The UK Babe Channels Forum

England squad for the 1st Test:
Alastair Cook (capt), Sam Robson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Matt Prior, Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Liam Plunkett, James Anderson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

Basically we have the same 12 who were selected for the 2 tests against Sri Lanka with the addition of Ben Stokes.

Cook doesn't seem to have much faith in the bowling of Moeen Ali, which makes England rather lacking in the spin department.

India close the first day of the first test at Trent Bridge on 259/4 with Vijay 122 not out. With the football World Cup going on am I the only one here left watching the cricket?

I apologise for abandoning the cricket, but I'm here now anyway! Lunch on the second day sees India 342/5. At least England have got Vijay out for 146, but in 119 overs we've only seen 13 overs of spin, which demonstrates again as you mentioned that Cook doesn't have much faith in Moeen Ali.

Well England took 4 wickets for 4 runs after lunch, only to see India respond with a last wicket stand of 111. I can't see how this lack of a frontline spinner problem is going to go away, although it was Ali who eventually took the final Indian wicket.

England's one change for this match was Stokes for Jordan and Stokes took a couple of wickets in India's innings and finished with a respectable 2/81 in 34 overs. Batting didn't go so well for him though and with Stokes out second ball for a duck during a middle order collapse England are tottering on 202/7 and need 56 to save the follow on. Root is still there though, having made a patient 13 not out as wickets have fallen around him.

Drama at the test! For the first time in history a Test match has seen 2 last wicket pairs put on century partnerships.

England started the 4th day trailing by 105 with just 1 wicket remaining. When they lost that wicket in the 5th over after lunch they were leading by 39, after Joe Root and James Anderson extended their partnership to 198, a Test record for the 10th wicket. Root was left 154 not out.

Jimmy Anderson scored 81 - his previous highest Test score was 34. It was the first time he had reached 50 in any form of cricket - his previous best was an unbeaten 49 made for Burnley against Todmorden 13 years ago.

Currently the score is India are 328-7 leading England by 289 ahead with young Binny - on debut - on 73 not out. So a draw is on the cards?

I thought the inclusion of Simon Kerrigan for Lord's is an interesting but I thought last night Michael Vaughan was little harsh on him on 5 live. It does however who do you leave out to accommodate him?