Just out of interest Golfie when you are standing over a three foot knee trembler putt for the match do you say to yourself 'This is gonna miss' so that you hole it?
Assume India will either declare overnight or the tail enders will come out all guns blazing and it'll be done in a few overs with (hopefully) a first innings deficit of 20-odd.
Then need to bat for about four sessions because I'd hate to set them a run chase of anything less than say 5 an over
Can't see India declaring, but England do need to polish off the tail quickly then bat for either 4 sessions, or 3 sessions at a brisk rate, unlikely on this pitch. Realistically its going to be hard to force a result, so just aim to bat long, take time out the game. You never know, set India 250 to win from 50-60 covers and might be able to generate a batting collapse and nick the game.
Yeah I will hold my hands up there. Before this innings he had only made 86 runs but he played well today and was undone by a peach from Swann. Felt sorry for Dhoni too. Superb reaction from Cook but what a stupid way to get out chasing your ton.
India will be up around our total by the close today - they will then bat on until at least tea tomorrow wih a lead of around 180 - 200, We will then have 3 - 4 sessions to survive. On this surface it should be possible, but I have seen England collapse time & time again by pushing & prodding and India will have men all round the bat.
Just as I post Swann gets Koli out .............269-5
100% failure rate. Blimey, you must really struggle to get out of bed in the morning, you're so pessimistic about everything. Have you ever considered trying to be optimistic & happy ?
sorry RA, just can't see this one ending in a draw. My take on it is that we will be all out before lunch with a score under 250 - India will then bat & get 350 + and will score quicker than us and will only take 120 - 130 overs, thus all out by tea on the 3rd day with a 100 + run lead. We will bat a 2nd time and will be lucky to get 200 by the start of the 5th day, leaving India a target of less than 100 in 70/80 overs and it will be all over before tea.
Can't see India declaring, but England do need to polish off the tail quickly then bat for either 4 sessions, or 3 sessions at a brisk rate, unlikely on this pitch. Realistically its going to be hard to force a result, so just aim to bat long, take time out the game. You never know, set India 250 to win from 50-60 covers and might be able to generate a batting collapse and nick the game.
Alternatively set em that kind if figure and that Sehwag gets going he can be brutal! Seen it before v us in test match, we need to bat long and take time out the game as you said. Bybyhe looks of cook and Dennis (ok nick) they are looking at taking time out the game.
Let's hope Golfie's in depth knowledge of the game can bring up another gem later this morning, I wait with baited breath!
KP out now. I really hope bell earns his money for the first time. Root and prior can both bat, and maybe another cameo from swann... This is still ours to lose, need to take more time out the game and put on another 150
although I have been totally wrong all along, this test is still in the balance. As I type we are 139-3 and a lead of just 143, so as long by the end today no more than 4 or 5 down then we should be ok
Current run rate is around 3.5 with around 95 covers left in the match. If we can bat for 50 of those (so until just after lunch) we should have a lead over 300. India will then have a difficult 40-45 covers to survive for the draw or try and chase at around 7 per over required.
Yep, with the 2-1 lead we don't need to force a result, so we just keep batting. If we survive until tea I imagine they'll just shake hands, India would need well over 300 from less than 30 overs
Were 160 ahead now, if we bat 60 more over, with the sort of acceleration prior and swann are likely to provide the 300+ lead is definitely achievable.
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Then need to bat for about four sessions because I'd hate to set them a run chase of anything less than say 5 an over
Let's hope Golfie's in depth knowledge of the game can bring up another gem later this morning, I wait with baited breath!
Cooks just gone looks harsh to me.
48/1
Mr darmesena you've had a Weston there old son!