[deathwalkr]

3 and a half men?

Too bad the cookie is crumbling up

[It's Magic]

The pitch behaved very differently from yesterday.

Yesterday, it felt flat and offered minimal movement or bounce for the bowlers. But today, the combination of moisture and cloud cover (as reported) suddenly favoured the bowlers. The ball was swinging, making batting much harder.

Good thing we batted first.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by It's Magic

Yesterday, it felt flat and offered minimal movement or bounce for the bowlers. But today, the combination of moisture and cloud cover (as reported) suddenly favoured the bowlers. The ball was swinging, making batting much harder.

That’s why it’s generally said, in England you have to play conditions, it was astonishing to see stokes bowling first after winning the toss.

But generally Leeds wicket is a batting paradise. It’s a game of patience from now on, I feel this game will go down the wire on 5th day. Dropping a catch is rubbing salt on the wound, I’m sure Jadeja will be counting Duckett’s score now !!

[Bhargav7]

Absolute rubbish fielding by Team India. Six catches dropped and a wicket of noball.

This has to be the most sloppy display in the recent past.

[NomadSK]

Evenly poised test at the end of day 3.

Sai again giving up his wicket to stokes, looks like his bunny. KL looking at his best with the cover drives.

Why was Shardul in the team, to bowl only 6 overs out of 100 odd over bowled by the team, poor decision by captain & coach.

India would want to score around 400 in 3rd innings on this flat wicket to feel safe and try to find a win.

I hope dropping 5-6 catches will not be the reason for dropping the match.

All in all interesting test game unfolding.

[Shumi_21]

Bumrah is otherworldly! Ended up with a 5 wicket haul despite 4 catches being dropped off him and a wicket off a no ball.

Hopefully the middle and lower order stands up after the collapse in the first innings.

[AtheK]

Back to back Centuries from pant, take a bow man, you are amazing in tests.

KL Rahul what a brilliant knock, the new Era has begun.

On a lighter note " Thank You RCB for getting Pant back in form and giving him all the confidence before test series. Best Team for a Reason"

[landcruiser123]

Not sure I agree with the statement "the tail let us down." IMHO, any runs scored by tailenders should be considered a bonus.

That being said, when bowling abilities are equal (=same caliber), batting ability can decide which bowler gets selected.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by landcruiser123

Not sure I agree with the statement "the tail let us down." IMHO, any runs scored by tailenders should be considered a bonus.

That being said, when bowling abilities are equal (=same caliber), batting ability can decide which bowler gets selected.

Well one can blame the tail when it starts at number 5.

The last 5 have provided with 29 runs in the 2nd innings and had a similar glorious performance in the first.

Similarly India is playing with one bowler. Bumrah 5 for 83 (with 5 dropped catches) and the remaining 5 for 382. It doesn't work that way.

[Asish_VK]

India’s tail continues to be a major vulnerability.

While bowling, we often struggle to wrap up the opposition’s innings, conceding crucial lower-order partnerships. Conversely, when we bat, our own tail (now seemingly starting as early as the sixth wicket) collapses with little resistance or contribution.

Just a few years ago, we witnessed valuable lower-order efforts from players like Anil Kumble, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, and even Jasprit Bumrah. That resilience is now noticeably missing.

[Oxy]

I am hearing Rishabh Pant is going to be handed a one match ban, which means he won't be playing the next test. This is because of a disciplinary issue where he argued with the umpire and threw the ball aggressively on the ground during an animated discussion on day 3 of this test.

I really hope we win today. There are going to be showers so it's going to be tough for the English to chase this total considering potential time loss.

Not sure why Shardul was selected here if the captain doesn't trust him with the ball. Might as well could have gone with Kuldeep.

[SoumenD]

Oh man, its painful to watch how toothless our bowling looks except Bumrah. Infact even Bumrah seems a little disappointed with the lack of support from other bowlers.

Will be a shame if we loose this one. Hope the ball change gives some breakthrough before lunch.

BTW just realised, after a long time a test match is going into day-5 and its still anybody's game.

[NPV]

The way England are playing now, this first test could be theirs by end of day. Would be sad to see India lose despite batting and bowling well, a loss that would definitely be attributable to bad fielding!
Catches win matches and this will be the hard lesson that the team will learn if they lose today.

[creative420]

This match is a goner. 254 in 66 over with all 10 wickets left.

Arshdeep should get a chance. IMO he has a better bowling range than Siraj and Prasidh.

And maybe Washy instead of Shardul. He needs to play for extended time with Ash gone and Jadeja on getting older. I know we need a 4th seamer, but both Shardul and Nitesh’s bowling is so tame.

[Eddy]

England firmly ahead now. I don't think we have the bowling or catching to grab 10 wickets in two sessions.