creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[BWFC_Insane]

Seeing England take 2 wickets in 2 overs at the start of day 2 just fills me with dread.

Whats everyone's guess for England's first innings? I'm going 183 all out.

Mr Negative strikes again...

What's your guess for England's first innings total?

[Worthy4England]

Seeing England take 2 wickets in 2 overs at the start of day 2 just fills me with dread.

Whats everyone's guess for England's first innings? I'm going 183 all out.

Talk about spinning a positive!

I'd rather batting looked easy this morning because at least then you might say England can bat long enough to get a draw. But we'll see how it goes. Arguably last chance saloon for Sibley and maybe even one or two others.

Getting through the first hour of the day is often tough, but I've not seen too many demons in the pitch. I'm sure we'll do our best to find some...

[TANGODANCER]

Seeing England take 2 wickets in 2 overs at the start of day 2 just fills me with dread.

Whats everyone's guess for England's first innings? I'm going 183 all out.

Mr Negative strikes again...

What's your guess for England's first innings total?

I don't have a clue, why should I guess? What will be will be.

[TANGODANCER]

We need a bit of luck. An L.B.W. is due and then...

[Worthy4England]

Decent morning session for England...

[TANGODANCER]

Decent morning session for England...

Very, indeed. 347 with a tail end left is still a formidable total to chase and the four wickets have got us out of the mire somewhat.

[BWFC_Insane]

Sharma is hopeless with the bat. Averages 8. Yet he's faced and survived 28 balls from England's premium bowlers (for this test at least). If all our batsmen show similar application and desire to not be out then surely there will be some scores on this surface?

[jimbo]

We’ve fought back well. Need to bat properly now.

[Worthy4England]

Yup. India's last 8 wickets < 100. But not a pitch full of demons..

[jimbo]

Sharma is hopeless with the bat. Averages 8. Yet he's faced and survived 28 balls from England's premium bowlers (for this test at least). If all our batsmen show similar application and desire to not be out then surely there will be some scores on this surface?

He averages 8, with a strike rate of 30, so his average innings is 8 off 27. Today he scored 8 off 29.

[Worthy4England]

Good hour before tea...not without the odd scare, but they dug in well.

[BWFC_Insane]

Good hour before tea...not without the odd scare, but they dug in well.

Job one done. Now its time to be watchful but also look to nudge the scoreboard along nothing reckless but I firmly believe you need to try to get to around 3 an over in most circumstances and definitely this one.

[jimbo]

Good hour before tea...not without the odd scare, but they dug in well.

Lolzers

[BWFC_Insane]

That's got to be Sibley done with England now. One of the worst players I've seen play test cricket. The horrific experiment has lasted far too long already. He's just rubbish.

[jimbo]

That's got to be Sibley done with England now. One of the worst players I've seen play test cricket. The horrific experiment has lasted far too long already. He's just rubbish.

He seems to be regressing at the moment. You would hope he would add to his game as he played more test matches but he seems to have receded further into his shell. He could come back in 12 months and still have a useful career. Young enough, and has got the temperament, but needs to increase his scoring options. That push to short mid wicket that he was out to today and last week was just horrible though.

[Worthy4England]

That's got to be Sibley done with England now. One of the worst players I've seen play test cricket. The horrific experiment has lasted far too long already. He's just rubbish.

Don't necessarily disagree, but which of our array of opening talent to use? Everyone and Geoff Boycott's gran was waiting for him to play that shot.

[jimbo]

A lovely serene 80 minutes so far this morning, something we’ve not been able to say very often in the last couple of years.

[Worthy4England]

Delighted for Bairstow - worked hard.

[Worthy4England]

Good ton for Root. Poor shot for Bairstow to get out from but decent knock. Could do with Jos coming to the party now.

[TANGODANCER]

Real day five in prospect now. England have taken six wickets and good bowling has kept the score down. If we can clear the remaining batsmen off we have a good chance of the win. Good day's cricket.