3rd Test (Lord’s) - 10 July to 14 July

[Kirkut]

If you listened to the English commentators, you'd come away thinking this is the best test side since the Aussies of the 90s and 2000s. .

No. Nothing of note was said that indicates them being an exceptional side.

 

[jaydesh]

The Indian players were yelling at Crawley for timewasting yesterday when a day prior the same guy yelling at Crawley for wasting time was getting a handjob by his physio on the pitch and stopped the game for ten minutes, on top of the same team trying the very next day to waste time in the final stretch too but not doing it that well. Clearly, England are the least arrogant and hypocritical side in this game.

Didn't mind that from Crawley, to be honest. Any out of form opener would have done the same (not that he did much today, anyway). Both sides have been pathetic on keeping the game moving. Especially because Sharfadullah and Paul Reiffel are utterly useless in dealing with the players. Might as well have them both be spectators at this point.

 

[Kirkut]

Handjobs, what???

 

[Johan]

Handjobs, what???

I changed it a little but basically Gill lied on the pitch for like 15 minutes and play stopped while physio was looking at him, during fielding. He was getting a massage or something.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Another problem with India's decision making is the nightwatchman. In my view, India's time to send the NWM should have been immediately after Nair's dismissal. Should they have sent Sundar instead of Deep to bat? For all his flaws, Sundar is extremely strong-headed, and with a solid technique of playing defensive. Can't say the same about the tailenders, who look as though they've barely held a bat in their life. He almost drew the 4th test at MCG against the Aussies last year. I guess they thought his runs would be handy down the order, so Deep went out instead.

Washington is an actual batter, you don’t risk putting him out

 

[jaydesh]

No. Nothing of note was said that indicates them being an exceptional side.

Not all of them, but some are almost cheerleaders (almost like an English version of Ian Healy, Athar Ali Khan, Ramiz, etc.). Usually love Nasser Hussain, but even he was buying into this hype. Ian Ward is another usual suspect.

 

[Molehill]

I changed it a little but basically Gill lied on the pitch for like 15 minutes and play stopped while physio was looking at him, during fielding. He was getting a massage or something.

You know why he did it right? To delay the time before the final wicket was taken to allow Rahul to open. The fella is a complete hypocrite and he seems to have very quickly developed Kohli like antics on the field.

 

[jaydesh]

Washington is an actual batter, you don’t risk putting him out

Point noted. It's still so frustrating how India have still not solved the issue with their lower order batting. How is it that England got more than 100 runs (around 116, to be exact) off the last 3 wickets, but India didn't make more than 15? Many other teams have lower order batters able to get a solid defensive technique, while knocking it around for at least 10-20 runs (sometimes more than 40-50).

AUS have their bowling quartet all decent with the bat, SA have Rabada/Jansen/Maharaj, ENG have Carse/Woakes/Archer. Even WI look decent these days, going by the late hitting by Shamar, Seales et al. in their series against the Aussies.

 

[Johan]

You know why he did it right? To delay the time before the final wicket was taken to allow Rahul to open. The fella is a complete hypocrite and he seems to have very quickly developed Kohli like antics on the field.

would make sense had he been half the batsman Virat was

 

[jaydesh]

You know why he did it right? To delay the time before the final wicket was taken to allow Rahul to open. The fella is a complete hypocrite and he seems to have very quickly developed Kohli like antics on the field.

Fair enough. But at least he ain't clamoring about upholding the spirit of the game like the English players and their media allies have done time and time again, only to do the exact opposite on numerous occasions.

What both teams did was completely in line with the rules. Nothing blatantly unlawful there. But I don't want to hear England talking about upholding the spirit of the game.

 

[Molehill]

If only england didnt throw away their wickets and set a decent score, they would've comfortably won.
That was pure bazball recklessness from england today

Absolutely this. How many of them actually got out to good deliveries? Crawley, Duckett, Brook, Root and Stokes were all gifts.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Point noted. It's still so frustrating how India have still not solved the issue with their lower order batting. How is it that England got more than 100 runs (around 116, to be exact) off the last 3 wickets, but India didn't make more than 15? Many other teams have lower order batters able to get a solid defensive technique, while knocking it around for at least 10-20 runs (sometimes more than 40-50).

AUS have their bowling quartet all decent with the bat, SA have Rabada/Jansen/Maharaj, ENG have Carse/Woakes/Archer. Even WI look decent these days, going by the late hitting by Shamar, Seales et al. in their series against the Aussies.

Washington is as good a number 8 bat as you'll find these days, tbf, you want some kind of batting ability from your number 8, but runs from 9 to 11 are very much bonus runs (and besides, England's tail most certainly did not wag in this innings!)

 

[Kirkut]

Well, tomorrow our batters need to bat out the first session without losing a wicket. If that is successful, then the odds are 60:40 in India's favour.

 

[jaydesh]

Washington is as good a number 8 bat as you'll find these days, tbf, you want some kind of batting ability from your number 8, but runs from 9 to 11 are very much bonus runs (and besides, England's tail most certainly did not wag in this innings!)

The tail doesn't necessarily need to wag every time. But it can be crucial in key moments, such as the last wicket partnership by Starc and Hazlewood during the WTC final, without which SA might have won within 3 days. Or Rabada and Jansen's 9th wicket partnership against Pakistan to win them the game by 2 wickets last December. A strong lower order in turn puts lesser pressure on the top/middle order, knowing there will be added depth. England's tail isn't as good as we have seen in the past, but all of them (apart from Bashir) have the capability to hang around for some time and frustrate the opposition. Them not having any basic technique might have made sense 20-30 odd years back when batters were usually more patient in varied conditions. But nowadays, it seems batting is a necessary soft skill for them, instead of backing away to leave the stumps wide open like they used to.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Well, tomorrow our batters need to bat out the first session without losing a wicket. If that is successful, then the odds are 60:40 in India's favour.

You're effectively 58-3 at the moment, chasing a small total, you are already 60-40

 

[jaydesh]

Well, tomorrow our batters need to bat out the first session without losing a wicket. If that is successful, then the odds are 60:40 in India's favour.

Agreed. For the first hour at minimum, they should occupy the crease while keeping the runs flowing. And set small, simple goals like getting the required runs to 100, then to about 70-80, 50, etc. The ball might get softer, which means scoring opportunities will be there. The weather looks okay for the morning session at least. England have bowled incredibly well so far, but they will offer loose balls. And I'm not yet sure about Bashir's fitness to bowl.

 

[AndyZaltzHair]

My money is on England to win this tomorrow

 

[shortpitched713]

Been a compelling match throughout, and poised for an exciting finish.

As the resident hater, I have to root for whichever outcome is likely to cause more psychic damage to one or the other side, and Indian bats choking away this position after the excellent work of the bowlers would be just that. Already nervy start , so let's hope that English bowling and fielding can finish the job!

 

[shortpitched713]

Also, umpire's call for lbw decisions is an abomination, and I can't believe it hasn't been shelved already.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Also, umpire's call for lbw decisions is an abomination, and I can't believe it hasn't been shelved already.

What alternatives are there? Maybe it should be a quarter of the ball rather than half, but ultimately, we’re not dealing with things that have happened, we’re dealing with projections of what we think will happen, you have to allow some margin of error