It wouldn't really though would it? Their bowling attack is class and their batsmen are better than ours. We basically have 3 and a half good batsmen who might do something. If Stokes stopped being a plonker we'd have 4.
English cricket thread
- Thread starter Samid
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Well it would?
You try and bowl India out for sub 200 second innings and have another cracking chase on the cards.
Is this a new style in test cricket? Batman from both side scoring at almost 100 strike rate. Or nobody is confident that they can survive 90 overs so just play T20 after the ball gets old 
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.Not happening though is it? Their batting lineup is too deep. 50 run lead wouldn't be great but it would give you some hope. 100 would be insurmountable.
I’d argue that they are confident once the ball gets old, hence the style of play. Hard to say if something is changing quite yet or if it’s the pitches and the Dukes ball this year enabling this approach.Is this a new style in test cricket? Batman from both side scoring at almost 100 strike rate. Or nobody is confident that they can survive 90 overs so just play T20 after the ball gets old
If you say so.
Just enjoy the ride. There’s a good chance it’ll be a comfortable victory for India but England have dug themselves out of similar positions recently, so there’s always a chance.
That was horrendous by stokes.
I’m not sure I think as highly of this India batting lineup as you. Aside Pant it doesn’t worry me too much at all, he can change a game entirely in an hour or so, plus potential for runs at the back end with our problems against the tail.
Obviously there’s a fair few who can hold up an end, but I don’t really see many big runs in there
Kohli really was difficult to like when he was getting runs but now he is just insufferable
We need to whittle this down to a 100 run lead and then bowl much better. That will also bring the draw into play if there is more rain about. If we give up a huge lead we're in big trouble.
I enjoy his passion for the game. I think it’s part of the reason he’s burned out a bit as a batsman mind you but I definitely think it’s been central to driving this Indian pace attack to the level it is now at.
No rain forecast at all
Yea. On average it’s not a strong batting lineup, especially with two of the best batters missing. We do have talented players who can take the game away but definitely can be controlled with good bowling.
India might have a dubious batting lineup by their standards but I think our bowling attack is also questionable with Broad scarcely looking at his best this summer and it's hard to expect Leach to be a big threat against India. He won't get those cheap wickets he got versus NZ. We definitely can't afford a big lead.
Think the UK is due good weather after today. Especially with the rate that the two teams have been scoring, I don’t think a draw will come into it.
Even this rain isn't forecast
Controlled to less than 200 in an innings like whoever it was suggested? Not for me. Good players all the way down to 8/9.
Yeah, it's never a draw with full days play. But you never know. It only comes into it if there are showers and we cut the lead so that India feel compelled to set a big target due to our recent chasing.
Nah I think the passion thing is overplayed. Most sportsmen at the top level are hyper competitive & passionate but not everyone behaves the way he does
It manifests differently in everyone and adds to the rich fabric of the game. If everyone was stoic and cold it would be very boring.
Back on In 10 mins and should in theory have no more interruptions for the rest of the Test.
Yes he overdoes but he is what he is. I can understand for a rival fan that can be frustrating
I reckon he’d have had 4 in 4 had New Zealand set another 50 on top of the last chase. One of the great purple patches by any English batsman.
He’ll be scary in the 100 if he’s playing
A lot of no-balls this test.
I still don't get why India haven't played Bhuvneshwar Kumar in England. He's by far their best bowler in these conditions
This is incredible form from Bairstow. Struggling to think of a better purple patch for England in recent times.
Still need to get the lead down to at least 100 to stand a chance though
Still need to get the lead down to at least 100 to stand a chance though
Especially if you are picking Thakur as your 4th seemer.
Great knock Jonny but we are 100 short.
Kohli is such a knobhead
Kohli can’t help himself 
You’d think he’d want to pick the brain of somebody who knows how to score centuriesKohli can’t help himself
No one is getting his hand-eye coordination back.
Kohli the batsman has been done for years.
Good fightback from the position we were in overnight but I don't think we've done enough.
Need a huge effort with the ball to not be chasing 350+ in the final innings.
Need a huge effort with the ball to not be chasing 350+ in the final innings.
Soft signal fecked us there.
That bounced clear as day
I don't think we're scoring more than 200 now
Pitch looks good to me.
Think we will put on 250 minimum