Ali Martin's report
Some additional reading direct from the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
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Right, that’ll be enough from me. India are all set up to go level in this series … but this England side are pretty good at making us all look silly. It seems weird to say while Rohit Sharma is still out there, but the man to get first tomorrow is his partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, the double-centurion from the first innings who is strumming it at the moment. We’ll be back tomorrow so come back here for the fun. Go well!
Elsewhere, at the Under-19 World Cup, this madness has happened. It’ll be all over your socials today.
"Hamza Sheikh is probably going to be absolutely livid!" 😠
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 3, 2024
Should England's Hamza Sheikh have been ruled out in this Under-19 Cricket World Cup Zimbabwe clash? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/nVbMlFaQQm
Jasprit Bumrah, who changed everything today, has his say: “In India if you want to take wickets you have to learn to bowl reverse swing because the new ball doesn’t do a lot sometimes so how do you take wickets? As a child I’ve grown up watching seeing reverse-swing set-ups, seeing legendary bowlers bowling magical deliveries so that is something that really inspired me.”
Hard to think of many better practitioners today of the reversing ball.
Stumps: India 28-0 (lead England by 171 runs)
5th over: India 28-0 (Rohit 13, Jaiswal 15) Rehan Ahmed gets a twirl and the boundaries refuse to stop – just a touch short from the leggie and Rohit cuts away for four. And that’s all for the day, one that is undoubtedly India’s. They lead by 171 runs, the openers enjoying themselves during that mini-session at the end.
4th over: India 23-0 (Rohit 8, Jaiswal 15) Jaiswal’s bat swing – relaxed, free, fearless – powers Bashir down the ground for four and then cuts behind point for another boundary. And then another shot laced down the ground.
3rd over: India 11-0 (Rohit 8, Jaiswal 3) No real movement for Anderson with this new ball, with just a Jaiswal single off the over.
2nd over: India 10-0 (Rohit 8, Jaiswal 2) Shoaib Bashir takes the new ball from the other end – he lands it pretty well against Jaiswal, who eventually gets off strike with a punch to long-off. Rohit tucks into the offie immediately, though, caressing through the covers for four.
1st over: India 5-0 (Rohit 4, Jaiswal 1) No messing about: Rohit sees a bit of width and slashes hard to find four behind point. India are up and running.
Out they come – Jaiswal and Rohit. Anderson will open up, and boy do England need a wicket or two tonight.
“The lead is no longer formidable or scary,” says krishnamoorthy v. “The only hitch is England needing to bat in the 4th innings. Am counting on Ben ‘Houdini’ Stokes to pull yet another rabbit out of his bottomless hat.”
England all out for 253 - India lead by 143 runs
England were going well on 114-1, led by Zak Crawley’s lovely 76. But he fell and then came Jasprit Bumrah, ripping through the middle order with the reversing ball, his final figures helping him past the landmark of 150 Test wickets. Kuldeep bowled well, too, taking three for 71. England, once again, are going to have to do something pretty special here.
WICKET! Anderson lbw Bumrah 6 (England 253 all out)
Bashir advances down the pitch in an attempt to hit Bumrah to Woking but doesn’t get anything on it. And then, finally, Jasprit gets Jimmy: it’s full, at the pads, and it’s plumb. Six wickets for 45 runs – a masterful display from Bumrah.
55th over: England 252-9 (Anderson 6, Bashir 7) Anderson gets England to 250! He nails the conventional sweep off Kuldeep for four and then tries a reverse-sweep, which he misses, but still collects a couple of byes.
54th over: England 245-9 (Anderson 2, Bashir 6) Anderson and Bashir survive another Bumrah set – the dream of 250 remains alive.
53rd over: England 243-9 (Anderson 1, Bashir 5) Bashir, in for his first Test dig, tries to pummel Mukesh down the ground; the bowler puts out a hand but can’t hold on. Then comes a gorgeous whip for four – Harsha Bhogle’s wondering why Bashir’s batting below Anderson and I reckon he’s got a point.
Here’s this from a fellow OBO-er.
Never mind the wickets, feel the maidens.
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) February 3, 2024
(In this Test, to the nearest whole number)
Bumrah 1 in every 2 overs
Anderson 1 in 6
Other Englishmen 1 in 17
Other Indians 1 in 35#INDvENG @tahahash
52nd over: England 239-9 (Anderson 1, Bashir 1) Anderson survives an lbw review from India as Bumrah chases a sixth.
WICKET! Hartley c Gill b Bumrah 21 (England 234-9)
Bumrah deservedly has five, Hartley going for the big, stonking drive but edging to Gill, who can’t seem to drop any today.
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51st over: England 230-8 (Hartley 17, Anderson 1) Anderson makes room for an off-side smash off Mukesh, but only connects with air. “Thanks for the excellent OBO action as always,” writes Geoff Savage. “Except for... ‘This is bubbling into a very decent stand for England’, which immediately resulted in the inevitable outcome that such sentences always lead to on the OBO.”
England were doing brilliantly until I came along, to be honest. My first act was to report on Zak Crawley’s dismissal, and it’s been pretty much downhill for them since.
50th over: England 230-8 (Hartley 17, Anderson 1) A friend, who remains positive, has messaged to remind me that James Anderson’s highest Test score of 81 came against India and that he does love a reverse sweep.
WICKET! Stokes b Bumrah 47 (England 229-8)
The player of the day – Jasprit Bumrah – takes the ball again. And, of course, he delivers. Stokes’ off stump is sent flying, the ball keeping a touch low, and Bumrah has 150 Test wickets.
49th over: England 229-7 (Stokes 47, Hartley 17) Rohit turns back to pace, Mukesh coming on to bowl at Hartley. The Lancs man sees off four dots before driving through the off side for a couple, and then clips through leg for four. This is bubbling into a very decent stand for England.
48th over: England 216-7 (Stokes 47, Hartley 11) Stokes goes down the pitch to Ashwin and finds four. There really are few things better in world cricket than watching him bat with the tail – can’t take your eyes off him.
47th over: England 214-7 (Stokes 40, Hartley 10) Kuldeep is swept around the corner by Stokes for one, and England now trail India by 190, which was the first-innings lead the hosts claimed in the first Test. The difference here, of course, is that England will have to bat last. Hartley closes the over with a terrific shot, launching the ball over long-on for six.
46th over: England 205-7 (Stokes 38, Hartley 3) Ben Stokes is starting to cook. He gets the slog-sweep right to smash Ashwin for six and take England past 200.
45th over: England 196-7 (Stokes 29, Hartley 3) Kuldeep goes short and Stokes pulls away for four. The batter then cuts off the back foot, producing an edge that flies past Rohit Sharma at slip for another boundary – I think he may have got his fingertips on it, but you’d be harsh to call that a chance.
Kim Thonger writes: “If Stokes can manufacture a victory from this position, I do not think there is a suitable word left in the English language to describe him. It would be his greatest escape act, but the French word prestidigitateur might suffice.”
44th over: England 185-7 (Stokes 19, Hartley 2) Ashwin now has two left-handers to toy with. Hartley advances forward to slap to the leg-side for a couple.
43rd over: England 182-7 (Stokes 18, Hartley 0) Tom Hartley, who played two impressive knocks on debut, walks in and misreads Kuldeep’s googly – there’s an lbw shout but not a big one.
WICKET! Rehan c Gill b Kuldeep 6 (England 182-7)
Uh-oh. Kuldeep bowls a drag-down, Rehan shapes up for a big heave but doesn’t get it off the middle of his bat. Instead, he swats it straight to Shubman Gill at short midwicket.
42nd over: England 181-6 (Stokes 17, Rehan 6) Stokes’ kryptonite, Ravichandran Ashwin, is in the building. The left-hander nabs a single, the only run off the over.
41st over: England 180-6 (Stokes 16, Rehan 6) Stokes tries to go down the ground to Kuldeep, but doesn’t get the desired connection – you sense he wants to launch a counterattack here. But the wrist-spinner delivers a fine over, ripping that ball hard as England collect three singles.
Simon McMahon writes: “If England win from here, Taha, it’ll make last week’s victory in Hyderabad look like a walk in the park.”
40th over: England 177-6 (Stokes 14, Rehan 5) Bumrah continues, trying out his yorker on Rehan, who deals with it pretty well. A sparkling drive follows from the England leggie, but Axar gets down low at cover to stop the ball and knock down the stumps at the striker’s end – Rehan’s safe, though. I’m expecting Bumrah to try out a slower off-cutter on Rehan, having got him with one in the first Test … and it eventually comes out, but Rehan blocks it out. A drive through mid-off packed with flair rounds off the over, Rehan picking up four.
39th over: England 173-6 (Stokes 14, Rehan 1) So Kuldeep joins in on the party. Rehan Ahmed meets Stokes, which could lead to a bit of lower-order fun.
WICKET! Foakes b Kuldeep 6 (England 172-6)
Foakes is undone by the flight of Kuldeep, who get some lovely drop before rattling off stump. He played for extra turn that wasn’t there, the ball spinning just enough to come back and hit. And now we’re into the tail.
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38th over: England 172-5 (Stokes 14, Foakes 6) Bumrah moves it away from Foakes before nipping it into the right-hander. The England keeper then clips the ball down the leg side for four. An outside edge follows, the ball dropping short of second slip. A yorker rounds off the over, one in which Bumrah showed off all his tricks.
37th over: England 166-5 (Stokes 14, Foakes 1) The Stokes rescue job (note to self: delete this if Bumrah gets him in five minutes) begins with a boundary off Kuldeep.
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36th over: England 159-5 (Stokes 8, Foakes 0) Bumrah has 3-3 from his last six overs. Ben Stokes, England are gonna need you to do your thing again.
WICKET! Bairstow c Gill b Bumrah 25 (England 159-5)
Bumrah tries out his inswinging yorker on Bairstow, but it’s not as lethal as his Pope delivery, the ball dug out to the leg-side by England’s No 5. But then the wicket! It’s like the Root one, with the ball in the channel outside off and Bairstow unable to resist – he flashes and edges to first slip. It’s a very good low grab from Gill. The great Indian fast bowler is running through England.
35th over: England 158-4 (Bairstow 25, Stokes 8) Stokes doesn’t middle his sweep off Kuldeep … but the ball lands safely at deep midwicket, and he nabs three.
34th over: England 155-4 (Bairstow 24, Stokes 5) There’s half an appeal from Bumrah as he thuds one into Bairstow’s thigh pad. The right-hander plays it safe for now, blocking out for a maiden.
And we’re back. So is Bumrah, who hands his cap over and takes the ball. Oh yeah, this is gonna be good.
Wowzers.
Jasprit Bumrah. WOW. 🤯#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/gpXPwH6ShB
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 3, 2024
“Uh oh. After all Jimmy’s efforts too,” writes a concerned Vanessa Edwards. Simon McMahon is more interested in Jasprit Bumrah’s lid. “Bumrah has a really fine head of hair. Thick, dark and glossy, it may well be even better than Jimmy Anderson’s, which for a long time I didn’t think was possible. Two greats of the game, with contrasting styles. And they can bowl a bit too.”
Tea: England 155-4 (trail by 241 runs)
Bairstow’s gameplan against spin seems simple: anything leg-sidish is blocked, anything outside off must go. He gets a single before Stokes nails a sweep for four to close the over and the session. It’s been India’s afternoon, though, with England four down and still plenty behind.
32nd over: England 150-4 (Bairstow 23, Stokes 1) So Bumrah’s off the field … which means Mukesh is back into the attack. That’ll be a relief for England, though Mukesh can get that ball to reverse, too. He reminds me quite a bit of Olly Stone with his front-on action. Bairstow sees a bit of width and punches beautifully through point – that’s a shot he nails when he’s in form.
31st over: England 143-4 (Bairstow 16, Stokes 1) Kuldeep replaces Axar and he’s too short to begin with: Bairstow cuts away for four. The wrist-spinner then tightens up his line and length, but Bairstow’s still able to knock one into the off-side for one to close the over.
30th over: England 138-4 (Bairstow 11, Stokes 1) Bumrah gets to go full pelt at Stokes, making that reverse-swinging ball dance towards England’s captain. Stokes doesn’t bother going on the attack – he sees out a maiden.
29th over: England 138-4 (Bairstow 11, Stokes 1) Bairstow and Stokes knock Axar around for a single each.
Phil Withall writes: “Not entirely sure I’ll be emotionally strong enough to see this test out. My optimism index has endured such massive swings since lunch, that another three days could well be the end of me. I love test cricket but, my, it’s draining...” Unclear whether Phil sent this before or after that Pope dismissal.
28th over: England 136-4 (Bairstow 10, Stokes 0) Stokes leaves the last ball of the over well alone. England are in a bit of bother.
WICKET! Pope b Bumrah 23 (England 136-4)
They’ve just shown Bumrah’s set-up to Root – the quick was getting the ball to move both ways in the lead-up, an inswinger preceding the killer outswinger. Root, previously a master in India, has had a tough start to this tour, with scores of 29, 2 and 5 so far.
Pope clips Bumrah down the leg-side for a couple but then a staggering delivery! Bumrah fires in a stunning inswinger that uproots two stumps – that is unreal. It tailed in viciously and at serious pace. Bumrah has changed the game in the space of two overs.
27th over: England 134-3 (Pope 21, Bairstow 10) Bairstow begins confidently against Axar, cutting away for four and ending the over with a lovely drive through the covers for another boundary. He’s staying nice and leg-side to the spinner, opening himself up for plenty of off-side hits.
26th over: England 124-3 (Pope 21, Bairstow 0) Bumrah greets Bairstow with a fierce yorker into the pads, angling down the leg-side. India go up in appeal but everyone knows that isn’t hitting – they don’t bother with a review.
WICKET! Root c Gill b Bumrah 5 (England 123-3)
Some bowler, this Bumrah fella. He ties down Root with four dots and then unleashes the killer blow: angled in, seam beautifully upright, jags away, forces the prod from Root, and the outside edge is snaffled by first slip.
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25th over: England 123-2 (Pope 21, Root 5) Pope plays a nice little dab to fine leg for a couple – he’s into the twenties, slowly but surely getting a little more comfortable. Axar then unleashes a beaut: fired in before turning sharply past Root’s outside edge. Yeah, nobody’s playing that.
24th over: England 119-2 (Pope 18, Root 4) Bumrah returns, with Rohit Sharma realising that there’s a bit of reverse here to work with. The quick gets the penultimate ball to explode off the surface past Pope, but England’s No.3 avoids giving away a maiden with a clip through the leg side for one.
23rd over: England 118-2 (Pope 17, Root 4) Root gets off the mark with a tidy reverse-sweep for four. India have a much-needed wicket, though.
WICKET! Crawley c Iyer b Axar 76 (England 114-2)
Hello, everybody! Sorry, England fans. Crawley smashes Axar for four and then gets a little too excited, trying the big shot again only to result in a big, ugly leading edge that finds the diving Shreyas Iyer at point. A beautiful knock from the England opener but there was a ton there for the taking.
22nd over: England 111-1 (Crawley 72, Pope 17) Ashwin is whipped out of the attack and replaced by the seam of Mukesh. Pope clips a full ball off his pads away for four to notch up the fifty partnership between this pair. Time for a drink and for me to skulk off. Thanks for your company. I feel suitably soothed. Taha Hashim is sidling into the OBO armchair and will guide you through to the close. Ta-ra.
21st over: England 106-1 (Crawley 72, Pope 13) Kuldeep is worked to leg by Pope and the batters scamper a single.
“Morning Jim”
Back atcha, Guy Hornsby
“This is a pretty good start from England so far (jinx alert). Getting India for under 400 will feel like a real victory, with the ageless Jimmy and the kids in the action. It’s so good to see a captain that finally manages spinners well, a real blind spot for England in the past. It’ll be interesting to see how we try and score runs. The bounce on this pitch has all but removed the reverse sweep from our armoury so it’ll be much more in front of the wicket. Pope is really skittish again but isn’t he always early on? If he can settle we’re in for a good day.”
20th over: England 105-1 (Crawley 72, Pope 12) Crawley keeps plundering on his merry way, driving Ashwin away through cover for four and then pouncing on a shorter ball and forcing it away for another boundary through the off side. That brings the ton up for England.
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19th over: England 95-1 (Crawley 62, Pope 12) England rotate strike and take four singles.
“India’s body language is not good at the moment.” Chirps Andy Bradshaw.
“Lads, you’re 300 ahead, on a turning pitch and England have to bat last. But you’re proper rattled. What could have caused it?”
Andy includes a meme or a gif or a whatever of Ben Stokes and the word ‘BazBall’. It’s a bit of fun.
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18th over: England 91-1 (Crawley 60, Pope 10) Ashwin is causing Pope strife, dragging him across the crease and then getting the ball to spit back into him. A failed reverse-sweep nearly rolls back onto the stumps before a single gets the Papal one off strike. Bosh! Zak Crawley has no such problem – using his long levers to sweep into the stands for SIX!
17th over: England 82-1 (Crawley 53, Pope 8) Kuldeep gets drift and dip, just a single to Pope off the final ball of the over.
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16th over: England 81-1 (Crawley 53, Pope 7) Pope settles his nerves with a drive through cover for four. Or perhaps not – a spooned cut shot nearly carries to the fielder at point. You do not, repeat not, want to give your wicket away needlessly on this butterscotch beauty of a batting wicket.
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15th over: England 75-1 (Crawley 52, Pope 2) Crawley takes a single down the ground off Kuldeep. He’s looked in fine fettle today BUT he was shelled by Shubman Gill a few overs back. Someone needs to go big for England, can he be the man. An Old Trafford style Opus perhaps?
It's his birthday and he'll score runs if he wants to! 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 3, 2024
Match Centre: https://t.co/tALYxvMByx
🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/5V4xdaR6PQ
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14th over: England 74-1 (Crawley 51, Pope 2) Ashwin looks dangerous, Pope gets an inside edge on a drive, going with hard hands at the ball. Ashwin then beats him on the outside edge for the third time already in this innings. Pope is a skittish starter, India sense this and want to keep him tied down.
13th over: England 72-1 (Crawley 50, Pope 1) Zak Crawley goes to fifty with a stylish flick through mid-off followed by a slog sweep for SIX! The big fella has decided to go pedal to the metal. Running toward the danger and all that.
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12th over: England 62-1 (Crawley 40, Pope 1) All of a sudden it is jittery out there for England. Ashwin rips one past Pope’s edge and there’s a harum scarum single too.
11th over: England 54-0 (Crawley 35, Pope 0) What a bonkers and brilliant game this is. Pope arrives at the crease fresh off one of the great overseas Test knocks by an Englishman and pokes forward to a fizzing ball from Kuldeep. The ball misses the edge of his bat and the off stump by the width of a gnat’s eyebrow… but Pope drags his back foot out of the crease with his forward lunge. KS Bharat spills the ball and the chance is gone in a flicker. What a moment.
Ayeeechi! KS Bharat misses a chance to stump Ollie Pope first ball!
WICKET! Duckett c Patidar b Kuldeep Yadav 21 (England 59-1)
Kuldeep Strikes! The wrist spinner is brought into the attack to replace Bumrah and removes Duckett with his second ball. Turn, bounce, edge taken and well caught by Patidar in the slips. India have the breakthrough and Duckett hauls himself off the pitch, he’s left plenty out there.
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10th over: England 54-0 (Crawley 20, Duckett 34) England rollocking along at more than six an over so far. Crawley flicks Ashwin away off his pads for four more.
9th over: England 54-0 (Crawley 20, Duckett 34) What an over for England and Zak Crawley.
Bumrah to Crawley – Four. Through midwicket. Pull shot.
Bumrah to Crawley – Four. Wide of gully. Soft hands.
Bumrah to Crawley – Four. On Drive. On the up.
Bumrah to Crawley – Four. On Drive. Half volley.
Three of those were successive and brought up the fifty partnership for the opening pair. England flying out of the traps.
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8th over: England 38-0 (Crawley 18, Duckett 20) Crawley dances down to Ashwin but doesn’t quite get to the pitch, the ball flies away in the air through midwicket where Shubman Gill DROPS a hard chance, diving away to his left. Tricky, but you’ve seen them taken. Let off for Crawley and England.
7th over: England 34-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 17) Crawley pockets a single to the leg side and Duckett clips off his hip for another. Bumrah slips in a slower ball but Crawley spots it and pats it back.
G’morning John Starbuck
“It’s Zak Crawley’s birthday as well as Ida’s. What’s the most appropriate score for him to make today?”
I couldn’t put a figure on it John, let’s just settle on… lots.
Here come the players for the afternoon session. Jasprit Bumrah is going to start with the new ball. Zak Crawley on strike. Buckle up knuckleheads.
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We interrupt this OBO broadcast…
Hearty congratulations to my old pal Alex and his partner Hayley who have welcomed baby Ida into the world in the last few hours. Welcome to the Jungle. Alex sends an early hours picture in his dressing gown with, if anything, not enough of his chest on show. I’ll pass on the advice my old man gave me: “The first 35 years are the hardest…”
“It’s all a blur at the moment” says Alex.
This one’s for you old chum:
I’m off to brew up something strong and ice my eyeballs. I’ll leave you with some prime James Anderson. Eight overs and 2-17 in over an hour of relentless accuracy and skill this morning.
James Anderson that is a lovely delivery 😮💨#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/SOQCkYdJRf
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 3, 2024
Lunch: England 32-0 (trail by 364 runs)
6th over: England 32-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 17) England’s session, categorically. Ashwin rattles through the final over but he can’t find the breakthrough. Crawley is watchful and clips a single off the last ball before striding off for some scran with his scrappy sidekick in tow.
🚨 LUNCH 🚨
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) February 3, 2024
A good morning’s work from England who got the wickets needed and have started positively with the bat.
They head into the interval on 32-0.
Follow it all on the @BBCSport app 📱 #BBCCricket #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/6MddpFYXEE
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5th over: England 31-0 (Crawley 14, Duckett 17) Kuldeep Yadav replaces Bumrah which feels like a victory for England. Rohit has a slip and a short leg in for Crawley who uses his crease well to make room to glide away through the off side for two. Kuldeep flicks his wrist and sends down a wrong’un but Crawley picks it and defends back to the bowler. He keeps strike for the final over of the session with a single off the last ball.
4th over: England 28-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 17) Crawley and Duckett are really excellent at negating dominating these tricksy little sessions. They did it a few times in the Ashes and in the last Test at Hyderabad and they are doing it again here. Duckett slams Kumar through the covers for four and then rocks back to slap another boundary through point. “He hasn’t left a ball since The Beatles broke up!” chirps Eoin Morgan on the commentary. And another! Duckett picks up his third boundary of the over by depositing a wide delivery with a flat bat to the fence on the off side. England taking a bitesize chunk out of the target before lunch.
3rd over: England 16-0 (Crawley 11, Duckett 5) A bucket hatted Ben Stokes watches on with a smile on his face as Crawley opens the face to glide Bumrah wide of gully for four.
2nd over: England 10-0 (Crawley 5, Duckett 5) Lucky ducky! Duckett plays an angled defence to a full ball from Mukesh Kumar and very nearly chops onto his stumps… the ball flying away instead for four runs to get England moving. A single brings Crawley on strike. Shot! Shades of KP as Crawley gets on the front foot and flicks away imperiously through midwicket for four.
1st over: England 0-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 0) Bumrah splurts and stutters in that unmistakeable fashion, arriving at the crease and unleashing his bull-whip at the waiting Zak Crawley. A probing over, Crawley watches a few go by outside off stump and misses out on a flick off his pads. Close! Crawley has a swish at a shorter ball and for a second the bowler thought he had feathered it to the keeper. No dice though. A maiden to start.
Brian Withington has been casting his discerning eye over the scorecard: “Fine effort from the England bowlers and remarkably only two extras in 112 overs. Great discipline.”
Righto, here come Messrs Duckett and Crawley. There’s about 20 mins until lunch. My hangover is abating. Jasprit Bumrah has the ball. This should be fun.
“Morning James, and sorry to hear about the stonking great hangover. Happens to the best of us. It is a very pleasant 27 deg here in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and I am about to take my mountain bike out for a bash around the bush. It would be jolly if you could report a clatter of wickets while I am away from my screen.”
Consider it done – David Blackah. Happy pedaling.
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India added sixty runs this morning with Jaiswal going to a double century in style but then lost all four remaining wickets for 32 runs in relatively quick succession. Shoaib Bashir held up an end and got the final wicket but it was James Anderson who was the key performer for England this morning – the gnarled old gunslinger peeled off eight sumptuous overs in a row - over an hour of bowling in searing heat - and picked up two wickets for just 17 runs.
England might have found one in James Anderson. Someone to build a future pace attack around#INDvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 3, 2024
“Good morning James and everyone.” writes Dean Kinsella. “There may be better quicks plying their trades around the world at the moment. But there is not one I would rather watch tormenting and teasing batters than the wonderfully skilled and parsimonious James Anderson. Test cricket is going to be an impoverished place when (if) he finally calls it a day. Magnificent in this Test.”
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India all out for 396. Three each for Anderson, Bashir, and Ahmed. India added 60for the loss of the last four wickets this morning.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) February 3, 2024
Kumar c Root b Shoaib Bashir 0 (India 396 all out)
Shoaib Bashir finishes things off, angling one across Mukesh Kumar who gets a meaty edge to Joe Root at slip. England have polished India off for less than 400, they’ll be exceedingly happy about that.
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WICKET! Bumrah c Root b Rehan Ahmed 6 (India 395-9)
Got him! Rehan nicks off Bumrah with a spinning leg break, the prod forward serving only to guide the ball into Root’s hands at slip. India are nine down, England are cock-a-hoop!
111th over: India 395-9 (Yadav 7, Kumar 0)
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110th over: India 391-8 (Yadav 7, Bumrah 2) A couple to Kuldeep who flicks Bashir through square leg. Rehan Ahmed has been summoned by Ben Stokes.
109th over: India 389-8 (Yadav 5, Bumrah 2) Anderson once again. Into his eight of the morning. He really is the bionic man. Another probing over and surely his last of this spell (?) he beats Kuldeep with a ball that nips away off a length. Bumrah will be watching that with interest from the non-strikers end – this new ball has been doing a thing or two for Anderson. He takes his cap from the Umpire and the England players give him a cheer and the odd bum pat. What a spell from the old master.
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108th over: India 387-8 (Yadav 4, Bumrah 1) Bashir continues from the other end and England are on the prowl, men around the bat and plenty of chatter. They would dearly love to knock India over for less than 400, that would be nothing more than an unmitigated success after losing the toss and being asked to field. Like a sniper over a speed dating event -Kuldeep and Bumrah pick off the singles.
107th over: India 383-8 (Yadav 1, Bumrah 0) Jasprit Bumrah is the new batter. He and Anderson also have a bit of niggle in their recent history – remember the short ball barrage at Lord’s a couple of years back? A solid block from Bumrah sees out the end of the over. A wicket maiden from the indomitable Jimmy.
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WICKET! Jaiswal c Bairstow b Anderson 209 (India 383-8)
The big one! What a morning James Anderson is having – he picks up his second wicket of the session in his seventh over on the spin. Jaiswal gets frustrated and plays a wild hack off a length ball outside off stump with the field set back, Jonny Bairstow taking a fine tumbling catch in the deep. A great innings comes to an end, Jaiswal trudges off to a huge ovation. However, England are right in this Test match.
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106th over: India 383-7 (Jaiswal 209, Yadav 1) Bashir is into his groove and is tossing the ball up nicely on and around off stump. Jaiswal pokes a single off the first ball of the over and Kuldeep sees out five dots. The final ball skidded on and hit the knee roll, England go up but choose against a review, it was close though! Umpires call on height – the ball was clipping the bails. Teensy tiny margins.
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105th over: India 382-7 (Jaiswal 208, Yadav 1) Anderson reels off his sixth over of the morning. Jaiswal is happy to see him off, nudging the fourth ball of the over down the ground for a single.
104th over: India 381-7 (Jaiswal 207, Yadav 1) Bashir has three slips and a couple of short legs. Stokes is still showing faith in the rookie and attacking. Bashir stitches together a tidy maiden to Kuldeep.
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103rd over: India 381-7 (Jaiswal 202, Yadav 0) Anderson scuds one into Kuldeep’s pads but Umpire Gaffaney shakes his head in response to the vociferous appeal. Top work again from the official, it pitched outside leg stump. Stokes wisely opts against the review at the last second. Close! Anderson takes the shoulder of Jaiswal’s bat but the edge flies wide of the cordon and away for four. This has been a masterclass of sub-continental seam bowling by the – checks notes – 41 year old.
Yashasvi Jaiswal goes to a majestic double century by smearing Bashir over square leg for SIX and following up with another sweep off a full toss for four more. What a moment for the young man, he drops his bat and removes his helmet to blow a few kisses into the crowd. And why not. His batting has mixed eye catching aggression with solid defence, the 22 year old has held this innings together and then some.
102nd over: India 375-7 (Jaiswal 202, Yadav 0)
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101st over: India 364-7 (Jaiswal 191, Yadav 0) Kuldeep Yadav is the new batter and he is beaten all ends up by Anderson, who is visibly pumped. As well he might be, he has this new ball on a string.
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WICKET! Ashwin c Foakes b Anderson 20 (India 364-7)
A beauty! Ashwin does well to nick a lovely late swinging delivery on off stump and Ben Foakes takes a sharp low catch behind the stumps. Anderson wins this particular battle.
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1ooth over: India 360-6 (Jaiswal 183, Ashwin 15) Bashir sends down three dots to Jaiswal. SIX! Jaiswal decides enough is enough and springs out of his crease to loft a decent length ball over mid-on for a biggun. He moves into the 190s with that lusty blow.
“Morning Jim”
It very much is, Martin Wright.
“Don’t Anderson and Ashwin have form? Could be quite spicy of if the latter stays around. I predict a send-off... Keep that coffee flowing!”
I think they have had a ding dong or two over the years, I remember Virat Kohli paying peacemaker during one heated exchange a few years ago.
99th over: India 352-6 (Jaiswal 183, Ashwin 15) The Talented Mr Anderson has got the ball wobbling both ways off the wicket. He brings one back into Jaiswal and England go up for the lbw. It looked like it may have pitched outside leg? You know nuthin’ Jim Wallace. It is NOT OUT as the ball was just going over the top of the bails but it did pitch in line. Nevertheless, England lose a review. A solitary leg bye off the over.
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98th over: India 351-6 (Jaiswal 183, Ashwin 15) Shot. Ashwin leans on a full ball from Bashir and plays it in-to-out, threading through the covers for four. He’s a dangerous batter and England will want to see the back of him before he gets properly settled at the crease.
Can’t help but think about @jimmy9 & @ashwinravi99 now as next door neighbours. Imagine the arguments they’d have over the fence. So much fun #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/0rTYZ8SRIO
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) February 3, 2024
This was summat and nothing by the way.
97th over: India 346-6 (Jaiswal 182, Ashwin 12) Anderson nearly cleans up Jaiswal with a delicious wobble seam ball that beats both the stumps and the outside edge by a whisker. The splosh of blond in his hair gives him a raffish quality, it’s a bit Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf in The Talented Mr Ripley. Just a couple of singles to keep India ticking over.
96th over: India 344-6 (Jaiswal 181, Ashwin 11) Bashir continues with the new ball and there’s just a single to Ashwin off it. Anderson is ticking (even more than usual) as the tv replays show him getting riled up by Ashwin standing so close to the umpire at the non-striker’s end. One to keep an eye on.
95th over: India 343-6 (Jaiswal 181, Ashwin 10) England have taken the new ball and the blond streaked James Anderson has it in his mitts. Now then. There is movement straight away off the seam, Anderson does his thing and nips the ball past Jaiswal’s outside edge with his very first delivery. There are two slips in place and two men out on the fence for the hook/pull. Close! Anderson takes the edge but it doesn’t carry to the cordon. Promising signs for England.
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94th over: India 341-6 (Jaiswal 180, Ashwin 9) Bashir will begin proceedings on day two. The crowd looks plentiful and is particularly loud - lots of schoolchildren are in as it is a Saturday. They emit a huge cheer as Jaiswal rocks back and collects a single off the first ball of the day and then go absolutely bananas as Aswhin gets on the front foot and drives handsomely for four through the covers.
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We’ve got a about five minutes until the start of the action. The players are beginning to emerge. So is my headache.
Mood.
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Elsewhere…
An Australian artist has submitted this painting for the " Art of the year".
— 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 (@AdvocateMessi) February 3, 2024
This is the winner to me already.#INDvsENGTest #INDvENG #AUSvWI #AustralianOpen #Australia pic.twitter.com/V14fgrr9hc
An early email from Michael Meagher:
“Mood music from England is good but… WinViz has India at 90%”
With that, he’s gone. Like a Keyser Söze of the OBO mailbag.
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I’m cranking into action too, slowly. I knew I shouldn’t have stayed for that final pint… eeejit. A vat of the inevitable bean based liquid is brewing and should sort me out. Do get in touch on the emails or social meedja’s and we can take this first session down together. Please?
Make that 22 years. I'll have what he's having. https://t.co/oLMIsKhmEk
— Jim Wallace (@Jimbo_Cricket) February 1, 2024
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The TV coverage cranks into action. SirAlastair Cook and Steve Finn both reckon it was England’s day yesterday and that it is a crucial day coming up in the context of the series. But seriously, this time it is. It is.
"They'll be thrilled with that" 👏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 2, 2024
Michael Atherton says it was a good day for England, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's century for India 🏏 pic.twitter.com/TAGCNAOy8D
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Here’s the magnificent Tanya Aldred on Woking’s finest and the Rohit snaring Shoaib Bashir:
Shoaib Bashir, was making his Test debut. Bashir is just 20, with only six first-class games and 10 first-class wickets under his belt. As tall as the office blocks sprouting all over his home town of Woking, he has fingers that curve over and around a cricket ball, shrinking it to dried cranberry proportions. Shirt loose in the Bazball way, he reacted to Stokes throwing him the ball in the 12th over with astonishing calm, after England lost the toss on a flat wicket.
All easy action, he rattled through a first accurate over, conceding only a single, and 2.3 overs later had his first Test wicket, when Rohit Sharma angled his bat and the ball plopped into Ollie Pope’s hands at leg slip, with Bashir watching its arc the whole way. Bashir pumped his long arms in glee before being smothered by his loving new teammates.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the day two OBO of India v England in Visakhapatnam. It is very early here in a treacle skied south London. Let’s catch up on the state of the game after day one and go gently into what promises to be another good/crucial/intriguing/ night:
In short – India won the toss and chose to bat first on a featherbed. They finished the day on 336-6 with 22 year old opener Yashasvi Jaiswal carrying his bat for 179*. And yet - England would have probably been the happier side after picking up six wickets and giving themselves the chance of bowling India out for a first innings score of around 400 or so. Did I mention it is flat?
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