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

[shortpitched713]

In club cricket there have been several times when I've yorked someone only for the ball to take a freakish bounce and go over the stumps. Another time the batter had dug a huge divot where he'd marked his guard and the ball landed in it and went sideways. Never seen that happen in pro cricket though. I guess the bowling is that much faster that it simply can't deviate the same amount.

Pitch quality might be a bit better too, I'd reckon.

 

[honestbharani]

The top order really has to be kicking themselves though, especially Jaiswal and Gill. Gave England a real foothold when they could have buried them just by getting through to stumps mostly unscathed.

I think Gill got a good ball, tbf. Jaiswal and Karun definitely played the worst shots but again, even with all that, given the way Jaddu and Reddy survived those overs there, I think India could have still chased this down had the bowling not been as great as it was from those 3 today.

 

[jaydesh]

Even saying all that though, all Rishabh needed to do there was to dive and he would have made it. Sometimes things just unravel when you least expect it. They were thinking it was harmless enough to push Bashir for a single and get Rahul on strike. Hopefully Rahul learns and gets better.

Somehow I dont think this is the end of the road here for this series. Bazball usually get a little too high on themselves everytime they have a great win. So will wait and see the entire series before passing out any judgements.

That's probably the only silver lining for the Indian side. With Bazball, you never know what to expect. India play at Old Trafford next, where I believe they won in 2021 (before they ran off to the IPL, that is). The last test is the Oval, which will be a proper subcontinental pitch, so no excuses about new conditions will be valid, one would think.

Plus, it's unlikely Bumrah will play both tests. Usually Siraj performs better when Bumrah is not playing.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

This was the perfect pace for the situation. They had a partnership of 30 runs off a 100 balls at a time when Archer was running through the side.

I don't know man. Singles exclusively when you're the last pair don't really make a dent in the chase. Again, easy to say sitting on my fat ass and I can't begin to imagine the pressure and mentality required to pull it off, but from a self-righteously unemotional pov, a few boundaries go a long way in shifting the pressure.

 

[Spark]

I think Gill got a good ball, tbf. Jaiswal and Karun definitely played the worst shots but again, even with all that, given the way Jaddu and Reddy survived those overs there, I think India could have still chased this down had the bowling not been as great as it was from those 3 today.

Yeah it was more the way Gill played than anything (at least from what I saw on replays, I'd gone to bed by then). Good ball but that was not an innings that was going to last long.

 

[jaydesh]

If you can help it, don't be born Indian is my humble suggestion.

I am Indian origin. Was just pointing out some observations.

 

[subshakerz]

England have won the key moments and key sessions throughout the series but India 'won more' sessions though and they 'fought well' which is enough to please Indian fans

Really? I remember here the same thing as they lost 4-1 in 2018, and how competitive they were.

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah it was more the way Gill played than anything (at least from what I saw on replays, I'd gone to bed by then). Good ball but that was not an innings that was going to last long.

He probably thought a quick 30 would set the nerves and then England would bowl some dross. Its fine for one player to try it in a chase of 200 but 2 or 3 was just asking for much. You also gotta allow for the fact that we are basically playing with 10.5 batsmen with Pant injured.

If the chase was a 150 or 140, then the aggression approach by 2 or 3 batsmen makes more sense.

The worry is if it was not a plan and just a reaction to the sledging. Then Gill definitely has to toughen up. You will be sledged as the India captain and especially if you are dishing it out when fielding. Gotta let it not affect your focus on the batting.

 

[Spark]

I don't know man. Singles exclusively when you're the last pair don't really make a dent in the chase. Again, easy to say sitting on my fat ass and I can't begin to imagine the pressure and mentality required to pull it off, but from a self-righteously unemotional pov, a few boundaries go a long way in shifting the pressure.

Yeah I've changed my mind on this in the last few years as well. It's been a consistent pattern that if you get stuck in these chases, you eventually collapse - staying aggressive and trying to put the onus on the fielding side to try and contain the run rate seems to be the best way to go by far.

 

[Johan]

The top order really has to be kicking themselves though, especially Jaiswal and Gill. Gave England a real foothold when they could have buried them just by getting through to stumps mostly unscathed.

I know Brook will get cooked for his dismissal, and he deserves it for sure but Jaiswal more or less did something just as stupid. You see the wicket is acting up and you see the target is small and have 15-20 overs left, you're the opener, just got there and their best bowler is bowling, bowls off and you play that shot lol

 

[subshakerz]

It's really odd btw why England has been harder for India to do win in than Australia.

 

[Spark]

He probably thought a quick 30 would set the nerves and then England would bowl some dross. Its fine for one player to try it in a chase of 200 but 2 or 3 was just asking for much. You also gotta allow for the fact that we are basically playing with 10.5 batsmen with Pant injured.

If the chase was a 150 or 140, then the aggression approach by 2 or 3 batsmen makes more sense.

The worry is if it was not a plan and just a reaction to the sledging. Then Gill definitely has to toughen up. You will be sledged as the India captain and especially if you are dishing it out when fielding. Gotta let it not affect your focus on the batting.

That might be inexperience then because while that's not a bad idea, it just wasn't the time of day to do it. Get through to the morning then go for your life.

 

[Spark]

It's really odd btw why England has been harder for India to do win in than Australia.

Historically better batting conditions, much easier for the batsmen to adjust.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

It's really odd btw why England has been harder for India to do win in than Australia.

Stronger opposition, I suppose.

 

[honestbharani]

Speaking of blow-ins, now that India are losing, look who shows up to a match thread.

 

[honestbharani]

Stronger opposition, I suppose.

Its really just Woakes, right?

 

[Daemon]

Just watching the highlights, I think Stokes should be banned for pitch tampering. When he got out he slammed the bat into the pitch and took a chunk out of it.

Carse tried to strangle Jadeja and should be under investigation as well.

Duckett also shoulder barged Siraj.

This English side is very uncouth.

 

[honestbharani]

That might be inexperience then because while that's not a bad idea, it just wasn't the time of day to do it. Get through to the morning then go for your life.

Yeah and as I said, chasing 200 means you need a proper test match innings. 140/150 can be made by being aggressive and just the one partnership that can deflate the bowling side, like you guys did at Sydney. But somehow that 200 run mark makes it tougher coz there must be only a few percentage of times sides actually score 200 in the 4th inning across all test cricket.

 

[Johan]

It's really odd btw why England has been harder for India to do win in than Australia.

in 2018-19 BGT Australia were missing Warner and Smith and thus batting was seriously light I think, I reckon that Australia vs Silverwood/Root era England would be close. 2020-21 BGT was just a freak series tbh

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Its really just Woakes, right?

Yeah if Australia had Woakes then those glorious away BGT wins sadly wouldn't have been possible for you guys.