That’s it from us today, thanks to you for your company and correspondence and to Tanya for taking the early shift in the wee small hours. We’ll be back again tomorrow morning to bring you day three with the game intriguingly poised, can England capitalise on this opportunity and go on to level the series at 2-2 to set up a decider in Dharamshala? Here’s hoping. Have a good day, goodbye!
Updated
What a spell:
Shoaib Bashir's 31-over spell of 4-83 is, according to @CricViz data:
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) February 24, 2024
- The longest spell by an England bowler since 2013 (Swann, 6-90 in a 32-over spell v NZ, Leeds)
- The longest spell by any bowler in a Test in India since 2005 (Kumble, 7-63 in 38 v Pakistan, Kolkata)
A weary looking Joe Root has a few words at the end of the day:
“(The pitch) Looks like it will keep deteriorating... it did briefly cross my mind [to get to his hundred with a reverse-scoop] but it was just nice to contribute, it’s been a lean tour for me but hopefully I can continue to get runs for the rest of the series.”
“I had a great view of the two young spinners while standing at slip. Shoaib is a great young lad to have in the group. He’s got a great character, great sense of humour and huge ability and skill. Great to see him keep coming and asking a lot of questions.”
STUMPS: India 219-7 (Trail by 134 runs)
That’s yer lot. An absorbing day of Test match cricket comes to an end. England exchange hugs and 20 year old Shoaib Bashir has the honour of leading his teammates from the field. Kuldeep and Jurel provided dogged resistance in the final hour but Stokes’ side are in command in this Test match.
An incredible day for Shoaib Bashir 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 24, 2024
Thank you, @CountyChamp admin 😂
🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴 #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/wtDZHGpuza
72nd over: India 219-7 (Jurel 30, Yadav 17)
Updated
71st over: India 219-7 (Jurel 30, Yadav 17) Bashir is right on the money, what did you expect? Graeme Swann on the commentary notes that he is getting through his action a lot more than in his debut Test, the nerves have gone and he’s properly into his groove. Jurel hangs back and prods a ball into the off side for a single. That’ll be the last over of Shoaib Bashir’s epic bowling shift, there’s one over left in the day and Tom Hartley is going to bowl it. Bashir has 4-84 off 32 consecutive overs. If ever a bowler has deserved a five wicket haul…
71st over: India 218-7 (Jurel 29, Yadav 17) Root it is, Jurel pushes down the ground for a single and Kuldeep is content to pat back five dots. Hang on a minute… Bashir is coming back on from the other end! He’s still going! Fantastic stuff.
70th over: India 216-7 (Jurel 27, Yadav 16) Anderson reels off back to back maidens. Shoaib Bashir is being given a break. Stop press. After 31 overs on the reel and with thoughts just starting to turn towards Narendra Hirwani Ben Stokes calls time on a truly magnificent stint of slow bowling.
69th over: India 216-7 (Jurel 27, Yadav 16) Bashir gets another ball to skid along the floor, luckily for Kuldeep it is wide of leg stump and beats Ben Foakes too. The batters scamper a couple. This has turned into a very useful partnership for India, they’ve stopped England in their tracks just when it looked like the innings could collapse.
68th over: India 213-7 (Jurel 27, Yadav 16) Anderson starts with a maiden. Landing the ball on a pocket square outside off stump. Metronomic and mesmerising.
67th over: India 213-7 (Jurel 27, Yadav 16) Bashir is taken for just a couple – he has 4-81 off 30 consecutive overs. Now then, the light has improved and we are going to have a bowling change – James Anderson is coming on to replace Tom Hartley.
Coach Marcus Trescothick is in full whites and helping run the drinks. England low on the ground with Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed no longer with the squad.
— Cameron Ponsonby (@cameronponsonby) February 24, 2024
Big Tres! Get him on his knees in the slips
66th over: India 211-7 (Jurel 26, Yadav 15) Hartley drops short and Jurel breaks the shackles with a powerful pull through midwicket for four. I think Stokes has been informed by the Umpires that it is too gloomy for him to bowl his seamers. On we go, Shoaib Bashir is about to bowl his 30th over in a row!
Updated
65th over: India 206-7 (Jurel 21, Yadav 15) Kuldeep and Jurel have just managed to put the brakes on here after it looked like England could run through India. The partnership is 34 runs off the last ten overs.
64th over: India 204-7 (Jurel 20, Yadav 14) Hartley with the maiden now, Kuldeep and Jurel resolute in defence. There are about eight overs left in the day. I can see Joe Root doing some shoulder twirls, we might see him soon. Which reminds me of this prescient tweet from m’colleague Geoff Lemon.
Just quietly, I reckon Joe Root's hundred might have been helped by not having to bowl 50 overs first
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 23, 2024
63rd over: India 204-7 (Jurel 20, Yadav 14) Bashir sends down dot after dot. A maiden. His 28th over on the reel. Stokes can’t get the ball out of his paw.
62nd over: India 204-7 (Jurel 20, Yadav 14) It has gone a little quiet out there, maybe time for some Joe Root or a burst of seam? Hartley and Bashir have been quite brilliant but I think both are starting to flag a little bit, these are good conditions to bowl, a fresher man might be what is called for. Scuttle! Hartley’s eyes widen as a length ball simply rolls along the floor but misses everything, including Ben Foakes behind the stumps. The fourth innings on this pitch is going to be quite something.
61st over: India 195-7 (Jurel 20, Yadav 8) Bashir into his 27th over. I’ll keep counting them. A slip and short leg in place. Just a couple of singles off it as India approach 200, still trailing by 158 runs.
Amazing how much Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir have matured as spinners in such a short period of time. You hear every great spinner talk about how it’s never easy staying patient & not being tempted to go for the dream ball all the time on pitches that offer turn #IndvEng
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) February 24, 2024
60th over: India 193-7 (Jurel 19, Yadav 7) Hartley is looking dangerous, skidding and shooting the ball off the dicey deck. He gets away with a full toss off the final ball too, Kuldeep misses out as he whips it straight to the fielder. Very gloomy in Ranchi, could pass for Filey in February.
59th over: India 191-7 (Jurel 19, Yadav 5) Sure enough, Jurel hops out of his crease and lofts Bashir down the ground for… SIX.
Ben Stokes: pic.twitter.com/9hKh0NqH7H
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) February 24, 2024
Arf.
58th over: India 184-7 (Jurel 13, Yadav 5) A couple of singles off Hartley’s latest. I wonder if this is the correct approach by India. If you hang around defensively then there’s sure to be a ball with your name on. Attack might be the best form of defence, take a few risks and try and get the lead down to something less terminal.
57th over: India 181-7 (Jurel 11, Yadav 4) Bashir once more. Jurel takes a single backward of square. India seem a little shellshocked, England have been very impressive in the field today.
Career-best figures for Shoaib Bashir, who had never taken more than 3 in a first-class innings. What a story #IndvEng
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) February 24, 2024
Updated
56th over: India 181-7 (Jurel 11, Yadav 4) Kuldeep arrives at the crease and his first act is to reverse-sweep for four with panache.
Haven’t seen much of this Test match as of yet, just clicked on now. England massively on top. Spinners bowling accurately, uneven bounce. Cracks. Bowlers dream. 350 looks 100 above par. Toss in this series seems crucial. Bat first, dominate the game. Bumrah ‘rested’- can’t…
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 24, 2024
Updated
WICKET! Ashwin lbw b Hartley 1 (India 177-7)
Hartley strikes! Ashwin prods forward but misses the ball as it keeps low and thuds into his boot. Huge appeal – given out on the field and the DRS confirms it with three reds. England in control – The lead still stands at 176 runs.
Updated
55th over: India 176-6 (Jurel 10, Ashwin 1) Bashir shows signs of cramp, this is his 24th over on the spin! Jurel carves out to the deep where Anderson does the fielding – hurling the ball in only for it to hit the stumps and ricochet away for your friend and mine – BUZZERS!
Updated
54th over: India 171-6 (Jurel 6, Ashwin 0) Hartley sends down a maiden to Ashwin. Bashir will take the headlines but Hartley has been impressive again too. I like the cut of his jib – he looks like an olden days cricketer - wiry features reminiscent of a player you’d see on some Pathe newsreel footage. Anyway, England cranking up the pressure cooker as a smoky fog descends on the ground in Ranchi. It looks pretty gloomy out there.
Updated
53rd over: India 171-6 (Jurel 6, Ashwin 0) Bashir is into his 23rd over in a row. Stitches together a maiden. Remarkable stuff.
@Jimbo_Cricket I've tried them all. The gentle tickling drip of the filter, the push to the downside of the french press, the bazball hipstering of the aeropress. At heart though I'm a make it and shove it in a flask man.
— Scott (@ScootBenet) February 24, 2024
52nd over: India 171-6 (Jurel 6, Ashwin 0) A wicket maiden for Tom Hartley. Sarfaraz looked incredibly dangerous in Rajkot, England know that he could have taken a big chunk out of the deficit. Ashwin is the last recognised batter – India are 182 runs adrift.
Updated
WICKET! Sarfaraz c Root b Hartley 14 (India 171-6)
What a grab by Joe Root! Hartley loops one above the eyeline and entices Sarfaraz into a drive, the ball dipping and taking the edge. The ball seemed to flick Foakes’ glove on the way past making Root’s catch even more impressive – he dived to his left and plucked the ball from the air at full stretch. England firmly on top now.
Updated
51st over: India 171-5 (Sarfaraz 14, Jurel 6) Jurel goes on the counter – skipping down the track and pinging Bashir over cover for a one bounce four.
Shankar Mony is impressed with the visitors:
“I cannot remember a visiting team playing this well in India, and a lot of that has to go to Baz and Ben. I cannot remember a newcomer to the English team who has not looked like an absolute natural. A lot of credit for that has to go to the management, no? Would serve India right if they lose after leaving Bumrah out!”
Yep – Stokes has shepherded his young spinners with aplomb.
50th over: India 166-5 (Sarfaraz 13, Jurel 2) Hartley wraps one into Sarfaraz’s front pad. England like the look of it but Umpire Dharmasena says no. Stokes calls for a review… NOT OUT. DRS shows the ball sliding down so England lose their second review.
49th over: India 165-5 (Sarfaraz 12, Jurel 2) Bashir continues, he has 4-55 from 20 overs on the reel. Phenomenal stint. Sarfaraz drives to mid off for a single. India need him here, and they need their lower order to get up to near England’s score, a deficit of even fifty or so coupd prove crucial on this wicket. England currently 188 runs to the good.
48th over: India 164-5 (Sarfaraz 11, Jurel 2) Hartley fizzes in, men around the bat. England scent blood in the water.
47th over: India 161-5 (Sarfaraz 5, Jurel 0) Dhruv Jurel arrives in the middle. England are buzzing about, what a lift for them to see the back of the dominant Jaiswal. Shoaib Bashir has bowled quite wonderfully – he nearly pocketed Sarfaraz earlier in the over with a flighted ball that took the edge and flew just wide of a diving Joe Root at slip.
WICKET! Jaiswal b Shoaib Bashir 73 (India 161-5)
Bashir has the big one! Jaiswal is out! The ball skidded on and kept a little low, Jaiswal utterly crestfallen as he under edges the ball onto his stumps. England are jubilant, that is a big BIG moment in the game – India are still 192 runs adrift.
Updated
46th over: India 156-4 (Jaiswal 73, Sarfaraz 5) The sun comes out in Ranchi as Tom Hartley twirls away. Sarfaraz takes a single to cover. Drama incoming…
45th over: India 155-4 (Jaiswal 73, Sarfaraz 4) Bashir is into his 18th over on the bounce. He can’t have done many more in one stint in his short career and here he is in a Test match not only holding down an end but looking England’s most threatening bowler too. Ah, a tired looking ball perhaps – Bashir drops short and Jaiswal steers behind point to pick up an easy boundary. Maybe Stokes might give him a breather, even if just for a few overs.
44th over: India 149-4 (Jaiswal 68, Sarfaraz 3) Another ball shoots along the floor! Eeeesht – get them straight. Hartley finds a crack and the ball skids past leg stump, Ben Foakes stops four byes by getting a reflexive hand on it. Joe Root’s knock yesterday getting greater by the over judging by the way this wicket is deteriorating.
Updated
43rd over: India 146-4 (Jaiswal 67, Sarfaraz 3) Shot! Jaiswal rocks back and cuts for four off Bashir. Two dots follow before Jaiswal skips down and lofts a length ball over the covers for the second boundary of the over. He couldn’t again, could he*?
*He very much looks like he will.
42nd over: India 137-4 (Jaiswal 58, Sarfaraz 3) A quiet over after the drama of the near run out in the last. Just a single clipped off Tom Hartley.
41st over: India 136-4 (Jaiswal 57, Sarfaraz 3) Close! Very nearly a run out as Sarfaraz showcases some shonky running between the wickets. He turns one to leg and sets off for a non existent single – Jaiswal sends him back and only a full length dive saves the youngster as Foakes collects the throw and takes the bails.
40th over: India 134-4 (Jaiswal 55, Sarfaraz 1) Hartley from the other end, Jaiswal takes a single and Sarfaraz squirts one into the leg side for another.
39th over: India 132-4 (Jaiswal 55, Sarfaraz 1) Bashir starts England off after tea. he bowled unchanged in the afternoon session and starts with the ball here, into his 16th over. Jaiswal takes a single down the ground, imagine the scenes if England manage to see the back of him. That was his 600th run of the series.
Hello to OBO stalwart - Simon McMahon.
“Morning Jim. Those wickets just before tea have left this Test finely poised, and it’s been an absorbing series overall. Really hoping for an England win here, thus ensuring winner takes all in Dharamsala. Anyway, this Aeropress coffee thing. Is it any good?”
I don’t think i’ve ever used one Simon. I’m no afficionado, caffeine performs a necessary rather than ritualistic role in my life at the moment having a toddler with an almost devout aversion to sleep. If it’s hot and vaguely brown it does the biz.
“Morning James!”
G’morning to you, Mark Slater.
Morning James!
“In the brief lull of tea, I would ask what people’s thoughts are on the chance of Stokes bowling in this match. In that he dropped a spinner to bring in a seamer suggests that he does not want to be part of the bowling rotation - but he might have a go in India’s second innings (I assume that they will get one) when the track is offering variable (little or no) bounce. Thoughts?”
I mean, I think we all know the answer to this, don’t we?
38th over: India 131-4 (Jaiswal 54, Sarfaraz 1) Tom Hartley brings the session to a close with a maiden. That’ll be tea. England leave the field with a spring in their step, that has been a fantastic session for them in the end, three wickets and they haven’t allowed India to get away, the home side trail by a Richie Benaud – 222. That seems a lot on a wicket that is now doing plenty.
37th over: India 131-4 (Jaiswal 54, Sarfaraz 1) The exuberant Sarfaraz is the new batter and he gets off the mark with a poke into the covers. The tea break is imminent, England will want to stay out there, Stokes has a slip and silly point in place. Lots of chatter, it is absorbing Test cricket.
WICKET! Jadeja c Pope b Shoaib Bashir 12 (India 130-4)
Huge wicket! Shoaib Bashir is turning the match England’s way! A length ball pops and takes the inside edge of Jadeja’s bat, looping off the pad flap and into the gleeful paws of Ollie Pope at short leg.
Updated
36th over: India 129-3 (Jaiswal 53, Jadeja 12) My days - Hartley nearly gets Jadeja with a pea roller! The ball skids along the arid wicket and clips Jadeja on the ankle before running away for four. Real shades of Carl Hooper to Nasser Hussain with that one. England send it upstairs but lose a review as the grubber was shooting past leg stump. Now then, next ball Jadeja spanks into the stands for SIX over midwicket. He’s seen enough – follows up with another effortless flick over square for SIX more! Brilliant stuff, Jadeja plays an excessively OTT defensive shot off the final ball and holds the pose for a good ten seconds. It is not dull.
Updated
35th over: India 111-3 (Jaiswal 52, Jadeja 0) Ravi Jadeja is the new man, this is a promotion up the order I think. The two centurions from Rajkot are reunited in the middle. Replays of the Patidar wicket show the ball hit a huge crack and spat like an angry camel. India are still 240 runs adrift and the pitch is doing all sorts. Game on.
WICKET! Patidar lbw b Shoaib Bashir 17 (India 112-3)
Gone! The ball turned sharply back into Patidar off the pitch and DRS shows it was just clipping leg stump so remains OUT on umpires cal! Bashir has deserved that, this has been a really impressive spell, he punches the air in celebration and is mobbed by his teammates. England prise the door open, just a crack.
Updated
Bashir has Patidar given out LBW by the umpire! They’ve gone upstairs…
34th over: India 111-2 (Jaiswal 52, Patidar 17) Hartley drops a smidge short and is flayed away behind point by Patidar for four.
33rd over: India 106-2 (Jaiswal 51, Patidar 12) Close! Bashir gets one to skid on straight and Jaiswal misjudges the line, shouldering arms as the ball passes the off stump by a layer of varnish. The batter chastises himself as Bashir falls to his knees, he thought he had his man there.
32nd over: India 105-2 (Jaiswal 50, Patidar 12) Hartley begins, shirt untucked, gently wafting in the shallow breeze, making me think of Angus Fraser and his trusty flannel. Jaiswal drives a single down the ground to go to another fifty. He’s been a sensation in this series.
31st over: India 104-2 (Jaiswal 49, Patidar 12) Just a Jaiswal single off the parsimonious Bashir. Tom Hartley is being summoned for his first bowl of the innings. The game is delightfully poised.
Enjoyed this Adrian Mole style dispatch from Tom V D Gucht:
“I’m enjoying the coffee chat. At work, I have a Bodum travel coffee cup with an in-built cafetiere so I can drink ground coffee on the move. The problem is, there are lots of grooves and hidden bits meaning that I rarely have time to give it a proper wash. When I got it home at the end of the last half-term for its six monthly deep clean, Infound it was cultivating a caffeinated form of congealed cottage cheese in one of the hidden channels. At first, I thought I might be onto some sort of new super-food (like when Homer Simpson invented Tomacco) but later realised I might end up being ground zero for some form of new antibiotic-resistant mega bug and stuck it in the dishwasher for a hot wash.”
30th over: India 103-2 (Jaiswal 48, Patidar 12) Anderson gets a ball to spit off a length and Patidar has a swipe at it with hard hands, the ball flies in the air but in the gap wide of slip and away for four. Meanwhile, I’m remaining a consummate professional despite my two year old daughter dancing around the living room to The Cure with a measuring tape as an accompaniment. Quite a strong floor routine to be fair to her.
Updated
29th over: India 98-2 (Jaiswal 47, Patidar 8) Bashir is bowling with a lovely rhythm, the camera zooms in on his fingers which look inexplicably long, almost like a Quentin Blake drawing. Patidar gets on the front foot and blocks obdurately.
28th over: India 97-2 (Jaiswal 46, Patidar 8) Anderson is livid with himself as he floats a ball onto the pads that Patidar clips off his legs with ease for four.
27th over: India 92-2 (Jaiswal 44, Patidar 4) Jaiswal nudges Bashir for a single, the tyro spinner then keeps Patidar honest for five dots. England are on the prowl, and here comes James Anderson to replace Robinson.
Peter Salmon is on the wires:
“I’m a loyal stove top man, definitely the best. My problem is that I have a friend who has one of those machines which you put pods in and, as with every experience I’ve had with those, the coffee tastes absolutely terrible. The machine is very expensive and is his pride and joy, and the coffee is made with almost an religious sense of ceremony. He doesn’t follow the cricket so I feel this is a safe space. OBOers, what should I do?”
All I’ll say is, you know where you are with Kenco granules, Peter.
26th over: India 91-2 (Jaiswal 44, Patidar 4) Thanks Tanya and hello all! Plain old Kenco granules for me, important not to faff about for the first one I reckon. Get it in the system and maybe think about some fancy stuff for later on? Anyway, Robinson and his Dan Petrescu inspired peroxide job send down a probing over but the bowler offers just a fraction of width off the final ball and Patidar opens the face and glides away for four.
25th over: India 86-2 (Jaiswal 43, Patidar 0) Patidar, who is yet to impress, plays out the rest of the over. And now I must hand over to Jim, even though I’ve got so many interesting coffee emails! Just one – and I’ll pass the rest over, I know Jim has just got his cafffeine hit, though I don’t know how. Hello Jon Bennett:
“I used to be scared of my moka but I recently decided to try again and this video changed everything Tanya.
“ You’ll go from lots of steam and bitter, slightly burnt coffee to something I couldn’t believe. And the astonishing voice of the reviewer - who now has millions of coffee nerd followers - wouldn’t be out of place on TMS.
“And the key. Don’t overfill it and use hot water….i promise it’ll taste much better than cafetière, which is slightly stewed.”
You’re on! I will report back tomorrow.
Updated
They’re taking DRINKS at the fall of that wicket.
Hello Sandy in Manchester: “Just up now, and have done the classic ‘avoid the score and read the whole OBO to get caught up’. Looking good so far for England, I think? This is just my second Test series after I fell in love with the Ashes this summer. Stovetop is a bit more faff to set up, but way easier to clean up - swings and roundabouts, innit?” So true – and welcome to the club!
WICKET! Gill lbw Bashir 38 (India 86-2)
Umpire’s call! Gill prods forwards with lunging pad but misses. Super bowling by Bashir, high fives all round. England needed that!
Updated
Gill given out lbw on the field... he reviews.
…
24th over: India 86-1 (Jaiswal 43, Gill 38) “Morning Tanya.” Hello Guy Hornsby!” It’s cold and damp in Sale but this is developing into an arm wrestle already. England realising there’s not a huge amount in the pitch and this will be a war of attrition. Bowling dry against Jaiswal is easier said than done though, he looks so free and confident. Root’s ton was so impressive but he must feel he can score one every innings now. Robinson needs to make his impact here.” A super over to Jaiswal here, tempting him, his second ball hits the large crack, and shoots through low. A no ball provides the only runs.
23rd over: India 85-1 (Jaiswal 42, Gill 38) One from Bashir’s over.
22nd over: India 84-1 (Jaiswal 42, Gill 38) Gill cuts Robinson, for four. A no ball is a brief respite, then another four in a similar spot. An Indian momentum shift.
“HI tanya” Hello Zaph. “field settings/ bowling types / amount of movement-turn etc…
I have a song for you - I know it’s horrible to be up that early - I’m up late as I’m in the Empire of the Senseless. As it gets slow and boring (for you) can you fill us in on any of the details above?”
Ah. Well, to summarise quickly, pitch not doing anything much, Anderson searching for reverse swing (the commentators think they may have spotted some, though I didn’t). Robinson steady teasers. Bashir bowling nicely, like someone with a lot more experience than he has. Field chopping and changing.
21st over: India 74-1 (Jaiswal 41, Gill 30)
20th over: India 68-1 (Jaiswal 40, Gill 25) Robinson replaces Anderson. No great wheels, as they say, 120kph. Gill gently pushes and the ball riffs all the way down to the rope for four. Now from nowhere, Jaiswal pushes with hard hands and edges behind . England are convinced they have him, but Jaiswal isn’t. The third umpires sees the ball skim ground just before gloves.
19th over: India 63-1 (Jaiswal 40, Gill 20) Jaiswal gallops down to Bashir, swings and swats him up and over the rope for six. Brutal beauty. An optimistic appeal for leg before next ball – not out, no review. Otherwise five dots.
18th over: India 57-1 (Jaiswal 34, Gill 20) England putting in the work to get the ball to reverse, Robinson on polishing duties. Gill picks off four as Jimmy drifts leg side. And four more, straight down the ground.
17th over: India 49-1 (Jaiswal 34, Gill 12) Good tight over from Bashir, Gill treats him with respect.
Writes Deepak Puri, “Tanya, A cafetière? Really? Stove-top or Aeropress, please. Greatly superior.”
I have got a stove top but it always seems a bit of a faff? Trivia fact: Ed Smith used to carry around an Aeropress.
16th over: India 48-1 (Jaiswal 34, Gill 11) Anderson, now well into his sixth tour of India, knows what he is doing. A couple from it, including a quick single with a soupcon of risk. In the crowd, someone tucks into some tasty looking rice, poppadoms and bhajis.
15th over: India 46-1 (Jaiswal 33, Gill 10) I don’t want to jinx spring, but it is nearly light at 7am. A handful of singles off Bashir.
14th over: India 43-1 (Jaiswal 31, Gill 9) Anderson and Stokes chew the fat. Is Anderson thinking about the three sixes in a row that Jaiswal butchered off him in the last Test? Nothing like that here, a gentle trot for a single, then Gill shows a straight bat to the rest.
13th over: India 42-1 (Jaiswal 30, Gill 9) Swann is extolling the height and skill of Bashir, who chews on some gum at the top of his mark. Jaiswal picks up a couple down the ground, superbly stopped by Stokes on the rope. Next ball he blasts back at Bashir, who feigns to throw, pricking the interest of the crowd. Is beaten by the next and Foakes whips off the bails.
12th over: India 39-1 (Jaiswal 27, Gill 9) Anderson hurries Gill first ball as he goes to pull and gets stuck. Gill misses another pull next ball as Anderson goes shorter. Testing, testing. A maiden.
Afternoon session
11th over: India 39-1 (Jaiswal 27, Gill 9) Bashir resumes after lunch. In other news, I’ve at last discovered how to get the coffee grains out of a small caftiere without getting them all over my hands/down the sink. Use a tea strainer! Should I patent this or have people been doing it quietly for years? Beautiful! Gill strides and drives, through the covers with godliness.
In the studio, Alastair Cook sees no devils in the pitch. “England are going to have to be really patient and try and use their field placing to force mistakes from the Indian batters.” Time for me to make some coffee and grab some breakfast, back shortly.
Lunch, India 34-1, trail England by 319 runs
10th over: India 34-1 (Jaiswal 27, Gill 4) Oh so lovely, Jaiswal on drives with immaculate high elbow, walking down the pitch as he does, past the tumbling Robinson, lips pursed in admiration. Flicks the next away for four more.
From Hanoi, Chris Whiffin: ”Feels like a big day in the career of Ollie Robinson having been out of the team for a while, Feels like the uneven bounce could suit his style but he needs a big performance to push himself towards the front of the queue to eventually replace Jimmy.”
Yes, important to prove that he has the fitness as well. And that, my friends, is lunch.
9th over: India 26-1 (Jaiswal 19, Gill 4) With just a few minutes till lunch, time for some spin, and Bashir gets the nod, replacing Anderson. Jaiswal picks up a single as outside the window, in the darkness, a blackbird sings.
8th over: India 25-1 (Jaiswal 18, Gill 4) Jaiswal not tempted by a zipper from Robinson; Nick Knight exhalts his defensive technique, bat neatly inside the line. Pressure released with one over pitched that he clips away. Lots of happy noise from the crowd around this impressive stadium.
7th over: India 22-1 (Jaiswal 16, Gill 1) The Stokes-Anderson brains trust bring in a leg slip. But the two young blades playing sensibly here, watchful.
“What a start, about to meet a non-cricketing friend who I haven’t’t seen for 10 years.” writes Joel Eley. “ Every time I have popped out this series England have collapsed. Hope this jinx holds true for India’s innings.” We will do our best.
6th over: India 20-1 (Jaiswal 16, Gill 1) Gill watchful, Robinson immediately on a good length. Gill picks upa single into the leg side.
Different OBO correspondent opinions on England’s last three wickets to fall.
“My thoughts on that Bashir dismissal are quite unsuited to a 5amOBO email,” taps Brian Withington, “or any other medium or timezone for that matter. I know England have created a fearless environment but that second delivery ‘shot’ made a mockery of every ball that Joe Root so patiently faced and negotiated. Let’s hope the young man can redeem himself with the ball, and that the Indian batters have somehow not noticed that this wicket is not conducive to sweeping …”
while JJ muses:
“I am sure Stokes told them 350 was the aim today, and after Robinson was out every batter should just go smash it. That’s bazball, a 20 year old tailender doesn’t swat for a 6 unless he’s been told do what u wantI think Ben wants to get Jimmy out there asap .”
5th over: India 19-1 (Jaiswal 16, Gill 0) Early punishment for Anderson as Jaiswal off drives, wonderfully, to the rope, then flicks something legside off his boots for four more next ball. Immaculate defence follows.
4th over: India 9-1 (Jaiswal 6, Gill 0) Ooof, Jaiswal picks up four but with a thick outside edge off Robinson that bounces just before the hand of a stretching Crawley at second slip. Then survives jabbing a ball down which nearly rebounds onto the stumps.
3rd over: India 4-1 (Jaiswal 1, Gill 0) Anderson immediately into the groove, plink after plonk on the dollar, wicket collected.
WICKET! Sharma c Foakes b Anderson 2 (India 4-1)
A leaden-footed Sharma pushes forwards, edges, and Foakes collects without any fuss.
Updated
2nd over: India 1-0 (Jaiswal 0, Rohit 0) Robinson takes the ball for the first time this series. He has had an old fashioned experiment with bleach, which sits on top of his head like a Belisha Beacon . On target, apart from a no ball, and Rohit Sharma very nearly gets into trouble trying to cut an outswinger.
1st over: India 0-0 (Jaiswal 0, Rohit 0) Here we go! Anderson, with blond hair and new ball, races in at young Jaiswal, whose Test average from 14 innings is now 71. With high hands, he lets Anderson’s first three balls fly safely by. Swing for Jimmy, safely negotiated.
And hello Jāna Jēruma Grīnberga
”I’ve been up for an hour or so, keeping an eye on OBO and now watching rosy-fingered dawn slowly creeping over the Baltic sky. And feeling quite emotional about Rooooot saving England’s day yet again; whether he’s really “the best player we’ve ever had” as Crawley said, is a mooooot point, but he’s certainly a candidate for nicest England player that I can remember.”
How beautiful. And I agree, Root certainly one of the nicest, as well as the best batsman - of my lifetime at least.
Updated
A brief foray to the kettle beckons, but I reckon England will be happy enough with 350, even if they didn’t squeeze all they could out of Root.
“What Ho Tanya” Good morning Sandy Wilson!
“3pm local time here on a research ship between Melbourne & Tasmania at Lat 39.6 S / Lon 143.0 E, lovely sunny day and a StarLink system to follow the next installment of what’s been a cracking series so far.
“Excellent timing for a change, early bed then up in time for the Calcutta Cup - couldn’t be better!
Fingers crossed etc,”
Sounds intriguing! Wishing you smooth seas.
WICKET! Anderson lbw Jadeja 0 (England 353 all out)
104.5 overs: England 353 (Root 122) Wicket-man Jadeja picks up again after refreshments, headband and sunglasses on. Root prods his first ball away, takes a single to the fourth. Can Anderson last the over? No. Takes a huge step forward, is hit on the front pad, and the ball would have taken out middle stump. Root walks off, magnificently unbeaten, and after a great first hour, England have lost their last three wickets for six runs.
Updated
104th over: England 352-9 (Root 121, Anderson 0) “Happy to see England ticking on in the mid 300s but as a long time England fan, any optimism suggesting big totals is just tempting fate and makes me very nervous.” Ah yes, sorry about that James Kinsella. Root ticks off a single and they take DRINKS!
103rd over: England 351-9 (Root 120, Anderson 0) Jadeja, suddenly finding sparks in the pitch, changes the complexity of the game again.
WICKET! Bashir c Patidar b Jadeja 0 (England 349-9)
Short and not so sweet from Bashir, who launches at his second ball and skews a catch to point.
WICKET! Robinson c Jurel b Jadeja 58 (England 348-8)
Robinson reviews with some confidence but it is very out as he drops to reverse sweep and gloves the ball through to Jurel standing up. Jadeja gets his reward but a cracking innings by Robinson.
Updated
102nd over: England 347-7 (Root 119, Robinson 58) A bowling change, as Kuldeep Yadav gets an early twirl. Trouble immediately as Root edges a beauty, towards the crouching Sharma at slip. Sharma rolls over to take the catch but as he comes up for air he throws the ball away. Then rethinks and shrugs doing a little sign for a replay. So the umpires do. But, sure enough, the replay shows the ball grazing the ground before Sharma’s hands.
“Hi Tanya.” Morning Brian Withington.
”Never mind the corridor of uncertainty, what the hell is a par score on this pitch?!
”My various estimates yesterday went from 250 to 150, back to 250 and then upwards, and are now hovering anywhere between 350 and 500.
”Help, as the young Lennon & McCartney (think a clean shaven Stokes and McCullum) might have put it (with an emphatic exclamation mark).”
Hmmm. Ask me after India have batted. But 350 must be decent. Mustn’t it?
Updated
101st over: England 347-7 (Root 119, Robinson 58) England quietly accumulating. 400 and counting on the cards.
100th over: England 346-7 (Root 118, Robinson 58) The hundred partnership comes up, off 146 balls, as Root tucks into a short one and pulls him for four. This is now the second highest eighth wicket partnership for England in India, behind just Dawson and Rashid’s 108 in 2016. And a great irritant for India.
“Morning Tanya,” hello William Vignoles!
“I find myself missing a slight hangover waiting for my two year old to get back to sleep enough to return to my bed - what better way to pass the time than with the OBO.
“Hoping he proves me wrong today but is it just me or does Joe Root seemingly struggle to get started again the next day? I don’t have figures to hand but it feels like if he’s not out overnight, he rarely beds back in.”
That’s you and Brian Withington, William. I should know the answer to this, but but I’m afraid I don’t. It feels right though.
Updated
99th over: England 340-7 (Root 112, Robinson 58) If only I’d opened my inbox earlier, I would have realised that I had Root batting from both ends for a while this morning. Neil Bailey in Vancover one of many, “loving the idea that Root is batting at both ends right now.” Though, to be fair, Robinson has easily outscored him this morning. Just another single off Jadeja .
Updated
98th over: England 340-7 (Root 112, Robinson 58) On comms, Graeme Swann points out that India are a bit lacking in energy this morning, and he’s right. They’re standing around like a wet weekend, Siraj apart, who steams in. Two bouncers beat Robinson who goes for the swipe, and misses both times.
97th over: England 336-7 (Root 110, Robinson 55) Jadeja beats Root with a fizzer that beats the bat.
96th over: England 335-7 (Root 110, Robinson 55) A change of ends for the elegantly pomaded Siraj, four singles off him.
Just remember to open my inbox – hello, hello! – here’s lots of you out there. First to Acharya Samudra:
”Indian here, hoping we get an even game today. I expect the tail won’t bat long, given the trend of Eng losing wickets in the morning. England’s spinners’ performance will reveal much about the pitch and what is a good par score.”
Updated
Fifty for Ollie Robinson!
95th over: England 331-7 (Root 108, Robinson 53) Rohit calls for Jadeja, but its jam today for Robinson who reaches his first Test fifty with a sweep for four. On the balcony, in white ankle socks, Stokes applauds with gusto, Robinson grins under his helmet. A great start for England, the new ball not bringing gifts for India.
Updated
94th over: England 324-7 (Root 108, Robinson 48) Robinson square cuts, short of point, and the ball flies away to the rope. Deep then beats him past the outside edge as Robinson goes to play and thinks better of it. A bead of sweat glistens on Deep’s forehead. Ah, and then an ugly but effective pancake slap for four. Followed by a pull for four more to spoil Deep’s figures.
Updated
93rd over: England 312-7 (Root 106, Robinson 36) Siraj’s third ball sizzles off the surface, over the tall Robinson’s head, over the keeper’s leaping gloves, for four.
Ali Martin has been in touch from Ranchi. “I heard Ollie Robinson on TV this morning saying him and Root chatted about bringing up the 100 with a reverse ramp ... “but thought better of it.” Would have been very funny.
Updated
92nd over: England 307-7 (Root 106, Robinson 35) Deep returns after his impressive turn yesterday. Needs a couple more for five on debut. A watchful Root plays out a maiden. Ah, too soon, his sixth ball is a no ball, but Root watches out the seventh too.
Updated
91st over: England 306-7 (Root 106, Robinson 35) Siraj jumps up and down, knees to his chin, at the top of his mark. No new ball yet, and the old ball disappears for four straight away as he drifts leg side and Robinson flicks him off his boots. At last, two balls in, India take the the shiny red cherry. Swing, immediately, but no cigar.
“Morning Tanya,” Hello Martin Wright!
“You well? Dog well? Me, rather sleepy this morning, but since I’m in India and it’s a very civilised 9.15 a.m., I realise I’m being insensitive just mentioning that in the company of what I assume are mostly bleary-eyed wintry English early risers. Anyway... old-school test cricket, eh?! Dontcha just love it?! And will Roooooot confound us this morning by unfurling a couple of reverse scoops in the first over, just to keep us on our toes...?”
I wouldn’t be surprised.
Updated
Do get in touch if you’re up and musing, I’d love to hear from you.
Cup of tea made, , the dog is frolicking with a cardboard loo roll tube. In two minutes time, presumably, Rohit Sharma will have taken the new ball.
Time to put the kettle on, back in five:
So many reactions to Joe Root yesterday, here are just a couple:
This is the Joe Root mode that win you Test matches! Glue mode. Let the rest play Bazz Ball.
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 23, 2024
Good start from India. Good fight from Eng. Setting up for a good Test match
And
Joe Root has now scored the most centuries against India in Test cricket. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/kSp0B7TzoR
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) February 24, 2024
Put on the television to see Graeme Swann crouching down at a huge zigzag crack. A pitch to grind it out, he says, where you must play straight and not try to sweep. As a bowler, keep the stumps in play. Back in the studio, Sir Alastair muses that the Indians aren’t big sweepers anyway.
Preamble
Good morning! Welcome to day two of Test four and, for the first time this series, it’s all about Joe Root – in a good way. A sublime Test century, complete with subdued celebration, his tenth against India, and his 31st in all, added up to a promising start for England in the end – from the chaos of 112 for five just before lunch, to 302-7 at stumps.
The pitch, which raged in the morning session, calmed as the day stretched – how it behaves on Saturday will map out the course of the match. There is no Bumrah, but Akash Deep impressed on debut – and much depends on how quickly India can rattle through the tail on Saturday morning. We’ll be here for the start of play at 4am GMT. Please join us.
