4th Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) - 23rd to 27th of July

[Silly Point 2.0]

God what now? Why all the drama over the tamest of tame bore draws?

 

[Shady Slim]

Bharat Sundaresan wrote a few years back that even during that 21/22 Ashes tour from hell, Root always took the time out to speak to young fans in the nets and spare his time to give them advice. Speaks well to the character of the man IMO

darkly funny that of the last three ashes down under tours the johnson ashes was arguably the closest one

 

[Daemon]

Farid Qureshi on Instagram: "Pakistan cricket fan @farooqnazar12 asked to cover his Pakistani shirt at Old Trafford, Manchester during India-England Test match."

1,300 likes, 194 comments - faridqureshi_uk on July 27, 2025: "Pakistan cricket fan @farooqnazar12 asked to cover his Pakistani shirt at Old Trafford, Manchester during India-England Test match.".

www.instagram.com

wonder what this is about, surely you’re allowed to wear a different teams shirt to the cricket? must be more to it

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

God what now? Why all the drama over the tamest of tame bore draws?

Maybe it’s because I’m also a football fan, but the supposed outrage over the last two Tests has been rather tame, it’s not as if there’s been a 22-player brawl! I did enjoy all the needle at Lord’s, but I think the needle at Old Trafford was all a bit lame

 

[honestbharani]

Farid Qureshi on Instagram: "Pakistan cricket fan @farooqnazar12 asked to cover his Pakistani shirt at Old Trafford, Manchester during India-England Test match."

1,300 likes, 194 comments - faridqureshi_uk on July 27, 2025: "Pakistan cricket fan @farooqnazar12 asked to cover his Pakistani shirt at Old Trafford, Manchester during India-England Test match.".

www.instagram.com

wonder what this is about, surely you’re allowed to wear a different teams shirt to the cricket? must be more to it

Pretty sure I have seen Pak fans in Pak shirts in India games a lot of times in England, even in this series.

 

[Third_Man]

Pitch Rating 3/10. This was too heavily in favour of the batters, apart from 1 spell from Woakes, absolutely nothing in it for the bowlers. Even a bowler can score 50 on this pitch(Carse got 47), all rounders easily hitting tons on this pitch - Jadeja and Sundar.

The fact that England could not bat twice to force a result is an absolute indictment of this cricket pitch. Pure drivel from eng curators.

But the Super Giants franchise will be happy there

 

[Molehill]

Every Lancs home game this season has ended in a draw, so not a shock that this is still flat as **** on day 5. England not helped themselves with the 3 dropped chances but there really hasn't been much to work with. Fair play to India though, done very well to come back from 0/2!

India batted well, England were a bit average and they dropped a couple of chances, but even so, for just 2 wickets to fall in the final 5 sessions of a Test is just unacceptable. This pitch was a farce and seemed to be created more to guarantee 5 days of revenue for a County with cash issues than for an entertaining match.

Not surprised by the somewhat pointless kerfuffle at the end, if the situation was reversed both teams would be doing the same. But it was still a result of this daft road they were supposed to play cricket on. England have had 2 draws under McCullum, both at Old Trafford. Pleased to see it won't be on the next Ashes rota.

 

[honestbharani]

if the situation was reversed both teams would be doing the same.

Why the **** would India make noise or heck, even offer a draw, when batsmen are on 89 and 90? Surely the obvious time to ask is after they get 100s and are happy to walk off.

 

[Molehill]

Why the **** would India make noise or heck, even offer a draw, when batsmen are on 89 and 90? Surely the obvious time to ask is after they get 100s and are happy to walk off.

I meant if England were batting and India were bowling. With the draw the only possible result, isn't it obvious that the fielding team would want to shake hands at the earliest possible moment?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Pitch Rating 3/10. This was too heavily in favour of the batters, apart from 1 spell from Woakes, absolutely nothing in it for the bowlers. Even a bowler can score 50 on this pitch(Carse got 47), all rounders easily hitting tons on this pitch - Jadeja and Sundar.

The fact that England could not bat twice to force a result is an absolute indictment of this cricket pitch. Pure drivel from eng curators.

You’re right about the pitch, but I think you’re doing Carse, Washington and Jadeja a disservice here, Jadeja has long been a class batter (but even so he could have gone first ball!), Washington bats further up the order domestically, and Carse is no tail-ender, he averages 30 in FC cricket and sometimes bats in the top 7 for Durham. He also hit a half century at Lord’s which wasn’t as poor a wicket as this

 

[SkyBlue]

Deplorable behavior from the English cricketers

 

[centurymaker]

Thats embarrassing.

 

[Burgey]

I meant if England were batting and India were bowling. With the draw the only possible result, isn't it obvious that the fielding team would want to shake hands at the earliest possible moment?

That’s not really the drama though is it? It’s more how they carried on afterwards that’s seen it blow up

 

[chris.hinton]

Stokes was wrong to offer to shake when both batsman were close to a 100

 

[centurymaker]

Stokes should have known that Indian players care deeply about personal milestones. Heck, Rahul kind of cost India the Lords test when he threw Pant under the bus, in his selfish desire to complete his Lords 100 before lunch.

 

[slowfinger]

it's just more mental mind games from the lads. Gwon - bring the trophy home lads

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Imagine someone of Jadeja's stature in the game getting lip from the likes of Crawley

 

[Niall]

Stokes should have known that Indian players care deeply about personal milestones. Heck, Rahul kind of cost India the Lords test when he threw Pant under the bus, in his selfish desire to complete his Lords 100 before lunch.

Oh yeah that was so poor from KL and Pant last test, but apart from Wiaan Mulder , I just don't think anybody would have turned around to Stokes and said "ok fair enough I've batted for five hours to save a test and am so close to a century but if you want to go play some golf then we will wrap it up".

Its bloody tough for Indian all rounders to get centuries when you have such horrible tailenders anyway.

 

[Hungry Llama]

The bazballers just couldnt understand why India should bat 5 sessions when they had no chance of winning.
OTOH if Root hadnt dropped Jadega 1st ball, theyd prob be celebrating a series victory.

But having escaped defeat in such an emphatic manner, India must be on a high.

Must be big questions on both sides who the quick bowlers will be, and whether Stokes can bowl now hes got a shoulder problem to add to all the others. Atkinson in for Carse? Will Archer or Bumrah play?

 

[Third_Man]

The bazballers just couldnt understand why India should bat 5 sessions when they had no chance of winning.
OTOH if Root hadnt dropped Jadega 1st ball, theyd prob be celebrating a series victory.

But having escaped defeat in such an emphatic manner, India must be on a high.

Must be big questions on both sides who the quick bowlers will be, and whether Stokes can bowl now hes got a shoulder problem to add to all the others. Atkinson in for Carse? Will Archer or Bumrah play?

Great scheduling that means that both sides might well be fielding weakened sides. Why not schedule games so it's "The Best vs The Best"..... I forgot that's our franchise cricket slogan which we are in the precessing of selling off. Priorities. Can't wait for when the ECB lose control of their new baby to the IPL franchise owners.