Not watching but apparently the ball is spinning in ridiculous fashion already. Are there no rules about just how far a pitch can be “prepared” to suit a bowling attack ? I recall a recent series in India where we won the first test on a flat pitch so they instructed the next pitches to be turned into spinners paradise and we lost the series.
It was the last series. I don’t think so, in Tests. In the County Championship, as I know from painful experience as a Somerset supporter, points can be deducted. I guess that could happen in the World Test Championship, but sfaik, it doesn’t. Bit premature to say this until both sides have batted, of course.
It must be spinning an awful lot for England to be have no one over a strike rate of 70 but for Ahmed and Duckett. However, the pitch should still spin so a big chance for our three spinners to show what they've got
Sadly , this all shows that test match cricket has been relegated below 20/20 . You wouldn't prepare a 20/20 pitch in this manner .
Absolutely, will be perfect for our spinners but you would back India's 3 spinners (inc experienced Ashwin & Jadeja) to be more effective on a home pitch. At least we bowl last.
Sure, but THAT much movement on day one ? The pitch had to look utter dynamite for us to only play Wood as the one seamer, any fear about his fitness allieviated by the fact he will probably only bowl half a dozen overs each innings.
What a player Ben Stokes is. He has such discipline to be able to dig himself in and then go on the attack after truly playing himself in on a minefield. 53 balls for his first boundary, now back-to-back sixes.
I would like to revoke my application to join Test Match Special and would now solely like to commentate for whoever England are playing
Well they have dug themselves in and are surviving so far, but will be interesting to see what happens when one of these guys decides to try an aggressive shot. As some point they will try to release these shackles.
F*ck it, squad for the next test: Root, Atherton, Titmus, Hick, Underwood, Laker, Swann, Emburey, Edmonds, Tufnell, Panesar.
I was going to mention this, surely deducting points from counties who prepare pitches which aren't even rank turners by global standards isn't going to help us develop spinners at all? How is the next great England spinner going to emerge if pitches in the County Championship are just not going to give them a chance?
As expected this is becoming a bit one-sided. Our spinners are not the same quality as the Indian spinners and their batsmen are more adept at facing spin.
Can we achieve the moral victory of limiting their lead to no more than 150, then scoring 151 to make them bat again ?
Needed that wicket but I get the feeling India will not have to bat again and England will be all out for under 100
Joe Root might as well be England's second spinner at this point - frees up a bowling spot (especially on more swing/seam friendly pitches)
Hartley certainly doesn't look the part.... the number 9 has just taken 14 off his last 3 balls on a "spinning wicket". India alreday have enough to win by an innings.
Is there a moral issue with letting Mark Wood just throw the ball at the tail end at 90mph without worrying about hitting anything other than the batsman?
