England v India, 5th Test, The Oval, 15-19 August, 2014

I've been away from cricket for a few years. I thought England's Test matches used to start on a Thursday; the last day was always on Monday. When did they change that?

Since the BCCI insisted on cramming 5 tests into a month so as to accommodate 26 ODI's and 15 T20's.

TV viewing stats for India -
Tests  - 12,000 per test
ODI's - 950 million per ODI
T20's - 1.2 billion per T20

So still more viewers than England per test?

Sack of shit bowling from England in that last hour.

Can we get some of the Indian women to bat in this team?

tricycle wrote:So still more viewers than England per test?

Only just!  

PS. The Indian Women seem to be cruising to victory in their test against Charlotte Edwards's cavaliers over at Wormsley.
The crowd there probably number around 42 (including the 22 players!!)

Brass Monkey wrote:Sack of shit bowling from England in that last hour.

Sack of shit from Ronald dropping the Karma man at slip when the score was 95 fer 9.
Tosser.

Dhoni must have been close to the highest percentage contribution by a #6

Finally .... 148 ao.
Played Dhoni.

Merlin wrote:Finally .... 148 ao.
Played Dhoni.

Meh. T20-style slogfest with not a hint of foot movement. Wouldn't know a test innings if it bum-rushed him.

The Bowling Plan A and Plan B things that are telecast here are plain shit, about as insightful as Pietersen's text messages. Who knew that bowling around off stump could get wickets?

That, and Robson's going to score a hundred just to rub it in.

Jimmy 5 behind Botham now... could do it second innings at a stretch, otherwise he has to wait until the spring and his 100th Test in the Caribbean.

It'd be some nice symmetry for Jimmeh to break the England wickets record in his 100th test.

Yeah, can't remember anyone breaking a record like that in a milestone appearance, although there's been a few who have made a century or two...

Not too many pace bowlers have managed 100 Tests, it takes real durability. The following are the only specialists/genuine frontline seam bowling all-rounders to have done it:

Kallis 166
Walsh 132
Kapil Dev 131
McGrath 124
Vaas 111
Pollock 108
Wasim Akram 104
Botham 102
Ntini 101

Simply joining that list of names will be an impressive achievement for Jimmy.

Robson's going to get 150, I feel it in my bones. it'll take him until a week on Thursday, but he'll get there.

I think Jimmeh will play at least 120 tests. If his pace doesn't drop off too much, he could play more.

Those 17 Tests in 9 months should burn him out nicely...  perhaps SA the winter after next will be his farewell tour.

I watched the first session. Not surprised to see the score this morning. As has been said, it will be a miracle if this game sees day four.

My prediction:

India - 148 all out
England - 320ish all out
India - 150 all out

England win by an innings and 20-odd runs.

It was a day soured by India's awfulness. These guys have clearly checked out of the tour already.

*waits for the knee-jerk reaction where India cancels all their upcoming Tests and replaces them with ODIs and T20s*

At first glance it looks a hellishly slow day. But I found the first session and a half compelling viewing.

It was quite remarkable how much more comfortable at the wicket Dhoni was to any of his team. Great knock.

I'll stick with my "over in 3 days", thanks.

I didn't see it but I gather India should have had Cook plumb LBW?

HAHAHA   And it will continue to be hilarious as long as India refuse to use the DRS.

G.Wood wrote:Dhoni must have been close to the highest percentage contribution by a #6

I'm pretty sure Emma's 55.41% of final score IS the highest % of a completed total made by a no. 6.

Henry wrote:I didn't see it but I gather India should have had Cook plumb LBW?

HAHAHA   And it will continue to be hilarious as long as India refuse to use the DRS.

I piss myself every time India get a bad decision. Some of them look at the umpire pleadingly as if to say " seriously, can I review that?"

Every other team in the world can relieve themselves of the howler. But oh, not India, no. It's not good enough for them.

Henry wrote:I didn't see it but I gather India should have had Cook plumb LBW?

HAHAHA   And it will continue to be hilarious as long as India refuse to use the DRS.

Looks like it, Trev. I gather you picked it up from this Cricinfo commentary...

8.2 Kumar to Cook, no run, big lbw appeal from India but this might have pitched outside leg, Bhuvi is distraught. He was quite adjacent on impact as Cook plays an uncertain flick. Too slow on it and falling across. Has reason to be disappointed. It pitched in line, hit in line and crashing into the stumps. Cook escapes!

and this poster agrees with you...

sshero: "Wonder if the BCCI is keeping stats of the number of wickets they keep losing due to their stubborn stance on DRS?? Yes, they probably gain a few too, but am pretty sure they are losing out overall thanks to non-usage"