England v India: third Test, day four – live
12.38pm BST
14th over: England 53-1 (Cook 23, Ballance 17) - lead of 292
Really nice from Cook as he whips Shami through midwicket for four. A two is aborted because of sharp Indian work in the deep, which almost has Ballance in trouble as he slips on the lush green grass just off the pitch. Fine shot down the ground from Ballance, hitting Shami straight and on the up for four.
12.34pm BST
13th over: England 44-1 (Cook 18, Ballance 13)
Another single stolen. Ballance then squares himself up like a cat that’s just been started by a firecracker (so I’ve heard....). Back to back fours more than make up for the ugliness - tucked through square leg and punched down the ground.
Updated at 12.35pm BST
12.29pm BST
12th over: England 33-1 (Cook 17, Ballance 3)
A guided four from Cook has Strauss saluting the England captain’s “one day game”. Nothing like the good old English deflection to strike fear in the hearts of the watching world. A single is scampered off the final ball. Better.
Updated at 12.35pm BST
12.24pm BST
11th over: England 28-1 (Cook 12, Ballance 3)
Cook gets a run and then Ballance gets two, as the score rattles on! Run scared, you weak Indian bowlers with your late movement and silly names.
12.20pm BST
10th over: England 25-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 1)
A maiden, what madness. Singh’s bowling well, Ballance is having a swing. Seriously, lads, ger on wi it.
12.14pm BST
9th over: England 25-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 1)
Kumar going well in cutting out any width to Cook, who eventually tries to clamp down on one to get it behind point, but can’t get it off the square. A thick-edge gets him two to finish off the over.
12.11pm BST
8th over: England 23-1 (Cook 9, Ballance 1)
Good work from Singh, who is into the mid-eighties and getting the ball to outfox Ballance.
David Sweet has a soft spot for Kim Clijsters’s return from motherhood:
“Skip to 1 minute in to avoid the ball hitting and get straight to the emotion. Seeing her daughter on court with her …”
14th over: England 53-1 (Cook 23, Ballance 17) - lead of 292
Really nice from Cook as he whips Shami through midwicket for four. A two is aborted because of sharp Indian work in the deep, which almost has Ballance in trouble as he slips on the lush green grass just off the pitch. Fine shot down the ground from Ballance, hitting Shami straight and on the up for four.
12.34pm BST
13th over: England 44-1 (Cook 18, Ballance 13)
Another single stolen. Ballance then squares himself up like a cat that’s just been started by a firecracker (so I’ve heard....). Back to back fours more than make up for the ugliness - tucked through square leg and punched down the ground.
Updated at 12.35pm BST
12.29pm BST
12th over: England 33-1 (Cook 17, Ballance 3)
A guided four from Cook has Strauss saluting the England captain’s “one day game”. Nothing like the good old English deflection to strike fear in the hearts of the watching world. A single is scampered off the final ball. Better.
Updated at 12.35pm BST
12.24pm BST
11th over: England 28-1 (Cook 12, Ballance 3)
Cook gets a run and then Ballance gets two, as the score rattles on! Run scared, you weak Indian bowlers with your late movement and silly names.
12.20pm BST
10th over: England 25-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 1)
A maiden, what madness. Singh’s bowling well, Ballance is having a swing. Seriously, lads, ger on wi it.
12.14pm BST
9th over: England 25-1 (Cook 11, Ballance 1)
Kumar going well in cutting out any width to Cook, who eventually tries to clamp down on one to get it behind point, but can’t get it off the square. A thick-edge gets him two to finish off the over.
12.11pm BST
8th over: England 23-1 (Cook 9, Ballance 1)
Good work from Singh, who is into the mid-eighties and getting the ball to outfox Ballance.
David Sweet has a soft spot for Kim Clijsters’s return from motherhood:
“Skip to 1 minute in to avoid the ball hitting and get straight to the emotion. Seeing her daughter on court with her …”
Not seen this before, but this is great from Niall Mullen:
“I love Clive Allen & his dad at the 1982 FA Cup final. When it really meant something...”
7th over: 23-1 (Cook 9, Ballance 1)
A corker sees Robson off before Ballance, with “IMPETUS” etched on his forehead, pushes into the offside and is off the mark straight away. Cook then prods outside off. Just leather it, lad.
Cracking delivery from Kumar, but alas the wicket won't count in official records after failing to reach the 87mph minimum pace requirement.
— Dave Sconnington (@tickerscricket) July 30, 2014
Needs an extra 0.914m of pace
12.03pm BST
Robson c Dhawan b Kumar 13 (England 22-1)
Good nut from Kumar starts in at middle and nips to outside of and takes the edge of Robson’s bat, through to Dhawan who finally does something. Nice of you to join us, Shihkar...
12.00pm BST
6th over: England 18-0 (Cook 9, Robson 9)
Robbo steals a single but there’s little else from the over, as Jos Buttler goes for a hit after signing a few autographs. Range finding, we hope.
@Vitu_E If you can get to The Ageas Bowl tomorrow, £15 (£1 for Under 16s) looks like the bargain of the year - http://t.co/QkLJrAYDVo
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 30, 2014
For those at a loose end tomorrow
11.57am BST
John Cox’s favourite emotional sporting moment:
“It has to be Lester Piggott winning the Breeders Cup Mile six days into his post-imprisonment comeback, and more to the point his post-race interview with Brough Scott.
BS (so excited he can hardly stay still enough to keep in shot): ‘Even for you, Lester, even for you, this must be something special.’
LP (usual nasal monotone, slightly puzzled air): ‘Well, not really.’
Not how KP would handle a similar situation, you feel. But so much better.”
11.56am BST
5th over: England 17-0 (Robson 8, Cook 9)
Kumar offering little pace to work with, plus his swing means you can’t really hit through the line. Robson gets him away into the offside but just for the one run, before Cook gets one on his hip and tucks one through the fielder at square leg for two.
11.50am BST
4th over: England 14-0 (Robson 7, Cook 7)
A good nut from Singh leaves Cook hanging on the back foot. He’s there for the fifth ball but opens the face of the bat and guides it to four to third man.
“My favourite emo-sporting moment,” that’s the DVD title, Tom Andover, “of the current Commonwealth Games was the great Usain Bolt allegedly, calling Glasgow ‘a bit shit’. This is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard about the city and it brought a tear to my eye.”
Bet the speedy chump has never been, nor sampled the local fried pizza.
11.44am BST
3rd over: England 10-0 (Robson 7, Cook 3)
Smart shot through the offside from Robson goes for three, as Shami does well to reach out a lever and stop the ball right on the cusp of the sponge. Cook steps out and across to Kumar, but only in defence. He’s off the mark with a shot reminiscent of Robson’s earlier tuck, for just as many runs.
Dave Boulting uncovers today’s loophole: “Abalone, artichoke, arugula, anchovy and anything with ‘artisan’ afore it.”
11.41am BST
2nd over: England 4-0 (Robson 4, Cook 0)
Steady from Singh and Cook, as a maiden is played out with little of note.
“This could be a good litmus test for Cook’s captaincy credentials,” believes Martin Laidler. “The needle typically sits around conservative to defensive. The timing of the declaration, the run rate up to that point and the possible shuffling of the batting pack and promotion of a test debutant up the order all may point to a belated learning curve from England’s most famous choirist.”
11.39am BST
“How about a favourite emotional sporting moments thread for today,” comes Richard Hatton’s suggestion for today’s game. I feel this is standard OBO fodder. He suggests Derek Redmond - the go-to. Hang on, he also suggests a new-age corker, Burt le Clos...
4th over: England 14-0 (Robson 7, Cook 7)
A good nut from Singh leaves Cook hanging on the back foot. He’s there for the fifth ball but opens the face of the bat and guides it to four to third man.
“My favourite emo-sporting moment,” that’s the DVD title, Tom Andover, “of the current Commonwealth Games was the great Usain Bolt allegedly, calling Glasgow ‘a bit shit’. This is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard about the city and it brought a tear to my eye.”
Bet the speedy chump has never been, nor sampled the local fried pizza.
11.44am BST
3rd over: England 10-0 (Robson 7, Cook 3)
Smart shot through the offside from Robson goes for three, as Shami does well to reach out a lever and stop the ball right on the cusp of the sponge. Cook steps out and across to Kumar, but only in defence. He’s off the mark with a shot reminiscent of Robson’s earlier tuck, for just as many runs.
Dave Boulting uncovers today’s loophole: “Abalone, artichoke, arugula, anchovy and anything with ‘artisan’ afore it.”
11.41am BST
2nd over: England 4-0 (Robson 4, Cook 0)
Steady from Singh and Cook, as a maiden is played out with little of note.
“This could be a good litmus test for Cook’s captaincy credentials,” believes Martin Laidler. “The needle typically sits around conservative to defensive. The timing of the declaration, the run rate up to that point and the possible shuffling of the batting pack and promotion of a test debutant up the order all may point to a belated learning curve from England’s most famous choirist.”
11.39am BST
“How about a favourite emotional sporting moments thread for today,” comes Richard Hatton’s suggestion for today’s game. I feel this is standard OBO fodder. He suggests Derek Redmond - the go-to. Hang on, he also suggests a new-age corker, Burt le Clos...
11.36am BST
1st over: England 4-0 (Robson 4, Cook 0)
Robson is solid in defence and then smart in attack as he plays Kumar square for four through cover-point. Kumar readjusts his length and Robbo is up to the task.
“I really hope England emerge from their overly conservative shells today,” writes Simon Hudd. “Put on 220 very quickly against a demoralised Indian attack and give themselves 4 sessions to bowl them out. Once the proper batters have taken enough shine off the new ball, tell Jos to get his pads on...”
11.32am BST
Right, so Robson and Cook out to the middle. Both can go at a relatively brisk 75+ strike rate, while Ballance is more than capable of giving it a tonk. Perhaps the only change to the order I would make is Buttler up to five. Even then, Jordan can be thrown up the order, too.
Robson to take strike...
11.30am BST
“Can we reinvent yesterday’s game?” asks Michael Sones. “Most pompous/pretentious foods beginning with a single letter? For Q I offer quinoa, quince, quails eggs and quorn.”
Do your worst.
11.22am BST
WICKET! Shami c Buttler b Anderson 5 (India 330 all out - trailing by 239)
Anderson has his 16th five-wicket haul in 97 Tests, as another superbly directed bouncer has Shami swaying and gloving through to Buttler. Alastair Cook has not enforced the follow on. Smart move, me thinks.
11.21am BST
106th over: India 330-9 (Shami 5, Singh 1)
One for the figures, that. Broad manages to go a whole over without bowling at the stumps, as Singh plays and misses at a few and slaps one straight into the earth, for no run.
Phil Morton’s bored: “I liked yesterday’s game - alphabet foods. Onions, oatmeal , oregano and tripe (offal). We need another one today.” Any ideas?
11.15am BST
105th over: India 330-9 (Shami 5, Singh 1)
Cracking from Anderson, who gets rid of Dhoni before he’s able to butcher any extra runs this morning. Pankaj Singh is the number 11 - and my, what a number 11 he is. He’s backing away to the first, swinging loosely at the second and gets off mark with a scuff behind square leg. Cook in danger of complicating things here as he sets up a hook-trap as Shami tries and fails to hit the final ball over the cordon.
11.11am BST
WICKET! Dhoni c Buttler b Anderson 50 (India 329-9)
Cracking ball from Anderson seams in and lifts on Dhoni, who is late on a pull and gets nothing but fists to the ball, which lops safely into the hands of Buttler.
11.09am BST
Given England’s position in this five Test series, Robert Moore feels the follow-on is a must.
“If we were 1-0 up in the series I think not enforcing the follow up would be the obvious choice. But surely with us 1-0 down and needing to win this game we have to give ourselves the most amount of time we can to get 20 wickets – which means sticking them in again. If it backfires and we end up having to bat a tricky fourth innings then so be it.”
11.09am BST
104th over: India 329-8 (Dhoni 50, Shami 5)
Broad is back of a length and into the body of Shami, who takes his hand off the bat and dabs it into the off side. Shami then stays leg side of the next ball - full, bit of in-nip - and it’s pushed through the offside for just a single. Dhoni charges one and then is happy to take the single into a deserted legside ring, entrusting Shami with the last two deliveries. Broad goes for the body again but it’s byes down the legside. Shami wants one, Dhoni declines.
11.05am BST
Dr Nicholas Clark gives us a third opinion:
“If they don’t get the runs then it will be early in the day when our bowlers should still be fresh from their overnight rest. If we don’t enforce the follow on then timing the declaration is difficult. We really need to win this game as the best option is to back our batsman to chase down the 150-200 that we should need to get. If they get much more than that we are knackered anyway and the game should end in a draw.
“Not enforcing the follow potentially wastes time by a late declaration or risk us needs a defensive field in the case of an early declaration.”
11.04am BST
103rd over: India 323-8 (Dhoni 50, Shami 4)
Flicky-wristed fend to the first ball as the camera pans out and shows point making his way to the boundary. Wonder whether Dhoni will take the single to the man. A couple of outswingers are left, an inducker is smothered. The field come in for the final two balls and Dhoni charges and misses a wide one. Not sure whether that’s smart or not, but the final ball is speared down the leg side and Buttler stops it superbly. No bye, no wides, no boundary and Mohammed Shami on strike to Broad.
11.00am BST
Philipp Lohan comes to the OBO parish seeking advice from the masses, as Dhoni and Shami make their way to the middle:
“At what state in today’s play, I should decide to head down to Southampton for Day 5? Would only take the risk of skiving off work for a properly good/enthralling/exciting day ahead. Any suggestions?”
I’d say you’ll know by tea - depending on how England are going and whether a declaration is close. Trent Bridge aside, the other three fifth days this summer have been entertaining.
10.54am BST
Dave Espley is a “no”:
“Definitely no to the follow-on. When a team gets close to avoiding it, if you put them in again, you run the risk of them getting a big score second time round (which certainly isn’t beyond this Indian team) and leaving you an awkward target. I’d not be confident about England chasing any target, let alone an awkward one.”
Also, I think it would be good for Broad and Anderson to rest up and Jordan to get his head right and have a kip.
10.53am BST
Daniel Beckell has a cunning plan...
“If England either don’t enforce the follow-on, or India get the runs required, and England bat again, might a left-field decision be to open with Cook and Buttler? I can’t imagine them being that bold, unfortunately.”
It’s a good thought. I wouldn’t say we have to adjust the line-up too much; Cook can give it a swing and Sam Robson, certainly in county cricket, has shown he can scored with a 80+ strike rate. The freedom might do him some good. Ballance, too, at three is more than capable of clearing that front leg.
10.46am BST
Morning all,
Great chat about James Anderson at the moment on Sky. Michael Atherton was particularly impressed by his ability to become a “virtual left-hander” to the right-handers - Cheteshwar Pujara the man falling foul of Jimmy’s, erm, faux Southpaw-ness.
Yeah, just ignore that last bit, but you know what I mean. Naturally, we’re at the stage where we speculate as to whether England will enforce the follow on. Just 47 more runs and that decision is taken out of Alastair Cook’s hands. Personally, I think he’ll be relieved. A quick dart for about 40 overs should England get out India in the first 10, and then a declaration with a lead of 450+, with 20 overs at India this evening. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
10.12am BST
Vithushan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Vic Marks on Moeen Ali.
Moeen Ali bowled in a long-sleeved shirt buttoned at the wrist. It might seem outlandish that just before entering the arena he had been required to roll up his sleeves just to reassure some ICC official that there were not any regulation-busting wristbands on his arm but in this era when a judicial commissioner, Gordon Lewis, somewhere in Australia, will be required to stay up late on Friday in order to establish what happened on the stairs on the way to lunch in the Trent Bridge pavilion a fortnight ago, anything is possible.
The contest has been unfolding slowly, so it has been hard to clear the mind of the notion of England’s media manager getting into a huddle with whoever is detailed to speak to the gentlefolk of the press at the end of the day in order to give him a reminder of the salient points of the Middle East crisis. This series continues to startle but it would be preferable if the stories from now onwards were of a cricketing nature.
It has not all been plain sailing for Moeen in his brief career. Before he played his first Test his innocent remarks that he was proud of the community from which he came and that he wished to “inspire other people with faith to play” were twisted and taken out of all proportion in some quarters. So we have had the issue of wristbands. Next perhaps we should assume an intimate ICC tattoo inspection (it is just as well that Jade Dernbach and Peter Trego have not made the Test team – although hope springs eternal in both of them).
In all of this Moeen has handled himself with composure and good humour. In the past he has been happy for his club, Worcestershire, to refer to him impishly as “The Beard that’s Feared” in one of their marketing campaigns …
1st over: England 4-0 (Robson 4, Cook 0)
Robson is solid in defence and then smart in attack as he plays Kumar square for four through cover-point. Kumar readjusts his length and Robbo is up to the task.
“I really hope England emerge from their overly conservative shells today,” writes Simon Hudd. “Put on 220 very quickly against a demoralised Indian attack and give themselves 4 sessions to bowl them out. Once the proper batters have taken enough shine off the new ball, tell Jos to get his pads on...”
11.32am BST
Right, so Robson and Cook out to the middle. Both can go at a relatively brisk 75+ strike rate, while Ballance is more than capable of giving it a tonk. Perhaps the only change to the order I would make is Buttler up to five. Even then, Jordan can be thrown up the order, too.
Robson to take strike...
11.30am BST
“Can we reinvent yesterday’s game?” asks Michael Sones. “Most pompous/pretentious foods beginning with a single letter? For Q I offer quinoa, quince, quails eggs and quorn.”
Do your worst.
11.22am BST
WICKET! Shami c Buttler b Anderson 5 (India 330 all out - trailing by 239)
Anderson has his 16th five-wicket haul in 97 Tests, as another superbly directed bouncer has Shami swaying and gloving through to Buttler. Alastair Cook has not enforced the follow on. Smart move, me thinks.
11.21am BST
106th over: India 330-9 (Shami 5, Singh 1)
One for the figures, that. Broad manages to go a whole over without bowling at the stumps, as Singh plays and misses at a few and slaps one straight into the earth, for no run.
Phil Morton’s bored: “I liked yesterday’s game - alphabet foods. Onions, oatmeal , oregano and tripe (offal). We need another one today.” Any ideas?
11.15am BST
105th over: India 330-9 (Shami 5, Singh 1)
Cracking from Anderson, who gets rid of Dhoni before he’s able to butcher any extra runs this morning. Pankaj Singh is the number 11 - and my, what a number 11 he is. He’s backing away to the first, swinging loosely at the second and gets off mark with a scuff behind square leg. Cook in danger of complicating things here as he sets up a hook-trap as Shami tries and fails to hit the final ball over the cordon.
11.11am BST
WICKET! Dhoni c Buttler b Anderson 50 (India 329-9)
Cracking ball from Anderson seams in and lifts on Dhoni, who is late on a pull and gets nothing but fists to the ball, which lops safely into the hands of Buttler.
11.09am BST
Given England’s position in this five Test series, Robert Moore feels the follow-on is a must.
“If we were 1-0 up in the series I think not enforcing the follow up would be the obvious choice. But surely with us 1-0 down and needing to win this game we have to give ourselves the most amount of time we can to get 20 wickets – which means sticking them in again. If it backfires and we end up having to bat a tricky fourth innings then so be it.”
11.09am BST
104th over: India 329-8 (Dhoni 50, Shami 5)
Broad is back of a length and into the body of Shami, who takes his hand off the bat and dabs it into the off side. Shami then stays leg side of the next ball - full, bit of in-nip - and it’s pushed through the offside for just a single. Dhoni charges one and then is happy to take the single into a deserted legside ring, entrusting Shami with the last two deliveries. Broad goes for the body again but it’s byes down the legside. Shami wants one, Dhoni declines.
11.05am BST
Dr Nicholas Clark gives us a third opinion:
“If they don’t get the runs then it will be early in the day when our bowlers should still be fresh from their overnight rest. If we don’t enforce the follow on then timing the declaration is difficult. We really need to win this game as the best option is to back our batsman to chase down the 150-200 that we should need to get. If they get much more than that we are knackered anyway and the game should end in a draw.
“Not enforcing the follow potentially wastes time by a late declaration or risk us needs a defensive field in the case of an early declaration.”
11.04am BST
103rd over: India 323-8 (Dhoni 50, Shami 4)
Flicky-wristed fend to the first ball as the camera pans out and shows point making his way to the boundary. Wonder whether Dhoni will take the single to the man. A couple of outswingers are left, an inducker is smothered. The field come in for the final two balls and Dhoni charges and misses a wide one. Not sure whether that’s smart or not, but the final ball is speared down the leg side and Buttler stops it superbly. No bye, no wides, no boundary and Mohammed Shami on strike to Broad.
11.00am BST
Philipp Lohan comes to the OBO parish seeking advice from the masses, as Dhoni and Shami make their way to the middle:
“At what state in today’s play, I should decide to head down to Southampton for Day 5? Would only take the risk of skiving off work for a properly good/enthralling/exciting day ahead. Any suggestions?”
I’d say you’ll know by tea - depending on how England are going and whether a declaration is close. Trent Bridge aside, the other three fifth days this summer have been entertaining.
10.54am BST
Dave Espley is a “no”:
“Definitely no to the follow-on. When a team gets close to avoiding it, if you put them in again, you run the risk of them getting a big score second time round (which certainly isn’t beyond this Indian team) and leaving you an awkward target. I’d not be confident about England chasing any target, let alone an awkward one.”
Also, I think it would be good for Broad and Anderson to rest up and Jordan to get his head right and have a kip.
10.53am BST
Daniel Beckell has a cunning plan...
“If England either don’t enforce the follow-on, or India get the runs required, and England bat again, might a left-field decision be to open with Cook and Buttler? I can’t imagine them being that bold, unfortunately.”
It’s a good thought. I wouldn’t say we have to adjust the line-up too much; Cook can give it a swing and Sam Robson, certainly in county cricket, has shown he can scored with a 80+ strike rate. The freedom might do him some good. Ballance, too, at three is more than capable of clearing that front leg.
10.46am BST
Morning all,
Great chat about James Anderson at the moment on Sky. Michael Atherton was particularly impressed by his ability to become a “virtual left-hander” to the right-handers - Cheteshwar Pujara the man falling foul of Jimmy’s, erm, faux Southpaw-ness.
Yeah, just ignore that last bit, but you know what I mean. Naturally, we’re at the stage where we speculate as to whether England will enforce the follow on. Just 47 more runs and that decision is taken out of Alastair Cook’s hands. Personally, I think he’ll be relieved. A quick dart for about 40 overs should England get out India in the first 10, and then a declaration with a lead of 450+, with 20 overs at India this evening. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
10.12am BST
Vithushan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Vic Marks on Moeen Ali.
Moeen Ali bowled in a long-sleeved shirt buttoned at the wrist. It might seem outlandish that just before entering the arena he had been required to roll up his sleeves just to reassure some ICC official that there were not any regulation-busting wristbands on his arm but in this era when a judicial commissioner, Gordon Lewis, somewhere in Australia, will be required to stay up late on Friday in order to establish what happened on the stairs on the way to lunch in the Trent Bridge pavilion a fortnight ago, anything is possible.
The contest has been unfolding slowly, so it has been hard to clear the mind of the notion of England’s media manager getting into a huddle with whoever is detailed to speak to the gentlefolk of the press at the end of the day in order to give him a reminder of the salient points of the Middle East crisis. This series continues to startle but it would be preferable if the stories from now onwards were of a cricketing nature.
It has not all been plain sailing for Moeen in his brief career. Before he played his first Test his innocent remarks that he was proud of the community from which he came and that he wished to “inspire other people with faith to play” were twisted and taken out of all proportion in some quarters. So we have had the issue of wristbands. Next perhaps we should assume an intimate ICC tattoo inspection (it is just as well that Jade Dernbach and Peter Trego have not made the Test team – although hope springs eternal in both of them).
In all of this Moeen has handled himself with composure and good humour. In the past he has been happy for his club, Worcestershire, to refer to him impishly as “The Beard that’s Feared” in one of their marketing campaigns …
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