
Take a look at our newest merchandise
Key occasions
WICKET! Zak Crawley c Jaiswal b Nitish Kumar Reddy 22 (England 50-3)
Crawley performs a free drive and is caught by Jaiswal at gully! Gah. *Ray Winstone voice* there are methods to get out and methods to not get out and wafting airily to Nitish kumar Reddy ain’t certainly one of them. England in strife right here at Lord’s.
14th over: England 49-2 (Crawley 22, Root 2) “Howdy James!”
Again atcha Rowan Tewari.
“Happy to see you on the OBO double shift. I have to say the drama appears to boil over while you’re on, absolutely an indication to the upper ups that no AI named Jimbot might take over your job!”
I’ve pasted this to the highest of my Curriculum Vitae already, Rowan.
“On a extra severe be aware, this collection has been outlined by difficult new ball durations with batters making hay towards the outdated ball, however I concern run scoring gained’t be really easy towards the outdated ball as soon as the spin twins start working.”
It’s exhausting to know what a great rating is perhaps on this difficult third innings, Dinesh Karthik on Sky suggests a minimal rating for England is 300, far be it for me to disagree with DK however that seams excessive on the proof of this pitch in the intervening time. England are getting ready to reaching fifty with a Root single off Siraj.
thirteenth over: England 48-2 (Crawley 22, Root 1) Bumrah may’ve been tempted to bowl an over at Root however he’s bowled 5 on the spin and decides it’s time for a breather. If I used to be Shubman Gill (spoiler – I’m not) I reckon I’d have requested my star man to provide me on extra. Root’s wicket is large now within the context of this match ands collection. Nonetheless, it’ll be Nitish Kumar Reddy from the Nursery Finish. Reddy’s tempo is nicely down on what has come to this point this morning, we would see Crawley try to take him down right here – certain sufficient a 78mph brief ball is pongoed away on the pull by midwicket for 4.
Joe Root emerges for England and the gamers take a drink. That has been an totally compelling first hour and India are on prime of England right here at Lord’s. Play it once more, Joe?
twelfth over: England 42-2 (Crawley 15, Root 0) Mo Siraj is totally pumped.
WICKET! Ollie Pope lbw b Mohammed Siraj 4 (England 42-2)
Siraj scuds one by Ollie Pope and pins him lbw! It was given not out on the sector but it surely regarded fairly plum, Siraj actually thought so and he implored his captain to ship it upstairs. Certain sufficient it was hitting the highest of center stump and Pope has to depart.
eleventh over: England 36-1 (Crawley 15, Pope 4) Issues quieten down a smidge however it’s no much less tense at Lord’s. Crawley clips a pair off his pads for 2.
tenth over: England 36-1 (Crawley 15, Pope 4) Siraj bustles in however Pope is as much as the problem, blocking out a maiden with stout defence. A big rating from him or Crawley at this time may quieten the doubters as soon as and for all, these are essentially the most difficult situations for batting all collection.
Respectable shout from Mike F who messages to say that the pitch reminds him of this:
ninth over: England 36-1 (Crawley 15, Pope 4) A size ball from Bumrah retains low (!) and Crawley squirts an inside edge by sq. leg for 2. Eeesht! Crawley ‘French cuts’ away for 4 right down to superb leg. Crawley then exhibits first rate judgement by leaving nicely alone exterior off. Ball is dominating bat for as soon as on this collection and the cricket is all the higher for it.
Tom Atkinson has fessed up by the best way:
“I’d wish to apologise to England followers for inflicting Duckett’s wicket by saying to myself how nice it was to be spending my Sunday morning watching a batter scoring runs towards elite degree quicks by skilful timing and placement. Clearly the gods will need to have heard, and the following ball he performs the ramp, then two balls later will get out enjoying a boneheaded rounders shot. Can’t assist however really feel accountable, sorry.”
eighth over: England 30-1 (Crawley 9, Pope 4) Nasser Hussain is all for the fired up nature of Siraj’s celebration, he’s not condoning the bodily contact however he says it’s an emotional recreation and it is vitally a lot on the road proper now. Additionally, the replays present that Siraj walked in a straight line after taking the wicket and it was Duckett that crossed his path. There’s a forensic examination occurring on the television proper now. You actually can’t take your eyes off it.
Crawley decides he’s going to have a flash at Siraj and goals two booming drives to size balls however connects solely with recent air. A clip for 2 and a leg bye preserve England ticking, each run feels so necessary.
seventh over: England 27-1 (Crawley 7, Pope 4) That is electrical cricket. The pitch has come alive and Siraj and Bumrah are mining it for its spoils. Crawley is crushed by a Bumrah magnificence that zips previous the skin edge. A single right down to deep third sees Pope come on strike to Bumrah. Spits into the glove as soon as extra! Pope wrings out his hand and grimaces, it’s nasty stuff for the batter’s in the intervening time. My days! Bumrah takes Pope’s edge and it soars over the slip cordon and away for 4!
I can see the emails piling up, apologies I’ll get to them. I’m wringing my knuckles a however right here!
sixth over: England 22-1 (Crawley 6, Pope 0) The umpire has a phrase with Shubman Gill, I believe Siraj is perhaps known as to the Umpire’s workplace after the shut of play. Bodily contact is a no-no even when Siraj may protest it was only a look and was unintended, ump. Ollie Pope arrives within the center and all eyes are glued to this contest. Don’t go wherever!
WICKET! Ben Duckett c Bumrah b Mohammed Siraj 12 (England 22-1)
It’s all kicking off! Duckett scoops Siraj for 4 over the keeper’s head however the bowler will get his revenge after which some! Duckett goes to drag however the ball but it surely beats him for tempo and he plinks a straightforward catch to mid-on. Siraj provides the pint sized batter a full serve and there’s even just a little shoulder barge for afters! It’s Feisty.
fifth over: England 18-0 (Crawley 6, Duckett 8) Bumrah is getting some actual up and down bounce now from the Nursery Finish. Duckett clips for 2 after which scampers a single to cowl. Crawley flays at a size ball and will get a meaty edge that flies vast of gully and away for 4! He wasn’t in management in any respect however he did flash exhausting. Cripes! Bumrah will get one other ball to carry and slam into Crawley’s gloves. The Kent opener will need to have strong palms, bear in mind Nasser’s Poppadom fingers*?
*“I’ll be mom!”
4th over: England 11-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 5) Duckett will get off strike off the primary ball of the over as soon as extra. Intelligent lad. Siraj snakes one again into Crawley’s pad and India just like the look of it. The umpire says no however they ship it upstairs… NOT OUT and evaluation burned – it was lacking leg stump. Zak Crawley’s eyes are wider than hubcaps on the market on the minute.
Jasprit Bumrah from the Nursery Finish… scorching environment right here at Lord’s. Duckett continues his perky begin by clipping for a single to get off strike. Proper, Bumrah vs Crawley take two. Right here we go!
Likelihood! Ouch! Bumrah will get one to spit off a great size and it slams into Crawley’s left hand, that got here out of nowhere! The ball flies up off the glove and Bumrah hares after the looping Dukes for the return catch. He doesn’t fairly get there, a finger finish on it because it drops to the turf. Nice drama. Crawley couldn’t do something about that, no histrionics wanted, that may have damage. This fourth day pitch is beginning to supply up some spice too.
third over: England 10-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 4)
2nd over: England 9-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 3) Siraj steams in and sends a wild supply down the leg-side, waaaay out of the attain of a diving Pant and a loud cheer goes round Lord’s as 4 byes are gifted to England. Duckett drives by mid-off for 3 runs, didn’t center it however its a constructive begin from him. Crawley comes on strike and the Lord’s hum goes up a couple of notches.
Loads of chatter from India’s fielders. Crawley dots out the remainder of the over, right here comes Jasprit!
The gamers emerge onto a now solar soaked outfield. Jerusalem is dispatched into the North London environs. Mohammed Siraj goes to start out from the Pavilion Finish. Lot’s of brief sentences. To construct up anticipation.
Let’s play!
Cricketing needle strikes me as a great OBO sub plot to the day’s motion. My thoughts goes instantly to Michael Clarke telling Jimmy Anderson to “Prepare for a damaged F***en’ arm” in Australia a couple of Ashes in the past. The ‘e’ within the expletive is all necessary.
Patrick Fullick remembers Snowy and Sunny going through off.
“The little fracas between Crawley and Gill final night time took my thoughts again to the 1971 Lords Take a look at between England and India, through which John Snow barged Sunil Gavaskar out of the best way to get to the ball as Gavaskar was working between the wickets. Gavaskar dropped his bat within the collision, which Snow then picked up and casually threw again to him, smiling on the similar time. There’s aggression for you! And sure, I bear in mind it nicely.”
Play will start in about ten minutes time. No you’re excited. I’m within the press field so have gotten to maintain a lid on it, to an extent. An excessive amount of exclaiming and there’s nonetheless sufficient gnarly outdated boys about who will doubtless greet such effusing with a withering look.
Anyway, there’s simply time sufficient to make yourself familiar by studying younger whippersnapper Ali Martin’s report of yesterday’s motion:
Simon Regulation isn’t afraid of a plug on the sabbath:
“Our band put out a music some time again known as ‘Sunday Morning, New York Metropolis’… I’d like everybody to pay attention and reimagine it as ‘Sunday Morning, St John’s Wooden’.
In the meantime, Barney Ronay delved into the the murky world of ball chat:
Andy Bull has been in superb fettle as per ceaselessly, I cherished his piece on Jofra Archer on day two:
and right here he’s on yesterday and the Gautam Gambhirification of Bazball:
Harry Brook was having some throw downs within the Nursery floor nets as I walked previous half an hour in the past. Many of the England gamers at the moment are on the outfield enjoying their recreation of keepie uppies.
India’s gamers are in an enormous group huddle about 80 metres away. It’s a drained outdated cliche however the first hour of play this morning actually is the definition of a massive one.
Preamble
James Wallace
Sunday morning coming down? Hardly.
This third Take a look at between England and India is on a knife edge. However greater than that. How a few trapeze artist in 7inch heels tottering alongside a greased up machete above shark infested waters. In a howling gale. One thing like that I suppose.
England lead by the grand whole of two runs on first innings and issues acquired a bit spicy on the third night final night time.
Zak Crawley gave a cynical/hilarious/his finest Daniel Day Lewis impression to ensure England solely needed to face one over on the shut, it was much less My Left Foot and extra My Proper Glove (there shall be positively wasn’t any blood). Shubman Gill and his males took umbrage and all of it acquired a bit shouty and pointy on the shut.
A bit of fine quaint needle to maintain us all on our toes this morning then. England will doubtless try to drive the sport alongside within the first session however with that comes a sure threat. We wouldn’t need it some other method, eh?
Play begins at 11am, Jim right here at a muggy Lord’s (dare I say it could possibly be bowling situations…) on the instruments till this afternoon when Rob Smyth will take you tenderly by the hand at lwead you thru the remainder of the day.
Do give us a shout if you’re tuning in. Thought, theories, predictions and pension recommendation all welcomed.
Let’s get into it.