#39

Brilliant stuff. Batted ourselves past the realistic possibility of a loss. Draws still the big favourite but at least were in the position to capitalise if the pitch starts falling apart

#40

530+ now, which as I explained just up there is decent against India. so decent in fact it’s England’s third highest score on the subcontinent.

#41

What’s the current law regarding being grounded behind the line, if say you’ve dropped your bat, but both feet are off the ground, even if either or both have been grounded? Similarly, can you be stumped mid leap, say if the keeper is standing up to Curtly Ambrose, who bowls a bouncer so high the batter leaps to the conventional slam dunk height. During said leap, the keeper somehow manages to grab the bowl and using the popular forearm technique, sends the bails dropping before the batter has fallen back to the pitch?

#42

Everyone else got the same confidence in England that they’ve been googling the highest first innings scores to lose test matches (this would be the 4th highest ever, fyi)

#43

Heh. Literally had this list up as that appeared.

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;innings_number=1;innings_number=2;orderby=team_score;result=2;template=results;type=team;view=innings

#44

Was wondering why my list was so much shorter, think I only had first innings of the match

#45

This England 11’s combined first class average is 437.04. That must be up there with the highest ever in tests? Maybe Bradman might skew a few of the ones in the 30s.

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#47

Looking like a draw at the moment innit, barring a stupendous 2nd innings collapse from England (entirely possible given spin, young team, and, well, England)

#49

it just looks so comfortable out there. Scoreboard pressure is a thing, and I’m probably being a bit ‘England’, but I just can’t see England forcing 20 wickets out

#50

^this. Twat as he is, if Swann was still about an England win might be favourite, but can’t see us taking 20 wickets in 3 days without a proper top level spinner

#52

2 wickets fall and then stumps :rolling_eyes:

Positive end though. Tomorrow should be fun despite the fact that this will clearly be a draw.

#53

Aye, 14 wickets in 3 days doesn’t leave much hope of another 16 alongside some more England batting in the last two. Glad Ansari and Rashid got on the board though, sounds like Woakes has deserved something.

It’d have to be a hell of a collapse from England to lose from here, but I have faith. Gonna take India until tea to draw level, then England out for 120 or so in 2 sessions, then India chase it down?

#54

It’s happened before I guess, England against Australia at Adelaide in 2006. We lost there though, mind.

#55

Yeah, that’s what immediately came to mind. Wonder if Cook will be remembering that when he goes out to bat the 2nd innings

#56

Just slightly concerned the way it’s going. We can’t realistically win now (can’t squeeze in 6 wickets, speedy runs and a declaration in time), if India go past us, it starts to turn and we lose a couple of early wickets, the panic might set in. Not saying it’s likely, draw must be the big favourite, but could get a bit tense.

#57

If they score at the same rate as today, they’ll need to bat all day just to level the scores tomorrow. Can’t see either team pushing to try to force a result or completely shitting themselves to lose from here

#58

Kohli is the key really. He can happily chug along at 4.5 an over once he’s in. If we get him out, draw is nailed on.

#59

I wasn’t going to post this (tempting fate/Adelaide and all) but I’m away tomorrow, and it’d be the weekend anyway, so:

How many token overs will England give to India to bat out on the last day?

I’ll start the bidding at, um, 20

#61

Hameed just absolutely clouted Jadeja for 6. Not as advertised.

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#63

Odd that we suddenly look like we’ve got a set team. Anderson for ansari, then one of wood, ball, rashid depending on fitness/form/pitch looks like it’ll be basically set til anderson retires