Centuries from Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara put India firmly on top in Visakhapatnam as England endured a day of toil in the field after two early breakthroughs
It’s been India’s day without question, though as at Rajkot England will seek solace in the healing power of the late-in-the-day wicket. Two excellent early breakthroughs were totally negated by the exquisite, almost chanceless, partnership between Kohli and Pujara – though Rashid may not want to dwell too much on the catch off the India captain that he spilled. Kohli still being there is ominous for England, though the variations in bounce on a pitch that may already have its best moments for batsmen behind it, might offer a chance of more regular inroads tomorrow. As it then will for India of course. Pujara has just said almost as much in his post-session TV interview. “I see more rough on both sides of the pitch, so there might be a little more help for the off-spinners as the game progresses,” he said. “Anything about 500 will be a good total for us.” It will, and may well be the only such big total of the match. England have much to do. Thanks for your company and your blether about riffs, dogs, and, just occasionally, the cricket. Stay on the site for reports and reaction. Bye.
Related: India’s Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara punish England in second Test
90th over: India 317-4 (Kohli 151, Ashwin 1) Broad, despite everything, is game for a bowl, and will deliver the final over of the day. Ashwin plays three defensive shots before driving more forcefully but straight into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. He zips a quicker ball past the batsman’s chest before rounding off a tiring day with a straighter ball that Ashwin pats away defensively. Kohli soaks up the acclaim of the crowd as he leads the players off – he’s demonstrated leadership and high class today.
89th over: India 317-4 (Kohli 151, Ashwin 1) New ball time. And it works! Cook opts to give Anderson the new nut in the evening gloaming. There’s swing and low bounce with his first ball, which Rahane leaves, and a wicket with his third, as Rahane drives loosely at a regulation outswinger. This is what Jimmy does, and he also induces an uncertain outside edge to the vacant gully area off the new batsman, Ashwin (no nightwatchman from a side this confident). He’s off the mark with a single instead.
Jimmy Anderson strikes with the new ball, inducing an edge outside off-stump from Rahane, whose shot was frankly sloppy.
88th over: India 316-3 (Kohli 151, Rahane 23) Kohli brings up his 150 with a cut to deep extra-cover. He’s made it look all so easy. The batsmen rotate with three more singles, as England’s bowlers and fielders begin to look utterly knackered. Anderson is promptly back out on the field though the manner in which Broad is moving suggests he won’t be having a partner in pace tonight.
87th over: India 312-3 (Kohli 149, Rahane 22) We might be getting the new ball tonight after all, as Anderson is restored to the attack, but with the old ball for now. It’s a bit of a warm-up over, to be honest: Kohli pulls off the back foot for a comfortable single, Rahane flicks square on the legside for another, Kohli clips for one more. Anderson nips off the field again.
86th over: India 309-3 (Kohli 147, Rahane 21) Kohli pushes Rashid down the ground for a single. Rahane turns one round the corner for two, and then tries to pep things up with a hack across the line that is well cut off just in front of the boundary by Cook at long-on. They run two. It was a bold, somewhat risky shot by a batsman who still doesn’t quite look in the groove.
85th over: India 304-3 (Kohli 146, Rahane 17) The new-ball question may be settled decisively by the manner in which Broad is moving – gingerly, hobbling a touch. Which is a worry. Meanwhile, Kohli picks up a nudged two on the legside off Ansari, who induces a half- or quarter-chance from the India captain, whose leading edge falls short of Cook at short mid-off.
84th over: India 301-3 (Kohli 143, Rahane 17) Broad and Cook are having a conflab through the medium of the long-distance gesture, presumably about the new ball, before Rashid continues (Anderson is off the field at the moment). Kohli isn’t inclined to take any chances, though he does pick up another single when he threads the ball through an offside gap with a nice drive. Rahane then adjusts well to a slow googly that keeps low and bunts it away on the legside – both bowler and batsman will be pleased with that. Rahane picks up two more with a smart cover drive to bring up the 300.
83rd over: India 298-3 (Kohli 142, Rahane 15) The light is fading, which may affect Cook’s thinking about new-ball deployment. For the time being it’s Ansari, who bamboozles Kohli with one that keeps unexpectedly low – it’s about the only way he’s going to be bamboozled today. The captain adds one more to his total, the only run of the over.
Kohli's Test 100s:
First 7 100s - 116, 103, 103, 107, 119, 105*, 115
Next 7 100s - 141, 169, 147, 103, 200, 211, 141* (batting)#IndvsEng
82nd over: India 297-3 (Kohli 141, Rahane 15)“Hard graft boys, hard graft!” is the latest yelp from behind the stamps. Hard graft it certainly is. Rashid replaces Moeen, and finds some turn again, and on testing fullish lengths, forcing caution on Rahane. Kohli’s easy single at its outset is the only run from the over.
81st over: India 296-3 (Kohli 140, Rahane 15) No new nut/cherry/rock yet, as Ansari continues, with a more aggressive field than most. Rahane and Kohli rotate with a single apiece, the only runs from the over.
80th over: India 294-3 (Kohli 139, Rahane 14) Kohli clips Moeen through midwicket for a single. This isn’t an attempted reverse-jinx or anything but I just can’t see him getting out at all; he looks such an accomplished Test batsman now. And then what do you know? A review! Kohli misses a reverse-sweep and is struck on the pad. It’s turned down but worth a shout – and the batsman survives: it’s clipping the top of the bails so stays with umpire’s call. Before that Rahane had added another before Kohli nonchalantly picked up two with a back-foot glide down to third man.
79th over: India 290-3 (Kohli 136, Rahane 13) Stokes is removed from the attack and replaced by Ansari. “Five down tonight boys!” bellows, I think, Bairstow. “New rock in the morning.” Does that mean no new ball this evening? Unless he’s talking about something else entirely. It’s an accurate over anyway, yielding only the one to Kohli.
78th over: India 289-3 (Kohli 135, Rahane 13) Rahane takes a single off Moeen. Kohli adds one more. But there’s nothing really doing. And there’s still 12 overs remaining today, light permitting. Earlier music chat and our recent dog-tired canine puns combine in David Brown’s email: “I give you the sublime Half Man Half Biscuit: ‘Even Men With Steel Hearts Love to see a Dog on the Pitch’.” One of the few bands who genuinely know their cricket, as their pillorying of fans in fancy dress – in one of the versions of Paintball’s Coming Home, which I don’t have time to dig out – attests.
77th over: India 287-3 (Kohli 134, Rahane 12) Better from Stokes, who finds a hint, but only a hint – a notion, if you will – of reverse swing, but still offers up an easy four-ball for Kohli: slow, wide, short, clobbered square on the offside to the boundary. The only bad ball of the over.
76th over: India 283-3 (Kohli 130, Rahane 12) Moeen’s field to Kohli is completely defensive, like the middle overs of an old-school ODI. The captain adds a single before Rahane’s mood is bolstered further by the presentation of a short ball from Moeen which he cuts emphatically in front of square for four. A hurried single ensues. As does one more gently-ambled one. England have just lost some control in the past couple of overs.
75th over: India 276-3 (Kohli 128, Rahane 7) Stokes strays towards leg-stump and Kohli helps himself, flicking past deep square leg for four. He adds a single before Rahane picks up a confidence-boosting four, steering a wide one backward of square on the offside to the ropes. Stokes looks hot and bothered, as well he might be after such an indifferent over.
74th over: India 267-3 (Kohli 123, Rahane 3) Moeen replaces Rashid as the evening light begins to cast longer shadows. Not sure it requires floodlights, but I’m not there – I’m in London’s Kings Cross, where it’s overcast and tailor-made for seamers, as per. Rahane punches off the back foot for a single, and Kohli pushes another one down the ground rather more languidly.
73rd over: India 264-3 (Kohli 121, Rahane 2) Stokes replaces Anderson, who’s short sharp spell has helped change the tone of the day a little. There’s a little reverse now, and more of the variable bounce. Stokes appeals for lbw against Rahane after striking him high on the pad but it was slanted in too much and surely heading past leg stump. “We’ve already had the best of this pitch,” suggests Ian Botham in the commentary box. It certainly looks that way – a magnificent piece of toss-winning by India. And that’s drinks.
72nd over: India 264-3 (Kohli 121, Rahane 2) Rashid continues to ask questions, and Rahane answers one such with a wholly unconvincing inside-edged drive down to fine leg for one. The boundary drought is ended, however, when Kohli meets an over-full, tossed-up googly with a crunching square drive for four.
71st over: India 259-3 (Kohli 117, Rahane 1) Kohli picks up two with a clip to deep midwicket, where Rashid has to dive and fumble a bit by the ropes, prompting the umpires to check whether it might be a four, but it isn’t. Another clip for two follows but things are happening for Anderson now. He’s finding movement and variation and beats Kohli outside off-stump with a beautiful outswinger off the seam. The stadium staff do their bit for the post-giving-a-monkey’s-about-the-environment world in which we now dwell by needlessly turning the floodlights on.
70th over: India 255-3 (Kohli 113, Rahane 1) Rashid continues – this has been a long spell from him now. But India aren’t on the rampage in the same way. Kohli pushes down the ground for one before Rahane almost gets himself in trouble when he bottom-edges a cut onto his boots when he really hadn’t been given enough room for the shot. Rashid’s cramping him up rather agreeably here, and finding turn: the final ball of the over bounces, fizzes and jags sharply past Rahane.
It never stops:
.@tomdaviesE17 Dog could have been one of the all-time great cricketers for all we know. A Border-Kohli type
69th over: India 254-3 (Kohli 112, Rahane 1) Kohli glides Anderson down to third man. One slip is brought in for Rahane, who gets off the mark with a legside clip for a single. A similar shot brings Kohli one more.
“Maybe the dog was deliberately released as a subtle comment on India not losing any wickets between lunch and tea, as only Englishmen and y’know get out in the midday sun?” honks Robin Hazlehurst. Enough, already.
68th over: India 251-3 (Kohli 110, Rahane 0) Kohli picks up two off Rashid with an emphatic drive through the covers. The leg-spinner pins Kohli back for a couple of deliveries before the captain drives for one more, bringing Rahane to the strike. Rashid keeps the new man honest, and on nought, with a full accurate delivery and one that turns away from the right-hander, who dabs it cautiously to backward point.
67th over: India 248-3 (Kohli 107, Rahane 0) Anderson, who may be thirsting for a new ball that’s still 13 overs away, gives the ball a right vigourous old rub in search of the reverse swing that has been almost nonexistent today. He tries the cutter, he tries the inswinger, one of which Pujara meets on the full with a belting cover drive for four. Then he sends a shorter wider one to the right-hander and strikes! Pujara plays a loose cut and edges behind when there really wasn’t room for the shot. A wonderful innings meets a slightly careless end. The new man Rahane is tested by his first two balls, one that keeps low and another that lifts sharper than anticipated.
A breakthrough at last. Pujara slashes at a wide one, and Bairstow takes the catch to his right.
66th over: India 244-2 (Pujara 115, Kohli 107) Rashid, who has looked the England spinner most likely to, changes tack by coming round the wicket initially at Kohli, who pushes on the offside for a single. India are then gifted five when Ansari’s wayward through from short midwicket cuts Stokes in half and skims to the boundary for four overthrows. Two more singles complete an over that was more expensive than it should have been.
Of dogs and pitch invasions:
Related: Cricket pitch invaders: a piglet, Statto's stool and England's 'mad dogs'
65th over: India 235-2 (Pujara 109, Kohli 105) Kohli guides the ball down to deep backward point for a single. Anderson is accurate but not much is happening.
64th over: India 235-2 (Pujara 109, Kohli 104) Kohli pushes Rashid down the ground for a single, and then there’s that low bounce again, to which Pujara has to slightly readjust to toe-end away on the legside. It’s hard to work out whether England will be cheered or afear’d by that. A bat-pad single on the offside ensues before the one loose ball of the over is cut away square for a single by Kohli.
63rd over: India 232-2 (Pujara 108, Kohli 102) For the first time in a while, Anderson is back in the attack. And his first ball is pushed uppishly through extra-cover for two by Kohli to bring up his century, a fine moment for a batsman tormented by Anderson in 2014. He’s looked the class act he undoubtedly is today though, utterly in his element. Anderson, bowling to a slipless field to two cement-set batsmen, by contrast, is not. It’s a decent enough over, but Kohli is in command and he ends it with a dab down to third man for one.
62nd over: India 229-2 (Pujara 108, Kohli 99) Pujara nudges Rashid round the corner for a single, allowing Kohli to move to 99 with a drive through the offside for one more. Rashid doesn’t stray with his line and length this time though, and keeps it tight, and there are only two from the over, which feels like progress after the afternoon’s frolicking.
61st over: India 227-2 (Pujara 107, Kohli 98) Broad strains every sinew but can’t trouble Pujara, who pulls to deep square leg for a single. The decibel levels increase as Kohli takes the strike, but the India captain is watchful and defensive when he needs to be, and plays out two dots from accurate deliveries from Broad.
One more, and definitely the last, from Tom Morgan: “Time to ‘paws’ the dog puns guys. Our poor bowlers are hounding the Indians but the pitch is bone dry. This is becoming a real dog fight, the kind Collie would have enjoyed...”
60th over: India 226-2 (Pujara 106, Kohli 98) Pujara reaches his hundred in style, punishing a dismal short ball from Rashid by hoiking it over deep midwicket and the ropes for SIX. For someone with a bit of a reputation as a calm and quiet accumulator, he’s played some wonderfully expansive shots. A single brings Kohli on strike. Can he bring up his own century in the same over? No, but it’s only a matter of time.
“If we’re talking blues,” says Peter Salmon, “then surely what we need in this crazy mixed up world of reverse sweeps, doosras and players batting left handed and bowling right is some Elizabeth Cotton, who plays a right-handed guitar left-handed (ie. upside down). She wrote this at the age of 12, still performing into her 80s - thus she was known as the Wilfred Rhodes of the blues.”
59th over: India 219-2 (Pujara 99, Kohli 98) If anyone can dig it in short on a placid surface, Broad is game, but even his attempted bouncer barely carries over waist height to the keeper. He does get some genuine lift with the fifth ball of the over, to which Kohli responds with a smart hook down to the fine leg boundary for four that brings him within two runs of his hundred. Stokes is back on the field.
With this, er, zinger, this correspondence is now closed:
@bbctms@Aggerscricket@lnutt87 dog disgraced himself? At turd man, surely. @tomdaviesE17
58th over: India 215-2 (Pujara 99, Kohli 94) Ouch. Kohli pulls a short ball from Rashid to shortish mid-on, where Cook is struck where it hurts after a sharp bounce. Rashid is finding turn, as he so often does, but dropping it too short, enabling Kohli to drive expansively for a single. Pujara moves onto 99 with a nudge square on the legside for a single, for which he runs at twice the speed of his captain, who ends the over by repeating that cover drive for one.
Laugh? I nearly did:
Alastair Cook would be grateful for any type of lead #INDvENG@tomdaviesE17#dogworthlewispic.twitter.com/5oFx4flqWt
57th over: India 212-2 (Pujara 98, Kohli 92) The dog has left the field “for a cup of tea”, we’re assured. No harm was done to it, the authorities evidently opting for a softly-softly woolly liberal approach when it comes to domestic animals. Broad finishes his over, his offside-heavy experiment abandoned. Pujara scurries his way to 98 with a push down the ground for a single, and Kohli clips through midwicket for an other. Buttler and Ballance are currently on the field for Root and Stokes.
“Let’s stick to the cricket please and avoid the terrible puns,” quips Paul Griffin. “After all, it’s been a dogged performance by India.” It’s been a bit more than dogged. They’ve sunk their teeth right into England’s bowling here.
Players are on their way back out now. Angry John Ryan has provoked quite the reaction from you the public. Sort of reminds me of being at a football match at Halifax once when the bloke behind me, 15 minutes before kick-off, responded to the PA announcer beginning to read out the home side’s line-up by bellowing “bloody rubbish” before he’d even heard who the goalkeeper was. Sport-following isn’t about the passion and the glory, it’s about self-righteous indignation and disgust.
That incident was in the pre-social media era. The post-social media era brings you glories such as this. I’m not sure we’re advancing much.
And the dog already has a twitter account pic.twitter.com/aKxpqIWkuZ
The dog appears to have gone now – of its own accord or not, who knows? More on this when we get it. In the pavilion meanwhile, England need to regroup. These two Indian batsmen look unshiftable, and are playing masterfully.
He’s here all week…
Dog stops play... and the umps call tea. Tough session for Eng. India 210-2. Rashid failing to pooch a catch off Kohli the closest they came
56.2 overs: India 210-2 (Pujara 97, Kohli 91) Marauding dog stops play! Broad begins the last over of a draining session for the tourists, and finds some low bounce for the second time in recent overs. He maintains his offside-heavy field, which is then supplemented by the appearance of a dog on the field. Our canine chum ambles about the place before stewards belatedly appear and try to chase him off the field, but he’s not shifting. Frankly, the dog is showboating now as he hares around the outfield to cheers from the crowd, and the delay is so long that the umpires whip the bails off and call it tea.
56th over: India 210-2 (Pujara 97, Kohli 91) In some respects this partnership has echoes of watching Root and Moeen on day one in Rajkot, so perhaps England shouldn’t feel too demoralised or outclassed. They’ve done this too. Kohli clips Rashid away on the legside for one, and Pujara does the same. Two from the over.
55th over: India 208-2 (Pujara 96, Kohli 90) Kohli moves into the 90s with a calm back-foot push for a single off Broad. Cook responds with some serious field-placing jiggery-pokery and sets an 8-1 offside field, with the one slip and men in at backward point and extra-cover. Yet Pujara can still pierce it, square-cutting a wide one brilliantly for four. What a tremendous Test-match batsman this man is. And what a thankless task this is for bowlers:
Bowling on day one to these two in India is the toughest gig in cricket. Not that Vaughan and Aggers give much sympathy @tomdaviesE17
54th over: India 203-2 (Pujara 92, Kohli 89) Another change, Rashid for Moeen. His one looser ball is punished, Pujara advancing to meet it on the full and drive it through the covers for four. It’s by no means a terrible over, but it’s hard to see how bats won’t be raised for centuries by both of these very soon.
“Morning Tom, morning everyone,” trills Kristian Petterson, “In this era of ever more sophisticated methods of clickbait, I think we should all applaud John Ryan (over 46) for his retro trolling. So old school, it’s new school - kudos, Daddio. Now, who’s biting?” Funny you should say that, for here’s John again with some more: “One of the worst day 1 test performances you’ll ever see. Cook has lost control and embarrassingly just let the chaos ensue for 150 runs or so, and with that the match is already gone. A perfect metaphor for the helplessness of all who will only be able to watch as Trump wreaks havoc on the world for the next four years.” Another half-empty pint for cheery over here when you’re ready, barman.
53rd over: India 199-2 (Pujara 88, Kohli 89) Broad returns to the attack but a change of pace can’t change the mood, as Pujara creams a good-length ball past mid-off for four. There are six from the over in total.
52nd over: India 193-2 (Pujara 84, Kohli 88) It’s a batting exhibition now – three fours, two by Kohli on the offside, followed by one on the legside by Pujara, all timing and technique. Moeen has no answer.
51st over: India 180-2 (Pujara 79, Kohli 79) Kohli cuts Ansari neatly for two on the offside, and picks up two more with a leg glance. A scurried single completes the over. Aside from that ball that kept low, demons are hard to find in this pitch for the England spinners, and it’s pretty obvious who the more experienced side in the conditions are now.
50th over: India 174-2 (Pujara 78, Kohli 74) Kohli inside-edges one that keeps low and it careers down towards the fine-leg boundary for four. When your luck’s out it’s out. It’s the only scoring shot of the over. This morning’s non-cricket conversational thread, meanwhile, is now headed firmly down the ‘the band I like is superior to the band you like’ cul-de-sac. Here’s Simon Detheridge:
“I’m not convinced that today’s OBO readers know what a riff is.
49th over: India 170-2 (Pujara 78, Kohli 70) Spin at both ends now, with Ansari on for Stokes. To no avail. Kohli rocks back, as so often, and turns him effortlessly round the corner for one. Ansarai is pitching up a little more, which is probably necessary, though Pujara can on-drive comfortably for another single. One more follows before Ansari does drop too short and Pujara clobbers it straight over deep midwicket for SIX. Then he overcompensates, overpitches and Pujara drives the full toss back past him for four. Too easy.
48th over: India 157-2 (Pujara 67, Kohli 68) Moeen pushes one through a little quicker, beating Kohli’s defences and hitting him on the pad. Bairstow has a shout, but no one else does, as it’s outside off-stump. Kohli flicks a single on the legside, one of three such singles in the over.
Anyway, all you strutting wannabe rock gods need reminding from time to time that the king of all riff-makers is Mr Nile Rodgers.
47th over: India 154-2 (Pujara 66, Kohli 66) Kohli gets right on top of his pull shot this time and sends a straight ball down to deep square leg for a single. Pujara, too, gets the measure of Stokes with a fierce pull behind square on the legside that is really well cut off by the ropes by Anderson. All of which forces Stokes to pitch it up a bit more for the final two deliveries of the over but Pujara is untroubled.
“How about a bit of blues riff,” strums Mesnil Man, from his porch. “Given the drop by Adil, we might all have the blues for a while... Sister Rosetta Tharp playing in Manchester:
46th over: India 151-2 (Pujara 64, Kohli 65) Kohli steers Moeen down towards third man for two to bring up the 150. He turns another round the corner for one more. This is the India-batting-against-English-spinners routine that most pundits foresaw before the series started.
“A shocker by England,” harrumphs John Ryan, “who typically fail to capitalise on a position of superiority; they might be good but they’ll never be great. The last test showed Cook wasn’t brave enough to go for the victory by giving his time enough time to win it on the final day, while this time around his team are matching his lack of courage with limited ability. Stokes might as well just work the scoreboard rather than bowling; Rashid can head off and have a few beers with Wayne Rooney, who’s presumably on the Indian leg of his never ending pub crawl.”
45th over: India 148-2 (Pujara 64, Kohli 62) Stokes continues, with more of his leg theory. Anderson has been brought into the fine leg position from which Rashid dropped Kohli. The India captain stays upright and watchful and gets a single, which is the only run from the over. This is a decent spell from Stokes – it’s at least asking some questions of these two largely unruffled batsmen.
Never mind guitar strutting, but returning to the subject of Pulp’s His’n’Hers, is there a more glorious, life-affirming moment in the history of all pop than the “yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah” bit at the end of this?
44th over: India 147-2 (Pujara 64, Kohli 61) Morning/afternoon everyone. And thanks, Dan, for jinxing England’s chances with that hot potato of a prediction before tossing it into my lap. Moeen continues, and is pulled effortlessly for four by Pujara, punishing a shorter eminently hittable ball. He adds another single, as does Kohli. It feels significant that these two Indian batsmen weren’t out in the middle together at all at Rajkot – when they’re together they look ominous – it’s their fourth stand of 100-plus in Tests.
Riffs are flooding in now, as OBO readers rouse themselves for the day and strut in front of the mirror with a tennis racket. Lee Smith plugs this’ un:
43rd over: India 135-2 (Pujara 56, Kohli 57) Stokes may just have found himself, back of a length - his first ball forces Kohli back. and his second is top-edged! The ball flies away to Rashid at long leg, who moves in, dives, and spills a low one! That wasn’t an easy chance, but that was Virat Kohli, 56 not out, on a flat track - in which context it was a dolly. So Stokes continues with the short gear, causing problems with one directed at the body; I sense a head of steam beginning to build. But, well, oh dear! One on leg side, and Kohli gets all of it this time, of yes he does, hammering it towards but wide of Rashid for four. And that is, I think, drinks. Which means Tom Davies will narrate you through India’s inevitable collapse at the hands of England spin demons.
Here’s a riff from Dan Lucas.
42nd over: India 132-2 (Pujara 55, Kohli 56) That appeal - the ball disturbed the surface, and after an uncomfortable hour of pacing, looking at our mates, and trying to dance it in, things might be starting to move.
Pujara was outside the line and playing a shot, so though the ball would’ve clattered the stumps, he’s all good.
Moeen spins one into Pujara, who comes forward twice, misses, takes it on the pad, and Rod Tucker says not out.
41st over: India 130-2 (Pujara 54, Kohli 56) As we see Stokes hurtling in from behind, it becomes apparent to us that he’s going to need a very short haircut very soon. Terrifying. He’s not really threatening a wicket at the moment, and his effort ball, a short one, flies over Pujara’s shoulder as he cursorily crouches. But next up he wades in, crunching through cover for three.
40th over: India 126-2 (Pujara 50, Kohli 56) Here’s Moeen, and the batsmen are circumspect but untroubled. One from the over.
“I’ve nothing to add to the cricket as I’ve just woken up,” emails Lee Smith, “and I haven’t read the thread yet but if it is Pulp songs you’re after then there’s Lipgloss. And just because I saw them recently, Slow Club are another great Sheffield band.”
39th over: India 125-2 (Pujara 50, Kohli 55) There is nothing happening for England. They’ll be excited for it to turn, until they’re petrified it’s turning. Meanwhile, Botham is talking about how nice his hotel is, and when Shastri talks about the local seafood and hot spice he’s right in, asserting his penchant for some additional chopped chillies. Is there anyone on the planet who embraces and enjoys life more fully than he? Three singles off the first five balls of Stokes’ over, then Pujara takes a step down and wallops through wide mid off for four - that’s fifty for him. India are looking ominous.
Kohli's 50 to 100 conversion rate (52%) is seriously impressive. Markedly better than Smith, Williamson and Root #INDvENG
38th over: India 118-2 (Pujara 45, Kohli 53) Lovely deft lap-sweep from Pujara as Rashid tosses one up and full - it earns him three. And Kohli adds two more with a pull, following it with a single. Surely it can’t be long until we see Moeen.
Kohli has gone to 50 and @robkey612 has noticed some proof he's a pretty decent player #INDvENGpic.twitter.com/2I2KSKgxtW
37th over: India 112-2 (Pujara 42, Kohli 50) Stokes replaces Anderson and immediately Kohli is onto him, rummaging a single through midwicket for his 50. He doesn’t really celebrate - this a daddy-hunnert pitch - but the schoolkids are excited, so he salutes them. Athers points out that he’s advertising a company called “Genius” on his bat, and speculates as to the sledging he’d have received for such behaviour. Virat probably thinks the word is privileged by association, and who’s to argue? Two off the over.
36th over: India 110-2 (Pujara 41, Kohli 49) Nasser, who earlier cited this as the world’s best outfield, is back extolling it, and also says that MS Dhoni insisted standards in India improve so players got used to diving. Yes, it’s an acrylic afternoon so far.
35th over: India 108-2 (Pujara 40, Kohli 48) Pujara takes a single behind square on the off side, bringing Kohli onto strike. So, knowing that he’s after his 50, Anderson bowls wider - he’s got Kohli out five times, and they both know it, and they both know the other knows it. Kohli is sanguine, though, playing out five dots. But the final ball was hidden, so perhaps there’s some reverse coming - or perhaps he’s just doing it for kicks.
34th over: India 107-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 48) Kohli bangs Rashid down the ground, and through his - Rashid’s legs. They run a pair, and those are the only runs from the over.
“The England Tweet about Root breaking lots of records was an interesting one,” emails Tom van der Gucht, “because I suspect he may struggle to overhaul Cook’s batting records - especially since Cook has the natural advantage of opening the batting and therefore has more chance to score runs, not to mention his exemplary fitness record in comparison with Root’s slightly fragile back. I wouldn’t be surprised if Broad becomes England’s top wicket taker and, who knows but fingers crossed, but Hameed could score more than Cook and Root (with the early start to his career) whilst Bairstow could push for top run scoring wicket keeper... and whilst I’m on a sleep deprived optimism roll, Rashid could become England’s top legspinning wicket taker and Stokesley may become our most successful, statistically speaking, all-rounder...”
33rd over: India 105-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 46) Athers is talking about the benefit of playing other sports when growing up- Kohli played hockey, apparently, which might be why his wrists are so good. I’m sure. In the meantime, Anderson raps Pujara on the pad as he comes forward and there’s appeal, but he’d done enough to get it outside the line. Maiden.
32nd over: India 105-2 (Pujara 39, Kohli 46) What a shot from Kohli, getting to the pitch and breaking his bottom hand to smash four through cover. His forearms are dynamite. Two more singles follow, and this is now a good start for India.
“Re: free entry for the ground’s first Test match,” emails David Meiklejohn, “why don’t we see more of this in Test cricket? If, as we keep being told, the game is paid for by the broadcasters and they’d prefer to see heaving grounds, why don’t we simply make test cricket free to watch if you’re there?”
31st over: India 99-2 (Pujara 38, Kohli 41) Anderson gets an over at Pujara, who leaves where possible - balls that Virat would probably smack back to the bowler. The final ball, though, is driveable, so he drives it, but a dive from cover cuts of any runs. Maiden.
30th over: India 99-2 (Pujara 38, Kohli 41) Rashid continues ... hmmm ... I’d expected a burst of Broad, but I guess he’ll replace Anderson. Virat has been very restrained against the spinners so far - I wonder what Sehwag would be up to. Two singles off the over.
29th over: India 97-2 (Pujara 37, Kohli 40) Anderson has a strong off side field, but his first ball is on middle and Kohli bottom-hands it for four through mid on. He quickly improves, though, enticing the drive outside off and grimacing in anguish when the ball squirts away on the leg side. Five off the over.
Right then, here we go - James Anderson has the ball.
He is going to break a lot of records.
5️⃣0️⃣ Tests & counting now for this man
Congratulations @root66! pic.twitter.com/m3InAUS8F7
Lunchtime email: “It’s clear now that Cook didn’t say all that hippety-hoppety stuff in the huddle,” reckons Simon Benton. “Instead, he took inspiration from The Beatles’ Hey Jude. ‘The movement you need is on your shoulder’ has completely confused the bowlers and caused today’s hiatus. What other explanation could there be?”
None, none, none, none-none-none none.
Ravi Ashwin is a good talker. In interview with Ian Ward, he talks about playing under Virat rather than MS (yes, first-name terms, we’re boys). He says that it’s a generational thing - MS was very reserved and would beat himself up over defeats. Virat, on the other hand, isn’t arsed about losing, such that when Ashwin came to join him in the middle as they were fighting to save the match, the first thing he said was that it was the best possible preparation for them to set up the series. He’s also very clear in what he wants and what he expects.
Interesting session, that. Anderson and Broad were excellent first up, so too Murali Vijay. But then Pujara and Kohli got together, and they’ve handled England’s spinners with the conviction you’d expect, scoring freely for 40 minutes or so - their partnership is now 70 and both are set. England will need to be disciplined in the afternoon, because they’ll not get help from anyone but themselves.
28th over: India 92-2 (Pujara 37, Kohli 35) Rashid hustles in, as Botham discusses his desire to see the snow leopard. He’s seen the Indian leopard, he says, so it’s pointed out to him that these hang about the suburbs of Mumbai. England have fought back well in the second half of the second half of this session, drying up the runs - four come from this over, one to Pujara and three to Kohli. LUNCH.
27th over: India 88-2 (Pujara 36, Kohli 32) Pujara pushes Broad into the off side for two, and then takes a single to cover. Three dots follows, and then Broad tries a leg cutter, which starts wide, enticing Kohli to cut - he goes for it, it shoots away from him, he misses, and remonstrates with himself - but that was great bowling from Broad, setting it up with a succession of deliveries slanting in. One more over before lunch.
Crowds still coming in at Visakhapatnam. Free entry today to mark first ever day of Test cricket at the ground #INDvENG#bbccricketpic.twitter.com/jovnS4KxDJ
26th over: India 85-2 (Pujara 33, Kohli 32) We see that the leg before appeal was hitting leg-stump, but would’ve been umpire’s call. Two singles off the over, and Rashid is settled into a rhythm now. When the ball starts turning, that front-of-hand chap will be a very handy change up, because the batsmen don’t appear to be picking it up.
25th over: India 83-2 (Pujara 32, Kohli 31) Kohli hasn’t scored for quite some time now, so takes a single off Broad’s first ball - it’s a wide one - and is the only run from the over.
24th over: India 82-2 (Pujara 32, Kohli 30) Rashid is still looking confident, which Botham attributes to the role of Saqlain Mushtaq who, he’ll be ecstatic to know, has my favourite Twitter bio. Rashid’s final delivery is another front-of-the-hand job - it goes straight on, beats the bat and hits Pujara on the pad. There’s a strong shout, but it was going down in the opinion of Rod Tucker. Still, England have slowed the scoring these last few overs.
23rd over: India 80-2 (Pujara 30, Kohli 30) Alastair Cook has seen enough, and Stuart Broad returns - from the opposite end to the one from which he opened. And I wonder if that’s a tactic - get away with as many overs from the spinners as you can, but when you need something to happen, use Broad and/or Anderson. Geoffrey Boycott is pleased about this - he reckons two seamers who’ve bowled nicely, use them with spin from one end. Anyway, Broad’s on a fifth-stump line, perhaps trying to bore his men out, and that’s a maiden.
22nd over: India 80-2 (Pujara 30, Kohli 30) Rashid is bowling well enough here, but it’s going to be a tough afternoon session for England with turn not expected until the evening. Maiden - a sorely-needed maiden.
Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, Michael Slater in trouble with police for not wearing seatbelts in moving car https://t.co/Py1NITd2YE#cricketpic.twitter.com/4RFKomhQEn
21st over: India 80-2 (Pujara 30, Kohli 30) Ansari finds a little more bounce and hits half of Kohli’s bat, but it’s not a big problem; that I’m even detailing it tells you all you need ta kna.
20th over: India 79-2 (Pujara 29, Kohli 30) Rashid tosses one up, and Pujara stutter-steps down the pitch to meet it on the full, banging four through midwicket. Another single follows, and that’s another productive over, which is to say things are now going as England must’ve feared. They’ve no one to put a break on the scoring.
“A quick question,” emails Simon Land. “Is it compulsory to like Radiohead to watch test cricket? Or can I see them as a shameless rip of Slint and still be up for this Test?”
19th over: India 74-2 (Pujara 24, Kohli 30) Kohli decides he can’t be arsed dealing with Pujara, so soft-shoes down the pitch and snaps Ansari over mid-on for four - lovely shot, and that’s the 50 partnership. After a great first hour, England have a problem; it’s hard to see from where a wicket is coming. Which isn’t to say one isn’t coming, given how the game goes on the sub-continent, but these are two magnificent expletives and they’re looking chill.
18th over: India 68-2 (Pujara 23, Kohli 25) Kohli turns one into the leg side, sets off for a single, and Pujara is schluffing. He sets off, hesitates, and Root is onto things quickly, though his throw isn’t directly at the stumps. Bairstow breaks them, and we go upstairs - not out, which tells you how easy the single was in the first place. And then, a ball later, another mix-up! Kohli dabs one into the off side, Pujara sets off for a second without looking, is sent back, and has to dive to make his ground. There are smiles, but receives what looks like a restrained going-over at the end of the over.
17th over: India 65-2 (Pujara 22, Kohli 23) Kohli’s average against left-arm spinners is 156.5, not bad. I wonder what England’s plan is here - Ansari isn’t bothering the batsmen, and they’re not finding it especially hard to score either. I fancy we’ll see Moeen quite soon.
16th over: India 63-2 (Pujara 21, Kohli 22) Rashid into the attack; can he do it without 500+ on the board, and when his stock ball needs to come down a little quicker? He starts reasonably enough, but a low full-toss allows Pujara to flip a single to leg. There’s not much bounce, but a delivery out the front of the hand finds a little more, and that’s the sign of a confident bowler too.
15th over: India 62-2 (Pujara 20, Kohli 22) Ansari continues, and when he tosses on up, Pujara comes down the track and turns it into a full toss, smacking it through midwicket for four. Three other singles makes that an expensive over, and the score is ticking along now - that’s 40 of them in this partnership, at 4.00 an over.
A digest, for you. Mmmm, Digestives. With milk chocolate, not dark.
An hour in Day 1, Live now Sky Sports 2. pic.twitter.com/o4YoxhFmEB
14th over: India 55-2 (Pujara 14, Kohli 21) Stokes continues after drinks, and Kohli takes his first ball for a single. A dot follows - a bouncer - and then a fuller one is right in the slot, timed away for four by Pujara. He takes a single next, and Stokes tries a short one at Kohli, but the pitch is so slow, he has time to wait for it, make a cup of tea, and pull four in front of square.
“I seem to have nearly missed a quarter of this unexpected Twenty20 game,” emails Ian Copestake. I’d like to have a witty response ready, but I’ve suddenly developed an overwhelming urge to eat a Wham bar.
13th over: India 45-2 (Pujara 9, Kohli 16) Ansari bowls well enough to Pujara, who plays out a pre-drinks maiden. There’s not much in the way of turn, yet.
12th over: India 45-2 (Pujara 9, Kohli 16) Kohli drives Stokes for two - those are the first runs he’s conceded - and next ball, a square drive has just enough pop on it to send two men caning it to the boundary, in glorious futility. Now that’s worth getting up for.
11th over: India 39-2 (Pujara 9, Kohli 10) Broad is off with a cut wrist - he’s opened up the injury sustained in Rajkot. Ansari on, with a slip and a short-leg, and the batsmen have a look at him, taking three singles.
10th over: India 36-2 (Pujara 8, Kohli 8) The ground was quite empty to being with, but now we’re seeing a bunch of kids properly piling in - it looks like we’re watching them on fast forward. Beautiful. Zafar Ansari is warming up, to bowl at the two right-handers - I wonder if Kohli will go after him. Another maiden from Stokes.
9th over: India 36-2 (Pujara 8, Kohli 8) Anderson to Virat again, who eases into a full one, spanking it through cover for for. A dot then follows, and next a short one - Virat pulls, even though it’s outside off, and a top edge that could’ve gone anywhere - not really, it could only go where the combination of speed and angle sent it - adds four more.
8th over: India 28-2 (Pujara 8, Kohli 0) Broad is off the field, so Stokes has a shy - but the likelihood that we’ll see some spin shortly. Moeen Ali, reckons Botham, and though Rashid bowled well in Rajkot, he does appear to prefer a slightly softer cherry. Anyway, not much to report here, save another maiden.
7th over: India 28-2 (Pujara 8, Kohli 0) Anderson’s outside off from the off, while Beefy suggests some cross-seam deliveries - and shonuff, that’s what’s being tried. Kohli handles them well, and plays out a maiden.
“I see England continue to “ruin cricket” [copyright M. Knox] by daring to be competitive in Asia,” crows Chris Langmead. “Why not the Aussie approach?”
Virat Kohli vs James Anderson:
42 runs
131 balls
5 dismissals#INDvENG
6th over: India 28-2 (Pujara 8, Kohli 0) Broad tries a short one, on middle-and-leg, and Pujara takes his eye off it as he ducks - it nips him on the back as punishment. Next ball, though, is slanted towards the pads, and it easily turned away through fine leg for four. Right, time for Anderson v Kohli; brace, brace.
Jimmy Anderson is quite good! What a delivery this is, rather what an idea for a delivery this is, a short one on off that catches Vijay on the crease, coming forward then leaning back. He can’t get his hands out of the road in time, and finds himself gloving a simple high one to gully. That’s a huge wicket, Vijay was timing it like God; that was an absolutely sumptuous 2o.
5th over: India 22-1 (Vijay 20, Pujara 2) Anderson’s been too straight so far, but then he bangs one outside off, so Vijay eases towards it and caresses it on the up through cover and to the rope. The things I’d do
to for his timing.
4th over: India 18-1 (Vijay 16, Pujara 2) Broad’s decided there’s no point having a short-leg, so he’s asked for extra protection at square-leg. But it makes no odds when he gives Vijay some width and a fuller one - the full face, and that’s hurtling to the fence through cover for four. Lovely shot. Oh, and another! Broad overpitches, and Vijay’s timing is delectable, a straight drive earning him fo mo. On the other hand, his earring is crap, so there you go, says someone who once, albeit briefly, had a silver hoop.
3rd over: India 9-1 (Vijay 7, Pujara 2) Better over from Anderson. After three dots, Vijay loses patience and decides he wants a single after a firm push towards Broad at mid-on. He fields well, but can’t pick up cleanly - if he had, Pujara was in trouble. Instead, Broad is tenderly stroking his hand.
2nd over: India 8-1 (Vijay 6, Pujara 2) That wasn’t a brilliant ball from Broad, but this has been an excellent over - nothing easy, and suitable line and length from the off. But there’s one to hit, his final ball on Pujara’s pads, and he’s off the mark right away. Broad accordingly has a few stern ones with himself.
What a start for England! Extra bounce and slightly fuller from Broad after four dots, Rahul comes forward and fences at one he could’ve left, and guides it to Stokes at three.
2nd over: India 6-0 (Vijay 6, Rahul 0) Nasser makes the point that the quicks might not do much bowling on this track, in which case it makes sense to ease Anderson back in, in preparation for Mohali. Broad is on the money and outside off right away - not only is there very little movement, but there’s also very little bounce; perhaps there’ll be reverse once the pitch crumbles ... and burns. Excuse me.
James Michael Anderson in INDIA:
Tests 8 *
Overs 231
WKts 54
Avg 30.00
SR 63.00
5-fers 0
BBI 4/40
BBM 6/79#INDvENG
1st over: India 6-0 (Vijay 6, Rahul 0) Into the pads first up, no movement, and second up is a right on the pads, so Vijay helps it around the corner for four. Much better from Anderson after that, though, a full one at off-stump, and that’s where he needs to be bowling, only he sends the next delivery onto the pads and Vijay helps himself to two more.
James Anderson has the ball - he has three slips and a gully.
There should be some movement first up, reckons Ravi - England will need there to be.
Some huddling.“I said a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie” says Alastair Cook. “To the hip, hip hop, and you don’t stop, a rock it. To the bang bang boogie, say, up jump the boogie, to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat.”
So, how did we cope in cricket without national anthems? And why must there be clapping after them? Riddle me those.
Let’s get the boys on the baize! Out they come.
“The pitch will be typical Indian, none of that terrible grass on the surface,” says Ravi Shastri.
India’s twirlers will have to bowl a lot better than they did in Rajkot. Mishra’s performance there has cost him his spot, or, put another way, don’t be messing with Virat.
The ground looks great. The outfield is the best in world cricket, says Nasser, and there’ll be 10,000 schoolkids in - there should always be 10,000 schoolkids in.
Sunil Gavaskar says it’s a turner - the groundsman says from lunch on day 2, but he reckons earlier. The track looks soft and already has some cracks, but should be decent today. Anderson and Broad, then, will have to bowl tight lines.
So, is young James ready? Nick Knight would have liked him to have a practice match, wouldn’t we all. And he might have been kept till Mohali, and a pitch which’ll suit him. Except he’s quite good, so they’ve got him in as soon as possible.
Two changes for India: Gambhir is out and Rahul is in; Yadav is in and Mishra is out.
One change for England: “rotation policy,” says Cook diplomatically. “Chris Woakes has bowled a lot of overs on this tour.”
“It should be a bit more challenging here,” says Virat.
“It looks like a crucial toss to win,” says Cook. “But there’s a lot of pressure on India.”
Or, put another way, England will bat last.
Cricket is a long and repetitive game. It engrosses us for days at a time, and is thrilling, compelling comforting and narcotising all at the same time. It’s the best, basically.
But because of these brilliances, it can be hard to remember individual aspects thereafter. So particular matches become branded in our mind with particular headlines, and while details remain, they tend to enrich the overarching story, rather than tell a story of their own.
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