Cricket

[arminisgod]

Thats the most dissappointing aspect to me mate. You would think, logically you would say it's a pitch that is going to be difficult to stay in for long periods. I don't care if your 16 or 216, the ball Stokes gets is going to get you out. So if you can bat say 70 overs, try to get between 3-3.5 an over. Or even bat 55 overs at 4 an over. You will 200+ in all scenariors, and you are in the game. You also give the bowler something to think about.

Foakes batting with the tail here, he surely has to up the scoring rate here if he's thinking of the team? He's been out there 100 balls, youd think he had a bit of a measure of it now?

just maybe he's batting on an awful wicket.... and can't?

 

[summerisle]

If India are brave enough to stick England back in, and England are so gutless, then you would think so.

The amount of matches England have won in the past few years from losing or nigh impossible positions renders your opinion somewhat shaky.

 

[catcherintherye]

This puts it into a proper context for me ...

The hang-em-and-flog-em brigade will be out this morning but I don't think England have disgraced themselves especially. India prepared a pitch to suit them. They got the 50-50 with the toss. One of their top six, Rohit, played a sensational innings. And now the spinners are ragging the ball all over the place. There was always going to be at least one match like this.

India needed such a wicket, such a wicket was prepared, the toss win was the final nail in England's coffin

I don't think I'm really the hang them, flog them type whatever that is. I've defended Dan Lawrence on here. He's a young man, learning and I thought he did really well today. Batting at 3, in our 4th match takes real courage. There are positives.

It's obviously a very hard pitch, as it will be. Like we said yesterday, winning in India is hard, winning in India is almost impossible. You're playing the best team in the world, in their conditions, and getting 2nd use of them. It should be hard. So you are looking at performances.

I thought Alli and Leach bowled really well yesterday, a big positive.

Rohit batted wonderfully, but what he did was constantly look to put the pressure on England. He rode his luck too, but he was always scoring at a rate that ensured he was transferring pressure back to England. I think Pants innings in it's own way was just as important. Faced a similar amount of balls to Foakes, yet scored double the runs. It put real pressure back onto England.

I think you learn a lot from matches like this. If you want to be the best in the world, which England in my view should always aspire to be, you need to find batsman who can attack the opponents, even at the top of the innings. Burns certainly isn't that, and in truth neither is Sibley. I'd like to see Crawley and Bairstow come in for the last 2 games, asplayers who- like Rohit can put opponents under pressure.

They miss Buttler on a day like this. Foakes has played nicely, but having Buttler who can score quickly would have made a difference. There's probably a case for both of them.

As a final aside, I'm very impressed with Leach's application with his batting again here.

 

[catcherintherye]

just maybe he's batting on an awful wicket.... and can't?

Yes maybe and yes he is. Which I suppose is why he isn't 1st choice in that position.

 

[No8Bally]

When India next tour England, we should name Crosby beach as a venue. Just to match this wicket at Chennai

 

[catcherintherye]

The amount of matches England have won in the past few years from losing or nigh impossible positions renders your opinion somewhat shaky.

Well true. But if you're India here, surely you are thinking just go for the kill?

 

[arminisgod]

looks like the follow might be avoided anyway

 

[summerisle]

Well true. But if you're India here, surely you are thinking just go for the kill?

The pitch is only going to get worse, rain is forecast in two months time, there's three and a half days left, just tire the English bowlers a bit more. Anyway it looks like they might avoid the follow on.

 

[hallamblue]

When India next tour England, we should name Crosby beach as a venue. Just to match this wicket at Chennai

That's harsh. If it's anything like Formby beach I used to play cricket on that and it was a true surface. lol

 

[summerisle]

Helluva catch that.

 

[catcherintherye]

Helluva catch that.

He's taking 2 or 3 brilliant catches.

 

[roydo]

Triffic catch.

And a wicket for Gomes.

 

[roydo]

Triffic catch.

And a wicket for Gomes.

 

[roydo]

Triffic catch.

And a wicket for Gomes.

 

[summerisle]

Triffic catch.

And a wicket for Gomes.

What a hat-trick. lol