Key occasions
fiftieth over: England 142-8 (Foakes 15, Bashir 1) Back after drinks, Foakes takes a single off the fifth ball of the over this time – simply to shake issues up a bit of.
“I’m loving Foakes approach here. He’s managed to nab a single off the 4th ball for 7 consecutive overs. I wonder what the record is for such a Herculean feat?”
Tom V D Gucht is throughout this strategy.
fiftieth over: England 142-8 (Foakes 14, Bashir 1) Nine runs in 9 overs. Proper criggit. Time for a drink… and #EggChat courtesy of Harry Lang.
“Dear James,
Making breakfast for my family whilst catching furtive glances of the score on my phone. Turns out the perfect soft boiled egg time is exactly 1 England wicket, around 6 minutes. I won’t risk putting the toast on for soldiers until Bashir is out in 1 egg’s time.”
forty ninth over: England 141-8 (Foakes 13, Bashir 1) The telly exhibits a slo-mo replay of the spinning seam place on the ball as soon as Ashwin has launched it from his lengthy fingers. It’s a factor of magnificence. The ball rotating like a high and the seam oscillating just like the rings of Saturn. I might watch all of it day.
forty eighth over: England 140-8 (Foakes 12, Bashir 1) Another over, one other Foakes single off the fourth ball and a Bashir block for the ultimate two. Not for me, I prefer it.
forty seventh over: England 139-8 (Foakes 11, Bashir 1) Kudeep fizzes one previous Foakes’ edge. Things have quietened down after the pre and put up tea drama.
Jamie Henderson has had his say:
“Dear Jim, everytime a long update about coffee appears wickets tumble. Please stop. Horrible, jittery, populist stuff anyway. Literally liquid nerves.
Perhaps if you were to talk at length about tea we could build a decent partnership?”
I’d drink a vat of Lapsang Souchong if it means we get to see a sequence decider in Dharamshala, Jamie.
forty sixth over: England 138-8 (Foakes 9, Bashir 1) Another over, one other single off it.
Steve Hudson is obvious in his thoughts.
“Declaration: No.
Someone to belt 20 off 6 balls: Yes. It might just be enough.”
forty fifth over: England 137-8 (Foakes 9, Bashir 1) Kuldeep is coming between the umpire and the stumps and around the wicket. A person after my very own 13 yr previous coronary heart. Foakes makes use of his toes to get to the pitch and accumulate a single.
G’morning Simon McMahon:
“Morning Jim. I’m telling myself already that India will knock off however many they require with minimum fuss to complete a series win. But anything over 200 won’t be easy … If only there was a pithy quote or clip for the OBO that neatly captures the unique pleasure of being an England cricket fan, eh?”
forty fourth over: England 136-8 (Foakes 8, Bashir 1) Foakes takes the only off Jadeja’s fourth ball, he’s glad to let Bashir face a few balls. The 19 yr previous is stout in defence to see out the over.
forty third over: England 135-8 (Foakes 7 Bashir 1) Kuldeep trots in with a major pep in his step. He’s obtained 4-15 and his eyes on blowing England away and taking a five-fer in the method. Bashir will get off the mark with a piece to sq.. Fokaes will get one other treasured run down the bottom. Appeal! But a stifled one – the ball was lacking leg stump. On we go. The England lead is 181 runs.
forty second over: England 133-8 (Foakes 6, Bashir 0) Jadeja retains Foakes tied down, six dots stitched collectively as the stress mounts.
Not certain about this from ‘Ground Force’:
There’s genuinely a case to be made for England to declare right here, given how a lot more durable batting has obtained as days two and three have gone on
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) February 25, 2024
WICKET! Robinson lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 0 (England 133-8)
Gone this time although! Kuldeep pins Robinson in entrance – the batter goes upstairs once more however to no avail. What an over from Kuldeep, a double wicket maiden. The left arm magician is bowling his facet into the dominant place in this Test.
Shoaib Bashir is the brand new batter, can he cling round with Ben Foakes and eke out one other 20 or 3o essential runs? It’s the top of the over so the senior man shall be on strike.
forty first over: England 133-8 (Foakes 6, Bashir 0)
NOT OUT: A look on the glove saves Robinson.
REVIEW: Ollie Robinson is given out LBW first ball! He’s despatched it upstairs and is suggesting he’s hit it…
WICKET! Hartley c Khan b Kuldeep Yadav 7 (England 133-7)
Hartley tries to membership Kuldeep down the bottom however the spinning ball means he doesn’t get a good piece on it and Sarfaraz takes a superb diving catch at mid-on – turning to blow a kiss to the group in his celebration! England lead by 179 runs and have three wickets left.
fortieth over: England 133-6 (Foakes 6, Hartley 7) Jadeja whizzes via an over, curls bobbing over his headband as he activates his heels and darts them in. A maiden.
thirty ninth over: England 133-6 (Foakes 6, Hartley 7) Three singles labored off Kuldeep. Close! Hartley is sort of cleaned up by a sharply spinning ball.
thirty eighth over: England 130-6 (Foakes 4, Hartley 6) Foakes punches a single to convey Hartley on strike. SIX! Hartley does open his shoulders and lofts Jadeja down the bottom and into the stands. Lovely strike. Seven off the over and the lead as much as 175. Don’t go anyplace. You wouldn’t although, would you?
thirty seventh over: England 123-6 (Foakes 2, Hartley 0) Foakes drives effectively down the bottom so as to add a single to the rating. Another scuttler! Yadav will get one to spin sharply at ankle peak nevertheless it evades leg stump. Just. Can’t do owt with these, Ben.
thirty sixth over: England 122-6 (Foakes 2, Hartley 0) Foakes will get a single into the leg facet. Jadeja rattles via his over in about 8 seconds flat.
“James my dear old thing”
Back at you Kim Thonger.
“I’m not too concerned about the size of the target. The scene is now set for Stokes to have a bowl, charging in like Bob Willis, nostrils flaring, breathing fire, stumps and bails flying hither and thither. Can’t wait.”
Stokes’ hair surgeon on Wimpole St shall be very happy with the Willis comparability there I reckon…
thirty fifth over: England 120-6 (Foakes 1, Hartley 0) Foakes will get off the mark with a fast single to mid on. Slightly dangerous however makes his floor. Hartley is sort of scuttled by a ball that shoots via low. The pitch continues to be being a pickle, I’m wondering if England’s greatest type of defence is assault – poking ahead on this wicket doesn’t look like a very good choice.
thirty fourth over: England 120-6 (Foakes 0, Hartley 0) Here comes Tom Hartley, he can definitely wield a blade. England want a few of his humpty now. A fast cameo of 30 or 40 might make all of the distinction. He blocks out the over from Jadeja. Two new batters on the crease and loads of fielders and chatter near them.
WICKET! Bairstow c Patidar b Jadeja 30 (England 120-6)
Trouble! Trouble Trouble Trouble. Jonny Bairstow is undone by a ball that bounces greater than he anticipated and turns away from his driving blade, his shot tamely popping as much as Jadeja at quick cowl. Bairstow can’t consider it – he eyes his bat, the pitch, something with suspicion however he has to go. India at the moment are on high, the lead continues to be 166 however England solely have 4 wickets left now.
Huge second first ball after tea – Jonny Bairstow is OUT!
Time to delve into the OBO mailbag:
“Hi Jim, I don’t think I’d want England to give India anything less then 300 to win with the way they have managed to accumulate runs in the first innings, especially with Jaiswal in fine fettle. But it seems England have other ideas. I just hope it’s a total that keeps the game in the balance for the fourth innings and the excitement going unlike the last Test.”
I believe they’d snatch your hand off for a 250 lead, Michael Fry.
David Ballard weighs in on espresso and cricket issues:
“You’ve obviously never tried a stove top Bialetti. Just enough time to get the milk on and frothed (2 or 3 mins max) and the wonderful noise of the coffee reaching its – well, not to be gross I’ll say, ‘completion’. Two cups of wonderful espresso. And no gross litter like Nespresso. Could be compared to Joe Root on a good day. Quick and very classy. Instant is more like French cricket. Have a good day! Will 250 be enough? Doubt it.”
The pitch was a riddle as soon as extra in that session. After an hour or so of relative calm it then began to misbehave like a toddler jacked up on e-numbers. History tells us that something over 200 shall be a really difficult goal to chase in fourth innings Indian circumstances however England will need as many as potential, they should make these final 5 wickets depend. Their personal spinners bowled admirably in the primary innings nevertheless it’s a unique kettle of Koi in the case of bowling your facet to a Test victory in the fourth dig with all of the eyes, hopes and expectations on you.
thirty third over: England 120-5 (Bairstow 30, Foakes 0) Ben Foakes blocks out the three remaining balls in the over. That’s tea. A breathless and good session involves a detailed. England lead by 166 runs however have misplaced half of their wickets. We’re on for a nerve chewin, bum squeakin’ hum-dinger right here aren’t we!?
WICKET! Stokes b Kuldeep Yadav 4 (England 120-5)
The massive one! Stokes is undone by a flighted ball that turns off the pitch and hits his again pad earlier than trickling onto the stumps. It’s barely unfortunate but additionally good bowling by Kuldeep, beating Stokes in the air and off the pitch. India are jubilant, they’ve removed the damaging Stokes cheaply on the stroke of tea.
thirty second over: England 120-4 (Bairstow 30, Stokes 4) Bairstow is overwhelmed twice in the over by Jadeja, this pitch is now doing all types once more and India’s bowlers are so skilful that it seems like this innings is now a ticking time bomb.
thirtieth over: England 120-4 (Bairstow 30, Stokes 4) Bairstow steers Kuldeep away for a pair. The television replay is now displaying a replay of the ultimate ball of Jadeja’s final over that India didn’t attraction for – it regarded like Stokes had defended a straight ball together with his bat nevertheless it really hit pad first and was stone useless in entrance!
twenty ninth over: England 117-4 (Bairstow 27, Stokes 4) More drama! Jadeja goes up for an enormous attraction pondering he has trapped Stokes LBW on the entrance pad. It’s a kind of histrionic appeals that has about three waves of accelerating noise to it. Rohit requires the evaluate with one second left on the timer… CLOSE! It was clipping the leg stump however stays not out on umpires name. Ben Stokes loves umpires name lately.
twenty eighth over: England 112-4 (Bairstow 24, Stokes 2) Stokes will get off the mark with a pair, a lower to the person on the off facet fence. Crikey! A fizzing supply from Yadav beats the England captain, the ball spitting like a stroppy camel and narrowly move previous the sting of the bat.
WICKET! Crawley b Kuldeep Yadav 60 (England 110-4)
Kuldeep Yadav bowls Crawley via the gate! An attractive hole at cowl and a flighted supply that rips in sharply to skittle the stumps. Crawley has to pull himself off the pitch, India punching again. Here comes Ben Stokes!
twenty seventh over: England 109-3 (Crawley 60, Bairstow 24) Jadeja extracts some enormous flip and bounce. England gained’t thoughts seeing that, the pitch has settled down a bit however continues to be succesful of some surprises…
twenty sixth over: England 109-3 (Crawley 59, Bairstow 24) A few singles off Kuldeep. Enthralling cricket.
“Hi James. Power to those fingers of yours!”
Much obliged Daryll Accone.
“Going back to an OBO conversation yesterday about coffee-making and its array of favoured and disdained devices, it seems clear that a mini-manual on Making Proper Coffee is needed a lá George Orwell’s celebrated essay on how to make tea, when to add milk, etc.
But couldn’t the divide in the UK between trendy/ trendoid coffee and traditional tea also be seen as an analogue for Bazball versus “proper Test cricket”? One can’t think about Duckett, say, having the endurance or inclination to fiddle with a Bialetti Moka Express stove-top espresso maker after which having to attend for the water to warmth and be drawn up via the bottom espresso. Too sluggish, additionally, the Aeropress and even the cafetière (French press/ plunger/ “Bodum”). Better the Nespresso machine and knock-offs thereof, an almost-instant supplier of correct espresso. But for Duckett and little question Crawley and the opposite younger and not-so-young weapons, greatest can be on the spot espresso: simply add scorching water and you’ve got a simulcram of the true factor.
Verisimilitude just isn’t verity, nonetheless. For the real product take Root and Stokes: slow-brewed, the bitter grounds of expertise yielding a mix of fulfilling and infinite maturity. They are like espresso made the traditional Ethiopian means: for every cup, beans are sluggish roasted on the spot, then floor by hand and brewed. Rather like tea leaves infused/ steeped/ brewed for the precise time. And after that satisfaction, motion, like Root’s unforgettable hundred yesterday, each on the spot basic and an innings for the ages.
Ciao,
Darryl Accone (Placing Bialetti on range plate)”
I can’t add something to this Darryl. Sublime. Oh, aside from this – one of many nice music vids for my moolah.
25th over: England 106-3 (Crawley 57, Bairstow 23) Zak Crawley plays a length ball with velveteen hands and the ball runs away for a welcome boundary in the gap wide of slip. The batters combine for three singles before – DRAMA KLAXON – Bairstow is dropped by keeper Jurel! A thick edge playing forward but the man with the cymbals can’t take the catch, more than that, Bairstow was well out of his ground too so it is also a missed stumping opportunity. Big moments.
24th over: England 99-3 (Crawley 50, Bairstow 22) Kuldeep Yadav into the attack. Charlie Chaplin haircut and fizzing left arm spin. Bairstow splices a sharply lifting ball in the air but does well to keep it away from the close fielders. Crawley takes a single down the ground to take the lead to 144 runs.
“Morning Jim, welcome to the tension palace! Sitting here pretty gutted with that wicket of Root that’s really put things in the balance after India’s fight back. We’ll feel a 50 run lead wasn’t what we should have had. But Jaiswal apart, very few have scored big runs consistently this series, just look at Pope’s boom and bust. There’s always a ball with your name on it, but this pitch feels it hasn’t really broken up really badly, so England will want to get at least 250 ahead. Batting time is going to make that better and better. We just need to keep playing straight. Across the line feels wait too much of a gamble. Basically, I’m terrified.”
Guy Hornsby’s inner monologue echoing plenty of England fans’ this morning I reckon.
23rd over: England 97-3 (Crawley 50, Bairstow 21) Crawley tucks Jadeja off his pads to go to a brilliant fifty – The camera cuts to Stokes (still in his vest like Onslow) and co on the team boundary giving him a hearty round of applause.
“Morning James”
Isn’t it just Brian Withington. A scintillating Test match on the telly and sun beaming in through the living room window.
“You be a part of proceedings in the center of the center session of the center day of this match. Need we ask what anti-jinxing guard you’re taking?”
Middle please, ump.
twenty third over: England 95-3 (Crawley 49, Bairstow 20) Ashwin is picked off for a pair by the lengthy levered Crawley, a single scampered into the covers take the tall opener to the brink of a thirteenth (and very important) Test fifty. Shot! Bairstow performs a deliciously late lower off the again foot and the ball races away for 4 runs!
twenty second over: England 88-3 (Crawley 46, Bairstow 16) Spare a thought for my digits that are about to be decreased to mud as Jadeja replaces Siraj and whistles via a maiden at warp pace.
twenty first over: England 88-3 (Crawley 46, Bairstow 16) Ashwin continues, each ball seems like an occasion in the mean time. Bairstow drives for one and Crawley soaks up the remainder of the over earlier than nurdling a pair off the final to maintain the lead ticking upwards.
James Wallace
twentieth over: England 85-3 (Crawley 44, Bairstow 15) Thanks Tanya and hey everybody. Gripping stuff this morning. Siraj steams in to Bairstow and is greeted with a blistering pull for 4! Bairstow has obtained his ‘Jonny eyes’ effectively and actually on. A pair picked off into the leg facet and a good-looking drive for three via the covers make it 9 runs off the over. England lead by 131 runs and counting.
nineteenth over: England 76-3 (Crawley 44, Bairstow 6) Bairstow sledgehammers Ashwin down the bottom. And with that, I’ll hand over to Jim Wallace who will take you thru to stumps. Thanks a lot for the corporate, and sorry I didn’t have time to get to all of the emails. Bye!
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