In message <
586c4f6ceb13bdb1...@www.novabbs.com>, miked
<
dmik...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>John Hall wrote:
<snip>
>
>> It's been announced within the last hour or so that Ashwin will miss
>>the rest of the match because of a family emergency, which is a huge
>>blow to India. It's astonishing the number of players who are now
>>missing from both sides for one reason or another, who had they been
>>fit and available might have been first choices. England are without
>>Brook and Leach (and arguably Archer), but India have suffered even
>>worse, losing Kohli, Rahul, Asnwin, Sami and Pant (and Pandya?). I
>>was tempted to try to make an XI out of the missing players, but I
>>don't think the side would have any openers.
>
>yes its crazy and it must have happened quick, like a sudden illness to
>a family member,
It seems to have involved his mother, and as it appears to have been
sudden maybe a stroke or heart attack. But I suppose one shouldn't
speculate.
> cos he was happy giving interviews at midday.
>But england are still far behind, and if everyone tries to ape ducket,
>i suspect
>they will give their wkts away cheaply. Somebody needs to anchor the
>innings and bat long, quick 30s and 40s are not enough.
That unfortunately was all too prescient. I fear that today may prove to
be the pivotal day of the whole series. I haven't seen the footage -
when I got up and checked the score I decided that it was all too
depressing to watch - but I read that Root was out attempting a reverse
scoop off Bumrah. I don't mind him trying the shot once he's well in
with 50 or so to his name, but as it's not really his natural game I
don't think he should have done it early on. Duckett was out to a long
hop apparently - annoying, but these things happen.
It doesn't seem long ago that our big worry was our top 3, and the
middle order was our strong area, but now with Root and Bairstow failing
again it's the reverse. Root is needed for his bowling, but I wonder if
Lawrence might replace Bairstow for the fourth Test? Probably not, as
England don't like chopping and changing.
Well done India, though, especially as it must have been a big shock to
lose Ashwin, who I had expected to be their most threatening bowler
today.
> Theyve just bowled
>130 overs they need to bat all day tomorrow and more so that they can put
>india under pressure on the last 2 days. But i suspect it will India batting
>at the end of tomorrw and building a big lead not england. Also i notice
>there was 86 overs on the 1st and only 79 today, although its not like
>the specs didnt get value for money.
I suppose England playing an extra quick didn't help, and I believe it's
been very hot, but even so that's pretty poor.
>
>I wasnt impressed by england tactics today in the field, they got
>the 2 early wkts, but then stokes had wood endlessly bowling bouncers,
>just gifting runs to the tail, when he should have just tried very fast
>full pitches, i remember holding doing this at the oval once, its often
>more effective against the tail, although Ashwin & Jurel are no mugs.
The reporter in my newspaper said something similar.
>
>plus i dont usually doubt DRS but i was surprised by Popes lbw, i know
>hes short but it didnt look out in real time. expect more critical whinging
>after the test from stokes. How do they set these machines up?
>
>mike
Pope was a bit unlucky, as India's decision to review didn't seem too
obvious, and the ball was shown to be clipping just enough of the
top-legside corner of the leg bail for it to come up Red for hitting the
stumps.
Talking about height, I've always thought that Pope was pretty short
but, seeing him talking to Duckett, Duckett's a good bit shorter still!
Pity the poor bowlers trying to keep a good line and length bowling to
England's openers when, as well as one batting left-handed and one
right, there's over a foot difference in height, so that a good-length
ball to one of them would be too full or too short to the other. I
suspect that's a major factor in their success.