The International Cricket Thread

[cdbearsfan]

Is the consensus that this was a good toss to win and the pitch is likely to deteriorate?

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah but looks very good to bat on at the moment. Root and Sibley have done well - they need to carry it on.

[paul_e]

Pitch is playing slow and flat, India haven't bowled badly from what I've seen (I start watching about half hour into the afternoon session) but there's been nothing threatening either so the run rate is pretty slow but that might change if they start trying to force things. For now they seem to be trying to get through to the new ball without conceding much, which says a lot about how they see the pitch.

That said looking at the pitch it doesn't look in great condition, it's patchy in places which means it might become a bit of a minefield on day 4/5 so we need to be looking at batting 2 days and setting 450+

If you look at the batsmen mark it's not taking much for big cracks to be showing.

[manic-road]

Root and Sibley look well set, looking like a good day for England so far.

[Holte132]

Root becomes the 3rd English batsman to score a century in his 100th test - Cowdrey and Alec Stewart being the other two

[PaulWinch again]

Sensational from Root and Sibley so far. We’ve just got to go on and get a massive score. Root is finally getting his rewards and those hundreds.

[paul_e]

Root has been exceptional and is scoring at a very good rate. Sibley has done a very good job of staying with him and nudging the score along. Unless things go badly wrong in the next few overs I think it's safe to say it's been our day.

[UK Redsox]

Root has scored over 500 runs already this year.

The Test record for a calendar year is 1788.

He must have a chance

[paul_e]

Unrelated to the play but the overlays are horrible, the standard overlayy at the bottom looks like it's about 20 years out of date and full screen stuff isn't much better. Not sure who is responsible for it but the sky version is far better in my opinion.

[paul_e]

frustrating to lose a wicket so late but still England on top. We have the middle order option to really push the score along tomorrow so I'll be disappointed if we don't get a massive score here.

[PaulWinch again]

Ah Sibley out in last over of the day. Fine effort though and excellent from Root too. We really need to stamp our authority tomorrow and get to 500+.

[Rory]

Yes it was a shame to lose Sibley, but very promising signs. Would be good to get a statement of intent total, 550+, then see how much the pitch deteriorates.

[Monty]

Root becomes the 3rd English batsman to score a century in his 100th test - Cowdrey and Alec Stewart being the other two

Didn't Boycott as well? Or am I getting mixed up with his 100th first class hundred?

[Villa Lew]

You're getting mixed up with his 100th 100

[Monty]

You're getting mixed up with his 100th 100

Thought so.