Key events
43rd over: England 166-6 (Smith 44, Woakes 1) Smith nabs two off Washington and closes the over with another boundary, rocking back to carve behind point. There are runs to be had with all those close fielders in the game.
42nd over: England 158-6 (Smith 37, Woakes 0) Jadeja twirls in from over the wicket and Jamie Smith drives through extra cover for four. A flick for one follows, giving Woakes three deliveries to survive. The No 8 produces a solid straight bat.
41st over: England 153-6 (Smith 32, Woakes 0) And we’re back. Chris Woakes has to navigate Washington’s drift with men around the bat. Woakes nicks the first ball but it drops short of KL Rahul at first slip. He’s stood quite deep. A half-hearted lbw shout closes the wicket-taking over that began before the break.
Taha Hashim
Afternoon! England require just 8.23 runs an over It’s time to survive. If Jamie Smith gets his team through this it’ll trump that incredible 184* in the first dig. I’m not bothered about the result – all I want is for this to head to the final moments under light, with some proper fifth evening tension. I would love it. Cue India wrapping it up in the first hour after lunch.
Time for me to hand over to Taha Hashim for the rest of the day’s play, which could be anything between four balls and 55.3 overs. Bye!
Lunch: India need four wickets to win
Funny old game, part 719131 Ben Stokes survived umpteen spinning, bouncing, deliveries from Ravindra Jadeja, only to fall to a routine delivery from Washington Sundar that didn’t turn at all.
In a sense Jadeja deserves two assists for that wicket: one for rushing through his over and another for draining so much of Stokes’s mental energy.
WICKET! England 153-6 (Stokes LBW b Washington 33)
A hammer blow on the stroke of lunch! Stokes pushes forward defensively to Washington but can’t get his bat around his front pad and is given out LBW by the umpire Sharfuddoula.
Stokes reviews but it was pad first, just, and the ball would have skidded on to hit the stumps. What a triumphant moment for India, especially after Jadeja scooted through his over to ensure Washington could get another in before lunch.
Best of all for India, Washington didn’t get the over in. The third ball took Stokes’ wicket and with that the players are walking off the field.
40th over: England 153-5 (Stokes 33, Smith 32) A brilliant over from Jadeja. Not because of what happened – it was a maiden to Smith – but how long it took. He rattled through in about two minutes, which means Washington Sundar can have another over before lunch.
“Hi Rob,” says Andy Bradshaw. “It’s good to see England defensive and blocking the hell out of everything, and going at a measly four runs per over.”
I’ve seen worse. Remember Sydney 2014? Admittedly that was day three, rather than five, and England’s will had been crushed about a month earlier. But just look at that run-rate!
39th over: England 153-5 (Stokes 32, Smith 32) Spin from both ends just before lunch: Washington Sundar is coming on, which means there’s a chance of some 1939 film action.
A quiet first over, two from it. Time for one more over from Jadeja before the break.
38th over: England 151-5 (Stokes 32, Smith 31) Stokes plonks his front foot down and sweeps Jadeja firmly round the corner He’s desperate to scatter the close fielders and release some of the pressure. Jadeja’s response is a beauty, a slower delivery that grips and beats Stokes.
This is fascinating stuff. After Stokes sweeps a single, Smith is beaten by an unplayable delivery that pitches well outside leg and misses off. He shrugs, and if I had a clup to hand of Rob Brydon saying, ‘Whaddayagonnado’ in a New Jersey accent, it would be appearing below this sentence.
37th over: England 145-5 (Stokes 27, Smith 31) Stokes pulls Siraj’s last ball for a single. That means he’ll be on strike for the latest Jadeja over.
36th over: England 142-5 (Stokes 26, Smith 28) Jadeja bowls into the rough outside Smith’s leg stump. Smith sweeps an easy four, then takes a single to give Stokes two balls at the end of the over. The second, wide of off stump, beats Stokes’ defensive push and nutmegs Pant for four byes.
Stokes has done well to survive this long because every ball is fraught with peril. Fifteen minutes to go until lunch.
“What’s the most runs conceded by a team over an entire series?” asks Max Williams. “After two matches, England are a touch under 2000… I assume it’ll be an Ashes, either during peak Bradman or the 1990s?”
I’ll check at lunch but from memory it’s the 3877 runs that the England XXIX haemorrhaged during the 1989 Ashes. That was a six-Test series, although England only took 67 wickets. Here’s the full list of Australian innings in that series. Go on, treat yourself. It’s on me.
35th over: England 133-5 (Stokes 26, Smith 23) Stokes hits Siraj for two boundaries sin three balls, a clip to fine leg and a lusty pull through midwicket. That brings up the fifty partnership, although the more important number is 82 as that’s how many balls they’ve survived. Just another 366 to go.
34th over: England 123-5 (Stokes 18, Smith 22) The wicket of Stokes is surely in the post. He gloves a brutish delivery from Jadeja round the corner and just short of Gill at leg gully. Stokes has a poor record against Jadeja at the best of times, never mind when the ball is snapping grotesquely out of the rough.
“So, Smyth,” begins Josh Robinson, “what’s the DLS revised target?”
Before the rain it was 608. Now the DLS sheet appears to read HAHA.
33rd over: England 123-5 (Stokes 18, Smith 22) Siraj is bowling very straight to Smith, with a catcher placed at short midwicket. India’s seamers have bowled with outstanding discipline in this game. Their length has been terrific, their line even better.
“Those opening spell comparisons (1.21pm) are a bit ugly aren’t they – I might be misremembering but it kind of feels like England have been poor with the new ball in all three tests this summer,” says Will Vignoles. “Carse feels much more like a first change option, Woakes has been really disappointing bar his unlucky first spell and Cook didn’t overly impress against Zimbabwe. Worryingly it doesn’t seem like there’s anyone banging the door down to take the new ball outside Jofra, and who knows how he’ll go after all that time out. Bit of a concern!”
I think Carse has bowled well though I agree it’s not his natural role. I guess this is an unintended consequence of Rob Key’s initiative to bring more through fast bowlers. As for Lord’s, it sounds like they could change all three seamers: Cook and Atkinson to open, Archer eased back in as first change. I wouldn’t write off Sam Cook based on one game; he’s earned a much longer probation period. I’d also like to see Matt Potts play at Lord’s but I don’t know how you get him in.
32nd over: England 123-5 (Stokes 18, Smith 22) Jadeja has a slip and silly point for Smith, who forces a couple through midwicket off the back foot. A single allows Jadeja another crack at Stokes, who tries to release some pressure with a vigorous slog-sweep. He misses and the ball goes through to Pant.
Stokes has to try something because at the moment he’s a punchbag for Jadeja.
“England’s target is now below 500!” says Simon McMahon. “Though I had to work that out for myself as Sky are, inexplicably, only telling their viewers that India need five wickets to win. Is it any wonder that the country is in a mess with that attitude.”
31st over: England 120-5 (Stokes 18, Smith 19) Stokes waits for a wider delivery from Siraj and flashes it safely behind square for four. The next ball is fuller and driven handsomely through extra cover for four. England are on the charge.
30th over: England 111-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 18) Yeah, England aren’t saving this game. Ravindra Jadeja’s first over is full of menace, with the ball spitting repeatedly at the left-handed Stokes from well outside off stump. Stokes fences one delivery short of the fielders on the leg side and inside edges another onto the pad.
29th over: England 110-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 17) Mohammed Siraj replaces Krishna, who bowled an interrogative spell of 6-2-14-0, and starts with a maiden to Stokes. I missed most of it because I was replying to this email.
“Harry Brook’s dismissal prompted me do a bit of research on Statsguru,” says James Brough. “I was rather amazed to see how badly he does in the 4th innings of tests. First innings, he averages 69, second innings 79, third innings 53 and fourth innings – just short of 19. This prompts a few questions. Why would his fourth innings figures be so bad? Are there others with such a pronounced fourth innings drop? And isn’t this rather a handicap for a team that likes chasing?”
That’s a very good spot. You can get a drop-offt like that – Steve Waugh’s figures were 62, 59, 36, 26, Steve Smith’s 83, 51, 41 and 31 – but the point about chasing is especially pertinent. At this stage it feels like a curiosity rather than a confirmed weakness.
Brook has batted only eight times in the fourth innings, and in one of those he was run out without facing in Wellington. As regular readers will know, I’m one of life’s optimists so I’d rather dwell on his best fourth-innings knock: the matchwinning 75 against Australia at Headingley two years ago.
Drinks: India closing in on spectacular victory
28th over: England 110-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 17) Smith’s game is based on reversing pressure through boundaries so he’s surely suffering a bit of cognitive dissonance. Unless I’ve misunderstood the concept for the 487th time in my life.
Smith drives Deep pleasantly for two and then handsomely for four through mid-off. If there were power rankings of England’s batters, based on ability and form, Smith would be no lower than fourth. Not sure what point I’m trying to make here, and it’ll have to wait because that’s drinks.
“Whilst recognising the fine work of the groundstaff today, can we also acknowledge the tremendous advances in ground drainage over the last decade or two?” says Brian Withington. “I suspect much is owed to advances driven by the advent of Premiership football, with the premium on maintaining a quality, playable surface all year round, but due praise to ECB et al for the necessary investments (which have even extended to our local Knowle & Dorridge CC).”
Yep, great point. With the same downpour 30 years ago there would probably have been a start of around 3pm. Tomorrow.
27th over: England 104-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 11) Stokes is largely intent of survival against Krishna. He plays one pleasant cover drive but doesn’t beat Jaiswal on the edge of the circle. Another maiden from Krishna, ending in a surprise yorker that Stokes defends with authority. Excellent cricket.
“So if Deep and Siraj continue this way and grab all 20 wickets between them, will India be squeezing in Bumrah as their first change bowler for Lord’s?” says Geoff Wignall. “Or would it be foolish to change a winning team?”
Arf. They will have a decision about who takes the new ball. I assumed it would be Bumrah and Deep but last night’s Wisden podcast made a compelling case for using Bumrah in the Pat Cummins role, ie first change.
26th over: England 104-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 11) “Are they bowling on a different pitch?” asks Nasser Hussain when Smith gropes at fresh air. Thankfully for him, the latest Deep nipbacker bounced just over the stumps. Smith is beaten by another beauty later in the over.
Before this game, many of us thought Kuldeep was the key to India’s chances of victory. We got the Kul bit wrong. This is a real-time seam-bowling masterclass.
25th over: England 100-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 9) Stokes has the temperament and technique to bat all day, but he’s completely out of form and is getting worked over by Krishna. An accurate, hostile over concludes with a nipbacker that beats Stokes’ work to leg and hits him high on the back leg. No LBW appeal as it was going over. But it was a lovely over and Krishna has Stokes very much in his sights.
This is a cracking stat from our friend and colleague Tim de Lisle. “It feels as if India’s new-ball bowlers have been twice as incisive as England’s, and the series stats confirm it. But with the change bowlers (all of them), the contrast is even more stark – and it’s the other way round.”
Opening bowlers
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England: 9 wickets at 67
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India: 22 at 24
Rest of the attack
24th over: England 98-5 (Stokes 8, Smith 9) Smith is magnetised towards a wider delivery from Deep that bounces past the edge. It’s tough to know when to play or leave because, as Nasser Hussain points out on Sky, Smith has just seen Brook fall to an 85mph off-break.
Stokes has a similar dilemma. He tries to leave Deep, is too late on the non-shot and deflects the ball just past the stumps. Just past. An eventful over concludes with a freebie to fine leg for Smith.
“I know Gill has broken a gazillion records this game,” says Anand. “However, should India win, shouldn’t they consider Akash for player of the match? Especially on this pitch! I want more bowlers to be recognised in the modern game given that there are many things against them.”
Good luck with that. Broadly I agree with you, though, and if Deep gets a ten-for it’d be nice to have a shared POTM award.
23rd over: England 92-5 (Stokes 7, Smith 4) Krishna strays onto the pads of Stokes, who knows that the least little turn of the wrists will get the job done. It was a back foot no-ball, though Stokes didn’t know that as he flicked it through midwicket for four.
22nd over: England 87-5 (Stokes 3, Smith 4) The Sky commentators highlight that Deep’s dismissal of Brook was made even better by the set-up: outswinger, outswinger, outswinger, fade to black.
The new batter Jamie Smith gets off the mark with an offensively good back-foot drive for four. Nervous, lad?
“Favourite cricket writing,” begins Colum Farrelly. “You might share this fine piece from 2005 by Paul Doyle. What became of Mr Doyle, by the way?”
He’s doing fine. I won’t go int into specifics as he’s a very private man, and he could spark me out with one punch, but we chat maybe once a month and he’s always in good form. I wish he’d write more, mainly for selfish reasons as he’s my favourite football writer in the world. You can hear him occasionally on the Nessun Dorma podcast.
This is the dictionary definition of unplayable, a good length ball that jagged back violently off the seam to hit Brook on the bone of the back knee. As he limped away in pain, Chris Gaffaney’s gave him out LBW.
Brook reviewed, hoping height might save him. Not this time. It was umpire’s call and Brook has gone. Akash Deep is having the game of his life: he’s taken eight wickets now, including Duckett, Pope and Brook in both innings.
WICKET! England 83-5 (Brook LBW b Deep 23)
Another devastating delivery from Akash Deep!
21st over: England 83-4 (Brook 23, Stokes 2) As things stand Krishna is likely to miss out on Lord’s. But he’s bowling his best spell at the series, partly because England’s relative caution has allowed him to relax and settle into a rhythm. Stokes doubles over after being hit in the stomach by a nipbacker.
India have started superbly. Their line is so aggressive, making the batters play at pretty much everything.
20th over: England 83-4 (Brook 23, Stokes 2) Ben Stokes gets off a king pair, and a pair, by flicking his first ball for two.
Fabulous work from Akash Deep. He has seven wickets in the match, the same as Siraj – but all bar one have been in England’s top five. The timing and manner of his wickets has also been vital, especially Brook in the first innings and Root in the second.
Ollie Pope has fallen to an excellent delivery from Deep. It jagged back sharply and bounced as Pope lunged forward defensively. I’m not sure what the ball hit – bat, shoulder, one or the other – but it deflected back onto the stumps.
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