That’s all for today’s blog; thanks very much for your company and emails. I’ll leave you with a match report on another tough day for England’s batsmen. Good day!
Here’s Ben Stokes
“Seam didn’t play much of a role in the last game [hence the team selection]. This looks a much better wicket - it’s a 300 wicket and we’re disappointed not to be still batting.
“We discussed last week as a group. It’s a tough game to analyse. Some people have analysed it in their own way, but so be it. We wanted to leave it behind us and play on our terms.
“The way Zak [Crawley, who was caught at mid-off off Patel] wanted to go about it was exactly what we spoke about. But from 30 for three we had to reassess. We tried to build some more partnerships to get up towards 300 - at one stage it looked like we were going to, but we couldn’t quite manage that.”
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Thanks to those of you who emailed in to point out that ‘Howzat?’ covers every appeal. Of course it does.
Close of play
12th over: India 24-1 (Rohit 8, Pujara 15) A quiet end to another eventful day. India are in control: they trail by 181 runs with nine first-innings wickets remaining. England are not out of the game, though; the pitch looks much better than last week’s, but there was still plenty of turn. By this time tomorrow we’ll know whether England have a chance of a famous 2-2 draw, or whether it’s going to be 3-1.
11.1 overs: India 22-1 (Rohit 7, Pujara 12) There’s a delay while Rory Burns comes out with a helmet for Joe Root, who is going to move to silly point for the last five balls of the day.
11th over: India 22-1 (Rohit 7, Pujara 12) Dom Bess is going to get one over before the close. He begins with a no-ball, a nightmare start given recent events, but his second legitimate delivery is an excellent offbreak that Pujara shoves just short of Pope at short leg.
The fourth ball is a good one, too, turning sharply to hit Rohit high on the front leg, but his fifth is off target and needs a smart take from Foakes down the leg side. A mixed start, but it included plenty of encouragement: there was more bite off the pitch for Bess than there has been in Leach’s first few overs.
10th over: India 18-1 (Rohit 7, Pujara 11) Pujara, on the walk, inside edges Leach to fine leg for a couple. Leach is a bit too short for much of his third over, probably in part because Pujara has been walking at him. Two overs remaining.
9th over: India 13-1 (Rohit 5, Pujara 8) Rohit is playing very carefully, especially against Anderson. Another maiden; Anderson’s figures are 5-5-0-1.
“Rob,” says John Starbuck. “Following the game in the sixties and seventies was tough too, one difference being that with a lot less protective kit the West Indies and Australians were genuinely feared. Teams from Asia were a nice relaxing treat where we could enjoy the classy batting and intricate bowling. Ups and downs everywhere.”
8th over: India 13-1 (Rohit 5, Pujara 8) There are four overs remaining after this one from Leach. Pujara skips down the track to work a couple into the leg side, and then steers a wider delivery to third man for four. Terrific batting. There has been a bit of turn for Leach, though nothing alarming.
“Hi Rob,” says Stephen. “I think I’m right in saying that theoretically appeal has to be for a specific reason (i.e. you shouldn’t be appealing for caught and LBW if you aren’t sure if there was an inside edge). Shouldn’t this also be the case for reviewing? When given out LBW you can review saying you hit it or that it was missing rather than being able to appeal on all grounds. I think this would minimise the ‘if in doubt’ review attitude some teams have and keep it as originally intended for the howler dismissals.”
I like the idea in theory, less so in practice. Imagine some poor local umpire telling Virat Kohli that he’s out because although replays showed the ball was missing another set, he reviewed for an inside-edge and the third umpire decided there wasn’t conclusive evidence whether it was pad or bad first. Then imagine that Kohli is on 99, in his 100th Test, on his home ground, and his dismissal means India have lost the final Test against Pakistan – and with it the series – by one run.
7th over: India 7-1 (Rohit 5, Pujara 2) Anderson gets one to kick and follow Rohit, who takes it high on the bat and is happy to see the ball fall safely on the off side. “Woah, there it is!” shouts one of the England fielders. Another maiden from Anderson, his fourth in a row. Honestly, I’ve run out of ways to say I’ve run out of ways to say I’ve run out of superlatives to describe Jimmy Anderson.
“A moof,” says Gary Naylor, “is the mood you’re in after being up since 4am to watch that procession!”
6th over: India 7-1 (Rohit 5, Pujara 2) Jack Leach replaces Ben Stokes, who bowled a quick two-over spell. Leach has had success against Pujara in particular in this series, so this move makes sense. He has a slip and short leg for both batsmen, and starts with a quiet over. Pujara gets off the mark with a sweep for two.
5th over: India 4-1 (Rohit 4, Pujara 0) Many modern batsmen try to take a shortcut back to form; slap one or two out of the middle and hey presto. Pujara is not among their number. He takes the long road, by joining the dot balls until they read F-O-R-M. He defends another impeccable maiden from Anderson, who has figures of 3-3-0-1. Honestly, I’ve run out of ways to say I’ve run out of superlatives to describe Jimmy Anderson.
“I’m in a less magnanimous moof than you Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “I don’t expect England to win more than one Test vs India, but I do expect them to be competitive. Having won the toss and had first go on a good batting track, they’re bundled out for 200 comprising some very poor shots. If they’re too tired to bat properly after two days cricket in the last 16 and rotation to boot, they might be in the wrong job.”
Oh no, Gary, they got to you as well. More to the point, what’s a moof? I quite like the idea of being a moof, though I fear Urban Dictionary will soon disabuse me of this enthusiasm. Yes, yes, I know I haven’t used disabuse correctly there. I don’t have time to think, Jimmy Anderson is bowling!
4th over: India 4-1 (Rohit 4, Pujara 0) There hasn’t been much movement for Anderson and Stokes, just some occasional swing. Stokes’s second over is a good one, an examination of Rohit’s defensive technique. He passes, and gets a gold star to boot.
“Hi Rob,” says Neelesh Naik. “As an Indian cricket fan growing up in the late eighties and nineties it is really easy to empathise with how English cricket fans feel right now. One thinks one’s team is good, but it really isn’t. The team has a few world class players and one hopes that the team will miraculously turn into world beaters. But they don’t and one eventually reconciles to celebrating minor meaningless victories. One thinks that with time, experience, and better talent coming through the team will get better. It doesn’t, it gets worse. This present Indian team is an anomaly. They have no business being that effective. It confuses fans like me.”
You’re right. The difference is that us England fans growing up in the late eighties and nineties felt that way then as well.
3rd over: India 4-1 (Rohit 4, Pujara 0) Pujara, who has been short of runs since the first innings of the series, defends solidly against Anderson. Another maiden.
“I’d hope that in the all the noise and navel gazing we don’t lose sight of quite how good this Indian side are,” says Tom Hopkins. “This is a team that just won in Australia in almost absurdly adverse circumstances. If England had pulled that off, Matt Hancock would be explaining how the open top bus tour definitely wasn’t a superspreader event. They’re the top dogs now, most teams going to their back yard should worry about getting tonked.”
I agree. The 1992-93 tour was a shambles; this has been nowhere near. And, as Cricinfo’s Andrew Miller pointed out when I rambled on about two-legged European ties in our WhatsApp group last week, England have got the away goal.
2nd over: India 4-1 (Rohit 4, Pujara 0) Intestinal malady or no, Ben Stokes will open the bowling. This is the first time in his Test career that he has taken the first new ball. Rohit gets off the mark with a boundary, thick-edging a back-foot drive wide of the slips. An okay over from Stokes, no more or less.
1st over: India 0-1 (Rohit 0, Pujara 0) Anderson starts with an exemplary over, a wicket maiden. There was a little bit of swing, no more, but he was right on the money. His last 100 Test wickets, since you asked, have come at an average of 19.37. It’s preposterous: he’s a 38-year-old fast bowler, and he’s never been better.
“Hello Rob,” says Anirudh P. “I don’t see England being too perturbed by this position - they have scored around 200 on track that has turned more and more with time and, Eng get to bowl the end of day overs at a tiredish India.”
Updated
WICKET! India 0-1 (Gill LBW b Anderson o)
He’s gone! It was umpire’s call, hitting the outside of leg stump. The remarkable Jimmy Anderson has his 612th Test wicket; eight more before the close and he’ll have overtaken Anil Kumble.
Updated
Gill has reviewed and this will be close. I reckon it will be umpire’s call and therefore out. He pushed defensively around a delivery that hit the kneeroll in front of middle and leg.
REVIEW! India 0-1 (Gill LBW b Anderson 0)
Jimmy Anderson will open the bowling, for two reasons: he’s the greatest new-ball bowler in England’s history, and he’s the only seamer England have got left. Hang on, he’s trapped Gill LBW third ball!
Updated
Great news: Ben Stokes has a stomach bug, as do a few of the England team. Oh and Jofra Archer still has elbow-knack. Mind you, this tour barely registers of the 1992-93 farceometer.
Let’s put this in perspective (part 2) It doesn’t feel like it right now, but this has still been a pretty good winter for England. Three wins and three defeats is an overachievement (I’d say 2-3 was par, maybe 1.5-3.5), but the way it has happened - with the three wins first and three crushing defeats (probably) afterwards - makes it feel worse.
I do think it’s important not to get carried away. England are being hammered by the world’s best side in extreme conditions. I would treat the two series with India like a European football tie: if England lose 3-1 here and win 3-1 in England (or even 4-1, like last time) it will be a triumph. And if they win the Ashes in Australia, the hell with everything else.
Let’s put this in perspective One day, we’re all going to die.
“I imagine,” says Ian Copestake, “that when a retired Axar Patel is invited by Sky’s own Alex Hales to take us through his variations in a masterclass, by then his ‘straight one’ will be referred to with due reverence but also air quotes.”
Updated
That’s a below-par score from England. Like, duh. We’re about to find out just how below par. I’m not sure it’s quite as bad as many are making out, though they are still looking down the barrel at a 3-1 series defeat.
“Strangely reassuring,” says Simon McMahon, “to know that England can collapse in Fahrenheit too.”
Updated
WICKET! England 205 all out (Leach LBW b Ashwin 7)
Another batsmen falls LBW playing for turn. Leach pushed defensively outside the line at a straight one from Ashwin and was plumb in front. He reviewed, just in case ball-tracking inexplicably showed the ball bouncing over the stumps and out of the stadium, but deep down he knew he was gone.
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75th over: England 205-9 (Leach 7, Anderson 10) The most consecutive five-fors is six, by ‘the Terror’ Charlie Turner in 1888. Patel is still hunting his fourth, but it doesn’t come in that over. Leach and Anderson are playing quite comfortably, which in some cultures might be considered a concern given the Indian batting line-up to come.
74th over: England 203-9 (Leach 6, Anderson 9) A full toss from Ashwin is clobbered for four by Leach, and England have made 200. Let there be banter.
73rd over: England 198-9 (Leach 4, Anderson 8) England scored 578 in the first innings of the series, with Joe Root hitting 218. Since then England haven’t made 200, never mind Root. But they might be about to get there, because Anderson has just reverse swept Patel for four! He nailed that stroke, and celebrated by scowling into the distance.
72nd over: England 191-9 (Leach 2, Anderson 1) England almost end the innings in the grand manner, with a daft run out. Anderson responded late to Leach’s call and would have been out had Axar Patel hit the stumps. He made the mistake of throwing rather than bowling the ball, and Anderson survived.
71st over: England 189-9 (Leach 1, Anderson 0) Axar Patel is one wicket away from a fourth consecutive five-for. He’s playing in his third Test.
“Hi Rob,” says Luke Dealtry. “Dan Lawrence = James Vince but Test quality, yes?”
I hadn’t noticed the similarity - I’d say Vince is more elegant, more exasperating - but why not?
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WICKET! England 189-9 (Bess LBW b Patel 3)
Axar Patel strikes with the straight one yet again. Bess pushed around his front pad and was plumb in front.
He didn’t get an inside edge...
Bess is given out LBW to Patel - but he reviews straight away. I think he got an inside edge.
WICKET! England 188-8 (Lawrence st Pant b Patel 46)
Told you Lawrence was playing well. He runs straight past a delivery from Patel, missing an almighty smear to leg in the process, and is stumped by a million miles. That’s a frustrating ending to a really excellent innings. Lawrence didn’t need to play a premeditated hack like that - not off Patel, not with Bess playing for him at the other end. But it’s all part of his education, and he did play very well in the circumstances.
Updated
70th over: England 188-7 (Lawrence 46, Bess 3) Lawrence is dropped by Ashwin. I say ‘dropped’: it would have been a remarkable reflex catch to his right as Lawrence smeared the ball whence it came. The ball went through Ashwin’s hand and away for four. The umpire hit the deck in a hurry, and quite right too.
69th over: England 183-7 (Lawrence 41, Bess 3) Ashwin and Patel are all over England like a cheap cliche. Lawrence still has a smile on his face, which either reflects well on his temperament or ill on his sanity. I’ll go for the former, especially as he has just rocked back to slam Patel over square leg with a bit of a swagger. That’s the seventh four of a very impressive innings. England will lose this Test, because that’s what we’ve been brought up to believe, but I’m not sure they are that far behind the game given the advantage of winning the toss.
68th over: England 178-7 (Lawrence 36, Bess 3) This is a great stat from ubergeek Andy Zaltzmann on the BBC: this is now England’s longest run without a fifty partnership in Tests. Their last was between Root and Pope in the first innings of the first Test.
67th over: England 174-7 (Lawrence 35, Bess 0)
Lawrence is not out! It was perilously close, but it bounced just in front of Gill’s boot.
I think Lawrence will survive.
This could be another freak dismissal! Lawrence pushes Axar into the boot of Gill at short leg, and the ball loops into the loving embrace of Rishabh Pant. They are checking whether it hit the floor first.
Updated
66th over: England 170-7 (Lawrence 31, Bess 0) Dom Bess walks out to bat. He’s a very good No9, with a Test average of 26, and England will be back in the game if he can hit a quick 478,123,954,901oh what’s the point.
Updated
In case you missed it
Kieron Pollard had quite a day yesterday. So did Akila Dananjaya.
WICKET! England 170-7 (Foakes c Rahane b Ashwin 1)
This is majestic bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin. He draws Foakes forward, feeling for a delivery that goes straight on to take the edge. Ajinkya Rahane does the rest with a fine low catch at slip, and England are in the malodorous stuff.
Updated
65th over: England 169-6 (Lawrence 30, Foakes 1) The mood has changed since Pope’s wicket. Actually it changed just before, with two or three false strokes and the growing feeling that the net was closing. For now, Lawrence and Foakes are intent on survival; we’ve had three runs in the last five overs.
“Am glad to see Pope getting out doing the thing people were shouting at England to do in defending spin to avoid getting out,” says Ian Copestake.
Quite. I’d love to see Mr S Media bat in Test cricket. It would make the start of Marvan Atapttu’s Test career look Bradmanesque in comparison.
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64th over: England 168-6 (Lawrence 29, Foakes 1) Even Sunil Gavaskar, who played 125 Tests and has probably watched another 500, says he has never seen a dismissal like Pope’s before.
63rd over: England 167-6 (Lawrence 28, Foakes 1) Foakes is beating by a good delivery from Axar. A maiden. It’s all happening so fast that I can barely remember the other five balls.
62nd over: England 167-6 (Lawrence 28, Foakes 1) “I like McMahon’s thinking (59th over), but he’s missed a trick,” says Matt Dony. “If you also measure England’s wickets in Fahrenheit, then they’re actually still at the comfortable position of -14.444 men down. My head hurts trying to work out exactly what this means, but I’m pretty sure they have a LOT more batting to come.”
Yeah but look at that tail – they’ve got Jofra Archer batting at -2.
Updated
That’s such an unusual dismissal - the inside edge went between his legs and hit the flap of the back pad, with his knee bent, yet the ball still went up to short leg rather than into ground. Pope played very well and will feel really hard done by. But it was still a terrific over from Ashwin. The first ball turned sharply and brought another LBW appeal; the second, a Pope special, zipped past the outside edge. And the third turned enough to take the inside edge as Pope came down the pitch to defend.
Updated
WICKET! England 166-6 (Pope c Gill b Ashwin 29)
He’s gone! He came down the track to defend but got an inside-edge onto the flap of the back pad, and Shubman Gill took a smart catch at short leg.
Updated
Pope has been given out - but they are checking whether it’s a bump ball.
61st over: England 166-5 (Pope 29, Lawrence 28) Axar Patel is on for Mohammed Siraj. His second ball, tossed up a little slower, roars past Lawrence’s outside edge. That took a bit out of the pitch - but it also planted a seed of doubt in Lawrence’s mind. As Graeme Swann says on Channel 4, those occasional jaffas from Axar are all part of the set up for the straight one.
60th over: England 166-5 (Pope 29, Lawrence 28) A short ball from Ashwin is slashed to the third-man boundary by Pope. That poor delivery was partly a response to Pope’s aggressive-passive feet movement, a nice bit of manipulation from the batsman. This is a promising partnership, 45 from 13.2 overs.
“Having relatively recently woken up I’m blearily trying to assess the situation England are currently in,” says Paul Billington. “What is to blame this time? Poor batting? The pitch? El Niño? Pascale Gauzere? I need somewhere to direct my blazing pitchfork.”
Adam and Eve have got a lot to answer fo- oh, the cricket? Yeah, Adam and Eve and KP.
59th over: England 160-5 (Pope 24, Lawrence 27) Pope pushes Siraj’s first ball for a single. He’s done that a lot today; push and run, get off strike for the rest of the over. Given his recent struggles, Pope has played with an admirably clear head. One upside of this tour, which shouldn’t be underestimated, is that England’s young batsmen have had a priceless education.
If Pope is dealing in singles, then Lawrence is getting ’em in boundaries: he drives Siraj nicely through mid-off for his sixth boundary.
“Morning Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “37 degrees in Ahmedabad? It already 40 here in Dundee, and it’s just gone nine o’clock. Great start for England. If, like me, you measure their runs in Fahrenheit, they’re 320 for five.”
Updated
58th over: England 154-5 (Pope 23, Lawrence 23) Lawrence drives Ashwin classily through the covers for four off the back foot - and then survives another big LBW shout from Ashwin. It was a big, beautiful offbreak but there was enough doubt for India not to risk their final review. Replays show it hit him just outside the line.
57th over: England 149-5 (Pope 22, Lawrence 19) Mohammed Siraj, who bowled beautifully earlier in the day, returns to the attack after tea. Pope, who has dealt almost exclusively in singles so far, steers another into the covers. Then Lawrence, feeling nervously outside off stump, edges just wide of gully for four. He got very lucky there.
Tea-time reading
“A few reasons for the smaller crowd,” says Aniket Chowdhury.
- Back-to-back Test matches at the same venue
- Ahmedabad is not Chennai or Calcutta. Smaller Test match fanbase here
- Heat and Covid resurgence in India
- India not batting.”
Yet.
“Maybe no one wants to purchase tickets to a match that won’t last four days?” says Srikanth Mangu. “Kidding aside, I’ts summer here and the temp is already touching 37 degrees.”
Tea
56th over: England 144-5 (Pope 21, Lawrence 15) Ishant goes fuller and straighter, but there’s still no sign of reverse swing and Lawrence drives the last ball down the ground for four. That’s a delightful stroke, and a nice way to end a fascinating session: 31 overs, 70 runs and the two big wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes.
Lawrence and Pope showed impressive temperament and intent to ensure England stayed five down going into the interval. India are still ahead, no question, but the pitch is already doing enough for the spinners to give England a bit of hope. Laura...
“Is there any particular reason,” says Gary, “why the crowd is so much smaller than for the Third Test?”
Not that I know of. Anyone? Anyone? Fry?
Updated
55th over: England 139-5 (Pope 21, Lawrence 11) Pope survives a huge LBW appeal from Ashwin after being hit on the pad by a beautiful offbreak. India have wasted two of their reviews and there is enough doubt - especially over height - not to risk their last one. In fact, replays show it was missing by a distance both on line and length. That turned a long way.
Nobody really knows anything but the ball is doing enough to suggest that, if England can make even 250, they will be in the game. Maybe. I DON’T BLOODY KNOW ANYMORE, OKAY?
Updated
54th over: England 136-5 (Pope 19, Lawrence 10) A double bowling change, with Ishant Sharma replacing Axar Patel. He settles into a fifth-stump line, looking for some reverse swing back into the right-handers. Nothing so far.
In other news, the Pakistan Super League has been suspended due to a Covid outbreak.
53rd over: England 135-5 (Pope 18, Lawrence 10) Ravichandran Ashwin returns to the attack with just over 10 minutes remaining before tea. He’s bowled only eight overs so far, a division of labour with which he is unlikely to be entirely enamoured. Pope drives the first ball of his ninth over for a single and Lawrence survives the remainder. He is also using his feet a fair bit, both in defence and attack.
52nd over: England 134-5 (Pope 17, Lawrence 10) Pope misses a sweep at Axar and is hit on the arm. Axar is such a clever bowler, and it’ll be fascinating to see how his career develops - whether he’s another Sivaramakrishnan or something more. He’s 27 years old but his is only his 42nd first-class match.
“Morning Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Sorry to see that Kim Thonger has blown his post-vaccination reaction so cheaply (over 42). I am saving mine for something more substantial, like avoiding scrambled egg-making duties, or opening the post. Schoolboy error, Kim.”
51st over: England 130-5 (Pope 14, Lawrence 9) A maiden from Washington. Pope is using his feet a lot to the spinners, particularly Washington, even if the result is often a defensive stroke. He has made 14 from 60 balls but has actually played very positively.
“England playing a blinder here tactically,” says Pete Salmon. “The only reason to have Lawrence at No7 is them being No5 for not very many, and here we are. The next bit where he makes a score might be trickier.”
I’m surprised he’s become banter fodder so quickly. I think he’s a good player, and these are incredibly difficult circumstances.
50th over: England 130-5 (Pope 14, Lawrence 9) Excellent, purposeful batting from Lawrence, who hits Axar for consecutive boundaries. The first was a lofted drive on the run; the second a wristy slap through the covers. He survives a pretty big LBW appeal to an arm ball later in the over; it looked like it was missing leg and Kohli isn’t interested in a review.
“Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “Do you think Ben Stokes simply forgot to play the ball there? He’d done all the hard work and then was so late and so off the line of the ball that one can’t help thinking that he was mesmerised.”
I just thought he was playing for turn. But maybe I was mesmerised too.
49th over: England 122-5 (Pope 14, Lawrence 1) Washington has a slip, leg slip and short leg for Lawrence, who gets off the mark with a single to mid-on. He has struggled since that eye-catching debut in Galle, making 58 runs in six innings, but this is a great chance to show he is made of the right stuff. A fighting 250 here would do wonders for his careers.
48th over: England 121-5 (Pope 14, Lawrence 0) Graeme Swann, commentating on Channel 4, reckons the ball that got Stokes was natural variation rather than a deliberate arm ball. Sunil Gavaskar disagrees. Either way, Stokes played for turn and paid the price.
“Does it strike anyone else as odd that in a period when rest and recuperation are watchwords for England selection that they’ve gone into a Test with two seamers: one a 38-going-on-39 year-old and the other arguably England’s best batsman whose head, shoulder, knees (and toes?) ideally should never be overtaxed in the field?” asks Michael Jenkins.
It’s a must-win Test, so they picked what they think is the best XI from the available squad. That’s the correct decision I think – there are no Tests for three months after this, and a draw in India would be a sensational result. They’ve gambled on going in with three main bowlers and two part-timers (for different reasons) in Stokes and Root. It’s the perfect team for the third Test; we’ll soon find out whether it’s the right team for this game.
Updated
47th over: England 121-5 (Pope 13, Lawrence 0) Dan Lawrence almost goes first ball! It popped from a length and he pushed it towards short leg, where it hit the boot of the fielder. Had he crouched lower that would have been a chance.
Washington Sundar has been getting appreciable turn and bounce to Stokes, but this one skidded straight on to hit the pad and pin Stokes in front. Stokes looks disgusted, presumably with the pitch, and walks off. Ollie Pope ran after him, trying to persuade him to review. Stokes knew.
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WICKET! England 121-5 (Stokes LBW b Washington 55)
Ben Stokes has gone!
46th over: England 119-4 (Stokes 54, Pope 13) Stokes reverse sweeps Axar for two more. He’s had an eerily quiet series - one fifty, one wicket in the first three Tests - and this would be a fine time to remind the world of his greatness.
On the subject of the pitch, this is a terrific piece from Andy Bull.
45th over: England 115-4 (Stokes 51, Pope 12) Washington is going round the wicket to Pope, the Ashwin angle but so far without the Ashwin deception. Pope, who looks busy and fairly confident given his recent form, drives another single down the ground.
“Interesting to note that England have gone in with just one genuine pacer,” says Anand. “An over correction to the previous game and the 22 yards? Taking of 22 yards, I created a poll yesterday on the pitch. Was wondering if dear OBOers would like to try it out or share their thoughts...”
What is the best way to spend time if tests end in 2 days?@sidvee @beastieboy07 @wvraman @ajarrodkimber @SriniMaama16 @rameshsrivats @guardian_sport @melindafarrell @GeoffLemonSport @nigelshortchess
— Anandkumar N (@anandkumarn) March 3, 2021
I was slightly surprised by the team, and I fear they will miss Archer. I don’t normally like such an unbalanced team – I half expected to see Graeme Hick at No7 - but in this case I think they picked the right XI for a raging turner. It all depends how quickly this pitch deteriorates.
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44th over: England 114-4 (Stokes 51, Pope 11) Axar is bowling around the wicket to Stokes, who reverse sweeps crisply for four to reach a judicious, determined fifty: 114 balls, six fours, two sixes.
“Morning Rob,” says Guy Hornsby. “Fascinating numbers on the TV around how much less the pink ball slows down of the pitch compared to the red. It doesn’t explain our third Test ignominy, but you can see how it just made things irretrievably harder. With that context, is it grim that I see us only 4 down for 100-odd as a bit of a mini victory? The problem is that none of our batsmen look in so it’s less ‘one down, two down’ as ‘one down, all down’. Mainly I just want some cricket to watch on Saturday. Is that too much to ask?”
You millennials are so entitled. (Fear not, this should go to at least day four.)
43rd over: England 110-4 (Stokes 47, Pope 11) Washington is getting some lovely turn and bounce to the left-handed Stokes. A slightly ill-conceived cut stroke flies through the vacant gully region for a single. Two from the over. It’s hard to know what would be a good score for England; my instinct is that they need a minimum of 300, ideally 3000.
42nd over: England 108-4 (Stokes 46, Pope 10) Pope survives a run-out referral after taking a sharp single to mid-on. It was good running, and everyone knew he was home. That’s the only run from another quickfire Axar over.
“I ache all over from yesterday’s vaccination and my left arm is so sore I would struggle to signal a four or a no ball,” writes Kim Thonger, “but I have just enough strength to type and so must point out to Hugh that were Schrödinger to be involved in the DRS he (or she) would not be an umpire, he (or she) would be a quantumpire.”
Oh, Vienna.
41st over: England 107-4 (Stokes 46, Pope 9) Washington Sundar continues to Stokes, and his first ball turns and bounces encouragingly - both for him and for England. The third ball kicks even more, prompting Stokes to abort his shot and then shake his head at something or other.
Stokes’ response is an, a-hem, vigorous slogsweep. Fresh air flies over midwicket for six; the ball hits the gloves of Rishabh Pant. But Stokes nails the shot two balls later, carting Washington over midwicket for six. That was a much more controlled stroke.
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Thanks Tanya, morning everyone. This is intriguing stuff: India have had the better of the play so far but England won what could be a very important toss. This fence is so goddamn comfortable.
40th over: England 101-4 (Stokes 40, Pope 9) A tasty little shovel behind point brings Pope four runs off Axar Patel and that’s drinks! Just time for me to tell those interested in the County Championship that Haseeb Hameed has been appointed vice-captain of Nottinghamshire which might bring stability to that troubled ship as well as confidence to Hameed himself. Rob Smyth has arrived in the OBO chair to expertly guide England to respectability, many thanks for your messages.
39th over: England 97-4 (Stokes 40, Pope 5) Smashing first over of the Test from Washington Sundar, who beats Stokes with his first ball and his last, which Stokes pokes just wide of slip. Sundar also looking admirably unimpressed with something Kohli is asking him to do. you don’t see many people screw up their nose and shake their head at Kohli.
38th over: England 95-4 (Stokes 38, Pope 5) A run for each batsman, as Pope, watchful, defends his way through the rest of the over from Axar Patel.
36th over: England 93-4 (Stokes 37, Pope 4) Shot of the day! Stokes strokes Siraj with velvet glove straight down the ground for four. Nearly spoils it a couple of balls later with a wild hoik at a bouncer that lifts him off the ground. I don’t know about you, but I get the sense he’s enjoying this.
35th over: England 89-4 (Stokes 33, Pope 4) Axar replaces Ashwin. The umpires review one that Stokes turns to short leg, but it bounces before finding the fielders’ hands. Axar is extracting much bounce from this wicket, and Pope and Stoke approach with caution.
34th over: England 88-4 (Stokes 33, Pope 4) There’s a pause while England call for a drink from their water bottles and Stokes changes his gloves. Pope takes a fly through extra-cover straight to the fielder. And again, more confidently, but he still can’t break the ring. Siraj hitting the high 80s mph and befuddles with his final delivery that Pope can’t decide whether to pull or leave alone.
Ah yes!
@tjaldred Re Gingers - Ireland?
— (((AndyinBrum))) (@AndyinBrum) March 4, 2021
33rd over: England 88-4 (Stokes 33, Pope 4) One from Ashwin’s over and Pope looking less scrambled than he did in the last Test.
32nd over: England 87-4 (Stokes 33, Pope 3) England survive another trying over from Siraj, who is varying his length.
“Id love to see some stats on the umpire’s call decisions” types Hugh Molloy.
“I’m for the umpire’s call but it does introduce Schrodinger’s cat to the proceedings where Bairstow was both in and out for a period of time.”
31st over: England 86-4 (Stokes 33, Pope 2) Stokes down the wicket to Ashwin, shuffle-drive and ping, wristy, through mid-on for four. Then he prods forward to muffle the spin. Obi-wan to Ollie Pope’s Skywalker. Incidentally, has any team had more gingers than this England XI?
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30th over: England 81-4 (Stokes 28, Pope 2) A little confused by all the replays the television keep playing, not only between but within overs. Pope picks up a couple through the covers. A leg bye after one swings late after passing over the ducking Pope and bamboozles Pant. Facing Siraj is continuing to prove a testing experience.
“What Ho from the tranquil (for now) seas off New Caledonia,” writes Sandy Wilson, cocktail in hand, “and many thanks for the commentary which helps to keep us all sane on board.
A lunchtime question on semantics (if that’s the right word) – when did:
- “quite a recovery”
Suddenly become:
- “quite THE recovery”?
“The change seems to have taken place overnight, or perhaps I’ve just been offshore too long….”
These things must be subliminal. In the same way you might now compliment someone on a nice “shoe” or “trouser” rather than a pair of the aforementioned.
29th over: England 78-4 (Stokes 28, Pope 0) The replay shows the ball sliding back in and Bairstow stone-booted in the crease. A test for Ollie Pope - as we may have said already this series. Smashing over by Siraj - just shows India’s strength in depth in the seam department that he is the replacement for Bumrah.
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WICKET! Bairstow lbw Siraj 28
Nips in, looks very suspect but Bairstow reviews the on-field OUT, and shakes his head as the review shows the ball hitting the bails, out on umpire’s call.
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28th over: England 78-3 (Stokes 28, Bairstow 28) Stokes pushes Ashwin into the knuckles of Shubman Gill at silly point, he springs his hand away, stung. A huge appeal to Ashwin’s last ball. Ashwin’s huge hands plead to Virat Kohli, Pant seems unsure. Kohli is persuaded to review - I don’t think he’s taken a single correct call during this series that I’ve seen - and sure enough it isn’t out. India burn through another review.
27th over: England 78-3 (Stokes 28, Bairstow 28) Siraj, heavy haired on the top, shaved up the back, not a million miles away from what I was asked to topiarise during lockdown, fires wide down the leg side but Stokes resists. A single off his pads follows a couple through point.
26th over: England 75-3 (Stokes 25, Bairstow 28) There’s no great buzz at the ground, Kohli not yet able to fire up the crowd the way he could in the last Test. Just one from Ashwin’s post-prandial over.
“Good morning Tanya.” Hello Finbar Anslow! “Looking forward to a great day’s cricket interspersed with pruning in Piedmont. Was just reflecting on the illusions of mass communication; I recently invited my 2500+ fb ‘aquaintances’ for a game of Words with friends (finby57 since you ask) and the only ones to take up the challenge were my 2 daughters and one of my sisters. As Gary Turk said “We put our words into order until our lives are glistening.
We don’t even know if anyone is listening”Happily OBO is different and God bless you Tanya and all your colleagues for your long stints at outrageous times of the day. I happily predict that the West country bowlers will save England, probably with the bat!”
The players are back out and Ashwin has the ball...
And an interesting decision by the PCB to vaccinate all PSL players and officials against Covid, must have been sanctioned by government I guess though prioritising sportsmen is a controversial choice. It follows Tom Banton testing positive for Covid yesterday.
PCB has decided to offer SARS-Coronavirus Vaccine doses to all participants in PSL. The vaccine doses will be administered on Thursday & will be offered to all those inside the bio-secure bubble. It will be the players & officials’ decision if they want to get the vaccine #PSL6
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 3, 2021
Elsewhere, Kieron Pollard has hit six sixes in an over in a T20 against Sri Lanka, became only the third man to hit six sixes in an international over.
Something to mull over with your coffee.
A reminder that England were also 74 for 3 in the first innings of the last Test. Right at the very moment they began to lose their last 18 wickets for 119 #IndvEng
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) March 4, 2021
A fascinating chat on Talksport comparing this Indian team with the one of VVS Laxman, Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar. My half-heard conclusion: today’s top-order batting doesn’t compare, but Pant outbats Dhoni and the 2021 seam bowlers rule supreme.
Around the UK, young and old heads are awaking:
First look at Test. Not surprised Eng boosted their batting. The balance of the attack is astonishing I think. They surely needed a 3rd seamer, pref high pace . Then Leach and Root to spin. Goodness it had better turn.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) March 4, 2021
LUNCH England 74-3
25th over: England 74-3 (Stokes 24, Bairstow 28) After nearly 15 minutes without a run, England milk a couple from Axar who licks his lips as he walks backwards to the beginning of his delivery stride. They survive without mishap and that’s lunch! Quite the recovery from 30-3, though not without the odd intake of breath. Time for me to put the kettle on - see you back here shortly.
“It is rather chilly in the conservatoire,” writes Amitabh Mukherjee from Bexley. “I got my Cafe au lait and lara(my cat) curled up while I’m working on a tune(musician, yes) with the match on simultaneously. Gotta say, even though its 3 down(couple of wickets that could have been avoided) I think this is the best pitch Root and the lads could have hoped for, need a daddy ton from Stokesy and bairstow(looking better each ball) to make this last 4 days atleast. Not say a Kohli triple is pending too. See ya in Paris in 2022!
24th over: England 72-3 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 27) A moral victory to Ashwin, Stokes ignores one that nearly bowls him and is suckered into having a thrash at the last which turns past his outside edge.
23rd over: England 72-3 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 27) Bairstow sets off for a most unwise run after squirting Axar on the legside. Stokes, of infinite wisdom, sends him back, his bat over the line by a whisker before Pant removes the bails. How do you de-pump someone in the dressing room?
Damian Walsh has news:“You will have to hope that travel restrictions are over with before the end of this Summer if you want some sun on your leg. The Paris PermaSmog is scheduled to be back in place for Spring 2022 as if it had never been away.”
Don’t do that to me!
22nd over: England 72-3 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 27) Ashwin extracting some extra bounce from his second ball as Stokes watchfully defends him away. A maiden.
21st over: England 72-3 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 27) With just 15 minutes left till lunch, Bairstow dispatches Sharma through point for four. If these two can survive till the break it will be quite the recovery. Bairstow stares intensely through the grill back down the pitch - does he do it any other way? And at the last, he shoulders arms to one that nips back. Don’t do that Jonny.
20th over: England 68-3 (Stokes 23, Bairstow 23) Ashwin, short sleeves, 99 on his back. Bairstow pulls away with Ashwin in his stride - don’t annoy him you fool! Stokes decides attack is the best form of defence, and takes a huge stride down the pitch and lofts Ashwin straight for six, arms aloft, tattoos on display.
I’m not saying I told you but...
Jonny Bairstow played six false shots in his first 20 balls at the crease, and looked very uncomfortable. Since then, he has played three false shots in 22 balls, and has looked a tad more secure. #INDvENG
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 4, 2021
19th over: England 61-3 (Stokes 17, Bairstow 22) Runs a-flowing for England as Bairstow cuts Ishant with a hint of a swagger over third man. Ashwin time.
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18th over: England 55-3 (Stokes 16, Bairstow 18) Stokes sweeps at Axar and the top edge flies high and out of the clutches of the chasing Kohli. And a super shot by Bairstow, a confident cuff at a short ball outside off. It brings four. The cold air somehow seeps through the double glazing and I dream about a cafe au lait in a Parisian cafe, the sun on my legs. 2022?
17th over: England 50-3 (Stokes 15, Bairstow 14) Stokes solidly ignores Siraj’s dance of the seven veils for four balls, then picks up a single off the fifth.
I would need othere OBO’s clarification on this but I think we get more messages on Baristow than any other England players. Perhaps Buttler rivals him.
@tjaldred morning Tanya. I don’t think any England fan wants Bairstow to fail, more absolutely baffled that Vaughan was losing his mind that he was going home for a break as he’d been superb in the Sri Lanka series and such a good player of spin. He didn’t reach 50 once
— (((AndyinBrum))) (@AndyinBrum) March 4, 2021
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16th over: England 49-3 (Stokes 14, Bairstow 14) A confident stroke from Bairstow off Patel! A muscular cut, sharp through point for four, and suddenly some runs provide succour for England.
So much for optimism but I’m not a betting man anyway,” muses John Starbuck. “Mention of Axar’s plaster on the spinning hand revives memory of a time when the batsmen could ask the umpires to rule on whether or not a plaster on the operative hand of the bowler was allowed. Didn’t he have to get taken off? I recall Boycott arguing that a flapping sleeve or a white wristband was putting him off, but that’s not the same as a putative advantage for a spinner.”
15th over: England 45-3 (Stokes 14, Bairstow 10) Stokes hangs out his bat and edges Siraj past the diving second slip for four. Siraj bowling magnificently here as Stokes then plays a slow and deliberate defensive prod. Two fours follow, a pull and a thick edge through the slips. Siraj hands out a bit more chat. The ball is seaming and swinging just like England’s seam attack like it . Ah.
14th over: England 32-3 (Stokes 2, Bairstow 10) Patel purrs through a maiden, and we see footage of Kohli and Stokes having an animated chat with the umpires. “Just let your cricket do the talking,” says Graeme Swann on commentary, who wasn’t averse to the odd chat himself from memory.
13th over: England 32-3 (Stokes 2, Bairstow 10) During the drinks break, Strauss muses“Hugely disheartened as England are making the same mistakes they’ve made throughout the series, nonplussed by the non-turning ball.” At least Root tries something different, imprisoned in the crease by a rapid inswinger. Stokes flays at his first ball to slip
“I don’t think I have ever wanted a batsman to do as well in adversity as much as a certain J Bairstow here,” taps Brian Withington over an early morning cup of tea. “I say that in part due to the certain knowledge that there will be a number of England ‘supporters’ willing him to fail ignominiously for reasons that I still find baffling. He looks totally out of nick so any success will have to represent the triumph of dogged hope and determination over bitter experience and negativity.”
Wicket! Root lbw Siraj 5
The drinks break strikes! With his very first ball after refreshment, Siraj thrunders into Root’s front and back pad and it is so out that Root declines to review. He crawls from the crease, stopping only to whisper something - sweet nothings? at Ben Stokes.
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12th over: England 30-2 (Root 5, Bairstow 10) Bairstow cuts Axar just shy of slip and it zips away for four. Kohli doesn’t looks too upset by that
11th over: England 26-2 (Root 5, Bairstow 6) We get a bird’s eye view of the stadium, a magnificent beast, a huge colourful amphitheatre (of nightmares as far as England are concerned). Siraj replaces Ishant and has Root jumping around, nervous, awkward. a hook off the last ball brings four and relief.
Hello Mittu Choudhary! “A very good (early) morning to you!”
“Not the kind of morning England would have hoped for (but expected it nonetheless). I have a feeling Roots and Stokes will come with a new determined outlook in this match - both of them are due a big one. Also since 2002, Axar Patel is the first spinner to dismiss both openers of the opposition inside the first ten overs of a Test match.”
A great stat, thank you! Who was it in 2002?
10th over: England 20-2 (Root 1, Bairstow 6) England decide quick singles are the best way to get through an Axar Patel over and pick up a couple.
A note appears from Vasu Chaurey “Ever since Jonny Bairstow’s wicket in the previous Test, I have been thinking about Jarrod Kimber’s The Year of the Balls 2008: A Disrespective, and his entry about Anil Kumble:”Of all the great modern spinners, he is the one against whom you’d back yourself to get through an over. You probably wouldn’t, but compared to Warne or Murali, you wouldn’t be completely embarrassed either. You would miss the straight one though.”
“It’s a lovely entry in a lovely book, and very relevant to the recent exploits of Axar Patel. If he can even vaguely match Anil Kumble’s lofty career heights, I’d be a very happy fan!”
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9th over: England 20-2 (Root 0, Bairstow 5) A stabbed boundary for Bairstow through gully off Ishant, nervy but determined, I’m sure you can picture it. But I’ve got a good feeling for him. By force of sheer will he is going to want to erase memories of the last Test. He and Root find the wherewithal to grin at each other in the middle.
The arm ball used to be bowled seam up, drifting, almost swinging in. But that was easy to pick, if you're a batter who watches the seam.
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan) March 4, 2021
In the last couple of series, we've seen Ashwin and now Axar use the sideways seam ball as the one that goes straight. Near imposs to pick.
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8th over: England 15-2 (Root 0, Bairstow 0) And it was such a lovely shot by Crawley to Axar’s first ball, a shimmy and a drive for four. But then a terrible muddle of an attack - the very opposite of Root’s pre-test chat on playing the ball. It is quite hard to tell whether Axar Patel is the new best thing or just that he had England scrambled. The best news for England I can come up with is that Axar is repeatedly fiddling with the sticky plaster on his spinning hand.
WICKET! Crawley c Siraj b Axar Patel 9
Crawley, buoyed by his boundary earlier in the over, throws the bat at Axar Patel and oh dear straight into the hands of mid-off.
7th over: England 11-1 (Crawley 6, Bairstow 0) If there’s some good news for England, it is that there is only spin from one end at the moment. All the same, Ishant powers through, with neither batsman looking completely confident.
“Good morning Tanya (though it’s freezing here and I’ve got the fire on full blast),”
Good morning John Starbuck, I’ve been waiting for you!
“I see you wrote at 03.41 ‘Good morning from England’ - let’s hope that will sum up the first session in a couple of hours.”
What are the odds?
6th over: England 10-1 (Crawley 4, Bairstow 0) Jonny Bairstow bends his knees and finishes the over by pushing Patel straight back down the pitch to bring a halfpenny’sworth of reassurance to the pack. He was, incidentally, rapped on the pad first ball as he played down the wrong line. Sibley won’t be delighted by that replay, he got the tiniest of inside edges before the ball made its ominous way to the stumps. Not a bad little snifter to open for Axar Patel at his home ground.
Tom Stoker is worried: “I know it’s too early to suggest England have definitely got their selection wrong, but they’ve definitely got their selection wrong. As in, Joe Root miscounted like you do when you’re arguing your best XI down the pub, five pints in (remember pints!?) but has decided to YOLO and pretend three frontline bowlers was always part of the plan. “
WICKET! Sibley b Axar Patel 2
Oh no no no, cover your eyes Mabel. Sibley sees turn where there is none and is bowled by Axar Patel’s second ball.
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5th over: England 10-0 (Crawley 4, Sibley 2) Ishant, pommanded hair shiny and bouncing, gallops in. Eeek! Crawley leaves one that swings back in and passes his thighs and over the top of the stumps before thudding into Pant’s gloves. Let’s call it good judgement.
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4th over: England 10-0 (Crawley 4, Sibley 2) The vivid burnt orange seats of the ground at Ahmedabad don’t seem as full as they did in the last Test. I came here in 2001, way before it was rebuilt, and the facilities were something of a dump, and the dusty waste ground outside the stadium emptying when Tendulkar was out for a magnificent 103. But the noise when he was batting - spine tingling!
Just one from Siraj’s over, who tempts Crawley into a number of nerve-inducing false shots.
3rd over: England 9-0 (Crawley 3, Sibley 2) Crawley has a wispy waft at Ishant, a kind of half-hearted attempt to dust the bannisters as you run up the stairs, and misses. He picks up a couple with a spritz of a drive. We see the pitch: it looks like porridge, with a sprinkling of coriander at one end
2nd over: England 6-0 (Crawley 0, Sibley 2) Siraj, tall, skinny, quick. He makes me nervous, not sure about Dom Sibley who picks up a couple of runs and four leg byes in between being beaten past the outside edge of his stolid bat.
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1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Sibley 0) We see a shiny dark red orb in Ishant’s hand and mull over the news that this pitch might spin more one end than the other. Crawley ignores the first ball outside off stump and things are already better than the second innings in the last Test. Oh hang on a minute, the second ball swings in and slams into Crawley’s front pad. Ishant is sure, so sure, Kohli reviews - but it turns out the ball hits him high on the knee roll and passes over the top of the stumps. He gets hit on the glove to the last ball of the over but survives.
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In the Channel 4 studio, Ebony Rainford-Brent has replaced Alastair Cook and sits alongside Andrew Strauss. They aren’t bowled over by England’s tactics. To ERB it “feels a bit odd. Decisions coming from lack of confidence” Strauss: “Taking a risk, personally I don’t like it feels like plugging a hole with a batsman not in form.”
A bold move by England early on a Thursday morning, Dan Lawrence batting at seven and England gambling that their seamers aren’t going to bowl much on this pitch anyway. What a chance, though, for England’s young batsmen.
Teams
England (Bess and Lawrence for Broad and Archer)
Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Dom Bess, Jack Leach, Jimmy Anderson
India (Siraj for Bumrah)
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj
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England win the toss and will bat
Good morning from England!
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Incidentally, other members of the Indian team have been more critical than Kohli of the pink ball, with a member of the Indian team management telling the Indian Express”
“The problem when facing the pink ball is that it skids much faster compared to the red ball. Muscle memory makes batsmen believe that the ball will come at a particular speed after pitching, like they are used to when playing with the red ball. But the pink ball comes much faster. This is a major issue. Also, our players are not keen to play Day-Night Tests because the pink ball has too many variables, including difficulty in sighting the ball.”
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Preamble
The alarm rings shrill but there’s a hint o’spring and a dash o’song in the March night. In Ahmedabad, however, there is little relief for England, groundhogdayed at the scene of their two-day thrashing, the pitch set to spin, the sun set to shine hot, and getting hotter - 37 degrees by noon.
A sickness bug has beset the England camp - I wasn’t expecting to read about Paul Collingwood’s dicky tummy in quite such detail - as well as end of tour-itus starting to drift heavy. But there have been no naughty boy nets for England’s batsmen who, with five successive totals under 200, have endured their worst run with the bat since 1888. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, 42 wickets and counting, watch and wait.
Joe Root, who has carried this batting line-up around the sub-continent on his slender shoulders, has called for England to be fearless. Confident but not reckless. “It’s having that confidence to play the ball in front of you, not having the baggage from the previous delivery, not overthinking the pitch, trying to see things for what they are.” If they can do that, and find the wherewithal to bowl India out twice, they will become the first overseas team to draw a series in India since 2012. Dom Bess is expected to play after missing out in the second and third Tests “a tough pill to swallow”, with Stuart Broad the seamer most likely to drop away.
For India, anything but a loss brings a place in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand in June, just off the motorway between Southampton and Portsmouth. Only if they they lose, will Australia sneak through in their place.
India are without Jasprit Bumrah (personal reasons) but motivated by criticism of the Ahmedabad pitch, with R Ashwin eloquently questioning the definition of good and Virat Kohli dismissive of critics of both the pitch and the pink ball. “Why don’t we just focus on the fact that the batsmen were just not skilled enough on that pitch to play properly, and it was a bizarre display of batting by both teams in a Test match”
Cast your eyes below for the pitch from two days ago, read the runes, and see you at 3.45 for the teams and the toss.
It’s time for #pitchwatch, a couple of days before the fourth #INDvENG Test in #Ahmedabad... pic.twitter.com/6zIE7haZ2G
— Brian Murgatroyd (@murgersb) March 2, 2021
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