India v. England

England won the toss, and are 157/4 at tea.
Not a great score - Strauss 28, debutant Cook 60, Bell 9 😠, Pietersen 15 😠, Collingwood 22*, Flintoff 11*.
Scoring is slow, but that's not a problem - you need to stay in on these pitches which I'm not sure they will do - 350 for England is my (hopeful) prediction.

I'd be happy with 300. Looking forward to seeing a few fireworks from Harmison and Blackwell with the bat against the slow bowlers.

Hm, Blackwell played on against a quicker bowler before he got going.
300 might be possible still, would it be competitive, though?
Not looking too good at 246/7.

Originally posted by Varg
Hm, Blackwell played on against a quicker bowler before he got going.
300 might be possible still, would it be competitive, though?
Not looking too good at 246/7.

Originally posted by dottewell
An awful score. Prepare for 3-0.

To be honest, considering the number of injuries England have now, anything less than 3-0 will not be a disgrace...

Too many people getting out to bad shots again though. Add in a couple of debatable LBW decisions, and 300 looks holdable, but it relies on our attack to take wickets. I just wish someone could have kicked on for a big score. Then again, with Hoggy's batting form, he could stick around for a few hours while Collingwood finds his one-day batting form, and clubs India to all parts, followed by Harmy getting a quick fire 30 or so... 😏

England have always stuggled to score more than 300 in India. You need to let India have a bat to see how bad this score is. Given what has happened proir to the test I would have taken 300 in the first innings, its not a great score but its a lot better than a collapse to 60-6 which was well on the cards if Strauss, Cook, and Bell had gone quickly with an out of form middle level batting order to follow.

Andrew

You don't reckon Monty Panesar will get many runs then?
Nah...

I think a bump for this is in order.

Colly did find his one-day form, and harmy did pick up a few runs. (Now if only my rugby predictions could match up occasionally!) In addition, well played Mr Cook!

Good day for England today.
Could have done with getting India out for less when they were 7 doen, but our tail put up a fight so can't begrudge theirs either.
Well, done Hoggy and Panesar, Cook and Pietersen.
I guess they will declare early tomorrow if not overnight.
Hopefully we can skittle them before the day is out 🙂
A good match for England, even if the draw looks most likely.

Originally posted by Varg
Good day for England today.
Could have done with getting India out for less when they were 7 doen, but our tail put up a fight so can't begrudge theirs either.
Well, done Hoggy and Panesar, Cook and Pietersen.
I guess they will declare early tomorrow if not overnight.
Hopefully we can skittle them before the day is out 🙂
A good match for England, even if the draw looks most likely.

Test Match Series: India v England

India drew with England

England 1st Innings

393 all out (127.5 overs)
England 2nd Innings
297 for 3 (87.0 overs)
India 1st Innings
323 all out (136.5 overs)
India 2nd Innings
260 for 6 (78.2 overs)

Not bad.....

Sourced from BBC Cricket website

Originally posted by Favs
Test Match Series: India v England

India drew with England

England 1st Innings

393 all out (127.5 overs)
England 2nd Innings
297 for 3 (87.0 overs)
India 1st Innings
323 all out (136.5 overs)
India 2nd Innings
260 for 6 (78.2 overs)

Not bad.....

Sourced from BBC Cricket website

In the fortunate position of being in India at the moment and despite the best efforts of the electricity board (if indeed such a thing exists) to thwart me I managed to watch the afternoon session. Given that it had been a nailed on draw since before lunch Pathan and Tendulkar managed to induce some undue stress to my frail heart for a few overs. Oh Monty, why did you have to bowl Dravid, I could have been spared and gone back to sleep...