Key events
Righto, that’s us done for today. Ali Martin’s report will be in here and on-site shortly, so do check back for that, but otherwise, thanks all for your company and comments, sorry I couldn’t use them all, and see you tomorrow, headbands donned, for Thorpey Day. On which point, we’ll get into it again then, but as below, if anyone needs an ear a chat or a mate, you know my email. Peace out, people.
It might not seem this way, but there’s loads of mileage left in this match yet. It’s possible England bat India out of it tomorrow, but if they don’t, and if Tonge and Overton don’t sort themselves, they could find themselves in an uncomfortable position batting last. Let’s hope so: this series deserves it
England will be much the happier side, having bowled poorly but returned well. India will have to go some to win from here, but the injury to Woakes will help them and if they can add another fifty, they’ll feel in the game; another hundred, and they’ve a good chance of doing something.
India end day one of the fifth Test on 204-6
64th over: India 204-6 (Nair 52, Sundar 19) Bethell to complete the day, and I’d think about offering the drive if I was him, because the batters won’t want to attack; he needs to tempt them into playing a shot. And he does too, slanting one across Washington, who pushes at it, misses … and the ball just misses off-stump. That was really nicely bowled and it earns him a second slip, but the two remaining deliveries are safely negotiated, and it’s a maiden to end a fantastic day of Test-match cricket. Are there any other kinds?
63rd over: India 204-6 (Nair 52, Sundar 19) Thanks for all the foot messages, I now feel like I’m in a Tarantino film; next, i’m going to invent a problem with an ear, to experience what it’s like to feature in a Murakami novel. And for avoidance of doubt, I don’t have athlete’s foot, I just have itch, Otherwise, Atkinson pumps in again, his 19th over of the day going for a single to Washington. One to go.
“t’s not going to be to everyone’s tastes, admits Matt Dony, “but I find it physically impossible to listen to The Voice of Trespass by Between The Buried and Me without bouncing. It’s the most infectious, groovy, bouncy slice of metal you will ever hear. This party is going to have a mosh pit!”
Every party needs one. I saw Supergrass recently, and had forgotten how much I enjoy jumping mindlessly into strangers
62nd over: India 203-6 (Nair 52, Sundar 18) Pope does toss Bethell the ball and he opens with a drag-down, Nair turning to deep backward square; they run two, and that’s a crucial fifty, for both player and team. Two failures here and he probably doesn’t play another Test, but instead he’s scored a quarter of his team’s runs and is still at the wicket; well batted, old mate. His celebration is muted because he knows the job isn’t close to done, a single to midwicket gets him off strike, then Washington returns it with another to deep square. Two overs left in the day, I reckon.
61st over: India 199-6 (Nair 49, Sundar 17) Atkinson returns for a 15-minute burst and, while he charges in, Bethell reminds Pope that he can bowl, practising his action ostentatiously. I doubt England want to turn to spin, it’s just they’ve only one bowler left not spraying it about, and he’s been injured almost all summer. Washington takes him for one, then Nair, seeking his fifty, shoves to Tongue at mid-on and sets off; this is going to be tight … but Tongue fumbles! What a day he’s had; take that cleanly, and the batter was in deep trouble.
60th over: India 197-6 (Nair 48, Sundar 16) Tongue offers another ball on the hip and Washington doesn’t miss out, glancing four to deep square; backing it up is one way wide of off-stump. In comms, Broad notes that the England bowlers have been waiting all series for conditions like these, only to perform poorly … except the scoreboard looks fine. A decentish bouncer follows, but it’s left, a flick to square leg adds one, then a dreadful delivery, which perhaps slips out of the hand, arrives at hip-height and is duly guided through point for four.
59th over: India 188-6 (Nair 44, Sundar 11) A poor delivery from Overton is flicked to deep square for one; that could’ve been worse. Washington then tosses head back after failing to nail a wide one; one outside leg follows, Overton unable to hide his erratic behaviour behind Tongue, who has, at least, taken wickets. And his next ball is poor too, too full and driven for three; England are really struggling to build pressure and I wonder if we might soon see spin, especially given the darkening sky.
58th over: India 184-6 (Nair 43, Sundar 8) It looks pretty murky out there now, and I’m not sure we’ll get the full 25 minutes we’re due. But have a look! Another beauty from Tongue moves away from Washington, beating his push, part of a maiden – the bowler’s third of the day, oddly enough, his figures of 12-3-38-2 almost as economical as they are deadly.
“Put it in an empty waste paper bin full of water,” offers John Cox on my foot emergency. “I’m sure it’s been said, but what would Sir Jimmy’s figures be by now?”
Depends if his foot was itching or not.
Chris Woakes injures his shoulder and leaves the field in obvious pain
57th over: India 184-6 (Nair 43, Sundar 8) A single to point adds one to Washington’s total, then we cut to Ollie Pope and I wonder about him as vice-captain. I can’t speak for his cricket brain, which perhaps is such as to make him an obvious choice. But it’s hard not to wonder if status will keep him in the team at some point – perhaps it already has – and maybe Duckett would be a better pick. Anyhow, Nair drives towards the cover boundary and Woakes diligently sets off and scoops back, saving one … before landing heavily on his shoulder, sitting up in quite some pain. You fear that it’s a dislocation and he’s quickly helped off, arm in a sling, boyish gooduns grimacing in pain. And the even worse news is it might get even worse – if the joint needs putting back, I might hear the yowl in north London – and I doubt we see him bowl again this Test. Given Overton and Tongue’s struggles, have India been offered a reprieve?
56th over: India 179-6 (Nair 40, Sundar 6) The sole of my foot won’t stop itching, however much I scratch; anyone got any ideas? Meantime, in less important news, Washington edges with soft hands, the ball dropping short of slip, then he takes a single and Nair guides two past mid-on. The partnership is 26 and if these two can India towards 250, they’ll feel they’re competitive if the weather stays the same.
55th over: India 176-6 (Nair 38, Sundar 5) Washington turns into the on-side for one then, offered a half-volley on middle-and-leg, Nair flicks around the corner for four, exactly what Overton’s delivery deserved. His fifth effort, though, is excellent, seaming away and beating Nair’s bat; when the line and length are right, it’s not at all easy batting on this.
“Atherton has just said it’s sometimes more difficult to face a bowler spraying it around rather than a bowler landing it on a sixpence who you can set yourself against,” writes Phil Sawyer. “Has anyone mentioned Glenn McGrath to him?”
This sentence is sponsored by the word “sometimes”.
54th over: India 170-6 (Nair 33, Sundar 4) Tongue returns, going at Nair from over – his two wickets came when he went around to lefties, swinging the ball in then moving it away. His first three balls are dots, the fourth too, but well wide of the off, then Nair takes a single to mid-on; I think that was the most normal over we’ve seen Tongue bowl today.
53rd over: India 169-6 (Nair 32, Sundar 4) Nair turns off his hip for a single, and knows that this is a crucial knock for him. If he doesn’t score here or in the second innings, he might find he’s out of the side for good, but if he does, he should get a run. That’s a lot of pressure, but he’s now at the other end; at the striker’s, Washington is beaten by one that jags into him, somehow beating bat and stumps.
“It seems Tongue’s skill is his scattergun approach bringing unexpected wickets from the surprise good balls,” asserts Ton van der Gucht, “but what is Overton’s role? I get the impression even he was surprised when he was selected and I’m not referring to his brother … I’m hoping he’ll prove me wrong and take a hat-trick as I type this, yet I’m doubtful.”
I think that’s a little harsh – Tongue ran through the India tail twice, while Overton has been around the team a long time, which tells us they like him. He has pace and bounce, can also bat and field … though ultimately, I agree, I don’t think he’s quite good enough to be a consistent factor at this level.
52nd over: India 168-6 (Nair 31, Sundar 4) Atkinson has a full over at the new batter, but Washington is in nick and when he gets a straight one – that’s a no-ball too – he glances to fine leg for four. Those are the only runs from the over.
51st over: India 163-6 (Nair 31, Sundar 0) India desperately need something significant from this partnership.
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Umpire’s call on impact and missing leg stump. Ollie Pope resumes normal service.
51st over: India 163-6 (Nair 31, Sundar 0) A square-drive earns Nair two, then Overton offers one on the pads and he refuses to miss out, flicking away for four behind square before opening the face to fence four more wide of the scrabbling gully. The second of those deliveries, though, was much better, full and moving away; we then have a break when the batter asks a worker of some sort to move, and she tries pressing in a door code knowing there are cameras on her. Anyroad, another decent ball bounces and straightens, hitting the pad; there’s an appeal, refused, and England review. I’m not surprised, it looked close to me…
“I just want to observe that at the fall of India’s fifth wicket the scoreline read one two three four five,” says Alan Belk. “A totally insignificant but cool observation don’t you think?”
I do indeed – I noticed myself as I typed it, then forgot to announce it. Old age is a miserable thing.
50th over: India 153-6 (Nair 21, Sundar 0) In comms, Nasser reckons the bounce was made the difference there; meanwhile, Sundar lets go three balls not that far from his off-peg. I wonder if it’s bantorious out there, and whether anyone’s asked if he needs Brook and Duckett brought on.
WICKET! Jurel c Brook b Atkinson 19 (India 153-6)
For all the difference it makes! Next ball, Jurel looks to cut but doesn’t have room nor does he make it, instead tamely edging to two, where Brook takes a really smart catch at shoulder-height, moving and turning right . India are in big trouble, the series slipping away from them; throughout the series, Gill losing tosses hasn’t mattered, but it has today and Atkinson deserves that wicket.
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Yup, the ball was missing the off-bail.
WICKET! Jurel lbw b Atkinson 19 (India 153-6)
This looked like it was missing off-stump to me – impact is very close to it, the ball didn’t seem on-line, and may also be high. Jurel reviews…
49th over: India 153-5 (Nair 21, Jurel 19) Overton replaces Woakes and, offered one short and wide, Jurel doesn’t miss out, leaping and stretching to ensure he earns four over the cordon. Tongue’s getting all the attention, but Overton has had a diluted version of the same day, sending down dross and beauties, just to less intense effect. Oh, and his fourth delivery is right there, pitching on off and seaming away, far too good for Jurel, who then plays a straight one into the ground for a single.
48th over: India 148-5 (Nair 21, Jurel 14) During the last over, we saw Mick Jagger in the crowd; I’d be interested to hear what he makes of Tongue’s bowling today. In comms, meanwhile, Punter praises Atkinson’s bowling today, noting that if he pushes harder off his front foot, he can get even better. Three dots are then followed by a three, Nair driving towards cover, then a ball is directed into the pads and the bowler likes it, but when umpire says no, the England players contemplate a review for as long as it takes for no-ball to be signalled. A single then completes the scoring from the over, and that is drinks.
47th over: India 143-5 (Nair 18, Jurel 13) Jurel is, as we know, a proper batter, and he waits for Woakes’ first delivery, then helps it to the fence at deep backward square – India have been offered far too many release-balls today. And, after four dots, there’s another, into the pads and flicked away for two.
46th over: India 137-5 (Nair 18, Jurel 7) There’s something about Atkinson that I can really believe in in which I can really believe: I don’t think he’s a special bowler, necessarily, but the confidence, certainty and attitude are elevating, and make facing him a constant challenge with nowt given for nowt. His latest over yields three singles.
45th over: India 134-5 (Nair 17, Jurel 5) I’ve just had to flick on a light and I’m not facing 85mph bowling; I wonder if we’ll get to 7.30 with quicks, or if it’ll take Root and Bethell to keep us going. As I type, though, the sun comes out in the ground and Nair takes a single to midwicket, then one keeps low for Woakes and Jurel does pretty well in the end, going back to dig out, before adding a single himself. Batting does not look easy, and there’s a strangulated appeal when the final delivery of the over hits Nair on the pad, but the ball was going down.
44th over: India 132-5 (Nair 16, Jurel 4) Atkinson replaces Tongue and refrains from both the sublime and ridiculous, sending donw his six maiden of the day. Bo-ring.
Re: Simon McMahon’s ice lolly preferences, beings David Wall, “I too used to be a big fan of Mini-Milks when I was a kid but haven’t been able to have one for almost 30 years since going vegetarian. I don’t think i’ll ever get over the deprivation. I mean, why would you put gelatine in an ice lolly!”
I guess it’s how you get that slight but unmistakeable soft stretchiness. They’re a bit bland for me as it goes, though how any of them it’s possible to consume is not unredemptive.
43rd over: India 132-5 (Nair 16, Jurel 4) Enjoyable malapropism from Broad, he praises Woakes’ “prestigious swing” though, in his defence, I guess it is. Jurel then turns two to deep square before snaffling a single, but Nair is slow to take off and Bethell, having to run around his right hand, dives to shy with left … missing, though the batter would’ve made it home in any event. An edge for for follows, Woakes pushing one straight knowing the batter expected outswing.
42nd over: India 125-5 (Nair 12, Jurel 1) Another amusingly dreadful delivery from Tongue, Smith diving to collect – but the umpire still signals wide. Now, though, two wickets to the good, the bowler can see the funny side, and with 2-33 off eight-and-a-bit, his figures aren’t even bad. I’m not sure, though, that his bosses will consider his behaviour acceptable, and he needs a fine dive from Bethell at backward point to save three when Jurel drives another full toss.
“Tongue’s danger for batsmen lies partly in his utter unpredictability,” reckons Colum Fordham. “spraying the ball all over the place and then, just when the batter feels comfortable, bowls an absolute jaffa that surprises the bowler, let alone his started victims (Sudharsan and Jadeja).”
I agree – though it’s worth noting that Tim Bresnan did that too, but without the spraying.
41st over: India 123-5 (Nair 12, Jurel 0) Woakes is, perhaps, a good partner for Tongue, nagging away in classical style while his partner does the opposite – not unlike when, say, Pietersen and Bell were batting together. And after three dots he finds a beauty, the ball jagging away off the seam, far to good for Nair’s shuffle across, before completing his first maiden of the innings.
40th over: India 123-5 (Nair 12, Jurel 0) India are in big trouble; Josh Tongue is a punchline (and an REM song).
WICKET! Jadeja c Smith b Tongue 9 (India 123-4)
Chortle! Cackle! After another disastrous start to an over, Tongue again reaches into his toolbox and removes a jaffa therefrom; what’s it even doing there?! This delivery is very similar to the one which lozzed Sudharasan, swinging in from around, cramping the batter, then straightening, fading away a little, demanding the edge, and you can only laugh.
40th over: India 123-4 (Nair 12, Jadeja 9) Gosh, Tongue again sends one down leg side, it swings late, and Smith is powerless to prevent the ball zipping away for four byes; the next delivery is wide of off, so Jadeja unloads the suitcase, lashing four more over the slips, terrific shot.
39th over: India 115-4 (Nair 12, Jadeja 5) Roundhead Pope has had enough of avant-garde line and length, restoring Woakes to the attack. He sends down three sots, then Jadeja pushes to mid-off, the stand-in skipper fumbles, and they run three. And goodness me, more noteworthily than that, it incites the nicest man in the world to dispense anger – it’s like Elmo vandalising Hamleys.
“I do have a strong suspicion/fear they will find a place for Woakes in the team in Australia,” emails Laim Crowley. “They seem to like the idea of an elder ‘leader of the attack/ which to me has always been more about the quality of the player rather than experience, it just happens that Anderson was both the best and most experienced for so long. As a Bears fan I should be happy about this, but we do this dance with Woaked every year. Half-decent to outstanding English summer, then bowl him for little to no result abroad.”
I’m sure they’ll want him around, but given Stokes, Archer and Wood will be three of the frontline bowlers, I’m not sure how they get him in because I reckon they’ll want Atkinson.
38th over: India 112-4 (Nair 12, Jadeja 2) Back comes Tongue, he overpitches, and Nair turns a full ball into a half-volley, stepping down to time four through cover. The response isn’t bad, but then he angles into the pads and Nair gives the delivery what it deserves, flicking four to fine leg. I know Stokes likes Tongue, but we’ve seen over the last few weeks – consider his words with Archer and Dawson, for example – that he also like bowlers he can set a field for.
37th over: India 104-4 (Nair 4, Jadeja 1) Jadeja nurdles a single into the on-side and an leg bye follows; if England can get rid of him, they might just rustle India out this evening.
“A Day for Thorpey,” begins Andrew Benton. “Did you see Norwich City’s suicide awareness video last year, it’s powerful.”
I did, but it bears rewatching. At this stage of human history, I imagine most of us have either struggled with mental health or know people who have; on which point, my email is at the top of this piece. If ever you need a friendly ear or a chat, please don’t be shy about getting in touch and know you’ll not be the first or second.
