he’s well in.
“How does one get out of a lucid dream?” wonders Will Juba. “I appear to be concocting the most wonderful story whereby Eng score 500+ in the 1st test of a series in India, batting for over 2 days, (silly as we’re renowned slow starters as you know)... and then proceed to destroy the world’s premier batting line up with a spinner whom no one seems to rate. Actually, this is fun, don’t wake me.”
36th over: India 129-4 (Pujara 39, Pant 43) Leach to Pant again: as Bryan Ferry once sang, you can guess the rest. Down the track, over the rope for six more – but only just evading Archer at long-on. That brings up the fifty partnership, 53 off 52 balls, most of them off poor old Leach, who has figures from the Vitality Blast, not that he has ever appeared in it: 4-0-41-0.
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35th over: India 120-4 (Pujara 38, Pant 35) Pant faces Bess, whose spin threatens his outside edge, and calms down enough to allow four dots. Well bowled Bess, who now has two for 21 from 10 overs.
34th over: India 119-4 (Pujara 38, Pant 34) Leach again, starting with a perfectly respectable ball – and it goes for another six! Rishabh Pant has hit more sixes in 35 minutes than Joe Root managed in the best part of two days.
33rd over: India 108-4 (Pujara 35, Pant 26) Another good over from Bess, who has three men round the bat, when he really should have six. Pujara sees it off, and he has 35 runs off 88 balls while Pant has 26 off 19. It’s Test creekit at one end, IPL at the other. The perfect combination.
32nd over: India 107-4 (Pujara 35, Pant 25) Archer gets a breather, with the sort of figures you might expect from him in an ODI (10-2-37-2). Jack Leach comes back and Pant is straight down the track, looking for a six over long-on, but settling for a single as he mistimes it. And then Pant does get his six! The same shot, with timing attached. And another six! Not so impressive, dragging it a bit, just clearing Dan Lawrence at deep midwicket. Fifteen off the over! If there are any children in your home, please tell them they have a licence to watch telly all morning.
31st over: India 92-4 (Pujara 34, Pant 11) A hint of an error from Pujara, shovelling Bess in the air – had there been a short midwicket, he’d be gone. He reasserts himself by using his feet and playing an off-drive for four, and likes it so much that he immediately does it again.
30th over: India 84-4 (Pujara 26, Pant 11) Pant is like Shubman Gill at the top of this new Indian order: he’s not going to die wondering. Facing Archer for the first time today, he glances the first ball of the over for four, then cuts the second for four more. And the deficit comes below 500! Just another 295 to go to avoid the follow-on.
29th over: India 76-4 (Pujara 26, Pant 3) This may be hard to believe, but Dom Bess has bowled an over without taking a wicket. Rishabh Pant gets off the mark with a whip for three.
28th over: India 73-4 (Pujara 26, Pant 0) Thanks Tanya and morning everyone. Well, this is tasty: Goliath reeling, David doing fist-bumps, how are the mighty falling. But Pujara is still there, solid as ever, and he plays out a maiden from Jofra Archer as if the past ten minutes had never happened.
27th over: India 73-4 (Pant 0, Pujara 26) India crumbling here, super from Bess, two crucial wickets, in tandem with Anderson at the other end. Pant, the hero of the final Test against Australia, walks to the crease, and I’ll hand over to Tim de Lisle to guide you through Pant’s progress and the rest of the day. Thanks for waking up early and all the emails. Till tomorrow!
A missive from Italy, and Colum Fordham. “Muggy but sunny Sunday morning here in Naples. As a Moeen Ali fan, I have to admit I may have underestimated Bess’ offspin. But it was a beautifully flighted delivery to Kohli, making him play away from his body as the ball drifted. That was worth at least four, arguably five Sri Lankan wickets.” You’re right, he’s been great today.
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WICKET! Rahane c Root b Bess 1
A blistering catch from Root, launching himself one-handed to his left, and clasping the ball as it fell. Rahane’s eyes had lit up at the prospect of easy runs from a full-toss, he shimmied and bottom-edged to his downfall.
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26th over: India 73-3 (Rahane 1, Pujara 26) Booming reverse-swing from Anderson, who also makes one ricochet off the pitch. India are a mere 505 runs behind and life is tricky out there in the sweltering Chennai sun.
25th over: India 71-3 (Rahane 0, Pujara 25) Jubilation from Bess, just reward for keeping it so tight. A classical off-spinning wicket, Kohli pushing forward hard, too hard. A huge wicket.
Morning Tanya, Morning Gary Smith. “I’d vote for Kim to go as T Curtis, but with a massive Leningrad Cowboys-style quiff, with which he/she could, perhaps, ‘help out’ with the fielding.”
WICKET! Kohli c Pope b Bess 11
The big one! Kohli pushes forward outside his body, and gets an inside edge to Ollie Pope at short leg who snaffles it low to the ground.
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24th over: India 70-2 (Kohli 11, Pujara 24) Anderson, sweaty of brow. He probes away, dangling baubles in Kohli’s eyeline. Kohli abstains.
A view from the Indian boundary.
This is a special spell from Archer, even better than anything we watched in Australia because there's nothing in the wicket and still such quality. Superb! #INDvsENG
— Sanjjeev (@Sanjjeev) February 7, 2021
23rd over: India 70-2 (Kohli 11, Pujara 24) Kohli picks up a single, as Bess finds some spin, and bounce, that surprises Pujara.
22nd over: India 69-2 (Kohli 10, Pujara 24) Anderson replaces Archer, and the ball is reversing. Pujara is happy to play out the maiden.
Kim Thonger writes: “I was advised last night I’m being taken to the Lords Test on June 3rd to watch New Zealand suffer at the hands of our brave boys. Just running through fancy dress options. Born on that day were George V, Tony Curtis, Josephine Baker and Rafael Nadal.
“Looking like Rafa and Josephine would require extensive cosmetic surgery and liposuction, but I think I could pull George off, so to speak, and I’m in with a shout at Tony if so his Some Like It Hot look. What are your thoughts? Should I be less ambitious and just go as Pope John Paul II again?”
I vote for the full Tony.
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21st over: India 69-2 (Kohli 10, Pujara 24) Bess again - and the cameraman/woman does some cracking work showing Kohli staring at Bess’s release point from the non-striker’s end as he bowls. Every ball he can. And that, my friends, is why he’s one of the best.
“Hi Tanya” Hello Harry Lang!. “I hope you’re well. I’d like to know if other viewers have been watching Channel 4 + 1 to buy an extra hour in bed, switching back to ‘real’ time at the lunch break?Having only worked this out on day 3, I’m feeling quite pleased with myself and deeply, deeply stupid at the same time (much like Root running himself out with ‘only’ 186 in the bag).”
I wonder if the Guardian would go for that?
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20th over: India 67-2 (Kohli 8, Pujara 23) Archer hits Pujara on the top hand, extracting, somehow, boomerang bounce from the pitch. Then he beats a grasping Kohli’s outside edge by the width of a fried egg (sideways on). Smashing bowling in deeply unhelpful conditions.
19th over: India 65-2 (Kohli 8, Pujara 22) Bess replaces Anderson, and both batsmen gather a leg-side single to their baskets.
18th over: India 63-2 (Kohli 7, Pujara 21) In my ear on talk sport Mark Nicholas is free-forming a syrupy stream of expertise and critical analysis of the England support staff’s physique . Archer getting bounce and swing and testing, testing, testing Kohli and Pujara. India absorb the pressure. They stop for an unscheduled drinks break.
“With Jon Lewis as his bowling coach at least we know that Joffra will never be knowingly underbowled! Boom tish, I’m here all week🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
(That maybe the most middle class joke I’ve ever told...)“
Peter Gluckstein, it made me laugh, as I depressed my cafetiere.
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17th over: India 63-2 (Kohli 7, Pujara 21) A probing maiden from Anderson to Kohli. This is the calm.
“Good afternoon Tanya and greetings from Hanoi. I am very concerned about Joe Root’s continued failure to convert a good start into a big score. Twice already this year he has made over 200 without pushing on to a triple century. Something should be done.” But, Phil Keegan, it is not good to have something to worry about in these carefree times?
16th over: India 63-2 (Kohli 7, Pujara 21) Another over for Archer, left arm in a sleeve, right arm naked, buttoned up to the neck as he slides to the crease. He’s quick, but Bumrah has still bowled the fastest ball int he match - by one kpb. He troubles Kohli,
Jon Lewis, the England bowling coach, turns out to have been Archer’s landlord in Sussex! Guy Perry, you’re a lucky man.
@tjaldred As England munch bindi bhajis, I'm gobbling a fruit salad in Kerala! TV blew up. I don't care as India lost two wickets in the first session! pic.twitter.com/BY1Vu999a3
— guyperry007 (@guyperry007) February 7, 2021
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15th over: India 61-2 (Kohli 6, Pujara 20) Cancel that, the ball can’t have started reversing during the lunch break, even under the southern Indian sun. Anderson is back and he’s bowling to Kohli. Four dots, then Kohli turns his wrists and eases the ball away for a couple. There is not even the tiniest skein of a cloud in the sky. A smart over.
“Does anyone know who has the shirt numbers 11. 22. 33, 44 on either side?” asks John Starbuck. “If we get Ashwin and Nadeem at the crease together, we’ll have an on-field sequence of 55 (Stokes) 66 (Root) 77 (Leach) 88 (Nadeem) and 99 (Ashwin).It’s a form of cricket bingo.”
Have Alastair Cook and Tim Henman ever been seen in the same room together? I think he’s excellent, actually, in the C4 studio. Something to look out for - when Anderson comes back, it’ll mean the battered young ball has started reversing. [No swing this morning.]
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Oh, this doesn’t sound too good.
Stokes clearly limping at the end of his follow through. Could be a worry for England
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) February 7, 2021
LUNCH
14th over: India 59-2 (Kohli 4, Pujara 20) And the last over before lunch will be bowled by Ben Stokes, who has switched ends and is finding a soupson of movement. Pujara, guard on his front forearm, is watchful, careful, and sees the over through. Kohli, collar up, removes his gloves walks off with Pujara, chewing the fat. As good a morning as we could have hoped for - a few squeezed runs, then wonderful attack from Archer, counter-attack from Shulman Gill and now we have Kohli at the crease. Time for me to make a large pot of coffee, back shortly.
13th over: India 59-2 (Kohli 4, Pujara 20) Spin from both ends as Root calls for Bess, who has been shorn for the Test, not much more on his head than on Leach’s. Kohli slides an easy single from the first ball. Not too much menace in that first over.
12th over: India 57-2 (Kohli 3, Pujara 19) Root turns to Leach, to give Archer a breather. Buttoned up at the cuffs, bald head already pinking under the Chennai sun, he zips through a Monday-morning kind of over. Four to Pujara with a stylish flick.
11th over: India 51-2 (Kohli 2, Pujara 14) Stokes in enforcer role. Short, towards the body. Kohli picks up his first run with an intense pull; Pujara cuts Stokes for four. Kohli tries to fry the fielders with the ferocity of his glare.
10th over: India 45-2 (Kohli 1, Pujara 9) Archer on song! Not only dismissing the dangerous-looking Gill, who was scoring at a run a ball, but also discomforting Kohli second ball with one that leaps up and scrambles him. Fifteen nervous minutes left till lunch.
WICKET! Gill c Anderson b Archer 29
No! I wanted to see more of Gill. I suppose they’re not playing for my pleasure, Anderson throws off the years, diving to his left at mid-on after Gill on-drives Archer in the air.
9th over: India 40-1 (Gill 22, Pujara 8) Ah, so Anderson has been taken off. Not sure if that was the original plan, but he wasn’t quite on target this morning. Stokes is his replacement. I think Gill might get a few directed towards that hand. They squirt three singles
“With Anderson bowling to Gill I feel like we are witnessing an historic moment with the torch being passed from one generation to the other.” muses Adam Levine. “The much coveted title of “best hair in cricket” must surely now belong to Gill after so many years sitting on Jimmy’s bookshelf.”
This is interesting. So many candidates these days, whereas once there was only Imran. Even Ben Stokes is doing it for the gingers, with his lockdown brylcream locks.
8th over: India 37-1 (Gill 22, Pujara 8) Archer, imperceptively as always, adding a touch of menace. A bouncer on this slow pitch forces Gill into modish evasive action, a neat knee bend and a swivel. Next ball he hits him on the glove, the physio is whistled for and some rather gruesome manipulation is happening.
7th over: India 35-1 (Gill 22, Pujara 7) Gill looking sweet. Such timing! Such confidence! Two easy fours off Anderson, the second rocketing through midwicket.
6th over: India 27-1 (Gill 14, Pujara 7) Archer making things happen, bowling full and fast. Pujara has a small victory, clipping him smartly off his legs for four.
Something to dream about:
Tickets for second Test in Chennai to go on sale from February 9. Will be sold only online. Around 15K tickets will be on sale.
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) February 7, 2021
5th over: India 22-1 (Gill 13, Pujara 3) Down on the boundary, Archer pulls out a cold flannel and wipes his face. Anderson, orange soled shoes, runs in as he always has. I don’t think he has done a Hadlee and reduced his run-up over the years. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I know you will. Pujara milks him for a couple down to backward point.
4th over: India 20-1 (Gill 13, Pujara 1) Beautiful bowling by Archer brings in the hammer of the Aussies, Pujara.
WICKET! Sharma c Buttler b Archer 6
A leg-cutter close to the body that forces Sharma to play, and he nicks behind where Buttler swallows gratefully.
3rd over: India 15-0 (Gill 13, Rohit 2) Gill looks at Anderson’s figures and feels no fear. A feathered on-drive spins past Jack Leach and slaps into the boundary boards. Gorgeous.
2nd over: India 10-0 (Gill 9, Rohit 1) It’s Archer from the other end. Gill sends his first ball rattling through the covers with an imperceptible prod. Archer beats him later in the over, with a beauty that not only screeches past the bat but also seems to crumble the pitch as it bounces. Gill gets his revenge with a snorting pull for four. Interesting times
Tony White is on the sofa. “I always think of OBO as the novel opposed to the film, the film being the flashy version with (replay) special effects, irrelevant sub-plots (studio analysis) and gaudy colours.Whereas the literary version has all this filtered out, allowing the imagination to go its own way, as I sprawl on the sofa.I don’t envy you, Tanya, having to sit through the Elstree version! Thanks for the filter.I have moved on to green tea, by the way.”
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1st over: India 2-0 (Gill 1, Rohit 1) Turns out Anderson can run into the pavilion change his shirt and bowl three balls with the new ball in the time it takes a kettle to boil. Not much to report, except that I now have a hot water bottle and they’re up there with my favourite household appliance(?).
Anderson has the new ball....
England scored 429 runs against spin in this innings, the most they've managed in a single innings since 1974. #IndvEng
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) February 7, 2021
Change of innings
A 40 minute last-blast by England this morning eeked out 23 runs and achieved a little more heel-grinding of the fielding side. Now for the interesting bit. Will the pitch defeat England’s seamers? How will Archer bowl in his first Test in India? How many will Kohli make, under pressure for his captaincy? Time for a quick cuppa, back shortly.
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WICKET! Anderson b Ashwin 1
Anderson attempts and inelegant swat on one knee, and misses. The third new ball strikes again.
189th over: England 578-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 1) Just a leg-bye from Bumrah’s over as England soak despair from the Indian fielders.
188th over: England 577-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 1) The huge Chennai stadium is empty, must feel a bit like playing in a multi-storey carpark. Ashwin has his suncream war-paint generously smeared on his cheeks, as Anderson snatches a single. Imagine the sun on your face - must be nice.
187th over: England 576-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 0) Leach survives a Bumrah maiden.
Happy Birthday Mark!
@tjaldred Morning from Woodstock NY. It's my birthday today and I'm giving myself the gift of the OBO and non geo-blocked ball-by-ball audio coverage of the test via @guerillacricket on @TuneIn @HotMicInc @SimpleRadio @youtube Jingles, ball by ball, knowledge, and shenanigans
— markzip (@markzip) February 7, 2021
187th over: England 576-9 ( Leach 14, Anderson 0) A miserable over for Ashwin: first Leach clodhoppers him for four over mid-on, then Pant misses a straight-forward stumping, then four leg-byes as Pant fumbles again.
A nuggett for you, thanks to the radio: 34 per cent of stumpings are missed at Test level.
186th over: England 567-9 ( Leach 9, Anderson 0) Bumrah tries two deliveries with the old ball before discarding it for a bright shiny cherry, and a wicket. Useful runs from Bess (would Moeen have made more?) as Anderson lopes out. He survives the over, squirting one into the leg side.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m learning to love the No Ball Klaxon. How long till it’s marketed as a sought-after ringtone? Hope it doesn’t alarm the puppy.” Martin Wright, just no.
WICKET! Bess lbw Bumrah 34
And with the first delivery of the new ball, Bumrah gets one to slide in to Bess and trap him on the leg stump.
185th over: England 567-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 34) Ashwin comes round the wicket and Dom Bess shimmies down the pitch and clubs him for four. Nifty footwork there.
“As someone who bitterly opposed THAT declaration in Adelaide in 2006 at the time (and not with benefit of hindsight), I say bat on and bat long ...” Brian Withington, I’ll be sure to pass your message on to Joe Root.
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184th over: England 562-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 29) A 143kph Bumrah yorker nearly does for Jack Leach, but with spade and rake he digs it out.
Next to me on the sofa, the puppy watches the cricket while chewing a glove.
183rd over: England 560-8 ( Leach 9, Bess 29) A couple off the over; England are going to grind to 600 it seems.
“Good morning from Helsinki, where white-ball cricket would be a very bad idea at the moment ;).” Hello Adrian Goldman. “Does this match begin to have the look of a high.scoring draw to you? - is it likely that England can bowl India out twice in less than three days…?
Good question, I think we wait to see how Anderson, Stokes and Archer do on this pitch.
182nd over: England 558-8 ( Leach 8, Bess 28) Bumrah oils his joints and turns the clockwork key. And we have the first no ball klaxon of the day - far, far, too early for such a din. The 20th no-ball of the innings. Bumrah is still bowling with the old ball. A nice, neat over.
The pitch is Chennai salmon, should Farrow and Ball be looking for a new colour.
181st over: England 556-8 ( Leach 7, Bess 28) over . It’s Ashwin for the first over, high and floaty. A quiet start, just the single to Jack Leach.
Into my email pings Tone White, “Waiting with a glass of barley milk ... does the OBO begin at 04.00?... that’s 05.00 here in France. I shall be patient and hope your coffee is kind to you.And your children, and the weather.”
It’s tea this morning. Tea then coffee, no?
In the studio, they mull over the perceived rivalry between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane, Australian stand-in miracle worker. SirAlastair thinks Kohli was calmer and quieter in the field yesterday. If India lose this Test, it will be his fourth loss in a row.
The players are on their way....
Over in Chennai, Mark Butcher is in a tight blue suit with a pink silk hankerchief in his top pocket, as he reports that temperatures are going to reach 30 degrees today.
A short burst of Mambo No. 5, and we’re back in the Channel 4 studio. Sir Alastair looks smart in his armchair. And some sad news from Barbados where West India fast bowler Ezra Mosley has died in a traffic accident.
Sad news coming in from Barbados... RIP Ezra Moseley. https://t.co/A0bfARZ657
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 7, 2021
Good morning! There’s a arctic wind a blowing outside but get the kettle on, play starts in ten minutes.
Preamble
Tumble outta bed, And I stumble to the kitchen, Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Switch on the TV, Lookin’ for some cricket action, Root n Kohli but please no klaxon, at an ungodly hour on Channel four .(sorry, Dolly)
Will it be worth getting up for? I slam my cards down on the table and say yes, yes! you crazy fool. A early-morning rattle by nine-Jack-Jimmy, before Anderson and Archer take the new ball to India’s intimidating top order. Kohli’s side will need 350 plus to avoid the follow-on, which Joe Root can swill pleasantly round his mouth this morning as he brushes his teeth.
As for Root - what a wonder he’s been these last two days. The first batsman ever to make a double century in his hundredth Test, in a Steve-Smithian vein of form. And England have their highest total in India for 35 years, largely thanks to his efforts
A brilliant read on him below by Jonathan Liew
Can Virat Kohli raise him? C’mon, that’s what we’re here to find out..
To remind yourself of yesterday’s antics, here’s a super account of the day’s play by Ali Martin .
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