Thetownend.com

Thought I'd start this thread now, with the squads named for the first test and the warm up game drawing to a close.

England Squad: Strauss, Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Morgan, Prior, Broad or Bresnan, Swann, Tremlett, Anderson

India: Dhoni, Gambhir, Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Khan, Kumar, Mukund, Patel, Raina, Saha, Sehwag (injured until 3rd test) Sharma, Sreesanth, Tendulkar, Harbajhan Singh

Should be a good one, four tests and England can rise to be world #1 with a 2 test margin of victory.

Somerset currently whomping the Indians around Taunton- Peter Trego has smacked Mishra for four consecutive sixes. Get him in the team!

 India are the strongest side in world cricket right now....they've no real weakness.  They can even match England in the tall pace bowler stakes, with Ishant Sharma.

 England have beaten all the other test nations in a series in the 2000's other than India...think though we can win, but it wil need everybody to play out of their skins....looking forward to it.

 Probably wont see the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman again, and they're all time greats.

I think the Indians have come in under prepared, having only played one match over here, and they could only muster 224, on probably, the best batting track in England. I know most of the squad have just played in the Windies, playing against the poorest Windies side for decades.

It could be interesting, if the Indians are put in on overcast conditions at Lords...

Peter Trego is an explosive batsman, that's for sure. He's played semi-professional football in goal as well (sure of it) which makes him a proper all-rounder!

As for the test series, it's going to be a very interesting one indeed. Tremlett is the key man for me. Four years ago Tremlett bowled very well at 'em and he's come on leaps and bounds since then as a bowler. Hate to stereotype but the indian batting line up are very short and Tremlett's natural length is going to be getting up near their throats. Come on Gooba!!

Big series for Swanny too. Four tests against arguably the best players of spin in the world? Will be measured against Harbajan Singh who's just taken his 400th test wicket. There's a bit of weather around as well so it might be hard to get the ball out of the seamers hands!

I'll be at Edgebaston for days 2 and 3. Anyone else going?

Anyway, thanks to the Indians for giving Straussy some batting practice before Thursday...

This will be a very good series I think. The 2 best test teams in the world at the moment without doubt. We have a strong line up for a change, probably our strongest for a fair few years as the bowling attack looks very good and has depth as well. India are a good side but they might struggle with the conditions and lack of match time in England at Lords. This is where we have to take advantage.

dphunt88 wrote...
Peter Trego is an explosive batsman, that's for sure. He's played semi-professional football in goal as well (sure of it) which makes him a proper all-rounder!

I'm almost certain I saw Peter Trego in goal for Clevedon Town in a game against Swindon Supermarine at Hunts Copse/Webbs Wood Stadium, about 5 years ago.

I have no recollections of the match, score or how Trego performed. I blame alcoholic intereference for this.

The Indian attack may be decent, but it's not a patch on ours. If Sharma or Khan have an off day it looks very thin all of a sudden. I'd like to see Onions squeeze back in, perhaps for Broad, but with Finn and Bresnan in the wings as well, I can't see it.

Not so sure about that....Shreesanth and Praveen Kumar, can both get the ball to move around, if it's swinging. In the unlikely event of spin friendly conditions then Harbajan and Mishra are both class.

Sreesanth is a sack of wank Reginald.

I fancy us, their stellar batting line up, Tendulkar apart, is definitely on the slide. Get some green decks with pace and carry and bombard the fuck out of them with Broad and Tremlett.

Am I the only one who doesn't think our bowling attack is actually that great? Swann is consistent and Anderson is great when its swinging but with just a four man attack I worry about our ability to take enough wickets. Especially if one of those four is Broad.

Against a pretty average Sri Lankan side we really struggled with the ball in my opinion, with the exceptions of that bizarre Sri Lankan collapse in the first test and the first innings at Southampton - which was in the most bowler friendly conditions imaginable.

Sreesanth's stats stand up against Broad's....both average 35, 3 five wicket hauls, Broad has 20 more wickets, but has played 10 more tests. Think at the moment Kumar would be in front of Shreesanth.

If as seems likely we prepare fast bouncy pitches then India have Sharma, he's something they've never had before.  As I said before, think we can win....whatever way it goes, should be a cracking series.

Well just over 6 months ago we were knocking over the Aussies regularly in less than 100 overs on their home patch, so it can't be that bad !!

I see Daryl Harper is claiming that he was forced out as an umpire by the Indians...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/14189554.stm

Saying that, there is a perceivced biased towards the Indians as proved by the changes on DRS, as they were the only country that doesn't like Hawkeye.

It's probably not a huge surprise that the ICC would be biased towards the country that provides the majority of its revenues, is it?

I'll be going on Friday and to the Friday of the Edgbaston test, hoping my Indians can do the job but I fear that the lack of practice in English conditions might cost us dear.

The bowling seems to have been discussed but I think a different issue could be the fact that Sehwag is missing.  He averages 50+, and often goes away like a train at the start and sets the tempo.  True Anderson may have got him in trouble if the ball swung early.  But on a flat one with no swing Sehwag would have pinned his ears back and gone.

I think it was last year the Bangladeshi opener who played his shots Tammin often got them away to flyers, and England seemed to struggle to pin him back.

England will probably win it through the seamers.  I know Swann is the best spinner in the world but Indians play spin that well that I dont see Swann running through them with 5-50 odd at all.

Looking forward to this series.Hopefully get some nice weather and i'll be able to take it easy in the garden listening to TMS.

Tremlett's bowling style and form has taken the attack to a new level - and he's the perfect foil for Anderson. Different bowlers, but equally threatening from the off. The real strength is the fact we've got 7 seamers (Anderson, Broad, Tremlett, Bresnan, Finn, Onions and Shazad) with genuine test quality - we can pick bowlers in form and bowlers for the conditions.

Hope I'm proved wrong but really think our bowling will struggle - against a lineup far better to the Aussies at the moment. Looks like weather will play a part at Lords but otherwise I see big scores from both teams. If we beat them Swann will be man of the series.

Finn and Shahzad are about as Test quality as I am this summer

If England are going to win the Series, we need to win two of the first three tests I think...will be a whole lot trickier once Sehwag is back.

Well Michael Holding seems to agree with me. He's just repeated the exact same thing on Sky. I'll side with him on this one.

Finn...youngest English bowler to 50 test wickets, best emerging player in the world 2010, 14 wickets in the Ashes.

Shahzad - 6th out of the 6, but can offer something different - reverse the ball at pace.

Against Sri Lanka in 2006, Anderson, Jones and Harmison were out - all we had to turn to was Mahmood, Plunkett and Lewis to bowl alongside Hoggard and Flintoff.

Saying all that, they should win the toss and bat tomorrow morning.

  

Gutted!! I've got two tickets for this Saturday at Lords but now I can't go. They are in The Upper Compton Stand and are £80 each which is face value. If anyone wants to buy them please pm me asap. I'll send them guaranteed next day post today. Cheers.

India win the toss and bowl, Praveen Kumar in the side who doesn't bowl quickly but could be fun with the clouds...

Starting at half eleven, 'mon Strauss.

It's a pity we lost the toss - I would've fancied us bowling today.

India have to take advantage this morning, or if the sun comes out later, this will become a flat track.

Watching the first couple of overs, the Indian pace bowlers are not any quicker than some of the trundlers in county cricket.

Praveen isn't, no.

Wait till Sharma comes on, he's quick.

Cook gone already.

Sharma's only bowling a couple of mph quicker than Praveen. They're all very similar in terms of pace.

43/1 at lunch, not exactly a sensational star but one down having been put in is fine by me.

Yeah doesn't sound like batting has been much fun this morning. Both sides will be happy with that, India will be pleased to have got Cook out early but one down is fine from England's point of view.

Strauss caught hooking.

62/2

Ooh, Zaheer's pulled up with a hamstring issue, this could be the McGrath 2005 moment...

England will be quietly happy about this as the weather forecast is similar for the next few days. I think Jimmy Anderson could have a field day. 115-2

He was bowling so well,shame to see it happen,but good for us i suppose.

KP and Trott are working hard,good to see.

It's obvious he's not match fit. With them only having one warm up gane, why didn't he go out to the West Indies just to play the final test, as they wanted him to give him a rest after the WC, as a precursor to this series.

We'll have to hope the rain stays away, but the cloud certainly could do us some favours!

He basically didn't bowl in that warm up game either cos they didn't want Strauss getting a look at him. Serves the cunt right.

Fully agree. He didn't bowl in the Somerset 2nd inns. If he's pulled a hamstring, that could well be a 3-4 week lay off, which is the whole of the series.

Trott gone for 70. Now 162-3.

Brighter today, but still there is a bit of movement.

India say that Zaheer Khan will not bowl in the remainder of the first inns, but should be OK for the 2nd inns. Normally a hamstring pull is a few weeks minimum, so if he bowls in the 2nd inns and pulls it again...tour over.

Seems to be going ok now.  444 for 7 with Pietersen on 175.  Should top 500 I would have thought.

Depends how long they want to bat before they put India in - wouldn't surprise me to see a declaration when KP gets out or makes 200

Pietersen got his 200 now!  Good lad.

And a declaration.  Interesting little session now.

Massive half hour for India!

Makund is unfamiliar with English conditions and Ghambir hasnt played in a while having not ventured to the West Indies.

I do think Anderson will swing it just as Kumar has done all day long!

Fair play to Petersen for getting his 200.  He's always under so much pressure when at the crease especially considering his recent test form.

A tough little session ahead for India me thinks!

India survived the evening then, despite some quite threatening bowling. Hopefully the conditions will do Anderson some favours tomorrow. An early wicket or two could be crucial given the large target.

I think we've got better bowlers to be honest. Upper hand to England that's for sure.

77-2 -  Good first session so far! Here comes Tendulkar...

183-5 now - good work from England.

India 286 all out a lead of 188.

Zaheer Khan batted with a runner so I don't think he'll be running in and bowling tomorrow or the second test next week.

Bat most of tomorrow, and get a lead of preferably around 450-500.

This will be quite a difficult decision for Strauss.....will need to rule out the possibility of an Indian win, but leave enough time to get them out.  Recent games at Lords the pitch seems to flatten out on the last day.

Correct Reg, but for the first three days there has been seam movement, meaning it hasn't been that easy for batting. Swann was getting the ball to turn at right angles today, when Harbajan was hardly turning the ball. I think the'll declare with about an hour left tomorrow, leaving around 110 overs for India to survive.

In the box seat. Have to put another 250 on the board today then make them bat the final day needing over 400.

Not so sure we are now.....

We are now, Prior and Broad smacking the ball around, a la one-day mode.

423 lead at the moment

Make that 429, pror's just smacked a 6 !!

Prior makes a hundred, and England declare. 457 lead, and India's senior opener's at hospital.

Superb innings from Prior and Broad, came in when we were struggling and has made England very comfortable again.
A couple of wickets before close of play and we should be good for a win.

Gambhir in hospital, Sachin can't bat till 7 and Zaheer injured too...England's luck has all come at once, but if it gives us the 1-0 lead then I sure as hell won't complain.

Three down before the close please.

http://www.lords.org/tickets/information-availability/tickets-for-this-match-eng-india-test,972,AR.html

Tickets for £20.I'd fancy it but for the fact i'm off on holiday the day after,plus the other half has gone off to play 5 a side tonight and i doubt he'll be able to move tommorrow  :girlgiggle:

India 131/3 just before lunch, Sachin Tendulkar walking to the wicket and Lords is rocking, shows what happens if you lower ticket prices and let a slightly different crowd in...I expect the members don't like it, but this is what Cricket needs.

Edit: Gambhir gone lbw to Swann, four down and they can't review, looks a cracking decision anyway. The stage is set for England to win or Sachin to get on the board.

Gambir gone...135-4

That's the one I wanted.  Four down at lunch...tipped in our favour now.

It's ironic that if DRS was in for lbw's, Gambir would be using one of their reviews...and it would still have been out !!

Got fuckall to do with me mate.

I love this application on the Telegraph site.  Select 'Win Likelihood' from the left hand drop down box to follow the ebb & flow of the match.  (Not sure how they measure this, but interesting all the same.)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/8537915/England-v-India-first-Test-live-Hawk-Eye-analysis.html

Yay.  Tendulkar gone!

Billy should've sent him on his way an hour ago. I wonder if Broad telling Bowden that the previous decision was out made his decision for him.

Bye, bye Dhoni !!

Raina should by Billy Bowden a big drink tonight after denying Broad a plumb lbw.

Bowden's a fucking prick, couldn't have been more out.

9 down with just 10 and 11 left. 30 overs left.

Bowden's missed 2 sitters today, with the Tendulkar decision just after lunch.

That's why we're champions, that's why we're champions!

One more wicket and its game over!  Can't see it lasting much longer!

I was correct.... game over!  England 1 nil up in the series.

India had the best of the conditions, with sunny days on Saturday and today when England have bowled, and we've knocked them over on a pretty flat track. The Indians have paid for lack of preperations in English conditions.

Agreed, I'm happy to have been made to look a mug about our bowling. Broad particularly impressive.

And England had to get 12 wickets in the second inns as both Tendulkar and Raina were both out lbw prior to their dismissals.

Said before the match that we had the better bowling attack and today has proved that. Still a long way to go in this series and India have a great batting line up. Make no mistake though this was a first class victory for England.

Do they have a great batting line-up though? Tendulkars past his best, sehwags out injured, laxmans never done well in england, dhoni appears out of sorts and their tail starts at 7. Added to which they've got bog all touch of the england conditions. I'm right in thinking these first two are back to back? If we have any pretensions about being the best test side in the world we should be looking to ram home the advantage in the next test

To me as soon as Dhoni put himself onto bowl, they totally lost it. It says something to the opposition when you bring on your wicket-keeper as your 5th bowler.

Yesterday, as soon as the England lead hit 350, they gave up, and helped England declare, and Proir and Broad helped themselves. Dhoni's captaincy has been poor, and his wicket-keping has stunk.

erm... how did you come to that conclusion? his form over the past 18 months has been as good as any over his career

Agree about Dhoni as well. I must admit I was dissapointed with India in this game. The build up has all been about how good they are but they really did cave in today. You can tell we're playing with great confidence though. We really are looking like a good side.

Cook already gone in first half hour of second test. He's not had a very good start to the series really.

Wouldn't have been given out if full DRS was in use...

Bit of an unlucky decision there though, DRS would probably have saved him.

Feel like Strauss has something to prove here as well. No centuries and just 3 50's in his last 8 tests, and hasn't even reached a half ton since the first innings at Sydney.

But it isn't, so he's out!!

How incredibly astute.

Oh heck.

Fuckin hell.

Can't escape the feeling Morgan's just not Test class.

It's my fault. I left work at 2 and jokingly said we'd be 6 down by the time I got home.

Come on India!

Though knowing my luck we will be 50-6 at stumps!

I can't escape the feeling he's Irish.

Aaaah nuts

teeing off now

It does beg the question, after Broads knock at Lords and Bresnan's lack of cricket this season, why the cunting bejesus was Bressy at 8?

This is improving my mood by the moment. Another 50 quickly and then Anderson can have a nice burst at them for half an hour or so before the close.

All out for 221 with an hour or so to bowl some overs. This could yet be a competitive total, with India down two opening batsmen as well. Massive credit for Broad for scoring runs when the team really needed them.

Need India 2/3 down tonight or we'll be struggling as it looks a better batting day tomorrow

Mukund gone first ball, can't ask for much more than that can you!

You can't expect any England team to not have a shocker in a series with the bat. It was always on the cards. Just as well Broad actually got some runs. Still think India will win this one though. They'll be 400 plus by the close tomorrow. That was a good toss to win.

Stuart Broad is a god.

And now Dravid's gone swinging.

It's not often that they do have a shocker nowadays. We've got 6 batsmen of whom at least one if not two put in a match winning performance in each innings. On the few occasions they fail, there's often a bowler that performs with the bat. When that doesn't work the bowlers normally clean up the opposition quickly. It's very seldom that the batsmen and bowlers fail miserably in both innings.

Only a matter of time before we over take India in the rankings. End of this series I reckon.

This is now set up as a difficult one not to lose. If we get a draw or a win from here I think England will deserve a number 1 test ranking!

Pitch is so unpredictable. This is turning into a great test match. Can easily go either way. We must make 300 plus in my opinion. It's about time Strauss got a decent knock. Brilliant bowling from Broad yesterday. Easily the man of the match thus far. I think we've bowled pretty well it was the batting that let us down on day 1.

Trott and Swann's injuries are a bit of a worry though, supposedly Trott will bat but you wonder if he'll be up to his usual standard and we need every run we can get now.

Just shows that the low scoring Test Matches can be every bit as good, if not better.

Well played Strauss.

Strauss fails again. Swann's injury i'm not sure about as the pitch isn't really turning. The quick bowlers seem to be the ones making the headlines.

Don't look now, but this is all going rather well. Lead up to 140 now.

If we can bat for the rest of the day and most of tomorrow we will have a healthy lead.  Then it's just a case of bowling India out.  Simple this cricket lark!

Bell run out walking off for Tea. Absolute farce.

It's just not Cricket.

Fully agree. What they did is against the spirit of the game.

Bell on Sky saying Asad Rauf had called over, in which case it 100% wasn't out anyway.

I suspect this might run and run.

The fielder thought it was four. Bell didn't actually attempt to go for a fourth run, and the Indians know it

And Bell has come back out....

They've withdrawn the appeal over tea, Bell back.

Terrific stuff, but they might have announced it before the Indian team had to walk out to an incredibly hostile reception.

He'll probably be out first ball now.

at least there was something to talk about during the interval

On TMS saying sportsmanship has prevailed. Wtf? They shouldn't have done it in the first place

Agreed. The Indian fielders thought it might have gone for four, by his reaction by picking the ball up and the lacklustre throw back to the stumps.

No, Fair Play India if they didn't hear over called (if it was) then they were within their rights to act as they did in the moment and have also acted correctly on thinking about it, even to their considerable possible detriment in the context of the match

If over had been called then it's ridiculous that he was ever given out. If not, then it had to be given. Looking forward to seeing exactly what happened on the highlights later.

 Top sporting gesture by the Indians....let's hope their space programme goes well.

Just brings up his 50 with a six....

now bell does go... 159

Still no sign of Trott...

Trott has come in number 7

trott out

Lead now over 300

Scoring at a great rate today, given what happened in the first two innings. If we can keep plugging away for the rest of the day then India are going to have a huge mountain to climb.

Especially when the commentators have been talking that it is due to be overcast tomorrow.

England's got a lead now which India have not reached in three innings so far...

Prior gets his 50 off 38 balls, 1 six, 7 fours.

And another boundary takes him to 57!

India are bowling like they're trying to set us up for a declaration. There's two days to go lads...

Dhoni could be in trouble. The over rate has been awful...again, and he's got a suspended ban hanging over him.

May as well bat 'till we're all out. No point in declaring.

Exactly. There's too much time left. The longer they're out there, the better.

We've scored more than 400 today. The last time that happened was the 2nd Ashes test in 2005, when we scored 407 in around 80 overs.

England finish today on 441-6, a lead of 374...

What the fuck are you on about? It was a perfectly legitimate run out, it's not their fault Bell's a dozy carrot top.

Crazy day. We've outclassed them today with the bat. I think they may have had a big knock in terms of confidence after the Bell incident and after that their heads must have dropped. No way back for them now. They were destroyed by Prior and Bresnan and 374 plus is a huge target on any pitch let alone a pitch as uneven as this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccw87t0hbww

Wonder how many copies were sold in Aus :D

Love it.

India 68-6 at tea then. Can't complain!

Im starting to think were quite good.  We seem to have the knack the aussies had of getting ourselves out of trouble and then turning around and putting our foot on the neck of the opposition.  As an englishman, Im really not used to this!

It's probably an Englishman/Swindon fan combination.  I understand you perfectly.  My immediate reaction to the India collapse has been to feel sorry for them.  I have no experience that tells me how to handle situations like this.

Tendulkar out. 107 for 7.  The end is near!  :D

Completely agree. Can't remember ever thinking that one of our teams was legitimately the best in the world at something.

Maybe when we won the Rugby WC in '03?

A nice feeling anyway!

"Quite good" !!!

We're the best in the world by fucking miles and the Indians know it!

India now 8 down and 5 for Bresnan. 

What an utterly tremendous game of cricket.

When are South Africa due to to tour us? We need a real challenge :D

Games over, England win by 319 runs.

I'd have taken that on the first afternoon.

TFC India

We may be the best in the world right now, but I wouldn't be getting too cocky untill we start winning series on the sub continent

Utter domination. India have been torn apart in both tests so far. Sure it's a slightly weaker India but these are crushing defeats. There isn't a better test side in the world right now than England. Great stuff.

You can be as cocky as you want when you are the worlds best surely?

We weren't exactly full strength either. No Tremlett, who's arguably been the most in-form bowler in England this year. Trott injured. Swann injured.

Yes, it is a slightly weaker India, but they've won both important tosses...and still got thrashed. The Indians, like Australia a few years ago, are aging mostly together. Most of the Indian batsmen don't like the short stuff, and they have difficulty with the seaming ball. The only batsman that can hold his head up is Dravid...and that is probably he has played a bit of County Cricket in England.

The main England players refuse to play IPL, to concentrate on playing for England, whilst Sehwag played the IPL with a bad shoulder injury, and pocket the money, putting an operation on hold, and now is available for the 3rd Test when the series is just about over.

Stat of the day :

England's 544 was only the 8th time they have scored more than 500 in their second innings of a test, but it is the 2nd time in less than a year after they scored 519-1 dec. in the first Ashes test at Brisbane last November.

Erm... so have Yuvaj, Tendulkar, Laxman and if he were fit, Sehwag...

Next summer.

India have announced that Zaheer Khan is out for the rest of the series. What a surprise? I called that when he got originally injured.

I'm surprised that England have gone with Bopara, as I would've given a chance to Taylor from Leics as a new up and coming batsmen.

True, but one of the reasons for England's success is once you're in the squad, you're the first to be called up.  Bopara currently holds that position.  He needs a score, or Taylor could be the next one to come in.

(Btw Taylor batting with Jefferson is always funny - http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/iaq-ie-aIn-/Leicestershire+v+Derbyshire+LV+County+championship/y3SKIc3O4ra/James+Taylor)

It's an interesting call.....if you think back to the start of the summer, Bopara was being touted for the Colly slot, because he could  bowl a bit, and had turned down IPL because of a stated desire to get that slot....he then failed v Sri Lanka for the A team, Morgqn got a big ton and the place.   Subsequently, he's looked a broken man whenever I've seen him on the box....but he recently clocked a big ton for Essex on a tricky pitch at Sarfend...whereas Taylor failed in the game. Leicestershire's attack isn't great mind especially without Hoggy atm.

If Ravi fucks up this chance, can't see him getting picked for the winter.

I am going on Friday.  Anyone else going?

75/4 approaching lunch with Sehwag, Gambhir, Tendulkar and Dravid gone. Can't argue with that one bit, FCB might get to see the presentations on Friday :D

After a slow start it turned into a good session for England.  Hopefully we will continue to make progress after lunch.

This number one in the world spot is getting very close!

isn't it.

tuned in less than an hour ago and have been treated to three wickets already, awesome :)

India really are fucking useless

FFS .... I think the best chance of my Indians saving themselves, is if I start up a riot on Friday ..... Whos joining me?

Hopefully, both teams can have a days batting each and the Indian second innings will be on Friday :-)

TMS hasn't been working and havn't been arsed to keep checking the score. Great score at lunch though. I havn't seen anything since the first test, but these Indians look absolutely shit.

If India are still batting at tea I'll be impressed

Me too,very difficult batting with a cheese and cucumber sarnie in one hand and a lump of Victoria sponge in the other ;D

Cheese and cucumber?!

I know we have our disagreements Leefer but I'm afraid such a filling is just damn unacceptable.

My personal preference is cheese and coleslaw.

i've said it before and i'll say it again - coleslaw has no place in a sandwich!

and that's another...  92-5 raina

100/6

soapy tit wank.

 That is six gone. :bye: :bye: :bye:

and now 7!

Huzzah!

cunts!

I dont think i'll get a full days play on friday!

Pull you fingers out India for crying out loud!

Yes you will,England will be about 900 for 9 on your arrival with Bresnan 300 not out.

Or maybe, just maybe, our bowlers are a little bit special - 3 of them are ranked in the top 7 test bowlers.

never mind,you can always do a bit of window shopping, its all the rage in birmingham at the moment

dhoni gone, thank fuck for that, the field were getting sloppy and frustrated

224 all out, England let them off the hook a bit but are still in a very strong position. 60/0 at close please!

Reminds me of the 2nd test but in reverse. We must bat well. And that mean Struass and Cook actually have to make runs this time. Bopara and Morgan are not test batsmen. They are weak links.

Now just watch Strauss and Cook get out cheaply and Ravi and the Oirish fella make a 300+ stand.

You know it's going to happen when IOB goes posting stuff like that :)

If Morgan and Bopara aren't Test Batsmen, what on earth are Raina, Yuvraj and Mukund?

They are more than welcome to prove me wrong.

Yuvraj is a slogger. Raina just doesn't have the temperment. Mukund is just shit.

Bell, KP, Bresnan, Prior and Broad all batting out of their skin at the moment though...

84 for 0.  Good start by Strauss and Cook!

100 up for England without loss.  Lets hope this continues and we build a big first innings lead.  Am sure second time round Swann will have a big say with the ball.

157 for 0 at lunch.  Only 67 behind now.

Fuck me this just gets worse and worse.  Look like I will see half a day of England batting tomorrow and maybe half a day of India.

Dont agree much with Swann having a big say 2nd time around though.  Think it will be the seamers again.  I dont think an off spinner will hold any fears for the Indians.

Not to sure how many wickets Swann has got so far, but I bet my English work collegue that Swann wouldnt get 10 wickets in the series and I think I will be picking up some winnings on that one!

2 so far. To be fair, he's not had much of a chance as you lot keeping getting bowled out before he gets a go.

27 ahead with 9 wickets in hand. An innings win might be a bit undiplomatic really.

100 for Cook.

I'm not sure I agree that Swann won't have an impact in the 2nd innings.  The ball was turning on day 1 on a new pitch.  The longer the match goes on the more help the pitch will give Swann, assuming our seamers don't do the business again that is!

Over 200 lead with 7 wickets still left. India's fielding has been shambolic.

Dravid's dropped Morgan, another one down in the last over of the day. I seriously think my weekend thirds side are better fielders than this mob.

England 456/3 at the close, 231 ahead at the close of Day Two. If it was Bangladesh we'd be saying they weren't fit to play Test Cricket.

I'd rather revel in the fact that we are very, very, very good. As a sporting nation we don't get to do that very often.

In fact - we are currently the best in the world at something.  How often can we legitimately claim that?

Cook gets his double century. 486-3

Don't know too much about the finer points of cricket, where is the declaration likely to come? 550-600?

Looks like fittons_coaching_badge will either see a full day or a fine victory :)

Depends who you listen to. Michael Vaughan says keep batting, get 700 and embarass them. Geoff Boycott is saying get them in before tea and get it over with.

500-3.

They should just start twatting it now

reckon they could well declare if cook gets to 300 - 94 runs away - which would probably put us nearly 500 ahead.

rain also has a part to play here though so we may declare early to give us a better chance of winning

I reckon they'll press on after lunch, look for 4-5 an over, Morgan to ton up and then have a think at tea, either declare during or give Cook another half hour if he's close to 300.

It's meant to stay dry for most of the afternoon (yes, I know it's raining now), and the forecast for the weekend's not too bad. Hopefully weather won't have too much of a part to play.

If Cook reaches 300 then they'll surely allow him to pass Gooch's record of 333.

As long as the forecast isn't too bad for the weekend then there's no huge rush to declare but Cook will still have to get a bit of a move on.

Interestingly, the Hawk Eye analysis on the Telegraph site has our Win Likelihood at only 80%.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/8537924/England-v-India-third-Test-live-Hawk-Eye-analysis.html

So maybe not particularly optimistic about the rain situation?  It would be pretty embarrassing not to win this now.

Since when has it even been a good idea to listen to what Boycott has to say? :)

I reckon they'll let Cook have a go at Gooch's record if he's at 300 or thereabouts around tea-time. If he gets there and the weather was better I'd say let him have a go at Lara's 400, but I imagine we'll declare well before then.

Gooch's record is 'only' against India though.  He should be chasing down Len Hutton's 364, top English Test score ever.

As of Morgans ton, we've only hit 5 boundaries today, get a wriggle on lads

There goes Morgan. 104 almost unnoticed.

Got home and switched on just in time to see Morgan chip it straight to Sehwag. Marvellous.

Now Ravi's forgotten he's playing an off-spinner.

And now he's out. Brilliant.

Sounds like Bopara's had a mare. Prior gone too. Hopefully Bresnan can up the pace a bit.

Think that could be Bopara's last chance with Trott likely to be fit again for the 4th test.

Bresnan's moving the score along with 31*  Cook has moved to 270*  The question is how much longer do we bat for?  Haven't looked at the weather forecast for the next couple of days but I would hate for the weather to have a say in this match.

The forecast isn't too bad. I can see rain getting in the way a bit, but even if we were to bat the rest of today it would leave us two full days to bowl them out, which should be plenty even if it does rain.

I can't really see any sense in staying in any longer.  Cook is still 30 runs off the 300, and it's not all about him anyway.  Team game.  Let's get them in and take a wicket or two before close of play.

700 up with a Bresnan sixer...

And that's his 50 too... declaration coming up soon?

Could well be. About half an hour bowling at the Indians.

Cook goes for 294

Cook out...and a declaration. Lead of 486.

unlucky cook, fantastic knock though. well played son.

486 ahead. My word the Indians are rubbish. No sorry I mean utter shite.

Nice to see Cook come straight onto the field despite batting for 2 days. Sehwag would be putting his feet up having some pies, like he did last night.

Sehwag..first baller...king pair !!

:Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: Not sure I can remember too many topline batsmen getting a king pair.

I've just got in and the first ball I saw was Cook getting out for 294

The third was Sehwag's king pair.

Christ, we're fucking brilliant at this Cricket lark aren't we?

Hahahaha too easy.

Mukund could've had one last Test, but Bresnan dropped him.

And now he is...

And for the next couple of days...

Apparently Sehwag is the 13th King Pair in Test cricket...Unlucky !!

I think Michael Pook might run him close, but the answer is probably no.

Bopara has been just as pointless this game.

In defence of Bopara, he did actually score some runs, so not entirely pointless.

Swann into the action and first ball turned!

Might get a bowl in a minute as well if the light's going.

KP into the action. 

Turned that one a fucking mile, and he's a part timer. Oh, Swanny's going to have some fun tomorrow.

The pitch turning nicely now. Great chance for Swann to make his mark on a so far quiet series for him.

Bowl him first tomorrow and with any luck the game will be over before we have to leave for the proper game.  I'm leaving at 12 so that leaves them an hour!

2 wickets in half an hour, india melting away.  Can Tendulkar and laxman save them?  I doubt it.

No, Laxman can't.

Raina takes a while to get going, hits a couple of 4's and then goes.

Lovely.

Felt a bit for Tendulker then, was hoping he would get his 100th 100, another easy win for england.

The end is nigh.

The end is over.

England Number 1 !!

Great stuff.

This hurts ... It actually hurts!

The Sky interview with Anderson and Swann is hilarious,totally having a dig at each over in the interview.

You'd better get ready for 4-0 at the rate it's going.

Theres still the one day series to follow.

I am starting to wonder where in gods name India first win of this tour is going to come from?

I hope this shambles makes the BCCI see sense, but in reality they and most players now see the IPL as the cash cow, and they will both milk that dry.  Sehwag delayed having his shoulder op to play in the IPL, and Ghambir made $2m for 5 weeks worth in it.  I despair, I truly do despair!

It's seems like the BCCI are resorting to paying ex-Indian players to preach the BCCI gospel on TV:

http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2011/08/06/shastri-gavaskar-paid-to-preach-bcci-gospel/

This would explain Nasser Hussain's run-in with Shastri during the second Test :

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2020941/Nasser-Hussain-Yes-Ravi-blame-India-Harbhajans-misfortune.html

India have been shocking. For a team that's supposed to be the best when they arrived they haven't even put up a fight. Is it the coach, players or just the fact England have been too good for them? I personally think it's a hangover from the WC. A bit like we had the hangover from the 05 Ashes win. I think with the IPL and the focus on the WC India have forgotten about test cricket a bit. Their big names had a rest and they had little prep for this tour. I don't think they really expected England to be as good as they have been and it's left them with egg on their faces.

Think that's pretty much how it is....India will be more intent on winning the ODI's now. We're still a bit behind in this form.

Gambir the opening batsmen has just signed a deal worth 2.4 million dollars for 6 months of IPL cricket.
A fine cricketer but not great the mind boggles at what the stars are getting for 6 months of big hitting.
That is one factor no doubt,not needing test cricket the other factor is that when you play in India you usually get dicked because they hammer bowling attacks on flat wickets and bat teams to death...we have used English conditions to the max,just like they do at home.

It remains to be seen what Duncan Fletcher's role will be. I think he's been brought in to oversee the reconstruction of the team following the imminent multiple retirements. It'll take a good few years to shake through, even if they can square the conflict between IPL and Test cricket. At least he'll be able to address their dismal performance in the field.

We have the opportunity to stay on top of the long version of the game for a good few years, and should be looking to the World Test championship in 2013, and beating Australia's 6 years as #1 as our next targets. (after a 4-0 whitewash of course)

More of the same from England.  They are piling on the runs again against this poor Indian attack.  I assume the plan is to bat once in this game and win the series 4-0.  Currently 448 for 3.  Odd decision to bring out a nightwatchman when we are in such a strong position????

You see a nightwatchman, Strauss sees a potential centurion!

(Or not)

Bell and KP both with 'daddy' hundreds then. Good lads.

England declare on 591-6.

One over in.. India 8-1. Sehwag gone again cheaply.

Laxman edges and gone, Tendulkar in for his latest stab at the 100th hundred.

Great time to declare after the rain. It's all too easy though.

Tendulkar out for 91. LBW. Just just clipping leg. Poor bloke

Fuck off he's been out about 900 times already!

Doesn't deserve a ton, he's been piss poor all series and his attitude when things don't go his way suck and it would have detracted from Dravid's efforts.

Agreed, which has to be a first. Wouldn't have begrudged him his ton but the only Indian that deserves any credit from this series is Dravid.

Raina gets a pair. He can't play short balls or off spin, the latter of which is a real surprise for an Indian.

Inside edge, but that'll teach the Indians to throw out the review system baby with the bathwater.

Exactly - it was their decision not to have the reviews, so they only have themselves to blame.

Yep, I have my own doubts over the Hawkeye predictive element, but why on earth they can't review if they think they've hit it I don't know, a simple replay would solve that question.

They can...

A 42 ball pair at that.

And DMR is right, they can't use Hawkeye to review lbw shouts but are allowed to send it upstairs if they believe they've edged it. Obviously in this case Raina just didn't realise he'd hit it.

All done, 4-0 Whitewash and England are number one in style.

Cracking Series for us, disappointed that it wasn't more competitive but hell, it seems a bit po-faced to complain.

Fantastic and well deserved,we have stuffed them.

Great scenes at the moment.And the Test Mace is ace,never seen it before  :D

Actually they cannot review it if they have been given out lbw even if they've edged it, that is why a couple of times they've asked the umpire what they've been given out for, before reviewing it or not. Part 2 of Broad's hat-trick in the 2nd test, there was a massive inside edge but couldn't review it as he was given out lbw.

I stand corrected. Does seem to be a bit unclear, I was just going off the information from this article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/india/8600565/India-accepts-modified-version-of-DRS-rule-for-England-series-without-Hawk-Eye.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/india/8600565/India-accepts-modified-version-of-DRS-rule-for-England-series-without-Hawk-Eye.html)

At the end of the day, the sooner they bring back the full DRS the better/

Now God (Tendulkar) has pronounced that he's more confident of the Hawkeye's accuracy, it'll be compulsory in all series by this time next year.

first T20 today. england fought back quite well to get the injuns all out for 165. Looked as if they were on for 200 at one point