England v India 2025- Test Match Series

Buckets needed at the Oval.

Dropped catches are hurting England as the 4th one in the innings goes down this morning.

(01-08-2025 11:01 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  [quote='Boomerangutangangbang' pid='2970548' dateline='1753954818']
England v India 5th Test The Oval Day 3 Close
Toss - England elected to field
India 224 (69.4 overs) Nair 57 Sudharsan 38 Washington 26 Atkinson 5-33 Tongue 3-53
England 247 (51.2 overs) Crawley 64 Brook 53 Duckett 43 Root 29 Pope 22 Siraj 4-86 Krishna 4-62
India 396 (88 overs) Jaiswal 118 Akash 66 Jadeja 53 Washington 53 Jurel 34 Tongue 5-125 Atkinson 3-127 Overton 2-96
England 50-1 (13.5 overs) Duckett 34 no
Target 374

The stat at the start of play:

Of the players on the pitch the bowler with the most wickets was Joe Root.

And I see that the bucket hasn't arrived yet.

^^ You can put a different spin on the very same stats, but England got the 3rd innings of the match tactically wrong. They went all in on the 3 man pace attack constantly asking them to go back to the well, the bucket was empty at times, the strong India batting line-up were never going to crumble. More faith should've been put in Root & Bethell. I'd have rotated the quicks in short 3 or 4 over burst from one end as early as the 25th over, keeping 2 pace bowlers rested. Root & Bethell didn't get hammered, they were actually the 2 most economical bowlers. For some reason India haven't really tried to take down the slow bowlers in this series, not in a sustained assault. Bashir is inexperienced, Australia will not sit on him in the Ashes.
I feel a little sorry for Pope he has got dealt with a poor hand & then to lose Woakes compounded that. Atkinson was the standout in the 1st innings, but his economy was poor in the 3rd. Not all his fault just one 2nd team match since the Zimbabwe Test isn't enough. Overton the same, lucky to get a game, 2 Championship games all season just 30 overs only 2 wickets & an economy rate of 5.5 runs per over. He was asked to bowl 22 for England in one innings. Tongue is an enigma, he has at least got overs under his belt, mainly early season, he is raw & can spray it about but has wicket taking balls in him. In just 3 Test he is England's top wicket taker & has a knack of clearing up the lower order, something England struggle with. I see him as something of a luxury, but you could see him finding a place in a 4 man pace attack with a couple of more accurate & reliable bowlers.

India are strong favourites to bowl England out today. The pitch has something in it & overcast conditions are expected. The late wicket of Crawley yesterday will have given them a massive boost leading into day 4. If it got close would Woakes walk out to bat one handed if England only require a dozen or so runs.
My only hope is that England show some fight & get close to the target. Getting battered would take the shine off a decent series.

England really need some better bowling.
Archer's the only one who looks international quality.

In this series the guy who's looked like taking a wicket has been Ben Stokes. And he's been playing at 50% of his fit self.

(02-08-2025 12:23 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  

(01-08-2025 11:01 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  [quote='Boomerangutangangbang' pid='2970548' dateline='1753954818']
England v India 5th Test The Oval Day 4 Close
Toss - England elected to field
India 224 (69.4 overs) Nair 57 Sudharsan 38 Washington 26 Atkinson 5-33 Tongue 3-53
England 247 (51.2 overs) Crawley 64 Brook 53 Duckett 43 Root 29 Pope 22 Siraj 4-86 Krishna 4-62
India 396 (88 overs) Jaiswal 118 Akash 66 Jadeja 53 Washington 53 Jurel 34 Tongue 5-125 Atkinson 3-127 Overton 2-96
England 339-6 (76.2 overs) Brook 111 Root 105 Duckett 54 Pope 27 Krishna 3-109 Siraj 2-95
Target 374

By mid afternoon I was preparing to post about this being the only Test of the series to not go into day 5, but this is cricket & these things are never straight forward.
The Yorkshire combo of Root & Brook were seemingly in control, but after Brook had completed his hundred after being given a life on 19, he was looking to finish the game off in quick time. A lose shot in which he lost grip of his bat ended the partnership on 195, & despite Root going on to complete his own ton & pay tribute to Thorpey in the process, the runs dried up thereafter.
When bad light & rain forced play to finish early, it feels like India have a real chance. The old ball is moving & the 2nd new ball is 3.4 overs away. The word is that Woakes will bat, but England will hope he isn't required.

It's all set up for Woakes to come into bat with less than 10 to get.

It takes me back to when Colin Cowdrey came in to bat during the last over against the West Indies with a broken arm. But there were only 2 balls left and he was at the non batsman's end wearing just one glove.