International cricket thread

Bumble was on Talksport a few days saying the pitch won't break up and he could see only a draw. Said he watched every game at Old Trafford this year and they could play another game on it next week. Looks like he was right.

There was nothing wrong with the timing of the declaration. He's given his team 140+ overs to bowl out a side, which should be ample, but the bowlers haven't delivered.

Stokes looking to shake hands on a draw at drinks. Indians not ready. Silly from Stokes, one Indian batsman 11 short of a century and the other 20.

A full verbal row now 😅. Not a fan of this Indian team or should I say some of the personalities in it…but ffs they are entitled to their milestones. Stokes 🙄

It's all surreal now. Game is a draw - Stokes offered his hand rejected by India, it can only be to allow Jadeja and Sundar get a century. The TMS English commentators not happy 🤣 Stokes has Brook and Root bowling to make a point.

Anyway, really spirited performance by the India batters to get this draw, I really didn't see it, they were so demoralised at the end of day 3. England's bowlers were really not at it. England really dependent on Stoke's bowling and at times he seemed in real pain today. Jadeja gets his 100 and the English players stoically don't applaud!

Chasing personal milestones cost India dearly at Lord's with Pant getting run out. India are the worst for it. Even see it in the IPL them slowing down to make sure they get it. Today was only about saving the game so you'd think they'd take the first opportunity to walk off instead of looking after their stats.

But they weren't chasing personal milestones today, it was coincidental how it happened. I was happy for Sundar, he stepped up with the ball the other day despite being under utilised by Gill. He batted bravely and there was a bit of abuse from the crowd and and a bit of 'chirping' from some of the England players - all part of the game of course but I wouldn't be surprised if that was in part what was in Gill's mind at the end.

Sets up the Oval nicely.

Stokes couldn't ask before that. After the start of the final hour is when they can offer to stop.

Job done, they could have shook hands and celebrate two great innings that keep them alive in the series. Instead they made England keep bowling so they could get their personal milestone. Declaration bowling from Brook cheapened them anyway.

India should respect the game and not indulge like that like. Game was over, didn't need such a farcical end just for two individuals to get a personal milestone. Great innings but meaningless hundreds because it was declaration bowling.

They all shook hands afterwards, seen a video of Stokes shaking their hands.

Sundar, in particular, has been so close to getting his maiden test century but has been let down by having to bat so often with the tail. He was perfectly entitled to stay out and get that century yesterday. There is no disrespect to the game, nothing in the laws that say a team has to accept the fielding teams offer to walk off. Test hundreds are never meaningless, in the same way that five and ten wicket hauls are not meaningless. The only farce on offer in that last hour was from England.

I think they were perfectly entitled to get their tons, and England would have done exactly the same if circumstances were reversed. In England's innings, Carse stayed on when Stokes got out despite Stokes indicating they walk off together, as he clearly wanted to get a fifty. Stokes may not be interested in personal milestones but others are. If he was batting alongside someone chasing their maiden ton I doubt he'd have shaken hands and would instead have helped see them over the line.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jul/29/india-head-coach-clashes-with-oval-staff-before-fifth-test-as-tempers-flare-cricket

Agro at the Oval before the start of the test 😅….

The comment “ you are just the groundsman ..” and the finger pointing and general aggressive demeanour is really just another example of how thoroughly dislikable some of this India group are.. seem to engage in conflict, wherever they are…. Watch the video…

This in addition to conflict with opponents from multiple teams, press, umpires and now ground staff…

Advantage India looking at that team sheet. Stokes was batting and bowling better than ever and of course he over done it. Overton in just to lengthen the batting, big lump but not the most threatened bowler. Tongue is good against the tail but will he get at the tail?

Dawson didn't take his chance. Saw Stokes talking to him looking at the foot holes and he couldn't hit them. Wouldn't bowl around the wicket when asked. Bashir will sleep easier now that threat is gone.

I presume Bethell will just slot in at 6 in the batting lineup to replace Stokes or do they want him at 3 again and push everyone else down a place in the order ?

Certainly England had to make some calls but losing Stokes is a huge blow to them. Stokes at the press conference was saying that they probably need pace more than spin at the Oval so that leaves out Dawson. Dawson had control at Manchester, but just didn't have any oomph to his bowling albeit the pitch was just a slab of concrete. At 35, it's hard to see him getting a game again.

Bethell is a decent one to bring in at 6 and he will probably bowl a few overs alongside Root when they need to rest the seamers. He has hardly played this year though despite being fully fit and only playing a few T20 games here and there isn't going to do much for his development.

England got what they needed from Archer in the series and there was no point in over bowling him and risking injury again. Carse was poor in Manchester and clearly burnt out. Overton and Tongue are average bowlers but are at least fresh and should be able to bowl long spells.

Hopefully the pitch at the Oval offers more for the bowler. Other than the final couple of days at Lord, it's been a test series dominated by the bat which has gotten very monotonous.

Tongue is Notts but it's a good point. Wisden's latest podcast says if the pitch has its usual pace and carry they should do well with their natural length. Also pointed out Surrey have won the three championships on the bounce without playing a spinner.

Everyone bowls first at the Oval nowadays so we'll see if India pay as much attention to such stats as England clearly do if Gill finally wins a toss.