Oh, it does add a tactical element - but there’s a point (and we may not reach it in this match) where the effect of the weather is so great as to render tactical decisions moot. It’s one thing to adjust to the loss of a session or two. It’s another to lose the best part of 2 days - there’s no declaration or quick scoring that can make up for that much lost time. During the 2005 Ashes, the Guardian OBO coined the phrase, “Is it cowardly to pray for rain?” - there’s nothing great about tactics that involve one side hoping it won’t have to actually play.
There are still some people concerned about Cook but as you say, nothing succeeds like success. The swallow/summer exchange rate hasn’t changed, but Southampton did feel like a turnaround in his batting and a first innings score of 17 notwithstanding if he performs in the second innings that will take much of the pressure off as regards his batting.
As for captaincy, the charge is that he’s uninspired tactically and can’t get his players to perform at the necessary level. Performance is as much to do with the player as the captain (if the bowlers can’t hit the right length for the field set, is it up to the captain to change the field or the bowler to find the length?) but I also feel that better individual and team performances are giving him the confidence to try more innovative tactics (e.g. bringing Root on to break a partnership at Southampton). He’s probably never going to be a Michael Clarke style tactician but there are signs he’s trying.
Fair enough regarding weather, but I think the current rules regarding starting early for lost play are sufficient. I wouldn’t like to be a captain making a call on what he believes will happen- as an example, go for quick runs because it may rain and if it doesn’t work it’ll be a draw- and then have a few days added on where the opposition bats in glorious sunshine.
Well, it was very nice of India to wait today until I could get home from the zoo and watch before collapsing in a heap!
Hard to see India getting back into the game now, even with tomorrow likely to be totally rained off. There’s a decent chance England will win this evening, even.
I see Broad may play in the fifth Test wearing a face-mask. I’m sure the Indians will be thrilled to see Hannibal the Cannibal running in to bowl at them.
One of the beauties of Test Match Cricket is the possibility of a complete turn around in form such as we have seen. It is not beyond the realm of possibilities that India could go out on Friday and proceed to dominate the match and draw the series.
England are unrecognisable from their earlier shambles, but their confidence has been quickly discovered and is a fragile thing. If Broad does not play the Fifth Test the pressure on the rest could yet see it all unravel for England.
Good grief. India 28/4 after an hour and half (late start). The only way a team could have worse morale than India’s right now would be if England somehow contrive to lose this test from here.
Decent last wicket partnership for India brings the total up to something that isn’t totally humiliating, but then England have gone out and put 60odd on without losing a wicket.
All one way traffic today. Even the problems England had in the last test, of Woakes and Jordan not keeping the pressure up and getting amongst the wicket, seem to have faded.
India completely murdered today, all out for 94 on the same pitch on which England had barely missed out on 500. Two matches in a row all over before the end of the third day, and after time lost to weather. M S Dhoni was the only man among them in the first innings - without him, it would have been an innings and 300 at least - and once he was out in the second, utter humiliation was on the cards. Only downside for England is that Anderson still hasn’t overtaken Botham’s record.
Yes, if there were another test England may not even have needed to bat once :).
Let’s hope that this series finally convince the BCCI of what an improvement DRS is compared with not having it at all. That’s about the only positive for Indian cricket that can come out of this. I see no reason for Dhoni to stand down - he was the only Indian batsman to consistently put up resistance in the last three tests, it’s hard to criticise his tactics when he was basically getting no support from his team. The best tactician in the world couldn’t have dragged this Indian side to a series victory.
The England women must be a bit disappointed about losing their test, they got themselves in a good position but were unable to close the deal - anyone know why?
I don’t think the BCCI stance on DRS is productive, but there are enough issues with it that I don’t think an acceptance of DRS in present form is necessarily a positive. I remember a series last year or the year before that perhaps that had enough problems with DRS that the stories were about how BCCI had gotten it right. Perhaps the BCCI opposition will bring about a system that is better than the current one. The DRS I’d like to see right now is simple - let the third umpire to use video(including hotspot) evidence to overturn clear howlers, while giving benefit of doubt to the on field umpire’s decision. Leave predictive tech like Hawkeye out until there is independent verification of its accuracy.
Beyond that, I’m hoping this will inspire English county stints for some of the Indian batsmen. I remember Tendulkar saying his season at Yorkshire helped him, and I’ve heard the idea bandied about by some pundits. More practice in seaming conditions is what they need, and they’re not going to get it playing at home.
India just did not have the bowling to threaten England, whose batting was very very ordinary frankly. Sri Lank showed up England. This might flatter England. They are going to struggle against good bowling sides.
OTH, Herath is awesome, he took 14 wickets against Pakistan this last test.
Sri Lanka are going to be diffcult to stop in Aus/NZ for the world cup.
