creeeeeckeeeett

[thebish]

At this rate, could be all tucked up and ready for bed before the footy kicks-off.

I'm starting to think they all have tickets to QPR v Bolton

Edit: now that's a really inventive way to get out. Even I'm impressed.

aye - almost as if he doesn't WANT to get his 100th 100!!

[thebish]

bbc ticker...

"Now the deficit is below 400 is it time for more defensive fields?"

[Dujon]

Quite a performance from both teams. I bet Dhoni's spitting chips over his team mates' antics. I am looking forward to the final test results (I'm damned if I'm sitting up at silly-hours - even if it is televised where I live).

Congratulations to Team England.

[TANGODANCER]

Caught a fair chunk of it but it had to go off in favour of the Whites (obviously) and the family were up. By the time I got back it was all over. Fantastic result and we're firmly no 1. Great spasm of resistance by the latter batsmen for India and their bowlers ( Sharma and Kumar and the young Sreesan who's a star in the making) actually bowled very well for no reward due to the class of our batsmen. Cook was just immense. Superb cricket and well done the lads.

[angelos]

Caught a fair chunk of it but it had to go off in favour of the Whites (obviously) and the family were up. By the time I got back it was all over. Fantastic result and we're firmly no 1. Great spasm of resistance by the latter batsmen for India and their bowlers ( Sharma and Kumar and the young Sreesan who's a star in the making) actually bowled very well for no reward due to the class of our batsmen. Cook was just immense. Superb cricket and well done the lads.

sreesanth does not have the mental capacity to become a top class bowler

[TANGODANCER]

India playing for pride in this one. Got two early wickets today in Cook and Strauss but Bell and Pieterssen digging in. 16o-2 and going decently well. Peiterssen had to be really on his toes to stop Bell running him out with a straight drive.

"He hit that one like a blacksmith" :

[ohjimmyjimmy]

I always used to fear for Bell coming in on the back of quick wickets but he does seem a mite more tough these days,

[TANGODANCER]

" Singh is not exactly Ussain Bolt"...

[TANGODANCER]

304-2. Magnificent stuff from Bell and Pieterssen, ton each and counting. Bell's really come on.

[TANGODANCER]

Phenomenal day.

457-3, Pieterssen 175, Bell 181 no. Fabulous batting by both smashing it for fun at the end. Pity Pieterssen jus mistimed one a little and paid the price, but what a display of shots. His reverse left handed four was superb. Bell played every shot in the text book brilliantly.

And isn't Geoffrey B a wonderful chap? We know he was a good (if boring) batman because he's spent so long telling the world, but he's so perfect. "That's twice Pieterssen's played a loose shot now" (he's been at the crease six hours and scored 175 mind). Give it a rest Geoff, they're only human beings.

Really enjoyed listening to Michael Holden, Sunny Gavaskar and Wazim Akram talking cricket this series. Top pros talking pure sense and vast experience. Good stuff.

[Dujon]

A wonderful day's play by England. I'm sorry that I have seen nothing of it. Nevertheless Bell's performance seems to vindicate my opinion that he's always been a top class batsman. Yes, I know that he was being lambasted by many pundits a few years ago, but from what little I saw of his play I couldn't quite understand that view point.

Given the rotten weather of day 1 of this test match the question now is when will England declare. My guess is not overnight, but put on another thirty runs or so - to make the carry-on total 300 runs. That should make a decent target for both teams.

[Worthy4England]

A wonderful day's play by England. I'm sorry that I have seen nothing of it. Nevertheless Bell's performance seems to vindicate my opinion that he's always been a top class batsman. Yes, I know that he was being lambasted by many pundits a few years ago, but from what little I saw of his play I couldn't quite understand that view point.

Given the rotten weather of day 1 of this test match the question now is when will England declare. My guess is not overnight, but put on another thirty runs or so - to make the carry-on total 300 runs. That should make a decent target for both teams.

He's always been a top class batsman, but early in his career he wasn't always a consistent one. Sometimes when we just needed someone to go in and steady the ship with 30-odd, he'd be back in the hut for 2.

[TANGODANCER]

He's always been a top class batsman, but early in his career he wasn't always a consistent one. Sometimes when we just needed someone to go in and steady the ship with 30-odd, he'd be back in the hut for 2.

Which is exactly right, but that 235 today makes up for a few 2's.

596-6 declared and India labouring on 104-5. Looking very nice indeed.

[Dujon]

With a total of 397 required to avoid the follow on (if enforced) India seems to have crafted an exquisitely painful rod for its own back. It'd be a shame if the weather again intervenes and forces a draw, as the England performances certainly deserve a series whitewash. Then again I suppose there's always the chance that the India team will pull together its collective self and conjure up some intestinal fortitude sufficient to either eke out a draw or at least go down fighting.

[TANGODANCER]

Didn't catch it all today due to the match, and other things, interfering. Impressive fight back by Dravid after a poor start and 300 is no disgrace even though they didn't avoid the follow-on.. Still need 162 after an impressive 129-3 start by us. Can see it all over tomorrow though.

[Lord Kangana]

I'm in the queue for a ticket.

Fingers and toes crossed.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Was petering out for a draw at 262-3.
Now 269-8 ! Two more wickets required before they get to 291, otherwise we have to bat again (albet probably for very little time).

[Bruce Rioja]

I'd like Tendulkar to have got his ton though.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Agreed.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Brave umpire - Just about out.