International cricket thread

India far better after lunch. Pope gone now, 147/3. Brook got away with one there playing a poor shot. England still well on top.

Good fight back from India.

Test is moving fast. Enjoyable to see the bowlers on top after all the toil they had to put in during the series.

All over. England lead by 23. This is a big opportunity for India batting conditions are due to be good tomorrow. They need to bat through this evening sensiblly. If England take 2-3 quick wickets, it'll be very hard for India to save the series.

Dawson drops a dolly. Can say what you want about the light etc but he didn’t have to move his feet an inch and it goes through his hands. As I type Crawley drops another one, a more difficult chance but that’s three gone down in this innings.

Seeing the replays, two gimmies and one slightly challenging one.

think if you are an Indian batsman, trying to play yourself in, hot and overcast conditions, you’d be licking your lips at the prospect of Jacob Bethell bowling the first or second over of the day…bizarre captaincy, especially with a night watchman, a genuine number 9 out there.

Beginning to look ominous for England. Lead is 140 - 8 wickets in hand. They've had chances but taken none of them. Loads of time in the game, though the weather isn't great on Monday. They're really missing Woakes. The only thing is they only need a draw, India have to win, so India do need to push on at some point to build a big lead, get England in and time to bowl them out. Big few days ahead.

English bowlers just can’t seem to find that good fourth stump channel. Again as I type, harmless full delivery down leg. More verbals as the teams leave the field for lunch.

Interesting a couple of overs ago, Root jogged over to Pope, slightly animated, gesturing and shaking his head. Wonder if the common sense thing might have been to revert back to Root as captain…given the importance of this test.

Big wicket 1st ball after lunch. Gill gone. Lead 166..

nope, Brook now drops Nair…..4th dropped catch of the innings.. ohhh but not costly as Smith takes a good catch off Atkinsons bowling to get Nair. Now, crucial session.

Duckett drops Jaiswal, tough chance though… need to be better taking these chances.

what’s with all the short stuff ? And leg side deliveries ?….6’s a plenty, T20 mode for Sundar, bowl full and straight !

Poor execution by the bowlers and poor captaincy by Pope. Now no slips and field spread far and wide.. speaking of wide.. Tonge bowls two wides in a row .. more deliveries down leg, jeez.

Jeeez short and more 6’s

Loads of time for England, notwithstanding some weather about tomorrow and Monday. They'll go for it I suspect, they can afford to draw whereas India have to win.

second last ball of the day and Siraj bowls Crawley. Excellent delivery but on first watch a tired looking shot I thought but maybe I’m wrong, that swung late and by some distance…

See it again here….

India have started really well. Every ball on the money. England hanging in there, taking singles well. If England get these, it will be by far the best of the three 370 chases against India. Even though Bumrah bowled in the other two, pitch is far more challenging here.

They probably should have gone to spin for the half hour before lunch.