Hot off the presses.
Stumps – India lead by 51
141st over: India 451-7 (Kohli 147, Jayant 30) Final over of the day and England’s best bowler, Joe Root, is on to see if he can work his magic one more time. Kohli chips his first ball out towards mid-on, prompting the most optimistic cry of “catch” you’ll hear, then cuts the third out to point for a single. Jayant sees off the final three balls and that’s the end of another very poor day for England in the field.
It’s been Virat Kohli’s day though: the Indian captain coming to the crease when Pujara was out second ball of the day and he is still there, 147 runs later at the close and with his team the only one likely to win this match now. England can look at dropped catches and wasted reviews and wonder what might have been, for all the good that it will do them. Do join us tomorrow to see just how bad this can get for Alastair Cook and co.
Cheers for reading. Bye!
Rotated bowlers more! Taken the new ball & have a spinner bowl with it! India right back in this game now cos of poor captaincy! https://t.co/Q9uhk5B3z8
— KP (@KP24) December 10, 2016
141st over: India 450-7 (Kohli 146, Jayant 30) Jayant wants a single off the final ball of this, the penultimate over. Ha ha ha ha ha no, says Kohli.
140th over: India 450-7 (Kohli 146, Jayant 30) Rashid continues, despite the fact he is patently shattered. His length is all over the shop here and he’s probably lucky to get away with leaking just four singles, the last of which takes India’s lead to 50.
139th over: India 446-7 (Kohli 144, Jayant 28) Four overs to go tonight and I can’t imagine England will want to bowl many more before the close with these two in this kind of nick: they’ve scored 46 in the last 10 overs. There is a huge shout for caught behind off Jayant and Cook begins the signal for a review, only to realise he doesn’t have any left and folds his arms instead. You’re not getting away with that one Alastair. Unlike Jayant, who actually got a massive inside edge down the leg-side. That’s a shame for Bairstow, who took it very well. Kohli, for what it’s worth, finds the whole thing hilarious.
138th over: India 445-7 (Kohli 143, Jayant 28) Another over, another boundary, 2,000 runs as India captain and an average now in the 50s for Virat Kohli: he walks down the track and demolishes a full-ish ball over long-on for four more. He was dropped on 60-odd.
@DanLucas86 Titter not. Distraction from the missed chances. https://t.co/mNidehjFqR
— William Hargreaves (@billhargreaves) December 10, 2016
Did I mention he bought me lunch?
137th over: India 440-7 (Kohli 138, Jayant 28) England have, to give them due credit, bowled far better today than they did yesterday – not that that’s saying much. India and Kohli, who takes a single from this over, have batted magnificently though while England’s drops have only gone part way towards sending this match slipping from their grasp. Jayant drives the final ball of the over against the spin and through extra cover, out the middle of the bat and away for four more. 76 now, the partnership.
136th over: India 435-7 (Kohli 137, Jayant 24) Rashid is back on for Anderson and Yadav creams his third ball through extra-cover for four more – the 27th of the day. Six off the over.
135th over: India 429-7 (Kohli 136, Jayant 19) When it’s India’s day, it’s India’s day: the new bowler Moeen does for Jayant with a nicely flighted delivery only to see it fly off the inside edge and down to fine leg for four. More convincing next up from the batsman, who drives through cover for a couple more then chops to backward point for a single. One of Kohli’s runs appears to have been reduced to a leg-bye.
134th over: India 422-7 (Kohli 136, Jayant 12) That England’s best bowler in this innings has been Joe Root, and that he only got wickets when bringing himself on while Cook was off the field, probably tells you that England are not going to win this match. India lead by 22.
Updated
133rd over: India 420-7 (Kohli 136, Jayant 11) We have 10 overs to squeeze into the remaining 34 minutes of the day, so we’ll go into the extra half-hour tonight. Strange, really, given how England have underbowled their seamers. Four singles off the over – incidentally this is India’s fourth 50-plus partnership out of eight; England managed three all innings.
132nd over: India 417-7 (Kohli 134, Jayant 9) First ball of the over Anderson wastes England’s final review. Bairstow didn’t look remotely interested in the appeal and, as a rule of thumb, you should probably see what Bairstow thinks when it comes to reviewing. A single later and Kohli delights in cracking a full one off his ankles and through square-leg for four. A deliberate top-edge down to third man, which reaches the fielder on the bounce, brings one more.
Not out
He hasn’t.
Review!
Anderson thinks that Jayant has feathered one, pushing at a full-ish ball outside off. I can tell you now he hasn’t.
131st over: India 411-7 (Kohli 129, Jayant 8) Chris Woakes, the Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Alastair Cook’s José Mourinho, shares the new ball and immediately hits Kohli on the pad with a straight one, but the batsman had whacked the leather off it. Four more to the man some people actually said wasn’t suited to Test cricket, pure timing with a checked drive past mid-off. Two off the final ball take India to 411.
New ball taken
130th over: India 405-7 (Kohli 123, Jayant 8) Rashid’s spell comes to an end after 28 overs; here’s Jimmy. And, after two deliveries, he gets the new ball! He gets a touch of away swing for all of three deliveries, before Kohli knocks it from off to deep midwicket for a single. Sky give us a montage of England’s missed chances in this innings and then, off the last ball, an inspired Joe Root drops an absolute dolly off Jayant at second slip.
129th over: India 404-7 (Kohli 122, Jayant 8) Sometimes I do wonder if the Indian commentators are a touch sycophantic towards Kohli: “If he had hit that you would have to call him a genius” the commentator said in the previous over when he missed a pull shot. He just missed the ball. Anyway, he clips past midwicket here for the two runs that take India into the lead.
128th over: India 399-7 (Kohli 119, Jayant 6) Eight runs from the first two balls: four to Kohli and four to extras. The first ball bounced sharply and beat everything and everyone, then the second, fuller, was driven hard through wide mid-on. Oh and then an edge! Kohli chases a wide one and gets a thick edge while driving, but the ball flies wide of Stokes and down to third man for three. That’s drinks.
127th over: India 388-7 (Kohli 112, Jayant 6) After Kohli takes a first-ball single, Moeen goes round the wicket and the fielders converge around Jayant. His defence is solid though. “Get Root on!” suggests Copestake. Whoever, just take the new ball.
126th over: India 387-7 (Kohli 111, Jayant 6) Another maiden from Rashid and he nearly gets a wicket from the last ball of it: Jayant’s edge not carrying to slip where Stokes saved runs with a good stop, diving to his right.
125th over: India 387-7 (Kohli 111, Jayant 6) Poor Chris Woakes: he gets his first bowl in 23 hours and is replaced by Moeen after one over. Kohli picks up the only two runs of the over with a drive out to cover. He’s on Nelson, though I can’t imagine he’ll feel particularly cursed.
There are 20,000 people in today. And they've more than got their money's worth from a 'dying' sport. #INDvENG #noneedtotinker
— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) December 10, 2016
124th over: India 385-7 (Kohli 109, Jayant 6) Narendra Hirwani begins to shuffle uncomfortably as Rashid goes into the 26th over of his spell. The final ball brings Jayant forward and swoops past the outside edge, but other than that it’s a fairly uneventful one.
123rd over: India 385-7 (Kohli 109, Jayant 6) Chris Woakes gets a bowl for the first time since 4pm local time yesterday. Slightly confusingly, the scoreboard says he is “Replacing Ball”, but he is using the same ball. All clear? Good. Jayant gets three with a gloriously timed push back past the bowler, which Rashid chases down and reels in. He must be shattered. Woakes is wided on height off the last ball and, to rub it in, Kohli guides the extra ball behind point again for four.
Simon McMahon is back: “The rugby in South Africa that Paul Mitchell is now watching looks not too bad either. Mind you, it’s 8 degrees in Scotland today, and United are playing Ayr later. I know where I’d rather be.” As a Northampton fan, I’d rather you didn’t talk rugby around these parts after last night’s b******t.
122nd over: India 376-7 (Kohli 104, Jayant 3) The lesser spotted Chris Woakes is warming up. In the meantime Rashid has a huge shout for lbw and persuades Alastair Cook to go for the review – with the help of Jonny Bairstow – but no dice this time. A failed-review-maiden.
Not out!
It’s definitely pad first and pitched in line with middle and leg. It was a leg-break doing too much though and Hawkeye says it was missing off.
Review: Jayant lbw
Given not out, assuming it pitched outside leg as that’s very close otherwise.
Virat Kohli 100*
121st over: India 376-7 (Kohli 104, Jayant 3) There we go, Kohli drives hard to cover, where the diving fielder can only parry it and through he goes for his 15th Test century. He celebrates wildly and well he might – this has been a brilliant innings that has kept England at bay every time they get a sniff of an advantage. He has 1,065 Test runs in 2016 at 76 and he adds four more to that aggregate by dismissing a wide ball through point for four more.
Updated
120th over: India 369-7 (Kohli 99, Jayant 2) Back over the wicket from Rashid to Kohli, who clips out to deep midwicket and hares off hoping he’ll have time for a second. There’s no way he’s going to take any chances against Buttler’s arm though, so on 99 he remains. Jayant gets off the mark with a back-foot punch through cover for two so Kohli will be on strike for the next over.
My post-xmas team lunch hangover is not helped by Adil's drop of Kohli @DanLucas86. We can't really risk a lead of 50+. The fear is here.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) December 10, 2016
119th over: India 366-7 (Kohli 98, Jayant 0) The all-rounders keep coming: Jayant Yadav is the new batsman. Anyone want to nominate a match for featuring the most genuine all-rounders? This one must be up there – everyone in the India team and, I think, nine of the England team have First Class hundreds after all. Another maiden from Ball, who has been the driest of dry bowlers.
118th over: India 366-7 (Kohli 98, Jayant 0) Adil Rashid’s first three spells were five overs, five overs and three overs in length. This fourth spell is now into its 23rd. I’ll leave out everything I was going to say about him looking like a tired net bowler now, because he’s only gone and got his second wicket with the penultimate ball! Kohli punches the final ball to midwicket for a couple more.
Wicket! Jadeja c Buttler b Rashid 25
Jadeja goes for the big hit but loses control of the bat. Up, up, up it goes and Jos Buttler is around from mid-on when it comes down.
117th over: India 363-6 (Kohli 95, Jadeja 25) Virat Kohli passed 4,000 Test runs earlier in this innings. 500 of them have now come in this series.
116th over: India 361-6 (Kohli 94, Jadeja 24) Up comes the 50 partnership from just 66 balls when Kohli cuts behind point for two, with Jennings saving a couple with a good dive. We can consider India’s second-session wobble well and truly dealt with, I reckon. Kohli adds four more with another cut behind point. You have a new ball available if you want it, Alastair.
115th over: India 355-6 (Kohli 88, Jadeja 24) Ball continues with the old ball and, though he’s getting a bit of reverse swing out there for the first time in the match, it’s not really moving late enough to trouble Jadeja. On the telly, the attendance is announced as 19,444, which is great to see.
Rather spookily, as I was writing that last sentence, the following email from Simon McMahon appeared: “Ever been to India, Dan? Looks a great place to watch cricket. But then, where isn’t a great place to watch cricket?” Alas I have not.
114th over: India 355-6 (Kohli 88, Jadeja 24) Second ball after tea Jennings drops a very tough chance, low to his right at short-leg, off Jadeja. No need to check whether that one came off the helmet, eh Ravi Ashwin? They take one, then Kohli brings up the 350 to great adulation with a drive out to wide mid-on for one. Another single, then an imperious pull through midwicket for four to finish. Too short, that, Rash.
We’re back. Still no new ball, Rashid with the ball.
If you get a few minutes do have a read of this: Barney Ronay on the bowler who couldn’t slow down.
Tea
113th over: India 348-6 (Kohli 83, Jadeja 22) Something new but it’s Jake, rather than new, Ball. His first ball reverses back in and strikes Kohli on the pad, prompting a strong appeal, but it looks like he’s got an inside edge on that even if Botham isn’t convinced. Two singles from the over and that’s tea, with India trailing by 52. See you in 15 or so.
112th over: India 346-6 (Kohli 82, Jadeja 21) Er, it’s just been pointed out that I might have, in my excitement, said Root was c Bairstow b Root in the 109th over. Refresh the page and that’s been corrected now. Thanks, mum, for pointing that out. Two singles from this over; maybe a quick go with the new ball before tea in five minutes?
111th over: India 344-6 (Kohli 81, Jadeja 20) Joe Root is off, Moeen Ali is on, round the wicket to Jadeja and his first ball is clubbed through mid-on for four brutal runs. In 33 minutes, England’s lead has gone from 100 down to 56.
110th over: India 337-6 (Kohli 80, Jadeja 14) Things have calmed down just a touch now, although Kohli still looks animated: he comes forward, opens his stance up and then gets down almost on his haunches to just dab into the off-side for a single – one of three in the over.
An offer from Paul Mitchell
“I’ll shortly be moving my OBO reading venue to Cape Town stadium where the latest world rugby sevens is on today. I find myself with 2 spare tickets, so if any OBO-ers are in town and would like them at face value then send me a mail.”
Drop me an email if you’re interested and I’ll send your details on, to save Paul Mitchell’s email being there for all and sundry to see.
109th over: India 334-6 (Kohli 79, Jadeja 12) A couple of overs ago, Ian Copetake wrote: “Talking of Germans, I hope Cook resists a night of the long knives and resists removing the FEC from this bowling/dress rehearsal.” And Ian – and the rest of us – are in luck as Root carries on into the fourth over of his spell. This is his seventh of the innings; Chris Woakes has bowled five.
108th over: India 330-6 (Kohli 77, Jadeja 10) More sweeping from Kohli and he gets one off the toe-end of the bat and down to fine-leg for his least elegant boundary so far. Just a single from the rest of the over as Jadeja, perhaps disgusted by Rashid’s rather filthy leg-stump line, declines to continue the fun.
“Morning Dan.” Morning, Simon McMahon. “England have two chances in this match, slim and none. And while Kohli’s still batting, slim has left town. Anyway, did Derek Smalls buy you a cocktail?” The way this is going now we’re looking at a result either way I reckon. And no, I just stuck to tea and fizzy water when Harry Shearer bought me lunch last week. Did I mention that happened?
Had lunch with one of my heroes today, The Simpsons' Harry Shearer pic.twitter.com/oMyg3zvtim
— Dan Lucas (@DanLucas86) December 6, 2016
107th over: India 325-6 (Kohli 72, Jadeja 10) Root continues. For some strange reason, Jadeja is not overwhelmed by fear and absolutely mullers the second ball over midwicket for six. Root then spins one nastily away from the outside edge and to slip via Bairstow’s chest; they appeal but it missed the bat by a fair old way. Oh and then he nearly gets him with the straight one!
Richard Woods writes on Patel: “He was honestly very unlucky today. A better player might have had the chance to play and miss or nearly get bowled. But he got out early to a part-time bowler, having contributed little to his team’s score and as result, his first ball escape notwithstanding, he lost the opportunity for getting a bit of good luck. I would love to see him play pretty much the same way in the second innings, and in between times give his yap a rest.”
106th over: India 319-6 (Kohli 72, Jadeja 4) Hello, a rare sweep shot from Virat Kohli. He looks pretty angry out there, slog sweeping hard off leg-stump and getting four then spanking one back at Rashid, who drops the India captain moving to his left! Should have taken that and he nearly makes up for it by drifting one past the outside edge. The final ball is short and The Incredible Virat thwacks it hard through square-leg on the pull for another boundary. This is fun!
Updated
105th over: India 311-6 (Kohli 64, Jadeja 4) There hasn’t been a huge amount for England fans to cheer in this series, so do get stuck in. Root gets his second wicket in four balls and he’s not far away from a third in eight when Jadeja clips a clump just over the leaping bowler’s outstretched arm. Instead, it’s four runs.
Never wise to go too early with your ridicule of the opposition...
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) December 10, 2016
Unlucky, Parthiv... #TalkNah
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) December 10, 2016
Yes he's out!
That wasn’t even close to the helmet – the ball nestled firmly in Jennings’ midriff. Quite what Ashwin was hanging around for I’ve no idea.
Review! Ashwin c Jennings b Root 0
Oh my. Ashwin has flicked this to short-leg, where Jennings has taken a very sharp catch. They’re checking to see if it hit the batsman’s helmet though.
Updated
104th over: India 307-5 (Kohli 64, Ashwin 0) We should probably give Bairstow greater credit for that catch. I initially said Patel pushed at it but that’s wrong: he gave himself room and went for a big drive and the keeper barely had any time to react.
Patel...slag off England's spinners and get out to an offie with a bowling average of 48.
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) December 10, 2016
Boy, those Germans have a word for everything.
103rd over: India 305-5 (Kohli 62, Ashwin 0) Cook goes off the field, Joe Root takes the captaincy and immediately brings himself into the attack. “Ooh there we go, that’s nice” says someone near the stump mic and I dearly hope that was Root too, because he’s got Patel with a beauty three balls later. India have lost three for 43 and that’s a wicket maiden. All hail Joe Root: he’s better than you.
Wicket! Patel c Bairstow b Root 15
Joe Root strikes! It’s a lovely ball, tossed up outside off and Mr Pot Stirrer’s luck is out: he drives at it and gets a thin edge through to Bairstow, who juggles it and takes a good catch at the second attempt.
Updated
102nd over: India 305-4 (Kohli 62, Patel 15) India are within double figures now, thanks to a single pushed to cover by Patel, a second nudged into the on-side by Kohli, a cut hammered out to point for two by the former and finally a flick to square leg for another one. Maybe John Starbuck was right in the previous over. Alastair Cook has forgotten the new ball is available, hasn’t he?
101st over: India 300-4 (Kohli 61, Patel 11) A short bit of rubbish from Moeen cordially invites Patel into double figures and the batsman gleefully accepts, pulling away an ugly shot to the midwicket boundary. He then adds a single to take India to 300.
“Good morning,” begins the ever-polite John Starbuck. “As we’re about halfway through the game, how do you reckon England’s chances? I know the recent stats are on their side, but you’d expect a bit of pace again by now if they are to run through India’s tail today.” Very, very slim, I reckon. I’d stick with these two for a few more overs yet, given Patel likes pace on the ball and that it’s spitting off the pitch, but Ashwin has been a right old pain in the backside to get out so far.
100th over: India 294-4 (Kohli 60, Patel 6) Rashid to continue after drinks and Kohli, refreshed and reinvigorated after that break (or perhaps just, you know, Virat bloomin’ Kohli) gets into a bit of width and cuts the first ball beyond the despairing dive of the fielder coming round to backward point and away for four. A single to the very same fielder later, Patel drives through cover for a couple more. Rashid then has the big mouth left-hander in a bit of trouble, twice tying him up in knots.
Cheers Vish. Morning/afternoon/whatever all, do get in touch. Email me here, or tweet me here.
99th over: India 287-4 (Kohli 55, Patel 4) One from that Moeen over and, with that, I’ll be handing over to Dan Lucas. He’ll be with you till stumps, hopefully prising out a few more scalps to the sounds of an Enya cover from Hoobastank.
Most runs in 2016 in all formats (Tests/ODIs/T20Is)
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 10, 2016
2400* Virat Kohli, ave 85.71
2399 J Root, ave 49.97
2186 D Warner
2048 S Smith#IndvEng
98th over: India 286-4 (Kohli 54, Patel 4) Appeal for a catch at leg slip, as Rashid looks to have turned one into Patel and off the inside edge, through to Cook. However Marais Erasmus says not out and Cook’s happy enough with that. The replays suggest it was just a healthy bit of thigh guard.
97th over: India 284-4 (Kohli 53, Patel 3) One from that Moeen Ali over, as he tries and fails to get Moeen away through point and then cover for boundaries.
96th over: India 283-4 (Kohli 53, Patel 2) Rashid continues his good work with another tidy over. Alastair Cook’s decision not to take the new ball is coming up trumps here.
95th over: India 281-4 (Kohli 52, Patel 1) After the wicket of Nair comes Parthiv “All Mouth” Patel, who is nearly dismissed first ball. Pressing forward to Moeen, who gets the ball to drop on a good length and spin away, he gets off the mark with an edge off the shoulder of his bat, which carries just over the slips and in front of the man at backward point. What was that about luck, Parthiv?
WICKET! Nair LBW Ali 13 (India 279-4)
Out! After a long review in which the replacement third umpire makes no sense whatsoever, the decision is out! The spike seen on Ultra Edge came from bat hitting pad, with the ball passing through into pad. Impact on leg stump. Well reviewed, Jonny Bairstow...
REVIEW
Moeen Ali, from around the wicket, gets one to turn into the front pad of Karun Nair. The onfield decision is not out but Cook, encouraged by Bairstow, goes for the review...
94th over: India 279-3 (Kohli 51, Karun 13) Nair still not settled against Rashid, but he does get a single away through deep point to watch three deliveries from the nonstriker’s end. Best place to play yourself in, they say. “The commentators are commenting on Kohli’s trait of never not encouraging positive play even in bastmen who probably should be told to calm down a tad,” writes Ian Copestake. “I think they are overlooking Kohli’s penchant for irony.” Think you’re right, Ian. Kohli’s idols: David Sedaris, Sachin Tendulkar. In that order.
Updated
93rd over: India 278-3 (Kohli 51, Nair 12) Having been shackled by Rashid, Nair unleashes a well-execued reverse sweep on Moeen, swishing him through backward point for four.
92nd over: India 272-3 (Kohli 50, Nair 7) After a procession of leg breaks to Nair, Rashid puts in the googly which Nair manages to get some inside edge on, stunting the appeal from around the bat. “I give you the pride of Bolton.” Take it away, Ian Copestake: John Davis, Bill Farrimond, Charles Hallows, James Hallows, Haseeb Hameed, Frank Hardcastle, Sajid Mahmood, Dick Pollard, Frank Tyson, Mike Watkinson.” Ah, Saj Mahmood. Guardian columnist for the 2006-07 Ashes (see below):
Saj Mahmood had a Guardian column during 06/07 Ashes. Headlines tell the story (start bottom right) h/t @rustyjacko pic.twitter.com/hvHCII87AB
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) February 8, 2016
Updated
91st over: India 270-3 (Kohli 50, Nair 5) After two dots off the first two balls of the over, Kohli is getting a bit tetchy. He looks to have found Jos Buttler at mid on with the third, but a misfield allows Kohli to skip through for his 15th half-century, from 111 balls. Can he crack on and maintain his >50% conversion rate?
90th over: India 268-3 (Kohli 49, Nair 4) Rashid makes up for his long hop at the end of the previous over to beat Nair with three successive deliveries. All brought the right-hander forward; all left him at the altar. And a fourth! Brilliant from Rashid. England are starting to believe again.
@Vitu_E Bombay battingest city: Merchant, Umrigar, Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Tendulkar, Kambli, Rahane. Strangely, Bombay's best bowler Agarkar.
— Nagarjun Kandukuru (@knagarjun) December 10, 2016
Agarkar to captain, too?
89th over: India 267-3 (Kohli 48, Nair 4) Better line from Moeen to get Kohli stepping forward and across in the same motion. Kohli’s still trying to work to leg, too, and there’s a whiff off caught and bowled in the air, as he throws his wrists at one that dribbles back to the bowler.
Karun Nair's first-class best of 328 came at this very ground, in the 2014-15 #Ranji Trophy final against Tamil Nadu.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) December 10, 2016
88th over: India 266-3 (Kohli 47, Nair 4) A very Rashid over. A couples of deliveries are followed by a wicket off a full toss. Then, with Test newbie Karun Nair facing up, he bowls a trash long hop that gets dismissed to square leg for four.
WICKET! Vijay c & b Rashid 136 (India 262-3)
There you go, Rash – have one for yourself. A low full toss is hammered back to Rashid, who takes the return catch at the second attempt. Not a great delivery but a wicket he has deserved. A fine Vijay innings comes to an end.
Updated
87th over: India 260-2 (Vijay 134, Kohli 47) Once again, Vijay uses his feet to get to the pitch of Moeen, but flays him along the turf this time, beating mid off to the fence.
86th over: India 253-2 (Vijay 128, Kohli 46) Rashid beats Kohli’s edge with ease, but still no reward for the leggie. Getting into a nice groove though. “That Bridgetown list is awe-inspiring,” writes Akshay Shah. “Wonder if there is a statistician with the early morning inclination to run some numbers? Tendulkar, Gavaskar, Vengsarkar, Shastri, Polly Umrigar, the Manjrekars (Vijay and Sanjay), Chandu Borde, Farookh Engineer, Ajit Wadekar, and Ajinkya Rahane - sticking to those with more than 2,000 runs.” That’ll play. Light on bowling, mind...
@Vitu_E @knagarjun Sydney is Vic's shout (Border, Waughs, Clarke etc) Or maybe an SA city like Joburg that boasts a few England cricketers..
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) December 10, 2016
85th over: India 251-2 (Vijay 127, Kohli 45) Moeen Ali around the wicket allows both right handers to use the turn and pick up runs on the leg side. Annoyingly, it’s the ball that goes on with the arm that’ll cause the most damage here, but Moeen can’t quite get that natural variation going from this angle. Which, as I type it out, reads like nonsense.
84th over: India 247-2 (Vijay 124, Kohli 44) Adil Rashid kicks us off after lunch and serves up a maiden. There’s some impressive turn there but not quick enough off the pitch to trouble Kohli, who leaves and defends with ease.
I’m back and I’ve got an email from Aniket Chowdhury with me: “Cook has been really disappointing in his tactics and field placements, especially when it comes to spinners. Also, why have England gotten their team selections wrong in every game on this tour? Any thoughts?” A few thoughts: I think he’s played it safe by ensuring he has as many bowling options as possible. But while having six bowlers has given him peace of mind, it has also clouded his judgement. I also think there aren’t really enough overs to divvy up between six, unless your sixth option is an out-and-out strike bowler, like an out and out quick. On that note, what a miss Mark Wood has been. As for the extra spin options England brought to India, Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari are both good spinners, but they were selected because it was believed they offered the most control rather than as wicket-taking threats. As soon as Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid got their lines right, that extra “control” wasn’t needed, making them – mostly Batty – redundant. Anyhow, I’m ranting and the playrs are back out there. On with the cricket...
Serious bunch, right here, based on our discussion from over 79:
@Vitu_E Most runs from a city: Bridgetown(ish)? Weekes, Worrell, Walcott, Hunte, Sobers, Greenidge, Haynes.
— Nagarjun Kandukuru (@knagarjun) December 10, 2016
LUNCH
83rd over: India 247-2 (Vijay 124, Kohli 44) Last over of the morning and Vijay is happy to plop forward and do sod all, so Cook brings himself in at leg slip. When Moeen’s natural variation tests the outside edge, the ball squirts away, wide of regulation slip, for two runs to bring up 101 between these two, off 182 deliveries. And that, my friends, is lunch. After losing Pujara to the second ball of the day, it has been all India. I’m off for toast and a power nap. Be back with you shortly...
82nd over: India 245-2 (Vijay 122, Kohli 44) Brilliant work from Ben Stokes, who hurtles towards a tickle around the corner, puts in a dive and saves a run. Rashid appreciates the effort and does his bit with good flight and turn from the remaining four deliveries. The penultimate ball of the over creates doubt in Kohli’s footwork and rips one past his outside edge. “After that last review, it makes you wonder why India held out for so long against DRS,” says John Starbuck. You know, after some early teething problems, they really have got into the spirit of it. I’m a huge fan of their novelty 80th over reviews.
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81st over: India 242-2 (Vijay 119, Kohli 44) The new pill is not taken just yet. Moeen Ali continues and beats Kohli’s outside edge. A single through midwicket brings a tired looking Vijay on strike. A lazy bunt to mid on is followed by a languid reverse sweep off the toe of the bat for just one. He looks like he needs a lie-down or a feed. Both are four minutes away...
80th over: India 240-2 (Vijay 118, Kohli 43) A fine over from Rashid: an overturned LBW decision, a fair few inside edges and a bit of fire in his belly. Not sure how long he’ll get to use it, though, with the new ball available.
NOT OUT
You win this round, Vijay. And the previous 10. Bat first it is, though the England huddle disagree...
REVIEW...
Rashid looks to have trapped Vijay LBW, but the opener isn’t having any of it and reviews the “out” decision straight away. Perhaps bat before pad? We shall see...
79th over: India 238-2 (Vijay 116, Kohli 43) Screams of “catch” – the first of the morning, I reckon – fill the air as Vijay sweeps high into the leg side... but there’s no fielder within reach. “Seeing the Tendulkar stand and the Gavaskar pavilion on television raised a question. Has any city produced batsmen that have scored more Test runs (in aggregate) than Bombay’s boys? What would be the most prolific English city?” Excellent question. Sheffield – the home of Joe Root and Michael Vaughan (ish) – might be in with a shout.
78th over: India 237-2 (Vijay 115, Kohli 43) More decent yet manageable turn from Rashid. Just one from the over – a punch to the off side sweeper from Vijay – is all that’s given.
India 236/2 in 77 overs
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 10, 2016
England (400) were 230/2 in 70 overs#IndvEng
77th over: India 236-2 (Vijay 114, Kohli 43) Looks like Vijay is keen to tee off now that he’s got a hundred in the bank. Anderson’s first ball is lofted back over the bowler’s head for four. It wasn’t quite timed, but well lofted over the infield. Two balls later, Anderson digs one short and Vijay hooks, for the first time today, for two into the leg side (two saved thanks to good work from Chris Woakes). Leg byes and a single to finish mean that’s nine from the over.
76th over: India 227-2 (Vijay 107, Kohli 43) Six from that Rashid over, but enough to encourage him. A few mistimed shots and a thick outside edge for three, as he undoes Vijay with a big turning leggie. Still no dice for England, after their breakthrough two balls into this session. Four overs to go till the new pill...
75th over: India 221-2 (Vijay 102, Kohli 41) Another loose shot from Vijay as he hacks through backward point for a single to the man on the fence. And now too from Kohli, only this time it’s a swing and a miss. By the way, that single in the previous over brought up 4,000 career Test runs for Kohli.
74th over: India 218-2 (Vijay 101, Kohli 40) Adil Rashid into the attack, whites soiled red from a whole heap of diving about. He’s got mid off back, who is immediately into the game as Vijay pushes out to him for a single. Somehow, Kohli misses out on a full bunger, finding cover with a fierce drive. A much better delivery drags Vijay away from his body with a bit of drift and almost has him caught behind. Finally, a lapse in concentration from one of these two. “Cherish these moments, lads,” say Bairstow’s blue eyes.
73rd over: India 216-2 (Vijay 100, Kohli 39) Little sign of reverse swing for Anderson, as it happens. Given the new ball is seven overs away, is it not worth giving him a break before then? Still, Anderson’s control brings a maiden.
Two hundreds as opener for IND against ENG in a series:
— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) December 10, 2016
R Shastri in Eng, 1990
R Dravid in Eng, 2011
MURALI VIJAY in Ind, 2016 *#INDvENG
VIJAY MAKES IT TO THREE FIGURES!
72nd over: India 216-2 (Vijay 100, Kohli 39) Kohli works one into the leg side, giving Vijay the chance to bring up the hundred against Moeen Ali. Down the track? Nope, a skewed outside edge to point sees him scamper through for his eighth Test hundred, from 231 balls. A third hundred against England and second in this series.
Meanwhile, in the WBBL...
Amazing!
— Rebel WBBL (@RebelWBBL) December 10, 2016
Bridget Patterson, take a bow! https://t.co/mHypAIzACh #WBBL02 https://t.co/2lwvJbbem9
71st over: India 213-2 (Vijay 99, Kolhi 37) A couple of cutters stick in the pitch, as Anderson tries to conjure up something from very little. A solid push down the ground brings two and moves Vijay onto 99... a delay at the top of his mark and a full ball is drive into the covers... where it’s stopped by one of the five men on the off side. With a ball to go, Anderson serves up an inswinger which Vijay keeps put. And so, he waits...
If England were a bowler short, would Adil Rashid have got the ball a bit more? Sometimes too much choice invades thought.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 10, 2016
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70th over: India 210-2 (Vijay 97, Kohli 36) Moeen Ali moves to around the wicket to Vijay and gets some joy, almost squaring up the soon-to-be centurion. It’s getting to that stage when we’re bigging up these marginal wins. Jimmy in deep conversation with Cook, as Root shines the ball on his sleeve. A spell of reverse is imminent...
69th over: India 208-2 (Vijay 96, Kohli 35) No sign of Anderson or Woakes yet, as Stokes continues after a bevvie. Another bouncer from Kohli, but this doesn’t get high enough to trouble the right-hander, who pulls well in front of square – through midwicket in fact – for four. That’s a thousand runs in 11 Tests this year, at an average of 71.43. Seeeeeeerious.
68th over: India 204-2 (Vijay 96, Kohli 31) Drinks on the way and Vijay fancies getting to three figures before the break. A failed sweep isn’t costly, as he just clumps the ball off the ground and into his bad. A quicker delivery – 94 kph (58 mph in our money) – gets a single into the offside. One four away. And drinks.
67th over: India 201-2 (Vijay 95, Kohli 29) Another short ball from Stokes, another pull for one from Kohli. Vijay gets some too but, with 95 to his name, he’s not playing ball. “Mind games from Cook in motivating Jimmy to become cock of the walk,” writes Ian Copestake. “Once they give him the ball.”
66th over: India 200-2 (Vijay 95, Kohli 28) Kohli pushes to cover to bring up the 200. He’s not happy, though, remonstrating with umpire Erasmus about something going on behind the bowler’s arm. It might have something to do with Moeen Ali who, after a few dot balls, was looking to rush through his over, perhaps trying to catch Kohli unawares?
65th over: India 199-2 (Vijay 95, Kohli 27) Stokes v Kohli. Yes now, Gods, what do you have for us? An on drive for three and the contest is put on hold after one ball. Boo to you, Zeus. Contest back on, as Vijay pushes a single into the leg side to bring up the 50 partnership from 73 balls. Stokes tests Kohli with a short one and Kohli responds with a pull around the corner for a single. Wristy but very risk free.
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64th over: India 192-2 (Vijay 92, Kohli 22) Kohli moving across his stumps. That’s usually an observation that is made to highlight a flaw, but Kohli’s already so in tune with the pitch that he’s using it to pick up runs into the leg side. When Ali decides to challenge the outside edge, Kohli hangs back and finds a single through cover.
63rd over: India 189-2 (Vijay 93, Kohli 19) Stokes it is. A couple of short deliveries precede a full ball that Vijay totally misreads. Luckily for him, there’s no snick through to the keeper or onto his stumps. Stokes decides it’s a length to persist. Vijay drives him through extra cover, twice, for six runs. Rough game, this. Vijay into the nineties...
62nd over: India 181-1 (Vijay 85, Kohli 19) You don’t really see Indian batsmen sweeping – they’ve got enough shots to keep them busy – but Vijay plays it better than most. As Moeen tries to drag him further forward, Vijay simple waits on one knee and clouts it very hard and very square for four. Kohli finishes Moeen’s over with the short of the morning: a wristy flick adding the garnish on a tasty cover drive. So much for that maiden in Moeen’s previous over...
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61st over: India 1702 (Vijay 78, Kohli 15) Some more well-aimed bouncers from Ball. They’ll take a lot out of him, but his pace hasn’t dropped yet. Presumably, if England are going to keep up this line of attack, Stokes will take over from the same end when Ball needs a rest.
60th over: India 169-2 (Vijay 77, Kohli 15) A good maiden from Moeen. “Good” in the sense that he didn’t get away with any shoddy deliveries. “Great” would have been a few edges, maybe even an appeal or two. But all the same, keeping Kohli under wraps for six balls straight takes some doing.
59th over: India 169-2 (Vijay 77, Kohli 15) Forget what I said in over 57 – Cook has put in a third man, found by Kohli immediately for a single. Vijay’s now getting short shrift from Ball and takes after his captain by leaving all alone.
58th over: India 168-2 (Vijay 77, Kohli 14) Oh that’s all sorts of lovely from Vijay, who skips down the track and lobs Moeen Ali back down the ground for six for his first runs off the bat today. A single gives Kohli the strike who whips through midwicket, finding the man on the fence for just one.
57th over: India 160-2 (Vijay 70, Kohli 13) Geez, the margins you have to work with against Kohli are so small. A delivery that some might leave is guided down to third man for four. A suicide gully is put in place – close in, helmet donned – but still, Kohli’s able to pilfer another boundary through the same region. The India captain has raced to double figures but you can understand Cook not chucking in a third man given Kohli has repeatedly got himself out trying to score runs in this manner.
56th over: India 152-2 (Vijay 70, Kohli 5) Two from the over as Vijay pinches a leg bye and Kohli makes use of one on his hip.
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55th over: India 150-2 (Vijay, 70, Kohli 4) More bumpers than dodgems for Kohli, so far. They’ve all been directed at his left shoulder, which he has dropped to duck under. With the first bit of width, he’s riding the bounce and guiding it through backward point for four, with ruthless precision. First boundary of the morning.
54th over: India 146-2 (Vijay 70, Kohli 0) Moeen Ali opens up from the other end, with a slip and short leg, along with a midwicket, point and cover. Vijay has to play each delivery, as Moeen mixes up his length while maintaining some good flight to get the right-hander forward. “I am bound to say we should listen most carefully to Mr Patel’s views on the finer points of test match batting, and particularly on what he would like to see going forward. After all, he has had plenty of opportunity in the past years to observe what goes on in test matches.” Ouch – Richard Woods, there, serving up today’s first zinger. “PS And he won’t be watching Pujara anymore for a while, will he?” Two maidens to start.
53rd over: India 146-2 (Vijay 70, Kohli 0) Not going to lie, this space was taken up by a minor quibble about Alastair Cook’s decision to bowl Jake Ball ahead of the three senior quicks. A quibble that would no doubt eventually evolve into a full blown LAMENT. Consider this filler: a cracking opening over from Ball, who gets movement into the right hander and even a bit of bounce from the pitch to get Virat Kohli ducking. Men out on the hook, too... expect a bit more of that this morning...
WICKET! Pujara b Ball 47 (India 146-2)
Now then... Jake Ball, opening up ahead of Anderson, Stokes and Woakes, gets the breakthrough! His second ball moves in off a length and, for some reason, Pujara leaves it. Bowled off the thigh pad!
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“I have to admit, my favourite Indian bat to watch is Murali Vijay,” writes Quebecer. “Elegant, classical, tempered, yet the purest of shots when he plays them. But that’s enough now Mr. Vijay please. You looked lovely yesterday, but I rather feel I’ve seen enough, if you don’t mind. You seem a pleasant chap, so best to be polite and move along now, thanks all the same.”
As is also customary at this hour – a good morning to Ian Copestake: “I wandered off from the cricket yesterday having seen how little our spinners were making the ball talk. Was a conclusion reached regarding our bowling that we are not as good at it as them, or was it a case of ‘areas’? I am looking for grounds for hope of course.” So, Ian, I’m not sure if you heard Ravi Ashwin’s comments at the end of yesterday, but he suggested that the ideal length on this Mumbai track was a fuller, driveable length, which is exactly how Moeen Ali bowled KL Rahul through the gate. While Ali and Rashid did hit that fuller length on a few occasions, Pot-stirrer Patel felt they were unable to impart as many revolutions on the ball as the India spinners, which seemed to allow Murali Vijay and Che Pujara to drive down the ground and through the covers without fear of being beaten on either edge. It’s also worth noting that they’re both supreme players of spin. Vijay, especially: of his 70 runs so far this innings, 53 have come against the moving ball. As for his work in the first three Tests of this series:
Murali Vijay this series:
— Phil Oliver (@Phil__Oliver) December 9, 2016
v pace: 105 runs, 4 dismissals
v spin: 157 runs, 2 dismissals (209 balls without dismissal facing finger spin).
Morning all – want some?
Given it’s the wee hours of Saturday morning, I thought this would be the perfect time for a bit of a scrap. Now, I’m not the fighting kind, nor am I one to egg on a confrontation from the sanctuary of the shadow behind the biggest bloke. But I was drawn to Parthiv Patel’s comments in the press conference at the end of yesterday’s play, on Jos Buttler’s innings of 76, which helped England to 400 and state his case as a Test player of substance:
He was honestly very lucky, [on the first day], with a lot of balls off the inside edge and missing the stumps by a little distance. He batted well today but when you don’t have pressure you tend to play well. Once a wicket fell he had to play with tailenders and play a few shots. I would love to see him defending a few in the second innings if it turns and bounces.
Shots well and truly fired. That being said, I feel there’s an element of truth in Patel’s words. Buttler was indeed a tad lucky when he came to the crease, looking as comfortable as a sweaty octopus trying to unhook a bra against the turning ball, with men around the bat. From an England perspective, it was a pleasant surprise that he was able to keep his wicket intact overnight. But it is another dig to add to the many that have been served up on this tour. And most of them have been from India (specifically, Virat Kohli). Were England not indulging in self-reflection at two-nil down after three Tests, there might have been more return fire. Given the importance of today – India reconvene on 147 for one, looking on the cusp of a shedload – fertilised by Patel’s words, this may well be the tetchiest day’s play so far. I cannae wait and I’ll clout anyone who says otherwise. In the meantime, here’s a fine piece on Jammy Jos Buttler by Ali “Come Over Here And Say That” Martin.
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