I saw that table re catches too, and was surprised by Cook's inclusion.

I agree with you re the series. The first two matches were probably more lost by india (who seemed under-prepared) than won by England. They were certainly not won by the top four batsmen! I think going to be uphill now.

Bruce

Well I think the Aegis Bowl looks a fantastic venue and the two teams are putting on a match to do it justice.

Its going to go down to the wire on day 4. The bowlers have generally been on top during the series so I think it will take a couple of Indian batsmen to stand up if they are going to win the fourth test and square the series.

Also the competitive but good spirit the matches have been played in is worth a mention and has been a credit to both sides.

Ray

Ray, agreed. 

I just hope the wicket remains broadly as it is now - I don't like seeing Tests where the wicket is impossible to bat on late day 4 onwards e.g. very few Bakerloo Line balls. Winning the toss should yield an advantage but not to that degree. In my view, there's been a very good balance between bat/ball/actions of the wicket so far, with the teams having to work hard to achieve sub-300 scores.

Once again, the majority of England's runs have come from the lower order and it will be interesting how Curran bats with Broad/perhaps Anderson, as another 30 or so would be useful. Anyone brave enough to leave Curran out of the game at the Oval?! 

As to the spirit of the game, it has been good to see, with the odd exception (e.g. Broad - duly fined), the game played in a highly competitive but fair manner. I think the likes of the IPL etc. helps, in that the players have been/could be teammates. 

I may well tune in for the first 1/2 hour today - I hope we can add a few more precious runs.

Well, England managed it and wrapped up the series.

steve

England have won another series at home in favourable English conditions but the big question is can they build on this success of beating the number 1 ranked Test team and start winning overseas?

Lots of problems remain, especially with our openers and at number 3 too, so I think it will be an important winter tour to Sri Lanka ahead of the Ashes starting Aug' 2019.

Ray

Well, I had not picked that outcome. England win another 4 day test largely thanks to an off spinning all-rounder who is far more threatening than the (not fully fit?) India spinner. Once again the highest score in the match is by an Indian batsman and it is only the more obdurate lower-middle order that make runs for England. Curran crucial in a number of ways, not least for his left-armer footmarks (although I think Sharma contributed too).

Did India misread the pitch and select the wrong bowling attack?

England can be happy that they have a clutch of world class all-rounders but have lots of questions to answer. Three or four batting places, Root's (lack of) form, who keeps wicket, even their best bowling attack! Not sure Rashid will be part of the latter. Totally agree we have not yet found a team you'd expect to do consistently well on overseas wickets.

I think India brought a great pace attack for English wickets but their batsmen have not adapted well enough. Will Kohli revert to type and chop and change the team again? This match was the first for 45 games they were unchanged.

Will England wave goodbye to Cook at the Oval? Will Jennings keep his place? Does Bairstow get the gloves again? Who will bat 3? Does one of Anderson/Broad get a rest? Is Stokes fit?

Final question. Will Nick-from-Suffolk congratulate England?

Bruce

For me, it's been an intriguing series, with several crucial innings e.g. Curran's knock in the 1st innings of this last game. It's what Test cricket should be about i.e. a fair contest between bat and ball, sprinkled with a tad of good fortune - although, as with other touring teams, I think India's preparations could have been better - but that perhaps reflects on the suffocating schedules many international teams and players now face. If their full bowling attack had been available in match 1...? 

It's ironic that India should capitulate against Moeen's (part time in his eyes) spin. Looking at a combined 11, I'd take the top 5 of India (sorry Joe) and the bottom 6 of England (Bumrah may get a shout instead of Broad - with Ali batting in is usual spot not #3). 

What to do about England's top order? Many have come and most have failed, and it's a long list. I suspect they will stick with Jennings for the Oval on the basis the cupboard appears bare, and promoting the likes of Bairstow (a la ODI tactics) has, to date, had very limited success. The days of the limpet-like #3 appear to have passed - we need a David Steele/Trott equivalent! (not a Tavare - it's not a 6-day Test).

Given the series is secure, it would be good to see changes e.g. 2 batters changed in the top 5, if only to give them (more) experience but that would compromise the bowling/lower order - the obvious candidate again being Rashid - and Pope (left out last time) bats #6 for Surrey and it appears Root wants the #4 slot.

The wider aspect is, of course, why do England now appear to have so many all-rounders and don't appear to be developing quality specialist batsman, noting Jennings has SA roots. As I see things, the bountiful limited-overs formats have caused great harm to classical technique and the patience of many batsman, allied to the extensive numbers of player imports - and I struggle to see how this picture/trend can be reversed.

Great summary

Much as we are criticising some of the batting on both sides it has made for a fascinating and exciting series, and one that has swung on a few crucial moments. I think 4:1 would seriously flatter England if it goes that way

Bruce

...and Cook has announced he will retire after the next match. I had a feeling that was coming.

I hope the man who has all those achievements to his name goes out to a standing ovation. Such a calm, unassuming and dedicated professional, the rock of the team for so long, and often burdened by a captaincy I don't think he ever really relished.

Top bloke, top cricketer, retiring just the right time. Tendulkar's record is safe.

Bruce

Happy Listener posted:

....... noting Jennings has SA roots.............

Maybe he is more suited to 'Rugger', then ?

Bugger

Bruce posted:

Final question. Will Nick-from-Suffolk congratulate England?

Apparently not.

Great piece on the BBC website about our Ashes win down under in 2011entitled:

Alastair Cook: The winter that defined a great English batsman.

A nice trip down memory lane.

Ray - thanks for that - a very good read.  

Another Test, another wicket and set of playing conditions which offered a lot of help to the bowlers - indeed, too much swing, with 'extras' again being a material contributor - why they didn't call some of Bumrah's legside deliveries as 'wides' is beyond me. I've not seen many games where an 80-over-old ball is moving around so much and bouncing around like a tennis ball on occasions.

England did very well and were very fortunate to navigate their way to ~130-1 and then chose to compensate for this with some unfortunate batting thereafter. Different match, same issues for some - and a shame Curran was out trying to leave the ball - never a good way to go. Buttler will be thankful he wrapped a lot of tape around his blade.

My loyalty is to England but my sense of fair play wants India to win, as 3-2 would be a fair picture of the competitive nature of this series. I think India's bowlers were unlucky in the last game and also yesterday.

It's been a great series for retaining interest, helped by the good weather we've had.

Another tight game and yet again England look to be in the driving seat without really covering themselves in glory.

India seem to have bowled very well again with no luck, but England have stuck to their task and yet again india just did not contribute enough with the bat throughout the order. I sensed Kohli was getting weary-his dismissal looked a bit lazy. Root has looked a bit befuddled with the bat all series mind you and in need of a break.

There have been some odd selections in this series on both sides but Jadeja should surely have played the last test with Ashwin not obviously fit and why we have picked Rashid again is a bit beyond me. Maybe he will bowl India out 2nd innings but somehow that looks unlikely.

I guess the plan is to declare with 350 to win midway through the final session-but this series has rarely seen things go to plan. The perfect day also includes a Cook century but they will cheer him off whatever.

It has been a really enjoyable series with real competition between bat and ball.

Bruce

I agree with every word of Bruce's post above.

I am a die hard England supporter but I can't help feeling that a 4-1 margin would be unfair on India who have been extremely competitive and not had a lot of luck. Looking on from afar they have played the series in a very good spirit - the guard of honour for Cook was much appreciated as was the bhangra dance lesson from Shikhar Darwan when fielding on the boundary and Jadeja's bat twirling celebration of his well earnt 50. Maybe one positive side effect of the IPL is improved relations between players from different countries.

It's a great achievement for England to win a series against the top ranked team but they still have a lot of issues - so many that they probably deserve a thread in their own right!

I think Shami must have offended the gods of cricket as he had Cook playing and missing so much yesterday, and he's been very unlucky in previous games. The 2 teams come across as evenly matched, both having challenges with confidence and settling on their best XI. It will be interesting to see who England pick for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka as there are players who (IMV) really shouldn't go (Jennings and Rashid, the latter based on recent performances e.g. expensive) but I'm sure they will absent better options. 

At least this game looks like it will last in to day 5, famous last words..!

The Sri Lanka squad will be interesting in a variety of ways. I think they will stick with Jennings as allegedly he's a good player of spin but goodness knows who will bat 2 and 3. Who will they take as bowlers? Will one of Broad and Anderson request a rest? Curran's lack of pace on flat wickets will mean he's not a frontline option. Can Stokes handle a big workload over there? can we find another spinner either with or without Rashid in the squad?

Winning this series still leaves lots and lots of issues.

Bruce

...and Cook gets to his his century with 4 overthrows. Somehow appropriate for this determinedly unflashy batsman.

I think India have half a mind on the plane home, not unreasonably.

Bruce

I wonder when the declaration will come? Yesterday evening I thought Root would want to get to 300 but the run-rate this morning is higher than I expected and that target could be easily reached mid-way through the afternoon session.  Will Root think he wants four sessions to bowl out India?  

Crikey. It's getting dramatic now: India 2 for 3 wickets!!! 

Oh the joy of a batting collapse. Your best batsmen gets a golden duck, everyone else is rushing around trying to get the pads on and find that second glove. The adrenalin is flowing.

I have lots of experience in the team I play for-although since I usually open I generally start the rot!

Bruce

Brilliant series.  

Good grief what a couple of days and what a series. Jimmy Anderson breaks the all time pace-bowler wickets record getting the last wicket after India stage a mighty comeback.

Test cricket at its finest, 4:1 flatters England a lot in my view but cricket is really the winner. Cook's century yesterday gave me goosebumps just watching the highlights!

It feels like summer has ended on a high

Bruce