11:20
9th over: India 34-1 (Gill 14, Pujara 8). Target 420. Anderson to Pujara, the most important contest left on this busy fourth day. Ooh, and he finds the inside edge early in the over too, albeit not in the direction of Pope under the lid at short leg. He’s yet to really go for the big outswinger, but I’m sure he’ll try it on before stumps.
11:18
8th over: India 34-1 (Gill 14, Pujara 8). Target 420. Leach, the man most likely, to Pujara. But he’s too straight and Pujara helps himself to a couple behind square then another behind point when the spinner overcorrects. Better to Gill, who wants to score but can’t.
“My Andalusian beloved recoiled in horror yesterday when I imparted the merits of a weekend fry up,” reports Kam Sangha in Seville. “Eggs on toast is not breakfast. Nor mushrooms or beans. In the two months of our courtship she has fostered a quiet, unassuming understanding of her Indian boyfriend’s passion for a sport more or less alien than the Great British Fry Up. Her long standing interest in the country of my roots means I can tell her about my visit to Tamil Nadu and it’s extraordinary temples. It is this kind of profound cultural exchange – the history of flamenco on her part – that allows me to prop the laptop, knowing full well a swollen ankle after a morning run along the Guadalquivir river is not the sole reason for intercultural understanding. Vamos!”
11:15
7th over: India 31-1 (Gill 14, Pujara 5). Target 420. Right, so it is Jimmy on for Archer now that Pujara is out there. He gets a look at him almost straight away after Gill turns a single but the No3 does likewise. Gill is solid in defence for the rest. Five overs until stumps.
11:12
6th over: India 29-1 (Gill 13, Pujara 4). Target 420. Puraja straight into his work, putting away a short one from Leach, carved past point. Statement of the obvious: he needs to be there overnight.
A point of clarification from an earlier topic via Nicholas Clark, which does ring a bell now that I read his email. “The laws were clarified about this. Off side is set when the ball becomes live, eg when the bowler starts their run up anything after that doesn’t matter. It does open up the option of a right hander starting left handed to prevent getting out via their typical off side though.”
And a question from Ian Copestake I want answered too! “Morning, Adam and all. Asking for a non-TV watching, German-based friend, but are there highlight packages on youtube? The Big Bash had plenty up regularly and the coverage of the Sri Lanka series was duly covered. But not a sausage as far as I can see from Channel 4.”
11:04
WICKET! Rohit b Leach 12 (India 25-1)
Just what England needed: the early wicket. Leach drifts in towards Rohit from around the wicket and turns it sharply with a big puff of dust, crashing into his off-stump. That’s right where he needs to be.
11:01
5th over: India 25-0 (Rohit 12, Gill 13). Target 420. That’s hurried Rohit up! He resisted the pull in Archer’s first over but goes at it here and isn’t too far away from top-edging into trouble – instead, it runs away for four. And he goes again! This time it’s the Rohit Sharma ODI special, rocking back and pulling high and handsome over square leg for SIX! It’s impossible not to love the way this Indian team go about their business; the belief and fight is compelling.
Updated
10:58
4th over: India 12-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 12). Target 420. I’ve never seen a player more rusted on for 10,000 Test runs so soon in their career as Shubman Gill. His on-drive here is pristine, his glance just as effective. Back to back boundaries. The kid is a joy to watch.
10:56
3rd over: India 4-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 4). Target 420. Archer to Rohit is quite the Box Office stoush, no matter what colour the ball is. At pace, he’s happy to leave early on but then has a dash at one – playing and missing. That didn’t quite get up, though. Encouraging for Anderson, who will exploit this inconsistent bounce.
“First of all, your daughter is one of the cutest toddlers I’ve ever seen!” Thank you, Eva Maaten! We’re quite fond of her too! “Secondly, early exposure to anything seems spectacularly unhelpful in my experience – my by now 18 year old has politely resisted all attempts by her parents to enthuse her for cricket and Beethoven (her father) as well as Jane Austen and the piano (me). She has turned out a brilliant person with strong interests in many things, entirely discovered by herself. The process of exposure is fun for the parents, though, at least in the early years – it gets a bit frustrating once they hit their teens.”
By the sounds of things, I’ll need to be at peace with her rejecting the game. As long as she wants to hang out with me, I’ll be fine.
10:50
2nd over: India 4-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 4). Target 420. Leach it is with the new ball, which is fairly funky. I like it. As does Shubman Gill, who waits and waits before jumping back deep in the crease to flick through the vacant midwicket region for the first runs of the chase.
“The simple solution to slow over rates is to add 6 runs for every over not bowled in the time (with the overs still bowled in the day if possible),” writes Hugh Molley. “Money shouldn’t have anything to do with it. It’s an in-game thing.”
Yep, agreed it has to be in-game. Yet to see a perfect fix but someone will think of one and I’ll campaign for it relentlessly when they do.
10:46
1st over: India 0-0 (Rohit 0, Gill 0). Target 420. Archer gets the first over rather than Anderson – interesting. Good carry from a decent channel in and around the off-stump. Later in the maiden, Rohit wants to pull but thinks better of it when the short ball arrives.
10:41
Some quick correspondence before India light up their chase of 420. To begin, Abhijato Sensarma: “Staying at home because of the pandemic has formed a new habit for me – sleeping in the afternoon like a man who doesn’t have a thousand assignments to submit the next day. But this morning, I gave a personal interview for getting admission into my dream college – it went quite well. It’s also pumped up my adrenaline for the rest of the afternoon, supplemented by the anxiety of having to get a wisdom tooth extracted in the evening too. But going by the stoic way Buttler and Bess are batting, they might put me to sleep successfully!”
You’re a fine and passionate young man, Back yourself and play your shots.
Oh, the players are already back on. Archer to Rohit. PLAY!
10:37
Think of it this way. If talking to Joe Root when England were starting their third innings, he would have said that the ideal outcome is that they get an hour at India tonight with a 400+ lead. That’s what’s going to happen and his bowlers got a proper breather.
10:32
ENGLAND ALL-OUT 178! WICKET! Anderson c&b Ashwin 0.
Leading edge, Anderson gifts Ashwin an easy catch to claim his sixth wicket. He finishes with 17.3-2-61-6. A fine effort. Meanwhile, India need 420 for a most unlikely win. They’ll have about 105 overs.
10:29
WICKET! Archer b Ashwin 5 (England 178-9)
Bowled him. Too good. Ashwin picks up his 28th five-wicket bag in Test cricket. Sure, these haven’t been the most important wickets he’s taken but it means that the great thinker and twirler is very much in this series regardless of what happens tomorrow.
10:28
46th over: England 178-8 (Archer 5, Leach 8) Solid, Jacky boy. Nothing is getting through that defence. The lead is now 419, which, of course, means if India wins it’ll be a new record. And Leach, after getting the strike from Archer, is knocking Sundar on the head. If nothing else, I’m enjoying how mad everyone is getting!
10:26
45th over: England 177-8 (Archer 4, Leach 8) After a fair bit of activity over the last few overs, we’re back to the safe and steady approach, Archer taking a single down the ground and Leach defending the rest. Meanwhile, we’re entering hour four of declaration speculation on TV and I WANT TO BREAK FREE.
10:21
44th over: England 176-8 (Archer 3, Leach 8) Jack Leach giving back some of the treatment he copped when bowling yesterday, dancing and cracking Nadeem over midwicket for one boundary and enjoying it so much they he went again, albeit with a thick edge over slip the second time around. They all look the same in the book.
10:19
43rd over: England 167-8 (Archer 2, Leach 0) A wicket-maiden for Ashwin, who is well placed for a cheeky little five-for here.
10:15
WICKET! Bess lbw b Ashwin 25 (England 167-8)
Ahhh? Pad-bat is the call from the TV umpire, on the basis of one inconclusive snicko roll-through. Indeed, I thought ultra-edge provided more doubt than the front-on vision. Anyway, he’s out.
10:12
42nd over: England 167-7 (Bess 25, Archer 2) Archer won’t be volunteering his wicket given he’s on a pair. Indeed, he’s off the mark with a well-controlled sweep out to deep square leg.
“India’s best chase at Chennai” – a reminder courtesy of Prithvi Chandrasekhar. What a ridiculous final day that was.
10:07
WICKET! Buttler st Pant b Nadeem 24 (England 165-7)
This time Pant has enough time to get his gloves to Nadeem’s delivery after Buttler unsucessfully tries to pop him on the moon.
10:06
41st over: England 165-6 (Buttler 24, Bess 25) All cameras on the England rooms and… Root is back in his chair, not in his whites. Meanwhile back in the middle, Bess takes advantage of another drag down, opening up the offside to smash Ashwin away for four more.
“Evening Adam.” And to you, Kamal Mann. “Following the OBO in nearby Brunswick. Will crowds be permitted at the Commerical Club tomorrow for thrilling finale tomorrow? Also I made a trek to the IGA on Sydney Road (near Stewart Street) to stock up on Annas Ginger Thins biscuits – Sweden’s most loved pepparkaka! If Geoff or you need any special supplies let me know and happy to make a special dash on your behalf….I’ll classify it as a form of (cricket) community service – or Seva as the Sikhs would say.”
Look, we’ve never said no to gifts of food before! As to whether we end up at the Commercial Club again tomorrow night, stay tuned.
10:02
40th over: England 160-6 (Buttler 23, Bess 21) England’s lead moves beyond 400 with a pair of Bess boundaries, punching Nadeem through cover then sweeping him out to the midwicket rope. Nice. At the end of the over, Joe Root leaves the viewing area. To get changed? That would stand to reason, nearing the final hour.
“Surely Andrew Cosgrove’s 33rd over LBW conundrum applies to switch hits but not reverse ones – or is that too pedantic?” It’s a fair point, Geoff Wignall. One that will be looked at by the ICC, I think.
“Anyway coming late to the coverage on a wet, cold and windy Portuguese morning I’ve just been catching up with all the OBO love. May I just add that among its manifold merits and charms is that in contrast to the TV/ radio/ pub one is never at risk here of the loud mouthed boor (bore)?Anyway all the cricketing and media gods are to be thanked for it and all of those who provide it. So thanks.”
And to you. Lovely to be back on the tools with you all today.
09:58
39th over: England 152-6 (Buttler 23, Bess 13) Another no-ball from Ashwin – short enough for Buttler to lean back and smash away through point for four. Just a reminder that Ashwin bowled more than 20,000 deliveries in Tests before he was first called for a no-ball yesterday. To think how many he (and everyone else!) sent down in Test cricket over the last decade that weren’t being looked for. And I’m not blaming the central umpires for that either – it was a systemic failure, finally fixed. Oooh, much better later in the over with Buttler mnissing sweep. A big appeal for leg before is turned down and Kohli doesn’t review. Perhaps he should have? That pitched and hit in line. TV tells the story: that was out. Not to be.
09:54
38th over: England 147-6 (Buttler 19, Bess 13) Bess dances and swings and misses, but there’s so much turn and bounce that Pant can’t glove it to complete a stumping. Very positive signs for England’s spinners, who will get a crack on this beautiful orange track soon enough. As Gary Naylor pointed out earlier, it looks just as all Test pitches should at Chennai as we reach the final day. A maiden. England have added 14 from the last nine overs.
09:51
37th over: England 147-6 (Buttler 19, Bess 13) The recent pattern continues: Bess faces five of the six Ashwin deliveries and adds just a single. The lead is crawling towards 400, currently at 388.
The Indian perspective from Mittu in Hanumangarh. “If South Africa had chased down the 370 against Pakistan, I would have been happy about India’s chances — not anymore. The (more than) speck of dust from the pitch must be weighing on Indian batsmen’s mind as well. India’s best chance would be to let England innings drag on and then play out whatever overs are left.” Gotta love an omen!
09:48
36th over: England 146-6 (Buttler 19, Bess 12) The challenge for England now is that Buttler isn’t seeing much strike. Here, against Ishant, he gives the baton back to Bess from the first ball and doesn’t see it again until the final delivery, which he has to play defensively.
“Hi Adam.” Hello to you, William Vignoles. “Lovely to have such an intriguing start to the series. I think the commentators are being a bit harsh to root and England here about the declaration. This is a stacked Indian team full of l players who can go at an incredible lick, and apart from Anderson, England’s bowlers are inexperienced in general and in these conditions. I think it’s fair to get the lead over 400. Having said that Bess padding away an over from Nadeem is a bit bleak. Loving the Dailies!”
Yep, I’m of a similar view – loads of time, no panic required. England’s bowlers put in a big shift and will have to do again tomorrow (and next week). 15 overs tonight? Feels right.
Bryan Hadden
(@bryanhadden)@collinsadam do you know if India will get points deducted for this horrible over rate?
They probably will. But I doubt they will care too much if it ultimately helps contribute to them not losing the Test.
09:42
35th over: England 144-6 (Buttler 18, Bess 11) Bess flicks a couple off Nadeem but there are five dots either side of the one scoring shot.
A nice one here from Ian Forth about First Tests. “My son Jamie was born in May 1997 and I vividly remember his first test being England’s victory in the first match of that summer’s Ashes which he seemed fascinated by as I dandled him. Years later, having emigrated to Melbourne, we saw Shane Warne’s 700th wicket together, Australia’s 98 all out and Alistair Cook’s record-breaking double century. I’d be tempted to spin a life lesson about the importance of early imprinting if it weren’t for the fact I read all 7 Harry Potters to him and he hasn’t read a book for 10 years.”
09:39
34th over: England 142-6 (Buttler 18, Bess 9) Nick Knight makes an obvious but an important point: India are perfectly happy taking as long as they want to bowl these overs, helped by an excellent Sundar stop on the rope that takes a number of replays to sort out. It’s not as if there’s much for the hosts to lose. So what if they get fined a paltry amount? Most of the team are millionaires times over; fines don’t work. WTC points aren’t a bad option – Australia lost four for their over rates against India at the MCG – but that isn’t punitive enough. In the last 40 minutes, TV tells me, they have bowled seven overs.
09:33
33rd over: England 137-6 (Buttler 17, Bess 5) “A lack of urgency from England,” says Mark Butcher, concluding they might want to give their bowlers a bit more time off before letting them rip for a second time. Jos does get his paddle sweep out and dances later in the over too, but there’s not a tremendous amount going on right now.
“Morning Adam, from a chilly (and slightly snow-clad) south London.” Morning to you, Andrew Cosgrove. Here’s to a good week with plenty of vaccinations up and down the country. “I was interesting to see your description of Pope’s dismissal being caught at short midwicket (and the previous shot going to cow corner). This speaks to the debate on whether a batsman playing a reverse shot can be given out LBW when being hit outside the line (is it his leg stump or his off stump?). But surely Pope was caught at cover, it only looked like midwicket because it was a reverse shot.”
You’re absolutely right – I’ve fallen into a bit of a trap there. In saying that, we’re going to see so much reverse/switch hitting over the next few years, maybe we’ll need a new naming convention?
09:28
32nd over: England 135-6 (Buttler 16, Bess 4) By my count, that’s two runs from the last three overs with Bess struggling to give the strike to Jos. Buttler will get a crack at Nadeem in just a moment, though.
Jonny Mills is with us from middle Earth! “Ciao Adam, I couldn’t agree more about the value of the work you all do. I’m currently digging archaeological test pits under a police station in Milan and have to jump out of the trench every few minutes to get a connection. Makes the damp and cold easier to bear although I’m not sure it would be simple to explain to a suspicious Carabiniere.”
Thanks for staying true. It’s going to be an exciting final day.
09:25
31st over: England 134-6 (Buttler 15, Bess 4) A maiden from Nadeem to Bess pours some more cold water on the declaration speculation.
“Morning/Evening Collo!” And to you, Sam Rhodes. Lovely to have you on the OBO, been enjoying The Final Word recaps a great deal – thanks very much for doing them!” Why, an excuse to plug my podcast? Thanks for listening – most kind. Geoff Lemon is joining me at the KGB safehouse I’m OBOing from to record as soon as stumps are pulled. We’re on youtube now too, don’t you know.
Interested on your thoughts on Australia potentially being in need of a new coach in the form of Bayliss. Are Langer’s days truly that numbered? I know it’s been a rough few weeks, and it feels like there’s more happening behind the scenes than the humble public know about, but I haven’t read anything really spelling out how hot his seat might be.”
I’m being mischevious – they won’t sack him. But don’t for a second be spun into believing that the stories last week didn’t have plenty to them. This wasn’t a single disgruntled civil servant situation – not even close. Fair to conclude that it’s a good time for them to be having a break from each other after a long time in the biobubble.
09:19
30th over: England 134-6 (Buttler 15, Bess 4) I’m fairly certain the only topic the television callers are permitted to discuss at this point of a third innings is the declaration. It’s the law. But dot balls from Bumrah to Simply Dom Bess suggests it isn’t going to be imminent.
09:16
29th over: England 133-6 (Buttler 15, Bess 3) Dom Bess is off the mark first ball, with a couple down to long-on. He’s looked good with the bat on this tour and he keeps the strike. The lead is 374.
From the ICC, their first players-of-the-month have been gonged:
“India’s Rishabh Pant won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for January 2021 for his performances in the two Tests against Australia where he scored a 97 at Sydney and an unbeaten 89 at Brisbane that led India to a historic series win against arch-rivals Australia. South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail was named the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for January 2021 for her performances across three ODIs and two T20Is during the month. Ismail took seven wickets in the victorious ODI series against Pakistan, before taking five wickets in the second T20I against the same opposition.”
I was on the voting panel and voted for both, so no complaints.
09:12
WICKET! Pope b Rohit b Nadeem 28 (England 130-6)
Very Rainbow Rhythms from Pope, switch-hitting a pull out to the cow corner rope. But he tries it again and gets caught at short midwicket! A handy innings though, his 28 coming in just 32 balls.
Ollie Pope plays a shot. Photograph: Pankaj Nangia/ Sportzpics for BCCI
Updated
09:09
28th over: England 123-5 (Pope 22, Buttler 14) Pope gets a loosener from Bumrah to start the session, putting away a half-volley through cover. That’ll do nicely. Sure enough, the big quick is right back on his mark, decking in and shaping away from the right-hander at different points at the over, not allowing to do more than defend.
“Please tell my daughter Gwen that she really should be taking full advantage of living in a land of free cricket on tv,” says Finbar Anslow.
Gwen, your dad has helped to give you a great name. Go on, watch the cricket with him. It’ll be worth it in the long run. Promise.
09:01
The players are back on the field at Chennai. Bumrah to Pope. PLAY!
08:58
“Hi Adam.” Allo, Colum Fordham. “I think England probably need 50 odd more to feel comfortable with an Indian team of this calibre. Decisions regarding follow-ons will probably be out of their hands judging from this mini-collapse.”
I’d have a ten over dart at them tonight. Plenty of time.
Colum continues: “I saw a pic Yesterday of my four-year old nephew with a small plastic bat in his hand in front of Channel 4 coverage. Tried to inculcate a love of cricket in my two boys in Naples and they’re fond of it but not Test-match crazy like yours truly. Oh well, one does one’s best.”
I feel slightly guilty dragging my baby daughter in to the game, knowing what damage it can do to your body and brain. On the other hand, I wouldn’t have it any other way. So, she gets it too.
Phil Russell also has some thoughts on the declaration: “The Revised Common Book of Test Match Captaincy suggests this innings will end with the first of 1) 400 lead, 2) All out, 3) one hour of play left. Will be interesting to see if Root deviates from the orthodox path into something more heretical.”
I suspect he won’t. But it’s worth noting that Root nailed his declarations during the home summer through 2020. Fair play to him, he’s come a long way as a tactician over the last four years.
08:54
“Morning Adam.” It’s evening where I am in Melbourne, but I won’t bang on about that. Don’t worry, I’ll be back to the London lockdown with everyone else in a couple of weeks. “Explaining the OBO to partners and friends is much easier than it used to be pre Internet when the only thing to do was sit in front of the Ceefax score card waiting for the batman’s line to change colour signifying a wicket!”
Yes, we are a special breed. Penty on twitter also is sharing in the love. “The OBO is amazing as you (Collo et al) watch and summarise what is going on for others who cannot. I’m sitting here marking exams, radio is too distracting and TV too off-putting, but a quick occasional glance at the obo updates? THAT’S the sweet spot!”
Exactly that. Whenever I’m not wriring the OBO, invariably I’m reading on too. Especially when doing radio commentary, so to have a pretty good feel for how you’re all seeing it evolve from home.
Of course, there’s nobody who OBOs quite like Rob Smyth, who has kindly dropped into my DMs with this gem: “England’s scoring rate in Tests under Silverwood is almost the same as under Bayliss (3.22 to 3.25), but, unsurprisingly, the average runs per wicket has increased considerably, from 30.84 to 37.18. Shows the value of smarter cricket I suppose.”
Related/unrelated: I wonder if Bayliss is Australia’s next coach?
08:43
TEA: England 119-5 (leading by 360 runs)
27th over: England 119-5 (Pope 18, Buttler 14) Ishant is thrown to ball to complete the session after Nadeem’s brief misadventure from that end. We’re back to (some of the) the TV commentators talking themselves into a tea-time declaration. Surely not? The big quick is very good here, inswinger/outswinger/outswinger – Buttler is up to the task, picking the right deliveries to play at. And that is tea. A busy session with 118 runs and four wickets coming across 25 overs.
08:37
26th over: England 118-5 (Pope 17, Buttler 14) Bumrah gets another to shoot, this time at Buttler, but it was darting well down the legside. Buttler gets bat to ball the next time there’s one on his pads, clipping a couple. A fine reply from the Indian superstar, sending down a big outswinger to keep Jos honest. One more over before tea.
Gary Naylor
(@garynaylor999)A word for the curator @collinsadam. This is a perfect pitch! Its rusty hue is exactly as it ought to be at Chennai (with a hint of Delhi’s Red Fort conjured). It’s offered something to every type of bowling and to batsmen willing to defend carefully or play positively. Superb!
Yep, I agree. The pitch copped some grief on the opening day for being a tad on the slow side, but as you say, has developed nicely.
08:32
25th over: England 115-5 (Pope 16, Buttler 12) That’s BIIIIG from Universe Jos, leaping and launching Nadeem over long-off for SIX! What a strike. And cue the siren, he’s overstepped too. Inexcusable for a spinner – etc, etc. Buttler cuts a couple more behind point to keep the good times rolling. Ten off it, the lead advancing to 356.
“I just tried to explain the obo to my wife,” says Chris Lingwood. “‘So it’s just someone watching tv for you?’ she said. “I wish I was able to disagree.” A conversation we’ve all had at one stage of another. My partner still can’t come to terms with why it works, but as we know, there are few better companions on a Test Match day.
08:26
24th over: England 105-5 (Pope 15, Buttler 4) Ooh, very close to two in two, Buttler just getting down to Bumrah’s inswinging yorker, the inside edge spitting away to fine leg for four. It’s a batsman’s game.
08:25
WICKET! Root lbw b Bumrah 40 (England 101-5)
Root, after adding 40 in 32 balls, cops one that keeps low and jags back form Bumrah – there is no keeping that out. Of course, he’ll be frustrated to walk off the field but also well aware that it won’t be the last ball that misbehaves in this Test. England’s lead is 342.
08:22
23rd over: England 97-4 (Root 37, Pope 14) Declaration speculation on telly, verging on asserting that they should be pulling the pin already on account of what India were able to achieve in Sydney and Brisbane. I’m not so sure about that, fellas. England have earned the right to play this cool, and I’m sure they will do just that on a surface that’s going to go plenty tomorrow. Highlighting that point, Ashwin gets one to explode from the footmarks at Pope, the young man just keeping it away from Gill at short leg. Root then keeps the strike.
08:18
22nd over: England 95-4 (Root 36, Pope 13) Before the review there was yet another front-foot no-ball. They bowled 20 in the first innings and have already sent down four here, compared to just one from England across 95.5 overs. Worse still, it was off target and helped away to fine leg for four by Root. After the review, he feeds England’s numero uno short and wide outside the off-stump and he makes no mistake cutting it away behind point for four more.
“Morning @collinsadam,” Hello, Guy Hornsby. “What a Series this is already. I hope your little one is enjoying it as much as you. Been slowly indoctrinating my three-year-old this week, to the point where TV in the morning she comes with “is this cricket?” Answer: this very much is. Absorbing brilliance.”
Well answered – absorbing is the word. What a year we’re already having in the finest form of the game in 2021. An utter treat. As for Winnie, she’s trying to climb up my leg to bash the keyboard, as is her prerogative as she nears her first birthday on Sunday. Here she is yesterday, with a cricket ball/bat in hand for the first time.
08:13
NOT OUT! It’s a top bit of bowling, really hooping back at the England skipper and beating his inside edge, but it’s done too much.
08:12
IS ROOT LBW? Bumrah likes it, the umpire doesn’t. To the DRS!
08:10
21st over: England 86-4 (Root 28, Pope 13) There goes the NO-BALL KLAXON! One must describe it using capitals owing to the urgency in which it blasts through the television speakers. Wasn’t there a stat about Ashwin having never overstepped in Tests until this week? Well, he’s bowled four in this match. Yet further validation that the decision the ICC made to give the front line to the TV umpire was a sensible one. Back to Pope, who isn’t worried about his close call earlier in the over, dancing and launching high over midwicket – he doesn’t get it all, but does get three. He’s reversing again soon enough too, timing nicely out to backward point for a couple. He tries it on again to finish but doesn’t make contact. The lead is 327.
08:05
NOT OUT! That’s missed the blade and the glove, coming off his forearm. That’s what the DRS is there for; Pope survives.
08:04
IS POPE CAUGHT OFF THE GLOVE REVERSE SWEEPING? The umpire believes so and England’s No6 sends it upstairs. Stand by.