Test Match

pipoldchap

24 lead at Lords after the first innings. Good knocks by Ballance and Plunkett. All getting very interesting.

Someone (Geoffrey?) said England are currently like a misfiring car, but that makes it even more interesting not knowing what they'll do next.

pipoldchap

India 118-3. Two in a row for Plunkett, who's looking as useful with ball as with bat.

pipoldchap

123-4. Rahane caught Prior playing off his arm guard! Good appeal by England, terrible umpiring decision, but no DRS, no review. Absurd.

Raposa

pipoldchap wrote123-4. Rahane caught Prior playing off his arm guard! Good appeal by England, terrible umpiring decision, but no DRS, no review. Absurd.

It was..but any worse than Root's dismissal when he got the thickest of edges?The Indians diidn't want DRS so what comes around I guess.Delicately poised this one.

pipoldchap

203-6. Plunkett (again) gets Dhoni, then Cook catches Binny's rash skyer for a duck off Ali, who was brought on to fill a gap before the new ball. Advantage England.

pipoldchap

England 140-4 chasing 319. It's slow but tense. Root looks full of Yorkshire grit. We know Moeen Ali can bat through the day. We could save this--but then again....

pipoldchap

...we could fall apart, which we've done. India win by 95. Their bowling and tactics far better, our batting simply not good enough especially from the senior players.

Major changes will be needed to save or win this series.

pipoldchap

KP has now joined the chorus of ex-England players to call for Cook to resign. Incidentally, is there any truth to the rumour that the selectors went on their knees begging Pietersen to come back with all forgiven and he told them to f*** off?

Anyway, Cook. Should he stay or should he go?

Raposa

pipoldchap wroteKP has now joined the chorus of ex-England players to call for Cook to resign. Incidentally, is there any truth to the rumour that the selectors went on their knees begging Pietersen to come back with all forgiven and he told them to f*** off? Anyway, Cook. Should he stay or should he go?

Good question..I'll raise you with these two;1.Is his current form worthy of a place in the team?2.Does our recent run of results in Test matches suggest he's a good captain?Don't think too long.

pipoldchap

old yeadonian wrote1.Is his current form worthy of a place in the team?2.Does our recent run of results in Test matches suggest he's a good captain?

1. No2. If you look before the disaster down under, his record was pretty good, so yes, overall. The Sri Lanka series was a minor one, the Indian series is not even at halfway point yet, so there's really only the Oz horror show to condemn him by. I'm inclined to say keep him on through this series, though I would agree he's not the most tactically astute of skippers. But who knows? We may win the next three tests and he may hit several centuries in the process. Then everyone will be hero-worshipping him.

Councillor_Ajeeb

I think you should just PM one another.

Raposa

Councillor Ajeeb wroteI think you should just PM one another.

Think?...you actually think?Now there's a revelation!

pipoldchap

Cook caught behind for 95. Still a redemption, though. Ballance not far off a ton now.

Contact_Rolex

Can this thread be merged with Tour de France shite please?

pipoldchap

No, it can't. You may be unable to tell the difference between a bicycle wheel and a cricket bat, but I can't help you with your cognitive incapacities.

pipoldchap

Doesn't seem like anyone on here's arsed about it, but this is much better: England 205-4 declared, lead of 444, Cook not out 70, redeemed and reprieved (for now), Root smashing a quick 56. For once in this summer's tests it seems like we've got everything just about right. Should be interesting to see if we can get them all out.

Loose_Lips

Two Indian wickets gone quickly there I see.

CBIT

Winners, Ali with 6 for 67 in the 2nd, who needs Swanny??

Harvest

pipoldchap wroteDoesn't seem like anyone on here's arsed about it, but this is much better: England 205-4 declared, lead of 444, Cook not out 70, redeemed and reprieved (for now), Root smashing a quick 56. For once in this summer's tests it seems like we've got everything just about right. Should be interesting to see if we can get them all out.

People are probably more than you think Pip, post away.

pipoldchap

India 8-3 ... yep ... 8-3.