Key events
Ali Martin’s report is here so it’s time for me to call it a day. India should still win this but the magic of Stokes’ team keeps you believing in all four results. I hope tomorrow’s another special one.
I imagine India won’t be satisfied with setting England anything other than a world-record target. But there’s also the question of time – do they even bother with a declaration tomorrow? Or do they try and get to the fifth morning and toy with England’s distaste of the draw?
A reminder that the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper still belongs to Betty Snowball for her 189 against New Zealand 90 years ago.
Harry Brook, 27 Tests into his career, is level with Jonathan Trott on nine hundreds for England. Jamie Smith has the potential to become his country’s greatest keeper-batter. Their partnership today felt like a change at the centre of English cricket – they’re playing in all three forms and will do for years to come.
The cricket never stops. Jim Wallace is on the tools for this one:
Stumps
13th over: India 64-1 (Nair 7, Rahul 28) This should be the last over of the day. Carse gets a bit of movement into Nair, who punches to mid-on. Nair misses a pull shot before a more sensible leave follows. He ducks under a bouncer to finish a crazy day of Test cricket. India have a whopping 244-run lead.
12th over: India 63-1 (Nair 7, Rahul 27) Another quiet one as Tongue gets six in at Nair.
11th over: India 63-1 (Nair 7, Rahul 27) Carse returns after a short break and gets Rahul to fend the ball away off the back foot. It’s the first maiden of the innings.
Mike Jakeman writes:
Fascinating test for Shubman Gill coming up. India will get a decent lead, but all of the usual guidance about setting targets and overs don’t really apply to this England team. He can’t tolerate losing the match from this position, but if he’s too conservative he won’t give his bowlers long enough to take ten wickets. Proper head scratcher for the young captain.
10th over: India 63-1 (Nair 7, Rahul 27) Tongue goes full and Rahul’s cover drive to the ropes is more of a forehand. Bet he’d make it to the second week at Wimbledon.
9th over: India 58-1 (Nair 7, Rahul 22) Karun Nair is still trying to establish himself in this Test XI. He got a start in the first innings and he ends Woakes’ over with a picturesque punch through mid-on for four.
Max Williams has an update:
Sean Smith, that’s a lovely offer, thank you. Pembroke looks relatively close to my hotel so a mid-afternoon visit isn’t impossible!
I’ve now been joined by a very nice man called Gerry who really knows his cricket – secretary for his local club. It’s basically the Barmy Army, Irish branch
Also. that’s an all-timer of a scoreboard
8th over: India 52-1 (Nair 1, Rahul 22) Josh Tongue, developing a reputation as a tail cleaner, adds a big top-order wicket to his collection.
WICKET! Jaiswal lbw Tongue 28 (India 51-1)
Carse is replaced by Tongue but he can’t turn the tap off. Jaiswal flicks off his pad to produce a boundary. But then a breakthrough! It ducks into Jaiswal’s pads from around the wicket and he misses with the flick. The finger goes up and India eventually review … but Stokes reckons they were too late to do it! He’s having a word with the umpires about it. They proceed with the review and Stokes doesn’t have to worry – it’s three reds.
Sky have shown replays – Stokes was right about Jaiswal missing the 15-second cutoff. Anyway, any serious drama is averted.
7th over: India 45-0 (Jaiswall 22, Rahul 22) India are going at six an over here, with Rahul punching again through point for four. He has these conditions nailed down, with Test hundreds across three tours of England. When Woakes overpitches, the straight drive comes out; when he goes short, Rahul’s response is a guided cut. Twelve off the over.
6th over: India 33-0 (Jaiswal 22, Rahul 10) Jaiswal drives a fuller Carse delivery and gets an edge to stay low and run away for four. It takes him to 2,000 Test runs – plenty more to follow. He clips through midwicket for another boundary moments later and the punishment continues with a pull to the ropes. Carse’s remain in search of some rhythm.
5th over: India 19-0 (Jaiswal 9, Rahul 9) England aren’t threatening all that much with this new ball. Rahul punches Woakes delightfully through point for another boundary.
4th over: India 15-0 (Jaiswal 9, Rahul 5) Jaiswal unleashes a trademark cut and Ollie Pope, at backward point, doesn’t see it clearly as the ball runs away to the rope.
Another partnership begins. How long will it last?
3rd over: India 11-0 (Jaiswal 5, Rahul 5) Woakes goes short but there’s not enough pace on it to intimidate Jaiswal, who monsters a pull shot for four.
2nd over: India 6-0 (Jaiswal 1, Rahul 5) Brydon Carse gets some serious lift off a length to surprise Rahul, the seam upright after pitching and beating the outside edge. A beautiful off drive for four follows, the fuller ball punished.
1st over: India 2-0 (Jaiswal 1, Rahul 1) Chris Woakes begins … and Yashasvi Jaiswal clips for one. KL Rahul plays the same shot to get himself moving.
Tom Bancroft issues an apology:
This is my fault. I listened to the whole Brook Smith partnership on the radio. Then decided to go to the tv for the new ball. Terrible decision and I get Brook out. Realising my mistake I then decide to go TV with sound off and radio back on. What an idiot. I get Woakes and Carse out. I’d like to apologise to everyone involved.
Sean Smith writes in with a very appealing invitation:
Max is more than welcome to join us at Pembroke Cricket Club tomorrow when our Men’s 3rds take on Ashbourne in Division 7. If he’s in luck he might spot an Irish international or two watching along the wall.
The Test match(es) will be on in the bar, which overlooks the pitch so Max can catch all the action!
What a weird, weird England innings. They were 27 for three after 10 overs with the first new ball. The second new ball resulted in 31 runs and five wickets. In the middle of that was a 303-run stand. Mohammed Siraj has his second six-wicket haul in Test cricket and, most importantly, India lead by 180.
England all out for 407!
WICKET! Bashir b Siraj 0 (England 407 all out)
Play resumes and Bashir is bowled by the nip-backer after leaving it well alone! Siraj finishes with six, Smith remains unbeaten on 184. Six ducks in a wild England innings.
Siraj greets Shoaib Bashir with a bumper that strikes the helmet – the bowler is instantly up at the other end to check the No 11 is OK. Time for a concussion test.
Amid all the action I forgot to mention that Smith now holds the record for the highest score by an England wicketkeeper in men’s Test cricket. He’s passed someone he knows well from Surrey: Alec Stewart.
Five wickets for Mohammed Siraj!
WICKET! Tongue lbw Siraj 0 (England 407-9)
Goner. Siraj goes full and straight, Tongue misses and the finger goes up. The batter reviews in hope but it’s smashing leg stump. Siraj has a well deserved five-wicket haul and India are closing in on that lead. England have five ducks in the innings!
89th over: England 407-8 (Smith 184, Tongue 0) Smith has to swing now. There are six men out in the deep for him and he pummels Deep down the ground for six! The field comes in for the penultimate ball to stop Smith nicking a single. He doesn’t bother with getting one – the over finishes with another straight blast, this time for four. Awesome ball-striking.
An update from our man in Dublin, Max Williams:
I’ve found a basement sports bar called Sinnett’s. There must be 20 screens down here; I did my best Hugh Grant – “terribly sorry, I don’t suppose…” – and they’ve kindly stuck it on in the corner. Indie landfill is blasting from the speaker directly above my head. Absolutely nobody is watching Wimbledon on the big screen but I won’t push my luck!
WICKET! Carse lbw Siraj 0 (England 396-8)
India review, hoping for an lbw to go their way against Brydon Carse … and it does! Carse had pad right next to bat, but there was no contact with the latter. Siraj’s delivery would have cannoned into the top of middle.
88th over: England 396-8 (Smith 174, Togue 0)
87th over: England 395-7 (Smith 173, Carse 0) What does Smith do now? He’s been patient for a while … but a counter could be on the way.
WICKET! Woakes c Nair b Deep 5 (England 395-7)
Deep gets one to woosh past Woakes’ outside edge. There’s not been any insane movement with this ball but just enough to force England into a period of survival. Woakes tries to break the pressure … but the drive produces an outside edge and it’s gobbled up at first slip!
86th over: England 395-6 (Smith 173, Woakes 5) Siraj, relentless and encouraged by the harder Dukes, keeps Smith stuck on 173. A rare maiden.
Tom Kingston writes in:
Long time reader and first time writer here.
Re Max Williams’ question, the key for watching cricket in Dublin is to just ask them to put on Sky Sports main event. Mentioning the C-word does us no favours. But once its on they won’t turn it off.
85th over: England 395-6 (Smith 173, Woakes 5) Deep goes short to Woakes, who plays it well enough, pulling away for one. The quick is going wide on the crease, and Smith nabs one to move to 173, a score of significance …
84th over: England 392-6 (Smith 171, Woakes 4) Smith turns the ball into the leg side and the lead goes below 200, the follow-on avoided. Woakes, batting on his home ground, gets off the mark with a push to the cover boundary off Siraj.
Rob Turpin asks: “I wonder what the odds are on an England declaration around 30 minutes before close, still a hundred behind?” That would be very Stokes.
83rd over: England 387-6 (Smith 170, Woakes 0) Chris Woakes survives as Deep closes out his breakthrough over.
Max Williams asks a good question:
This may be optimistic but might any of the esteemed OBO community know of a good bar to watch the cricket in Dublin? Or even a bad bar… I’m not fussy
WICKET! Brook b Deep 158 (England 387-6)
The end. The new ball nips back to sneak in-between bat and pad, rattling Brook’s stumps. Off he walks for 158. England still trail by 200 and India remain on course for a serious lead.
Smith and Brook’s partnership moves to 300
82nd over: England 386-5 (Smith 169, Brook 158) Smith sees a touch of outswing from Siraj and lets the arms free, the ball flying to the cover boundary. After that 80-ball ton his strike rate has dropped to around 90. The landmarks keep on coming – the pair bring up a partnership of 300. The highest sixth-wicket stand in Test cricket is the 399 Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow put on against South Africa in January 2016.
81st over: England 379-5 (Smith 162, Brook 158) Akash Deep has the new Dukes … Harry Brook comes down the pitch to swing and miss! Brook is hobbling now, struggling with cramp it seems. He clips away for one and stumbles away to the other end. Deep gets the ball to duck in towards Smith, producing a half-hearted lbw shout.
Brian Withington asks: “I’m wondering how many times a top 7 has yielded two golden ducks and 150s in Tests? But not quite enough to do the research personally …” This could potentially break Statsguru. Anyone able to get the answer? I’m a bit occupied.
80th over: England 376-5 (Smith 161, Brook 157) Washington wraps up this passage of play – it’s time for a fresh cherry.
Harry Brook reaches 150!
79th over: England 373-5 (Smith 160, Brook 155) Harry Brook joins Jamie Smith in reaching 150, the fifth time the Yorkshireman has got there in Tests. He only made his debut in September 2022. A drive through the covers for four follows.
78th over: England 366-5 (Smith 159, Brook 149) Brook knocks the ball to square leg for one and the rapid Jadeja is there, firing a throw towards the striker’s end to hurry Smith up.
77th over: England 365-5 (Smith 159, Brook 148) Brook sees Jadeja go short and pulls away for four, knocking on the door of 150.
76th over: England 359-5 (Smith 158, Brook 143) Brook employs the reverse-sweep to take ones off Sundar, who is bowling a leg-side line from around the wicket. There’s a big, big appeal at the end of the over, Brook missing with the reverse … Gill decides to review.
There’s no bat on it and it’s looking good … ignore me, it’s sliding with the arm and missing off stump.
And we’re back. We’re five overs from the second new ball, the weapon India have been waiting for. For now, it’s Washington Sundar up against Harry Brook …
It’s a good time to be a keeper-bat in Test cricket. In this series we’ve got Pant and Smith, two outrageous players, while Australia were bailed out yesterday by Alex Carey’s 81-ball 63 in the second Test against West Indies. Carey’s averaging 60.71 this year after eight innings while striking at 78.
Tea
75th over: England 355-5 (Smith 157, Brook 140) A wonderful session for England concludes, with Brook and Smith’s partnership now up to 271.
74th over: England 352-5 (Smith 156, Brook 138) After a long run of boundaryless overs, Brook reverse-sweeps Sundar for four. He repeats the stroke to collect two, Siraj doing well at the third rope to claw it away. Brook then swings hard and wild to find four with the back of his bat, lobbing it over Pant.
73rd over: England 340-5 (Smith 155, Brook 127) It’s a decent squeeze India have going now, and the over ends with a Jadeja ripper, gripping and turning past Brook’s forward prod. It’s a good take from Pant, too.
72nd over: England 338-5 (Smith 154, Brook 126) Washington goes around the wicket and Brook gets down to reverse-sweep for one. He maintains the angle against Smith, stopping the batter from freeing the arms outside off.
71st over: England 337-5 (Smith 154, Brook 125) Jadeja twirls away with Smith and Brook playing responsibly. Again, it’s a churn of ones.
Martin Gillam writes in from Sydney:
England’s batting in this series is setting things up for a fascinating if asymmetrical Ashes at the end of the year. Clearly England have a much better and more settled top order, with the Australian bats continuing to flail in the Windies. But Australia’s big-four bowlers seem a better unit than England’s. Will it all cancel out to a low scoring series or to massive run chases?
70th over: England 334-5 (Smith 153, Brook 123) Washington Sundar takes the ball, a possible opportunity for Brook and Smith to launch. The pair collect four risk-free singles off the spinner.
69th over: England 330-5 (Smith 151, Brook 121) There’s a touch of danger as Jadeja gets the ball to rip past Brook’s swish outside off. England, I must remind you, still trail by a whopping 257. India need to remember that, too. The left-armer produces a maiden.
68th over: England 330-5 (Smith 151, Brook 121) India are steadying the flow of runs, Siraj doing his best to threaten the pads. Smith and Brook don’t look particularly bothered about the run rate dropping.
67th over: England 329-5 (Smith 151, Brook 120) Jadeja returns, ready to bed in from one end until the arrival of the second new ball. He runs through his over in a flash, conceding just one.
66th over: England 328-5 (Smith 151, Brook 119) Always love the way Siraj thunders in and angles the ball towards the stumps – desperate for the death rattle – forcing the batter to respond. Smith and Brook calmly rotate the strike with singles.
65th over: England 325-5 (Smith 150, Brook 117) The crowd launches into a rendition of Wonderwall as Deep brings some respite with his six.
Mike Morris writes in:
I don’t often think from this side of the fence but this English team must be a nightmare to captain against, given the scoring (and speed of scoring) of which they’re capable. Let’s assume England are bowled out for 400, it likely won’t even be tea on Day 3. Given a halfway normal scoring rate, India would be looking to thrash 250 and give themselves just over a day to knock them over – but how many runs do you need against a team that could conceivably bash 450 runs in a day?
If your first priority is to ensure you don’t lose, the only way of doing that is to bat so long you hand them the draw on a plate – all with the knowledge that this is an England side that could also get rolled for 220. It must be like trying to stop an oncoming Mack truck with a few traffic cones.
