India close on 125/3 and extend their lead to 257 on Day 3 of the rescheduled Test against England

[sweep_shot]

Raining.

Players are off.

 

[MP2011]

And rain comes

 

[JaDed]

Why is that lucky? If batters are in good form?

Yeah..at their peak. Root with captaincy i doubt would had..

 

[James]

Rain starts falling and likely an early lunch.

200/6, England still a ways behind in the game but no longer in the complete dumps.

Big responsibility on the Bairstow and Billings partnership.

 

[boomboomcheema]

How useless is Billings. Not contributing anything from the other end just surviving like a tail ender. England carrying so many deadwoods.

 

[JaDed]

Hate the English weather lol, ruins the flow.

 

[GreenBee]

This has the makings of a match where Bumrah may have to make a tough declaration call in the second innings, and if he goes over-aggressive, England may just pull this off.

 

[JaDed]

How useless is Billings. Not contributing anything from the other end just surviving like a tail ender. England carrying so many deadwoods.

That would be more than what other English batsmen have done, Stokes could had calmed down after 2 chances..

 

[James]

How useless is Billings. Not contributing anything from the other end just surviving like a tail ender. England carrying so many deadwoods.

?

He’s calmly holding up an end so Bairstow can continue to smash runs at the other, not sure what game you are watching.

“Carrying so many deadwoods”, Billings only in the side (for his third match) because our first choice has had Covid. He is effectively a sub, not being carried.

That’s a really poor post from you.

 

[sweep_shot]

When guys like Stokes, Bairstow, and Buttler bat, other batsmen don't have to do much (other than not getting out).

 

[Kroll]

How useless is Billings. Not contributing anything from the other end just surviving like a tail ender. England carrying so many deadwoods.

Bit early to be making that sort of assessment? He's only faced 17 balls.

 

[James]

Back playing. Bairstow hits the first ball (off Thakur) for 4 and moves onto 95*

 

[James]

Billings 17 off 22

 

[MP2011]

All our bowlers have been very expensive, including Bumrah.

 

[James]

England have avoided the follow on

 

[James]

1330-1600 2nd session
1445 drinks
1600-1620 tea
1620-1830 3rd session
Can play til 1900

Overs lost 1
97 for the day
30mins extra to complete the overs

 

[MP2011]

Thakur has been a total disaster in this test, so far.

 

[MP2011]

Neither can he bowl, nor field, nor bat.

 

[James]

Bairstow 100

Another golden knock.

 

[MP2011]

100 for Bairstow, great batting.

 

[sweep_shot]

Bairstow reaches his hundred. Well done.

 

[sweep_shot]

If rain stays away, we may get a cracking finish.

 

[James]

McCullum grinning ear to ear on the balcony about that one.

 

[MP2011]

All Indian bowlers are looking totally clueless. Wonder why Jadeja hasn't yet bowled.

 

[MP2011]

This is Bairstow's 3rd 100 in consecutive tests. He is in some form.

 

[James]

Surely time for Jadeja and something different. Not much happening for the seamers with the ball now 49 overs old.

 

[sweep_shot]

McCullum grinning ear to ear on the balcony about that one.

He should be happy.

But, job is not done yet. Can't lose focus now.

 

[sweep_shot]

England are trailing by 187 runs.

229/6.

 

[MP2011]

Good over that from Bumrah.

 

[James]

232/6, match in an interesting position

 

[Rajdeep]

The way Bairstow is batting...if England can take a lead of 200 runs, they would fancy an innings win.

 

[sweep_shot]

Almost a catch.

Billings survives.

 

[James]

Thakur bowling a heap of NBs

 

[sweep_shot]

Billings is doing his part well. Much better than top-order.

He is on 23*.

 

[James]

The way Bairstow is batting...if England can take a lead of 200 runs, they would fancy an innings win.

Lol mate I don’t think we are going to do that. Even 350 all out would be semi useful from here.

 

[Ahmed216]

The way Bairstow is batting...if England can take a lead of 200 runs, they would fancy an innings win.

I think they'll score 700 with bairstow ending up with a triple ton and billings a double

 

[sweep_shot]

England - 235/6.

Trailing by 181 runs.

 

[Rajdeep]

Lol mate I don’t think we are going to do that. Even 350 all out would be semi useful from here.

Eng/Bairstow did lot of unimaginable things recently against NZ. So never say never.

 

[Ahmed216]

Old ball has done absolutely nothing in both innings.

 

[sweep_shot]

They have slowed down a bit.

 

[James]

Old ball has done absolutely nothing in both innings.

Was also the pattern in the Eng-NZ series with each Dukes ball — really tough to bat for 30 overs with constant movement, and then gets easier for the next 50

 

[James]

Bumrah trying his Yorkers.

 

[sweep_shot]

Bumrah is bowling those killer yorkers.

 

[sweep_shot]

Jadeja comes out to bowl. Should've bowled earlier.

 

[James]

Bumrah backing himself, bowling well.

 

[James]

Good first over from Jadeja.

Indian can regain some control here.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think England should try Roy-Hales opening pair. Can't do worse than the current pair.

Also, Butler should be in the Test team.

 

[Ab Fan]

27 more overs for England before second new ball. I think they should look for 140 runs in these many overs.

 

[sweep_shot]

England - 239/6.

Trailing by 177 runs.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

The way this is going, won't be long before we have the regulars out in fine voice.
Havent seen the villager dude in a while....& looks like bhag VB kahin bhag gaya
ooh....whata take by Rishabh.!

 

[MP2011]

Some sanity coming back to the proceedings, courtesy Bumrah and Jadeja.

 

[James]

Bumrah bowling superbly to Bairstow but ends up losing a review

 

[sweep_shot]

Poor review. That didn't look out.

 

[MP2011]

Our DRS capabilities remain poor irrespective of who the captain is.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

review lost....this is going badly...
what an innings by JB -he's singlehandedly changed the momentum

 

[James]

Feels like Bumrah rushed the decision to review there, should have consulted.

 

[James]

review lost....this is going badly...
what an innings by JB -he's singlehandedly changed the momentum

I think you’ll get a wicket soon bro

 

[sweep_shot]

Pant is very chirpy.

Looks like he was sledging Bairstow.

 

[James]

Bairstow gone to Shami, perished just as he played. Good knock though

 

[MP2011]

Shami gets Bairstow.

 

[sweep_shot]

Big wicket.

England should start slogging now.

 

[Smbhayi]

Shami strike first ball..

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Well done by Shami
It was one flash too many by JB - fantastic innings.
The door is now open, we gotta nail it now

 

[MP2011]

Great bowling change by Bumrah, aided by a great catch from Kohli.

 

[Ahmed216]

Shami has reaped the reward after few tight overs from jaddu n bumrah. Brilliant bowling he knew bairstow will go for big booming drive

 

[Smbhayi]

Feels like Bumrah rushed the decision to review there, should have consulted.

He did consulted i think..

 

[MP2011]

Must take at least 120-130 runs lead, minimum.

 

[Rajdeep]

India should try the bouncer bodyline tactics against Broad and Anderson just to rile them up like they did in Lords test last year

 

[James]

England tail could fold like a pack of cards. Billings needs to look after them.

 

[MP2011]

Shami has reaped the reward after few tight overs from jaddu n bumrah. Brilliant bowling he knew bairstow will go for big booming drive

This is true. Yesterday Siraj reaped the rewards by getting rid of Root due to pressure exerted by Shami and Bumrah and now Shami reaped the rewards due to pressure created by Bumrah and Jadeja.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

I think you’ll get a wicket soon bro

Lol...
coming back to Bairstow - i always felt he was at his best when riled up or had a point or two to prove
cue that head butt thinggy in aus in the ashes , when he scored a good 100...
Also WC 2019 when he was criticized in the press and next match was against us (just our luck) and he flayed us to all parts of that ground
and today-he was electric - just awesome

 

[Rajdeep]

This is India's last test this year for a while. All white ball cricket from here on until T20 world cup. We play next test in November against Australia.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

England's basically lost the match. India doesn't even need to bat well in 3rd innings to win.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

I guess if the theme is Bazball - Broad must have his ears full of the redemption talk. If he takes on Jazza - that will be fun to watch....can he top 35?

 

[Varun]

Barstow has scored centuries in 3 consecutive tests.

But still averages mid-30s.

Clearly some purple patch.

 

[James]

Siraj back on. Enjoyable watching him bowl.

 

[Varun]

England's basically lost the match. India doesn't even need to bat well in 3rd innings to win.

What if we are 36 all out?

 

[James]

England's basically lost the match. India doesn't even need to bat well in 3rd innings to win.

Comment feels slightly premature.

 

[sweep_shot]

England are trailing by 169 runs.

They should try to score 80-100 more runs minimum.

 

[James]

Broad having a rubbish match.

That was a poor shot