Reaction and analysis
Day one report
India trail by just 13 runs. Sure, England hung in there in that final session, picking up three wickets - including the vital scalp of the captain in the final over of the night - but the hosts are flying after their masterful performance with the ball. They will return tomorrow afternoon with an opportunity to really drive home that advantage against an ageing pink ball. On the other hand, if England do find a way to have a big first session and keep their eventual deficit to a managable number... well, who knows. Until then, bye!
STUMPS: India 99-3
33rd over: India 99-3 (Rohit 57, Rahane 1) As Andrew Strauss notes on Channel 4 back in the studio, Ollie Pope will go to bed a relieved man after dropping Kohli moments ago. Four balls left in what will now almost certainly be the final over before the close. Three catchers close to the bat, all on the off side, as Rahane shapes up. He gets himself off the mark, past Root with as prod behind the wicket, with Rohit defending the final delivery of the night. Stumps!
WICKET! Kohli b Leach 27 (India 98-3)
Kohli chops on! Just a couple of minutes until stumps, the Indian captain went back to cut but it was the one that doesn’t spin. An inside edge follows and England have a big wicket to finish on.
32nd over: India 98-2 (Rohit 57, Kohli 27) Jofra Archer back into the attack for what could well be a one-over spell with stumps just eight minutes from now. Can’t hurt. He bangs one in a fraction short of a length at Kohli and it gets big on him but he rides the bounce down to midwicket to earns a couple. Rohit’s turn later in the over and he’s not playing for the close of play, instead flicking quite superbly from off stump through midwicket to the rope. Leach should have done better to keep it in but it was such a good shot, it deserved four.
31st over: India 91-2 (Rohit 53, Kohli 24) Foakes’ fast gloves prompt a stumping decision for the third umpire but Rohit got his toe back, learning his lesson from the second dig at Chennai. Root is unhappy about something or another, having an animated chat with the central umpire before the players return to their positions. Earlier in the over, Stokes was the fielder showing some initiative, shaping up to jump over to leg slip when Rohit looked to reverse. Another swing and a miss later in the over from Rohit. Leach is in the game here.
30th over: India 91-2 (Rohit 53, Kohli 24) Kohli dropped off Jimmy! At gully... and it’s Ollie Pope, who nearly took a screamer in the previous over. It’s a straightforward chance too - waist height, in and out. Fine bowling to create the false stroke, coming back off the seam to put the Indian captain into two minds as to whether he should play or not, eventually doing neither and steering the ball into the cordon, but it’s not to be. India are 21 runs from parity.
“Welcome back to this hemisphere.” Thank you, Robert Lewis. I’ll miss the freedom I had in Australia through the southern summer but I’m grateful to have had the chance to be there in the circumstances. “Here is Istanbul, I had the Chinese version of the Covid injection today. Will there one day be another such jab, to innoculate us against England batting collapses? Today’s was much more painful for me than the one I got at the hospital.”
Yes, after not really having a collapse for a year or so under Silverwood, they’ve come thick and fast over the last few weeks.
29th over: India 91-2 (Rohit 53, Kohli 24) Pope is a wonderful short leg, nearly pulling in a beauty off Rohit. He made the decision to race to his right when the Indian opener threw his bat down the track in anticipation of a lap sweep. It was the right call, the ball coming where he moved, but too quickly to drag in what would have been a truly brilliant chance in there under the lid. Leach keeps giving it a rip, beating Kohli with plenty of spin for the second time.
28th over: India 89-2 (Rohit 52, Kohli 23) Shot! We saw Rohit play Archer from the balls of his feet through cover like that earlier in the session and now Kohli has given that treatment to Anderson. Far from a bad delivery, just fine batting. Six (or so) overs left tonight.
“Would Root coming on tonight be too much of an indictment of the selectors, i.e. Root himself?” asks Richard Hurt. “He ought to, though.” I agree that he should, at least for a couple before stumps.
Updated
27th over: India 84-2 (Rohit 51, Kohli 19) Leach has been spun around to follow Stokes (3-0-19-0). As the TV call notes, there’s also no urgency from England who have an over rate of 11.2 so far in this innings. Sure, there have been a number of reviews and the lights went out a couple of times, albeit briefly, but that’s not a healthy number and they might lose themselves a couple of WTC points at the end of the match unless they can get it in check. Meanwhile, Rohit brings up the 50 stand between this pair (64 balls) with a push to cover. They’ve done it very nicely. Oooh, Leach gets out to really turn and bounce at Kohli but it misses everything. More, please.
26th over: India 83-2 (Rohit 50, Kohli 19) Back to Anderson, who can help his skipper control the scoreboard after 49 runs leaked from the last ten overs. In at Kohli, who he has such rich history with - “something to be savoured,” as Harsha Bhogle puts it on TV. And sure enough, the England champion gives him nothing. A maiden.
“Hi Adam.” Hello to you, Neelash Naik. “The pitch is working out fine for the batsmen but looking at the England quicks slipping and tripping at the crease, one would think the sly tricksters who call themselves groundsmen have rigged a diabolical trap for the visitors. Well at least that’s the theory I’m selling to my teenage daughter who is watching a test match for the first time in her life.”
My theory is that the cut strip only really runs - or so it looks - from the crease line rather than behind the stumps. So, by extension, maybe the landing zone is softer than usual, thus bigger holes?
Rohit Sharma passes 50
25th over: India 83-2 (Rohit 50, Kohli 19) This is drifting for England at a time they can’t afford for that to be the case, Rohit pulling a couple then getting a boundary through about the cordon. The latter was a genuine false stroke - and Root has a player in that rather unconventional fly slip position - but they’re runs all the same. He follows it with a single to square leg, his half-century posted in just 63 balls with eight boundaries along the way. What form he’s in.
“Having put the mockers on Crawley when England were batting, can I put the reverse mockers on Ben Stokes?” I’m not sure if that’s possible, Richard Hirst, but I encourage you to give it a shot! “Of all the England players he is the most worrisome, given his importance to batting, bowling and fielding. He needs his mojo back pronto.”
24th over: India 75-2 (Rohit 43, Kohli 18) Three further risk-free runs off Leach. This was the main criticism of England’s spinner during the first innings of both Tests at Chennai - not enough maidens.
23rd over: India 72-2 (Rohit 41, Kohli 17) That’s a tasty clip from Kohli off Stokes, racing away to midwicket for his second boundary. After the two wickets earlier in the session, this experienced pair have really skipped away from the visitors through the last hour.
22nd over: India 67-2 (Rohit 41, Kohli 13) England kept it tight early on but Rohit is going through the gears now, dancing at Leach before lifting him down to long-on for four. With four other deliveries scored off in a risk-free fashion, ten are added. India should have a first-innings lead safely banked by the time stumps are pulled.
21st over: India 57-2 (Rohit 34, Kohli 10) Ben Stokes now, replacing Archer (4-2-17-1). Naturally, he bangs the first one it at Kohli who is right to expect what is coming so he’s able to pull it away with ease through midwicket for four. A couple of further singles in the same direction later in the over - the partnership is 23 from 30 balls.
NOT OUT! Going over the top of middle stump. Rohit was a long way down the track when contact was made and it bounced too much.
20th over: India 51-2 (Rohit 33, Kohli 5)
Updated
IS ROHIT LBW? Leach likes it and Root does too. To the DRS!
19th over: India 47-2 (Rohit 31, Kohli 3) Archer v Kohli is the main event if ever there was one. Defend, duck, leave. This is going to be fun. The big quick completes a maiden. Also, a pitch invader! All I want to know is whether they have their kit on or not but TV refuse to give us that level of detail these days. Without wanting to trivialise something potentially to be dangerous for the players... if you’ve decided to run on, surely you do it properly and streak?
18th over: India 47-2 (Rohit 31, Kohli 3) Byes when Ben Foakes is ‘keeping? Why, I never! Two of them, down the legside. Kohli is off the mark with a couple to midwicket, then taking another to deep point. He’s at his best when busy early in an innings. DRINKS.
Rob Merrills has found a new positive to day-night Test cricket. “I’m listening to the TMS (sic) commentary having just taken an albeit rather late lunch, which coincided with what was referred to on several occasions as ‘the dinner interval’. As an inveterate commoner, I have always goaded my fiancée Molly that the correct sequence of the day’s mealtimes is breakfast – dinner – tea, whilst she has maintained the elegant and considerably more refined listing of breakfast – lunch - dinner. Imagine my delight at being able to refer her to said commentary, along with the information that – at long last – the BBC have accepted my version as being correct, an announcement having been made that the name of the early afternoon interval has been amended, with immediate effect, to ‘the dinner interval’, and that she would now be quite wrong to go against such an august organisation. My childish and fleeting glee at being able to impart this fictitious revelation was tempered only by the realisation that she – really – couldn’t have cared less.”
On this, it stuck with me when Mike Selvey described the 20-minute break as ‘cocktails’ during England’s first day-nighter in 2017. I did like it when they flipped the breaks (20 then 40) in Australia in the day-nighter they played against India. It never quite worked for me (an indulged broadcaster) having the long break at 4pm in Adelaide.
17th over: India 42-2 (Rohit 31, Kohli 0) Archer nearly makes it three in three! Rohit wanted nothing to do with a sharp bouncer, pulling out at the last moment but failing to take his bat with him, the uncontrolled ricochet flying over Foakes’ gloves for a boundary. Earlier in the over he did get into line nice and early, allowing him to pull the England quick through midwicket for his sixth boundary.
Speaking of Somerset, hello Kim Thonger. “Yet again the selectors have blundered. The obvious shout for this series was to take the entire Somerset team to India. The wicket at Taunton is ideal preparation for the sub continent.”
Best still, James Hildreth gets his Test cap at last! I like it.
Phil Sawyer’s head was also in Taunton earlier today when watching England bat. “I’m a lot more angry about Somerset being fined than I am about the state of England’s batting. I thought they should be applauded, rather than censured, for trying to produce something different from the norm and encouraging their spin bowlers.”
Updated
16th over: India 34-2 (Rohit 23, Kohli 0) Two wickets in five balls but the crowd goes wild anyway because it means Kohli in to bat. Returning to the Pujara dismissal, it was ever so similar to how Bairstow fell to Axar’s first ball and how India’s left-arm tweaker has picked up so many of his Test wickets so far. Super stuff from Somerset’s favourite son (let’s go with it). He finishes the successful set with a flighted offering to Kohli, forward smothering the spin.
WICKET! Pujara lbw b Leach 0 (India 34-2)
Two in two overs! Leach’s arm ball skids through and traps Pujara dead in front. He considered reviewing but thought better of it.
WICKET! Gill c Crawley b Archer 11 (India 33-1)
That’s the breakthrough England needed! It comes when Gill takes on Archer’s short ball but fails to come close to getting on top of it, the extra pace turning the attempted pull into a top edge with Crawley taking a high catch about ten metres from the pitch.
15th over: India 33-1 (Rohit 22)
14th over: India 33-0 (Rohit 22, Gill 11) Leach for the first time and Rohit gets down the other end with a single to midwicket. Gill plays the spin cautiously, especially when Leach gets one to rip across him, before retaining the strike with another single to the legside.
13th over: India 31-0 (Rohit 21, Gill 10) Stokes rubs some saliva on the ball between overs in front of the umpires, which means the pink SG needs to be wiped down with sanitiser. No concerns there, just a case of habits being hard to break. It’s Archer’s turn now and Rohit plays two of the shots of the day - back to back boundaries! The first is a pull, his signature stroke, controlled down from chest height. So well timed. The second is better still, crunched off from the balls of his feet in front of point. That’s one of the most difficult shots to play and he’s done it with ease. With Rohit hitting them well the crowd is brought to life too - what a comforting sound.
Mehul Dhorda has a query: “Lights gone off twice now. What happens if they go off again while a ball is being bowled?” It should be a dead ball. My concern would be more around batsmen safety.
12th over: India 22-0 (Rohit 12, Gill 10) For the second time in India’s innings, some of the lights go out around the stadium. Thankfully, they are back on by the time Broad prepares to bowl his next delivery. Gill gets the chance to play with the vertical bat for the third time in three overs, this time grabbing a couple through extra cover. “The swing is dying,” says Harsha Bhogle on telly, looking at a graphic that shows that Broad/Anderson have only earned 0.3 degrees of movement since the dinner break. A close-up shot shows a lot of dew on the grass. Wet balls tend not to swing, of course.
11th over: India 19-0 (Rohit 11, Gill 8) No, it won’t be Archer, and that’s perfectly fine with Gill, who nails a slightly shorter Anderson delivery off the back foot through forward square leg for four. Some shot, that. He’s utterly fearless. And still without a bat sponsor!
“Good analogy with the fruit,” Mike Frost says. “But should really read: ‘Then one day the men who *inherited* the tree decided to make some money by charging for the fruit.’” Tom Morgan also has something to add: “James Buttler doesn’t need a fruit analogy to get his kids into cricket. Just show him footage of Jimmy with a new nut bowling to a Kiwi on a pear and pinning him plum with a peach.”
10th over: India 14-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 4) Action here early in the over, Gill slapping Broad off the back foot past point for four - off the mark from his 27th delivery. I doubt he’s ever faced 26 dot balls to start any innings he’s played in any form of the game. Sure enough, Disco Stu really bends his back with the comeback ball, generating plenty of bounce from just short of a good length, coming very close to kissing the shoulder of the right-hander’s blade. There’s no radar on the TV screen but he’s got them coming through at pace. Reminds me of the slightly ridiculous segment on radio before play today where KP, continuing to square up with Broad for the incidents of 2012, said that batsmen should face him without pads in India because he isn’t quick enough to justify protective equipment.
9th over: India 10-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 0) Rohit isn’t scoring off Anderson and did play and miss at a wide one early in the over. However, the opener does look to be building in confidence, defending from the middle of his bat. Time for Archer while the ball is hard? Suspect so.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, Ian Forth. “I grimly recall taking a flight from Heathrow to Nairobi with a one year old on my lap. After the first of the eight hours he fell asleep, trapping my arm. It was one of those Saw like dilemmas. Do I sacrifice my arm possibly leading to permanent disability or risk waking the entire plane by moving? Of course the first piece of turbulence meant I had to put his special seatbelt on waking him up for the remainder of the flight anyway. Ah, happy memories.”
Winnie was a delight when the plane was empty during the leg from Australia to Doha. But more people meant more distractions and, eventually, a six-hour tantrum. She’s in much better nick today, crawling over for a kiss and a cuddle during the dinner break.
8th over: India 10-0 (Rohit 10, Gill 0) Before Broad’s appeal he was also unhappy with his landing, prompting the ground staff to run out to hammer some turf. They’re giving nothing away with the ball - Gill is yet to score from 26 balls - but there isn’t much movement.
NOT OUT! Umpire’s call; it was hitting plenty of the leg stump but not quite enough. England retain their review - not a bad one.
BROAD LIKES HIS LBW SHOUT AGAINST GILL! He’s talked Root into the review. Up we go.
7th over: India 9-0 (Rohit 9, Gill 0) A maiden from Anderson to Gill, who is yet to get off the mark from 21 deliveries, but we are at that stage when the ball will lose a bit of of life soon - England need to find an edge. The veteran is also a touch ginger after his penultimate delivery, landing in a footmark at the point of delivery.
“I just remembered that today I am wearing my Broad Trent Bridge 2015 T shirt,” writes Andrew Cosgrove. “You know the one, it starts .4lbW24W and goes on from there. It would be great if that Stuart Broad turned up now.”
Yes, not a morning I’ll ever forget and a t-shirt that I’m sure we’re going to see in the crowd at Ashes Tests for many, many years.
6th over: India 9-0 (Rohit 9, Gill 0) Shot! That’s the second time Broad has given Rohit something to drive and the second time he’s been put away, this time through cover. He’s back in his preferred channel thereafter, the opener leaving very close to his off stump.
“Woakes must be pretty as that can be the only reason for taking him on a tour as his average outside England is over 60,” Iain Noble says of the seamer yet to play on this tour. “That’s his bowling average.”
Sure. But horses for courses (i.e. pink ball), after the summer he enjoyed at home in 2020, he had a decent enough claim this week.
“This is Kumar from Winnipeg!” Lovely to have you back in my inbox. “Hope you had a safe trip back home! From your expert position, do you think this pitch is two paced or uneven? The way the ball hit the pad for Zak Crawley’s wicket when the previous delivery at the same spot and missed the edge must mean something right? Anyways! Love having back test cricket after a week off!!”
Looks like a pretty good track to me. The criticism last week at Chennai was that it was exploding on the first morning, making it so unpredictable. There was none of that when India were bowling.
Updated
The players are back on the field. A lovely looking Indian night, with the sky dark and the lights, thousands of them, beaming down from the roof of the new stadium. Broad to Rohit it will be. PLAY!
A good point from Kris Lilley. “Where was the fancy rear stump camera for the Gill ‘dismissal’ that was used for Leach’s dismissal? Seems odd that they wouldn’t have a look at that angle rather than just using one angle.”
I was waiting to see this on the post-review replays but we didn’t really get any further angles from the broadcaster once it was decided, just a slow-mo version of what the third umpire reviewed.
One last note before we return to the action, from none other than Jim Wallace - nominated for the SJA cricket journalist of the year!
“Welcome home Adam!” Thank you, Jim. “With the daffs creeping out and some hardy souls walking around with their jackets unbuttoned it feels like the changing of the seasons are upon us. I always associate transitional weather with Nick Drake, summer slipping into Autumn or Winter thawing into spring. England’s collapse this morning certainly fits the mournful and melancholic music of Drake. The lyrics to ‘Pink Moon’ though might provide some solace. Anderson and Broad together again, under lights with a point to prove and a match to grapple from the gloom…. ‘Pink Moon is gonna get ye all.’ I’m backing them to do something special and salvage the day for England. Hell, if Jimmy snares a five-fer I’ll be tempted to sling Nick Drake away and stick on some PINK ‘Get the party started’. I’ve got it lined up…”
Saw it written and I saw it say
Pink moon is on its way
And none of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get ye all
And it’s a pink moon
Hey it’s a pink moon
“Afternoon Adam.” Hi, Andrew Cosgrove. “The replays certainly looked as though the ball hit the grass, and yes, the third umpire didn’t really take very long to consider the verdict, but last time the cricket was on Channel 4 they comprehensively showed that the foreshortening effect of television cameras means that it can look like a clean catch has hit the grass. The fact that it was on Channel 4 shows how long we’ve been aware of this problem, but we’re still going to the third umpire to adjudicate these things. Having said that, given what the third umpire got to see, I can’t see he could come to any other decision. So where does that leave us? Were there no other angles to show it?”
Yep, and this highlights the big difference between DRS for leg before and the TV umpire looking at catches. I suppose my perspective is that if you train up some specialist TV umpires who only do this - in a bunker in the UAE somewhere, perhaps as part of a team rather than one person - you get the least worst outcome?
John Starbuck is with me: “Yes, specialist TV umpires would be better, and subject to fewer excoriations than on-field officials. But we all know there are times when a fielder ‘knows’ it’s a clean catch, just as many batsmen believe they hit it (lbw) or missed (catch). Human observation being what it is, a technically-assisted view is more likely to succeed.”
That’s how Stokes reacted, as though he knew he has a finger under it. There’s no way to credibly account for gut feeling, though.
Alistair Connor on a lighter note, as we prepare for the final session. “Ah, half way round the world with one’s baby daughter… Happy memories!” Flying France to NZ with daughter who was 18 months old, so 1995… apologised to our neighbours before the takeoff… sure enough she threw up on me landing in LA… no change of clothes for the second leg. And what about the cricket eh? This match looks like shutting the door on Aus for the test championship… Eh? Oh, commiserations Adam.”
We did the pre-emptive apology early in the second flight but I don’t think it did much good! On the WTC... on the contrary! If India win this and England bounce back next week, Australia make it. Easy!
“Hi Adam.” Allo, Richard Hirst. “England have scored 588 in total in their last four innings: just 10 more than the first innings of the first test. Is this the most spectacular decline on record, even for England?” Anyone care to work that out? Has to be close!
Phil Sawyer is with us too. “Perhaps now would be a good time for English cricket to stop fining counties like Somerset for producing wickets take spin and instead start, I don’t know, encouraging them? You know, if we want to produce bats that can actually play the turning ball? Just a thought.”
A debate that will roll on. I’m familiar with it from when Australia have been pantsed in India. Those series are followed by a lot of anger about the lack of spin in the Sheffield Shield. Then, after they cop a hiding in England, it’s all about seam and Dukes balls.
“Good Afternoon Adam, good afternoon everyone.” And to you, Em Jackson in Newcastle. “My question to the reader/viewer/listener is this: What will begin sooner, the post-mortem to this match & the ECB’s rotation strategy or the countless Indian/South Asian meals that many people will be cooking up on Friday to enjoy with a cold lager?”
Yep, strong three-day Test vibes. From my selfish vantage point, today being my first day of self-isolation, this isn’t ideal! As for rest and rotation, I don’t think they had much of a choice, to be honest. I discussed that in greater detail with Geoff Lemon in our latest pod.
“Afternoon Adam.” Digvijay Yadav, good to have you with us. “The third Umpire is guilty of rushing it. But the more replays one looks at, it’s clear he grassed it.”
That’s where I’ve landed too. The process wasn’t good, as it wasn’t in the First Test at Chennai, but it felt the correct call to me. It helps bolster my argument (advanced by the MCC’s cricket committee yesterday!) that we should be moving to specialist TV umpires.
“Hi Adam.” Hello, James Butler. “I’ve been trying to explain to my young children why having Test cricket back on free-to-air TV is just so amazing. So I came up with this fruit based analogy for them which I thought you might enjoy.” Alright, let’s do it.
“So once there was a tree and every summer it produced glorious fruit. And the fruit was free to anyone who wanted it. Although not everyone liked the fruit (indeed, some thought it dull) those who did like it thought it was amongst the greatest things in the world and it brought them much joy and wonder. Then one day the men who owned the tree decided to make some money by charging for the fruit. So this meant only a tiny number of people could taste the fruit from the comfort of their own homes and many people actually forgot the fruit even existed. About 20 years later the fruit became available for free again. And yes, you had to get up early to taste it and yes, it was only available for a short while but it was glorious while it lasted. And everyone hoped that, one day, the men who owned the fruit would realise they were wrong and they would make the fruit available for free again...but this time forever.”
Nice one. I’m trying to find a way to work into your analogy that the alternative to the free fruit, when it wasn’t on offer, was the best food presentation in the world but it doesn’t quite get me there.
Six wickets for the session. England started at 81-4 but lost two further wickets on that score immediately after the tea interview, eventually all-out for 112. Their one chance with the ball came when Broad found Gill’s edge with his fourth delivery but Stokes’ low attempt at third slip was overturned by the third umpire. This Test Match already feels like it is being played in fast forward. To that end, the visitors need to take a hatful of wickets in the final stanza or they might go to bed tonight more or less already out of contention.
DINNER! India 5-0
5th over: India 5-0 (Rohit 5, Gill 0) Anderson gets another look at Gill. “It is really a march into the unknown with a pink-ball and a 2:30pm start,” says Harsha Bhogle when looking ahead to what might happen when the player return with dew in the air. But will the ball keep swinging? It does here, with Anderson keeping Gill in defence throughout. Plenty to ponder during the break. DINNER!
4th over: India 5-0 (Rohit 5, Gill 0) Classic Rohit, pushing through the line of an overpitched Broad delivery, racing away to the long-off rope. Beautiful batting; perfect timing. England will get one more Anderson over in before tea. And for those with a strong interest in when the artificial light takes over... it very much has. Nice.
3rd over: India 1-0 (Rohit 1, Gill 0) India are off the mark, Rohit pushing with soft hands into the covers and running hard. He beats the opener on the inside edge with the ball that follows, the first we’ve seen from the England champion into the right hander. As usual, Sunil Gavaskar is the most emphatic voice on the catch that wasn’t, saying there is no way it was possibly a fair catch, adding if anyone disagrees with his view, they can seek him out.
Gavaskar asking people outside. What a day.
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) February 24, 2021
2nd over: India 0-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 0) It’s never easy to say conclusively what happened with those, but from a process perspective, England are frustrated that more replays weren’t looked at. It definitely didn’t look good for Stokes on the replays they did look at. Anyway, the debate will rage on and, for once, I’m going to keep my powder dry. Broad completes his maiden. So close.
NOT OUT! “The ball clearly bounced” says the third umpire after a couple of replays, in then out of Stokes’ hands. The all-rounder can’t believe it, bursting into hysterical laughter. It was a very quick decision, England aren’t happy with Anderson, Broad and Root wanting a please explain given the decision on the field was out.
HAS BROAD PICKED UP GILL THIRD BALL? The soft signal is out, Stokes the catcher low at third slip. Upstairs we go.
1st over: India 0-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 0) Big hoop first ball, finding Rohit’s edge, albeit with soft hands into the gully. Ohh, and he beats him with his third offering, albeit from a fraction short of a length. Nice shape, though. Some indecision follows, Rohit unable to get his bat out of the way after deciding too late to leave. A maiden to start. We get a wide shot on TV: all the lights are on in the new stadium.
“As someone who has done a fair amount of travelling recently,” begins Gareth Fitzgerald, “what’s the item you pack thinking it will be essential but then never get it out the case? And is it better looking than Chris Woakes?”
My green corduroy shirt is not prettier than Chris Woakes. Not close.
The players are back on the field. Rohit Sharma is there with Shubman Gill, two men who know how to punch a bruise. Jimmy has the new pink SG ball in his hand. Can he make it sing? PLAY!
Some emails? Let’s do it. “I hope the jet lag’s over,” begins Martin Littlewood. That might take a while given we landed at Heathrow (from Melbourne) this time yesterday and my baby daughter decided to give it BIG for the entire second leg. But we’re okay, happily self-isolating in North London for the next ten days. “Just a thought with respect to the rotation policy, has this confused the England players to thinking this Day / Night Test is actually a Day / Night One Day International?”
They sure missed a lot of straight ones.
“Please tell me Jimmy, Stuart and Jofra will be licking their lips at the sight of this wicket and the floodlights coming on?” says Jonathan Gresty. “And feel free to lie to me about it…”
Oh, I think they will. I actually quite like the fact that the sun is already setting. A criticism of mine about day-night Tests in Australia is that it doesn’t get dark until an hour before stumps! At least this week they will get an entire session under lights.
“I reckon India will be 135-0 at stumps, a first innings lead of 28,” predicts Alex Gerrard, admittedly before England were all-out. If they are 135 at the close, that’ll put them 23 ahead. Indeed, that would have strong Trent Bridge 2015 energy.
“Wow Axar is such a king,” declares Willian Arnold-Forster. “Hope to see him out on the tiles in Durham, speed dealers on - jaw swinging off its hinges and those big beautiful limbs of his looking nice and loose.”
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART! I hope his circuit of choice is Sunderland. If so, I’ll go up there one weekend to find him.
What a whirlwind that was. Don’t forget, about 20 minutes before tea England were 74-2 with Crawley beyond 50 and Root riding shotgun. But either side of the break, the wheels fell off - that’s the lowest score for England in their first innings of any Test in India. The home bowlers, Axar and Ashwin in particular, gave them nothing. But make no mistake, this isn’t the pitch - the batsmen botched it. Cold comfort: England’s stellar seam attack get a proper crack at the hosts at the best possible time during a day-night Test.
ENGLAND ALL-OUT 112 WICKET! Foakes b Axar 12.
The spinner skips through the right-hander, his straight one doing the job once again. Axar Patel: 21.4-6-38-6. Truly outstanding.
48th over: England 112-9 (Foakes 12, Anderson 0) Forget what I said signing off the previous over, it’s Jasprit Bumrah replacing Ashwin. A touch unexpected. AND HERE COMES THE KLAXON! Bumrah has overstepped - the 31st no-ball of the series the TV tells me. As I was tweeting earlier, I can’t believe it has taken me three Tests to realise what should come on instead of the siren: the opening few seconds of Klaxons’ baaaaanger - Atlantis to Interzone. 2007 - happy times. Bumrah gives Anderson some short stuff. Maybe, as Graeme Swann says, this is why he is back on? He keeps out the yorker that follows.
47th over: England 106-9 (Foakes 7, Anderson 0) Anderson, into the game far too early at No11. I should note that with tandem spinners, who both like to bowl their overs in the space of 75 seconds, it’ll be during the innings break when I get to most of your emails. Jimmy declines a single off the last ball to ensure it’ll be Foakes v Ashwin.
It's half twelve now in Manchester @collinsadam so I'm fine to crack open the gin, right?
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) February 24, 2021
Sounds wise.
WICKET! c Bumrah b Axar 3 (England 105-9)
Broad sweeps - he was always going to - but the top edge finds Bumrah at backward square. Axar jags another five-for! Superb.
46th over: England 104-8 (Foakes 5, Broad 3) Ashwin is pinning Broad back then giving him something to drive but picks out cover. Graeme Swann is cheekily suggesting that this was England’s plan all along, getting India under lights later. “They could be eight down themselves.” That’s Marcus Robson’s prediction, too: “60/8.”
45th over: England 104-8 (Foakes 5, Broad 3) The superb Axar to continue, Foakes doing well defending off his front foot without a silly point to annoy him. The spinner drops his length back and finds the outside portion of the blade - something to work from there. Foakes has faced 46 deliveries for his five. Nothing wrong with that.
44th over: England 104-8 (Foakes 5, Broad 3) Ashwin has four catching men and nearly brings short leg into play when beating Broad’s inside edge early in the over from around the wicket. The England No10 is more confident when the ball is turning away from him, which prompts Ashwin to send down his Carrom Ball. Nice.
Thanks, Tanya. 6/24 - that’s quite the middle-order collapse, even by English standards. By any standard, come to think of it. In truth, this was something they had largely gotten out of their system since Chris Silverwood took over as coach but, well, playing Test cricket in India can do funny things to the psychology of batting line up. What will be the score at stumps, I wonder? Drop me a line.
42nd over: England 104-8 (Foakes 5, Broad 3) Axar Patel, bowling like a dream, sends the pink ball twirling past the outside edge of Ben Foakes’ bat, missing by the square of a silk sail.
Well that’s drinks and as twilight falls I’ll leave you in the hands of Adam Collins, fresh from a flight from the other side of the world. What a game! Thanks for all the emails, sorry I couldn’t use them all.
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REVIEW!
The very next ball... this time Kohli reviews a huge turner that would have missed not only Broad’s stumps but his side-table as well. Not out.
REVIEW!
Broad reviews an LBW and it is over-turned! A slog-sweep that was just missing off-stump
41st over: England 103-8 (Foakes 4, Broad 3) I think Broad has decided to have a go, a slog sweep brings him no runs but shows the way.
From Snow White (Joel Eley) “Happy Birthday from Malaysia, have a meeting tomorrow morning with Indian customers with whom I was discussing the game before leaving the office. For once I hope the discussions tomorrow are only work related. I can only see India runs in my crystal ball.”
But Rose Red (Neelesh Naik) writes: “Don’t write off this game just yet. India’s spinners got the hot and dry afternoon, England’s seamers will get the cool swinging evening. We may still have a match on our hands. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
40th over: England 101-8 (Foakes 3, Broad 3) Broad somehow survives one that screams away from his bat as he props forward. India are having a ball out there, wide smiles and a fair chance of an appeal every delivery. Broad sweeps Ashwin’s last ball for a single as a bitter February wind rattles my letter box.
39th over: England 100-8 (Foakes 3, Broad 2) Foakes defends an Axar maiden, and Stuart Broad may yet both bowl and bat as dusk falls.
38th over: England 100-8 (Foakes 3, Broad 2) The welcoming arms of three figures. England have lost 6 for 24 in 95 deliveries.
“Good morning Tanya,I thought you’d like to know what a glorious early spring day it is here in the middle of Portugal. I’m sure you’ll be happy for us.” I’ll be happy Geoff Wignall, but I’m also desperately envious.
“The other thing was that I’ve no wish to be unduly hard on YJB (if such a thing is possible); after all anyone can miss a slowish straight one early in an innings, especially if they aren’t in the habit of playing straight. Though No. 3 in a test match team might not be the ideal place for them. More worrying perhaps is that the review suggested he didn’t know it had been a straight one, in which case he certainly shouldn’t be at No. 3 in a test match team.”
WICKET! Leach c Pujara b Ashwin 3 (98-8)
The final angle seems to show a clean catch and Leach has to go!
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REVIEW !
Leach defends, but straight into the waiting hands of Pujara at gully. They check for a fair catch, the soft signal is out...Pujara seems to gather it right on the ground by his left knee
37th over: England 97-7 (Foakes 2, Leach 3) A Mexican Wave starts unrolling round the ground to add to the squeeze on the England batsmen’s addled brains. Leach picks up a couple through the slips.
36th over: England 94-7 (Foakes 1, Leach 1) Leach survives an Ashwin over, though with a near run out to add to the pressure. Kohli is grinning like a man who has been mis-delivered a very expensive cheese that belongs to his hated next-door neighbour.
35th over: England 94-7 (Foakes 1, Leach 1 ) England looking hopefully towards three figures.
John Busby writes: “After years of griping at England’s team selection I was pleased to wake up this morning to see that England had finally listened to my advice and picked the 11 I recommended. Not an ideal start, I’ll admit, but as the new National Selector I’m happy to state that these are the best players for the occasion and conditions. Whatever happens from here the players have my full backing. Except for Foakes. I’ll be dropping Foakes for the next test in favour of a batsman/wicketkeeper. “
WICKET! Archer b Axar Patel 11 (93-7)
A ball that skids through, a fractionally slow Archer is beaten and the off stump clocks back. The sun is still on the stands but has left all of the playing surface apart from a small segment on the left. England in deep trouble before they’ve even had a chance to switch on the floodlights.
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34th over: England 93-6 (Foakes 1, Archer 11 )A short ball and Archer, scoffing at those who raise their eyebrows about his position at No. 8, cuts Ashwin for four . A slightly more blood-pressure raising sweep to short leg follows.
33rd over: England 88-6 (Foakes 1, Archer 6) Foakes and Archer both practise their stretched forward defensive as Patel speeds through another.
“Happy Birthday Tanya, writes Tom Paternoster-Howe, I remember reading about seemingly crazy declarations back in the old days of uncovered pitches and sticky dogs. Do you think that maybe England’s batting isn’t utter incompetence and is actually a genius plan to have a bowl at India this evening?”
32nd over: England 87-6 (Foakes 1, Archer 5) There’s no respite for England, R Ashwin now, on a line, on a length and absolutely shooting through the over.
31st over: England 86-6 (Foakes 1, Archer 4) Axar asking question after question, Foakes pushes forward nervously, Kohli under the helmet at silly point burning holes in the pitch with the intensity of his glare. A maiden.
30th over: England 86-6 (Foakes 0, Archer 4) Archer eyes up Ashwin and asks why not? sweeping him for four to get off the mark.
Are England so excited about bowling under lights that they’ve decided to rush through this batting malarky so that they can enjoy the fun stuff in the third session? mulls Robin Hazlehurst. “There was talk a while back about four day tests, after which a load of exciting matches went down to the wire on the fifth day. Is this series making the case for the prosecution, or did it just not get the memo?”
“By the way, Pink Glove by Pulp for the wicketkeepers.”
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29th over: England 81-6 (Foakes 0, Archer 0) Four dots, then the wicket - Axar Patel continuing where he left off at Mumbai. England down and dirty here, though of course Archer has played plenty of IPL so won’t be intimidated by the crowd or the conditions.
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WICKET! Stokes lbw Axar Patel 6
Stokes reviews an lbw, more in desperation than hope. It hits the back pad, with Stokes leaning forwards in an attempt to smother the spin and the ball hits the top of middle and off and its umpires call and now we see if the England tail can wag.
28th over: England 81-5 (Foakes 0, Stokes 6) Replays show Ollie Pope playing for the turn but reading it wrong before the ball riccochets into off stump!
“What does one think of England’s team selection now?” asks Neelesh Naik. “ Is this a four seamer pitch really? Wonder what’s going through Moeen Ali’s head right now? I think England have only themselves to blame for their scatter brained approach to Test cricket. This is looks like its going to be a walk in the park for this Indian team.”
WICKET! Pope b Ashwin 1
The ball spins from the top of Ashwin’s long, long fingers, Ollie Pope probes forward and the ball crashes into the top of off stump.
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I’ve had a few messages disagreeing with George Garrett’s email from earlier on. Here is the article mentioned so you can mull on it yourselves
and here is Jonathan Liew on links between cricket and the establishment round the world:
And somehow twenty minutes have passed and England are back in the heat of the bullring!
First, Richard Hirst: “I apologise to the nation.” It’s ok Richard, Stokes and Pope are to stage an afternoon revival. You heard it here first.
Dean Kinsella is less convinced: “There’s a fine old cricketing maxim that aptly describes England’s current predicament; we’re fucked”
Maybe, but chew on this to cheer you up.
#INDvsENG @tjaldred He may have got only 17 today, but Joe Root now has 740 runs in Tests this year, which is four times as many as the next man for England (Jos Buttler with 185)
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) February 24, 2021
27th over: England 81-4 (Pope 1, Stokes 6) Pope, young eyes peering through the grill, uses his feet to come forward to Patel, his back foot slips, stirring up dust and he is squared up, but survives. He plays low and straight, complete concentration. The last ball before lunch is flicked away for a run and that is it for now.
Not the session of England’s dreams, but a chance now to regroup. Two wickets for Axar, one each for Ishant and Ashwin, a beautiful innings gushing potential by Crawley, a partnership of 47 with Joe Root. Time for a quick coffee, see you back here in twenty minutes.
26th over: England 80-4 (Pope 0, Stokes 6) Stokes somehow plays out a maiden from Ashwin and there’s time for one more before lunch/brunch/tea.
25th over: England 80-4 (Pope 0, Stokes 6) Axar Patel greets Ollie Pope with a beauty that spits past the bat.
I won’t tell anyone you sent this email Richard Hirst,”Will I put the mockers on Crawley by asking about the highest percentages of a team’s runs scored by individual batsmen?”
WICKET! Crawley lbw Axar Patel 53
Beautiful bowling by Patel, who toys with Crawley in that over, this one skidding on while Crawley plays for the spin of the ball before. Hit on the front pad, Crawley considers a review but Ben Stokes’ face tells is all. The end of a princely innings.
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24th over: England 80-3 (Crawley 53, Stokes 6) The pup rolls over to display the full roast chicken as Ben Stokes flexes and dispatches the ball over mid-on, with just a bounce to past the rope.
23rd over: England 76-3 (Crawley 53, Stokes 1) The pitch is biscuit brown, the grass spring green, think early shoots of spinach. Stokes watchfully plays out an over from Patel, sweeping a single from the last ball.
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22nd over: England 75-3 (Crawley 53, Stokes 0) Stokes prods and there’s a leg bye off his first ball, the last of the over. India are cock-a-hoop.
“Well, tenuous, but the first Psychedelic Furs LP had a very pink cover and included the wonderful track ‘India’. It starts slowly.” Thank you Peter Collins, my post-punk, new-wave education starts here.
WICKET! Root lbw Ashwin 17
Root reviews, but Ashwin is sure. Would Crawley tell Root to go? The ball hits the front knee roll and yes, would have hit the stumps. Umpires’ call falls for India this time and England have lost their talisman twenty minutes before lunch.
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21st over: England 72-2 (Crawley 52, Root 16) Root sweeps down to fine leg and sends Axar Patel to the boundary.
Robert Speed is feeling the heat, “With spin at both ends, seems crazy for the batsmen not to remove their helmets in this heat. Even go for the broad brim, Richie Richardson style.” I believe that England players have to keep their helmets on for health and safety reasons - though I love seeing players bat in caps because you can see their faces. Kohli will I’m sure bat in a cap later this Test if he stays out for long enough.
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20th over: England 67-2 (Crawley 52, Root 11) Ashwin and Pant are convinced by an lbw call against Crawley who gets well forward and is hit on the back leg. Kohli is not - he never is - and leaves it to the last tick of the clock to call for a review and then continues to look pained. We run through ultra edge and ball tracker - its a close run thing but umpire’s call and Kohli’s rather hopeless run of reviews continues. Perhaps he and Bairstow should form a club?
Crawley fifty!
19th over: England 67-2 (Crawley 52, Root 11) Another honey-dipped drive through the covers and an extra-cover smooth for four and Crawley brings up his fifty in just 68 balls. Simply gorgeous.
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18th over: England 58-2 (Crawley 43, Root 11) Crawley brings out his defensive prod against Ashwin.
17th over: England 57-2 (Crawley 42, Root 11) This must be one of the prettier partnerships on the eye that England have had at the crease for some time. Wristily fluid, no angles. Mangoes, not pineapples. A couple off Axar Patel, watchful batting.
16th over: England 55-2 (Crawley 41, Root 10) A huge roar greets Ravichandran Ashwin, who takes the ball less than an hour and a half into the Test. Root and Crawley watchfully milk him for a run each.
A good read here from Anand Vasu.
15th over: England 53-2 (Crawley 40, Root 9) A quieter over from Axar Patel, just a couple from it
A very thoughful email from George Garrett“Very excited for the start of the match, but I can’t help but feel uneasy about the reports coming in of the stadium in Ahmedabad having been renamed Narendra Modi Stadium.
“There was a good articleby the Guardian’s south Asia correspondent Hannah Ellis-Petersen the other day, about the awful smears against Wasim Jaffer and the lack of support he has received among people of influence in Indian cricket.
“That episode, along with the renaming of a stadium in honour of a Prime Minister who continues to undermine secularity and persecute religious minorities, go very much against the ideals of inclusivity, secularity and religious tolerance that Indian cricket prides itself on.”
14th over: England 51-2 (Crawley 39, Root 8) I think Crawley is aiming to reach his fifty in as many boundaries as possible, first he sways with the bat through mid-wicket; then a slightly over pitched Sharma is gilded through extra-cover.
“Morning Tanya.” Morning Romeo.
“How about ‘Well, well, well’ by the Pink Fairies?”
I’m feeling a bit out of my depth here with my music knowledge. Think YJB and the review system.
13th over: England 41-2 (Crawley 29, Root 8) Axar Patel makes the ball sing but a couple from the over.
“Joining from France where the time difference makes it even more acceptable to us old retired people who don’t like to get up too early in the morning!” Hope you enjoyed your lie in Richard Hirst.
“On pink music, how could you overlook an entire album - The Band’s Music from Big Pink?”
12th over: England 38-2 (Crawley 27, Root 7) Root plays the ball into the ground where it bounces up and straight into the hands of Ishant who somehow captures it in his right hand and tumbles yet again in his follow-through. It’s a long way to fall when your head is up in the stratosphere. Joe Root drives: straight, four. Charming, just charming, as Bagpuss’s Professor Yaffle might say.
For those of you planning your lunch around the cricket, Channel 4 have just told us that they’re flipping the lunch and tea breaks round - so 20 mins for lunch and 40 mins for tea. Session 2 11-20-1.20. Session 3 2-4.
11th over: England 34-2 (Crawley 27, Root 3) Will this pitch take spin? Yes it will. Axar Patel tweaks one out of the footprints, past the shadows into the hands of Pant who flicks off the bails. Crawley’s back foot saves him. Crawley responds with a velveteen cover-drive for four.
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10th over: England 30-2 (Crawley 23, Root 3) Seems my panic was misplaced. Root remains at the crease to safely see out the rest of the over. Balance and poise, balance and poise.
“Morning, Tanya.” Morning Phil Sawyer “How could you forget that classic ode to an erstwhile Worcs lefty tweaker, now respected first class umpire, Illy the Pink?I’m sorry. Bit early for fetching my coat but I could do with a walk.”
Joe Root hit on the right hand
Root not looking good here - smashed on the glove by Bumrah by one that shoots up off the pitch. The players take drinks.
9th over: England 30-2 (Crawley 23, Root 3) Just one from the over.
Mike Daniels is empathising with Chris Woakes. “The only thing Woakes is unlucky with is in having a captain who doesn’t seem to believe in him. No matter how well he performs Root seems to take every opportunity not to pick him. Woakes has every right to be royally annoyed at his treatment and to tell Root to do one.Is he the only player in the party this winter not to get a game?It’s another indicator of how mediocre a captain Joe Root is.” That seems a little harsh, I think Root is growing into the job. As to whether he’s the only one not to get a game... I think he is.
8th over: England 29-2 (Crawley 23, Root 2) It’s all getting to Crawley who takes a crocodile drive at Bumrah, but completely misses.
“Morning Tanya,Have we sat out the Bairstow debate for long enough yet?” asks Felix Wood.
My inbox has suddenly been infiltrated by emails that start with something along the lines of “Peak Jonny Bairstow” (thank you Charlie Bird).
7th over: England 29-2 (Crawley 23, Root 2) Spin does the business for Kohli, and Root plays out the over which deceives and turns.
WICKET! Bairstow lbw Axar Patel 0
Oh dear, dear, dear. Bairstow is going to have nightmares not only about the wicket but the review. An adamant review is met by an adamant out. He has to make the long walk off without scoring and spin works from the very first ball. A ball that turned a little but slipped into the pads in front of middle stump.
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6th over: England 27-1 (Crawley 23, Bairstow 0) Zak Crawley! With a crack, he skittles an over-pitched delivery from Bumrah through the covers for four. The last ball disappears too, wristy and worldly-wise. Time for a spinner soon? This must be the most colourful stadium in the world, as well as the biggest. Pink lower tier seating rising to purple, yellow and blue.
Aditya Anchuri is worrying about India’s team selection. “India have really erred by not picking a third fast bowler in Siraj or Umesh. The pink ball will move for longer, and the extra runs from Washington Sundar hardly matter in the grand scheme of things, especially as Axar can bat.”
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5th over: England 18-1 (Crawley 15, Bairstow 0) Zak Crawley is not showing any sign of rustiness after his wrist injury, a textbook straight drive just misses the fingertips of Ishant as he stumbles in his followthrough and thuds into the boundary boards. And again! A wristy drive from outside off stump through midwicket for four. Crawley twirls his bat with an air of nonchalance as Virat Kohli mutters out of his beard
Peter Salmon taps his laptop: “Well, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Engmand has decided to never pick Stokes, Foakes and Woakes in the same team, and this being Ed Smith, it is probably for some complicated linguistic reason to do with phonemes. This can’t go on!”
4th over: England 8-1 (Crawley 5, Bairstow 0) A crisp push by Crawley sends the ball dancing across the emerald grass for four. Then Bairstow is beaten by a wobbler from Bumrah which Pant fluffs, but there was no edge. This is going to be a Test for the keepers and the slips, the ball moving unpredictably after it passes the stumps.
3rd over: England 3-1 (Crawley 0, Bairstow 0) The first runs of the match, a leg-bye no ball from Sharma who is such a powerful athlete and... oh dear, there goes Sibley, perhaps taken aback by the bounce and offering an anxious bat to one that moves away which is gratefully snapped up by Rohit Sharma. Bairstow shoulders arms to his first ball which makes me feel a little uneasy (though it is another no-ball).
I’m not the only one. David Reynolds stirs up an old debate. “Sorry to be contrary, but as baffled as I am with the restoration of Bairstow to the test team this winter - after his long-demonstrated unreliability as a test batsman was finally recognized - I am further baffled by the idea that it is ‘undoubted’ that he will improve the batting, as if he’s an incontrovertible upgrade. I think there’s considerable doubt.
Even if one disagrees, does anyone think he will be first-choice in Australia? - If not, let’s not dent the confidence and development of those who might well be.”
Shall we sit this out and see what the day brings?
WICKET! Sibley c Rohit Sharma b Ishant Sharma 0
A smashing catch at second slip, Sibley hypnotised into the shot, turns the face and guides the ball high into Sharma’s hands.
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2nd over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Sibley 0) Now Bumrah, long sleeves pulled up above the wrist, action straight out of Coppelia. Sibley watchful, another unpredictable over: away swing, bounce then a huge inswinger to finish. Bumrah varies between 129 and 135kph. Another maiden.
1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Sibley 0) Ishant Sharma grabs the pink ball in his hundredth Test. The crowd’s roar crescendos in rather a spine-chilling way as he runs in. It sways safely past the off stump and lands high in Rishabh Pant’s gloves. The second darts in and the fifth bounces low. Liquorice allsorts (without the aniseed cushion).
“An outbreak of anxiety amongst OBOers’? Frankly, I’d be terrified if that wasn’t the case,” says Brian Withington. “Mightily reassured though by messrs Strauss and Cook padding up in the Channel 4 studio - but hope that the excellent Ebony Rainford-Brent is ready at first drop in case one of the boys nicks off early on. Game on.”
I agree. I’m a big fan of this pared-back Channel four commentary chat.
The players are out, Sibley and Crawley march out into the cauldron.
TEAMS
India
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma
England
Dom Sibley, Jonny Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (capt), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wk), Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, James Anderson, Stuart Broad
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“It really is miserable here in Manchester,” says Michael Collins. “but at least the prospect of my day has been brightened by having the OBO on in the background whilst I stare at a screen desperately trying to teach some 15 year olds trigonometry...
What I wouldn’t give to be in Ahmedabad!”
My deepest sympathies. I just checked with my 15 year old, but he doesn’t have maths today. Allegedly he was logged onto assembley on his phone but I swear I heard the voice of a youtubing fortnite player.
My god the crowd is HUGE! Not many masks to be seen but plenty of enthusiasm (Hands, face, chants?)
Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann are out on the ground. They’re in matching pink waistcoats, blue shirts and grey trousers. Swann mentions the orange seats which will make it tricky for slip catchers to pick up the pink ball. The stadium looks absolutely magnificent.
There has been an outbreak of anxiety amongst OBOers. “Archer at eight? Crikey!” says Kevin Wilson. “Given that Broad has played quite a bit this Winter already, this could have been an opportunity for Woakes, not just to exploit conditions but also to strengthen the lower order. I have a sense that once we’re six down, we’re effectively all out here. No problems with the top order changes, mind.
Richard O’Hagan mops his brow, “That’s a loooooong tail. Arguably we are back to the days of picking four number 11s.”
I’d temporarily forgotten about Woakes. That is so tough on him - two tours of the sub-continent without a game. He must be one of the most unlucky England bowlers out there.
Andrew Strauss says that the stats show that in India the toss doesn’t make that much difference to the result, but psychologically it does.
And four changes again for England! They’ve gone for four seamers and just one spinner - brave, foolhardy... let’s see how much Joe Root ends up twirling in . The return of Bairstow and Crawley undoubtedly boosts the batting.
England win the toss and will bat!
“I’m not quite sure what to expect,” says Joe Root. England make four changes Anderson, Archer, Bairstow and Crawley are in, in place of Stone, Lawrence, Burns and Moeen.
Kohli says he’d have batted first as well, but he’s not worried “it looks pretty dry and the conditions are hot.” India make two changes, Bumrah comes back for Suraj and Washington Sundar returns, somewhat surprisingly, to boost the batting, for Kuldeep Yadav.
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Sam Collier stretches and comes up with a pink-ball anthem for the days:
“On the subject of pink songs, if the dew causes concerns for the spinners later, then this offering may be appropriate, “The Pink G.R.Ease [is] gonna make you sweat”
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The pink ball has been moving under lights for England’s bowlers in practise, but whether that will tempt them to go for an extra seamer, we wait to see. Toss and teams shortly.
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Good morning! It’s damp and grey in north-west England and the bin men are out in their wellies and florescent jackets, but things are very different in Ahmedabad. To start, a little pre-match reading.
Here is an excellent piece on spin bowling with Jack Leach by Jo Harman:
Preamble
While mulling over what to write in this preamble and ploughing merrily through my birthday truffles (a free-spirited shout out to all fellow pisceans), I googled song-titles with pink in the title. Take your pick from Pink Cadillac, Pink Glove, Pink Flower, Pink Flamingo, Pink Toenails, Pink Petticoat and Pink India.
But no Pink Ball.
Yet.
The question is, will the eventual chart topper be a power ballad or a misery memoir? The third Test (of four,) which starts at 9am GMT in Ahmedabad, should give us a clue. The teams are level at 1:1, the floodlights are primed, the pitch prepared and the pink SG ball about to be put in the hands of the lucky bowler.
India have had their moments with the blushing ball. Forty-five of them to be precise, when they were bowled out for 36 against Australia in the second innings of the first Test of their recent tour. England, too, have felt the pain of the strawberry globe - all out for 58 against Trent Boult and Tim Southee threel ong years ago.
But this time around we’re in Ahmedabad. This time around the pitch is very dry. Anand Vasu reported earlier this week that the groundsman has been told to do without the 6mm of grass considered necessary to preserve the lacquer of the pink ball. A day-night wicket has never been played on a raging turner before. What will happen when the lights are switched on? And just how much more gripping can this series get?
Team wise, England are likely to make changes, with either Jonny Bairstow or Zak Crawley down to replace Dan Lawrence, and Rory Burns’ place also under threat. Root will have to juggle his hand of bowlers - Anderson, Leach plus Bess, Broad or the luckless Woakes who has toured the sub-continent without playing a game this winter - and goes home after this Test.
Jasprit Bumrah returns for India and fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been added to the squad. Ishant Sharma will play his hundredth Test, and I liked this little snippet.
Ishant Sharma all set to play his 100th Test tomorrow.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 23, 2021
DID YOU KNOW: Ishant Sharma & Virat Kohli made their FC debuts together for Delhi v Tamil Nadu at Ferozshah Kotla in November 2006. Ishant picked 4 wickets in TN's first innings
So much to chew over. See you at 8.30am GMT for the toss.
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