The International Cricket Thread 2018

[Chris Jameson]

Bloody Jennings and Cook again - surely sooner or later the penny will drop with the selectors.

Was listening to the TMS discussion at the close of play yesterday and it is was pretty clear from what they were saying that Root feels far more comfortable batting at four.  Unless Bairstow can bat at three (after seeing him at four I'm not sure he will be suited to batting even higher up the order) we are looking at finding an entirely new top three which is a very big ask. 

Jennings is beginning to look mentally shot to me, but I'm not sure making such major changes would be wise with just one test left. 

Doesn't make sense moving Bairstow from six where he's happiest and has scored his centuries from, no idea who there is who could open, only a couple of years ago Lees was next off the blocks, he's barely scored a run the last two years and was released by Yorkshire to sign for Durham.

[paul_e]

Massive wicket.  Apply some pressure now because they're always a bit 'weak' for a few overs after Kohli goes.

[Risso]

Bloody Jennings and Cook again - surely sooner or later the penny will drop with the selectors.

Was listening to the TMS discussion at the close of play yesterday and it is was pretty clear from what they were saying that Root feels far more comfortable batting at four.  Unless Bairstow can bat at three (after seeing him at four I'm not sure he will be suited to batting even higher up the order) we are looking at finding an entirely new top three which is a very big ask. 

Jennings is beginning to look mentally shot to me, but I'm not sure making such major changes would be wise with just one test left. 

Mr Extras has got more runs than Jennings in this series.  It's really hard to see how dropping Jennings especially but probably Cook as well could make matters any worse.

[tomd2103]

Bloody Jennings and Cook again - surely sooner or later the penny will drop with the selectors.

Was listening to the TMS discussion at the close of play yesterday and it is was pretty clear from what they were saying that Root feels far more comfortable batting at four.  Unless Bairstow can bat at three (after seeing him at four I'm not sure he will be suited to batting even higher up the order) we are looking at finding an entirely new top three which is a very big ask. 

Jennings is beginning to look mentally shot to me, but I'm not sure making such major changes would be wise with just one test left. 

Doesn't make sense moving Bairstow from six where he's happiest and has scored his centuries from, no idea who there is who could open, only a couple of years ago Lees was next off the blocks, he's barely scored a run the last two years and was released by Yorkshire to sign for Durham.

Agree Chris and I thought the lower order from a while ago of Stokes, Bairstow, Ali, Woakes, Broad and Anderson was as strong as it's ever been.  Unfortunately due to batting woes at the top of the order, many of them had to move up and haven't really looked as comfortable since.   

[paul_e]

Big wicket to get Pant right at the end of the session.  I can't imagine there being much between the teams at the end of the innings, this is why Ali and Curran were so important yesterday, getting from what looked like 160-170 up to 250 was massive.

[manic-road]

Big wicket for Moen just before tea, 181-5

[manic-road]

4 wickets for Moen now. India 195-8

[paul_e]

brilliant bowling from Moeen here, very clever deliveries to get Ashwin and Pandya, he's learning how to add quality variations now, which was what held him back from being a top class spinner.

[PaulWinch again]

Moeen showing the folly of dropping him in England. Key 40 in a tough situation yesterday, and 4 wickets today.

[paul_e]

Moeen showing the folly of dropping him in England. Key 40 in a tough situation yesterday, and 4 wickets today.

As did Woakes, those 2 have to play at home.

[paul_e]

I'm not sure I understand that review, Everyone knew that it hit him outside the line but the question was clearly that Root thought he wasn't playing a shot, seems ridiculous that the decision over that can't be contested.

[Risso]

Well, it's set up nicely for another Edgbaston style thriller, assuming our openers can actually get us to at least being equal to India's score without chucking their wickets away.

[PaulWinch again]

Pujara is just the sort of number 3 I would love England to have.

[PaulWinch again]

I have a feeling, after seeing him in this series, that Curran is going to be a serious player. Great technique with the bat, great character, handy bowler, and he just has that x-factor quality of influencing key stages of games.

[tomd2103]

Well, it's set up nicely for another Edgbaston style thriller, assuming our openers can actually get us to at least being equal to India's score without chucking their wickets away.

I am really rooting for Jennings and some of the others who are struggling to really come to the fore tomorrow and make that match and ultimately series winning contribution.