Key events
31st over: England 120-5 (Stokes 18, Smith 19) Stokes waits for a wider delivery from Siraj and flashes it safely behind square for four. The next ball is fuller and driven handsomely through extra cover for four. England are on the charge.
30th over: England 111-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 18) Yeah, England aren’t saving this game. Ravindra Jadeja’s first over is full of menace, with the ball spitting repeatedly at the left-handed Stokes from well outside off stump. Stokes fences one delivery short of the fielders on the leg side and inside edges another onto the pad.
29th over: England 110-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 17) Mohammed Siraj replaces Krishna, who bowled an interrogative spell of 6-2-14-0, and starts with a maiden to Stokes. I missed most of it because I was replying to this email.
“Harry Brook’s dismissal prompted me do a bit of research on Statsguru,” says James Brough. “I was rather amazed to see how badly he does in the 4th innings of tests. First innings, he averages 69, second innings 79, third innings 53 and fourth innings – just short of 19. This prompts a few questions. Why would his fourth innings figures be so bad? Are there others with such a pronounced fourth innings drop? And isn’t this rather a handicap for a team that likes chasing?”
That’s a very good spot. You can get a drop-offt like that – Steve Waugh’s figures were 62, 59, 36, 26, Steve Smith’s 83, 51, 41 and 31 – but the point about chasing is especially pertinent. At this stage it feels like a curiosity rather than a confirmed weakness.
Brook has batted only eight times in the fourth innings, and in one of those he was run out without facing in Wellington. As regular readers will know, I’m one of life’s optimists so I’d rather dwell on his best fourth-innings knock: the matchwinning 75 against Australia at Headingley two years ago.
Drinks: India closing in on spectacular victory
28th over: England 110-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 17) Smith’s game is based on reversing pressure through boundaries so he’s surely suffering a bit of cognitive dissonance. Unless I’ve misunderstood the concept for the 487th time in my life.
Smith drives Deep pleasantly for two and then handsomely for four through mid-off. If there were power rankings of England’s batters, based on ability and form, Smith would be no lower than fourth. Not sure what point I’m trying to make here, and it’ll have to wait because that’s drinks.
“Whilst recognising the fine work of the groundstaff today, can we also acknowledge the tremendous advances in ground drainage over the last decade or two?” says Brian Withington. “I suspect much is owed to advances driven by the advent of Premiership football, with the premium on maintaining a quality, playable surface all year round, but due praise to ECB et al for the necessary investments (which have even extended to our local Knowle & Dorridge CC).”
Yep, great point. With the same downpour 30 years ago there would probably have been a start of around 3pm. Tomorrow.
27th over: England 104-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 11) Stokes is largely intent of survival against Krishna. He plays one pleasant cover drive but doesn’t beat Jaiswal on the edge of the circle. Another maiden from Krishna, ending in a surprise yorker that Stokes defends with authority. Excellent cricket.
“So if Deep and Siraj continue this way and grab all 20 wickets between them, will India be squeezing in Bumrah as their first change bowler for Lord’s?” says Geoff Wignall. “Or would it be foolish to change a winning team?”
Arf. They will have a decision about who takes the new ball. I assumed it would be Bumrah and Deep but last night’s Wisden podcast made a compelling case for using Bumrah in the Pat Cummins role, ie first change.
26th over: England 104-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 11) “Are they bowling on a different pitch?” asks Nasser Hussain when Smith gropes at fresh air. Thankfully for him, the latest Deep nipbacker bounced just over the stumps. Smith is beaten by another beauty later in the over.
Before this game, many of us thought Kuldeep was the key to India’s chances of victory. We got the Kul bit wrong. This is a real-time seam-bowling masterclass.
25th over: England 100-5 (Stokes 10, Smith 9) Stokes has the temperament and technique to bat all day, but he’s completely out of form and is getting worked over by Krishna. An accurate, hostile over concludes with a nipbacker that beats Stokes’ work to leg and hits him high on the back leg. No LBW appeal as it was going over. But it was a lovely over and Krishna has Stokes very much in his sights.
This is a cracking stat from our friend and colleague Tim de Lisle. “It feels as if India’s new-ball bowlers have been twice as incisive as England’s, and the series stats confirm it. But with the change bowlers (all of them), the contrast is even more stark – and it’s the other way round.”
Opening bowlers
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England: 9 wickets at 67
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India: 22 at 24
Rest of the attack
24th over: England 98-5 (Stokes 8, Smith 9) Smith is magnetised towards a wider delivery from Deep that bounces past the edge. It’s tough to know when to play or leave because, as Nasser Hussain points out on Sky, Smith has just seen Brook fall to an 85mph off-break.
Stokes has a similar dilemma. He tries to leave Deep, is too late on the non-shot and deflects the ball just past the stumps. Just past. An eventful over concludes with a freebie to fine leg for Smith.
“I know Gill has broken a gazillion records this game,” says Anand. “However, should India win, shouldn’t they consider Akash for player of the match? Especially on this pitch! I want more bowlers to be recognised in the modern game given that there are many things against them.”
Good luck with that. Broadly I agree with you, though, and if Deep gets a ten-for it’d be nice to have a shared POTM award.
23rd over: England 92-5 (Stokes 7, Smith 4) Krishna strays onto the pads of Stokes, who knows that the least little turn of the wrists will get the job done. It was a back foot no-ball, though Stokes didn’t know that as he flicked it through midwicket for four.
22nd over: England 87-5 (Stokes 3, Smith 4) The Sky commentators highlight that Deep’s dismissal of Brook was made even better by the set-up: outswinger, outswinger, outswinger, fade to black.
The new batter Jamie Smith gets off the mark with an offensively good back-foot drive for four. Nervous, lad?
“Favourite cricket writing,” begins Colum Farrelly. “You might share this fine piece from 2005 by Paul Doyle. What became of Mr Doyle, by the way?”
He’s doing fine. I won’t go int into specifics as he’s a very private man, and he could spark me out with one punch, but we chat maybe once a month and he’s always in good form. I wish he’d write more, mainly for selfish reasons as he’s my favourite football writer in the world. You can hear him occasionally on the Nessun Dorma podcast.
This is the dictionary definition of unplayable, a good length ball that jagged back violently off the seam to hit Brook on the bone of the back knee. As he limped away in pain, Chris Gaffaney’s gave him out LBW.
Brook reviewed, hoping height might save him. Not this time. It was umpire’s call and Brook has gone. Akash Deep is having the game of his life: he’s taken eight wickets now, including Duckett, Pope and Brook in both innings.
WICKET! England 83-5 (Brook LBW b Deep 23)
Another devastating delivery from Akash Deep!
21st over: England 83-4 (Brook 23, Stokes 2) As things stand Krishna is likely to miss out on Lord’s. But he’s bowling his best spell at the series, partly because England’s relative caution has allowed him to relax and settle into a rhythm. Stokes doubles over after being hit in the stomach by a nipbacker.
India have started superbly. Their line is so aggressive, making the batters play at pretty much everything.
20th over: England 83-4 (Brook 23, Stokes 2) Ben Stokes gets off a king pair, and a pair, by flicking his first ball for two.
Fabulous work from Akash Deep. He has seven wickets in the match, the same as Siraj – but all bar one have been in England’s top five. The timing and manner of his wickets has also been vital, especially Brook in the first innings and Root in the second.
Ollie Pope has fallen to an excellent delivery from Deep. It jagged back sharply and bounced as Pope lunged forward defensively. I’m not sure what the ball hit – bat, shoulder, one or the other – but it deflected back onto the stumps.
WICKET! England 80-4 (Pope b Deep 24)
Akash Deep is delivering from both ends!
19th over: England 80-3 (Pope 24, Brook 23) Krishna continues – and demonstrates why he’s been preferred to Siraj with a sharp lifter that hits Brook on the glove. He played it well but it was a nasty delivery.
A poor delivery, short and wide, is flashed between gully and backward point for four by Brook. Although England will temper their approach today, they will still look to score runs for one very simple reason: none of us can survive without oxygen.
“No discussion about great cricketing similes or metaphors,” begins Ben Heywood, “could be complete without this Barney banger:
It was Bresnan who made the early breakthrough on his return to the team running in as ever with that sense of weaving, lop-sided determination, resembling in his run up a man very determinedly sheltering his kebab while sprinting full pelt for the last (night) bus.
“I grit my teeth in admiration that I could never come up with something so brilliant.”
You and the rest of us.
18th over: England 74-3 (Pope 24, Brook 17) This is a bit odd. There’s no change of ends between Deep and Siraj, which means Deep won’t return to the end from which he dismissed Duckett and Root yesterday. His first over of the day is accurate, making the batters play at everything, but without the kind of movement that has made so dangerous in this game.
“Can we talk about this fourth-innings park-the-bus effort?” asks Adam Simpson.
That’s a great shout. AB de Villiers was a great stonewaller hiding in plain sight. At Adelaide in 2012 he made 33 from 220 balls to help secure a famous draw against Australia. Less than a week later he stroked 169 from 184 at Perth to help win the series. Now that’s what I call genius.
17th over: England 73-3 (Pope 24, Brook 16) Prasidh Krishna opens the bowling, though the consensus is that he’ll bowl just one over to allow Deep and Siraj to change ends from last night. Krishna, who had a nice rhythm yesterday evening, continues that with a testing over to Pope.
The sun is shining as the players stroll on the field. Big first hour coming up, some might say Brobdingnagian. England can probably only afford to lose one wicket before lunch.
The revised hours of play
There are 80 overs to be bowled, which means India could get as many as 16 with the second new ball. Crucially, there’s unlikely to be any more rain.
Play will restart at 12.40pm
Flippin’ hell, I didn’t see that coming. Extraordinary work from the Edgbaston groundstaff.
The importance of the second new ball
This has been a new-ball wicket throughout, particularly when England have been batting. The amount of time India get with the second new ball – if any – could be decisive.
The rain delay also increases the importance of the first hour when the players do get on the field. The first new ball is 16 overs old; on Friday morning Joe Root and Ben Stokes fell in the 22nd over, although Root’s dismissal had nothing to do the age of the ball.
The other 11 wickets India have taken in this game were all when the ball was no more than 11 overs old.
The good old stonewall
When The Nightwatchman, the Wisden quarterly that provides a home for longform, discursive writing, was launched back in 2014, I was invited to desecrate the first issue with an essay on the joy of the stonewall.
I have no idea how it holds up, or whether used language that would and indeed will lead to cancellation in 2025. But with the way England play, this might be the only chance I’ll get to link to it. So here it is.
“Metaphor, Jim”
“It’s not cricket (ha) but I adore Barney Ronay’s description of James Milner racing up and down England’s right flank,” begins Max Williams.
A man very stubbornly doing lengths of a swimming pool while a water polo match goes on all around him.
“Not only a brilliant image but totally encapsulates Milner as a player and Roy Hodgson’s England, a side whose perspiration far outweighed their inspiration. Jonny Liew has some bangers as well – I’ll doubtless think of one the moment I press send on this email.”
It’s fair to assume there will be no play before lunch. Sky are speculating about a 2pm start with around 70 overs to bowl.
That would mean a total of 86 overs in the innings – and only six with the second new ball, which is significant on this pitch. England have been given a lifeline.
It’s raining again
This is turning into a nightmare for India. Not only are they in danger of missing out on a richly deserved victory, they will be hammered for their delayed declaration should that happen.
“My favourite ever piece of cricket writing (possibly all sport writing) is Andy Bull’s piece on the 1936 Melbourne Ashes Test,” writes Paul Fields. “Wonderful stuff.”
Zak Crawley: a work of art
“While it’s raining, can we take a moment to admire yesterday’s photo of Zak Crawley, kneeling in pain, resting his hands on his bat,” writes Stephen Nichols. “Hang it in an art gallery, next to a painting of a chivalrous knight, kneeling in prayer before battle. Well done Matt West, it’s a work of art!”
Brian Withington has tweaked the last line of Swathi’s ode to Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, your batting is so sublime
And you are in a zone that is beyond prime
The caress through the covers
Is a treat for purists and lovers
One question, have you left enough time?
“While it’s raining, I thought there would be some time for philosophical discussions with a warm drink of choice,” says Anand. “If England bat sensibly, calculate risks and know when to shut shop, is it really Bazball?
“My son taught me about this Ship of Theseus and Bazball seems to be at this philosophical state at the moment.”
Anand, what have you done to my inbox?! This is the official definition of Bazball in the Collins Dictionary:
a style of test cricket in which the batting side attempts to gain the initiative by playing in a highly aggressive manner
I’m not sure about that definition. I prefer Dinesh Karthik’s, along the lines of “It’s about being the best version of yourself.” If Harry Brook bats all day for a match-saving 72 not out, that’s a pretty good version.
The Film Room latest
This is a joy; I can’t recommend it enough. The balance of insight, humour and warmth is perfect. As I type they’re showing Nasser’s career-changing century, which included a huge let-off when he gloved Javagal Srinath down the leg side on 14.
Just before that, a short ball was dug in and Nasser launched into a hook. “Don’t bowl there to me…” said Nasser, a split-second before the ball went straight up in the air and somehow landed between two fielders.
Sky are filling the rain break with an episode of The Film Room, in which Mike Atherton, Dominic Cork and Nasser Hussain rewatch highlights of Nasser’s breakthrough Test against India at Edgbaston in 1996. I’ve already had three genuinely belly laughs; it’s brilliant.
“Great piece by Andy Bull,” says Michael White. “My favourite bit was ‘breaking Test records like they are plates at a Greek wedding’. I don’t know what it is about cricket, P G Wodehouse and Raymond Chandler, but they do produce the best similes.
“One I treasure (from January 2022) by Barney Ronay is «“Jos Buttler, who crouches for every ball with the look of a laudanum-addled poet splayed in his garret composing his latest ode to death. Can any OBOers top that?”
I sure can’t. I love Andy so much, as a bloke and a writer. Whenever I read him I think of that old David Gower quote: “It’s hard work making batting look effortless.”
There’s good news or bad news, depending how you view the world. The rain is getting heavier again and there’s now a fair possibility of an early lunch at 12.30pm. The plot thickens.
Nothing is happening so I’m going to grab a coffee. In the meantime, here’s Geoff Lemon with the latest from Australia’s tour of the Caribbean.
The rain has eased so the groundstaff are getting to work. It’s still spitting and there’s been no discussion of a potential start time. Could be at least an hour – the outfield looks sodden.
Swathi has written another ode to Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill, your batting is so sublime
And you are in a zone that is beyond prime
The caress through the covers
Is a treat for purists and lovers
To you, I raise this toast of gin and lime
“To which a friend said: ‘With Gill’s current form you will be drinking a lot of gin.’”
Hic hic, hooray!
There was quite a downpour at Edgbaston, much heavier than expected. India shouldn’t be worried at this stage: the drainage is excellent and the forecast is better for the rest of the day.
He’s a class act, whose timeless style is an antidote to modern life. But enough about Andy Bull – here he is paying tribute to Shubman Gill.
Start delayed due to rain
England fans, I hope you’re proud of your cowardice. It’s raining at Edgbaston and the covers are on.
“Hi Rob,” begins Andrew Goudie. “Are we likely to have an on-time start?” And have India confirmed that Bumrah will play at Lord’s? Here’s the overseas TMS link.”
No (because it’s just starting raining), no (but he will), thank you.
“Yesterday really took me back,” writes Will Vignoles. “An opponent ruthlessly putting the foot on the throat before making a mockery of talk of roads by peeling off a succession of jaffas. Who doesn’t love a bit of nostalgia!”
Weather watch
There’s a chance of showers this morning but I suspect no more than 10-15 overs will be lost. England need to do this off their own ideally dead bat.
Preamble
Maturity comes in many forms, from sober wardrobes to sensible haircuts to the uncomplaining recognition that life is inherently futile and we’re all going to die. The same is true for this England cricket team.
At Headingley they chased 371 in a calculated manner that would have been impossible three years ago, but the process of maturity never really stops. Twelve days on from that run-chase, England have an even more difficult task: batting out the final day to secure a result they have previously disdained.
England will resume on 72 for 3, needing a further 536 runs to win, after losing both openers and Joe Root last night during a sizzling new-ball burst from Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. An old-school batting line-up would fancy their chances of survival but England haven’t tried to bat for a draw in almost four years. You can’t just press a button to go into Defensive Mode.
A heavy, humbling defeat – or, from the Indian perspective, a huge, richly deserved victory – is the likeliest scenario. But if England grind out a draw, the cricket world will see them through different-eyes. And nobody will be in any doubt that Team Bazball has matured.
