5th Test (The Oval) - 31st July to 4th August

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

I think India need at least 300 since Bumrah isn’t playing. England bat deep.

Woakes is a tailender these days, but just to have him out there would have been useful at the end

 

[GIMH]

They probably don’t keep the stats but this must be the most a keeper has dived in a match

I’ve just checked on my spreadsheet and can confirm he has the record

 

[mackembhoy]

I think India need at least 300 since Bumrah isn’t playing. England bat deep.

You can't really say we bat deep with this team and being a man down.

The one in the last test you could.

 

[Ju7]

Anything less than 350 from this position with 4 decent batsmen still batting/yet to bat and Eng all but on the mat will be disappointing.

As I said that would be a minimum.

 

[Shri]

so the 3 pacers have bowled 30+ overs today without using spin yet

 

[Silver Silva]

Not necessarily. A Jason gillespie would do. He wasn't even close to a proper all rounder but could block very effectively.

I believe in the nightwatchman role ..

I do believe that conditions and context of a match should dictate how you play, also its a valuable role to upskill a bowlers secondary skills ..

 

[Ju7]

What a poor ball from Overton

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Sam Cook and Jimmy Anderson would have been useful in these conditions

 

[SkyBlue]

Sri Lanka chased down 219 comfortably last year didn't they?

Would need 350 here minimum I reckon

 

[Spark]

Sri Lanka chased down 219 comfortably last year didn't they?

Would need 350 here minimum I reckon

This looks a very different surface to a typical Oval pitch

 

[GIMH]

so the 3 pacers have bowled 30+ overs today without using spin yet

One over of spin I believe

 

[Ju7]

Has anybody else noticed that Pope pops off the field quite often.Obviously getting advice fro Baz and Stokes.He's the captain on the field and should think for himself a bit after getting advice at lunch and tea.

And then he was consulting Brook and Root.Also he acquiesced to Overton wanting want cover on the off side after bowling a rank log hop and getting hit for four.He should have told him to bowl better.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

This looks a very different surface to a typical Oval pitch

India also haven't selected Josh Hull.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Shocking no. of balls way down leg from Eng. Not fit for an international side.

 

[ashley bach]

England have now given away over 60 sundries

 

[Spark]

Hmmm, I know they are very enamoured with Joe Root's bowling, but nonetheless penny for Bethell's thoughts, being overlooked for a guy with a Test bowling average of 47...

 

[reyrey]

Overton isn’t even fast? What’s the point of him?

Haven't watched him bowl for a while, but he was fast. Comfortably bowled in the high 80s

 

[ashley bach]

India 269* @Molehill

 

[Spark]

How many balls have they invited Jaiswal to try and hit through extra cover or mid off? Can barely remember any aside from the drop

Just too easy for Jaiswal to sit on anything full and wait for the inevitable short wide long hop

 

[King Kane]

Not much is happening but you can sense the tension, I've got a feeling something will happen soon to break the tension.